Darius Slayton

The Wait COULD be Worthwhile

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The Wait COULD be Worthwhile

By Collin Kral

As we all know, the offseason is most dynasty players' favorite time of the year. This is the time of year where we all want to make as many trades as possible which means trying to get out from under players while they still carry value. We all have players sitting on our bench that we drafted a few years ago who we hoped would turn into great fantasy assets, however, we get tired of waiting. It can be very difficult to remain patient to allow players to come into their own, especially after how spoiled we were by the 2020 draft class, but we need to remember that should not be viewed as the standard for rookies. Out of the players I am going to cover it’s safe to say they are buy low or hold players, but the important takeaway is we all play dynasty because we want to build a team which means we have to allow some players to develop longer than others. 

Michael Gallup

After a sophomore campaign of 66/1,107/6 it appeared that Gallup was ready to take the next step in his third year and be a solid fantasy option for the next several years. However, that all changed after the Cowboys drafted Ceedee Lamb. Once Lamb came in it looked as if Amari Cooper, Lamb, and Gallup were all going to split targets but Gallup would be the odd man out. As we all saw, Gallup did struggle more in his third season but his target share was not much less than Cooper and Lamb. Cooper saw 130 targets, Lamb saw 111 targets, and Gallup still managed 105 targets. However, even though Gallup still saw over 100 targets, he still only put up a 59/843/5 stat line. 

Even though Gallup struggled after the addition of Lamb, here is what we have to look forward to in the very near future. After the 2021 season Gallup is a free agent and will have the chance to get the target share he deserves. However, there is one other option as well. The Cowboys just gave Cooper a very lucrative deal that may be handcuffing the team going forward, but the Cowboys happen to have an out. After the 2021 season the Cowboys could choose to cut Cooper with a $6 million cap hit instead of paying him $20 million. This could allow the Cowboys to offer Gallup a team friendly deal (compared to Cooper), giving Lamb and Gallup the opportunity to be the top two receiving options on the Cowboys. Either way I foresee Gallup becoming at least a consistent WR2 in the near future. 

Darius Slayton

Slayton had a unique opportunity the moment he came onto the scene in his rookie season. In his rookie season he had to compete for targets with Sterling Shepherd, Golden Tate, and Evan Engram. Not only is this a weaker core of receiving options to compete with, but many of these players suffered various injuries over the course of the year. This allowed Slayton to put up a stat line of 48/740/8 stat line. As a rookie this shows a lot of promise and many people expected a step forward. However, Slayton sophomore year was extremely similar to his rookie campaign with a 50/751/3 stat line. As you can see, the only regression was touchdowns but stayed consistent in catches and yards. 

After being a bit surprised by Slayton’s regression, there are a few things to look at as to why this may have happened. This past year the Giants run game was nothing that needed to be feared or even respected. With Saquon Barkley being injured, they were relying on Wayne Gallman and Devonta Freeman. I believe this also played a huge role in the sophomore slump for Daniel Jones. With an abysmal offensive line and the 24th ranked rushing attack in yards per carry, it is easy to understand how this may have resulted in the passing game to suffer. Next season when Barkley returns and hopefully an improved offensive line, I expect the passing game to improve and for Slayton to make steps forward from his rookie season. 

Phillip Lindsay

Phillip Lindsay shocked the league in his rookie season when he ran for 1,037 yards at 5.4 yards per carry. Lindsay faced a lot of doubters because of his 5’8” and 190lbs stature and still managed to have a solid sophomore season even after many thought his rookie season was a fluke. In his sophomore year he ran for 1.011 yards at 4.5 yards per carry. Unfortunately going into his third season, Melvin Gordon joined the Broncos and took over the lead back role leaving Lindsay with a limited role as a change of pace back where he put up 502 yards at 4.3 yards per carry. 

This offseason Phillip Lindsay is a restricted free agent so he does not have a clear path to a larger workload but there is potential. If Phillip Lindsay does have the opportunity to find a new opportunity I do not expect for him to be a lead back, but to split time with another running back. In this situation I believe Lindsay’s best traits will be used and he will be a great depth piece at running back.

James Washington

James Washington is a player where we have not seen much of an upside so this will require a lot of patience. In his rookie season he barely saw the field and only saw 16 targets. A large part of this had to do with playing behind Antonio Brown and Juju Smith-Schuster.  However, in his sophomore season he took some steps forward and had a 44/735/3 stat line in a very dysfunctional offense. Because of his steps forward I believed he would continue to trend in the right direction, however, he found himself behind Juju, Diontae Johnson, and Chase Claypool. 

Unfortunately, Washington has one more year before his rookie contract is up and he will have the opportunity at a fresh start in a new situation. The only way I do not see him leaving the Steelers is if he makes huge strides forward with Juju leaving in free agency this offseason. Washington is a player that can be acquired essentially for free and could potentially be a nice depth piece to your roster in a couple of years. 

Honorable mentions

Daniel Jones

As I mentioned earlier with Slayton, Jones was set up for failure with a bad run game and a terrible offensive line. With expected improvements to the run game, offensive line, and additional offensive weapons, I expect Jones to bounce back. 

Tarik Cohen

Cohen will always be a gadget player, but because of his unique skill set he is a nice addition as a 3rd or 4th running back in ppr formats. The Bears do not have a large arsenal of weapons so I expect Cohen to generate a large amount of touches after returning from injury. 

Deebo Samuel

Samuel has struggled with injuries since entering the league, however he has been incredibly explosive whenever he gets his hands on the ball. I completely understand the fear of his injury history, however, if he can manage to stay on the field more often, he will be a very valuable piece. 

If you happen to own any of these players it is important to be patient and not to give these pieces away for “free” because their value has recently taken a dip. If you do not happen to own these players, and you are trading with a team that does, this is a great opportunity to try to get them added on top of any deal, as their value is much lower than I expect it to be in a year or two.

NFC East 2020 Fantasy Breakdown

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NFC East 2020 Fantasy Breakdown

By Steve Uetz

We are onto our 2nd division now! We will be covering the NFC East but first here are some reminders about what my breakdowns are all about:

The team breakdowns will contain an overarching theme for each team or more specifically each offensive core. The offensive cores will be organized into four categories: FADE, NEUTRAL, BUY, and BIG BUY! ADP and auction values will somewhat reflect this but I will be adding some personal perspective with keeping some rules of thumb in mind.

Rule of Thumb #1: Each offensive core may have specific player exceptions.

Rule of Thumb #2: Every player has value at the right price.

The breakdowns will include the players to target from each team, the players’ ideal positional count for your roster, target cost for auction budget % and round #, league type preferences, along with optional blurbs from yours truly. Throughout the team breakdowns be sure to keep your eyes wide open looking for the players with coveted “Ladder Pick” label. The “Ladder Pick” players are who I have identified as those who will help you climb the ladder of fantasy football success for the 2020 season.

I have 6 teams whose offensive core make up the BIG BUY category, 8 teams in the BUY category, 12 teams in the NEUTRAL category, and the remaining 6 teams will generally be considered as a FADE. Just so we are on the same page…BIG BUY=offensive cores to target aggressively; BUY=offensive cores that are reach worthy; NEUTRAL=offensive cores (with some players exceptions both positive and negative) to be drafted at value – not to be reached for nor to be shied away from; FADE=offensive cores to pass on at consensus ranking, players to be drafted weighing risk, or players to be drafted only if at a value, larger the discount the better; always!

Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys enter this season as a mouthwatering offense building off of an impressive 2019 campaign. Dallas falls into the BIG BUY category!

QB Dak Prescott: “Ladder Pick”, QB1, 6-7% auction budget, round 5. Dak will be the primary beneficiary of the gargantuan offense surrounding him. The best trio of WRs the NFL has to offer, a TE on the rise, one of the best RBs, *checks notes* oh, and Dak has immense rushing upside! Sheesh!

RB Ezekiel Elliott: RB1, 30-32% auction budget, round 1, this stud do it all 3 down back is poised to have a monster season!

RB Tony Pollard: RB 4, 3-4% auction budget, round 11-12, this zeroRB favorite is the only competition in town behind Zeke. If Zeke were to miss time, Pollard enters high RB2 range.

WR Amari Cooper: WR1, 16-17% auction budget, round 3, the leader of the WR pack is primed for another big year even with Gallup rising and the future star CeeDee Lamb in town, I see him leading the team in targets. Having Cooper as a Best Ball target I would bring some caution to prepare for a little bit of rollercoaster ride week to week but overall he should be feasting.

WR Michael Gallup: ideal WR3 but WR2 if robust RB strategy, 5-6% auction budget, round 7-8, productive player will draw the lesser DB matchup week to week but with this offense being such a nightmare to defend I see Gallup in plus matchups week to week

WR CeeDee Lamb: WR4, 2-3% auction budget, round 11-12, what felt like a luxury pick for Dallas was actually a brilliant selection in Lamb. He can play everywhere, he’s dynamic, will contribute to opening up the offense. I hate to gush so much but there is just so much to love about this group!

TE Blake Jarwin: TE2 with sneaky TE1 upside, $1 auction stash, round 13, as the clear passing catching TE option I can see him being a chain mover and massive problem in the red zone. Picture this: goal to go…defense has line stacked anticipating Zeke run…play-action…TD Jarwin *chef’s kiss*

Philadelphia Eagles

With Carson Wentz leading the way, the Eagles offense is a BUY this season!

QB Carson Wentz: QB1, 3-4% auction budget/round 9-10, the offensive core remains intact with rookie WR additions; Wentz continues to be an under-appreciated QB for fantasy as well as in real life. He’s got a big arm, rushing upside, and the incoming rookie all have one thing in common: Speed!

RB Miles Sanders: RB1, 19-21% auction budget, late round 1/early round 2, he flashed as a rookie with impressive athleticism and pass catching ability, he will look to improve in all facets of the game especially without Jordan Howard around.

RB Boston Scott: RB5, $1 deep auction stash, end of bench RB/priority FA in shallow leagues. Since the Eagles are an offense I want pieces of, keep a close eye on Scott since he has shown that he is able to produce is this offense when given the opportunity.

WR Jalen Reagor: WR4, 3-4% auction budget, round 11-12, versatility and speed makes him an extremely exciting prospect!

WRs DeSean Jackson (WR5, 1-2% auction budget, round 12-13) and Alshon Jeffrey (priority FA in deep leagues, purely because he is starting the year on the PUP list) are seasoned vets and have proven to be difference makers when healthy. Were Best Ball leagues made for DeSean Jackson or was DeSean Jackson made for Best Ball leagues? All I know is that Best Ball league championship trophies were named after DeSean Jackson.

TE Zach Ertz: “Ladder Pick” TE1, 9-11% auction budget, round 4 (it he lasts to round 5- I am smashing his name!), Ertz has the ability to lead the Eagles in targets, catches, and TDs. Having the speed of Reagor and Jackson will only further open things up for Ertz. He will continue to be a favorite target for chain moving and in the red zone!

TE Dallas Goedert: high TE2, 2-3% auction budget, round 13/14, a great selection if your strategy to “wait on TE” gets out of hand. He has shown to be productive even when sharing the field with Ertz, if Ertz were to miss time he instantly becomes a mid range TE1!

The Washington Football Team

I’m generally considering this offense a FADE, however I believe any player in any offense is worth keeping an eye on especially in an uncertain year such as this.

QB Dwayne Haskins: low end QB2 is a FA to watch, outside of dynasty and super flex leagues he is undraftable. We want sure things and upside in our draft. Worth keeping an eye on as a streaming option as he looks to further develop as a pro QB in a division where shoot-outs are likely week to week. The good news is he has nowhere to go but up, hopefully. Remember, he is only two years removed from setting Ohio State University records for single-season passing yards and single-season touchdowns. If your starting QBs’ bye week lands on the same week that Washington plays a division rival, that may just be a good opportunity to consider Haskins.

RB Adrian Peterson: RB4, 1-2% auction budget, round 13, Peterson (much like Frank Gore) isn’t going away. He still may have some juice left, but if Washington is frequently playing from behind (which I would think is likely) than I’m not sure how the new and improved coaching staff can justify having him on the field. I’m no NFL head coach though.

RB Antonio Gibson: RB4, 3-4% auction budget, round 9/10, for me he is the player to target in this crowded backfield. I think his skill set and inherent upside separates him from the pack. I believe he is the perfect type of RB to be used in those situations hwer Washington will be trailing in games, again which I think is likely to be often. I believe he has the ability to takeover this backfield eventually. Upside stash!

RB Bryce Love: end of bench RB5/6, I’m hoping to see the Bryce Love we saw in college, but have to see him on the field first. Border line undraftable with crowded backfield but certainly a worth a late round stash as depth bench piece, I see him more as a priority FA worth keeping a close eye on!

WR Terry McLaurin: WR2, 13-14% of auction budget, round 5, this QB proof stud looks to improve upon an already impressive rookie season. He is the bright light of an offense that has a lot to improve on with a new coaching staff.
Players to monitor: TE Logan Thomas,  WR Steven Sims and WR Antonio Gandy-Golden. I feel this is important to mention because I made the mistake of brushing off Terry McLaurin’s dominant week 1 performance against the Eagles.

My stupid brain (at the time): “Who cares? It’s Washington. Of course he lit up the Eagles, it just what WRs do to them”… BUT he went on to have a truly impressive season. Don’t repeat my mistake, I suggest you pounce if one of those guys breaks out. Steven Sims was a stud weeks 15-17. Keep an eye out.

New York Giants

The Giants are an offense I’m categorizing as NEUTRAL, this offensive core has plenty of room to grow with players that you should not shy away from nor with players worth “reaching” for considering their auction value/ADP.

QB Daniel Jones: high QB2 with sneaky QB1 upside due to his rushing ability. Good weapons surrounding him can help salvage his fantasy outlook if he struggles with turnovers, 2-3% auction budget, round 12/13

RB Saquon Barkley: RB1 (ranked RB2), 31-33% auction budget, early round 1 (chalk at 1.02), he’s does it all, he’s a stud, an exceptionally talented athlete! Quads for days!

WRs Sterling Shepard (WR4 3-4% auction budget, round 8/9), Golden Tate (WR4 2-3% auction budget, round 9/10), and Darius Slayton (WR4 2-3% auction budgets, round 9/10) make up a very nice trio of WRs for Daniel Jones. All great first guy on the bench options, very useful for injury/bye replacements with upside for more.

TE Evan Engram: TE1, 5-6% auction budget, round 7/8, as my TE6 he leads the middle tier of TEs (with Hayden Hurst and Hunter Henry), provides a lot of upside and will be a beneficiary of mismatches with the trio of WRs alongside of him.