Studs

Tua Tagovailoa/Tyreek Hill – We knew the Dolphins and Chargers had the potential to be high scoring and that’s just what we got. This dynamic duo could not be stopped as Hill hauled in 11 receptions for 215 yards and totaled 39 FP in Half PPR. Tagovailoa had a league high 466 yards including 3 passing touchdowns for a total of 28.1 FP. If Tagovailoa can stay healthy this offense will hum all season long.

Dallas Cowboys D/ST – The Cowboys absolutely dismantled the New York Giants on Sunday night. If you started the Cowboys defense you are likely winning your matchup as they finished with 37 FP. The Giants offense never had a chance to get going as their o-line failed to protect Daniel Jones all night long. This could be a long season for Jones and the Giants if they don’t fix their protection issues.

Brandon Aiyuk – The San Francisco 49ers had another dominating performance this time in Pittsburgh. Aiyuk led the way with 8 receptions on 8 targets. He hauled in 2 receiving touchdowns and had 129 receiving yards on the day. Aiyuk very much looks to be the #1 WR for the 49ers as he had a 28.6% target share. If he can stay consistent and healthy he is in for a big year.

Aaron Jones – Jones was one of our recommended starts in our week 1 start ’em, sit ’em column. He finished as RB1 on the day before he left the game with an apparent hamstring issue. We will have to monitor the hamstring but Jones remains a must-start for the foreseeable future.

Duds

Drake London – We expected London to take the next step in his trajectory for year 2 but he was non-existent on Sunday. London finished with 0 catches on only one target. Don’t bail just yet on him but this opening game dud is not ideal.

Tee Higgins – The entire Bengals offense was stuck in the mud for much of the game vs. Cleveland on Sunday. Credit the Browns defense but these stats don’t look good. Somehow Higgins finished with 0 receptions despite having 8 targets. That is one crazy stat.

Antonio Gibson – Gibson had a day to forget for the Washington Commanders. There was a lot of hype surrounding how Gibson would be utilized in Eric Bieniemy’s offense this year. A costly fumble limited Gibson to just 4 touches on the day. Again don’t bail on Gibson just yet but I wouldn’t be starting him.

Monday Night Football Preview

We have a juicy matchup on tap when the Buffalo Bills visit the New York Jets tonight. For the Bills, you’re obviously starting Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs. Beyond that, I am not yet ready to start James Cook or Dalton Kincaid. The Jets defense is once again loaded and it will be tough sledding for the Bills offense.

On the Jets side of the ball, I am starting Garrett Wilson but sitting Aaron Rodgers. I need to see how this offensive line protects before starting Rodgers. Also, I am staying away from the Jets running backs until I see how they are utilized.

The post 2023-24 Week 1 Fantasy Football Recap appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Before we look at next season, let’s take a look at the NFL target leaders from 2022. In the table below are the top 5 leaders in targets from last year. The first four finished in the same exact order in terms of total fantasy points amongst wide receivers (Half PPR). The only anomaly was A.J. Brown who jumped CeeDee Lamb and finished 5th in total fantasy points. Brown finished with 2 more touchdowns and 137 more yards.

2022 NFL Target Leaders

Predicting the Target Leaders for 2023-2024

Looking ahead to next season we can almost guarantee the top 5 target leaders will look different. For instance, in 2021 Cooper Kupp was the NFL target leader by a large margin +22. As we know Kupp suffered a serious ankle injury that cut his 2022 season short. Injuries aren’t the only factor to consider. Quarterback changes, coaching changes, free agency and the NFL Draft are all factors. Let’s now look at who I predict will be the NFL target leaders for next season.

2023 NFL Target Leaders (Projected)

Justin Jefferson will once again be the king of targets. I slotted his targets down but only slightly. This is due to the Minnesota Vikings adding Jordan Addison in the draft. It will take some time to get Addison up to speed but once he’s ready he should be productive in this offense. Also, keep in mind that Adam Thielen is no longer with the team.

Stefon Diggs will make the jump from #4 to #2 overall in targets. I am predicting 14 more targets for Diggs as he and Josh Allen continue to develop their chemistry. If somehow the Buffalo Bills end up grabbing DeAndre Hopkins I may re-adjust Diggs’ total targets.

Tyreek Hill‘s targets will drop but not by much. He will once again be the focal point in the Miami Dolphins offense. One major thing to keep an eye on is the health of Tua Tagovailoa. Can he stay healthy the entire season?

Next up it’s our first newcomer on the list. Garrett Wilson finished just outside the top 5 last year in total targets. Now with the addition of Aaron Rodgers, I expect his numbers to climb. I am not worried about Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb taking targets away. Wilson is the Jets #1 WR and they will continue to lean on him.

Last on the list is the always reliable Travis Kelce. Kelce finished 6th last season in total targets with 152. I expect him to hover around this range again in 2023-2024. The Chiefs no longer have JuJu Smith-Schuster and still lack a true #1 receiver. All that means is more target share for the great tight end.

The post Predicting the NFL Target Leaders for Next Season appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Jahan Dotson was somewhat of a wildcard going into last season. Dotson was receiving plenty of buzz inside the Washington Commanders camp. Outside of that most of the NFL world was focused on Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson in terms of 1st round wide receivers. As for pre-draft rankings, Dotson was #29 WR according to FantasyPros ECR and he ended up with 113.1 FP (Half PPR). Dotson missed 5 games due to a hamstring injury that hampered his production. Let’s take a closer look at Jahan Dotson dynasty shares going forward.

2022

Unlike some other rookies we have profiled here, Dotson wasted no time making his mark. In week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars he finished with 2 touchdowns including an impressive game-winner. On the day Dotson finished with 16.5 FP and 40 yards receiving. Dotson kept his touchdown streak going when the Commanders visited the Detroit Lions in week 2. He scored on a nasty juke move that made space for Carson Wentz to fit in a tight throw. One thing that sticks out right away with Dotson on film is his route-running ability. He is very shifty and often leaves defenders flat-footed.

In the week 4 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, Dotson flashed his route-running ability again scoring a touchdown in the corner of the endzone. Unfortunately not long after he went down with a hamstring injury that led to him missing some time.

In his return from the hamstring injury Dotson was eased back into the gameplan slowly. He put up minimal numbers in his first three games back. In week 13 against the New York Giants Dotson made his mark again. He caught a grab over the middle and used an impressive spin move on his way to the game-tying score.

2023

Going into next year there are some key questions to ask in terms of Dotson. The first of which is how well will he mesh with Sam Howell. If it’s any indication Dotson and Howell showed some chemistry in the final game of the year against the Cowboys. Despite limited targets and just 35 receptions on the year Dotson still finished with 7 touchdowns. He had an 18.9% TD rate according to PlayerProfiler which was good for 14th best in the league. Consistency at the quarterback position will be key for Dotson going forward.

Jahan Dotson’s Dynasty Value

Where do I rank Jahan Dotson’s dynasty value for next year? I am still high on Dotson’s ability and his production will only go up. The key is how well Dotson and Howell progress in new Offensive Coordinator Eric Bieniemy’s system. Bieniemy coming in to run the Commanders offense is a huge x-factor. He will find creative ways to get Dotson more involved and increase his target share. For now, Dotson is a HOLD for me going into the 2023 NFL season.

The post Jahan Dotson Dynasty Outlook Right Now appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

RB D’Andre Swift Traded to the Philadelphia Eagles

Many people were wondering what the Lions were doing when they drafted Jahmyr Gibbs in the first round when they already had D’Andrew Swift and signed David Montgomery. Now we know that D’Andre Swift had requested a trade and he was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles. The rich keep getting richer as the Eagles now boast the most talented team in the NFL. In terms of fantasy performance, expect D’Andre Swift’s performance to dip as the Eagles are loaded in the RB position. The Eagles will most likely spread around the reps as they have Rashaad Penny, Kenneth Gainwell, and Boston Scott.

QB Jordan Love Gets Paid and is Now the Face of Green Bay

Now that the hoopla in Green Bay is over, the Jordan Love era finally begins in Green Bay. Love had waited his turn and can finally be called the starting QB of the Packers. His patience was rewarded when the Packers gave him a contract extension of up to $22.5 million, $13.5 million guaranteed. This offseason will be crucial for him and we will see which of the receivers are building a great connection with him.

WR Randall Cobb Follows Aaron Rodgers to New York

Another pal of Aaron Rodgers is going to the Jets as they have signed Randall Cobb to a one-year deal. This gives added security to the wide receiver core of the Jets as they have Garrett Wilson, Allen Lazard, and other weapons. With the Jets using what Rodgers loves on offense, Cobb ill be a good mentor to the younger ones to get them up to speed with the playbook. I don’t expect much from Cobb with all the names ahead of him. But he could have some vintage performances with Rodgers.

The post Latest NFL News And Their Fantasy Implications appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Don’t forget to check out our fantasy football rankings page for our latest player rankings.

PLAYERS TO START

WR: Garrett Wilson NYJ (Projected: 13.92 FP)

Garrett Wilson has his favorite QB back. Mike White will be starting for the Jets again and the offense will most likely flow. Garrett Wilson has been insane with Mike White as his QB. In three games, he has averaged 21+ FP which includes at least seven targets, five receptions and 78+ yards. Against a struggling Seattle defense, Garrett Wilson can have another great game.

DEF/ST: Jacksonville Jaguars JAX (Projected: 8.79 FP)

Jacksonville is playing for something and they will look to put this effort as they face the Texans in Week 17. With the playoffs so close, they will look to be dominant when they play Houston. Jacksonville’s defense has been scoring double digit points the past three weeks. With a lackluster Houston offense, Jacksonville looks primed to score double digit points again.

PLAYERS TO SIT

QB: Justin Herbert LAC (Projected: 20.36 FP)

Justin Herbert comes in to Week 17 with a clinched playoff spot. He faces a tough Rams defense that led to Nathaniel Hackett getting fired after the Denver’s Week 16 loss. Herbert has been terrible the past two weeks scoring just 16 FP combined against the Titans and Colts. It’s most likely that Justin Herbert will let us down again this week.

RB: Nick Chubb CLE (Projected: 14.64 FP)

Nick Chubb hasn’t been the same ever since Deshaun Watson became the starting QB. Ever since the QB change, Chubb hasn’t rushed in for a TD in four games. He has also not hit over 100 yards rushing which he did six times with Jacoby Brissett as QB. The Commanders did a great job limiting Christian McCafferey in their Week 16 matchup. The Washington defense will be capable of stopping the ground game of Cleveland.

TE: Darren Waller LV (Projected: 8.54 FP)

Darren Waller has been solid ever since he returned in Week 15. He has averaged 11+ FP in his return and gets a lot of YPC. The problem for Week 17 is that he faces the elite 49ers defense with Jarrett Stidham as the starting QB for this game. Las Vegas is always chaotic and we question the purpose of this move. This game can get ugly really fast so it might be best to look for another TE option.

The post Start Or Sit: Week 17 Edition appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

PLAYERS TO START

WR: Garrett Wilson (Projected 10.17 FP)

Garrett Wilson looks like a WR 1. The New York Jets have been different especially with Mike White as their QB. The main winner of that change is Garrett Wilson who has scored 26 and 24 FP in back-to-back weeks. In those two games, he has caught 13 passes for 257 yards and two TDs. The Jets face the Bills in a big divisional matchup that could dictate the playoffs. With Buffalo’s defense getting more hurt each week, the Jets will have to counter with a good passing game for a chance to win.

TE: Cade Otton (Projected: 5.60 FP)

Cade Otton comes in hot when Tampa Bay faces the 49ers this upcoming week. Otton was TE 1 last week when he caught six passes and a TD. With San Francisco doing well against the run, the Buccaneers may focus on the short and middle game with Cade Otton as a good option. He’s worth the gamble of a projected 5.60 FP.

DEF/ST: Cleveland Browns (Projected: 5.93 FP)

The Browns come into Cincinnati in their Week 14 matchup against the Bengals. Cleveland comes in from their best performance of the year when they did a bit of everything against the Texans and scored 31 FP. Before that, their best game came against the Bengals in Week 8. The defense allowed just 13 points and had five sacks and a fumble recovery. Look for the Browns to continue their hot defense.

PLAYERS TO SIT

QB: Joe Burrow (Projected 21.27 FP)

Joe Burrow is undefeated when he faces the Chiefs. However, he doesn’t have a win against the Cleveland Browns. Burrow had his worst game of the year against the Browns where he only scored 13.48 FP. There’s always something extra in the air when divisional foes face. The Browns will be motivated in this game especially with them creeping up the standings for the last playoff spot.

RB: Latavius Murray (Projected 11.31 FP)

The Denver Broncos have a problem scoring and this is dangerous especially against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Broncos are running one of the worst offenses in the league so this might be a problem for Latavius Murray. Denver may be forced to throw more and keep Latavius away from the action.

The post Start or Sit: Week 14 Edition appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

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: Jake Rajala

The Fantasy Football landscape is more intense than the blazin hot sauce at Buffalo Wild Wings after two weeks of football. Today, it’s vital to cover none other than the Week 3 Waiver Wire. Hence, I’m going to untwine several names to scoop up off the wire.

Garrett Wilson

Garrett Wilson is looking to be another special former Ohio State wideout, after hauling in a whopping 102 yards and 2 touchdowns against the dog pound last Sunday (which exceeded his first stat-line in Week 1: four catches for 52 yards). Many NFL faces have pointed out that Wilson already gives off “Justin Jefferson vibes”. It should be noted that Wilson doesn’t even have Zach Wilson at QB yet — who is on track to return in Week 4, per NFL.com.

Raheem Mostert

The flash-like RB Raheem Mostert, who is owned in 51.7% of ESPN leagues, is ascending to be the top dog at RB amid a high-powered offense. Mostert out-snapped Chase Edmonds yesterday & ousted 79 total yards. It seems that Mostert’s chemistry with Mike McDaniel is beginning to pay off.

Michael Gallup

The Dallas Cowboys elusive wideout Michael Gallup is finally back after he tore his ACL last season. Gallup inked a five-year deal worth $62.5 million dollars this off-season and he’s expected to be a big part of the puzzle moving forward. He’s only owned in 44% of ESPN leagues, but I expect that number to rise in the next 1-2 weeks.

Evan Engram

The Jacksonville Jaguars TE Evan Engram is in a superior situation than last season, to say the least. He is proving to be reliable with Trevor Lawrence – as he ousted eight targets and several catches in Week 2. Michael Salfino of The Athletic is firm that Engram is a top TE add heading into Week 3.

Jared Goff

The Detroit Lions veteran sharpshooter, Jared Goff, is coming off a monster game with four touchdown passes. He finished with a 121.7 passer rating for the day. It may be wise to grab the Lions QB that is nominated for FedEx Air Player of The Week & that is only rostered in 23% of Yahoo leagues.

Logan Thomas

Logan Thomas, also known as Taysom Hill before Taysom Hill, nicely recorded a touchdown in Week 2. He’s also proven to be able to stretch the field – as he caught a 27-yard pass in Week 2 and a 20-yd catch in Week 1. I love the Commanders big weapon next to Scary Terry and Jahan Dotson.

Marcus Mariota

The Falcons dual-threat QB has been a stingy foe against the mighty New Orleans Saints defense in Week 1 & the ultra-dangerous LA Rams defense in Week 2. As of late, Mariota registered a couple of passing touchdowns against the Aaron Donald-led defense. He should continue to blossom with the young WR-TE duo in Kyle Pitts and Drake London.

The post Week 3 Waiver Wire right now appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The New York Jets unequivocally had the most impressive win in Week 2 in my opinion. The Jets were facing a well-rounded Cleveland Browns team with their back-up QB Joe Flacco. Yet, the Jets were able to sneak out with an unusually impressive comeback victory by a score of 31-30. With that said, I’m going to untwine five takeaways from the Jets-Browns showdown.

• Joe Flacco

In a ricky Ricky Gervais-like tone, I want to say “what the hell happened to Joe Flacco?”. Flacco clearly took it upon himself to look like Patrick Mahomes this weekend by unveiling four passing touchdowns against the Cleveland Browns. Flacco may be 37 years old, but he can absolutely sling the rock with a potent group of weapons (which the Jets possess).

• Garrett Wilson

The Jets 10th overall pick in the 2022 draft Garrett Wilson wasn’t exactly a slouch in Week 2. The former OSU WR ousted 102 yards and two touchdowns against the Browns. It’s safe to say that Wilson entered himself into the OROY conversation.

• Browns edge rushers

I’m positive that the Browns fans couldn’t be delighted that Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney were both productive faces in Week 2. Each former first overall pick notched a sack against the Jets. Hopefully, Clowney can stay healthy and look to meet at the QB across from Garrett more often moving forward.

• Corey Davis

Besides the Garrett Wilson show being in full effect, Corey Davis was able to partake in the excitement on Sunday. Davis unleashed 83 yards and a TD on two catches — which is an impressive feat to say the least. It’s clear that Robert Saleh’s plan is proceeding as a expected at the WR spot.

• Ashtyn Davis

One of the Jets x-factors, Ashtyn Davis, made his presence felt against CLE. He nicely snagged an interception against Jacoby Brissett to seal the victory.

All in all, it was clear that Joe Namath and the ghost of Buddy Ryan couldn’t be more proud of the performance by the Jets in Week 2.

The post 5 takeaways from the Jets-Browns showdown appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jack Brentnall

As a result of the Deshaun Watson trade, the Texans now find themselves with two first-round picks in the 2022 Draft. They have acquired the Browns’ pick at No. 13 overall and have a number of potential options at that spot. Here are three players they should consider.

Garrett Wilson – WR, Ohio State

There is no guarantee that Wilson will still be on the board at No. 13, but if he is the Texans should sprint the card in. They have signaled their intent to build around second-year quarterback Davis Mills, and there is no better way to do that than surrounding him with talented receivers. As things stand, their leading receivers are Brandin Cooks, and last year’s third-round pick Nico Collins.

Wilson would be an immediate starter and offers a true WR1 skillset. His release package is amongst the best in this year’s class and he has shown the ability to win consistently against press coverage. He is also one of the most refined route running prospects you will find, with the ability to routinely create separation at the top of his routes. Both of these traits are vital to translate collegiate success to the NFL level.

Wilson also offers some of the best hands in this years draft class. He is comfortable working outside his frame and showcases excellent body control near the sidelines, logging just 11 drops on 154 career catchable targets. All of this makes him an easy projection to the NFL level and he can be an impact player as a rookie.

Derek Stingley – CB, LSU

The Texans defense was a mess in 2021, particularly in coverage. They ranked 22nd in passing DVOA and 25th in EPA allowed per dropback. Their two starting boundary corners allowed over 1,200 combined yards and eight touchdowns and ranked 117th and 122nd in PFF coverage grade. Getting more talent at the position is an obvious priority, and Stingley would give them just that.

Whilst he might be a riskier pick than Wilson, Stingley potentially offers a much higher reward. A former five-star recruit, Stingley earned All-American honors in his true freshman season at LSU, establishing a reputation as the best cornerback in college football. Injuries have limited his impact since, playing less than 300 coverage snaps over the past two seasons.

Concerns about his durability have seen him drop from a consensus top five player to a prospect who could realistically be in play at No. 13. If he is able to get healthy, Stingley offers everything the Texans could want at the position. He is an elite athlete, running a 4.3 40-yard dash and recording a 42″ vertical. He is comfortable in man and zone, and excelled playing in press coverage. Stingley is also a ball hawk, with 26 forced incompletions throughout his college career.

Nakobe Dean – LB, Georgia

Linebacker might not be the flashiest position on defense, but it is a big need for the Texans. Benardrick McKinney and Zach Cunningham both moved on in 2021, leaving a huge void at the position waiting to be filled. Houston got by with the combination of Christian Kirksey and Kamu Grugier-Hill, who ranked 61st and 74th in PFF grade amongst linebackers respectively. With only Kirksey returning for 2022, they really need added reinforcements.

Dean can be a difference maker on this defense from day one. Whilst he might not be the biggest or quickest linebacker in this class, his combination of quick feet and instincts give him legitimately impressive play speed. He was an integral part of Georgia’s title-winning defense thanks to his excellent run defense and reliable open-field tackling.

Dean is also one of the best blitzers at the position, with 31 pressures and eight sacks in 2021. His ability in coverage also projects well to the next level and he allowed a passer rating of just 43.3 in 2021. This ranked second amongst all Power Five linebackers. Dean can be a solid contributor for the Texans as a rookie and a tone-setter on a defense that needs substantial improvement.

The post Best 3 draft options for the Texans in the first round appeared first on Pro Football Mania.