Diontae Johnson

Dynasty League’s Closing Windows

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Dynasty League's Closing Windows

By Joel Wirth

Dynasty players are all about the long view, but player values are fluctuating on a week-to-week basis. Two weeks ago, Amon-Ra St. Brown was a divisive back-end WR2 (although, I seem to recall someone extolling his virtues a while back on this very site https://dynastyprosfootball.com/objects-in-the-rear-view-mirroramon-ra-st-brown/), now he’s trading for no less than a 2023 1st plus a productive player. Paying market rate for a player today can be a clear win next week if that player’s value takes off in-between. With that in mind, let’s take a look at a few players who you may want to look into trading for now before their value goes up and their trade window closes.

The Youngsters

Treylon Burks/Chris Olave

Dynasty veterans know the rule of thumb with rookie receivers is let them struggle early, then trade for them right before they learn the speed of the game, get in sync with their QB, and they start producing fantasy points. Garrett Wilson has shown us that sometimes happens sooner than we expect, even if they’re not Ja’Marr Chase-level talents. Burks and Olave could be the next two in line for feature roles. Tennessee looks like a flat out bad team and Derrick Henry looking like he’s running through molasses should lead to more passing volume and more garbage time than we’re used to with this team. Olave’s advanced metrics show a star in the making. Jameis Winston’s hideous early season inefficiency is the only thing holding him back right now. Neither of these two are exactly cheap, they still have most of their rookie draft shine, but like Wilson, they’re one elite game away from being highly coveted assets.

CeeDee Lamb/Kyle Pitts

Going into the season, Lamb and Pitts were two of the most valuable dynasty properties you could have; young, supremely talented, in great situations, and in Pitts’ case, playing an exceptionally scarce position. Real or perceived, their early season struggles have made them available for costs that would have been unthinkable on Labor Day. In one of my leagues, Pitts was traded for Darren Waller and Clyde Edwards-Helaire. That offer would have been laughed at and insta-rejected not that long ago. At this point, it really can’t hurt to ask and see if they’re available at all. These two are Burks & Olave on steroids. One good game and they go back to being nigh-untouchable.

Travis Etienne

During best ball draft season, Etienne was the RB hotness. Two weeks into the season, James Robinson is unexpectedly back and Etienne is being benched in fantasy. That sound you hear is BUY LOW sirens going off. Much like Cam Akers, Robinson coming back from an Achilles injury so soon is a great story, but he’s been very inefficient, averaging less than 4 YPC. His value is being entirely propped up by touchdowns and Etienne’s high profile sure-touchdown drop on 4th down in the opener. Once those normalize, Etienne will go back to being the RB to own in Jacksonville, which will be a good thing, because…

Trevor Lawrence

Jacksonville is like Old Faithful right now. You can feel the rumbling under your feet, you know the explosion is coming, you just don’t know when. Once the geyser blows, TLaw will jump up to and potentially surpass Joe Burrow status in superflex. He’s still the elite, generational prospect we saw in college and expected on Draft Day ‘21. Urban Meyer wrecked his rookie season, but even through that haze you can still see the Andrew Luck upside. If there are still doubters, relieve them of their burden.

Elijah Moore

Yes, Garrett Wilson is this week’s WR hotness, but don’t forget about Moore. He’s no less talented because he has another talented teammate in the WR room. Zach Wilson is due back imminently and we know he has more time together with Moore than Wilson. Plus, if (Zach) Wilson can live up to his draft pedigree, there will be plenty of room at the table in this offense for both to eat.

The Seasoned Vets

De’Andre Hopkins

This is simple math. After Week 3, he’ll be half way through his suspension and his managers will take an “I’ve held this long, why should I sell now” attitude, and deservedly so. If the DHop manager in your league is off to a slow start, now is the perfect time to go after him.

Travis Kelce

A 5/50/0 line in a prime time game is as bad as Kelce’s ever going to look, and for a Tight End, it’s still really not bad at all. You probably have until exactly 1:00 PM EDT Sunday to get him at the most modest of discounts. Be sure to mention how positively elderly Kelce is looking in your proposal.

Chris Godwin

The hamstring injury is legitimately the best thing that could have happened to him, forcing the Bucs to give his reconstructed knee additional time to heal. Like DHop, if his manager is off to a slow start and you can afford the downtime, see what it would take to get Godwin onto your roster.

D.J. Moore

He’s the same guy he’s always been. Carolina’s offense has unsurprisingly struggled coming together early, despite the expectations of default QB improvement. If Moore is the victim of over-inflated pre-season expectations, get him now before the Panthers pull it together.

Diontae Johnson

Speaking of guys who are what they’ve always been… You’ll likely have to wait until next week to make this deal go down since he played Thursday, but he has double digit targets in every game so far. The Steelers now have a “mini-bye” to self-scout and figure out how to start scoring touchdowns. Coming back against the Jets won’t hurt that effort, but it may tank your chances of trading for Diontae at value once he goes off.

Donovan Peoples-Jones

We end with a low cost/no cost long term stash. The window isn’t closing on this one so much as slowly shimmying down the sill. DPJ’s deep threat talents are a terrible match for Jacoby Brissett’s game-manager arm. Once Deshaun Watson’s suspension is over, look for him to get DPJ involved in the offense in ways he currently cannot be.

Dynasty Deathmatch: Chris Godwin vs Diontae Johnson

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Dynasty Deathmatch: Chris Godwin vs Diontae Johnson

by Ryan Ramsarran

 

Next up in our Dynasty Deathmatch series: Chris Godwin vs Diontae Johnson. Both former 3rd round picks, these 2 are great wide receivers that hover around the same value right now. Today, we’ll discuss why each one has an edge over the other, and ultimately decide on a winner! 

 

Chris Godwin

Godwin is a talented and reliable receiver going into his 6th season in the NFL. He spent his first 5 years with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and recently signed a new 3 year contract to stay with the team. He’s had 2 1000+ yard seasons so far, and set a career high 98 receptions last year, before tearing his ACL in Week 15. Godwin had 1103 receiving yards this year and was averaging 9.1 targets per game (tied for 10th in NFL) before his injury. Godwin is often viewed as a WR2, likely from being on the same team as Mike Evans, but fun fact: Godwin has averaged more PPR points per game than Evans every year for the past 3 years! Due to some injuries, he hasn’t played a full 16 games since 2018, and won’t in 2022 either due to his ACL recovery. Although he’s missed a few games, he has finished top-15 in PPR points per game (among wide receivers) every year since 2019. In 2019 he was the overall WR2 which shows just how high his ceiling is. 

 

Tom Brady coming out of retirement was a good sigh of relief as the Bucs would have been in QB limbo, especially going into a weak 2022 QB class. Tampa was 1st overall in passing attempts last year and with Tom returning, they will most likely go back to letting him COOK. Godwin may miss a few weeks at the start of the season but will have plenty of opportunities when he gets back, especially with Antonio Brown and Gronk (as of right now) not being with the team for 2022.

 

 

Diontae Johnson

Diontae Johnson is severely undervalued. Like Godwin, he is a low-end WR1 that is priced as a WR2. Johnson is coming off a career year with 107 receptions, 1161 receiving yards and 8 touchdowns. Johnson is the clear alpha on the Steelers, boasting a 25.9% target share (8th highest in league) last year. Diontae is a PPR machine. He was 5th highest in receptions and averaged 17.2 ppg, which was 9th highest among wide receivers. These numbers are even more impressive when you remember that he had an ageing Big Ben as his QB. Diontae is a great route runner and is very good at creating separation. Not to mention he is going to have a new signal-caller this year.

 

Mitch Trubisky is coming in and he is no stranger to lasering in on one receiver. He peppered Allen Robinson with 150+ targets in both 2019 and 2020 and liked to have a true WR1 to rely on. There is also the scenario that Kenny Pickett (Steelers first round selection in the 2022 draft) eventually takes over as starting QB. Rookie QB’s tend to rely on one receiver more often than not, to help get more comfortable in the system and playing at an NFL level, and it will more than likely be Johnson. Johnson is the clear WR1 on the Steelers and has the potential to be a consistent WR1 going forward. Whether it's Trubisky or Pickett starting, Diontae is getting an upgrade at QB and will be able to build off his career year. 

 

Final Thoughts

Godwin and Johnson are both talented receivers who can be high-end WR2 / low-end WR1 going forward. Godwin does have the advantage that he has the GOAT throwing to him for the short term, but when Tom retires the Bucs will have a huge hole at QB, and a rookie QB may not be able to feed both Godwin AND Evans. Diontae is the undisputed WR1 on the Steelers right now and even with Trubisky or Pickett he should be peppered with targets like usual and be a huge value, especially in PPR leagues.

 

Winner: Diontae Johnson 

Dynasty Dilemma: Diontae Johnson 

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Dynasty Dilemma: Diontae Johnson 

by Tim Lazenby

 

 

Many players are polarizing in the National Football League, and when it comes to dynasty, the dilemmas run even deeper.  The combinations of age, skill, team and opportunity all come into play when evaluating talent and price; and some are more perplexing than others.  Let’s take a look at Diontae Johnson of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

 

The Reason to Sell

Diontae Johnson has this reputation as a player who is always involved, but never doing anything much with the opportunity.  The three headed monster in Pittsburgh at receiver consists of viral star JuJu Smith-Schuster, gadget Chase Claypool and leader Diontae Johnson.  Can we really place so much value on someone who has to share so much?

 

Can’t hold the ball

A receiver has to not only catch the ball, but more importantly, hold onto it.  In real life, a drop is devastating, but in fantasy it amounts to zero points.  No matter the length of play or touchdown caught, if it’s not contained, it means zip, zilch, nada.  But, does he really drop the ball as much as people say?  His 14 drops landed him as 10th among qualified receivers in 2020, but in 2021, that number shot down from 13.2% to just 4.8%.  The massive improvement is fantastic, but the prior history cannot be forgotten.

 

Poor Quarterback Play

Ben Roethlisberger is nothing short of amazing.  His career numbers are near the top in almost every passing category and he was impossible to take down.  Late in his career, however, he was nowhere near the quarterback who is one of twelve quarterbacks to win the big game more than once.  And, worse yet is we don’t know who will be passing to Johnson next season.  Johnson’s numbers were fantastic despite Ben’s arm, but will it get even worse next season?  Or, if the quarterback is improved, will Johnson regress from the lack of short passes?  Only time will tell, and people don’t like the unknown.

 

 

The Reason to Buy

Many of the top wide receivers in the NFL, although talented, have benefited greatly from amazing quarterback play.  I’m sure Tyreek Hill and Davante Adams would be top receivers otherwise, but would they be as good without Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers respectively?  Diontae Johnson has arguably done the most with the least.

 

Volume

As a rookie, Johnson turned eyes fairly quickly.  As a sophomore, he was the 21st best receiver in PPR formats and last season, he ranked a fantastic 8th place.  Astoundingly, he quietly finished behind only Cooper Kupp for the league lead in targets, while having single digit targets in just three games in 2021.  The gap between him and the next closest Steeler receiver was crazy too.  Johnson was ahead by a whopping 62%.

 

Improvement Above All

As mentioned earlier, the drop rate in 2020 was ridiculous, but the improvement was equally ridiculous.  Aside from that success, Diontae Johnson has improved on so many metrics.  It’s easy to see his improvement in targets, receptions, yards and touchdowns every year, but the advanced statistics are even crazier.  Each season, Johnson has gotten better in catches on first downs, air yards and yards after the catch.  It’s easy to look at the simpler stats and nod your head, but the deeper ones are a wonder.

 

Verdict

Last season, Diontae Johnson was ahead of the likes of so many players ranked higher on most people’s boards.  A PPR monster, the trust is just a given with the 25 year old product of Toledo.  Routinely consistent, the floor is not higher on most wide receivers than that of Johnson’s.  Also noteworthy is that he never had a single game last season with single digit fantasy points and crossed 20 points in a game six times.

 

For reasons above or whatever unknown, Diontae Johnson is simply not getting the respect he is due.  He completed just his third season and who knows what he’s truly capable of?  He’ll never be drafted as a wide receiver one, but the statistics would argue otherwise.  No matter what, he’s simply a steal and if the others in your league can’t see that, they are blind, stubborn or just plain ignorant.  Take advantage and get him now.

 

5 Players to Sell in Dynasty

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5 Players to Sell in Dynasty

by Bob Miller

It’s officially the Fantasy Football offseason, but for those of us that play Dynasty leagues, now is the time to start making deals to upgrade our teams. Today I’m going to give you five players I recommend selling at their highest value.

 

 

Austin Ekeler

20 touchdowns. I repeat, 20 touchdowns. That’s how many Austin Ekeler had last season. History shows that there’s little chance of repeating those numbers. Now I truly believe that Ekeler will be a solid RB1 next season, but putting up another 20 TDs is unlikely. This is a player I have no problem holding, but if you use him in a deal to acquire a player like Jonathan Taylor or Najee Harris, I’m all for it. Don’t sell him unless you can sell high.

 

Joe Burrow

The new “Joe Cool” is getting all the hype, and you should be looking to take advantage. Last offseason I told you to buy him, now it’s time you look to cash out. I’m not really shopping him in superflex, but I’m actively looking to deal him in 1 QB leagues. Now most of us know that QBs don’t have nearly as much value in those 1 QB leagues, but there’s always guys that will disagree. Find those guys and make a deal. If you can get a solid RB2, WR2, or TE for Burrow then make it happen. There’s always those later round QBs you can get that seem to overperform. I’m not telling you that you have to move Burrow, but you should always be looking to make a profit. 

 

Gabriel Davis

If Gabriel Davis isn’t a sell high, I don’t know what is. Just remember, he caught eight passes for 201 yards and four touchdowns in Buffalo’s divisional round loss to Kansas City. That’s what a lot of fantasy owners see when they think of Davis. Take advantage of that. Davis is only 22 years old, which will help his value in Dynasty, but keep in mind he only finished as the WR53 last year. Everyone knows that Stefon Diggs is the Alfa in that Buffalo offense, and Gabe Davis only had one more target in 2021 than he did during his rookie year. If you want to hold him, I can’t blame you. But now is the best time to sell him.

 

Diontae Johnson

My last two players are WRs with huge question marks at QB going into the 2022 season. I’ll start with Diontae Johnson. He was the favorite target of Ben Roethlisbergher, but now we have know idea who will be the starting QB for Pittsburgh moving forward. The Athletic's Mark Kaboly believes "all signs point" to Mason Rudolph as the Steelers' starting QB in 2022. If that proves to be true then Diontae Johnson’s production will take a serious hit, and I want nothing to do with that. So if there’s ever a time to sell Johnson, this is it. I’m not sure what you can get for him, but I’m targeting players like Jalen Waddle, CeeDee Lamb, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and DeVonta Smith in return. 

 

Devante Adams

Last on my list is Devante Adams. This guy is an absolute monster on the field, but just like Diontae Johnson, there’s way too much uncertainty at QB. He is a player you can hold, but it’s risky. There are so many potential obstacles that could turn his situation into an absolute nightmare. First, there are reports that he is seeking $30 million per season. That is definitely not happening for a 29 year old WR who’s best days are behind him. If that’s the case then Green Bay may slap him with the franchise tag, which could lead to a potential holdout. What if that holdout lasted into the season? It could very well happen the way the Packers handle their business. No sir, I want no part of that. Then there’s the scenario that he’s catching passes from Jordan Love next year. If that’s the case, then I want nothing to do with that either. Folks, this is your last and best opportunity to sell high.

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.

Start ‘Em or Sit ‘Em: 2020 Week 2

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Start 'Em or Sit 'Em

By Isuf Gega

Start ‘Em or Sit ‘Em is our weekly look into the NFL match-ups and how they will affect your starting lineups. Starting guys like Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes, and Christian McCaffrey are easy decisions and that is not the reason you are reading this article. For the most part, these are borderline starting players you are considering placing in your lineups due to injury, poor play, bye week, etc. 

Quarterbacks Start ‘Em

Ben Roethlisberger started off with a very shaky week 1 against the Giants, but was significantly better as the game went on. This was Big Ben’s first game back from his 2019 season ending elbow injury and he completed 21-of-32 passes for 229 yards and three touchdowns. This week he plays a banged up Broncos defense who is without star pass rusher Von Miller (ankle) and likely cornerback A.J. Bouye (shoulder). Big Ben has also been much better at home than on the road. Over the last 8 full games he played at Heinz Field, Big Ben has been averaging over 20 fantasy points per game. He has the potential to finish as a top 10 quarterback this week.

Tom Brady finished last week with 239 passing yards, 3 touchdowns and 2 interceptions, good enough for 20.5 fantasy points. The Saints were a tough matchup for Brady as they typically are for most quarterbacks. This may be due to the Saints returning most of their starters on defense from last year. This week Brady plays the Panthers who are decimated on defense after losing 7 starters in the offseason including start linebacker Luke Kuechly. Their top cornerback, Donte Jackson, also suffered an injury week 1. With Mike Evans back to full health, expect Brady to put up QB1 numbers this week.

Philip Rivers had himself a solid game week 1 against the Jaguars, finishing with 363 passing yards, 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions. This week he plays the Vikings who’s defense looked horrible in week 1. The Vikings are playing without stud pass rusher Danielle Hunter as well as without 5 of last year’s starters on defense. The Colts offensive line should be able to protect Rivers and provide him ample time in the pocket. My expectation for Rivers is a high-end QB2 finish.

Quarterbacks Sit ‘Em

Carson Wentz was sacked 8 times, fumbled twice (lost one) against Washington last week while also throwing 2 interceptions. Wentz did all of that against an average Washington defense and this week he plays the Rams whose defense is much better. Aaron Donald and that defensive line brought pressure to Dak Prescott all game last week even though that Dallas offensive line is considered to be one of the best in the league. The Rams now face an offensive line that has had multiple injuries to their starters. Besides that, star cornerback Jalen Ramsey will give Wentz nightmares when throwing the ball outside. I have Wentz as a low end QB2 this week.

Drew Lock will undoubtedly have great fantasy value going forward, but not this week. Courtland Sutton is expected to play against the Steelers this week after missing week 1 with a shoulder injury, though he certainly will not be 100% ready. This Steelers defense is legit. In the last 11 games, no quarterback has scored more than 18 fantasy points against this defense. If you are playing the streaming game at QB, this is the week to pivot from Drew Lock and look elsewhere.

Teddy Bridgewater finished with 270 yards and a touchdown in last week's game, good enough for 19.4 fantasy points. However, most of Bridgewater’s points came from a 75-yard touchdown pass to Robby Anderson. This week he plays the Buccaneers who held Drew Brees to just 160 passing yards. This Bucs defense is significantly better than the Raiders and I expect Bridgewater to have low-end QB2 numbers this week.

Running Backs Start ‘Em

David Montgomery looked very good against the Lions week one with 13 carries for 64 yards and 1 reception for 10 yards. Now he gets to play the Giants who gave up 113 yard to a backup running back in Benny Snell week 1. Montgomery was coming off a groin injury to start week 1 but will be fully healthy going into this week. While Tarik Cohen is a good running back, he is mostly considered to be a pass catching back and will not vulture away Montgomery’s goal-line opportunities. I have Montgomery as a mid-end RB2 this week.

Ronald Jones looked fast and explosive week 1 against the Saints where he totaled 82 yards from 17 carries and 2 receptions. Jones played 33 snaps compared to 9 for Leonard Fournette. Most importantly though, Jones got two carries inside the 10-yard line while Fournette did not get any. This week he plays the Panthers who may have the worst run defense in the NFL. Josh Jacobs torched them last week for 139 total yards and 3 touchdowns. In a game where the Buccaneers are heavy favorites (8.5), expect them to be in a positive game script. Jones should be considered as a RB2 with RB1 upside.

Nyheim Hines had himself a week 1 most people did not expect. Everyone was excited for Jonathan Taylor but it was Hines who stole the show. He finished with 8 receptions for 45 yards and a touchdown as well as 7 carries for 28 yards and a touchdown. Philip Rivers kept Hines involved all game long. I expect Taylor and Hines to be similar to Melvin Gordon and Austin Ekeler of last year except Taylor and Hines have a much better offensive line. I foresee Hines finishing as a RB3 with a solid floor this week. 

Running Backs Sit ‘Em

Melvin Gordon had himself a great game week 1 with 86 total yards and a touchdown for 14 fantasy points. He looked good throughout but was most productive when Phillip Lindsay went out with an injury. This week he plays the Steelers who completely shut down the Giants run game last week. Saquon Barkley, arguably the best running back in the league, only had 6 yards on 15 carries. Gordon is going to be playing on the road on a short week against one of the best defenses in the league. Benching Melvin Gordon is going to be difficult, but expectations should be lowered on what he can do. I have Gordon as a RB3 this week.

James Robinson was the only running back in week 1 to have 100% of his team’s running back carries. He finished the day with 90 total yards and a reception. While Robinson played well in his first NFL game, the Jaguars ran the fewest plays in the NFL with 47. Robinson will be facing a better defense in Tennessee than he saw last week, which means the Jaguars might be playing from behind. Chris Thompson being the pass catching back also hurts Robinson. I expect him to finish as a RB4 with limited upside.

Sony Michel led the Patriots running backs in carries with 10 last week. He had 37 rushing yards and a touchdown to go along with it. While Sony scored 9 fantasy points, he is not to be trusted in your lineups. The Patriots involved multiple running backs and Cam Newton had 15 carries and 2 touchdowns. Sony may have the goal line work locked down, but Cam Newton will surely vulture some away. The entire Patriots backfield should be under a wait and see approach until we see more. Fade Sony this week and consider him as a low-end RB4.

Wide Receivers Start ‘Em

Diontae Johnson saw a team high 10 targets week one and caught 6 of them for 57 yards. He also had a 31% target share. This week he will face the Broncos defense and the expectation is for star cornerback A.J. Bouye to sit out due to a separated shoulder suffered in week 1. The Broncos secondary allowed Corey Davis 101 yards and 7 receptions. Diontae Johnson is much better than Corey Davis and I expect him to finish as a high end WR3 with incredible upside.

T.Y. Hilton had a subpar game against the Jaguars last week. He had a team high 9 targets but finished with only 4 receptions for 53 yards due to two drops in the fourth quarter. The high target count suggests that Rivers is comfortable throwing to Hilton especially when it matters most. Hilton plays the Vikings this week that just got cooked by the Packers. All three of the Packers starting wide receivers scored touchdowns last week and I can see this as a big week for T.Y. and the entire Colts team. Hilton will be a high end WR3 with a safe floor this week. 

Michael Gallup had three catches last week for 50 yards against the Rams. It would have been closer to 100 receiving yards for the game if not for a very questionable offensive pass interference call. This week the Cowboys play the Falcons who were torched last week by the Seahawks. This is one of the highest over/under of the week and I am expecting a complete shootout in Dallas. Gallup should be viewed as a high end WR3 with upside.

Wide Receivers Sit ‘Em

Courtland Sutton missed all of week 1 with a shoulder injury he sustained in practice. Sutton has a lot of draft capital as most people drafted him in around the 6th round if not earlier, but this is not the game you start Sutton. Sutton is expected to play this week against the Steelers, but he certainly will not be 100%. Besides that, Sutton does not travel into the slot very often, which means he will be matched up with one of the best cornerbacks in the league, Joe Haden. I am staying away from Sutton this week and would not feel comfortable using him as anything more than a low-end WR3 at best.

Robby Anderson turned 8 targets into 6 receptions, 115 yards and a touchdown last week. Truthfully though, he was less impressive than his stat line suggests. Anderson caught a 75-yard touchdown, which made up for nearly all of his fantasy production. The touchdown was due to the safety undercutting the ball and led to an easy score. The Buccaneers locked Michael Thomas down last week for only 3 receptions and 17 yards before he went down with an injury. I anticipate Robby Anderson being a very boom or bust WR4.

Sammy Watkins has a tendency to show up in games and then disappear for the next few weeks. Do not be fooled by what he did to bottom 10 defenses like the Texans last week. Besides Tyreek Hill, it is nearly impossible to decipher which Chiefs wide receiver will produce in a given week. This week Watkins plays the Chargers who may have the best cornerbacks in the league between Chris Harris Jr., Casey Hayward, and Desmond King. Fade Watkins this week as he is a very risky WR4.

Tight Ends Start ‘Em

Jared Cook should be in everyone’s lineup this week. Cook had a great game last week with 5 receptions for 80 yard. With Michael Thomas expected to be out this week, Brees will lean on the veteran and provide him with more opportunities than before. Cook also has a favorable matchup against the Raiders this week who ranked second last year in touchdowns given up to tight ends. Expect Cook to be a TE1 this week with top 3 potential.

Dallas Goedert was by far the Eagles best player week 1 against Washington. Goedert finished the game with 8 receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown. While Zack Ertz is the official starter, the Eagles run a lot of 12 personnel (two tight ends). Goedert played 81% of snaps compared to Ertz who played 85%. Both of these tight ends should be started, as the Eagles do not have many other options to throw to. Goedert is a TE1 with upside. 

Hayden Hurst turned 5 targets into 3 receptions for 38 yards in last week’s loss to the Seahawks. Even though that is not a good line, Hurst played on 78% of snaps and ran a route on 81% of Matt Ryan’s drop-backs. This week he plays a Cowboys defense who allowed the third most points to tight ends last year and just lost linebacker Leighton Vander Esch to a broken collarbone last week. Expect Hurst to be a low end TE1 in one of the highest over/under games of the week.

Tight Ends Sit ‘Em

Rob Gronkowski on paper is the Buccaneers starting tight end, but it did not appear that way week 1 against the Saints. Gronk was out targeted 6 to 3 by O.J. Howard who had his first touchdown with Brady. Gronk has Brady’s trust, but he has not played football in over a year and the last season he played was not a productive one. There are so many mouths to feed in the offense and I predict that Gronk will be the last one to eat.

Jimmy Graham looked every bit his age against the Lions week 1. While he had 25 yards and a touchdown, Graham looked noticeably slower. Graham plays the Giants this week who allowed Eric Ebron just one catch for 18 yards last week. Ebron at this stage in his career is much younger, quicker and faster than Graham. Graham will most likely be covered by safety Jabrill Peppers who plays physical and will not allow Graham to push him around. Peppers has not allowed a touchdown to tight ends since joining the Giants last year. I expect Graham to be a very boom or bust player this week.

Evan Engram has been considered a top 10 tight end ever since his breakout rookie year. Since then, injuries have caused inconsistency and uncertainty even when he is on the field. There were also rumors in the offseason that the Giants were looking to trade him. After last week's game against the Steelers, maybe the rumors were true. Even though Engram was targeted 7 times, he only had two receptions for 9 yards. This week he faces the Bears who allowed just two tight ends over 50 receiving yards last year. Engram has the potential to produce each and every week purely based on targets. But until we see more consistency from him and the Giants offense, he should be sat in your lineups.