Panthers

Top Dynasty Values/Buys

by

Top Dynasty Values/Buys

 

We consider “Dynasty Buys” players who some would argue are being undervalued in dynasty leagues. These can be players who had their 2020 season cut short due to injury. They can also be rookies, 2020 disappointments, or undrafted players who are now in better situations. This could be players who are in better schemes that could give them more opportunity as well. Don’t underestimate this list of players, as they could be potential league winners. Read below to check out who the writers here at Dynasty Pros plan on selecting in all their drafts after the first three rounds.

 

Question: Who’s that one player currently outside the top 36 in the PPR Dynasty Leagues that you are drafting everywhere and why?

 

Javonte Williams (RB - DEN) Consensus Rank: 50th Overall | RB20

“Williams is a player I’m targeting on all my dynasty drafts in 2021. The Denver Broncos traded up in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft to grab the electric running back out of North Carolina. That type of investment tells me that Williams should be heavily involved in the Broncos offense immediately. Veteran running back Melvin Gordon no-showing at voluntary OTAs could really help Williams separate himself and win the starting job this summer. Williams has the tools to be a top tier running back, as he led the FBS last season in missed/broken tackles with 75 on just 157 rushing attempts. Don’t be worried about his toughness either, as he was a linebacker-turned-running back in college. I consider him a phenomenal value, since he is currently being drafted in the 5th and 6th rounds. This is a steal for a running back that could be starter come Week 1”

- Bob Miller (@DynastyProBob)

 

 

Zach Ertz (TE - PHI) Consensus Rank: 163 Overall | TE20

“It may seem strange to find a guy like Zach Ertz in a “Dynasty Buy” article with him being 30 years old and approaching 31 but this is exactly where Ertz should be.  In any dynasty buy article you are looking for two things, to buy at a value and a player who has more than one year of productivity left.  Ertz fits both of those categories but the value may not last much longer if he is traded in the coming days or weeks.  Tight ends typically play into their mid 30’s and Ertz has been a phenomenal player with the exception of last year.  Ertz dealt with some injuries last year but more importantly Philly was just a mess and you must take that into consideration when evaluating Ertz.  I believe it’s safe to assume that Ertz is in for a bounce back season especially with a zip code change coming anytime.  Ertz had five straight seasons with at least 74 catches and over 800 yards until last season.  He’s still athletic and he’s likely to be the tight end #1 on any team he plays for.  The time to buy is now before a trade happens because if Ertz is traded to a team like the Indianapolis Colts or Buffalo Bills his value will immediately spike.  Go get this guy in your dynasty leagues where you are a contender this year and next.”

- Levi Ellis (@FFStock_Man37)

 

 

Darnell Mooney (WR - CHI) Consensus Rank: 129 Overall | WR55

“Darnell Mooney had a solid rookie season for the Bears in 2020. After somewhat coming out of nowhere, the former 5th round pick finished 2nd on the team in targets (98), receptions (61), and yards (631). The inconsistent QB play of Mitchell Trubisky and Nick Foles hampered Chicago's passing game, affecting Mooney's...and Allen Robinson's...production. Mooney' speed makes him a serious downfield threat for a QB who can get him the ball.  Andy Dalton and/or rookie Justin Fields should be a definite upgrade for the Bears pass catchers. I am buying Darnell Mooney in every league I can get him in. I predict him to put up 77 Receptions, 986 Yards, and 7 TDs. That’s 217 PPR points, which are solid WR2 numbers. That’s fantastic value for a guy going in the mid-to-later rounds of dynasty drafts.”

- Tommy Harvey (@DynastyProsTom)

 

 

Parris Campbell (WR - IND) Consensus Rank: 143 Overall | WR59

The biggest thing Parris Campbell has going for him right now is his price tag. In most leagues, you can pretty regularly get him for a late 2nd which is getting into the “dart throw” range of picks. All players around there are going to have their question marks. For Campbell that is clearly his injury history, though reports say he’s fully healthy. Now, while there is some amount of injury risk, if he stays healthy he’s in a good position to exceed his current price. It’s a very, very small sample size but in the one full game he did play last year, he had 9 targets, 6 receptions, and 71 yards. For 16 games, he would be on pace for 140+ targets, 90+ catches, and 1100+ yards. That’s WR1 level usage and people are selling him for almost nothing. Again, that was a very small sample size and 2022 will not be the same as 2021 (Carson Wentz as the new QB, Michael Pittman also taking a step up, etc.). Still, there is a pretty high ceiling there for Campbell and, outside of injuries, he’s shown that he can be a starter in the NFL. Even if he doesn’t live up to his ceiling, I fully expect him to outperform his current price tag.

- Zach Owen (@NuetralZoneFF)

 

 

Gabriel Davis (WR - BUF) Consensus Rank: 148 Overall | WR61

“The Buffalo Bills were good. Really good in 2020. Part of their success came from improved QB play from Josh Allen, and the ability for his WR to step up. Josh Allen threw the ball 572 times in 2020. My 2021 projections don't have him falling flat of that and I believe Gabriel Davis, not Emmanuel Sanders benefits from this. Davis was a fourth round pick by the Bills in 2020 and took full advantage when Brown got hurt. He ended his rookie campaign with 35 rec/599 yards/7TDs. He was extremely effective in the endzone and while some say his high TD rate isn't sustainable, I believe he’s got the ability to end with double digit TDs in 2021. Let me explain. 

Gabriel Davis comes in at 6’2, and was learning to utilize his size last year. He became the deep ball target that Allen could lean on, with four of his seven TDs coming from 20 or more yards. Davis ended the year with an NFL 7th best reception average of 17.1! Davis comes in as the tallest WR on the Buffalo roster (Diggs, Beasley, and Sanders all 6’ or shorter) so should become one of Allen’s best red zone targets. Buffalo did not go out and get some TE help (at least not yet) and let go of John Brown this offseason, which also is a positive impact for Davis. I’m predicting 67 receptions, 991 receiving yards, 10TDs (226 PPR pts). With a year under his belt and some offseason noise of the continued chemistry with Josh Allen, I’m fully invested in Gabriel Davis. So should you.”

- Ralph Martinez (@LobosFFDen)

 

 

Michael Gallup (WR - DAL) Consensus Rank: 100 Overall | WR44

“The general consensus on Michael Gallup is that he is the WR3 for the Cowboys behind Amari Cooper and Ceedee Lamb. Some how Gallup still managed to receive over 100 targets last year in that same role. Also, there were only two guys who had more targets in the NFL who were a WR3 for their respective team. Those two players were Chase Claypool (the Steelers were #1 in pass attempts) and Russell Gage (the Falcons were #4 in pass attempts). Russell Gage also benefited from Julio Jones missing 7 games. Many assume Lamb will take a larger chunk of that share this year but it is also easy to forget that the QB situation also improves a lot. In 2019 Gallup put up over 1,100 yards and 6 TDs in a full season with Dak Prescott. Gallup is also in his final year of his contract and there could be a few things that raise his stock. Gallup could hit free agency and find himself on a team to be at worst the WR2. The Cowboys also have an out on Amari Cooper which would increase the chances Gallup is resigned by the Cowboys to pair up with Lamb. The third option is Gallup could be traded. If he is traded, the team acquiring him is likely a WR needy team that will force him the ball. Gallup has showed he is talented enough to get a large target share even in a crowded WR room, and his situation can only improve.”

- Collin Kral (@CollinKral)

 

 

Noah Fant (TE - DEN) Consensus Rank: 69 Overall | TE7

I have always loved Noah Fant as I am a lifelong Iowa Hawkeyes fan and that is where he caught my eye. Fant came into the NFL with every indication he was going to be elite. He is a 95+ percentile athlete in every category! He hasn’t become any less elite during his two years in the NFL. 

Fant’s stats in the NFL are matching up with his elite profile. Fant put up the 6th most receiving yards by a rookie TE since 2000– with 562 yards. That yardage came from 8 games of Joe Flacco, 3 games of Brandon Allen, & 5 games of a rookie Drew Lock at QB. Yeah, not a great list.

What about year two? Let’s dive in! In year two Fant put up 673 yards in 15 games. As we dive deeper we see that in one of those games there was one pass completed by Kendall Hinton, and another game he left after 5 snaps. I know it isn’t always fun to play the “what if” game because it's hypothetical, but if you extrapolate and do some math he was on pace for 812 yards in 16 games, while also dealing with a high ankle sprain. 

If you take Fant’s total yardage from his first two seasons, he’s in good company in total receiving yards among TE’s since 2000. He’s 10th on the list, behind Antonio Gates, Gronk, George Kittle, Jimmy Graham and Jason Witten. His 10 spot also ranks ahead of the likes of Travis Kelce, Zach Ertz, Jordan Reed and Dallas Clark. Not bad company. 

Can he keep it going? Sutton is healthy and Jeudy is a mad man when it comes to route running. How does he get the ball? With Lock, Bridgewater, Driskel, Rypien, and Hinton at QB. Stats can’t go down from last year. I project the Broncos to have 4000+ passing yards no matter who is at QB. I mean look at the Steelers and the Cowboys and the Panthers, they supported 3-4 really solid receiving options. Speaking of the Panthers QB that supported those several good fantasy options, Teddy Bridgewater is now in town, which may allow for some consistency at the QB position. Although they have yet to name a starter, I believe that Teddy could Keep all 3 of the big weapons in Denver pretty pleased!

Noah Fant is absolutely elite and he may not break out this year folks. However, this is dynasty; you want to buy before the breakout. Noah Fant is 23 years old, an absolute stud and a QB away from being one of the next GREAT TE’s! He is a bargain at his current Dynasty ADP and I suggest you buy him before it is too late.

- Zach Kurt (@zachattacknfl)

 

 

Jerry Jeudy (WR - DEN) Consensus Rank: 51 Overall | WR24

Let’s rewind the clock to 2019. It’s just before draft time, and Jerry Jeudy is being touted as the best WR prospect since Julio Jones. Considered among many to be the best route runner to come out of Alabama. Fast forward to now. Rookie season complete and where do we stand? 

Jerry Jeudy finished his rookie year with an underwhelming performance. Or did he? Jeudy received 113 targets last year. Of those, only 58% were considered catchable. He caught 52 of those 113 targets. That’s a 46% catch rate. He also had 8 drops. If you add those drops to his reception total, his catch rate jumps to 53%. I realize it’s a little off the cuff math, yet Jeudy never had drop issues in his career at Alabama, so I don’t expect a repeat of this number. 

Looking deeper into his stats, Jeudy finished with 1,536 air yards, good enough for 6th most in the NFL.  Jeudy is the only player to finish top-10 in air yards who didn’t finish with at least 1,000 receiving yards. He should reach that mark in year 2. He also averaged over 1.5 yards of separation per target, which means he was open frequently. 

I think Jeudy's primary issue was quarterback play. In the offseason, the Broncos traded for Teddy Bridgewater from the Panthers. Last season, Bridgewater managed to propel wide receivers to top-36 fantasy finishes. As odd as it may sound, Bridgewater should be an upgrade at quarterback for Jeudy in 2021. Look for Jeudy to finish as a reliable WR2 this season. Maybe the most appealing is the cost to acquire him. In redraft and best ball, I've seen him go as late as the 9th round. In dynasty, I recently sent a 2nd round pick for him. Jerry Judy is a great buy right now, before he breaks out in 2021.

- Alex French (@TheBlindGuyFF)

 

 

Sam Darnold (QB - CAR) Consensus Rank: 172 Overall | QB27

“One player that I am currently buying in dynasty is QB Sam Darnold for 3 primary reasons:

  • At only 24 years old, Sam Darnold is entering his 4th NFL season and no longer trapped underneath the perpetual storm cloud of a head coach named Adam Gase. The grass is always greener when players are beyond the grasp of Gase. QB Ryan Tannehill is the most notable example of a player who’s talent and potential was capped but then resurged for an epic career redemption once they were set free from the clutches of the horrific incompetence of Adam Gase. Besides the addition by subtraction with Adam Gase, Darnold has been given the metaphorical keys to the car which bring me to reason 2...
  • Job security. Carolina has demonstrated full confidence to Darnold as they traded away their incumbent starter, Teddy Bridgewater, to the Denver Broncos in the weeks leading up to the 2021 NFL draft. Carolina then traded for Darnold and then passed on drafting a QB despite sitting in a prime spot for a QB in the first round. Carolina further displayed their commitment as they picked up Darnold’s 5th year option the day following the 1st round of the NFL draft. Darnold will now have at least two years to show what he is capable of with what is easily the best offensive arsenal he has ever played with in the NFL which is a segue to Reason 3...
  • Darnold’s vastly improved arsenal will include the following: Darnold will be under the wing of the young and intriguing Offensive Coordinator Joe Brady (former LSU OC who played a massive role in Joe Burrow’s record breaking and national championship winning season!), versatile RB stud Christian McCaffrey, rising WR stud DJ Moore, intriguing rookie WR prospect Terrace Marshall, and finally, Darnold will be reunited with his favorite target during his best statistical season; the spry veteran WR Robby Anderson!

He is one of my favorite QB2 options in Super Flex dynasty startups and at the current moment his cost is extremely reasonable for drafts and trades. I firmly believe his career trajectory has nowhere to go but up!”

- Steve Uetz (@FantasyLadder)

Bob Miller’s 2021 NFL Mock Draft

by

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

 

 

Start ‘Em or Sit ‘Em: 2020 Week 2

by

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.

 

NFC South 2020 Fantasy Breakdown

by

NFC South 2020 Fantasy Breakdown

By Steve Uetz

Welcome to 2020 NFL team breakdown!

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

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

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

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

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

Let’s reveal where the offensive cores fit, shall we?

BIG BUY:
Atlanta Falcons, Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs, Arizona Cardinals, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

BUY:

Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, Seattle Seahawks, and the Denver Broncos

NEUTRAL:

Los Angeles Rams, Buffalo Bills, New York Giants, New England Patriots, Tennessee Titans, Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans, Las Vegas Raiders, Cincinnati Bengals, San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions, and the Minnesota Vikings

FADE:

Chicago Bears, Miami Dolphins, Los Angeles Chargers, New York Jets, Jacksonville Jaguars, and The Washington Football Team.

We begin our team breakdown with the fantasy friendly NFC South…

Carolina Panthers

Overall this offense is an absolute BUY! The offense begins and ends with Christian McCaffrey, but there is a lot to like in the offensive skill position core.

QB ‪Teddy Bridgewater: high upside QB2, $1 in 14 team auction leagues, priority FA regarding starter injury/bye week. Teddy’s NFL journey has been a wild ride, he now finds himself on a Carolina Panthers team with a new head coach in defensive-minded Matt Rhule and a new offensive coordinator with aggressive and fast-pace play calling Joe Brady; formerly the OC of the 2019 National Champion LSU Tigers. Whoa baby!

‪RB Christian McCaffrey: THE RB1, 1.01, 35% auction budget. He is a cheat code and will remain at top of the draft board until proven otherwise.

WR DJ Moore: a PPR and YAC stud, WR1, 15-17% auction budget, Round 3 target, will be absolutely smashing his name if he falls to Round 4

‪WR Curtis Samuel: WR5, WR4 (if robust RB) upside depth stash, PPR league target, 1-2% auction budget, round 13

WR Robby Anderson: WR5, WR4 (if robust RB), unpredictable big play ability makes him most appealing in Best Ball leagues, 1-2% auction budget, round 14

TE Ian Thomas: TE2 with sneaky TE1 upside, $1 in deep auction leagues, priority FA regarding starter injury/bye week

Atlanta Falcons

This year the Falcons continue to be a consistent and fantasy friendly offense. They are in my upper echelon of offenses to target for all draft types. The Falcons offensive core fits into my BIG BUY category!

QB Matt Ryan: “Ladder Pick” QB1 has the best WR duo in the league and a new RB and TE target. I expect a lot of high scoring contests out of this team with Matt Ryan being the ultimate beneficiary. 4-6% of auction budget, round 6-7 target, he is QB worth reaching for even when conventional wisdom says to wait on QB.

RB Todd Gurley: High risk/high reward - RB2 is preferable, but would be happy with him as my RB1 if I were to go robust at WR or grab an elite TE in round 2. With a crowded backfield behind him, I would hold any of backups in Brian Hill or Ito Smith as priority FA adds. If Gurley is drafted as your RB1, I would make RB a big priority for rounds 5-9. 14-18% auction budget. Round 4 would be desirable.

WR Julio Jones:  WR1, 20-22% auction budget, round 2. He is a GO is all league formats, although I would be a bit more aggressive in best ball formats. Incredibly solid option, also highly productive and I hope that production shows up a bit more in the TD column.

WR Calvin Ridley: “Ladder Pick” - WR2 with WR1 upside. The perfect compliment to Julio Jones has been a producer each year and now he enters his 3rd season destined to breakout. Give me ALL of the Calvin Ridley shares!! 13-14% auction budget, round 4. You know the GIF of Winnie the Pooh sitting at the table with the pot of honey in front of him, his napkin tied around his neck, utensils in hand, eyes closed, smiling and dancing back and forth. Well, I’m Winnie the Pooh and Calvin Ridley is the honey.

TE Hayden Hurst: This TE1 is in a tier with Evan Engram, he will finally get his chance to shine in this juggernaut offense.

New Orleans Saints

The Sean Payton-Drew Brees brain-trust continues to be an entertaining and fantasy friendly offense. The Saints offensive core will remain a BUY!

QB Drew Brees:  QB1, 4% of auction budget, round 7-8 target, consistently productive surrounded by some of the game best weapons!

RB Alvin Kamara:  RB1, 28-30% of auction budget, round 1, PPR dream, just flat out good at the game

RB Latavius Murray:  RB3, this zero-RB draft strategy target serves as a great compliment to Alvin Kamara, if Kamara misses time Murray enters low RB1/high-RB2 territory. 5-7% of auction budget, round 9-10 target

WR Michael Thomas: The WR1, this PPR machine broke the NFL catches record last season with 144 catches. This is an average of 9 per game. 9 catches PER GAME!! I’m honestly happy if a WR gets around 9 *targets* a game. I see no sign of him slowing down. 28-30% auction budget, round 1

WR Emmanuel Sanders: One of my favorite players is now playing along side of Michael Thomas with Drew Brees throwing to him...you love to see it! WR3, 7-8% auction budget, round 9-10

TE Jared Cook: Low end TE1, 2-3% auction budget, round 9, I think any smart fantasy player would want pieces of the New Orleans offense - he may not seem like a “sexy” pick but what I think is “sexy” is opportunity in an elite offense. Also, do yourself a favor and remind yourself of what he did in the second half of the season last year.

TE Adam Trautman: A dynasty favorite, this extremely athletic rookie will be learning from a big play veteran in Jared Cook and will have the pleasure of playing Drew Brees for what he has left and possibly Jameis Winston in the future. BUY!

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Bruce Arians, Tom Brady, Chris Godwin, Mike Evans, Rob Gronkowski, OJ Howard, Ronald Jones, Ke’Shawn Vaughn...BIG BUY!!

QB Tom Brady: QB1, 3-4% auction budget, round 10. Brady enters into a smorgasbord of offensive weapons that I argue boasts the 2nd best WR and TE groups in the league and with a decent stable of RBs this team will feast. Brady will be the prime beneficiary of this offense!

RBs Ronald Jones: (RB3, 7-8% auction budget, round 7 if robust WR with elite TE strategy) and Ke’Shawn Vaughn (RB4, 4-5% auction budget, round 10) are the only draftable RBs for 12 team drafts. LeSean McCoy and Dare Ogunbowale should be priority FA if Jones or Vaughn miss time. I want players in this offense so keep a close eye.

WRs Chris Godwin (WR1, 16-18% auction budget, round 2) and Mike Evans (WR1, 14-15% auction budget, round 3) are the most important pieces of this offense, they will help open up the running game as well as help the TE create mismatches. I love them both in all formats, I’d be willing to be aggressive to draft Mike Evans in best ball formats.

TEs Rob Gronkowski (low end TE1, 1-2% auction budget, round 9), OJ Howard (TE2 with upside to be TE1 group if Gronk were to miss time, $1 deep auction league stash, priority FA) and Cameron Brate (very late round target for best ball formats, priority FA in all other formats if Gronk/Howard were to miss time or as a bye week replacement).

I will generally be fading Gronk this year. I think the best and smart play is to target him late or for cheap in an auction draft with the hopes that he produces well enough early on to be used as a sell high candidate. I hope I am wrong on that because he is an awesome and fun player who I fear will be mainly touchdown dependent.

 

 

 

Follow me on Twitter @FantasyLadder

Sleeper Files: Ian Thomas

by

Sleeper Files: Ian Thomas

By Tommy Harvey

Daniel Bartel-USA TODAY Sports

In 2018, Ian Thomas filled in for injured Greg Olsen and looked like a potential future TE1 for fantasy football players.  The Carolina rookie finished that season with 36 receptions, 333 yards, and 2 TDs.  The majority of those numbers came during the final five games (25 receptions, 246 yards, and 2 TDs).

Fast-forward to 2019...Greg Olsen was back as the Panther’s starting TE, and Thomas was back to being a back-up.  His targets regressed from 49 in 2018 to 30 and he became a fantasy afterthought.  

Now, headed into the 2020 season, Ian Thomas is the starter and Carolina is ushering in a new head coach (Ron Rivera), new offensive coordinator (Joe Brady), and new offensive scheme.  Joe Brady comes in, fresh off a national championship at LSU and he brings his RPO philosophy with him.  That same philosophy rocketed QB Joe Burrow to the Heisman Trophy and the number 1 overall pick in April’s NFL Draft.

That’s not all that is new in Carolina, as QB Cam Newton has moved on to New England and Teddy Bridgewater was brought in from New Orleans.  Bridgewater has several dangerous weapons to be a highly effective QB, but you’ll have to read Matt Kelley’s article on him.  

Greg Olsen signed with the Seattle Seahawks as a free agent in the offseason, and took 82 targets from last season with him.  Not all 82 targets will go Ian Thomas’ way, but he should see a good chunk of them.  

2020 Prediction and Fantasy Outlook:

50 receptions, 490 yards, and 5 TDs 

Part of my prediction for Thomas is his targets will increase from 30 to the 75 range.  If you go back and watch how Thaddeus Moss was used at LSU in 2019, Joe Brady likes to get his TE involved.  That is nothing new in Carolina, as Greg Olsen had a possible Hall of Fame career for the Panthers.  

Ian Thomas is currently being drafted as the overall TE22 on average, which is backend TE2 territory.  I see him finishing as the overall TE12 and backend TE1. 

 

Follow me on Twitter @dynastyprostom

Post-Hype Sleepers: Wide Receivers

by

Post-Hype Sleepers: Wide Receivers

By Alex French 

The title should give it away, right? Well, I’m going to start a series over the next couple weeks where I give you 3 players from each position as post-hype sleepers. First, let’s define what I mean by post-hype sleeper: this is a player who generated copious amounts of excitement, but failed to actually breakout or in some cases even meet expectations. With our definition in place, let’s jump right in. 

JuJu Smith-Schuster, Pittsburgh Steelers 

Rewind the calendar with me for a second. Let’s go back to before the Corona Virus to this time last year. The narrative was that JuJu was arguably the top WR in dynasty formats. He was coming off a season where he had 111 receptions over 1400 yards and 7 total touchdowns. He was outstanding in 2018. The real question was if he could produce without Antonio Brown on the other side, a question that is still unanswered. 

Last season, JuJu was meant to be the primary receiver for the Steelers. However, Pittsburgh lost their QB Ben Roethlisberger to an elbow injury 2 games into the season. Left to backup QB play, the entire offense struggled. The Steelers’ quarterbacks combined to be ranked at 32 in efficiency and QBR. 

Also working against JuJu was the injury bug. He played in just 12 games in 2019, and left 2 of those games early. This year, at just 23 years old, JuJu is fully healthy, and is entering a contract year. He will be motivated to show the league how talented he is. 

Another reason JuJu fits into this category for me is the return of his quarterback. All reports out of Pittsburgh indicate Roethlisberger is healthy and feeling better than ever. In spite of the disappointments last season, I think JuJu is primed to return to 2018 form. Did I mention the Steelers have vocalized the desire to move JuJu back to the slot position? That should really open things back up for JuJu, which spells success for him and the Steelers in 2020. 

Odell Beckham Jr., Cleveland Browns 

Saying last season was a disappointment for Beckham is really an understatement. Posting just 74 receptions for 1035 yards and 4 touchdowns on 133 targets. He also saw just 4 red zone targets. Both back-up tight ends for the Browns saw more. 

If we also look at his success rate against man coverage last year, there is reason to believe he was injured. After the season, news broke that he had sports hernia surgery. It has since been reported that he is fully healthy and ready for the start of camp. 

There are concerns about the Browns being a run first offense, however the passing efficiency should greatly improve. Last season Beckham had the most deep ball incompletions that were deemed the quarterback’s fault with 16. Beckham was also primarily used as a deep receiving option, which I expect to change with the new offense. 

With the off-season additions of Jack Conklin and Jedrick Wills, the offensive line should be much improved. The run game should also be better to help improve the efficiency of play action passing, where Baker Mayfield flourishes. 

I think Beckham is primed to return to form and improve on his numbers all around in 2020. Last season, provided us with a realistic view of his floor...which is still productive. 

Curtis Samuel, Carolina Panthers 

If you follow me on Twitter (@TheBlindGuyFF), you may recognize this statistic. It’s a great stat that really shows the situation Samuel faced last season. Curtis Samuel is the only receiver to finish top 15 on the season in air yards who didn’t have at least 1000 receiving yards. I think that really emphasizes the struggles he saw from the quarterback position. 

Samuel is a superb athlete, which we’ve seen in flashes at the NFL level. He showed it consistently when involved in the offense at Ohio State. He just needs the ball in his hands, which Teddy Bridgewater will do. Bridgewater is supremely accurate in the short game and with new offensive coordinator in Joe Brady coming from LSU, Samuel should see plenty of opportunity to succeed. 

Understanding at Dynasty Pros we primarily focus on dynasty, I’m going to attempt to make this series apply to redraft as well as dynasty. I realize this group of players is likely owned in your leagues, but you may be able to acquire them from the owner who spent most of last season frustrated with the production these guys provided. On the other hand, if you happen to own these guys in your league, brighter days are ahead for you. Look for my next article of the series to follow soon. 

Follow me on Twitter @TheBlindGuyFF, and make sure to listen and subscribe to our Dynasty Pros podcast!