Tag: Jonnu Smith

Tennessee Titans’ top-4 fantasy football options for the 2020 season

Who are the best fantasy football options on the Titans for the 2020 season?

While more players could emerge from the Tennessee Titans as fantasy football-relevant options for the 2020 season, there are four players who stand out the most.

So, let’s see who those players are and why they are the best options you can get from the Titans for the upcoming season.

Note: 2019 fantasy rankings and positional ADP (average draft position) are courtesy of Fantasy Pros and are based on PPR (points-per-reception) scoring.

TE Jonnu Smith

(Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Tight end is one of the hardest positions in fantasy to get consistent production out of beyond the top players at the position. However, Smith could provide significant value for owners who take him later in drafts.

With Delanie Walker out of the way, Smith should see an increase in snaps throughout the course of an entire season, the likes of which he saw in the second half of last season after the veteran was placed on IR.

Thanks to his ridiculous athleticism, Smith is a big play waiting to happen  and can turn limited touches into impressive production.

He averaged 12.5 yards per reception last season, which was seventh among tight ends, and his 284 yards after the catch ranked 10th at the position.

Perhaps most impressively, Smith forced 14 missed tackles, per Pro Football Focus, the third-most of any tight end in the NFL and behind only George Kittle (20) and Travis Kelce (15). Bear in mind, Smith did that with nearly one-third of the catches that Kittle and Kelce had.

The Titans will use him in a variety of ways, also, including on running plays. Smith carried the ball four times in 2019, and one of those runs went for 57 yards.

Adding to the optimism of what Smith can do with a full complement of snaps this season, he and quarterback Ryan Tannehill have been working out together multiple times per week this offseason, which should lead to better chemistry and more looks for the young tight end.

Positional ADP: TE17 

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8 Tennessee Titans make ESPN’s top 300 fantasy football rankings

Which Titans made ESPN’s top 300 fantasy football rankings?

If the Tennessee Titans can reproduce their offensive success from a season ago in 2020, this team stands to have a good amount of fantasy football assets for this coming season.

In his initial top 300 fantasy football rankings for PPR (points-per-reception), ESPN’s Mike Clay has eight Titans making the list.

They are as follows (their projected positional ranking is in parenthesis):

13. RB Derrick Henry (RB6)

44. WR A.J. Brown (WR22)

123. QB Ryan Tannehill (QB16)

160. Darrynton Evans (RB54)

228. Corey Davis (WR84)

230. Adam Humphries (WR86)

246. Jonnu Smith (TE23)

298. Titans D/ST (DST21)

In my opinion, the top-four fantasy assets to own from the Titans in 2020 are Henry, Tannehill, Brown and Smith, in no particular order. Each should drafted, regardless of format.

Here’s where those four players ranked at their respective positions in 2019 based on total points scored in PPR, according to Fantasy Pros.

Tannehill (QB21)

Henry (RB5)

Brown (WR21)

Smith (TE20)

Now, let’s play a little game.

Since Brown and Tannehill really didn’t get going until Week 7 (when Tannehill took over as starter), let’s take their average fantasy points per game from that point on and stretch it out over a 16-game span to see where they might have ranked with a full season together.

Tannehill averaged 22.5 fantasy points per game from Week 7 on, while Brown averaged 12.6 in that span. Here’s a look at what their rankings would have been based on those numbers.

Tannehill (QB2)

Brown (WR6)

That’s pretty impressive, which just goes to show that there’s plenty of reasons to believe that not only could each of these players be ranked higher on Clay’s list, but both could also challenge for top five at their respective positions in 2020.

As for Henry, he’ll likely be right around the top five at his position. We know he’ll get plenty of carries, yards and goal line looks on the ground as the workhorse back on a run-heavy offense, but will he provide consistent production in the passing game?

That will be the difference from him being around the top five to the No. 1 overall running back in fantasy this season. Regardless, he’ll be an RB1 and should be one of the first handful of backs off the board in drafts.

Smith is the biggest wild card of my Titans top four. He has insane athleticism and can make big things happen in a variety of ways, but we’ve never seen him do it for an entire season.

The good news is he and Tannehill have been working together a lot this offseason, which will no doubt help their chemistry and possibly lead to Smith getting more consistent looks.

With all that said, Smith has the potential to be an absolute steal in the later rounds of drafts, as I’m not sure the fantasy world has really caught on to just how good he can be yet.

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3 Tennessee Titans make Pro Football Focus’ ‘All-Clutch Team’

Harold Landry was the only Titans player to get First-Team recognition.

The Tennessee Titans needed a lot of clutch plays during the 2019 season in order to make their way to the playoffs, where they made an improbable run to the AFC Championship Game.

Pro Football Focus’ Ben Linsey recently compiled an “All-Clutch Team” based on the 2019 season and three Titans made the cut, with two of them getting “Second-Team” recognition.

Here’s who made it from Tennessee:

QB Ryan Tannehill (Second-Team)

TE Jonnu Smith (Second-Team)

OLB Harold Landry (First-Team)

Linsey explained why Landry was a first-team selection at EDGE.

“Van Noy’s fellow first-teamer, Landry, also put up grades of 75.0 or higher against the run and the pass. A PFF favorite coming out of Boston College, Landry hasn’t quite lived up to our expectations in his first two years in the NFL, but his 87.9 grade in high-pressure situations last season could bode well for a corner being turned in 2020.”

Landry took a step in the right direction in 2019, as he totaled a career-high nine sacks in 16 games. He also added another in one of the team’s three postseason games.

The only knock on Landry’s regular season is that he didn’t finish strong. The Boston College product failed to record a single sack in the team’s final four games.

One of the reasons that might have happened is because Landry didn’t have anyone to take pressure off of him after Cameron Wake was placed on season-ending IR.

The absence of Wake and the extra focus on Landry did help Kamalei Correa, though, as he totaled four sacks in the team’s last five regular season games, and two more in the playoffs..

As for Tannehill, we saw him complete plenty of clutch throws in his first season in Nashville, and Smith’s biggest catch of the 2019 campaign came via a one-handed grab that went for a score in the divisional round game.

The Titans are going to need significant contributions from all three players if they hope to re-create their success from last season in 2020.

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4 Tennessee Titans primed for big fantasy football production in 2020

The Titans have four different players who could finish in the top 10 at their respective positions in fantasy football.

At the start of the 2019 season, the Tennessee Titans didn’t provide any fantasy football options outside of running back Derrick Henry, who even got off to a somewhat slow start himself.

But as the season progressed, the Titans began giving fantasy owners viable options to input into their starting lineup that they could find on the scrap heap.

The 2020 season should be different though, as four Titans players stand to make a big impact in fantasy football for the entirety of the 16-game schedule.

Without further ado, here are the four Titans who are primed for big fantasy production this coming season.

Ryan Tannehill

Ryan Tannehill Tennessee Titans
Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

The 2019 campaign saw a resurgence in Ryan Tannehill’s career, as he led the NFL in passer rating and was second in completion percentage, numbers that helped earn him NFL Comeback Player of the Year.

Of course, those numbers don’t exactly help us out in fantasy football, but they do show his efficiency, which helps him produce impressive fantasy results even in a run-heavy attack.

Tannehill took the starting job in Week 7 last season, and from that point on he finished as QB3 in total points and QB4 in average points per week, per Fantasy Pros.

On top of his ability to sling it, Tannehill can also make plays with his legs, giving him a safe floor from week to week and the ability to produce elite fantasy quarterback numbers in any given game.

In 2020, Tannehill will get the chance to play a full 16-game slate, and if his 2019 numbers are any indication, the Titans quarterback could conceivably finish as a top-five fantasy signal-caller this coming season.

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5 Tennessee Titans who should take a major step forward in 2020

These five Titans are primed to take a major step forward in 2020.

The Tennessee Titans had a sensational 2019 season that ended with a trip to the AFC Championship Game, and that was without the team getting the very best out of some really important players.

While the five players on this list all made a significant impact and were certainly good, you can point to at least one thing that might have held each of them back from being even better.

The rest of the league should be scared of just how good the Titans can be if these five players take a major step forward like we expect them to in 2020.

DL Jeffery Simmons

Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

At this time last year, defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons was still rehabbing from a torn ACL he suffered prior to the 2019 NFL Draft in the hopes that he could at least make some impact in his rookie season.

Simmons ended up returning ahead of schedule and was no doubt a key contributor to the Titans’ defense en route to an AFC Championship Game run later in the season.

Now that Simmons will have an entire offseason to get ready and has shed his knee brace in workouts, the former first-round pick, who flashed being dominant upfront, should make even more of an impact and become a true star in 2020.

The departure of Jurrell Casey also means that Simmons will be in his natural position, which should only help his cause in his sophomore campaign.

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Tennessee Titans’ Jonnu Smith talks Delanie Walker, contract year, more

Jonnu Smith acknowledged that he is indeed the man at tight end this year.

Tennessee Titans tight end and 2017 third-round pick Jonnu Smith is entering a contract year in 2020, as it’s the fourth and final year of his rookie deal.

Smith stepped up in a big way for the Titans in 2019 after former tight end, Delanie Walker, was placed on Injured Reserve with an ankle injury.

The Florida International product hauled in 35 receptions for 439 yards and three touchdowns, all career-highs. He also nabbed an insane touchdown catch in the divisional round win over the Baltimore Ravens.

For now, Smith isn’t thinking about being in a contract year and is just focused on playing football and trying to help the Titans win a Super Bowl.

Smith was very complimentary of Walker and explained how the veteran helped him develop while the pair played together.

He also acknowledged that he’s the main man at tight end now that Walker is no longer with the team after being cut earlier this offseason. The veteran remains available on the open market.

Smith has been hard at work with quarterback Ryan Tannehill during the quarantine, as the pair have been working out down in South Florida where they both live.

In fact, Smith and Tannehill are meeting multiple times per week and haven’t missed a week over the past few months. That should do wonders for their chemistry in 2020.

Smith also made sure to mention that he and Tannehill aren’t doing anything illegal in their meetups.

Smith has big shoes to fill now that Walker is gone, but if last season was any indication, he should be just fine.

Smith’s elite athleticism allows the Titans to use him in multiple ways, including as a runner. The 24-year old totaled four carries last season, with his best coming in Week 15 on a 57-yard run against the Houston Texans.

It remains to be seen if the Titans will try to extend Smith prior to the start of the season, but if not he could be in for a sizable payday in 2021 if he has the kind of big season we expect him to.

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Titans’ Jonnu Smith was elite among TEs at missed tackles forced in 2019

Jonnu Smith is in elite company on far fewer touches.

Tennessee Titans tight end Jonnu Smith may have gotten off to a slow start the first time he was called upon to step up in Delanie Walker’s absence in 208, but he was incredibly efficient in when asked to do so in 2019.

When Pro Football Focus released its metrics on tight ends with most missed tackles forced on the 2019 season, Smith found himself at third on the list with a total of 14.

And he’s in impressive company, behind just San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (20) and tight end Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs (18).

This is especially impressive, given that Smith (39) had less than half the amount of touches that Kittle (90) and Kelce (98) had. Of course, those include the rushing attempts that each player had, also.

In 2019, Smith was targeted 44 times and recorded 35 receptions for 439 yards and three touchdowns as one of the team’s most versatile players within the offense.

Kittle was targeted 107 times, reeling in 85 passes for 1,053 yards and five scores, while Kelce was thrown to 136 times, turning 97 of those into receptions for 1,229 yards and five scores.

This seems to be only the beginning for Smith, who has steadily gained momentum in Nashville over the past two years.

Expect him to step into an even larger role in 2020 under offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.

Will Titans’ Jonnu Smith follow in the footsteps of Delanie Walker?

Stepping up in veteran pass-catcher Delanie Walker’s place is a tall order, but Jonnu Smith his risen to the occasion.

There’s plenty of talk about what the Tennessee Titans should do to keep their current offense intact by retaining quarterback Ryan Tannehill, running back Derrick Henry and right tackle Jack Conklin.

These guys have undoubtedly contributed to the Titans’ success in a way that hardly any other player has, but more quietly productive players like tight end Jonnu Smith have also made an impact.

Stepping up in veteran pass-catcher Delanie Walker’s place is a tall order, and Smith his risen to the occasion. In 2019, he reeled in 35 of 44 targets for 439 yards and three touchdowns.

In the previous year, he got off to a miserably slow start while Walker was injured, leading many to believe that he would find himself among the team’s roster cuts.

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But he bounced back toward the end of 2018, ending the season with 20 receptions on 30 targets for 258 yards and three touchdowns.

Walker had high praise for Smith last season, saying that he just continued to get better week to week.

“Jonnu has been absolutely ballin’. It makes me happy to see him ballin’ like he is, going out there and making plays while I’m not there,” he told me last year. “I already knew that was going to be the case. Just the demeanor he has, the work ethic, the work he puts in every day. I’m excited for him. He gets better every year. Next thing you know, he’s going to be that star tight end. Everything everyone is looking for in a tight end.”

Titans head coach Mike Vrabel also commended Smith for his focus and willingness to be coached, which is something Walker himself has been known for.

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“He is a tireless worker, and he has a great attitude,” Vrabel explained to Jim Wyatt of Titans Online. “He comes to work every single day ready to learn, ready to improve. He is focused in meetings. (Tight ends coach) Todd Downing has worked very well with him one-on-one.”

Walker, who some have predicted to be a potential roster cut ahead of the 2020 season, wants to remain with the Titans after another injury-shortened season in 2019, per Wyatt.

“I got a year on my contract and I’m a Titan, so as long as the organization wants me here and believes in me, I’ll always be a Titan.”

After being placed on IR, Walker admitted it was tough to have to watch his team from the sideline and not be able to help.

“It hurts that I’m not able to help my team out and they’re doing such a good job this year, but I’m excited about what’s going on right now with the team,” Walker told Wyatt. “And that’s the disappointing part, that I feel like I’m letting myself down and the team down not being able to perform at the highest level. But I know once I get this taken care of, I’ll be back to normal and that’s the goal.”

Walker wasn’t the only player who had a difficult time watching from the bench this season, with quarterback Marcus Mariota keeping him company midway through the season, but under much different circumstances.

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“Marcus has been a trooper, a team player,” Walker told Titans Wire. “Always communicating with Ryan (Tannehill). If Ryan doesn’t see something, he’ll point it out. There’s been no change in his demeanor. That’s true professionalism right there.”

Regardless of Walker’s future with the Titans, there’s no question he’s been one of the team’s most key players on offense, totaling 381 receptions for 4,423 yards and 28 touchdowns over 84 games for the team.

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Titans-Chiefs: 5 Titans to watch in the AFC Championship

Here’s a look at just five Titans to turn your attention to on Sunday.

The Tennessee Titans are making their first appearance in the AFC Championship game since Jan. 19, 2003 at Oakland, going up against a stout Kansas City Chiefs team in Arrowhead Stadium.

Taking down Kansas City will be no easy task for the Titans, but the team has proven they can already in 2019, defeating the Chiefs, 35-32 back in November.

Tennessee hasn’t come up short of finding a way to win, and has the power on both sides of the ball to get the job done on Sunday.

Here’s a look at just five Titans to turn your attention to on Sunday.

1. S Kevin Byard.

Byard isn’t the highest-paid safety in the game without reason.

He’s earned every bit of his five year, $70.5 million extension, currently second in the NFL with five interceptions.

He was key in last week’s game against the Ravens, intercepting a seemingly unstoppable Lamar Jackson and totaling 11 tackles.

He’s racked up 101 tackles, six interceptions and 10 passes defensed on the 2019 season.

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DFS PROS favorite plays: Divisional Weekend

Top-ranked DFS PRO Jason Mezrahi, founder and CEO of WinDailySports.com, breaks down his favorite Daily Fantasy Football plays at various salary ranges for the AFC & NFC Championship Weekend of the NFL. Find out who Jason will be locking in his lineups on DraftKings and FanDuel.

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Top-ranked DFS PRO Jason Mezrahi, founder and CEO of WinDailySports.com, breaks down his favorite Daily Fantasy Football plays at various salary ranges for the AFC & NFC Championship Weekend of the NFL. Find out who Jason will be locking in his lineups on DraftKings and FanDuel.

QUARTERBACKS

PATRICK MAHOMES- $7700 DRAFTKINGS, $9500 FANDUEL

Patrick Mahomes is coming off monster game versus the Texans and is the clear top choice at Quarterback on this slate. He will be high owned but with a two-game slate it’s all about securing the top scorer here. Mahomes is averaging 23 points per game on the season and should be in for 25+ points in a home matchup versus the Titans. The Titans rank 28th vs opposing quarterbacks and without much of a run game, we should see most of the scoring through the air for the Chiefs. My lean on this slate is to target the Chiefs vs Titans game as much as possible as I think there will be 14-21 more points scored in this one.

RYAN TANNEHILL- $5500 DRAFTKINGS, $7700 FANDUEL

Tannehill and the Titans will have to pass to stay in this game. The man has been shockingly great since he has taken over the starting role. These Titans have been everyone’s bandwagon team after their glorious run to make the playoffs and shocking back to back upsets they have pulled off. I personally think they cover the spread and make this game interesting. Tannehill is averaging 19 points per game and has a nice matchup versus the Chiefs who rank 23rd vs opposing quarterbacks. For every 2 lineups I make with Mahomes I will own 1 share of Tannehill.

RUNNING BACKS

DERRICK HENRY-  $8700 DRAFTKINGS, $9800 FANDUEL

Henry just can’t be stopped. The opposing defenses he has been facing know he is getting the ball and they can’t do anything about it. When he gets stopped at the line he finds a way to fall forward for 3-4 yards. Then he has the speed to break monster runs and the strength to stiff-arm opponents on his way to the end zone. This offense is running through the big man and he should be locked in all of your lineups. He is averaging 22 points per game and has been in the 30’s in most of his recent games. The Chiefs rank 24th vs opposing running backs and this is an obvious spot to lock Henry unless you can predict injuries or want to fade him on purely an ownership perspective. I would fade Henry in 1 of every 8 lineups I make just to be different from the field.

DAMIEN WILLIAMS- $7000 DRAFTKINGS, $7600 FANDUEL

Williams has secured his role as the every-down back for the Chiefs. He got all the goal-line work last week and is coming off a 3 touchdown game. Like I stated above I will be targeting most of my pieces from this game and want to secure the points through the ground and air from the Chiefs side. Williams is averaging 14 points per game and should provide a safe floor this weekend. The Titans rank 18th vs opposing running backs and I will be happy with a touchdown and combined 85 yards out of Williams as my RB2.

WIDE RECEIVERS

DEEBO SAMUEL- $5500 DRAFTKINGS, $6300 FANDUEL

I preached to pay up at quarterback and running back so I need to find us some value at the receiver position. I’m looking for upside and low ownership and Deebo provides that. The man is involved in the run game and is one of the most targeted 49er when they decide to pass the ball. This game should be higher scoring than last week’s affair with the Vikings so I predict Samuel to have a better game this week. He is averaging 12 points per game on the season and has a nice matchup against the Packers who rank 16th vs opposing wide receivers.

SAMMY WATKINS- $4600 DRAFTKINGS, $5200 FANDUEL

You know it’s a short slate and I’m digging for value when I mention the name Sammy Watkins. But we need value and upside, and Watkins provides that on this slate. He is the number 2 receiver on this Chiefs team and he can provide a long touchdown at any time. This is not a safe play by any means but on a two-game slate I will take Watkins who is averaging 10 points per game on the season. The Titans rank 18th vs opposing wide receivers so let’s hope Watkins takes advantage of that and secures a long touchdown on Sunday.

TIGHT ENDS

TRAVIS KELCE- $7100 DRAFTKINGS, $7800 FANDUEL

If I can afford it I plan to pay up for safety at the tight end position on this slate and lock up my 15+ points and hope the upside comes. For the same reasons I like Mahomes above, Kelce makes for a great stack. The Titans have trouble defending the pass and specifically covering the tight end where they rank 25th against the position. On a two-game slate its slim pickings at tight end, so play it safe and get cute elsewhere.

JONNU SMITH- $3400 DRAFTKINGS, $5600 FANDUEL

We need value on this slate and as long as Kelce doesn’t have a repeat performance Jonnu Smith should be a safe play at his price. He made a remarkable catch versus the Ravens last week and gets a dream matchup this week. Even if I pay up for Kelce at tight end I don’t mind playing Smith in my flex position for a great value. The Chiefs are towards the bottom of the league defending the tight end and rank 28th so lock in Smith for one of the best point per dollar option on the slate.

DEFENSES

49ERS- $3200 DRAFTKINGS, $4600 FANDUEL

The 49ers defense looked unstoppable last game versus the Vikings. The held the Vikings to 7 first downs the entire game, 0 first downs via the rush, and held them to 0 first downs over a 27-minute span of the game. Keep it simple and play the 49ers at home. I know Aaron Rodgers is on the other side of the ball and he wants to stick it to the Niners for not drafting him but this defense is too good and Rodgers doesn’t have enough weapons beside him.

PACKERS- $2700 DRAFTKINGS, $4000 FANDUEL

The Packers are my value defense at almost minimum price on both sites. The Packers are my default value defense because I’m staying away from the Chiefs vs Titans game. Add the fact they are facing off against the unproven playoff arm of Jimmy G and we have some nice upside at the price so click the button and hope for the best. Jimmy will make a mistake or two and hopefully the Packers defense can do some damage.

Jason Mezrahi has been a professional, top-ranked Daily Fantasy Player on FanDuel and DraftKings for more than seven years. He has won FanDuel’s $155,555 King of the Diamond competition and placed second in DraftKings’ Fantasy Basketball World Championship, earning him $300,000. He owns and operates WinDailySports.com, which supports the DFS and Sports Betting community with resources such as tools, projection models, in-depth written analysis and podcasts, plus much more.