Fantasy Football Stock Watch: NFC North risers and fallers
By Drew DeLuca
Detroit Lions fantasy football stock watch
The Lions welcome the return of Matthew Stafford, who was among league leaders in passing yards (2,499) and touchdowns (19) before bowing out with a fractured bone in his back in Week 8. The first overall pick in the 2009 draft is still excluded from the top 12 of most experts’ fantasy football rankings, making him a terrific value in just about any format.
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Stafford isn’t the only overlooked Lion in fantasy football circles: wide receiver Marvin Jones finished in the Top 30 at his position for the second time in three years, despite missing three games. Currently going off the board in the neighborhood of Round 11, the University of California product is arguably a better value than superstud Kenny Golladay, a personal favorite who’s being taken eight rounds earlier.
Danny Amendola was given a decent chunk of change early this offseason to return to his role as a slot receiver. He and Wisconsin rookie Quintez Cephus offer late-round value and upside, respectively, over the recently added Geronimo Allison.
Detroit’s most important offensive addition this offseason was D’Andre Swift, who was the consensus top fantasy football rookie running back prior to the NFL Draft. The Lions haven’t produced a top-12 fantasy RB in over two decades, so naturally, Swift slid down post-draft rankings, precipitously.
Kerryon Johnson appears to have returned to full health, so given the loss of the entire preseason, his familiarity with the offense may limit Swift’s involvement, at least initially. Swift’s talents are electric, however, so it would surprise few if Swift assumed lead back duties by season’s end.
Young tight end T.J. Hockenson, a darling of many analysts just one year ago as a rookie out of Iowa, makes a nice post-hype sleeper in 2020 in Round 13 or later. The addition of rookie tight end Hunter Bryant, an athletic prospect with great hands who somehow went undrafted, adds a layer of complexity to goal-line packages; he’s an insurance policy with upside if Hockenson proves to be less than durable at the NFL level.