Fantasy Football

Tyler Boyd being available as my first WR in the seventh round validated my decision to go ZeroWR. Diontae Johnson also proved vital for the first few weeks before I became trigger-happy and swapped him for Chase Claypool after the rookie’s 40-burger in Week 5. Miles Sanders going into one of my IR slots to start the year allowed me to pick up Robby Anderson to tie the WR core together for the year, though leaving his 20-plus points on the bench almost cost me a Week 1 victory.

My 11th-round selection of Cam Newton ensured that I wouldn’t be locked into starting him all season and could play waivers as needed, even in a 14-team league since not many teams rostered backups with the shallow benches. The QB Frankenstein of players I started at least once: Newton, Gardner Minshew, Teddy Bridgewater, Tom Brady, Taysom Hill and Jalen Hurts. The Hurts pickup proved particularly vital, as he single-handedly lifted me to victory in the semifinals.

For those who missed his productive moments during the 2020 season, Marquez Callaway should not be wasting away on waivers. He played well during Michael Thomas’ absence, including an eight-catch, 75-yard performance in Week 7 against Carolina. Michael Thomas has been making enemies in his own locker room; not even his future in New Orleans is secure. When 2021 plays out, it’s possible Callaway is a very important piece to this Saints offense.

Entering his third season in the NFL, and under coach Frank Reich, Ashton Dulin can take advantage of the looming vacancies at the wide receiver position in Indianapolis. Between his workout metrics, highlighted by a stellar 60.9-percent (99th-percentile among qualified wide receivers) College Dominator Rating and near-perfect 18.3 (99th-percentile) Breakout Age, it’s easy to see how his talent can carry him to relevancy in the near future.

With Mark Ingram out and Gus Edwards a restricted free agent, there’s a solid chance Justice Hill ends up the No. 2 in Baltimore behind starter J.K. Dobbins in 2021. With an elite 4.40 (97th-percentile among qualified running backs) 40-yard Dash and 133.0 (95th-percentile) Burst Score, Hill has the tools to be a great piece to the offense, even as the No. 2 back.

Though he wasn’t invited to the Combine and his player profile lacks workout metrics, Xavier Jones’ college production is noticeable. His 28.6-percent (63rd-percentile) College Dominator Rating is solid, while his 9.6-percent (71st-percentile) College Target Share is excellent. With Malcolm Brown a free agent, the Rams will rely on Darrell Henderson and Cam Akers to lead the backfield. Don’t count out Jones making some noise in 2021 as well.

A torn Achilles tendon and Jonathan Taylor’s emergence have stifled Marlon Mack’s fantasy future. Mack’s fantasy potential has become an afterthought with Taylor ascending to excellence. There is plenty of unknown surrounding a player set to hit free agency who will return from a serious lower-body injury, but he checks the boxes a dynasty asset should have.

Mack is still only about to enter his age-25 season. Being injured in Week 1, he will have a calendar year to recover and get back to his 4.50 (77th-percentile among qualified running backs) 40-yard Dash form. His 103.9 (75th-percentile) Speed Score and 122.9 (72nd-percentile) Burst Score were just indicators for his big play ability. Taking a chance on running backs coming off lower-body injuries is risky, but his talent makes it worth the risk in dynasty.

Christian Kirk spent Week 17 on the reserve/COVID-19 list. This closed out a pedestrian season for the third year receiver. He surpassed 100 yards just once this season (Week 9), and had nine games with 50 receiving yards or less. He saw a Slot Rate of only 11.4-percent this year, a third of his 2019 usage. A potential Larry Fitzgerald retirement may help the Cardinals move Kirk back inside more.

With Hunter Henry on the reserve/COVID-19 list for the final two weeks of the season, XFL standout Donald Parham was handed increased opportunity. Logging Snap Shares of 84.9-percent and 57.6-percent in Weeks 16 and 17, The 6-8, 240-pound XFL standout produced a serviceable five receptions for 84 yards and a touchdown. With Henry set to test free agency in 2021, the 23-year-old Parham makes for a decent bench stash.

With Jamaal Williams out and Aaron Jones hindered by a hip issue, A.J. Dillon got his chance to show what he’s capable of. He saw a season high 58.1-percent Snap Share and rushed 21 times for 124 yards and two touchdowns in a Week 16 win against the Titans. With Williams and Jones scheduled for free agency this offseason, Dillon becomes an intriguing dynasty asset moving towards the NFL playoffs and offseason.

With Clyde Edwards-Helaire shelved due to a leg and hip injury, veteran Le’Veon Bell was not the answer for the Kansas City Chiefs running game. Bell has been an underwhelming addition to the Chiefs roster, topping out at 64 yards (Week 15) and 53.2-percent of snaps (Week 13). He has scored just one touchdown. He slides eight spots to move down from RB33 to RB41.

Welcome to the Tier 1 receiver group, Stefon Diggs. He, Davante Adams, and Tyreek Hill are the only receivers to average 20-plus PPR fantasy points per game in 2020. Every other receiver listed banked at least 16-plus PPR fantasy points.

Christian McCaffrey was good when he played, but he only played three games. He’s still the top fantasy back for us. Many an offseason debate will question if Dalvin Cook, Alvin Kamara, or Derrick Henry should be ranked No. 2. Each back averaged 20-plus PPR fantasy points per game. After that, insert your preference here.

There was much skepticism surrounding Josh Allen and the Bills offense coming into 2020. He finished the season as fantasy football’s QB1. The run-first approach many predicted resulted in the team ranking top-15 in pass attempts per game, and Allen ranked No. 7 among qualified quarterbacks with 547 pass attempts and No. 2 with 84 Red Zone Attempts. Doesn’t sound too run-heavy after all.

It became abundantly clear over the course of the season that it didn’t really matter what quarterback you selected this year. It only mattered if they could run. Jalen Hurts dropped into starting lineups in the home stretch and was the QB3 over the final three weeks of the season, accounting for 238 rushing yards and a rushing score to go along with 847 passing yards and five scores through the air. He would’ve been the QB23 over the same period without those ever-important rushing numbers.

Tony Pollard made good on his shot at a lead role following Ezekiel Elliott’s surprise inactive designation in Week 15. Playing 92.9-percent of the snaps versus the 49ers, Pollard rushed a dozen times for 132 total yards and two touchdowns, going six of nine in the passing game. He was the fantasy RB1 on the week. He gained 22.81 Lifetime Value points to rise from RB37 to RB27 on the dynasty rankings.

With his ankle injury nagging and with high postseason hopes, the Saints opted to place Michael Thomas on injured reserve heading into Week 15. Obviously, this ends his availability for dynasty leagues in 2020. Hopefully a return to form in the post season can help to rejuvenate his dynasty stock. For now, the soon to be 28-year old is among the biggest losers Lifetime Value points, slipping from WR8 to WR11 on the rankings .

Jalen Hurts is a rare high-floor, high-ceiling fantasy asset. The matchup is exploitable this week, too. Up against a Cowboys defense allowing the ninth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks, including a three-touchdown performance by Nick Mullens last week, and ranking as the 11th-worst pass DVOA, Hurts is in what #fantasyfootball Twitter calls a smash spot. Cowboys-Eagles have the fifth-highest implied point total of the week as well.

Darnell Mooney has scored in consecutive games, totaling at least a 73.0-percent Snap Share and 27 routes run in each outing. Mooney’s Target Rate last week was 18.5-percent as well. The Bears average 40.7 (No. 8) Team Pass Plays per Game and face off against the Jaguars this week — a defense allowing the ninth-most PPR fantasy points to opposing receivers and ranking as the league’s worst pass DVOA.