Quarterbacks

Will Levis – (3.0% Owned)

How about that debut for Will Levis? Levis wasn’t expected to play much this season and was considered too raw of a prospect to produce this early. Not only did he show he is capable of playing at this level the former Kentucky standout was also poised and showed off his big arm. Levis finished the game with 4 passing touchdowns (3 of them went to DeAndre Hopkins) and more importantly zero turnovers. If you’re the Titans you have to play Levis the rest of the season to see if he can keep this up.

Running Backs

Zach Charbonnet – (36.1% Owned)

If you’re looking for a 2nd half breakout candidate, Zach Charbonnet may be that guy. Sure Charbonnet is still behind Kenneth Walker on the depth chart but he had his best output of the season on Sunday. He had 53 yards on just 5 carries good for 10.6 YPC and 11 receiving yards. Charbonnet is worth stashing and could end up paying off down the road.

Wide Receivers

Demario Douglas – (2.1% Owned)

Demario Douglas is set up for a big role in the Patriots offense with Kendrick Bourne now out for the season. Douglas led the New England offense with 7 targets on Sunday and that usage will only increase. Fellow wide receiver DeVante Parker also left the game with a concussion and his status this week could be in jeopardy. Douglas is an explosive receiver with upside that will also be used in the running game.

Tight Ends

Trey McBride – (14.4% Owned)

McBride exploded on Sunday for 20.5 fantasy points (Half PPR) and is the priority pickup this week. With Zach Ertz now on IR McBride will continue to get targets in the Cardinals offense. He had a massive 14 targets versus Baltimore and 10 receptions. Arizona also looks to be getting Kyler Murray back which should only help this offense going forward.

The post Week 9 Waiver Wire Pickups (2023) appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Quarterbacks

Start ‘Em

Justin Herbert (vs. Mia) – Herbert has an enticing matchup this week against a Miami Dolphins team that will be without Jalen Ramsey. Herbert threw for 367 yards in week 14 last year against the Dolphins and posted a 76.5 completion percentage. Expect similar results for Herbert along with 2 passing touchdowns.

Sit ‘Em

Aaron Rodgers (vs. Buf) – Rodgers has a tough matchup in his opening game with the New York Jets. The Jets offensive line will be tested all game long and even without Von Miller the Bills will be able to generate pressure. Rodgers struggled last year at Buffalo when he threw for just 203 yards.

Running Backs

Start ‘Em

Aaron Jones (vs. Chi) – Jones is in for a big day when the Packers visit the Chicago Bears. Green Bay is dealing with injuries to their top 2 receivers (Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs) which means more targets for Jones. We don’t know what to expect yet from Jordan Love but the Packers will likely rely on the run game in this one.

Sit ’em

Najee Harris (vs. SF) – Harris and the Pittsburgh Steelers have a tough opening matchup against the 49ers and their stout defense. San Francisco allowed only 3.4 YPC in 2022 and they just got Nick Bosa back in action. The Steelers will need to attack the 49ers defense through the air to have a chance in this one.

Wide Receivers

Start ‘Em

Jahan Dotson (vs. Ari) – Dotson is no longer under the radar after his impressive rookie season in Washington. The Commanders get a juicy matchup against a Cardinals defense that will struggle all season. Fellow receiver Terry McLaurin looks to be ready to play but he may not be 100% yet.

Sit ‘Em

DeAndre Hopkins (vs. NO) – We don’t know yet what to expect from Hopkins in this Titans offense. I plan to wait and see how he’s utilized before I put him in the starting lineup. The Saints will have a better-than-average defense this year and will be tough at home.

Tight Ends

Start ‘Em

Evan Engram (vs. IND) – It could be a long day for the Indianapolis Colts when Jacksonville comes to town. The Colts will need to play keep away to have any chance in this one. Expect Engram to have a big day against the Colts who struggled at times to stop tight ends in 2022.

Sit ‘Em

Kyle Pitts (vs. Car) – After a disastrous 2022 it’s hard to put your trust in Pitts. The Panthers finished in the top 10 in points allowed to tight ends last year. That along with the fact we don’t know what to expect from Desmond Ridder has me sitting Pitts this week.

Start of the Week

Jamaal Williams (vs. Ten) – Williams is a must-start for week 1. With Alvin Kamara sidelined due to suspension Williams will get the majority of the workload against the Titans. I don’t expect to see that many touches from rookie Kendre Miller until he gets up to speed. Don’t forget, Williams led the league with 17 rushing touchdowns last year.

The post 2023-24 Fantasy Football Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em Week 1 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

The Good

All-pro running back Derrick Henry once again led the NFL in rushing attempts at 349 in 2022. It’s understandable why considering the issues at quarterback and the lack of explosiveness on offense. The Titans ranked 2nd to last in avg. explosive run rate and avg. explosive pass rate according to Sharp Football. Despite the below average offense, Henry was still able to rack up 1,936 all-purpose yards in 16 games. Henry is still in his prime but in order for him to continue to be successful he needed some help.

The Titans decided to turn to the 2023 NFL Draft to get Henry the help he needs. They selected Tyjae Spears from Tulane in the 3rd round. Spears is exactly the type of change-of-pace back this offense needed. It’s hard to judge too much from preseason games but Spears was impressive in his first action with the team. If you watched Tulane closely this isn’t a huge surprise as Spears averaged 4.10 YAC in his college career. At 5’10” size is a concern but as of now, he will be an ideal backup for Henry.

The Bad

In back-to-back drafts now the Titans have drafted quarterbacks in the 2nd and 3rd rounds. First, it was Malik Willis last year and then it was Will Levis in this year’s draft. It appears that Tennessee like the rest of us has doubts about Ryan Tannehill going forward. I don’t mind that the Titans are looking for their next quarterback but if they really felt it was a weakness they should’ve moved up in the draft. Willis still doesn’t look ready and there are questions about Levis and if he can succeed at this level.

The Prediction

The Titans are one of the toughest teams to predict for the upcoming season. On one hand, they have several all-pro players including Jeffery Simmons and the recently acquired DeAndre Hopkins. On the other, all of that won’t matter if Tannehill can’t provide better production from the QB position. I do think they will finish slightly above .500 but it will be just short of the playoffs.

2023 Record: (9-8 2nd in the Division)

The post Tennessee Titans Record Prediction for 2023 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

When DeAndre Hopkins was released by the Arizona Cardinals in May, many believed he would sign on with a contender. While the Titans may not be in contention for a Super Bowl, bringing in Hopkins will certainly help their chances. The Titans have built their team around Derrick Henry and a defense that brings Head Coach Mike Vrabel’s intensity.

Offensive Woes

Trading A.J. Brown to the Philadelphia Eagles last season left a giant hole on the Titans offense that they couldn’t recover from. In fact, the Titans finished the 2022 campaign with one of the worst offenses in the league. They lacked a true balance and defenses were able to stack up in the box to stop the run. Now with the addition of Hopkins, the Titans should become a more balanced offensive unit.

DeAndre Hopkins the Leader

There is also a leadership role that Hopkins will get to take on. The Titans drafted Treylon Burks in the 2022 NFL Draft with hopes that he could be their #1 going forward. It didn’t go as planned as Burks struggled in his first season in Tennessee. He will now get the chance to learn from one of the best and in turn, should get more open looks. Taking the pressure off of Burks will help his development in this system.

The only question now for the Titans offense is at the quarterback position. Can Ryan Tannehill bounce back next year? If not expect it to be Will Levis time in Tennessee.

The post DeAndre Hopkins and the Tennessee Titans are a Perfect Match appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

The Good

James Conner has found new life in the desert. The former Pittsburgh Steeler signed a one-year deal in 2021 with the Cardinals and it was a gamble on his part. There were questions on whether he could carry the full load and be the lead running back. The gamble paid off as Conner showed he is more than capable of being a three-down back in this system. He will now be relied on more than ever with Kyler Murray out for the foreseeable future. Expect the Cardinals to feed him early and often, especially in the beginning of the season.

The Cardinals offensive line desperately needed help and they turned to the 2023 NFL Draft to solidify it. Arizona drafted LG Paris Johnson Jr. from Ohio State and he will be a day-one starter. Johnson Jr. is an athletic, versatile lineman that could eventually be a Pro Bowl caliber player. It starts in the trenches and although the Cardinals o-line has a ways to go they should be improved in 2023.

The Bad

Offense wins championships. This is the reality of the NFL in 2023. Sure you can have a stout defense and be successful but if you want to reach the pinnacle you have to have an elite offense. This is why it was a bit of a head-scratcher when the Cardinals decided to hire Jonathan Gannon as their head coach. Don’t get me wrong, Gannon is an excellent young coach who helped take the Eagles defense to the next level but is this the right fit? There were plenty of young offensive minds available for the Cardinals to hire but they decided to go with Gannon. If you look at the most successful teams in the league today most have offensive minded head coaches.

As we stated before the Cardinals have a roster that is devoid of playmakers. Marquise Brown is a solid wide receiver but can he really be a #1? Zach Ertz has always been a reliable pass catcher but health has been a factor for him in recent years. Outside of James Conner, the Cardinals don’t really have a player you have to game plan for.

The Prediction

As expected this will be a tough season for Arizona Cardinals fans. When you look at their 2023 NFL schedule it’s hard to find wins in there. I do see wins at home against the Atlanta Falcons and the Los Angeles Rams along with a road victory at the Houston Texans. The Cardinals will once again be picking at the top of the draft in 2024.

2023 Record: 3-14

The post Arizona Cardinals Record Prediction for 2023 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Looking back on his 2022-2023 season, Hopkins played in only 9 games due to a PED suspension. When he returned the Cardinals were hovering around .500 and hoped he would provide a spark. That didn’t happen as Arizona finished the year with a 4-13 record.

When looking at his stats you can understand why Hopkins was frustrated. He had zero big plays over 40+ yards and his longest reception of the year was 33 yards. Moreover, his Air Yards Per Reception was 8.6 which in large part was due to poor quarterback play. Hopkins will be looking to correct that on his next team as determines where to go next. With that let’s take a look at the top landing spots for DeAndre Hopkins.

Las Vegas Raiders

Although the Raiders already have a star wide receiver in Davante Adams, pairing him with Hopkins could be a lethal combo. The Raiders brought in Jimmy Garoppolo this offseason and brought back stud running back Josh Jacobs. Adding Hopkins to this group could push the Raiders to the top of the AFC. Questions still remain on defense as Las Vegas finished towards the bottom of the league last year in total team defense.

Baltimore Ravens

Lamar Jackson was the hottest topic in the NFL this offseason. The Ravens and Jackson finally came to terms on a long-term deal, locking up their franchise quarterback. They also made a splash at the wide receiver position by bringing in Odell Beckham Jr. for a hefty price. They should still bring in another receiver as OBJ will be rusty and is coming back after a significant ACL injury.

Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo Bills championship window is now and they need to push all their chips to the center of the table. This is why I believe Deandre Hopkins will eventually end up in Buffalo. Adding him to the mix and pairing him with Stefon Diggs could be exactly what gets Buffalo its first Super Bowl title. If I am Brandon Beane, I am doing everything in my power to make this happen. If you want to win championships you have to take risks (see the 2022 LA Rams) and grabbing Hopkins is a risk worth taking.

The post Top 3 Landing Spots for DeAndre Hopkins appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

PRESEASON EXPECTATIONS

After a top-five TE finish in his first year in Arizona, Zach Ertz had been under the radar regarding reliable tight ends in fantasy football. He ended 2021 with 74 receptions for 763 yards and five TDs. If you could not get one of the elite tight ends at the start of the draft, Zach Ertz would be a good backup choice.

DRAFT EXPECTATIONS

In the 2022 season, Ertz was an average sixth or seventh-round pick. This is good value for someone who’s been consistently healthy and someone who is capable of having a top-six TE season in fantasy. Another positive thing is with DeAndre Hopkins being out the first six games of the season, Zach would get extra receptions, especially in the endzone.

OVERALL SEASON PRODUCTION

Zach Ertz had a strong start to the season as he was one of the most consistent tight ends in the NFL. In nine games, he was in double-digit points for seven of those. He had 47 catches for 406 yards and four TDs. Even with Hopkins coming back in Week 7, Ertz still had 13 and 15 FP performances. With all the turmoil happening in Arizona, it will be interesting to see how Ertz will perform with all the chaos of Kyler and Hopkins.

CRITICAL MOMENTS DURING THE SEASON

Week 2 vs Las Vegas Raiders

The week two matchup against Las Vegas was Zach Ertz’s best non-TD game. He had a season-high 11 targets and caught a season-high eight receptions for 75 yards. It was a sight to see as fantasy owners were pleased with another double-digit performance.

Week 4 vs Carolina Panthers

Ertz had his best performance of the season when the Cardinals went to Carolina. He caught six passes for 47 yards and a two-yard TD in the third quarter to tie the game. All of this accumulated to 16.70 FP and he showed that he is one of the most consistent tight ends in football through four weeks.

Week 9 vs Seattle Seahawks

Zach’s last productive game of the season came against Seattle at home. He caught five passes for 40 yards and a TD. His six-yard TD catch late in the fourth made it a three-point game but Seattle answered back. The chaos for Arizona was about to begin as Ertz wouldn’t play anymore after Week 10.

The post 2022-2023 Fantasy Football Review: Zach Ertz appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

QB Fraud Of The Week: Justin Herbert 5.50 FP

235 Passing Yards, 1 Interception, 5 Carries, 1 Rushing Yard, 1 Fumble, 1 Fumble Lost (Projected: 19.78 FP)

Justin Herbert has had his ups and downs this season. This performance in Week 16 counts as his worst this season. The young QB threw for just 235 yards and an interception and lost a fumble. There are moments in drives where he looks like the franchise QB he is. There are times he just struggles. It’s very difficult to gauge which Justin Herbert we will see on a weekly basis. Thankfully, the Chargers clinched a playoff spot.

RB Fraud Of The Week: Rhamondre Stevenson 1.30 FP

13 Carries, 30 Rushing Yards, 2 Receptions, 3 Receiving Yards, 2 Fumbles, 1 Fumble Lost (Projected: 15.19 FP)

The Cincinnati defense got to the New England offense early and made them look terrible until the late rally. Rhamondre Stevenson struggled with just 30 yards rushing on 13 carries. He also caught two passes for three yards. The Patriots’ RB fumbled twice and lost one in this rough outing. He will have to come up big as they face the Miami Dolphins in a divisional matchup for the last wildcard spot.

WR Fraud Of The Week: DeAndre Hopkins 1.40 FP

1 Reception, 4 Receiving Yards (Projected: 14.93 FP)

DeAndre Hopkins came out with his worst performance of the year against the Tampa Bay defense. Trace McSorley struggled to connect with Hopkins who had 10 targets but only caught a pass for four yards. Fantasy owners should hope Colt McCoy will be ready for next week as the Cardinals face the Falcons.

TE Fraud Of The Week: Juwan Johnson 1.90 FP

1 Reception, 9 Receiving Yards (Projected: 8.35 FP)

The Cleveland weather shut down Juwan Johnson in the Saints’ win over the Browns. The game plan focused on the run, especially with the terrible conditions on the field. The Saints’ TE caught just one pass for nine yards. He will have a tough week against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 17.

DEF/ST Fraud Of The Week: Detroit Lions -4 FP

35+ Points Allowed (Projected: 8.77 FP)

The Detroit Lions came to Carolina in a must-win game and were disappointed. They allowed 320 rushing yards as they couldn’t stop the run. D’Onta Foreman led the way with 165 rushing yards and a TD. Chuba Hubbard also ran for 125 yards. Sam Darnold and Raheem Blackshear each contributed a rushing TD. The Lions are battling for the last wildcard spot in the NFC.

Thanks for reading! You can look forward to this series until the end of the season. You can check out the last installment of FRAUDS Of Week 15.

The post FRAUDS Of Week 16 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The free agent wide receiver Will Fuller has yet to link with an NFL squad in the 2022 NFL season. The double-edged sword of Fuller could be best described between the 2020 & 2021 NFL seasons. He had career-high figures in yards (879), touchdowns (8), receptions (53), and YPC (16.6) in the 2020 campaign. In 2021 — he sadly played in a mere two games due to injuries to his finger and groin.

Well, Fuller is healthy but unwilling to ink with an imperfect partner. So, I’m going to untwine five logical destinations for the explosive wideout.

Baltimore Ravens

I’d love to see the Baltimore Ravens be as aggressive in 2022 as the Los Angeles Rams were in 2021. Lamar Jackson is at the top of his game & he currently is second in MVP odds by Draft Kings. They have a stud in Rashod Bateman and an ascending star with Devin Duvernay, but Fuller could have a unique role as a deep-threat and be the x-factor in their offense.

Indianapolis Colts

Before pulling the plug on Frank Reich or Matt Ryan, the Colts GM Chris Ballard should bring in a new toy to help their offense shine. Indy has Matty Ice and Jonathan Taylor, but they’re missing stable WR talent. It may be wise to add another veteran to join third-year WR Michael Pittman Jr. and rookie WR Alec Pierce.

Chicago Bears

The sky is undoubtedly falling for Justin Fields at this point. He’s accumulated two passing touchdowns and four interceptions in four contests. A part of the reason that Fields has bled is due to the fact that the Bears are blatantly aching for WR help. Fuller could be a potential upgrade at WR1 over Darnell Mooney (8 catches for 121 yards).

New Orleans Saints

Similar to the Colts, the New Orleans Saints can’t afford to lose two out of their next three games. A key reason that the Saints lost their prior match-up to the Vikings is that Michael Thomas was injured. It’s worrisome that MT is already dealing with an injury after being MIA over the past two seasons with various injuries. Perhaps Who Dat Nation should consider inking the former Texan for an insurance policy at least.

Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals still don’t have DeAndre Hopkins and they could benefit from an illustrious WR face right now. The Cardinals sit at 2-2, which is tied with the three other NFC West squads for the division lead. It would be enticing to see the Cardinals add another FA, such as Fuller, and then be more surprisingly dangerous than the Seattle Seahawks.

The post Best landing spots for Will Fuller appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The Philadelphia Eagles take a long plane ride to battle the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday at 4:25 PM. Each NFC squad is represented by a gifted, dual-threat QB. The Eagles QB Jalen Hurts is arguably having the sexiest three-game streak in his career. Meanwhile, the Cardinals QB that garners some unflavored memes is struggling to like his 2021 self without the very elite WR DeAndre Hopkins. With that said, I’m going to untwine the outlook for each young QB and project which QB has the edge ahead at this point.

Jalen Hurts

It’s hard to deny the power of love Hurts after three games in the season. The former Bama stud is coming off his most impressive victory in 2022 with 340 passing yards, 3 passing touchdowns, and 0 interceptions against his nemesis, the Washington Commanders. In this season thus far, Hurts has registered 916 passing yards, 4 passing touchdowns, 167 rushing yds, and 3 rushing TDs. It’s also important to note that he’s only thrown one interception.

PFF has given Hurts a 79.4 grade for his 2022 performance at this point. He did have an 80.8 grade by PFF last season. I still believe that Hurts is cleaner with the football in 2022 last season and he’s bound to continue to improve his chemistry with the first-year Eagle A.J. Brown (155 yards this season) and second-year WR Devonta Smith (a whopping 169 yards and 1 TD last week).

Hurts was also phenomenal last week, despite the star TE Dallas Goedert leaving the game in the second quarter (who still made a return in the fourth quarter). The Eagles TE did still manage to have a receiving touchdown in Week 3.

Kyler Murray

The former Oklahoma Sooner hasn’t been an earth-shattering QB yet, but I still believe he has lots of magic in his 25-year-old self. Murray ousted 193 passing yards, 2 passing TDs, 0 ints, 29 rushing yds on five carries, and a 64.71 completion percentage in a Week 1 losing effort against the mighty Kansas City Chiefs. He was able to pick up his first victory of the season against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 2 by unleashing 277 passing yds, 1 passing TD, 1 interception, and a 63.77 completion percentage.

Last week, Murray still didn’t make medicine sick. Against a crucial divisional foe, he accumulated zero touchdowns. To be fair, the Rams aren’t an easy defense to shine against. Although, he hasn’t found a way to really break through in any showdown without D-HOP at this early stage in the regular season.

Murray’s top weapon this season has undoubtedly been Hollywood Brown (24 catches, 251 yds, and 1 TD). I would really like to see Kliff Kingsbury find a way to get Zach Ertz (16 receptions, 134 yds, and 1 TD) more involved in the offense, particularly in the red zone.

Verdict:

The Eagles honestly have fierce pieces across the board on their defense (as they limited the Vikings to 7 points and the Commanders to 8 points) and I don’t love that Murray struggled to score a point against a stingy LAR defense last week. On the flip-side, I fully anticipate the insane Eagles WR duo to find gold against a Cardinals secondary that has bled against opposing WR2s and WR3s. Luckily, the Eagles have one of the NFL’s best WR2s in Smith.

The Eagles QB/magician blatantly has more accessible firepower and confidence entering Week 4. I wholeheartedly suspect that he will have more production and come out with the victory in Week 5.

The post Jalen Hurts or Kyler Murray: who has the edge? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.