Running through some of the moves that happened after the near league year started in March. Who should we be buying or selling in our fantasy leagues before the NFL draft.

(Rankings based on half-point per reception leagues). 

 

Buy 

 

Jameis Winston – New Orleans Saints

Winston barely played in 2020 after sitting the year behind Taysom Hill and Drew Brees who decided to retire during the off-season. The Saints brought Jameis back on a one-year 12 million dollar deal and should be the main starter in 2021. In 2019 Winston threw for 5109 yards, 33 TDs (also throwing 30 interceptions) but finished as the 3rd best QB at the end of the year. Even though Jameis might be turnover prone he did support two one thousand plus yard receivers in Chris Godwin and Mike Evans. With O.J Howard having a career-high in targets all coming in that same year. Looking forward to 2021 Michael Thomas should return to form and a name to keep an eye on is Adam Trautman the second-year tight end out of Dayton.  

 

 

Sam Darnold – Carolina Panthers

The move from the Jets to the Panthers makes Sam Darnold a winner in that of itself. But Darnold really gets a new chapter in his career and most importantly away from Adam Gase. His skill group vastly improves to what it was last year having arguably the best running back in the league in the backfield with him. Also stepping in with former teammate Robby Anderson and the ascending DJ Moore. There is not a lot to like looking at any of Sam Darnold’s statistics but buying into him at this point is taking a look back at history and seeing players like Ryan Tannehill, Kenyan Drake, and DeVante Parker. Who careers all hit new heights after they weren’t paired with Adam Gase. 

 

Aaron Jones – Green Bay Packers

The Packers’ key move this offseason has been bringing back Pro Bowl RB Aaron Jones. Even after drafting AJ Dillon out of Boston College last early on day two. Jones signed a 4 year 48 million dollar deal with 13 million guaranteed to return to Green Bay. In 2020 Jones ranked 7th in all-purpose yards with 1459 and finished within the top 5 of the running back position in half-point per reception leagues. The departure of Jamaal Williams should see some increased snaps for Jones and Dillon alike. 

 

J.K. Dobbins – Baltimore Ravens 

Dobbins had a bit of a slow start to his 2020 rookie campaign topping double-digit fantasy points once before the week 7 bye week. But starting week 8 and thereafter Dobbins averaged just over 12 rushing attempts per game and only had two games in single digits the rest of the season. Now that Mark Ingram has moved on and the backfield at this moment mainly consists of Dobbins and Gus Edwards. The Ravens have been the top rushing attack the last two regular seasons and finished second in 2018 which means plenty of opportunities for Dobbins to take a big step up. 

 

Terry McLaurin/Curtis Samuel – Washington Football Team

The magic with Fitzpatrick is taking his talents to the Washington Football Team. Even though Ryan Fitzpatrick and Tua split spans Fitz posted a career-high in completion percentage with 68.5% and went 4-3 in games that he started. Washington ranked 25th in the league last year in passing yards per game with 216.6 and saw some limits with Alex Smith, Dwayne Haskins, Kyle Allen, and Taylor Heinicke. All playing some snaps under center for Washington. Hopefully, Fitz can be the mainstay under center and be a consistent distributor.  

 

Tyler Lockett/DK Metcalf – Seattle Seahawks

I know this might be considered cheating with listing two players again. But after the roller coaster of an offseason for Seahawks fans, it appears Russell Wilson is staying in Seattle for the imminent future. Lockett and Metcalf both finished in the top in their position last year while both having 10 touchdowns and over one thousand receiving yards. I believe both receivers can be destined for a similar fate with the addition of new offense coordinator Shane Waldron coming over from the Rams and hopefully head coach Pete Carroll will let Wilson “cook” more. 

 

 

 

SELL 

 

Jared Goff – Detroit Lions

One of the biggest moves in the offseason was the Los Angeles Rams swapping Jared Goff and a boatload of draft picks to Detriot in exchange for Matthew Stafford. Goff probably thought he was safe after he beat Seattle in a road playoff game with a messed up throwing hand. But the Rams had other plans. He joins a rebuilding Lions squad that features Tyrell Williams, Breshad Perriman, and TJ Hockenson as the primary receivers to this point. Along with losing one of the best offensive minds in football in Sean McVay. Goff finished just inside the top 20 for QBs in fantasy last year and it’s safe to say his situation hasn’t improved for the better.  

 

Kenyan Drake/Josh Jacobs – Las Vegas Raiders

For some reason, Jon Gruden is really against having Josh Jacobs own the Raiders backfield. Drake last season rushed for 10 touchdowns and 955 yards which were both career-highs that allowed him to finish inside the top 20 for running backs. On the flip side, he posted some of the lowest numbers since his rookie year with 4 yards per attempt, 31 targets, 25 receptions, 137 receiving yards, 1.7 receptions per game, and 5.5 yards per reception. The Raiders also lost three offensive linemen in the offseason and makes me nervous about the production of either Drake or Jacobs in 2021. 

 

Juju Smith-Schuster – Pittsburgh Steelers 

If one move in the off-season really hurt my feelings it was Juju returning to the Steelers. I was getting really excited for Dionte Johnson and Chase Claypool to take a step up but Juju has returned on a one-year 8 million dollar deal. Juju posted career lows in 2020 with yards per target with 6.5 and his longest reception was 31 yards. Again the biggest winner, in this case, is Big Ben but the rest of the receiving core in Pittsburgh is hard to navigate for consistent production. 

 

Chris Godwin – Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

There’s no doubt in my mind Chris Godwin could bounce back from the tough season he had last year finishing outside the top 30 for receivers. But the Buccaneers skill group are loaded across the board and it makes it very tough to see Godwin have high-end production. Although I’m not all the way out on this situation with Godwin he could provide value as a WR2 on a team. Also, be sure to keep an eye on the situation with Antonio Brown and if he possibly makes a return to Tampa.  

 

Hunter Henry/Jonnu Smith – New England Patriots

It’s no real surprise the Patriots needly desperately to upgrade at tight end so they gave multiyear deals to former Charger Hunter Henry along with former Titan Jonnu Smith. Bringing in these guys and a couple of other wide receivers could reshape the New England offense that ranked 30th in passing yards last year with 180.6 per game. Hopefully, Cam Newton can return to a shade of his former MVP self but a lot of variables have to break right for Henry and Smith to be consistent fantasy options. 

 

Houston Texans running backs

The Houston Texans are doing that impression of a fantasy player in the league that hoards all of one position. At this point, the Texans have David Johnson, Mark Ingram, and Philip Lindsay on their running back depth chart. When they could use serious help at receiver or tight end. The Texans have to be hands-off for basically all players in regards to fantasy options at this point with also the uncertainty of DeShaun Watson.