Quarterbacks

Joshua Dobbs – (46.0% Owned)

Josh Dobbs continued his incredible story with another victory this past Sunday. Dobbs is now 2-0 with the Vikings and looks to be getting Justin Jefferson back this week. He is now 7th in total fantasy points for quarterbacks (179.5) between his time in Arizona and now Minnesota. He also has a plus matchup this week when the Vikings take on the Denver Broncos on Sunday night. Quarterback needy teams should prioritize grabbing Dobbs.

Running Backs

Ty Chandler – (5.9% Owned)

2nd year running back Ty Chandler filled in admirably for the injured Alexander Mattison on Sunday. Mattison left the game due to a concussion and Chandler was able to rush for 45 yards in relief. There is a good chance that Mattison misses this week’s matchup vs. the Broncos which means Chandler would be the lead back. Chandler should be the main priority on waivers this week as he has the explosive ability to take it to the house on any play. Even when Mattison comes back I like the long-term prospects of Chandler.

Wide Receivers

Brandin Cooks – (43.6% Owned)

Cooks had a monster game against the New York Giants in week 10. He totaled 173 receiving yards on 10 targets including a touchdown. The Giants defense was blasted yet again by the Cowboys but this type of performance was encouraging for Cooks. Playing him will be a gamble due to his inconsistency but Cooks has boom potential in the right matchup.

Tight Ends

Pat Freiermuth – (36.3% Owned)

Freiermuth is scheduled to come off the IR this week in time for the Steelers clash vs. the Browns. Freiermuth didn’t exactly impress before going on IR but he was dealing with a hamstring injury that slowed him down. If he is now completely healthy Freirmuth is worth stashing as he has top-10 TE ability in his game. If you’re in need of a tight end he is worth a claim.

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Dallas Cowboys: WR Brandin Cooks [ADP: 118.7]

The Dallas Cowboys traded for Brandin Cooks in the offseason and he slots in as their WR 2. The Dallas offense is very dynamic so look for Cooks to have a bounce-back year. He is capable of getting over 1000+ receiving yards so his value in the 10th round is worth it.

New York Giants: WR Isaiah Hodgins [ADP: 185.8]

Isaiah Hodgins became my favorite super late pickup of the previous season. He and Daniel Jones would always connect for TDs and it showed even in the playoffs. With a full training camp, the two will hope to build more from last year. With no locked-in WR 1, Hodgins can hopefully take that crown for the Giants.

Philadelphia Eagles: TE Dallas Goedert [ADP: 57]

Philadelphia was definitely the hardest to choose as they have so many highly-ranked players and their ADP feels safe. Enter Dallas Goedert. Without the injuries, I feel he should be in the discussion for the top five TEs in all of football. He was very unlucky last season as he missed five games in the middle of the season. In a position lacking in depth, Goedert is worth a pick in the late 50s.

Washington Commanders: QB Sam Howell [ADP: 123.6]

It’s very difficult to say a QB is a fantasy sleeper unless there are certain circumstances. Ranked 29th among all QBs is the starter of the Commanders, Sam Howell. The QB from North Carolina started just one game last season as a rookie. His only competition is Jacoby Brissett so Washington will want to see what he’s made off. The Commanders do have some pieces on offense so I think Howell won’t be too bad if you’re in a 2QB type of league.

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The Houston Texans closed the door on the possibility of trading Brandin Cooks by awarding him a contract extension. The 28-year-old Texans wideout was spectacular with average QB production in 2021. The former Saints first-round pick reeled in a career-high 90 receptions (from a career-high 134 targets), 1,037 yards, and six touchdowns.

Cooks is currently ranked as the 37th dynasty WR (PPR) via Fantasy Pros. I believe that now is the time to BUY Cooks. I fully expect him to grow with Davis Mills (who had a very, very similar season as Tua Tagovailoa in his “rookie year”).

Mills didn’t start in four games, yet Cooks was still dynamite as the focal point of the offense. I also expect Cooks to be the main target for many years ahead. I really don’t believe his future in Houston is a death sentence, to say the least. If Mills can be a QB that can throw 3,500+ yards and 25+ touchdowns within a couple of years, I expect the workaholic Cooks to be a monster for a few seasons. Cooks might be getting older, but I expect him to follow in the footsteps of WRs like Emmanuel Sanders, Tedd Ginn Jr, and Desean Jackson by keeping the juice late in his career.

Cooks will also benefit from his QB receiving better pass protection next season. The Texans signed Justin Britt and A.J. Cann in free agency. The Texans allowed the ninth most sacks last season and I expect Mills to be slightly happier about the outlook with two stout OL added.

Cooks was the 20th best WR last season in PPR. I expect him to be a Top 15 with 17 games from a more improved Mills in my opinion. I truly love his outlook with the Texans for the next 4-5 seasons.

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

By: Jake Rajala

The Green Bay Packers really need to add wide receiver talent, according to Captain Obvious. The Pack has lost Davante Adams and they failed to re-sign MVS. The 2021 and 2020 MVP Aaron Rodgers honestly deserves a couple of wide receivers that have Pro Bowl potential.

According to Matt LaFleur, the Packers are looking to add a “deep threat” wideout. I would fully expect them to add multiple quality WRs, but they are clearly desperate to find a WR that specializes in taking the top off a defense. With that said, I will offer a unique, exciting outlook on the particular category of speed WRs that the Packers could sign soon.

T.Y. Hilton

The Packers NEED to sign T.Y. Hilton or Will Fuller in my opinion. I would prefer to see the Packers sign Hilton to a short-term contract than break the bank for Fuller. Hilton can aspire to ride off into the sunset with the Packers future Hall of Fame signal-caller. If he doesn’t re-sign with the Colts, I’d be shocked if the Packers let him slip to another team.

Allen Hurns

Allen Hurns could really be a diamond in the rough for the Packers. In 2015, Hurns had a crazy performance: 1,031 yards, 16.1 YPC, and 10 receiving touchdowns. I believe Rodgers could honestly make Hurns an 800+ yard WR next season and he would be the second WR that Rodgers has brought back from the dead (of course, Randall Cobb is the other).

Trade for Brandin Cooks

If the Packers strike out on Hilton/Fuller and they don’t want to sign an underproductive wideout in recent memory, they need to get creative to find a blistering fast WR. The Texans may not want to ship out their best player in Brandin Cooks, but the Packers could potentially send HOU a second-round pick and a 2023 third-round pick for him. Cooks is coming off back-to-back 1,000+ yard seasons with a dreadful Texans offense.

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By: Jake Rajala

The New Orleans Saints stud safety Malcolm Jenkins announced retirement at the age of 34 years old today. The NFL world shouldn’t expect Jenkins to return unless he is returning for a playoff gauntlet (cough, cough, Eric Weddle).

Jenkins was drafted by the Saints in 2009 as a cornerback, but he quickly ascended into a quality safety in the league. He was a rookie play-maker on the Saints Super Bowl-winning squad as he had one interception, two forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery. He was a versatile, aggressive safety for Greg Williams’s defense. Unfortunately, the Saints defense crumbled under Rob Ryan and he struggled to be a strong fit for the Saints lackluster, slow defense.

Jenkins signed with the Eagles on the first day of free agency in the 2014 offseason. Jenkins was flat out a monster under Jim Schwartz. He made the Pro Bowl in 2015, 2017, and 2018 with Philly. Most importantly, he was a key x-factor in the Eagles Super Bowl victory against the New England Patriots in February of 2018. He notably had a massive clean hit against Brandin Cooks in the Super Bowl, which knocked Cooks (Patriots WR1) out of the contest. In the 2017 season, Jenkins also flexed his leadership and helped the Eagles defense cause more turnovers and bring more juice in the second half of the season.

Jenkins returned to the Big Easy in 2020 and he showed that he wasn’t “washed up”. He had three interceptions, 2.5 sacks, a forced fumble, and 10 pass deflections. He helped the Saints young secondary and Drew Brees-led squad reach the divisional round in the 2020-2021 season. Jenkins had a modest 2021 season, but his beloved team wasn’t able to make the playoffs in the post Drew Brees era. Jenkins will be remembered as one of the greatest Eagles defensive backs in history and he was also a pivotal defender for the Saints team for many seasons.

The post Malcolm Jenkins retires: a tribute to the Eagles legend appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The 2022 NFL offseason is on the horizon. NFL fans will enjoy the Super Bowl on Sunday and then the focus on next season will officially be underway on Monday. The 2022 NFL offseason is guaranteed to bring lots of excitement and surprise to the NFL base.

The 2022 NFL draft and free agency period will bring lots of change and deliver entertaining headlines. Still, there will be other dynamic shifts amid NFL rosters that take place this offseason. NFL players and big-name profiles will be traded this offseason, which is a common theme in each NFL/sports offseason. Well, which trades could NFL followers see take place in this offseason? Here are many trades that I believe would be attractive and would make a ton of sense.

Las Vegas Raiders trade for Brandin Cooks

It would be smart for Josh McDaniels, who was an offensive coordinator for Brandin Cooks in New England, to bring the speed demon WR back into his system. Cooks is in a rebuilding situation and he could take charge of getting a ticket out of Houston. The former first-rounder has back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and six touchdowns in each of the past two seasons.

There is plenty of speculation about Davante Adams being a trade target for Las Vegas, but I see Aaron Rodgers and Tae staying together in Green Bay for another season. I don’t believe the Fresno State connection can override the QB-WR duo residing in Green Bay. A-rod seems happier than the last offseason and I would assume Adams stays with his legendary QB. Still, the Raiders should target a deep threat, who can help Carr and Darren Waller torch defenses. The Desean Jackson experiment was cute, but it’s not a long-term plan.

Pittsburgh Steelers trade for Gardner Minshew

Ben Roethlisberger, also known as “Big Ben”, didn’t help the Steelers QB situation by choosing to retire in the 2022 offseason. Mike Tomlin won’t have a grand list of options to properly replace Big Ben. The free agent QB group is close to being referred to as “the walking dead”. They could make a push for Marcus Mariota, but I’d like to see them get more creative and trade for a QB like Gardner Minshew. Tomlin has stated that Dwayne Haskins and Mason Rudolph will have the opportunity to compete for the starting gig, but the two QBs will surely welcome some type of competition. It feels safe acquiring Mariota, but the Steelers need a QB that can utilize the talented WRs as much as possible. T.J. Watt is in his prime and they need to realize they can actually improve the QB performance from 2021 or even 2020 with the acquisition of Minshew Mania. The former Jags QB showed that he was a special rookie and he still has plenty of potential. Minshew, who is 25 years old, is also a year younger than Rudolph (26 years old).

Buffalo Bills trade for Christian McCaffrey

The Buffalo Bills had the number one defense and they still were outdueled by Patrick Mahomes. The dust has settled and it’s clear Bills mafia needs to load up on more firepower on offense and come out guns blazing in 2022. Christian McCaffrey, who has taken a slight step back and has been heavily involved in trade rumors, should pack his bags and join a Bills team that has its sights set on winning a Super Bowl. Devin Singletary came onto the scene in 2021 with 870 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns, but he’s not a Top 10 back and the Bills could really control the game and impose their will with an elite RB in the backfield. It would be hard for defenses to cover Stefon Diggs deep down the field, while accounting for McCaffrey out of the backfield. Joe Mixon did wonders for his QB Joe Burrow. It’s time for a RB in Buffalo to help his QB and offense open up and fire on all cylinders.

New Orleans Saints trade for Russell Wilson

This might be an overly popular trade prediction, but I still see the Saints targeting Russell Wilson. Whether or not Sean Payton is in the building, I feel like Wilson has to be comfortable with the talent surrounding the QB spot in New Orleans. The Saints have a Top 5 defense led by Cameron Jordan, Marshon Lattimore, and Demario Davis. On offense, the Saints will get 2019 Offensive Player of The Year Michael Thomas back on the field. I expect Kamara to miss time in 2022, but still be a member of the Saints long-term. Wilson can really bring the Saints an NFC South title with Brady out of the division and potentially bring the Saints back to the Super Bowl in his first year in the Black and Gold. Wilson could potentially even help Payton come out of retirement in 2023.

Carolina Panthers trade for Baker Mayfield

The divorce between Baker Mayfield and the Cleveland Browns seems imminent. A logical, but not sexy trade destination for the Browns has to be the Carolina Panthers. The NFC South squad carry an ascending defense and scary pass rush. Meanwhile, the WRs on the outside like Robby Anderson and DJ Moore can make splash plays. Mayfield can be exactly what the Panthers expected Sam Darnold to be. Mayfield can clean his play and utilize the weapons in CAR and resurrect his career in a similar way that Jameis Winston did with the Saints through several games in 2021. Mayfield could have a better defense and consistent weaponry with the Panthers in this point in his career.

Atlanta Falcons trade for Brandon Aiyuk

The Atlanta Falcons needed to replace Julio Jones and now it seems that Calvin Ridley is the next man out. The Falcons are aching for an offensive weapon next to rookie TE Kyle Pitts. The former Gator TE had 1,026 receiving yards in 2021, but he can’t be the lone ranger in terms of offensive explosion for Matt Ryan. Brandon Aiyuk has truly hit a slump and he’s going into an offseason where the passing game will be retooled. The 49ers will still have All-Pro WR Deebo Samuel and the elite George Kittle to catch passes from the expected second-year QB Trey Lance. The Falcons could target the 49ers second-year WR and try to recreate the magic he yielded in his rookie season. Aiyuk and Pitts could be a fine duo for Matt Ryan in the wild west NFC South division.

Green Bay Packers trade for Tim Patrick

The Green Bay Packers have been avoiding the addition of a WR across from Davante Adams since Deadpool 2 hit the theaters. They have desperately needed a stud to take the pressure off of Tae and help elevate Aaron Rodgers’s game to even new heights. The days of Jordy Nelson, Greg Jennings, and Donald Drivers are long gone.

The Pack needs to relax and realize that they don’t need to strike big with a player like OBJ or Calvin Ridley, but they can really get a value pickup at WR in the league. Rodgers really needs more firepower against stiff competition and that’s shown in each of the last two postseasons. I believe Tim Patrick would fit in perfectly for A-Rod. The Bronocs carry Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton, and KJ Hamler. The Broncos also don’t rely heavily on their passing game. It would be wise for the Broncos to capitalize off of Patrick’s value at this early stage in his career by shipping him out for a fourth-round pick.

Chicago Bears trade for Calvin Ridley

The Chicago Bears will really need WR help this offseason. It’s clear that Allen Robinson will not be in the building when training camp starts, as he’s a soon-to-be free agent. The Bears haven’t utilized his talent close to its full ability for quite some time. Jimmy Graham is also a 35-year-old free agent this offseason and Graham could retire or head to a more proven organization. Darnell Mooney is a building block in Chi-town, but there are massive concerns outside of the young buck.

The Bears have to help former Ohio State magician Justin Fields, who has a plethora of talent, succeed in the post-Matt Nagy era. Calvin Ridley can be the franchise WR for Fields for many years to come. Ridley seems burnt out with the Falcons and it should be obvious that he will have a fresh start elsewhere. Ridley or JuJu would be smart, youthful additions for Fields this offseason.

Cincinnati Bengals trade for Andrus Peat

The Cincinnati Bengals were dominated by Aaron Donald on the biggest stage. Donald had two sacks and a vital pressure against Joe Burrow on the last play of the game. There is no secret that the Bengals need more robust pass protection. The Saints offensive guard/offensive tackle Andrus Peat would be a perfect fit for Cincy. Peat has been a slight disappointment because he hasn’t played up to the standard of his five-year, $57 million dollar deal, in the 2020 offseason. Nonetheless, Peat is a very athletic guard and he can be an upgrade in pass protection over Quinton Spain. The Saints are also in cap hell (32nd in NFL), so it would be ideal that the Saints cut ties with a couple of expensive profiles this offseason. The Bengals could send the Saints a third-round pick for the veteran guard. The Bengals made the right choice for taking Ja’Marr Chase over Penei Sewell, but they still need OL talent and this move would be a creative answer for their aching OL.

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