My Guys for Fantasy Football This Season
By Carson Hull
Warning before you read. You might never want to hear the terms upside, 2nd year leap, or value ever again after this piece. But if you can make it through those, I have players at each position that I love for this upcoming fantasy football season. These are the guys that I have been targeting over and over again in mock drafts praying that they will fall to me.
My Guys at QB
Lamar Jackson
Jackson had an underwhelming year last year because expectations were so high after his insane MVP season. If he regresses to the mean between last year and his MVP year, he should return to being a top 5 fantasy QB. He gets another weapon in Rashod Bateman that should open up the field more for him. He also has the same upside as Josh Allen and Kyler Murray but is getting drafted about 2 rounds later.
Justin Herbert
Herbert had a historic rookie season, and I still expect him to elevate his game even more. He gets the coveted 2nd year jump, plus a new coaching staff that brings Drew Brees old QB coach Joe Lombardi over, and a revamped offensive line that should be one of the best units in the league. Healthy Austin Ekeler will also give him an elite check down and short field option. The stars are aligning for Herbert to have an even better year this year than last year. He should push for 40 TDs this year.
Tua Tagovailoa
Tua should be drafted as a backup QB, but has the second year leap written all over him as well. The starting job is fully his with Ryan Fitzpatrick gone, so that tension is gone. His receiving core got an upgrade with Alabama teammate Jaylen Waddle and Will Fuller V added to the mix. Plus, he already has DeVante Parker, sleeper Mike Gesicki, and Myles Gaskin as well. Everything is set up for Tua to take the leap, so I see it as a low risk/high reward. At worst, you have a competent backup. At best, you could get a top 10 QB with one of your last picks.
Trey Lance
Lance could be a potential league winner. He will most likely be your last pick as a backup QB, be he has been tearing it up in camp proving he could play sooner rather than later. He offers running upside and has a tremendous set of skill players and offensive linemen around him. Trey can win you a league this year, especially if you wait on your QB in drafts.
My Guys at RB
Antonio Gibson
Being drafted as a receiving back, Gibson has elevated himself to bell-cow status. Gibson has the potential to get even more targets out of the backfield with Fitzpatrick at the helm. Plus, his carries should jump up to about 250. Already had a great season last year, I expect a second year jump from Gibson with top 5 potential.
Nick Chubb/Kareem Hunt
Running behind a great O-line and the 6th easiest schedule against the run based off of last season, I love Chubb and Hunt this season. Chubb should get close to 300 carries, while Hunt will get enough looks in the backfield to be a solid flex play. Plus, he is the best handcuff in the league because he is playable even with his starter playing.
Travis Etienne/James Robinson
I like both of these guys as high value picks. With Etienne, he was described as a 3rd down back on draft night. But he has been unguardable in training camp, which means a ton of catches are coming his way And he might still get a decent amount of rushing attempts. With Robinson, he is an already proven top 5 potential RB that if Etienne goes down could easily see him repeating that success. He will get early down work and goal line work which should be enough to warrant a potential flex or first guy off the bench value.
Mike Davis
Arthur Smith takes over the offense, and he previously just ran a heavy run scheme in Tennessee. Mike Davis is not Derrick Henry, but the scheme gives Davis a massively high floor. Plus, the Falcons offense will be making a lot of trips to the red zone with Matt Ryan, Calvin Ridley, and Kyle Pitts connecting all over the field.
Michael Carter
You don't usually get to draft a starting running back this late in the draft. Carter has shown to be the lead back at camp, and gets to run behind a super young and talented offensive line core. He should get bell-cow volume and you can get him in the double digit rounds. He is in line to be this year's James Robinson.
My Guys at WR
Keenan Allen
With new offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi, I expect a Drew Brees to Michael Thomas type relationship with Justin Herbert and Keenan Allen. He has a combination of elite durability and consistency that he has shown over the past few seasons. Combine that with a now elevated ceiling with Herbert under center and an OC that loves to establish a clear cut WR1 and you might have a potential league leader in catches.
CeeDee Lamb
The CeeDee Lamb hype train is loading up and moving fast. The second year receiver is climbing up draft boards because of Amari Cooper's nagging injuries and his dominance at training camp. With Dak returning, this should be one of the best passing attacks in the league and Lamb will be getting a massive share of that. He would probably be ranked where Justin Jefferson is if Dak never got hurt and continued his insane statistical pace.
Robby Anderson
Robby Anderson finished as the 19th best fantasy wide receiver last year for ESPN PPR leagues. Yet he has even more room to improve with a lot of factors going his way. He reteams with Jets teammate Sam Darnold, who he had a great rapport with. He also reteams with his Temple coach Matt Rhule. On top of that, Curtis Samuel left for Washington which opens up more targets. And he is due for TD regression to the mean with only three last year. How can you not love this guy?
Tee Higgins
Jamar Chase will most likely be seeing the opponents best corner, so Higgins is relieved of pressure there. I think the Bengals are due for a massive amount of passing volume with the trio of great receivers, healthy Joe Burrow, and the bad O-line. Plus, they will be trailing in a decent amount of games so passing will be on the game script a lot. I have faith that Higgins finishes with similar and potentially even better fantasy production than Chase, and you can get him a round later.
My Guys at TE(That Aren't Kelce, Waller, and Kittle)
Irv Smith Jr.
With longtime Vikings TE Kyle Rudolph now on the Giants, third year Alabama product Irv Smith Jr. will take over the starting role. I expect TD regression from Adam Thielen who finished with 14 TDs last season excelling in the red zone, and Smith Jr. should be the main benefactor of that regression. This will be a great offense, and you can get a decent piece of it and a much cheaper price than Jefferson and Thielen. A massive safety blanket for Kirk Cousins.
Adam Trautman
Regardless of who starts under center for the Saints, Trautman will become an extra safety blanket along with Alvin Kamara. He assumes the starting role after playing behind new Charger Jared Cook. Kamara is due for TD regression, and the leftover red zone looks and scores should be going to Troutman. Michael Thomas being out also helps the case for Trautman.
Tyler Higbee
I am all in on the Rams offense this year. Sean McVay getting Matthew Stafford's arm talent and mobility should bring us a huge passing attack. Cam Akers' injury also factors into that attack. I want to come away from my drafts with a least a chunk of this passing game, and Higbee offers the best value while likely not finishing too far behind Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp in target share, especially in the red zone.
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