Discussion 2020 NFL RDT Dream Team Discussion

Connoisseur

Leadership Group
Joined
3 Jul 2017
Messages
36,304
Likes
117,350
AFL Club
Port Adelaide
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/team-previews/chiefs-fantasy-preview

Kansas City Chiefs:
The only quarterback with double-digit touchdown passes (11) of 50-plus yards since ‘18, Mahomes nestles into his third full year commanding Reid’s offense knowing he’s paid into his age-36 season. The Chiefs have a median slate of opposing pass defenses on deck, facing the seventh-toughest helping of secondaries in their first month in particular, but none of that matters when discussing the 24-year-old’s budding outlook. The only question fantasy players need ask is if Mahomes can topple Lamar Jackson as the cream of the crop, and the maneuverability the former showed in averaging 7.7 scrambles, tacking on an additional 6.9 fantasy points per game via his legs over Kansas City’s last four contests suggests a punchers chance. Mahomes' floor is finishing as the No. 2 quarterback in fantasy, while his ceiling entails becoming the 46th President of the United States.

Avoiding suspension only to break his collarbone in Kansas City’s season opener, Tyreek Hill averaged 16.2 fantasy points in the 11 games he stayed healthy with Mahomes, spiking 23.8 in four week-winning performances. The 26-year-old did underwhelm with 13 points or fewer in six of his 14 (42.8%) full games, but that’s nothing new for Hill, who failed to exceed that mark in 7-of-16 outings (despite averaging the fourth-most fantasy points among wideouts) from Mahomes the year prior. It’s not brain surgery: sometimes it’s as simple rostering the league’s most explosive player who happens to be playing with the league’s most explosive quarterback. Thus there’s no fault in prioritizing Hill’s field-flipping ceiling behind Michael Thomas and Davante Adams as this year’s overall WR3.

Most tight ends dream of piecing together Travis Kelce’s consistency as the overall TE1 for four years running, and that shouldn’t change with a similar surrounding cast. The 30-year-old averaged 8.3 targets in 16 full games with Mahomes last year, leading his position in targets (136) for the second time in the last three years. As Sharp Football’s Rich Hribar noted, expectations for Kelce’s production should remain high after he converted just 2-of-10 targets inside the 10-yard line (and 1-of-8 in the end zone) into touchdowns. He’s the only tight end with a reasonable case to be drafted fifth-overall in TE Premium (1.5 PPR) leagues and remains a strong option at the end of the first round in re-draft formats if only to avoid shuffling through late-round options with eggs as floors.

Reid’s Week 1 starter during his tenure with the Chiefs has recorded at least 16.4 touches per game in 6-of-7 seasons, the lone exception being Damien Williams’ 12.8 across 11 injury-riddled appearances last year. Furthermore, Reid’s starting runner has averaged at least 16.7 fantasy points in five of the past seven years, Spencer Ware (13.8 in 2016) and, again, Williams (12.8) being the outliers. With that in mind, it’s not a stretch to pencil in rookie Clyde Edwards-Helaire (5’7/207), who Reid thought “was better than Brian Westbrook” before Veach rushed to the board at the end of Day One, as the pick to click among this bunch.

Both Veach and RBs coach Deland McCullough have suggested a “shared load”out the gates for this contentious duo, but Helaire’s status as an unconventional three-down prospect with elite route-running chops cements him in the driver’s seat. And while he was previously debated as this o***eason’s unanimous fade among high-stakes’ brightest minds, the Fresh Prince of Helaire’s ADP has since suppressed, shifting from an early second-round pick in April to 2.9 as the overall RB14 in July.
 

Connoisseur

Leadership Group
Joined
3 Jul 2017
Messages
36,304
Likes
117,350
AFL Club
Port Adelaide
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/team-previews/chiefs-fantasy-preview

Kansas City Chiefs:
The only quarterback with double-digit touchdown passes (11) of 50-plus yards since ‘18, Mahomes nestles into his third full year commanding Reid’s offense knowing he’s paid into his age-36 season. The Chiefs have a median slate of opposing pass defenses on deck, facing the seventh-toughest helping of secondaries in their first month in particular, but none of that matters when discussing the 24-year-old’s budding outlook. The only question fantasy players need ask is if Mahomes can topple Lamar Jackson as the cream of the crop, and the maneuverability the former showed in averaging 7.7 scrambles, tacking on an additional 6.9 fantasy points per game via his legs over Kansas City’s last four contests suggests a punchers chance. Mahomes' floor is finishing as the No. 2 quarterback in fantasy, while his ceiling entails becoming the 46th President of the United States.

Avoiding suspension only to break his collarbone in Kansas City’s season opener, Tyreek Hill averaged 16.2 fantasy points in the 11 games he stayed healthy with Mahomes, spiking 23.8 in four week-winning performances. The 26-year-old did underwhelm with 13 points or fewer in six of his 14 (42.8%) full games, but that’s nothing new for Hill, who failed to exceed that mark in 7-of-16 outings (despite averaging the fourth-most fantasy points among wideouts) from Mahomes the year prior. It’s not brain surgery: sometimes it’s as simple rostering the league’s most explosive player who happens to be playing with the league’s most explosive quarterback. Thus there’s no fault in prioritizing Hill’s field-flipping ceiling behind Michael Thomas and Davante Adams as this year’s overall WR3.
P Mahomes:
2018 Avg: 52.94 from 16
2019 Avg: 40.93 from 14

Over a 20% reduction meaning he should be priced around the $16 to $16.5 million range.
 

Connoisseur

Leadership Group
Joined
3 Jul 2017
Messages
36,304
Likes
117,350
AFL Club
Port Adelaide
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/team-previews/rams-fantasy-preview
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/team-previews/dolphins-fantasy-preview

Los Angeles Rams:
After posting just one 100-yard game with no touchdowns before the Week 9 bye, Robert Woods emerged as the clear No. 1 pass-game option in the Rams’ revamped offense following the open date. Overall, Woods had at least nine targets in every game from Weeks 10-17, finishing as the overall WR18 in half-PPR formats. Somehow, Woods found the end zone just three times on 107 touches, making him one of the league’s more-unlucky high-usage players after he scored seven times the previous season. He still has back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons to his name and is truly one of the most underrated wideouts in the sport from an all-around perspective. Brandin Cooks’ trade to Houston has Woods more locked in than ever as the Rams’ No. 1 wideout. Woods has averaged 134.5 targets and 18 rushing attempts over the past two seasons. Still just 28, Woods could be looking down the barrel of a career-best 2020 year.

Coming off his torn ACL the year before, Cooper Kupp managed to play all 16 games last season en route to the overall WR7 finish in half-PPR points per game. Still, Kupp had some odd usage games mixed into his season where he played less than 70% of the snaps four times, including a 28% clip in Week 14. He played over 89% of the downs 10 other times. The coaching staff chalked it up to game script. In the end, it didn’t affect Kupp’s counting stats, as he easily set career highs across the board with a 94-1,161-10 line on 134 targets. It will be interesting to see how the absence of Brandin Cooks’ deep speed affects the other parts of this offense. The Rams don’t really have a true outside speed threat on the roster now. Still, Kupp figures to operate as Goff’s No. 1 or 2 option most weeks, and he’s always been the quarterback’s top target in the red zone, leading the team in inside-the-20 looks over the last two seasons. Kupp should be drafted as a WR1 in one of the league’s pass-happiest offenses.

Despite being limited by Florida State’s painful offense, Cam Akers had three seasons with at least 840 total yards and eight touchdowns. His best year, by far, came last season as a junior, finishing with 1,114 yards rushing and 14 scores on the ground. Per PFF, 3.9 of Akers’ 4.9 yards per carry came after contact. On top of being an impressive runner, Akers showed promise as a pass-catcher, finishing with 69 career receptions, 30 of which came in 2019. 21-year-old Akers offers three-down upside, but he will be competing with Malcolm Brown and Darrell Henderson in the Rams’ post-Todd Gurley backfield. It clearly works in Akers’ favor that the Rams already knew what they had in Henderson and Brown and were still willing to invest the No. 52 overall pick, taking Akers three spots ahead of J.K. Dobbins. McVay has talked up his “three really good backs.” The Rams’ aggressive draft investment makes Akers the favorite for lead duties, but it’s just impossible to know how this will shake out. Akers is a classic risk/reward RB2/3.

Miami Dolphins:
Gesicki is the man to watch behind the wideouts. Like Parker, Gesicki’s 2019 production spiked following the loss of Williams, but it was a much-needed step forward after a concerning rookie effort. A pure pass catcher up the seam, Gesicki spent 72 percent of his snaps in the slot last season, something Gailey has pledged to continue with a “big slot” role. Standing in at a mountainous 6-foot-6, 250 pounds, Gesicki certainly has the size to create mismatches. Coming off a campaign where he showed clear improvement, Gesicki has more target competition than it might appear at first glance, but he is well worth a look on the TE1/2 borderline in a year full of intriguing options at what is usually a staid position.
 

Connoisseur

Leadership Group
Joined
3 Jul 2017
Messages
36,304
Likes
117,350
AFL Club
Port Adelaide
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/team-previews/rams-fantasy-preview
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/team-previews/dolphins-fantasy-preview

Los Angeles Rams:
After posting just one 100-yard game with no touchdowns before the Week 9 bye, Robert Woods emerged as the clear No. 1 pass-game option in the Rams’ revamped offense following the open date. Overall, Woods had at least nine targets in every game from Weeks 10-17, finishing as the overall WR18 in half-PPR formats. Somehow, Woods found the end zone just three times on 107 touches, making him one of the league’s more-unlucky high-usage players after he scored seven times the previous season. He still has back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons to his name and is truly one of the most underrated wideouts in the sport from an all-around perspective. Brandin Cooks’ trade to Houston has Woods more locked in than ever as the Rams’ No. 1 wideout. Woods has averaged 134.5 targets and 18 rushing attempts over the past two seasons. Still just 28, Woods could be looking down the barrel of a career-best 2020 year.

Coming off his torn ACL the year before, Cooper Kupp managed to play all 16 games last season en route to the overall WR7 finish in half-PPR points per game. Still, Kupp had some odd usage games mixed into his season where he played less than 70% of the snaps four times, including a 28% clip in Week 14. He played over 89% of the downs 10 other times. The coaching staff chalked it up to game script. In the end, it didn’t affect Kupp’s counting stats, as he easily set career highs across the board with a 94-1,161-10 line on 134 targets. It will be interesting to see how the absence of Brandin Cooks’ deep speed affects the other parts of this offense. The Rams don’t really have a true outside speed threat on the roster now. Still, Kupp figures to operate as Goff’s No. 1 or 2 option most weeks, and he’s always been the quarterback’s top target in the red zone, leading the team in inside-the-20 looks over the last two seasons. Kupp should be drafted as a WR1 in one of the league’s pass-happiest offenses.

Despite being limited by Florida State’s painful offense, Cam Akers had three seasons with at least 840 total yards and eight touchdowns. His best year, by far, came last season as a junior, finishing with 1,114 yards rushing and 14 scores on the ground. Per PFF, 3.9 of Akers’ 4.9 yards per carry came after contact. On top of being an impressive runner, Akers showed promise as a pass-catcher, finishing with 69 career receptions, 30 of which came in 2019. 21-year-old Akers offers three-down upside, but he will be competing with Malcolm Brown and Darrell Henderson in the Rams’ post-Todd Gurley backfield. It clearly works in Akers’ favor that the Rams already knew what they had in Henderson and Brown and were still willing to invest the No. 52 overall pick, taking Akers three spots ahead of J.K. Dobbins. McVay has talked up his “three really good backs.” The Rams’ aggressive draft investment makes Akers the favorite for lead duties, but it’s just impossible to know how this will shake out. Akers is a classic risk/reward RB2/3.

Miami Dolphins:
Gesicki is the man to watch behind the wideouts. Like Parker, Gesicki’s 2019 production spiked following the loss of Williams, but it was a much-needed step forward after a concerning rookie effort. A pure pass catcher up the seam, Gesicki spent 72 percent of his snaps in the slot last season, something Gailey has pledged to continue with a “big slot” role. Standing in at a mountainous 6-foot-6, 250 pounds, Gesicki certainly has the size to create mismatches. Coming off a campaign where he showed clear improvement, Gesicki has more target competition than it might appear at first glance, but he is well worth a look on the TE1/2 borderline in a year full of intriguing options at what is usually a staid position.
Akers should be a great bench selection and I will likely pair him with C Edwards-Helaire as my RB5 and RB6 due to the outstanding value available from RB1 to RB4.
 

Connoisseur

Leadership Group
Joined
3 Jul 2017
Messages
36,304
Likes
117,350
AFL Club
Port Adelaide
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/team-previews/vikings-fantasy-preview
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/team-previews/patriots-fantasy-preview

Minnesota Vikings:
Adam Thielen’s injury-filled 2019 led to a WR42 finish in fantasy points per game. That down year now makes Thielen a great value at his current WR13 ADP - in 2017 Thielen was the WR11 in fantasy points per game, and the WR6 in 2018. Both seasons included incredible volume and opportunity for Thielen, as he saw the ninth-most targets among wide receivers in 2017 (142), and the sixth most in 2018 (153). Projecting that type of season-long volume for a receiver is typically a mistake waiting to happen, but for Thielen it is practically expected. That 25-27% market share of team targets could jump to land him among the league leaders, like Michael Thomas, in the range of 30% due to the departure of Stefon Diggs. And if we consider Cousins’ 444 attempts last season, that places Thielen in a projected range of 133 targets in 2020. The floor is obvious for Thielen due to massive volume, but his ceiling likely rests on his touchdown output - an area he was extraordinary in last season, scoring seven total touchdowns on just 34 combined touches.

The Vikings received the No. 22 overall pick from the Bills in exchange for Stefon Diggs, and immediately used that selection on WR Justin Jefferson. No pressure, rookie. Jefferson was a volume vacuum in Joe Brady’s passing offense, catching a whopping 111 of the 134 targets he received in 15 games - tying for the most catches among FBS WRs, recording the second most touchdown grabs with 18 and ranking third in the nation with 1,540 receiving yards. So how was this level of production achieved, and can it immediately be copied by the Vikings? Jefferson accumulated 870 slot snaps in 2019 and just five snaps as an outside receiver. 109 of Jefferson’s 111 receptions originated out of the slot. We love slot receivers in fantasy football, as space and opportunity can be manufactured for them… but the Vikings might be different. Minnesota utilized three receiver sets on just 25% of their snaps last season, which easily placed them last in the league, more than 10% behind the next closest team (Arizona). In order for Jefferson to hit, the Vikings either need to change their approach and incorporate more 11 personnel or Jefferson contributes as an outside receiver, an area he was asked to operate in more often in 2018 but might not be his strength. Jefferson’s current ADP in the WR5 range makes this a no-lose situation, even if he does post middling production in his first year.

The only shortcoming that has stood in the way of Dalvin Cook and complete backfield domination is durability. He has seen the field for 29 of a possible 48 games during his three year career and has never completed a full 16-game season. ACL, hamstring, and recurring shoulder ailments are to blame. But now for the positives - Cook played in a career-high 14 regular season games last season, finishing as the overall RB2 in fantasy points per game. His number of avoided tackles (42, 12th) and average yards after contact (3.06, 26th) weren’t even among the leaders at his position - they don’t need to be, as Gary Kubiak’s system is based on vision, timing and explosion - exactly where Cook shines. As a whole, Cook captured 63% of the team’s backfield carries (250) and 60% of the backfield receptions (53) last season. He should be drafted among the top five at his position and offers RB1 overall upside if he plays an entire 16-game season.

New England Patriots:
The Patriots have finished top-seven in total pass attempts in six of the past eight seasons with OC Josh McDaniels calling plays -- ever since he returned from his failed stint as Denver’s de facto GM -- but neither he nor Belichick have ever conducted an offense with a dual-threat presence under center; Cam Newton, 31 and left for dead on a bare-bones incentive-laden “prove it” deal, essentially becomes their bridge to another world. Newton hasn’t stayed upright since Carolina’s first eight games in 2018, eventually opting for o***eason shoulder surgery before infamously suffering a broken foot during the preseason last year, but did average 9.1 scrambles and the third-most fantasy points per game (23.7) behind Patrick Mahomes (27.8) and Matt Ryan (24.8) in that stretch. Any confidence Newton is healthy (and there’s nothing to suggest he isn’t after he passed his physical) should coax fantasy players into ‘reaching’ for him as the perfect storm of a proven week-winner currently being valued among a tier of matchup-based statues (Baker Mayfield, Jared Goff, Jimmy Garoppolo, etc.). Newton’s FFPC ADP as the overall QB15 includes a low-risk, high-reward incentive for those willing to put aside recency bias altogether.

Julian Edelman was peppered with 10.4 targets per game through Week 14 before closing the year with an abysmal 13/137/0 and 56.5% catch rate on 23 targets over New England’s last four contests. Recovering from shoulder surgery ahead of his age-34 season, the veteran is clearly on the wrong side of a prominent decade-long career that’s consisted of 9.0 targets per game and 7.0 yards per target since 2013. Engulfed in an unfamiliar situation with fewer helpings for more mouths to feast, Edelman is a player I’ll continue comfortably avoiding at his overall WR34 ADP well into the summer.

Patriots got a total of 220 snaps (19%) from No. 32 overall pick N’Keal Harry (6’2/228) after he was out-played by UDFA Jakobi Meyers in the preseason then opened the year on injured reserve with ankle, toe, and hamstring ailments. Whether it was injury-related or simply due to a lack of development, Harry’s underwhelming 4.38 yards per target were the fourth-lowest mark among 92 qualifiers who saw 20-plus targets as first-round prospects since the statistic was charted in 1992. Currently sandwiched between DeSean Jackson and Sammy Watkins as the overall WR57, fantasy players are forced to blindly buy into the 22-year-old’s Day 1 capital despite his lack of separation skills in both the Pac-12 and hampered first year. He’s still considered an o***eason “winner” and late-round dart with upside since the team failed to add any significant competition at his position.
 

Connoisseur

Leadership Group
Joined
3 Jul 2017
Messages
36,304
Likes
117,350
AFL Club
Port Adelaide
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/team-previews/vikings-fantasy-preview
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/team-previews/patriots-fantasy-preview

Minnesota Vikings:
Adam Thielen’s injury-filled 2019 led to a WR42 finish in fantasy points per game. That down year now makes Thielen a great value at his current WR13 ADP - in 2017 Thielen was the WR11 in fantasy points per game, and the WR6 in 2018. Both seasons included incredible volume and opportunity for Thielen, as he saw the ninth-most targets among wide receivers in 2017 (142), and the sixth most in 2018 (153). Projecting that type of season-long volume for a receiver is typically a mistake waiting to happen, but for Thielen it is practically expected. That 25-27% market share of team targets could jump to land him among the league leaders, like Michael Thomas, in the range of 30% due to the departure of Stefon Diggs. And if we consider Cousins’ 444 attempts last season, that places Thielen in a projected range of 133 targets in 2020. The floor is obvious for Thielen due to massive volume, but his ceiling likely rests on his touchdown output - an area he was extraordinary in last season, scoring seven total touchdowns on just 34 combined touches.

The Vikings received the No. 22 overall pick from the Bills in exchange for Stefon Diggs, and immediately used that selection on WR Justin Jefferson. No pressure, rookie. Jefferson was a volume vacuum in Joe Brady’s passing offense, catching a whopping 111 of the 134 targets he received in 15 games - tying for the most catches among FBS WRs, recording the second most touchdown grabs with 18 and ranking third in the nation with 1,540 receiving yards. So how was this level of production achieved, and can it immediately be copied by the Vikings? Jefferson accumulated 870 slot snaps in 2019 and just five snaps as an outside receiver. 109 of Jefferson’s 111 receptions originated out of the slot. We love slot receivers in fantasy football, as space and opportunity can be manufactured for them… but the Vikings might be different. Minnesota utilized three receiver sets on just 25% of their snaps last season, which easily placed them last in the league, more than 10% behind the next closest team (Arizona). In order for Jefferson to hit, the Vikings either need to change their approach and incorporate more 11 personnel or Jefferson contributes as an outside receiver, an area he was asked to operate in more often in 2018 but might not be his strength. Jefferson’s current ADP in the WR5 range makes this a no-lose situation, even if he does post middling production in his first year.

The only shortcoming that has stood in the way of Dalvin Cook and complete backfield domination is durability. He has seen the field for 29 of a possible 48 games during his three year career and has never completed a full 16-game season. ACL, hamstring, and recurring shoulder ailments are to blame. But now for the positives - Cook played in a career-high 14 regular season games last season, finishing as the overall RB2 in fantasy points per game. His number of avoided tackles (42, 12th) and average yards after contact (3.06, 26th) weren’t even among the leaders at his position - they don’t need to be, as Gary Kubiak’s system is based on vision, timing and explosion - exactly where Cook shines. As a whole, Cook captured 63% of the team’s backfield carries (250) and 60% of the backfield receptions (53) last season. He should be drafted among the top five at his position and offers RB1 overall upside if he plays an entire 16-game season.

New England Patriots:
The Patriots have finished top-seven in total pass attempts in six of the past eight seasons with OC Josh McDaniels calling plays -- ever since he returned from his failed stint as Denver’s de facto GM -- but neither he nor Belichick have ever conducted an offense with a dual-threat presence under center; Cam Newton, 31 and left for dead on a bare-bones incentive-laden “prove it” deal, essentially becomes their bridge to another world. Newton hasn’t stayed upright since Carolina’s first eight games in 2018, eventually opting for o***eason shoulder surgery before infamously suffering a broken foot during the preseason last year, but did average 9.1 scrambles and the third-most fantasy points per game (23.7) behind Patrick Mahomes (27.8) and Matt Ryan (24.8) in that stretch. Any confidence Newton is healthy (and there’s nothing to suggest he isn’t after he passed his physical) should coax fantasy players into ‘reaching’ for him as the perfect storm of a proven week-winner currently being valued among a tier of matchup-based statues (Baker Mayfield, Jared Goff, Jimmy Garoppolo, etc.). Newton’s FFPC ADP as the overall QB15 includes a low-risk, high-reward incentive for those willing to put aside recency bias altogether.

Julian Edelman was peppered with 10.4 targets per game through Week 14 before closing the year with an abysmal 13/137/0 and 56.5% catch rate on 23 targets over New England’s last four contests. Recovering from shoulder surgery ahead of his age-34 season, the veteran is clearly on the wrong side of a prominent decade-long career that’s consisted of 9.0 targets per game and 7.0 yards per target since 2013. Engulfed in an unfamiliar situation with fewer helpings for more mouths to feast, Edelman is a player I’ll continue comfortably avoiding at his overall WR34 ADP well into the summer.

Patriots got a total of 220 snaps (19%) from No. 32 overall pick N’Keal Harry (6’2/228) after he was out-played by UDFA Jakobi Meyers in the preseason then opened the year on injured reserve with ankle, toe, and hamstring ailments. Whether it was injury-related or simply due to a lack of development, Harry’s underwhelming 4.38 yards per target were the fourth-lowest mark among 92 qualifiers who saw 20-plus targets as first-round prospects since the statistic was charted in 1992. Currently sandwiched between DeSean Jackson and Sammy Watkins as the overall WR57, fantasy players are forced to blindly buy into the 22-year-old’s Day 1 capital despite his lack of separation skills in both the Pac-12 and hampered first year. He’s still considered an o***eason “winner” and late-round dart with upside since the team failed to add any significant competition at his position.
A Thielen:
2019 Avg= 21.8 from 9
2018 Avg= 31 from 16

2019- 3/9 below 10 (0,3 and 8)
 

Connoisseur

Leadership Group
Joined
3 Jul 2017
Messages
36,304
Likes
117,350
AFL Club
Port Adelaide
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/team-previews/cardinals-fantasy-preview-0
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/team-previews/falcons-fantasy-preview-0
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/team-previews/ravens-fantasy-preview-0
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/team-previews/bills-fantasy-preview-0
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/team-previews/panthers-fantasy-preview-0
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/team-previews/bears-fantasy-preview-0
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/team-previews/bengals-fantasy-preview-0
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/team-previews/browns-fantasy-preview-0
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/team-previews/cowboys-fantasy-preview
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/team-previews/broncos-fantasy-preview
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/team-previews/packers-fantasy-preview
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/team-previews/lions-fantasy-preview-0
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/team-previews/texans-fantasy-preview
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/team-previews/colts-fantasy-preview
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/team-previews/jaguars-fantasy-preview
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/team-previews/chargers-fantasy-preview
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/team-previews/chiefs-fantasy-preview
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/team-previews/rams-fantasy-preview
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/team-previews/dolphins-fantasy-preview
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/team-previews/vikings-fantasy-preview
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/team-previews/patriots-fantasy-preview
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/team-previews/saints-fantasy-preview
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/team-previews/giants-fantasy-preview

New Orleans Saints:
Among players since 1992 with at least 75 targets, Michael Thomas’ 2018 and 2019 seasons rank first and second in catch rate, both seasons above 80%. Unreal. His length and ability to beat man coverage led to a 28-target gap between Thomas (185 targets) and the second-most targeted receiver, Julio Jones (157), last season. With Brees aging and Emmanuel Sanders around to steal a few looks away per game, Thomas is more likely to settle in as a 140-160 target receiver in 2020, but that’s still plenty high enough volume to confidently draft Thomas in the back half of the first round in PPR leagues. Another 100- to 120-catch season is well within Thomas’ range of outcomes. In fact, it’s likely. The real debate surrounding Thomas in fantasy drafts is if it’s optimal to spend a first-round pick on a receiver when that position is as deep as it’s ever been. I personally have been drafting running backs like Alvin Kamara, Derrick Henry, and Dalvin Cook ahead of Thomas for that reason.
Emmanuel Sanders averaged 51.1 receiving yards per game across 17 regular-season games last year, thanks to the mid-season trade from Denver to San Francisco. Sanders, 33 years old, doesn’t have as much juice as he once did, but he showed he had enough left in the tank to reliably project him as the Saints’ No. 2 receiver for 2020. His 11.4 average depth of target from last season may slide closer to the line of scrimmage, however, and he’ll probably only be a reasonable WR3/flex play at home where Brees has historically been far more productive. If Thomas and Alvin Kamara stay healthy, Sanders likely maxes out as a 5-6 target player in New Orleans, making him a WR4/5 in redraft leagues. Sanders would immediately become a weekly top-30 receiver if Thomas missed time.

Alvin Kamara scored 18 total touchdowns in 2018, the second-best mark among running backs. Last year, Kamara scored six across 14 games. Taysom Hill played into that downfall, but the real culprit was Kamara’s ankle injury. Before he went down, Kamara averaged 0.32 forced missed tackles per touch. That number plummeted to 0.14 after returning from his ankle sprain. Kamara should be back to full health following the o***eason, making him a positive regression candidate and strong top-six fantasy selection. Kamara, who is entering a contract season, likely sees around 12 carries and six receptions per game while playing behind arguably the best offensive line in the NFL (more on this later). If things break his way, he could end up as a top-3 fantasy asset in 2020. Kamara currently is my No. 4 overall player.

New York Giants:
Last year’s No. 6 overall pick, Daniel Jones quickly leapfrogged Eli Manning on the depth chart and took over QB1 duties in Week 3. He lit the Bucs up that Sunday for 336 yards and two touchdowns as a passer while adding 28 yards and two more scores with his legs on his way to the week’s overall QB2 finish. The rest of the year was full of extreme highs and many lows. Jones had a pair of four-touchdown games and another five-TD effort, but he mixed in seven one-score outings. Jones also had an ugly 2.6% interception rate, took 38 sacks and fumbled a league-high 18 times. He flashed, but Jones also left a lot to be desired as a rookie. Jones is entrenched as the starter for at least another year, but he needs to show improved consistency and ball security, especially under a new coaching staff that has no real ties to Jones. The Giants drafted first-round RT Andrew Thomas to help keep Jones upright. Otherwise, New York returns essentially the same offensive starters it had in 2019. Better health around Jones would help a whole lot, as Sterling Shepard, Darius Slayton, Golden Tate, Evan Engram and Saquon Barkley were all injured or suspended at different times last season. Jones is best treated as a best-ball asset for fantasy purposes after a rollercoaster rookie campaign.

Engram finished as the per-game TE7 overall in half-PPR points, but a Lisfranc foot injury sidelined him from Week 10 forward. Before the injury, Engram was leading the Giants in targets per game (8.5) and all receiving categories. Lisfranc injuries are tricky, but he should be ready for Week 1, though it’s impossible to rule out a setback. Engram will also be facing more competition for targets in 2020 after Saquon Barkley, Sterling Shepard, and Golden Tate all missed games when Engram was healthy last season. This offense is littered with skill-position talent, but there’s no denying Engram’s talent assuming his foot injury doesn’t linger. Engram, who has averaged 52 yards per game through three NFL seasons, is more boom-or-bust than he was entering last season, but his upside makes him a borderline top-six option at tight end.

Saquon Barkley’s electric rookie year gave way to a sop****re slump. After superb Weeks 1 and 2 when he averaged 137 yards from scrimmage, Barkley suffered a Week 3 high-ankle sprain against the Bucs that cost him three games and limited him for many more after he probably returned too soon. After admitting he had not been his normal self following a Week 14 defeat to the Eagles, Barkley finally returned to top form over the final three weeks, piling up 539 yards from scrimmage Weeks 15-17 while averaging a gaudy 6.23 yards per carry. Despite his cursed year, Barkley still managed to finish as the RB6 in half-PPR points per game. It stands to reason the G-Men will feature a more up-tempo offense with the athletic Daniel Jones under center. The Giants also made another big investment in their offensive line in the form of No. 4 overall pick RT Andrew Thomas. Only Dion Lewis was added behind Barkley, who will continue to gobble up snaps and monopolize touches in the Giants’ backfield. Well established as an every-down talent capable of making game-breaking plays as both a runner and receiver, Barkley remains Christian McCaffrey’s top competition for No. 1 overall status in fantasy. Lewis and/or Wayne Gallman will only become fantasy-relevant in the event Barkley misses time.
 

Connoisseur

Leadership Group
Joined
3 Jul 2017
Messages
36,304
Likes
117,350
AFL Club
Port Adelaide
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/team-previews/saints-fantasy-preview
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/team-previews/giants-fantasy-preview

New Orleans Saints:
Alvin Kamara scored 18 total touchdowns in 2018, the second-best mark among running backs. Last year, Kamara scored six across 14 games. Taysom Hill played into that downfall, but the real culprit was Kamara’s ankle injury. Before he went down, Kamara averaged 0.32 forced missed tackles per touch. That number plummeted to 0.14 after returning from his ankle sprain. Kamara should be back to full health following the o***eason, making him a positive regression candidate and strong top-six fantasy selection. Kamara, who is entering a contract season, likely sees around 12 carries and six receptions per game while playing behind arguably the best offensive line in the NFL (more on this later). If things break his way, he could end up as a top-3 fantasy asset in 2020. Kamara currently is my No. 4 overall player.

New York Giants:

Saquon Barkley’s electric rookie year gave way to a sop****re slump. After superb Weeks 1 and 2 when he averaged 137 yards from scrimmage, Barkley suffered a Week 3 high-ankle sprain against the Bucs that cost him three games and limited him for many more after he probably returned too soon. After admitting he had not been his normal self following a Week 14 defeat to the Eagles, Barkley finally returned to top form over the final three weeks, piling up 539 yards from scrimmage Weeks 15-17 while averaging a gaudy 6.23 yards per carry. Despite his cursed year, Barkley still managed to finish as the RB6 in half-PPR points per game. It stands to reason the G-Men will feature a more up-tempo offense with the athletic Daniel Jones under center. The Giants also made another big investment in their offensive line in the form of No. 4 overall pick RT Andrew Thomas. Only Dion Lewis was added behind Barkley, who will continue to gobble up snaps and monopolize touches in the Giants’ backfield. Well established as an every-down talent capable of making game-breaking plays as both a runner and receiver, Barkley remains Christian McCaffrey’s top competition for No. 1 overall status in fantasy. Lewis and/or Wayne Gallman will only become fantasy-relevant in the event Barkley misses time.
A Kamara:
2019 Avg: 29 from 14
2018 Avg: 41 from 15

S Barkley:
2019 Avg: 32.77 from 13
2018 Avg: 41.81 from 16
 

Connoisseur

Leadership Group
Joined
3 Jul 2017
Messages
36,304
Likes
117,350
AFL Club
Port Adelaide
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/team-previews/cardinals-fantasy-preview-0
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/team-previews/falcons-fantasy-preview-0
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/team-previews/ravens-fantasy-preview-0
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/team-previews/bills-fantasy-preview-0
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/team-previews/panthers-fantasy-preview-0
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/team-previews/bears-fantasy-preview-0
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/team-previews/bengals-fantasy-preview-0
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/team-previews/browns-fantasy-preview-0
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/team-previews/cowboys-fantasy-preview
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/team-previews/broncos-fantasy-preview
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/team-previews/packers-fantasy-preview
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/team-previews/lions-fantasy-preview-0
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/team-previews/texans-fantasy-preview
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/team-previews/colts-fantasy-preview
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/team-previews/jaguars-fantasy-preview
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/team-previews/chargers-fantasy-preview
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/team-previews/chiefs-fantasy-preview
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/team-previews/rams-fantasy-preview
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/team-previews/dolphins-fantasy-preview
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/team-previews/vikings-fantasy-preview
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/team-previews/patriots-fantasy-preview
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/team-previews/saints-fantasy-preview
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/team-previews/giants-fantasy-preview
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/team-previews/jets-fantasy-preview
https://www.rotoworld.com/article/team-previews/eagles-fantasy-preview

New York Jets:

Which brings us to the Jets’ likely target leader, slot man Jamison Crowder. Something of an annual fantasy tease, Crowder quietly finished as the WR26 by total points in PPR last season. He was the WR35 by average points. Crowder commanded a 24.2 percent target share across Darnold’s 13 starts, a number that could actually increase following Anderson’s departure. Although he’s not the sort of pick fantasy players will be dying to make in August, Crowder has a reasonable path to WR2 status in PPR.

Crowder’s top target competition could end up being TE Chris Herndon. A 2019 o***eason darling coming off a strong rookie year, Herndon ended up putting the “lost” in lost season, following up a four-game drunk driving suspension with hamstring and rib injuries. He made one appearance. The Jets nevertheless showed 2020 faith, adding no one behind Herndon and journeyman 2019 fill-in Ryan Griffin. According to beat writer Connor Hughes, “to say the Jets can’t wait to get Chris Herndon back in their lineup is a vast understatement." There is a glut of athletic young tight ends for fantasy players to choose from this summer, but Herndon provides zero risk and huge upside at his current ADP of TE24.

Adam Gase isn’t a fan of Le’Veon Bell. Has he told you this yet? Did you get his voicemail? Gase’s handling of Bell’s signing was truly embarrassing, though he still dutifully gave him massive workloads. Bell’s 311 touches were eighth most in the league, but he finished a distant 16th in yards from scrimmage amongst running backs. Running behind a truly atrocious offensive line, Bell finished with zero 100-yard rushing efforts, clearing 75 precisely once. Astonishingly, Bell notched zero 20-plus yard runs, checking in with a season “high” of 19. As usual, Bell helped his fantasy cause by hauling in 66 passes, but he turned them into an empty 461 yards. On the whole, Bell found the end zone four times after holding out for all of 2018.

The Jets aggressively addressed their line — first-round OT Mekhi Becton, OG Greg Van Roten, C Connor McGovern and OT George Fant — but added Frank Gore in free agency before using a fourth-round pick on Lamical Perine. Bell is still the lead dog, but Gase has made it crystal clear that he will no longer be employing Bell as a bell-cow. Fading fast physically in an offense that remains low on overall talent, Bell could ultimately struggle even for RB2 status. He is the wrong man in the wrong place at the wrong time.


Philadelphia Eagles:
Long-time Eagles reporter Adam Caplan predicts first-rounder Jalen Reagor will lead the Eagles’ receivers in all receiving categories. It’s certainly possible. Reagor was an early-age producer in college at TCU and dominated in various market share stats, metrics that are our biggest predictors of NFL success. It’s a little unnerving that he averaged 6.9 yards per target as a junior last season, but he’s an explosive athlete (42-inch vertical) and there are more question marks than answers up-and-down the Eagles’ receiver depth chart. Reagor has long-touchdown upside every week and hopefully receives scripted touches as well, something he didn’t get while in a Horned Frog uniform. Reagor is a worthwhile buy as your WR5, especially if/when Alshon is officially put on the PUP list. I like Reagor’s chances of starting in two-WR sets from the get go. Becoming a weekly flex option is well within Reagor's range of outcomes.

With uncertainty at receiver, Zach Ertz remains a high-floor fantasy tight end. He’s caught at least 74 balls in each of the last five seasons, including 116 and 88 over the last two years. Another 100 to 125 targets are on the way with the Eagles projected for the most offensive plays in the league, but my question is what is his fantasy ceiling? Last year was Ertz’s worst season in terms of yards per target (6.8), and there’s an emerging tight end behind him that will command looks as well. His ceiling is lower than Mark Andrews’ (the Ravens top-target), but Ertz’s floor keeps him inside the top-four at the position. Particularly in full-PPR leagues, a fourth- or fifth-round pick for Ertz feels right, although it’s not a sexy pick considering he’s beginning to exit the prime of his career. Ertz will be 30 years old in 2020.

It took a Jordan Howard injury to happen, but Miles Sanders broke out in the second half of his rookie season. He was the RB10 per game (18.8 PPR points) from Weeks 13 through the playo***, while averaging 15.7 carries and 5.3 targets. Sanders walks into a similarly-sized big workload in year two with only Boston Scott, a scat back, threatening for touches on the Eagles’ running back depth chart. That, of course, assumes Philly doesn’t add a veteran like Devonta Freeman during training camp. With 17-22 projected touches a week and with the Eagles deploying an above-average offensive line, Sanders seems poised for top-12 fantasy production with a top-five ceiling if the Eagles’ offense can be more explosive than they were in 2019. Sanders joined a fantastic list of rookie backs with at least 400 rushing yards and 400 receiving yards last season. Selecting Sanders inside the top-seven is too rich for me -- he ranked 44th out of 45 qualifying RBs in PFF's rushing grade last season, largely because of his vision -- but I’m fine with him around the Round 1/2 turn.
 
Top