Trevor Lawrence – When Lawrence went down on Monday night it didn’t look good. His ankle was stepped on and his knee was bent back in an awkward position. As of now, it looks like the injury is not as bad as it looked as Lawrence has been diagnosed with just an ankle sprain. His status on a short week is still up in the air but he hasn’t been ruled out yet by head coach Doug Pederson.

Justin Jefferson – Jefferson is finally set to return for the Vikings after missing 7 games with a hamstring injury. It comes at a perfect time for fantasy managers who could use him for the playoff run. It’s still worth keeping an eye on the Vikings practice report this week but if Jefferson is cleared to go then insert him right back in your starting lineup.

Rhamondre Stevenson – Stevenson suffered an ankle injury in the week 13 shutout to the Chargers. It looks like he will miss time and could eventually be shut down for the season. Ezekiel Elliott is set to take over the lead-back position for the foreseeable future.

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Quarterbacks

Start ‘Em

Derek Carr (vs. Chi) – The Saints offense exploded for 38 points last week and it came at a perfect time. Carr and the New Orleans offense were heavily scrutinized the week before and Carr was visibly frustrated. It was nice to see him back bounce under increased pressure and next up they get the lowly Bears at home. Expect Carr and the Saints offense to continue to roll as the Bears are giving up an average of 19.6 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks.

Sit ‘Em

Geno Smith (@ Bal) – Geno Smith hasn’t quite been the same player as he was last year. So far that hasn’t hurt the Seahawks as they are 5-2 and lead the NFC West. If he keeps playing like this though it could hurt their chances down the stretch. Up next they have to travel cross-country to Baltimore where the Ravens have been tough at home. Smith will have difficulties moving the ball against this Ravens defense and it’s best to sit him this week.

Running Backs

Start ‘Em

Joe Mixon (vs. Buf) – Mixon has been somewhat disappointing this season but did show signs of breaking out last week. He finished with his best performance of the year against the 49ers and racked up 87 rushing yards and 1 touchdown. Up next the Bengals will face the Bills at home and I like Mixon to continue to improve. The Bills can at times be vulnerable against the run and I expect this to be a high-scoring contest.

Sit ‘Em

Rhamondre Stevenson (vs. Wsh) – Stevenson has really been a dud the season and that will continue on Sunday vs. the Commanders. At this point in the season, it’s hard to justify starting Stevenson who has yet to break 60 yards rushing in a game. The Commanders defense is vulnerable against the pass but they have held their own against running backs.

Wide Receivers

Start ‘Em

Michael Pittman Jr. (@ Car) – Look for Pittman to have another big game on Sunday vs. the Panthers. Pittman is starting to come into his own and has had great chemistry with quarterback Gardner Minshew. He’s had 32 targets in his last three games including 2 touchdowns during that span. Up next is the Panthers defense who have struggled against the deep ball.

Sit ‘Em

DeVonta Smith (vs. Dal) – Smith has had his moments but hasn’t been consistent enough this season. He has had some puzzling drops this year and at times disappears from the game plan for the Eagles. Up next Philadelphia will face the Dallas defense that has locked down the receiver position despite key injuries. I’m not giving up on Smith yet but sitting him for this game.

Tight Ends

Start ‘Em

Taysom Hill (vs. Chi) – Hill has been one of the surprises over the last two weeks including finishing as TE1 last week. Hill has been used heavily in the run game for the Saints but also has 14 targets in his last 3 games. Expect Hill to continue to get utilized for New Orleans who will look to attack the weak Bears defense.

Sit ‘Em

Dalton Schultz (vs. TB) – Before last week’s dud, Shultz had three consecutive weeks with receiving touchdowns for the Texans. I still like Schultz long term but not this week. He will face a Buccaneers defense that is allowing just 5.9 fantasy points to opposing tight ends. Sit Schultz this week but keep him on your roster.

Start of the Week

Gardner Minshew (@ Car) – Minshew is our start of the week as he has a favorable matchup on Sunday. Minshew and the Colts offense have put up 38+ points the last two weeks and I see them putting up big numbers vs. Carolina. Minshew is averaging 19.2 fantasy points per game in his 4 starts and I see him getting 20+ again this week. Really the only thing holding him back is the turnovers (5 int’s the last 3 games). If he can eliminate the mistakes Minshew will be a plus starter the rest of the way.

The post 2023-24 Fantasy Football Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em Week 9 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Quarterbacks

Start ‘Em

Russell Wilson (@ Chi) – Russ hasn’t exactly been cooking for the Broncos but there are signs of life. Wilson has had back-to-back 300+ yard games and up next is the lowly Chicago Bears. This has breakout game written all over it for the Broncos offense. The Denver defense is still in shambles so this game should go over the current 46-point total. I wouldn’t be surprised if Wilson targets Marvin Mims Jr. more in this matchup as he has been explosive so far in limited action.

Sit ‘Em

Joe Burrow (@ Ten) – Burrow just hasn’t looked like himself thus far and the nagging calf injury is a concern. The entire Bengals offense has been limited due to Burrow’s inability to throw the ball down the field. Up next is a Titans defense that will force Burrow to throw outside of the pocket. At this point, I would like to see Burrow sit until he is completely healthy.

Running Backs

Start ‘Em

De’Von Achane (@ Buf) – If you were lucky enough to land Achane congratulations, it’s now time to slide him into your starting lineup. Sure the Dolphins have a ton of options on offense to spread the ball to but it won’t matter. Achane has shown enough that you can’t risk keeping him on your bench. I would also start Raheem Mostert (my week 3 Start of the Week) as the two combined for 8 total touchdowns last week.

Sit ‘Em

Rhamondre Stevenson (@ Dal) – Stevenson has yet to eclipse the 60+ rushing yards mark and is averaging just 2.9 yards per attempt. On top of that, Ezekiel Elliott outperformed Stevenson in week 3 rushing for 80 yards on 16 carries. The Patriots now go on the road against the Cowboys who will be looking to revenge last week’s loss against the Cardinals.

Wide Receivers

Start ‘Em

Calvin Ridley (vs. Atl) – Ridley has been a non-factor in his last two games but that will change in London. Ridley had 15 targets in weeks 2 and 3 but only 5 receptions for 72 yards in that span including some costly drops. Up next is the Atlanta Falcons which will be a revenge game for Ridley. The entire Jaguars offense needs a reset and it’s a perfect time for them to go overseas. I see Trevor Lawrence getting some of his 2022 form back on Sunday.

Sit ‘Em

Terry McLaurin (@ Phi) – Unfortunately it’s time to sit McLaurin until we see some better results. This isn’t a knock on McLaurin more so on the offense who have failed to protect Sam Howell. It’s hard to justify starting any of the Commanders wide receivers until they get their protection issues fixed. Washington now has to go on the road at Philadelphia and their d-line will be licking their chops.

Tight Ends

Start ‘Em

Sam LaPorta (@ GB) – LaPorta has been one of the surprises of the season so far for the Lions. The rookie tight finished TE1 in week 3 where he hauled in his first NFL touchdowns. He also had 11 targets which shows quarterback Jared Goff is trusting the young tight end. Up next is Green Bay on Thursday night in an old-fashioned NFC North battle.

Sit ‘Em

David Njoku (vs. Bal) – There was hope that Njoku would have a breakout year for the Browns but that hasn’t panned out yet. He has yet to score thus far and had a season-low 20 receiving yards last week. There are better options to start at the tight end position. Sit Njoku until he can carve out a bigger role.

Start of the Week

James Cook (vs. Mia) – Cook has yet to hit the endzone this season but that will change on Sunday. He has looked the part for the Bills and is averaging 6.1 yards per carry. Next up is the Miami Dolphins and this one should be a barn burner. The Dolphins are allowing 20.4 fantasy points per game to running backs through the first 3 weeks. Look for a big game from Cook in week 4.

The post 2023-24 Fantasy Football Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em Week 4 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

The Good

Coming out of Oklahoma, running back Rhamondre Stevenson was pegged as merely an in between the tackles type of back. It didn’t take long to realize Stevenson is not just a bruiser, he has the speed to bounce outside and take it to the house. Not only that he has also shown great hands during his 2-year career. This was on full display last season when you caught a one-handed touchdown from Mac Jones. In all Stevenson had 69 receptions last year which shows he can be an all-purpose back.

To further bolster their backfield the Patriots decided to bring in veteran Ezekiel Elliott this offseason. Elliott is still only 28 years old and I like the 1-2 punch he can offer along with Stevenson. There is no debate that Stevenson is the lead back but Elliott will play a vital role in making sure Stevenson is not overworked. Keeping Stevenson fresh is important on this offense that has limited weapons.

The Bad

Instead of moving up in the 2023 NFL Draft to potentially draft a quarterback the Patriots decided to trade down. They did receive a 4th round pick from the Pittsburgh Steelers in return but I don’t think it was the right move. At this point in his career, we have a good idea of what Mac Jones is. He can be a serviceable NFL quarterback but he is not a game-changer or someone defenses fear. Jones will likely be out after this year and New England will be once again shopping for a QB.

The Prediction

How much longer will Bill Belichick stick around with the Patriots? I fear this will be another challenging season for New England which will lead to more retirement speculation next offseason.

2023 Record: 7-10 (4th in the Division)

The post New England Patriots Record Prediction for 2023 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

The current ADP below is for Half PPR scoring.

Jamaal Williams (Saints-RB) | ADP-109 | RB-38

Jamaal Williams was one of the biggest fantasy surprises last season with the Detroit Lions. Williams came out of nowhere and led the league in rushing touchdowns (17) along with 1,000+ rushing yards. He has since landed with the New Orleans Saints and it may be a perfect scenario for him.

Alvin Kamara is dealing with a legal situation that could cause him to miss time next season due to suspension. If that happens Williams should carry a majority of the load and that’s enticing for fantasy players. The Saints also drafted Kendre Miller during the 2023 NFL Draft but expect the rookie to be eased in slowly. At this current ADP picking up Williams is a no-brainer and a must-target in the mid-rounds.

James Conner (Cardinals-RB) | ADP-74 | RB-26

It’s a bit surprising that James Conner is not higher in the current ADP. Conner will be the focal point of the offense early on for the Arizona Cardinals as they wait for Kyler Murray to return. Expect a heavy workload for Conner who showed last year that when healthy he can be a top-10 back. Health is really the only concern going forward for Conner. If he can play in all 17 games next season I expect Connor to finish the RB15 territory.

Javonte Williams (Broncos-RB) | ADP-81 | RB-29

Javonte Williams is coming back from a serious ACL injury that cut his 2022 campaign short. Early indications are that Williams is recovering well from his injury and should be ready to go when the season starts. I am a big believer in Williams in the Sean Payton system as the RB could be in for a breakout year. He has all the makings of an elite running back with his speed and ability to break tackles. In 2021 Williams led the league in broken plus missed tackles forced at 17.2%. This was almost 3% higher than Rhamondre Stevenson who came in second place. If Williams is indeed fully healthy and ready for week 1 this will end up being a steal.

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PRESEASON EXPECTATIONS

Rhamondre Stevenson was slated as the Patriots’ RB 2 behind Damien Harris. New England does multiple RB packages so they are fresh. He had a decent rookie season where he ran for 606 yards and five TDs. It was hopeful that he would have better stats as he did have 22.70 FP in Week 17 in 2021.

DRAFT EXPECTATIONS

Rhamondre had an ADP of 110.1. With this ADP, he was the 37th RB taken in fantasy football. He would be taken around the 9th round which would be reserved for the bench. That would be a good value for someone who had a good rookie season.

OVERALL SEASON PRODUCTION

Congratulations to owners if you drafted Rhamondre Stevenson as he took over the starting job with Damien Harris getting injured. He blew everyone’s expectations after a season that put him as the 7th-best RB in all of football and 30th overall player. Through 17 games he ran for 1040 yards and five TDs. He caught an impressive 69 passes for 421 yards and a TD. Another great season is expected for Rhamondre.

CRITICAL MOMENTS DURING THE SEASON

Week 3 vs Baltimore Ravens

The Rhamondre Stevenson breakout season began in Week 3 against the Ravens. He rushed 12 times for 73 yards and a one-yard TD in the final quarter to make it a smaller lead for the Ravens. He also caught four passes for 28 yards. The combo of Stevenson and Harris was working at this point.

Week 6 vs Cleveland Browns

Week 6 was the first game where Damien Harris wasn’t available so Rhamondre had the keys to the offense. He ran through the Browns with 19 rushes for 76 yards and two TDs. He rushed for a 31-yard TD late in the 2nd quarter and a six-yard TD late in the 4th quarter to seal the deal. It looked like Rhamondre owned the backfield and Damien Harris owners would have to find alternatives. He had a season-high 25.10 FP.

Week 15 vs Las Vegas Raiders

The Patriots vs. Raiders game was one of the most memorable games of the season. What is forgotten is Rhamondre’s season-high rushing performance. Stevenson ran for 172 yards and a 34-yard TD that put the Pats up 24017 with four minutes left in the game. What will only be remembered is the Jakobi Meyers pass to Chandler Jones and the stiff arm to Mac Jones for the game-winning TD.

The post 2022-2023 Fantasy Football Review: Rhamondre Stevenson appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

QB Fraud Of The Week: Justin Herbert 5.50 FP

235 Passing Yards, 1 Interception, 5 Carries, 1 Rushing Yard, 1 Fumble, 1 Fumble Lost (Projected: 19.78 FP)

Justin Herbert has had his ups and downs this season. This performance in Week 16 counts as his worst this season. The young QB threw for just 235 yards and an interception and lost a fumble. There are moments in drives where he looks like the franchise QB he is. There are times he just struggles. It’s very difficult to gauge which Justin Herbert we will see on a weekly basis. Thankfully, the Chargers clinched a playoff spot.

RB Fraud Of The Week: Rhamondre Stevenson 1.30 FP

13 Carries, 30 Rushing Yards, 2 Receptions, 3 Receiving Yards, 2 Fumbles, 1 Fumble Lost (Projected: 15.19 FP)

The Cincinnati defense got to the New England offense early and made them look terrible until the late rally. Rhamondre Stevenson struggled with just 30 yards rushing on 13 carries. He also caught two passes for three yards. The Patriots’ RB fumbled twice and lost one in this rough outing. He will have to come up big as they face the Miami Dolphins in a divisional matchup for the last wildcard spot.

WR Fraud Of The Week: DeAndre Hopkins 1.40 FP

1 Reception, 4 Receiving Yards (Projected: 14.93 FP)

DeAndre Hopkins came out with his worst performance of the year against the Tampa Bay defense. Trace McSorley struggled to connect with Hopkins who had 10 targets but only caught a pass for four yards. Fantasy owners should hope Colt McCoy will be ready for next week as the Cardinals face the Falcons.

TE Fraud Of The Week: Juwan Johnson 1.90 FP

1 Reception, 9 Receiving Yards (Projected: 8.35 FP)

The Cleveland weather shut down Juwan Johnson in the Saints’ win over the Browns. The game plan focused on the run, especially with the terrible conditions on the field. The Saints’ TE caught just one pass for nine yards. He will have a tough week against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 17.

DEF/ST Fraud Of The Week: Detroit Lions -4 FP

35+ Points Allowed (Projected: 8.77 FP)

The Detroit Lions came to Carolina in a must-win game and were disappointed. They allowed 320 rushing yards as they couldn’t stop the run. D’Onta Foreman led the way with 165 rushing yards and a TD. Chuba Hubbard also ran for 125 yards. Sam Darnold and Raheem Blackshear each contributed a rushing TD. The Lions are battling for the last wildcard spot in the NFC.

Thanks for reading! You can look forward to this series until the end of the season. You can check out the last installment of FRAUDS Of Week 15.

The post FRAUDS Of Week 16 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Justin Frye

Dynasty leagues can be won and lost through savvy maneuvering at the flex spots. As a competitive team, boring vets can be highly valuable flex options that won’t break the bank. In a rebuild, trading those guys to chase upside while bottoming out for a high pick is a smart choice. So who are some players to target for flex options in a dynasty league?

Michael Gallup, WR, Dallas Cowboys

Starting the column off with an injured WR is not ideal, but this is how I’m hunting value. Michael Gallup is getting closer and closer to making his 2022 debut off the torn ACL that ended his 2021. Just in time for a Cowboys offense in desperate need of playmakers. CeeDee Lamb has yet to truly take over as an alpha, and the next highest valued player is a rookie who hasn’t been dressed for a game yet.

Gallup struggled as a young player in the top role, but I’m interested in him now with a veteran QB and Lamb there. After that struggle from Gallup, the Cowboys added Amari Cooper. Cooper finished his three full years in Dallas as WR10, WR15, and WR27. The last two were with both Gallup and Lamb as teammates. With Lamb playing his same slot role, Gallup has upside to grow into the Cooper role and be a top 20 guy.

Who are some other solid flex options at WR that I’d target? Jakobi Meyers just continues to beat anyone in his way in Foxboro and will put up numbers. Allen Lazard is the de facto alpha in Green Bay, and showed to end 2021 what that means by being top 20 WR over the final 5 weeks. Curtis Samuel is healthy again and being used similarly to 2020 when he finished top 25 at WR.

Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, New England Patriots

If targeting flex play RBs, Rhamondre Stevenson is just a prototype of the player I’m after, but he’s a smart buy. Starter Damien Harris is still the top guy in Foxboro, but he’s a free agent at the end of the year. The Patriots don’t pay for past performance, and spent picks on two rookie RBs in the 2022 NFL draft. I don’t see Harris back, which means Stevenson ascends into the role.

Additionally, Stevenson has a solid playable role this season. He is not likely to be consistent but can give you a multiple TD week any given week and has a top 15 or higher upside should Harris go down. As for 2023, it’s likely to be wheels up on his stock and will be viewed as a top 20 guy. While the WRs and TEs I’m selling as a contender, these RB types need to be held until they hit that higher level then sold off.

Who are similar RBs I’d target with similar long-term upside? Tony Pollard in Dallas, while he’s a free agent at season’s end, I love what he’s shown on the field and Ezekiel Elliot could be cut this offseason. Brian Robinson hasn’t played yet, so the unknown in Washington presents upside to push Antonio Gibson out the door for good. Rachaad White is Stevenson just one year earlier, as Fournette is likely there until the 2024 offseason. Khalil Herbert is Stevenson but with a lesser 2022 role and potentially returning starter ahead of him next year.

Tyler Higbee, TE, Los Angeles Rams

I’ll be honest, I missed on Tyler Higbee for 2022. I wasn’t interested and thought he’d be at best the 3rd option in a balanced offense with an injured QB. Through two weeks though, the running game is a mess and Higbee is the second option in LA. If he continues to hold off Allen Robinson, he’ll be a viable flex for rosters, especially in any TE premium (TEP) leagues.

Even for cheap DFS, he’s labeled as gross despite leading the position in targets. He is only still as cheap as he is because of the lack of TDs, which is not a sticky stat. In his two games, he’s seen three red zone targets, which is second at TE. If the usage remains he’s a likely top six TE this year, which plays in your flex even non-TEP leagues.

Who are some other solid flex options at TE that I’d target? Gerald Everett for the Chargers has been busy at TE as well, and is tied to Justin Herbert for 2023 as well. Tyler Conklin is running a nearly full-time role for a Jets team playing a ton on offense, which is a good indicator that the stats could follow. Deepest cut option is Juwan Johnson in New Orleans, who’s a TE on multiple platforms and has taken the top TE option from Adam Trautman and can put up a few points with TD upside.

Wan’Dale Robinson, WR, New York Giants

This is where we’ll speculate on some guys who are still unknown and have potentially fruitful roles in late 2022 and beyond. Sterling Shepard is currently the top option for the Giants, after taking a pay cut to return from an injury in 2021. Enter rookie Wan’Dale Robinson, the only WR the Giants regime has much invested in having taken him early in round 2 of the 2022 draft.

Rookie in an offense without a true alpha target hog and a coach who’s willing to showcase talented players? Sign me up for that. Add in the injury discount that he likely carries, and I’m buying regardless of contender or rebuilding, offering a healthy middling flex type like discussed above even, if I need the upside shot. He played RB and WR in college and might see some Deebo Samuel-type role.

Who are some other upside young flex options at WR that I’d target? Skyy Moore tops the list, tied to the best QB in football, and no pass catchers standing out there yet. Tyquan Thornton is nearly a copy-paste of Robinson’s write-up, but Meyers is better than Shepard. Romeo Doubs blew up camp but has stumbled through two weeks, but expect a breakout soon. Rondale Moore isn’t a rookie but Greg Dortch is playing his role and is a playable flex with less athleticism.

Conclusion

Who I target depends on the situation. With a rebuild I’m after the RBs or younger WRs, as a competitive team with strong starters I might chase cheaper options at WR or TE. Obviously, know where you’re weaker and stronger and add to those weaknesses to make a more well-rounded roster. I gave lots of options, and while I like the main person in each group best, I’m not overpaying for them over others I discussed, so do some shopping and know the easier managers to deal with! Best of luck!

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By: Jeremy Trottier

With the first week of the NFL preseason in the rearview mirror, we got the opportunity to see some of the phenomenal rookies we expected to perform such as Trevor Lawrence.  With that, we also saw some breakouts from the later rounds of the draft, trying to gain a spot on their respective rosters either as a backup or even potential starter.  In this article, I will be going over the three best performances from 2021 preseason week 1 of rookies drafted in day three, that being rounds four through seven, and projecting where they could land on their depth charts.

Rhamondre Stevenson ”“ RB ”“ New England Patriots ”“ Round 4 Pick 120

First up we have the power back from Oklahoma University in Rhamondre Stevenson, a player I was extremely impressed with entering the draft and proved he can be a commodity to the Patriots this season.  The main focus is Stevenson’s 91-yard rushing touchdown, which I have linked below, but aside from that play he also had 9 rushes for 36 yards and a touchdown, which alone would have made him the lead rusher on the Patriots that night.

Including the 91 yarder, he had 10 rushes for 127 yards (12.7 YPC) and 2 touchdowns, which in your first NFL game is a very strong performance, even if you were expected to be an elite player.  Stevenson will definitely have a role carved out for him on the Pats 53 man roster this season if he continues this success, and likely would be utilized as the power and RedZone back for them with Damien Harris, James White, and Sony Michel taking the other spots on the depth chart.

Ian Book ”“ QB ”“ New Orleans Saints ”“ Round 4 Pick 133

Next up we have one of the more controversial picks the Saints made in this draft class, that being Ian Book, former Notre Dame quarterback.  Many believed he would take a long time to develop and would primarily be used as the QB3 on the roster and letting Taysom Hill take over his swiss army knife role again.  But with that said, Ian Book actually looked solid on Saturday, and it seemed like he had a lot of good traits to work with.

Book went 9/16 for 126 yards and an interception Vs the Ravens, however, the interception was more of a prayer pass late in the game and was not something he would normally throw seemingly.  He had the most yards, completions, attempts, and yards/completion of all three Saints QBs on Saturday, and a higher QBR than Taysom Hill did, which shows he can be a productive player when utilized, and has potential for the future to tap into.

Rashad Weaver ”“ OLB ”“ Tennessee Titans ”“ Round 4 Pick 135

Finally, we look two picks after Ian Book to find the Pittsburgh University outside linebacker, Rashad Weaver.  At 6’4” and 259 pounds, he has a very good build as an outside linebacker, and has shown some true versatility at the position to play both in pass rush and coverage with strong capabilities.  When up against the Atlanta Falcons this Friday, he had a strong showing in his first NFL game, putting up the following statline:

• 2 tackles, 1 assisted tackle, 2 TFL
• 1.5 sacks, 1 pass deflected

For a new player coming out of the 4^th round of the draft, he was able to show off that he can utilize pass rush moves to get to and bring down the QB, as well as making plays on the ballcarriers to force loss of yards.  If he can continue to put up complete stat lines like this, he could find his way into the starting linebacker rotation at some point this season.

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