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.

TENNESSEE TITANS TRADE UP TO THE TOP 10

Tennessee has become a target for trade talks as there are rumors that Derrick Henry could be traded very soon. Other than that, the QB situation seems even worse. The Titans feel they are done with Ryan Tannehill and Malik Willis hasn’t developed as they hoped he would. Trading up would give them a chance with C.J. Stroud, Will Levis, and Anthony Richardson. With the AFC South as one of the weakest divisions in the NFL, a rebuild can show fruitful results very soon.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS TRADE UP FOR NUMBER 2

The Indianapolis Colts have been linked to so many quarterbacks at the number four spot. It feels like the front office is split between C.J. Stroud, Will Levis, and Anthony Richardson. Now, talks are Houston could draft a non-QB with the second pick. However, this could be used to swerve other teams and keep people guessing. With the Colts having trouble searching for that franchise QB, moving up may hurt them picks-wise, but it will make the future much clearer.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS MAKE THE CROWD ROAR

With Kansas City being the host for the NFL Draft, the city will erupt if their team trades up in the draft, instead of waiting at the end. A player that has been linked to the Chiefs is Zay Flowers, one of the best wide receivers in the draft. With the Chiefs losing JuJu Smith-Schuster to the Patriots, a wide receiver would be a good pick for them. Zay would give them production and his speed would give nightmares to opposing teams.

We’re all excited to see how the NFL Draft will fold. Get your predictions ready as this feels much more uncertain compared to past years.

The post Possible Trade Scenarios in the NFL Draft appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

How will the Chiefs slow down the Eagles rushing attack?

The Eagles once again ran all over their opponent scoring 4 rushing touchdowns. They totaled 148 yards on the ground against the leagues best defense. Jalen Hurts really didn’t need to do much through the air as the Eagles dominated the line of scrimmage. Stopping the Eagles rushing attack will no doubt be the #1 game plan for the Chiefs going into the Super Bowl. The issue will be if they load up to stop the run Hurts has the ability to beat them on the deep ball.

How will injuries play a role?

A bum ankle didn’t stop Patrick Mahomes from delivering in the clutch. You could see it affect him on some throws but he is a baller and delivered on several key plays down the stretch. I am not worried about Mahomes for this game as he will have plenty of time to rest but the Chiefs have other injury concerns. L’Jarius Sneed went down early in the game with a hand injury but was ruled out later due to a concussion. If Sneed were to miss this game it would be a huge blow for the Chiefs. He is arguably there best defender and is critical in the passing game. The Chiefs are also dealing with injuries at the wide receiver position as we wait to see the status of JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman.

Can the Eagles stop Travis Kelce?

Travis Kelce is the key to the Chiefs offense. Everybody knows this so why is he so hard to stop? Kelce has great instincts and is a master at finding open space. Also the chemistry between him and Mahomes is the reason they have so much success. Mahomes has the ultimate trust in him. The Eagles will no doubt try to disrupt him at the line of scrimmage with their talented defensive line. They can only hope to disrupt the rhythm and keep everything underneath.

Andy Reid vs. Nick Sirianni

Andy Reid will look to hoist the Lombardi trophy vs his former team. Reid coached the Eagles for 14 years before jumping ship to lead the Chiefs. He had success during his time in Philadelphia but they never won the big one. On paper Reid vs. Sirianni seems like a mismatch. Reid will be a Hall of Famer one day and Sirianni is coaching in just his second season but this isn’t a complete mismatch. Sirianni has found the right buttons to push for his team and they seem to really rally around him. Let’s see how this plays out on Super Bowl Sunday.

Patrick Mahomes vs Jalen Hurts

Two MVP candidates, two of the best quarterbacks in the game and it all comes down to this. Mahomes vs. Hurts will be a heavyweight battle and I for can’t wait to see who comes out on top. Mahomes has been here before so the stage won’t be too big for him. Hurts looks to continue his amazing season by leading the Eagles to a Super Bowl victory. If Mahomes is fully healthy you have to give the Chiefs the upper hand but not by much. The Eagles and Jalen Hurts have mastered the RPO offense and will look to continue their winning ways as they aim for the ultimate prize.

The post Super Bowl Preview: 5 Early Thoughts appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Skyy Moore was the consensus rookie 1.08 in rookie drafts (single QB) coming into the year, ahead of a couple of players who’ve had more utility this year (rookie draft info per FantasyPros). He was a draft darling, balling out in the Group of Five Mid-American Conference. While Moore has yet to show that on the field, how should he be viewed from a long-term perspective? Let’s dive into what to do if you’re a Skyy Moore dynasty manager or an interested party looking to acquire him.

2022

Skyy Moore was the 13th WR taken in the 2022 NFL draft, but a combination of ability on the field with the ball and landing spot pushed him way up draft boards. I’ll be honest, I was guilty of it too, thinking him vs Chris Olave was a tough choice. Moore landed in Kansas City with the best QB in football and a questionable depth chart. So he should have had a big 2022, right?

While disappointing, I’m not as concerned about 2022 with Skyy Moore. It may be a bit of confirmation bias, but MAC to the NFL is a big jump. Most players going from a non-Power Five to the NFL will take adjustment, especially one who likely didn’t need to be perfect to get open. Heck, Davante Adams, now one of the great NFL WRs, took two full years to adjust before his year 3 breakout.

I’m not worried about Skyy Moore. The Chiefs built an offense with a clear deep threat, a possession WR, a gadget player, and an elite TE. They then added an explosive player at the deadline. I think Moore can help at all these spots, as he’s a strong athlete, can get open short deep. We’ve seen in short spurts that Moore is the Chiefs fill-in for the possession short-area target.

While still learning this year, the Chiefs have tried to incorporate Moore more as the year went along, including multiple 6 target weeks as the underneath option. One of those weeks even resulted in a WR36 overall finish in half-PPR leagues. There’s also plenty of additional room for growth within that role, as Juju Smith-Schuster has hit 8 or more targets in half of his 16 games. While not elite numbers, he did finish as WR28 on the year and that role has room for growth with a more explosive player like Moore.

2023

Of the six WRs seeing playing time in Kansas City, only three remain under contract beyond the current season. Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Kadarius Toney, and Skyy Moore. Juju Smith-Schuster, Mecole Hardman, and Justin Watson are all free agents after the year ends. These players, while important, are hardly the most important players due for new deals. If you want someone smarter about the WR position to tell you, check out the video below.

The Chiefs currently are slated to lose four of their five offensive tackles, including 2022 franchise player Orlando Brown. They project to have just $20M or so in cap space. They thought enough of Moore to pick him in the second round from a small school. I’m guessing he gets a shot in 2023 to prove he can ascend into a full-time role. The Chiefs need to allocate money towards the offensive line and extensions for some upcoming free agents.

Skyy Moore’s value

So what is the value of Skyy Moore dynasty shares? Not great. Since the preseason hype peaked his value as a top-30 WR on KeepTradeCut, the consensus view has fallen to just inside the top 60. At WR, not overall. Unless you’re a contender who needs help somewhere else he’s a hold for me, but I also understand the hesitancy. WRs who play as little as Moore has don’t typically hit in year 2.

The post Skyy Moore Dynasty Outlook Right Now appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The Kansas City Chiefs will no longer feature the fireworks that Tyreek Hill brought to the wide receiver position (three-time All-Pro), but they will carry a few new, potent faces: JuJu Smith-Schuster, MVS, and Skyy Moore. Patrick Mahomes may have leaned on Hill to catch third and long passes in pivotal situations, but he certainly has many unique threats to replace Hill (and potentially improve Mahomes’s production) moving forward.

Of course, the TE Travis Kelce will still be a major factor for a long time in KC.

Smith-Schuster may have been a ghost over the past couple of seasons, but it didn’t help that he was in a crowded WR with a washed-up Ben Roethlisberger. It also should be noted that his health has really derailed him: four missed games in 2019 and 11 missed games last season.

The 25-year-old WR is absolutely capable of high-end success with a QB like Patty Mahomes. In fact, his most productive season is similar to Hill’s most electric season, as shown below.

Smith-Schuster’s best season (2018): 1,426 yds and 7 touchdowns

Tyreek Hill’s best season (2018): 1,479 yds and 12 touchdowns

Smith-Schuster should be a Pro Bowl-caliber in a Chiefs uniform, but the football world could be surprised by the rookie Skyy Moore. James Jones was an enormous fan of Moore prior to him being drafted by KC (as shown below).

The second-round pick was MIA in rookie mini-camp due to a minor hamstring injury. Although he returned to action (on a limited basis) in OTAs. It’s also positive that Moore has impressed Big Red in OTAs as of late. Per Chiefs Wire, Reid stated, “He’s doing a good job of understanding what we’re trying to get done.” Reid elaborated that he needs to catch up a bit, but it’s clear that the gifted athlete is meshing well with the Chiefs offensive system.

I expect MVS to be an occasional threat deep down the field, as he was often very explosive for A-Rod in the past. He averaged 20.9 YPC in 2020 and he has a career YPC of 17.5. The Chiefs will have everybody’s old crush in Mecole Hardman and the unique WR Josh Gordon. Hardman quietly had 693 yards last season and he should compete with MVS for the third-most production at WR. Finally, the former Browns legend at WR will likely be busting his tail to keep a roster spot and he may have a couple of touchdown catches that make NFL fans reminisce about his days of being an elite WR.

The post Kansas City Chiefs WR outlook right now appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Ivan Mulinder

Heading into the 2022 Draft the Steelers had some roster needs to fill. Long-time successful QB Ben Roethlisberger had retired, and although they had acquired Mitchell Trubisky, with Mason Rudolph as backup, there was still the opportunity to get a QB from this year’s Draft. The Steelers needed a replacement for WR Ju-Ju Smith-Schuster, who would complement Chase Claypool and Diontae Johnson. Their Secondary required topping up to replace CB Joe Haden and upgrade S Karl Joseph. They had signed CB Levi Wallace for 2 years on $8 million from the Bills and re-signed Miles Killebrew for 2 years on $4 million, but depth at both positions is very important.

The Offensive Line had been invested in post-season with RG James Daniels signed for 3 years for $26.5 million from Chicago, and Chukwuma Okorafor re-signed for 3 years on $29.25 million. With Centre Mason Cole and RG Kendrick Green as likely backup to Daniels this left a need for an LT in the Draft, as rookie Dan Moore Jr was thrust into that starting role in 2021. The Steelers had done a lot in the off-season pre-Draft to fill holes so we’re really looking at rotational depth players in the key areas of WR, CB, S & LT with investment in the long-term QB position. The defensive line is a strength of the Steelers, but it’s always worth investing in if the right player is available. They had also invested in ILB Myles Jack for 2 years on $16 million who paired with Devin Bush makes their LB core a strong Room.

The Steelers Drafted the following players:

• Round 1 Pick 20 QB Kenny Pickett from Pittsburgh
• Round 2 Pick 52 WR George Pickens from Georgia
• Round 3 Pick 84 DT DeMarvin Leal from Texas A&M
• Round 4 Pick 138 WR Calvin Austin from Memphis
• Round 6 Pick 208 FB/TE Connor Heyward from Michigan State
• Round 7 Pick 225 LB Mark Robinson from Ole Miss
• Round 7 Pick 241 QB Chris Oladokun from South Dakota State

It was no surprise the Steelers picked a QB at 20, and in fact, they had their choice of the QBs available, opting for the one with the highest floor. Kenny Pickett had a really good 2021 leading Pittsburgh to the ACC Championship, with 4,319 passing yards, 42 touchdowns, only 7 interceptions, 241 running yards, and 67.2% completions. He’s a good pocket passer with mobility and has a good OL to develop behind. The main concern is his 8.5-inch hands and his 38 fumbles with Michael Vick and Tony Romo being the only two successful QB with 8.5-inch hands in the NFL. Rather surprisingly, unless they know Rudolph is leaving, the Steelers went QB again in the 7th Round with Oladokun, who had a good year at South Dakota State, with 25 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. He’s known to have good arm talent and pocket mobility so is one to develop on the Practice Squad.

The Steelers met further needs by Drafting two WRs. George Pickens is 6.3 and 195lbs with a 40-yard dash of 4.47 seconds and is a top 25 overall recruit nationally- with an attitude. He tore his ACL in 2021 but did return to play in the final 4 games. He has excellent ball skills and is an outside WR, with route running needing development. Calvin Austin III should be a really useful addition as slot WR to the Steelers WR Room. Although 5.8 and 170lbs, he’s really fast with a 40-yard speed of 4.32 and is a good punt returner. 

On the defensive side of the ball, the Steelers key addition was DeMarvin Leal who is a good DT standing at 6.4 & 283lbs. He had his best year in 2021 with 58 tackles, 12.5 for loss, 8.5 sacks, and 2 pass break-ups. He’s a versatile DL man and a very good pick-up for the Steelers. 

The AFC North is going to be a really tough Division in 2022 so getting to the postseason will be a challenge. The Steelers Draft filled holes at QB and WR but didn’t touch LT or add Secondary depth at CB or S. With outstanding QBs in the Division, namely Burrow & Watson, and Jackson an inconsistent, but very real threat in passing, the Steelers are going to have to rely upon consistently good performances. They are pretty solid across their roster and in Mike Tomlin, they have an HC who has had 15 consecutive winning seasons, so is the man you want in charge of a transitionary period in Steelers history.  I suspect that QB will be the key difference between the teams next season.

The post Pittsburgh Steelers 2022 Draft Analysis appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jeremy Trottier

Former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster signed with the Kansas City Chiefs this past week.  The Chiefs signed Juju to a 1-year deal worth $10.75 million, $3.25 million is guaranteed and $7.5 million being incentives.  With this, an already high-tier Chiefs offense continues to get better, and only improves from last season.  Getting an outside receiver who can run the shorter to intermediate routes is a great addition to complement burner Tyreek Hill. 

Now the real question is, how much does Juju improve the Chiefs offense, and what is its ceiling with him on the team?  The Chiefs offense was already one of the best in the NFL, ranking third in yards total and yards per game in 2021-2022.  They also ranked 4^th in points scored, behind Buffalo (3^rd), Tampa Bay (2^nd), and Dallas (1^st).  The Chiefs overall have lost nearly no players on offense other than a few such as Byron Pringle.  However, they have retained their core in:

• QB ”“ Patrick Mahomes
• WR ”“ Tyreek Hill
• TE ”“ Travis Kelce
• OT ”“ Orlando Brown Jr
• RB ”“ Clyde Edwards-Helaire
• C ”“ Creed Humphrey

With this, they should only hypothetically get better in 2022 on offense with Juju.  While Smith-Schuster did miss 12 games last season due to shoulder surgery, prior to that he showed promise.  Even with Ben Roethlisberger progressively becoming less effective at QB, and Dionte Johnson/Chase Claypool taking snaps, Juju was still productive.  Over the course of his first five seasons, Juju accrued the following:

• 63 games played (51 started)
• 323 receptions on 347 targets (68.6% catch rate)
• 3,855 receiving yards (11.9 per reception), 26 touchdowns, 181 first downs

So, what does this leave us with for Kansas City?  They should easily be in the top 3 offensive units in the NFL without a doubt, as they have been.  With the Dallas Cowboys losing Amari Cooper and La’el Collins in the same offseason, the Chiefs could even see a top 2 offense or the top.  There have been teams making moves to improve their offenses however this offseason, could pose a threat to that top spot.  Regardless, Juju is a great addition to the Chiefs and should have their fans excited for 2022-2023. 

The post What is the ceiling for the Chiefs offense with Juju Smith-Schuster? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

The Pittsburgh Steelers were not blowing defenses off the field in 2021 (21st in Points Per Game), but they did have playmakers capable of terrorizing defenses. JuJu Smith-Schuster has been clearly one of the most talented weapons on the roster since he was drafted in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Although, JuJu hasn’t quite lived up to his 2018 season (111, 1,426, 7). JuJu hasn’t unleashed a 1,000+ receiving yard season in each of the past few seasons.

As widely enunciated, JuJu is a free agent in 2022. He tested the open market last off-season but chose to re-sign with the Steelers in 2021. I believe the Steelers are still a Top 3 option for JuJu, but I believe it will be harder for the Big Ben-less Steelers to outbid other potential talented and wealthy squads. So, if the Steelers lose JuJu in the 2022 free agency, who could they replace him with? Well, here are a few intriguing options.

DJ Chark

If the Steelers don’t reunite with JuJu, I don’t see them attracting a top-tier WR like OBJ or Allen Robinson to replace him. I expect them to bring a talented, yet slightly underrated wideout. I’d love for them to ink DJ Chark, who can be a big weapon (6’4, 200) on the outside for the Steelers new QB. It may be wise to sign him on a prove-it deal. The Jags wideout quietly had 73 receptions, 1,008 yards, and 8 touchdowns in his second season in the league.

Desean Jackson

I feel like the Steelers would be a very logical fit for the Philadelphia Eagles legend. The Steelers are a talented team that needs WR help and they may not immediately find it. Jackson could also be available later in the process. It may make sense for the Steelers to hope for a nice low-risk high reward contract with the deep-threat Jackson.

Chris Conley

I’d like to see the blistering fast Chris Conley blossom late in his career, similar to the uncatchable Tedd Ginn Jr. in the later process of his journey. Conley had a career season in 2019 with the Jaguars, where he ousted 775 yards and 5 touchdowns. He might not be the next Mike Wallace for Mike Tomlin, but he can torch defenses with the Steelers offense for a few more seasons.

The post Free agent wide receiver targets for the Pittsburgh Steelers appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

The Atlanta Falcons may have only won 7 games in 2021, but they did outplay expectations in the eyes of many Falcons fans. It wasn’t an easy task for the Falcons offense to lift off without Ryan’s best friend Julio Jones and the talented Calvin Ridley.

Matt Ryan didn’t allow the noise or obstacles to prevent him from throwing 3,968 yards and edging out foes like the Miami Dolphins and New Orleans Saints in very competitive matchups. Ryan is the highest-paid NFL player this offseason, as it’s widely enunciated. Nonetheless, Arthur Blank has spoken strongly of Ryan and I believe he will restructure his contract to remain a Falcon for the rest of his career.

I would love to see the Falcons add weapons to join Matt Ryan and Kyle Pitts. The Falcons can jolt their offense this offseason, rebuild their defense over the next couple of seasons, and I believe the Falcons can be a strong NFC contender for 1-2 seasons with him before he retires. They could also be immediate NFC South favorites in 2022 with Tom Brady out of the division if they retain Ryan and slightly improve their roster. If the Falcons ship off Ryan and they don’t have a Pro Bowl QB in the near future, the Falcons could really struggle for a few seasons.

I expect the Falcons and Ryan to not divorce in 2022 and I expect them to add a few talented players to come out guns blazing next season. Here are a few profiles that would be logical fits for the Falcons.

JuJu Smith-Schuster

I don’t expect the Falcons to ink the golden free agent Michael Gallup or risk signing Odell with his injury and age, but I believe JuJu Smith-Schuster would fit in perfectly for the Falcons. JuJu (129 yards, 0 touchdowns) will likely take a prove-it deal and I think it would be tempting for him to take that route with Ryan and the Falcons. He can join a proven QB in Ryan and he can be the focal point of the offense with Ridley most likely finding the exit. The Steelers WR could also be fascinated about playing the Buccaneers and Panthers mediocre secondary twice a year. The Saints have Marshon Lattimore, but the points are always high in the Saints-Falcons showdowns.

Xavier Rhodes

The Indianapolis Colts star cornerback Xavier Rhodes is old (31), but he has still been playing at a high level (19 pass deflections, 3 interceptions over the past two seasons). Rhodes could be interested in helping the Falcons defense match the Matt Ryan and Kyle Pitts-led offense. I wouldn’t place the chances of the Falcons inking JC Jackson or Patrick Peterson on a good level. They could be aggressive for getting a talented CB like Rhodes after the top free-agent CBs sign elsewhere. Rhodes would match up well against big, physical WRs like Michael Thomas and Mike Evans.

Desean Jackson

Desean Jackson is clearly past his prime, but I feel strongly about him being a nice value pickup for the Falcons. Jackson ousted 454 yards and two touchdowns at this very late stage in his career. He could certainly be a deep threat that the Falcons are missing. He might have one or two years left, but the Falcons could make more magic happen with him than nearly all WR-needy teams in the last breaths of his career. If the Falcons don’t bring back Cordaralle Patterson, it would especially be wise to replace him with the special deep threat WR. It may be time for Jackson to return to the NFC South.

The post Top free agent targets for the Atlanta Falcons in 2022 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.