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

Will Levis – (3.0% Owned)

How about that debut for Will Levis? Levis wasn’t expected to play much this season and was considered too raw of a prospect to produce this early. Not only did he show he is capable of playing at this level the former Kentucky standout was also poised and showed off his big arm. Levis finished the game with 4 passing touchdowns (3 of them went to DeAndre Hopkins) and more importantly zero turnovers. If you’re the Titans you have to play Levis the rest of the season to see if he can keep this up.

Running Backs

Zach Charbonnet – (36.1% Owned)

If you’re looking for a 2nd half breakout candidate, Zach Charbonnet may be that guy. Sure Charbonnet is still behind Kenneth Walker on the depth chart but he had his best output of the season on Sunday. He had 53 yards on just 5 carries good for 10.6 YPC and 11 receiving yards. Charbonnet is worth stashing and could end up paying off down the road.

Wide Receivers

Demario Douglas – (2.1% Owned)

Demario Douglas is set up for a big role in the Patriots offense with Kendrick Bourne now out for the season. Douglas led the New England offense with 7 targets on Sunday and that usage will only increase. Fellow wide receiver DeVante Parker also left the game with a concussion and his status this week could be in jeopardy. Douglas is an explosive receiver with upside that will also be used in the running game.

Tight Ends

Trey McBride – (14.4% Owned)

McBride exploded on Sunday for 20.5 fantasy points (Half PPR) and is the priority pickup this week. With Zach Ertz now on IR McBride will continue to get targets in the Cardinals offense. He had a massive 14 targets versus Baltimore and 10 receptions. Arizona also looks to be getting Kyler Murray back which should only help this offense going forward.

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Houston Texans: WR Robert Woods (ADP 223.8)

Robert Woods is on his second team in two years as he tries to revitalize his career. When he was with the Rams, he was very consistent and made life easy for Jared Goff. His mission now is to help C.J. Stroud thrive. He is currently the top WR in the Texans. Look for Stroud to focus on him especially at the start in order to get a rhythm and to get acclimated to the NFL. His ADP of 223.8 is ridiculous for someone of his talent.

Indianapolis Colts: WR Alec Pierce (ADP 188.1)

For the Indianapolis Colts, I’m looking at Alec Pierce. As a rookie last season, he had his moments such as scoring 18.6 FP against the Cowboys and 15.1 FP against the Broncos. What makes him stand out is his 15 deep targets as the other Colts WRs only had 18 total deep targets. With Anthony Richardson having a cannon of an arm, Alec Pierce could benefit from the deep throws with the rookie QB.

Jacksonville Jaguars: WR Christian Kirk (ADP 82.9)

Christian Kirk had a career year last season when he caught 84 passes for 1108 yards and eight TDs. His year helped the Jaguars have a successful season and make Jacksonville look like an elite contender for years to come. Currently, he is slated at ADP 82.9 which is a steal for what he can do. Even with Calvin Ridley coming in, Trevor Lawrence will still pass the ball around. Christian Kirk will overcome his ADP again.

Tennessee Titans: QB Will Levis (ADP 137.9)

We’ve all seen the tape that he’s throwing the ball well in camps and looks like a steal. Let’s hold our horses first. He’s still very raw and Ryan Tannehill is still the guy for the Titans. Now I expect Will Levis to get some run depending on Tennessee’s record. This makes him intriguing especially in dynasty leagues if you need a QB. The fans will be calling for him if the Titans look bad.

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Will Levis with the First Pick?

Thanks to an anonymous Reddit post, Will Levis to the Carolina Panthers is gaining steam. The post is claiming that Levis is telling friends and family that Carolina is taking him with the first overall pick. Take the post with a grain of salt but it’s important to note that his betting odds have changed dramatically over the past 24 hours. I am not yet buying it as it seems like the Panthers are set on selecting Bryce Young. If Levis doesn’t go number 1, I expect him to go to he Colts.

Jalen Carter to the Seahawks is a Perfect Match

By now we all know the drama surrounding Jalen Carter and his off the field incidents. This will cause him to fall slightly but he is still the best prospect in this year’s draft. Seattle is the perfect fit for Carter and I projected him there in my latest mock draft. Pete Carroll is just what Carter needs as he will motivate and challenge him in the right ways.

Bijan Robinson in the Top 10?

Say what you want about taking a running back in the first round but Bijan Robinson is a different animal. He is the best overall offensive talent in this year’s draft. His ability to catch the ball out of the backfield along with his explosiveness sets him apart from the other running backs. Robinson to the Eagles at 10 makes too much sense. The Eagles said goodbye to Miles Sanders this offseason and picked up Rashaad Penny. Penny will be their bruiser but Robinson will be the playmaking RB they are looking for.

Titans Trade for a Quarterback

Tennessee looks like they want to move on from Ryan Tannehill and they have the ammo to make a big draft day trade. We have talked about it before as rumors have Derrick Henry on the trade block. Henry as part of a draft day package should be enough to get the Titans into the top 10 and allow them to select a QB.

Commanders Trade Back Again

In last year’s draft the Washington Commanders traded back in the first round and it was on of the best moves of the draft. They ended up using the draft capital to pick up Jahan Dotson, Brian Robinson Jr. and Sam Howell. These three are the young core the Commanders are now building on as they look to the future. I expect them to trade back again and focus on a CB or an OL. Both are big needs for the Commanders going into next year.

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TENNESSEE TITANS TRADE UP TO THE TOP 10

Tennessee has become a target for trade talks as there are rumors that Derrick Henry could be traded very soon. Other than that, the QB situation seems even worse. The Titans feel they are done with Ryan Tannehill and Malik Willis hasn’t developed as they hoped he would. Trading up would give them a chance with C.J. Stroud, Will Levis, and Anthony Richardson. With the AFC South as one of the weakest divisions in the NFL, a rebuild can show fruitful results very soon.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS TRADE UP FOR NUMBER 2

The Indianapolis Colts have been linked to so many quarterbacks at the number four spot. It feels like the front office is split between C.J. Stroud, Will Levis, and Anthony Richardson. Now, talks are Houston could draft a non-QB with the second pick. However, this could be used to swerve other teams and keep people guessing. With the Colts having trouble searching for that franchise QB, moving up may hurt them picks-wise, but it will make the future much clearer.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS MAKE THE CROWD ROAR

With Kansas City being the host for the NFL Draft, the city will erupt if their team trades up in the draft, instead of waiting at the end. A player that has been linked to the Chiefs is Zay Flowers, one of the best wide receivers in the draft. With the Chiefs losing JuJu Smith-Schuster to the Patriots, a wide receiver would be a good pick for them. Zay would give them production and his speed would give nightmares to opposing teams.

We’re all excited to see how the NFL Draft will fold. Get your predictions ready as this feels much more uncertain compared to past years.

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CHAOS #1: HOUSTON TEXANS DON’T TAKE A QB AT PICK #2

[PLAYER AFFECTED: C.J. STROUD]

C.J. Stroud has been the talk of the town the past few days. When the Panthers traded for the top pick, the gambling lines turned to Stroud as the favorite to be the first pick of the draft. After a few weeks have gone by, not only has Bryce Young been the heavy favorite to be the top pick, Stroud might not even be the second pick.

As of this writing, Will Levis has overtaken Stroud as the favorite to be the second overall pick. This has shocked everyone as some mocked Levis for going in the middle of the first round to even late in the first round. Back to C.J., there are those that say he is “uncoachable” and those words came out of nowhere. Another reason for “worry” is his 18 on the S2 Cognition Test. Now this test focuses on a QB’s ability in decision-making. He was the worst by far in terms of scoring, and this has executives worried about him overall. Studies have shown that those who don’t do well in the S2 Cognition Test, don’t translate in the NFL.

C.J. Stroud has been touted as at least the second-best QB prospect in this draft. With this, Houston is second and they need a QB, however, they aren’t sold on it as they want to see more of Davis Mills. If they don’t draft a QB, this could be trouble as the Colts and Seahawks have their eyes on other QB prospects. Maybe another team trades up for Stroud but that remains the case.

CHAOS #2: INDIANAPOLIS COLTS TAKE ANTHONY RICHARDSON AT PICK #4

[PLAYER AFFECTED: WILL LEVIS]

For every positive of Will Levis, there is a negative that worries NFL teams. From his weird-eating habits to his IG post of him shirtless, experts are stumped on where to put him. One NFL team that seems to like him is the Indianapolis Colts. They need a QB and are intrigued by Levis as he is more polished compared to Richardson. Now, what if Richardson is the surprise pick of the Colts?

The next team that may draft a quarterback is the Titans at 11th overall. Mock drafts however see them taking another position of need. The Patriots at 14 could be a sleeper, but Will doesn’t seem to be the prototype New England likes in a quarterback. I think Will gets drafted in the first round, but the wait may be a little longer than he hoped for.

CHAOS #3: SEATTLE SEAHAWKS SKIP ON A QB AT PICK #5

[PLAYER AFFECTED: ANTHONY RICHARDSON]

Anthony Richardson to Seattle is my favorite pick for him as he is a raw prospect with great tools. The Seahawks do have Geno Smith signed to an extension, but it’s not a long-term contract. Having multiple first-round picks is a blessing for the Seahawks as they were one of the more surprising teams last season.

It’s possible that the Seahawks go for a talented defensive prospect with the fifth pick. Jalen Carter could be available after his weird past few weeks and months. The talent is there however and they rank him as one of the best defensive prospects. Anthony could be available at 20 for their second first-round pick but there’s no guarantee.

Look at last year’s Malik Willis as he had many similarities with Richardson. Both are athletes with great arms but lack experience. He was pegged as a first-round pick, but he slipped all the way to Day 2. Richardson does give that fear. The other top QB prospects held the starting job for at least multiple years while Richardson only had one. Only time will tell.

CHAOS #4: CAROLINA PANTHERS SHOCK EVERYONE WITH C.J. STROUD AND HOUSTON TAKES A NON-QB

[PLAYER AFFECTED: BRYCE YOUNG]

This outcome seems the most unlikely as Stroud is the favorite to go first. The Texans at number two have been positive that they’ll take him if he’s available. However, anything is up in the air. Bryce Young is an interesting prospect as he has all the tools to be a successful quarterback. What makes him difficult is his size, which makes him an outlier.

Quarterbacks are a big investment and seeing Young scares a lot of teams. His size makes scouts and personnel worried about his durability, especially with numerous QB injuries that happened last season. With next year’s draft class having a much more intriguing QB class, teams may also wait instead of jumping the gun on Young. Personally, I wouldn’t take Young for the size concerns, but an NFL team will take a chance on him and hope they struck gold.

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Bears Stay Put (For Now)

There has been a lot of chatter that the Chicago Bears are open to trading the first overall pick. That means they are likely sticking with Justin Fields. This is the right move as there are no guaranteed locks at quarterback in this years draft. In this version the Bears did not receive a good enough offer to trade out of #1. Let’s wait and see though what happens as we get closer to the draft.

Bryce Young Goes to Houston

If you’re the Houston Texans and Bryce Young is on the board, you have to take him. Yes there are some concerns about his height and weight but the upside is there. Durability may be an issue long term but if you can get 4-5 years of strong QB play from Young you take it.

Welcome to Detroit Will Levis

When it’s all said and done Will Levis may be the best quarterback prospect from this year’s draft. He as all the tools to succeed including a rocket arm. The Lions seem to be a perfect fit for him. He can sit a year behind quarterback Jared Goff as he refines his game and learns the speed of the NFL.

Jets Take the First Receiver

The New York Jets have an impressive young roster and they will continue to build on it with Quentin Johnston. Johnston will fit right in next to the dynamic Garrett Wilson. The only missing piece to the Jets offense is a quarterback. Look for them to address this later in the draft.

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BACKGROUND

Will Levis is a quarterback prospect out of Middleton Connecticut. As a senior, he threw for 2,793 yards and 27 TDs. According to Rivals, he was listed as a three-star recruit and the 30th best at his position. He signed to play for the Penn State Nittany Lions out of high school. He became known for his unique eating habits such as drinking coffee with mayonnaise and bananas while unpeeled.

COLLEGE CAREER

Levis attended Penn State for three years. He redshirted as a freshman and spent two years behind Penn State QB Sean Clifford. After playing sparingly at Penn State, he decided to transfer after Year 3 to Kentucky. At Penn State, he rushed for six TDs and 473 yards. In his first year at Kentucky, he led them to a 10-3 record with 2,826 passing yards and 24 TDs.

2022-2023 COLLEGE CAREER

A lot of expectations were on Will Levis as he was slotted in mock drafts even before the season started. Many scouts and analysts pegged him as one of the QBs to watch for the upcoming season. He led Kentucky to a 4-0 record start and was ranked by that time. His best performance in that span was against Youngstown where he threw for 377 yards. Against the big schools, 1 Georgia and 3 Tennessee, Will struggled to score just 12 points combined and threw one TD in those big games.

STRENGTHS: Physical Specimen

Will Levis is the most physically-imposing QB prospect in this class. When scouts see him, he could be the top QB in this year’s draft. He’s 6’3″ and 232 lbs, perfect for an NFL QB. He has the strongest arm in this draft class. His arm strength makes him the confidence to throw the ball downfield for a catch. On the run, he is mobile and powerful. Whoever drafts him, can mold him into Josh Allen in a way.

WEAKNESSES: Inconsistency

During the season, there were times when Will Levis looked like a possible Heisman candidate. There were times when he struggled greatly and made Kentucky look questionable. Not everything is to be blamed on him such as his inconsistent offensive line, which forced him to have moments of being unsure. But protecting the ball will be key for him. If he can put a little less on his throws for accuracy and protect the ball on the run, he can be a real threat to be the best QB in this class.

PLAYER COMPARISON: Jameis Winston

TEAMS WHO COULD DRAFT HIM

There’s a lot of love for Will Levis as he is a top-10 pick in all mock drafts. His size and physical traits make him a popular choice as one mock draft even had him going first overall. With all the QBs available or possibly available even before the draft, it will be very interesting to see who will draft Will Levis. The usual culprits are the Colts at 4th overall and the Raiders at 7th overall.

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By: Brock Wells

Kentucky rolled past Miami (OH) in Week One 37-13. One of the reasons for this decisive victory was the play of quarterback Will Levis. By game’s end, Levis put together a 21/32, 303-yard, three-touchdown effort. The quarterback who transferred to Kentucky from Penn State back in 2020 has the Wildcats considered a favorite to compete for the second spot in the SEC East Division again this season, after going 10-3 last season.

The question has been asked by some whether Levis is capable of winning the Heisman Trophy. This is an interesting question for a couple of reasons. Talentwise, he’s clearly capable of standing alongside other players who are thought of as Heisman candidates. But that alone doesn’t mean he’ll be in a position to win the award. Kentucky has to prove itself to be a team that can compete on the national stage.

Since 2000, just one Heisman Trophy winner was part of a team that finished outside the top 15 in the final AP poll. That player was Lamar Jackson of Louisville in 2016, a team that ended the season ranked 21^st in the final AP poll. Jackson was also so astonishingly good that season that the voting committee had virtually no choice but to give him the award. Last season, Kentucky finished at #18 in the final AP poll.

Levis will find himself in a number of games his team has to win, or at least play quite well in if he’s going to have any shot at winning the Heisman. This starts Saturday when the Wildcats head into Gainesville to take on the Florida Gators who are fresh off an impressive win against a favored Utah team. Levis needs to look convincing in this game. He also could benefit from missing a week of giving up interceptions to sweeten that Heisman offering as well.

The biggest thing for Levis is to take care of business in a convincing fashion every week, avoid making too many mistakes, and win the big games. Kentucky has got to beat Florida. They’ve got to beat Ole Miss and Tennessee. Then, there’s the massive game against defending national champion Georgia on November 19^th. The Bulldogs will likely be heavily favored in that game, but if Levis plays well and somehow the Wildcats can pull off an upset, it isn’t impossible to think he becomes one of the favorites to win the Heisman.

The Georgia game is over two months away, though. For now, Levis needs to make sure he looks extraordinary in each game and that Kentucky is in a position to win every single week, which they came closer to accomplishing last season than many people thought possible. But that was last year. This season is an all-new challenge.

Georgia has reloaded and is ready to take the SEC East Division once again. Kentucky’s got to take care of prior business first, checking in 10-1 or so for the Georgia game, then Levis just might control his own destiny, depending, of course, on where Ohio State and Alabama’s quarterbacks find themselves. This is going to be a difficult task. It would mean asking something of the Kentucky football program it hasn’t given since its last national championship in 1950. But strange things regularly happen in college football.

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