My first projections cut took nearly 60 hours and I have likely invested another 20 hours per week at a minimum keeping this set where I think they represent the most likely outcomes of the players. Distilling data to one set of numbers does not do justice to some of these players who have terrific talent, opportunity, etc. I am penning this article to provide some perspective to guys I like or hate and some thoughts circling my brain that might have gotten lost in a dataset that reflects my best guess at all of the possible outcomes a player can have.
Players listed alphabetically by their last name and by position.
QUARTERBACKS
Josh Allen - What do you get when you mix a bad offensive line with subpar receivers? Josh Allen did enough with his legs last season to stay relevant. But expecting more out of a quarterback who rushed for 631 yards and 8 touchdowns is likely wishful thinking. He is a major regression candidate.
Drew Brees - The Saints are becoming a more balanced team. Their defense is no longer a laughing stock so the team isn't required to throw it every down while playing from behind. The evidence is in the pass attempts from Brees who had a high of 673 in 2016, but just 489 (in 15 games) last season. With such a deep quarterback pool, I prefer the upside with younger players over the 40-year-old arm of the legend.
Derek Carr - He set career highs in passing yards, yards per attempt, and completion percentage last season despite a ragtag group of pass-catchers. With the addition of Antonio Brown and Tyrell Williams, Carr is my breakout candidate to smash his current ADP. He is a big reason why I rarely take any quarterback early.
Jimmy Garoppolo - The 49ers finished as a top-12 pass offense in 2018 with their backups playing 13 of the 16 games. Garoppolo should be a significant upgrade and is being discounted heavily at his current ADP. He represents great value, especially in best-ball leagues.
Lamar Jackson - The Ravens and Jackson are all saying he will throw more and run less. But will the Ravens really do that every week? He averaged 21.8 fantasy points in his 7 starts including 558 yards on the ground and 4 rushing touchdowns. In the playoffs, we saw his slinging it with more confidence. Jackson is one of the hardest players to project because his range of outcomes week-to-week is wide. In best-ball leagues, I think he could be one of the safest (and valuable plays) because he is likely to log some huge scoring weeks. In standard leagues, knowing when to play him could make him a bit of a headache. At his current ADP though, he is a quarterback that will be on a lot of my rosters.
Andrew Luck - I don't think this latest calf injury will keep him off of the field, but with a deep quarterback pool it is enough for me to let someone else draft him at his lofty ADP.
Patrick Mahomes II II - What if he doesn't regress? The industry (myself included) is projecting a major regression-to-the-mean, but what if he really is just a transcendent talent? With the quarterback pool as deep as ever, I doubt I will own any Mahomes shares, but I won't be shocked if he continues where he left off last year and is the difference maker to many people winning their fantasy leagues.
Eli Manning - He does not pass the eye test for me. He needs to be benched.
Baker Mayfield - On paper, this offense has it all. But I remain skeptical that Baker Mayfield delivers on his ADP. He posted the majority of his numbers playing from behind in situations where the Browns had to score points and do it quickly. With a better team, Baker may be asked to do significantly less.
Kyler Murray - The hype is off the charts, but I am warming up to the thought that he is worth it. The air-raid offense that Kliff Kingsbury is going to run puts four wide receivers in action on nearly every snap. And Kingsbury showed his hand in college by having his teams play at an extremely high-tempo pace. The question is will Kyler Murray still be standing by season's end? Because every time you spread it out with the four wide receivers, you are prone to a massive blitz which teams are surely going to use often against this unit. What gives me hope is how fast Kyler Murray delivered the ball in preseason Week 1. He was accurate and had a lightning-fast release in the scripted plays. It won't always be this easy for him, but if he can stay upright, the volume could be there to do something special with this offense.
Cam Newton - I feel his stock has dropped a lot because the last images we have of Cam had him really struggling with shoulder issues at the end of 2018. Coming into 2019 healthy, Cam comes at a draft day discount with a week-to-week ceiling among the best at the position.
Aaron Rodgers - The offseason articles coupled with a steady decline in passing touchdowns has me staying far away. Add in a new coach and this smells like trainwreck at his current ADP.
Matt Ryan - He finished 2018 as QB2 and has the same pass catchers this year that helped him achieve those totals. He also has not missed a game in eight seasons. He remains one of the safest selections at the position.
Mitchell Trubisky - As the defense took over games, Trubisky was asked to do less and less. In losses, he averaged 26.5 fantasy points per game. In wins, he put up just 19.9 points per game. With a trio of talented RBs, I expect Trubisky to be in game-manager mode for most of 2019. He represents fair value at his ADP, but I find myself drafting others at the position with perceived higher ceilings.
Deshaun Watson - His offensive line is bad. Keke Coutee is dealing with a hobbled ankle. Will Fuller has missed 17 regular-season games in just 3 seasons. In a deep quarterback pool, drafting Watson at (or above) his ceiling is among the worst mistakes you can do in a draft this year.
Carson Wentz - Playing behind one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, I think this is the year Carson Wentz puts it all together. He has shown us glimpses of greatness only to be injured or out-played by Nick Foles. The Eagles are stacked offensively and he appears the healthiest he has been in years.
Jameis Winston - Small moments catch my eye. And the recent interview of Jameis Winston on ESPN was one of those moments. I feel 2018 humbled him considerably (outplayed by Ryan Fitzpatrick plus off-field issues), and I feel like we could be seeing Winston 2.0 here. HC Bruce Arians revived Carson Palmer's game, and we could be looking at this all over again.
RUNNING BACKS
Peyton Barber - He outplayed Ronald Jones in 2018 and is doing the same to start this year. If he holds off Jones all year, this is a player that will win you your fantasy league. His ADP is criminally low at this point.
Saquon Barkley - He deserves to be the No. 1 player off the board in fantasy drafts because of talent and opportunity, but he will find the running lanes considerably harder without Odell Beckham to keep defenses honest. Horrible quarterback play and an inferior line does temper some of my optimism for Barkley's upside. He is someone I avoid in auctions.
LeVeon Bell - He checks all of the danger zones for me. Aging running back. Skipped a year. Subpar offensive line. Loud fan base. And as of August 13th, we have not seen him run in a game situation. Despite all of this, his talent may overcome my fears. I am mostly avoiding him anywhere near his ADP.
Alfred Blue - He is the clear handcuff to Fournette and is an after-thought in most drafts. T.J. Yeldon amassed 901 combined yards and 5 touchdowns in that role last year.
Chris Carson / Rashaad Penny - Selected late in the 7th round of the 2017 draft, Chris Carson has earned his starting staus by just being better than everyone else (including Rashaad Penny who was selected 27th overall in 2018). Carson gets limited love in drafts (likely due to this pedigree), but everything coming out of camp says he continues to have a hold on the RB1 job in Seattle. I am buying Carson and avoiding Penny at their current ADPs.
Nick Chubb - With the trade of Duke Johnson Jr, the sky is the limit in Chubb's second season. Kareem Hunt may be breathing down his neck from Week 9 on, but Chubb should do enough in the early season to warrant his high draft status.
Tarik Cohen - Love the player, but hate the situation. He is getting drafted at/near his ADP ceiling. No back will take away his third-down duties, but David Montgomery and/or Mike Davis will limit any early-down work.
Tevin Coleman / Matt Breida - The Jerrick McKinnon news elevates Coleman and Breida and both should exceed their current ADPs in a Kyle Shanahan led offense.
James Conner / Jaylen Samuels - Conner is expected to start where he left off last season, but a healthy Jaylen Samuels might interfere with him getting the lion's share of the workload. Pittsburgh has rarely used multiple backs in an RBBC, but they also had LeVeon Bell.
Dalvin Cook / Alexander Mattison - Cook has looked the part in the games he has played, but he has only logged 15 games in his first two seasons as a pro. With a subpar offensive line, I am looking for better options at the 1/2 turn. He is being drafted at/near his ceiling. Alexander Mattison should be on everyone's shortlist of late-round running backs that could dominate should the starter in front of them get hurt.
Kenyan Drake / Kalen Balage - I think both of these players are fades because the offense just isn't going to be any good. They have arguably the worst offensive line so it's hard to see either dominating the depth chart when they are getting stuffed on Sundays.
Chase Edmonds - He could have standalone value in the uptempo Cardinals offense even if David Johnson remains upright all season. He is a low-priced late-round dart who would be a top 10 back if David Johnson got hurt.
Melvin Gordon / Austin Ekeler / Justin Jackson - The Gordon situation is messy and I fully expect him to miss significant games. It's messy because the Chargers are good with Gordon completing his deal and moving on after 2019 with their cheaper options Ekeler and Jackson. They have supposedly offered Gordon two years - $20M, but Gordon is likely making a correct decision turning this offer down. The issue at the heart of these holdouts is the short NFL life-span of the position. Age 29 is old so when first-round RBs get signed and then held onto through their fifth-year option plus possibly franchised, they see their market for a second contract evaporate. If both sides stay stubborn (and I estimate the chances of that at over 50%), Gordon will need to report to the team by week 10 to accrue a year and become a free agent. The team could franchise him in 2020, but at a $12M cost, I don't think they will. Ekeler's ADP has sky-rocketed, but he can be a key to winning your league this year should Gordon remain out. Justin Jackson is a cheaper option and could also see plenty of action while Gordon sits out.
Ezekiel Elliott - This contract seems like it definitely will get done, but it might not happen before the season starts. Elliott has limited leverage with two years left. I would still draft him in the first round, but likely after David Johnson due to the possibility of missing games.
Leonard Fournette - Camp reports say he is finally motivated, but why wasn't he motivated the last two years? I am skeptical, but the talent is there to succeed.
Royce Freeman / Phillip Lindsay - Lindsay is the lead of the RBBC, but I think the Broncos would prefer to have the bigger back (Freeman) carry much more of the workload going forward. The Broncos are moving back to a running scheme that mimics what Freeman experienced in college. I'm avoiding Lindsay at his current ADP (drafted at his ceiling), but think Freeman represents value at his draft spot.
Derrius Guice / Adrian Peterson / Chris Thompson - Guice appears to be damaged goods for this season. He still isn't cleared for contact after his ACL tear (and post-surgery infection), and I have the feeling he might not be ready to go to start the season. Meanwhile, Adrian Peterson defies all odds as he looks to start at age 34. The Redskins are going to have trouble effectively running the ball without their star left tackle, but Peterson's ADP makes him worth a roster spot. In PPR leagues, Chris Thompson could yield exceptional value for his low price.
Todd Gurley / Darrell Henderson - Could this be the most over-analyzed situation in fantasy football this past year? A month ago, pundits were stating they would not even take Gurley early in the third round. Some balance to the situation has been restored and now Gurley goes in the middle of the second round or later. I am a buyer at that ADP. He won't get 2018s workload, but he still is going to be used plenty. Henderson will likely relieve him on third downs and as a change-of-pace, but he is being drafted as if he has a significant role this year. I don't think he does.
Damien Harris - Maybe he has a role later in the season, but I don't see him stealing snaps from a healthy Sony Michel and/or James White. He is a full fade for me in 2019.
Derrick Henry - He was a beast if you had him on your team during the fantasy playoffs last year, but he will be missing left tackle Taylor Lewan for the first four games of 2019. My gut says he underperforms.
Carlos Hyde - Shopped between the 49ers, Browns, and now the Chiefs, and we are supposed to believe he is challenging Damien Williams for significant carries? I don't buy it. He will have a backup role, and the news blurbs we are seeing now speak more to the coach's frustration that Damian Williams keeps missing practice.
Mark Ingram / Justice Hill / Gus Edwards - I rarely trust an aging player that switches teams. If Ingram was awesome, wouldn't the Saints have resigned him? Meanwhile, Gus Edwards posted a 5.2 yards-per-carry average in this offense last year, and the team added rookie Justice Hill. Ingram may get first cut of this offense, but I sense he won't be the back by the end of the season.
David Johnson - The high-tempo air raid offense should also be kind to David Johnson who works great in space. He could catch 90+ passes.
Duke Johnson Jr - The Houston landing spot should give him additional looks both as the third-down back and a nice change of pace for an aging Lamar Miller.
Aaron Jones - He has looked like he should have been starting for the past two years, but the previous head coach loved keeping him as a committee back. He managed 935 yards and 9 touchdowns in 2018 on just 159 touches. It won't shock me when he finishes the year as a top-five back. He is a steal at his round-three ADP.
Alvin Kamara - His efficiency numbers are out of this world, and he has talents others in the league simply don't have. I have stopped trying to fit the normal running back curves to Kamara. He is special and a threat to score every time he touches the ball. For some runners, big plays are fluky. For Kamara, they are routine. Latavius Murray likely caps his upside, but Kamara will be among the fantasy leaders even with just 270 touches.
Dion Lewis - Seemingly forgotten after Derrick Henry's late-season run, but he is a strong complementary player who is heavily undervalued in drafts.
Marlon Mack - He looked like a bell cow at times in 2018 as he logged his best season as a pro. He enters 2019 way in front of the competition for early-down work. Nyheim Hines caps Mack's upside a tad and will play on third downs. The Colts offensive line is vastly improved for this year and could vault Mack to elite status.
Christian McCaffrey - Recent news suggests the Panthers may limit McCaffrey's goal-line carries. I am not buying it. The Panthers are their best with McCaffrey on the field. I am forecasting a heavy workload and rarely leaving the field.
LeSean McCoy - Starter on paper, but seems like a wasted pick. He will not be on the Bills after this season.
Sony Michel - His recent knee ailments have lowered his ADP a tad, but I think it's just the team showing caution. I don't think Damien Harris has shown enough yet to siphon off carries. I am a buyer in the late fourth/early fifth.
Joe Mixon / Giovani Bernard - Mixon has the talent, but is the team good enough to keep him on the field? Offensive line woes (their first-round pick left tackle Jonah Williams is expected to miss the entire season and guard Clint Boling retired unexpectedly) are heavy concerns that the running lanes won't be there for Mixon. And with the Bengals only expected to win six games, I can envision the team playing Bernard more in catch-up mode late in games. Mixon is a hard pass for me at ADP while I roster Bernard in nearly all of my best-ball leagues.
David Montgomery / Mike Davis - The future is David Montgomery, but I think Mike Davis is too good to just be pushed aside. I expect this to remain RBBC for most of the year. Montgomery's ADP requires he start immediately. Mike Davis can be had for a late-round pick and currently sits atop the Bears depth chart.
Latavius Murray - He is being overlooked in drafts, but I think he represents a solid upgrade over Ingram who was extremely successful in New Orleans. Murray will vulture enough touchdowns and will be leaned on to close out wins.
Tony Pollard - If Elliott misses any significant time, Pollard has the skills to play well behind one of the league's best offensive lines. Even if Elliott comes in and plays in Week 1, Pollard's ADP is justified as a capable handcuff to a workhorse back. He is a free square (with high upside) and should be part of your draft day strategy.
Miles Sanders - I have seen enough highlights to be massively intrigued. Jordan Howard complicates the situation, but I expect Miles Sanders to be the every-down back by the end of the season.
Devin Singletary - McCoy is in the last year of his contract so I would expect Singletary to take over as the losses begin to mount. Handcuffing him with a player like Austin Ekeler could create exceptional value on the cheap.
James White - A PPR machine and capable backup, he is best played in best-ball leagues where you do not have to know when he will have a great game.
Damien Williams - There is some noise suggesting the Chiefs could be using RBBC this season even though Andy Reid has never deployed that strategy. I believe it's motivational coachspeak to get Damien Williams back practicing as he nurses his ailments. If Carlos Hyde was a big threat, this wouldn't be his third team in as many years.
TIGHT ENDS
Mark Andrews - He has had a great offseason and is earmarked as a breakout candidate after a strong close to his rookie campaign in 2018. Lamar Jackson seemed to develop solid chemistry with him last season, and at 6-foot-5, he is an easy target to lock into.
Jared Cook - If Coby Fleener can succeed in this offense, one has to think Jared Cook can thrive in it. Drew Brees can still drop dimes in close windows, and he may not need to do that with defenses preoccupied with running back Alvin Kamara and wide receiver Michael Thomas.
Eric Ebron / Jack Doyle - Most pundits have Ebron atop the Colts' depth chart, but I am not certain that is the case. Jack Doyle was TE1 before his injury and could reclaim that spot if Ebron reverts back to the mistakes he showed in Detroit. As it sits now, I project the two players almost evenly, but Doyle can be drafted many rounds after Ebron.
Evan Engram - Opportunity + Talent = Production. I don't think Engram is all that skilled as a tight end. His blocking is subpar at best. But with Golden Tate suspended four games, Engram should see a high number of targets to start the year.
Gerald Everett - I am amazed how all the Rams' wide receivers go early in the draft but their young tight end goes undrafted in all but the deepest leagues. He is worth a late-round dart throw. He has improved in receptions, yards, and fantasy points his first two seasons.
Noah Fant - He looks like he could win the TE1 job in Denver as a rookie, but I still have low expectations that he will make any real impact this season.
T.J. Hockenson - Rookie tight ends rarely make an impact. This guy was all-world in college and can't beat out Jesse James in camp. The difference between college and the pros at this position is significant. Most rookie tight ends need a year of aggressive weight training to add the necessary bulk to handle blocking duties. Perhaps Hockenson cracks the starting lineup late in the season, but he is not worth drafting right now.
Austin Hooper - He has improved in receptions, yards, and fantasy points in each of his first three seasons. He is the tight end I target in every draft.
O.J. Howard - I'm not doubting the talent and think his skills are elite. But head coach Bruce Arians has a knack for making tight ends disappear into fantasy oblivion. I think Howard is correctly priced, but I prefer to wait for a few rounds to grab Hooper or Rudolph. Cameron Brate could also cut into Howard's workload.
Travis Kelce - The best tight end and it's not close this year. But outside of the FFPC (tight end premium) leagues, I think drafting him in the first round is a mistake.
George Kittle - He averaged an elite 15.6 yards per catch in 2018. And although his yards and yards per catch numbers are likely to recede, Kittle managed only five touchdowns in his second year while playing with the backup quarterbacks. He is locked in as the second-best tight end on my draft board.
Matt LaCosse / Ben Watson / Rob Gronkowski - I don't expect Gronkowski to play football this season. And if he does somehow play, I think it would be more likely for him to come back just in time for the playoff run which would render him useless in a fantasy season. Matt LaCosse might not be well known, but he had impressed in camp before injuring his ankle. He is going to get the first shot at being TE1 on this team when healthy. Ben Watson starts the year on suspension and at age 38, I don't think it's reasonable to see him log heavy minutes in games. Matt LaCosse is among my favorite last round dart throws. If he is awful, you will know it immediately and can just replace him via waivers. But what if he actually thrives in this offense?
Vance McDonald - The Steelers have targets up for grabs with the departure of Antonio Brown and Jesse James. If he can stay healthy, McDonald should put up career-year numbers.
David Njoku - Nearly everyone in the Cleveland offense is being drafted at their ceiling, and tight end Njoku is no different. He has a clear path for playing time so he could deliver if he does enough with his targets.
Jordan Reed - In his six years in the league, he has never played more than 14 games in a season. When he is on the field he is good. The problem is he is always on the injury report (usually with multiple ailments), and it's hard to know how hurt he is. He is a good best-ball selection, but someone I am avoiding in redraft leagues.
Kyle Rudolph - His ADP slipped when it was rumored the team was looking to deal him, and it never recovered even after he signed an extension. The Vikings do not have a legitimate third receiver which keeps Rudolph on the field a lot. He has finished as a top-10 tight end in the last two seasons.
Delanie Walker - He logged over 800 yards receiving per year from 2015-2017, before losing the year to an ankle injury last season. At age 35, can he rebound to pre-injury form? Delanie's expected backup Jonnu Smith does not look like he will be ready to start the year (suffered a torn ACL late in 2018) which should at least allow for decent usage to start the season. Despite his age, Walker is a bargain at his current ADP.
Darren Waller - Jared Cook excelled in this offense last year, and I expect Darren Waller will as well. He was having a great camp before his injury but is expected back soon. He is a late-round steal in drafts right now.
WIDE RECEIVERS
J.J. Arcega-Whiteside - Virtually every other rookie is overvalued in drafts, but for some reason, Arcega-Whiteside is flying way below the radar despite being a standout for the Stanford Cardinal with 14 touchdowns on just 63 catches in 2018. He is a size/strength mismatch in the red zone and has already received glowing praise in training camp for those qualities. This is a dart-throw late that I am using in nearly all of my 28-round drafts.
Robby Anderson - My eyes tell me he is too skinny and should break in half when hit. He has produced, but I am staying away from a receiver that is 6-foot-3 and 180 lbs.
Odell Beckham Jr - Eli Manning was so inaccurate that I think a change of scenery has to mean better things for Odell. There are only so many targets in Cleveland up for grabs, but my money is on Beckham getting his.
Tyler Boyd - The A.J. Green injury vaults Boyd to a massive workload for every week Green is shelved. On a team that could be playing from behind a lot, Boyd should deliver with the extra targets.
Antonio Brown - A bit of a circus as of late, but I suspect the feet (and helmet issues) clear up before the start of the year. I have seen him slip to the early third round, and that feels like a massive bargain.
Brandin Cooks / Robert Woods / Cooper Kupp - The fact that all of the Rams wide receivers are going in the fourth and fifth rounds seems a tad silly to me. This Rams offense will be solid, but they also have Todd Gurley, Darrell Henderson, Josh Reynolds, and Gerald Everett on their roster. I am passing on all of three of these wide receivers at their current ADP. At least one of them will likely disappoint on a week-to-week basis.
Amari Cooper - He has always come across as a fluky player to me creating giant plays with his speed. He is the perfect boom-or-bust weekly play, because of his upside, but his current ADP prices him at or near his ceiling.
Corey Davis - He is the clear WR1 on the Titans, but his ADP remains repressed. He made a giant leap in production in Year 2 and has the pedigree to be a star in the league. Quarterback play is likely limiting his upside, but Davis remains a strong candidate to smash his ADP.
Julian Edelman - The Patriots have a lot of wide receivers that look like scrubs. Edelman is the exception to that, and I expect he will have a giant role without Gordon and Gronkowski playing. Brady's arm strength is waining which bodes well for the quick slants Edelman runs. Age is a concern, but Edelman's yards-per-reception numbers have stayed flat for the last three seasons.
Mike Evans - With all the Chris Godwin hype, people are forgetting how good Mike Evans is. If he slides to the third round, draft him with confidence.
Michael Gallup - He has the potential to be the best receiver in Dallas. While others are drafting the erratic Amari Cooper, smart drafters should get their shares of Gallup in the middle rounds.
Chris Godwin - His targets, catches, yards, and touchdowns spiked in his second year, and he should see even more opportunities with the departure of DeSean Jackson and Adam Humpries. Godwin is hyped for a reason and worthy of his lofty ADP.
Kenny Golladay - He emerged as the top pass catcher for the Lions in 2018 despite Matthew Stafford playing with broken bones in his back. Heading into his third year, he could be in line for his biggest season yet.
A.J. Green - I am expecting Green to miss a minimum of three NFL games, but it could end up being a lot worse than reported. At his current ADP, he is a clear avoid for me.
Tyreek Hill - After a turbulent offseason of alleged child abuse, Hill was eventually not suspended. He set career highs in 2018 and will be among Patrick Mahomes II' biggest targets again this season. Hill is currently being drafted at a slight discount and could vie for the top receiver spot again this season.
DeAndre Hopkins - A true target hog, Hopkins has amassed 2,950 yards receiving and 24 touchdowns over the last two years. If you deviate from running back in the first round, he is among the safest plays on the board.
Zay Jones - You can likely grab Buffalo's WR1 in the last round of your draft. He emerged in the second half of 2018 logging 31 receptions, 371 yards, and 6 touchdowns. His ADP is criminally undervalued.
Christian Kirk / Larry Fitzgerald - Uptempo is the theme to Kliff Kingsbury's 2019 offense. Both of these wide receivers could smash their ADP if the Cardinals run as many plays as expected.
Jarvis Landry - Someone is going to underachieve in this offense and my bet is on Jarvis Landry.
Tyler Lockett - He had 965 yards and 10 touchdowns on just 71 targets. That kind of efficiency won't likely be repeated, but the exit of Doug Baldwin vaults Lockett to a more prominent role in 2019.
Donte Moncrief / James Washington - Camp reports say Moncrief is winning this competition, but I expect both players to soak up the targets vacated by Antonio Brown and Jesse James. Moncrief costs less and is a value at his current ADP.
Dante Pettis - I suspect some of the stories coming out of the 49ers training camp are trying to motivate Dante Pettis. He has the skills to be the team's WR1, and I expect him to be in that role by the start of the season.
Curtis Samuel - Overshadowed by D.J. Moore, Curtis Samuel logged 27 catches for 370 yards and 3 touchdowns in his last 7 games of 2018. This despite Cam Newton playing with a bum shoulder. Samuel is now a starting receiver and will see an expanded role this season.
Emmanuel Sanders - Athletes at the NFL level defy logic sometimes regarding injuries. Adrian Peterson came back from an ACL injury in record time and by all accounts, Emmanuel Sanders is all the way back from an Achilles tear in December. He is currently practicing in training camp with no limitations. His ADP hasn't fully caught up to these revised expectations. He remains a bargain in drafts happening now.
JuJu Smith-Schuster - He logged 166 targets with Antonio Brown on the team. Without Brown, he should be among the league leaders in targets, catches, and yards. He is one of the safest plays at wide receiver this season.
Sammy Watkins - He has played five seasons and only played 16 games once, and that was in 2014, his rookie season. The ceiling is high in this offense, but chronically hurt Watkins is a pass for me at his lofty ADP.
Dede Westbrook - With Nick Foles behind center, Dede Westbrook's third season could be his best. He set career highs in 2018 in targets, catches, yards and touchdowns. Marqise Lee appears headed to the PUP which should ensure a bump in targets for Westbrook this season.
Tyrell Williams - He has been productive with his targets and should fair better in Oakland with increased opportunity.
Preston Williams - The Miami Dolphins are going to struggle winning games this season. As the losses mount, it might make sense to roll out their training camp star over the rest of their subpar wide receivers. He is a smart dart-throw who could have a prominent role late in the year.
