Winner – Chicago Bears

Well, this an obvious team to choose for the best draft. Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze headlined this incredible draft that could be remembered in Chicago for years.

A franchise QB and maybe a franchise WR in Rome Odunze, Chicago probably has the best reciever core in the league with DJ Moore Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze. Tory Taylor is also just a special punter and will be a dominant one for years to come.

Loser – Atlanta Falcons

The falcons had a great opportunity this year to majorly upgrade their pass rush by getting the likes of Dallas Turner or Laitu Latu. Instead, they draft their successor of Kirk Cousins in Micheal Penix Jr.

Penix is a great quarterback, but the value was too high and the situation truly doesn’t add up. Cousins is on a 4-year deal that pays him a lot of money. Penix has a chance to be great but everything needs to fall in place. Moving onto the later rounds, Ruke Orhorhoro with the 35th pick was a bit of a reach but, mainly fine. 

Winner – New Orleans Saints

The Saints crushed this draft. Tailese Fuaga with the 14th pick was perfect value and a great fit. The main steal of the draft were two picks, Kool-Aid Mckinstry with the 41st pick and Spencer Rattler with the 150th pick.

These two guys have huge upside and can be not only productive starters, STARS. In terms of Rattler, his upside is through the roof, he throws a better ball than a lot of guys in the league currently. 

Loser – Las Vegas Raiders

Las Vegas didn’t get a quarterback, it’s that simple. I love the Brock Bowers pick, but in a league as competitive as the NFL, you need to at least have a guy that’s a lottery ticket. When I say lottery ticket I mean a 4th rounder or 5th rounder that could boom and become a franchise guy, take Spencer Rattler for example or for someone actually in the league Dak Prescott. 

The post Who Were the Winners and Losers of the 2024 NFL Draft? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

The Good

Penix is a phenomenal prospect and definitely worthy to go first round. Penix has the rocket arm and athleticism to justify taking him top 10.

An underrated part of the pick is letting Penix sit behind Cousins for a year or two the figure things out as a backup. Penix could learn a lot from a veteran QB in Kirk Cousins and could no doubt change a lot of minds coming into Atlanta.

The Middle

The only problem with taking Penix this early is the other candidates on the board. Dallas Turner, Laiatu Latu, Rome Odunze were all on the board but instead you get the most important position a couple of picks earlier. Importantly, the projected spot for Penix was late first round maybe even late second. Nevertheless, the Falcons got their guy and are ready to roll.

The Bad

Kirk Cousins doesn’t seem to be to happy with the pick. The Falcons called Cousins earlier in the week and informed him they’d be taking a quarterback in the later rounds. Naturally, Cousins was shocked when Penix was taken at eighth. Cousins was “stunned at the news” per ESPN’s Dianna Russini.

This probably isn’t the greatest sign considering the organization just paid Cousins 100 million guaranteed to come play quarterback for them. This could play out like another Jordan Love situation where Atlanta keeps Penix in their back pocket for years. 

Overall, I think the good trumps the bad by a small margin and gives the Atlanta’s fanbase something to look forward to. The question now remains: Will Kirk Cousins stay healthy? 

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Bijan Robinson was one of the can’t miss players from the 2023 NFL Draft. The former Texas Longhorn was one of the most dynamic offensive threats coming out of college. It was no surprise when he went in the top-10 to the Atlanta Falcons who were in need of weapons. Unfortunately, Robinson’s rookie season didn’t go as planned for dynasty football owners.

There were flashes but his usage in the Falcons system was perplexing, to say the least. Will that change in 2024 with Kirk Cousins on board and a new offensive system? Let’s break that down further and offer some advice on what to do with Bijan Robinson in dynasty leagues.

2023

Before the start of the 2023 season, Bijan Robinson was getting all the hype as the next superstar. In many dynasty leagues, he was a must-have commodity and he was quickly rising up draft boards. He was also the favorite to win Offensive Rookie of the Year. As we now know that award went to C.J. Stroud with Robinson receiving just 3 first-place votes.

In his NFL debut against the Panthers Robinson scored on a receiving touchdown and had 83 yards from scrimmage. It was a solid debut for the rookie. The next week against the Packers Robinson broke out with 124 rushing yards and another 48 yards receiving. Although he didn’t score things we looking up for the rookie. Unfortunately, he was never ever to duplicate that performance and was inconsistent the rest of the season.

Things really got strange for Robinson in week 7. He had just 1 rush for 3 yards in the win against Tampa Bay. This perplexed many fantasy owners because Robinson wasn’t on the injury report. After the game, he claimed that his head was hurting and that was the reason for the lack of carries. The whole situation was odd and it seemed there were some behind the scenes issues there. In all Robinson finished his 2023 campaign with 1,463 yards from scrimmage and 8 total touchdowns.

2024

Fast forward to this season and the hype is once again building for Robinson. The Falcons have a brand new coaching staff with Zac Robinson taking over the offense. Like new head coach Raheem Morris, Robinson comes for the Rams after 5 seasons under Sean McVay.

There is also a new quarterback in town in Kirk Cousins. Cousins is still playing at a top-10 level and will make everyone on this offense better including Robinson. There are also two new offensive threats in receivers Darnell Mooney and Rondale Moore. These two newcomers to go along with Drake London will give Cousins weapons at all of the skill positions.

Bijan Robinson’s Dynasty Value

What is the current value of Bijan Robinson dynasty shares? Right now he is RB1 on KeepTradeCut and the 12th overall player in their rankings. This is somewhat surprising given the season he just had but dynasty players are likely betting on a much better offense in 2024. There is a ton of potential for Robinson to put up big numbers for the Falcons.

Given the current value, I recommend you trade Robinson right now. I do believe his numbers will go up but I don’t have him as high on my board. Time to cash in on his current value.

The post Bijan Robinson Dynasty Outlook appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Commanders Trade Up for Caleb Williams

Early on in the offseason, it seemed like a lock the Chicago Bears would select Caleb Williams with the first pick. Fast forward to today and that is no longer a guarantee. As it stands quarterback Justin Fields is still on the Bears roster and hasn’t been traded. Most assume that is because nobody wants him but what if the Bears intend to keep him instead?

Yesterday, Chicago pulled off a surprising trade with the LA Chargers and received Keenan Allen for a 4th round pick. Allen is no longer in his prime but is still a top-level receiver in the league. Pairing him with DJ Moore gives the Bears something they have been lacking for years. Weapons.

Some would assume getting Allen is to help Caleb Williams but what if it’s for Fields instead? Fields has not had a great supporting cast since he was drafted. This move could put less pressure on Fields and allow him to stay in the pocket more as these two receivers will eventually get open. Keep in mind the Bears also signed running back De’Andre Swift in free agency. Swift is another weapon that Fields could utilize.

So what would it take for the Commanders to move up? Well with the trade yesterday the Bears now only have 4 picks in the upcoming draft. I believe Washington who just acquired an additional 3rd round pick for Sam Howell could offer the below package.

• Commanders get 1st overall pick —> Bears get 2nd overall pick, 36th pick, 67th pick and a 2025 1st round pick

That may seem like a lot to move up one spot but if Washington believes that Williams is their franchise QB of the future they have to pull the trigger.

Vikings Move Up and Draft Drake Maye

Earlier today the Minnesota Vikings pulled off a trade to swap draft picks with the Houston Texans. This gives Minnesota the 23rd pick in the upcoming draft. The Vikings now have two first-round picks at their disposal and I believe they will use them to move up for Drake Maye.

As it stands the Vikings are too far back to wait on a quarterback and with the departure of Kirk Cousins they need to address the position. I do realize the Vikings picked up Sam Darnold this week but I don’t think he is there to be the starter. Maye makes a lot of sense for this Vikings team who still have star Justin Jefferson and recently brought in ex-Packer Aaron Jones.

The post 2024 NFL Mock Draft V2 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Winner

The Texans made sure this off-season they would address their weaknesses. And they did just that, getting a star edge rusher in Danielle Hunter. The four-time pro bowler amassed 16 sacks last year and is going to absolutely rejuvenate the Texans d-line. The price was hefty with a 2 year 49 million dollar contract.

That’s not all the Texans did, a 7th round pick was sent to the Bengals for RB Joe Mixon. Many argued the weakest point of the Texans’ roster last year was the running back position, well now this should be fixed by getting a star guy in Joe Mixon. Also a couple of acquisitions to get DE Denico Autry and LB Azeez Al-Shaair. Finally, the resigning of Noah Brown on a 1 year contract was a good depth piece to be a productive guy for QB CJ Stroud.

In the Middle

The Falcons did a really good job of getting guys to majorly upgrade their roster. Former Vikings QB Kirk Cousins signed on a 4 Year, 180M dollar contract to provide them an automatic upgrade. I would be lying if I said I didn’t have my concerns for Cousins but the reality of the situation is, he will be better than Ridder.

Cousins has the weapons to thrive in an offense with Kyle Pitts, Bijan Robinson and Drake London, the question is Cousins going to be the same off the injury? The money is hefty as well with a 45 million average of each year. 25 million is guaranteed each year with the rest of the money being escalators to get him to 45 million.

Also acquiring former Chicago Bears WR Mooney was a nice addition even though the contract was large, Mooney’s vertical skill set is exactly what the Falcons were missing. 

Loser

For the salary cap fake crowd, this one is a silencer. The Buffalo Bills had to release several key players including All-Pro Corner Tre’Davious White, Saftey Jordan Poyer and O-linemen Ryan Bates due to trade.

As long as the Bills have Josh Allen they should be fine, but these key losses are incredibly concerning and will be interesting to see how they will address the needs in the draft. It’s not all doom and gloom though, as left tackle Dion Dawkins has extended his deal for three more years. 

The post Who are the Winners and Losers of Free Agency? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Although Wilson failed in Denver he will still be attractive to QB needy teams. Wilson was serviceable last season for the Broncos and in the right situation, he could flourish. There have been plenty of rumors since his release on potential landing spots. Let’s focus on 3 teams and breakdown why each one would be a fit.

Pittsburgh Steelers

The obvious best overall fit for Wilson would be the Steelers. Pittsburgh has strong leadership in place with Mike Tomlin at the helm and they are in need of a quarterback. Current Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett has had his ups and downs in Pittsburgh but hasn’t really panned out. Picket seems better suited for a backup role and with Wilson on board he could learn from a vet.

When you look at the Steelers roster they have several strengths. They have young talented receivers led by George Pickens and a potential future star in the backfield in Jaylen Warren. They are always stout on defense which will be important for Wilson’s next team. In order for Wilson to thrive he will need to play more ball control on offense but there are times he takes risks. That’s why it’s important to have sold defense backing him. The Steelers will be able to provide that.

Minnesota Vikings

Another team that looks to be poised to enter the quarterback market is the Vikings. Kirk Cousins will most likely be on the move this offseason which will leave a massive hole on offense. Minnesota could plug that quickly by adding Wilson. This would also be an attractive destination for Wilson who would get to play with superstar Justin Jefferson.

The Vikings aren’t contenders yet but they have about $37 million in cap space and 9 picks in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft. Wilson would also get to work with coach Kevin O’Connell who has proved he knows how to run an offense. If the Vikings don’t make a play for Wilson I could see them drafting a quarterback with the 11th pick.

Las Vegas Raiders

Finally, the Raiders are another potential team to watch in the Russell Wilson sweepstakes. Las Vegas will be looking to add to its quarterback room this offseason. With Antonio Pierce now the full-time coach there are several pieces already in place in Vegas.

The Raiders finished the 2023 strong winning 3 of their last 4. They also provide Wilson with a strong defense led by Maxx Crosby. On offense, they can provide Wilson with a star receiver in Davante Adams. They will however need to look to add to their running back room as Josh Jacobs is likely on the move.

Then there is the revenge factor. If Wilson joined the Raiders he could stay on the West Coast and more importantly, stay in the AFC West. This will allow him to face the Broncos twice a year which will be extra motivation for the jettisoned quarterback.

Regardless of where he ends up, Wilson will likely sign a contract for less than $10 million. This makes him an enticing option going forward.

The post 3 Potential Landing Spots for Russell Wilson appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

#1 – Chris Jones (DT)

Defensive tackle Chris Jones is the clear-cut top dog in this year’s free agency class. Jones is set for a big payday on the open market as it’s hard to see the Chiefs tagging him. If Kansas City does decide to tag him they will be on the hook for $33 million. I just don’t see them shelling out that kind of money for Jones.

There will be plenty of suitors for Jones who is one of the best defensive players in the NFL today. Jones finished last season with 10.5 sacks and 39 QB pressures.

#2 – Josh Allen (EDGE)

Speaking of defensive stars, Jaguars defensive end Josh Allen will be in hot demand this offseason. Allen finished with a career-best 17.5 sacks in 2023 which was good enough for 2nd overall in the league.

Allen is still only 26 years old and is just entering his prime. He will not come cheap but Allen could change the entire identity of a defense if signed.

#3 – Kirk Cousins (QB)

It’s very likely that Kirk Cousins has played his last game as a Minnesota Vikings. Cousins 2023 campaign was cut short due to an Achilles injury. Despite the injury, there will still be plenty of QB-needy teams ready to pounce on the 35-year-old quarterback.

Even at his age, Cousins is still a top-10 quarterback in the league and in the right system, he could really flourish. At this point in his career Cousins should take less money and sign on with a contender.

#4 – Brian Burns (EDGE)

Brian Burns is another elite defender who is set for a big payday. Burns didn’t quite have the year that Josh Allen had but the star defensive end has loads of potential and is still only 25. It’s hard to judge Burns’ 2023 campaign as the Panthers were a mess on both sides of the ball.

As a two-time Pro Bowler, Burns has had plenty of trade offers over the years but they never materialized. If he isn’t tagged Burns will finally get the contract he deserves.

#5 – Christian Wilkins (DT)

Defensive tackle Christian Wilkins is coming off his best season in Miami. Wilkins had 9.0 sacks, 30 QB pressures and 23 QB hits. Wilkins is also an excellent run defender with the ability to quickly attack holes and stuff running backs.

Before the release of cornerback Xavien Howard it was hard to see the Dolphins tagging Wilkins. Now that seems more likely but $22 million is a lot to shell out for a DT.

#6 – Justin Madubuike (DT)

The Ravens Justin Madubuike is another impressive defensive tackle that could hit the market. It would seem likely that Baltimore would tag the 5th year player but if they don’t Madubuike should cash in big time. He is coming off an All-Pro caliber season where he set career highs in most defensive categories including sacks with 13.0.

#7 – Antoine Winfield Jr. (S)

Antoine Winfield is coming off his best season as a pro and rightfully earned his first All-Pro selection. Winfield is the prototypical modern-day Safety that many teams are craving. He can line up all over the field and is an excellent ball hawk. Winfield forced a league-high 6 fumbles for the Buccaneers in 2023.

Tampa Bay will have a tough decision to make this offseason in terms of who to franchise tag. It will likely come down to either Winfield or Mike Evans. If either walk they will be in high demand.

#8 – L’Jarius Sneed (CB)

L’Jarius Sneed will be the best cornerback available if he hits the open market. Sneed has stated that he wants to stay in Kansas City but we will see if that pans out. In terms of coverage ability, it’s hard to find a better corner than Sneed. He has excelled in Steve Spagnuolo’s system where he can be aggressive and attack the ball.

Like the Buccaneers, the Chiefs will have some tough decisions to make this offseason. If they do decide to tag Sneed it will cost them about $18 million and of course, there is the Chris Jones situation.

#9 – Michael Pittman Jr. (WR)

As of now, it looks like Michael Pittman will hit the open market and if he does he will have plenty of suitors. Pittman is coming off a career-high 1,152 receiving yards in 2023 and 109 receptions. If there is one weakness to his game it’s the lack of receiving touchdowns. Pittman had just 4 in 2023. That to me will be improved in a new offensive system.

Pittman is a tag candidate for the Colts but Indianapolis has been reluctant to use the tag in the past. This one will be worth watching as we get closer to the free agency period.

#10 – Jaylon Johnson (CB)

Rounding out our list of the best free NFL agents available is cornerback Jaylon Johnson. The Bears cornerback had his best season in Chicago with 4 interceptions and a Pro Bowl nod. At just 24 years old, Johnson has the makings of a lock-down corner with excellent coverage ability.

Johnson is a likely franchise tag candidate for the Bears as they will look to solidify their secondary.

The post Top 10 Free Agents of 2024 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

The Vikings defense certainly isn’t one that worries you, and the Eagles defense is dealing with injuries on all levels. With a lot of high priced talent on the field, finding the value plays, mixed with the studs, in this game is what will help you cash out. Good luck to everyone out there, let’s go make that money.

Captain Plays

Jalen Hurts QB $17,100 ($11,400)

Last week against both the weather and a game Patriots defense, Hurts struggled to find the big play that made him such an amazing fantasy option last year. Neither of these factors will be in play as the weather should be great for the game, and the Vikings are not a great defense. The reason you would play Hurts at captain is if you believe he will score on the ground, which I believe might happen more than once.

Kirk Cousins QB $13,800 ($9,200)

As mentioned earlier, the Eagles defense is banged up and will be missing two key pieces of their secondary. We saw Mac Jones throw for 316 yards and 3 TDs against this defense last week, and Cousins has far more explosive weapons at his disposal. If you think Cousins spreads the ball around and tosses TDs to all different guys, he will be your play.

D’Andre Swift RB $6000 ($4,000)

Hard to trust a guy that saw only three opportunities to touch the ball last week, but with Kenneth Gainwell out, there’s a chance we see the D’Andre Swift that we all invested in behind this offense line. I believe he gets the first crack, and if Swift can get something going, he could be in line for a huge day that results in an incredible return on his price. I do believe there’s chance he is highly owned today, but his price allows you to get a lot of other guys in your lineup.

Justin Jefferson WR $18,600 ($12,400)

The highest price player on the slate, coming off a 9 catch 150 yard performance, in a game where the offense as a whole struggles, does not scare you away from playing JJ. It would take a legendary day to return on that price, but JJ could be in line for a huge day with multiple TDs.

Eagles D/ST $6,600 ($4,400)

Three words, Prime Time Cousins. Last year against this defense, albeit a different rendition, Cousins threw 3 INTs, was sacked twice and fumbled once. The Eagles don’t offer a lot in terms of Special Teams, but the pressure they can generate could lead to a sacks and turnovers. The last two Primetime games featured defenses that won their respective games, we could be in line for a third.

Lineup Suggestions

Captain Hurts Swift
Flex Brown Hurts
Flex Goedert Cousins
Flex Swift Jefferson
Flex Hockenson Hockenson
Flex Eagles D/ST Elliot

The post Thursday Night Football DFS Preview appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

The Good

Wide receiver Justin Jefferson has quickly become one of the best receivers in the NFL. The former LSU Tiger has taken the league by storm and is on pace for a record-breaking career. Jefferson was close to breaking the single-season receiving yards record last year when he racked up 1,809 yards. This season I expect Jefferson to in fact break that record with 2,015 receiving yards. The addition of rookie Jordan Addison will help open up space for Jefferson and allow him to do more damage.

Beyond adding Addison the Vikings also invested in the tight end position by trading for T.J. Hockenson last year. Hockenson wasted no time making his mark on the Vikings offense as he hauled in 9 receptions in his Minnesota debut. He also reset the tight end market with a record-setting 4-year $66 million contract extension that he signed last week. It shows that the Vikings are invested in him long term and rightfully so. Hockenson has quickly become a top 5 tight end in the NFL.

The Bad

For as good as the Vikings offense was last year the defense was the exact opposite. The defense struggled all year long and it eventually led to the firing of defensive coordinator Ed Donatell. The Vikings will now look to former Miami Dolphins coach Brian Flores to rebuild the unit. Flores has a track record of getting the most from his defenses but Vikings fans should be patient. While I expect improvement in 2023, it’s going to take a couple of years for this defense to be formidable again.

The Prediction

Looking ahead to next season I expect some regression for this Vikings team. The offense will once again be explosive but the Vikings had several wins last year that could’ve gone either way. Sill Minnesota will battle for a wild-card berth and could make some noise once the playoffs start.

2023 Record: 10-7 (2nd in the Division)

The post Minnesota Vikings Record Prediction for 2023 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Seattle Seahawks at 49ers (-10)

Can Brock Purdy keep up his improbable consistent play at QB when it counts? That remains to be seen, and so far there is no reason why he can’t keep performing at a high level. Seattle is very well coached and have talent, but it’s going to be tough for them to win this one. They would need a couple turnovers on defense and somehow “contain” Christian McCaffrey. I’ll take the 49ers on this one as they continue to roll.

49ers 28 Seattle 13

Los Angeles Chargers (-1.5) at Jacksonville Jaguars

Both teams have eerily similar QB’s when you look at stats and their physical features. Jacksonville is on a roll but the Chargers are a good team. They will have a good plan in this one to keep Trevor Lawrence at bay. My heart says Jacksonville in this one, but I think the Chargers win on a last second field goal

Chargers 27 Jaguars 24

Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills (-13.5)

Doesn’t it seem like this is Buffalo’s year no matter what? They have talent, the whole Damar Hamlin story. Miami is playing their 3rd string QB in Skylar Thompson. They will need to come up with a plan to get the ball to their good receivers, but it won’t be enough.

Buffalo 34 Miami 17

New York Giants at Minnesota Vikings (-3)

Minnesota is the biggest fraud in this playoff group. They either win by 3 or lose by 30. I don’t trust Kirk Cousins in the playoffs and with the weapons he has there is no reason they should lose this game. I just wonder if the Giants can generate enough offense to compete with Minnesota.

Minnesota 24 Giants 21

Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals (-9.5)

No Lamar against the streaking Bengals. The Ravens should put up a good test with their tough defense but it won’t be enough. I question the Ravens secondary and stopping all the Bengals receivers.

Bengals 30 Ravens 21

Dallas Cowboys (-2.5) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Dallas is coming off a horrendous lost to the Commanders where there was no effort at all. That might of been a good thing for them, and they might wake up this week against the average Bucs. I know Tom Brady is undefeated against the Cowboys, but they will lose this week against Dallas. Dallas will get back to their high powered offensive ways and win by 10.

Dallas 34 Bucs 24

Last week’s record 14-2

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