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This article is part of our article program that features high quality content from experts exclusively at FantasyPros. For more information from Geoff, visit GoingFor2.com.
If you’ve seen the entire Hall of Fame game because you wanted to see who’s got game time in the fourth quarter. Or, if you pay attention to the guys who get used in workouts. Or if you are taking notes on round six and seventh draft picks in April then this article may be for you. The following players will not be on a standard redraft team. Your office league will not know most of these names. But if you’re like me and love to play in deep leagues, this is for you, have fun …
QB: Taylor Heinicke (QB – WFT) QB43Â
In three of the past four years, Ryan Fitzpatrick (QB – WFT) played nine or fewer games, and most of the games he missed were due to being benched for poor performance. Fitzpatrick is the ultimate hot or cold QB, and there’s a good chance he’s on the bench at some point this season. The Washington Football team is viewed by many as a playoff contender, so shouldn’t hesitate to switch to QB if Fitzpatrick goes through one of his infamous cold streaks.
Small sample size, but Heinicke looked in his playoff start against that later Super Bowl Champion Bucs looked good. The soccer team knows Fitzpatrick isn’t the long-term answer – it would be wise to at least give Heinicke a chance to show whether this playoff game was a fluke or not. At QB43 he’s way off the redraft radar, and while there may be some better options should you decide to design a second QB, Heinicke is well worth a look this season. If there are signs of trouble with Fitzpatrick, be sure to get Heinicke.
RB1: Elijah Mitchell (RB – SF) RB98
If you follow me on Twitter (@ GeoffLambert77) or watch the Armchair Fantasy Show on the GoingFor2 Live Network, you may already know about my love for Elijah Mitchell. Yes, he’s buried on the depth map, but the running backs before him, including Trey Sermon (RB – SF), have proven injury prone over the course of their careers. Jeff Wilson Jr. (RB – SF) is expected to be on the PUP list already, Raheem Mostert (RB – SF) has dealt with some dire injuries this offseason and the last time we saw Trey Sermon in a meaningful game he hobbled off the field at the National Championship Game. Wayne Gallman (RB – SF) and JaMycal Hasty (RB – SF) are also on the list, but none of them excite me as much as Mitchell does.
Mitchell has a speed of 4.4 with an 86th percentile speed value and an 88th percentile burst value (according to PlayerProfiler.com). Even if he shares with one of the running backs mentioned above, he still has the potential to score some useful fantasy points in an offense that likes to run the ball. This Twitter thread that I posted a few months ago shows that for the past 3 seasons, the 49ers’ lowest drafted running back was the highest fantasy scorer. I won’t go as far as to predict that, but if it did I wouldn’t be surprised.
49ers Top Scoring Running Backs (PPR) since 2018 compared to their preseason ADP (Via FantasyFootballCalculator). Thread …
RB2: Rhamondre Stevenson (RB – NE) RB73
I’m sure you’ve heard the comparisons: « Stevenson will play the part of LeGarrette Blount on this offensive. » To be completely honest, that’s a lazy comparison. The « LeGarrette Blount Role » hasn’t been a role since 2016 and that was the only year it was worth having him in fantasy. I know that doesn’t help my reasoning, but bear with me.
In 2020 Damien Harris (RB – NE) received 30 carries within the red zone, but only 3 of those carries came within five meters of the end zone . Sony Michel (RB – NE) received 12 carries within the red zone with only 1 carry within the five yard line. Quarterback Cam Newton (QB-NE) received 19 carries within the five, good for the fourth most in the league. The Patriots drafted Mac Jones (QB – NE) in the first round, he will start sometime this season. Mac Jones won’t let the ball go within the five – it will be the 230-pound running back Rhamondre Stevenson who gets those carries.
I know, I know that sounds a lot like the « LeGarrette Blunt Role », I hate that comparison because this « role » was five seasons ago, if that was really a role on your offensive then why did you wait 5 years to fill it out? Can’t we just call it that? He’s back the goal line and for what it’s worth I think he can be more.
WR1: Van Jefferson (WR – LAR) WR84
In 2018, the Rams had three top 20 wide receivers in the first 10 weeks of the season. Robert Woods (WR – LAR) was WR9, Brandin Cooks (WR – HOU) was WR10 and Cooper Kupp (WR – LAR) was WR18. Unfortunately Kupp had an injury at the end of the season and was WR46. The following season, Cooks couldn’t stay sane and Jared Goff went through a major regression and the Rams were never able to duplicate that magic again. Cooks was sold to the Texans in 2019, and the Rams began using more two-tight-end sets on their offensive.
Now, in 2021, the Rams could return to more three-wide receiver sets. They let the narrow end of Gerald Everett (TE – SEA) go free, signed with the Seattle Seahawks, and left Tyler Higbee (TE – LAR) at the top of the depth map but with very little behind. The Rams have also improved their QB situation with Matthew Stafford (QB – LAR), and after the sound of things on Twitter, Stafford and Jefferson built up some chemistry in the camp.
Impressive throw during Matthew Stafford’s Redzone period rolling in one direction before rerouting Van Jefferson with him and then finding Jefferson in the end zone for the toe drag TD catch. Darious Williams in great position to make a game and seemed distracting, but Jefferson was still catching.
If the Rams actually did go back to more sets of three, Jefferson would be most likely to take on that role. As a rookie he showed some lightning and has a year under his belt.
WR2: Quintez Cephus (WR – DET) WR104
The Detroit Lions’ starting wide receivers are a mystery. Ourlads.com lists Breshad Perriman (WR – DET), Tyrell Williams (WR – DET), and Caliph Raymond (WR – DET) as the top 3 on the depth map, but even that is more of a guess than anything. We’ve all seen the picture on Twitter of Cephus making a one-handed catch so high in the air it almost doesn’t look real;
Cephus has as good a chance of securing one of those top spots on the depth map as anyone this wide receiver. Â Yes, T.J. Hockenson (TE – DET) and D’Andre Swift (RB – DET) are likely to top this team on the goals, but it is not out of the question that Cephus could finish third on this list.
WR3: Kendrick Bourne ( WR – NE) WR99
Bourne is a real long shot here as my WR3 on this team, but one that could pay off if you’re ready to swing for the fences. There’s one thing that has long been a favorite trait of the Bill Belichick-trained Patriots when it comes to his wide receivers – close range speed. From Wes Welker to Julian Edleman, guys who could open up under them thrived on this offensive. That’s the kind of player Bourne can be. He was a popular red zone target for Jimmy Garoppolo (QB – SF) in San Francisco as Jimmy often looked into the 10 yard line. According to NFLSavant.com, Bourne was runner-up for the 49ers with 11 goals only after Brandon Aiyuk (WR-SF) in the red zone goals last season. He caught 9 of those 11 goals, including three that went on touchdowns. Mac Jones or Cam Newton, Bourne could play a key role in this passing game for the Patriots and be a worthy stash in redesigned leagues.
TE: Mo Alie-Cox (TE – IND) TE35
I could just write, ‘Mo Alie-Cox weighs 6 feet-5,270 pounds’ and leave it at that. In other words, this guy is huge which makes him a great target for the red zone. With Carson Wentz (QB – IND) injured recently, Jacob Eason (QB – IND) is the likely starter for at least the first part of the season, and young inexperienced quarterbacks prefer to throw in their tight ends. Alie-Cox will never be a volume-dense ending, but double-digit touchdowns are possible as long as this offensive doesn’t struggle too much without their quarterback – something that remains to be seen. Sitting at TE37 might be too much of a hassle to design Alie-Cox, but keep an eye on him for a possible waiver.
Flex: Amari Rodgers (WR – GB) WR93Aaron Rodgers (QB – GB) is back for at least one more season and that bodes well for the rookie wide receiver. The recent inclusion of Randall Cobb (WR – GB) complicates things a bit as Rodgers is best suited for the slot reel in my opinion, but Cobb is prone to injuring himself which could open the door for the rookie. The slot position on an Aaron Rodgers-led offensive has been fruitful in the past, with Cobb being one of the youngest players to benefit from it. The tweet below is from 2018, but Rodgers had three of the five best registration ratings of all time for the slot at that point.
Since we started grading in 2006, Aaron Rodgers has been throwing at slot receivers ???? ¥! pic.twitter.com/IynR3XJRJv
Can Amari Rodgers be next? Maybe, maybe not, but from where you’re designing it it’s well worth finding out.
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