Tag: Fantasy Football

Fantasy football: The Adrian Peterson signing could the Lions RBs into bust territory

Adrian Peterson made a bad situation worse.

Adrian Peterson isn’t built to be a workhorse in the NFL anymore, not at 35 years old. But he’s just good enough to ruin an already complicated situation for the Detroit Lions running backs in fantasy football for 2020.

Rookie and 35th overall pick D’Andre Swift was already a complicated player to consider at 67th overall, his consensus average draft position on Fantasy Pros. Because rookies were so exciting in college, they tend to get overdrafted in fantasy. That seems to be the case with Swift, who will almost certainly spend his rookie season splitting touches with Kerryon Johnson. Admittedly, Johnson’s game is a mess, and his 2019 season, which was fraught with injuries, was a major disappointment. But Johnson was once a promising running back. It would be foolish to think his career is finished.

The Lions seemed destined to have a position battle that ended with some similarities to the one that took place on the 2016 Atlanta Falcons between Tevin Coleman, an up-and-comer, and Devonta Freeman, a seemingly-fading veteran who made a comeback. If that were the case, both Swift and Johnson would have value.

But Peterson arrived in Detroit. And the situation got even more complicated. Peterson steps onto a roster and somehow ends up with 150 touches. Even in his time as a journeyman over the last three years, he has topped 150 carries in each season. He won’t get that much work in Detroit, but he’s also the type of running back that doesn’t do well as a bottom-of-the-depth-chart option. That’s why he had an ugly breakup with the Saints. Detroit surely knew this when they signed him. They intend to use Peterson, which is bad news for Swift and Johnson. That’s why I’ll be avoiding all three running backs in fantasy football for 2020.

Antonio Gibson is a low-risk, high-reward player who could help win your fantasy league

With the rookie Antonio Gibson now slotting into the RB1 spot in Washington, he is a low-risk, high-reward player who could pay dividends.

With the news about Washington releasing running back Adrian Peterson on Friday aside, the ramifications are potentially big when it comes to Antonio Gibson and your fantasy team. The rookie was already flying under the radar as a sleeper in some deeper leagues, with many hoping that his usage rate in Scott Turner’s offense was going to grow as time went on. But now that he is the de facto No. 1 back in Washington, things could get a bit interesting.

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This is where we have to work to calibrate our expectations. Any starting running back in the NFL is worthy of being rostered in fantasy football, but just because Gibson is the RB1 in Washington doesn’t mean that he is someone you’ll be starting each and every week. However, he is absolutely someone that you should be picking up off of your waiver wire if he’s available, and there is a high-ceiling for what he can do if all goes right.

We also need to be ready for the possibility that Gibson is a bit underwhelming, considering the high expectations that are now on him to perform. As a rookie running back who only has 33 career carries out of the backfield, there’s definitely a big chance that he gets overwhelmed in his rookie season and struggles to make much of a difference. Of course, we hope the opposite is true, but it’s smart to prepare for either.

What it boils down to, for fantasy purposes at least, is taking advantage of a low-risk, high-reward player that could potentially pay dividends for you down the road. If you are able to grab Gibson off of the waiver wire, or if you haven’t drafted yet and you add him to your team in the middle-to-late rounds, how much will it hurt you if he busts in his rookie season?

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Fantasy football primer for the last draft weekend of 2020

Drafting this weekend? We have you covered for everything needed to dominate.

Drafting a fantasy football team this weekend? The Huddle has you covered for everything needed to dominate in the final weekend before the 2020 NFL season begins.

Week 1 is merely days away, but there’s still time to draft a winner, and The Huddle’s 24th season online is a testament to our dedication to making you a champion!

Let’s not waste any more time and get right into what you must know ahead of the big draft weekend.

NFL roster cut day

Saturday, Sept. 5, at 4 p.m. EDT: the deadline in which teams go from 80-player rosters to 53 men, which is the standard number a team carries into the regular season. That means if you’re drafting early Saturday, it’s entirely possible one of your players could get the ax.

You cannot change your draft day, in all likelihood, but gamers can stay on top of the latest transactions and more by following our Huddle news feed. Make sure you’re up to date on the cuts and then waiver claims, which are due by 4 p.m. EDT Sunday. Gamers also can remain updated the latest injury news through our feed.

Fantasy football draft-day rules to live by

Our annual “draft prep” series mostly caters to novice players, but every once in a while a veteran player requires a refresher on basics we may take for granted.

These rules are in no particular order, and they apply to all levels of experience among fantasy owners. Just as important as the “what you should do” to create a winner in fantasy drafting, avoiding simple pitfalls is a must.

1) Living in the past: Assuming successes and failures from last year automatically will carry over to this year’s results is a quick trip to Loserville. Each year is brand new and requires a reset of the old memory bank.

2) Stay sober: While it may seem silly, don’t let one draft of hard boozing affect an entire season of fantasy football. Party it up after the draft and celebrate your soon-to-be championship roster.

3) No one likes a homer: Well, except for that Homer. Heavily drafting players from your favorite team tends to lead to an entire season of hangover-filled mornings. This also includes taking a specific player over a better option just because that player is on your favorite team. Be objective.

4) Draft by the rules: Not knowing your league’s scoring structure, lineup composition, and/or bylaws generally results in utter failure. At a minimum, it translates into lost points.

5) Stretch it out: Flexibility in fantasy drafts is essential. Gamers with a rigid strategy miss out on key value due to their inability to zig when others are zagging.

6) Avoid F.O.M.O.: All too often owners will see or sense a miniature run at a position and overreact out of the fear of missing out. Always having a sound backup plan alleviates concern in this area.

7) Mocking mock drafters: “I don’t need preparation!” declares the eventual last-place owner on draft day. Everyone needs practice. Look back at all of the things in life that required some repetitions before you improved. Don’t take my word for it … ask your spouse.

8) Bye week blues: This cuts both ways — getting caught up in not paying attention to bye weeks and outright passing on talent because it would create multiple players at the position on bye. Later in the year, bye weeks are easier — not harder — to overcome due to months of roster manipulation.

9) Leaving money on the table: Specifically for those who participate in auctions, leaving any amount of money on the table is inexcusable. Spend it all, even if you have to pay up at the end of the auction on an inconsequential player.

10) Peer pressure: Let’s face it, even seasoned veterans of fantasy don’t enjoy being ridiculed by 11 mates after making a questionable pick. There’s a major difference between being laughed at for taking a kicker in Round 1 and reaching a round or two for a sleeper at a skilled position.

11) ADP obsession: Time after time, owners get hung up on what the average draft placement suggests. It is merely a guideline, and anytime a service offering ADP compiles the data, it is impossible to weed out all variations and nuance. Use it for nothing more than a ballpark idea of when positional trends typically begin.

12) Drafting to trade: For some unknown reason, every year I have gamers asking me about which players to target solely for trading purposes. Drafting players for a potential trade bargaining piece down the line is unwise. Way too much can (and usually does) go wrong in this scenario.

Fantasy football PPR rankings*

*Requires a subscription to The Huddle’s draft guide

Quarterbacks rankings

  1. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
  2. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
  3. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
  4. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
  5. Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks

Running backs rankings

  1. Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers
  2. Saquon Barkley, New York Giants
  3. Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys
  4. Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings
  5. Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints

Wide receivers rankings

  1. Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints
  2. Davante Adams, Green Bay Packers
  3. Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons
  4. Tyreek Hill, Kansas City Chiefs
  5. Kenny Golladay, Detroit Lions

Tight ends rankings

  1. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs
  2. George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers
  3. Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens
  4. Zach Ertz, Philadelphia Eagles
  5. Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams

Fantasy football sleepers*

*Requires a subscription to The Huddle’s draft guide

Want to dominate your fantasy football league draft? TheHuddle.com has been creating fantasy football champions for over 20 years. Use the code SBW20 to take $10 off your 2020 subscription: Sign up now!

Fantasy football freebies

Best values in fantasy football drafts

QB Philip Rivers, Indianapolis Colts: A fresh start, promising weapons, and brilliant pass protection will get 2019’s QB24 back on track.

RB Matt Breida, Miami Dolphins: Mid-round investment for an explosive back who could finish as a weekly play is tough to ignore.

WR Jamison Crowder, New York Jets: The 2019 PPR WR26 in Round 9 is little risk, all upside. Suspect competition only adds to his appeal.

TE Jack Doyle, Indianapolis Colts: Knows system, TE-dependent QB, risky WRs, stud line limits blocking need, weak TE competition.

PK Ka’imi Fairbairn, Houston Texans: A less prolific offense should mean more field goals after a down year for the 2018 PK1.

DT Kansas City Chiefs: Lost only one defensive starter after 2019’s 9th-place fantasy finish; growing pains ahead for AFC West opponents.

Biggest risk in fantasy football drafts

QB Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals: No real OL improvements and a questionable backfield the only things standing in his way of top-three QB play.

RB Kenyan Drake, Arizona Cardinals: A microscopic, albeit wholly impressive, stretch of elite production has to be questioned.

WR Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers: Drastically different system, first-time coordinator … mediocre journeyman or a rookie QB has to give pause for his PPR prowess.

TE Rob Gronkowski, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The year off cuts both ways. What happens if his 43-year-old QB falls apart? System hasn’t been TE-friendly.

PK Josh Lambo, Jacksonville Jaguars: Increased offensive scoring prowess generally results in fewer three-pointer opportunities.

DT New England Patriots: A ton of key personnel turnover. Last year’s schedule was laughably easy, and the Pats struggled vs. strong competition.

Fantasy football breakouts

QB Drew Lock, Denver Broncos: World-class arm talent, notable upgraded weapons with a blossoming WR1, dangerous RBs and a proven offensive system.

RB Raheem Mostert, San Francisco 49ers: The likely 1a of the one-two punch with Tevin Coleman has way more upside and showed a nose for the paydirt down the stretch in 2019.

WR Diontae Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers: Stands to make the biggest Year 2 jump of any WR. Big Ben’s return and healthy talent around him only help.

TE T.J. Hockenson, Detroit Lions: Viable system, strong QB play. Monitor health status before investing, but has hallmarks of becoming a fantasy starter.

PK Austin Seibert, Cleveland Browns: Slower-paced offensive design could mean more 3-pointers after promising rookie campaign.

DT Indianapolis Colts: Shored up DL and improved on the back end, too. Exploitable divisional opponents, plus reasonable schedule.

Fantasy football busts

QB Daniel Jones, New York Giants: A new system for a streaky QB is a major concern during a pandemic; inconsistency is a killer in weekly leagues.

RB David Johnson, Houston Texans: Living off of one monster season in 2016, Johnson is officially a one-year wonder with injury concerns.

WR Stefon Diggs, Buffalo Bills: Not a true No. 1, the pouty WR faces a terribly inaccurate QB in a run-first offense — all in Western New York.

TE Austin Hooper, Cleveland Browns: The richest tight end in the NFL will struggle to see enough passes to matter in fantasy will be difficult in a run-heavy system loaded with receiving talent.

PK Younghoe Koo, Atlanta Falcons: No long-range track record is compounded by a questionable offense in a tougher division.

DT Minnesota Vikings: No Everson Griffen, Linval Joseph, and top three CBs from 2019 … plus a rookie starting CB. Even with Yannick Ngakoue, there’s too much turnover to warrant confidence.

Fantasy Football strength of schedule series

Passing | Rushing | Receiving

COVID-19 and fantasy football tips

The NFL has been remarkable successful to date in its efforts to keep COVID-19 at bay. That’s not to say players may not face an influx in infections once the season is under way and players begin traveling.

  • Be nimble and prepare for an exhausting season of working the waiver wire.
  • Expect stars to get put on the COVID-19 list and miss a few games. That’s inevitable.
  • Draft for continuity. Players on teams that have experienced as little turnover personnel-wise and within the coaching staff are in a better position to succeed, especially early in the year.
  • Rookies will likely struggle early and often without a full offseason program. Running back is the easiest position to learn, though.
  • Brace for some ugly football in the opening month. Low-scoring fantasy games may be the norm for several weeks, so taking a chance on fringe players in starting lineups could come back to bite you more so than in years past.
  • Trading may be more difficult than ever in terms of assessing fair compensation. Work with what you know at the time and hope for the best, because that’s about all we can do during such uncertain times.

Want to dominate your fantasy football league draft? TheHuddle.com has been creating fantasy football champions for over 20 years. Use the code SBW20 to take $10 off your 2020 subscription: Sign up now!

Fantasy football primer for the last draft weekend of 2020

Drafting this weekend? We have you covered for everything needed to dominate.

Drafting a fantasy football team this weekend? The Huddle has you covered for everything needed to dominate in the final weekend before the 2020 NFL season begins.

Week 1 is merely days away, but there’s still time to draft a winner, and The Huddle’s 24th season online is a testament to our dedication to making you a champion!

Let’s not waste any more time and get right into what you must know ahead of the big draft weekend.

NFL roster cut day

Saturday, Sept. 5, at 4 p.m. EDT: the deadline in which teams go from 80-player rosters to 53 men, which is the standard number a team carries into the regular season. That means if you’re drafting early Saturday, it’s entirely possible one of your players could get the ax.

You cannot change your draft day, in all likelihood, but gamers can stay on top of the latest transactions and more by following our Huddle news feed. Make sure you’re up to date on the cuts and then waiver claims, which are due by 4 p.m. EDT Sunday. Gamers also can remain updated the latest injury news through our feed.

Fantasy football draft-day rules to live by

Our annual “draft prep” series mostly caters to novice players, but every once in a while a veteran player requires a refresher on basics we may take for granted.

These rules are in no particular order, and they apply to all levels of experience among fantasy owners. Just as important as the “what you should do” to create a winner in fantasy drafting, avoiding simple pitfalls is a must.

1) Living in the past: Assuming successes and failures from last year automatically will carry over to this year’s results is a quick trip to Loserville. Each year is brand new and requires a reset of the old memory bank.

2) Stay sober: While it may seem silly, don’t let one draft of hard boozing affect an entire season of fantasy football. Party it up after the draft and celebrate your soon-to-be championship roster.

3) No one likes a homer: Well, except for that Homer. Heavily drafting players from your favorite team tends to lead to an entire season of hangover-filled mornings. This also includes taking a specific player over a better option just because that player is on your favorite team. Be objective.

4) Draft by the rules: Not knowing your league’s scoring structure, lineup composition, and/or bylaws generally results in utter failure. At a minimum, it translates into lost points.

5) Stretch it out: Flexibility in fantasy drafts is essential. Gamers with a rigid strategy miss out on key value due to their inability to zig when others are zagging.

6) Avoid F.O.M.O.: All too often owners will see or sense a miniature run at a position and overreact out of the fear of missing out. Always having a sound backup plan alleviates concern in this area.

7) Mocking mock drafters: “I don’t need preparation!” declares the eventual last-place owner on draft day. Everyone needs practice. Look back at all of the things in life that required some repetitions before you improved. Don’t take my word for it … ask your spouse.

8) Bye week blues: This cuts both ways — getting caught up in not paying attention to bye weeks and outright passing on talent because it would create multiple players at the position on bye. Later in the year, bye weeks are easier — not harder — to overcome due to months of roster manipulation.

9) Leaving money on the table: Specifically for those who participate in auctions, leaving any amount of money on the table is inexcusable. Spend it all, even if you have to pay up at the end of the auction on an inconsequential player.

10) Peer pressure: Let’s face it, even seasoned veterans of fantasy don’t enjoy being ridiculed by 11 mates after making a questionable pick. There’s a major difference between being laughed at for taking a kicker in Round 1 and reaching a round or two for a sleeper at a skilled position.

11) ADP obsession: Time after time, owners get hung up on what the average draft placement suggests. It is merely a guideline, and anytime a service offering ADP compiles the data, it is impossible to weed out all variations and nuance. Use it for nothing more than a ballpark idea of when positional trends typically begin.

12) Drafting to trade: For some unknown reason, every year I have gamers asking me about which players to target solely for trading purposes. Drafting players for a potential trade bargaining piece down the line is unwise. Way too much can (and usually does) go wrong in this scenario.

Fantasy football PPR rankings*

*Requires a subscription to The Huddle’s draft guide

Quarterbacks rankings

  1. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
  2. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
  3. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
  4. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
  5. Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks

Running backs rankings

  1. Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers
  2. Saquon Barkley, New York Giants
  3. Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys
  4. Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings
  5. Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints

Wide receivers rankings

  1. Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints
  2. Davante Adams, Green Bay Packers
  3. Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons
  4. Tyreek Hill, Kansas City Chiefs
  5. Kenny Golladay, Detroit Lions

Tight ends rankings

  1. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs
  2. George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers
  3. Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens
  4. Zach Ertz, Philadelphia Eagles
  5. Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams

Fantasy football sleepers*

*Requires a subscription to The Huddle’s draft guide

Fantasy football freebies

Best values in fantasy football drafts

QB Philip Rivers, Indianapolis Colts: A fresh start, promising weapons, and brilliant pass protection will get 2019’s QB24 back on track.

RB Matt Breida, Miami Dolphins: Mid-round investment for an explosive back who could finish as a weekly play is tough to ignore.

WR Jamison Crowder, New York Jets: The 2019 PPR WR26 in Round 9 is little risk, all upside. Suspect competition only adds to his appeal.

TE Jack Doyle, Indianapolis Colts: Knows system, TE-dependent QB, risky WRs, stud line limits blocking need, weak TE competition.

PK Ka’imi Fairbairn, Houston Texans: A less prolific offense should mean more field goals after a down year for the 2018 PK1.

DT Kansas City Chiefs: Lost only one defensive starter after 2019’s 9th-place fantasy finish; growing pains ahead for AFC West opponents.

Biggest risk in fantasy football drafts

QB Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals: No real OL improvements and a questionable backfield the only things standing in his way of top-three QB play.

RB Kenyan Drake, Arizona Cardinals: A microscopic, albeit wholly impressive, stretch of elite production has to be questioned.

WR Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers: Drastically different system, first-time coordinator … mediocre journeyman or a rookie QB has to give pause for his PPR prowess.

TE Rob Gronkowski, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The year off cuts both ways. What happens if his 43-year-old QB falls apart? System hasn’t been TE-friendly.

PK Josh Lambo, Jacksonville Jaguars: Increased offensive scoring prowess generally results in fewer three-pointer opportunities.

DT New England Patriots: A ton of key personnel turnover. Last year’s schedule was laughably easy, and the Pats struggled vs. strong competition.

Fantasy football breakouts

QB Drew Lock, Denver Broncos: World-class arm talent, notable upgraded weapons with a blossoming WR1, dangerous RBs and a proven offensive system.

RB Raheem Mostert, San Francisco 49ers: The likely 1a of the one-two punch with Tevin Coleman has way more upside and showed a nose for the paydirt down the stretch in 2019.

WR Diontae Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers: Stands to make the biggest Year 2 jump of any WR. Big Ben’s return and healthy talent around him only help.

TE T.J. Hockenson, Detroit Lions: Viable system, strong QB play. Monitor health status before investing, but has hallmarks of becoming a fantasy starter.

PK Austin Seibert, Cleveland Browns: Slower-paced offensive design could mean more 3-pointers after promising rookie campaign.

DT Indianapolis Colts: Shored up DL and improved on the back end, too. Exploitable divisional opponents, plus reasonable schedule.

Fantasy football busts

QB Daniel Jones, New York Giants: A new system for a streaky QB is a major concern during a pandemic; inconsistency is a killer in weekly leagues.

RB David Johnson, Houston Texans: Living off of one monster season in 2016, Johnson is officially a one-year wonder with injury concerns.

WR Stefon Diggs, Buffalo Bills: Not a true No. 1, the pouty WR faces a terribly inaccurate QB in a run-first offense — all in Western New York.

TE Austin Hooper, Cleveland Browns: The richest tight end in the NFL will struggle to see enough passes to matter in fantasy will be difficult in a run-heavy system loaded with receiving talent.

PK Younghoe Koo, Atlanta Falcons: No long-range track record is compounded by a questionable offense in a tougher division.

DT Minnesota Vikings: No Everson Griffen, Linval Joseph, and top three CBs from 2019 … plus a rookie starting CB. Even with Yannick Ngakoue, there’s too much turnover to warrant confidence.

Fantasy Football strength of schedule series

Passing | Rushing | Receiving

COVID-19 and fantasy football tips

The NFL has been remarkable successful to date in its efforts to keep COVID-19 at bay. That’s not to say players may not face an influx in infections once the season is under way and players begin traveling.

  • Be nimble and prepare for an exhausting season of working the waiver wire.
  • Expect stars to get put on the COVID-19 list and miss a few games. That’s inevitable.
  • Draft for continuity. Players on teams that have experienced as little turnover personnel-wise and within the coaching staff are in a better position to succeed, especially early in the year.
  • Rookies will likely struggle early and often without a full offseason program. Running back is the easiest position to learn, though.
  • Brace for some ugly football in the opening month. Low-scoring fantasy games may be the norm for several weeks, so taking a chance on fringe players in starting lineups could come back to bite you more so than in years past.
  • Trading may be more difficult than ever in terms of assessing fair compensation. Work with what you know at the time and hope for the best, because that’s about all we can do during such uncertain times.

When to pick TE Rob Gronkowski in your fantasy football draft

Rob Gronkowski is back after taking one year off, but where should you draft him in fantasy football?

Fantasy football season is in the air and the unique offseason is causing more questions than answers as we enter our fantasy football drafts. Today we focus on Tampa Bay Buccaneers TE Rob Gronkowski and his fantasy football potential in 2020.

Rob Gronkowski’s Fantasy Football ADP

Despite his year away from the NFL, Gronkowski is still being scooped up by fantasy players in drafts this season. He has an average draft position of 72.4 per TheHuddle.com, which is sixth-best among all tight ends.

Reasons to draft Rob Gronkowski

  • Gronkowski remains a physical specimen, standing 6-foot-6 with great speed down the field. He’s a difficult matchup for most defensive backs and linebackers, causing headaches for defensive coordinators.
  • Gronkowski has a rapport with new Bucs QB Tom Brady from their days in New England, which will carry over in Tampa Bay. Expect Brady to target Gronkowski often in the red zone.
  • After taking a year off, many of the injuries that plagued Gronkowski in 2018 should be healed, making him healthier than he was in his last few seasons.

Reasons not to draft Rob Gronkowski

  • To say the Buccaneers are deep with pass catchers would be an understatement. Gronk will be competing for targets with Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Cameron Brate and O.J. Howard, which means his opportunities could be limited.
  • Gronkowski is 31 years old and hasn’t played a game since the Super Bowl in February of 2019. He seems to be in game shape, but he’ll have to get reacclimated to the speed of the NFL.
  • Tight ends have statistically not been heavily involved in Bucs head coach Bruce Arians’ offenses, dating back to his days with the Cardinals.

For in-depth fantasy football statistics, sleepers, custom player rankings and the winning edge in your fantasy football league, subscribe TheHuddle.com. New customers, take $10 off your order with the code SBW20. This offer expires 9/30/2020 at 11:59 pm ET. Subscribe now!

Where should I draft Rob Gronkowski in fantasy football drafts?

Gronkowski is one of the most interesting players in fantasy this year. He took last season off and now returns to the field with a new team in a new offense. He has the same quarterback, but there will still be a transition period.

There are so many talented tight ends in the league right now, led by the best of the best with George Kittle and Travis Kelce. Gronkowski is no longer at the top of the class at that position, but he’s still being drafted earlier than players with better upside.

For instance, Gronkowski is going ahead of Evan Engram, Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper, and isn’t being drafted far behind Darren Waller. In his last regular season, Gronkowski had just 47 catches for 682 yards and three touchdowns in 13 games.

I wouldn’t be drafting him as early as he’s going, and would instead target players such as Blake Jarwin and Mike Gesicki later on in the draft, getting better value.

Also see:

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What does Adrian Peterson’s release mean for your fantasy football team?

With Antonio Gibson now assuming the starting RB role in Washington, there are some major fantasy football implications to be had.

While the Washington Football Team is working to make their actual roster on the field work after the surprise release of veteran RB Adrian Peterson, there are a number of fantasy football managers around the world who may be wondering something similar.

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With the NFL season just a week from being kicked off, many teams have already been drafted, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if you rostered Peterson with hopes of him being the starting RB in Washington. So now that he’s gone, what do you do? Here are some tips.

Pick up Antonio Gibson Immediately

If you can do so, you need to be rushing to your waiver wire and looking to pick up rookie Antonio Gibson immediately if he is available, which may not be the case. Gibson has already been one of the young players picking up ‘sleeper buzz’ this season, so there’s a good chance that he is already rostered by someone who just won the lottery on Friday morning, but you at least need to check.

Even as the RB2 in Washington, many expected Gibson to have a nice rookie season where he could help win you a couple of games. Now that he is stepping into the starting role, though, his value just went through the roof. When you consider that the release of AP was primarily to give these young players more of a chance, namely Gibson, it’s exciting to think of the possibilities that he will have in Scott Turner’s offense. We could be dealing with a young superstar on our hands, and you’ll want to do everything you can to get a piece of it.

Hold on to Adrian Peterson

Just because AP is no longer a member of the Washington Football Team doesn’t mean his value has plummeted. In fact, depending on where he ends up landing, it could potentially help him down the road if he goes to a contending team that has an easier path to scoring points than Washington typically does.

I would hang onto AP for the time being and watch to see what happens. We saw two years ago in Washington that he doesn’t need much ramp-up time to get going, and he can definitely go to a new system and start to provide an impact right away.

Be open to fliers in Washington

This move seemingly caused all of the other backs in Washington to take a step forward in the value chart. While players like Bryce Love, J.D. McKissic, or Peyton Barber were unlikely to be rostered a couple of days ago, you can now look at potentially adding and stashing them for future use. If it were me, I would try to pick up McKissic first, and maybe Love if he is unavailable. We haven’t yet seen enough from Barber to make me think that he is going to have a legitimate impact on the offense in Washington, but it’s something to keep your eye on.

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PODCAST: The latest on Alvin Kamara, and expectations for the 2020 season

The first episode of the Saints Wire podcast discusses the wide receivers behind Michael Thomas and sets expectations for the 2020 season.

It’s been a busy week for the New Orleans Saints, between dueling media reports and conversations on running back Alvin Kamara’s contract status and all the usual buzz surrounding training camp.

We’ve got the details for you in the first episode of our Saints Wire podcast, hosted by Ryan O’Leary (@RyanOLearySMG on Twitter) with Saints Wire managing editor John Sigler (@john_siglerr on Twitter) sharing insight to the black and gold.

We’ll be keying in on all things Saints, but other segments will be focused on keeping you in the know for events around the NFL at large and fantasy football tips.

Starting next week, you can tune in for new episodes each Thursday on Apple Podcasts or your podcast service of choice. The Saints will kick off the 2020 season against Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and we’ll be sure to get you up to speed in time for the season opener. Thanks for joining us on the ride.

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Chiefs WR Sammy Watkins undervalued in fantasy football projections

Watkins’ current value in fantasy football drafts should have Kansas City Chiefs fans and others clamoring to draft him.

Kansas City Chiefs WR Sammy Watkins restructured his contract this offseason to stick with the team that helped make him a Super Bowl champion. In two seasons with the Chiefs, across 22 games started, Watkins has recorded 92 catches for 1,162 yards and six touchdowns. He added 464 yards and one touchdown on 24 catches in the postseason in Kansas City.

Watkins’ week-to-week success and injury history has perplexed fantasy football players for the past two years. He already sat out of training camp for a few days with a groin injury. It seems like Watkin is a player who has hot streaks and cold streaks, with a lot of standout moments in the postseason. That has turned Watkins into one of the most criminally underrated players in fantasy football. Just yesterday I was able to draft him with the 169th pick in round 15 of a PPR league.

Here’s what our friends at The Huddle had to say about Watkins.

“Watkins remains the slot receiver and just renegotiated his contract low enough to stay. Despite two years with Mahomes, Watkins only averages around 600 yards per year and scored three times in each. He’s capable of the big game on occasion, but he just as likely to turn in just a few fantasy points in any week.”

The Huddle’s projections for Watkins this season are a measly 510 yards and three touchdowns on 40 receptions. In his last three games, during the 2019-20 playoffs, Watkins had performances of 76 yards, 114 yards and 98 yards. He added a touchdown in that middle game too. That’s over half of Watkins’ expected production for the entire 2020 season by The Huddle’s estimation.

Additionally, many are crowning second-year WR Mecole Hardman the handcuff to Chiefs’ top wideout Tyreek Hill. Hardman had a productive year on limited opportunities in his rookie season and he’s been working hard all offseason. He should be due for a big year, but is he really the handcuff to Hill? When Hill was out with an injury in 2019, Watkins played over 90% of snaps on offense in Kansas City in each of the first four games before suffering an injury himself in Week 5. Hardman didn’t have a snap share higher than 78% all season long.

Both Watkins and Hardman will get their share of the targets in Kansas City, but if Watkins continues the tear he was on in the 2019-20 postseason, it’ll be hard to keep him off the field. At his current value, he could be a late-round steal in your fantasy leagues.

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Seahawks Tyler Locket projected to tally 1100 receiving yards in 2020

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Locket is projected to tally 1100 receiving yards in 2020 by the fantasy football site, The Huddle.

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The 2020 NFL regular season is just a week away and fans around the country are busy shoring up their fantasy football squads. Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett should not be overlooked.

Lockett is projected to tally 85 receptions for 1100 yards and eight touchdowns in 2020 by the fantasy site, The Huddle. He is currently ranked the No. 15 wide receiver league-wide.

“Lockett finally hit the 1,000-yard mark when he caught a career-best 82 passes for 1,057 yards and eight TDs,” The Hudde notes. “He accounted for 57-965-10 in 2019 making him a Top-13 WR for the last two years. He’s a safe bet to continue to be the #1 WR in SEA. Lockett is the preferred target for Russell Wilson and not only produced four 100-yard games last year; he ended with 9-136-1 in the playoff loss to the Packers.”

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Fantasy football: Leonard Fournette joins Buccaneers after release from Jags

Should fantasy footballers be excited about Fournette with the Bucs?

Days after the Jacksonville Jaguars released running back Leonard Fournette, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers took a shot on the fourth-year pro with a one-year contract worth up to $3.5 million.

Fantasy football owners will be frustrated if they had selected running back Ronald Jones in recent weeks. Even after the Bucs drafted Ke’Shawn Vaughn and signing LeSean McCoy, Jones had earned the dreaded vote of confidence by head coach Bruce Arians.

Since, Vaughn was relegated to special teams duty, and McCoy appeared in line to claim the third-down work, but now it’s likely Jones who’ll be asked to spell Fournette. After Fournette snagged 76 balls last season, it’s tough to even say Jones will be guaranteed a third-down job.

Days ahead of the busiest fantasy football draft weekend of the year, Fournette joins a star-studded offense that added Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski in the offseason, which paired the former New England Patriots with arguably the most dangerous receiving tandem in the NFL.

Chris Godwin and Mike Evans are easily No. 1 wideouts on most any roster, and it’s rare fantasy gamers get a pair of elite wideouts from the same offense. But adding a potential top-five tight end and now a back coming off of a No. 7 PPR showing with only three total touchdowns … phew.

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This cuts both ways, however. There’s only one football, and we’re looking at four guys who are used to getting their hands on it with regularity. Fournette isn’t exactly the model of efficiency, although it cannot all be held over his head after Jacksonville’s offensive line was a dumpster fire in 2018 and parts of ’19. He gets a serious upgrade in Tampa with the big guys paving his way.

Fantasy football outlook

Fournette is injury-prone and hasn’t played a full season to date. Despite being a physical specimen, finding the end zone hasn’t been his thing, either. In 2017, Fournette averaged a score every 30.4 touches. That number improved in 2018 to 25.8, albeit over a much smaller sample size of just eight games played. In 2019, though, it required 113.7 touches before he found paydirt.

Peyton Barber and Jones combined for a dozen rushing touchdowns in 2019. If even 10 of those scores went to Fournette alone, he’s looking at low-end RB1 production should his rushing yardage hold up from the two mostly full seasons. Look at it this way: If he carries it the same 265 times as last year, all Fournette needs to average is 4.0 yards per carry to finish 13th in the 2019 rushing list (borderline RB1). That same back last year was Mark Ingram, and he racked up 10 rushing scores.

The safe presumption of Fournette’s touches should be somewhere in the 300-320 range over 16 games. There’s motivation for a huge year with a large-money deal on the line for the former LSU star, and the entire offensive system is better than anything he experienced with the Jaguars. Fournette’s personal best is only 268 carries, and he handled it 341 total times in 2019. Limitations of the offensive design (pass-friendly) and personnel around him cutting into his potential touches makes 341 likely unattainable.

Fournette is a midrange No. 2 back with a hint more appeal than he had even a week ago. The Bucs should afford him more opportunities to find the end zone but fewer targets in the passing game.

Jones is a handcuff and has a sliver of value in deeper leagues as a standalone flier. He could emerge as a PPR outlet for Brady, yet nothing about the USC product’s stock should be written in stone. Jones is a much better choice in best-ball leagues in the event Fournette once again suffers an injury.

McCoy may not make the final roster at this point and shouldn’t be drafted in any format.

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