The Good

It’s hard to believe the running back Nick Chubb is still often overlooked as one of the league’s best. It may be due to his quiet personality and business-like work ethic. You don’t hear much from Chubb off the field but on it, he is wrecking ball terrorizing defenses. Chubb is coming off his best year in Cleveland where he ran for 1,525 yards and 13 total touchdowns. Even with Watson back, Chubb is the focal point of the Browns offense and he keeps improving every year. In a year where the running back position is front in center, Chubb has shown he is worth every penny of his $36.6 million dollar contract.

The Bad

Former Dallas Cowboys receiver Amari Cooper was brought in by Cleveland last year to be their #1. For the most part, Cooper impressed and was able to play in all 17 games for the Browns. Cooper needed more help this offseason and the Browns decided to take a flyer on Elijah Moore. Moore flamed out of New York after two disappointing seasons with the Jets. He will now be expected to produce in a large role for Cleveland but there a plenty of question marks on if he can.

Outside of Cooper and Moore the Browns will hope for more improvement from Donovan Peoples-Jones next season. Peoples-Jones had a career-high 839 receiving yards last year for the Browns. Still, I would’ve liked to see the Browns address the wide receiver position more last offseason. As a whole, this group is still below average and will need big years from Moore and Peoples-Jones to be competitive.

The Prediction

This is a make-or-break year for head coach Kevin Stefanski. He was recently listed on our coaches on the hot seat feature going into next season. It really all comes down to how Deshaun Watson performs in year 2. If he can recapture his old form the Browns will be competitive. I just don’t think we will see that version of Watson going forward.

2023 Record: 5-12 (4th in the Division)

The post Cleveland Browns Record Prediction for 2023 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

The current ADP below is for Half PPR scoring.

Elijah Moore (Browns – WR) | ADP 114 | WR48

Elijah Moore was a disappointment last year after a promising rookie season. The former New York Jet only topped double-digit fantasy points once and faded completely from fantasy relevance. Moore showed flashes but failed to produce much of anything. He finished the season with only 1 receiving touchdown and 446 receiving yards.

This past season Moore was traded to the Cleveland Browns giving him a much needed change of scenery. Now with the spotlight off him, I expect Moore to bounce back to his rookie form. Quarterback Deshaun Watson is entering his second year with the Browns and should be more comfortable in this system. With the arrival of Moore, the Browns receiving core has the potential to make some noise. When it’s all said and done, I expect many will be kicking themselves for not taking a chance on Elijah Moore.

Kadarius Toney (Chiefs – WR) | ADP 86 | WR38

Don’t look too much into Kadarius Toney‘s 2022-23 campaign. Between injuries and falling out with the New York Giants, he wasn’t able to offer much value. Toney was traded to Kansas City Chiefs in October for a 3rd and 6th round pick. This was the best case scenario for him as he showcased what he could do during the Super Bowl.

Now fully healthy, Toney is set up for a breakout year with the Chiefs. While Travis Kelce will eat up the majority of the target share I expect Toney will be utilized often in this offense. Toney is a player whose stock is rising pretty quickly as you can see from the chart below. By the start of the season, I could see him getting into the WR30 range in which case he will no longer be undervalued.

Courtland Sutton (Broncos – WR) | ADP 90 | WR41

Like the other wide receivers on this list, Courtland Sutton had a tough 2022-23 season. Don’t blame him though, this was due in large part to an abysmal Denver Broncos offense. Even though the offense struggled, Sutton still managed to finish the year with 829 receiving yards. He also had a decent target share at 20.1%.

I expect the Broncos offense to improve significantly next season. New Head Coach Sean Payton is an offensive mastermind who will find ways to make this offense more explosive. Russel Wilson should also have a bounce-back year and this receiving core will benefit. Jerry Jeudy will always be a factor in taking targets away from Sutton but it won’t matter. Expect Sutton to finish with 1,000+ yards and 5+ touchdowns.

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By: Jake Rajala

The Fantasy Football world is more exhilarating than the artificial space station on Treasure Planet. In particular, there has been a plethora of superb performances from the WR position. With that said, I’m going to take a fun angle by untwining five sleeper WRs heading into Week 3. Let’s begin.

Cole Beasley

The new Tampa Bay Buccaneer Cole Beasley will look to break the will of opponents will the GOAT (Tom Brady). I don’t believe that the former Buffalo Bill is washed up. He’s coming off a season in career-high targets (112), while obtaining a modest 693 receiving yards. Beasley should certainly be involved against the Green Bay Packers with Mike Evans out of the line-up.

Chris Olave

It may REALLY be worth trading for the Saints polarizing rookie WR Chris Olave. He is coming off a whopping 13 targets in Week 2 while catching 80 yards. I expect him to only continue to garner attention deep down the field — while defenses focus on a healthy Michael Thomas. Jeff Bell of the Football Guys nicely noted that he doesn’t believe that there is a better buy in fantasy football than Chris Olave.

Joshua Palmer

The Los Angeles Chargers WR Joshua Palmer is trying to climb out of the shadow, also known as the Keenan Allen and Mike Williams spotlight. Palmer nicely hauled in a touchdown from his potential MVP QB Justin Herbert in Week 2. The man that shares a birthday with me (Sept. 22) could have a very bright career with the Chargers as a WR3 and potentially WR2 (as Keenan Allen is already 30 years old). He is owned in 41% of ESPN leagues.

Garrett Wilson

I pinned Garrett Wilson (owned in 26% of Yahoo leagues and 70% of ESPN leagues) as a waiver wire pick-up entering Week 3. It’s important to reiterate the rise of the Jets WR. He ousted an incredible performance against the Cleveland Browns: 102 yds and 2 TDs. Wilson is undoubtedly a top OROY candidate at this very early point in 2022.

Elijah Moore

It may be Garrett Wilson szn, but Elijah Moore can be an x-factor in the Jets offense. Andrew Erickson of Fantasy Pros stated that Moore was third in targets in Week 2 and fifth in targets in Week 1. Besides having crisp route running ability, Moore also benefits from the attention that Corey Davis and Wilson garner. After Flacco tossed four passing touchdowns in Week 2, I blatantly love the direction of the Jets passing offense – which may sound strange.

Honorable Mention:

Cedrick Wilson Jr.

Cedrick Wilson Jr. may be a bit of a deep sleeper at WR, but it should be stated that he’s going to soon be healthy (after leaving the game in Week 2) and playing with a Phins QB named Tua that dropped six passing touchdowns in Week 2. It’s clear that Dolphins have the NFL’s best WR duo. I suspect that Wilson Jr. will repeatedly thrive with his match-ups in the 2022 season.

The post 5 sleeper WRs heading into Week 3 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By Calvin K (Twitter: @Calvin_SGF)

NOTE: These players are rostered in 40% or less of ESPN leagues

1. Elijah Moore (WR, New York Jets)

Moore had the best game of his young career on Thursday, catching seven of eight targets for 84 yards and two scores against the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts game was a fitting accentuation to Moore’s hot stretch as of late, as his 20 targets over the last three weeks have represented a heavy involvement in the offense as of late. Moore shouldn’t be considered a safe fantasy starter just yet, but he’s still someone who should be rostered in all leagues, as he’s worth a plug-and-play because of his upside.

2. Dan Arnold (TE, Jacksonville Jaguars)

Arnold’s target share has greatly benefited from his trade to Jacksonville, as he now has 12 catches on 17 receptions in the two weeks he’s played for the Jags. Arnold can now be considered a borderline TE1 for fantasy, and good tight end options don’t come around often on the waiver wire, so he’s certainly someone that fantasy managers should look to add this week.

3. Rashod Bateman (WR, Baltimore Ravens)

Bateman has gotten better and better each game for the Ravens, and his five-catch-for-52-yard day against the Vikings on Sunday capped off a solid three-game stretch for him. Bateman hasn’t scored a touchdown yet this year, which has limited his value, but he has received 20 targets in his three active games this year (with no fewer than six in any), a very encouraging sign for his involvement in the offense. Bateman is still a low-upside option with many other pass-catchers still heavily in the Ravens’ fold, but his target share still makes him worth a pickup in fantasy leagues.

4. Sony Michel (RB, Los Angeles Rams)

A lot of Michel’s work this week (nine touches and a touchdown) came with starting RB Darrell Henderson injured, but when Henderson returned to Sunday’s contest, Michel was only a minimal contributor in the offense. Nonetheless, he’s still worth a pickup for RB-needy teams, as the Rams have shown they are willing to rely on him when necessary. Michel has six games with nine or more touches on the year, and he’s shown the ability to be physical and wear down defenders in the running game. Thus, he’s worth a fantasy stash, because if something happens to Henderson, Michel could step in and be a very viable fantasy option.

5. Tyrod Taylor (QB, Houston Texans)

Taylor is someone who doesn’t necessarily need to be added given his bad game last week, but for those who need QB help, his name is one to keep an eye on. Taylor started off the season very well for the Texans until his hamstring injury, compiling 331 total yards in Week 1 before following that up with a hot Week 2 start that got cut short by his injury. Taylor’s performance on Sunday was admittedly dreadful, but he is a dual-threat quarterback who established what he is capable of early in the year, so he could be a good bet for a bounce-back in the coming weeks.

The post Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups For Week 10 2.0 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.

The post 2021 Fantasy Football rookie outlook appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Reese Nasser

Every great passing attack has an elite duo of quarterback and wide receiver. If a team doesn’t have a top duo, they are trying to get one. 

Great duos have been seen throughout the history of the NFL. Peyton Manning had Marvin Harrison, Steve Young had Jerry Rice, and Phillip Rivers had Antonio Gates. The list goes on and on with the most prominent active duo being Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski. 

With that being said, every year there is a new opportunity for a young duo to take off. With how pass-heavy the modern NFL is, there is more opportunity for this to take place. Here are some of the most intriguing young duos that could soon take over the NFL. 

New York Jets- Zach Wilson & Elijah Moore

The Jets may have found something special in the 2021 draft. After taking their quarterback of the future in Zach Wilson, they added Ole Miss wide receiver Elijah Moore in the second round. 

Both Wilson and Moore were electric during their time in college. Moore reached almost 2500 receiving yards and had 16 touchdowns over his three collegiate seasons. Wilson was one of the most prolific passers in football while at BYU. He threw 56 touchdowns to just 15 interceptions. He proved to be a threat on the ground as well, adding another 15 scores, with 10 coming in his final season. 

The duo could be exactly what the Jets need as they start their rebuild. Both players have seemingly already built a strong connection in their short time together. If all goes to plan, these two could be together for a long time. 

Baltimore Ravens- Lamar Jackson & Rashod Bateman 

Lamar Jackson will be entering his fourth year in the NFL and will finally have a true WR1 to throw to. The Ravens added University of Minnesota wide receiver with the 27th overall pick in this year’s draft. 

Bateman dominated during his time in college. He scored 19 touchdowns over his 31 collegiate games. 

While Lamar has been one of the games best quarterbacks, he hasn’t had a true receiving threat. His best weapon up to this point has arguably been Mark Andrews, his tight end. 

Now that Baltimore has added a true threat in Bateman, this offense could reach new levels. It could also take Lamar to an even higher level then he was in 2019 in his MVP season. 

Bateman was the fifth receiver taken but could prove to be the first one to make an impact at the NFL level. The Ravens are built to win now and he could be the final piece in making it happen.

Cincinnati Bengals- Joe Burrow & Ja’Marr Chase

This list wouldn’t be complete without the guys from LSU. Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase will go down as one of the greatest college duos of all time. In their time together at LSU, the pair connected for 23 touchdowns. But the question remains, will they be able to find success in the NFL?

When Chase was available at pick number 5, it felt like destiny. The Bengals being able to bring this duo to the NFL was too good to pass up on. And the two are picking up right where they left off. 

This pairing could be elite from day one and could instantly lead to the Bengals winning a few more games. With other talented receivers on the roster like Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd, Chase will be able to find his place in this offense without having to always be the main producer. Cincinnati could have something special brewing with this group. 

The post The most intriguing young QB-WR duos heading into 2021 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Sukhwant Singh

Intro

Elijah Moore couldn’t have asked for a better spot to have been drafted to. The New York Jets are on the way up. Yes, you heard that right, barring any injuries to its core players, this team is on the rise. The new coaching staff led by head coach Robert Saleh and offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur will be installing their version of the West Coast system.

Falling into the second round of the 2021 draft, the Jets wasted no time in scooping up Moore. Moore had a fantastic junior season at Ole Miss. He amassed 86 receptions, 1193 yards, and 8 TDs. Moore also made the 2020 Consensus All-America team. In fact, the 1193 receiving yards were second in the SEC only to Heisman trophy winner DeVonta Smith.

Now, onto why the Jets are a great fit for Moore and vice versa. Drafting rookie quarterback Zach Wilson with the second overall pick, the Jets needed to give Wilson weapons. They added Corey Davis and Keelan Cole in free agency. This is on top of already having Denzel Mims and Jamison Crowder on the roster.

We all know that there are two types of best friends for a quarterback especially a young one. Either a tight end or slot wide receiver to work those short over the middle routes. This is where Moore excels. He is insanely good after the catch in the open field. This will help Wilson out tremendously to get rid of the ball quickly to a play-maker liker Moore.

Being that both Wilson and Moore are rookies, the two will develop an instant connection over the spring/summer both on and off the field. Moore has elite play-making abilities in the open field, exactly what the Jets have lacked over the last few years. Now, some of you will say what about Jamison Crowder, won’t he interfere with Moore’s development being both are slot wide receivers?

The answer to that question is a resounding, NO! The Jets will save 10m by cutting Crowder and that money can be allocated elsewhere, primarily in getting help in the secondary. The reason why Crowder was not cut earlier in the off-season was because the Jets did not expect Moore to fall to them in the second round.

The Jets also still have Braxton Berrios on the team as well, who is also a cheaper option to keep compared to Crowder. Moore will have all the opportunity to become to take over the slot position and become the star receiver the Jets have been looking for since Keyshawn Johnson!

Fantasy Impact

Expect Moore to put up big numbers playing in the West Coast system. This system is tailor-made to suit his skill-set with play-action passing and taking those over the middle shots. I really do believe Moore barring any injuries is set to have a big year and great career ahead of him. He will be the more electric and dynamic version of Crowder.

Now in the fantasy football drafts, Moore will fall down the charts because he is playing on the Jets. There aren’t many believers out there in the Jets especially offensively. However, don’t be fooled by these assumptions. Wilson and Moore will form a good tandem for years to come and I fully seeing that taking off this year. Crowder put up 59 receptions, 699 yards and 6 TDs in 12 games. Expect Moore to beat those numbers easily and then some.

Conclusion

Moore set to dominate and the Jets for once have been fortunate to be on the right side of things. Growing pains will always occur to young players, especially rookies. I trust the Jets coaching staff will put Moore in the best situations to allow him to excel and bring him along slowly.

The post Rookie Elijiah Moore is in a fantastic spot appeared first on Pro Football Mania.