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. 

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Quarterbacks

Start ‘Em

Will Levis (@ TB) – In a move that surprised nobody, the Titans officially named rookie Will Levis the starter going forward this week. Levis cooled off a bit in last week’s loss to Pittsburgh but has a plus matchup in week 10. The Buccaneers have given up 71.9 fantasy points in the last two games to opposing quarterbacks including 794 passing yards. Rookie C.J. Stroud shredded this Tampa Bay defense on Sunday and Levis will also have success against this secondary.

Sit ‘Em

Russell Wilson (@ Buf) – The last time we saw Wilson and the Broncos they upset the Chiefs at home. Wilson finished that game with 3 touchdowns on just 114 passing yards. It was an impressive day for Denver which has won two in a row. Up next they get to face the Bills in Buffalo coming off the bye. Buffalo is looking to put last week’s struggles behind them and I expect their defense to own this contest. Look for Buffalo to control the clock and run the ball taking the pressure off of Josh Allen.

Running Backs

Start ‘Em

Brian Robinson Jr. (@ Sea) – Robinson Jr. and the Commanders will be on the road again this time heading to Seattle. Washington squeaked by New England last Sunday and Robinson scored his 5th rushing touchdown of the season. The Seahawks were shredded on the ground last week by the Ravens for 298 total rushing yards. Expect the Commanders to feed Robinson early and often in this contest. Fellow running back Antonio Gibson is also worth considering as both could be in for big days.

Sit ‘Em

Jerome Ford (@ Bal) – Jerome Ford could be in for another tough day in Baltimore. The last time the Browns faced the Ravens, Ford was held to just 26 rushing yards on 9 carries. Baltimore’s defense has looked dominant, especially at home. Last week they held Kenneth Walker III to just 16 rushing yards and 1.7 total fantasy points. Sit Ford this week and most of the Browns offense.

Wide Receivers

Start ‘Em

DJ Moore (vs. Car) – Since his week 5 explosion vs. the Washington Commanders, Moore has yet to break 10 fantasy points (Half PPR). Some of that has to do with the injury to Justin Fields and an inconsistent Bears offense. Up next Moore gets his revenge game as Chicago welcomes the Panthers on Thursday night. I see Moore finding the end zone this week vs. a surprisingly stingy Panthers secondary.

Sit ‘Em

Davante Adams (vs. NYJ) – Despite the coaching and quarterback change last week, Adams had another dud of a game. In fact Adams hasn’t broken double-digit fantasy points since week 4. Up next he gets to face the Jets defense who have locked down opposing wide receivers all year. Eventually, Adams’s numbers will pick up again just not this week.

Tight Ends

Start ‘Em

Kyle Pitts (@ Ari) – It’s been another disappointing season for Kyle Pitts owners. Pitts has only found paydirt once this season and has struggled to produce much of anything. If you’re going to start Pitts this is the week to do it. The Falcons head west to take on the woeful Cardinals. I see Pitts finally get back in the end zone vs. an Arizona defense that has given up touchdowns in back-to-back games to opposing tight ends. The change at quarterback to Taylor Heinicke should help this offense overall which has been lackluster under Desmond Ridder.

Sit ‘Em

David Njoku (@ Bal) – As I stated earlier the entire Browns offense is due for a tough day vs. Baltimore. On top of that, Njoku is also dealing with a knee injury that is keeping him out of practice. Even if he were fully healthy I would still sit Njoku in this one. The Ravens are allowing an average of just 4.1 fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends.

Start of the Week

Tony Pollard (vs. NYG) – What happened to Tony Pollard this season? To say Pollard has been underwhelming is and understatement. He hasn’t found the end zone since week 1 and has only broken the 100-yard rushing mark once this year. Thankfully for Pollard and the Cowboys, they get to face the lowly Giants this week at home. The last time these two teams faced Pollard had 2 rushing touchdowns and Dallas hammered New York 40-0. Pollard will finally get back in the end zone this week as the Cowboys will look to control the clock. Dallas is a massive 16.5 favorite in this one and the point spread still may not be enough.

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Quarterbacks

Kyler Murray – (47.3% Owned)

As of now, it looks like Kyler Murray will make his 2023 season debut in week 10. Murray is coming off an ACL injury but has been looking good in practice the last few weeks. If he gets the start Murray is always a threat to put up big numbers despite the limited Cardinals offense. If he is available on your waiver wire now is the time to pick him up.

Running Backs

Keaton Mitchell – (3.0% Owned)

The Baltimore Ravens ran all over the Seattle Seahawks this past Sunday. Leading the way for the Ravens was surprising rookie Keaton Michell. He exploded for 138 rushing yards on just 9 carries including a 40-yard touchdown. It’s hard to ignore Mitchell’s upside as he is clearly the most explosive back in Baltimore. Starting him will always be a risk in this crowded backfield but he is definitely worth stashing on your roster.

Wide Receivers

Tank Dell – (52.4% Owned)

How about the Houston Texans offense? The Texans and sensational rookie C.J. Stroud put up 496 total yards of offense against Tampa Bay last Sunday. Almost all of it came through the air as Stroud had 470 passing yards and 5 touchdowns. It was an impressive day for this offense that many thought would be the weakness of the team. Wide receiver Tank Dell caught 2 touchdowns including the game-winner. He is worth grabbing now as the Texans have some favorable matchups coming up.

Tight Ends

Jonnu Smith – (27.6% Owned)

Is Jonnu Smith the best tight end option in Atlanta? Kyle Pitts owners don’t want to hear this but Smith has been the more consistent option. On Sunday Smith had 100 yards receiving including a 60-yard touchdown. He also had 6 targets and has regularly been a part of the offensive game plan. If you need a tight end streamer for week 10, grab Smith as he has a favorable matchup against Arizona.

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Quarterbacks

Start ‘Em

Justin Herbert (vs. Mia) – Herbert has an enticing matchup this week against a Miami Dolphins team that will be without Jalen Ramsey. Herbert threw for 367 yards in week 14 last year against the Dolphins and posted a 76.5 completion percentage. Expect similar results for Herbert along with 2 passing touchdowns.

Sit ‘Em

Aaron Rodgers (vs. Buf) – Rodgers has a tough matchup in his opening game with the New York Jets. The Jets offensive line will be tested all game long and even without Von Miller the Bills will be able to generate pressure. Rodgers struggled last year at Buffalo when he threw for just 203 yards.

Running Backs

Start ‘Em

Aaron Jones (vs. Chi) – Jones is in for a big day when the Packers visit the Chicago Bears. Green Bay is dealing with injuries to their top 2 receivers (Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs) which means more targets for Jones. We don’t know what to expect yet from Jordan Love but the Packers will likely rely on the run game in this one.

Sit ’em

Najee Harris (vs. SF) – Harris and the Pittsburgh Steelers have a tough opening matchup against the 49ers and their stout defense. San Francisco allowed only 3.4 YPC in 2022 and they just got Nick Bosa back in action. The Steelers will need to attack the 49ers defense through the air to have a chance in this one.

Wide Receivers

Start ‘Em

Jahan Dotson (vs. Ari) – Dotson is no longer under the radar after his impressive rookie season in Washington. The Commanders get a juicy matchup against a Cardinals defense that will struggle all season. Fellow receiver Terry McLaurin looks to be ready to play but he may not be 100% yet.

Sit ‘Em

DeAndre Hopkins (vs. NO) – We don’t know yet what to expect from Hopkins in this Titans offense. I plan to wait and see how he’s utilized before I put him in the starting lineup. The Saints will have a better-than-average defense this year and will be tough at home.

Tight Ends

Start ‘Em

Evan Engram (vs. IND) – It could be a long day for the Indianapolis Colts when Jacksonville comes to town. The Colts will need to play keep away to have any chance in this one. Expect Engram to have a big day against the Colts who struggled at times to stop tight ends in 2022.

Sit ‘Em

Kyle Pitts (vs. Car) – After a disastrous 2022 it’s hard to put your trust in Pitts. The Panthers finished in the top 10 in points allowed to tight ends last year. That along with the fact we don’t know what to expect from Desmond Ridder has me sitting Pitts this week.

Start of the Week

Jamaal Williams (vs. Ten) – Williams is a must-start for week 1. With Alvin Kamara sidelined due to suspension Williams will get the majority of the workload against the Titans. I don’t expect to see that many touches from rookie Kendre Miller until he gets up to speed. Don’t forget, Williams led the league with 17 rushing touchdowns last year.

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Kenneth Walker III (Seahawks-RB) | ADP-39 | RB-17

Kenneth Walker was one of the draft day steals in 2022 as he finished with 189 fantasy points (Half-PPR). Walker stepped in for the injured Rashaad Penny and never looked back. He was the clear lead back in Seattle and one of the reasons why the Seahawks finished in the top 10 of total points scored at 407. Despite all that, the Seahawks couldn’t resist taking Zach Charbonnet in the 2nd round of the 2023 NFL Draft. This is alarming, to say the least if you’re looking at targeting Walker this season.

Charbonnet is more of receiving back who will undoubtedly be on the field for passing situations. My fear is his usage will continue to increase as the season progresses thus taking away more opportunities from Walker. As of now, Walker is still the week 1 starter but there is cause for concern. For me, it’s not worth the risk to draft Walker as we don’t know yet how this backfield will shake out in 2023.

Kyle Pitts (Falcons-TE) | ADP-70 | TE-7

Big things were expected from Kyle Pitts in his second season with the Falcons. Pitts was coming off one of the best rookie seasons we have seen at the tight end position. To say his sophomore season was disappointing is an understatement. Pitts was never able to replicate his rookie season success and only surpassed 10+ fantasy points in Half-PPR 2 times. His season was cut short as he missed the last 6 games with an MCL injury.

Pitts is now looking for redemption heading into next season but are we in for another disappointment? I believe we are. You can’t deny Pitts has the physical traits to be a dominant tight end but there are other factors to consider. Pitts will most likely be catching passes from Desmond Ridder for the foreseeable future. Ridder and the Falcons offense will be run-heavy with the addition of rookie Bijan Robinson. I don’t expect to see a dynamic offense for Atlanta and Pitts is not worth the risk, even at his current ADP.

Dalvin Cook (Vikings-RB) | ADP-67 | RB-30

It took a while but Dalvin Cook finally found a new home. Cook signed a 1-year deal to join Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets on August 14th. Cook has been a top-tier fantasy running back since 2019 and finished last season as RB8. While this seems like a great setup for Cook, I do have some concerns going forward.

The Jets offense will look different with Rodgers now under center. You can expect to see the short-passing game we have become accustomed to seeing from Rodgers in Green Bay. This system is all about timing and getting the ball quickly in the playmakers hands. How does this relate to Cook? Well now that Breece Hall looks to be coming back to full health, I believe he is the better fit for this offense. Picture Hall in an Aaron Jones type of role in this system. Cook should still be the main goal-line back but I am worried about his usage.

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The Good

To be successful in the modern NFL you need good to great quarterback play and the ability to get after the opposing teams quarterback. The Falcons have the second ingredient covered as they have recently beefed up their defensive line. Grady Jarrett, who was named one of the biggest draft steals in the last 10 years, is the clear leader on this stout D-line. At age 30, Jarrett is showing no signs of slowing down. He finished last season with 6 sacks and 17 quarterback hits. The Falcons brought in Calais Campbell this offseason to team with Jarrett. Campbell is coming off an impressive year where he had 5.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. These two defensive stalwarts will be a tough duo to stop.

In today’s NFL, it’s never a good idea to draft a running back in the top 10 unless that running back is Bijan Robinson. Robinson has all the tools to make him an elite NFL weapon. He will instantly upgrade the Falcons offense and his versatility will allow him to be on the field in any situation. You can expect Robinson to be heavily utilized for a team that is shaky at the quarterback position. Robinson is my early favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year.

The Bad

As we’ve mentioned before the Falcons quarterback situation is shaky at best. Desmond Ridder will most likely be the week 1 starter but how long will he last? Ridder was dead last in our NFL quarterback tiers for 2023 and will need to show he can be more than a game manager. The Falcons brought in career backup Taylor Heinicke as a security blanket in case Ridder falters. Heinicke has shown he can be more than serviceable if called upon. My hunch is that we will be seeing Heinicke at some point this season.

The Falcons have two excellent young receiving threats in Drake London and Kyle Pitts. They have shown they can be a problem for opposing defenses. With that said the Falcons probably have one of the weakest wide receiver groups in the NFL. Outside of London they are all unproven or have failed at previous stops (see JJ Arcega-Whiteside). The combo of an unproven quarterback and lack of talent at the receiver position doesn’t bode well for the Falcons offense. I would’ve liked to see the Falcons address this position more in the 2023 NFL Draft.

The Prediction

Ultimately, the Falcons defense is good enough to keep them in most games but the offense will struggle this season. Outside of the weak NFC South, it’s hard to see many wins on their schedule. This will be another year where Atlanta misses the playoffs however the future is bright. I expect the Falcons to address the quarterback position next offseason while they keep building around their young core.

2023 Record: 6-11

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Drake London had all the hype coming out of USC. He was drafted 8th overall by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2022 NFL Draft and was the first wide receiver selected. Even though the Falcons already had Kyle Pitts they were lacking a true star receiver. They pounced on London hoping he would be the answer. In terms of fantasy, his pre-draft ranking was #27 WR according to FantasyPros ECR. London ended up with 142.6 FP (Half PPR) and played in all 17 games. Let’s take a more in-depth look at how to handle Drake London dynasty shares going forward.

2022

London had a strong debut game against the New Orleans Saints. He tallied 74 yards on 5 receptions. He also had 7 targets which shows the Falcons were game-planning to get him the ball. Although he didn’t score in his debut, London showed the NFL game was not too big for him. Next up the Falcons went on the road against Los Angeles Rams. London had another strong outing and this time hit paydirt for the first receiving touchdown of his career. He finished the game with 20.6 FP which was his highest output all season.

Drake London scored once again the following week against the Seattle Seahawks although he only had 3 receptions on the day. After the Seahawks game, London’s production plummeted. He went six games without a touchdown and this caused many fantasy owners to lose faith in him. Fortunately, London picked up momentum toward the end of the season. In his final game, he had 120 yards receiving which was the highest of the year.

2023

First off there are two things I love about Drake London going into next year. One is his durability as he played in all 17 games for the Falcons. The other is his target share. He was third in total targets (117) only behind Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson. The problem is consistency at the quarterback position. Is Desmond Ridder the guy? Or could Taylor Heinicke take over the reins? Either way, the Falcons QB position has me worried about London going forward.

Drake London’s Dynasty Value

Where do I rank Drake London’s dynasty value for next season? I have him in the Hold category for now. There is a lot to like about his usage in the Falcons offense. Having said that, he only had 4 touchdowns on the year despite not missing any games. Let’s wait and see how the quarterback position shakes out this summer before we make any moves on London.

Want more dynasty football coverage? Check out our other dynasty outlook articles and more in our dynasty fantasy football section.

The post Drake London Dynasty Outlook Right Now appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Atlanta Falcons: How Will The Young Offensive Core Do?

The Atlanta Falcons have a sneaky young offensive core that could be one of the NFL’s best sooner rather than later. Kyle Pitts, the super TE, had a rough sophomore season where he barely got passes and got hurt. Drake London had a solid rookie season where he got 72 catches for 866 yards and four TDs. The Falcons started their draft with RB Bijan Robinson, the best RB prospect in a while. All of these while having Desmond Ridder as your QB. Now, the Falcons have put their faith in Desmond this season, but he’s not the QB you would have as your starter. Hopefully, the OC can help lessen the load by giving simple plays to Ridder and let the three do the work. In case it doesn’t work out, there are big names in the upcoming draft who can be the final piece in the core.

Carolina Panthers: Will Bryce Young Get The Start Right Away?

Bryce Young and the Panthers have started camp and there have been some action shots of him taking reps. Currently, Andy Dalton is the starter in name. He is a solid QB but he’s not worth sitting the future for the entire season. The Panthers reloaded this offseason with the additions of Adam Thielen and Hayden Hurst. They did a good job putting in a roster that can lessen the workload of the QB. Now, the million-dollar question is if it’s Bryce Young time by Week 1. Personally, I don’t mind Dalton being the starter of Week 1, but if times are telling, you have to give the keys to Bryce as soon as possible to see if he’s worth the hype.

New Orleans Saints: Can Derek Carr Lead The Saints To The Best Record In The Division?

The odds according to Vegas have slotted the Saints to be the division winner for the NFC South. The Saints were filled with injuries and uncertainties last season as multiple QBs had looks during the season. Currently, Derek Carr is more stable than anyone they had last season. Personally, he’s also the best QB they had since Drew Brees. He’ll have a core of weapons with Kamara, Olave and MT if healthy. With almost every team having a young and inexperienced QB, Carr just needs to be solid enough for the Saints to have home-field advantage in the playoffs.

Tampa Bay Buccanneers: Can Baker Mayfield Keep The Critics Quiet?

The Tom Brady era in Tampa Bay has finished as he officially retired again. His impact in Tampa Bay will be missed but it’s time to look forward. Baker Mayfield has signed with Tampa Bay after stints in Carolina and the Rams last season. It’s been a rocky past few years for the former top pick of the draft. Going to Tampa Bay is a fresh start for him as he looks to regain his footing in the NFL world as a starting-caliber quarterback. There’s still a lot of talent on offense and defense and the division is still very open. Baker can change the narrative about himself and potentially save his career by being a solid starter in Tampa Bay. However, a bad season means Tampa Bay getting a high pick to draft their QB of the future and potentially Baker losing his starter status permanently.

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Las Vegas Raiders

One of the biggest moves of the day was the Raiders signing quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. This move made sense for a bunch of reasons. The obvious one is the connection with head coach Josh McDainels. On top of that the Raiders offense is full of weapons. Josh Jacobs is coming back on the franchise tag. You have one of the best receivers in the game in Davante Adams and if Darren Waller is healthy watch out. The Raiders also made another sneaky good move this morning acquiring former Patriots stand out Jakobi Meyers. Adams, Meyers and Hunter Renfrow on paper can be one of the best wide receiver groups in the league.

Chicago Bears

The Bears are having an excellent offseason. Not only did they get a haul of picks for the #1 pick in this year’s draft they also acquired stud WR D.J. Moore in the deal. On Monday the Bears worked to sure up one of their biggest weaknesses by acquiring two stud linebackers. Tremaine Edmunds was arguably the best linebacker available and he signed a 4 year deal with Chicago. They also signed LB T.J. Edwards who was a solid piece for the Eagles defense last year. I still expect the Bears to pick up some offensive lineman in the coming weeks.

Atlanta Falcons

Another team that impressed on day 1 of NFL free agency was the Falcons. Early in the day they acquired TE Jonnu Smith from the Patriots while only giving up a 7th round pick. I am really intrigued on how Smith will fit with Kyle Pitts and expect the duo to work well together. Later in the day the Falcons signed former Bengals S Jessie Bates. Bates is underrated in my opinion. He is an excellent safety whom is great against the run. The Falcons were not done as early this morning they picked up QB Taylor Heinicke on a 2 year deal. Heinicke showed in Washington he is an excellent back up that can be called upon if needed to win big games.

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PRESEASON EXPECTATIONS

A lot of hype was surrounding Atlanta Falcons TE Kyle Pitts as he had an amazing rookie season and showed promise as possibly the next great tight end. He ended the year top six in PPR and had 68 catches for over 1000 yards.

DRAFT EXPECTATIONS

In a position that lacks depth, Kyle Pitts was a target early on With an ADP of 34.1, he would be taken before the end of the third round. Fantasy owners would even draft him earlier because of his position. Only Travis Kelce and Mark Andrews were the tight ends chosen ahead of him on average.

OVERALL SEASON PRODUCTION

It was a disappointing season for Kyle Pitts and his owners as the change in QB affected his performance. Going from Matt Ryan to Marcus Mariota definitely changed the game plan on offense and it showed. Other than that, Pitts’ injuries were bothering him as he missed Week 12 onwards. He only scored double digits just three times in the 2022 season. He ended up ranked 33rd in PPR for TEs and caught just 28 passes for 356 yards and two TDs. On average, this was less than three receptions and 36 yards per game. It will be very difficult to judge Kyle as he won’t be drafted as high but his QB situation is one to look at.

CRITICAL MOMENTS DURING THE SEASON

Week 3 vs Seattle Seahawks

After a slow two weeks, Kyle Pitts had a great game against the Seahawks. He caught five passes for 87 yards. This performance got him 13.70 FP. This gave the Falcons a 27-23 upset victory over Seattle. Fantasy owners were hoping this performance would be the start of his rise.

Week 6 vs San Francisco 49ers

It took a while but Kyle Pitts was able to score a TD in Week 6 vs the 49ers. He had a subpar line of three catches for 19 yards but his seven-yard TD catch in the third was the last score for both teams. Atlanta needs Kyle Pitts to produce in order for a chance to win.

Week 8 vs Carolina Panthers

His best game of the year made us reminisce about what he was supposed to be for the entire year. In a matchup against the Panthers, Pitts caught five passes for 80 yards and a TD. In a wild offensive game, Kyle scored the first TD of the game with a two-yard pass with 10 minutes left in the 2nd quarter. The Falcons were showing hope in a division that was the weakest in the NFL.

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