Fantasy football advice at the buzzer before your drafts for all 32 NFL teams.
The waning days of fantasy football drafts are upon us. If you have yet to conduct your drafts, consider this my holy grail of fantasy football advice.
Originally, the plan was to just roll out some quick-hit thoughts on certain players for every team. Now, each team has roughly 200-300 words of fantasy advice for every fantasy-relevant player, including some who may not be relevant yet.
Two important notes: This is mostly for Points-Per-Receptions (PPR) leagues and all Average Draft Positions (ADPs) were pulled from FantasyPros ADP Consensus tool.
For more in-depth advice, make sure to check out the associated links and tweets. Without further ado, let’s dive into my last-minute thoughts on every fantasy-relevant player in 2020.
Buffalo Bills fantasy advice
After finishing last season as QB7, Josh Allen may finish as a top-five QB, even if he runs less this season. He checks off all the boxes for a potential breakout fantasy quarterback: Lots of carries and lots of passes. I doubt his ability as a passer, but there’s no doubting his potential as a fantasy star.
Until a firm starter is established, you’re solely banking on upside between Devin Singletary and rookie Zack Moss. As RB25, Singletary is surrounded by better options, so waiting for Moss is probably the smarter decision because of his clearer path to a starting role. Still, I wouldn’t bank on either to have a breakout season, especially with Allen’s ability to run.
Stefon Diggs will help Allen, but don’t expect Diggs to outplay other receivers getting picked near him, such as Robert Woods and Terry McLaurin. That’s especially true with Allen’s sporadic passing. John Brown and Cole Beasley have been relegated to bench options with potential matchup-based upside.
When I picked a sleeper for every NFL team, I chose Dawson Knox. His role in the Bills’ offense gives him some value at his current ADP (TE31). If you need a tight end, Knox is basically free.
Miami Dolphins fantasy advice
Ryan Fitzpatrick is, at best, a high-end streaming option. Play him by the matchup as long as he’s the starter. Maybe Tua Tagovailoa eventually is worthy of a fantasy roster spot, but there’s no need to draft him in normal leagues.
Neither new running back is worth a starting spot, yet they could offer some flex value depending on the matchup. Matt Breida carries upside in PPR, but his injury history should warrant some caution. Jordan Howard will likely see the bulk of early-down carries, including goal-line work. I expect a heavy split between those two. I’m a little concerned that newly acquired Lynn Bowden takes some targets away from Breida, though I hear Miami likes Bowden more as a receiver.
Preston Williams looked like Miami’s future WR1 before his ACL injury last season. If he picks up where he left off, expect him to soar past his current ADP (WR52). DeVante Parker was reborn in 2019, but Williams’ return caps his upside. Still, Parker is a reliable option in the sixth and seventh rounds. If you like gadget players, why not take a very-late-round shot on Malcolm Perry in dynasty leagues?
Mike Gesicki is a popular sleeper pick, and for good reason. I detailed why in a recent tweet:
I think if there’s any TE I’d bet on to breakout, it’s Mike Gesicki. #FantasyFootball THREAD:
— Zach Cohen (@ZachCohenFB) August 24, 2020
New England Patriots fantasy advice
How well will Cam Newton learn one of football’s toughest systems in three months? He has major rushing upside, but there are safer options near Newton’s ADP of QB19. Still, Newton is a better fantasy option than Joe Burrow or Baker Mayfield.
In fantasy football, having too many running backs is rarely a good thing. I’m a believer in defined roles in fantasy, and only one of the three following running backs have a defined role. Sony Michel has seemingly lost his chance, primarily due to fumbling and his injury concerns. Maybe it’s Damien Harris’ time to shine, though his recent injury also puts a damper on things. Lamar Miller’s release instills a bit more confidence in those young guys, though.
New England’s only consistent players in fantasy over the past two years — James White and Julian Edelman — face competition from younger players. White may be alright at his current ADP (RB30), though I don’t expect him to be consistent enough to be a top-ten running back as some predict.
Speaking of receivers, yes, Edelman has been the definition of consistency. By drafting him, you’re confident in his ability to mesh with Newton and in his ability to stay healthy. That’s too risky for me, but he’s not a bad pick by any means.
N’Keal Harry is expected to overcome his disappointing rookie season, though I’m dubious thanks to the Patriots’ lackluster recent track record of receivers. There’s always hype around a rookie tight end in New England, although Devin Asiasi shouldn’t be on rosters, yet.
New York Jets fantasy advice
It’s tough to trust any player in an Adam Gase offense. Top-scoring offenses produce good fantasy options, and Gase’s offenses have scored the 28th, 26th and 31st most points in the past three seasons, respectively. I’d be cautious of any player in a Jets’ uniform this season. Despite his talent, Sam Darnold isn’t fantasy relevant yet. There are better options going undrafted.
Le’Veon Bell has apparently lost a step and will likely lose some touches to Frank Gore, for some reason. However, he could still see double-digit touches each game, which gives him a solid floor.
Jamison Crowder is a bright spot in the offense. Expect him to be a consistent source of double-digit points in PPR. Nothing suggests Crowder will take a step back from last season because New York failed to upgrade at the slot position, where Crowder thrives.
Denzel Mims faces the rookie learning curve in a pandemic, so you may not see him produce until later. Despite that, I’d be okay taking a flier on the talented rookie. Breshad Perriman goes from one of the best passing offenses to one of the worst, so fade him heavily, please.
Chris Herndon is a sneaky good tight end to take, especially with all the praise he’s received lately. I wouldn’t mind having him as a backup, as long as he stays on the field.