Cincinnati Bengals

AFC North Predictions

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AFC North Predictions for 2022

by Tim Lazenby

 

Heading toward 2022 faster than we all think, each team in the NFL has the chance to repeat greatness or correct disaster.  Whether you finished dead last or won the Lombardi Trophy, each team begins anew with an unscathed record.  As we look at the AFC North, it is a division ripe with rivalry and storylines.  Let’s attempt to figure out how each team will do for the upcoming season.

 

Baltimore Ravens

Record in 2021: 8-9-0  

Predicted Record in 2022: 9-8-0

 

Strengths and Weaknesses

Last season the Baltimore Ravens were decimated with injuries.  Looking ahead, a healthy, albeit unhappy, Lamar Jackson is crucial to the team’s success.  Arguably the best tight end in the league on your team doesn’t hurt, and let’s not forget about promising JK Dobbins coming back from injury himself.  The worry is that even though there are high hopes for Rashod Bateman, the receiving group is among the least tested in the entire NFL.  

 

Situation to watch

All eyes are on Kyle Hamilton when it comes to draftees from the Ravens this off season, and why not?  He fell so far, the value was insane.  But I’m even more interested in fellow first round pick, Tyler Linderbaum.  With Bradley Bozeman leaving for Carolina, Eric DeCosta drafted just what the doctor ordered.  The only thing holding Linderbaum back is his size but thankfully, putting on weight is a lot easier than putting on talent.

 

Conclusion

If I’m being honest here, I don’t see how the Ravens only get 9 wins if the team stays healthy, but I have to stand by my assessment.  I see some key losses early on and a bad stretch to end the season.  Until they can do better against their own division, it’s not going to look pretty.  That being said, I can still see them in the playoffs.

 

Cincinnati Bengals

Record in 2021: 10-7-0  

Predicted Record in 2022: 12-5-0

Strengths and Weaknesses

I can still hear, “WHO DEY” in my sleep.  Talk about fans coming out of the woodwork.  When it comes to offenses, there aren’t many higher powered than the Bengals.  Once Burrow and Chase reunited, they didn’t look back.  But I can’t remember such a bad offensive line carrying their team so far as they did for the Bengals last season.  And even though it’s vastly improved, you wonder if it’s enough.

 

Situation to watch

As I mentioned before in the glaring weakness for the Bengals, the offensive line needs to improve drastically for further success.  While Joe Burrow is fantastic, he’s not a magician.  Getting sacked 70 times last season had to take a toll.  And while the Cinderella run was awe inspiring, if this situation is not corrected, there will be no ball next time; just disappointed mice and a smashed pumpkin.

 

Conclusion

My prediction for this team is quite believable considering what they accomplished last season.  The offensive talent is brimming over the edge, but let’s not forget about the unheralded defense, with the secondary in particular.  While fans are probably still jeering poor Eli Apple, players like Chidobie Awuzie and Mike Hilton are at the top of their game.  I have no doubt that the Bengals take the AFC North again, only this time it will be with more authority.

 

Cleveland Browns

Record in 2021: 8-9-0  

Predicted Record in 2022: 8-9-0

Strengths and Weaknesses

When it comes to the Cleveland Browns, the running game led by Nick Chubb is among the best in the NFL.  Possibly the best pure runner in the league, when paired with a healthy Kareem Hunt, it can be mesmerizing.  The highly polarizing arrival of Deshaun Watson will bring a new era, but it comes with its own drama.  Changing the team’s identity is not a task easily performed.

 

Situation to watch

The first fully healthy season from Myles Garrett since 2018 did not disappoint.  While names like TJ Watt, Aaron Donald and Micah Parsons are spoken of so often as elite defenders, (and rightfully so), so many forget to mention Garrett.  He needs to receive more praise for what he does each season.  On a side note, I’d also love to see a full season from Denzel Ward and Jadeveon Clowney.

 

Conclusion

I can’t wait for the day when I don’t see a drama headline about either Deshaun Watson or Baker Mayfield when it comes to Cleveland.  I see this team underachieving, not due to a lack of talent, but due to the noise.  If they can settle down and just play football, they have the tools to contend for the division, but it doesn’t seem likely for 2022.  Another year, it seems, of middling progress before they find their footing awaits.

 

Pittsburgh Steelers

Record in 2021: 9-7-1  

Predicted Record in 2022: 11-6-0

Strengths and Weaknesses

When it comes to the strengths of the Steelers, Najee Harris leads the charge and don’t forget about underrated Diontae Johnson at receiver.  But as we all know, the quarterback situation is quite uncertain.  It’s coming down to last chance Mitchell Trubisky or fresh from the draft Kenny Pickett.  While neither are expected to be Big Ben, it’s worrisome in these uncharted waters.

 

Situation to watch

Obviously, as we just discussed, the situation to watch is the quest to find the heir apparent for Roethlisberger.  And even if it is decided eventually, I can’t see it being right away.  Yinzers will have to hold their breath as they eagerly await the captain to steer this ship.  After all, the last time Big Ben wasn’t the starter it was Tommy Maddox leading the charge.  It just feels strange to see anyone else, but we must press on.

 

Conclusion

Much like the Ravens, my prediction for the Steelers surprises even me.  In my heart of hearts, there has to be regression, but based on my calculations, it’s actually looking upward for Steel Town.  In order for this to happen, there can’t be any wasted time.  The defense must carry the team until the starting quarterback emerges.

Dynasty Dilemma: Tee Higgins

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Dynasty Dilemma: Tee Higgins

By Darren Smith

 

The NFL draft is rapidly approaching. This year, there is a stacked wide receiver class that is about to enter the NFL. Some of these guys like Garrett Wilson, Treylon Burks, Drake London, Chris Olave, and Jameson Williams will become fantasy studs - but a few of them are bound to bust. Most of the time with 1st round draft picks, my strategy is to trade them for players that have already broken out to completely avoid a bust pick. One guy that I have been seeing get traded around for 1st round picks often (including myself) has been Bengals WR, Tee Higgins.

But what about Ja’Marr Chase? Isn’t he the WR1 on the Bengals? Yes, yes he is. In fact, he is the consensus WR #1 in most dynasty rankings. Due to Chase’s price being so high, value might be found in his counterpart. Let’s break down Tee Higgins to see if he should be a 

Dynasty Buy or Sell.

Situation

The Cincinnati Bengals are an up and coming team as they just had their first Super Bowl appearance since 1988. Quarterback Joe Burrow is a star in the making, throwing over 4,600 yards and 34 touchdowns in 2021. The Bengals have made a point in free agency to protect Burrow, which has been a main concern since he was drafted. With offensive line signings such as OT La’el Collins, OG Alex Cappa, and C Ted Karras, Burrow should feel more comfortable in the pocket and be able to have time to get the ball out quickly and accurately. This can only benefit his receivers. The Bengals offense is trending in the right direction, making Tee Higgins situation feel safe as we know they have a franchise QB that they are building around. 

Volume

Tee Higgins broke out his rookie season in 2020 scoring 194 fantasy points in PPR leagues with 108 targets and 67 receptions. These are pretty solid numbers for just a 21 year old rookie WR. Dynasty managers were comfortable with his position, until the Bengals took Ja’Marr Chase 5th overall in 2021. Being a WR2 on a team lowers value to fantasy managers as they believe the WR1 will take away volume and “steal targets” from them. This isn’t always the case. 

With Chase being added to the Bengals, Higgins' targets in 2021 actually increased from 2020, all while playing two less games due to minor injury. Chase is obviously a huge deep threat, which actually opens up targets underneath for Higgins to grab. From Week 12 on, Higgins had 50 targets, and Chase had less at 45.

Efficiency

As the 2021 season progressed, Higgins' efficiency only got better. From Week 12 forward, Higgins average depth of target was 12.57 yards. This is actually higher than Chase’s average depth of target, who is supposedly the one to stretch the field. Once Tee catches the ball, he gets down field quickly. Higgins’ average yards per catch after Week 12 was an astonishing 17.58 yards, compared to Chase’s 13.97. 

In Week 16, Higgins scored a whopping 43.4 points and had 13 targets with 12 receptions for 194 yards and two touchdowns. This gives you a glimpse of his ceiling even while being considered the WR2 on the team. To prove even further that Chase doesn’t have a huge effect on Higgins - Chase had 19.5 points on 125 yards in that same week. They can both have top WR numbers in the same game.

 

Snap Count

While Tee is efficient, he doesn’t see the field 100% of the time. Higgins snap count did increase throughout the 2021 season ranging from a mere 57% up to 87%. This shouldn’t be a huge red flag, but other top receivers can play close to 95% of the snaps. For now, we can not expect him to be an every down receiver.

Touchdowns

Touchdowns are a big part of scoring in fantasy football. Higgins scored 6 touchdowns in 2021, with only 4 of them coming in the Red Zone. You can’t expect Tee to be a Mike Evans type and be a touchdown machine - however he did have 15 targets in the Red Zone which ranks 39th overall in the NFL in 2021. This is yet again ahead of Ja’Marr Chase (44th), but still not a satisfying statistic. With the Bengals building a solid offense, I only see Red Zone opportunities increasing for all Bengals receivers, but we have to temper expectations with Joe Mixon taking a decent amount of carries near the goal line.

Dynasty Value

While there aren't too many reasons to sell Higgins based on his performance, his consensus ranking and dynasty value can make a case to sell. Higgins is listed as a top 12 receiver in most of the top viewed dynasty rankings, however he finished as the WR #24 in PPR leagues. This means you can sell Higgins for someone that historically scores more points than him, plus some additional pieces. For example, Keenan Allen outscored Higgins in 2021, but most managers would probably give him and a 2nd round rookie pick for Higgins. While I don’t think Tee is overvalued, if you need to expand your team at other positions he can be sold at a premium for some valuable pieces.

 

As you can see, Dynasty managers should not at all be concerned with Ja’Marr Chase taking away volume from Tee Higgins. He is a stand alone receiver on the Bengals that had higher efficiency numbers than Chase, and if anything should be considered the 1B to Chase’s 1A. The Bengals offense is set to explode yet again in 2022 with Burrow leading the helm. Higgins’ only pain points are with snap count and touchdowns, which could easily increase this season. While the price may be high (but fair), Higgins value will only increase from now on. Now is the time to buy Higgins. My money is where my mouth is - I traded 1.10 and a ‘23 1st for him last month, and I have seen him go for even higher than that in other leagues.

 

 

 

Follow me on Twitter @FFBirdGang

Dynasty Deathmatch: Chase vs. Jefferson

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Dynasty Deathmatch: Ja'Marr Chase vs Justin Jefferson

By Ryan Ramsarran

Jefferson versus Chase has been a long debate throughout this offseason regarding  who is the overall WR1 in Dynasty right now. Once teammates at LSU, to now competitors, these two players are young, talented and will be top of their game for the next decade. Both have reasons for being considered the Overall WR1 in Dynasty.

Ja’Marr Chase

Ja’Marr Chase showed he was an elite talent right from his first NFL game. During Week 1 in a game against the Vikings, he had 5 catches for 101 yards and a touchdown, which included a huge 50 yard touchdown. Chase set some impressive records this year, including having the most receiving yards in a season by a rookie (since the beginning of the Super Bowl Era) with 1455 yards. He also set the record for most reception yards in a game by a rookie with 266 yards. Chase was 4th overall among receivers in yards per target (17.19), and was third in touchdowns (14) last year. Chase put up elite numbers in his ROOKIE season and is going to be an absolute star. He finished as the WR5 in PPR leagues and was WR3 in standard leagues along with winning Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Chase is tied to a great young quarterback in Joe Burrow, and they are coming off a Super Bowl appearance last season. Burrow and Chase already had a ton of chemistry from their time in LSU and are clearly going to be one of the most iconic  QB-WR duos in the NFL for years to come. There were a lot of plays last year (including one on the LAST PLAY of the Super Bowl) where Chase is wide open but Burrow didn't have enough time to throw the ball. The Bengals know they have an Offensive Line problem and will work to solve it this offseason. Once they do,  Burrow will have a much easier time getting the ball in Chase’s hands. 

 

Justin Jefferson

Justin Jefferson has been making headlines ever since the infamous Jalen Reagor pick right before him by the Eagles in the 2020 draft, which had the entire NFL community shocked. Fast Forward to today: Jefferson has set a record as the only wide receiver EVER to have 3000 receiving yards in their first two seasons in the NFL. Needless to say, Jefferson is an absolute target monster. 

Last year, he ranked 4th overall in total targets (167) and was 3rd highest in team target share percentage at 29.9%. Jefferson has a very steady amount of targets resulting in a much safer floor than Chase. Chase only had a 24.1% target share (7.5 targets per game) - a big part of that being Tee Higgins presence on the offense (7.9 targets per game in 14 games played). Jefferson is the clear alpha on the Vikings, and the passing game entirely revolves around him. Chase also relied a little more on big plays last year whereas Jefferson had a steady 9.8 targets & 95 yards per game. Jefferson is a PPR cheat code and will easily be a top-5 receiver for years to come. Jefferson finished his first two years as the WR6 and WR4 in fantasy. He’s been a star right from the get go and will continue to be a top tier talent for years to come. 

 

Final Thoughts

This battle will continue on for a very long time. These are 2 of the best receivers in the game right now, and they are both under 24 years old. At this point, Jefferson has given us a 2 year sample of his abilities and fantasy production. He also has a much safer floor than Chase due to his very high target share (+ his higher total targets & targets per game) and lack of reliance on big plays. Chase’s floor may improve going forward, and definitely has a case for being the overall WR1 - but at this point in time, I’m rolling with JJ. 

 

Winner: Justin Jefferson

 

 

Follow me on Twitter @RyanR_FF

AFC North Best Values

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AFC North Best Values

By Tim Lazenby

Isn’t dynasty the best format for fantasy football?  I don’t know why anyone plays any other version.  There’s just something about managing a team that will be with you for as long as you see fit.  And while some like the “reset” that each new year brings in redraft, I’ll never understand the appeal of losing what I worked so hard to get.  No matter what type of fantasy football you choose to play, finding values is essential.  For those of us who play dynasty, we can pretty much make moves whenever we want, so this is a big advantage over those who hibernate from fantasy football in the offseason.  Today, let’s delve deep into the caverns of the AFC North to look for the best value player each team has to offer.  This is my second favorite division, so I’m excited.

 

Baltimore Ravens:  Wide Receiver - Marquise Brown

If we’re being honest, the Baltimore Ravens overall are underrated.  Aside from Mark Andrews, many of their skilled players just aren’t given the respect they are due in drafts and trades.  So finding values is a lot easier on this team than others.  The only issue is picking the best value in Baltimore, and for me it has to be Marquise Brown.  While so many are flocking to Mark Andrews when it comes to seeing talent, don’t be foolish and overlook Hollywood.  In fact, among wide receivers, he’s one of the better values in the entire National Football League.

Marquise Brown, despite all his talent, will always be seen as that guy who is the team’s top wide receiver, but one that will always struggle for consistency.  Whether it is Mark Andrews taking so many of Lamar’s targets or the butter fingers that Brown showed last season, not many have the faith that they should in Baltimore’s top wide receiver.  If I’m being completely honest, will Marquise Brown be a top ten wide receiver next season?  The answer is not likely.  But that doesn’t mean that he won’t be a solid WR2 with upside for a WR1.  And if one more person tells me that Rashod Bateman is taking over, I might lose my marbles.  Make no mistake, not only will Marquise Brown be a steal for you, he’s the best steal on the Ravens roster.

 

Cincinnati Bengals: Tight End - Hayden Hurst

I can still hear “who dey” in my sleep after last season’s Super Bowl appearance for the Cincinnati Bengals.  I’m not sure where all these fans came from, but they sure did make an appearance.  I am a little biased here as the Bengals are my second favorite team, but if you don’t at least own a piece of this offense, you are doing yourself a great disservice.  It would make sense to put the likes of Tyler Boyd or even Tee Higgins here, as many seem to forget anyone other than superstar Ja’Marr Chase are in Cincinnati, but I’m going to suggest Hayden Hurst as the best value here.

I know it sounds crazy to say it.  After all, despite being a first round draft pick by the Ravens, he hasn’t had the success that Baltimore predicted when they took him before they even took Lamar Jackson.  And his time in Atlanta certainly didn’t bear fruit, so why believe in him now?  If you saw what Joe Burrow did with CJ Uzomah last season, you’ll see the logic.  Uzomah was always a good tight end, but his stats didn’t reflect it.  Last season, in his only full go with Burrow, we watched Uzomah crush career numbers and be leaned on in critical situations.  I think Hayden Hurst is headed for a resurgence in one of the league’s most high flying offenses and, at the hardest fantasy position, he’s probably gathering dust on the waiver wire as we speak.

 

Cleveland Browns: Wide Receiver - Donovan Peoples-Jones

We’re headed for a new era in Cleveland here, folks.  Although Baker Mayfield is still with the team, Deshaun Watson is now in town and they will revamp anything and everything for him to be successful.  If you’ve forgotten or didn’t know, the haul that the Browns gave up for a guy who hasn’t played in over a year, had massive legal issues and problems with his old front office is truly unprecedented.  I’m not going to comment on any of it, but I’m just saying, the Browns are completely invested in Watson.  Although the Browns will most likely bring in wide receiver talent through free agency, trading or the draft, I think we should be investing in what’s there now.

 

The days of OBJ and Jarvis Landry are history.  Until there is new movement, the top option for Deshaun Watson is none other than Donovan Peoples-Jones.  The statistics aren’t jaw dropping, but let’s consider he was playing behind one to three other players at times last year and was receiving from a quarterback who didn’t best utilize his talents.  Under this new offensive regime, I am completely certain that  Peoples-Jones will crush it.  Now's the time to pounce and grab a guy who did very well considering his circumstances last season.  I also believe, though it saddens me, that Nick Chubb will be a little less involved considering Watson’s style of play versus Mayfield’s.  The path is clear for Peoples-Jones to shine and shouldn’t it be for your team?

 

Pittsburgh Steelers: Wide Receiver - Chase Claypool

Up until two years ago, the Pittsburgh Steelers were my real life favorite team.  I have seen so many Big Ben to Antonio Brown touchdowns that I can’t even count.  Many fans haven’t even seen their team win a championship and I’ve seen a few, so they were good times.  Needless to say, I’ve moved on to another team we’ll discuss in the next article so I feel that, for the first time, I can be completely unbiased about Pittsburgh and what they have to offer for your fantasy team as far as values.

It is very tempting to put MItch Trubisky’s name here, but I just can’t until after the draft.  If I knew that Pittsburgh had not taken one in the draft, I’d be writing about Trubisky, but I can’t sell the farm on him just yet.  With that in mind, I turn to Chase Claypool.  I have the world of respect for Diontae Johnson, and although he is undervalued, the blindness toward Claypool’s talents is even greater.  Mad respect for Big Ben, but it wasn’t good these past couple years, so Claypool’s value will not go down in the receiving game.  It will go up substantially as JuJu is gone and Claypool is the true number two option.  I also love the fact that Chase is so involved in the rushing game.  While he’s not at Deebo Samuel level, Claypool’s no slouch in that regard.  With uncertainty at quarterback and an attempt to save Najee’s strength a bit, I think Claypool is more used as a rusher as well.  Make the move for Chase Claypool.

 

Follow me on Twitter @NFLazenby

Kicking and Streaming: Week 4 Streamers

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by Andy Heidemann

What is Streaming in Fantasy Football?

When playing fantasy, there are a lot of players who are considered "every week starts". Some of these players include Christian McCaffrey, Davante Adams, Travis Kelce and so on. There are a few positions in fantasy football that don't have as many every week starters. Quarterbacks, defenses and kickers are very streamable positions, meaning that they're usually able to have their spots filled in a pinch off of the waiver fire and free agency.

Every week, I'm going to bring you the most up to date streamers moving forward to make life as easy as possible for you! There will be two lists. The first list will be the best streams for the players matchup the upcoming week. The second list will be a players 3 week outlook for long term streamability.

Let's get started.

 

Quarterbacks:

Sam Darnold

Next Three Games - DAL, PHI, MIN

Average Ownership: 13.2%

Sleeper: 10%

NFL: 14.5%

ESPN: 15.1%

Free at last, free at last, thank God almighty, Darnold is free at last! That's right, free from the grasp that is the New York Jets and Adam Gase, Sam Darnold has been thriving in Carolina. Not only has he been killing it with his new team, this week he is going up against a soft Dallas Cowboys defense. A defense that has given up 402 yards of offense per game on average so far this season. Ranked 23rd in average fantasy points given up to the QB position with 22.8.

Darnold has the weapons to compete week in, week out for a top 12 fantasy football finish. The Panthers have shown that they also have no problems making the option call on the goal line, allowing Darnold some juicy goal line carry opportunities. After the Cowboys, he gets the Eagles and Vikings, another set of softer defenses. The Minnesota Vikings also rank in the bottom 6 in terms of average QB points allowed with 23.5. If you need a stream this week, Sam is my first option for sure.

 

Matt Ryan

Next Games - WAS, NYJ

Average Ownership: 48.1%

Sleeper: 93%

NFL: 19.6%

ESPN: 31.6%

Okay, I know this offense is struggling. And they aren't just struggling number wise, but they are not passing the eye test in any stretch of the imagination. So why is Matt Ryan a top streamer? Because he plays the Washington Football Team and has Ridley and Pitts as weapons, that's why. Before the season began, many people believed that Washington would be a legit defense and be hard to match up against. It's early yet but... it looks like that might have been wrong. Over the first three weeks, Washington has given up 1,295 yards and 92 points. They are also ranked dead last in fantasy points allowed to the QB with an average of 27.7 points a week.

Yikes.

Then in week 5, Ryan and the Falcons take on the New York Jets so he'll be streamable then as well. Sadly, he's on BYE the following week but you'll get two games out of Ryan in one pickup this week. If you need a streaming option and he's available in your league, check out Matt Ryan.

 

Ryan Tannehill

Next Games - NYJ, JAX

Average: 70.2%

Sleeper: 46%

NFL: 86.5

ESPN: 78%

The Jets have been bad. Oh man, have they been bad. They haven't been the worst about giving up yardage, but instead points. They give up an average of 23.4 points a game, which is pretty awful. Ryan Tannehill is efficient with the ball and isn't usually asked to do more than is necessary, so this week he has a chance to be solid if you really need a QB start.

The meat of this pickup is the fact that the Titans play the Jacksonville Jaguars in week 5. Defensively, they're even worse than the Jets because Urban Meyer hasn't figured it out yet. If you need the stream, Tannehill should be a nice option for your fantasy football team.

 

Joe Burrow

Next Three Games - JAX, GB, DET

Average: 74.6%

Sleeper: 84%

NFL: 72.9%

ESPN: 67.6%

Joe Burrow is pretty widely owned in a lot of leagues. However, I feel I have to mention him with his upcoming three game schedule. Wowza... Jacksonville, Green Bay and Detroit? Get ready for the continuation of last season's breakout.

Starting with Jacksonville, they've given up 418 offensive yards, 28.3 points per game and have given up 21.5 fantasy points to quarterbacks per match this season. Mix that with an offense that's clicking and you've got a recipe for monster fantasy points

Both the Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions are within the bottom 10 in fantasy points allowed to the QB spot so Burrow is a full go.

Defenses:

Cincinnati Bengals

Next Three Games - JAX, GB, DET

Average: 21.5%

Sleeper: 12%

NFL: 10.5%

ESPN: 41.9%

The Bengals so far this season have racked up 10 sacks, 3 forced fumbles and 3 interceptions. Against a team with a green NFL head coach and a rookie quarterback in Trevor Lawrence, there's a chance for big fantasy points to be scored for your fantasy football team this week. Not a whole lot to say about this matchup other than the Bengals defense isn't widely owned and the Jags stink.

Green Bay is a much harder matchup but Detroit should be much kinder to the Bengals in week 6. Short term stream, yes. Long term stream, maybe if you can hold out over the Packers.

 

Tennessee Titans

Next Games - NYJ, JAX

Average: 25.9%

Sleeper: 17%

NFL: 24.3%

ESPN: 36.6%

The Titans are my #1 fantasy football streamers defense this week and next week. Week 1 was a bit of a mess for Tennessee but they bounced back nicely last week against the Colts in a must win divisional game. Earning three and two sacks in the past two games, they are starting to wind up and get some momentum. And what better way to build momentum than playing the worst offense in the NFL in week 4 and then Jacksonville in week 5? This past week, the Colts only put up 16 points on the Titans and they are much better than the Jets.

I expect the Titans to be a top defense over the next two weeks as their opponents lack of good offense helps them out.

 

Green Bay Packers

Next Three Games - PIT, CIN, CHI

Average: 25.9%

Sleeper: 23%

NFL: 35.1%

ESPN: 19.6%

The Pittsburgh Steelers are a mess and their QB situation is falling apart. The Packers have given up some of the most points to the quarterback position this fantasy football season but with Big Ben looking the way he currently does and the Steelers not having a healthy wide receiver room, the Packers are a sneaky stream to grab off the waiver wire for week 4.

The Bengals may be too tough to play the Packers defense against but when week 7 rolls around, you can certainly start them against the Chicago Bears if Matt Nagy is still the Head Coach.

 

Kickers:

A Twitter user by the name of @Lindellions does a weekly kicker tier list with lots of great information. I've really enjoyed them and found them useful throughout the season. I know when to admit when I'm out of my depth and kickers are not a position I claim to know a lot about. Below I'll be posting her tier list along with the top 5s fantasy points and ownership average.

Week 4: Tyler Bass vs. HOU

48.1% average league ownership

Week 4: Matt Gay vs. ARI*

40.4% average league ownership

Week 4: Evan McPherson vs. JAX

3.7% average league ownership

Week 4: Daniel Carlson @ LAC*

59.7% average league ownership

Week 4: Rodrigo Blankenship @ MIA

42.5% average league ownership

 

Kicking and Streaming Week 4 Conclusion:

This upcoming week 4 matchups are primed for certain players to have a top week. My favorite streams on the list are Sam Darnold, the Bengals defense, the Titans defense Tyler Bass and Matt Gay. Come back next week for more Kicking and Streaming and good luck in week 4!

Dynasty Buy Lows & Sell Highs

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Dynasty Buy Low Sell High

by Bob Miller

Aug. 8, 2021

Back in April, before the NFL Draft, I put out a “Buy Low Sell High” article. Looking back I hope you took my advice, because I recommended you buying low on players like Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Goedert, and Lamar Jackson. Some players I said to sell high were James Robinson, Josh Jacobs, and Chris Carson. You can see that article here: https://dynastyprosfootball.com/dynasty-buy-lows-sell-highs/

I’m back now to share with you who is on my “Buy Low Sell High” list now.

Tua Tagovailoa

So many fantasy football players are already calling Tua a bust. He was coming off a brutal injury, a shortened off-season, and an absolutely terrible receiving corp. That’s what Tua Tagovailoa dealt with last season. Now heading into year two, Tua now has a completely revamped receiving corps that fits his skillset perfectly, and he's had the full off-season to prepare as the starter. I can see Tua Tagovailoa being that late round QB to break out this season, just like Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, and Justin Herbert did previously. He is one of my favorite buy low candidates.

Joe Burrow

I’d personally like to thank Justin Herbert for taking up all the rookie spotlight last year. That allows me to swoop in and get Burrow as a fantastic value. We all know that Burrow has tremendous talent, a great receiving back in Joe Mixon, and now three incredible WRs after drafting Ja’Marr Chase. Let’s add a terrible defense to the mix. All that means fantasy goodness. I don’t care if it’s garbage time or not, Burrow is going to be playing from behind a lot this season. That could very well put into the QB1 conversation.

TJ Hockenson

I’m not saying you will get Hockenson cheap, but this may very well be the lowest price you’ll be able to buy him moving forward. He and Jared Goff have worked together a lot this offseason, and it has been showing in camp. Multiple reports say that Hockenson is clearly the #1 target in the passing game. You can’t argue that when your starting WRs are Breshad Perriman and Tyrell Williams. Detroit is another terrible team that will be playing from behind a lot, which is good news for Hockenson owners. After this season I believe Hockenson will be joining the “Elite TE” Tier with Kelce, Kittle, and Waller.

JK Dobbins

Dobbins showed everyone last season that he was arguably the best RB in the 2020 NFL Draft. Now he's poised to take a big step forward in his second season. While we can expect big things from Dobbins and this Ravens rushing attack, fantasy owners are still worried about Lamar Jackson and Gus Edwards taking work from Dobbins. That should be a concern in most offenses, but not Baltimore’s. The Ravens run enough that it shouldn’t affect Dobbins’ workload. He averaged 6.0 yards per carry last season, which was tops amongst all RBs. The Ravens have been throwing to Dobbins a lot in Training Camp as well, which only increases his value in PPR Leagues. Dobbins will get plenty of work and should easily eclipse double digit touchdowns. I have him projected for 1132 rushing yds, 11 TDs while adding 29 rec for 289 yds, and 1 rec TD. That puts him firmly in the RB1 category. 

DJ Chark

Remember this guy? DJ Chark was a hot name this time last year. In 2019 Chark averaged 15.67 PPR points per game. That was good for 14th amongst wide receivers. Unfortunately last season Jacksonville just stunk it up. Poor play calling and quarterback play crippled DJ Chark’s ceiling. Enter Trevor Lawrence. This big-armed quarterback isn’t afraid to sling the ball. Marvin Jones will get attention lining up on the other side of the field, and Laviska Shenault is a mismatch lining up in the slot. All of this bodes well for Chark, who should see plenty of single coverage. Currently being drafted/viewed as a WR3/WR4, Chark is a perfect buy low candidate that should return solid WR2 numbers.

 

Russell Wilson

Wilson is one of the first players that come to mind when I’m thinking “Sell”. He is an incredible fantasy QB throughout the first half of the season, but he really cools off for the 2nd half of the season. This has been the case over the last couple of seasons, and that really lets you down for your fantasy playoffs. In 2020 Wilson averaged 25.75 fantasy points through week 8. He averaged 17.08 points per game from Week 9 on. In 2019 he averaged 24.94 fantasy points per game through Week 9. After that.. 13.01 points per game moving forward. You can sell him now or use him until around Week 7 to trade him for a great return.

George Kittle

I’m not saying get rid of Kittle, but I would certainly entertain offers for him. He is an absolute beast when on the field. I don’t have to give you stats. Kittle is a fantasy stud, and we all know it. So why is he on this list? Because he plays pretty rough, and I have some durability concerns when it comes to him. Plus I love selling players at their highest value and getting good players and good picks in return. I would target the Darren Waller owner in your league and see if you can get Waller in addition to another solid player, or a 1st or 2nd round rookie pick.

Darrell Henderson

Sell, sell, sell, unless you handcuffed him to Cam Akers. If not, you’re playing with house money. You already have your RBs and Henderson was a late round or waiver wire pickup. Go target the RB needy owners in your league and make out like a bandit. I’ve seen Henderson go for a 1st round rookie pick in many leagues already. If you can make that deal, do it. If not, bundle him with someone to upgrade a position. My favorite is pairing him up with a mid tier Tight End to upgrade to Darren Waller or possibly even Travis Kelce.

Aaron Jones

Think about how worried you Aaron Jones owners were with the thought of Aaron Rodgers not returning to the Green Bay Packers. Those owners dodged a bullet this season, so let’s not go through that again. Rodgers’ new contract grants him an “out” after this season if he chooses. Sure, Aaron Jones put up great numbers last season averaging 18.49 PPR points per game, but if ARod leaves after this season, Jones’ fantasy stock will plummet. My recommendation is to cash out while you’re ahead. If you’re not getting what you want right now, don’t worry. Just wait a couple of games into the season. Everyone needs RBs in fantasy. When Jones puts up some serious fantasy points, take advantage at that point and cash in. 

Diontae Johnson

Johnson is another great sell high candidate. He averaged 15.09 PPR points last season as Ben Roethlisberger’s favorite target. Big Ben’s arm is shot, and this may very well be his last season. With that uncertainty looming in Pittsburgh makes me want to sell Johnson at what could be his highest value. With the emergence of Chase Claypool and JuJu Smith-Shuster getting his targets, it’s hard to predict what kind of numbers Johnson will put up this season. Don’t forget that the Steelers want to focus a lot more on the running game after selecting Najee Harris in the 1st round of this year’s NFL Draft. Find the Steelers fans in your league, because there is always Steelers fans in every league, and target another solid WR on their team like Keenan Allen, Jerry Jeudy, or DeVonta Smith.