By Calvin K (Twitter: @Calvin_SGF)

The Cleveland Browns have a backfield well-suited to the NFL, with a between-the-tackles power runner in Nick Chubb and an elusive change-of-pace pass-catcher in Kareem Hunt. While Hunt is technically the backup, he could probably start for the majority of NFL teams, and he consistently is efficient and effective even in his efficient role. Same with Chubb, who is one of the toughest and most consistent runners in the game. However, the fact that both take work away from each other can put a slight cap on their respective fantasy values, although the Browns’ run-heavy offense can offset much of that. In this article, I’ll unpack Chubb and Hunt’s value before arriving at the final verdict.

Nick Chubb’s Outlook

After three straight years of top-10 finishes (excluding Week 18 in 2021 and Week 17 in 2020-2019), Chubb has established himself as one of the top fantasy RBs, and it’s honestly fair to say that Hunt doesn’t have a major negative effect on his fantasy value. Sure, his PPR value is diminished by low reception totals, but Chubb isn’t an amazing pass-catcher anyway, and if he were out on the field for 100% of snaps, his efficiency would drastically diminish. Speculation consistently abounds regarding Chubb’s potential without Hunt, but it’s very possible that the narrative of “Hunt limits Chubb” is overplayed.

With that being said, Chubb has now seen three straight years with a heavy workload and a couple of injuries, and at 26, he’s not too far off from the universally feared age 27 season that marks the end for many RBs. Chubb hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down yet, so that narrative can also be taken with a grain of salt somewhat, but it’s something to keep an eye on as he continues to maintain a heavy workload on the ground. Overall, Chubb can still be considered a borderline top-10 RB in dynasty. I’d certainly rank a younger back with immense upsides, such as Javonte Williams, ahead of him, but Chubb will still be consistently elite in the short-term, making him a solid trade target for a win-now team.

Kareem Hunt’s Outlook

Kareem Hunt’s outlook is murkier because recently, there’s been speculation that he could get traded from the Browns. Among the possibilities mentioned have been a reunion with Kansas City, as well as Houston as part of a Deshaun Watson package. None of these rumors have any actual traction behind them at this point, but they are two of a number of possibilities for Hunt’s future.

Right now, Hunt is a solid RB3 with his main upside coming in the potential for a trade. Hunt is certainly talented enough to be an NFL starter, and we shouldn’t let his primary usage as a pass-catcher make us forget about his ability on the ground as well. If he gets moved to a spot where he’s the clear starter, Hunt immediately jumps to solid RB2 status, with potential for more if he gets enough of a workload. If he stays in Cleveland, there’s no point in pursuing him in dynasty given his limited upside, but for a team looking to take a risk, he’s an okay trade target at the right price, given that a trade seems somewhat unlikely at this point.

Final Verdict

Overall, Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt’s fantasy values for next year likely will play out similarly to how they have in the past. Chubb will be a back-end RB1 with a high rushing total, and Hunt will be a semi-consistent PPR option that catches a lot of passes. A trade could certainly change this outlook, but as of now, there don’t seem to be rumblings of trade, at least in NFL circles. Thus, Chubb is probably the better trade target in the dynasty at this point, given that many managers may be looking to trade him at the right price given his current spot in a timeshare. Hunt has limited upside at this point, so he’s a good hold for consistency if you currently roster him, but he’s not someone that dynasty managers should look to trade for.

The post What is the dynasty outlook of the Browns RBs? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By Calvin K (Twitter: @Calvin_SGF)

Jimmy Garoppolo had a decidedly mediocre season for the 49ers in 2021, throwing for 3,810 yards and 20 touchdowns along with 12 interceptions. At times, Garoppolo appeared to play at a stable level, but often, his decision-making was put on blast for his head-scratching mistakes. Overall, Garoppolo is clearly not a terrible QB, but he’s also far from great, and because of this, it appears all but certain that the 49ers will look to move Garoppolo in trade and transition to Trey Lance as their 2022 starter. In this article, I’ll evaluate the best and worst-case scenarios for Garoppolo before reaching the final verdict.

Best-Case Scenario

Garoppolo gets plenty of hate for his erratic play, but the fact remains that he has reached two NFC championship games, with one resulting in a Super Bowl appearance in 2019. Many argue, validly, that San Francisco’s stellar defense and supporting casts played a big role in those runs. However, the basic premise that Garoppolo is a winner is still true, and while that may not mean much for fantasy, it could mean more to teams in pursuit of a QB, putting him in a position to likely be a starter in 2022.

If Garoppolo was moved to a spot such as Pittsburgh or Washington to start, he could have moderate fantasy success surrounded by solid weapons, as both teams have a quality RB (Najee Harris, Antonio Gibson), as well as quality pass-catchers who can handle big target loads (Diontae Johnson/Chase Claypool, Terry McLaurin). Both teams would likely see Jimmy G as an upgrade over their current situations, especially the Steelers, who will almost certainly not ride into 2022 with Mason Rudolph as their starter. If Garoppolo lands with either of these teams, a 4,000-yard, high-20-touchdown season would not be out of the realm of possibility (he had 3,978 and 27 when playing 16 games in 2019), and if he achieves those benchmarks, he would be a reliable QB2 for dynasty leagues, although his longevity in doing so could come into question.

Worst-Case Scenario

Jimmy G haters can rejoice because the worst-case scenario for Garoppolo does not shine a fun outlook on him for dynasty. There’s always the possibility that he gets moved to a team that subsequently drafts a quarterback, putting him in a potential QB competition and making his starting status uncertain. If he gets beat out by a young QB such as Matt Corral, Kenny Pickett, or Malik Willis, that could mark the end of his fantasy value. Additionally, given his limited rushing and deep passing upside, he provides little top-tier fantasy upside anyway, so he could be deemed irrelevant for dynasty – outside of Superflex leagues – even if he finds a starting role.

Garoppolo also only has one year left on his big contract, so his deal could run out, putting him in potential QB purgatory if his performance doesn’t meet expectations. Given the quarterback thirst from NFL teams, it’s likely that Garoppolo has not seen his last action as a starter, but he has very little contractual security at this point, so his starting status is certainly in question at the moment.

Verdict

Overall, the verdict on Jimmy Garoppolo is that he’s not likely to provide QB1 dynasty value. He could become a solid QB2 in the right spot, but that type of player provides little value for single-QB dynasty players given the ease of replacing a quarterback in fantasy football.

For Superflex leagues, Garoppolo in Washington or Pittsburgh could provide semi-consistent week-to-week value given the weapons around him. However, if he continues to make erratic mistakes, his long-term security could once again be called into question. Garoppolo is not a player you should look to acquire in single-QB dynasty leagues. In Superflex, perhaps he’s a good trade target at a cheap enough price, but there’s still plenty of downsides to be wary of, which doesn’t cast his future in a particularly good light.

The post Dynasty Outlook: Jimmy Garoppolo appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Calvin K (Twitter: @calvin_sgf)

The late-round quarterback approach has become progressively more popular in fantasy leagues in recent years, and nowadays, it’s widely accepted as the best way to play in redraft single-QB leagues. Because of this, there is always massive speculation surrounding who could be the next “late-round breakout.”

Oftentimes, quarterbacks with rushing ability are the ones exceeding expectations due to the heavy emphasis that fantasy scoring places on rushing yards and touchdowns. All four of the quarterbacks in this article have at least some rushing ability, a fact that gives them massive fantasy upside. All four also come with risk, but at their current draft prices, they’re well worth a draft pick. Here are four late-round QBs to target next year in redraft.

1. Trey Lance (San Francisco 49ers)

Lance is perhaps the most obvious breakout candidate at the position for next year, so his draft position should rise from its current QB12 spot on FantasyPros. However, it’s likely not to move too far past back-end-QB1 range, making him likely available in the mid-to-late rounds of fantasy drafts.

Lance’s dual-threat play style and massive raw talent eerily resembles many recent breakout QBs, and guys like Jalen Hurts, Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, and others have been great late-round picks in recent years, led primarily by their rushing abilities. Lance is also great on the ground, and he has a solid arm as well, so he has the potential to be a star in the NFL. Lance’s supporting cast is also good, with a solid young RB in Elijah Mitchell as well as jack-of-all-trades WR Deebo Samuel and athletic TE George Kittle running routes for San Francisco. The main concern for him is the fact that he’s been mostly untested in NFL action so far. However, if his draft position stays near where it is, that’s risk that fantasy managers certainly should be willing to accept given his upside.

2. Trevor Lawrence (Jacksonville Jaguars)

Lawrence was relatively disappointing in his rookie year, throwing 17 interceptions with a sub-60% completion percentage. However, it’s safe to assume that Urban Meyer’s incompetence as HC was a major limiting factor in Lawrence’s development. The Jaguars have hired Doug Pederson as their new head coach, and it’s fair to question Pederson’s coaching abilities, but what’s undeniable is Pederson’s experience and credibility, and it’s not often that a Super-Bowl-winning head coach is available for hire. However Pederson does, one thing is certain: he’s an obvious upgrade over Meyer.

Lawrence was the obvious #1 pick in the 2021 draft, and like Lance, he does have rushing upside (although not to the same degree). However, Lawrence is definitely more polished as a passer, and he’s a more consistent all-around prospect than Lance. That’s not saying that Lance will certainly be worse than Trevor, and in fact, I’d say it’s extremely likely that he’s better in fantasy due to the major rushing bonuses he should accumulate. Lawrence, however, should provide a safe passing floor, and with weapons such as Marvin Jones, D.J. Chark, and Laviska Shenault, he has potential to put up solid numbers next year. He also ran for 334 yards last year, a very solid boost to his fantasy value. Overall, my take on Lawrence is that he was the #1 pick for a reason, and now that the Meyer dumpster fire is behind the Jaguars, he should see marked improvement in year two.

3. Malik Willis (ROOKIE, Liberty University)

Yes, Willis is an extremely raw prospect from a small school. This article is NOT meant to say that he’s any sort of guarantee to break out, especially in year one. However, it can’t be denied that he has incredible rushing ability, and that alone should put him in late-round consideration if he gets a starting opportunity. There will definitely be a massive learning curve as Willis transitions to the NFL, but his big arm and speed/elusiveness are reasons to be excited.

Willis has over 2,000 career college rushing yards with 29 touchdowns, an impressive total regardless of where he played. Overall, he’s probably an early-second/late-first round draft prospect, but a quarterback-needy team could easily be tempted to take him earlier. That might not be a bad thing for Willis as long as the team has reasonable weapons, and his supporting cast will certainly be another thing to monitor after the draft. However, regardless of where he lands, Willis has the potential to become a fantasy star, and with his massive rushing ability, he doesn’t necessarily have to be an elite and polished passer to do so.

4. Daniel Jones (New York Giants)

Jones never really got going this year, but despite the risk he carries, there are still reasons to be excited about him in 2022. Jones has always had a good arm, and the addition of Brian Daboll as HC could be immensely helpful for Jones’s development. Daboll was instrumental in unlocking Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs in Buffalo, and if he could do something similar for Jones and Kenny Golladay, that would do wonders for Jones’s fantasy value.

Obviously one coach turning things around is not a guarantee, but Daboll is clearly an upgrade over Joe Judge, who got increasingly mocked for his offensive strategies near the end of his tenure. Golladay, who makes $18 million a year, should be far more involved in the offense in 2022, and Jones, as his quarterback, will be the beneficiary.

Jones has (exactly!) 1,000 career rushing yards in three seasons, so he definitely has some upside on the ground. If he can improve as a passer in year four, that would be a major boost to his fantasy value, elevating him from being a random streaming option into (potentially) a late-round star.

The post Fantasy: Four Sleeper QBs To Target In 2022 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By Calvin K (Twitter: @Calvin_SGF)

As any football fan knows, Michael Thomas has had more than his fair share of injury struggles as of late, starting just five games in the past two seasons combined and missing the entirety of 2021 due to an ankle injury. Thus, Thomas’s dynasty outlook seems extremely murky at the moment. In this article, I’ll sort through the muck by answering three important questions before getting to the final verdict on the former Offensive Player of The Year’s dynasty value.

What is Michael Thomas’ status with the Saints?

MT has expressed frustration in the past with the Saints’ handling of his injury, but a tweet he sent out on New Year’s Day seemed to imply that he no longer harbors bad feelings for the franchise. Thus, he looks set to play out another year of his contract in 2022 barring a trade, unless he’s cut. However, cutting MT this year would cost the Saints $22.7 million in dead cap, so that doesn’t seem to be much of a possibility at the moment. The saints may move away from Thomas in a future year, but unless he’s traded, he’s likely to be around for 2022.

He also expressed his gratitude to Sean Payton in a series of tweets as the Saints legendary coach announced his retirement. It’s not clear who will replace Payton, but it seems certain that Saints long-time offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael will call the shots moving forward.

What’s the best-case scenario for Michael Thomas in dynasty?

Thomas will be 29 years old heading into 2022, and his last stretch of fantasy dominance was in 2019, when he was easily the WR1 overall, capping an impressive run of four-straight top-seven fantasy finishes. At his best, Thomas is a great route-runner who can be lethal with his physicality and agility off the line. If Thomas returns to form, he could be a solid WR1 in a Jameis-Winston-led offense, or if Winston doesn’t re-sign with the Saints, he could still command a top-10, or even top-five target share league-wide as a safe underneath option. I don’t think there’s any doubt that Thomas still has the talent to be the Saints WR1 for a few more years. If the Saints get Wilson, he should have a very good floor until 2025.

When Taysom Hill even started three games in 2021, Thomas and Hill routinely put up modest numbers. Thomas caught 8 catches for 84 yards against the Eagles and 11 catches for 105 yards in a contest against the Falcons. When Brees was a shell of himself in the playoffs, Thomas still hauled in 73 yards and a touchdown against the Bears.

The loss of Sean Payton will hurt the offense (Kamara especially), but it won’t make a massive difference with Thomas. The Saints wideout is the far and alone WR1 and it helps that he can run any route in his sleep. Thomas is the best red zone weapon on the Saints, too.

What’s the worst-case scenario for Michael Thomas in dynasty?

Thomas just can’t seem to shake the injury troubles as of late, and if he suffers another setback or a different injury, that could potentially hobble him again in 2022. Furthermore, he might just not recover and return to prime form, given his age and the effect that long-lasting foot injuries can have on the quickness of a wide receiver. We saw Dez Bryant and even Julio Jones struggle with returning to form after foot injuries. Although, Thomas is a bit younger than those wideouts at the time of significant injury. If Thomas is this far past his prime, it could mean devastation for his dynasty managers, but there is certainly a wide range of outcomes for his dynasty value in the future.

Final Verdict

Thomas certainly has the upside to be an elite receiver again. For a win-now dynasty team, I’d still look to trade for him, as long as he’s not being severely overvalued by a manager who considers him a top-15 dynasty guy.

The fact is, there are a lot of good, young receivers coming into the league, and though it seems crazy to think about, a young player like Elijah Moore or DeVonta Smith could easily end up being a better dynasty asset. Smith has a safe QB situation, as well. I’m not making a declarative statement on that either way, but I’d value Thomas around where those two are right now, as a back-end WR2/high WR3 with win-now upside. If you’re a rebuilding team looking to acquire MT, I’d definitely advise against it. But that upside is extremely enticing, and they’re certainly may be an opportunity to capitalize in your league on a manager who’s weary of his injuries.

The post Dynasty Outlook: Michael Thomas appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By Calvin K (Twitter: @Calvin_SGF)

The 2021 fantasy season has officially wrapped up, and it’s never too early to look ahead to 2022. The fantasy “sleeper” is something that many argue no longer exists given the massive amount of fantasy resources available in today’s landscape. However, the three guys in this article are players who will likely be undervalued heading into next year. Below are three “sleeper” wide receivers to target in 2022.

1. Rashod Bateman (Baltimore Ravens)

Bateman is a prime candidate for a Year 2 breakout, and while he’s coming off of an inconsistent Year 1, much of his rocky play hasn’t entirely been his fault. The loss of Lamar Jackson and Bateman’s early-season injury certainly hasn’t helped Baltimore’s passing game, and while Bateman is in a crowded receiving room along with Marquise Brown and Mark Andrews, there’s reason to believe his target share could ascend in Year 2.

Bateman missed the first five games of the regular season, a stint that has certainly been a hindrance to his NFL development, but since then, he garnered six or more targets in seven of his last eleven games, a testament to his ability to get open, especially on slants and short crossing routes. Bateman’s excellent separation ability along with his open-field speed allow him to be a big-play threat on any given snap, and his Year 1 17-game pace of 99 targets should only improve in 2022 as he grows and develops.

Bateman’s fantasy numbers were somewhat inconsistent, but he only had one touchdown this season, a number that will also rise given his abilities. As Lamar Jackson gains trust with his speedy receiver, they could develop a playmaking rapport potentially exceeding that of Jackson and Marquise Brown, elevating Bateman to a juicy role as the Ravens’ number two target. If he reaches that spot, he’d be well worth a selection at his likely late-round ADP, and at a low price, the minimal risk he carries is far outweighed by what could be top-24 WR potential next year.

2. Josh Palmer (Los Angeles Chargers)

Palmer, the Chargers’ 3rd round draft pick this year, has flashed in spots this year, but he mostly seems to have been written off in redraft circles at this point. Palmer’s late-round value is heavily dependent, however, on a Mike Williams exit, as Williams broke out this year but could now head to free agency. If Williams leaves LA, that could leave an opening for Palmer to be Justin Herbert’s #2 wide receiver, a spot that could pay big dividends for his fantasy numbers.

Palmer has certainly been inconsistent this year due to a limited role, but he started to show out at times later in the season. Palmer picked up 19 targets in the final four weeks of the fantasy season (Weeks 14-17), catching 14 of them for 140 yards and two touchdowns. Those numbers are far from stellar, but they’re certainly a step in the right direction, and proof that Palmer has developed since entering the NFL. I’d expect Palmer to take a solid Year 2 jump if Williams exits LA, making him well worth a selection in the late rounds of your drafts.

3. Kenny Golladay (New York Giants)

Yes, yes, I know that despite all of the preseason hype I gave him, Golladay finished as the fantasy WR81, an atrocious performance for someone being paid $18 million a year to dominate on the Giants. I will admit that this year’s performance caused me to drastically reevaluate this Giants offense as a whole, as I was a full-on proponent of Golladay in fantasy heading into the season. However, there are still reasons to be hopeful for improvement next year, and so I still feel there’s a case that he, at the very least, has potential for somewhat of a bounce-back year.

Golladay’s 2020 season was cut short by injuries, but he put up back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2018 and 2019, and at 28 years old, it’s doubtful that he lost all of his football ability. Golladay at his best is an amazing contested-catch receiver who uses his 6’4″, 214 pound frame to win 50 50 balls downfield. If he can get more involved in the offense, the big plays should start rolling in for him.

With Daniel Jones likely back for another year, the Giants should try to get Golladay much more involved so that his contract isn’t wasted, and they’ll likely encourage Jones, a solid downfield passer, to take more chances to get the ball to his star receiver. Golladay may not return to peak form next year, but his price is likely to land him at the tail end of fantasy drafts, a spot where you should be more than willing to take a guy with potential – if somewhat unlikely – WR2 upside.

The post Fantasy: Three sleeper WRs for 2022 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By Calvin K (Twitter: @Calvin_SGF)

For most leagues, fantasy championship week has arrived, and the heartbreak and jubilation set to occur on the coming weekend will signify the end of the 2021 fantasy season. For purely redraft players, this time of year marks the beginning of a long wait for next season, but for dynasty players, a whole new season of trading and startups begins. Dynasty trades often occur mostly in the first few months following a previous campaign, so there’s never a better time to try to acquire and ship off players. Here are three flex-caliber guys you should look to trade away.

1. Elijah Mitchell (RB, San Francisco 49ers)

I’d recommend holding onto Mitchell through the season if your league doesn’t have a trade deadline, as it’ll likely give potential suitors one more good performance in Week 17 against Houston to consider. Mitchell is a talented player who had a great season this year, but he’s still someone you should look to trade away, as his role isn’t particularly safe in San Francisco.

Mitchell has had a great season statistically, but Kyle Shanahan’s tendency to use multiple RBs and rotate starters often means his role is not necessarily locked in, even for next year. Shanahan’s running-back-by-committee approach has made many average or decent RBs look like superstars, with players such as Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson, Tevin Coleman, Carlos Hyde, and others putting up solid production in recent years.

The fact that San Francisco drafted not one, but two rookie RBs this year in Mitchell and Trey Sermon signifies their willingness to move on to the next guy, a trait that is concerning when considering Mitchell’s dynasty value. Wilson, Sermon, and others, possibly including Mostert, will be around to challenge Mitchell for next year’s starting role, and while Mitchell’s youth may keep him as the starter, fantasy managers should be wary of possible sudden changes and look to trade him away after this year.

2. JuJu Smith-Schuster (WR, Pittsburgh Steelers)

Smith-Schuster’s dynasty value went down after he got hurt and went out for the rest of the year, but it’s still time to trade him away in dynasty as soon as possible. Smith-Schuster will be a free agent this offseason, but wherever he signs, his situation likely won’t ever be as good as it was with Pittsburgh over the last few seasons.

Smith-Schuster’s breakout year came alongside lots of soft coverage with Antonio Brown taking double-teams, but since Brown left, Smith-Schuster has struggled to produce similar numbers. His average depth of target has tanked tremendously, and his skillset now makes him almost exclusively a player who operates close to the line of scrimmage. With rare exceptions (Deebo Samuel), that role is not good for fantasy, and because Smith-Schuster doesn’t have WR1 talent or running back ability like Samuel does, it should be tough for him to compile major fantasy points in the future.

NFL teams seem to sense Smith-Schuster’s non-alpha skillset, as they allowed him to return to Pittsburgh on a relatively cheap one-year deal, so whatever team signs him probably would do so to make him a WR2 or WR3. That won’t represent much of an upgrade, if any, from his value in Pittsburgh even if he does manage to produce, and it could spell total disaster for his fantasy value if he lands on a WR-needy team that generally struggles to move the ball. Free agency often springs excessive hype for available WRs in dynasty leagues, so the time to capitalize on that potential value is now.

3. Tyler Lockett (WR, Seattle Seahawks)

Lockett should be someone you’re looking to sell high in dynasty for multiple reasons. For anyone who’s followed my content for a while, you know that I often rail against Lockett in general. This is for the reason that his inconsistency often causes him to tank your fantasy week, making him often left on the bench for when his outlier big weeks do come.

On top of that aspect, which is my usual narrative, the struggles of this Seahawks team as a whole leaves potential for QB Russell Wilson to exit Seattle via a trade after this year, potentially tanking Lockett’s value. Without Wilson, who he has played with for his whole career, Lockett’s value could plummet as the Seahawks go into rebuilding mode, which would only exacerbate his inconsistency. Finally, Lockett has been thoroughly outplaying DK Metcalf over these last few weeks, but historically, Metcalf has been this offense’s WR1, so there’s regression potential there as well.

Lockett’s production over the last few games has been very good. However, overall, the harm he does to fantasy teams with inconsistency, along with the other factors mentioned, means he should be someone you’re looking to trade away.

The post Three Flex Players to Trade Away in Dynasty appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By Calvin K (Twitter: @Calvin_SGF)

1. Kendrick Bourne (WR, New England Patriots)

Bourne’s name has been getting a lot more attention in the fantasy landscape over the last few weeks, but it’s still very possible to acquire him in dynasty given his general lack of production in recent years. Over the last three weeks, Bourne has impressively hauled in 13 of his 14 targets, and he’s flashed big-play ability in that time span as well, grabbing three touchdowns and posting two games with over 60 yards receiving.

It feels like Bourne has been in the league for forever at this point, but at just 26 years old, he’s still relatively young by dynasty standards, and Mac Jones’s stabilizing effect on New England’s offense has helped him gain consistency. The trust between Jones and Bourne should only grow in future years, and Bourne will only be aided by the likely exit of Nelson Agholor after the 2022 season when Bourne will still have a year left on his contract. 2023 is still far in the future, but that year will be an opportunity for Bourne to improve what will still be solid production with big upside through this year and next. He should be a priority trade target for dynasty managers, either as a specific target or an addition to an existing deal.

2. Dyami Brown (WR, Washington Football Team)

Brown is still rostered in most dynasty leagues, but he seems to be a forgotten man at this point after a disappointing 2021 in which he’s barely seen the ball. The third-round rookie out of North Carolina has rarely flashed so far this year, but his ability as a vertical threat blew away Washington’s scouts during the draft process, and Brown drew comparisons to teammate WR Terry McLaurin with his ability to run crisp routes and make tough catches. Brown is likely a very cheap trade target at this point, and he’s definitely worth a third-round rookie pick on his own. His low perceived value also probably makes him a cheap throw-in option to an existing deal, and his athletic upside makes him well worth a small investment.

3. Laquon Treadwell (WR, Jacksonville Jaguars)

There’s really no point in trading for Treadwell with anything more than (maybe) a fourth-round rookie pick, but thankfully, he’s available in 93% of dynasty leagues on Sleeper, and he’s someone who is certainly worth a roster or taxi squad spot due to the upside he’s flashed in his last couple of games. To put it simply, Treadwell has been a bust since being drafted #23 overall by the Vikings in 2016, but he’s shown a rapport with Trevor Lawrence over the past couple of weeks, catching eight of 13 targets for 115 yards in that span.

At 6’2″, 215 pounds, Treadwell is a big body who excels against press coverage and in tight coverage, traits that are especially useful when attempting to be a reliable target for a rookie QB. It’s more than likely that Treadwell doesn’t do much in Jacksonville with DJ Chark and Jamal Agnew returning from injuries next year, but Treadwell will hit the free agency market after this year, so there’s a small chance he gets a moderate role for a WR-needy team. This chance certainly isn’t high by any means, but his wide availability in dynasty leagues means that it can’t hurt to pick him up and stash him on your bench.

The post Three Sleepers to Target in Dynasty appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By Calvin K (Twitter: @Calvin_SGF)

NOTE: These players are rostered in 40% or less of ESPN leagues

1. Devonta Freeman (RB, Baltimore Ravens)

Freeman has now solidified his hold on the Ravens backfield, racking up 22 touches on Sunday against the Bears. Freeman has been Baltimore’s back of choice over the last few weeks, and fellow RB Latavius Murray took a backseat in this game to Freeman, who has now garnered at least 13 touches in three straight matchups. The release of Le’Veon Bell will only increase Freeman’s opportunities, and while he’s not the most efficient runner compared to his younger days (only 49 rushing yards on 16 carries last week), his opportunity share still makes him a back-end RB2, placing him easily atop this week’s waiver wire adds.

2. Ty Johnson (RB, New York Jets)

Johnson has become a fantasy must-add following the news that Jets starting RB Michael Carter will miss multiple weeks with an injury. Johnson already has been somewhat involved in the Jets’ offense as of late, catching 19 passes over his last five games. Now, his carry numbers will get a chance to skyrocket in Carter’s absence, although his upside may be somewhat limited due to the presence of Tevin Coleman in the backfield as well. However, Johnson should still get some decent work in future weeks, so while he’s a risky start in fantasy as of now, he should still be rostered in all leagues.

3. A.J. Green (WR, Arizona Cardinals)

Green has been quietly productive over the last few weeks, and he had another solid game against Seattle on Sunday, catching four passes for 78 yards with Colt McCoy at the helm instead of the injured Kyler Murray. Green is currently sitting in a very crowded receiver room, so his performance can often hinge on whether the Cardinals put up a massive game that supports every wide receiver. However, Arizona’s high-powered offense has plenty of those games, which can serve to mask potential inconsistency from Green that we might otherwise see. Rondale Moore, Christian Kirk, and DeAndre Hopkins will continually eat into Green’s target share, but his week-to-week upside and relatively safe floor make him worth an add in fantasy.

4. Rondale Moore (WR, Arizona Cardinals)

Moore and Green are in similar situations, as both tend to hinder the other’s fantasy performances. However, Moore’s 11-catch day showed that, while he may be more inconsistent than Green at times, his short-yardage playmaking ability can allow him to siphon tons of targets on occasion. While this can make him a good asset in PPR leagues, the short-yardage nature of his receptions can make it difficult for him to have massive games unless he breaks off one big run, so he’s often too inconsistent to start on a week-to-week basis. However, Moore is electric with the ball in his hands, so fantasy managers could do far worse with an emergency plug-and-play.

5. Cam Newton (QB, Carolina Panthers)

Newton threw for just 189 yards on Sunday, but he still finished as the fantasy QB4 on the week (pre-MNF) due to the rushing floor that he provided. Newton picked up 46 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries, accounting for 10.6 of his fantasy points with his feet alone. This baseline will allow Newton to have good fantasy performances even on days where his passing isn’t the best, and upcoming matchups against the Dolphins and Falcons will allow Newton to truly display his upside. Newton is still a risky option at QB, but his soft schedule over the next two weeks makes him well worth an add, as he could become very valuable as a streamer at QB.

The post Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups For Week 12 2.0 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By Calvin K (Twitter: @Calvin_SGF)

NOTE: These players are rostered in 40% or less of ESPN leagues

1. Elijah Moore (WR, New York Jets)

Moore had the best game of his young career on Thursday, catching seven of eight targets for 84 yards and two scores against the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts game was a fitting accentuation to Moore’s hot stretch as of late, as his 20 targets over the last three weeks have represented a heavy involvement in the offense as of late. Moore shouldn’t be considered a safe fantasy starter just yet, but he’s still someone who should be rostered in all leagues, as he’s worth a plug-and-play because of his upside.

2. Dan Arnold (TE, Jacksonville Jaguars)

Arnold’s target share has greatly benefited from his trade to Jacksonville, as he now has 12 catches on 17 receptions in the two weeks he’s played for the Jags. Arnold can now be considered a borderline TE1 for fantasy, and good tight end options don’t come around often on the waiver wire, so he’s certainly someone that fantasy managers should look to add this week.

3. Rashod Bateman (WR, Baltimore Ravens)

Bateman has gotten better and better each game for the Ravens, and his five-catch-for-52-yard day against the Vikings on Sunday capped off a solid three-game stretch for him. Bateman hasn’t scored a touchdown yet this year, which has limited his value, but he has received 20 targets in his three active games this year (with no fewer than six in any), a very encouraging sign for his involvement in the offense. Bateman is still a low-upside option with many other pass-catchers still heavily in the Ravens’ fold, but his target share still makes him worth a pickup in fantasy leagues.

4. Sony Michel (RB, Los Angeles Rams)

A lot of Michel’s work this week (nine touches and a touchdown) came with starting RB Darrell Henderson injured, but when Henderson returned to Sunday’s contest, Michel was only a minimal contributor in the offense. Nonetheless, he’s still worth a pickup for RB-needy teams, as the Rams have shown they are willing to rely on him when necessary. Michel has six games with nine or more touches on the year, and he’s shown the ability to be physical and wear down defenders in the running game. Thus, he’s worth a fantasy stash, because if something happens to Henderson, Michel could step in and be a very viable fantasy option.

5. Tyrod Taylor (QB, Houston Texans)

Taylor is someone who doesn’t necessarily need to be added given his bad game last week, but for those who need QB help, his name is one to keep an eye on. Taylor started off the season very well for the Texans until his hamstring injury, compiling 331 total yards in Week 1 before following that up with a hot Week 2 start that got cut short by his injury. Taylor’s performance on Sunday was admittedly dreadful, but he is a dual-threat quarterback who established what he is capable of early in the year, so he could be a good bet for a bounce-back in the coming weeks.

The post Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups For Week 10 2.0 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By Calvin K (Twitter: @Calvin_SGF)

The Sunday slate of NFL Week 5 action has officially wrapped up, and Sunday’s games were wild, featuring upsets, shootouts, and plenty of new storylines to unpack. As always, a new week brings new discussions regarding the fantasy football waiver wire. In this article, I’ll be naming my top five players to target on waivers this week.

(NOTE: These players are rostered in 40% or less of ESPN leagues)

Kadarius Toney (WR, New York Giants)

Toney exploded against the Cowboys on Sunday, hauling in 10 passes for a whopping 189 yards on 13 targets. The first-rounder out of Florida was able to take advantage of his many opportunities, and with Sterling Shepard, Darius Slayton, and Kenny Golladay injured for most or all of Sunday’s contest, he was forced into a heavy role out of necessity.

Toney was viewed mostly as a gadget player upon his entrance to the NFL, but yesterday’s performance proved he can succeed at all levels of the field. Toney is still at his best when his touches are manufactured, but he proved himself as a route-runner and separator as well. This will hopefully lead to more opportunities for Toney in the future, and we now have two weeks of evidence that he can be heavily involved in the Giants’ offense, making him more likely to retain much of his role even when his fellow wide receivers return.

Devontae Booker (RB, New York Giants)

Booker was another beneficiary of New York’s void in playmakers, and he racked up 19 touches on Sunday after starting running back Saquon Barkley left the game with a sprained ankle. Barkley’s injury is not believed to be serious, and he’s only expected to miss a week or two, but Booker should still be rostered in every league purely because of his potential for a heavy workload.

Booker was somewhat inefficient on Sunday, averaging just 2.6 yards per carry, but his fantasy day was carried by two touchdowns, one on the ground and one through the air. Those goal-line opportunities will make him a borderline starting option at running back. Although he’ll likely only be a short-term factor, Booker is really the only starting RB who is widely available right now, making him well worth a modest waiver bid.

Hunter Henry (TE, New England Patriots)

Henry has established himself as the tight end of choice in New England, and with 19 targets in his past three games, he’s become a favorite target of Patriots quarterback Mac Jones. Henry has now picked up a touchdown in back-to-back games as well, and he turned in his best performance of the year against the Texans this week, catching six or eight targets for 75 yards and a score.

It may be too soon to consider Henry as a permanent starting tight end, but he’s certainly become a decent streaming option for any tight-end-needy team. His future schedule is also looking bright, with matchups against the Cowboys and Jets coming up over the next two weeks. Henry seems like a good bet to continue his run of success in those matchups, making him someone you should certainly consider rostering on your fantasy team.

Tim Patrick (WR, Denver Broncos)

Patrick continued his stretch of productivity on Sunday, catching seven of nine targets for 89 yards against Baltimore. With K.J. Hamler out for the season and Jerry Jeudy gone, in all likelihood, until at least Week 7, Patrick’s target share should continue to be quite solid.

Patrick has scored over 11 half-PPR points in all but one game this year, averaging 5.6 targets per game, including 20 over his last three matchups. Patrick is still available in over 70% of ESPN leagues, so if you’re looking for a consistent flex, he’s a good option to consider.

Rondale Moore (WR, Arizona Cardinals)

Moore, who was Arizona’s second-round pick this year, isn’t someone you should be relying on just yet due to his inconsistent target share, but his upside that he’s flashed makes him worth an add as an end-of-bench stash. Moore will probably continue to be somewhat unreliable while competing for targets with DeAndre Hopkins, A.J. Green, and Christian Kirk, but he will still have a clear opportunity to be the WR2 out of that group as the season progresses.

The Cardinals WR2 is likely to reap major fantasy rewards, as Kyler Murray has played in shootout after a shootout and shows no imminent signs of slowing down. The Cardinals have exceeded 30 points in four of five games this season, so there’ll almost always be lots of scoring from this offense. Green and Kirk are also worthy of roster consideration, but if you’re looking for an upside pickup, the rookie is the best bet.

The post Five Waiver Wire Targets For Week 6 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.