By: Keith James

The NFL is back and it is better than ever. The beauty of the NFL is that it is a week-to-week game. One week a team or a player looks great, the next week not so much. Such is life in the NFL. In a dynasty, fantasy owners can win by buying the dip. Human beings are emotional creatures. We don’t always follow logic. This is never more true than in fantasy football. People take this seriously and they get angry when their players don’t perform. 

Use that anger to your advantage. Look for young players that didn’t perform where a fantasy manager may throw their hands up and say, I’m going to cut bait on this player. This is how fantasy managers can buy productive assets on the cheap. 

This week I will give three players that can be used in the flex position that fantasy managers can buy cheaper than before the season. 

Brandon Aiyuk, WR, 23 years old

Aiyuk was a mystery on Sunday. There were reports that he has been dealing with injuries all off-season but he was healed up enough to suit up against the lowly Lions on Sunday. Given the 49ers history of spreading the wealth, I cautioned fantasy owners on Aiyuk in week one. In what should have been a smash spot for the talented 2nd-year player, I was concerned that the Niners were going to spread the wealth and Aiyuk could be the odd man out solely based on his injury. 

Something else seemed to be afoot with both Brando Aiyuk and Trey Sermon and there were reports both payers may have been in Kyle Shanahan’s doghouse for missing curfew. Who knows. Either way, Brandon Aiyuk watched as his fellow WR running mate, Deebo Samuel went bonkers against the Lions atrocious pass defense. Deebo had 9 grabs on 12 targets for 189 yards and a long 79-yard touchdown. Of course, he also had a terrible late-game fumble. Still, BA had to watch as his fellow receiver went crazy and Aiyuk was left with zero targets. That’s not good. 

Aiyuk will likely still be seen by fantasy managers as a great young receiver. He had 15.4 fantasy points per game last year because Aiyuk is electric with the ball in his hands. After week one, however, some of the shine may have worn off. I threw out some offers for Aiyuk to fellow league mates and I recommend you do the same. He is still a player that can have a top 24 season this year and in only his second year, he can become a fantasy scoring machine if he stays healthy and grows up. The cost will likely be high but I would offer a first-round pick for Aiyuk and try to pry an exciting young player from your league mates hands on the back of a pathetic week one show. 

Javonte Williams RB, 21 years old

Get Javonte as soon as you can! I would try to get Javonte this week before he goes crazy against the Jags and becomes all but untouchable. More than likely fantasy managers will not want to part with Javonte. Fantasy managers know that Melvin Gordon will likely be a PITA for Javonte the entire year. Managers are waiting for the year two ascension and may scoff at any Javonte offers but the fact remains Javonte played second fiddle to MG3 against the Giants. As much as I love Javonte’s talent, MG3 was by far the better back on Sunday. 

Gordon had 101 yards on only 11 attempts (9.2 YPC) and looked just as explosive as he did in his Chargers days. Javonte did not look great. He looked tentative and was bottled up for only 45 yards on 14 carries. It was encouraging to see the snaps split evenly between the two backs (they both had a 50% snap share) but the 28-year-old Gordon looked explosive and the 21-year-old Williams looked plodding. 

This is the best time to strike for Javonte. As I stated, his cost will not be cheap. Dynasty owners likely invested a lot in Javonte but like Aiyuk he may have lost his shine and if a fellow league mate is a contender that just so happens to have Williams, there may be a deal to be had for a more established RB and a pick. I would strike sooner rather than later however because up next, the Broncos take on the lowly Jags. The Jags of course were demolished by what many people think is the worst roster in the NFL in the Texans. With Denver more than likely taking a commanding lead in week two against Denver, Javonte may get enough run to put up gaudy numbers. 

This may be the last chance to get what could be a top ten back in the NFL over the next three years. If a team has any interest in selling, I am trying to buy Javonte right now. His schedule at the end of the season could make patient Javonte owner league winners. With Gordon’s history of getting beat up and missing games, this could be Javonte’s backfield to own by week 10. I’d be willing to offer a player like Chris Carson and a first-round pick to land Javonte. As I say, he won’t be cheap but he will be worth whatever it takes to pry him from your league mates hands. 

Courtland Sutton WR, 25 years old

Sutton had a bad game against the Giants. Lining up against James Bradberry is never easy and Jerry Jeudy was the star receiver in this game; until his injury. With Jeudy suffering a high ankle sprain and landing on IR, his entire season is likely toast. Remember Michael Thomas last year. Even if Jeudy comes back he will likely be hobbled the rest of the year. High ankle sprains are killers for playmakers. This is the time to strike on Courtland Sutton. 

Sutton of course is working back from his own devastating injury. Sutton blew out his ACL early in the season last year and will likely take a few weeks for him to regain his confidence and explosion. Sutton was on his way to becoming one of the best young receivers in the game in 2020. Coming off of an impressive 2019 season, Sutton blew out his knee all too early. Injuries suck. Sutton owners are likely frustrated and are wondering if Sutton will ever come back. He only had 1 grab for 14 yards on 3 targets. Steady Teddy Bridgewater will spread the wealth and he found guys like Tim Patrick, Noah Fant, and Albert Okwuegbunam against the Giants. Combined those three players had 13 grabs on 15 targets for 117 yards and two touchdowns. It seemed as though everyone but Sutton had a good game for the Broncos. 

Sutton may take some time but with Jeudy going down, Sutton has the opportunity to be a true alpha in Denver. Playing against the Jaguars this week, he could be in line for a monster game. I would throw out some offers for Sutton and see if there are any bites. Again, strike before the player goes off. Denver should manhandle the Jaguars fairly easily this week as 6 point favorites on the road. Both Williams (pricey) and Sutton (cheap) could be had for a discounted price but if they blow up against the Jaguars forget about it. Remember, human beings are emotional. Both good and bad. The strike will Sutton has put a bad taste in his fantasy managers mouth and your team could have a high-end WR2 this year and for years to come. 

The post Dynasty flex players to trade for appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Keith James

Down But Not Out

The NFL season is upon us and with that, we are aiming to improve our fantasy teams. In redraft, we are scrambling to make trades that will set us up for the current season. In dynasty leagues, managers should focus on setting up their teams for the next three years. No matter where a team is in the dynasty process, whether a team is rebuilding, in contention, or somewhere in between, there is always room to improve. In this article, I will give managers three sleeper quarterbacks to trade for in your dynasty league.

Jameis Winston

Now that Jameis Winston has won the quarterback job for the Saints, he is primed to revitalize his career. Winston of course was the top overall pick in 2016 and had an up and down career with the Bucs before leaving for New Orleans last year. Winston has the talent. There have always been questions about his character, his maturity level, and his leadership skills. There have also been questions about his turnover problem.

Winston is in the rare company becoming the first player to ever throw for 30 touchdowns and throw for 30 interceptions in one year. That is hard to do. Most quarterbacks would have been benched well before hitting 20 interceptions let alone 30 but Bruce Arians had few options other than play Winston and hope for the best. That lead to a 7-9 season and Winston was bounced from the Bay.

Going to New Orleans, Winston wanted to revitalize his career. Studying under Sean Payton and Drew Brees for a year, I believe Winston will once again show he is able to deliver. The Saints might have found gold. With reports that Jameis had eye surgery to correct his vision, paired with his big arm and his ability to move around in the pocket, Winston will be primed for fantasy gold once again. Remember, even though Winston threw 30 picks in 2019, he was still QB4 that year with over 5,000 yards passing and 33 touchdowns. Winston can play, the question is has he grown up? Can he hit deep shots and not turn the ball over? Can he lead an offense with suddenly few playmakers down in the bayou? I say yes.

Winston is worth a 2nd round pick in either 2022 or 2023. I would try to pair a player and a 2nd round pick for Winston and another player. Get Jameis on your squad and watch fantasy goodness for a cheap price for the next 3-5 years.

Zach Wilson

I will be the first to admit, I was not a Zach Wilson fan. I didn’t think he could play outside of the MAC where BYU was able to dominate. When I watched Wilson, I saw a talented kid that had all day to throw. He was fairly exposed by Coastal Carolina in the one game where BYU played top-level competition and he looked extraordinarily ordinary.

Wilson has the arm talent to succeed in the NFL. Chris Simms is right, he can throw from any platform and he throws a beautiful deep ball. I was fairly biased in my evaluation and not knowing the kid personally, I thought a rich kid from Utah would struggle in the big apple. I was wrong.

Wilson will not be dominant out of the gates but I love the coaching staff with the Jets. They hit a home run with coach Saleh and I think Mike LaFleur will be able to maximize Wilson’s talents. He will not wow folks in the beginning and this is when you strike. Most fantasy teams were able to get Wilson as a low-round first-round pick or a high second-round pick so he is not seen as a top-level asset. Wait until Wilson struggles a bit out of the gates and then offer a player and a 2nd round pick for Wilson. He may even be worth a later first-round pick if you believe your team is in contention. The kid can play and he will be worth investing a lower-valued asset in exchange for a franchise QB, able to put up big numbers by year two or three in NYC.

Jordan Love

As a Bears fan, it pains me to say this but Jordan Love isn’t bad. He may not be Favre or Rodgers good, but Jordan Love has talent. He reminds me a lot of Trey Lance. Both players are big, strong, lanky QB’s that can throw the ball a mile. Love is raw but comes next year, he could be a top 15 fantasy asset.

The game is changing. Running QB’s are indeed a Konami cheat code. If a QB can pick up 400 yards on the ground that is a 35 point advantage they have over passing QBs. That means that passing QB’s would have to throw either 6 more touchdowns than the running QB or 800 yards more passing than a running QB. Or some combination of the two. The point is more would have to go right for passing QB’s to be successful in fantasy than for running QB’s. This is where Jordan Love’s skillset makes sense.

He is all but forgotten about and he can definitely be an asset to your team. He shouldn’t cost much these days. There isn’t a lot of hype around Jordan Love. Dynasty players know he is playing next year when Aaron Rodgers inevitably leaves but the talk around the NFL is that Love is far from ready. This means it’s time to pounce. By acquiring Love now for a 2nd round pick, a fantasy manager can lock up a starting NFL QB for the next 2-3 years minimum. Love would still have an offense with Davante Adams, Aaron Jones, and Robert Tonyan and a great offensive line. Matt LaFleur is a solid NFL coach and he will put together a scheme for Love to succeed.

Love having the luxury of sitting for two years and learning from one of the best QB’s to ever play the game in Aaron Rodgers will absolutely allow Jordan Love to thrive day one under center in 2022. This is where patience in dynasty leagues plays out. For a struggling team, you may be able to offer a 2nd round pick as they load up on picks for their rookie drafts next year and steal away a potential top 12-15 NFL QB that gives you downfield passing and the ability to chew up yardage on the ground. Go get yourself some love and love your dynasty team!

The post 3 sleeper QBs to trade for in Dynasty appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Keith James

Feel the burn

The flex position is the most forgotten spot on your roster, yet it is the spot/s that causes the most heartburn. The dreaded Thursday and Monday Flex decision is enough for most fantasy players to pull their hair out. Ask me how I know. In this article, I will give three players that are going late in drafts that will be set and forget flex players for your fantasy squad. 

Slow and Low

When flexing it’s best to go slow and low. This works for bicep curls and for your fantasy football drafts. What do I mean slow and low? I mean slow because these players are getting slow buzz. They are boring, but they are producing. When the fantasy managers laugh, you win. What do I mean by low? I say low because their ADP remains much too low for their sexy flex appeal. These are players you snag late in drafts, and hit the flex all season long, adding up to major points for your fantasy squad. 

The Core

Flex positions are difficult because you build your core in the first 5-6 rounds. Flex players then become ultra star bench players. When drafting for depth, instead think of what players can maximize the flex position. I will admit, most of my flex players are wide receivers these days. I often draft top-heavy running backs, grab my tight end early, then grab my two starting WR’s and wait on QB’s until rounds 6, 7, or 8. But flex positions are often overlooked. Start thinking of all flex positions as starting players and you will draft more upside players that can win you weeks from the flex. 

When comparing RB’s to WR’s taken this late in the draft, wide receivers will score more than running backs on a weekly basis. The later rounds can find handcuff RB’s or a RB 4/5 for your team but more than likely the best bet is to focus on high potential wide receivers for the flex positions. The following are three players I love this year to strike gold in the later rounds that can be played on a weekly basis in the flex spot. 

Corey Davis (ADP 118, WR48)

Corey Davis is coming off of a career year and he was rewarded by the Jets for his efforts. He was signed to a 3 year, 37.5 million dollar deal and in fantasy, it is always good to follow the money. Davis was also signed to be the alpha in NYC. His rapport with Zach Wilson has been evident in the offseason and Wilson looks to be legit.

Young quarterbacks tend to focus on their first read and Davis will be the first look on the majority of pass plays. The Jets don’t have a productive tight end as a security blanket so Davis will serve in that role. Davis is a perfect big body that won’t compete for many outside targets. Crowder and dynamic rookie Elijah Moore will work out of the slot but Davis will eat in the big apple and serve as a locked-in flex position for your team.

Marvin Jones (ADP 135, WR53)

Marvin Jones is another player coming over from a different team. Leaving the friendly confines of the motor city and Matt Stafford’s strong right arm, Marvin Jones all of a sudden finds himself as the old man in the wide receiver room. The wide receiver room is talented and so is Trevor Lawrence. Jones is a perfect wide receiver for Lawrence to rely on in 2021. DJ Chark is a big body, the uber-talented kid that is in a contract year. Laviska Shenault is one of the most talented receivers from the impressive 2020 wide receiver group but I believe Jones will be Lawrence’s first option.

Jones knows how to get open and with attention being paid to Shenault and Chark, Jones will have the opportunity to find space in the open field. Jones has been Lawrence’s target in the preseason and although he is a boring pick he is a guy that will be the most productive wide receiver for Trevor’s first year in the league. We all like the new and exciting option on the menu but McDonalds fries are still the best option when you are hungry. Jones is Trevor’s golden arches fries and he will be a proven option in your flex position. 

Jakobi Myers (ADP 153, WR64)

Jacoby Myers is a quick man, said like John Gruden. I had the chance to watch his tape in the 2020 season and he is a twitchy slot option that knows how to use his body and leverage cornerbacks to get open. With the inevitable Mac Jones take over from Cam Newton, I love Myers at his current ADP of 153. That is around 12 or later. Myers will be another, you guessed it, security blanket, for a rookie QB. At this point in the draft, I am looking for upside and guys that will be involved in the offense. Myers may not have a huge upside but he will be heavily involved.

Myers has limited upside but his ADP is reflective of a zero touchdown performance in 2020. Touchdowns are fluky and Myers had some bad luck in the TD department. I imagine if Myers stays healthy he is due for positive TD progression and out of the slot could hit pay dirt three or four times in 2021. 

Myers has the ability to be a top 32 wide receiver in this league. Being drafted as wide receiver 64, there are few better options to turn to at this point in your draft. Myers will be the number one wide receiver option and the Patriots love using the slot to find holes in the defense and get up field. Mac Jones doesn’t have a great arm, but he is accurate in the short passing game which is a staple of the NE offense. Myers and Jones are a match made in heaven. Fire up Myers in your sexy flex spot and watch him pay off. 

Treat Flex Spots as Starters

A good mind trick is to treat flex spots as starters. Once a core is established, start thinking of flex guys, not as mix and match guys, but as set it and forget players. This way you can avoid frustration by choosing who to play with. You set your lineup and get ready to win. Corey Davis, Marvin Jones, and Jakobi Myers have the opportunity to lead their team in targets and receptions. They are not the flashiest players, but they are solid weekly contributors that will help you win your fantasy league. Don’t sleep on the flex appeal, they are people too. 

The post Three players primed to dominate the flex spot appeared first on Pro Football Mania.