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.

By: Jake Rajala

The New England Patriots may honestly be cursed in their fights against the Miami Dolphins. The Phins have impressively (and surprisingly) won the prior four match-ups against the usually well-prepared Pats team. Today — Mike McDaniel and his squad defeated the hooded Pats head coach, Bill Belichick, and his squad by a score of 20-7. With that said, I’m going to untwine five takeaways from the Patriots loss to the Dolphins.

• Tua Tagovailoa

Tua Tagovailoa didn’t play like a vintage Tom Brady, but he did unravel to be the best QB on the day. The Phins signal-caller had a passer rating of 104.4, 270 passing yards, 1 passing TD, and a potent 69.7% completion percentage. Tagovailoa made a few clutch throws (as shown below) and took care of the football. It was simply a successful start for the Phins QB with his new creative HC.

• Devante Parker

Devante Parker, where art thou? It was a sexy image when the Phins were able to acquire the former Phins WR Devante Parker. Well, the crowd that moved from waiting for the answer to the universe into the Devante Parker fan section was disappointed today. He must have told the illustrious WR Allen Robinson, who ousted a catch for 9 yards on Thurs. night, to hold his beer. Parker recorded a mere one catch for 9 yds against his former squad today.

• Tyreek Hill

Jaylen Waddle had the beautiful touchdown grab on fourth down, but I liked Hill’s production a tad more (he had a modest eight catches for 94 yds). *It was more important that he was in sync in the first game, which was clearly executed. The Tua-Hill combo will begin to turn up the heat moving forward.

Of course, Hill was literally a magical WR on one play for his beloved QB.

• Melvin Ingram and Brandon Jones

The Dolphins made an underrated move to acquire Melvin Ingram on a one-year deal worth $4 million dollars this off-season. Ingram should begin to practice his touchdown celebrations after having a scoop and score today. Let’s not forget that Brandon Jones created the opportunity (strip sack) for his LB pal.

• Mac Jones

After making the Pro Bowl as a rookie, Mac Jones surely didn’t have an exciting beginning to his sophomore campaign in Week 1 of 2022. The Pats QB finished with 213 passing yards, 1 passing TD, and 1 interception. To make matters worse – he sadly suffered a back injury in the Pats loss. Hopefully, he isn’t MIA for a few contests.

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By: Sam Moores

Mike McDaniel’s Miami Dolphins have a totally revamped wide receiver corps this season, with Jaylen Waddle being the only pass catcher who really played a part in 2021 still with the team. DeVante Parker was traded to New England after another injury-plagued season, whilst Mack Hollins, Albert Wilson, and Isaiah Ford are also no longer in Miami.

Cedrick Wilson was added from Dallas in Free Agency before GM Chris Grier made the blockbuster move for Tyreek Hill. Erik Ezunkama was then picked in the fourth round of April’s draft. He’s impressed in training camp, probably earning the fourth receiver spot on the roster.

Preston Williams, Lynn Bowden, Braylon Sanders, Mo Sanu, and Trent Sherfield will compete for the final spot or two. The first of those names are currently unhappy with the number of reps he’s getting in camp so far. Williams showed promise early in his career but has struggled to stay healthy. The emergence of Ezunkama, a similar player, is limiting his time with the first team.

The trio of Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and Cedrick Wilson has to be one of the fastest in the league. Hill runs a 4.29 40-yard dash, whilst Waddle’s 4.37 is pretty close behind. Wilson only ran a 4.55 at the combine but plays quicker than that. He’s faster than most on the field. He’ll be your primary slot guy this year, but expect Hill, Waddle, and Mike Gesicki to line up there a lot too.

Wilson being in the slot frees up Jaylen Waddle to be the outside receiver he was drafted to be. He’s another who’s had a standout camp, already having one practice in the orange jersey that’s awarded to the player of the previous day.

I get the feeling from McDaniel and Hill that Tyreek is going to touch the ball as much as humanly possible this year. Expect him to be used in a similar way to in Kansas City last year. If San Francisco’s offense from Shanahan’s time there tells us anything, he and Waddle in particular will have their own different package of plays in every game.

If I was to compare the trio to the rest of the league, there are only a few receiving groups that are on their level.

The Top 5 WR Groups in the NFL

5. Buffalo Bills

Stefon Diggs is one of the league’s best, he has been since his time in Minnesota. The ex-Maryland wideout has helped turn Josh Allen elite. Gabriel Davis has got a great chance to shine in the absence of Cole Beasley and Emmanuel Sanders. He put up an 81.5 PFF grade last year, ranking him 10th of all WRs, two higher than Diggs! Finally, Jamison Crowder is a very underrated receiver, and an excellent slot option, he was the Jets most reliable target in his time there, whilst Isaiah McKenzie has always had a good relationship with Allen, so expect him to play a role this year too.

4. Los Angeles Rams

Cooper Kupp had an unreal season last time out, by far the best of any receiver, with his 1947 yards and 16 touchdowns in the regular season. Add in a further 478 yards and 6 TD’s in the regular season, and a 93.0 PFF grade ( #1 ranked), and it’s pretty hard to do much better. He’s now got Allen Robinson alongside him to play the role that Odell Beckham Jr. did down the stretch. Robinson finally gets the chance to flourish in an elite offense, having spent the first 8 seasons of his career in Jacksonville and Chicago. Injuries have been a bit of an issue, but the last full season he played (2020), Robinson was the 5th ranked receiver, with a 88.3 grade. Van Jefferson is now heading into his third year, look for him to make a further step up this year.

3. Miami Dolphins

The Fins receiver room makes it all the way to 3, but it’s not quite the level of the Bengals and the Bucs. Tyreek Hill is a big addition, he’s certainly the fastest receiver, and up there as one of the best, even after a bit of a down year. When grouped with Jaylen Waddle and Cedrick Wilson, they’re not the most talented group, but are probably the hardest to stop. From what we’ve seen in camp this year, the deep ball, especially off of play action, is prominent, and Tua has been making those throws. With Wilson in the slot we’ll see more from Waddle on the outside, expect him to have a big year, with the attention off of him and on to Hill.

2. Cincinnati Bengals

Jamarr Chase had an outstanding rookie season, breaking Justin Jefferson’s rookie recieving yard record (1455 yards) and reaching the Super Bowl. Chase’s elite yards after catch ability, being so difficult to tackle, especially at his speed won the team games last year. Tee Higgins’ play went under the radar in 2021 with Chase’s breakout campaign. He looked great in his rookie year in 2020, and backed it up a year later. His play earned an 85.4 grade from PFF, 9th of all WR’s, after a 1091 yard and 6 TD season. Then there’s Tyler Boyd, who had yet another productive year in the slot. All in all, a very talented receiver room.

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tampa has a loaded receiver room, and while it’s not got a Tyreek or a Jamarr, Mike Evans and Chris Godwin have been good for years, and Julio, although in the twilight of his career, has the experience that a third or fourth receiver just doesn’t have. You then have Russell Gage, who’s had two productive years in Atlanta coming over. Behind those four, Scotty Miller’s had a connection with Tom, and Jaelon Darden is no longer a rookie, he’ll be looking to have a better sophomore season. The Buccaneers are the only team in the league to have four of PFF’s top 50 receivers from last year on their roster. It’s a deep group.

Denver’s group of Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton, Tim Patrick, and KJ Hamler would have been on the list too before Patrick went down for the year. The Eagles, Vikings, Raiders, 49ers, Chargers, Seahawks, and Steelers all come close too but only have two quality players, whilst everyone else has three.

The post Where does the Dolphins WR group rank in the league? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The New England Patriots lead wide receiver DeVante Parker will aspire to torch his previous team twice a season and the rest of his opponents moving forward. Parker’s best season came in 2019 – where he notched 1,202 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns. Peter Parker obtained 515 yds and 2 touchdowns in 10 games last season. He will be a FA in 2024, so it may be wise for BB to extend the 6’3 weapon next off-season.

The Pats also have their elusive wideout Jakobi Meyers — as he garnered 866 receiving yards in 2021 (after hauling in 729 yds in 2020. He also garnered a potent 74.9 grade by PFF in 2021. Emperor Belichick re-signed Meyers to a one-year deal worth $3.96 million dollars this off-season.

The Pats will still have Kendrick Bourne — as he garnered 800 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns last season. He had a 75.6 grade by PFF last season. He inked a three-year deal worth $15 million with NE this off-season.

The exciting youngblood in Tyquan Thornton (2022 second-round pick) should also be a factor next season. Thornton clocked a ridiculous 4.28 40-yard dash at the NFL combine. The Pats will anticipate him being more potent than former second-round pick Aaron Dobson, to say the least.

The Pats also have Nelson Agholor — as he is entering his second season with the Pats. His best season arrived in 2020 — where he unleashed 896 yds and 8 TDS with the Raiders. He ousted 473 yards and 3 touchdowns with NE last season.

The Pats have a complex WR group, but I believe they have a lot of potential. If Parker can get in sync with Mac Jones early on and Thornton can dazzle in his first season, then they should have an above-average WR unit in the league next season.

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By: Jake Rajala

The cheerful Mac Jones had an admirable rookie season – as he unveiled 3,801 passing yards, 22 passing touchdowns, and led his team to a 10-7 record (including a pivotal playoff berth). The former Alabama product has a larger chip on his shoulder in his sophomore season. It would be hard for Jones to not carry an infinite amount of motivation, as his team was blown out of the wild-card round by his despised divisional foe in the Josh Allen-led Buffalo Bills.

The Pats made a very underrated re-signing in WR Jakobi Meyers. The deep-threat WR garnered 126 targets and 866 yards last season. It will be a serious challenge for defenses to prepare for the speed of Meyers while stopping the Jones-Devante Parker connection. The former Dolphin wanted to be traded to Belichick’s squad and he will really strive to return to unveil outcomes similar to his 2019 season (1,202 yards and 12 touchdowns).

DeVante Parker is arguably the Pats best “WR” since the days of Wes Welker in 2012.

The Pats didn’t only gift Parker in Jones’s second season in the system, but they also brought back the versatile RB James White (who suffered a season-ending injury after three games) on a two-year contract. The Super Bowl LI hero nicely notched 751 receiving yds in 2018, 645 receiving yds in 2019, and 375 receiving yards in 2020. He can absolutely be a secret weapon for Jones out of the backfield.

The 23-year-old Jones will not only tear down a poster of Josh Allen each morning and practice with his most explosive offense thus far, but he will also prepare to face favorable competition in 2022. Bill Belichick and Jones ought to be licking their chops, as they have the 25th most difficult schedule. Tom Brady and a half of Gronk may be in Tampa Bay, but the tides appear to be really turning for Jones and his crew in 2022.

The post Mac Jones’s outlook in 2022: Expect growth from the Pats QB appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The Green Bay Packers surprisingly traded away their long-time lead wide receiver Davante Adams. It’s true that Aaron Rodgers will miss his brother and the Packers don’t possess the NFL’s top QB-WR duo at this moment. Nonetheless, it’s not time for A-Rod, Matt LaFleur, and cheeseheads across the globe to abandon the ship.

I believe the 2020 and 2021 MVP Rodgers will still have a chip on his shoulder and championship goals in 2022. I really believe the Packers will acquire a stout WR in the 2022 draft, but I also believe they could bring in a proven wideout to help Rodgers return to the Super Bowl in the remaining years of his career. With that said, here are a few WRs that the Packers should trade for.

• DeVante Parker

The Miami Dolphins have been strongly rumored to trade away their beloved wideout DeVante Parker in recent years. With the rise of Jaylen Waddle and the potential draft selection of a WR from Mike McDaniel in 2022, the Dolphins could be open to shipping out their 29-year-old WR.

Parker posted a very impressive stat-line of 72-1,202-9 in 2019 and I believe he could reach similar heights with the Packers future Hall of Fame QB next season. Parker can run any route in the playbook and be a physical WR on the outside of contested catches from the Packers utterly accurate and smart QB.

• Curtis Samuel

I still believe Curtis Samuel has plenty of juice in this league. He looked like Percy Harvin 2.0 in 2020, but he didn’t blossom in a lackluster Washington offense last season. Samuel could be a fantastic value pickup in the Packers creative offense. It may be wise for Washington to move on from him this offseason and acquire some value for him if they believe they don’t have a superb plan for him for the second season in a row.

• Michael Thomas

The Saints top gun WR Michael Thomas is the perfect wildcard trade candidate for the Packers. The Saints may be more open to ditching MT after they failed to bring in Deshaun Watson. The Saints could elect to move on from MT for excellent draft compensation, so they can move up to select a young QB or use multiple high draft picks to replace LT Terron Armstead.

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The Miami Dolphins are set to be competitive in 2021 after a 10-6 season last year, an offseason focused on setting up young quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for success and retaining the core of a top defense in the NFL last year. The success of the Dolphins really will depend on the growth in Tua from his rookie year to now. A big reason that a giant step for the Dolphins can be made is the weapons are in place for Tua. Even though Tua had a 6-3 record last year his numbers were not great and the personnel on the field was sub-par by NFL standards. With the addition of Fuller and Waddle to the receiving corps and Hunter Long as a threat, the weapons at Tuas disposal are no longer an excuse.

Who are these weapons? As it is early in the offseason process the Dolphins receiving room is very crowded at the moment. DeVante Parker, Will Fuller V, and Jaylen Waddle are the only true guarantees to be on the final 53 man roster. NFL teams normally carry six wide receivers on the final 53. This leaves Preston Williams, Lynn Bowden Jr., Jakeem Grant, Malcolm Perry, Albert Wilson, Allen Hurns, Robert Foster, and Mack Hollins as the top candidates for the final three wide receiver spots. There is a likelihood more than three make it due to special teams roles and the versatility of Bowden and Perry to play all offensive skill positions.

The Dolphins have a depth at the position and will wait as long as possible to make cuts trades and decisions with this group. Of course, injuries will happen and this will make decisions a bit easier but these aren’t just camp bodies and these veterans know what it takes and means to be on the roster come opening day.

Given perfect health, my picks for the six guys that will be on the active roster for the majority of the season are Parker, Fuller V, Waddle, Williams, Bowden Jr., and Foster.

Allen Hurns and Albert Wilson were both part of the 2019 Dolphins and opted out in 2020. Wilson made plays in 2019 before injuring his hip. Early reports say Wilson is back in good health and looking like a speedy guy who can make guys miss in space. However, the Dolphins save $2.9 million if he is cut and $3.9 million if traded. Hurns enjoyed a hometown return in 2019 however the Dolphins have better options moving into 2021 and will also save just over a million with his departure. Jakeem Grant has been a pro bowl returner and brings excellent speed however his unreliable hands and inconsistent offensive play make him a cut candidate. Dolphins save $4 million trading or cutting Jakeem. Speed needy teams will surely be in the market for Grant. Hollins is also a causality of the talented receiver room after keeping the Fins season alive late in 2020 with heroic catches.

Malcolm Perry’s versatility allows him to make the roster but I believe he will split his time with the running back group. He surely will play both spots and if not on the 53 man roster is a practice squad candidate.

Tuas sophomore season is poised for a breakout. I believe Tua will throw for just over 4000 yards and nearly 30 touchdowns. 12 quarterbacks threw for over 4000 yards in the NFL last year. Tua was drafted to be a top quarterback and being amongst the top in passing yards is not out of reality. Tua racked up 1800 yards in nine starts last year. As we know he wasn’t in the entire game for those starts. With 17 games on the NFL schedule, we will see Tua eclipse the 4000-yard mark.

The leading receiver for the Miami Dolphins will be DeVante Parker. Parker is entering his seventh NFL season. He broke out in 2019 with 72 catches, 1202 yards, and 9 touchdowns. Last year he caught 63 passes for 793 yards and four touchdowns. “Unc” as he is known, has the ability to be the main option in an offense. At 6’3 Parker can jump and win contested 50/50 passes. He is a crafty route runner who can use his frame to get inside on slants and excel on the mid-level routes. Parkers biggest issue in his career has been health. A plethora of lower-body injuries have forced him to play hurt and significantly hurt his production and miss games entirely. When Parker is fully healthy, he is tough to cover and can put up big numbers!

As a Dolphins fan when watching the game it’s easy to tell when he’s healthy and when he is hurt. A prime example of what healthy Parker can do is the final regular season game of 2019. A matchup versus the New England Patriots pit Parker with 2019 Defensive Player of the year Stephon Gilmore. Parker torched Gilmore that game and posted eight catches for 137 yards on 11 targets.

With Tua last year the chemistry wasn’t quite there. A whole offseason of work and preparation will help this connection. More weapons in the offense takes less focus off Parker and will give him more one on one matchups in which he excels. I think Parker will eclipse the 1000 yard mark for the second time in his career and finish with 7 touchdowns.

An entirely healthy season for Parker is unlikely. He played through injuries for the first time last year and I expect he will play in 15 games this year. Parker will catch 83 passes for 1,100 and 7 touchdowns.

In terms of fantasy football, Parker will be a solid number two receiver who can be had at a decent value. Many people will likely pass on him thinking Fuller V and Waddle will be the flashier picks. Parker also somewhat burned fantasy players last year after his big year so recency bias will be a factor as well.

The new free agent splash for the Miami Dolphins is Will Fuller V. The Dolphins signed Fuller to a one year $10.6 million contract. Fuller was a first round pick back in 2016. Spent his first five NFL seasons with the Houston Texans.

Fuller is coming off a career year in 2020. Before being suspended for PEDs Fuller totaled 53 catches, 879 yards, and 8 touchdowns. Playing only in 11 games Fuller tallied career highs in catches, yards, and touchdowns. Fuller was handed a six game suspension. It will carry over into 2021 for the opening week.

Fuller is a big play threat with big time speed. The knock on Fuller is injuries. Never having played a full seasons schedule in his career he signed this contract looking to prove 2020 wasn’t a fluke. He wants to prove his health and production to the rest of the NFL.

Fuller can truly stretch the field as he had the sixth-best yards per reception last year at 16.6. Until last year Fuller played alongside one of the NFL’s best receivers in De’Andre Hopkins. Sans Hopkins, Fuller proved he can be a lead option in the passing game and produce. Combined with Parker, Fuller will see one on one options and be open for homerun plays.

Many people have questioned Tua’s ability to throw the deep ball. This article by Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald breaks down some of those questions. Some things to highlight are that Tua was hurt by the highest percentage of deep ball drops across the league. I always think of the Jakeem Grant drop of a 90 yard touchdown vs the Bengals.

Barry also points out the Dolphins inability to create separation which was the worst in the NFL as well. The addition of speed with Fuller and Waddle will allow Tua to hit on more deep throws, which he was successful with at Alabama. The success on throws at Alabama can be credited to the skill of players being among the best in the country but Tua was able to be accurate which he was also in his NFL rookie year.

With Fullers one game suspension he is set to play 16 games. I don’t think he will be fully healthy for all of them. I think Fuller will improve his career numbers but by a slim margin. Fuller playing 14-15 games will catch 80 passes for 900 yards and 6 touchdowns. Fuller and Parker will be a solid duo and complementary to one another. Fuller stretches the field while Parker takes up the intermediate.

The other big addition to this Dolphins offense is top pick in 2021, Jaylen Waddle. Waddle is another playmaker with elite speed. Scouts have given the Tyreek Hill comp. Others have linked him to Tyler Lockett. Both productive speedy playmakers in the NFL.

Waddle is set to see lots of snaps as a rookie. He can play inside and outside. Despite missing a lot of his final collegiate season due to injury Waddle was selected sixth overall. Waddle showed his elite speed and playmaking ability over his career at Alabama.

Waddle will have familiarity with his quarterback as both were Crimson Tide contributors in 2019. This familiarity is sure to allow for success and has expectations for Waddle immediately in his NFL career. In a trio with Fuller and Parker, Waddle if left as an afterthought will cause problems for defenses.

Waddle’s ability is legit. He could ultimately be the most talented receiver on the roster with his ability to score from anywhere on the field, outrun the defense, play physical and play make. Waddle comes from a group of receivers including Jeudy, Ruggs, and Smith from Alabama. Some think he is the fastest out of all of them. The point is the talent is true and the upside is very intriguing.

I think Waddle will be used in a variety of roles his rookie year including receiver, return man, and wildcat option. In terms of receiving numbers, I see 700 yards on 60 catches and four touchdowns for Waddle in his rookie year. With health a concern for Parker and Fuller Waddle could see a lot more playing time and feature as the main pass catcher. I think Waddle will have a slow start to the season but be a valuable option from the midseason point on.

In terms of fantasy football, Waddle is a flex and wide receiver three until proven otherwise for redraft leagues. If Waddle does have the slow start don’t panic if you drafted him. If you didn’t draft him and someone is antsy to move him, acquire him if you need help and he could be a difference maker. In dynasty leagues, if you have Waddle you are holding all the way through this rookie season and hoping he turns into a Tyreek Hill.

The fourth receiver for the Dolphins will be Preston Williams. I love Preston Williams as a fan. The third year receiver stands at 6’5 218 lbs. He hasn’t played past week 8 in his short career due to injuries. Theme for Dolphins receivers. But, Preston has the ability to make plays and produce in his role. Williams biggest concern outside of health is consistency catching the ball. Williams easily could have a handful more touchdowns to his career numbers but has just dropped passes. His athleticism coming into 2021 following his injuries has yet to be seen but Williams is a Brandon Marshall type of player.

Getting injured on a touchdown grab versus the Cardinals last year ended Williams season. 2020 saw Preston average 16 yards per catch with totals of 18 catches, 288 yards, and four touchdowns. The lack of ability at the receiver position put Williams as the wide receiver two heading into 2020. Before getting hurt he showed the most chemistry with Tua. He will likely serve as a reserve to an outside receiver position moving forward.

This means a season high in snap count Week 1 if healthy due to Fullers suspension. As a primary substitute for the outside Williams should catch 40 balls for 450 yards and 3 touchdowns. Preston could see a few goal line fades given his size. But he needs to show he can catch the ball much more consistently to earn snaps in this offense. The depth of the position is greater and moving into his third year will need to bring that chemistry he had with Tua from 2020 to a higher level to see a starter’s role.

The fifth receiver that will contribute to the offense is Lynn Bowden Jr. Bowden a former college quarterback out of necessity at the University of Kentucky showed some juice in his rookie year with the Miami Dolphins. Drafted 80^th overall in 2020 by the Raiders, Bowden was traded to Miami where he led the team in receiving for a few games down the stretch.

Bowden can make guys miss and can play all over the field. He had 28 catches for 211 yards in 2020. He caught over five passes in three of the final four games last season including a team high 82 yards versus the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 14, where the Dolphins lost by six.

Bowden is likely to be a gadget player who is used in the slot and wildcat on offense. His production will be limited but it will be slightly greater than his rookie year. Not sure if it all comes in the receiving game but he should catch 25 passes for 250 yards or so. I expect more touches to come via reverses and sweeps. Maybe he converts some touch passes for big gains or even scores. Bowden shouldn’t be a fantasy option unless injuries pile up and he is needed like last season.

The final receiver on the roster is a sleeper pick to make the roster. Robert Foster will be more of a special teams player than an offensive choice. Foster has produced as a receiver in the NFL though. In his rookie season in 2018, he caught 27 passes for 541 yards and three touchdowns. With a yards per catch of 20 yards, Foster was able to use his 4.1 speed to cash in on big plays. Since then Foster has just five catches for over 100 yards.

The reason he makes the team is his speed and his Alabama connection. Foster was a senior at Alabama during Tuas freshman year. Foster was not a feature receiver at ”˜Bama and often worked with the second team offense. Do you know who else worked with the second team offense? Tua! Splitting time with Hurts, Tua threw balls to Foster and that connection will pay off as Foster gets the final receiver spot for 2021. Minimal production from Foster but he could catch a handful of passes and see some deep ball targets with his speed.

The Dolphins have significantly improved the receiving options. We didn’t include the tight ends in this piece but it should be noted Gesicki will see a lot of targets and yards along with Hunter Long. Both are big pass catchers who can mismatch with linebackers and win underneath as the speed takes the top off the defense.

Expect Parker, Fuller V, and Waddle to see the bulk of passes and have very good seasons as Tua eclipses 4000 yards and completes over 350 passes. These three guys should be fantasy football options every week when healthy. If these guys have injuries the secondary receivers could be in line for spot starts as flex players and produce. We’ve seen Tua have success with Bowden and Williams in limited options.  

A full off season, a greater understanding of the playbook, and momentum from 2020 with no question of relief from Fitzpatrick sets Tua and the Dolphins offense up to become a successful passing attack and one to watch heading into 2021.

The post Early Expectations For The Miami Dolphins WRs in 2021 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.