Los Angeles Rams

Super Bowl 2022 Prediction

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Super Bowl 2022 Prediction

By Tim Lazenby

What a thrill the 2022 NFL playoffs predictions have been so far.  We’ve predicted some landslides, some tightly fought matches, some favorites moving on and some underdogs fighting their way to the top.  With all the excitement, it’s time to bring it to a close, but before we do, here’s a recap of how each team will do in the standings according to my predictions.

 

NFC

North                                                    East                                                         South                                                        West

Green Bay Packers 10-7-0              Dallas Cowboys 8-9-0                          Tampa Bay Buccaneers 11-6-0            Los Angeles Rams 12-5-0

Minnesota Vikings 8-9-0                   Philadelphia Eagles 8-9-0                     Carolina Panthers 6-11-0                        Arizona Cardinals 11-6-0

Chicago Bears 7-10-0                        New York Giants 6-11-0                         New Orleans Saints 4-13                        San Francisco 49ers 7-10-0

Detroit Lions 7-10-0                           Washington Commanders 4-12-1        Atlanta Falcons 3-13-1                            Seattle Seahawks 3-14-0

AFC

North                                                    East                                                          South                                                         West

Cincinnati Bengals 12-5-0                Buffalo Bills 13-4-0                               Indianapolis Colts 12-5-0                       Los Angeles Chargers 14-3-0

Pittsburgh Steelers 11-6-0                 Miami Dolphins 10-7-0                          Tennessee Titans 9-8-0                           Kansas City Chiefs 10-7-0

Baltimore Ravens 9-8-0                      New York Jets 9-8-0                               Jacksonville Jaguars 8-9-0                     Denver Broncos 9-8-0

Cleveland Browns 8-9-0                     New England Patriots 8-9-0                   Houston Texans 3-14-0                           Las Vegas Raiders 8-9-0

With all of that out of the way, I bring to you your Super Bowl contestants for 2022-23.  In a battle for the city of Los Angeles, the Rams and the Chargers will headline Super Bowl LVII a year too late from playing at Inglewood.  Hold onto your seats as this battle of LA will be one for the ages.  Let’s see how this unfolds.

 

Super Bowl 2022

Los Angeles Rams 12-5-0 (1) vs Los Angeles Chargers 14-3-0 (1)

Last Game: Chargers 23 @ Rams 35 (09-23-2018)

Rams lead all time series 7-5-0

In 1976, the NFL adopted the system that places the seeds in the playoffs and it has been a rarity for number one seeds to face off in the Super Bowl.  Two number one seeds meeting in the Super Bowl has only happened 13 times, with the most recent meeting happening in 2017-18.  Well, in 2022-23, it’s going to mark the 14th time in this battle of Los Angeles.

There have also never been two teams from the same city that have matched up against each other in the Super Bowl before.  In fact, only twice has there been a Super Bowl featuring two teams from the same state, so history will be made next year before the whistle is even blown to start the Rams versus Charger game.  But just matching up against each other isn’t what fans will be speaking of when all is said and done.

In the Rams, you have a proven winner.  Although McVay brings a stellar 55-26-0 record to the Rams in the regular season, his postseason success is even better at 7-3-0.  With two Super Bowl appearances and one win, the Rams are a team hell bent on success and there aren’t many teams that can compete on all cylinders like the Rams can.  This team is complete from top to bottom.

The Chargers, on the other hand, haven’t seen anything near the success that the Rams have.  After all, it’s been over a decade since they even won their own division, let alone had success in the playoffs.  With only two postseason appearances in their last twelve, the Chargers in many ways remind me of the Bengals: a team brimming with youth and potential, just waiting for their turn at the top.

On offense, both teams are near the top of the league.  Sporting talent at every position, it’s either team’s spot to lose, but I give the slight edge to the Chargers.  The quartet of Justin Herbert, Austin Ekeler, Keenan Allen and Mike Williams is rivaled by few in this league.  It’s not to say that the Rams aren’t elite in their own rite, but if I have to pick, I’m giving the edge to the Chargers.

When it comes to defense, I’m also giving the edge to the Chargers here.  It seems disrespectful to not choose the team with Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey, but they don’t quite match up against the likes of Derwin James, Joey Bosa, JC Jackson and Khalil Mack.  The depth also goes to the Chargers.  Though the Rams are no slouch here, the edge is quite evident.

All that being said, despite the edge on offense and defense, this game will be tight.  The Chargers will still need to overcome their lack of playoff experience to have a chance against the completely seasoned Rams.  And with Matthew Stafford as the best comeback quarterback in the league, this battle should be one that will not be easily decided.  I can see the Super Bowl extending past regulation for only the second time in the National Football League’s rich history.

With everything on the line, this match will not disappoint.  Multiple lead changes and excitement on all fronts, the battle of LA will be one of the best matches in Super Bowl history.  Yet despite not wanting to name a loser, there can be only one winner.  The Rams will put up the fight of the ages, even being on top at times, but in the end, it will be the other LA team raising the trophy past 60 minutes.  And for the first time since Super Bowl 50, I see a defensive player taking the Super Bowl MVP in 2022-23.

Chargers win Super Bowl LVII 23-17

Follow me on Twitter @NFLazenby

Conference Championship Predictions 2022

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Conference Championship Predictions 2022

By Tim Lazenby

As we come another step closer to predicting who will raise the Lombardi trophy in the NFL in 2022, let’s discuss the Conference Championship.  Three playoff contenders return from last season and one new one enters.  This round will shine like the rest, so let’s see who continues on.

NFC Conference Championship 

Arizona Cardinals 11-6-0 (5) vs Los Angeles Rams 12-5-0 (1)

Last Game: Arizona Cardinals 11 @ Los Angeles 34 (01-17-22)

Los Angeles leads all time series 47-39-2

The Cardinals versus the Rams brings excitement and intrigue in many different facets, and I look forward to seeing them in full display in this highly anticipated rematch of last year’s divisional playoffs.  It was a straight up mollywhopping last time around, but will it be the same this time around?  Will the Rams have their way again or will Kyler Murray and his team show they aren’t going to be pushed around any more?

To me, the edge on defense goes to the Rams.  Featuring a cast rivaled by few, Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey alone are enough to terrorize but they aren’t alone.  Other players like Leonard Floyd are vastly underrated and Bobby Wagner’s presence is still one to behold.  You have to remember, though, that the Cardinals defense is also fantastic.  The Cardinals defense is still one to be taken seriously; make no mistake.

As far as offense is concerned, despite all the weapons the Rams boast, I give the edge to the Cardinals.  And while the Rams may have the better talent on an individual basis, as a collective unit, I’m going with Arizona.  DeAndre Hopkins will be thriving come this time of the year and James Conner continues to be forgotten when he should be focused on.  The depth for the Cardinals also gets the edge on my end.

In a battle between the better offense versus the better defense, it’s sure to be a close one.  In my heart of hearts, I want to choose the Cardinals here as they will be hungrier and want to prove themselves to be the team on top.  That being said, it’s hard to ignore recent history.  Even though I see the Cardinals as the better team, I’m going with the Rams this time around.  Come this time in 2023, it’ll be a different story.

Los Angeles Rams advance, winning 27-23

AFC Conference Championship 

Buffalo Bills 13-4-0 (2) vs Los Angeles Chargers 14-3-0 (1)

Last Game: Los Angeles 17 @ Buffalo 27 (11-29-2020)

Los Angeles leads all time series 25-13-2

From a fantasy football perspective, this matchup is truly insane.  Featuring, in my mind, the two best quarterbacks in the game, this matchup won’t even come close to disappointing.  In real life, it’s almost just as exciting.  Of all of the games so far in this series, this is the one I’m wanting to see more than anything.  If we get lucky enough to watch it on full display, let’s discuss what the outcome will be.

If we’re talking defense here, I think it will be the two best defenses in the league.  Although I want to give the edge to the Chargers with all of their newly acquired talent, I’m going to give it to the Bills this time.  It takes time for talent to really meld, and the Bills are already there.  That being said, it’s the slightest of margins.  The Chargers played worse than they should have on defense last year, and with players like Khalil Mack and JC Jackson being added, they’ll be second best in 2022.

On offense, although the Bills will be fantastic, it won’t be at the same level as the Chargers.  Although the Chargers won’t be the best offense in the entire league, they’re near the top.  Despite all of the rage of Josh Allen as the best quarterback, I am certain Justin Herbert has the edge and Austin Ekeler will prove his worth once again.  There is no facet of Buffalo’s offense that is better than Los Angeles’.

So, much like in the NFC, it's a battle between the better offense versus the better defense.  And, like I said before, even though one is better than the other, it’s awfully close.  I see this going very similarly to the Buffalo versus Kansas City game in the playoffs last season.  The difference is that the offense won’t be able to run as wild as these defenses will hold the other side more accountable.  What a thriller it will be.

Los Angeles Chargers advance, winning 30-21

There’s one more round to go in 2022.  Two teams but only one can win it all.  The anticipation is killing me.  Check later for the exciting conclusion.

 

Follow me on Twitter @NFLazenby

NFC West Predictions for 2022

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NFC West Predictions for 2022

By Tim Lazenby

The NFC West has been pretty dominant for quite some time now.  The division winner isn’t always the same team, but if you win this division, you go far in the playoffs.  Not since 1991 has a team from the NFC West not been in the playoffs past the wild card round.  As we look ahead, will we still have a dominant team?  Let’s find out.

Arizona Cardinals

Record in 2021: 11-6-0  

Predicted Record in 2022: 11-6-0

Strengths and Weaknesses

Though the defense is pretty good in Arizona, the high flying offense is what gets it done.  Whether it be superstar Kyler Murray, the receiving game led by DeAndre Hopkins or the ground game, which runs through James Conner, the Cardinals are stacked.  That being said, management woes are rearing their ugly heads in Arizona.  If it was quiet before, it has been brought to the forefront with Kyler Murray.  Past Cardinals have sided with Murray, stating this has been a problem for quite some time.

Situation to Watch

There are many intriguing things happening in Arizona, but a lower key one takes my attention.  Trey McBride out of Colorado State has had a much quieter entry into the league than last year’s top option in Kyle Pitts.  Particularly with dynasty fantasy implications, I wonder how they’ll use him as a rookie alongside Zach Ertz.  He’s got much to learn, especially without the ball in his hands, but I’m excited to see it unfold.

Conclusion

Not many casual fans know this, but the Cardinals are actually the NFL’s oldest franchise.  While we’ve seen this team in the depths of the valley and on the top of a mountain, I feel like it’s looking up for the Cardinals in 2022.  Losing DeAndre Hopkins for 6 games hurts, but it’s a hurdle they’ll overcome.  A couple early losses with D-Hops out won’t matter once he’s back.

Seattle Seahawks

Record in 2021: 7-10-0  

Predicted Record in 2022: 3-14-0

Strengths and Weaknesses

It is true that the Seattle Roster is quite barren compared to its glory days not so long ago, but there are still gems.  DK Metcalf had a much better season last year than he gets credit for and the rest of the offense isn’t the worst in the league.  It’s hard to list a greater weakness than the quarterback room.  The current guys aren’t great, but it’s so much worse knowing what you had versus what you have now.

Situation to Watch

While I still love him as a guy, I’m very curious as to how Pete Carroll will do this season.  While the Seahawks haven’t been dominant in quite some time, with Russell Wilson you always had a chance.  A new day is dawning in Seattle and you have to question whether the sun has all but set for Carroll.  If he doesn’t make noise in this division in 2022, I fear he’ll be out the door by the end of the season next year.

Conclusion

The Legion of Boom is officially dead as no one remains from that dominant defense with Bobby Wagner now gone.  And the worst blow is knowing you are going from Russell Wilson to Drew Lock or even Geno Smith.  The offseason moves were ok and the draft brings potential, the lack of star power, save Metcalf, is very concerning moving forward.  This team has its work cut out for it, and it’s going to cut deep.

San Francisco 49ers

Record in 2021: 10-7-0  

Predicted Record in 2022: 7-10-0

Strengths and Weaknesses

The biggest strength of this team is one that doesn’t get near enough credit.  While Deebo got a ton of praise last season and everyone drools over Trey Lance, let’s not forget about one of the most punishing defenses in the entire league.  Last season both Dallas and Green Bay were rudely awoken by Fred Warner, Nick Bosa and crew.  This defense should continue to dominate for years to come.

Situation to Watch

I am waiting to see what Kyle Shanahan does this season.  Among fantasy pundits, we are maddened by his choices with his running game every season.  I know it’s obviously more important to win real life games; but if we’re being honest as fantasy football people, is it?  I also wonder what he’ll finally do with Trey Lance, like so many others.  I worry that Jimmy G just won’t go away, breaking the hearts of Lance fanboys all over fantasy leagues.

Conclusion

My assessment of this team’s record can be quite deceiving.  A 7-10-0 prediction makes it seem as though I think the team is terrible, but that’s just not true.  I honestly think it’s going to take a while for this team to get up to speed under Trey Lance.  Once this team gets solidified, however, it’s gonna be scary for the other 31 teams.  But, I don’t think the other teams will have to worry just yet.

Los Angeles Rams

Record in 2021: 12-5-0  

Predicted Record in 2022: 12-5-0

Strengths and Weaknesses

What a difference a quarterback makes.  Although there were other moving pieces, the biggest solution for the Rams’ Super Bowl puzzle was Matthew Stafford.  And if you don’t agree, just ask Cooper Kupp.  The biggest weakness is actually a result of having such a great team.  In a salary cap world, you can only afford so much.  It makes you question how much longer they can keep this elite core together.

Situation to Watch

In 2022, I want to see Allen Robinson succeed.  Largely based on my world as a fantasy manager, Allen Robinson has never had the good fortune of a great quarterback.  Truly no disrespect intended, but Blake Bortles, Nick Foles, Mitchell Trubisky and a rookie Justin Fields isn’t fair for a man with the talent of Robinson.  He now goes to Matthew Stafford and I can’t wait to see Robinson light the football world on fire.

Conclusion

I’m pretty positive, like so many others, that the Rams will win the division again this season.  And like so many others, I think they have a shot to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl again in 2022.  That being said, as I mentioned earlier, time is running out on future runs.  And it’s not age that will stop them: it’s the salary cap crunch.  All I can say is that they’ll have to make some tough choices moving forward.  It’s been an honor and a privilege to watch football magic in action, but it’s gotta end sometime.

 

Follow me on Twitter @NFLazenby

Dynasty Death Match: Etienne vs Akers

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Dynasty Death Match: Etienne vs Akers

By Tim Lazenby

 

In fantasy football, tough choices are part of the job of an everyday manager.  Oftentimes, we struggle with whom to draft, trade or even drop completely.  This is magnified when two players are so close in value.  Choosing between two players like that can ravage the brain and perhaps make or break your season.  In dynasty, it’s even worse than standard because choosing the wrong guy means you are stuck with the mistake for years and potentially losing out on the talent of the better man to win you multiple championships.

Today, let’s dive into a discussion about two young running backs who missed the chance to play for your squad last season.  In a head to head matchup for dynasty glory, only one can survive.  Will it be Los Angeles running back, Cam Akers or Jacksonville Jaguars running back, Travis Etienne?  As they both missed time and Etienne hasn’t had the chance to show what he can do at the professional level, we’re going to look at the college numbers.

Rushing and Receiving Numbers Comparison

Cam Akers Rushing and Receiving

YearGAttYrdsAvgTDsFumLRecYrdsAvgTDs
20171319410255.371161167.31
2018121617064.463231456.32
20191123111445.014330225754

Travis Etienne Rushing and Receiving

YearGAttYrdsAvgTDsFumLRecYrdsAvgTDs
2017131077667.213155711.40
20181520416588.124112786.52
20191520716147.81923743211.74
2020121689145.41444858812.32

Now, we have to take these numbers with a grain of salt.  The statistics in college will not necessarily transition at the professional level, but they also can’t be ignored completely.  It’s important to note that Etienne had one extra year at the college level, so that could be an advantage or disadvantage according to how you view that.

We also have to take into account the programs they played for.  I think it’s obvious that Etienne has the greater numbers by some margin, but he also played for a much better team.  Even without Trevor Lawrence, Etienne still enjoyed success splitting the backfield in his rookie season, going 10-3.  But once Trevor Lawrence came to Clemson, in the three seasons they played together, their record was 39-3.  This level of success certainly helped Etienne’s game.

Cam Akers, on the other hand, was not so fortunate in the school that he played for.  His rookie season was spent with a rookie quarterback and over the three years at Florida State, their record was 18-20.  This meant that Akers would have a much harder time establishing the run or even getting optimal play time on offense.  While we can’t lean on this logic completely when comparing the two, it is still important to look at.

Now that college is out of the way, it’s important to look at the teams they will play for in the NFL.  While Akers is going to someone he is familiar with in Sean McVay, Etienne is making use of Doug Pedeson in his second swing at NFL coaching.  It’s important to see how these two coaches have used their running backs at the professional level.  After all, both Pederson and McVay have coached five seasons in the NFL and both have only coached for one team.  Let’s discuss what that looked like.

Sean McVay’s NFL running back history

McVay came into the NFL extremely blessed with Todd Gurley at his disposal.  In his first season especially, Sean McVay used every ounce that Gurley could give.  His 279 rush attempts were better than the next closest running back at 63; the definition of a workhorse back.  He wasn’t done in the receiving game either, with Gurley leading the team’s running back in targets at 87 and the closest competition had 11.  In fact, Gurley was second on the entire team in targets.

The next two seasons with Gurley leading the way were more of the same, but as time progressed the usage, while still dominant, went down.  You have to question if Sean McVay is leery of using his star running back so heavily moving forward.  The next two seasons were led by none other than Cam Akers and Sony Michel.  It seems likely that Akers would have led last season if not for the injury.  But, unlike Gurley, the usage was not nearly as dominant.  McVay’s lead back almost split the rush attempts and the targets were not even first on the team in the running back room.  Can we expect more of the same moving forward?  Is Cam Akers a workhorse back or a 1A from now on?

Doug Pederson’s NFL running back history

Unlike McVay, Pederson has never shown faith in a typical workhorse back.  Although there is always a starting running back with him, he tends to use a split backfield.  It’s actually amazing that over his NFL tenure, he’s only had one running back as the starter in more than one season in Miles Sanders.  But, when your best option is Ryan Matthews, LaGarrett Blount and Josh Adams, you make do with what you have; no disrespect intended.

Now, can we blame Doug Pederson’s running back choices on his coaching alone or is it partial to the talent available?  Truthfully, moving forward, it will be interesting to see what he does in his fresh start with Jacksonville.  Unlike McVay also, even with a “starter” the rushing share was not great; and with the targets, it’s even worse.  It seemed as though he really liked the idea of a smasher and a receiving threat not being one and the same.

Conclusion

Lastly, we have to talk about the opportunity for each running back on the team for whom they are employed.  I don’t see much in the way of competition for Cam Akers, and now that James Robinson is on the shelf, Travis Etienne’s path to dominance is all but assured.  The teams they play for are also vastly different.  The Rams just won a Super Bowl and have no signs of giving up their championship moving forward.  The Jaguars, on the other hand, finished dead last yet again.  Will McVay ease Cam Akers because the team doesn’t need him as badly?  Will Pederson finally make use of a workhorse back because of the state of his team?

When considering the talent, it is too close to call.  With all the data and arguments, it comes down to the overall team value.  With Akers as a second round pick and the plethora of talent around him, the likelihood of usage is not as high as Etienne.  The Jaguars invested a first round pick in Etienne, making it harder not to showcase him.  Add to that the connection between him and Trevor Lawrence, the choice is easier.  While it has been documented that Trevor Lawrence wasn’t instrumental in bringing Travis Etienne to the Jaguars, now that he’s there I see the cornerstone quarterback wanting to make use of his college teammate as much as possible.

If you are drafting or trading for either, both are good choices.  But in the deathmatch, there is only one winner:

Travis Etienne

 

Follow me on Twitter @NFLazenby

NFC West Best Values

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NFC West Best Values

By Tim Lazenby

The National Football League offers excitement, intrigue and amazement, but one of the best things it offers is one that is indirectly their doing.  Fantasy football is becoming bigger and bigger every year and dynasty is the absolute best way to do it in my humble opinion.  But, in order to succeed we must make wise decisions when evaluating talent.  It’s easy to see who the best player on each team is, but a savvy manager knows where to find the best deal.  Although some of these players are not cheap, they are still the best deal you can find on their respective teams when considering talent versus cost.  Today, we dive into the best values in the NFC West.

Arizona Cardinals: Wide Receiver – Rondale Moore

Many teams have faced drama this off season, and the Arizona Cardinals are no stranger to it.  Quarterback Kyler Murray was front and center when he removed all Cardinals association on his instagram, but he told us that apparently it didn’t mean anything.  Now that we can move on from that, we want to find the best value on a team featuring one of the league’s best young quarterbacks.  It’s hard not to love the young wide receiver, Rondale Moore.

 With Christian Kirk off to his new team, the sky’s the limit for the 21 year old Moore.  And while DeAndre Hopkins is still quite relevant, there is plenty of room for a strong option at number two.  Last season, we saw Kyler rush less and focus more on his arm and playmaking talents.  Even though Kyler Murray is still going to be one of the best rushing quarterbacks moving forward, I believe we’re going to see more of his passing talents displayed moving forward.  Truthfully, Rondale Moore wasn’t sensational in his rookie season, but he’ll be leaps and bounds better with more opportunity.  Take advantage of those who don’t see just how good this young man will be moving forward.

 

Los Angeles Rams: Wide Receiver – Allen Robinson

I know it’s usually bad when someone says, “Hear me out now”, but hear me out now.  I know that Allen Robinson was a complete bust last season.  In fact, he nearly killed one of my own keeper teams.  But, if we’re honest, we have to ignore last season as an anomaly.  The other issue is that even though he’s on this best values list, he won’t be cheap.  Many managers haven’t given up hope now that he’s moved on to greener pastures.  I preached to buy him at the end of the season while he was dirt cheap, but even though he’s way more expensive now with Matthew Stafford, he’s still undervalued.

While he will not supplant Cooper Kupp, there is still room for two top flight receivers in Sean McVay’s offense.  We’ve seen this come to fruition since he came to the Rams.  We’d also be foolish to forget which quarterbacks Robinson has had so far in his career.  I don’t want to list them as to not be disrespectful, but you know the names.  Matthew Stafford was perennially underrated, and even with the Super Bowl win, he’s still not recognized as he should be.  Make no mistake, Robinson will shine more now than ever and you want him on your dynasty fantasy squad moving forward.

 

San Francisco 49ers: Running Back – Trey Sermon

The San Francisco 49ers are one of the rare teams in the NFL that are not easy to find values in fantasy football.  The top tier options are very expensive and the depth at the skilled positions is not as deep as other teams.  So finding the best value on the team has to be that of running back, Trey Sermon.  I’m not blind, as I know Elijah Mitchell is not moving as top dog and Kyle Shanahan doesn’t have much love for Sermon.  Before you call me a lunatic, Trey Sermon isn’t dead yet, and here’s why.

Although the 49ers are the most maddening team to have one of their fantasy running backs on your squad, they are valuable.  And now that Trey Lance is taking the helm, his play style is better suited to have even more of a rushing offense.  I can see Shanahan employing a lot more two running back sets to block and deceive offenses.  But, above all else, not only has Elijah Mitchell shown he is an injury risk, Trey Sermon has too much stock to give up on after only one season.  While it’s possible he’ll never succeed at the top level, he’s essentially free, so you have to pounce.

 

Seattle Seahawks: Wide Receiver – DK Metcalf

In my most expensive choice so far, it may seem insane to list him as the best value, but it’s quite sane I assure you.  Let’s not forget that DK Metcalf before last season was a top five option at wide receiver in dynasty for many experts.  As an owner, the situation is far from ideal, but as a buyer or drafter, his situation is quite appealing.  For some reason, people think that DK Metcalf had a bad year last season.  If you look at consistency, you can see some merit with that logic I guess, but with Russell Wilson injured for a great portion in 2021, Metcalf still cleared almost 1000 yards and scored 12 touchdowns.  The false narrative should bring in the vultures.

Now that Wilson is playing in the mile high city, the man at the helm is not even close to the same man that used to be throwing to the likes of Metcalf.  So with the doom and gloom situation, how can you not take a chance on DK Metcalf.  Talented players have shown time and time again that they will overcome their situation.  And we haven’t even talked about how he may get traded.  If this happens, his value will skyrocket.  I am trying to buy DK Metcalf everywhere and, at this price point, I don’t plan on stopping any time soon.

 

Follow me on Twitter @NFLazenby

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.