Category: Fantasy Football

PFF projects big year for Texans’ offense in fantasy football

Two offseason trades elevated the Texans offense to elite status with several players ranking highly in PFF’s pre-NFL draft top 200

The Houston Texans look poised to be one of the league’s top units both on the field in the world of fantasy football behind second-year star C.J. Stroud.

Houston made two big splashes on the offensive side of the ball, acquiring Pro Bowl running back Joe Mixon in a trade with the Cincinnati Bengals and adding All-Pro receiver Stefon Diggs from the Buffalo Bills. 

When factoring in the return of Tank Dell from his broken fibula, plus another prominent year from Nico Collins, the Texans have arguably the best-supporting cast in the AFC entering draft weekend. 

Pro Football Focus is high on the Texans offense, too, ranking seven players in its pre-NFL draft top 200 list. 

Collins and Diggs each produced as No. 1 targets last season while helping their respective franchises make the postseason. Now as a duo, their overall status dipped compared to teams with only one legit top weapon.

Collins is the first Texan to appear on the list at number 30 overall as WR 16. Diggs made an appearance at No. 39 and was listed as WR 22.

Houston is one of four teams with two receivers ranked in the top 25, along with the Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers. However, the Texans are the lone team with three wideouts ranked inside the top 30, as Tank Dell is the WR 29.

There’s no telling who the number one option is until the season starts, but all three are rated highly in targets per route run. Collins ranked ninth at 27%, Diggs at 26% ranked 11th, and Dell posted a 23% TPRR.

PFF doesn’t foresee a sophomore slump from Stroud with a former All-Pro added to the offense. The reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year finished last season as QB 10, but shot up the list to QB 4 following Houston’s trade for Diggs.

Stroud thrived on efficiency, dropping back an average of 36.35 times a game, which was the 15th highest, according to Fantasy Life. 

Last season Houston finished 13th in scoring, averaging 22.2 points per game. Stroud also led the league in passing yards per contest (274.1) and touchdown-to-interception ratio.

The Texans entered the offseason with the intent of upgrading the ground game. Even after a promising first year behind Stroud, Houston averaged the fifth-fewest yards per carry (3.7) and scored ten rushing touchdowns.

Mixon’s arrival should alleviate the pressure off Stroud on early downs. That’s at least the hope on paper. On PFF’s list, Mixon ranked 51st overall as the 16th among RBs.

Neither Mixon nor backup running back Dameon Pierce —ranked 200th and RB 66 — profile as terrific receiving backs, meaning the Texans may add one through the draft. If they don’t, Mixon slots as a workhorse on one of the league’s best offenses.

Mixon had the second-highest percentage of his team’s carries inside the 5-yard line last season at 88%. At 208 pounds, Mixon’s frame makes him a promising option to handle the bulk of goal-line attempts.

Dalton Schultz’s targets likely will go down with Diggs’ arrival, but he’ll benefit from playing in a pass-heavy offense. Last season, Schultz posted a 21% endzone target rate, which ranked ninth amongst tight ends, according to Fantasy Life. 

Schultz is the TE 13 between Dallas Cowboys‘ Jake Ferguson and Philadelphia Eagles’ Dallas Goedert. Last year, he finished as the TE 10 with 59 receptions, 635 yards, and five touchdowns.

The draft will shake the rankings up, but it’s clear that many people want a slice of the Texans’ offense this year.

Cowboys’ Jake Ferguson quietly leading NFL TEs in key category

Jake Fergusson has been flying under the radar the past month but as the TE league leader in redzone targets, he’s primed to break out. | From @ReidDHanson

Jake Feguson has been a breath of fresh air in Dallas in 2023. The second-year TE out of Wisconsin picked up where he left off, turning a promising rookie season into a bona fide Day-3 draft success story for the Cowboys.

Averaging nearly eight targets per game over the last five weeks, Ferguson has been a cornerstone piece in the Cowboys gameplan. Graded as one of the better blockers in the NFL and one of the best all-around players at his position, Ferguson is primed for a big game in Week 18 and into the postseason.

One of the more surprising developments from this season is Ferguson’s target rate inside the red zone. At 22 red-zone targets and counting, Ferguson leads NFL tight ends in this high-impact category. Jason Kelce trails Ferguson with 19, David Njoku is third at 16 and Sam LaPorta is a distant fourth at 14.

Part of the reason the Cowboys’ rookie, second-round pick Luke Schoonmaker can’t get on the field much this season is because of Ferguson’s development. Entering this season, even some of his biggest supporters felt TE2 was his likely future. 16 games through the 2023 season and most will agree his ceiling has unquestionably risen and Ferguson is a true TE1.

The number of red-zone targets speaks volumes for the young TE. The Cowboys, and specifically Dak Prescott, trust him when the stakes are highest. Despite his inexperience, they aren’t afraid to target him inside the 20.

Entering the postseason, it’s a role that only stands to grow. Teams found success limiting the explosive Dallas offense with heavy shell looks in coverage. With two-deep safety coverage, defenses have been taking away the big play and asking Prescott and company to play a more patient game targeting short routes and the middle of the field. Big plays can be had here and on more than one occasion Ferguson and Prescott where a fraction of an inch away from connecting on big plays up the seam. It’s only a matter of time before these plays start to connect again.

It’s tough to call the man who leads his position group in red zone targets a postseason sleeper, but that’s exactly what Ferguson appears to be this year.

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Fantasy Football: Potential bargains, must-plays from Giants-Eagles game

Here’s a look at some potential bargains for daily fantasy from the New York Giants-Philadelphia Eagles Week 18 game on Sunday afternoon.

The New York Giants (5-11) host the Philadelphia Eagles (11-5) this Sunday at MetLife Stadium in the 2023 regular season finale.

The Eagles, depending on the day’s outcome, will either be the NFC East champion or the 5th overall seed in the NFC Playoffs.

The Giants have been eliminated from postseason play for several weeks now.

The teams met just two weeks ago and put up 58 points (Philadelphia won, 33-25), so there is a chance this could be another high-scoring affair.

Here are three fantasy plays for you to consider.

Caveat Emptor: There is a possibility that some key players may sit on both sides, so please check the inactives on Sunday to make sure your choices are playing.

Best Fantasy Football waiver wire pickups for Week 18

Here are some waiver wire options for fantasy this week.

After the 17th full slate of regular-season action, many fantasy football leagues have already finished their playoffs, but for some, Week 18 is their championship.

If you had a tough injury in Week 17, you just didn’t get the production from one of your players that you expected or you have a player that will be rested, we’ll scan the waiver wire. For potential pickups, we’ll consider players who are available in at least 50% of ESPN fantasy leagues.

Let’s take a look at some of the potential waiver wire pickups that could help your teams heading into Week 18 of the NFL campaign.

Fantasy Football: Potential bargains, must-plays from Giants-Rams game

Here’s a look at some potential bargains for daily fantasy from the New York Giants-Los Angeles Rams Week 17 game on Sunday afternoon.

The red-hot Los Angeles Rams (8-7) travel east to the New Jersey Meadowlands on New Year’s Eve afternoon to face the New York Giants (5-10).

Both teams have picked up the effort in the second half of the season, and this game could be filled with fireworks.

That’s good news for fantasy owners and DFS speculators looking for a late-season payday.

Here are three options to consider.

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Best Fantasy Football waiver wire pickups for Week 17

Here are some waiver wire options for fantasy this week.

After the 16th full slate of regular season action, every fantasy league is at least in their playoffs, with some in their championships.

If you had a tough injury in Week 16, or you just didn’t get the production from one of your players that you expected, we’ll scan the waiver wire. For potential pickups, we’ll consider players who are available in at least 50% of ESPN fantasy leagues.

Let’s take a look at some of the potential waiver wire pickups that could help your teams heading into Week 17 of the NFL campaign.

Fantasy Football: Potential bargains, must-plays from Giants-Eagles game

Here’s a look at some potential bargains for daily fantasy from the New York Giants-Philadelphia Eagles Week 16 game on Monday afternoon.

The New York Giants (5-9) travel to the City of Brotherly Love on Christmas Day to face the reeling Philadelphia Eagles (10-4) in a Week 16 matchup that has some postseason ramifications.

With year-long fantasy leagues in their postseasons and big-jackpot DFS tournaments winding down, enthusiasts will be looking for any and every advantage they can get.

They might find a few here in this game. Here’s how we see it.

Best Fantasy Football waiver wire pickups for Week 16

Here are some waiver wire options for fantasy this week.

After the 15th full slate of regular season action, nearly every fantasy football league should be in their playoffs.

If you had a tough injury in Week 15, or you just didn’t get the production from one of your players that you expected, we’ll scan the waiver wire. For potential pickups, we’ll consider players who are available in at least 50% of ESPN fantasy leagues.

Let’s take a look at some of the potential waiver wire pickups that could help your teams heading into Week 16 of the NFL campaign.

10 waiver wire targets for fantasy football playoffs

Here are 10 waiver wire targets to consider picking up for the fantasy football playoffs.

Congratulations, you’re alive in the playoffs of your fantasy football league! Either that or you are taking your consolation bracket really, really seriously.

Either way, everyone can look to the waiver wire this week to improve your depth in fantasy football. We’ve put together a list of ten targets to consider, including options at running back, wide receiver, tight end and quarterback.

One of the biggest waiver wire targets of the week is Raiders running back Zamir White, who filled in for an injured Josh Jacobs and totaled 85 yards from scrimmage and scored a touchdown on Thursday Night Football. If Jacobs (quad) misses another game, White will be a must-start in Week 16.

Another notable player to consider is Texans wide receiver Noah Brown, who totaled eight receptions for 82 yards and a touchdown on Sunday. Brown’s production will probably take a hit when Nico Collins returns from injury, but Brown is a priority waiver wire target nonetheless.

Each player’s rostered percentage in ESPN fantasy football leagues is listed in parentheses. Let’s get to the list!