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!

The post Dynasty flex sleepers right now appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

There are a plethora of under-the-radar tight ends that are worth discussing heading into Week 3. With that said, I’m going to dive right into five TE sleepers to target.

David Njoku

The man of the hour, David Njoku, ousted nine grabs (on 10 targets) for 89 yards and a touchdown last night. Meanwhile, Donovan Peoples-Jones and David Bell combined for three catches against the Steelers. The scary part is that Njoku doesn’t even have Deshaun Watson at the helm. The Browns TE is owned in 33% of ESPN leagues & 51% of Yahoo leagues.

Tyler Higbee

There may still be room for the illustrious Rams TE Tyler Higbee on your roster (owned in 50% of ESPN leagues). Higbee garnered nine targets (after a whopping 11 targets in Week 1 against a deadly Bills defense) and ousted several receptions in Week 2. Ultimately, he’s second in TE targets at this point. Fantasy Pros has slotted him as the seventh-best TE moving forward.

Logan Thomas

Logan Thomas, also known as Taysom Hill before Taysom Hill, dazzled with a touchdown grab last week. He also had had 11 targets in the past two contests. Thomas registered 110 targets, 72 receptions, 670 yds, and six TDs in 2020. With Carson Wentz, he could certainly be in line to have a season at least as similar as his 2020 campaign. He is owned in 33% of Yahoo leagues & 39% of ESPN leagues, so there’s more than an “only hope” to get him off the bench.

Irv Smith Jr.

The Minnesota Vikings TE Irv Smith Jr. is only owned in 35% of ESPN leagues, but he’s starting to climb the ladder. He impressively hauled in a touchdown and three catches on eight targets last week. Don’t sleep on him due to his complete in-action in Week 1. The Vikings TE will feast when opponents focus on the potential OPOY Justin Jefferson.

Juwan Johnson

The New Orleans Saints TE Juwan Johnson (who is a bit of a deep sleeper) edged out Adam Trautman for the keys to the starting TE spot. Last week, he grabbed four catches for 40 yards. ESPN has projected Johnson to reel in 706 yards & 102 targets this season. At this point, Johnson has garnered a 69.2 grade by PFF for his work. It may be wise to target the TE in a week against a dreadful pass defense.

The post Fantasy: 5 TE sleepers entering Week 3 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The Minnesota Vikings tight end Irv Smith Jr. is unequivocally the biggest x-factor in the Vikings offense moving forward. Smith Jr. was MIA in his junior season ”“ as he suffered a meniscus tear in his third pre-season contest ”“ which ended his well-anticipated 2021 season. Nonetheless, it’s safe to say that the healthy and athletic gifted TE is gearing up for a stellar 2022 campaign in Kevin O’Connell’s flashy offense.

Irv Smith Jr. has expressed how he feels like a kid in the candy shop in the new offense. Per KSTP, Irv Smith Jr. stated, “In LA, the Rams did a lot of great things with the tight end, Tyler Higbee. He made a lot of plays and stuff. So seeing the film and what he’s done and using my skill set to what I’m capable of doing because we’re different players and everybody’s a different player. So this camp will be cool because he gets to see what I can do, and he’ll be able to see how he can implement me in different ways and implement all of us”. Higbee notched 560 yards and 5 touchdowns last season (as he ranked as the 14^th best fantasy TE), and I wholeheartedly believe O’Connell will have more fun utilizing Smith Jr. than his former TE1 in LA.

Greg Rosenthal of NFL.com dubbed the Vikings young TE as his breakout candidate on the Vikings in 2022. Rosenthal stated, “Vikings fans and fantasy heads have been waiting for Smith to break out for a few years now. There’s no reason he can’t thrive now. New offensive coordinator Wes Phillips was a tight ends coach in Los Angeles, and the offense the Vikings want to run asks a lot of the position. Smith profiles as a souped-up receiver who can take passes in stride and rack up yards after the catch.”

The hungry Irv Smith Jr. acquired a new (neck) tattoo to celebrate his health and positive vibe, as well. Per Vikings Wire, Smith Jr. stated, “I got a butterfly right here on my neck, and it’s like a new beginning. He elaborated, “All the things that I’ve done in the past I still reflect on, but I’m excited for the future and what the future holds for myself and for this team ”“ for this offense. And we’re just going to take it one day at a time. But it’s definitely a new beginning for me, I’d say”. Smith Jr, his new offensive-minded coach, and his impressive spirit should seek vengeance in the 2022 season.

The post Why Irv Smith Jr. is a fantasy sleeper in 2022 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Brady Akins

NFL TEs are among the most confusing positions in all of fantasy football.

It’s far from glamorous. Just about every player at the position, with the exception of Kansas City’s Travis Kelce and Las Vegas’ Darren Waller on a good day, can’t come close to matching the production of other skill position players.

And yet, if you miss out on the top two or three players at the position, you’ll likely spend your season frustrated at inconsistent play and repeated low-scoring weeks. This is why finding sleepers is crucial when it comes to tight end.

Load up on running backs and receivers, wait until Round 12 or 13 to draft either of these two sleeper superstars and watch their surprisingly strong play reward your patience. 

Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams (Average Draft Position — TE10)

As if the Rams’ offense wasn’t spoiled for skill position riches with their running backs and wide receivers in 2020, Los Angeles also had a deep and talented cast of tight ends, with Tyler Higbee and Gerald Everett headlining a bunch that was difficult to comfortably bet on last season due to their tendency to take targets from each other. 

Between Higbee and Everett, the tight end duo combined for 122 targets last season– with the target share being nearly 50/50 (Everett with 62 targets, Higbee with 60). 

In a cruel twist of fantasy football fate, the tight end-dependent passing game of the Rams didn’t have a star fantasy player at the position. But two major changes in the status quo should change that.

The most important factor being, that once deep group of tight ends has significantly shallowed up. Higbee remains, but Everett is gone– leaving 62 targets and 41 catches unclaimed. Higbee will only benefit from having less talent around him at the position.

And, of course, the headline-grabbing factor, Los Angeles’ starting quarterback from last season is out, traded along with a handful of draft picks for the Lions’ Matthew Stafford, who should, in theory, be an upgrade at the position.

Between the absence of Everett and the addition of Stafford, Higbee should be in line for a masterpiece fantasy football season. One that exceeds the expectations of a TE10.

Irv Smith Jr, Minnesota Vikings (Average Draft Position — TE13)

Similar to Higbee, Minnesota’s Irv Smith Jr should be in line for a massive bump in production, thanks to some competition being drained from the Vikings’ tight end pool.

Gone from the Vikings roster this season is the Pro Bowl veteran anchor of the offense, Kyle Rudolph. Rudolph was the go-to for Minnesota in the games he played in 2020. Really, Rudolph has been the go-to at the Vikings’ tight end position since 2011. Now, he’s on the Giants roster, leaving the door open for Smith Jr. to take full control.

Smith Jr. has earned the ire of a few in the fantasy football community for not breaking out sooner. Between his high second-round draft status and his strong showing in college playing for the NFL skill-position factory Alabama Crimson Tide, many thought that Smith Jr. would be a star from the moment he stepped onto the field.

But Smith Jr’s 36 catches in his rookie season weren’t impressive to many, nor were his 30 catches in his sophomore season. And now, the Vikings’ tight end has fallen down draft boards– despite his newly favorable offensive situation. 

But this could be the breakout year that Smith Jr has needed, as the former Alabama star has set a precedent for thriving without Rudolph in the mix. Through the final four weeks of 2020, the only four games that Rudolph has been inactive since Smith Jr arrived in 2019, the current Minnesota TE1 thrived to the tune of finishing as the overall TE4 in PPR leagues, and the TE3 in standard-scoring formats. 

In those final four games, Smith Jr. recorded half of his total catches for the season, more than half of his yards, and saw a career-high for targets in a game with nine in Week 16 against the Saints, where the Vikings tight end rewarded his offense for the increased opportunity with two receiving touchdowns.

All is set for Smith Jr. to finally reach his potential of a definitive TE1 in any fantasy scoring format– and you could add him to your roster in the very late rounds of your league’s draft.

The post Two sleeper TEs to target in fantasy appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Sukhwant Singh

Intro

Every year we as fantasy owners cringe when comes to drafting tight ends. Be it PPR or standard leagues there are just not enough premium TEs available. Once the heavy hitters, Travis Kelce, Darren Waller, George Kittle, and Mark Andrews are off the board the rest of the crop is pretty average to below average.

In this article, we’ll focus on that next tier which can make or break your fantasy squad. I’ll be doing this article based on PPR league rankings/points. With that said let’s get started!

Top three Tight Ends to buy:

T.J. Hockenson

I’m on the hype train for T.J. Hockenson this season. I know the QB position has taken a bit of a hit with Jared Goff now at the helm instead of Matthew Stafford but this shouldn’t affect Hockenson’s value much. The team lost its top WRs in Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones, and Mohamed Sanu.

This now opens opportunities for plenty for Hockenson especially working those underneath routes. Hockenson finished last season as a TE5 with 175.3 total points in PPR formats. I fully expect him to exceed those numbers easily this season! Look for Hockenson/Goff to hit it off early and often this season. Acquiring Hockenson, given the right price is a trade worth assessing and committing to.

Noah Fant

It’s almost unfair the amount of QB uncertainty and bad QB play that Noah Fant has been dealing with. Even with that said Fant finished with 149.3 fantasy points which were good for TE9. Fant’s current ADP has him going in round 7 and later. That to me is an absolute steal!

Drew Lock/Teddy Bridgwater will bring the best in each other (at least we all hope they do) and that should have a direct result in better QB play overall. In addition, top receiving weapon Cortland Sutton will be back and fully healthy, so most of the defensive focus will shift towards him. This leaves Fant to win one on one coverage with slower linebackers and/or smaller safeties. Fant can be had for a tremendous value.

Tyler Higbee

I cant wait to see the chemistry/connection that Stafford develops with Tyler Higbee during this summer and into the season. Higbee finished as the TE8 in 2019 with 160.4 fantasy points. Although last year was a bit of a down year for him I expect him to bounce back in a big way.

Firstly, Stafford is now his QB. A big upgrade over Goff! Secondly, his target stealer (Gerald Everett) is now in Seattle. This leaves Higbee as the best TE option on the team. In 2020 Higbee out-snapped Everett by over 200 snaps! Higbee is set for a big role this season and fully expect him to break out and have a huge fantasy year.

Top three Tight Ends to sell:

Mike Gesicki

I’m just not a believer in the Dolphins QB situation. Mike Gesicki finished as a TE7 with 159.3 fantasy points in 2020. Now with the addition of Will Fuller and rookie Jaylen Waddle to an already crowded receiving core room. There are plenty of weapons on the Dolphins offense and I’m not sure that Tua Tagovailoa will be able to spread the ball around as needed.

This is where Gesicki’s fantasy outlook takes a hit. He might be the odd man out in terms of weekly sustained fantasy production on that team and this is where you as fantasy owners can get solid value for Gesicki. There will be plenty of TE-hungry fantasy managers will take the name and past fantasy production without looking at the complete picture/context. Take advantage of it and sell Gesicki high!

Evan Engram

In a similar boat as Gesicki, Evan Engram is the odd man out. The Giants added Kenny Golladay, drafted Kadarius Toney and will have Saquan Barkley back from injury. Just like with the Dolphins and Tua, I’m not sure if Jones will be able to keep all these mouths happy and fed often enough.

Engram finished as TE15 last season with 141 fantasy points. This is without the above names being on the team last season. Daniel Jones is in a make-or-break season and thus far I haven’t seen enough to convince me that he can be in that top 15 QB tier. Sell Engram as he another big name out there but little fantasy value.

Kyle Pitts

Now before everybody goes crazy as to why I’m mentioning Kyle Pitts, let me explain. This sell on Pitts is for redraft leagues ONLY! Second, I’m only saying sell because of his current ADP value of 4.04. This is insane for a player who has yet to take an NFL snap.

Pitts would have to have one of the greatest rookie TE seasons in NFL history for him to be worth that high of pick. We all have seen how rookies tend to struggle to get adjusted to the NFL level. Pitts will be no different. I’m not saying he will be a bust. What I am saying is that to draft Pitts with your third or fourth pick and say he goes 65/600/5 as his stat line, that would be good for about TE10!

Last season Hunter Henry posted a 60/613/4 line in 14 games with the Chargers good for TE12! You see it’s all about value. You can find other TEs that can give similar production that can be had in a later round. Now if Pitts falls down the ladder to you in rounds eight or later then by all means scoop him up. However, to make him one of your first top five picks isn’t worth it. Sell high and get back a huge haul!

The post Top Fantasy TEs to Buy/Sell appeared first on Pro Football Mania.