Kansas City Chiefs

AFC West Best Values

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AFC West Best Values

By Tim Lazenby

We’ve talked about many values in every single division in the National Football League but one.  And in many ways, I’ve saved the best for last.  Let’s get into it.  It can’t be denied any further.  We just have to talk about the AFC West, not only my favorite division in football, but the most exciting one in many people’s eyes.  In a division ripe with skilled players all over, it’s not hard to find talent on any of these teams.  But, finding the value players isn’t that hard either.  Here is one player from each team in the AFC West who is, in my opinion, the best value player on his squad.

 

Denver Broncos: Tight End - Albert Okwuegbunam

Since Peyton Manning gifted them a Super Bowl win, the Denver Broncos just haven’t been able to get it together.  A regular carousel of coaches and quarterbacks have entered and left the organization, making success a difficult task for the Broncos.  But, with the addition of one of the best quarterbacks of his era, Russell Wilson is sure to give Denver their best chance at success.  Many have heard, “Let there be light” after the trade.  I am certain that the stocks of Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton have to go up, but there is a player who will improve that isn’t being spoken of nearly enough.  Now that Noah Fant was packaged in the deal that brought Wilson to town, Albert Okwuegbunam is ready to step into the spotlight and give the Broncos some voltage at tight end.

Now, I mean no disrespect toward Noah Fant; in fact, I love Fant.  He’s tremendously talented and he’ll certainly be leaned on in Seattle.  What I mean is that Albert O will finally shine as he isn’t in the shadow of Fant anymore.  If you didn’t watch many Broncos games, you should know that despite being the second tight end on the squad, Albert O performed better than many starting tight ends in the league.  And while it’s true that Russell Wilson doesn’t typically lean on tight ends, it doesn’t mean that he ignores them completely.  I also believe that teams will be all too eager to shadow Jeudy and Sutton, leaving the door open for Albert O to score a few key touchdowns.  And at such a talent starved position when it comes to fantasy, we have to be especially mindful of values at tight end.  Albert Okbuegbunam won’t be one of the top options at tight end league wide, but he’ll be one that could help you win a few weeks and the price tag isn’t one that will hurt the pocketbook too much.

Kansas City Chiefs: Running Back - Ronald Jones

Funny isn’t the word, but I’m going to use it anyway.  It’s funny how the Kansas City Chiefs reigned unanimously in the division among experts, and now, some have them as low as third.  While I don’t believe the notion that the Chiefs are dead in the water or even close to it, there is some reason to feel unsettled at the state of affairs in Kansas City.  While the rest of the AFC West has made mega moves to contend, the Chiefs have done the opposite by trading away the Cheetah, Tyreek Hill.  Surely this move will help their future, but the present is going to bring suffering.

I still think that the Chiefs are the second best team in the division and you’re always in it with Mahomes and Kelce.  But, one position that hasn’t gone well is the running back.  Although the running game is successful, the starting position hasn’t given much in the way of fantasy.  Clyde Edwards-Helaire clearly isn’t the solution, much to my dismay, so the addition of Ronald Jones is noteworthy.  Do I think that Jones steals the job outright?  Probably not.  But I think, even in a committee, he’ll be relevant as he shared a backfield pretty much his whole career.  There is also the chance that he could take the job and if that happens, his value will skyrocket.  I wrote a dynasty dilemma on him, so my love for him shouldn’t be surprising.  Having him as the best value on the team is a no brainer.

 

Las Vegas Raiders: Quarterback - Derek Carr

I have to be honest with you.  I’ve never loved Derek Carr.  He’s always been one of those guys, to me, who can win you a week or two if you get lucky, but can never be one to be depended on.  The beginning of last season, I was looking quite foolish as Derek Carr was balling out.  As the season continued, he came back down to earth, further cementing my notion that he’ll never be truly fantasy relevant.  Although I’m not alone in my thought process, I don’t think I gave him enough credit for what he’s done with the resources he’d been given.  When you look at the surrounding talent from years past, he hasn’t done as poorly as I’d naively believed.  This season, it’s a different game, as the added talent is insane.

While many are still in disbelief over the utterly shocking trade of Davante Adams, Las Vegas Raiders fans are chanting, “Hallelujah” choruses that can be heard all the way back to Oakland.  And while Carr has had some weapons in the past, he’s never had even close to what he’s about to have at the NFL level.  It’s also even more incredible when you consider the rapport between the two that goes back to their days at Fresno.  He and bestie, Adams, should tear the league a new one.  Save the covid years, they even trained together in the off season every year.  There is a chance that the magic isn’t instant, but there is no better shot that Carr will have at greatness.  There are many who haven’t put these pieces together yet, so find one of them and get Carr at a massive discount.  The value is incredible.

 

Los Angeles Chargers: Wide Receiver - Keenan Allen

I should place a big “WARNING” sticker before you read any more as the Chargers are my favorite team.  And even though I like to think I’m quite unbiased, there is a chance that I’m starry eyed for the Bolts.  Bearing that in mind, if there is a piece of any offense in the entire league that I want a part of, it’s Justin Herbert’s crew.  From quarterback, to the running game, to the receivers, it’s high octane.  This may be the highest powered offense in the league.  So finding value is an absolute must with the Chargers.  And while I think almost anyone on this team is a value, if I have to choose one, I have to go with life long Charger, Keenan Allen.

Admittedly, I was quite stupid in my assessment of Keenan Allen for many years.  I avoided him like the plague because he was such an “injury risk”, but in truth, he just had some bad luck early on.  If you exclude his injury years in 2015 and 2016, in his entire career he’s only missed a grand total of six games.  He’s also got this weird reputation in the fantasy circles as a guy who’s been in the league forever.  Still in his twenties, Keenan Allen has plenty left in the tank.  Regarded as one of the most consistent threats to have the ball in his hands, he’s also known as one of the best route runners in the league.  Many people gloss over him in drafts or his dynasty value, but don’t make that mistake.  Biased or not, I regard him as the most underrated receiver in the league.  His current value for many people makes him an absolute steal.  He’s simply a must have and with how little it will cost you.  You just have to make the move for him.

Dynasty Dilemma: Ronald Jones 

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Dynasty Dilemma: Ronald Jones 

By Tim Lazenby

 

Let’s be honest with ourselves here.  This has been the most exciting and earth shattering off season ever.  I can’t recall when the National Football League has seen so many names shifting, let alone franchise faces up and leaving with almost no prediction.  The swirling tornado of trades and signings, while exciting, can be frustrating at the same time.  For some, it is joyous or depressing based on real life favoring a team or player, but for others in dynasty, it can be maddening to assess the value of players whom we either own or want to roster.  Since NFL inception, Ronald Jones has been perplexing, and more than ever, managers want to know what to do.

 

 

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers truly believed in the greatness of Ronald Jones.  The running back out of the University of Southern California was simply brilliant.  And even though his receiving game wasn’t on top, his rushing was exceptional; crossing 1500 yards and 19 touchdowns on the ground in his senior season.  It all came crashing down his rookie season in the NFL, where in nine games he rushed for a measly 44 yards.  He’s had his moments for sure, but overall, it hasn’t matched his college profile.

 

Lack of Trust

With Doug Martin slowing down, a replacement was inevitable.  In fact, since his rookie season, The Buccaneers hadn’t had much luck on the ground.  Enter the 2018 NFL Draft.  Like any season, with holes to fill, Tampa Bay elected to take the fifth running back off the board.  And while first round pick Vita Vea panned out quite nicely, the second round pick had one of the worst rookie seasons ever.  Since then, he has improved, but hasn’t become that starter they had hoped for.  After only one season as the starter, Tampa Bay brought in Leonard Fournette.  Can Jones ever be a true starter?

 

Clyde Edwards-Helaire

Finally a free agent, and showing promise after sharing the backfield essentially his whole NFL career, the sky was the limit this off season for Ronald Jones.  Well, the sky indeed had a limit as he signed with a team that already had a starter.  While the Chiefs have one of the best running games in the league, so did the Buccaneers.  And while Clyde Edwards-Helaire doesn’t have complete trust, he has to be more trusted than the newly signed Jones.  Some are pretty sure they’ve seen the ceiling on Jones, especially in a committee backfield, because after all, we’ve seen it before.

 

 

For some, it seems as though Ronald Jones has been in the NFL for a long time, but even though it will be his fifth season in 2022, he’s still only 24 at the time of my writing.  It is true that his rookie season was historically terrible, but he was so young at the time and has had time to learn and evolve.  It’s important to look at how he improved after the rookie season.  And in his only season as the starter, it was pretty good.

 

The 2020 NFL Season

To truly assess Ronald Jones, we need to look at the 2020 NFL season.  This was the only season, thus far in his professional career, that he was technically a starter.  Despite sharing the backfield with Leonard Fournette even then, his numbers were trustworthy.  In only 14 games, he was just shy of the 1000 yard mark in rushing and still managed to be involved in the passing game.  His eight total touchdowns and 5.1 yards per rush were even more astounding considering the number of weapons he needed to share with.  No disrespect to the Chiefs, but they don’t have the talent of the 2020 Bucs.

 

Clyde Edwards-Helaire

No, I haven’t gone crazy here.  One of the reasons to sell him is one of the reasons to buy him.  I may be one of the biggest Clyde Edwards-Helaire truthers out there, but even I need to acknowledge the shaky ground he treads on moving forward.  Even though the Chiefs invested a first round pick, the backfield has been given to the likes of Derrick Gore, Darrel Williams and even Jerrick McKinnon last season.  In fact, in the playoffs, Andy Reid trusted Jerrick McKinnon over CEH.  It’s also important to note that even if you don’t start as running back for the Chiefs, you have value.  I think the opportunity is better than ever for Ronald Jones to take the reins.

 

At the beginning of the off season, I was preaching to buy Ronald Jones.  Largely due to the fact that Leonard Fournette was a free agent and Ke’Shawn Vaughn is unproven.  So if Jones resigned and Fournette walked, it was worth the gamble.  There was also the opportunity to sign as a starter with another team.  Now that he has signed in Kansas City, does my opinion change?  I think not.

 

Although there is a crowded backfield, it’s clear, much to my dismay, that the team has no faith in Clyde Edwards-Helaire as the starter.  And, as I mentioned earlier, even if CEH is the starter, not only is he often injured, any running back has value in an Andy Reid system.  Most people also don’t have much faith in Ronald Jones, so the price is right for the taking.  Make the right decision and grab Jones while he’s affordable.

Dynasty Dilemma: Marquez Valdes-Scantling

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Dynasty Dilemma: Marquez Valdes-Scantling

By Tim Lazenby

 

As we wait eagerly for the NFL season to start anew, many have nothing to do but twiddle their thumbs.  We in the dynasty community, however, never rest in our quest for glory.  With the constant ebb and flow of the off season, many names have swapped teams, making their value change.  And while some players are easier to assess than others, there are a few that can be quite mind boggling to figure out their worth.  Moving from Aaron Rodgers to Patrick Mahomes, Marquez Valdes-Scantling is one of these.

 

Marquez Valdes-Scantling has been somewhat disappointing in dynasty to be honest.  Always having a chance to be the second choice for Aaron Rodgers, he never seemed to grasp the great opportunity given to him.  While he had been there longer and should have been more trusted, others always seemed to grab the low hanging fruit, leaving MVS owners frustrated and often cutting their losses.  With the move to Kansas City, can we really expect him to break this mold of perennial underachievement?

 

Never at the Top

Marquez Valdes-Scantling is heading into his fifth season and has never had more than 38 receptions in a season.  In case that didn’t sink in, his career equates to 30 receptions per season.  Add to that, he was catching balls from whom some consider the best quarterback in the game today, it’s a little tough to expect him to succeed now with a new offense and uncharted waters.  His touchdowns were also undesirable, at 13 in four seasons.  It’s possible that we’ve seen all he can do at the professional level.

 

Terrible Efficiency

If his stats weren’t appalling enough before, it’s even worse when you consider he only catches about half the balls thrown his way.  In four years, he’s yet to have a catch rate of 53% or better.  And it can’t be understated that he was catching balls from Aaron Rodgers.  We can forgive some stars who are receivers on terrible teams with less than accurate quarterbacks, but it’s hard to swallow these facts.  While it’s true his chances may change under Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes, it’s tough to believe it.  If MVS is on your squad, it’s hard to trust him even in a best ball format, let alone a dynasty team.

 

Photo Swap by CameronWallaceDesigns

 

While it’s true that the National Football League hasn’t been too kind to MVS, it’s not like he isn’t talented.  After all, the number of players who make it are scarce and the number of players who can last even four seasons are even fewer.  In South Florida, MVS showed what he could do, scoring 7 touchdowns in 12 games and a respectable 73 yards per game.  In Green Bay, it didn’t go the best, but can he shine for the Chiefs?

 

Deep Threat Machine

Statistics can be deceiving.  Yards, touchdowns and even catch rate are only relevant if you understand the schemes and opportunities that spawned them.  Sure, Valdes-Scantling could have done better, but when you are a deep threat specialist, there is a higher probability of a missed catch than that of a slot receiver.  While he’s had drop issues in the past, it’s all more likely with a cornerback hanging over your shoulder.  It doesn’t hurt either that he led the league in yards per catch before and he’s now catching from who many consider the one of the best arms in the game today.

 

The True Opportunity

With Tyreek Hill no longer calling Kansas City home, one of the league’s biggest roles must be filled.  The Cheetah really could do it all and he did for Andy Reid, but one of the best parts to his game was his speed and deep threat ability.  While fellow new signing JuJu Smith-Schuster has been anointed by many as the replacement, he doesn’t have the deep threat ability that MVS does.  The scheme for the Chiefs is much more friendly to the style of game that Valdes-Scantling has than it was for the Packers.

 

 

In truth, before the off season, Marquez Valdes-Scantling had little to no dynasty value.  Only once Davonte Adams left did air be wooshed into the sails of MVS.  And now that he has moved on to Kansas City, you can argue that his value has never been higher.  I actually inherited a team recently with him on it.  And while I was wanting to hold him for a bit, I relented and rightfully so.  A package was made and a deal was done.

 

Although he should do much better, he’s never going to be that top tier talent, let alone a consistent WR3.  If there is a deal to be made when his value is at its best, you simply have to move on it before the season starts.  With all the excitement of possibly the busiest offseason ever, dynasty owners are more active than ever.  Now’s the time.

Dynasty Dilemma: JuJu Smith-Schuster 

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Dynasty Dilemma: JuJu Smith-Schuster 

By Tim Lazenby

 

When describing the rich smorgasbord that is dynasty fantasy football, there are many words that come to mind.  Thrilling, exciting and jaw-dropping can be easily surmised, but disappointing, soul crushing and depressing can be equally true.  All the same, we keep coming back for more.  One word that should be on the forefront is intriguing.  The game is truly intriguing because it comes with dilemmas and heart wrenching choices every year when managers need to run their team.  Since he’s come onto the scene, JuJu Smith-Schuster is one that most everyone has an opinion on.  The question is, which opinion should we have on him that will lead to success in the coming seasons?

 

JuJu Smith-Schuster not only did well his rookie season, he flat out dominated.  And the next year, he crushed it even more, as the 22 year old lit the league on fire.  Since then, he’s by all standards fallen out of his lofty perch, straight down to the depths of fantasy despair.  Not only did he miss most of the year last season, now he moves on to a new team with a new scheme.  Can he possibly do any better with the changes?

 

Continued Disappointments

From 2013-2017, Antonio Brown reigned supreme among fantasy wide receivers.  One of the best receivers of his generation, Brown won many titles for managers in all formats.  In 2018, Brown had little competition to start the year as Big Ben’s top option, save the appearance of an extremely green, wide eyed Smith-Schuster.  That year and the following, JuJu took enough focus off Brown to be a viable number one option, but that was the closest he’d get.  With many managers selling the farm at the chance to own him, he rewarded them with only 12 touchdowns in three years and not breaking 850 yards even once.  Needless to say, JuJu hasn’t instilled faith since 2018.

 

Andy Doesn’t Like the Second WR

Andy Reid is an amazing coach and that’s pretty much a fact to most.  When considering fantasy points, this could be argued differently.  In a bizarre fact, Andy Reid was the only coach since 1964 to have none of his wide receivers catch a touchdown all year.  It’s also insane when you look at how his “second” wide receiver has fared.  In his NFL career, even before the Chiefs, he has only had one second option at wide receiver to finish inside the top thirty in a fantasy season.  And, JuJu hasn’t even been technically named the second WR yet.  If history is an indicator, it doesn’t look good.

 

 

Above all, talent reigns supreme.  Among all the truthers and haters, most can agree that JuJu Smith-Schuster is talented.  With the size, speed and hands that you look for in a professional football wide receiver profile, the USC product has all the necessary tools to bounce back.  And while he hasn’t played the best lately, there weren’t too many success stories in the last couple years in Pittsburgh.  With the chance to begin anew and write new history for himself, the dynamic pass catcher is looking forward to blazing new trails of glory.  Will you be a part of his story moving forward?

 

Playing With the Best

I am one of the biggest Ben Roethlisberger fans out there.  When I rank the all time greats, he’s way up there and I consider it a privilege to have watched so many of his games.  That being said, for the last couple of years, his legacy became slightly tarnished with his poor vision and lack of arm strength.  While JuJu suffered in the past few seasons with Big Ben, he now moves on to who many consider the best in the game today, in Mahomes.  With the biggest upgrade you can get, it simply doesn’t seem possible for JuJu to fail.  Add to that, in Pittsburgh he was in a three headed monster of a wide receiver core.  In Kansas City, the competition for second fiddle is much lower.

 

He’s Been There Before

Listen, I know it was three seasons ago, but so many people have forgotten just how good JuJu was in 2018.  And if you ignore his injury riddled season last year, some of his stats were even better than his monster year.  And, if you are super sleuthy, you would notice his usage changed greatly.  In 2018, he was utilized much more for stretch plays and as an outside burner.  As Ben struggled to be himself, JuJu’s role was changed to a short flip play style of receiver and his fantasy points suffered.  It’s important to note that his drops and catch percentage both improved, despite the lack of usage for the plays that fantasy managers salivate to.

 

Verdict

Truthfully, this is somewhat of a sore subject.  I was one of those fools who sold the farm in 2019, just to be destroyed all season.  On top of that, in dynasty, the investment has even greater depth as you don’t get to hit the reset button as you do in redraft.  I can’t help but grit my teeth and yell into a pillow as I think back to that year.  However, that’s not what an unbiased writer should do, so I will avoid such things.

 

Before the signing in Kansas City, I was preaching the value of JuJu Smith-Schuster.  If he stayed in Pittsburgh, he’d do better while healthy and with an improved quarterback, or if he moved, it’d still be an improved quarterback.  He’s also only 25, so there’s still not much dirt on the tire.  Ultimately, now the setting is more desirable than ever.  But that’s the problem.  Virtually everyone will share the same sentiment.  If it’s possible to get him at the same price as before, it’s a no brainer.  You simply have to jump at the chance.  I, however, don’t see a world where everyone hasn’t increased the price on JuJu.  And for that reason, there’s only one logical decision to make for Smith-Schuster.

 

Bob Miller’s 2021 NFL Mock Draft

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by Bob Miller

 

1. Jacksonville Jaguars - Trevor Lawrence (QB - Clemson)

Do I really need to give a reason? He's the best QB prospect since Andrew Luck. Done.

2. NY Jets - Zach Wilson (QB - BYU)

Wilson's athletic ability, accuracy from the pocket and on the run, and leadership makes him a no brainer here for the Jets.

3. San Francisco 49ers - Justin Fields (QB - Ohio State)

The 49ers play Russell Wilson and Kyler Murray twice a year. They know what kind of a problem that type of quarterback is to defend. San Francisco decides that they need one of those QBs as well.

4. Denver Broncos - Trey Lance (QB - North Dakota State) Trade w/ Atlanta

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a trade! Atlanta trades the 4th pick to the Denver Broncos. After Denver failed to trade for Deshaun Watson, they decide that they won't fail again. They move up to get the their man, a mobile quarterback with a big arm for those cold games. Trey Lance fits that perfectly. Teddy Bridgewater is not their future, Trey Lance is.

5. Cincinnati Bengals - Ja’Marr Chase (WR - LSU)

Lots of mock drafts have Oregon LT Penei Sewell going here to the Bengals. Not mine. Ja'Marr Chase is the undisputed #1 wide receiver in this draft. Tackle is deeper is this draft than the past few years. They'll get one in the 2nd or 3rd. Cincinnati just can't pass on the opportunity to reunite Joe Burrow and his favorite WR. 

6. Miami Dolphins - Kyle Pitts (TE - Florida)

The Dolphins are thrilled to get Kyle Pitts. This once in a generation TE talent is just what they need to ensure that Tua Tagovailoa has every opportunity to succeed.

7. New England Patriots - Mac Jones (QB - Alabama) Trade w/ Detroit

We have our 2nd trade of the day! Detroit has been targeting WR Jaylen Waddle here for quite some time, but New England makes an offer that Detroit can't refuse. The Patriots get their guy! Jones needs the right situation to be successful in the NFL. What better situation to be in than being coached by Bill Belichick.

8. Carolina Panthers - Penei Sewell (LT - Oregon)

Sewell has dropped far enough. Carolina is in desperate need of a LT. Sewell starts day one and is the staple of their offensive line for the next decade.

9. Atlanta Falcons - Patrick Surtain II (CB - Alabama)

Defense is the priority for Atlanta. They traded back from pick #4 knowing that they were going to get one of the best corners available. They just happen to land the absolute best corner in this year's draft.

10. Dallas Cowboys - Jaycee Horn (CB - South Carolina)

Dallas fans are left disappointed after Patrick Surtain II gets sniped the pick before them. With cornerback being a major priority they take the best corner available. Horn is fast, physical, and will step in and start day one.

11. NY Giants - Jaelan Phillips (EDGE - Miami)

Phillips is arguably the most talented edge rusher in this class. He has had some injuries but is absolutely worth taking at pick #11. He will fill the void needed since Jason Pierre-Paul left years ago.

12. Philadelphia Eagles - Devonta Smith (WR - Alabama)

A dream come true for Philadelphia Eagles fans. They are in dire need for a WR, so what better than the unstoppable Heisman Trophy Winner. He is a bit undersized, but he's played that way his entire career. Congrats to Jaylen Hurts on getting a shiny new toy.

13. LA Chargers - Rashawn Slater (LT - Northwestern)

Los Angeles failed to land LT Orlando Brown Jr. from the Ravens. They didn't want to give what Baltimore was asking, because they knew they could land their franchise LT in this draft. Slater will be a very good left tackle in the NFL protecting Justin Herbert's blind side for years to come.

14. Minnesota Vikings - Kwity Paye (EDGE - Michigan)

Minnesota doesn’t have a second-round pick this year, so trading back is definitely a possibility. Adding a pass-rusher with this type of agility and strength opposite of Danielle Hunter may be just too hard to pass up.

15. Detroit Lions - Jaylen Waddle (WR - Alabama)

How about that. Detroit trades back with the hopes that Waddle would still be available, and he is. Waddle is a weapon that Detroit will use in many different ways. With the loss of Kenny Golladay via free agency, Waddle will targeted early and often.

16. Arizona Cardinals - Caleb Farley (CB - Virginia Tech)

With a glaring hole in the secondary left by Patrick Peterson, Arizona has to walk out of the first two rounds with a CB. Farley would have been a top-10 pick, but has fallen a bit due to the back injury concerns. Arizona believes that the reward outweighs the risk here.

17. Las Vegas Raiders - Micah Parsons (LB - Penn State)

This just makes too much sense. The Raiders need major help at linebacker, and Parsons is the best LB in this draft. Character issues prevents Parsons from being taken in the top 10, but that's not a concern for GM Mike Mayock. Jon Gruden may hurt himself running to the phone to call in this pick.

18. Miami Dolphins - Azeez Ojulari (EDGE - Georgia)

Azeez Ojulari is an edge defender with incredible speed and explosiveness. His upside is just to good for Miami to pass up.

19.Washington - Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (LB - Notre Dame)

Washington is very thin at LB. JOK is an extremely fast linebacker that can line up against slot receivers and deliver a big pop to outside runs. This combined with his leadership makes this a big get for the Football Team.

20. Chicago Bears - Christian Darrisaw (LT - Virginia Tech)

Chicago considers going with WR Rashod Bateman here, but LT is a bigger need for the Bears. Darrisaw is a top tier OT, and is too good of a value here to pass up. Chicago can grab a WR in the next couple of rounds.

21. Indianapolis Colts - Alijah Vera-Tucker (OT – USC)

Left Tackle is by far the biggest need for the Colts, and Vera-Tucker is a versatile, athletic, and strong lineman that can line up anywhere. That won't matter as the Colts will plug him in at LT immediately.

22. Tennessee Titans - Rashod Bateman (WR - Minnesota)

The Titans "had" 2 major needs: Pass rush and wide receiver. They addressed the pass rushing need via free agency by signing Bud Dupree and Denico Autry. Now they need to replace the hole at WR with Corey Davis leaving for New York. They get a solid replacement in Rashod Bateman.

23. NY Jets - Greg Newsome (CB- Northwestern)

Cornerback is a major weakness for the Jets. Head Coach Robert Saleh is going to be thrilled that he lands a talent such as Newsome here.

24. Pittsburgh Steelers - Gregory Rousseau (EDGE - Miami)

Pittsburgh has to replace EDGE with the loss of Bud Dupree. Rousseau is an absolute freak. He is 6'6/260 and has incredible reach. He has tremendous length for the position, and he's still building out his frame. He is still a little raw, but his upside is amazing.

25. Jacksonville Jaguars - Trevon Moehrig (S - TCU)

The best safety in this draft falls to the team that needs him the most. Jacksonville can use quite a bit of help on defense, and they get it here. Moehrig has great acceleration and closes on the ball quickly. He's a playmaker that Jacksonville desperately needs.

26. Cleveland Browns - Zaven Collins (LB - Tulsa)

Collins is a big, physical, and mobile linebacker that covers the middle of the field. He is fantastic against the run, which Cleveland will need to help them get over the hump against teams like Baltimore. He fills a need for Cleveland.

27. Baltimore Ravens - Joe Tryon (EDGE - Washington)

Baltimore has 3 holes to fill: EDGE, OT, and WR. Joe Tryon has elite upside as a pass rusher and will make an immediate impact for the Ravens. He opted out of the 2020 season, but his 2019 tape is fantastic. He has the potential to produce double digit sacks his rookie year in that Baltimore defense.

28. New Orleans Saints - Asante Samuel Jr. (CB - Florida State)

We all know about the Saints' salary cap situation. I wouldn't be surprised to see New Orleans trade back here, but their secondary is the top priority. They are in bad shape behind Marshon Lattimore, so drafting Samuel here makes all the sense in the world.

29. Green Bay Packers - Terrace Marshall (WR - LSU)

It's no secret that Green Bay needs help at WR behind Davante Adams. Marshall has size, speed, and great hands. He is a big target that is a mismatch for opposing corners. He will be a welcomed addition to the Packers offense.

30. Buffalo Bills - Joseph Ossai (EDGE - Texas)

I almost went with Najee Harris here, but EDGE is a bigger need for this team. They can get a RB in the next rounds. Ossai has a high motor and  high upside. He has great size and a very strong lower body. He is built for the NFL, and should be a solid EDGE defender that the Bills need.

31. Baltimore Ravens - Teven Jenkins (OT - Oklahoma State)

The Ravens were really hoping that Rashod Bateman or Terrace Marshall would fall to them here, but unfortunately that doesn't happen.  Rumor is the Ravens are shopping this pick. I'm 50/50 on the them trading back, because they already have 9 picks. With that being said they draft Teven Jenkins, a big, nasty RT with incredible size and strength. He's an elite pass protector and a fantastic run blocker. He fits right in where Orlando Brown left off.

32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Jayson Oweh (EDGE - Penn State)

Jason Pierre-Paul isn't getting any younger, and Oweh will be a great replacement when the time comes. He has a ton of talent but has a bit to learn. He lands in the perfect situation in Tampa. He can be a situational player for now and learn from two great pass rushers in JPP and Shaq Barrett.

 

I want to give a special thanks to @McManusDesigns, @SwapKingdom, @SchapDesign, @Golden.GRFX, @SnaggyGFX, and @DesignedbyFranco for the awesome jersey swaps!

You can follow me on twitter at @BaltimoreBobFF

 

 

Le’Veon Bell to Kansas City: Fantasy Impact

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Le’Veon Bell to the Chiefs: Fantasy Impact

by Bob Miller

The wait is over. Le’Veon Bell has signed a 1 year deal with the Kansas City Chiefs. Lev Bell owners are rejoicing, and Clyde Edwards-Helaire owners are freaking out. This is overreaction. 

CEH owners.. chill out. Everything is going to be okay. 

Edwards-Helaire is still the RB1 in the KC offense and will be for the rest of the season. His touches are going to take a hit, but not as bad as most think. CEH is averaging 19.6 touches a game. 20 touches a game in that offense is gold.

Enter Le’Veon Bell. 

The addition of Lev Bell all but kills Darrell Williams and Darwin Thompson’s touches. I believe Bell will be used mostly as a 3rd down back. He will give Edwards-Helaire a breather here and there as well, but Bell will not take over the lead RB role. He doesn’t have the burst that CEH has, and Kansas City throws the ball a lot. 

I expect Clyde Edwards-Helaire to see around 14-15 touches per game with Le’Veon Bell seeing between 8-10 touches moving forward.

Recommendation:

I strongly recommend selling Le’Veon Bell right now. I also suggest finding a CEH owner that is panicking, and taking advantage (especially in dynasty). 

 

I project Le’Veon Bell to be an above average flex play in PPR. 

Clyde Edwards-Helaire should be a solid RB2 in PPR for the remainder of this season. 

 

You can follow me on Twitter @DynastyProBob