thumbs-up-solid
DFS & Sports Betting Tools, Exclusive Content, and Expert Chat
START FREE TRIAL
 
thumbs-up-solid
START FREE TRIAL
thumbs-up-solid
START FREE TRIAL
Home / Fantasy Football / Page 6
Tag:

Fantasy Football

NFL

2022 NFL Late Round Fantasy Football Sleepers

Adam Villio
written by Adam Villio

What inexperienced fantasy football owners do not realize, is that championships are won in the later rounds of the draft and the waiver wire. Sure, your team might have some injuries or you might have the most points against, but having a deep roster is what will turn an average owner to a champion. Anyone can pick good players in the early rounds when they are sitting at the top of the draft board, but how do you find the diamonds in the rough?

The key to the later rounds is to look at skill and opportunity. The goal is to acquire as many players as possible that can hit it big. When you play it safe and take players with low ceilings, you end up scrambling weeks 13-15 looking for someone to fill in for your injured 2nd round draft pick. I am going to give you 14 players who are all below the 100th ADP and who all have the potential to be top performers in their respected position given their circumstance. Now, not all of these will hit it big, but I guarantee you a handful of them will. Giving you the perfect opportunity to win it all come December. Even if you do not have any injuries and these players blow up, you have great trade value to take your team to the next level.

Keep in mind these players are rated on their value, meaning the chance of them making a big impact mixed with where you can take them in the draft. 

14. James Cook

ADP: 120

Position: RB

Team: Bills

Summary: 

The little brother of Dalvin Cook looks like he could make a big impact as a rookie running back this year in Buffalo. He was one of the most efficient runners in this class with 6.5 yards per carry at Georgia. It is important to note he played in the SEC because that is where most NFL defenders come from. Obviously, the NFL is a step up, but he is used to playing against elite talent unlike most rookie RBs this year. He is extremely explosive and fast, running a 4.42 40-yard dash. But the number one thing he has going for him is his ability to catch the football. Buffalo has been looking for a solid RB on passing downs, and if Cook can prove his pass blocking, he will be that guy. Which is great considering he is in a pass-heavy offense. The down side is the Bills already have their go to rushing RB in Devin Singletary, but if he struggles with any injuries this year, Cook could easily be a top 12 RB in fantasy.

Pros:

  • Fast
  • Explosive
  • Good hands
  • Receiving back in a pass heavy offense
  • Huge upside in PPR format

Cons:

  • Second back behind Devin Singletary
  • Unproven in the NFL
  • Smaller frame

13. Brian Robinson

ADP: 161

Position: RB

Team: Commanders

Summary:

Robinson was my #1 on this list until this past Sunday where he was tragically shot in an attempted car jacking. Since then a lot of good news has happened for him. The injuries were not serious and he should be able to come back around Week 4. Robinson has already established that he can be the number 1 back in Washington, and has seemed to become Ron Rivera and Scott Turner’s favorite RB on the depth chart. And with this injury, he has even more to prove when he returns. Do not expect a lot out of him early on, but come playoff time, he can easily be a RB2 with RB1 upside.

Pros:

  • Good speed
  • Great size
  • Elusive
  • Elite field awareness
  • Red zone threat 
  • Will most likely take over as the 1st and 2nd down back

Cons:

  • Not officially named starter
  • Coming off gunshot injury
  • Will not get a lot of reps on passing downs
  • Unproven in the NFL

12. Darell Henderson Jr.

ADP: 164

Position: RB

Team: Rams

Summary:

If you drafted Henderson last year, you already know the upside he brings to the table. Last year, he went into the preseason as the second string behind Cam Akers before Akers suffered an unfortunate Achilles injury. This year he is coming back in a similar way but with much more upside. In the 2021 season, Henderson developed a great rapport with the new Rams QB, Matthew Stafford, especially when it came to receiving TDs in the red zone. And even though Akers is healthy, the Rams will most likely keep Henderson as their receiving back. Given Henderson’s larger frame, he might also be looking at red zone carries as well, even though that has not been proven quite yet. Also, Akers already dealt with a minor injury in this preseason, so it looks like he could potentially continue to get hurt. If that is the case, Henderson would step in a be the Rams #1 RB in LA which is a high scoring offense. The one red flag is Henderson also suffered an injury late last season but he seems to have bounced back from that and is currently as healthy as ever.

Pros:

  • Great rapport with Stafford
  • Receiving RB in high scoring offense
  • Proven RB after last season
  • Can still get receiving and red zone TDs as the #2 back

Cons:

  • Backup RB behind Cam Akers
  • Coming off an injury from late last season

11. Parris Campbell

ADP: 233

Position: WR

Team: Colts

Summary:

The NFL draft can be a funny thing sometimes. In 2019, both Parris Campbell and Terry McLaurin came out of Ohio State, but almost every scouting report had Campbell as the better receiver. In fact, Campbell was taken a whole round ahead of McLaurin.  However, McLaurin has gone on to have consecutive 1,000 yard receiving seasons and Campbell has yet to make any name for himself. Both WRs had to deal with inconsistent QB play but Campbell’s real issues have been injuries and being stuck in a run-heavy offense. But now the Colts have Matt Ryan who loves to throw the ball, and made that known when 2 years ago both Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley had great seasons in Atlanta. If Campbell can stay healthy, he could be a huge threat. He can line up anywhere on the field and now has a steady QB throwing him the ball. And at an ADP of 251, there is really no reason not to take him.

Pros:

  • Lots of potential for a receiver out wide or in the slot
  • New QB that loves to throw the ball and has a history of spreading it out to different receivers

Cons:

  • Dealing with a hamstring issue
  • Has never reached full capability in first 3 season
  • Still fighting for clear cut spot as a starter
  • In a run heavy offense

10. Jamison Crowder

ADP: 182

Position: WR

Team: Bills

Summary:

Jamison Crowder started off relatively unknown coming out of Duke University. But once he got to Washington, he quickly became known as the most reliable hands on the team. Almost every important 3rd down, they would hit him for a short, quick slant route for the first down. He became so good, Washington could no longer afford him, so he got a big check from the Jets and moved to New York. And even on a lackluster offense, he produced many catches there. But Crowder’s biggest issue has been staying healthy. Now that he is on a very pass heavy offense, with a fantastic QB, Crowder could quickly emerge once again as the go-to receiver if he stays healthy. The good news is he is only 29 which means he should still have plenty of juice left in him.

Pros:

  • Already proven to be a reliable slot receiver
  • Quick
  • Great hands
  • In a pass heavy offense where the QB loves to spread the ball
  • Huge upside for PPR format

Cons:

  • Dealing with injuries for consecutive years

9. Treylon Burks

ADP: 130

Position: WR

Team: Titans

Summary:

Drafting a rookie will always come with its uncertainties, but Treylon Burks is one that you can go in feeling a lot more confident than most. He has a great frame, fast, very strong and reliable hands. He could easily emerge as the #1 WR in Tennessee. However he does have some competition. Granted, AJ Brown went to Philly and Julio Jones went to Tampa Bay, but the Titans did bring Robert Woods in from LA, and he is no joke. Woods consistently put up good numbers for the Rams when he was there and healthy. However, Woods tore his ACL last year and there is no guarantee that he will return back to his usual form. With all that being said, Burks is a great option for owners to grab in the later rounds.

Pros:

  • Big
  • Fast
  • Great hands
  • Versatile receiver
  • Potential top receiver in tennessee

Cons:

  • Unproven in the NFL
  • Possible #2 receiver if Robert Woods is healthy

8. Chris Olave

ADP: 101

Position: WR

Team: Saints

Summary:

In this year’s NFL draft, Chris Olave was taken early at the 11th pick and for a good reason. He ran a 4.39 40-yard dash which means he’s lightning fast. And he can line up out wide or in the slot. And having Jameis Winston as his QB, in my opinion, has a huge upside. In Tampa Bay, Winston was #2 in passing TD’s, only behind Lamar Jackson who ended up winning the MVP that year. So it has been established that Winston loves airing the ball out. And reports show that Olave and Winston are already starting to build a great chemistry together. So this extremely fast rookie could be looking at a huge target share in his first season in the NFL. He does have to beat Michael Thomas, who has consistently struggled with injury, and Jarvis Landry who is a little past his prime.

Pros:

  • Amazing speed
  • Great talent
  • In a good position to succeed

Cons:

  • Unproven in NFL
  • Uncertain position in the Saints target share

7. Romeo Doubs

ADP: 203

Position: WR

Team: Packers

Summary:

There is no doubt about it, the Packers struggle when it comes to drafting WRs for Aaron Rodgers. Jordy Nelson and Davante Adams were both huge standouts, but Green Bay eventually let them both go. Now that Adams left this offseason, there is a massive void on who will be Rodgers go-to guy. Allen Lazard is assumed to take over that role, but that is not guaranteed. However the 4th round rookie, Romeo Doubs, could emerge as that guy. He has great size, solid hands and loves to go deep and spread the field. He still needs to build chemistry with Rodgers, but if he does that early on in the season, he could have a stellar year.

Pros:

  • Great size
  • Good speed
  • Solid hands
  • In a pass heavy offense with elite QB

Cons:

  • Unproven in NFL
  • Fighting for a starting spot

6. Tyler Allgeier

ADP: 169

Position: RB

Team: Falcons

Summary:

Tyler Allgeier is coming into the NFL as one of the most successful collegiate backs in this year’s class. He was top 5 in carries (276), rushing yards (1,606) and rushing TDs (23). It should be noted that he did play at BYU, so his level of competition was a little bit lower than most, however he was still extremely efficient. On top of that, all the signs point to him starting off as the #1 back in Atlanta. If he does immediately step into that role, expect him to consistently put up top 20 numbers. What he lacks in speed, he makes up for in size. So it is a no brainer that he will get the red zone carries. Unfortunately, Atlanta just got a new QB so no one knows how exactly their offense will look or how successful they will be. But Allgeier should be the focal point of that squad.

Pros:

  • Big
  • Elusive
  • Potential starter
  • Red zone carries 

Cons:

  • Unproven in NFL
  • Lower scoring offense

5. Skyy Moore

ADP: 117

Position: WR

Team: Chiefs

Summary:

The Kansas City Chiefs might have one of the most explosive offenses in the entire league. They are blessed to have one of the best coaches of all time in Andy Reid and a superstar QB, Patrick Mahomes. This makes anyone fortunate enough to be a receiver on this team an immediate threat in fantasy football. The bad news is the Chiefs already have Kelce and Juju Smith-Schuster who already established talents. But the good news is they lost Tyreek Hill, their leading receiver in the offseason. Hill was a speed guy who would love to spread the field, and Skyy Moore just might be able to fill that void. He is a versatile receiver and can line up inside or out and has huge hands with a secure catch. If he can click well with Mahomes he can easily be considered a WR2 or even a WR1 by the end of the season.

Pros:

  • Big and excellent hands
  • On a high scoring offense
  • Athletic

Cons:

  • Unproven in the NFL
  • Competing with Smith-Schuster, Kelce and Hardman for targets
  • Smaller frame

4. Logan Thomas

ADP: 248

Position: TE

Team: Commanders

Summary:

Washington has built their receiving corps on quick, fast guys like Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson and Curtis Samuel, but what they really lack is a big target. That is where Logan Thomas comes in. He is a huge guy that can make room for himself in the endzone. Last season, he scored 2 out of the first 3 games before having a hamstring injury. But when he came back later in the season, he was on the receiving end of a cheap hit that tore his ACL. You could argue that he is injury prone, but the truth is, the second injury was just a fluke accident. If he can stay healthy, there is no question in my mind that he will be a TE1

Pros:

  • Elite catching
  • Redzone target
  • Ability to make room and get open

Cons:

  • Multiple injuries last season

3. Chargers D/ST

ADP: 189

Summary:

This defense is absolutely loaded with talent. They already had Joey Bosa as an elite pass rusher, but then they went out and got Khalil Mack to rush the otherside. They have their leader, Derwin James, returning from injury at safety. They signed Bryce Callahan, who is a solid CB and on top of all of that they got J.C. Jackson this offseason. Jackson has 8+ interceptions the past 2 years with the Patriots and is an absolute monster at CB. From top to bottom this squad is stacked. And the crazy thing is, their ADP doesn’t even have them going as a top 10 defense. If you are able to get them and another good defense to pair them with, you will be set for this position. The one downside is they are in, what many consider, the most competitive division in the NFL. They have to go against Patrick Mahomes, Russel Wilson and Derek Carr twice this year. Fortunately they play one of the Broncos games in the last week of the season so you’ll probably only see Wilson once this year if your championship ends in Week 17 like most do.

Pros:

  • Great new additions to the squad
  • Star safety/leader returning from injury
  • Elite talent across the board

Cons:

  • In a tough division
  • New chemistry with new and returning players

2. Hunter Henry

ADP: 125

Position: TE

Team: Patriots

Summary:

Hunter Henry finally lived up to the hype late into the 2021 season. We all expected big things from him when he left the Chargers the year before but it took some time to get there. By the end of the season, he ranked first in TDs (9) and second in red zone targets (12). It took some time to build a rapport with rookie QB, Mac Jones, but it finally started to happen once they both got comfortable in their new surroundings. Now that they know each, I only expect his numbers to increase both in and outside the red zone. Do expect some down weeks because the Patriots coach, Bill Belichick, has made it abundantly clear he does not care about fantasy, only about winning games. So the game plan might vary from week to week.

Pros:

  • Redzone target
  • Elite talent

Cons:

  • In an inconsistent offense. Continues to change game plan depending on the opponent
  • Not a lot of targets outside of the endzone

1. Trey Lance

ADP: 103

Position: QB

Team: 49ers

Summary:

For most QBs in fantasy there is not a huge difference in scoring. In fact, a lot of owners end up using players they got off the waiver wire. But for the top tier QBs, there are 2 different types. First type is the big arms that love to air it out in the pass-heavy offense like Patrick Mahomes or Aaron Rodgers. But then there is the other type that still has very good passing ability and also likes to run the football like Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen. I prefer the second type because those are the types of players that can give you a huge advantage every week when they put up 30 to 40 points in any given game. That’s why Jackson and Allen both finished as the #1 QB in fantasy over the past 3 years. The problem is having to forfeit a premium pick on these types of QBs. Well this year you are in luck because you can get a top level QB later in the draft. Now Trey Lance has not proven anything quite yet, but he shows all the signs of an elite fantasy football QB. He’s an excellent runner and can really air it out. Plus he has the added benefit of being surrounded by top talent with Kittle, Samuel, Aiyuk and even his pass friendly RB corps. Now he will most likely have some rough games, but for this value, there is no other QB I would say is worth having.

Pros:

  • Speed
  • Top talent rusher for a QB
  • Strong arm
  • Great supporting cast of receivers

Cons:

  • Inexperience as a starter
0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
NFL

NFL DFS: The Inside Look- Week 16 – Win Daily Sports

Joel Bartilotta
written by Joel Bartilotta

Welcome to the Week 16 edition of The Inside Look for the 2021 NFL season.  This will be a data-driven article and will go under the hood to see if the box scores tell the whole story about what transpired during the weekend.   My goal here will be to either calm your nerves about a player that may have underperformed or cause you to rethink some of the spots you may have taken.

Outside of the MNF game, we have a pretty good sense of what transpired this past weekend. 

Let’s dig into the data!

Wide Receiver Targets

Before we dig into individual player performances I wanted to take a moment to talk about why we focus so heavily on Targets.  Targets equal opportunities and fantasy opportunities more often than create production.  The more targets that a player gets the better chance there is that the player will return on value. 

This weekend saw the return of two important receivers.  The first was A.J. Brown.  After missing weeks 12-15 with a chest injury Brown returned and his presence was felt immediately.  Brown led everyone this weekend with 16 targets.  He was able to catch 11 of his 16 targets for 145 yards and 1 touchdown.  The 145 yards was the third time that Brown has reached the 100 yard mark this season. 

Something to keep an eye on over the last 2 weeks will be Brown’s pursuit of 1,000 yards.  Brown was able to accomplish this in each of his first 2 seasons.  Now, he’s just 240 yards shy of that mark, even though he’s missed multiple weeks.  Over the final 2 weeks, he needs to average just 120 yards to accomplish that feat for a third straight year.  Do they funnel as many passes to him as possible?  I sure hope so.

The other receiver making his return was Antonio Brown.  With a wide receiving corps decimated by injuries, the return of Brown could not have come at a better time.  With Evans and Godwin on the shelf, Brown stole the show.  Tom Brady targeted him 15 times and he was able to catch 10 of them for 101 yards.  The only thing missing from Brown’s stat-line in week 16 was a touchdown pass.  Should Evans make a return next week the production from Brown may be short-lived.  We’ll need to keep an eye on the Buc’s roster throughout the week.

Have yourself a day Tee Higgins.  Tee Higgins had by far his best game of the season.  While it seemed like everyone on the Bengals had a solid day, it was Higgins that nearly broke 200 receiving yards.  On his 13 targets, his final stat-line was 12 catches, 194 receiving yards, and 2 touchdowns.  Week 16 was very kind to the Bengals, specifically Higgins.  Up next week is a much tougher task with a hot Chiefs team.

Running Back Targets

With James Conner unable to finish the game due to injury, Chase Edmonds became more two-dimensional than he normally is.  Edmonds was targeted a season-high 9 teams and was able to catch 8 of them.  He also had a season-high 71 receiving yards.  Should Conner miss again next week and Hopkins already out, there will be plenty of targets to go around. 

The Los Angeles Chargers were without their star running back this weekend, Austin Ekeler.  Justin Jackson tried his hardest to make sure that his team remained successful.  In what was a common trend among players having season-high performances, Jackson was targeted a season high 9 times.  Coming into the week he had only been targeted 5 times over the prior 5 weeks.  Jackson caught 8 of the 9 targets for 98 yards.  If Ekeler should miss next week the Chargers will be in fine hands once again.  

Tight End Targets

There’s no way around it, the loss of DeAndre Hopkins has really hurt the Arizona Cardinals.  That said, there are players that are really trying their hardest to step up and make up for the lack of production.  Zach Ertz is one of those guys.  For the second consecutive week, Ertz saw double-digit targets.  Ideally, he would have done just a bit more with those targets though.  While he caught 8 of the targets, he was only able to gain 54 receiving yards.  If the Cardinals are going to get back on track they’re going to need more out of Ertz and others.

It does not matter who is throwing the ball to Mark Andrews.  Andrews just continues to pile up stats as he had his third straight game with at least 100 receiving yards.  His final line in week 16 was 10 targets, 8 catches, 125 yards, and 1 touchdown.  The Ravens season is in a freefall, but it has nothing to do with Mark Andrews.  Andrews will look to help his team right the ship next week against a very tough Rams team.

Kyle Pitts is quietly having a really solid season.  At this point, he’s just 51 yards shy of breaking 1,000 yards receiving.  In week 16 Pitts broke the hundred-yard mark for the third time in 2021.  Since their bye in week 6, Pitts has had no fewer than 5 targets and no more than 8.  His target share has been as consistent as there is.  He’ll look to continue his solid season next week against the Bills. 

Quarterback Target Share

With a pair of top Packers receivers missing this week’s game, we saw Rodgers lean pretty heavily on his running backs and tight ends in the passing game.  While Adams saw 13 targets, we also saw Rodgers throw 15 passes to his non-wide receivers.  Should MVS be back next week we are sure to see a swing back to more targets to his wide receivers

I noted it above, but we’re really seeing a different game plan recently out of the Cardinals.  Without their star wide receiver in DeAndre Hopkins, they’re really having to spread the ball out more these days.  Murray threw the ball 39 times in week 16.  Of those 39, 23 went to either his backs or tight ends.  Two of his top targeted guys were Zach Ertz and Chase Edmonds. 

Running Back Touches

If you ask people on Twitter, Jonathan Taylor played poorly this week.  The only thing that Taylor was missing in week 16 was a touchdown.  Taylor broke the 100 yard mark for the third straight week and made it 100 yards or more for the sixth time in the last 7 weeks.  He continues to be the workhorse of this offense and is putting up numbers worthy of being in the MVP conversation. 

With a banged-up Darrell Henderson ruled out in week 16, Sony Michel was asked to pick up the load.  He delivered as he rushed 27 times this weekend for 131 yards and one touchdown.  It was the second time in the last 4 weeks that Michel produced over 100 yards.  Over the last 4 weeks, he’s now rushed for over 400 yards.  Should Henderson miss week 17 against the Ravens, the Rams will be in fine hands with Michel in the backfield.  

The Texans were without 2 of their main offensive guys in week 16 with both David Johnson and Brandon Cooks out.  Rex Burkhead said not to worry as he had arguably one of the best games of his career.  His 22 carries on Sunday were by far the most he’s had all year, as were the 149 yards rushing he had.  The 2021 season has been kind to Burkhead as he’s rushed for a career-high of 356 yards. 

Playbook

The ‘Playbook’ as I like to call it shows a breakdown of the play splits that teams used this past weekend.

Usually, when I get to this section we see the Buccaneers all the way on the right of the chart as they’ve thrown the ball a ton this season.  This week we saw a little bit of a different plan.  Where they normally run the ball about 30% of the time, they ran it more than 50% of the time in week 16.  With the top two receivers out for them this weekend it made sense to change things up a bit.  It worked as they had a very convincing win over the Panthers.  

Conversely, with the Panthers down almost from the start, they took to the air often.  They threw the ball this weekend more than 70% of the time, with very little success.  While they threw the ball 43 times, they were only able to garner 251 yards through the air.  2021 has been a struggle for the Panthers at the quarterback position and week 16 was no different. 

Inside Look Wrap Up

We saw some dominant performances this weekend.  Joe Burrow threw for over 525 yards against a decimated Ravens secondary.  That’s over 900 passing yards against the Ravens this year.  It’s like Chipper Jones-esque against the Mets.  All in all, we saw 11 different guys get over 100 yards receiving in week 16.  On the ground wasn’t much different as 8 guys had over 100 yards rushing.  This was a fantasy player’s dream this weekend with all the production. 

Make sure you follow me on Twitter at @rangerzfan79 and be sure to sign up for an ALL ACCESS GOLD ACCOUNT here at Win Daily Sports. Gain access to our Projection Models and jump into our Discord where we will have our experts talking plays across every sport and slate! 

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
NFL

NFL Season Long: The Wire Report – Week 16 – Win Daily Sports

Jared Levitt
written by Jared Levitt

Welcome to the Week 16 edition of The Wire Report for the 2021 NFL season.  In this article I’ll be highlighting some of the top available players to help your team make the playoff push.

Win Daily Sports is proudly partnered with Monkey Knife Fight. MKF is offering you a FREE Win Daily Gold membership for three months ($150 value) simply for making your first deposit on Monkey Knife Fight. And if free gold isn’t attractive enough, they’re also offering a 100% match bonus up to $100 when you use promo code WINDAILY.

Heading into the second round of most playoffs in week 16 we’re going to have some injury news we’ll want to keep an eye on all week. We’ll also want to keep an eye on the COVID lists all week too as new targets for the waiver wire will pop up in an instant.

Below are my top waiver wire targets:

Amon-Ra St. Brown – Wide Receiver – Detroit Lions (24.4%  Rostered in ESPN Leagues)

In one of the NFL’s biggest shockers this season, the Detroit Lions beat the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.   A lot of that had to do w/ the play of Amon-Ra St. Brown.  Brown led all Lions with 11 targets.  That was nearly twice as many as any of his teammates.  He was able to turn those 11 targets into 8 catches for 90 yards and a touchdown.  This is now three weeks in a row that St. Brown has double-digit targets.  He’s become a favorite target for Lions QB Jared Goff.  St. Brown makes for a nice pickup if you’re currently battling it out in the playoffs.    

Ronald Jones – Running Back – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (23.4% Rostered in ESPN Leagues)

With Leonard Fournette expected to miss some time with the hamstring injury he suffered in Sunday night’s brutal loss to the Saints, Ronald Jones should slide right into the primary back role in week 16.  After Fournette went down Jones rushed the ball 8 times.  It was the most rushes he had seen since week 7 against the Bengals.  His 63 yards were also the most he’d seen since week 7. 

While the Bucs have been a pass-heavy offense all year I expect them to get out early against a bad Panthers team this weekend and that should lead to some extra runs.  Jones is available in the majority of the leagues out there and will help solidify your backfield if you’re down a running back. 

Gabriel Davis – Wide Receiver – Buffalo Bills (12.5% Rostered in ESPN Leagues) 

I recommended Davis last week and I’ll do it again this week since he’s only rostered in 12.6% of rosters heading into week 16.  Davis was tied for second on the Bills in terms of targets this weekend with 7.  Only Cole Beasley had more.  What Davis did with those targets really stood out.  He was able to catch 5 balls for 85 yards and most importantly, 2 touchdowns.    Should Sanders miss time again this weekend Davis become a must pick up

Marquez Valdes-Scantling – Wide Receiver – Green Bay Packers (15.3% Rostered in ESPN Leagues)

Heading into week 16 MVS is rostered in just 15% of ESPN leagues.  That just seems like a crime.  Is he a safe pick?  No, he’s definitely not.  Is there anyone else on the waiver wire with the pure upside that he has?  Also a definitely not.  While his targets are a little on the inconsistent side when MVS gets the ball he normally makes something happen. 

This weekend he was targeted 7 times and caught 5 for 98 yards and a touchdown.  That’s his third touchdown of the year and definitely not his last.  If you’re in one of the 85% of ESPN leagues where he’s available, you should pick him up. 

Craig Reynolds – Running Back – Detroit Lions (7.6%  Rostered in ESPN Leagues)

This is 100% reliant on the health of his teammates D’Andre Swift and Jamaal Williams.  Should they both miss the week 16 matchup vs. the Falcons Reynolds is a must-start.  Should only one of them miss he becomes a “good” play.  Reynolds was the main guy this week and boy was he productive. 

On a heavy workload of 26 carries Reynolds was able to crack the 100-yard rushing mark in just his second game of the season.  What is a feel-good story in real life may also end up as a feel-good story for your fantasy team if you pick him up. 

Laquon Treadwell – Wide Receiver – Jacksonville Jaguars (.7%  Rostered in ESPN Leagues)

I make it a point each week to pick at least one player going up against the New York Jets.  In week 16 my potential pick up will be Laquon Treadwell.  Treadwell’s production has really been trending up.  He’s had at least 4 catches now in 5 straight games and has surpassed the 50-yard mark in all of them.  He’s not going to win you a playoff game but he’s going to do enough to keep you in the game. 

Make sure you follow me on Twitter at @rangerzfan79 and be sure to sign up for an ALL ACCESS GOLD ACCOUNT here at Win Daily Sports. Gain access to our Projection Models and jump into our Discord where we will have our experts talking plays across every sport and slate! 

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
NFL

NFL DFS: The Inside Look- Week 15 – Win Daily Sports

Joel Bartilotta
written by Joel Bartilotta

Welcome to the Week 15 edition of The Inside Look for the 2021 NFL season.  This will be a data driven article and will go under the hood to see if the box scores tell the whole story about what transpired during the weekend.   My goal here will be to either calm your nerves about a player that may have underperformed or cause you to rethink some of the spots you may have taken.

Win Daily Sports is proudly partnered with Monkey Knife Fight. MKF is offering you a FREE Win Daily Gold membership for three months ($150 value) simply for making your first deposit on Monkey Knife Fight. And if free gold isn’t attractive enough, they’re also offering a 100% match bonus up to $100 when you use promo code WINDAILY.

Unlike weeks past, we still have 2 games to play today and 2 tomorrow.  Thanks COVID! 

Let’s dig in to the data!

Wide Receiver Targets

Before we dig in to individual player performances I wanted to take a moment to talk about why we focus so heavily on Targets.  Targets equal opportunities and in fantasy opportunity more often than creates production.  The more targets that a player gets the better chance there is that the player will return on value. 

If you have ask most Ravens fans, Marquise Brown had 1 less target than he should have had in Week 15.  Many camera angles show him wide open in the end zone when they went for 2.  That said, he still had a great weekend in terms of targets. No one in the NFL had more targets than Brown did this weekend.  Brown was targeted 14 times this.  It’s not all rosy picture though for Brown. 

Even though he was able to catch 10 of his targets, he went for only 43 yards passing.  After getting 116 yards vs. the Vikings in week 9 Brown now has 6 consecutive weeks of less than 60 receiving yards and also hasn’t found the end zone since Week 7 vs. the Bengals.  If the Ravens have any hope of beating the Bengals next weekend they’ll need a bounce back game from Brown.

While Brown had a down week, Tyreek Hill showed the world why he is one of the most dynamic players in the game, albeit frustrating players as well.  Hill had gone 9 consecutive games without breaking the 100 yard mark.  This week he broke it with some room to spare.  Hill was able to catch 12 of his 13 week 15 targets for 148 receiving yards.  He was also able to find the end zone for the first time since week 10.  Hill and his teammates look to keep the good times rolling against the Steelers in Week 16.

Brandon Cooks, have yourself a day!  For the second consecutive week Cooks had double digit targets and over 100 yards receiving.  With opening week starter Tyrod Taylor down with an injury, Cooks and Davis Mills have really found a rhythm together and it’s been somewhat fun to watch.  The two of them also connected for 2 touchdowns this weekend.  Up next week is a much tougher assignment in the Chargers.  Can they keep connecting like they have been?  

Running Back Targets

Penn State alum Saquon Barkley led all backs this weekend with 8 targets.  The good news?  He was able to catch 4 of them.  The bad news?  He did absolutely nothing with the targets as he finished with just 24 receiving yards.  There’s no other way to describe his 2021 season than saying it’s an utter disappointment.  He’ll look to get back on track next weekend vs. an Eagles team that is fighting for their playoff lives.

I’m not going to spend too much time talking about running backs and targets this weekend as running backs and targets did not mix well.  Not a single back had more than 50 yards receiving this weekend and there were only 5 receiving touchdowns for backs.  Ameer Abdullah led all running backs in receiving yards.  If that doesn’t tell you about the weekend and running backs, I don’t know what will. 

Tight End Targets

Where I do want to spend some time is with Tight Ends.  I’ll start with Mark Andrews.  Week 15 was very kind to Andrews.  He led all tight ends with 13 targets.  Andrews was able to catch 10 of them for 136 yards and 2 scores.  My season long fantasy team thanks you very much.  This was Andrews second consecutive week with over 100 yards receiving and fourth overall.  Up next week for Andrews and his mates are the Cincinnati Bengals in a must win game for the Ravens.

While Andrews had a stellar week, Travis Kelce was really the one who stole the show.  Kelce finished 9 yards shy of the 200 yard mark.  He was able to convert his 13 targets into 10 catches and 2 touchdowns.  This was Kelce’s first 100 yard game since week 10 against the Raiders.  The combo of Hill and Kelce combined for well over 300 yards.  They’ll look to do it against this coming weekend against the Steelers.

We won’t go down the negative road and talk about the night that Rob Gronkowski had.  Ok, you talked me into it.  Gronk had arguably his worst game of the year, as did Brady. The only other game that comes close to his poor week 15 performance was all the way back in week 8 vs. the same New Orleans Saints.  Gronk was targeted 11 times yesterday and was only able to catch 2 of them for just 29 yards.  Gronk season long owners in the playoffs probably weren’t too happy with that yesterday.  

Quarterback Target Share

Ryan Tannehill threw the ball 32 times in week 15.  Of those 32 times, more than half went to either his running backs or tight ends.  Once Julio Jones left the game yesterday, it became a much different plan of attack for Tannehill.  Tannehill now has 3 consecutive weeks with less than 200 yards passing.  With both his top receivers injured he’s struggled to find anyone else. 

When you have a tight end like Mark Andrews, you use him heavily.  That’s exactly what Tyler Huntley did on Sunday.  Of the 39 pass attempts for Huntley, a third of them went to Andrews.  Another third went to Marquise Brown, although those were far less successful than Andrews’ targets. This has pretty much been the game plan all year.  Thrown to either Andrews or Brown and it has worked with much success.  

If you expected the Lions to completely dominate the Cardinals in week 15 raise your hand?  I doubt anyone is raising their hand right now.  Jared Goff had his way with the Cardinals secondary yesterday.  Goff only threw the ball 26 times yesterday, but 21 of them were caught which is an extremely solid completion %.  Of his 26 attempts, 20 went to his wide receivers.  Amon-Ra St. Brown was the biggest beneficiary as he caught 8 of his 11 targets for 90 yards and a score.   

Running Back Touches

At this point, Jonathan Taylor has to be considered one of the front runners for the MVP.  Week in and week out he has been a stud.  He’s reached the 100 yard mark in 8 of his last 11 games.  Taylor also has touchdowns in all but his first 3 games of the year.  The Colts are in the thick of the playoff race right now and it’s 100% due to the play of Taylor. 

With the Lions top 2 running backs on the shelf this weekend, Craig Reynolds stepped up and boy did he step up.  He was second to only Taylor in week 15 with 26 carries.  He made the most of his carries as he finished with 112 yards on the ground.  In his two weeks carrying the ball Reynolds now has 195 yards on 37 carries.  Not bad for someone cut earlier in the year. 

Just moments before kick off the Dolphins announced that Duke Johnson would be the starting running back.  That 100% looked like the right call in week 15 as Johnson finished with 107 yards on 22 carries and 2 touchdowns.  While Gaskin owners I’m sure weren’t overly enthusiastic about the move, it worked for the Dolphins as they beat up on the lowly Jets.  Up next week is a much tougher task in the Saints and you have to think that the Dolphins will turn to a healthy Gaskin more.  

Playbook

The ‘Playbook’ as I like to call it shows a breakdown of the play splits that teams used this past weekend.

The Indianapolis Colts ran the ball almost 80% of the time in week 15.  Why not when you have the league’s most prolific back.  Of the Colts 51 plays this week, 39 were for runs compared to just 12 pass plays.  It worked for them this week as they surprisingly beat the Patriots 27-17.

Tampa Bay continued to throw often last night, even thought it just wasn’t working.  Tom Brady threw the ball 48 times and had only 26 completions.  It was just the second time all year that Brady was held without a passing touchdown.  A lot of it was due to the fact that the Buccaneers were decimated by injuries last night as they lost Fournette, Evans, and Godwin to injuries mid game.  That led to Tom Brady being shutout for the first time in 15 years.   

Inside Look Wrap Up

Week 15 was as weird of a weekend as we’ve seen in quite some time, and hope to see in the near future.  Covid wreaked havoc on the schedule as we now have a 2 game slate on a Tuesday and a Monday afternoon game.  We did have some solid performances as 5 backs rushed for over 100 yards and another 5 guys had over 100 receiving yards.  We still have a healthy amount of games left with 4 still to play. 

Make sure you follow me on Twitter at @rangerzfan79 and be sure to sign up for an ALL ACCESS GOLD ACCOUNT here at Win Daily Sports. Gain access to our Projection Models and jump into our Discord where we will have our experts talking plays across every sport and slate! 

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
NFL

NFL Season Long: The Wire Report – Week 12– Win Daily Sports

Jared Levitt
written by Jared Levitt

Welcome to the Week 12 edition of The Wire Report for the 2021 NFL season.  In this article I’ll be highlighting some of the top players that should still be available in your season long leagues.

We’re at the point in the year where the waiver wire in most leagues is going to be slim pickings.  This week is no exception.  There isn’t too much out there but I tried to find the best available players still unowned in many leagues.

Below are my top waiver wire targets:

Marquez Valdez-Scantling – Wide Receiver – Green Bay Packers (3.2%  Rostered in ESPN Leagues)

This was the breakout game many have been hoping for from MVS all season.  Thanks to a 75 yard reception that resulted in a TD, MVS cracked the 100 yard mark for the first time this year.  MVS was in this spot due to an injury to teammate Allen Lazard.  Should Lazard miss again this week MVS becomes a must pick up as he’d have another game starting where there should be plenty of volume for him.

Cam Newton – Quarterback – Carolina Panthers (40.9% Rostered in ESPN Leagues)

I wrote up Cam Newton last week and I’ll write him up again.  If your QB is hurt or struggling, it’s time to rethink your strategy and pick up Newton.  He’s the guy now in Carolina.  While he’s no Lamar Jackson at this point in his career, Newton is still a double threat as this weekend he threw for 2 touchdowns and also ran one in himself. 

That’s 2 straight weeks now with a rushing touchdown for Newton.  He’s still available in 60% of ESPN leagues.  Pick him up if you’re in need.

Rex Burkhead – Running Back – Houston Texans (.6% Rostered in ESPN Leagues)

I told you earlier that we are at the point where the waiver wire is slim.  This recommendation is based purely on volume.  This weekend Burkhead saw 18 carries.  Although he did absolutely nothing w/ them, it’s still volume.  Similar to targets with wide receivers and tight ends, we want carries with running backs.  If you’re desperate for a running back, Burkhead is out there.  I’ll just leave it at that for him.   

Tyrod Taylor – Quarterback – Houston Texans (5% Rostered in ESPN Leagues) 

Tyrod Taylor hasn’t played much this season due to injury, but outside of his one poor game in Week 8 against the Dolphins Taylor has been extremely solid.  This weekend he used his wheels as he rushed for 2 touchdowns. 

While the weather impacted his passing game, he did enough to help his team beat a solid Titans team.  This weekend he gets a dream matchup vs. the New York Jets.  While I favor the longevity in Newton, if you need to stream a QB for just 1 week, go Taylor due to the matchup.

Elijah Moore – Wide Receiver – New York Jets (40.8% Rostered in ESPN Leagues) 

This was a breakout game for Moore.  For the first time this year Moore cracked 100 yards receiving.  He also saw double digit targets for the first time as well.  This is now 3 consecutive weeks with a touchdown for Moore and has 4 in those 3 games.  The Jets offense is becoming clearer by the day and Moore is a big part of it.  He’s still available in more than half of ESPN leagues and that’s far too many.

Devonta Freeman – Running Back – Baltimore Ravens (33.8% Rostered in ESPN Leagues) 

While the Ravens have somewhat of a crowded backfield now with Latavius Murray back in the mix, Freeman is still a big part of the running game.  This weekend Freeman had 16 carries for 49 yards and 1 touchdown.  Ravens have a big game this weekend against divisional rival Cleveland and they’ll need all hands on deck.  Freeman should be a big part of the game plan, especially if Jackson is forced to miss again with his illness. 

Make sure you follow me on Twitter at @rangerzfan79 and be sure to sign up for an ALL ACCESS GOLD ACCOUNT here at Win Daily Sports. Gain access to our Projection Models and jump into our Discord where we will have our experts talking plays across every sport and slate! 

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
NFL

Fantasy Football Tight End Rankings

Adam Strangis
written by Adam Strangis

Fantasy Football Tight End Rankings

This position can be a whole lot of blah if you miss out on the elite options. Typically it comes down to if your player scores a touchdown that given week and that’s always difficult to predict. Still, you have to field a player in that position regardless so let’s talk about Fantasy Football Tight End Rankings!

Note – Any ADP (average draft position) is taken from FantasyData.com. In addition, these are my personal ranks and not WinDaily Staff ranks.

Fantasy Football Tight End Rankings

  1. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs – Kelce scored as the WR4 in PPR settings last season, which is frankly an absurd advantage on your team. We mentioned this in the receiver ranks, but if Kelce gets some of the nearly 14% target share left from Sammy Watkins leaving the team, Kelce could push for 350 PPR points. For context, Davante Adams scored 358.4 points last year as the WR1. He was the only tight end to clear 1,200 receiving yards (1,416) and scored 11 times. 
  2. Darren Waller, Las Vegas Raiders – I believe the only player with a shot of unseating Kelce as the TE1 is Waller, instead of the man at third. Waller was only one target behind Kelce and under 100 yards behind in air yards. Waller also had one more RZ target and he led the position in receptions. Waller only finished 30 points behind Kelce, which is under two points per game. He doesn’t have the same sizzle as Kelce, but the 14 spot difference in ADP is appealing. 
  3. George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers – Kittle is the last of the elite tier in my eyes and still well worth a top 30 pick in the draft. The fact Kittle finished as the TE19 in just eight games speaks to how good he is and how shallow the position is. Kittle led in target share at 24.1% and still had a 26.2% air yards share. It would be a large upset if Kittle played the whole season and finished outside the top three. 
  4. T.J. Hockenson, Detroit Lions – Both Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones have moved on, leaving Hockenson as the possible number one option in the passing game. Breshad Perriman and Tyrell Williams aren’t exactly number ones in any passing game. He was fifth in targets among tight ends and tied for sixth in points per game. Since the Lions are going to be trailing an awful lot, Hockenson should be a lock to be inside the top-five in targets once again. 
  5. Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens – I think most would qualify Andrews as a disappointment last year but he finished fourth in points per game and he was the TE6. Andrews isn’t a target magnet since Baltimore was dead last in pass attempts in 2020 but he was tied for fifth in RZ targets and second in EZ targets. That’s what we look for in tight ends if we can’t have the elite tier and Andrews should have plenty of opportunities to score more than the seven touchdowns that he scored last year. 
  6. Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons – Typically it is very difficult for rookie tight ends to make an impact. Pitts should be able to break that trend since he should be the number two option behind Calvin Ridley and he’ll be in space a ton. I can’t imagine the Falcons passed on multiple quarterbacks at the number four pick to play Pitts as a classic tight end. He won’t be blocking at the line of scrimmage very often. There is a Julio Jones-sized hole in this offense and Pitts should be able to help fill it. 
  7. Noah Fant, Denver Broncos – Fant battled injury through a lot of 2020 but still racked up an 18.2% target share and tied for the team lead in RZ targets. This is where tight ends get very difficult to try and project. Fant has to contend with iffy quarterback play and the duo of Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton as competition for targets. I’m not sure Drew Lock or Teddy Bridgewater will support all three players in a passing game. 
  8. Logan Thomas, Washington Football Team – Thomas was tied for second in targets last season and rarely left the field with a 92.7% snap share. Thomas led the team in RZ and EZ targets as well, not to mention touchdown receptions with six. He finished as the TE3 last season and the only knock is Ryan Fitzpatrick could utilize his receivers more than Washington’s 2020 options. Additionally, they added Curtis Samuel to the offense so the same target share isn’t guaranteed at all. 
  9. Jonnu Smith, New England Patriots – He’s sitting at TE16 in ADP and I’m confused at that. Smith was a priority for New England and signed a deal worth potentially $50 million. They guaranteed over $31 million and still have limited options at the receiver position. New England either will have Cam Newton or will break in rookie Mac Jones at quarterback. It would be wild if either option didn’t treat Smith as an alpha in the passing game. 
  10. Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles – This is a pick that we’ll need to see how it plays out. There is a ton of new factors in the Philly offense this year. They have a new coach, a quarterback with under six games played, and a new receiver. Goedert should remain an important factor in this offense and he had a 16.7% target share last year in 11 games. I’m curious to see how Jalen Hurts handles Goedert. 
  11. Adam Trautman, New Orleans Saints – The second-year player is a popular breakout candidate as Jared Cook has moved on to the Chargers. Sean Payton and company gave up a lot of draft capital to get him in the 2020 draft. Trautman had a very quiet rookie season but still played 40% of the snaps. Cook was targeted 16 times last year and if Trautman gets that style of work, he could turn into an every-week option. 
  12. Evan Engram, New York Giants – They did add Kenny Golladay but Engram did lead in targets overall, RZ targets, and just missed leading in yards. Despite his 13 RZ targets, Engram only scored one touchdown all season. Even with concerns about a crowded passing tree and his quarterback, he has to score more than once this season. 

Thank you for reading my Fantasy Football Tight End Rankings and make sure you follow me on Twitter at @bucn4life! Be sure to sign up for an ALL ACCESS GOLD ACCOUNT account here at Win Daily Sports. Gain access to our Projection Models and jump into our Discord where we will have our experts talking plays across every sport and slate!

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
NFL

Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings

Adam Strangis
written by Adam Strangis

Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings

You can argue that receiver is the deepest position in fantasy along with the quarterback spot and I’m not sure I’d fight you on that. My early lean if you’re drafting now is typically going to accentuate running back early unless the studs are gone when I pick. The position itself has so many big names that it can be tough to separate but that’s what we’re trying to do in the Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings!

Note – Any ADP (average draft position) is taken from FantasyData.com. In addition, these are my personal ranks and not WinDaily Staff ranks.

Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings

  1. Tyreek Hill, Kansas City Chiefs – There are not many receivers that can finish as the WR2 in PPR setting with just a 23.2% target share in his offense. Hill accomplished that in 2020 despite being seventh in receiving yards and ninth in targets among receivers. Scoring 17 total touchdowns will bump your scoring, but what happens if a secondary receiver doesn’t emerge for KC? What if the bulk of the 14% target share Sammy Watkins left just goes towards Hill and Kelce? We could see Hill go absolutely bonkers this season. 
  2. Stefon Diggs, Buffalo Bills – He led the league in targets, receptions, and yards in 2020. Even if you’re not the biggest Josh Allen fan, the Bills clearly understand how to use Diggs in this offense. I’m not sure how you could have him anywhere outside of the top-three. 
  3. DeAndre Hopkins, Arizona Cardinals – Only Diggs had more targets last season and the Cards played at the second-fastest pace in the league last year. Nuk had a 29.4% target share and 32.7% of the air yards in this offense last year. The additions of A.J. Green and Rondale Moore should open the field up more, in theory. Hopkins will always have the bulk of the coverage but Kyler Murray should still have room to grow as a traditional quarterback. Hopkins seems utterly safe. 
  4. Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints – Perhaps folks are spooked after an injury-riddled season or the retirement of Drew Brees. Maybe folks don’t like Taysom Hill as the quarterback potentially with Thomas. Regardless, Thomas with an ADP of WR10 is crazy. With Hill, Thomas had four games. He posted 9/104/0, 4/50/1, 9/105/0, and 8/84/0. In the four reception game, Hill only threw 16 passes since the Broncos played without a quarterback. Thomas accounted for 28% of the targets and 43.6% of the air yards for the Saints. There’s little reason to fade him that far. 
  5. D.K. Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks – This beast of a man showed flashes of taking a giant leap last season, finishing as the WR7 on just 87 receptions (17th in the league). He played 92% of the snaps and accounted for nearly 40% of the air yards. If Metcalf adds just a touch more consistency (five games under 50 yards and he doesn’t catch a ton of passes to help), a top 3-5 finish is just a matter of time. 
  6. Calvin Ridley, Atlanta Falcons – We got a glimpse of Ridley’s life without Julio Jones last year since Julio only played nine games and life for Ridley was good. He finished as the WR4 in PPG and WR5 overall, hauling in 90 receptions and racking up 41.6% of the air yards. Ridley was also tied for the most end zone targets at 20. That may drop some with Kyle Pitts in the fold but Ridley is among the best receivers in the game. 
  7. Davante Adams, Green Bay Packers – Tell me who his quarterback is and he can shoot up to number 2-3 or drop out of the top 10 completely. 
  8. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings – He walked through the door and smashed as a rookie, just missing a top-five finish. He owned the team lead in air yards and target share but finished third in red zone target share. He racked up 475 more receiving yards than teammate Adam Thielen and even if that gap closes, the 14-7 lead in touchdowns would be tough to repeat for Thielen. 
  9. Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers – Allen played 14 games and finished just 19 targets behind Diggs for the league lead. He led the Chargers in target share at 26.7%, red-zone target share at 26.2%, receptions, and yards. Allen is a monster regardless of format, but PPR remains his best. 
  10. A.J. Brown, Tennessee Titans – Brown was likely top-five before Julio became a Titan. They lost roughly 39% of the target share in 2020 between Jonnu Smith and Corey Davis, not to mention about 33% of the air yards. Julio won’t take up all of that but I’d feel less comfortable taking Brown inside the top-five now. He and Mike Evans tied for the least receptions among any top 20 receivers last season. 
  11. Allen Robinson, Chicago Bears – Robinson slogged through another terrible year of QB play to finish fourth in receptions, eighth in yards, and 30% of the air yards in the Bears offense. If Justin Fields hits the ground running, Robinson could flirt with a top-five finish. He’s been one of the best receivers in football for almost his entire career, he just hasn’t had the quarterback to totally prove it. 
  12. Robert Woods, Los Angeles Rams – Talk about underrated, Woods is the poster boy. He had another top 12 finish last season and gets a massive upgrade at quarterback. Woods and Cooper Kupp were almost identical in air yards and targets last season but Woods tacked on 24 rushing attempts to put him over the top. 
  13. Terry McLaurin, Washington Football Team – Among receivers that played at least 12 games in 2020, Scary Terry led in air yards share at a massive 42%. Washington was just 30th in yards per attempt and Ryan Fitzpatrick will have zero fear about throwing the ball downfield. McLaurin was also 10th in targets in the league last season and it could all come together this year. 
  14. Diontae Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers – It’s been lost in the shuffle a bit, but Johnson finished sixth in targets among receivers. He was injured and left early in a couple of games and yet he led the Steelers in target share at 22.9%. Additionally, he led in RZ and EZ targets while finishing just nine receptions behind JuJu Smith-Schuster for the team lead. I worry a lot about the offense overall but running back Najee Harris and their number one receiver can overcome the flaws. 
  15. CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys – I’m not likely to have Lamb in redraft because he’s going as the WR13 in ADP. Dak Prescott is back in action and one would think Lamb would easily exceed his 63.8% snap share from 2020. The target share was only 18% and the air yards share was 22.7% which are both solid, but I’m not sure he should be flirting with a top 10 ranking for some. You’re banking on a second-year leap, which isn’t crazy but it’s also not guaranteed. He finished as the WR24 last year on the 22nd most targets. 
  16. Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers – We’ll get a full season with the trio of receivers as opposed to Antonio Brown entering in the middle of the season like 2020. I’m leaning Evans for the lead dog since he led the team in targets, air yard share, RZ targets, and EZ targets. It could be tough to get these guys right every week which is the only reason I’m leaving Evans outside the top 15. 
  17. Adam Thielen, Minnesota Vikings – Thielen was the only receiver in the top 10 from 2020 that finished under 1,000 yards but that’s what 14 touchdowns do for you. You’re not drafting him in the top 10 anymore and that risk is already built-in. Thielen still held a 24% target share and only was about 1.5% off in the air yard share lead behind Jefferson. 
  18. Julio Jones, Tennessee Titans – With how much of the passing game from 2020 that is open, Julio walks into a dynamite spot. If the Titans come up into the top half of the league in pass attempts, Julio could have another great season. I’ll be super interested to see how the work splits between him and A.J. Brown.
  19. Amari Cooper, Dallas Cowboys – Dallas played at the fastest pace in the league last year and their offense is built to throw the ball all over the yard. Cooper led the team in targets at 130 last year which was 12th in the league. He also led in RZ targets, EZ targets, yards, and tied for the lead in touchdowns. You may well get a bargain if that repeats in 2021 and Lamb finishes second in points on the team. 
  20. DJ Moore, Carolina Panthers – The Panthers have a new quarterback in Sam Darnold, and Curtis Samuel is gone, so the offense will absolutely look different. Still, Moore led last year in air yard share at 40.8% and racked up 118 targets. Moore also led the team in yards and EZ targets. Samuel ate up 12 RZ targets, 18.9% of the air yard share, and 19.4% of the target share. Even with a healthy CMC, Moore could be taking a significant step forward. He’ll be one I watch closely in the preseason. 
  21. Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers – This is generally where things start to get trickier. Godwin only finished about 55 points behind Evans last year playing four games fewer. What is a little worrisome with this ranking is Antonio Brown had a 20% share of the targets, leading the entire team in his snaps. Godwin was 15th in points per game but it’s very difficult to pick. Perhaps the path is taking the last Tampa receiver and using the lowest pick on that player. 
  22. Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams – If we liked Woods so much and they were nearly identical in the metrics, it only stands to reason Kupp can’t be that far behind. 
  23. Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks – He looks great in seasonal data but was a pain to play every week. He seemed to either go nuclear or leave you wanting with around 8-10 points. If Metcalf truly becomes the alpha, Lockett could be more of a second fiddle this year. He still should have a 22-24% target share even if Metcalf is basically locked into the air yards lead. 
  24. Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals – Ja’Marr Chase seems to be universally regarded as the WR1 in the Bengals offense but I’m not sold yet. In 2020, A.J. Green had a 30.5% air yard share and an 18.4% target share. Even with that, Higgins ended as the WR28 with terrible quarterback play through six-plus games. Does Chase take over more than the Green share from 2020? That could be a stretch. Higgins only played 74% of the snaps last year and we should expect that to climb in his second season. 
  25. Kenny Golladay, New York Giants – I believe that Golladay is a talented receiver but I don’t believe in his quarterback by a long shot. The offense in New York is more crowded than Detroit was as well, leading to enough concerns from me to skip him most of the time. 
  26. Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers – The rookie last year played just 12 games but led the team in air yards share at 32%, RZ targets, EZ targets, yards, and points. Now, that’s not exactly fair because George Kittle only played eight games and Deebo Samuel played seven. Still, he showed why the 49ers moved up in the draft to add him to their talented offense. The aDOT was 9.3 yards compared to 2.2 for Samuel. Aiyuk was a top 35 option last season despite 12 games played and wildly questionable quarterback play. 
  27. Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals – Chase is one of the more well-rounded receiving prospects to enter the league in the past few years. With the connection Chase and Joe Burrow showed at LSU, Chase could walk in and be dominant off the bat. I would be a little cautious with him but one or two preseason splash plays and we can see the ADP fly up. 
  28. JuJu Smith-Schuster, Pittsburgh Steelers – Pittsburgh has plenty of concerns but JuJu sitting at WR33 in ADP doesn’t make a lot of sense. He was seventh in receptions last season and finished as the WR16, well beyond where he’s being taken. The 5.5-yard aDOT can actually help JuJu in PPR because if the offensive line can’t hold up as much as Ben Roethlisberger would like, it could mean a lot of quick passes, just like 2020. 
  29. Odell Beckham Jr., Cleveland Browns – Before OBJ got hurt, he racked up a 33.4% share of the air yards and 21.9% target share. He still finished fourth in yards on the team and even though the Browns won’t throw the ball a ton, he is still the alpha on the squad. It’s kind of crazy to think OBJ is barely in the top 30 after the start of his career, but here we are. 
  30. DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles – It’s very difficult to rank Smith. Not only does he have individual questions about the transfer from Alabama to the NFL, but Jalen Hurts also has yet to prove he’s a capable NFL-caliber quarterback. I would likely prefer Smith in best ball because he’s going to have some big games but I wouldn’t be shocked if he has a few duds as well. 
  31. DJ Chark, Jacksonville Jaguars – The chemistry between him and Trevor Lawerence will be something to watch in camp and preseason. He was the only Jaguar to hit an air yard share above 20% (35.5%) and the target share was 20% in 13 games. Jacksonville added proven veteran option Marvin Jones but Chark should still maintain the alpha role in the passing game. We just need to get an idea of how the targets get distributed between Chark, Jones, Laviska Shenault, and Travis Etienne. 
  32. Brandin Cooks, Houston Texans – The only reason he’s this low is the uncertainty of Deshaun Watson. Cooks was in the top 18 in both points per game and points overall last year and that was with Will Fuller playing 11 games. Cooks racked up a 30% air yards share and a 23.8% target share. We just need the information on the quarterback. 
  33. Antonio Brown, Tampa Bay Buccaneers – If Tom Brady hones in on him early, AB is going to climb quickly in the ranks. As I mentioned, he led the team in target share when he played. That’s going to be very important to monitor this preseason. 
  34. Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos – I love Sutton as a talent and he only got to play one game last season before tearing his ACL. If Denver manages to acquire Aaron Rodgers (speculation based on rumor), Sutton would have a rocket ship strapped to his back. As it stands, the duo of Drew Lock and Teddy Bridgewater could hold him back a good bit. 
  35. Michael Pittman, Indianapolis Colts – The second-year receiver is tied to quarterback Carson Wentz, and that could be an issue. Pittman flashed upside last season and accumulated a 13.8% target share and 16.3% air yards share as a rookie. He didn’t get a single end zone look but he led the receiving corps in the snap rate at 77.8%. I’d love to gamble at this stage with the next alpha in a passing game and be wrong with my third/fourth receiver. He could easily be the lead option ahead of T.Y. Hilton this season. 

Thank you for reading my Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings and make sure you follow me on Twitter at @bucn4life! Be sure to sign up for an ALL ACCESS GOLD ACCOUNT account here at Win Daily Sports. Gain access to our Projection Models and jump into our Discord where we will have our experts talking plays across every sport and slate!

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
NFL

Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings

Adam Strangis
written by Adam Strangis

Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings

The running back position can be very difficult in the fantasy realm because of injuries and other factors. Some managers prefer to sink their early picks on running backs and land the studs while others take backs late in the draft. The ranks should give you an idea of exactly who to target regardless of which strategy you employ so let’s get into Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings! 

Note – Any ADP (average draft position) is taken from FantasyData.com. In addition, these are my personal ranks and not WinDaily Staff ranks.

Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings

  1. Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers – Since the start of 2019, CMC has posted at least 29 points per game in PPR formats. When he played a full season in 2019, he racked up almost 2,400 scrimmage yards and scored 19 touchdowns. He’s among the easiest picks on the board. 
  2. Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints – Even with Drew Brees riding off into the sunset, Kamara is going to remain an elite back. They now have a full offseason to create an offense tailored to the strength of their quarterback and Kamara is one of the most lethal players in the NFL with the ball in his hands. 
  3. Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings – When you have a running back that rushes for over 1,500 yards, second in carries inside the 20, tied for first in carries inside the 10, and an 11.5% target share, you draft said running back. Cook is an absolute stud. 
  4. Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers – I am all in on Ekeler this year. He did miss six games in 2020 but still racked up 54 receptions, over 900 scrimmage yards, and three touchdowns. With the Chargers upgrading their offensive line this offseason, Ekeler has even higher upside on the ground and he finished fifth among running backs in receptions in his 10 games. 
  5. Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans – Some will see him at five and ask me if I’m nuts. King Henry rushed for over 2,000 yards and honestly looks like the Hulk in a blue uniform out there. So why is he fifth in the rankings? My one small (I emphasize small) concern is the change in the Titans this offseason. The defense struggled last year and they added Julio Jones. If the defense doesn’t improve, they could be in more shootouts than they plan for. Henry was 38th in targets and is not a part of the passing game. He could see some week-to-week volatility and he takes just a slight knock in my eyes. The argument against me here is the defense wasn’t very good last year either, but I would take Ekeler even though I know it’s a spicy choice. 
  6. Saquon Barkley, New York Giants – Provided the knee checks out alright in camp, I have almost no issue with Barkley. His offensive line isn’t anything to write home about but he’s a home run hitter and Barkley has always been a major part of the passing game. 
  7. Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns – I wish Chubb caught a few more passes but if Cleveland continues to run the ball at a top-five rate, things will work out. 20 targets in 13 games is a legitimate concern but he still finished ninth in points per game and scored 12 touchdowns rushing, tied for the third-most. He’s a centerpiece of a good offense, that’s all you can ask for in a top-tier back. 
  8. Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys – It’s truly splitting hairs between Chubb and Zeke. I give Chubb the slight nod because, in my eyes, the Dallas passing offense is more advanced. Dak Prescott will be back under center and that could slightly ding Zeke’s touchdown upside. He finished first in carries inside the five last year but Dak adds a much different dimension to the offense. 
  9. Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts – I’m slightly lower than the field because the Colts still have Nyheim Hines and they brought Marlon Mack back. Hines was third in targets last year among backs and swiped 27 red zone rushing attempts. There’s no question that Taylor is the best player in the backfield. I just believe Hines and Mack are going to be more of a thorn in his side for fantasy production than folks think. 
  10. Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers – I do like Jamaal Williams heading to Detroit because that hopefully means more work for Jones. Williams took 25 RZ attempts (40 for Jones) and 32 targets last year (47 for Jones). Provided A.J. Dillon doesn’t take all of those, Jones should be in for another big season. Hopefully, Aaron Rodgers is still there as well. 
  11. Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers – I’ll be the first one to tell you that the O-line concerns are very, very legitimate. At the same time, Pittsburgh drafted Harris in the first round with a lot of other glaring holes. It’s a bad pick by value but they as a team have been pounding the table to improve the running game. The only two scenarios stopping Harris from 350+ touches, all the red zone work, and 1,100-1,300 scrimmage yards are injury and a rookie not making the jump immediately. He may have efficiency issues but there is no doubt he is the feature back. Even as much as I think it’s a bad pick in real life, Harris is talented and has every opportunity we crave for fantasy. 
  12. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kansas City Chiefs – CEH was a disappointment to many but let’s put it into some context. First, not every rookie just hits the ground running. Secondly, his disappointment was RB22 in 13 games and finished 14th in targets with Dalvin Cook. If that’s my floor at an ADP of RB15, I’ll take that all day long. The Chiefs sunk a first-round pick into him just one year ago. I wouldn’t be shocked at all if he’s a top-eight back this year. 
  13. Cam Akers, Los Angeles Rams – Akers took over the Rams backfield in the last four regular-season games with a total of 86 carries and eight receptions. He added another 49 touches in two playoff games and comes into this season as the most popular breakout candidate of the industry. 
  14. Antonio Gibson, Washington Football Team – This kid walked into a rookie season having never been a full-time running back in college, and dazzled with over 1,000 total yards in 14 games. Washington was only 24th in rushing attempts and perhaps the largest issue with Gibson is a teammate. J.D. McKissic led the league in targets for a back and finished second in receptions. That’s a LOT of work for Gibson to not get. He also got 14 RZ attempts to 31 for Gibson. Picking Gibson this high does bake in the idea that Washington phases McKissic out more, which I am comfortable with. 
  15. Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals – It seems like Mixon is a polarizing figure in fantasy circles. His ADP is RB14 so I would say I’m with the field on this one. I’m generally not a person that worries about injuries from the previous season and Gio Bernard is no longer in Cincinnati. Mixon should have the backfield to himself for the most part and was 11th in points per game last year. Gio ate up 47 targets which were fourth on the team. Mixon should be the fourth option in the passing game which is more than enough to have him right on the edge of an RB1 season. 
  16. David Montgomery, Chicago Bears – Perhaps there is hesitation with Tarik Cohen returning from injury but I’m not sure I understand Montgomery at an ADP of RB21. He paced the Bears with 65% of the RZ carries, finished fifth in receptions, fourth in rushing attempts, and had over 1,500 scrimmage yards. We’re taking him after 20 other backs? Even with some questions at the quarterback position, that’s not the slightest bit different than 2020. 
  17. Chris Carson, Seattle Seahawks – It seems as his injury history (which is extensive in fairness) leaves Carson perpetually underrated. Even with just 12 games, Carson finished in the top 20 in receptions, 14th in points per game, and top 30 in attempts. When he’s healthy, he’s an auto-lock for an RB2 slot. 
  18. Myles Gaskin, Miami Dolphins – He came out of nowhere and finished as a top 30 option in just 10 games while compiling an RB13 year in points per game. The best thing that could have happened to Gaskin happened because Miami did not address the running back position in any significant way. They singed Malcolm Brown as a free agent and drafted Gerrid Doaks in the seventh round. Gaskin took 41.5% of the RZ attempts last year and 47 targets. There is little reason to think he won’t be the lead back for what should be an improved Dolphins offense. 
  19. Miles Sanders, Philadelphia Eagles – It’s somewhat of the opposite end of the spectrum for Sanders. While none of these backs are a threat to take the job, Philly signed Kerryon Johnson, still have Boston Scott, and then drafted Kenneth Gainwell in the fourth round. You’re not drafting him as an RB1 but it’s not the most comfortable situation. 
  20. JK Dobbins, Baltimore Ravens – He’s a back I will likely have almost none of in redraft. Not only did Dobbins only have 24 targets all season long, Baltimore sunk $9 million into Gus Edwards. So we’re talking about a back that is in a time-share, has no discernible pass-catching upside, and saw his offense add receivers with two of their first five draft picks (Rashod Bateman in the first round). That’s not a situation that I’m all that excited about. 
  21. Kareem Hunt, Cleveland Browns – Hunt is the type of player that every roster can use. If Nick Chubb gets hurt, he can churn out borderline RB1 numbers. If Chubb stays healthy, Hunt can still be a low-end flex option. These two split RZ carries 42-40 in favor of Hunt last year and Hunt led in targets at 52-20. Even with Chubb missing four games, Hunt finished last year with 236 total touches. He was 11th in carries alone so he has standalone value with a high ceiling as well.
  22. D’Andre Swift, Detroit Lions – Speaking of situations I’m not happy about, Swift qualifies in spades. I love the talent but despise the situation. The team is in full rebuild and is an underdog in 16 of 17 games currently. They really have no reason to grind Swift to death and signed Jamaal Williams. Not only is Williams very capable, why would Detroit ride Swift for 20-24 touches per game? 
  23. Mike Davis, Atlanta Falcons – There are some circles in the industry that are a little too excited here in my eyes. The line of thinking is Davis is the lead dog, and that is accurate. However, we saw that in Carolina and Davis fizzled after a couple of big games. I’m fine with him as a lower-end RB2 or a flex option, but not past that. 
  24. Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders – I fully believe Jacobs is still the lead back in Vegas, but Kenyan Drake hurts the ceiling without a doubt. Jacobs had 33 receptions last season but it’s hard to see that going anywhere but down, along with a decrease in his third-most attempts last year. If Jacobs retains his 68% of the red zone carries, he’s going to be solid but volatile week-to-week. 
  25. Javonte Williams/Melvin Gordon, Denver Broncos – This is something of a cop-out but it will take care of itself as camp starts. There are already beat reports saying Williams will be the lead back, but that’s a big leap as of now. If I drafted tomorrow, I’d skip both around this range and take the chance on the one that fella bit. 
  26. Chase Edmonds, Arizona Cardinals – With Kenyan Drake in Vegas, Edmonds has the opportunity in front of him for a lead role. James Conner lurks and could be a value himself, but Edmonds should get the first crack. Arizona was second in pace last season and Arizona was sixth in rush attempts. Some of those come from Kyler Murray but Edmonds isn’t going so high he’s not worth a look here. 
  27. Raheem Mostert, San Francisco 49ers – You know who doesn’t care about who you started in fantasy? Kyle Shanahan, 49ers head coach. They have a habit of riding a hot hand but Mostert can get hot in a hurry. His speed is incredible and he can break legitimately any touch for a touchdown. This is a situation to monitor through camp with the addition of Tre Sermon (among others) but we know what Mostert is capable of and that’s 521 rushing yards on just 104 carries last year. 
  28. James Robinson, Jacksonville Jaguars – Robinson would have been much higher coming off a season that saw him finish as the RB7 until the Jaguars drafted Travis Etienne in the first round of the draft. I don’t particularly understand that but we can be sure that 289 touches aren’t very likely to happen again. The early report is Robinson will still be a two-down back but if he loses receptions to Etienne, that’s going to drop the floor and ceiling for him. 
  29. Michael Carter, New York Jets – The rookie walks into an incredible opportunity. Only Tevin Coleman and Lamical Perine stand in front of him for carries and receptions. The obvious questions are how quickly Carter can adjust to the NFL and how good the Jets can be. Still, at this point we’re shooting for some upside and Carter does have that potential.
  30. Ronald Jones, Tampa Bay Buccaneers – As things stand, Jones would be my guy in the Tampa backfield. Last year saw Jones lead Leonard Fournette in RZ carries 35-20, carries overall at 192-97, and overall touches 220-133. They are going within about four picks of each other right now but Fournette is going first. I’m not sure I understand that one. 
  31. Damien Harris, New England Patriots – The Patriots running backs don’t exactly have the best reputation in fantasy, but Harris could jump up a bit during camp. I would imagine New England is likely going with a play-action heavy, two-tight end offense since they signed Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry. The smash-mouth approach could help Harris rack up attempts and yards, I just wouldn’t expect many receptions. 
  32. Travis Etienne, Jacksonville Jaguars – He has the draft capital that tells us he will have a significant role. It’s just hard to know exactly what it is. Robinson seemingly could lead in carries, Laviska Sheanult can carry the ball and get targets near the line of scrimmage, and Etienne has questions about how he’ll run inside at the NFL level. 
  33. A.J. Dillon, Green Bay Packers – Jamaal Williams has 150 touches last season and it would stand to reason that Dillon will handle the bulk of those left behind. Aaron Jones was 10th in carries and ninth in targets. To see Williams get 150 touches in addition to Jones’ workload, Dillon is interesting as is. If Jones went down, Dillon could be a league-winning player. 
  34. James Conner, Arizona Cardinals – Last year saw both Kenyan Drake and Edmonds have value for fantasy as Drake was the hammer back and Edmonds was the receiving back. There is no guarantee that Edmonds will succeed in the lead role whereas Conner does have experience (and has thrived) in that role with the Steelers. 
  35. Zack Moss, Buffalo Bills – The Stix Special. Devin Singletary is still there and last year was an absolute pain to play either one. They split snaps nearly down the middle when both were healthy but Moss had the lead in RZ carries at 30-22. He missed three games while Singletary played all 16 so this is a situation that we need to look at closely through camp. 

Thank you for reading my Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings and make sure you follow me on Twitter at @bucn4life! Be sure to sign up for an ALL ACCESS GOLD ACCOUNT account here at Win Daily Sports. Gain access to our Projection Models and jump into our Discord where we will have our experts talking plays across every sport and slate!

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
NFL

Fantasy Football Quarterback Rankings

Adam Strangis
written by Adam Strangis

Fantasy Football Quarterback Rankings

With Major League Baseball hitting their All-Star Break, it’s a reminder of how quickly the fantasy football season will be upon us! Quarterback is arguably the most “replaceable” positions in fantasy but that doesn’t mean you can just swing wildly and pick. It’s just about time to get prepared for the drafts that we all know and love, so let’s kick it off with Fantasy Football Quarterback Rankings! 

Note – Any ADP (average draft position) is taken from FantasyData.com. In addition, these are my personal ranks and not WinDaily Staff ranks.

Fantasy Football Quarterback Rankings

  1. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs – The franchise man for the Chiefs finished 2020 third in points per game, third in intended air yards, and second in yards above replacement. Kansas City added some much-needed big men upfront along the offensive line with the likes of Joe Thuney and Kyle Long (hoping to be ready for Week 1). Even with the question marks of who’s the third target in the passing game behind Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce, I’m betting Mahomes and coach Andy Reid can figure things out. 
  2. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals – This could be a bit of a jump to some but Murray didn’t finish in the top 12 in passing yards last season yet was the QB6 even in six-point passing touchdown formats. The Cardinals went out and added a veteran in A.J. Green in free agency and used a top 50 draft pick in Rondale Moore. Murray combined for 86 plays inside the red zone last year and converted for a total of 37 touchdowns. 40 is not at all out of the question this season. 
  3. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills – Allen may be the player I have been most wrong about my entire fantasy career, so ranking him third may scare some people. 
  4. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys – Dak could threaten for the number one spot this season. He also gets you a main piece of the high-octane Dallas offense without having to sweat which receiver has the best game week to week. 
  5. Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Ranking him this high is a risk because, at his age, it could all go away in an instant. Still, we’re talking about the quarterback who was QB7 in 2020 with no real offseason to acclimate to his new offense. He led the entire NFL in intended air yards and still has Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Antonio Brown as his top receivers. QB9 in ADP feels like an absolute bargain. 
  6. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers – Herbert lit the NFL on fire in his rookie season and they frankly crushed the off-season on paper. Adding Corey Linsley and Matt Feiler to the O-line was great. Then rookie Rashawn Slater fell into their laps in the draft. The departure of tight end Hunter Henry shouldn’t derail this offense much and Herbert should in theory take a nice leap in his second season. 
  7. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens – There is not really a reason to pick on Jackson and it speaks to how loaded the quarterback position is. Most will have Jackson and Brady flipped. 
  8. Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans – This man threw 33 touchdowns last season, got the luxury of adding Julio Jones to throw to, and his ADP is outside of the top 12. They also have some serious defensive concerns since they were 31st in passing touchdowns allowed and 32nd in sacks. If the defensive signings don’t stop that bleeding, Tannehill will finish higher than 18th in attempts. In truth, I wanted him higher but couldn’t justify anyone else moving down. 
  9. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers – Let’s see where he plays before getting too attached to a ranking for Rodgers. He may still just be golfing, living his best island life by September. 
  10. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams – The best coaching staff he’s ever had and a massive upgrade from his 2020 offense all-around. 
  11. Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks – Just like Lamar, this is a sign of just how loaded the quarterback position really is. The fizzle down the stretch last year likely leaves certain players leaning away from Wilson. 
  12. Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings – Nobody gets excited to add Cousins to the squad but he’s finished 11th, 14th, and 11th in the past three years among his colleagues. If not for a disaster start to the 2020 campaign, a top 10 finish was in sight. Cousins is currently sitting at QB18 in ADP, which makes very little sense. 
  13. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals – The receiving trio for Burrow is not in question with Tee Higgins, Tyler Boyd, and former LSU teammate Ja’Marr Chase all in the fold. The offensive line is a different story and Burrow is coming off a serious knee reconstruction. I don’t believe it’s a large difference, but if I’m on the clock in redraft leagues I’d likely go Cousins. 
  14. Trey Lance, San Francisco 49ers – I suppose you can say this is my hottest take in the ranks but I’m a big believer in Lance. Most rookie quarterbacks selected third have some issues with the team around them. That’s not the exact case for Lance. He inherits a solid offensive line and has George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk, and Deebo Samuel for weapons. Coach Kyle Shanahan is one of the most respected offensive minds in the game. The 49ers gave up an immense amount to get to the third pick. Lance will play early, has some rushing upside, and will be a fantasy dynamo off the hop. 
  15. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles – Possibly the toughest quarterback to rank. He’s the clear starter and has serious rushing upside but legit questions on the passing game as a whole in Philly make life difficult. 
  16. Trevor Lawerence, Jacksonville Jaguars – It wouldn’t be surprising if Lawerence ends up higher at the end of the year. He’s been the consensus first pick for so long that I think some have forgotten how good he actually is. My questions are more on the side of coaching but Lawrence has a god cast and should trail plenty this year. 
  17. Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns – Our founder thinks this is about 15 spots too high. Baker is a good quarterback but with a strong run game that Cleveland loves to lean on (fifth-most rush attempts per game in 2020), I’m not sure where the ceiling truly is for Mayfield. 
  18. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons – Can he do enough to support Calvin Ridley and Kyle Pitts as dominant players at their respective positions? I believe so, but Ryan losing Julio with no real replacement is just a huge loss for an offense. I know Julio was hurt through a lot of 2020 and Ryan finished as the QB13 in part due to that reason. Finishing second for intended air yards and outside of the top 12 for quarterbacks, last year isn’t the best sign to my eyes. 
  19. Tua Tagovialoa, Miami Dolphins – The vibe around Tua is weird. He has just 290 attempts under his belt and it seems like plenty are ready to give up. I’m not there yet. Tua shouldn’t have to worry about getting yanked from the game midway no that Ryan Fitzpatrick is gone. He also has been drawing great reviews with his command of the offense in OTA’s. Adding Jaylen Waddle in the draft and Will Fuller via free agency to DeVante Parker and Mike Gesicki should help the 6.3 yards per pass thrown, ranked 31st in the league last year. 
  20. Derek Carr, Las Vegas Raiders – He’s like Kirk Cousins-lite. Nobody is excited to draft him, but the field is leaving him below QB25 in ADP. He was the QB14 last year and passed for over 4,100 yards, threw for 27 touchdowns, and got almost nothing from Henry Ruggs or Bryan Edwards. There is profit to be had at QB29 in ADP, even with some concerns about the offensive line. 
  21. Carson Wentz, Indianapolis Colts – Talk about someone tough to rank. Wentz could take the reunion with coach Frank Reich, get his head right, and take massive advantage of the upgrade in offense line and weaponry. He could also continue to just be a guy, take a ton of sacks, and turn the ball over. Indy was top 10 in rush attempts per game, so they don’t need Wentz to be a hero. 
  22. Ryan Fitzpatrick, Washington Football Team – Fitzpatrick and his majestic beard are now in Washington and he has some weapons to work with Terry McLaurin, Curtis Samuel, Logan Thomas, and Antonio Gibson. I’m not sure Fitzmagic is going to be required to have many huge games because Washington should continue to have a very good defense. 
  23. Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans – The team is a mess and he has large issues off the field right now. I’m in no position to address those, but if I was drafting today I wouldn’t take Watson in case the NFL hands down discipline. He’s a player that could see his ranking change instantly. 
  24. Justin Fields, Chicago Bears – Full disclosure, I love Fields and I wanted the Steelers to make the same type of trade to draft him. However, Matt Nagy has not proven to be a coach that we can trust to elevate folks for fantasy. We also don’t know when he gets on the field. You can make that same argument with Lance but the trade packages were far different and San Francisco is a clearly better offensive environment. 
  25. Sam Darnold, Carolina Panthers – A lot of my dynasty teams are littered with whatever New York spit out of Darnold. A friendly reminder that he just turned 24 and is free of the tyranny of Adam Gase for the first time in his career. His weapons are far better, the coaching is far better, and Darnold costs you nothing with a very tangible reward at his QB31 ADP. 
  26. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers – Well, nobody can accuse me of being a homer. Big Ben was 29th in yards per completion last year and struggled to hit anything deep downfield. Now he has an offensive line in flux (and that is being very kind), is a year older, and has a lot of folks saying he should’ve hung it up last year. His receivers are very talented but he’s learning a new offense with major question marks around him. It’s a tough sell for fantasy. 
  27. Zach Wilson, New York Jets – New York did a pretty solid job of re-vamping the offense this past offseason and Wilson will have to fail pretty spectacularly to get the starting job taken away. 
  28. Daniel Jones, New York Giants – The talent around him is not a question as far as pass catchers go, but the O-line is and Jones has always been turnover-prone. 
  29. Jameis Winston, New Orleans Saints – Until we know who the starter is, I’m not going to be that excited for Winston or Taysom Hill. 
  30. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions – Goff was 23rd in points per game with Sean McVay as his coach and much better weapons in LA last season. You’d be banking on a lot of garbage time stats (which count all the same) but the environment is way inferior to 2020. 

Thank you for reading my Fantasy Football Quarterback Rankings and make sure you follow me on Twitter at @bucn4life! Be sure to sign up for an ALL ACCESS GOLD ACCOUNT account here at Win Daily Sports. Gain access to our Projection Models and jump into our Discord where we will have our experts talking plays across every sport and slate!

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
NFL

5.13 The Fantasy Isle with Nabaté Isles featuring special guest Warren Moon

Jon Jansen
written by Jon Jansen

On the second episode of The Fantasy Isle, Nabaté Isles talks with Pro Football Hall of Famer Warren Moon. Moon talks about the NFL Draft, quarterbacks for this season including Colts new quarterback Carson Wentz and where Aaron Rodgers end up playing this season!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVy_GSS0xUI

Make sure to check out more DFS and betting content at WinDailySports.com

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Newer Posts
Older Posts

Subscribe to our newsletter

The best bets and resources to make you more profitable

"*" indicates required fields

    Built with ConvertKit

    Our Company

    At WIN DAILY®, our motto is to “change your game and change your life.” We want to help you win that bet, parlay, and big DFS tournament and have some fun while you do. Our goal is to help you turn your love of sports into a profit center while playing responsibly and enjoying your time with a like-minded community.

    WIN DAILY® RADIO
    Friday’s 8-10pm Est
    Sunday’s 7-9pm EST

    START FREE TRIAL

    ©2024 WIN DAILY®. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

    This site is 100% for entertainment purposes only and does not involve real money betting. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800 GAMBLER. This service is intended for adult users only.
    Close
    -
    00:00
    00:00

    Queue

    Update Required Flash plugin
    -
    00:00
    00:00