AFC West Fantasy Outlook – 2019-2020

AFC West Fantasy Outlook – 2019-2020

Featured

by | Jul 22, 2019 | Featured, NFL

The AFC West, our last spot on the journey through the AFC. Potentially the best division in the AFC, the West has so much fantasy firepower. From elite QBs to TEs, you could roster a championship level team from just these four franchises.

Denver Broncos:

QB: Joe Flacco

RB: Phillip Lindsay, Royce Freeman 

WR: Courtland Sutton, Emmanuel Sanders, Daesean Hamilton

TE: Noah Fant, Jake Butt

D/ST: Position Rank = 10

2018 was a tough year for the Denver Broncos. Although their defense kept them in a lot of games, their lack of consistency on the offensive side of the ball killed them. Them found a gem in the rough with undrafted rookie Phillip Lindsay, who proved himself as a very capable back in the league. Expect Lindsay to continue as the lead runner and pass catcher out of the backfield. He should be drafted somewhere in rounds 3-5. They signed Super Bowl Champion QB Joe Flacco, but his best playing days are behind him. They have some talent at WR, but both Courtland Sutton and Daesean Hamilton are very young and inexperienced. Emmanuel Sanders is coming off of an Achilles tear as well. They drafted a TE out of Iowa, Noah Fant, who will definitely have a pretty big role in the offense. Denver might have some trouble moving the ball this year, especially when the opposition can gameplan Lindsay out of the game with many defenders in the box. Outside of Lindsay, there really isn’t anyone else that should be drafted before the start of the 7th round.

Los Angeles Chargers:

QB: Phillip Rivers

RB: Melvin Gordon III, Austin Ekeler

WR: Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Travis Benjamin

TE: Hunter Henry, Virgil Green

D/ST: Position Rank = 12

The LA Chargers have one of the best rosters from top down in the entire league. They have a hounding defense, electrifying playmakers at wideout and running back and a veteran QB who loves to air it out. Star running back Melvin Gordon III wants a new contract, and he might even hold out until they reach an agreement. If Gordon III doesn’t suit up, the Chargers still have a solid backup in Austin Ekeler. Gordon is a top tier fantasy RB and if his contract dispute is not an issue, he should be drafted in the first round of almost every fantasy draft. Over the last three seasons, Gordon’s lowest TD count was 12. He missed a few games last year and in 2016, but he has yet to sustain a season ending injury. The Chargers also have some great receivers in Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. After missing huge portions of the 2015 and 2016 seasons, Allen has played all 16 games over the last two years, totalling over 1150 yards and 6 TDs each season. His TD numbers aren’t crazy high, but he is always around 100 receptions. Mike Williams proved last year he is the preferred Red-Zone target of Phillip Rivers. Williams, standing in at 6’4” 220 llbs is a monster on jump balls and his 10 TD grabs on only 43 catches shows that. His TD rate will definitely drop, but don’t sleep on him this year. Allen will be taken before Williams in most drafts, somewhere around the 3-5 rounds, but don’t sleep on Williams! TE Hunter Henry is coming off of a season long injury but should see a lot of action this season. He is a mid-tier TE that should be drafted in the later rounds, far after the likes of Travis Kelce or George Kittle. 

Oakland Raiders:

QB: Derek Carr

RB: Josh Jacobs, Jalen Richard

WR: Antonio Brown, Tyrell Williams, Hunter Renfrow, JJ Nelson

TE: Darren Waller, Luke Willson

D/ST: Position Rank = 32

The Oakland Raiders are a team that underwent a lot of construction this offseason. After a very disappointing first season under Jon Gruden, management decided to bring in the All-Pro WR Antonio Brown. Brown is a world class talent, but how effective will he be in this new system? He should still be picked in the first 3 rounds, but the 1300 yards, 12 TD certainty is just not there this year. Derek Carr got his huge payday in 2017 but hasn’t shown much since. Oakland drafted RB Josh Jacobs out of Alabama who should have a big role in his first year with the club. He shouldn’t be overdrafted though, as this offense still has much to prove. How effective is a power running back if they are losing and aren’t constantly moving the ball? Jacobs should be selected in the 4-6th rounds. The Raiders also added Clemson rookie Hunter Renfrow who should be a nice addition as a slot and possession receiver. As of now, Antonio Brown and Josh Jacobs are the only two players with enough value to see them drafted on fantasy boards. This could all change if the Raiders prove to be better than expected on offense. Their defense certainly won’t be stopping anyone, which ranked last out of all teams in 2018. 

Kansas City Chiefs:

QB: Patrick Mahomes

RB: Damien Williams, Carlos Hyde

WR: Tyreek Hill, Sammy Watkins, Mecole Hardman, Demarcus Robinson

TE: Travis Kelce

D/ST: Position Rank = 17

Perhaps the best fantasy team in the whole league, the Kansas City Chiefs. Led by superstar QB Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs seem to put up 30 points/game in their sleep. Patrick Mahomes is by far the best fantasy QB,  as last year he averaged over 3 fantasy pts/game more than QB2(Big Ben)! If you are to reach on a QB early, Mahomes should be the one. Still, you shouldn’t take him over any top 10 RB/WR. Star WR Tyreek Hill was found not guilty in his child abuse investigation, meaning a full 16 games of the cheetah. The Chiefs released their RB Kareem Hunt, but Damien Williams played outstanding in his short tenure as the starter at the end of 2018. The Chiefs also signed backup RB Carlos Hyde. Not sure how big of a role Hyde will have, or if he is just an insurance policy. After Tyreek Hill, their second leading receiver is TE Travis Kelce. Kelce had his best year as a pro in 2018 with over 100 receptions, 1300 yards, and 10 TDs. Kelce should be the first TE selected in every single fantasy draft, somewhere in rounds 2-4. Kansas City also drafted speedy WR Mecole Hardman out of Georgia. With a similar skillset to Hill, just imagine how dangerous having them line up on opposite sides of the perimeter will be for opposing defensive coordinators. Overall, the Chiefs have weapons everywhere. Mahomes, Williams, Hill, Watkins, Kelce and Hardman will all be selected in every fantasy draft. There is no other team in the NFL with this many fantasy options. Expect Hill to be the first off the board in round 1 with Kelce coming off the board in rounds 2/3. Mahomes will inevitably be picked by someone who overvalues QBs in the 3rd round as well. Damien Williams could go as early as the second round, as he will see a ton of goalline work. Hardman and Watkins will be late selections, somewhere after round 5. By the end of the year, don’t be surprised if Hardman ends with a better season than Watkins. 

Jul 22, 2019 No Comments
Jadeveon Clowney’s Position Switch Saved His Career But Could Cost Him $2 Million

Jadeveon Clowney’s Position Switch Saved His Career But Could Cost Him $2 Million

Featured

by | Jul 16, 2019 | Featured, NFL

2013 Outback Bowl, Michigan versus South Carolina. First and 10, Michigan ball, leading 22-21 with 8:32 left in the fourth quarter. This was the moment when Jadeveon Clowney announced his presence to the football world at large.

The Wolverines snapped the ball and Clowney shot through the line from the right end and met running back, Vincent Smith in the backfield as the ball was handed off. Then Monday Night Football announcing tandem Mike Tirico and Jon Gruden were on the call, Gruden recapped what just happened best, “Clowney says, ‘I’ll take care of business'”.

It would be a full year before Clowney would enter the NFL draft, but that highlight along with his combination of freakish athletic ability, strength, and size would make the defensive end the first overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft.

With that smashing hit still fresh on everyone’s minds, Clowney was expected to immediately dominate in the league, especially with a player like J.J. Watt bookending the other side of the Houston Texans defensive front.

However, Clowney dealt with injuries and inconsistent play for the better part of his first three seasons in the NFL. By 2016, the Texans announced that they were going to move Clowney from outside linebacker to defensive end in their 3-4 alignment. After making a name for himself rushing off the edge at South Carolina, Houston was opting to kick him inside and use him more as a run defender and edge setter.

Yet, halfway through that season, a confluence of injuries along the Texans front seven resulted in Clowney moving back to outside linebacker and getting to try his hands again at being a pass-rushing presence off the edge. He registered three sacks through the first 12 weeks but he recorded a sack in each of the games from Week 14 through Week 16.

In their Wild Card win over the Oakland Raiders Clowney had an interception multiple quarterback pressures, and two deflected passes helping the underdog Texans hold their opponents to just 14 points.

Clowney would be named to the Pro Bowl that same year.

Since then, he’s been operating at outside linebacker, or “JACK” as it is listed on the Texans official website. His presence has been very important and entering this offseason the Texans opted to place the franchise tag on him to ensure that they would keep him with the team for at least one more season.

Yet, that tag is the reason for some recent controversy between Houston and Clowney. When a player is tagged by a team, they receive a one-year salary that is the average of the five-highest contracts for players at their position. The problem, what position is Clowney?

He wants to be tagged as a defensive end, where Houston wanted him to play in 2016. That would make his salary $17.13 million for the 2019-20 NFL season. The Texans want to tag him as an outside linebacker, where he’s been playing on and off for the team since being drafted in 2014. His salary would drop to $15.44 million for the upcoming year.

Clowney is at his best when he can attack off the edge, in 3-4 defenses those players are usually listed as outside linebackers but in 4-3 defenses, those players are usually listed as defensive ends. This confusion has led to draft prospects similar to Clowney to be billed as “EDGE” defenders rather than a defensive end or an outside linebacker.

The NFLPA is expected to file a grievance for Clowney in an attempt to secure him a higher salary.

Labeled as a DE/OLB on the Texans roster this issue isn’t as simple as it might seem. For instance, Aaron Reiss of The Athletic tweeted that mostly lined up at defensive end last year.

With Houston electing to bypass having a true general manager it isn’t a surprise that the two sides couldn’t come to a long-term agreement but a dispute over $2 million dollars could create some bad blood and tension between the team and player when it comes time to negotiate a new deal next offseason–unless they choose to tag Clowney again.

Clowney isn’t the first player to face this problem and likely won’t be the last. With CBA talks intensifying as a lockout looms on the horizon, it’ll be interesting to see if the NFL adopts “EDGE” as a position like draftniks has recently.

Jul 16, 2019 No Comments
AFC South Fantasy Outlook – 2019-2020

AFC South Fantasy Outlook – 2019-2020

NFL

by | Jul 13, 2019 | NFL

The AFC South is another division that you can find very high level fantasy players on every team. There is at least one stud in every position throughout this division. From QB to defense, here is everything you need to know about the AFC South. 

Jacksonville Jaguars:

QB: Nick Foles

RB: Leonard Fournette, Alfred Blue

WR: Marqise Lee, Dede Westbrook, Chris Conley, Keelan Cole

TE: Geoff Swaim, James O’Shaughnessy

D/ST: Position Rank = 9

With the Blake Bortles era finally coming to a conclusion, the Jags signed Nick Foles in hopes of revamping their passing attack. Last year the Jaguars ranked 26th in passing offense at 194 yards/game. They paired Foles with a new OC as well, John DeFillipo, former Vikings coach. There should definitely be an improvement with Foles and DeFillipo, which should limit opposing teams from stacking the box with 8 or 9 defenders. This will lead to more success in the ground game with bruiser Leonard Fournette. Fournette is an excellent runner but has shown signs of injury problems. Hopefully with a new scheme in place, Fournette will be able to remain healthy. Their WRs are underrated, or just haven’t had a fair chance with Bortles at the helm. Marqise Lee and Dede Westbrook are exceptional talents and if they can create a chemistry with Foles, they should be in for career years. Even with this information, both receivers are not worth higher than a 5th round selection. Geoff Swaim is a young TE who didn’t really get his chance to prove his talent in Dallas, ut the uncertainty of his role makes him no more than a late round pick. Over the past few years the Jags have been most known for their electrifying defense, with the ability to rush the quarterback as well as defend the oppositions elite perimeter weapons. With Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye, the Jags defense should look to have another great year. Don’t get silly and draft a defense too early though because you can always stream defenses week-to-week if need be. Overall, Fournette definitely has the highest fantasy value on this team. Look for him to get drafted in the late second round. 

Indianapolis Colts:

QB: Andrew Luck

RB: Marlon Mack, Nyheim Hines, Spencer Ware

WR: T.Y. Hilton, Parris Campbell, Devin Funchess, Chester Rodgers

TE: Eric Ebron, Jack Doyle

D/ST: Position Rank = 13

The Indianapolis Colts were a surprise to many fans last year. Finally giving Andrew Luck the protection he needs, their offense reaped the rewards. Last year they were 5th in points/game, 7th in yards/game and 6th in passing yards/game. They have one of the best young offensive lines in football and although O-Line isn’t included in Fantasy Football, it really helps all of their skill players. Marlon Mack is a young and improving running back who should have a career year in 2019. Expect T.Y Hilton to reach 1000 yards receiving as he has in five out of his seven years in the league. Don’t sleep on Parris Campbell as well, a rookie out of Ohio State. He should absolutely be the second Colts receiver taken in fantasy drafts. The Colts have so many offensive weapons that it will be tough for everyone to get their fair share of targets as well as TDs. If you want a heavily TD dependent player look no further than TE Eric Ebron. Ebron had a breakout year last year with 13 receiving TDs on only 66 catches. That’s a TD every 5 catches! Overall, Hilton should be the first Colt off of the fantasy board, with Mack a close second. Andrew Luck is a great fantasy QB, but remember not to reach too early on any QB! There are also late round gems in this offense such as Parris Campbell and Eric Ebron. Look for them to be selected anywhere after the 6 or 7th rounds. 

Houston Texans:

QB: Deshaun Watson

RB: Lamar Miller, D’Onta Foreman

WR: DeAndre Hopkins, Will Fuller V, Keke Coutee

TE: Jordan Thomas, Jordan Akins

D/ST: Position Rank = 2

The Texans ended the year with the second best defense by fantasy numbers, but their offense is the make or break of their success. Deshaun Watson is improving every year, and with his ability to run and escape pressure, he has a chance to end 2019 as the #1 ranked Fantasy QB. Their backfield is somewhat murky, as starter Lamar Miller has been very consistent, but not really that special over his three year tenure with Houston. He has yet to top five rushing TDs and has only rushed for over 1000 yards twice in his 7 year NFL career. His ceiling is low, but his floor is relatively high, as he has seen quite a lot of workload over the last three years. This might be subject to change in 2019, as back up D’Onta Foreman is healthy and has much less wear and tear on his body. Many believe Foreman will capture the starting role at some point throughout the season, which would have astronomical fantasy impacts. The Texans have three great wideouts, but Watson has shown that he favors DeAndre Hopkins by far the most, and how can you blame him? Hopkins is arguably the best receiver in the game, and week after week he puts on a jaw dropping display of athleticism, coordination, and glimpses of the impossible. Hopkins will easily be the first WR taken in most drafts, as he is coming off of two seasons with over 1300 yards and 11 TDs. Jordan Thomas showed flashes of brilliance last year as well, but Watson didn’t seem to use his TEs quite as much as some would like. Everyone knows Hopkins is a first round pick and Watson is an elite Fantasy QB, but the real question stands in their backfield. Will Miller keep his role or will Foreman take the starting duty? Will Fuller V also has great late round value, as when healthy he has proven to be an outstanding #2 receiver and deep ball threat. 

Tennessee Titans:

QB: Marcus Mariota

RB: Derrick Henry, Dion Lewis

WR: Corey Davis, A.J. Brown, Adam Humphries, Taywan Taylor

TE: Delanie Walker, Jonnu Smith 

D/ST: Position Rank = 10

The Tennessee Titans found a gem in Derrick Henry towards the back end of the 2018 season. He exploded for monstrous games like his week 14 explosion vs the Jacksonville Jaguars where he accumulated over 200 rushing yards and 4 rushing TDs! Henry isn’t as usable on passing downs, which ultimately limits his potential as a star fantasy running back. Henry’s lack of usage on third down is tough, but Dion Lewis stars in that role. Lewis is great receiver for a RB and is definitely worth a draft pick in PPR leagues. In his first full year on the field, WR Corey Davis showed great potential reeling in 4 TDs and approximately 900 receiving yards. The Titans have been a run-heavy team, which doesn’t suite their WRs well in the fantasy department. Delanie Walker has been the epitome of consistency for the Titans until last year, when he missed all but one game due to injury. Expect him to have a nice bounce back year with around 800 yards and approximately 5 TDs. Marcus Mariota struggled in 2018, only throwing for 11 TDs. He is another dual threat QB, but his ceiling is much lower than Deshaun Watson. Mariota’s inconsistent arm has hurt him. Pair this with his teams offensive scheme and you will see why his fantasy value is not quite as high as you would think. Overall, Derrick Henry is the first Titan off the board somewhere around the late second or early third round. Corey Davis has Top 15 WR potential, but he shouldn’t be selected until at least the 4th round. Stay away from Mariota and maybe take a chance at Dion Lewis (PPR leagues) in the middle rounds (6-9). A.J. Brown is also an intriguing prospect, a second round pick from Ole Miss. He should help as another playmaker in the passing game, but uncertainty around their system makes him a middle round selection at best. 

 

Jul 13, 2019 No Comments
AFC North Fantasy Outlook – 2019-2020

AFC North Fantasy Outlook – 2019-2020

NFL

by | Jul 8, 2019 | NFL

The AFC North is one of the most intriguing divisions in the whole league. Two teams have young and up and coming Quarterbacks, and two teams are not entirely sure as to what their future holds. Fantasy wise, this is a much deeper division than the previously analyzed AFC East. Every team on this list has at least a few players that could end up having very productive years in 2019.

Baltimore Ravens:

QB: Lamar Jackson

RB: Mark Ingram II, Gus Edwards, Kenneth Dixon

WR: Marquise Brown, Willie Snead IV, Miles Boykin, Chris Moore

TE: Mark Andrews

D/ST: Position Rank = 3

The Ravens game plan is almost the opposite of what fantasy owners wish for. They rely on their stingy defense with a heavy dose of the run game on offense. They tend to play in low scoring games, often relying on their star kicker Justin Tucker to knock in 4+ Field Goals to snatch the victory. Coming off an underrated rookie season, Lamar Jackson looks to improve on his play this upcoming season. Jackson could be a sleeper late round selection at QB due to the high frequency at which he runs the ball. The front office made some good off season acquisitions in running back Mark Ingram II from New Orleans, as well as their first round pick Marquise Brown. These two, especially Brown, should help accelerate the progression of Jackson. Mark Andrews is a steady tight end as well. The fantasy concerns here are the lack of possessions mixed with the heavy run attack. You would think the heavy run scheme would sky rocket the value of their RBs, but Head Coach John Harbaugh and Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman tend to lean on a backfield by committee. Ingram II should see a bunch of goal line work, but Jackson’s ability to run himself as well as Dixon’s 3rd down ability make to tough to know exactly how it will play out. Ingram II should be the first Raven off of fantasy boards, with Brown a few rounds after. 

Pittsburgh Steelers:

QB: Ben Roethlisberger

RB: James Connor, Jaylen Samuels

WR: JuJu Smith-Schuster, Donte Moncrief, James Washington

TE: Vance McDonald

D/ST: Position Rank = 8

Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell are finally in the rear-view mirror of the Steelers. Confident in their young stars James Connor and JuJu Smith-Schuster, their workload should reflect that. Barring injury, Connor and Smith-Schuster will both be in the Top 10 in their respective Fantasy Position Ranks by the end of the year. Big Ben is used to having a second strong receiver, so expect Moncrief or Washington to play a significant role in the offense as well. Big Ben is coming off of a very strong year in which he led the league in passing yards in the midst of constant Antonio Brown drama. Obviously Brown is still one of the league’s best at wide out, but there finally should be some clarity in the locker room this year. You can find where I ranked Big Ben in my Top 15 QB Rankings for 2019. Vance McDonald is a mid tier option at TE. He has never really been consistently targeted throughout the duration of a full season, and his stats reflect it. Depending on league size, you could end up just snagging McDonald from the waiver wire. 

Cleveland Browns:

QB: Baker Mayfield

RB: Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, Duke Johnson Jr.

WR: Odell Beckham Jr.,Jarvis Landry, Anthony Callaway

TE: David Njoku

D/ST: Position Rank = 25

For the first time in what seems like an eternity, the Cleveland Browns have the highest odds of winning the AFC North. With an exciting and accurate young QB in Baker Mayfield, plenty of weapons in the skill positions, and a young defense a realistic aspiration for the Browns this year is the playoffs. First things first, their defense still needs some work as they ranked 25th in the D/ST in 2018. They used the 2019 draft to stock up on young defenders, taking 6 defenders with their 7 picks. The first off of fantasy boards will obviously be Odell Beckham Jr. who will finally have his chance to shine on a new team. Expect him to be selected within the first 20 picks of the draft. Nick Chubb comes in as their second best fantasy player. Chubb was great once he was finally given the starting duty in week 7. From week 7 on he only went under 8.5 fantasy points once, which was in the last game of the year. He even exploded for games of 34.4 and 26.3 in weeks 10 and 12 respectively. Jarvis Landry is another receiver to target in the middle rounds of the draft. Landry has a super high floor, having topped 80 catches and 4 TD grabs in each of his first five seasons in the league. He has never had over 9 TDs, but don’t expect that to change as his good friend and new running mate Beckham Jr. will certainly play a large role in the offense. David Njoku is also a special young talent. He has made some remarkable highlight catches in his short tenure so far in the league, the only thing to worry about with him is the lack of involvement with so many other play makers. Kareem Hunt is suspended for the first 8 games, so there is no reason to reach early on him. Even when he is eligible, the only foreseeable way of him capturing the starting role over Chubb would be injury. 

Cincinnati Bengals:

QB: Andy Dalton

RB: Joe Mixon, Giovanni Bernard

WR: A.J. Green, Tyler Boyd, John Ross

TE: Tyler Eifert, C.J. Uzomah

D/ST: Position Rank = 29

Lastly, the oh so average Cincinnati Bengals. Could this be the year we see Marvin Lewis fired after years of mediocrity and no playoff success? He still is the winningest coach in Bengals history to give him credit. Three straight years of 7 or less wins and their franchise centerpiece Andy Dalton doesn’t seem to be aging with the TB12 regiment. In terms of Fantasy Football, the Bengals still have a few viable options. Their best fantasy player is certainly Joe Mixon, a do-it-all running back who tries to emulate Le’Veon Bell maybe even too much with jersey number 26 and sleeve on the left arm. Mixon had a big improvement last year, totaling over 1400 yards and 9 total TDs. Definitely a strong RB2 if not a low caliber RB1. Look for his numbers to increase slightly or remain similar to last years production. Besides Mixon, the Bengals have three interesting WRs. A.J. Green has been a stud his whole career, but injuries seem to be catching up with him. Green has missed over 6 games in two of his last three campaigns, and has yet to catch 10 TDs since 2015. Green still has value, but definitely not worthy of a pick in the first couple rounds. Tyler Boyd finally got a chance to show the NFL his skillset last year. In the 14 games he started, he went for over 1000 yards receiving and 7 TDs. His future is bright, and it may not be too long from now that Boyd emerges as the #1 WR on the Bengals regardless of A.J. Green’s health. The last WR in the mix is the speedster out of Washington John Ross. Ross barely played in his 2017 rookie season, but last year he had 7 TDs on only 21 catches in the ten games he started. Obviously this rate is unattainable, but Ross absolutely has the ability to change the game with his electrifying quickness and speed. Taking a middle-late round risk on Ross is not a bad option at all, as the Bengals will be losing in the majority of their games, forcing Dalton to air it out in the second half. Their TE corps is nothing to write home about. Tyler Eifert hasn’t been healthy since 2015 and C.J. Uzomah hasn’t showed enough to be on your fantasy squad. 

Jul 8, 2019 No Comments
AFC East Fantasy Outlook- 2019-2020

AFC East Fantasy Outlook- 2019-2020

NFL

by | Jul 3, 2019 | NFL

One of the best features of Fantasy Football is that it makes meaningless games matter. It could be a Sunday Afternoon kick off between the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets, and you sure as hell know if one of your starters is playing, you’re glued to the television. You feel a Gambler’s high as you watch your receiver (that no one outside your fantasy league could name) score a touchdown. Sundays in the Fall and Winter are something else, man.  

The point I am trying to make is that even in the AFC EAST,  a division that has been almost forgotten due to the dominance of the New England Patriots, there is a plethora of fantasy options at multiple positions. Let’s take a look at how these teams are shaping up for the 2019-2020 season.

Miami Dolphins

QB: Josh Rosen, Ryan Fitzpatrick

RB:  Kenyan Drake, Kalen Ballage

WR: Kenny Stills, Devonte Parker, Albert Wilson

TE: Mike Gesicki

D/ST: 2018-2019 Position Rank = 19

Analysis: With a new Head Coach and starting Quarterback, the Miami Dolphins find themselves in an interesting position to say the least. The Rosen experiment in Arizona was short lived, but will the California native be able to turn it around this year? On paper, their offensive weapons are pretty similar to last year, but a new Coach and QB may be exactly what they need. With Tannehill and Osweiler under center in 2018, their offense ranked 31st in yards/game, and 30th in passing yards/game. Brian Flores, the new Head Coach of the Dolphins is a defensive mind coming from the NE Patriots where he was the Linebackers Coach. He brought Chad O’Shea, the ex-WR coach of the Patriots to be his new Offensive Coordinator. With a new system in place, the Dolphins offense has nowhere to go but up. Still, Rosen has to prove he is capable of running an NFL offense. Kenyan Drake is a nice RB, but is not used to every down work, which should make way for Ballage to see the field as well. Their three top receivers are decent, but none of them have proven they are Fantasy Studs quite yet. Devonte Parker is a nice red zone target, and Stills had a respectable 6 TD grabs on only 64 targets last year. Mike Gesicki is an intriguing prospect as well. With increased volume in his second year now, look for the athletic TE to see a lot more action. Miami’s defense should improve this year as well, as Brian Flores will look to incorporate elements of the NE system. Overall, none of their players are worth a selection in the first three rounds. Around the 4-5th round, expect Drake to be taken, and Stills probably closer to round 8-10.

New York Jets

QB: Sam Darnold

RB: Le’Veon Bell, TY Montgomery

WR: Robby Anderson, Quincy Enunwa, Jamison Crowder

TE: Chris Herndon

D/ST: 2018-2019 Position Rank = 22

Analysis:  The NY Jets are another young and exciting team building for the future. Fantasy wise, they are still pretty uncertain as of now. Sam Darnold showed plenty of flashes last year that he is a competent and capable starter in this league. The Jets also made some coaching staff changes bringing in ex-Miami HC Adam Gase to run the show. Along with this, the addition of Le’Veon Bell brought even more uncertainty. There were rumblings that members of the coaching staff really did not want to pay big dollars for a running back, rather allocating their money elsewhere. But nevertheless, Bell seemed primed to see a heavy workload in both the run and passing game. I don’t expect to see the Steelers version of Bell, but he will definitely have his chances. Similar to the Dolphins, they have some good wideouts, but no one that will completely take over a game. Robby Anderson comes in as their top receiver, coming off another decent season with 50 catches and 6 TDs. If he and Darnold can create some sort of rapport, look for him to have a career year. Herndon, the Jets 4th round pick in 2018 should have an increased role in the offense as well. The Jets defense should improve as well this year. Not quite into the elite category, but the draft selections of Quinnen Williams and Jachai Polite should help them drastically on the interior. Overall, Bell is no doubt still one of the elite RBs in this league and will be selected in the first two rounds. After him, you probably won’t see until Jets player selected until Robby Anderson around the 7-9th round range. 

Buffalo Bills

QB: Josh Allen

RB: LeSean McCoy, Frank Gore, TJ Yeldon

WR: John Brown, Cole Beasley, Zay Jones

TE: Tyler Kroft

D/ST: 2018-2019 Position Rank = 7

Analysis:

There was only one bright spot about the Buffalo Bills offense in 2018, and it was their running game which they ranked 9th in the league in yards/game. The problem is that when they trailed, their passing attack was really nowhere to be found, ranking 31st in throwing yards/game. Their defense actually kept them in a lot of games, ranking 7th in the league. Their star runner, LeSean McCoy has really been slowed down by injuries, mostly credited to his age. They brought in Frank Gore, who is also aging but is known for his toughness and ability to play through anything. They signed John Brown and Cole Beasley, which should help for their intermediate and deep passing game. Josh Allen definitely has the physical tools of a great QB, but he will be tested throughout this year. Much like the two teams before the Bills on this list, there is a lot that us fans still don’t know about how their offense will shape up. None of their skill position players are worth an early round draft selection. McCoy is too injury prone and none of their WRs have proven that they can be a Fantasy star quite yet. Still, look for McCoy to be drafted in the 3rd-5th rounds, and Brown/Beasley to be taken closer to round 10. 

New England Patriots

QB: Tom Brady

RB: Sony Michel, James White, Damien Harris, Rex Burkhead

WR: Julian Edelman, N’Keal Harry, Demaryius Thomas, Phillip Dorsett

TE: Ben Watson, Austin Seferian-Jenkins

D/ST: 2018-2019 Position Rank = 6

Analysis: As Tom Brady ages, the NE Patriots seem to be instituting a more run heavy scheme on offense. This isn’t a high powered aerial attack like Kansas City, but almost the mere opposite. Long, slow, methodical drives that wear the defense down. There is a reason that the Patriots used a 4th round pick on Damien Harris with an already clustered backfield. Belicheck knows that a backfield by committee is the only way to ensure Brady’s longevity. They have four quality runners who can step up an anytime barring an injury to starters Michel or White. The Patriots also selected Arizona State wideout N’Keal Harry with their first round pick. Look for him to have an immediate impact on the offense. With Edelman eligible for a full 16 games this year, he should end with around 100 catches. With the retirement of Rob Gronkowski and departure of Dwyane Allen, the Patriots have a big hole to fill at the TE position. They signed two veterans, Ben Watson and Austin Seferian-Jenkins, but it is still a question as to how the snaps will be divided. The Patriots are known for their bend-don’t-break defense, ranking 21st in yards/game but 7th in points allowed. Their stingy red zone and goalline defense forces opponents to often settle for 3. In terms of fantasy standing, the Patriots have a few good options and a few players I would stay away from. First, Tom Brady should not be your fantasy QB. At Age 41, he was still exceptional in the playoffs, but the regular season game plan is much different. There are many better options than Brady at QB, unless you play in a 2 QB league. On the other hand, Sony Michel, Julian Edelman, and N’Keal Harry are all primed for big years. Michel should be the first of those three off fantasy boards in the 2nd-4th rounds.. Edelman will be drafted before Harry due to the definite role that Edelman has in the offensive scheme, but don’t be surprised if Harry ends the year with more TD receptions than Edelman. Both of these WRs won’t make it past round 7-8.

 

Jul 3, 2019 No Comments
Fantasy Football 2019-2020: Sleepers and Busts

Fantasy Football 2019-2020: Sleepers and Busts

NFL

by | Jun 21, 2019 | NFL

Sleepers and Busts Fantasy Football 2019-2020

Sleepers and Busts, two of the most important terms in the Fantasy Football community. Sleepers can propel you to a long playoff run while just one or two busts can turn your season on its head. Here are some of the guys I think you should take a risk on later in the draft, as well as some guys that are too risky to select early.

Sleepers:

Mecole Hardman WR/KC

Coming out of Georgia, Hardman is an enticing prospect in an amazing offense. His potential is somewhat dependent on the availability of Tyreek Hill. Although it looks as though Hill will be playing in 2019, Hardman has incredible big play potential that could see him action early in the 2019 campaign. He has a significant chance to outplay Sammy Watkins and feature as the 2nd wideout.

James Washington WR/PIT

With the departure of Antonio Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster is set to lead the Steelers in targets. But don’t forget Big Ben loves having a second receiver in the mix. Look for Washington to grab that spot as WR2 for the high powered Pittsburgh offense.

Devin Singletary RB/BUF

With LeSean McCoy aging and facing nagging injuries throughout the last few seasons, Singletary seems primed to get a shot at some major playtime in his rookie season. Although the Bills offense is quite unpredictable as of now, Singletary will no doubt have a role.

Ronald Jones III RB/TB

After an underwhelming rookie season, many people forget that the Bucs used a 2nd round pick of Jones III in 2018. The Bucs didn’t add any other Running Backs this offseason so they must still believe in him. Certainly a nice buy-low prospect in this years draft.

Kalen Ballage RB/MIA

Ballage is heading to Miami where Kenyon Drake is set to be the lead back. The intriguing proposition here is that Drake has never been an every down type of back, totaling an average of only 126.5 carries over the last two seasons. This could change due to the departure of Frank Gore, but nevertheless, Ballage has upside in the later rounds.

Busts:

Jordan Howard RB/PHI

Coming from a run heavy offense in Chicago, Howard now calls Philly home. With Carson Wentz at full health Howard should definitely get his chances near the end zone, but Doug Peterson has shown that he likes to run a backfield by committee, a death sentence for fantasy owners.

Sammy Watkins WR/KC

Playing in one of the best offenses in the league, Watkins still seemed to be an afterthought for most of last year. Yes, he only played 10 games but injuries always seem to keep him off the field at some point throughout the long NFL season. Hold off on selecting Watkins until the later rounds.

Lamar Miller RB/HOU

Over the last three seasons, Miller has seen his fair share of workload. Even with an average of 239 carries per season over the last three, Miller has only averaged 6 TDs per year. It wouldn’t be a surprise at all to see D’Onta Foreman capture the starting role at some point this year.

Leonard Fournette RB/JAX

Fournette is undoubtedly a tremendous talent and athlete, but a combination of injuries and team circumstances makes his outlook more unknown. The Jaguars hired John DePhilippo as their new OC, paired with new QB Nick Foles to revitalize their passing game. DePhilippo is known for heavy passing schemes, which comes at the expense of Fournette.

Emmanuel Sanders WR/DEN

A 32 year old receiver coming off of an Achilles tear is a scary sight. Factor this into the emergence of young talented WRs on Denver such as Courtland Sutton and DaeSean Hamilton and you can see why Sanders may not be worthy of an early round pick in 2019.

 

Jun 21, 2019 No Comments