Philadelphia Eagles
What’s changed since last year? The Eagles acquired Jordan Howard (WR34) from the Bears and signed Desean Jackson (WR50) as a free agent. Both guys look to be fantasy relevant this year, but will likely be later round picks, with Howard going in the 9th and Jackson going in the 14th rounds on average. Nick Foles has also moved on, so the Superbowl MVP and safety blanket for Carson Wentz is gone.
Who is the breakout/3rd year WR on the team? The Eagles are pretty set at WR right now, but TE Dallas Goedert could be a potential breakout. He had a good catch percentage last season, hauling in 33 of his 44 targets for 334 yards and 4 TDs last season. The Eagles run a lot of “12 personnel” which has 2 tight ends on the field. With Zach Ertz drawing a lot of attention, and Desean Jackson’s speed, Goedert could find a lot of 1 on 1 opportunities over the middle of the field.
Who is a sleeper you can draft? Currently, the best value I see on this team is Desean Jackson late in drafts and Dallas Goedert as an easy free agent pickup after the draft is over.
What stud can you draft without hesitation? Zach Ertz is currently the consensus TE2 and being drafted at the end of the third round. With the scarcity at the top of the position, I don’t mind taking him if you can get him at the end of the third or beginning of the 4th. I do suspect that his ADP will rise as the draft season heats up based on his massive numbers from last season, especially in PPR leagues.
Who could be a waiver pickup during the season? Dallas Goedert is a good handcuff for Ertz if you do draft him early, but chances are he will remain on the waiver wire for at least the first few weeks of the season. If you do not take a TE early and have a deep bench, Goedert is a good add for depth and has some breakout potential. JJ Arcega-Whiteside is another player who is not being drafted and could contribute to the team, especially if any of the starting WRs goes down.
Who are the rookies to know on this team? Will any of them be relevant this year? Miles Sanders is the main rookie to know, as he’s going to compete with Jordan Howard for the bulk of the carries. The RB group in Philly is crowded, and includes Wendell Smallwood, Corey Clement and Darren Sproles – all of whom have contributed in big ways in the last couple of seasons. As mentioned earlier, JJ Arcega-Whiteside is behind a lot of veterans on the depth chart, but could see more action if there’s injury, which is a safe bet in the NFL. Arcega-Whiteside could also see more playing time if Nelson Agholor remains underwhelming.
Dallas Cowboys
What’s changed since last year? Cole Beasley has left for Buffalo, leaving his 87 targets behind. In his place, the Cowboys signed Randall Cobb. Last season, Cobb had just 38 catches on 61 targets, which is a dismal 62% catch rate. If Cobb could not produce with Aaron Rodgers last season when he was short on WRs, then I don’t expect him to turn it around in Dallas. Cobb’s ADP of 219 (WR74) backs me up as someone who is not draftable. Jason Witten returns as their TE. He spent a year in the booth with ESPN and will not be missed by viewers who are not his mother. Witten returning is probably not a guarantee for much production, however with the lack of depth at TE across the league, he’s at least fantasy relevant. Witten was the 10th best TE in 2017 (his last season) , but will still be an upgrade over Blake Jarwin, who was TE26 last season. His ADP of 284 means that he’s a waiver pickup if you want him.
Who is the breakout/3rd year WR on the team? I don’t want to force this category, and obviously there is not going to be an actual breakout on every team. I will drop one name, however. Michael Gallup had a poor catch rate, but was an outside guy and had a very solid 15.4 yards per reception. If the Cobb experiment doesn’t work out (it won’t), then Gallup could find himself getting a few more targets opposite Amari Cooper.
Who is a sleeper you can draft? Michael Gallup’s ADP is currently 163 (WR57) and he can basically be taken at the end of drafts as a flyer. I also think that Dak Prescott is decent value, his ADP is 139 (QB21) and will go undrafted in some leagues. Prescott has been remarkably consistent and did show an uptick last season when Amari Cooper joined the team. He also has 6 rushing touchdowns in each of his 3 seasons so far – providing a pretty decent floor for a backup QB on your team, or a second guy in a 2 QB league.
What stud can you draft without hesitation? Easy – Ezekiel Elliott. This is not a situation like Bell where Zeke can sit out a year and move on after that. Zeke is still under contract through next year, and then they can start putting the franchise tag on him. He will play and he was the only player last season to carry the ball over 300 times. He is a first round pick in all formats (ADP 4/RB 4) and he’s firmly in the top tier of running backs this season.
Who could be a waiver pickup during the season? In week one or two, you may find Michael Gallup on the waiver wire, and if Jason Witten has a good performance to start, you’ll also see him being picked up based on his name alone. That being said, I don’t see a lot of good fantasy depth on this team. You’re basically going to want Amari Cooper, Ezekiel Elliott and maybe Dak Prescott. After that, it’s difficult to find any fantasy relevance on the Cowboys.
Who are the rookies to know on this team? Will any of them be relevant this year? Again, I’m not going to force any of these categories. The Cowboys didn’t draft a skill position until the 4th round with Tony Pollard at RB. His ADP is currently 209, which shows that people really aren’t concerned with him taking Zeke’s spot, despite reportedly playing well with Zeke out of camp. Pollard will not be relevant unless Zeke can’t/doesn’t play at some point.
Washington Redskins
What’s changed since last year? The Redskins had a carousel at QB last season, and I expect more of the same this year – so I suppose that there’s not a fundamental change there. Colt McCoy sits on top of the depth chart in the preseason, with Case Keenum right behind him. Alex Smith is still out from his broken leg last year, and first round pick Dwayne Haskins is being brought along, but isn’t a threat to start the season. I would not be surprised if every one of those guys got a start this year. They did lose Jameson Crowder to the Jets, though his 388 yards and 49 targets won’t be hard to replace. In fact, the leading receiver last year was Jordan Reed, with only 558 yards. No receivers had more than 2 TDs on the team, so it’s safe to say that the receiving group will be better this year, no matter what happens.
Who is the breakout/3rd year WR on the team? Paul Richardson, if healthy (recovering from a shoulder injury last November), could be someone who can finally live up to his potential. This is his 6th season in the league, though he’s only started 23 games total. His ADP of 269 (WR88) makes him undraftable and he is, admittedly, a long shot here. Derrius Guice had to sit out last season, and has been nursing a hamstring injury this year. Despite this, he is the highest Washington player on the ADP list (ADP 65/RB 30). Guice has the most potential of the unknown talents on the team, but he’s yet to see a single snap in the NFL. We’re talking potential here and there’s not much more to go on.
Who is a sleeper you can draft? Well, I don’t know about sleepers as in players who will surprise you, but there’s great value for Adrian Peterson at an ADP of 140 (RB51) and Chris Thompson at ADP 192 (RB63). The best WR on the team last year, Josh Doctson, has an ADP of 285 (WR94). The leading pass catcher on the team, Jordan Reed, has an ADP of 155 (TE16). Basically, you can have any of the “leaders” from the Redskins last year. The Redskins could very well be the least drafted team in fantasy football this year.
What stud can you draft without hesitation? None. This is a stud-less team. They are so far away from having a fantasy stud that were I to suggest one, you would immediately close this article.
Who could be a waiver pickup during the season? Basically any of the players mentioned earlier. The entire team will likely be available on the waiver wire early in the season, so if the Redskins do manage to have a good start, there will be plenty of options available. Of course, they play the Eagles and Bears in two of their first three games, so fat chance of that good start happening.
Who are the rookies to know on this team? Will any of them be relevant this year? Dwayne Haskins is the QB of the future for Washington. He is not relevant in redraft leagues to start the season (ADP 236/QB28), but his pedigree is there. He has the single season record for passing yards and TDs at Ohio State and was picked at #15 overall, the 3rd QB taken in the 2019 draft. He will be relevant if you have a dynasty draft, but otherwise he will be a pickup later in the year once he gets some starts. Haskins’ college teammate, Terry McLaurin, is a guy who can shine at WR. He ran a 4.32-40 at the combine and should see plenty of time on the field since there’s nobody on the depth chart ahead of him that really demands playing time. McLaurin can hopefully keep his relationship with Haskins going and turn it into a productive rookie year.
New York Giants
What’s changed since last year? Most notably, the Giants traded Odell Beckham away to the Browns. They did acquire a top tier offensive guard, Kevin Zeitler, which should improve their running game. That being said, the loss of Beckham will be felt all year long, as they did not replace him or his 124 targets at all. Golden Tate is new to the team and will try to pick up the slack, but he is now suspended for the first 4 games of the season. Tate will probably be a very high volume PPR receiver when he returns and can be had at a cheap price right now, his ADP is 111 (WR44).
Who is the breakout/3rd year WR on the team? Nobody really stands out to me as a potential breakout on the Giants, mostly because of the presence of Eli Manning. It’s certainly possible that one of the WRs can step up just based on the fact that there’s nobody else to throw to, but the 2018 Redskins proved that that doesn’t have to be the case.
Who is a sleeper you can draft? The uncertainty with the passing game in New York, coupled with his 4 game suspension, makes Golden Tate probably the only “sleeper” candidate on the Giants. Of course, he’s going to miss 4 games – but most sleepers don’t come on right away anyways.
What stud can you draft without hesitation? Saquon Thunder-Thighs Barkley. He’s currently ADP 1 and will have a very high percentage of the offense going through him this year. If (when) the Giants are losing, he will see lots of check down passes out of the backfield, he’s going to be even more fun in PPR leagues.
Who could be a waiver pickup during the season? It’s certainly possible that a WR like Bennie Fowler, Cody Latimer, or Russell Shepard can step up due to a lack of depth at the position. However – I wouldn’t count on it, but they are names to keep an eye on anyways.
Who are the rookies to know on this team? Will any of them be relevant this year? Daniel Jones is the Eli Manning of the future, drafted 6th overall this year. I certainly think that given the state of the team, they might as well start him as soon as possible, but that doesn’t seem to be the plan. I do expect Jones to eventually get starts, but that will probably come later in the season when they are eliminated from the playoffs and have a (likely) 1-9 record. Almost all of the rest of the Giants draft picks came on the defense.
Los Angeles Rams
What’s changed since last year? The Rams don’t have any big changes (or even minor ones) on offense to speak of. They let CJ Anderson walk as a free agent (now on the Lions) and they acquired Blake Bortles as a backup QB. Aside from that, what would you expect from a team that won the NFC Championship last season? There’s nothing broken, so don’t try to fix it! Cooper Kupp is on track to return and, had he stuck around all year (extrapolated stats), he would have had 80 catches, 1100+ yards and 12 TDs. This would have made him the WR8 in standard scoring, right between Michael Thomas and JuJu Smith-Schuster. Not bad company, and a good piece to have returning to your team.
Who is the breakout/3rd year WR on the team? So, Cooper Kupp is a third year WR, but obviously he’s broken out. Last season saw Josh Reynolds fill in for him, and as a 3rd year WR, he stands poised to step-up, if only he could get past any of the big 3 WRs on the Rams. Kupp, along with Robert Woods and Brandin Cooks have a stranglehold on the position, and without an injury to someone, it will be difficult for Reynolds to actually show what he’s got. I then turn my eyes over to Gerald Everett, 3rd year TE whom I think will be incorporated into the offense more this season. His receptions more than doubled last year from his rookie season, and he’s still not being drafted (ADP 276, TE31). Everett saw 50 targets last year and if that number can creep closer to the 70-80 mark, then he’s going to be a great low end TE-1 option this year.
Who is a sleeper you can draft? When you take the team that went to the Super Bowl last year and don’t make any changes, your opponents would literally have to be asleep for you to get some real value on them. I will mention that right now, Cooks (ADP 40, WR15, Woods (ADP 41, WR16) and Kupp (ADP 48, WR21) are all on the positive side of draft value right now, but none of them are a steal.
What stud can you draft without hesitation? In the spirit of this question, there isn’t really anyone on the Rams who are a genuine stud, considering Todd Gurley is not the player he once was. Of the three main WRs I mentioned, I think that Cooper Kupp has the best potential to become a top-10 WR, and he’s the “cheapest” of the three, so grab him in the 5th round if he’s available.
Who could be a waiver pickup during the season? My breakout candidate, Gerald Everett, is unlikely to be drafted in most redraft leagues and will be available for those of you who are planning on streaming TEs this season. If he has a big first couple of games, then he’s likely to wind up sticking on someone’s roster for quite a while, so keep an eye out for him early.
Who are the rookies to know on this team? Will any of them be relevant this year? Third round pick Darrell Henderson is currently on most people’s radar as the successor to Todd Gurley on the Rams. His current ADP of 86 and ranking of 113 shows me that his value is currently upside down and he should be avoided in drafts. The only reason to take him might be as a late round handcuff for Gurley, and that’s if you can get him at a more reasonable spot in the late 11th or 12th rounds. Henderson will come along, but let’s not ship Todd Gurley out of town just yet.
Seattle Seahawks
What’s changed since last year? The Seahawks let free agent RB Mike Davis walk, which should aid in clearing up their muddy backfield from last season. Chris Carson (ADP 51, RB21) has a clear path to the #1 spot, with Rashaad Penny (ADP 81, RB33) getting an increased role – I expect this to be a RBBC offense in no time. I also don’t expect either guy to really run away with a bulk of the carries, unless the other one is out with injury. The Seahawks also added one of the most hyped WRs in the draft, DK Metcalf, whom we’ll touch on in a moment. Needless to say, this should provide a boost to the passing game.
Who is the breakout/3rd year WR on the team? For me, the guy to watch in Seattle is David Moore. Sure, they drafted a new WR, but Moore averaged over 17 yards per reception last season and is now in his third year in the offense. He should have a more active role with Doug Baldwin out of the picture and has a chance to really shine early before Metcalf can establish himself in the offense. His ADP of 286 tells me that he’s basically being ignored by drafters, so he’s available as a flyer at the end of deeper drafts.
Who is a sleeper you can draft? There’s no sleeper recommendations to draft on the Seahawks. Their main players, Lockett, Carson, Wilson and Penny are all being drafted around their rankings, and everyone else worthy of a flier will be available on the waiver wire.
What stud can you draft without hesitation? There’s no sure-fire studs on this team. Russell Wilson is the only one who comes closest, and he’s being drafted towards the end of the 9th round currently. I’m worried that he’s only cracked 4000 yards in two different seasons, and has never eclipsed 35 passing TDs. He does run the ball a lot, though he ran the ball only 67 times last season, a career low, and had no TDs on the ground. His redeeming stat is that he’s never missed a game in his career. I guess I just gave you all the reasons why their best player is still not a fantasy stud.
Who could be a waiver pickup during the season? I’ve mentioned him a few times now, but David Moore is going to be the hot waiver wire pickup from the Seahawks. Keep an eye out for him early, though if DK Metcalf has a hot start, it’s likely to keep Moore buried on the depth chart. You can also watch for Nick Vannett at TE, the most likely candidate from a really sad bunch of fantasy TEs on the team.
Who are the rookies to know on this team? Will any of them be relevant this year? The Seahawks spent their second round pick on DK Metcalf, a guy who perhaps had the most hype before the draft and then saw his stock really fall during the days leading into the draft. He was finally taken on the second day and is currently listed as a starting WR on their depth chart. His ADP of 112 (WR43) and Rank of 151 really have me hesitant to recommend taking him, as I really don’t see any value in picking him. I do expect him to be fantasy relevant, considering he’s replacing Doug Baldwin.
San Francisco 49ers
What’s changed since last year? Lots have changed for the 49ers! Jimmy Garoppolo is back, one year after tearing his ACL in late September 2018. Based on the QB play that the 49ers got out of Nick Mullens and CJ Beathard last season, having Garoppolo back could rocket their offense to a top 10 spot in the league. The 49ers also acquired Tevin Coleman, who is slated to be the starting RB. This is an offense that showed some huge signs last year and is finally ready to move forward with healthy, first option starters at QB and RB.
Who is the breakout/3rd year WR on the team? Dante Pettis is a 2nd year guy who is most poised to have a big break-out season, though his hype is starting to be real all over the internet. His ADP is currently 80 and his consensus ranking is 77, so as a mid-rounder, he has a very high ceiling. Since he really has no rapport with Garoppolo, there is the reality that he does have a low floor, but signs so far in camp have been very positive for Pettis. He’s very likely to keep Marquise Goodwin at bay and will at least start the season ahead of the two rookie WRs that the 49ers drafted.
Who is a sleeper you can draft? Nobody on the 49ers really has proper sleeper value, though I like where you can get Deebo Samuel (ADP 191, WR60) and Jalen Hurd (No ADP) – both rookies. They’re flyers in deep drafts and will definitely be drafted in dynasty formats.
What stud can you draft without hesitation? George Kittle, if you’re not reaching for him, could be your ticket to the fantasy postseason. His ADP of 29 (TE2) and rank of 23 even shows that he’s got a bit of value and I’d endorse taking him pretty much anywhere in the third round, if there’s no one else you like available right there (he’s ranked right next to Antonio Brown, I know who I feel more confident in).
Who could be a waiver pickup during the season? Since Garoppolo has been out for basically an entire season, the WR core for the 49ers is rather up in the air. Marquise Goodwin (ADP 219, WR67) as well as the rookies Samuel and Hurd are all guys who should be available on the waiver wire. Whoever does start to click with Garoppolo is likely to be gone, perhaps before the season even starts, so keep a close eye on these three guys.
Who are the rookies to know on this team? Will any of them be relevant this year? The aforementioned Deebo Samuel, 2nd round pick, and Jalen Hurd, 3rd rounder, both will be looking to make their way onto the field this season. Samuel made a highlight reel worthy 45-yard catch over a defender in the first preseason game to set up a TD. Of course, Jalen Hurd would not be outdone and found the end zone twice in the same game. The future is looking good for this rookie combo and they should both find plenty of playing time in what looks like it will be a WR rotation. Once one or both of them gets established, they will certainly be fantasy relevant.
Arizona Cardinals
What’s changed since last year? Is everything a valid answer? Because nearly everything is different for the Arizona Cardinals. They have a new coach, Kliff Kingsbury, a new QB, Kyler Murray, and a hot rookie WR, Andy Isabella. They also got rid of JJ Nelson. The only recognizable parts of the offense are Larry Fitzgerald and David Johnson, though some people with deeper teams already have their eyes on Christian Kirk as well. Most importantly, the play caller and the signal caller are both new and this offense should look completely different than last year’s.
Who is the breakout/3rd year WR on the team? Christian Kirk is a 2nd year WR who was drafted in the 2nd round in 2018. He seems to be a pick to click for many pundits. He had 68 targets last season in 12 games, so over a full season with a bit of a boost, it’s completely reasonable to expect him to get at least 100 targets. The Cardinals were 29th in the league in pass attempts, a number that’s bound to get a lot better with Kingsbury’s air raid offense. Kirk has an ADP of 77 (WR32) and is a very solid mid round pick up as the first WR off your bench, with potential to be a WR2.
Who is a sleeper you can draft? This is basically a brand new offense this season, so there’s not a lot of options yet. Johnson, Fitz, Kirk and Murray are all being drafted at or near their expected value. There’s nobody I would recommend drafting from the Cardinals as a sleeper.
What stud can you draft without hesitation? There’s about to be a David Johnson renaissance in the desert. Johnson is currently at ADP 5 (RB5), Rank 5 and is basically being placed just outside the tier 1 RBs, but still ahead of any other position players on the board. I know you aren’t going to get great value for Johnson, but his production in a brand new offense that should know how to use an extremely talented and versatile player is too good to pass up. Johnson will be a stud this year, and considering the RB position is top-heavy, he’s the last man on the top that’s worth that early first round pick.
Who could be a waiver pickup during the season? Andy Isabella has an ADP and rank of over 200, so he’s likely to be available on the waiver wire early in the season. Look for him to hook up with fellow rookie Kyler Murray as they try to develop a rapport for when the team needs to eventually replace Larry Fitzgerald. I would also keep an eye on Ricky Seals-Jones at TE since that position is so hard to pin down a top 10 guy there.
Who are the rookies to know on this team? Will any of them be relevant this year? Well, just the first overall pick in the 2019 draft, Kyler Murray. Murray should be starting in week 1 and has already looked good in his first preseason game. He went an efficient 6 of 7 passing for 44 yards before exiting early, as is tradition in week 1 of the preseason. Murray will be the starter all year, and like most rookie starters at QB, is very unlikely to finish as a top 10 guy, but will be relevant as a streaming and backup option, as well as in 2-QB leagues. Andy Isabella was taken in the 2nd round by the Cardinals, because when you get yourself a Lamborghini, you find some sweet accessories to go along with it. Isabella has a tougher road to regular playing time, but he should find his way on the field for a significant amount of targets this season and will be fantasy relevant by the middle of the year.
Minnesota Vikings
What’s changed since last year? The core of the Vikings will remain the same this season, with just a few minor changes. Latavius Murray is gone, he’s on the Saints now. That leaves Dalvin Cook as the main running back, though rookie Alexander Mattison (3rd round) is someone who could see a decent share of carries this season, but more on him and fellow rookie Irv Smith Jr. in a moment. The most important change for the Vikings this year will come if Dalvin Cook can stay healthy all year. He’s only played 14 games in his first two seasons and he needs to stay on the field to be worthy of his ADP 20 (RB11) current draft spot.
Who is the breakout/3rd year WR on the team? There’s not much here as the main core of the Vikings is already well established, but you could keep an eye out for WR Chad Beebe, an UDFA from last year. He’s gotten a lot of hype during practice for making some big catches, but wasn’t heard from in the first preseason game. He also returns punts and holds for the kicker (during practice), so he’s at least making himself valuable for special teams. That being said, he’s not even listed on fantasypros’ ADP list, so no, there are not really any breakout candidates on the Vikings this year.
Who is a sleeper you can draft? The main fantasy names on the Vikings – Diggs, Thielen and Cook, are all being drafted in the first 4 rounds, so sleepers they are not. I do propose that Kirk Cousins is a sleeper with an ADP of 144 (QB19). Cousins has the talent to be a top 10 guy (the 2nd highest paid QB this year) and you could essentially just draft him at the very end of a draft and get reasonable production from the QB slot while adding more depth to your other positions. You like that?
What stud can you draft without hesitation? There are potentially 3 fantasy studs on this team, but the one I like the most is Adam Thielen (ADP 26, WR11). Thielen had 142 targets in 2017 and 153 in 2018, showing that he has ridiculous volume coming to him, regardless of who’s at QB. His catch rate went from 64.1% in 2017 to 73.9% in 2018 and his TDs went from 4 to 9 over the same time period. He’s clearly got a good rapport with Cousins and I feel that if he and Cousins are healthy, a WR10 finish is basically his floor for this season.
Who could be a waiver pickup during the season? If you’re into streaming QBs, keep an eye out for Kirk Cousins, as his draft spot currently could leave him undrafted in some 10 team leagues. Alexander Mattison is also a guy who could wind up on the waiver wire early in the season. He’s a great handcuff for Dalvin Cook and might just be used in a 2 RB system anyways, similar to the rotation they had with Murray/Cook last year.
Who are the rookies to know on this team? Will any of them be relevant this year? Two offensive rookies, Alexander Mattison (ADP 153, RB52) and Irv Smith Jr (ADP 240, TE281) are the guys to check out this year. Mattison was drafted in the third round and he’s not quite relevant at his draft value, however, he is likely to get a decent share of carries this year based on Dalvin Cook’s injury history. He’s certainly going to be involved in the offense and not just taken out of moth balls once Cook gets hurt. Irv Smith Jr was drafted in the 2nd round and was a bit of a surprise, considering the Vikings have Kyle Rudolph. Rudolph did sign a big contract this year, but the team has an out in 2020 and just has to eat the rest of his signing bonus against their cap. Smith should be slowly introduced into the offense and will be relevant in dynasty drafts, but is unlikely to be involved in redraft leagues this season.
Chicago Bears
What’s changed since last year? The RB group in Chicago has had a shake-up – Jordan Howard was unceremoniously dumped on the Philadelphia Eagles for a sixth-round pick. The Bears then acquired Mike Davis, formerly of the Seahawks muddled backfield. Then, to cap it off, they drafted David Montgomery with their first available pick in the 2019 draft (third round). Montgomery showed some flash and we’ll get to him more in a bit. For now, it looks like the QB, WR and TE groups are the same as last year, while the RBs have received a decent upgrade.
Who is the breakout/3rd year WR on the team? Last year’s rookie WR, Anthony Miller, appeared in 15 games, had catches in 12 of those games, but scored a whopping 7 TDs. He saw the bulk of his work in the middle of the season – he only had 4 catches over his last 5 games. Miller is definitely a guy who can benefit from a larger number of targets and might wind up being fantasy relevant this year. He’s definitely trusted by Mitch Trubisky to get the ball into the end zone.
Who is a sleeper you can draft? Anthony Miller is also the sleeper that has some good draft value. His current ADP of 141 (WR53) is far below his consensus ranking of 113 (WR45), so he can be drafted in the late rounds and has some great potential to make it to WR3 status this season. Allen Robinson also has a discrepancy between his ranking and ADP. His ADP is listed at 75 overall (WR31), but he’s ranked 61. If you can grab Allen Robinson in the 8th round of your draft, that’s a good value for a #1 WR on a team that will likely want to throw the ball more than the 512 times they did last year. Other Bears like Montgomery (ADP 42, RB22), Tarik Cohen (ADP 69, RB31) and Trubisky (ADP 152, QB21) will be fantasy relevant, but are probably right about where they should be on the draft boards.
What stud can you draft without hesitation? The Bears will have an improved offense, but honestly, they don’t have any studs on this offense. I wouldn’t even recommend the DST as a “stud”, considering that they have a new coordinator this season and that last year’s league-leading 36 turnovers will be hard to replicate.
Who could be a waiver pickup during the season? Taylor Gabriel (ADP 293) is not being drafted anywhere and will be available during the first few weeks of the season. He current is listed as a starting WR on the team’s depth chart, so if he has early success, he may be able to hold off Anthony Miller from overtaking him. I also think that Cordarrelle Patterson could wind up as a heck of a gadget player, but is probably only worth owning in leagues that give points for return yards.
Who are the rookies to know on this team? Will any of them be relevant this year? David Montgomery is the rookie to know on the Bears in 2019. The team traded up with the Patriots to acquire him, and he was widely regarded as the 2nd best RB talent in the draft. In his first action (week 1’s preseason game vs the Panthers), he had 3 carries for 16 yards and 1 TD, 3 catches for 30 yards in very limited play. Montgomery’s draft stock will continue to rise as the preseason goes on and he’s shown more and more with the first team. Currently, his ADP of 42 matches his consensus rank of 48, (he’s risen 10 spots in each category since last week) but when you consider he’s just the RB22, I think that’s probably good value considering his upside. If he winds up with a similar rookie year as say, Kareem Hunt (whom scouts have compared Montgomery to, and was drafted around the same spot), he could have over 300 touches and finish as a top 5 RB.
Detroit Lions
What’s changed since last year? The Lions offense may not wind up looking a lot different in terms of results, but at least there’s several new names on the jerseys. Golden Tate was traded mid-way through last season and they signed Danny Amendola to take his place. They also got rid of 3rd down back Theo Riddick, paving the way for Kerryon Johnson to be the guy, and possibly turn into a proper three down back. Finally, the Lions have changed their OC – Darrell Bevell is going to be calling plays this year. Known for his great running teams from Seattle, Bevell should provide a positive jolt to the offense. Of course, Bevell is also the guy who called a pass from the 1-yard line in Super Bowl XLIX .
Who is the breakout/3rd year WR on the team? Third year WR Kenny Golladay (ADP 46, WR18), while technically not a breakout candidate (he had 70 receptions for 1063 yards last year and 5 TDs) could take another step forward and has a ceiling of being a top 10 guy. The third year with Matt Stafford will help him out, as well as having two other decent receivers to draw attention away from him.
Who is a sleeper you can draft? I have two guys in mind for sleepers on the Lions, based on their current draft positions. Danny Amendola (ADP 306, WR104) is available at the end of the draft or as a waiver pickup. He will play in the slot for the Lions and will be trying to fill the Golden Tate role. Tate had over 90 receptions each year he was in Detroit (he was extrapolated to have over 90 in the year he was traded). In a PPR league, Amendola is someone who could easily wind up as a WR3 just based on volume alone. I also like the value of T.J. Hockenson (ADP 143, TE13), especially given the scarcity at TE. He’s a rookie, so we’ll get to him in a moment.
What stud can you draft without hesitation? Gone are the days of Megatron in Detroit, and with him the last stud fantasy player that the Lions have had. There are no players I recommend drafting that are definitely going to become studs. Kerryon Johnson comes the closest, however I see his ceiling as maybe a top 15 guy at best.
Who could be a waiver pickup during the season? As I mentioned earlier, Danny Amendola will likely be available as a waiver pickup early in the season, but he’s likely to be snatched up quickly in PPR leagues, so if you like him, take him at the end of your draft instead. Another waiver possibility will be (the ageless?) C.J. Anderson. Anderson was nothing short of a fantasy stud in the last two games of 2018, filling in for Todd Gurley. 150 yards from scrimmage and a TD (each game) are hard to ignore, and probably got more than a few people a surprise championship to finish out 2018.
Who are the rookies to know on this team? Will any of them be relevant this year? With the 8th overall pick in the 2019 draft, the Lions took tight end T.J. Hockenson from Iowa (now known as tight end U). Hockenson’s scouting report is glowing and he has a very high ceiling in the NFL. I do worry that the Lions have a history of drafting TEs high and not knowing what to do with them, but there’s a new regime in Detroit (new HC last year, new OC this year), so I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt that they’re getting this right. Hockenson is currently being drafted as the 13th TE, but he could wind up as a top 5 guy easily, given the depth of the position.
Green Bay Packers
What’s changed since last year? The biggest change in Green Bay is the play caller. Out with Mike McCarthy and in with Matt LaFleur. Obviously, Aaron Rodgers was going to win that power struggle against McCarthy and I expect the Packers offense to be better this season. The Pack also parted ways with Randall Cobb, thus clearing the way for Marquez Valdes-Scantling to be the #2 WR behind Davante Adams. Aaron Jones (ADP 28, RB15) is also, supposedly, going to be the lead back this season, not really splitting with Jamaal Williams. There is a new coach, but I’m not sold on this increased usage and think that he’s being drafted too high right now.
Who is the breakout/3rd year WR on the team? The Packers have a WR core full of young guys just itching to break out. Marquez Valdes-Scantling (ADP 112, WR44) leads the pack and is the most likely to reach the 1000 yard milestone this year. Equanimeous St. Brown (ADP 290, WR97) probably has the best measurables of the group, but is currently banged up and questionable for week 1. Geronimo Allison (ADP 118, WR 46) is in his 4th season on the Packers and he is no secret in drafts. He had good numbers last year, but was only able to play 5 games. If we extrapolate his numbers, he winds up just shy of 1000 yards with 6 TDs. Filling out this group is Jake Kumerow (ADP 375, WR128) who has made some big plays during in preseason, but didn’t get a lot of playing time last year. Of these four guys, I think that Valdes-Scantling has the best chance to break out and be big deal in fantasy.
Who is a sleeper you can draft? I would argue that Valdes-Scantling and Allison are not sleepers since they are being taken in almost all drafts. With them taken out of the picture, I would recommend Equanimeous St. Brown as a sleeper you can nab at the end of the draft. This offense is led by Aaron Rodgers which means they’re going to throw the ball nearly 600 times, and that’s a ton of targets available, allowing for several WRs to thrive.
What stud can you draft without hesitation? This one’s easy – Davante Adams (ADP 8, WR2). Last season, Adams finished as the 3rd WR in PPR scoring. His worst game was 16.1 points – if he had scored his floor all season long, he would have still be the WR12 on the season. He’s a hell of a wide out and don’t hesitate to grab him, PPR or not. Aaron Rodgers (ADP 48, QB3) gets an honorable mention here, but I don’t endorse taking a QB that early in single QB leagues.
Who could be a waiver pickup during the season? I could see Jake Kumerow being a waiver pickup later in the year, especially if injuries crop up in the WR group. Kumerow is probably the odd man out to start the season, but will stay on the roster and will see more action as other players wind up having to sit at different points of the season. Jimmy Graham (ADP 165, TE19) is a guy with a big name who fell off the fantasy radar the last few seasons. He’s in a good spot for a comeback player of the year type season, but isn’t currently being drafted. As we keep saying, with the positional scarcity at TE, anyone is a viable option, really.
Who are the rookies to know on this team? Will any of them be relevant this year? New TE Jace Sternberger is the only skill player that the Packers drafted who has a chance at being fantasy relevant this season. Sternberger was a 3rd round pick this year and is not currently listed in Fantasypros’ ADP list. He will need to pass Jimmy Graham on the depth chart, because the Packers are unlikely to run a lot of two tight end formations.
Houston Texans
What’s changed since last year? The Texans didn’t sign any offensive players of note in free agency, they fired their GM Brian Gaine, Lamar Miller tore his ACL and MCL in the preseason, and they acquired RB Duke Johnson from the Browns.
Who is the breakout/3rd year WR on the team? There has been quite a bit of noise about 2nd year WR Keke Coutee breaking out this year after a good showing in some games last year, but he has had trouble staying healthy and it looks like he won’t play early in the season after an ankle injury in early August. 4th year WR Will Fuller has also had trouble staying healthy and went down with an ACL last year but appears to be fully recovered now and is my choice for a breakout. He did have 7 TDs in 2017 but has maxed out at only 635 yards so I think this year may be his best yet.
Who is a sleeper you can draft? Duke Johnson (ADP79, RB34) is a good example of a sleeper pick right now, although his ADP has risen substantially since Lamar Miller suffered a season-ending knee injury. Especially in PPR leagues, Johnson could end up outperforming his ADP by miles if the Texans don’t end up picking up another RB to start. Either way, he’ll have the opportunity to succeed in this offense.
What stud can you draft without hesitation? Although Deshaun Watson (ADP 40, QB2) is routinely taken off draft boards quickly, DeAndre Hopkins (ADP 5, WR1) is an easy decision to make here. Hopkins is an otherworldly talent who will almost certainly catch 100+ passes for 1500+ yards and 10+ TDs. Boom.
Who could be a waiver pickup during the season? 2nd year TE Jordan Thomas (ADP 373, TE41) could find his way into being a TE2 on a team that craves some more options in the passing game, and UDFA RB Damarea Crockett (ADP 303, RB78) figures to find a way into the lineup throughout the year barring some major moves from the Texans. Duke Johnson has not missed an NFL game, however, so Crockett’s path to playing time probably doesn’t happen that way.
Who are the rookies to know on this team? Will any of them be relevant this year? Of note, the Texans picked TE Kahale Warring (3rd round, #86 overall) for depth at the position – analysis reveals that Warring needs a lot of help with his blocking but is a skilled route runner. He will likely not provide a fantasy impact in 2019. [Editor's Note: Warring is now a candidate for IR, looks like he certainly won't be making any immediate impact in fantasy]
Indianapolis Colts
What’s changed since last year? #1 with a bullet, Andrew Luck has retired, leaving most NFL analysts, fans, players, and coaches in shock. Yowza. This clearly impacts the Colts’ offense negatively in general and we’ll likely see ripples of this in fantasy for years to come. They added Devin Funchess after losing Dontrelle Inman and Ryan Grant and added Spencer Ware.
Who is the breakout/3rd year WR on the team? 2nd year WR Deon Cain (ADP 342, WR114) has been killing it in the preseason, so let’s go with him. He tore his ACL in early August last year which is why his name may have faded from memory, but he’ll be a week 1 starter for the Colts and has been showing great chemistry with Jacoby Brissett (who is now the starting QB there). Roll the dice on this kid in a deep draft, why not?
Who is a sleeper you can draft? At this point almost all the Colts are still being drafted above their ADP when you factor in the effects of Luck’s retirement. Perhaps Nyheim Hines (ADP 185, RB58) could help out as a safety valve for the new QB and improve on the yardage (425) and TD (2) numbers he had last year...
What stud can you draft without hesitation? Although Marlon Mack (ADP 38, RB21) is being drafted earlier than T.Y. Hilton (ADP 41, WR15), Hilton has more value and a higher upside (5 1000+ yard receiving seasons while Mack has not yet reached 1000 yards rushing). I’m calling Hilton the stud on this team, and the Colts may be playing from behind more than they have the lead this season. Chuck it, Jacoby!
Who could be a waiver pickup during the season? While everyone is drafting Eric Ebron (ADP 90, TE8) as a top 10 TE, they may be forgetting about Jack Doyle (ADP 203, TE21) a little too soon. Doyle finished the 2017 season as the TE8, with 80 receptions, without Andrew Luck. He didn’t participate in the offseason program at all, due to hip/kidney surgeries, but is now recovered and chomping at the bit to provide some fantasy production to your team. Could he cause Ebron to bust in 2019? Maybe.
Who are the rookies to know on this team? Will any of them be relevant this year? Parris Campbell (ADP 205, WR70) has missed the last 15 team practices in training camp and preseason due to a lingering hamstring injury. He may play against the Bengals this week, but it looks like he’ll start out the year as the WR4 on the Colts, behind Hilton, Funchess, and Cain. He’s still very much a weapon that the Colts will use but is not likely to be relevant this year without a top QB at the helm.
Tennessee Titans
What’s changed since last year? Congrats on the new gig as backup QB in Nashville, Ryan Tannehill! The Titans also added WR Adam Humphries and drafted rookie WR A.J. Brown.
Who is the breakout/3rd year WR on the team? So, the narrative says that 3rd year WR Corey Davis (ADP 94, WR37) should be the breakout player on the Titans this year. And I agree, he should. 2018 basically doubled his stats from the previous year, and at 65 receptions for 891 yards, he doesn’t have far to go to eclipse that 1000 mark. The trouble is really the offense in general but he is currently on a trajectory to be an every week fantasy starter.
Who is a sleeper you can draft? Without hesitation, Delanie Walker (ADP 114, TE11). True, he’s getting older (35 as of August 12th, happy birthday Delanie!), but he strung together 4 straight seasons of 100+ targets and 800+ yards before he was injured in game 1 of 2018. He’s still the starting TE of the Titans and still Mariota’s favorite redzone target. His ADP has been rising recently but he has been no worse than the TE 5 over the past three years. This guy could help you win your league at his current valuation. Former Patriots’ RB Dion Lewis (ADP 129, RB46) is also a possible sleeper, if incumbent starter Derrick Henry is unable to live up to expectations.
What stud can you draft without hesitation? Derrick Henry (ADP 36, RB19) is as close as we get to a stud on the Titans now (not counting Walker since consensus is lower on him after coming back from injury), but he’s not quite there. Last year, Henry rushed for 1000+ yards and 12 TDs though – so if he can match those numbers this season, he’ll be drafted as a stud RB in 2020. What are the odds?
Who could be a waiver pickup during the season? Adam Humphries (ADP 224, WR74) is not currently being drafted in most leagues, and has been getting some buzz in the preseason, even receiving more targets than Davis in the preseason. Last year he had 76 receptions for 816 yards and 5 TDs playing slot receivers for the Bucs. That said – there may not be enough targets to spread around in Tennessee - maybe he just signed with the Titans for the $36 million and a cool place to Netflix and chill.
Who are the rookies to know on this team? Will any of them be relevant this year? The only rookie that the Titans took on the offensive side of the ball during the 2019 draft was WR A.J. Brown (ADP 207, WR71). He was drafted #51 overall in the 2nd round and has all the pieces to be a #1 WR on any NFL team. Unfortunately, he was drafted by the Titans. In Tennessee, Brown has to deal with unpredictable QB play, a struggling offensive line, a middling number of targets available for the playmakers, and a depth chart that currently has both Davis and Walker in front of him as primary options in the passing game. From all the tape I’ve seen of him, it’s likely that Brown will be great – but it’s not likely that it’s in 2019.
Jacksonville Jaguars
[Editor's Note: Jaguars information will be available shortly]