Player Analysis – Page 2 – Syndication Server

Rookie Rundown: RB Cam Akers, Florida State

RB Cam Akers – Florida State rookie profile

Cam Akers was a high school quarterback and running back that scored a total of 149 touchdowns and totaled 13,243 yards. A highly-coveted five-star recruit out of Clinton High School in Mississippi, Akers became the starter at Florida State in his first year. He set the team freshman record when he rushed for 1,025 yards in 2017 and broke Dalvin Cook’s record of 1,008 rushing yards.

Akers was the primary back for all three seasons, though his junior season was his busiest and saw him with his heaviest workload of 231 carries and 30 receptions. He turned in 18 touchdowns last season and declared for the NFL draft instead of returning for his senior year.

Height: 5-10
Weight: 217 pounds
40 time: 4.47 seconds

Akers carries all the physical attributes to succeed in the NFL. He was limited at Florida State by a poor offensive line and a team that ended with records of 7-6, 5-7 and 6-7 while he played there. He was afforded just five games with more than 20 carries in his busiest season and produced six 100-yard rushing efforts. Akers was a dynamic back playing on an average team.

Year	Games	Runs	Yards	Avg.	TD	Catch	Yards.	TD	Total Yards	Total TDs
2017	13	194	1025	5.3	7	16	116	1	1141	8
2018	12	161	706	4.4	6	23	145	2	851	8
2019	11	231	1144	5.0	14	30	225	4	1369	18

Pros

Powerful back that initiates contact
Determined if not violent runner that can be a workhorse
Elusive in the open field and shows great balance even after contact
Shows surprising burst for his size
Durable with no significant injuries
Great with short yardage, falls forward
A natural receiver that can run most routes
Has a second gear that can score on any play
Better at inside rushing but has a deadly jump cut
Three down ability – no need to take him off the field
Mature with a high character

Cons

Will need work in pass protection
Had some fumbling issues while struggling for more yardage
Would try to do too much at times and left yards on the field trying to be too creative

Fantasy outlook

Akers should end up as a second to third-round pick. He projects as a feature back in the NFL though he’ll need at least a season to get used to playing at the higher level. Akers was limited by poor blocking in each of his seasons and the offensive scheme was never very successful in any phase. Akers was a player who was better than almost all of his surrounding team.

Akers is a downhill runner that is best with one-cut and go. His offensive line caused problems and he could be surprising in the NFL if he ends up playing behind superior blockers. Most of his negatives have come from trying to do too much in an offense that didn’t do him many favors.

So long as he controls his ball security and steps up as a pass blocker, there’s no reason why Akers shouldn’t evolve into a feature back. He could be a starter in Week 1, depending on where he lands.

He’ll offer fantasy value this season and beyond. He could be a sleeper depending on the blocking and scheme of his new team. He’s already been a standout playing on a very average team. He has the potential to be a fantasy starter from the start.

Rookie Rundown: WR Henry Ruggs III, Alabama

WR Henry Ruggs III Rookie Profile

Speed.

This is the sort of wide receiver that Al Davis would have moved up in the draft to acquire. As it is, Henry Ruggs is expected to be the third wideout selected this year though not the first from Alabama (Jerry Jeudy). Ruggs’ 4.27-40 time was the best from the 2020 NFL Combine and tied for third-best of all time. There is no question – Ruggs is very, very fast.

In a matchup with South Carolina, he was clocked at 24.3 MPH on an 81-yard touchdown catch-and-run. That’s faster than any receiver has been timed in the NFL. Last year in the NFL, the fastest play was 22.3 MPG by Matt Breida on his 83-yard touchdown run. The fastest so far has been Tyreek Hill (23.24 MPH) in 2016 when the league began recording the measurement. He was recorded a full mile-per-hour than Hill. So speed – not a problem.

The former five-star recruit was highly-coveted out of high school (as are all Alabama players) and not surprisingly set the Alabama state record for 100-meter dash (10.38). The Crimson Tide doesn’t throw the ball a lot and yet Ruggs scored six times as a freshman to lead all receivers including Calvin Ridley.

As a sophomore, he increased his role as the deep threat and scored 11 times on his 46 catches for 741 yards while Jeudy became the next Ridley with 68 receptions. As a junior, he fell back a bit with only 40 catches and seven scores but quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was lost during the season.

Height: 5-11
Weight: 188 pounds
40 time: 4.27 seconds

While teammate Jeudy and Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb are considered locks to be the first two wideouts drafted for 2020, Ruggs is a consensus No. 3 and can immediately fit into an NFL offense as the deep threat.

Year	Games	Catch	Yards	Avg.	TD	Runs	Yards.	TD	Total Yards	Total TDs
2017	14	12	229	19.1	6	0	0	0	229	19.1
2018	14	46	741	16.1	11	0	0	0	741	11
2019	12	40	746	18.7	7	2	75	1	821	8

Pros

The fastest player on the field
Averaged 17.5 yards per catch at Alabama
Bigger size than most speedsters, can absorb contact
Elite acceleration and burst
Great hands that can pluck the ball from the air
Flashes hands at last second for the catch
Tremendous athleticism
Tracks and adjusts to the ball well, even while dealing with a defender
Capable blocker with an aggressive willingness
Offers kick-off return duties
High “Run After Catch” no matter where he catches the ball

Cons

Could struggle against NFL-quality jams
Less experienced with only 98 catches over three years.
Won’t break many tackles
Was never the primary receiver in college

Fantasy outlook

Ruggs is more than just a jaw-dropping blur running down the sideline (though he can be that). He is capable of short and intermediate routes as well and he has that rare burst that can leave defenders grasping at air. He is not a physical receiver that is going to go over the middle and bull his way for more yardage. But he is more than just another fast wideout and that’s a very notable positive.

NFL history is littered with speed merchants that just never really translated into much when they reached the league. John Ross of the Bengals owns the NFL combine record of 4.22 seconds on the 40-yard dash. He’s never caught more than 28 passes in any of his three seasons. Dri Archer, Marquise Goodwin, Jacoby Ford, and J.J. Nelson all turned in sub-4.3 40-times and yet did not benefit much from their physical advantage.

Ruggs can offer kick returns from the start. He totaled 25 returns in college and averaged 21.0 yards though he never scored on special teams. He can be used as the occasional runner on a trick play as he was last season when his two carries totaled 75 yards and one score. He is a player that you want to get the ball so long as he is in the open field.

He is not likely to become a primary wideout for an NFL team, at least not at first. He’ll likely spend his first season or two as that deep threat that must be respected, so he needs to land with a team that has a good quarterback and scheme. Ideally, on a team that already has a stud wideout that attracts the attention of the secondary.

To his credit, his lower volume of receptions in college is mostly due to playing for the Crimson Tide who usually led on the scoreboard (sometimes significantly so) and that did not have to throw the ball nearly as much as most teams. If he is paired with one of the elite quarterbacks in the NFL, Ruggs could blossom even as a rookie. There is no question that he’s a much-feared deep threat. What is less proven is what he can do on an offense that throws the ball often and that isn’t leading their opponent by 50 points in the third quarter.

Rookie Rundown: QB Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama

Rookie Profile: QB Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama

This Alabama product is the highest risk/reward pick in the NFL draft. He was a lock to be a top drafted player after leading the Crimson Tide to two National Championships. He was likely to be the No. 1 overall pick (and could still be). As a freshman, he was a backup to Jalen Hurts but then was called up at halftime of the National Championship when Hurts had been ineffective and they trailed the Georgia Bulldogs 0-13. Tagovailoa rallied the team for a 26-23 win and Hurts ended up transferring out since they were Tagovailoa’s team from that day onwards.

As a sophomore, he threw for 3,966 yards and 43 touchdowns while only tossing six interceptions. He added five scores as a runner. The Crimson Tide went on to their second championship game but lost to Clemson. Tagovailoa ended second to Kyler Murray for the Heisman but did win the Walter Camp Award and Maxwell Award for the best college player.

As a junior, he was on another torrid pace that would have resulted in around 4,700 passing yards and over 50 touchdowns until the Mississippi State matchup on November 16 when he left the game after a sack drove his knee into the ground causing his hip to dislocate and fracture. He also suffered a broken nose and concussion on the play. He underwent surgery two days later.

Height: 6-0
Weight: 217 pounds
40 time: 4.9 seconds

Tagovailoa opted to forgo his senior season and enter the NFL draft. He attended the NFL Combine but did no drills since he was not yet medically cleared to participate. He was due to have a Pro Day in April but that was canceled due to the Corona Virus pandemic.

Tagovailoa dislocated hip and fractured Posterior Wall was originally expected to heal up and allow him to begin physical training after three months. He met that time frame by early March and has resumed throwing the ball. He’s undergone a physical exam and by all accounts is back to form though he did not out at the NFL Combine.

Year	Games	Runs	Yards	TD	Pass	Complete	Yards	Avg.	TD	Int	QBR
2017	8	27	133	2	77	49	636	9.9	11	2	175.0
2018	15	15	57	5	355	245	3966	12.8	43	6	199.4
2019	9	23	17	2	252	180	2840	11.3	33	3	206.9

Pros

Right-handed but was trained to throw with his left
Excelled at the highest level in college football
Accurate at all levels
Outstanding decision making through reads
Great anticipation when throwing
Tremendous touch on deep throws to fast receivers
Can move the sticks with legs when needed
Winner mentality with success at any level
Good pocket awareness and takes few sacks

Cons

Arm strength is good but not elite
Obvious injury concerns
Played mostly from the shotgun formation at Alabama
Occasional batted balls since only six feet tall.
Ball security could be an issue since he carries the ball with one hand

Fantasy outlook

Tagovailoa will carry the caveat – “as long as he is healthy”, at least for the first season. He was durable for his career until that fateful game against Mississippi State last November. But he’s never been anything short of a superstar. In high school, he rolled up 8,158 passing yards and 84 touchdowns and added 3,952 yards as a rusher. He owned offers from most colleges before committing to Alabama. In college, he won a National Championship as a freshman coming off the bench and returned the next year as a starter.

He’ll ideally end up in a West Coast offense where his accuracy and decision making will be optimized and any arm limitations (few as they are) won’t be a problem. Though make no mistake, he played with speedsters Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs. Their success with Tagovailoa should seem them both in the first five wideouts taken in the NFL draft. He can hit a streaking target in stride.

This is a season with much transition for NFL quarterbacks. That means that Tagovailoa could go to a number of different teams if they are willing to trade up into the top ten (or likely top five) picks. He could end up with the Bengals if they skip Joe Burrows with the first overall pick. Most analysts believe he will end up with the Miami Dolphins at the No. 5 slot though the Chargers at No. 6 could make a move.

Where ever he ends up, he’ll provide a proven winner that possesses every desirable quality for a franchise quarterback … as long as he is healthy.

Melvin Gordon signs two-year deal with Broncos

Melvin Gordon to the Broncos

Melvin Gordon’s holdout last season was all about signing a bigger contract as a free agent and he’s found a new home only two days after free agency opened for 2020. Gordon signed a two-year, $16 million deal with $13.5 million guaranteed. While it did not reach the heights he likely desired, he does become the highest-paid running back signing of this year. He tops the annual salaries of Jordan Howard ($5 million) and Todd Gurley ($6 million).

Notably, none of the running backs that signed new contracts this year received more than two years. The position saw bigger paydays with Ezekiel Elliott, Le’Veon Bell, and David Johnson signing multi-year deals worth over $13 million each but the rapid decline of Todd Gurley and general low-shelf life of the position has once again devalued it.

Gordon heads to a Broncos team that ranked No. 15 in rushes (409), No. 20 in rush yards (1,662), and No. 23 in rushing touchdowns (11) for 2019. The signing is a little surprising given other team needs and the fact that both Phillip Lindsay and Royce Freeman remain on the roster. Lindsay will be a free agent in 2021, so the move may be in advance of that. While Lindsay rushed for 1,011 yards last year, Gordon obviously becomes the primary back.

Both Lindsay and Freeman are capable receivers and combined for 78 receptions last year, but nearly split the duties in half with 35 and 43 catches, respectively. Both players are likely to participate as the third-down option though Gordon was used for around 50 catches per year with the Chargers.

Fantasy Impact

Gordon’s stock should remain the same or improve slightly. Much depends on how much new offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur will rely on Gordon to the exclusion of both Lindsay and Freeman. Shurmur was the head coach for the Giants for the last two seasons and relied on Saquon Barkley almost exclusively. That bodes well for the 26-year old Gordon who remains in his prime.

Gordon has been one of the top scorers in the league when healthy and happy and totals 47 touchdowns in five years. He’s averaged 4.0 yards per run only once and that was in 2017 when he logged his only 1,000-yard season as a rusher (284 carries for 1,105). That was the only time that he lasted for all 16 games. Gordon missed two to four games in every other season.

It is a newer offense and the Broncos are going with second-year Drew Lock as the starter, barring any free agent or draft moves. The Broncos offensive line has been about average – just like their rushing attack. Gordon has two years to prove himself and he should see at least as much work as he did as a Charger. That makes him top-ten material in fantasy drafts.

Rookie Rundown: RB Jonathan Taylor, Wisconsin

The quarterbacks have a two-man race to be the first drafted – Joe Burrows or Tua Tagovailoa? The running backs are the same – D’Andre Swift or Jonathan Taylor?

The ex-Badger Taylor could end up as the first running back selected in the NFL draft and no matter what – he’ll be expected to step in as a primary back from Week 1. Swift may have more experience as a receiver and a bit less wear on the tread, but Taylor harkens back to the bruising, workhorse-style of back not all that unlike Derrick Henry was in college and finally became in the NFL.

Taylor was prolific for each of his three seasons. He produced over 2,000 total yards in each season even as a freshman. He came within 23 yards from producing three straight 2,000-yard rushing seasons. His role as a receiver finally kicked in last year when he caught 26 passes and scored five times as a receiver. But Taylor’s rushing ability is elite, record-breaking and spectacular. He ends as fourth on the all-time NCAA FBS career rushing yards leaderboard, with 6,147 yards. He only played three years.

Height: 5-10
Weight: 226 pounds
40 time: 4.39 seconds

Ten years ago, when the running backs ruled the NFL, Taylor would have fit in perfectly and would have been drafted even earlier. For the last two seasons, he was a unanimous first-team All-American and won the Doak Walker award both years as the nation’s best running back. His 1,977 rushing yards in 2017 is the all-time record for any freshman, and he was the Big Ten Freshman of the year.

Year	Games	Runs	Yards	Avg.	TD	Catch	Yards.	TD	Total Yards	Total TDs
2017	14	299	1977	6.6	13	8	95	0	2072	13
2018	13	307	2194	7.1	16	8	60	0	2254	16
2019	14	320	2003	6.3	21	26	252	5	2255	26

Pros

Workhorse back that never gets tired
Durable – never missed time with any significant injury
Rare speed/size ratio. Can shift gears at the second level and leave defenders behind with 4.39 speed
Runs like a wrecking ball inside and almost never tackled by just one defender.
Equally dangerous inside and outside, but mostly a straight-line rusher
Runs with great urgency and determination
Arm tackles won’t bring him down
A downhill runner that doesn’t waste time with excessive jukes or cuts
Shorter, muscular and yet blazing speed makes him remarkably elusive and he always falls forward
A lock for all short-yardage and goal-line duties

Cons

Lots of miles on the tread. History not always kind to such a college workload. Could have a shorter career.
Lost 15 fumbles in college but had a very heavy workload and doesn’t shy away from contact. Could be a bigger issue in the NFL if defenses find success stripping the ball
Only added role as a receiver last year. Capable – just not very experienced
Will need work on pass protection – did not play as much on obvious passing downs

Fantasy outlook

Taylor is the iconic college workhorse back. He ran for around 2,000 yards in all three seasons. There is no question about his rushing ability other than how long he can maintain a high level of production after 926 carries over 41 games. He’s been a 300-carry back for three years despite playing in three (or four) fewer games in a season than he will in the NFL.

Taylor needs to land on an offense with an above-average line. He’s been a straight-line rusher that takes advantage of his blocking and is used to reaching the second-level where he can bull for more yards or hit a seam and take off. He is not adept at dancing behind the line of scrimmage waiting for a hole to open (but who is?). He is a perfect fit for the NFL of ten or more years ago. He needs to improve as a receiver and blocker to better fit into the 2020 NFL.

He is projected to be taken at the end of the first or the first half of the second round, depending on team needs after free agency shakes out. The positive there is that he could potentially end up on any team. His college workload may shorten his career but that first four years as a rookie shouldn’t be an issue – and he has been very durable.

Teams that are most likely to have an interest in him include the Rams, Falcons, Dolphins, and Buccaneers. He’ll be of interest no matter where he ends up but if he lands on a team with a great offensive line and a passing game to respect, Taylor’s fantasy stock could really spike.

Teddy Bridgewater lands with the rebuilding Panthers

Teddy Bridgewater to the Panthers

The Panthers finally part ways with Cam Newton since the one-time League MVP broke down for the last two seasons. He only managed two starts in 2019 and the Panthers relied on Kyle Allen to mostly check down to Christian McCaffrey and ended with a 5-11 record. Going into the offseason on the search for a new starter, they come away with Teddy Bridgewater who signed a 3-year, $63 million deal. That’s not franchise quarterback money, but it is definitely “starter” money.

It is a curious signing and is more likely a fill-in for a Panthers team that could also sign a rookie to groom. The Panthers switch to Matt Ruhe as their new head coach and Joe Brady from LSU will run the offense. The Panthers coughed up enough money to show they expect more than a clipboard holder, but not so much that Ruhe is looking for Bridgewater to be the ongoing face of his new team.

Bridgewater played for the Vikings for his first two seasons but never passed for more than 3,231 yards or 16 touchdowns in a season. He offered two or three rushes per game as well. But he blew out his ACL and suffered significant structural damage in the summer of 2016 on a non-contact play.

His only play of any note was 2019 filling in for Drew Brees but he only managed one game with more than 300 passing yards. His nine starts totaled only nine touchdowns.

Bridgewater will offer a game manager role with short passing that should continue to favor Christian McCaffrey and DJ Moore. But this is a rebuilding year and Bridgewater provides a veteran presence at quarterback that should pair with a younger protege’ that will become the future of the franchise under Ruhe.

Tunnel vision final for 2019

Start your week with in-depth analysis of the weekend’s key happenings, statistics and injuries.

2019 IR/Major injuries

SUNDAY SALUTES
Quarterbacks	Pass / Rush	TD
Dak Prescott	303 / 35	4
Ryan Fitzpatrick	320 / 15	2
Baker Mayfield	279 / 29	3
Gardner Minshew	295 / 7	3
Jared Goff	319 / 4	3
Running Backs	Yards	TD
Derrick Henry	211	3
Boston Scott	138	3
Damien Williams	154	2
Joe Mixon	176	2
Ezekiel Elliott	124	2
Wide Receivers	Yards	TD
Michael Gallup	98	3
Breshad Perriman	134	1
Deebo Samuel	135	1
Hunter Renfrow	102	1
A.J. Brown	124	1
Tight Ends	Yards	TD
Tyler Higbee	84	1
Dan Arnold	76	1
Joshua Perkins	50	1
Darren Waller	107	0
Jared Cook	44	1
Placekickers	XP	FG
Kai Forbath	5	4
Younghoe Koo	1	5
Justin Tucker	2	4
Josh Lambo	3	3
Brandon McManus	1	3
Defense	Sck/TO	TD
		1
		1
		1
		0
		1

QUARTERBACK

Drew Brees
Sam Darnold
Matthew Stafford
Joe Flacco
Cam Newton
Ben Roethlisberger
Mason Rudolph

RUNNING BACK

Damien Williams
Jordan Howard
Kerryon Johnson
Derrius Guice
David Johnson
Ito Smith
Jordan Scarlett
Lamar Miller
Kalen Ballage
Isaiah Crowell
Corey Clement
Darren Sproles
Rashaad Penny
Chris Carson
Jerrick McKinnon

TIGHT END

Austin Hooper
Jared Cook
Evan Engram
Gerald Everett
Eric Ebron
Will Dissly
Delaine Walker
Vernon Davis
Jordan Reed
T.J. Hockenson
Chris Herndon
Foster Moreau

WIDE RECEIVER

A.J. Green
Davante Adams
Tyreek Hill
Sterling Shepard
Will Fuller
T.Y. Hilton
Adam Thielen
Preston Williams
John Ross
DeSean Jackson
Devin Funchess
Michael Crabtree
Calvin Ridley
Marvin Jones
Jermaine Kearse
Parris Campbell
Chester Rogers
Marquise Lee
Travis Benjamin
Quincy Enunwa
Alshon Jeffery
Mike Evans
Chris Godwin

Players held out or limited for Week 17

This is the list of why Week 17 produces league champions that are more luck than skill.

Josh Allen
Devin Singletary
John Brown
Dalvin Cook
Stephon Diggs
Adam Thielen
Kirk Cousins
Mark Ingram
Lamar Jackson
Mark Andrews
Carlos Hyde
DeAndre Hopkins
Deshaun Watson

The Huddle Awards

Draft slots were taken from the Average Draft at MyFantasyLeague. Standard performance scoring with reception points were considered.

QUARTERBACK

Best Player – Lamar Jackson

He did not play in Week 17 and yet Jackson ended with 463.0 fantasy points, 44.6 points more than Jameis Winston (418.4) who threw for two scores in the final game. Jackson’s 36 passing touchdowns led the league and he ended with 3,127 passing yards and 1,206 rushing yards.

Runner-up: Jameis Winston

Best Draft Pick – Lamar Jackson, No. 15 QB Drafted

Anytime you can draft a quarterback as a back-up and he ends up with one of the best fantasy football performances of all time, then you were more than good. You were also really lucky. Yes, you were. Stop it – no one could have guessed what happened based on 2018.

Runner-up: Dak Prescott, No. 14 QB Drafted

Best Rookie – Kyler Murray

The rookie actually ended up as the No. 7 fantasy quarterback thanks largely to his 544 rushing yards and four scores as a runner. He threw for 3,722 yards and 20 touchdowns along the way.

Runner-up: Daniel Jones

Worst Draft Pick – Andrew Luck, No. 4 QB drafted

If you drafted before August 25, then you had a chance at one painful lesson about drafting less-than-healthy quarterbacks. He shocked the world and rocked every league that drafted before August 25.

Runner-up: Baker Mayfield

Best Free Agent – Derek Carr

He wasn’t drafted in most leagues and ended up as No. 17 among fantasy quarterbacks. Rare an undrafted quarterback ends up top ten since there are so few and at least two-thirds are always drafted.

Runner-up: Daniel Jones

Best Game – Aaron Rodgers, Week 7 vs. OAK

48.05 FF Pts. – Rush: 2-6, TD Pass: 25-31-429, 5 TD

Runner-up: 46 FF Pts. – Deshaun Watson, Week 5 vs. ATL

RUNNING BACK

Best Player – Christian McCaffrey,

Not even close. In PPR leagues, his 469.2 points were 150.4 points more than second-place Aaron Jones. He ran 287 times for 1,387 yards and 15 touchdowns and added 116 receptions for 1,005 yards and four more scores. Cha-Ching. Every. Week.

Runner-up: Aaron Jones,

Best Draft Pick – Austin Ekeler, No. 32 RB Drafted

For a guy most picked up either protecting their Melvin Gordon pick or as a speculative steal from the Gordon owner, he delivered big as the No. 4 best fantasy running back and was never worse than that ranking. Ekeler ran for 557 yards and three scores plus caught 92 passes for 993 yards and eight touchdowns.

Runner-up: Aaron Jones, No. 16 RB Drafted

Best Rookie – Miles Sanders

The rookie started slowly and while he ended as the No. 15 best fantasy back overall, he was the top back for the final four weeks of the fantasy season and was on almost every one of the top teams in big contests that use the final three or four weeks to crown a champion. The only question is whether the Eagles will continue with their maddening insistence on a committee when all backs are healthy.

Runner-up: Josh Jacobs

Worst Draft Pick – David Johnson, No. 5 RB Drafted

That fifth overall pick burned someone in every league imagining that they were getting the David Johnson of 2017. He was hurt and even when he wasn’t he was either in a committee or just ignored by the end of the year. Kenyan Drake may or may not sign with the Cardinals in the offseason, but Johnson is likely to be shown the door.

Runner-up: Saquon Barkley

Best Free Agent – Raheem Mostert

He wasn’t drafted in almost any league and he was almost certainly on every waiver wire in Week 12 when he scored a touchdown. For six straight games, he has not stopped scoring. And he somehow emerged as the primary back despite being deep on the depth chart to start the year.

Runner-up: Kenyan Drake

Best Game – Aaron Jones, Week 5 at DAL

49.2 FF Pts. – Rush 19-107, 4 TD, Receive 7-75,

Runner-up: 47.7 FF Pts. – Christian McCaffrey, Week 5 vs. CAR

WIDE RECEIVER

Best Player – Michael Thomas

Yet another huge difference-maker. Thomas ended with an NFL-record 149 catches for 1,725 yards and nine touchdowns. His 374.6 fantasy points were 100.5 more than Chris Godwin and Julio Jones (both 274.1). Hard to imagine he could average over nine catches per game. Don’t defenses watch the game tape?

Runner-up: Chris Godwin, Julio Jones (tied)

Best Draft Pick – Chris Godwin, No. 18 WR Drafted

While Godwin was the No. 2 wideout in Tampa Bay (in theory), he delivered all year and spent the initial weeks as the No. 1 until the Thomas machine passed him by. His 86 catches for 1,394 yards and nine touchdowns were not bad for a guy drafted as an average WR2.

Runner-up: Cooper Kupp, No. 23 WR Drafted

Best Rookie – A.J. Brown

We knew A.J. Brown was the talented 2.19 pick of the Titans as the fourth wideout selected. What we did not take into account was that the poor passing attack of the Titans would change entirely in Week 7 when Ryan Tannehill took over from Marcus Mariota. He recorded four 100-yard games over the last six weeks. His 1,051 yards were the first time that a rookie hit the 1,000-yard mark since Michael Thomas.

Runner-up: Terry McLaurin

Worst Draft Pick – Antonio Brown No. 9 WR Drafted

Yeah, kinda makes your stomach twinge, doesn’t it? And yet you know he will be back, somehow, and then it probably all starts over.

Runner-up: Odell Beckham

Best Free Agent – Davante Parker

Why would you want a fifth-year wideout largely considered as a bust on a bad team? He only scored once each in 2017 and 2018. He only gained 309 yards last year. Well – he would go on to end up as the No. 11 best fantasy wideout who became better as the season progressed and other receivers fell to the wayside in Miami. Parker ended with 72 catches for 1,202 yards and nine touchdowns. Oddly the same total of scores from his first four years combined.

Runner-up: DJ Chark

Best Game – Will Fuller, Week 5 vs. ATL
53.7 FF Pts. – 14-217, 3 TD

Runner-up: 46.8 FF Pts., Sammy Watkins, Week 1 at JAC

TIGHT END

Best Player – Travis Kelce

When you think tight ends, think Kelce. He’s merely played the least productive position and yet gained over 1,000 yards in each of the last four years. The only other tight ends with four are Rob Gronkowski and Jason Witten. Neither of them did it in four straight seasons. Next year, Kelce can own the record outright.

Runner-up: Darren Waller

Best Draft Pick – Darren Waller, No. 23 TE drafted

Sort of a pattern going. Last year, it was Jared Cook who dominated as the only weapon for the Raiders. This year, it was Waller who ended with 90 catches for 1,145 yards and three scores.

Runner Up: Mark Anderson, No 19 TE Drafted

Best Rookie – Noah Fant

Fant was only the No. 14 fantasy tight end but rookies almost never do much in the position and then break out in Year 2. Fant ended with 40 catches for 562 yards and two scores.

Runner-up: Dawson Knox

Worst Draft Pick – O.J. Howard 26 – 4

Well, so much for the “yeah, but Bruce Arians never had a tight end like Howard” argument. Even before he landed on the injured reserve, he was far too risky and unproductive to consider for a fantasy start. Maybe next year! Maybe now that he knows the system and gained the trust of… stop it. This is what got us into trouble this year.

Runner-up: Eric Ebron

Best Free Agent – Tyler Higbee

I keep thinking someone is punking me each time I see another box score with Higbee in it. I learned a long time ago to not overthink it and just accept when something good happens. Four years and Higbee is a nobody. Then Gerald Everett was injured in Week 12 and Cinderella ripped off four straight 100-yard efforts. This week, 84 yards and a touchdown. No idea what to do with this for 2020. Maybe just accept it?

Runner-up: Mike Gesicki

Best Game – Darren Waller, Week 7 vs. Oak

7-126, 2 TD

Runner-up: Zach Ertz, Week 14 vs. NYG 30.1 FF Pts.

Huddle player of the year

Christian McCaffrey – What a difference-maker. He just turned in the second-best fantasy performance for a running back of all-time. He scored 469.2 fantasy points. The only one better was LaDainian Tomlinson in 2006 when he produced 474.3 fantasy points while scoring 31 touchdowns, totaling 2,323 yards and 56 receptions. Just when you think they cannot possibly continue to use him so much, he does more.

McCaffrey just set the NFL record with 115 catches by a running back. He beat a guy with 107 back in 2018 named Christian McCaffrey. We can only hope that the Panthers devote the draft and free agency to getting more linemen and no other running backs or receivers.

Salute!

Drama 101 – Somebody has to laugh, somebody has to cry

Comedy		Yards	TDs	Tragedy		Yards	TDs
QB	Ryan Fitzpatrick	308	3	QB	Lamar Jackson	0	0
RB	Boston Scott	138	3	RB	Mark Ingram	0	0
RB	Mike Boone	160	1	RB	Dalvin Cook	0	0
WR	Breshad Perriman	134	1	WR	DeAndre Hopkins	0	0
WR	Michael Gallup	98	3	WR	Stephon Diggs	0	0
WR	Hunter Renfrow	102	1	WR	John Brown	0	0
TE	Dan Arnold	76	1	TE	Mark Andrews	0	0
PK	Kai Forbath	5 XP 4 FG		PK	Ka’imi Fairbairn	2 XP
Huddle Fantasy Points = 175				Huddle Fantasy Points = 2

Playoff Schedule

Saturday, Jan. 4

Bills at Texans, 3:35 PM
Titans at Patriots, 7:15 PM

Sunday, Jan. 5

Vikings at Saints, 12:05 PM
Seahawks at Eagles, 3:40 PM

Byes: Chiefs, Ravens, Packers, 49ers

Thanks for giving me a few minutes of your Monday morning. Hope you enjoyed it half as much as I did.

For the 391st time since 1997…

Get back to work!

Happy New year and thanks for everything.

Six Points with David Dorey: Week 15

Six items to ponder from David Dorey

Fantasy playoffs are underway and last week witnessed several players getting knocked out of the game if not the season. That lets others take their turn while the final weeks are also used by NFL teams to try out a few players to see if they are worth keeping.

WR Isaiah Ford – The Dolphin’s seventh-round pick in 2017 first NFL catches came in Week 4 and then not again until Week 14 after DeVante Parker and Albert Wilson both left with concussions. Ford stepped in and caught six passes for 92 yards and one touchdown against the Bills. He started for three years at Virginia Tech and bounced back and forth between the practice squad and active roster. He should see more work if both Parker and Wilson are out. Even if they are not, the Dolphins have nothing to lose by giving the kid more playing time after playing so well in his first game in a starting role. Ryan Fitzpatrick talked him up after the game and the Fins face the Giants this week.

WR Breshad Perriman – With Mike Evans likely out for the season, Perriman became a hot property on waiver wires this week. The former first-round pick in 2015 never really worked out with the Ravens or Browns and now plays for the Buccaneers. He’s manned the slot on most plays but only totaled 16 catches going into last week. He caught three passes for 70 yards that included a 12-yard touchdown that proved to be the winning margin over the Colts. The Bucs play the Lions this week, so there should be plenty of passing to distribute. He should see more work, but he’s not going to replace Evans. His role will see more work though and he turned in five receptions for 87 yards in Week 13 at the Jaguars.

WR Justin Watson – The fifth-round pick last year only had one catch as a rookie. He caught just one pass this season entering Week 13. He played four years at Penn in the Ivy League where he set the record for the most receiving yards in conference play history along with every U. of Penn receiving record. The 6-3, 216-pound replaced Mike Evans last week and ended with five catches for 57 yards and one score. Perriman played the full game and fielded five targets. Watson returned punts but did not play as a receiver until the second quarter and his eight targets were second only to Chris Godwin’s nine. He has a chance to stay on the roster next year with another good game.

RB Raheem Mostert – He plays well, he disappears, he plays well. The 49ers backfield is among the most fluid in the NFL but Mostert was named the official starter (whatever that means). He was originally an undrafted free agent in 2015 signed by the Eagles, Dolphins, Ravens, Browns, Jets, Bears and finally joined the 49ers for the last four years. His previous best was only 34 carries just last year. His four years at Purdue saw his top marks as a senior with only 93 runs for 529 yards and three touchdowns. His first three years had him as a wide receiver that totaled just one catch. He was a special teamer and returner. He’s never been a true running back really. He was ranked as the fastest college football player in 2014 other than Tyreek Hill. Mostert’s path to being a starting running back has been anything but direct.

Primary running backs – Here are two shortlists of the top-ten players who were the highest-scoring back for their team at least nine times through Week 13. This shows using performance points and then with reception points.

Each of these backs has the opportunity to be an elite back and the bigger difference is their offensive lines and schedule strength.

Worst RBBC teams – It is interesting to see which teams featured the most running backs that logged at least one game as the highest-scoring fantasy back.

5 – 49ers
4 – Falcons, Lions, Chiefs, Colts, Dolphins, Patriots, Giants, Eagles, Steelers.

Many of these were the product of injuries. But the 49ers, Falcons, Patriots, and Eagles always use committee approaches. All of these teams could use an elite and durable running back but 2020’s NFL draft isn’t considered to be “RB rich” just last 2019.

Six Points with David Dorey: Week 13

Six items of interest heading into the weekend

Thanksgiving Day started with a 75-yard touchdown pass from David Blough, watched the 622 sideline views of Jason Garrett looking progressively more nervous and ended with the Falcons not only recovering the ultra-rare onside kick but doing it twice in a row.

Dallas Cowboys head coach – They haven’t beaten a winning team this year and they were embarrassed at home in from of a national audience yesterday. As was mentioned during the telecast, the Cowboys are the only team with the same coach they had in 2011 and they have not been to a Super Bowl. They lost 26-15 in a game that they were favored by seven points. And naturally, the calls for HC Jason Garrett to be fired are no longer a low roar. In jumps Las Vegas with the odds of a new coach.

Urban Meyer already lobbied for the job. Josh McDaniels seems like a lock to step in and run the Patriots whenever Bill Belichick steps down. Lincoln Riley would be in the vein of hiring a successful college coach and that worked out pretty well with Jimmy Johnson. I doubt they change anything during the season and they are still atop the NFC East. But as Jerry Jones said, the Cowboys have too much talent to be a 6-6 team.

David Blough – The undrafted 24-year-old rookie was a four-year player at Purdue who was originally signed by the Browns but was traded to the Lions. He became the first quarterback since Matt Ryan (2008) to throw a touchdown on his first NFL pass. Blough was called to start when Jeff Driskel’s hamstring had not healed enough. The rookie threw for 280 yards and two scores with one interception on his final pass. But that was 205 yards and one touchdown after his first pass. He found Kenny Golladay for 158 yards on four catches with the opening-play touchdown. No other receivers did much.

Tight Ends to watch – Most tight ends do very little as a rookie but the better ones tend to break out in their second season. Here’s a quick list of the rookies drafted this year that are more likely to see a notable increase in 2020:

T.J. Hockenson (1.08 DET – Current stat line: 32-367-2)
Noah Fant (1.20 DEN – Current stat line: 30-374-2)
Irv Smith Jr. (2.18 MIN – Current stat line: 27-261-1)
Dawson Knox (3.32 BUF – Current stat line: 25-307-2)

Their production is all close. All but Knox are playing in the first year of their offensive coordinator and that should help them grow with their offense. Each leads their team’s tight ends except for Smith and Kyle Rudolph.

Christian Blake – The undrafted second-year player from Northern Illinois was signed to the practice squad, released, re-signed and so on until October 23 when he was brought up to the active roster. He was only catching one or two passes per game after Mohamed Sany left. Justin Hardy and Russell Gage also saw more work. Yesterday, Blake ended with six catches for 57 yards in the loss to the Saints – more than either Hardy or Gage though he scored once on his five catches for 52 yards. The Falcons are trying out other players and that’ll make the unit harder to predict unless one of them steps up more. With Julio Jones gone, both Gare and Blake saw nine targets, only one less than Calvin Ridley.

Mo Ali-Cox – Eric Ebron landed on injured reserve and that leaves Doyle and Mo Alie-Cox as the starters. Ebron totals 31 catches for 375 yards and three scores this year after posting 13 touchdowns in 2018. He was catching four or five passes for the last three games so his absence will be felt. Alie-Cox is an undrafted third-year player who was a basketball player in college (6-5, 267 pounds). Chances are that Doyle will see an increase in work more than Alie-Cox becomes a common target. Watch this week when they play the Titans because, in Week 14, they face the Buccaneers No.31 defense versus tight ends.

Those Team Defenses – We all say defenses are too hard to call so why draft them early? Some of us don’t, some of us just cannot resist taking that first or second defense far earlier than everyone else. Last year – the Bears were the defense-I-have-to-have. Here’s where that stands between the top ten drafted defenses and where they currently rank.

The Bears are barely average and in a 12 team league haven’t been worth starting most of the time. The Rams did well though it never feels like it. Six of the top ten ended up below average.

And here is what we should have done.

Yeah, I’ll try to hold off on the Patriots next year. Bet someone else won’t.

Six Points with David Dorey: Week 12

Six items of fantasy football interest from David Dorey

Well, you made it to Friday. You deserve to take a couple of minutes off to think about a few things. This is really more of a productivity tool to keep you sharp.

David Johnson – Every Johnson owner is wondering what happened and what to do? Keeping it brief, I’d say trade him. The reality with Johnson is that he’s never been as good as he was in 2016 before his knee injury. He lasted one game and missed 2017 with a wrist injury. He lasted 16 games in 2018 but only gained 3.6 yards-per-carry. The Cards have one of the worst O-lines. Now both Chase Edmonds (5.1 YPC) and Kenyan Drake (4.4) have looked much better. Johnson’s knock coming out of college was that he runs upright and invites injury and he had a fumbling problem. He hasn’t touched the ball since fumbling in Week 10. The Cards overpaid on his 2018 3-year contract extension for $39M. His base salary for 2020 is $10M with a $1M roster bonus and has a dead cap figure of $16.2M. No one else will want that contract so the Cards are likely stuck with him next year. This is a new coaching regime than the one that signed him to that ill-advised extension. Bottom line – Johnson looks clearly like the No. 3 running back for the Cards.

Robert Woods – His absence was deemed a “personal situation” and it later was said to be a family matter. He was a surprise inactive last week and while he hasn’t practiced or even been further explained, the good news is that he returned to the Rams on Thursday and joined their practice. The Rams play the Ravens this week and his status will be determined by Sunday. But the good news is that he’s back and at worst, we’ll be ready to play the Cardinals in Week 13.

Bo Scarbrough – The Alabama back was drafted by the Cowboys with their 7.18 pick last year but he never had a touch and was later cut. The Lions had him on their practice squad last Saturday when they opted to call him up and give him a shot. He responded with 55 yards and a score on 14 carries versus his original team. Disregarding the Lions identity as the RB Siberia of the NFL, does he have value for the rest of 2019? Well – this week for sure. Ty Johnson has proven that he is not the answer. J.D. McKissic sticks with third-down work so that leaves Scarbrough and Nick Bawden as the only options. Reality is that he did well as a surprise start at home versus his old team. But the committee approach remains in Detroit where his 14 carries last week was the third-highest by a Detriot back this year.

2020 Running Back Free Agents – Always interesting to see what teams do with their pending free agents. Are they going to re-sign them or just develop other players? Name (age)

Lamar Miller (29)
LeSean McCoy (32)
Carlos Hyde (28)
Melvin Gordon (27)
Peyton Barber (26)
Derrick Henry (26)
Kenyan Drake (26)
Jordan Howard (25)

Gordon and Henry are the biggest two. Gordon seems likely to discover that the market may not be as strong as he desires. Henry is doing himself a huge favor with his career-best year.

2020 Wide Receiver Free Agents – Some will be signed but a few want to become a free agent and try their luck somewhere else. Unlike running backs, their second contracts are often their most productive periods. Running backs usually play best on their rookie contracts.

A.J. Green (32)
Larry Fitzgerald (37)
Emmanuel Sanders (33)
Amari Cooper (26)
Robby Anderson (27)
Demaryius Thomas (32)
Phillip Dorsett (27)

The oft-injured Green will be interesting since he is already 32 years old. Sanders is likely going to force the 49ers to pay up since he’s the only wideout that’s done anything in their otherwise great season. Cooper will cost the Cowboys a ton even if he only shows up in home games. Robby Anderson has been much better than what he’s done this year. He’ll likely be gone.

Run-Pass Ratios of all 32 NFL teams – Interesting look at which teams are throwing the most and which ones prefer to run. The NFL is a passing league, right? These are through Week 11.

Not surprising, the worst teams are the ones that throw the most. The Chiefs are an outlier but no other team has Patrick Mahomes. The bottom five teams all look likely to reach the playoffs. The success of the 49ers and Ravens may just change a few teams in the copy-cat NFL.