Fantasy Football Preview: Top 50 Player Rankings 2019-2020

Fantasy Football Preview: Top 50 Player Rankings 2019-2020

NFL

by | Jun 3, 2019 | NFL

1. Saquon Barkley – RB/NYG

  • As a mere rookie, Barkley rushed for 1,307 yards, caught 91 passes for 721 receiving yards and scored 15 touchdowns. With an upgrade at Guard and the Giants in desperate need for play makers with Odell Beckham Jr. gone, Barkley is primed for another special year.

 

RUSHYDSTDRECYDSTD
2018:261130711917214
2019 Prediction:2651385121068536

2. Ezekiel Elliott – RB/DAL

  • Although the Dallas O-Line isn’t quite as young and gifted as it was during Zeke’s rookie campaign, Elliott is expanding his game having caught 77 passes last year. Look for that to increase with his already tremendous workload in Dallas’ offense.

 

RUSHYDSTDRECYDSTD
2018:30414346775673
2019 Prediction:290138910825904

3. Christian McCaffrey – RB/CAR

  • You could make a case for McCaffrey as the #1 pick after the second half of last year. His usage rate is sky high and McCaffrey is the epitome of an every down back. Totaling over 1900 yards from scrimmage last year should be a sign of what is to come.

 

RUSHYDSTDRECYDSTD
2018:219109871078676
2019 Prediction:230114881099027

4. Alvin Kamara – RB/NO

  • We got to since glimpses of how special Alvin Kamara is during Mark Ingram’s 4 game suspension last year. Now 16 games of that workload… Kamara could easily finish as the #1 Running Back but we will have to see if his smaller frame relative to the guys above him will hold up for all 16 games.

 

RUSHYDSTDRECYDSTD
2018:19488314817094
2019 Prediction:250122315807063

 

5. Todd Gurley – RB/LAR


  • The 2018-2019 Fantasy MVP Todd Gurley coming in at #5. It’s not hard to see how hobbled he looked in the playoffs, and he does have an injury riddled past. Use caution in selecting Gurley, even though the talent and system he plays in is suited for Fantasy dominance.

 

RUSHYDSTDRECYDSTD
2018:256125117595804
2019 Prediction:220112412555602

6. DeAndre Hopkins – WR/HOU

  • The First WR on the list. Hopkins is an all time talent, and has produced no matter who is throwing him the ball. With Deshaun Watson adding another year of experience, look for this dynamic duo to keep thriving in fantasy.

 

RUSHYDSTDRECYDSTD
2018:1-70115157211
2019 Prediction:000110152613

7. James Conner – RB/PIT

  • Conner emerged in the Steelers offense due to the absence of Le’Veon Bell. Conner proved himself no fluke as he totaled over 1400 yards from scrimmage and 13 TDs. With the steady Steelers offensive line and now without Antonio Brown as well, look for Conner to improve on his 55 receptions from last year.

 

RUSHYDSTDRECYDSTD
2018:21597312554971
2019 Prediction:242109011636122

8. Melvin Gordon – RB/LAC

  • Gordon was hindered with nagging injuries throughout the 2018-2019 campaign but look for him to bounce back this year. With the high powered offense of the Chargers, look for Gordon to get his fair share of Rushing Touchdowns.

 

RUSHYDSTDRECYDSTD
2018:17588510504904
2019 Prediction:226104811484882

9. David Johnson – RB/ARI

  • A player that disappointed many owners last year, David Johnson. With Kliff Kingsbury and Kyler Murray now at the helm, look for Johnson to have an increased load in both the running and passing game. Injuries are the only thing that will stop him from gaining 1000+ rushing and 500+ receiving yards this season.

 

RUSHYDSTDRECYDSTD
2018:2589407504463
2019 Prediction:25310528746925

10. Tyreek Hill – WR/KC

  • There are lots of question marks regarding Tyreek Hill and the current investigation around him and domestic abuse charges. Currently, it looks as if he will be available for the start of the 2019 campaign which means more of the same from last year. With over 1500+ yards from scrimmage and 13 TDs last season, along with offensive genius Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes throwing to him, off field issues are the only red flag.

 

RUSHYDSTDRECYDSTD
2018:22151187147912
2019 Prediction:16123184136910

11. Davante Adams – WR/GB

  • Adams is a star in the making. Being paired with Aaron Rodgers doesn’t hurt either. With 13 TDs last year and a pass heavy offense, look for Adams to keep shining as the star receiver in Green Bay. No doubt he will surpass 1000 yards and 10 TDs again.

 

RUSHYDSTDRECYDSTD
2018:000111138613
2019 Prediction:000106129711

12. Michael Thomas – WR/NO

  • Leading the league in receptions last year with 125, Mike Thomas is a sure thing draft selection in the late first/early second. As long as Sean Payton and Drew Brees are in New Orleans, Thomas is a no brainer WR1.

 

RUSHYDSTDRECYDSTD
2018:00012514059
2019 Prediction:000114138610

13. Le’Veon Bell – RB/NYJ

  • Plenty of question marks surround Le’Veon Bell and his year off of football. No one can doubt this man’s talent as a runner and receiver, but the change in scenery to the NY Jets is a cause for concern. Unlike the Steelers winning organization, Game flow may affect Bell and his number of ground touches. Either way, Bell should be fully healthy and ready to play a big role in the NYJ offense.

 

RUSHYDSTDRECYDSTD
2018:000000
2019 Prediction:23810768847924

14. Odell Beckham Jr. – WR/CLE

  • Beckham is a generational talent on the field, and although the move the CLE will help the Browns as a team, I’m not completely sold on the idea of Odell re-capturing his breakout year stats from NYG. CLE has other proven play makers such as Jarvis Landry and David Njoku who could steal some red-zone targets from Odell.

 

RUSHYDSTDRECYDSTD
2018:51907710526
2019 Prediction:43009411439

15. Joe Mixon – RB/CIN

  • A case of a great talent on a sub-par team. With over 1100+ yards on the ground last year, Mixon is often marginalized through the flow of the game. With the Bengals only winning 6 games last year, Mixon is sometimes neutralized to dump off catches in the second half of games.

 

RUSHYDSTDRECYDSTD
2018:23711688432961
2019 Prediction:24011907483422

16. Antonio Brown -WR/OAK

  • The leader in receiving TDs last year with 15, AB still found himself wanting out of PIT. Now in OAK, AB should be the centerpiece of Gruden’s offense, which tends to be heavy of the star receivers/runners. The only question is Derek Carr, and his relationship with Brown. The sky’s the limit with his talent, but uncertainties make Brown a little lower on the board compared to sure-thing WR1s.

 

RUSHYDSTDRECYDSTD
2018:000104129715
2019 Prediction:43809010999

17. Travis Kelce – TE/KC

  • The first TE taken off the board. Paired with Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid, Kelce looks to match his stellar 2018 performance. With over 100 receptions, 1300 yards, and 10 TDs last year, Kelce is a lock for success this year.

 

RUSHYDSTDRECYDSTD
2018:000103133610
2019 Prediction:00095125611

18. Mike Evans – WR/TB

  • With over 1500 yards on less than 90 catches, Evans is the definition of a premiere deep threat. Pair this with the fact that Tampa Bay often finds themselves trailing in the 2nd half of games, Evans is a great option as a mid tier WR1.

 

RUSHYDSTDRECYDSTD
2018:0008615248
2019 Prediction:0008812698

19. JuJu Smith-Schuster – WR/PIT

  • Coming off of a breakout year in 2018, JuJu looks to build on that with the departure of Antonio Brown. With a staggering 166 targets in 2018, look for that number to increase even more this year!

 

RUSHYDSTDRECYDSTD
2018:113011114267
2019 Prediction:850011514779

20. Dalvin Cook – RB/MIN

  • Injuries have been an issue throughout the young career of Dalvin Cook. With the sturdy defense of the Vikings, Cook is always inline for a heavy second half workload during winning games. Cook always has big play ability and his receiving game is improving.

 

RUSHYDSTDRECYDSTD
2018:1336152403052
2019 Prediction:2048988433521

21. Damien Williams – RB/KC

  • Damien Williams is set to take the full time work from Kareem Hunt, which Williams did terrifically at the end of last season. With 4 TDs in the final 4 games last season, playing in such a high powered offense, Williams could end up ranking in the low end RB1 spots at the end of the year.

 

RUSHYDSTDRECYDSTD
2018:502564231602
2019 Prediction:1988049503651

22. Nick Chubb – RB/CLE

  • Over 1000 yards from scrimmage and 10 TDs as a rookie. Now with another year of experience in an improving offense in CLE, look for Chubb to have plenty touches and goal line opportunities.

 

RUSHYDSTDRECYDSTD
2018:1929968201492
2019 Prediction:21810599282031

23. Adam Thielen – WR/MIN

  • Thielen came out of the gate scorching last season, with 100 receiving yards in the first 8 games of 2018. He ended the year seeing much more coverage schemes, leading to more targets and catches for Stefon Diggs.

 

RUSHYDSTDRECYDSTD
2018:530011313739
2019 Prediction:638010412108

24. Leonard Fournette – RB/JAX

  • The talent and pure athleticism is certainly not missing for Leonard Fournette’s game. But that doesn’t always lead to fantasy success. The Jaguars offense scheme combined with Fournette injury history is a major concern. Hopefully Nick Foles will be able to revitalize their offense, leading to more opportunities for Fournette.

 

RUSHYDSTDRECYDSTD
2018:1334395221851
2019 Prediction:2309868181590

25. Devonta Freeman – RB/ATL

  • Coming off a year ending injury, Freeman looks to take back control of the ATL backfield. His running-mate Tevin Coleman is now in San Francisco, so Freeman will hopefully see more action in the passing game now.

 

RUSHYDSTDRECYDSTD
2018:146805230
2019 Prediction:2089307452001

26. T.Y Hilton – WR/IND

  • The Colts are a team on the rise, and with Andrew Luck finally getting the protection he needs, TY Hilton should be a main beneficiary of that this season.

 

RUSHYDSTDRECYDSTD
2018:0007612706
2019 Prediction:0008913438

27. Keenan Allen – WR/LAC

  • The lead receiver in any Phillip Rivers offense should be on fantasy radars. Whenever Allen has been on the field, he has always been a play maker. Expect another 1000+ yard and 7+ TD season from Allen. The only clear issue would be the emergence of Mike Williams as a red zone target.

 

RUSHYDSTDRECYDSTD
2018:97509711966
2019 Prediction:108309110748

28. Zach Ertz – TE/PHI

  • The second TE taken off the board. Ertz is no doubt the #1 target of Carson Wentz, who looks to be completely healthy heading into the season. Ertz totaled an insane 156 targets and 116 catches last year, breaking Jason Witten’s single season reception record by a TE.

 

RUSHYDSTDRECYDSTD
2018:00011611638
2019 Prediction:00010510309

29. George Kittle – TE/SF

  • Kittle really emerged himself with some huge plays and games at the end of the 2018 campaign. With Jimmy Garoppolo back and healthy, look for these two to create a tremendous rapport.

 

RUSHYDSTDRECYDSTD
2018:11008813775
2019 Prediction:32809413607

30. Amari Cooper – WR/DAL

  • Cooper had something to prove after being traded mid way through the 2018 season. As the clear #1 target of Dak Prescott, Cooper should look to build on his end of season play.

 

RUSHYDSTDRECYDSTD
2018:22007510057
2019 Prediction:64908811418

31. Stefon Diggs – WR/MIN

  • Throughout the 2018 season, the Vikings proved to be a very pass-heavy offense. With the breakout season of Adam Thielen, Diggs had to take a backseat for much of the ride. During the last quarter of the year, teams adjusted and Diggs saw his numbers improve drastically. Look for Diggs to continue as a steady WR2 with WR1 upside strictly due to the presence of another great receiver.

 

RUSHYDSTDRECYDSTD
2018:1062010210219
2019 Prediction:87219810028

32. A.J. Green – WR/CIN

  • Green missed the whole second half of 2018 and Tyler Boyd emerged as a key play maker for the Bengals. There is no doubt the talent of Green, but he is often schemed out of games through double teams and Andy Dalton isn’t the most trustworthy QB.

 

RUSHYDSTDRECYDSTD
2018:000466946
2019 Prediction:000849707

33. Derrick Henry – RB/TEN

  • Henry really broke out at the end of the 2018 with 8 TDs and nearly 600 yards in his final 5 games. The Titans seemed to find something special in Henry. Still, he takes a backseat to Dion Lewis in the passing game, which caps his fantasy potential especially in PPR formats.

 

RUSHYDSTDRECYDSTD
2018:21510591215990
2019 Prediction:23011001114880

34. Sony Michel – RB/NE

  • With over 900 yards and 6 TDs as a rookie, Michel looks to be an even bigger piece of the Patriots offense in the future. As Tom Brady ages and they elect to pound the run game, Michel is definitely in line for a monster season even in a crowded backfield.

 

RUSHYDSTDRECYDSTD
2018:20993167500
2019 Prediction:2191008816950

35. Kerryon Johnson – RB/DET

  • Johnson was just heating up when his season was cut short due to injury. Even in a pass heavy offense, Johnson should be the lead back from the start of the year. In the limited sample size, Johnson proved to be capable of handling his own in the passing game too, which should help his ability to stay on the field on 3rd downs.

 

RUSHYDSTDRECYDSTD
2018:1186413322131
2019 Prediction:2019926462702

36. Phillip Lindsay – RB/DEN

  • As an undrafted rookie, Lindsay proved all the critics wrong in his first season. With over 1000 yards and 10 Total TDs, Lindsay outplayed his rookie teammate Royce Freeman. Look for Lindsay to continue to carry most of the workload in Denver’s backfield.

 

RUSHYDSTDRECYDSTD
2018:19210379352411
2019 Prediction:21210678382612

37. Brandin Cooks – WR/LAR

  • Cooks had a great 2018 season with over 1200 yards and 6 TDs. The problem is the vast amount of play makers on the Rams offense. With Gurley, Robert Woods, and Cooper Kupp, there are only so many touchdowns that can be scored. For this reason, Cooks is more of a WR2 with the big play potential he has always had.

 

RUSHYDSTDRECYDSTD
2018:106818012045
2019 Prediction:87907811466

38. Chris Carson – RB/SEA

  • Playing in the most run heavy offense in the league, Carson had a terrific 2018 campaign. Look for his usage to stay relatively the same, making Carson a sure fire RB2.

 

RUSHYDSTDRECYDSTD
2018:24711519201630
2019 Prediction:22810868181461

39. Marlon Mack – RB/IND

  • Another Beneficiary of the improved Colts offensive line, Mack should improve on his 900 yard and 9 TD stat line from last year.

 

RUSHYDSTDRECYDSTD
2018:1959089171031
2019 Prediction:21810609161101

40. Aaron Jones – RB/GB

  • Jones really started to emerge as the feature back in GB with 6 TDs in his last full 5 games. His campaign was cut short due to injury but look for Jones to come back and seize the lead role with Aaron Rodgers at the helm.

 

RUSHYDSTDRECYDSTD
2018:1337288262061
2019 Prediction:1848959271980

41. Patrick Mahomes – QB/KC

  • The one and only QB in the top 50 draft board. QBs are usually taken much later, especially in PPR leagues, but the talent of Mahomes combined with Andy Reid’s high powered offense is too much to pass up on. 

 

RUSHYDSTDYardsTDsINTs
2018:60272250975012
2019 Prediction:48220248764714

42. Josh Jacobs – RB/OAK

  • The first rookie taken off the 2019-2020 draft board. Josh Jacobs is an intriguing prospect and his workload itself should render at least 8 TDs. The Raiders have plenty of uncertainty and due to this, Jacobs is a RB2 at best.

 

RUSHYDSTDRECYDSTD
2018:000000
2019 Prediction:2149068201040

43. Julian Edelman – WR/NE

  • After breaking postseason records, Edelman has to come back to reality for the regular season. The fact is that the Patriots spread the ball so much, and heavily rely on their running game, which limits Edelman’s fantasy ceiling.

 

RUSHYDSTDRECYDSTD
2018:91070748506
2019 Prediction:68409610205

44. David Montgomery – RB/CHI

  • The second rookie off the board. Montgomery is in an interesting position. As Jordan Howard was shipped out of Chicago, he will take the lead back role. Even with Tarik Cohen in the passing game, Matt Nagy’s smoke and mirrors offense indicates that there will always be heavy use of the run game. Montgomery certainly won’t be short of opportunities in his first year in the league.

 

RUSHYDSTDRECYDSTD
2018:000000
2019 Prediction:2049488301901

45. Mark Ingram II – RB/BAL

  • A change of scenery gives Ingram’s fantasy value some mystery. With the Ravens run heavy offense and Lamar Jackson under center, Ingram should definitely find himself with plenty of goal line work. Estimate at least 7 TDs with unknown yardage due to the backfield by committee.

 

RUSHYDSTDRECYDSTD
2018:1386456211701
2019 Prediction:1869407161301

46. Kenny Golladay – WR/DET

  • The lead receiver in a Matthew Stafford offense should definitely have its opportunities. Golladay had over 1000 yards and 5 TDs last year. Being only of the only true play makers on the Lions leads to cover schemes against him, which could limit his potential as a high end WR2.

 

RUSHYDSTDRECYDSTD
2018:1807010635
2019 Prediction:42808610947

47. Robert Woods – WR/LAR

  • Robert Woods is an exceptional talent playing in a perfect system. Like Brandin Cooks, Woods’ targets are limited compared to other star receivers. Nevertheless, the high powered Rams’ offense should give him his chances.

 

RUSHYDSTDRECYDSTD
2018:1915718612196
2019 Prediction:1411018110856

48. Tevin Coleman – RB/SF

  • Expected to lead the 49ers backfield, Coleman has tremendous potential this upcoming year. The issue is the unknown workload with fellow runners Jerick McKinnon (coming off ACL surgery) and Matt Breida who showed his talent last year.

 

RUSHYDSTDRECYDSTD
2018:1678004322765
2019 Prediction:2059506342843

49. Kenyan Drake – RB/MIA

  • Another tremendous player with all the attributes a star RB would need. The Dolphins are in a rebuilding position, which could lead to game flow hedging Drake out of some games. He has shown the ability to make plays in the passing game which will help. Either way, Miami’s offense is still a heavy question mark for fantasy owners.

 

RUSHYDSTDRECYDSTD
2018:1205354534775
2019 Prediction:1988806484603

50. Tyler Lockett – WR/SEA

  • Russell Wilson’s favorite deep ball target. Will D.K. Metcalf change that? Not at all. Lockett had 10 TDs and over 1000 yards from scrimmage. Even in the most run heavy offense in the league, Lockett takes his opportunities.

 

RUSHYDSTDRECYDSTD
2018:136905796510
2019 Prediction:107207410468

 

 

Jun 3, 2019 No Comments
2019 NFL Preview: Five Teams On The Rise

2019 NFL Preview: Five Teams On The Rise

NFL

by | Jun 2, 2019 | NFL

The 2019-20 NFL season is steadily getting closer to kicking off. This week most teams are starting Organized Team Activities (OTAs) and the following week will see most teams hold short minicamps.

There has been a fair amount of player movement in the offseason and with rosters still a few months away from being finalized we can only guess what teams will look like on opening weekend in September.

With what we know now, here’s a look at five teams that could be among the cream of the crop in the upcoming season. There are teams that are coming off stellar seasons, teams that disappointed in the playoffs, teams that are on the rise, and teams that have yet to live up to expectations featured below.

As the New England Patriots proved last year, it’s not about how a team starts, but how they finish that matters most. The five teams on this list can either have boom or bust stretches. Look over the list and let us know what you think about these teams heading into the 2019-20 season.

Los Angeles Chargers

 

Dec 3, 2017; Carson, CA, USA; The Los Angeles Chargers defense poses for a picture after free safety Adrian Phillips (31) intercepted a pass during the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Browns at StubHub Center. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

 

The Los Angeles Chargers started off last season as the butt of the jokes in the NFL world. It was their first season in Los Angeles and not only were they playing in a soccer stadium but without a cemented fan base in their new location, most of their home games were infiltrated by fans of the team they were playing that week.Attendance issues aside, the Chargers were one of the best teams in the NFL a season ago. Under the coaching of Anthony Lynn the Chargers stepped out of the shadow of Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs as they made a run to the AFC West title, but ultimately fell short.

Chargers fans got to see another solid year from Philip Rivers (4,308 yards, 32 touchdowns, 12 interceptions, 68.3 completion percentage) and saw the beginnings of a potentially dominant defense come together.

Los Angeles has done well in surrounding Rivers with more playmakers as he gets longer in the tooth. In the backfield, the Chargers have Melvin Gordon who is coming off of a career year that saw him total 14 touchdowns and his yards per carry number finally jump above 4.0 (5.1 YPC in 2018-19).

On the perimeter, Rivers has his trusted ally in Keenan Allen and those two have developed a chemistry that allows them to exploit nearly any type of defense. Mike Williams made good on his promise that helped get him drafted seventh overall in 2017. In their Divisional Round loss to the New England Patriots, Williams was targeted a career-high 11 times.

Lastly, the team hopes that Hunter Henry—who returned from an ACL injury for the Chargers final game of the year—can get a full healthy offseason under his belt and become a mismatch for opponents’ linebackers and safeties going forward.

Defensively this team made its biggest leap. Bookended by edge rushers Melvin Ingram III (11 sacks) and Joey Bosa (7 sacks) Los Angeles had two players in the top 40 of total sacks in the 2018-19 season; and Bosa only played in nine games.

With the modern game becoming more of a pass-first league, the Chargers have invested in their secondary heavily too. Last year’s first round pick, Derwin James made an immediate impact as a rookie. James fluidity allowed him to line up anywhere on the field. In the Chargers playoff win over the Baltimore Ravens it was James who helped keep Lamar Jackson under wraps. James’ 105 tackles led the team. His partner at safety was no slouch either as Adrian Phillips ranked third with 94 tackles.

At corner, the trio of Casey Hayward, Trevor Williams, and Desmond King II did their part to take advantage of the work the line did upfront. Hayward was only targeted 63 times by opposing quarterbacks in 2018. King’s three interceptions tied with James for the team-high and Williams remained solid as a replacement for Jason Verrett.

Chicago Bears

 

Stacy Revere/Getty Images

 

Another team that turned heads over the course of the regular season last year was the Chicago Bears. Bolstered by the preseason acquisition of Khalil Mack, the Bears were a real threat week-by-week. The highlight of the season came when they held the vaunted Los Angeles Rams offense to only six points in Week 14.

Their opening round upset loss to the Philadelphia Eagles was one of the more shocking outcomes of the 2019 playoffs. The Bears were one of teams many thought would hold the Lombardi trophy at the end of last season.

The addition of Mack made Chicago’s defense one of the stingiest in the entire league. We saw Mack’s rise to stardom in Oakland, but with the Bears he became a superstar in front of the world’s eyes. Mack, naturally wreaked havoc off the edge, however his presence made it easier for the other pieces of the Bears defense to be impactful in their areas.

Chicago’s defensive linemen Akiem Hicks, Eddie Goldman, and Roy Robertson-Harris saw a lot more one-in-one opportunities as offensive lines focused on Mack’s presence. On the opposite edge, Leonard Floyd started to come into his own as well. Rookie middle linebacker Roquan Smith acclimated himself well to the NFL and that front seven is one of the best in the entire league.

On offense, new head coach Matt Nagy came over from Kansas City and revitalized that entire side of the ball for the Bears. Nagy brought innovative formations and concepts to Chicago and helped Mitchell Trubisky’s second year in the NFL go a lot smoother than his first.

The Bears signed Allen Robinson, Trey Burton, and Taylor Gabriel as free agents and drafted Anthony Miller of Memphis to reconstruct their passing corps and running back Tarik Cohen was a much bigger part of the team’s aerial attack under Nagy.

Modernizing the offense and putting Trubisky in positions to succeed (play action, bootlegs) helped the Bears offense improve from 30th in yards per game to 21st in Nagy’s first year on the sidelines. With a full year under their belt, the Bears could vaunt into the top half of the league’s offenses for the 2019-20 season.

Chicago brought in Cordarrelle Patterson in free agency and drafted Riley Ridley out of Georgia in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft to give Nagy even more tools to play with this year. If everything comes together, this team has the pieces to make a real run at Super Bowl LIV.

Cleveland Browns

 

Myles Garrett, Jarvis Landry, Odell Beckham Jr. and Baker Mayfield pose with Beckham’s new Browns jersey during a press conference in Berea on Monday. (Doug Lesmerises, cleveland.com)

 

Next up is the team that won the offseason, the Cleveland Browns. First, Browns employees, players, and fans are all coming off the high of winning seven games a year ago. Led by rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield and interim (now head) coach Freddie Kitchens, the Browns almost snuck into the postseason through the backdoor.

Instead of resting on their laurels, the Browns attacked this offseason viciously. The headliner acquisition was wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. Cleveland was able to pry him away from a rebuilding New York Giants team for the low price of their 2019 first round pick (17th overall), a 2019 third round pick (96th overall), and safety Jabrill Peppers.

Cleveland now has the following players to surround Mayfield on offense: Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry, David Njoku, Duke Johnson Jr., Nick Chubb, and Kareem Hunt (suspended for the first 8 games of the season). That’s a lot of Pro Bowl level talent to surround the second-year signal caller with.

With a full offseason to rework the offense and ingratiate a talent like Beckham, Cleveland could be one of the more unstoppable units next year.

In the shadow of Hue Jackson’s disappointing tenure, the Browns have built one of the most talented defenses in the entire NFL. Cleveland has developed in-house All-Pro level talent at each level of their defense: defensive end Myles Garrett, defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi, linebackers Christian Kirksey and Joe Schobert, and defensive back Denzel Ward.

On top of that, they added Sheldon Richardson, Olivier Vernon, Morgan Burnett, and Greedy Williams this offseason too.

In his first year as a head coach, Kitchens will not only have the pressure to produce wins on his shoulders, but he will have to make sure that all this talent they brought in this summer is able to coalesce into a team.

Dallas Cowboys

 

Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images

 

Over the course of the last decade, the Dallas Cowboys have fallen short of the America’s team moniker they earned during their run of dominance from the 1970s through the 1990s.

Since winning the Super Bowl in 1996, the Cowboys have won a total of four playoff games counting their wild card victory over the Seattle Seahawks from last season.

Tired of not meeting expectations, Jerry Jones has managed to collect a triumvirate of offensive players that are the best at their positions since Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, and Michael Irvin rocked the star on their helmets. Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott, and Amari Cooper form the new age quarterback-running back-wide received collection for Jones.

Prescott and Elliott were both drafted in 2016 (Elliott with the fourth overall pick and Prescott in the fourth round) and have become the faces of the franchise in short time. Cooper was acquired at the trade deadline for, what was considered controversial at the time, Dallas’ 2019 first round pick. Cooper lived up to the hype of his return on expectations following the deal and Dallas is now tasked with trying to get all three new long-term deals so they can remain together for the foreseeable future.

Dallas has also managed to build one of the better offensive line units in the NFL as well. In the last couple years the depth has taken a slight hit due to injuries and deflections, but the Cowboys can still put a five-man group on the field that is among the league’s best.

On the other side of the ball, the Cowboys have built an underrated unit. They were able to keep stud defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence when the sides agreed to a five-year, $105 million contract after Dallas placed the franchise tag on him to open free agency.

Then there’s their pair of youthful linebackers in Jaylon Smith and Leighton Vander Esch. Smith was primed to be one of the best players in the entire 2016 draft class until he suffered tears in his ACL and LCL during Notre Dame’s bowl game.

However, Smith has attacked his recovery like a ball carrier in the open field and he looks in-line to becoming the player many saw during his junior year with the Fighting Irish. Vander Esch was drafted as a potential replacement for Sean Lee, yet an injury to Lee sped up Vander Esch’s timeline. He answered the call and put together a very impressive rookie season.

The Cowboys have had some of the shine scrubbed off their franchise in the last two decades, but they now look more like those fabled teams of the past than they have in any season post-Y2K.

San Francisco 49ers

 

Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

 

This team feels like it’s been on the poised to breakout list for each of the past two years. Teaming up offensive mastermind Kyle Shanahan with beloved former Tom Brady backup Jimmy Garoppolo quickly made this team a media darling.  

In their first year together promise was shown on both sides—the team went 6-1 in Garoppolo’s seven starts—and the 49ers believed in Garoppolo enough to award him what was then the richest contract in NFL history (five years, $137.5 million). Yet, year two wasn’t as rewarding for the franchise. Garoppolo was lost for the season after tearing his ACL in a Week 3 game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

At just 26 years old Garoppolo is young enough to bounce back from this and keep progressing towards the quarterback San Francisco thought it stole away from the New England Patriots.

Last season also saw the 49ers lose their big free agent signing, Jerick McKinnon, to a torn ACL in the preseason.

In the aftermath of those two devastating injuries, the 49ers only mustered four victories. However, the year wasn’t a complete lost season. The team unearthed quarterback Nick Mullens and running back Matt Breida as valuable backups; and tight end George Kittle is among the tight ends trying to take the now retired Rob Gronkowski’s title of best in the NFL.

After bringing in former Shanahan-coached running back Tevin Coleman in free agency, the team now has a stable of running backs that are all proven contributors and can all make plays in the run and passing game.

If the injury bug is finally gone from the Bay Area, the 49ers have a collection of talent that should get them into the postseason.

The determining factor will likely be their defense. With the second overall pick they brought in Nick Bosa to team with fellow first round selections Solomon Thomas, DeForest Buckner, and Arik Armstead in hopes of fortifying a dormant pass rush. Trading for Dee Ford was another move done to spruce up that attack. San Francisco also went out and got linebacker Kwon Alexander from Tampa Bay.

The 49ers set an NFL record last season for the fewest turnovers created (seven) in a season. The NFL’s Next Gen Stats list Ford as the player responsibilities for creating the most turnovers in the 2018-19 season. In 46 games, Alexander caused 14 total turnovers—eight fumbles (forced or recovered) and six interceptions. If those two can help the Niners defense get the ball back to their offense more than this team could go from afterthought to contender in just one year.

Jun 2, 2019 No Comments
Dez Bryant To Visit Browns

Dez Bryant To Visit Browns

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by | Aug 15, 2018 | Featured, NFL

Dez Bryant tweeted out almost a week ago that he’d begin visiting potential NFL teams, with the Browns first up of the list. This Thursday, he’ll head out to Cleveland and see how he fits in.

Browns’ head coach Hue Jackson spoke on signing the 29-year old wide reciever, saying “it’s not just a given, you have to work through whatever conversations we have and feel good about it”.

Fans are both intrigued and confused about the whole matter, considering the depth the Browns have at the position. They already have one of the best athletes in the league with Josh Gordon and another star in Jarvis Landry, who arrived this season after spending his first four years with the Dolphins.

Many have began to doubt Bryant due to his indubious drop rate, something that he has been scrutinized for over the past few seasons. He was first-team All-Pro in 2014, yet has neglected to be named since.

Yet at a time where the future for the team’s other wide receivers is uncertain, he might be the perfect fit. Jarvis Landry got into an altercation with teammate Terrance Mitchell on Tuesday, so it’s already an unknown whether or not he’ll fit in with this team.

Josh Gordon has, admirably, declined to report to the football field yet in hopes of continuing the improvement of his mental health. Gordon, who has dealt with anxiety and addiction in the past, returned to the Browns last season for the first time since 2014.

He released a statement on his absence, reading as follows: “I am reaching out to you all personally and letting you know that I am not only doing great physically but mentally as well. You will notice that I will not be in Cleveland for the start of training camp. Rest assured, this, too, is a part of my overall health and treatment plan.”

Considering it is unknown how long the break he is taking will last, signing Dez Bryant makes sense. It will ease the load off of Gordon and everyone else’s back, and another WR can’t hurt at a time when third-string rookie Antonio Callaway has already been cited for marijuana and driving on a suspended license.

Bryant is still respectable in the red zone, and can fill in when necessary (assuming things even work out, and the two sides can agree on a deal). On a team with fresh quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Tyrod Taylor, Cleveland might be able to pull together a decent season.

Aug 15, 2018 No Comments
SneakerReporter.com 2018 Fantasy Football Rankings

SneakerReporter.com 2018 Fantasy Football Rankings

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by | Aug 13, 2018 | Featured, NFL

NFL football means fantasy football. Where you can compete with friends or random people, and may even bet-obviously for entertainment purpose. The real talent is drafting the right players for the perfect team. The perfect team would obviously be the best players in each position but that is almost impossible. So the alternate route is to draft by importance, not by best available talent.

 

First focus on the WR position, because they bring in the most consistent points. This would mean players such as Antonio Brown and Julio Jones, but let’s say someone beat you to drafting them. The next choices need to be made in the thought of who is a threat but not double teamed every play. Who would be the best choice for you? Josh Gordon is your target. Alongside Jarvis Landry, he will be in a lot of 1v1 action. Not to mention, he is as athletic as they come in the NFL. Another player to get is Keenan Allen. He is the number one guy for the Chargers but the threat of second-year receiver Mike Williams will be enough for Allen to have a lot of man coverage. Keenan Allen is as talented as the top two talents earlier discussed. These two should bring in double-digit numbers consistently!

 

1. Antonio Brown – 2017 Stats (101 Rec, 1,533 Yds, 9 TD)

 

2. Julio Jones – 2017 Stats (88 Rec, 1,444 Yds, 3 TD)

 

3.  DeAndre Hopkins – 2017 Stats (96 Rec, 1,378 Yds, 13 TD)

 

4. Odell Beckham Jr – 2017 Stats (25 Rec, 302 Yds, 3 TD) Broken Ankle

 

5. AJ Green – 2017 Stats (75 Rec, 1,078 Yds, 8 TD)

 

Second focus should be the RB position. During this part of the draft, the best QBs will be gone and top WRs as well. Leaving the Runningback position. This is where you can draft the best talent of all positions. Focus on Saquon Barkley, Todd Gurley, Leveon Bell, Ezekiel Elliot and David Johnson. These guys will get a consistent workload every weak which means points.

 

1. Todd Gurley – 2017 Stats (279 Rush Attempts, 1,305 Yds, 13 TD) (64 Rec, 788 Rec Yards, 6 TD)

 

2. Le’Veon Bell – 2017 Stats (321 Rush Attempts, 1,291 Yds, 9 TD) (85 Rec, 655 Rec Yards, 2 TD)

 

3. Ezekiel Elliott – 2017 Stats (242 Rush Attempts, 983 Yds, 7 TD) (26 Rec, 269 Rec Yards, 2 TD) 6 Game Suspension

 

4. Saquon Barkley – 2018 Stats Projection (289 Rush Attempts, 1,225 Yds, 8 TD) (54 Rec, 589 Rec Yards, 3 TD) 

 

5. Alvin Kamara – 2017 Stats (120 Rush Attempts, 728 Yds, 8 TD) (81 Rec, 826 Rec Yards, 5 TD)

 

Next prime focus will be at the QB position. The best would be Aaron Rodgers and Carson Wentz would be your choice, but the chances of them being available are slim to none. You do not need a HOF QB but a consistent one. Place your bet on players such as Mathew Stafford, Case Keenum, Tyrod Taylor, and maybe Drew Brees or Russell Wilson. The next part of your draft will be players whom other people are passing for big-name superstars. The WR/RB position or the swing position is a key part into a high scoring game for you. Get players such as Tyreke Hill, Kareem Hunt, Duke Johnson, The Broncos receiving core, and Sterling Shepard.

 

1. Aaron Rodgers – 2017 Stats (1675 Yds, 6 INTs, 16 TD) (24 Rush Attempts, 126 Yds, 0 TD)

 

2. Tom Brady – 2017 Stats (4577 Yds, 8 INTs, 32 TD) (25 Rush Attempts, 28 Yds, 0 TD)

 

3. Russell Wilson – 2017 Stats (3983 Yds, 11 INTs, 34 TD) (95 Rush Attempts, 586 Yds, 3 TD)

 

4. Cam Newton – 2017 Stats (3302 Yds, 16 INTs, 22 TD) (139 Rush Attempts, 754 Yds, 6 TD)

 

5. Deshaun Watson – 2017 Stats (1699 Yds, 8 INTs, 19 TD) (36 Rush Attempts, 269 Yds, 2 TD)

 

Finally draft the hardest position to get consistent points from, Tight End. The big name TEs will be gone by now such as Gronk or Jimmy Graham. The focus is to get someone who is on the rise or in a great fit. These guys would be Travis Kelce, who may be gone but also may have been forgotten. The players in a good fit would be Delanie Walker and Zack Ertz. On the rise would be Evan Engram and Jack Doyle.

 

1. Rob Gronkowski – 2017 Stats (69 Rec, 1,084 Yds, 8 TD)

 

2. Travis Kelce – 2017 Stats (83 Rec, 1,038 Yds, 8 TD)

 

3. Zach Ertz – 2017 Stats (74 Rec, 824 Yds, 8 TD)

 

4. Greg Olsen – 2017 Stats (17 Rec, 191 Yds, 1 TD)

 

5. Evan Engram – 2017 Stats (64 Rec, 722 Yds, 6 TD)

 

Now step three in drafting your perfect team, the Defense/ST category. Get ahead in drafting this position with your top picks. This is usually the “sleeper” position which can either make or break a win for you. The Denver Broncos have been the most consistent of the best defense in the past 5 years. They will be your best bet into a perfect team. The next two teams are the next best options. The Los Angeles Rams and Minnesota Vikings are targeting two and three. They have some of the top defensive players in the NFL.

 

1. Jacksonville Jaguars Defense/Special Teams – Fantasy Points in 2017 (169.0)

 

2. Minnesota Vikings Defense/Special Teams – Fantasy Points in 2017 (83.0)

 

3. Los Angeles Rams Defense/Special Teams – Fantasy Points in 2017 (131.0)

 

4. Philadelphia Eagles Defense/Special Teams – Fantasy Points in 2017 (130.0)

 

5. Houston Texans Defense/Special Teams – Fantasy Points in 2017 (90.0)

 

This team you have drafted will not be the best players overall but together create the best roster overall. To put an exclamation point on your picks, draft your sleeper picks or bench warmers. Players people may not know about such as Patrick Mahomes, Cole Beasley, Devonte Booker, and Philip Rivers. This team should give you a great chance to win it all. However, this is football where nobody knows nothing so you never know. Except for this logic of mine has won my league three times in the past five years. Now go win your league!

 

Fantasy Football Sleepers

 

 

 

Aug 13, 2018 No Comments
NFL Football Is Back!!!! Kicking Off With The Hall Of Fame Game Tonight

NFL Football Is Back!!!! Kicking Off With The Hall Of Fame Game Tonight

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by | Aug 2, 2018 | Featured, NFL

The 2017-2018 season ended with the underdogs on top! The Philadelphia Eagles, against all odds in the playoffs with a loss of their franchise QB a few games before the playoffs began; pulled off a victory over New England in the Super Bowl! The next taste of football was during April, in the NFL Draft, where teams drafted the future of their organizations. However, those three days were far too short to fill the absence of football games itself. The in-between from late April until now consisted of mini-camps and free agent acquisitions. The taste of football is finally here!

 

The NFL schedule begins today, preseason that is. This is the time fans get to see their team’s new players and a small sample of what to expect for the season. The Baltimore Ravens face the Chicago Bears in the Hall Of Fame game on a Thursday night. The Chicago Bears have just come off a terrifying year, where nothing seemed to go right for them. They completed the year at (5-11). I wouldn’t be too excited Chicago fans, The Bears schedule is tough this year. A team that is going to be young and reshaping itself as an organization with yet again another coach.

The Baltimore Ravens had another year of “In The Hunt” during the end of the year to reach an average (9-7) record. Yes, they broke .500, but that does not take away from the fact that ever since they won the Super Bowl, they have been in “average limbo”. Meaning they have a chance to make the playoffs during week 17 every year, and they either fall short or squeak into the Wild Card and get knocked out immediately.

The Ravens may have an exciting year with a QB competition that may spark into a controversy mid-season. Lamar Jackson, the Ravens first round pick this year and signing former first-round pick RG3; Joe Flacco has to either show up and play as his paycheck demands or get out of the way of these two rising stars. Preseason games never matter record wise but for a smooth transition back into football, it would only be right to predict a winner. I believe the Ravens take care of business with a 31-20 victory.

Here are some key players to watch out for in tonight’s game. Check out some of the highlights below

Rookie QB (Lamar Jackson)

 

Second Year Running Back (Tarik Cohen)

 

This transition back into the NFL seems to always tease fans with playing games on any other day EXCEPT Sundays. Maybe it’s good for us as fans, a time to transition from the boring month of July and escape the gruesome lengthy games that MLB has to offer. Most of us are getting over the “high” that the NBA season and it’s free agency brings late June and early July. This gives people some time to adapt back into the depths of unpredictable ruins each NFL game brings. NFL football is back.

 

Follow @NFL_SR for more updates on the season

 

Aug 2, 2018 No Comments
NFL Thursday Night Football: Pittsburgh Steelers vs Tennessee Titans

NFL Thursday Night Football: Pittsburgh Steelers vs Tennessee Titans

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by | Nov 16, 2017 | Featured, NFL

Two contenders will put their four game winning streak on the line tonight in a primetime Thursday night game. The Tennessee Titans visit Heinz Field to face off against The Pittsburgh Steelers. The Titans (6-3) come in tied with the Jacksonville Jaguars atop the AFC North and look to take a one game lead in the division while, The Steelers (7-3) has a three game lead and look to take a four game commanding lead in the AFC North Division.

 

Injuries will be a big part of tonight’s game in this short week 11 matchup. Titans star quarterback Marcus Mariota is dealing with ankle and shoulder injuries, so look forward to Tennessee leaning heavily on the running game. Stud running-backs DeMarco Murray(433 yards, four TD’s)  and Derrick Henry(409 yards, three TD’s) will look to carry much of the load tonight while Mariota battles through these nagging injuries. For Pittsburgh, most of their injuries are on the defensive side. 2x time pro bowler Joe Haden will be out for tonight’s game and will be sidelined for 5 to 6 weeks.

 

Linebacker James Harrison and Safety Mike Mitchell will be questionable for tonight’s game.
Defending AFC North Champions Steelers are 2-1 at home this season, winning tonight will better their chances of winning consecutive division titles. On the other side The Tennessee Titans are 2-2 on the road this season, Titans are trying to snap a eight-season playoff drought.
Look for Ben Roethlisberger to bounce back from a tough outing against the Indianapolis Colts Ben played well enough in the 4th quarter to sneak by the Colts with a 20-17 win but struggled most of the game.

 

I expect Le’Veon Bell who has 1,091 yards from scrimmage (840 rushing, 251 receiving) to lead the NFL entering week 11, and Pro Bowl wide receiver Antonio Brown (60 receptions, 882 yards)  to continue their amazing play on the field tonight. The Titans will have to keep a eye out on rookie wide out JuJu Smith-Schuster who is making great improvements every week, he is becoming one of Ben Roethlisberger favorite targets.
The Steelers rank No. 10 in total offense and No. 18 in scoring with an average of 20.8 points per game. They meet a Titans team that ranks 17th in total defense and No. 23 with 23.7 points allowed per game.
On the opposite side of the ball, Tennessee’s offense is No. 19 with 328.7 yards a game.

 

They will face a Steelers unit that boasts the No. 2 total defense and scoring defense (16.4 points allowed per game).
Look for both defenses to try to make their mark on tonight’s game, and I expect both teams to play very well on a short week. I believe this football game will come down to the final possession of the game in this great AFC matchup.

 

The last meeting between these two teams was The Steelers came out victorious in a 27-24 win look for the score to be similar tonight.
Prediction: 24-20 Steelers

 

 

Written by Mike Jones

Nov 16, 2017 No Comments