Quarterbacks

Start ‘Em

Jared Goff (vs. Chi) – Jared Goff’s numbers haven’t been gaudy this season but he has been consistent at the quarterback position. Goff ranks 12th in total fantasy points for quarterbacks which includes his BYE week. He had an impressive showing in the week 10 win vs. the Chargers where he had 333 yards and 2 touchdowns. Up next Goff will face the Bears at home and this is setup for Goff to have his best performance of the season. I can see Goff throwing for 3 touchdowns in this one as the Lions cruise.

Sit ‘Em

Baker Mayfield (@ SF) – Mayfield has been solid for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this year. It is somewhat surprising as many including myself, thought he would be benched by this point of the season. With that said you will need to sit Mayfield this week as he is set to face the 49ers on the road. San Francisco bounced back last week in a 34-3 throttling at Jacksonville. More importantly, the defense looked like its old self constantly pressuring Trevor Lawrence. Mayfield will be under that same pressure all game long and the Bucs offense is in for a rough afternoon.

Running Backs

Start ‘Em

Ty Chandler (@ Den) – Chandler was a priority on the waiver wire this week for a reason. Fellow running back Alexander Mattison is likely to miss this matchup which paves the way for Chandler. He will get to face the Broncos defense which is allowing the most fantasy points to opposing running backs this season. Fire up Chandler this week as he is in line for a big game.

Sit ‘Em

Joe Mixon (@ Bal) – Mixon and the Bengals are set to face an angry Ravens team on Thursday night. The Ravens had a surprising collapse against the Browns last week and will be looking to bounce back vs. their division rival. The last time they met Mixon was held in check vs. this Ravens defense. I expect more of the same tonight for Mixon and the Bengals ground game.

Wide Receivers

Start ‘Em

DeVonta Smith (@ KC) – The Super Bowl rematch is the game of the week and it should be another high-scoring affair. Kansas City will no doubt prioritize locking down A.J. Brown which will give more opportunities for Smith in the passing game. Keep in mind the Eagles also likely be without tight end Dallas Goedert who is dealing with a forearm injury. This means more of a target share for Smith who has a touchdown in back-to-back games.

Sit ‘Em

Amari Cooper (vs. Pit) – Amari Cooper is in for a frustrating game vs. the Steelers. Cooper has had a nice season thus far and is in the top 12 in receiving yards with 715. Unfortunately for him and the Browns offense, Deshaun Watson is set to miss the rest of the season with a shoulder injury. The loss of Watson will no doubt hurt the Browns passing attack as they will rely more than ever on their stellar defense.

Tight Ends

Start ‘Em

Cole Kmet (@ Det) – Cole Kmet owners will be happy to see starting quarterback Justin Fields back in action for the Bears this week. Backup quarterback Tyson Bagent filled in admirably for Chicago but this offense is more dynamic with Fields at the helm. Kmet should find success in the passing game as the Bears are likely to be playing from behind on the road vs. the Lions.

Sit ‘Em

Tyler Conklin (@ Buf) – Conklin had his best game of the season last week in the loss vs. the Raiders. He had 70 yards on 7 receptions including a 27-yard catch and run. Don’t expect that to continue this week when the Jets head to Buffalo. Conklin was held to just 2 yards on 1 reception when these teams met in week 1. The Bills are in desperate need of a win and they will get it this week.

Start of the Week

James Conner (@ Hou) – Conner had no issues taking on the full-time role for the Cardinals last week. In his return from the IR, Conner had 73 rushing yards on 16 carries. Conner certainly looked like his old self and I expect even better numbers this week vs. the Texans. This one has the makings of a shootout and you could see last week the impact of Kyler Murray returning had for the Cardinals. Lock in Conner this week as a must-start as he is set for a big day.

The post 2023-24 Fantasy Football Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em Week 11 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Quarterbacks

Start ‘Em

Derek Carr (vs. Chi) – The Saints offense exploded for 38 points last week and it came at a perfect time. Carr and the New Orleans offense were heavily scrutinized the week before and Carr was visibly frustrated. It was nice to see him back bounce under increased pressure and next up they get the lowly Bears at home. Expect Carr and the Saints offense to continue to roll as the Bears are giving up an average of 19.6 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks.

Sit ‘Em

Geno Smith (@ Bal) – Geno Smith hasn’t quite been the same player as he was last year. So far that hasn’t hurt the Seahawks as they are 5-2 and lead the NFC West. If he keeps playing like this though it could hurt their chances down the stretch. Up next they have to travel cross-country to Baltimore where the Ravens have been tough at home. Smith will have difficulties moving the ball against this Ravens defense and it’s best to sit him this week.

Running Backs

Start ‘Em

Joe Mixon (vs. Buf) – Mixon has been somewhat disappointing this season but did show signs of breaking out last week. He finished with his best performance of the year against the 49ers and racked up 87 rushing yards and 1 touchdown. Up next the Bengals will face the Bills at home and I like Mixon to continue to improve. The Bills can at times be vulnerable against the run and I expect this to be a high-scoring contest.

Sit ‘Em

Rhamondre Stevenson (vs. Wsh) – Stevenson has really been a dud the season and that will continue on Sunday vs. the Commanders. At this point in the season, it’s hard to justify starting Stevenson who has yet to break 60 yards rushing in a game. The Commanders defense is vulnerable against the pass but they have held their own against running backs.

Wide Receivers

Start ‘Em

Michael Pittman Jr. (@ Car) – Look for Pittman to have another big game on Sunday vs. the Panthers. Pittman is starting to come into his own and has had great chemistry with quarterback Gardner Minshew. He’s had 32 targets in his last three games including 2 touchdowns during that span. Up next is the Panthers defense who have struggled against the deep ball.

Sit ‘Em

DeVonta Smith (vs. Dal) – Smith has had his moments but hasn’t been consistent enough this season. He has had some puzzling drops this year and at times disappears from the game plan for the Eagles. Up next Philadelphia will face the Dallas defense that has locked down the receiver position despite key injuries. I’m not giving up on Smith yet but sitting him for this game.

Tight Ends

Start ‘Em

Taysom Hill (vs. Chi) – Hill has been one of the surprises over the last two weeks including finishing as TE1 last week. Hill has been used heavily in the run game for the Saints but also has 14 targets in his last 3 games. Expect Hill to continue to get utilized for New Orleans who will look to attack the weak Bears defense.

Sit ‘Em

Dalton Schultz (vs. TB) – Before last week’s dud, Shultz had three consecutive weeks with receiving touchdowns for the Texans. I still like Schultz long term but not this week. He will face a Buccaneers defense that is allowing just 5.9 fantasy points to opposing tight ends. Sit Schultz this week but keep him on your roster.

Start of the Week

Gardner Minshew (@ Car) – Minshew is our start of the week as he has a favorable matchup on Sunday. Minshew and the Colts offense have put up 38+ points the last two weeks and I see them putting up big numbers vs. Carolina. Minshew is averaging 19.2 fantasy points per game in his 4 starts and I see him getting 20+ again this week. Really the only thing holding him back is the turnovers (5 int’s the last 3 games). If he can eliminate the mistakes Minshew will be a plus starter the rest of the way.

The post 2023-24 Fantasy Football Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em Week 9 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

BACKGROUND

Jordan Addison is a wide receiver prospect out of Maryland. Coming out of high school, he played multiple positions for his team. Rivals listed him as a three-star wide receiver. He decided to commit to the University of Pittsburgh.

COLLEGE CAREER

As a freshman, he started eight games for the Panthers. He led the team in almost all receiving statistics. He caught 60 passes for 666 yards and four touchdowns. In his second season with Pittsburgh, he was even more phenomenal. In 14 games, he caught 100 balls for 1593 yards. He had 17 TDs, which led all of college football. The awards came pouring in that year as he was a Consensus All-American and the Fred Biletnikoff Award.

2022-2023 COLLEGE CAREER

In a surprising turn of events, Addison transferred to USC before the start of his third season. With more eyes on him, he was still his elite self. He ended the season with 59 receptions for 875 yards and eight TDs. He was named to the First-team All-Pac 12 at the end of the season.

STRENGTHS: Elite Route Running

It’s very fun to watch Addison run his routes. He can easily separate from his defender due to his crafty moves. The receptions speak for themselves as he had 100 receptions and 17 TDs in his sophomore season. He looks like a fun RAC player especially if he’s open. With his size, he can start probably at the slot.

WEAKNESSES: Drops

Drops were an issue for Jordan from his Pittsburgh days. With his talent, he should be more consistent and use his hands better. If he doesn’t solve his dropping issue, teams can lose patience easily.

PLAYER COMPARISON: DeVonta Smith

TEAMS WHO COULD DRAFT HIM

Jordan Addison is one of the most dynamic WRs in the draft and he will have a lot of love in the late first round. Minnesota and the Giants are two teams that would love to have him. The loss of Adam Thielen and the lack of an elite wide receiver in New York will make him look like a must-have.

The post 2023 NFL Draft Focus: Jordan Addison appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

1. True Leader – What an effort from Patrick Mahomes after spraining his ankle.  He is a true warrior and a fighter, and his will to win is like no other.  Jacksonville put up a big fight and should be proud of themselves for their effort.  The Chiefs even without Tyreek Hill are very dangerous and can beat you in many ways.  Even when Mahomes is limited he has several weapons he can use.  Mahomes is not 100% and won’t be for the game on Sunday but we do know that Chad Henne is a very viable backup.  He led the Chiefs on a 98 yard drive to score a TD.

2. Philly Special –  Philly is special and to think the Giants had a chance in this game.  I learned that Philly is going to be awfully tough to beat in their stadium.  Even an extremely talented 49ers team might have a challenge.  On the first play of the game, Jalen Hurts threw the ball on a rope to DeVonta Smith.  From there on out it was total domination.  That stadium will be packed on Sunday and I believe it will give Brock Purdy problems and he will get rattled.  Eagles all the way in that game.

3. Burrow Pride – Joe Burrow might be the most talented QB left of the four teams. Yes I am putting him above Mahomes. His pocket presence is impressive and he seems to be getting better each game.  Against a talented Chiefs team this is sure to be a classic.  Joe Burrow will have to play like he did last game for them to have a chance. 

4. Dak to Dallas –  Dak needed to be the man in this game and he fell way short.  He threw 2 INT’s and got out played by a third string quarterback.  Granted SF’s defense is top in the league but Dak wasn’t the answer.  For as much as he’s getting paid, he should be putting up 3-5 TD’s a game.  We keep waiting for Purdy to choke and play bad and it just hasn’t happened yet.  His toughest test will be this week in Philly.  The Philly pass rush is for real and he will have a hard time hearing anything.  I believe this is the week where we see why he was picked last in the draft. 

The post What We Learned in the Divisional Round appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The Philadelphia Eagles are one of the biggest darkhorse NFC teams in 2022. They have a third-year quarterback with high expectations in Jalen Hurts, a shiny gifted WR in A.J. Brown, and the former Heisman winner in DeVonta Smith.

Well, it appears that the Eagles sensation will join a new country in West Africa. Per NFL.com, the Eagles will be the first NFL club to enter a market in Africa. The International HMA initiative gives access to international territories for marketing (and other engagement purposes) to create universal growth.

In terms of the Eagles roster changes, they haven’t made much noise since the NFL Draft. It was reported by Section 215 that Minshew Mania was receiving trade buzz. Luckily, the Eagles team hasn’t pushed out one of the best QB2s in the league. The 26-year-old went 1-1 as a starter last season while throwing 4 touchdowns to 1 interception.

The post Philadelphia Eagles rumors and news right now appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The Philadelphia Eagles clawed their way to a playoff berth last season. The Jalen Hurts-led Eagles could really benefit from x-factors helping them return to the post-season in the improved NFC East. With that said, I’m going to outline three breakout candidates for the Eagles.

Marcus Epps

It sadly appeared that the Eagles struck out on the Honey Badger sweepstakes. Per NBC Sports, they made it clear that they still had a lot of confidence in Marcus Epps. In fact, the fourth-year safety was performing better than previous starters: Rodney McLeod and Anthony Harris. PFF ranked him as the 18th best safety last season and his production should spike as a “full-time starter on a much-improved defense”. The Eagles additions of Haason Reddick (11 sacks in 2021) and first-round pick Jordan Davis should really help the secondary immediately.

DeVonta Smith

The Eagles 2021 rookie DeVonta Smith was successful (916 yards, 5 touchdowns), but I expect to be one of the league’s top WR2s in 2022. He wasn’t quite able to notch a Pro Bowl nod or OROY honors. Jalen Hurts and Smith will continue to grow this off-season, and I foresee the well-rounded Smith capitalizing from AJ Brown’s match-ups. Besides, Jalen Reagor and Quez Watkins aren’t close to the same caliber as the former Heisman winner. Brown, Smith, and Dallas Goedert should be the “be and end all” receiving weaponry for Hurts.

Kyzir White

The Eagles new LB Kyzir White had a career season in LA in 2021 (144 combined tackles, 7 TFLs) and he will strive to build on his 2021 season in a more talented 2022 situation. White is a tremendous downhill LB and he should excel behind the big-man Fletcher Cox. Demario Davis was an unearthly LB FA signing for the Saints, perhaps White can be a special pick-up for the Eagles squad. White may be the most underrated FA signing from the Eagles this off-season.

The post 3 breakout candidates on the Philadelphia Eagles appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jeremy Trottier

In 2021, we got to see the rookie campaigns of three separate receivers from the top 10 picks in the draft, Ja’Marr Chase (pick #5), Jaylen Waddle (pick #6), and DeVonta Smith (pick #10).  While Chase was proven to be an elite player and has shown he is a top 10 receiver, Waddle and Smith battled it out for second best WR in the class.  This has created a discussion to be had among NFL fans, which of these two receivers has the brighter outlook for the rest of their career?

The way I will go about finding out will include the following:

• 2021 performance (both eye test and statistically)
• Team outlook (is the QB situation good?  Do they have room to grow into bigger roles?)
• Utilization (were they utilized correctly, and if not will they be in the future?)

Jaylen Waddle ”“ Miami Dolphins

First up, we have Jaylen Waddle, as previously mentioned the 6^th overall pick in the 2021 class.  Waddle has been absolutely phenomenal so far after his rookie season and has shown to be a reliable starter for the Dolphins, and presumably WR1 with DeVante Parker losing some snaps comparatively. 

In terms of 2021 performance, Waddle had a very good rookie season.  He accrued the following stats last season:

• 16 games played (all 16 started) taking 83% of snaps on offense
• 104 receptions on 140 targets (74.3% catch rate)
• 1015 receiving yards, 6 receiving touchdowns (7 scrimmage touchdowns)
• 2 fumbles, 8 drops, 4 broken tackles, and 7 interceptions when targeted

Overall, for a rookie, this is a great stat line to be working with and shows promise for improvement as well, as he works on minimizing drops and fumbles.  In terms of team outlook, Tua Tagovailoa has been somewhat on and off in his NFL career so far, however having the Alabama connection again between these two bodes well for Waddle’s outlook.  Waddle was utilized well by the Dolphins, becoming their primary receiver nearly overnight, and took no time taking all the snaps he could. 

DeVonta Smith ”“ Philadelphia Eagles

Secondly, we have the #10 overall pick from the 2021 class in DeVonta Smith.  Smith has also been great in his career so far and has proved to be a very valuable asset for an Eagles offense that has struggled to find reliable receivers.  Smith is easily the WR1 at the moment for Philly, as he has been most of if not all of the season considering his capabilities outside. 

For the 2021 season, Smith produced slightly less so than Waddle, however, he had a better handle on the ball at times and did not have as many drops:

• 17 games played (16 started) taking 82% of snaps on offense
• 64 receptions on 104 targets (61.5% catch rate)
• 916 receiving yards, 5 receiving touchdowns (5 scrimmage touchdowns)
• 1 fumble, 2 drops, 2 broken tackles, and 1 interception when targeted

As a whole Smith has been a great rookie as well, and will only improve as the Eagles utilize him more and can get Jalen Hurts on the same page.  As mentioned with Waddle and Tua, Smith and Hurts also played together at Alabama, mostly so in 2018, where they connected quite a bit statistically.  Smith’s upside will heavily depend on ball placement from Hurts, as we can see Smith only dropped 2 passes but had a significantly lower catch rate than Waddle, which partially is attributed to his targets being passes out of reach. 

Who has the better outlook?

In my opinion, as of right now, Waddle projects better for the future.  The main factors for this are that he led in nearly every statistical category other than fumbles, drops, and interceptions when targeted.  Another factor to consider is that Tua seemingly at the very least is more accurate with the ball than Hurts, completing 6.5% more passes in 2021.  Granted, Tua has better weapons in Waddle, Parker, Mike Gesicki comparatively to Smith, Reagor, and Dallas Goedert. 

With that said, I believe both of these players will be extremely talented for years to come, and both of them will create offense for their respective teams. 

The post Who has the brighter outlook: Jaylen Waddle or DeVonta Smith? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jacob Keppen

Many Philadelphia fans were just happy to see their favorite team back in the playoffs, rebounding from a four-win 2020 season. Many fans had hopes that maybe the Eagles could upset the injured Buccaneers squad, which would help show Philadelphia truly belonged in the dance this year. Many were disappointed very quickly into their Sunday afternoons.

The 31-15 final scoreline does not do this game any justice to just how one-sided of a beatdown it truly was. Tampa Bay dominated this from the onset, driving down the field 75 yards to open with a 7-0 lead. That lead would never change hands, as the Bucs were adding to their total with ease.

The sequence with a little more than five minutes left to go in the third where the Buccaneers followed a Jalen Hurts interception on fourth down immediately with a 36 yard Mike Evans touchdown to give the Buccaneers a 31 point lead perfectly encapsulated this game. The Eagles were completely outmatched in every area. There is a silver lining to this though: most knew Tampa Bay was winning this one.

Although many put on their fan goggles and hoped to leave Florida with an upset shocking the world, the reality was Philadelphia was barely supposed to be there much less compete. In what was supposed to be a rebuilding year, many predicting Philly to have a similar result to the season prior, Philadelphia managed to squeak into the playoffs with the last seed in the NFC. While this game was mostly about gaining experience for the team and the young coaching staff, there still are some troubling takeaways from the performance.

The biggest takeaway from this game is that the Eagles need more talent across the board. In nearly every area the skill position players were simply outmatched. Despite taking wide receivers high over the past three seasons, there is still only one guy on this team who can consistently get open and catch the ball and that is Devonta Smith.

Quez Watkins is a modest speedster. He has speed that would do very well situationally, but he doesn’t have an overall refined game at this point. He’s shown some very good flashes and is someone you want to keep in your receiver room, that is all you can ask from a sixth-round pick. The problem is why Quez is having to be relied on as the “second receiver”, and that is because of a former first-round receiver who is quickly looking like one of the biggest flops in Howe Roseman’s tenure as GM.

Jalen Reagor isn’t just a disappointment for the Eagles at this point, he is truly a hindrance on the field. It is a fact that Jalen Reagor simply has not been good enough for the Eagles. We are past the point of comparing Jalen Reagor to Justin Jefferson. He is not a disappointment because Justin Jefferson looks to be a perennial top five receiver over the next decade and Reagor does not. Reagor is a disappointment because at this moment he is not proving to be an NFL-caliber receiver. He struggles mightily to get open and as a player who was renowned for his speed coming out of TCU he looks uncomfortable with the ball in his hands. As a punt returner, he’s arguably been worse. Multiple times this year Reagor has cost the Eagles key field position and the struggles were just amplified on the national stage today.

If the Eagles are serious about taking another step forward next year Jalen Reagor can not be on this team next year. Both him and J.J. Arcega-Whiteside (remember him?!) must be let go of this offseason, proper replacements brought in who can help this football team. I hope for Reagor’s sake he can find a new start somewhere else because the confidence looks lost in him. You feel for Jalen Reagor because the harassment he has received from the fanbase over the past two years has reached the point of being unacceptable. These athletes are people first and nobody should be talked about the way he is online. Reagor had talent in college and I hope it can be realized in another city where he can regain his confidence, it just is not going to happen in Philadelphia.

Another area the Eagles need to add talent to is on that defense. Linebacker is still an issue. How long must fans hear “The Eagles won’t take a linebacker in the first, Howie Roseman doesn’t value linebackers high enough” while every time on the big stage the linebackers get exposed. One of the key differences between the Eagles defense and the Buccaneers defense is they have a star at linebacker. The Buccaneers have two actually in future Hall of Famer Lavonte David and Devin White. Both routinely make impact plays and routinely change the game. The Eagles simply do not have that skill at linebacker. The Eagles need their own bulls at LB on defense. Georgia’s Nakobe Dean or Utah’s Devin Lloyd one of them should be high on the Eagles board in the 2022 draft.

The Eagles have a top notch stud in Darius Slay. That’s very clear. Still, the Eagles need to add CB talent around Slay. Avonte Maddox needs to be the full-time slot and they need a more inspiring secondary corner other than Steve Nelson.

Finally, this all brings us to the biggest question mark the Eagles have for this offseason, what decision is being made at quarterback.

Jalen Hurts has been up and down, to say the least, this season. There’s a lot to like about him. His worth ethic and leadership abilities are star caliber. He is as tough as they come and adds another element to the Eagles running game they haven’t had since Michael Vick. The problems that many had before the season and before he was drafted are still there though. Hurts still struggles mightily as an overall passer with TB being a brutal opponent for him. Nothing seems natural for Hurts as a passer. Sure, he will make a good throw usually once a game on the run as the play breaks down, but from a down-to-down basis, he struggles with consistency throwing the ball.

Now as a “developmental quarterback”, Hurts can work on those issues. A lot of running quarterbacks out of college struggle with the more traditional elements of the game, but it doesn’t mean they are hopeless.

Look at Josh Allen. He was one of the most “inaccurate quarterbacks” in recent memory. Nothing was natural for him as a passer and he just torched the Patriots defense, looking like the player fans hoped he could become.

Allen did this through hard work and dedication, and there’s no doubting Jalen Hurts’ work ethic and determination. The key difference is Josh Allen’s tools. Allen lacked overall refinement coming out of Wyoming but he still had one of the best arms the league had ever seen. Jalen’s arm is just okay.

Hurts also lacks refinement as a passer, not to the extent that Allen did but still lacking refinement as a whole, but his arm simply isn’t elite caliber. Hurts lacks zip on some of his throws, especially outside the numbers, and it’s sometimes the difference between a completion and an incompletion. He doesn’t have the crazy tools to bail him most of the time as other top quarterbacks do. What is his true ceiling? Can he overcome his shortcomings and be the guy in Philadelphia?

The quarterback question could be a very simple one to answer for the Eagles. Despite his shortcomings, Nick Sirianni and his staff might have already identified Hurts as their guy moving forward at least into next season. Hurts did enough to stave off Gardner Minshew all season and it’s clear he’s the guy for the foreseeable future. With the 2022 offseason underway, the Eagles will have to figure out how they will build around the former National Champion.

The post Philadelphia Eagles offseason outlook and Wildcard Playoff game reflection appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jacob Keppen

The question on every football fan’s mind going into the season is: who is going to be the next superstar wide receiver? Now more than ever, rookie wide receivers are making an impact on their franchises. In recent years, the football world has seen rookie wide receivers waste little time introducing themselves to stardom. Last year Justin Jefferson set the standard for all rookies, with a record-breaking 1400 yard season. Next on the list of impact rookie wide receivers: Philadelphia Eagles first-round pick Devonta Smith.

When talking about Devonta Smith, it’s important to remember the caliber of player Smith was in college. Despite being surrounded by other superstars Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs, and Jaylen Waddle, Devonta Smith still rose above all of his first round counterparts. While the draft world expected Jerry Jeudy to build off his fantastic 2018 campaign and cement himself as the top wide receiver in the 2020 draft, it was actually junior Devonta Smith who experienced the breakout season. 

Elevating himself from the “other Alabama wide receiver” to the main Alabama wide receiver, Smith led the Crimson Tide in receiving yards with 1,256 receiving yards, as well as touchdowns with a whopping 14. Despite being surrounded by three first-round wide receivers and a first round running back, it was Smith who became the top star on offense. Who can forget Smith’s 213-yard two-touchdown performance against eventual National Champions LSU, or his five touchdown showcase against Mississippi? Despite being surrounded by top-tier talent, Smith still managed to rise above all.

The next question Smith had to answer was could he do it with all the attention on him. With attention being spread on multiple wide receivers, Smith was able to ascend to superstardom. With Jeudy and Ruggs off to the NFL, could Smith be as good? With all the attention on him, especially after Waddle went down for most of the season with an injury, Smith put up the best season by a wide receiver in decades.

The most valuable player awards are pretty much a quarterback award. Pretty much if quarterbacks are eligible to win it, they will. Since 2000, quarterbacks have won 16 out of the possible 20 Heisman awards. The only running backs who managed to wrangle the award away from the signal callers were Reggie Bush, Mark Ingram, and Derrick Henry. Three of the greatest college backs of all time. The one other non-quarterback to win the Heisman Trophy, Devonta Smith. In an award race that didn’t really include wide receivers, the last pass-catcher to win the trophy Desmond Howard all the way back in 1991, Smith was able to be named the most outstanding player in NCAA football.

To say Devonta Smith was unguardable during his Heisman campaign would almost be an insult to the Louisiana native. Only four of the 13 teams Smith faced were able to hold him under 100 receiving yards. The only game he managed not to score was in the season opener against Missouri, a game in which Smith had 89 receiving yards. The game logs read like a created player in madden with the game difficulty on Rookie: 167 yards and two touchdowns against Georgia, 203 yards and four touchdowns against Mississippi State, 231 yards and three touchdowns against defending champions LSU, 184 yards and two touchdowns in a thrilling SEC Championship game against Florida, and finally a 215 yard three touchdown half against Ohio State in the National Championship. Nobody could stop the Bama receiver as he danced his way to multiple accolades and the 13th overall selection by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2021 NFL Draft. 

As the third receiver taken in the 2021 NFL Draft, Smith’s status as possibly the most unstoppable receiver seen in the NCAA must be remembered. Smith has every opportunity to be a transcendent star in the NFL as well. His skill set is exactly what the modern NFL is looking for. Even in limited action in the preseason, Smith showed why he was able to dominate the NCAA.

Smith is an extremely advanced technician of a route runner. While not the biggest receiver at all, Smith negates more physical defensive backs, using his exquisite release package to avoid contact at the line of scrimmage. With his first few steps, Smith puts himself at an advantage. Smith can run any route in the book, his smooth athleticism allowing him to break on a dime and accelerate through cuts. He uses his smooth athleticism along with high football iq to gain easy separation from defensive backs. With the ball in his hands, Smith is extremely slippery. He’s a dangerous threat in the screen game, and to take a short pass the difference. Finally, despite being a smaller receiver, Smith can still go up and fight for the ball in the air. Similar to Washington receiver Terry McLaurin, Devonta Smith can make catches players his size have no business making.

Smith’s playstyle immediately translates to success usually in the NFL, and he’ll have all of the opportunity in Philadelphia to be fed the ball. Despite being a rookie, Smith is far and away from the most talented receiver on the roster, looking the part in training camp. The Eagles are in desperate need of a true #1 wide receiver, and after trading up for Devonta Smith they’ll look to give him WR1 volume. There’s no other consistent threat on the roster, the rest of the wide receiver group a cast of inconsistent speedsters for the most part. The only big target to take away catches is most likely Dallas Goedert, and he hasn’t proven to be able to handle a superstar workload yet. 

When it comes to Smith, it’s the perfect situation of talent meets opportunity. Devonta Smith is one of the most talented receivers to enter the draft in recent years. Smith will forever go down in history books for his play in college. The way he wins is how a lot of top receivers in the league win, including last year’s rookie standout Justin Jefferson. Philadelphia has been looking for a true wide receiver #1 for years now and the opportunity is there for Smith. Devonta Smith in Philadelphia can be a special player for years to come.

The post Why DeVonta Smith will be special appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By Calvin K (Twitter: @Calvin_SGF)

A feeling of excitement is in the air, as NFL training camps are underway and the inaugural preseason game is in the books. Last Thursday’s Hall of Fame Game marked the beginning of the league’s 102nd season, and it will be the second straight year taking place during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Every year, perhaps the most exciting part of training camp is getting to finally see new rookies in action on an NFL practice field. For those rookies, training camp is crucial to learn their new systems and develop as players, and the practices also allow fans to get inside glimpses into how the preparation is going. As usual, many rookies will have an immediate impact in the NFL and in fantasy football, while others will take a while to develop and some may never have a significant impact in the fantasy world. In this article, I’ll be analyzing some rookies to target, rookies to avoid, and other interesting names that you should know heading into your fantasy draft.

Rookies to Target

1. Ja’Marr Chase (WR, Cincinnati Bengals)

Chase is considered perhaps one of the best wide receiver prospects we’ve seen in the last decade, and for good reason. There really aren’t any major flaws in Chase’s college film, and opting out of the 2020 season allowed him to focus on minor refinements that presumably made him a more complete receiver. With a great release, excellent hands, and electric speed, he should step in right away as an impactful NFL receiver.

Reuniting with his college quarterback in Joe Burrow is a major plus for Chase’s fantasy value, and the immediate connection between the pair, as well as the draft capital (#5 overall) spent on Chase implies that he will soon be the Bengals’ top wideout. Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd are both very good receivers as well, but neither of them have the same explosiveness, athletic traits, and dominating play style of Chase. Burrow was also on a 16-game pace of 646 passing attempts last year, a number that would’ve been close to the top of the league. With A.J. Green no longer in the fold, that number is plenty to support all three Bengals wide receivers, and Chase’s upside means he projects to be the best of the bunch in year one and beyond.

2. Javonte Williams (RB, Denver Broncos)

The Broncos made sure to acquire Williams in this year’s draft, moving up five spots to #35 overall and getting the guy they’d set their sights on. Williams will have to compete with Melvin Gordon for the lead role in the Broncos backfield, but his abilities as a tackle-breaker and a pass-catcher mean that he could soon be a three-down back for the team.

Gordon will be a free agent after this year, so it seems obvious that the Broncos would consider Williams to be their future. It gets trickier to project Williams’ 2021 playing time, but his punishing running style means that he could see the field early and often. Williams had easily the highest tackle-breaking rate in the FBS last year, and if that translates to the NFL level, it could mean staggering efficiency, which is something we don’t always see from pure north-south runners.

Strength-of-schedule can be a stat that changes drastically mid-season, but even so, the Broncos’ late-season schedule can still be considered a cause for excitement. After their Week 11 bye, Denver only plays one team above the bottom 10 in points per game allowed, setting Williams up for a potential backfield takeover at a perfect time. We could see a Jonathan-Taylor type breakout from Williams in Weeks 12-17, and league-winning performances in those weeks would certainly make up for a potentially slow start to the year (which may not even happen, given camp reports saying he’s expected to compete right away). Overall, Williams’ talent combined with circumstances could yield a great year for him in fantasy, which is why he’s more than worth a selection at his RB27 price.

3. DeVonta Smith (WR, Philadelphia Eagles)

Smith has a major opportunity to step up in Philadelphia, and in my opinion, he should’ve been picked over Jaylen Waddle at #6 overall. Smith and Chase have many similar traits, as Smith also has consistent hands and gets off the line fast. However, Smith is arguably the better route runner of the two consistency-wise, which then leads to the sensible assumption that the sole reason Smith dropped in the draft was his BMI.

At 6’0″, 174 pounds (166 at his combine), Smith’s weight is lower than essentially every successful wide receiver ever, even weighing in lower than players such as Marvin Harrison and Will Fuller. However, as the first WR to win the Heisman Trophy in 29 years, Smith has established that he’s an outlier at the position. Smith stayed in great health throughout a grueling SEC season last year, and the concerns about injury risk tend to be overblown when you consider that he only missed two games due to injury in his entire college career. Now in the NFL, he should have a great chance at immediately being the Eagles’ top receiver, as his only major competitor for targets is likely to be tight end Dallas Goedert. If he starts for most of the year (which, barring injury, he almost certainly will), he has the potential to be a top-20 fantasy wide receiver, making his current WR39 FantasyPros price feel like his absolute floor.

4. Elijah Moore (WR, New York Jets)

At WR62 on FantasyPros, Moore is set up to be a tremendous value, one that you can get at the very back of your draft. Moore has top-30 WR upside in this new-look Jets’ offense, and while his true breakout isn’t likely to happen in 2021, he still has lots of potential to make noise alongside fellow rookie Zach Wilson.

Wilson’s arm talent allows him to place throws where only his receivers can get it, which is a perfect match for Moore, a speedy receiver with excellent hands and pure, consistent route-running ability. Corey Davis, a veteran, will likely be Wilson’s favorite target early in the season, but Moore’s superior big-play ability will likely translate into a higher target share as the season goes on. Moore could easily end up being the #1 target for New York, but even if he’s not, he can still succeed as the WR2 in what’s likely to be a pass-first offense. Moore has the ability to score long touchdowns and make big plays, but he also was consistently an open target at Ole Miss, which could mean big things for him in the NFL.

Rookies to Avoid

1. Michael Carter (RB, New York Jets)

Carter is not a terrible player to take a shot on late in drafts, but the fourth-round RB is inexplicably ranked 19 spots ahead of Tevin Coleman, who is likely to have more success this year. Fourth-round RBs have an extremely low hit rate, so it makes much more sense to project New York reliance on Coleman, who has a solid 4.2 career yards per carry.

2. Rondale Moore (WR, Arizona Cardinals)

Moore is currently FantasyPros’ WR72, and at that price, he’s a fine player to take a shot on. However, I wouldn’t expect a breakout season from him this year. Christian Kirk is already established as a valuable piece for this Cardinals team, and with the addition of A.J. Green this offseason, it could be difficult for Moore to find a role in the offense.

Moore is incredibly fast, and his burst may be unmatched by any receiver in this draft class. However, he isn’t a dominating type of player, and his speed often is the only tool he uses to win matchups. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing at all for his potential success in the NFL, but it seems likely that this skill set will primarily be a situational one in 2021. As a gadget guy, Moore will be able to throw defenses off balance, but his skill set doesn’t project to him being a high-volume receiver, which could cause him to be inconsistent and disappointing for your fantasy team. Moore certainly has tons of talent, and he could even become a player similar to Tyreek Hill at some point, but we’ve seen many recent examples of speed being overhyped in the NFL (Andy Isabella, Jalen Reagor, Henry Ruggs, etc.), which is why Moore carries a lot of risk and not a ton of reward for this year.

3. Trey Sermon (RB, San Francisco 49ers)

Sermon, who the 49ers selected in the 3rd round of this year’s draft, has some upside, and in the long-term, he could be a very solid RB. However, it’ll be difficult for him to carve out a role this year given the amount of backfield competition in San Francisco.

Raheem Mostert will be a free agent after this year, so Sermon will have an opportunity to be this team’s lead back in the future. However, it’s hard to see him becoming the clear lead back in 2021 while competing with Mostert, Jeff Wilson, and others for touches. The 49ers like to use a running-back-by-committee approach, and Kyle Shanahan likes to run with the hot hand, an approach that can favor a healthy Mostert, who is extremely explosive and efficient. As a third-round RB, Sermon’s hit probability is also much lower than someone like Javonte Williams, so it’s probably unwise to expect a ton from him year one. He’s a fine late-round flier, but his RB35 FantasyPros ranking likely means someone in your league will put at least somewhat of a premium pick on him, which just doesn’t appear worth it in redraft.

Other Names to Know

Kyle Pitts (TE, Atlanta Falcons)

Pitts is an incredible athlete, and he’s in consideration as perhaps the best tight-end prospect in the history of the NFL. Pitts became the first non-QB off the board when the Falcons selected him at #4 overall, and at 6’6″ and 240 pounds, he has the perfect build for a dominating tight end. His athleticism means he can be a vertical dominating threat who can win 50 50 balls consistently, and he has a willingness and an underrated talent for blocking as well, which can’t even be said about some of the league’s better tight ends. However, almost every rookie at the tight end position doesn’t immediately have a massive target share in year one. Pitts’ generational talent means that he could be a superstar right out of the gate, but the early-season risk places him as my TE6 overall for this year.

Travis Etienne (RB, Jacksonville Jaguars)

Etienne is a frustrating case because the Jaguars’ selection of him at #25 overall placed him into what should be a heated backfield battle with fellow RB James Robinson. Robinson shined in his rookie season after going undrafted last year, but the addition of Etienne likely means he won’t handle close to the historically high snap share that came his way last season. The Jaguars will be better as a team this year, which should help both RBs, but the fact remains that they both are talented, and they will continuously eat into each other’s workloads. Etienne’s main breakout will be in the second half of the year when he’s gotten some NFL experience, but even then, a true emergence could be difficult to pull off given Robinson’s presence. Due to all of this, Etienne is my #28 fantasy RB for next year, and while he does have some upside, his risk is too high for me to want him as my RB2.

Rashod Bateman (WR, Baltimore Ravens)

Bateman, the Ravens’ first-round wide receiver out of Minnesota, is an electric player with many highlight-reel-worthy plays on his college tape. However, he will, unfortunately, be part of a Ravens offense that just doesn’t throw the ball enough to give Bateman tons of upside. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson had 376 pass attempts in 15 games last year. In contrast, Bengals QB Joe Burrow had 28 more attempts while playing in just 10 games. This limited volume will cap Bateman’s ceiling and limit his consistency, and with an elite tight end in Mark Andrews already established as this offense’s top target, it’ll be hard for the rookie to breakthrough in year one. Marquise Brown and Sammy Watkins will also fight for the team’s #2 role, and fourth-round pick Tylan Wallace is in the mix as well. All of these factors don’t necessarily mean Bateman won’t succeed, but they certainly make it much more difficult for him to be consistently productive in fantasy.

Jaylen Waddle (WR, Miami Dolphins)

Waddle is joining a confusing situation in Miami, and although he will reunite with Tua Tagovailoa, his college QB, there are a lot of question marks surrounding his fantasy potential. Tua’s inconsistency last year is one cause for concern, and while we know he has lots of arm talent, it remains to be seen if he can produce at the NFL level. Another issue for Waddle will be the Dolphins’ supporting cast. Will Fuller and Mike Gesicki should both handle significant receiving work, and with DeVante Parker, Myles Gaskin, Preston Williams, and Albert Wilson also vying for targets, it could be difficult for Waddle to carve out an established role. Finally, while Waddle is an electric player, he’s not necessarily a very complete WR. His hands are a major question mark, and this could cause him to become more of a gadget guy for the team, with a large portion of his touches coming at or near the line of scrimmage. Gadget roles usually aren’t overly consistent on a week-to-week basis, and while manufactured touches could help his touch share overall, they may not be reliable enough to immediately help your team this year. In the dynasty, Waddle will have much more time to develop a significant offensive role, but for this year, there are a lot of hurdles to overcome, which is why his immediate production potential appears limited.

First-Round QBs

All five first-round quarterbacks could make a fantasy impact this year, but it’s not necessarily likely that any single one will put up amazing stats in Year 1. Trevor Lawrence is the consensus rookie QB1 for redraft, and while he has a good arm and some rushing upside, he doesn’t have the same rushing explosiveness as players like Lamar Jackson and Kyler Murray. Lawrence has solid weapons in Jacksonville, but overall, there’s not really a reason to believe that he should be drafted above other established veterans at the position. Zach Wilson’s arm talent is incredible, but coming from a non-Power Five school in BYU could mean that it takes him some time to adjust at the NFL level. Trey Lance has great rushing upside, but he’s unlikely to start immediately for the 49ers, as they seem quite comfortable with Jimmy Garoppolo as the starter for now. I’d expect Lance, this year’s #3 overall pick, to see the field at some point this year, but it seems assured that he won’t provide a full year of fantasy production. The same thing applies to Justin Fields, who has great arm talent and speed. Fields also was an inconsistent decision-maker against the blitz in college, and those issues could be exacerbated when facing NFL defenses. Finally, Mac Jones of New England is likely to see the field least out of this group, and while he is an accurate passer, his rushing upside is extremely minimal, which will make it tough for him to provide big fantasy weeks.

Overall, there are many intriguing storylines to consider when evaluating rookies for your fantasy draft. I tend to believe that rookies are generally undervalued in redraft, which is why I have more major players to target than to avoid. Drafting rookies gives you a lot of upsides, and while they may disappoint early in the year, many will come through in a big way later on. That early-season disappointment can also give you a perfect buy-low window on some rookies, and while many will be good from the start of the year, others can sometimes be acquired for extremely low prices, making them likely to pay off on investment. Overall, you should make sure to have a good evaluation on a rookie and their surrounding players before making a selection. However, with the right knowledge, targeting rookies can be a great strategy to aid your chances of winning your fantasy league.

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