NFC North Fantasy Outlook – 2019 – 2020

NFC North Fantasy Outlook – 2019 – 2020

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Chicago Bears:

QB: Mitch Trubisky

RB: David Montomgery, Tarik Cohen, Mike Davis

WR: Allen Robinson, Anthony Miller, Taylor Gabriel

TE: Trey Burton

D/ST: Position Rank = 1

The Bears had a marvelous year in 2018 as new Head Coach Matt Nagy inserted an offensive scheme that maximized Mitch Trubisky. The scheme is predicated around smoke and mirrors and creating illusions through RPO’s (Run-Pass Options). In terms of fantasy value, Mike Davis may start the year as the lead RB, but it won’t take long for rookie David Montgomery to touch the field. Montgomery is being drafted as the 2nd highest rookie in most leagues behind Raiders Josh Jacobs. Montgomery has great value anywhere after the 4th round. Their receiving corps was often led by RB Tarik Cohen last year, as he specializes on passing downs and screen plays. As Nagy is a master of getting his play makers in open space, Cohen should be in line for another great year catching the ball. Their WRs will each have their weeks to shine, but they don’t have one guy who will constantly lead the team in targets and yards. Trey Burton is a solid TE, but nothing more than a late round pick in a 12 man league. Overall, don’t reach on any of the Bears receivers! Tarik Cohen has the highest floor on the team due to his pass catching ability and the play calling. Montgomery and Cohen should without a doubt be the first two bears selected, anywhere from rounds 4-7.

Minnesota Vikings:

QB: Kirk Cousins

RB: Dalvin Cook, Alexander Mattison

WR: Stefon Diggs, Adam Thielen, Laquon Treadwell

TE: Kyle Rudolph

D/ST: Position Rank = 5

Fans have been very critical of Kirk Cousins for his play in 2018, specifically his performance in prime-time games facing good opponents. Fair or not, Cousins signed a three year deal for $84M (all guaranteed) so they might have a point. Nevertheless, Cousins is still the conductor of a remotely high powered offense in Minnesota. Dalvin Cook’s current ADP is the 4th pick in the 2nd round, which is way too risky. Safety in the first 2-3 rounds is very important, as you need to solidify building blocks for your team. For a RB that has played in 15 games over his first two seasons, the 2nd round is too early. Cook still has tremendous value, just not at that ADP. Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen formed one of the best 1-2 WR duos in the league in 2018. They both topped 100 receptions, 1000 yards, and 9 TDs. With Cousins throwing the 4th most passes in 2018, both of these WRs are worth a selection anytime after round 2. Besides these three skill players, no one else on their roster is worthy of a draft pick quite yet.

Green Bay Packers:

QB: Aaron Rodgers

RB: Aaron Jones, Jamaal Williams

WR: Davante Adams, Geronimo Allison, Marquez Valdes-Scantling

TE: Jimmy Graham, Marcedes Lewis

D/ST: Position Rank = 24

Even after a low-spirited 2018, the Green Bay Packers still have one of the most prolific offenses in the NFL. With Superstar QB Aaron Rodgers and numerous weapons on the outside, GB will have a serious comeback season if new Head Coach Matt LaFleur can harmonize with Aaron Rodgers. With Mike McCarthy running the show in previous years, there were always multiple RBs involved in the offense, which created fantasy instability. Reports from camp are that Aaron Jones is by far the best back in GB, and it seems like he will get a bulk load of the work to start the year. Davante Adams is the biggest weapon in their offense, as he totaled 111 catches for 1300+ yards and 13 TDs last year. Adams will be a top 5 WR at the end of the year if he stays healthy. If you are dealt a late first round pick, Adams could be your guy. Instead of risking your season on a Joe Mixon or Melvin Gordon, take the smart pick in Davante Adams. Geronimo Allison and MVS are currently competing for the second receiver spot. Both of them are being drafted in rounds 8-12 as many believe one will have a breakout 2019. It looks as though MVS will play a lot in the slot as well. Overall, Adams and Jones are the only two locks as of now. If you can get Jones in the 3rd round, there is solid value there. 

Detroit Lions:

QB: Matthew Stafford

RB: Kerryon Johnson, C.J. Anderson, Zach Zenner

WR: Kenny Golladay, Marvin Jones, Danny Amendola

TE: T.J. Hockenson, Jesse James

D/ST: Position Rank = 19

Even after an underwhelming 6-10 first season with new Head Coach Matt Patricia, there are still a handful of players that have solid value in this offense. The first is Kerryon Johnson, who is being drafted as RB15 towards the end of the 3rd round. With C.J. Anderson as his running mate, Johnson has the ability to become a true 3-down back this year. He showed flashes of greatness in his rookie year, but he was sidelined for the last few games with an injury. If Johnson slips to the 4th round in any draft, that is remarkable value for an RB2 with RB1 upside. The second player with clear value is Kenny Golladay. Golladay became the number 1 target of Matthew Stafford in 2018, as he posted his first 1000 yard receiving year in his sophomore season. Marvin Jones and Danny Amendola are not to be overlooked, but Jones is now 29 and looks like his best days are behind him and Amendola will remain in the slot which hurts his TD potential. This isn’t saying draft Golladay in the 3-4th round, but if you can get him anytime after round 4 there is absolutely value. Another late round value player is rookie TE T.J. Hockenson out of Iowa. Obviously do not take Hockenson before the top tier TEs are off the board, but don’t be surprised if Hockenson becomes a safety blanket for Stafford. 

Aug 17, 2019 No Comments
SneakerReporter NFL Top 30: #19 Stephon Gilmore

SneakerReporter NFL Top 30: #19 Stephon Gilmore

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19. Stephon Gilmore 

Team: New England Patriots

Position: CB

Experience: 7 Years

The Buffalo Bills selected Gilmore with the tenth overall pick in the first round of the 2012 Draft. Gilmore played 5 seasons for Buffalo earning one Pro Bowl nomination in 2016. His stellar performance wasn’t enough to catapult the Bills into contention, as the Bills best record with Gilmore was a measly 9-7 2nd place finish in the AFC East in 2014. However, his play didn’t go unnoticed by mastermind Head Coach Bill Belicheck. The Patriots went out of the norm, as they spent big money grabbing Gilmore away from Buffalo at the cost of 65 Million (40 Guaranteed) over the course of 5 years. 

As mentioned earlier, Gilmore did have some success in Buffalo. In  2016 he tied for the league lead in INTs with 5. Although the Bills had trouble manufacturing points, their defense was always stingy throughout Gilmore’s tenure, large in part to the terrific play of their secondary and pass rush. Gilmore turned into a whole new monster with New England. Will Belicheck’s schemes in place, he has been able to transform Gilmore into an even bigger threat for opposing QBs. 

Although Gilmore numbers dropped in his first season as a Patriot in 2017, his overall effect on the game was just as great. With a significant decrease in the number of balls targeted his way, offenses simply chose to avoid his 1 on 1 coverage on their #1 receiver. Gilmore is known for his exceptional bump and run coverage on defense, a strategy in which he lines up directly across from the wideout on offense and uses his great physicality and footwork to impede the receivers route. Gilmore has remarkably strong hands and impeccable timing in breaking up passes. 

Gilmore had a spectacular 2018 campaign. He suited up for all 16 games in the regular season for the Patriots. His primary role was to shadow the oppositions best receiver in 13 of the contests, in which he allowed only 42 catches on 90 targets for 466 yards. Gilmore led the league in forced incompletions (24) as well pass break-ups and interceptions combined (29).  His play earned him recognition from Pro Football Focus as the number one ranked cornerback of 2018. Gilmore added another Pro-Bowl to his collection along with his first selection to the All-Pro first team. 

Gilmore elevated his game to the next level in the 2018 playoffs. In the Patriots three game stretch facing Philip Rivers, Patrick Mahomes and Jared Goff, Gilmore was targeted a total of 19 times. In these 19 attempts, the opposing QBs posted an astounding 38.2 passing rating, legitimately worse than every single pass landing out of bounds (Pat Thurman-PFF). Gilmore heads into 2019 as a Super Bowl Champion and arguably the best corner in the game. Paired with Bill Belicheck and the Patriots, Gilmore is peaking at the perfect time in his career. 

Aug 16, 2019 No Comments
SneakerReporter NFL Top 30: #21 J.J. Watt

SneakerReporter NFL Top 30: #21 J.J. Watt

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21. J.J. Watt

Team: Houston Texans

Position: DE

Experience: 8 Years

The Houston Texans selected DE J.J. Watt out of Wisconsin with the 11th overall pick in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft. Like many others, Watt forgave his senior season in college to join the NFL. After transferring to Wisconsin from Central Michigan for his sophomore and junior seasons, Watt became a can’t miss prospect in the 2011 draft. In his senior year at Wisconsin, Watt totaled 62 tackles (21 for a loss) along with 7.0 sacks. His excellent play earned him the Ronnie Lott Trophy in 2010 as the defensive impact player of the year. 

Watt has been terrorizing offenses since he stepped foot into the league. In his rookie season with the Texans, Watt started in all 16 games and finished with two fumble recoveries, 13 tackles for losses, and 5.5 sacks. He leaped to super-stardom during his 2nd season in 2012, when he received his first All-Pro and Pro-Bowl nominations. He did this by reeling off 69 tackles including 39 for loss along with 20.5 sacks, both of which led the NFL. Watt was the young leader of Houston’s defensive unit that ranked top 10 in yardage and scoring. 

The three year stretch following 2012 was more of the same for Watt. He continued to produce all over the field, racking up three more All-Pro and Pro-Bowl selections. However, the success of the team was not directly correlated to Watt’s dominance, as Houston suffered a rough 2-14 year in 2013, followed by back-to back 9-7 seasons as new head coach Bill O’Brien took over the team. Watt became a household name throughout these seasons and solidified his name with the greats in 2014 as he became the first player in NFL history with 20+ sacks in two seasons. 

The next two years were disappointing for Watt as he managed to play in just eight games over the two year span. He had surgery for a herniated disc in his back in July 2016, but started the regular season on time. He played in only three games before re-injuring his back and needing another surgery that sidelined him for the remainder of the season. Watt looked healthy for 2017 and he started the first 5 games on the season before suffering a leg tibia plateau fracture, knocking him out the remaining 11 games of 2017. 

There were question marks surrounding Watt’s future in the league after multiple severe injuries and surgeries. Watt put the doubts to rest as he returned for a full 16 games in 2018 at the elite level fans are used. He totaled 16.0 sacks and 7 forced fumbles, stats that put him 2nd and 1st in the league respectively. He received All-Pro and Pro-Bowl honors for the fifth time in his career. With the health concerns in his past, Watt looks primed to have another All-Pro season in 2019. 

Aug 14, 2019 No Comments
SneakerReporter NFL Top 30: #23 Saquon Barkley

SneakerReporter NFL Top 30: #23 Saquon Barkley

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23. Saquon Barkley

Team: New York Giants

Position: RB

Experience: 1 Year

At number 23 on the SneakerReporter Top 30 countdown is Saquon Barkley. Barkley was a four star recruit coming out of high school, attending Whitehall High School in Township Pennsylvania. He committed to play at Penn State and in his three years as a Nittany Lion, Barkley continued to flourish. He played over 11 games in all three of his collegiate years, totalling over 1200 yards and 8 TDs in every season. As more and more of his highlights hit the mainstream media, it was easy to tell that Barkley was different. 

Barkley’s mold is something we have never seen. He has Barry Sanders level agility and elusiveness, combined with Marshawn Lynch-type power. Now add onto this his next-level breakaway speed and terrific hands in the passing game and you may have the best running back in the game today. Barkley is essentially a real life create-a-player, with all of the attributes maxed out. Legitimately the only concern surrounding Barkley heading into 2019 is something that he cannot even control, the play of his Quarterback.

Assuming Ezekiel Elliott and the Cowboys reach a deal, the top 4 consensus Fantasy picks are Barkley, Elliott, Kamara, and McCaffrey. If Barkley was on any of those other offenses, he would be drafted 1st in every single league. He is the most talented RB in the league, but the Eli Manning saga is still very alive for the G-Men. Daniel Jones looked awfully impressive in his first preseason game, but when will he become the starter? With the loss of Odell Beckham Jr., Saquon will now be asked to carry the whole offense on his shoulders. There is no doubt he will end up as their leading rusher and receiver in 2019, especially since Sterling Shepard and Golden Tate will be sidelined to start the season.

Even with a sub-par offense in 2018, Barkley still found a way to put up big numbers. In his rookie season, Barkley elapsed 2000 yards from scrimmage, joining only Eric Dickerson and Edgerrin James as the only players in NFL history to do so. Barkley rushed for over 1300 yards on only 261 carries, finding the end zone 11 times. Barkley had the most rush yards/attempt by anyone with over 200 carries last year. Barkley also dazzled the fans with his receiving ability, as he caught 91 passes for a total of 721 yards and 4 TDs. 

So what is next for Barkley? Even if Daniel Jones is the answer for the Giants, they still need to solidify the offensive line and add another perimeter threat to lighten the box for him. Even without these changes, Barkley will still be a nightmare for all Defensive Coordinators trying to stop him. Barkley’s health has yet to be a concern throughout his collegiate and professional career, large in part to his excessive training and ridiculous workout regiment. The sky’s the limit for Barkley,  but us fans just have to hope the Giants don’t screw it up. Barkley is a once in a lifetime talent that will be one of the best RBs for the next generation of football, regardless of circumstance. 

Aug 12, 2019 No Comments
Report: Michael Beasley agrees to 1-Year Deal with the Pistons

Report: Michael Beasley agrees to 1-Year Deal with the Pistons

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Michael Beasley has agreed to a 1-year deal with the Detroit Pistons, according to Shams Charania of The Atheltic. Many had speculated that the former lottery pick would be headed back to China especially after reports came out that he would be placed on a 5-game suspension due to a failed drug test from last fall. Beasley turned down offers from several CBA teams, one deal was reported to be around $5 million for one season. The former second overall pick in the 2008 draft will be playing alongside former league MVP Derrick Rose who was the first pick in the 2008 NBA draft.

Beasley averaged 7.0 points on 49.0 percent shooting in 10.7 minutes per game for the Los Angeles Lakers last season. The 30-year old PF has played 11 seasons in the NBA totaling a career average of 12.4 points and 4.7 rebounds per season. The back-court of Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond is showing great promise for this upcoming season. The Pistons were able to make a playoff birth last season & with the addition of the Rookie Doumbouya, Derrick Rose, Markieff Morris, and now Michael Beasley the Pistons seem to have made a great effort toward adding depth to their roster for this upcoming season.

The Pistons’ future seems bright in an Eastern Conference that is up for the taking and for the first time in 5 years the championship actually seems to be up for grabs. No doubt, the Little Caesars Arena’s sits will be filled with anxious Pistons fans ready to cheer on their new squad in hopes of making a deep playoff run for the first time in years.

 

Aug 11, 2019 No Comments