The 2021 wide receiver draft class is nothing short of rich in talent. It may not quite live up to the wide receiver in the 2020 class, but there is still plenty of skill to be had. Teams must decide if they want to pay a premium in the draft to acquire a top-flight prospect or utilize their draft capital via trade to acquire a proven commodity like Odell Beckham Jr. Make no mistake about it, Odell Beckham Jr. is out to prove that he is still one of the best wide receivers in the NFL after dealing with a myriad of injuries and inconsistencies. Beckham Jr. may have the quietest two seasons of 1,000 plus yards in his last two healthy seasons.

One could question his role in Cleveland Browns Head Coach Kevin Stefanski’s run-based offense. Beckham Jr. has the talent to thrive in any offense, but there are limitations that hinder his upside. To Beckham’s credit, he has not complained, at least not publicly. If the Browns were to listen on trade offers, here are three teams that make sense to acquire Beckham Jr.

Seattle Seahawks- The Seahawks have been on the prowl for adding more talent to their wide receiver depth for seasons now. DK Metcalf is a rising star, Tyler Lockett is underrated but there is a severe drop-off in talent beyond them. The Seahawks have signed Josh Gordon in the past which ultimately did not work out and have kicked the tires on Antonio Brown. The Seahawks are not afraid to be bold in the moves they make to improve the club.

Trading for Beckham Jr. would also appease quarterback Russell Wilson, who has hinted his displeasure with the club this off-season. If new Seahawks offensive coordinator, Shane Waldron let’s Russ semi-cook, this could be a fun offense. Waldron served under Sean McVay as the Rams’ passing game coordinator, so he is no stranger to understanding creative offensive passing schemes and implementing a balanced offense.

Seahawks General Manager John Schneider has been bold trading draft capital in the past for immediate help. Most recently he traded two first round picks and more to the New York Jets for safety Jamal Adams. This team is in win now mode, and Schneider could trade a 2021 second and a 2022 second to facilitate a trade for Beckham Jr. This offense has the makings of a fun offense with Metcalf and Beckham Jr. split wide with Lockett in the slot.

New York Jets- It’s not too far fetched to think a return to the New York/New Jersey tri-state area is conceivable. The Jets have a plethora of draft capital in the next two drafts, so it may make sense to trade a few picks for immediate help if the price for Beckham Jr. isn’t two steep. The Jets, whom will presumably draft Zach Wilson, need to do whatever it takes to provide their rookie quarterback with as much talent as possible on offense. Trading for Beckham Jr. will also enable the Jets to focus on other needs on their roster.

The Jets current starting wide receivers are 2020 second round draft pick Denzel Mims, free agent acquisition Corey Davis and slot wideout Jamison Crowder. All of those wideouts are nice, but none of them stand to be a true number one receiver or anyone who could take the top off of a defense. The Jets are not tied down to the oft-injured Crowder beyond the 2021 season. The Jets’ acquisition of Beckham Jr. could help bring the Jets stability on offense.

San Francisco 49ers- The 49ers had a disappointing 2020 season at the hands of a plethora of injuries on both sides of the football. In spite of that, the team is still in win-now mode. The 49ers traded a haul of draft picks to acquire the number three overall pick in the draft. Regardless if they decide to move forward in the 2020 season with Jimmy Garoppolo or their prized rookie quarterback, all the pieces are in place for another Super Bowl run.

The 49ers have talent on offense in wide receivers Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk and tight end George Kittle. However, a wide receiver with game-breaking ability ike Beckham Jr. could put the 49ers over the top.

Bonus Teams: The NFC North is known for their black and blue ways. All four teams could be looking to add talent at the wide receiver position. The Green Bay Packers could use a legit wideout opposite of Davante Adams, the Minnesota Vikings’ depth chart lacks depth behind Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen, the Chicago Bears lack a viable number two behind Allen Robinson and the Detroit Lions lack talent overall at the position.

Follow me on Twitter @BrownieNJD82 for your fantasy football insight and sports betting needs.

The post Three Teams Who Should Trade For Odell Beckham Jr. appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Dave Browne

Last week, we discussed three potential running backs to ‘buy’ in dynasty league formats. This week we’re going to venture into some running backs in which dynasty players should be looking to ‘sell.’ In life, we have a tendency to hold onto things for way too long. Stocks, relationships, grudges, and the list goes on. Dynasty is no different. As players, we have to know when to ‘sell’ our stock in what we perceive as assets at their highest peak before they implode or lose all of their value. Letting go may not always be easy, but it’s the right call. Here are three players we should be looking to ‘sell’ high on.

Derrick Henry- Derrick Henry is an absolute beast. Not too often do you see a running back put up monster fantasy points without adding a whole lot of value as a receiver out of the backfield. To put it into context, only 30.4 of his 333.1 fantasy points came through the air.

This is because the 2020 AP Offensive Player of the Year became just the eighth running back in NFL history to run for over 2,000 yards. 2,027 to be exact. Henry also hit paydirt 17 times. Henry ranked third in total running back points and in average points per game. He became the NFL’s first back-to-back leading rusher since LaDanian Tomlinson accomplished the feat in 2006.

Henry has been deemed the nickname ‘King’ for a reason. No one will doubt what he has accomplished throughout his career. However, rushing for over 2,000 yards holds credence and his value will never be ANY higher. Here are a few reasons to consider trading Henry.

• History is not on Henry’s side to repeat such a dominant performance.
  • Of the seven running backs who have rushed for 2,000 yards, no running back eclipsed 1,500 yards the following season.
  • Only O.J. Simpson and Eric Dickerson eclipsed 1,500 yards in any season following a 2,000-yard season.
  • Only Eric Dickerson and Adrian Peterson have had multiple seasons of double-digit touchdowns following their 2,000-yard seasons.
• Henry is by no means old, but he will be 27 1/2 years of age by the time the 2021 season starts. He has two more seasons before he hits the dreaded age 30 season.
• Henry has carried the ball 681 times over the course of the last two seasons 896 over the last three. Henry plays a physical brand of football, and one has to wonder when the miles will catch up to him.
• If Henry loses some leverage as a runner, he will not make up for production in the passing game.
• Henry had his two best seasons under offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, who is now the Atlanta Falcons head coach.

I wouldn’t bet against Henry being productive at football for the next two, three seasons. BUT do not count on him sustaining his 312.8 points per season that he’s averaged the last two seasons. We have to expect some regression, possibly as soon as next season. Sell high on Henry and expect a nice return.

Ezekiel Elliott- Ezekiel Elliott supporters must be salivating over Dak Prescott’s new four-year contract with the Dallas Cowboys. A presumably healthy Prescott means fantasy gold for ‘Zeke,’ right? That appears to be the case, as Elliott has finished as a top-five running back in three of his four full seasons with Prescott running the offense. Prior to Prescott sustaining an injury in Week 5 against the Giants, Elliott was the fourth-highest producing running back on a per-game basis averaging 22.3 points per game.

All of that is appealing in a fantasy sense. Dallas’s offense screams sex appeal in 2021. Even more so with the likelihood of a bad defense resulting in more shootouts. So why should we be looking to deal Elliott again? Here are a few reasons why we should be looking to trade Elliott sooner rather than later.

• The offensive line- Elliott has had the luxury of running behind one of the best offensive lines in football since entering the league in 2016. What was once a strength of the Cowboys is becoming a glaring weakness. Center Travis Frederick retired prior to the 2019 season, Right Tackle La’el Collins is coming off hip surgery, left tackle Tyron Smith missed 14 games due to a neck injury, and guard Zack Martin missed six games with a calf injury. Age and injury concerns are starting to mount for the Cowboys’ offensive line. Their health is worth monitoring, as Zeke’s success largely depends on it.
• Prescott’s health- Elliott’s success is largely contingent upon a healthy Dak Prescott. The Dallas offense was putrid when Prescott missed 11 games from his ankle injury. Coming off major ankle surgery with a shaky offensive line, things become murky for Elliott if Prescott were to miss any time.
• Production- First and foremost, fantasy points are fantasy points. No one really complains about how their favorite players get points. But should we start worrying about Elliott? Let’s take a deeper dive into some of Elliott’s stats.
  • Since his rookie season, his rushing yards per game have dipped EVERY single season. He began his career by rushing for 108.7 yards per game. By 2019, his last full season with Prescott, he ran for just 84.8 yards per game. It’s not for lack of opportunity as he has had 300 plus carries in three of his first four campaigns as a professional.
  • More troubling are his advanced stats. Per SIS Data, in 2019 Elliott merely averaged 2.6 yards after contact (20th best in the NFL) and a broken tackle percentage of 14.6 which ranked outside of the top 20 amongst running backs with at least 75 carries. Elliott ranked 10th or worst in metric categories like true yards per carry, yards per touch, yards created per touch, breakaway runs, evaded tackles, and juke rate according to Player Profiler. Those numbers were with Prescott. 2020 was drastically worse without him.
  • Workload- Volume is king in fantasy football. We want running backs who are going to provide us a guaranteed touch ceiling. Elliott has averaged 330.8 touchers per year. However, this is a lot of mileage on a running back who hasn’t even reached his 26th birthday yet. Already missing eight games in his career, one has to wonder if his body will be able to sustain that type of workload in the long run.

Elliott may very well leave off where he left off prior to Prescott getting injured. He may provide tremendous value to dynasty players for the 2021 season. However, trading Elliott could land a healthy coup in a trade for a forward thinking manager.

Josh Jacobs- The Los Vegas Raiders’ signing of running back Kenyon Drake completely came out of left field. No matter how curious of a signing it was, this no doubt hurts the value of Josh Jacobs. You don’t give Drake a two-year contract worth 14.2 million dollars to ride the pine. However, the stars were aligning for a Jacobs ‘sell’ even before the Drake signing. The results for Jacobs have been a mixed bag through his first two seasons in the league.

• Three-down running backs are harder to come by in today’s NFL. It is no fault of Jacobs’ own that Head Coach Jon Gruden has yet to fully unleash Jacobs thus far in his career. In 28 career games, Jacobs has 72 targets and 53 receptions. The Raiders have a propensity to play in shootouts. Per Player Profiler, Jacobs and the Raiders received a -2.71 game script score. This metric measures the average point differential at any point in any game during the season. Their inability to play effective defense often leads to point chasing as Player Profiler illustrates. Point chasing means we get to see less and less of Jacobs on the field with the lack of usage in the passing game. The defense does not fair to be much better in 2021.
• Offensive line- The Raiders offensive line, once considered a strength now faces some questions heading into the 2021 season. In a surprising move, the Raiders released three-time Pro Bowl center Rodney Hudson. The Raiders also shipped out right tackle Trent Brown and guard Gabe Jackson. Besides Kolton Miller and 38-year old Richie Incognito, the Raiders have little continuity on their offensive line.
• Jacobs went from averaging 88.5 yards on the ground per game as a rookie to just 71 yards per game in his sophomore campaign.
• Jacobs underlying metrics- Per Player Profiler Jacobs’ True Yards Per Carry (3.8, NFL rank 56), Yards Per Touch (4.3, NFL rank 53), and Breakaway Run Rate which measures the percentage of carries of 15 plus yards (3.3%, NFL rank 43) are way, way below average.
• Jacobs’ 12 rushing touchdowns accounted for 31.1% of his 231.3 fantasy points. Touchdowns are a volatile stat that can’t be predicted from year to year. Banking on double-digit touchdowns is a dicey proposition.

Josh Jacobs is a household name who has yet to really ‘break through’ in the fantasy community. There is no denying the talent Jacobs possesses. However, there just seems to be too many question marks to bank on any sort of consistency week in and out. Look to deal him to another dynasty owner who is counting on a third-year breakout from the Alabama running back.

Follow me on Twitter at @BrownieNJD82 for fantasy and sports betting content.

The post 3 Running Backs To Sell In Dynasty appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Dynasty Football is a lot like the stock market. Fantasy managers need to know when to buy or sell their assets for their immediate and long-term needs. Here are three running backs who dynasty players should be buying stocks in now for their dynasty teams.

Austin Ekeler- Melvin Gordon’s departure to the Denver Broncos last off-season left dynasty enthusiasts chomping at the bits to acquire Ekeler at all costs. Ekeler’s competition for touches heading into the 2020 season was only Justin Jackson and rookie Joshua Kelley.

Sometimes, things don’t always go according to plan. Ekeler missed six games due to a myriad of knee and hamstrings injuries. For better, or worse recency bias is a stigma in fantasy football.

Ekeler is the 15th ranked dynasty running back according to Fantasy Pros so now is a prime opportunity to buy. Depending on where potential stud rookie running backs Najee Harris, Travis Etienne, and Javonte Williams end up, his stock could go down even further. If there is any time to pounce, now is the time.

Here are a few reasons why you should be buying Ekeler:

• Ekeler averaged 53 yards rushing per game; on pace for a career-best in 848 yards.
• On pace for 104 targets, 86.4 receptions, and 644.8 receiving yards over a 16 game span.
• Averaged 18.1 points (6th best among RBs) per game in 9 full games played.
• Over a 16 game season, Ekeler was on pace for 289.6 points (4th best).

If you’re concerned about durability, don’t be. Prior to the 2020 campaign Ekeler only missed two games in his NFL career. At age 26 to start the 2021 NFL season, he has years of good football left.

Chargers new offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi recently compared Ekeler to former New Orleans Saints running backs Alvin Kamara, Reggie Bush and Darren Sproles. The one thing in common they all had was the utilization and success in the passing game. Expect that to continue in 2021.

The Los Angeles Chargers offense has the potential to be something special. The Chargers’ offense was leaps and bounds better than anyone could have expected in coming into a unique 2020 off-season. Justin Herbert won Rookie of the Year, and he should only improve in year number two. Keenan Allen proved again why he’s one of the most reliable wide receivers, in the NFL and Mike Williams continued to flash big-play potential. The only thing missing was a fully healthy Ekeler. If you’re on the cusp of winning a championship, Ekeler may be the asset to help get you there.

Clyde Edwards-Helaire- The Kansas City Chiefs possess the NFL’s most potent offense behind the mind of Andy Reid and the arm of Patrick Mahomes. When the Chiefs selected Clyde Edwards-Helaire with the 32nd pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, dynasty players thought they struck gold. A rookie running back of Edwards-Helaire’s caliber married into THAT offense? The running back depth chart was razor thin with running back Damien Williams opting out of the 2020 season. Edwards-Helaire pre-draft stock went as high as a top-three pick in dynasty formats.

Edwards-Helaire showed flashes of brilliance yet was slowed down by inconsistencies and the signing of free agent Le’Veon Bell. Through nine weeks, Edwards-Helaire averaged 90 yards from scrimmage and 14.1 fantasy points per game. Solid, if unspectacular numbers, yet his production left a lot to be desired. In those nine weeks, he had 23 carries inside the 20, including 12 carries inside the ten. Of those 23 opportunities inside of the red-zone, he only scored two touchdowns.

Edwards-Helaire suffered an ankle and hip injury, which limited his impact towards the end of the season. He finished with 1,100 total yards (803 on the ground), 36 receptions, and five total touchdowns. While many are sour on CEH because he didn’t live up to the rookie billing, this could be a prime opportunity to buy the second-year back from LSU.

• Besides CEH, only Darrel Williams and Darwin Thompson are under contract at running back. Do not expect the Chiefs to invest high draft capital at the position in the 2021 NFL Draft. Expect CEH to get the volume to exceed expectations.
• Touchdown regression. Of his 29 red-zone carries and 15 carries inside the 10, he reached the end zone just five times. Expect positive regression if he sees the same amount of red-zone looks.
• CEH will have every opportunity to succeed in a dynamic offense. In year two in Andy Reid/Eric Bienemy offense, CEH should grasp the nuances and complexities of an NFL offense.
• CEH recorded a 16% broken tackle rate (71 percentile).

Now is the time to go all-in on Edward Helaire’s sophmore campaign.

Cam Akers- It took a while for Cam Akers to find his niche at the NFL level. A three-headed running back committee with Malcolm Brown and Darrell Henderson along with a rib injury cut into his early-season work-load (missed two and a half games, including weeks three and four). It took until Week 12 for Head Coach Sean McVay to finally show the confidence in Akers to play meaningful snaps. From Weeks 12-15 Akers averaged 97.5 rushing yards per game on 18.5 carries per game. Akers’ showcase game came on Thursday Night Football game against the New England Patriots, rushing for 171 yards on 29 carries. After missing week 16 due to injury, Akers rushed 21 times and a season-high four targets for 51 yards in Week 17 against Arizona.

Malcolm Brown has since departed in free agency to the Miami Dolphins leaving Akers and Henderson as the only two backs on the roster who will play meaningful snaps. Sean McVay recently said that Akers can be a three-down running back. Akers established himself as a viable receiver out of the backfield by amassing 69 receptions for 486 yards in his collegiate career at Florida State.

Akers could ingrain himself as a top 10 running back in fantasy football in year two of his career. Any semblance of a normal off-season for Akers should help him confidently understand the concepts and verbiage in McVay’s offense. Buy into Akers before his value increases dramatically in the summer.

You could myself on Twitter @BrownieNJD82 for your fantasy football and sports betting needs.

The post 3 Running Backs In Dynasty To Buy appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

The Chicago Bears signed Jimmy Graham a two year contract worth 16 million in the 2020 off-season. As it stands the Bears are 22.5 million over the salary cap for the 2021 season. The Bears have some work to do to stay in compliance with the salary cap. If the Bears do cut Graham, they will save 3.9 million. Graham had a bit of a resurgence this season scoring eight touchdowns on 50 catches. Graham is nowhere near the dominant force that he once was, but will still be valued alone for his red-zone presence. Here are a few teams that could be looking to add Graham is he hits unrestricted free agency.

New England Patriots

People around the NFL knew that LAT (Life After Tom) would be difficult. But the 2020 season proved just how difficult that it would be for the Patriots to run an efficient offense. In offensive categories and metrics, this is how the Patriots faired and where they ranked in the NFL.

• 54.17 TD% in the red zone – NFL rank (24)

• 327.2 yards per game -(26)

• 5.3 yards per play-(21)

• 20.4 points per game (27)

• 40.86% on 3rd down conversions-(17)

These numbers really don’t put into context just how bad this offense was. Cam Newton failed to throw for more than 3,000 yards (2,657) and 10 touchdowns (8) for the first time in his career where he has started 14 or more games. Newton did not play his best football. However, given the circumstances and lack of playmakers on offense it is no surprise that he was not successful. Jakobi Meyers is a talented wide receiver. Beyond that N’Keal Harry struggled to live up to his 2019 1st round billing, Damiere Byrd is an average wide receiver and Julian Edelman’s season was cut short by injury. The tight end situation was no better. Ryan Izzo and Devin Asiasi combined for a pedestrian 15 receptions.

Graham will not solve all of the Patriots’ issues on offense, but he doesn’t need to. The Patriots will add talent to their roster through free agency with the second highest salary cap available (70 million) and in the draft. Graham will help the Patriots in the red zone (23 TDs in his last four seasons) and on third downs. This seems like a Bill Belichick sort of move.

Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals have been a dumpster fire at the tight end position for years now. Only two tight ends have eclipsed 400 yards since 2013. Rob Housler and Dan Arnold. That. Is. It. Arnold is an unrestricted free agent and is not guaranteed back for the upcoming season. As of now just Maxx WIlliams and Ian Bunting is under contract for the 2021 season. Graham could be a nice bridge tight end until the Cardinals invest some draft capital into the position.

Arizona was the 9th most efficient team in the red zone (65.52%) during the 2020 season. However, over the last three games of the season the Cardinals converted just 50% of their opportunities in the red zone. The Cardinals struggled on 3rd downs during the 2020 season by converting 39.6%. The last three games of the season saw that number drop to 25.7%. Jimmy Graham could help fix those issues.

The Cardinals offense could be something special in Kyler Murray’s third season. They have all-world wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins along with Christian Kirk and Andy Isabella. Chase Edmunds is a talented running back who could be ready to take on a three down role. Jimmy Graham brings a diverse skill set in which the Cardinals lack.

Carolina Panthers

The Panthers just have two tight ends under contract for the 2021 NFL season. Ian Thomas has yet to make an impact in his first three seasons and Giovanni Ricci was a 2020 undrafted free agent out of Western Michigan. If the Panthers don’t elect to draft or trade for a quarterback with the 8th overall selection, there will be intrigue to select tight end Kyle Pitts out of Florida. That’s even assuming that Pitts would even be available there.

The Panthers’ tight ends accounted for just 26 receptions for 197 yards and a touchdown in 2020. No, those numbers are not a typo. The Panthers have 32.6 million in cap space to work with so they could give Graham an incentive laden contract on a short term deal.

No matter who the Panthers elect to play under center in 2021, Graham’s presence will help give the quarterback a reliable chain mover and red zone target.

Shoot me a follow on twitter @BrownieNJD82 for more fun football content.

The post 3 Destinations For Jimmy Graham appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Dave Browne

The Las Vegas Raiders surprised the football world by selecting Henry Ruggs III with the twelth overall selection in the 2020 NFL Draft. It is no shock that Ruggs was selected in the first round of the draft. He is an elite talent from the Alabama football factory.

The consensus going into the draft was that his Alabama teammate Jerry Jeudy or CeeDee Lamb would be the first wide receiver taken. If there was any team that would take Ruggs over Jeudy or Lamb it would be the Raiders. This was a throwback Raiders pick. A draft pick that would make late owner Al Davis proud. If you could hurl a pigskin 75 yards or run a 4.30 40 time, you’d be on the Raiders’ radar. Ruggs ran a 4.27 40 time in Indianapolis last year.

Ruggs’ struggles in his first year in the NFL are not unusual. It usually takes wide receivers up to three seasons to take their game to the next level. Many will point to the success of fellow rookie wide receivers in Minnesota rookie Justin Jefferson and Dallas’s CeeDee Lamb. However, more often than not their success are usually outliers.

Ruggs had only 26 receptions on 43 targets for 452 yards as a rookie. He had a catch percentage of 60.5 which is very pedestrian. The big plays he advertised at Alabama didn’t translate in his first year as a pro.

So how does this affect Henry Ruggs in the fantasy football community? For starters we need to dive into who Ruggs is. Here’s what we know about Ruggs thus far if we followed him in college and his rookie season.

• He is fast. Very fast. Fantasy football players love speed and playmaking ability.
• In college he only had 90 receptions in 40 career games.
• He had 24 touchdown receptions
• He is not a polished route runner.
• His smaller frame of 5-11, 188 pounds may limit his catch radius or ability to win one-one battles.

It’s safe to assume that Ruggs will never be an alpha wide receiver like other wide receivers in the league. He will in all likelihood not get enough targets to garner the alpha status. As you look at what he did at Alabama, he scored 24 times on just 98 receptions. Ruggs will make his NFL living on the big plays.

Rookie season aside, what is Ruggs’ long term projection look to be? Here are a few players who have the same type of profile as Ruggs.

• DeSean Jackson- The speedster (4.35 40) out of Cal has made a living off of big plays both as a wide receiver and punt returner. He is a five-time 1,000 yard receiver with 64 career touchdowns. His career has been plagued by injuries but he is an electrifying talent. He had an impressive rookie campaign with 62 receptions for 912 and two touchdowns.

• John Ross- Ross holds the combine 40 yard dash record with a blazing 4.22 time. Cincinnati raced as fast to the podium to select Ross in the 2017 Draft with the 9th overall pick. Injuries, poor play and healthy inactives have many labeling the speedster as a ‘bust’ since entering the league. Ross has flashed big play ability with 10 touchdowns in 27 career games. However, he only has a 51 receptions for 733 yards in those games. He will look to revive his career elsewhere as a free agent this off-season. As a rookie he played 3 games with no receptions.

• Darrius Heyward-Bey- Heyward-Bey ironically enough was drafted by the Raiders as the number seven overall pick in 2009. He came out of Maryland as a game breaker with his 4.30 speed. Unfortunately, his skill-set did not translate to NFL success. He had a career year of 64 receptions for 975 yards in 2011 but was never able to capitalize off of that successful season. He managed to be in the NFL for 10 years in spite of his inefficiency as an NFL wide receiver. He had 9 receptions for 124 yards as a rookie.

• Tyreek Hill- The ‘Cheetah’ is like a cheat code in Madden, except he is the real deal. The 4.29 speedster is unlike any wide receiver we’ve seen in a long time. He’s already amassed 5,391 yards and 47 touchdowns in one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL. At just 27 years of age by the start of the 2021 season, he has a lot of productive years left. He had 61 receptions for 593 yards and 6 touchdowns as a rookie.

• Tedd Ginn Jr- Ginn is a 5’11, 180 pound veteran receiver. He ran a 4.28 40 time. Ginn has had a solid, albeit unspectacular career. He’s managed to play 14 years in the NFL on 6 different teams while never eclipsing 800 yards in a season. He did however catch 10 touchdown passes in 2015 with Carolina. Those 10 touchdowns alone are 30.3% of his career touchdowns. He finished with 34 receptions and 420 yards his rookie campaign with the Dolphins.

So let’s get down to what matters. What is his fantasy football outlook look like in 2021?

In spite of the sluggish start to his career we should give him the benefit of the doubt. He plays in an exciting offense with targets to go around, especially if wide receiver Nelson Agholor (82 targets) prices himself out of Las Vegas. We saw Raiders QB Derek Carr take more chances down field in 2020. If Carr continues to sling it, and Ruggs progresses he could be an exciting player in the 2021 season.

Ruggs should benefit from a more normal off-season as the 2020 off-season was one of the most bizarre that we’ve ever seen. Those on-field repetitions will be more rewarding than those zoom meetings. He also dealt with nagging hamstring and knee injuries which plagued his success during his rookie campaign.

This list of comparables to Ruggs have had a variance of success in the league. These are the classic boom or bust wide receivers that fantasy football players salivate over. He in all likelihood will not have the same success as a guy like Tyreek Hill. People love the narrative that teams need to find the next Tyreek Hill. There is only one Tyreek Hill. Expecting a guy to have that type success is unfounded.

We will celebrate his career if it ends up being anything like Jackson’s career. If he has a career like Heyward-Bey or John Ross, fantasy football players will not be happy.

We should be looking to buy Ruggs as a WR 3/4 for the 2021 fantasy football season. The absolute best case scenario is that he falls in the WR 25-36 range. He will in all likelihood fall into the WR 4 category in the 37-48 range. Worst case scenario he falls out of the Top 50 entirely. This is the type of mixed results you get with a guy like Ruggs. If you go into your draft with modified expectations, you could reap the benefits of drafting a speedster such as Ruggs in the 9th or 10th round. If the lottery ticket hits, he could be a league winner for a lot of fantasy football fanatics.

The post Buy Or Sell Henry Ruggs In Fantasy Football? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

There is no off-season in the NFL. With the conclusion of the Super Bowl, we have the combine, free agency and the draft to look forward to. The next few months are designed to give fans much needed hope for the futures of their teams.

What a mock draft looks like today will unfold a lot differently in April. With the exception of a few teams, free agency will dictate what direction a team goes in the draft. For starters, we know that the Jacksonville Jaguars will select a quarterback. Barring anything unforeseen, it should be Trevor Lawrence. From there, it is anyone’s guess as far as who goes where. Let’s take a look into what teams could do in April with their teams constructed as they are. The Jacksonville Jaguars are on the clock.

Pick #1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence, QB Clemson

No surprise here. If the Jaguars could rush to the podium now to make this selection for Trevor Lawrence, they would. We could put the Urban Meyer, Justin Fields’ connection to Ohio State to bed. It’s not happening. Urban Meyer already has received much deserved backlash for the hiring of strength and conditioning coach Chris Doyle. Doyle has since re-signed. Meyer will be back in the good graces, for some, at least in the short term with the selection of Lawrence.

Pick #2. New York Jets- Zach Wilson, QB BYU

This is unofficially when the draft starts. The New York Jets need to nail this selection for the future of the franchise and for the fans’ sanctity. My thinking is that the Jets go quarterback here. Once Carson Wentz is traded, you’ll see the dominoes fall. Whomever doesn’t get Wentz may turn to Sam Darnold.

Darnold has been set up for failure since day one. The Jets have failed to put pieces together that would be conducive to any sort of on field success for Darnold. Now, to be fair Darnold has not been very good himself, nor has he been able to stay consistently healthy. But he’s been poorly coached and has had little support in terms of protection from his line or competent receivers.

Darnold’s said all the right things about the franchise, but he even knows a fresh start is what he needs to get his career on the right path.

The Jets will get a few assets for Darnold (probably a pair of 2^nd’s) to help expedite the rebuild. The Jets have so many holes on their roster so the only way they could fix it is to get as many selections as possible. But trading Darnold means they will select a quarterback.

Zach Wilson put some out some amazing film this season. He brings good arm strength, athleticism and swagger that is simply too good for the Jets General Manager Mike Maccagnan to ignore. The Jets get their quarterback of the future, and address other team needs with a plethora of other draft picks that they possess.

Other viable options

• Trade down
• Penei Sewell, OT Oregon
• Ja’Marr Chase, WR LSU
• DeVonta Smith, WR Alabama

Pick #3. Miami Dolphins-DeVonta Smith, WR Alabama

The Dolphins are another intriguing team in this draft. We are hearing noise that they could be looking to upgrade at quarterback. I don’t buy it. Tua Tagovailoa will be given an opportunity to succeed as the Dolphins continue to stockpile draft picks to help support their quarterback. The Dolphins’ choices probably boil down to taking the best offensive lineman in the draft in Penei Sewell, WR Ja’Marr Chase or Heisman Trophy winner and Tagovailoa’s former Alababa teammate DeVonta Smith. Or simply trading down a few spots to a quarterback needy team which could enable the Dolphins to acquire a few more assets and still get a player that they conceivably want. Trading with Carolina makes sense for both sides.

However, in this mock we’re not doing trades. Whether they trade down or not, I think they end up with one of the best wide receivers in the draft anyway. Therefore, the Dolphins go with Devante Smith here. Sewell makes perfect sense as he would be an anchor on their line for years. However, the Dolphins lack high end playmakers on offense. Devante Parker is a nice possession receiver, but doesn’t possess the high end speed to take the tops off of defenses.

DeVonta Smith could take the top off of a defense and would give Miami a legitimate threat down the field. The goal is to build a contender with Tagovailoa on a rookie contract. Miami needs to do everything in their power to put him in a position to succeed.

Other viable options

• Trade down
• Ja’Marr Chase, WR LSU
• Penei Sewell, OT Oregon

Pick #4. Atlanta Falcons- Justin Fields, QB Ohio State

This is a bit of a homecoming for the Kennesaw, Georgia native. Instead of reloading and giving it one last shot, Atlanta wisely begins to close the door on the Matt Ryan era and chooses the future. Atlanta is not in win now mode, or one or two pieces away from a championship.

This seemingly is a perfect fit for Fields. He is still a bit raw having attempted less than 600 passes yet he is oozing with potential. Yes, there is film of him holding the ball too long, throwing a few interceptions and inaccurate with some throws. A good offensive coach could play to Fields’ strength and fix some of those issues.

He is still a great prospect despite some inconsistencies to his game. He fits the mold as a modern day quarterback who has the ability to throw in and out of the pocket and isn’t afraid to tuck it in and run if need be. He balled out against Clemson in the college football semi-final by throwing for SIX touchdown passes and 385 yards.

He could conceivably ‘redshirt’ his first year in Atlanta and learn under Ryan. Not many teams have the luxury of going from one franchise quarterback to another. The Falcons have that opportunity with a blue chip prospect like Fields.

Other viable options

• Penei Sewell, OT Oregon

Pick #5-Cincinnati Bengals- Penei Sewell, OT Oregon

Reuniting Joe Burrow’s former LSU teammate Ja’Marr Chase would be tempting in this scenario. However, Chase only catches passes. He can’t pass protect. Cincinnati’s number one priority NEEDS to be protecting Burrow at all costs.

Cincinnati will be doing cartwheels if Sewell is available with pick. He is physical, nasty and would be a pillar on the offensive line from day one. This would enable Jonah Williams to move to right tackle and give them two viable bookend tackles for years to come.

Burrow is coming off a scary ACL/MCL tear. You could bet that Cincinnati will do everything in its power to protect the teams best asset. Burrow will be thanking them that they did.

Other viable options

• Ja’Marr Chase, WR LSU
• Kyle Pitts, TE Florida

Pick #6. Philadelphia Eagles- Micah Parsons, LB Penn State

Philadelphia is a true wild card in this draft. The Eagles could be a sneaky team come April. They could explore a trade up to grab either Zach Wilson or Justin Fields, or trade down for a team looking to upgrade its quarterback (Carolina or San Francisco come to mind). Carson Wentz is all but gone. Jalen Hurts may or not be the teams next franchise quarterback.

One thing is for certain though. The Eagles need to upgrade their talent on both sides of the ball. Offensive line, wide receiver, and essentially their entire defense needs a makeover.

The Eagles don’t have to venture far off the beaten path to select Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons. I could hear the boos reigning down (please no batteries) on this pick. I get it. An off the ball linebacker is not a sexy pick and usually is not valued this high in a draft.

Parsons is a rare exception though. He is a freakishly good athlete. Had he not sat out for the 2020 season he would be talked about a lot more. When all is said and done he may end up being the best non quarterback in this draft.

Parsons could get to the quarterback on designed blitzes, he’s good against the run and could read what is going to happen before the play even develops. He excels in coverage with his elite speed. There really is not much that he can’t do.

The Eagles should be able to acquire a few draft picks (1st round/two 2nd round?) in an inevitable Carson Wentz trade. Those picks could be used on other positions of need like WR, OL, or CB.

Other viable options

• Trade up/down
• Rashawn Slater, OT Northwestern
• Ja’Marr Chase, WR LSU
• Kyle Pitts, TE Florida
• Patrick Surtain, CB Alabama

Pick #7. Detroit Lions- Ja’Marr Chase, WR LSU

Lions head coach Dan Campbell may want a nasty defender to kick opposing players in the teeth or bite some kneecaps. LB Micah Parsons would fit the bill for that style but he doesn’t fall here in this mock.

The Lions’ acquisition of Jared Goff buys themselves a year or two to figure out their quarterback of the future. In the meantime, they get themselves a brand new toy on offense in Ja’Marr Chase.

Although Chase didn’t play in the 2020 season he is still one of the premier prospects in this draft. He was dominant as a sophmore on LSU’s National Championship team.

Chase will give opposing defenses nightmares with his elite route running, speed and play making ability. This pick makes too much sense for the Lions’ offense regardless of who is throwing the ball in the short or long term.

Other viable options

• Caleb Farley, CB Virginia Tech
• Kwity Paye, EDGE Michigan

Pick #8. Carolina Panthers-Trey Lance, QB North Dakota State

Lions fans will dance when they select Trey Lance. Alright, corny joke. After spending ALL of its draft capital on the defensive side of the ball in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Panthers have their eyes set on quarterback here. I would not be surprised one bit if they moved up to number two or three in the draft to select either Zach Wilson or Justin Fields.

If they stand at pat at 8, they’ll get a nice consolation prize in Trey Lance. He has all of the tools you want in a quarterback. He’s mobile, has a great arm and has the size that makes general managers salivate.

One of the knocks on Lance is that he played college football at North Dakota State where the competition is not the best. He also only has started one season collegiately (NDSU football season was postponed in 2020) and has attempted just 288 passes.

He’s a project, but offensive coordinator Joe Brady could do wonders with a talent like this. There will be no rush to play him as Teddy Bridgewater is still under contract through 2021.

Other viable options

• Trade up (Justin Fields or Zach Wilson)
• Kyle Pitts, TE Florida

Pick #9. Denver Broncos- Patrick Surtain, CB Alabama

Denver focused on the offensive side of the ball in the 2020 NFL Draft, so now it’s time to replenish some talent on the defensive side of the ball. While head coach and defensive guru Vic Fangio fielded a respectable defense in 2020, the aura of greatness just wasn’t there. Denver’s defense has been their identity since the 2014 season, and it’s time Denver gets back to that.

Denver could go in a variety of ways here. Do they go edge rusher with Kwity Paye in the event that Von Miller is cut? It would only benefit Bradley Chubb to have a running mate on the opposite side of the line.

Denver has ignored blue chip prospects at linebacker for some time now so Jeremiah Owusu-Koromoah has to be considered although would be considered a reach by many.

Cornerback makes too much sense for Denver. They recently cut AJ Bouye and Bryce Callahan has struggled to stay healthy.

VIrginia Tech corner Caleb Farley may possess the highest upside at corner in this draft, but the converted wide receiver is still very raw. Patrick Surtain is probably the most NFL ready. So Denver could not go wrong with either corner.

Denver decides to go with Surtain here. He is polished, physical and has the makings of being a shut down corner at the NFL level. He’d be a perfect fit in the press coverage defense that Fangio likes to run. Surtain isn’t afraid to be physical as well. If Surtain’s name sounds familiar here, it’s because his father played in the NFL for 14 years. Those aren’t bad genes to have.

Other viable options

• Trade down (Jeremiah Owudu-Koromoah, LB Notre Dame)
• Caleb Farley, CB Virginia Tech
• Kwity Paye, EDGE Michigan
• Rashawn Slater, OT Northwestern

Pick #10- Dallas Cowboys- Kwity Paye, EDGE Michigan

Last year wide receiver CeeDee Lamb unexpectedly fell into the Cowboys’ laps in the 2020 NFL Draft when they had more pressing needs on the defensive side of the ball. Does Jerry Jones and the Cowboys do the same exact thing when they see superfreak hybrid tight end/wide receiver Kyle Pitts on the board??

Conventional wisdom says fix one of the worst defenses the NFL has seen in years. Or rebuild the aging, brittle offensive line to protect quarterback Dak Prescott. BUT Jones does things his way. He loves playmakers. He also loves his players from the SEC. But Stephen Jones and the rest of the Cowboys’ brass influence, or in the case beg Jones to go defense.

Dallas’s secondary was exposed for much of the 2020 season. A big reason why they struggled in their secondary besides lacking high end talent was because of their of their inept pass rush.

Demarcus Lawrence is a solid defensive end but he can’t do it all himself. The soon to be 29 year old has only had 11.5 sacks over the last two years. One way to improve defensively is to get to the quarterback. Paye is the premier pass rusher in a draft that is lacking high end talent in that area. This would be a wise position to invest in if the Cowboys want to improve their defense.

Other viable options

• Caleb Farley, CB Virginia Tech
• Christian Barmore, DL Alabama
• Rashawn Slater, OT Northwestern
• Kyle Pitts, TE Florida

The post NFL Mock Draft-Top 10 Selections appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Dave Browne

Antonio Brown has had quite the journey over the past 24 months. Once regarded as the best wide receiver in the NFL, the former All-Pro wore out his welcome in Pittsburgh and subsequently got his wish to be traded. He then essentially missed all of the 2019 training camp with the then Oakland Raiders due to an influx of bizarre circumstances. Between his frozen foot mishap, helmet squabble and later legal issues, the Raiders franchise had enough. If the Raiders are giving up on you, then you KNOW that there are issues. Whether Brown’s antics were his way of getting out of Oakland we will never know. But if that’s what his goal was, then he succeeded.

By the day Brown’s behavior became stranger and stranger. Then came more legal trouble. Without getting into the legalities, there were some major concerns about what was accused of him.

The New England Patriots, and seemingly Brown’s biggest fan, Tom Brady didn’t seem to care. Brady welcomed Brown into his home and lobbied that the Patriots sign him. Low and behold, the Patriots signed him in spite of the red flags. He played in one game for the Patriots (albeit a good game in which he scored) until another accusation became public. They had enough as well.

Brown had a quiet off-season and hopefully got some of his personal stuff together while the legalities played itself out. Ironically enough it was Tom Brady, having since moved onto Tampa Bay who seemingly convinced Buccaneers General Manager Jason Licht and Head Coach Bruce Arians to sign Brown.

Arians went on record saying that signing Brown ‘was never going to happen.’ Yea, we all know who is running the show in Tampa Bay. Brown joined the team in Week 9 and made his impact felt the rest of the season. Brown bought into what Tampa Bay was selling and for once didn’t need to be the alpha receiver. The team concept worked and as a result Tampa Bay won the Super Bowl.

Antonio Brown is set to become a free agent once again in March. Did he earn himself a big contract, or will he still need to sign a ‘prove it’ deal to show teams that he is a changed man. He showed that he could still be a legit wide receiver in this league and a full off-season with a team will do him wonders just in terms of on field success. I lean that he will still have to sign a short term contract with a club because of the stigma that comes with him. Here are five teams that make sense to sign Antonio Brown.

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

This is probably the safest, and best place for Brown to be in. It just makes too much sense not to go down this road again. It’s clear that these two have chemistry both on and off the field. Whether it is justifiable or not, Tom Brady has been one of the few people in the NFL who has had Brown’s back over the course of the last two years. Whether Brady has a deep admiration for Brown the player, person or both, it is evident that Brady wants him as a teammate. After the Super Bowl, you could see the how indebted Brown was towards Brady. It’s almost as if he would not want to let Brady down.

From a football perspective it makes sense as well. There is no guarantee that wide receiver Chris Godwin will be back with the team due to his impending free agency. The Buccaneers would have depth at the wide receiver position without Godwin, but it is asking a lot for young wideouts Scotty Miller and Tyler Johnson to replicate that sort of production. If Godwin does leave via free agency then Brown would be a perfect compliment to Mike Evans. Brown is versatile where he could line up in the slot much like Godwin, and obviously could work the outside. If we are to assume a normal off-season program for the NFL (or at least training camp), there is no reason why Brown could not duplicate the type of success that Godwin had with the team. Brown had 45 receptions for 483 yards and 4 touchdowns in 8 games for Tampa Bay. With the training wheels turned off, there is no reason why he can’t turn it up a notch for them.

Tampa Bay should be Brown’s number one destination to play football in 2021. It’s an environment that is conducive for his own personal and professional success. Let the bromance between him and Brady continue!

4. Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs and Andy Reid are never shy about signing or drafting players with a checkered past. From just a football standpoint, this makes as much sense as Tampa Bay. Sammy Watkins and Demarcus Robinson are both set to hit the open market as unrestricted free agents. Beyond Tyreek Hill and Mecole Hardman, they are pretty thin at the wide receiver position. Kansas City’s pass happy offense prioritizes two high end talents in Hill and tight end Travis Kelce, and to this point you can’t deny the success that they’ve had. However, at some point they need to make the offense a bit more diverse at the skill positions. It would be great to assume that Mecole Hardman is ready to make that leap to being a viable, consistent number two wide receiver. There is no denying his talent, but the Chiefs may want a more steady, well rounded wide receiver in that offense.

Adding Brown would take this offense to another level. Hill and Hardman as the deep threats, Kelce working the middle of the field and Brown’s explosiveness as a route runner would make this dominant offense even more dominant.

Brown would not have to be the alpha wide receiver that he was earlier in his career with the Steelers. Albeit a small sample size, Brown did ‘buy’ into the team philosophy. At this stage of his career, I think he realizes the days of catching 100 plus passes are over. He needs to be selfless much like he was in Tampa Bay.

BUT, he would play in an offense run by Patrick Mahomes. Barring any injuries, he will put up some pretty gaudy numbers.

Andy Reid is one of the most respected coaches in his profession. He is for all intensive purposes a coach that players want to play for. So Kansas City checks all the boxes for a guy like Brown.

• Chance to win
• Chance to be productive in a great offense
• Play with a great quarterback in Patrick Mahomes
• Being coached by Andy Reid, who is respected and isn’t afraid to take chances

This would be an ideal landing spot for Brown at this point in his career.

3. Los Angeles Rams

Notice a trend here? The Rams are another team on the cusp winning a championship. The team is going ‘all-in.’ GM Les Snead has never shied away from making a splash, as evident by trading up to get Jared Goff in the 2016 NFL Draft, trading two first round picks for lockdown cornerback Jalen Ramsey and then trading a plethora of draft capital, including Goff to acquire Matthew Stafford. This team has a three year window to win the Lombardi Trophy. They have their quarterback and a solid defense. Why not give head coach Sean McVay another toy to play with to round out their wide receiver core.

Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp are very good wideouts. Van Jefferson has the potential to be a valuable asset down the line. But Brown could potentially give the Rams the best trio of wide receivers in the league and make them THAT much more difficult to defend.

Imagine what McVay could do with those 3. It wouldn’t be the greatest show on turf, but it would sure be close! We know what Woods and Kupp could do. They run good routes, move the chains and McVay always puts them in a position to succeed with quick screens and jet sweeps. However, they are somewhat limited in what they could do in terms of making big plays down the field. Insert Antonio Brown. He may not be as explosive as he was 5 years ago, but it was evident this season with Tampa Bay that he could make big plays.

The Rams have a solid foundation, are well coached and have respected veterans on the team. It is hard to keep a low profile in a city like LA, but if we know Brown he loves to put on a show. This could be a match made in football Heaven, and could help put a team like the Rams over the top.

2. Arizona Cardinals

This would be an intriguing destination for a receiver like Antonio Brown. The Arizona offense COULD be something special. Kyler Murray is in his third season operating in Kliff Kingsbury’s system, DeAndre Hopkins is an elite wide receiver and they run the ball very efficiently.

If we’ve learned anything about DeAndre Hopkins is that he could pretty much do anything. He was targeted an ABSURD 160 (!!) times this season. If the Cardinals offense is going to become elite, they need to be more diverse offensively. Christian Kirk showed flashes albeit with little consistency. Larry Fitzgerald may decide to retire. Andy Isabella makes the occasional big play in limited playing time.

Antonio Brown would come in and become a viable number two wide receiver that Arizona so desperately needs. Defenses will still shadow Hopkins with their number one corner, or use a safety in coverage. That being the case, Brown should get advantageous matchups and more often than not win in those situations.

If this is about opportunity Arizona makes sense. He could sign a short term contract with incentives, stay on his best behavior and put himself back on the market next off-season. Arizona’s offense is on the cusp of greatness, with Kyler Murray at the helm, and Brown could help put them over the top. If Arizona makes improvements to the offensive line and defense, this could be a playoff team next year.

1. Tennessee Titans

Tennessee would be a wildcard for Antonio Brown, but the need for a wide receiver is there. This would have to be the most selfless destination for Brown to go to. He would be in run based offense that features a 2,000 yard rusher. He could see stretches of a game where he is not being targeted as much as he’d like.

There is no denying the type of team success that Tennessee has had recently. They made it to the AFC Championship game in 2019 and made the Wild Card this past season. With improvements at wide receiver and defense, this team could be a true contender.

AJ Brown is a treasure for the Titans. He has splashed super star potential thus far in his two year career. Corey Davis is an impending free agent who never really lived up to the hype of being the number 5 overall pick in the draft out of Western Michigan. I’d lean on him not returning. Adam Humphries is a nice slot receiver, but he’s not going to move the needle too much. The depth at wide receiver after AJ Brown is pretty bare.

Tennessee needs more play makers as a whole offensively, and truth be told need to be more aggressive with their passing attack. They’ve become too predictable of an offense by always running it on first down.

Acquiring a guy like Brown could help open up that offense. There is little that he can’t do as a route runner and as a whole. Both Antonio and AJ could benefit from having each other as teammates. At least one of them could see favorable coverage on any given week, and let’s be honest both a good enough to win their individual matchups.

Tennessee is not a pass happy offense, so would Antonio be really happy himself? If he is willing to sacrifice his statistics for the betterment of the team, this could be a bold, yet rewarding move for Tennessee to make.

The post Antonio Brown landing spots appeared first on Pro Football Mania.