By: Andy Davies

Fantasy Football has become an integral part of many fans’ NFL Sunday experience. Whether you use ESPN, NFL.com or Sleeper, you are often watching Redzone and thinking about the points that your player is scoring for your team. Even when your team plays, if you have one particular wide receiver, you are often wanting your quarterback to throw to the player in question. The great Albert Einstein once said,

“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe”.

This quote has a lot of relevance to fantasy football. How often will you pick a player when they are in form, only for them to hardly score any points when you add them via waivers? How often do you take a player out or leave them on your bench, only to see them recover 30 receptions, 150 yards and 3 touchdown receptions? There are plenty of players who impress in year one that you either keep in a dynasty league or take in the fantasy draft, only for them to perform well below expectations in year two.

Here are three second-year players that you should look to trade away in fantasy football, if you haven’t already.

Darnell Mooney (Wide Receiver- Chicago Bears)

Mooney impressed in year one, with 631 receiving yards from 98 targets in his rookie year along with four touchdowns. This was Mooney catching balls from Mitch Trubisky and Nick Foles, two quarterbacks that didn’t exactly light up Soldier Field during their time as Chicago Bears. He now has two much more solid QB’s on paper in Andy Dalton and rookie Justin Fields but has so far recorded less than satisfying numbers despite leading the team in receptions (12). He has 101 receiving yards and 0 touchdowns. This has him 95th in the league for receiving yards, tied for 60th in receptions and 47th for targets. This is an average of 34 yards a game.

He hasn’t been helped by poor quarterback play. Dalton was the Week One starter and has thrown for 262 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception before injury meant he lost his starting role in Week Three to Fields, who less than impressed in his first NFL start. He had 0 touchdowns, 1 interception and just 138 passing yards. One of his specialities is on the ground but has just 46 yards from 14 carries. Of course, he is young and needs time to develop but he is not exactly someone you want throwing the ball to one of your fantasy receiver options.

Despite this, I would choose to bench him if you are in a dynasty league but remove completely from your team if you are in a keeper or redraft league. The value is there for the future but this season there will be plenty of growing pains in this Bears offense.

Jalen Reagor (Wide Receiver- Philadelphia Eagles)

Mooney may be one for the future both on the field and on your fantasy team. Reagor however, is someone you should immediately remove as he is looking more and more like an NFL bust.

Quarterback Jalen Hurts has largely impressed this season, with 5 passing touchdowns and 2 interceptions, 1 rushing touchdown along with 780 passing yards and 179 rushing yards. This has him 16th in the league for passing yards, with only Lamar Jackson (251) having more rushing yards than Hurts for a quarterback. Reagor does not have the same excuse as Mooney when it comes to which QB is throwing him the ball. He cannot even blame it on a lack of throws his way, with the second-most targets and the most receptions on the team this season. Yards is where he has really struggled, with his 107 ranking fourth amongst his teammates. This shows a lack of productivity when receiving the ball, as can be further demonstrated in his yards per reception total of 8.2. Not only is this less than tight end Dallas Goedert, who also has more yards, but this also is less than fellow tight end Zach Ertz and running back Miles Sanders. When a running back has more yards per reception than you, then there is a real problem.

Reagor was taken 21st overall by the Eagles in the 2020 NFL Draft and this was seen by many to be a reach. So far, the predictions are turning out to be true. Even in the eleven games he played in his rookie year last season, he was fifth in targets (54), receptions (31) and touchdown receptions (1) as well as ranking fourth in yards (396). With head coach Doug Pederson fired and replaced with Nick Sirianni, Reagor would have hoped for the chance to stake his claim as the number one wideout. When Philly traded up two spots to take Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith tenth overall, the writing appeared on the wall for Reagor to become the number one wideout. The way Smith and fellow second year receiver Quez Watkins have played so far, Reagor will find it hard to be anything more than a third or fourth choice wideout.

This is why you need to get rid of Reagor instantly from your fantasy teams and look for a replacement instantly. Two wide receivers that could easily be available and that are trending up are the Tennessee Titans’ wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and Buffalo Bills receiver Emmanuel Sanders. Westbrook-Ikhine had 53 yards, 4 receptions and 1 touchdown in their win over the Indianapolis Colts. Many had Stefon Diggs and Cole Beasley as the Bills’ two receivers to take in their fantasy teams, with Sanders often a forgotten man. He has excelled so far, with 194 yards and 2 touchdowns from 11 receptions despite being third on the team for both targets and receptions.

Tua Tagovailoa (Quarterback- Miami Dolphins)

It is likely that you are reading this having had Tua in your fantasy teams, that he is now out of your teams due to his rib injury suffered in the 35-0 loss to the Bills in Week Two. However, there are more reasons why you should get rid of the second-year quarterback altogether. His average start to the season was halted with the aforementioned injury. The heath of Tua was brought into question pre-draft last year, with a season-ending injury whilst playing in college with Alabama. People such as myself compared this situation to the one that was seen with Saints quarterback Drew Brees, when he suffered many injuries with the San Diego Chargers.

Miami didn’t take Brees in 2006 thanks to these injury concerns and everyone knows how successful he was after joining the Saints and head coach Sean Payton. Miami took the risk and so far, it is not looking like one that paid off. Tua will always be hindered by how well Justin Herbert has performed since being taken just one pick after Tagovailoa. With the past incident involving Brees in 2006, it is ironic that the Chargers took Herbert, who has been a revelation in Los Angeles and is arguably the best QB to be taken out of last year’s draft, with 5,292 yards, 37 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in his young NFL career.

With the Houston Texans reportedly softening their stance on Deshaun Watson, who is 99% likely never to play for the franchise again. Miami have repeatedly been linked with Watson and with the combination of Tua’s injury, backup Jacoby Brissett being nothing more than mediocre as well as this Dolphins team being excellent on defense and only a good o-line and running back away from being a Super Bowl contender, Watson would immediately see an upturn in Miami’s fortunes.

Thanks to his college tape and his position in the draft last year, he is likely to find a starting job elsewhere, but he is yet to prove to anyone that he is a genuine franchise QB and someone who is good at the pro level. Therefore you should look to remove Tua from your fantasy team as soon as you can. If you have a dynasty league, perhaps you could keep him on your bench if he moves elsewhere judging by how well Ryan Tannehill has played since leaving the Miami franchise. Otherwise, you should look to see what other quarterbacks are available to have as your backup.

Fantasy football players, you are likely to make many more waiver claims until the trade deadline. Just remember to avoid these three players.

The post Three Second Year Players To Trade Away In Fantasy appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Brady Akins

One of the central appeals to fantasy football is finding the next big thing. Maybe you yourself don’t have what it takes to be a real NFL scout, but by gosh, you can grind highlight reels and find impressive rookies for your fantasy football roster.

And while the initial hype train might have already left the station for 2020’s most impressive rookies, it’s not to late to buy stock in those players now, and plant your flag firmly in the camp of believing that they can continue their great play in the 2021 season. 

And if you’re lost on which rookies to put your faith in, well, we have you covered.

The Justin’s (Herbert and Jefferson)

Let’s start off with the obvious.

You don’t need anyone to tell you that the two rookies coming off of historically great seasons are probably going to be pretty good next year. Chargers’ quarterback Justin Herbert broke the league record for most passing touchdowns from a rookie last season with 31, while Vikings’ wide receiver Justin Jefferson finished with the most receiving yards in a year in the Super Bowl era with 1,400.

In Week 1 against a very stingy Washington defense, Herbert tossed 337 passing yards, 1 TD, and 1 INT. It may not of been a sexy stat line, but he was efficient against one of the best pass rushes in the league, plus it was a great comeback victory.

Herbert finished as the overall QB9 last year, despite sitting out in Week 1, while Jefferson closed out his rookie campaign as the WR6 in PPR scoring.

Jefferson notched 5 catches for 71 yards in last Sunday’s performance. If his modest stat line means anything, it means you should break the bank for him now. It’s only a matter of time before he gets in sync with Captain Kirk. He has many divisional games where he will feast this season. Did you witness the Lions (41 pts allowed), Packers (38 pts allowed), and Bears pass defense (34 pts allowed) this past week?

Both players had elite numbers in their rookie seasons, and if they can avoid sophomore slumps, those numbers could be even stronger as they head into Year 2 is more experience.

Jalen Hurts, QB, Philadelphia Eagles

Jalen Hurts is a guy you want on your fantasy football team.

I don’t care if he’s never had a game completing over 60% of his passes. I don’t care if he’s playing on an Eagles’ offense that finished 26th in points per game last season. None of it matters. 

What does matter is that Hurts was the overall QB7 from the time he took over as the starter in Philadelphia in Week 14 to the end of the 2020 season, despite being benched halfway through his Week 17 game for what some people might consider”¦ dubious purposes. 

He got there through easily repeatable means, as well, relying on his running ability in order to rack up 357 yards in only four starts (that’s nearly 100 rushing yards per start!). Now, imagine what Hurts could do with an entire offseason dedicated to tailoring the offense around his skillset.

Imagine what Hurts could do with the addition of Devonta Smith, the Heisman-winning receiver out of Alabama, in the passing game. Imagine what he could do with a full 17-game schedule at his disposal. 

Well, Hurts proved just how far he came in his Week 1 performance. The second-year QB balled out with 264 passing yards and 3 passing touchdowns. The Bama Heisman winner is already a factor as he garnered 71 yards and his first receiving touchdowns.

Did I mention Hurts plays in the worst division in the league? NFC Least.

Chase Claypool, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers 

Here’s a riddle for your reading pleasure. What do you get when you take a football player with the size of a tight end and give him 4.4 speed?

What you get is Chase Claypool– WR1. Not just on the Steelers, but maybe for your fantasy football team as well.

Claypool’s physical gifts are hard to question. He’s the perfect combination of size, speed and strength to entice NFL teams and fantasy managers alike. The real question comes down to whether or not he can separate himself from the pack of Steelers wide receivers, a group that includes Juju Smith-Schuster and Dionte Johnson.

And the answer is, well, yeah. He definitely can.

Claypool already put up impressive numbers in his rookie season. Despite some inconsistent play, the overall box score tells an encouraging story. Claypool got the number of targets you would like to see from a wide receiver in the process of developing a connection with his quarterback with 109. He managed 11 touchdowns as well, including two on the ground, showing off his versatility in the Steelers’ offense.

Only two players through the ball more in 2020 than Steelers’ quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, and if that volume maintains, a large chunk of it has a good chance to go to Claypool as he continues to grow into his role as an NFL wide receiver, continues to establish a rapport with his quarterback and continues to stand out as the most physically gifted player on the roster.

Claypool only grabbed 4 catches for 45 yards in last week’s victory, but he that should be the absolute floor in 90% of his matchups. Dionate Johnson only mustered out 3 catches for 35 yards, so the explosion was just not there in Week 1. Expect the Steelers second-year monster to be competing the top production in 2021. There will be plenty of shootouts against the Bengals rebuilding defense, Browns, and Ravens this calendar year.

Watch out for Claypool to add some consistency to his performances, and shine as a surprise superstar in the Steelers’ offense. 

The post Fantasy: 2020 rookies that will continue to dominate in 2021 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Joe Mason @JosephMason94

Rookies that have quiet or disappointing first year offer opportunities for a discount on their fantasy value. In 2019, guys like Josh Allen, Mark Andrews, and D.J Moore all made giant step ups from their 2018 rookie campaign. Last year in 2020, guys like T.J. Hockenson, Diontae Johnson, and Kyler Murray all made significant strides moving near the top at their position.

There are some obvious guys that I believe will bounce back such as Tua or Jeudy, but I want to call out some guys who are under the radar that have low risk high reward returns.

Quintez Cephus (DET)

Cephus had a relatively quiet rookie year putting up 20/349/2 on 35 targets but he did so in the shadows of Golladay, Jones, Amendola, and Hockenson. The reason he is on the year two breakout list is because the talent is there, and he’s the only wideout currently under contract for the Lions in 2021.

Cephus received a second/third round grade but fell to the fifth round out of Wisconsin after some off the field issues. He missed his entire 2018 college campaign but returned in 2019 after the charges were dropped. He is not a fast receiver, but his play style dictates physicality and he makes the contested catches.

Pre-2020 NFL draft, Ohio States Jeff Okudah, who some regarded as a top five talent and top cornerback in the class, gave his thoughts on who gave him the most trouble in college.

Cephus has the potential to be the next Cooper Kupp for Jared Goff. With the departures of Golladay and Jones likely, Cephus will have all the opportunity in the world to contribute in 2021. The Lions likely take a WR in the upcoming NFL draft, but even if they go with Ja’Marr Chase at seventh overall, I still like Cephus’s chances to contribute. It will just mean that his price would be even cheaper to acquire. He can be had for a 2021 third round pick and has top 36 WR upside.

Adam Trautman (NO)

Trautman did not play much in his rookie year, putting up 15/171/1 on 16 targets in 15 games. He came from Dayton which is a smaller school but hung 70/916/14 in his last year in college.

2020 was not a great class for tight ends, especially with the upcoming 2021 class led by Kyle Pitts. Pre-draft a lot of analysts were split between Trautman and Kmet for which TE was going to lead the class. Trautman ended up being the fifth TE selected in the 2020 NFL draft in the third round to New Orleans. We know coach Sean Payton likes his tight ends, so Trautman instantly was on the radar after being selected.

He slotted in behind Jared Cook on the depth chart but was very impressive in camp. Coaches and players nominated him as the best rookie performer in camp during the 2020 pre-season. With the Saints in trouble with their current cap situation, look for Jared Cook to sign elsewhere. I fully expect Trautman to be the TE1 for the Saints in 2021.

DeeJay Dallas (SEA)

In a fantastic running back class in 2020 led by guys such as Swift, Taylor, and Dobbins, Dallas is somewhat of a hidden gem. DeeJay was selected in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL draft out of Miami, where he put up 833 all-purpose yards with eight touchdowns in his final year in college.

Seattle decided to invest in a running back in the middle rounds knowing Rashaad Penny would most likely not be able to play after he tore his ACL in 2019. Dallas began the year and the third RB on the depth chart behind Carson and Hyde. As injuries pilled up at the RB position in Seattle, Dallas got his chance to start in week eight.

Dallas finished as the RB3 in week eight in his first NFL action. The reason why he is on this list is he has a chance to either lead or split the backfield work with Penny with the unknown future of Carson and Hyde who are both UFAs this upcoming offseason. He can produce on the ground and through the air, and any RB on the Seahawks is a player I want in fantasy especially after Pete Carroll commented he wants to commit more to the running game for the Seahawks in 2021. Dallas can be acquired for a third-round rookie pick.

The post 3 Fantasy Second-Year Breakout Candidates: Adam Trautman Can Replace Jared Cook appeared first on Pro Football Mania.