Changes are afoot
There were a number of surprises in Fantasy Football last year. Rookie Running Backs were flying off the waiver wire every week. The Quarterbacks that went late in the draft became some of tthe Top performers. Injuries to key Players happened early and often. Fantasy Football was simply fantastic last Season. So what should we expect this Season?
Plenty of Comeback Candidates
There are a few Players that missed a lot of time or even the whole Season last year that are primed to have huge Seasons this year.
Deshaun Watson – If you follow Cobe Life on YouTube, you will already know that Deshaun Watson is the highest QB on my draft board. That’s right, I’m predicting him to be the Top QB in Fantasy Football. He was already on his way to achieving that last year before he went down to injury. I expect him to come back fully healthy and well rested. Draft him with confidence.
David Johnson – David Johnson missed all but one game last Season with a wrist injury. Before that he was considered to be the number 2 Running Back in the league by my rankings. Wrist injuries generally heal well, and have very little effect on future performance. David Johnson is the Arizona Cardinals offense. I don’t expect a drop in touches. Actually after being off the field for practically a full Season, he should be raring to go. He’s my number 3 Running Back on my draft board.
Dalvin Cook – The Minnesota Vikings are a powerhouse team in a powerhouse division that’s in the powerhouse conference. Dalvin Cook has already proved that he fits their powerhouse offense quite nicely. Coming back from injury to a team that actually upgraded at Quarterback in the off-season. Dalvin Cook is sure to find a lot of running room this year. Snag him in your draft when the opportunity arises.
Julian Edelman – If you take a really good look at the New England Patriots roster you’ll notice something somewhat strange. You won’t find many star players on it. That’s what makes the return of Julian Edelman so huge. On the offensive side of the ball there are three obvious stars. Two of which (Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski) will be extremely difficult to draft unless you don’t mind reaching. That leaves the returning Edelman as the only star on the Patriots that could fall below his true draft value. I’m not even close to being a fan of the Patriots, but if Edelman falls in my draft. I’m taking him.
Rookie Breakouts
Saquon Barkley – Saquon Barkley is for real. I don’t take what I see in the preseason too seriously. What I have seen from him will definitely carry over into the regular Season. He’s elusive, has a great burst of speed through the hole, runs hard, runs fast, and has sure hands. Barring a complete New York Giants breakdown, Saquon Barkley should finish as a Top 5 Running Back. In most drafts he’s the 8th Running Back off the board. Go ahead and reach.
Royce Freeman – Nobody really knows what to expect from Denver. With Case Keenum ar Quarterback and the stacked Defense they already have, they could look a lot like last year’s Minnesota Vikings. If that’s the case Royce Freeman could be in line for a lot of fantastic opportunities. He has the potential to be one of those Rookie Running Backs that helps you reach the Fantasy playoffs. There is some risk here, but if the Broncos can get a few leads in games Freeman will have an amazing season.
Calvin Ridley – First off I should mention that I generally don’t draft rookie Wide Receivers. It takes a while to learn a new offense, than get in sync with the team’s quarterback. The calibre of cornerback they face from week to week is significantly higher. It just takes awhile for Wide Receivers to adjust. There is the odd exception though. In this case it’s in the form of a pedestrian number 2 Wide Receiver, and a number 1 Wide Receiver that demands double coverage. Calvin Ridley could serve as a decent bye week replacement or flex starter during the season. If either Sanu or Jones gets hurt then he becomes highly valued. I might draft him as insurance or trade bait when the time is right.
Wild Cards
There are a few key changes at the most important position that could flip this fantasy Season on it’s head.
Patrick Mahomes II – What will the Kansas City Chiefs offense look like in 2018? I’ll tell you what it won’t be, boring. Watching Mahomes play is like watching high school football. He seems to hold on to the ball too long for the NFL but somehow gets away with it. I’ve watched him ignore the easy dump off to his Running Back to attempt a deep throw downfield and let his Wide Receiver attempt to make a play. Alex Smith he is not! Now is that a good thing for the Fantasy Players you drafted on the Kansas City Chiefs? I really don’t know. I’ll tell you one thing. I don’t expect Kansas City to win as many games as they did last year. I wouldn’t be surprised if they didn’t make the playoffs.
Kirk Cousins – I expect Cousins to eclipse 4000 yards passing and throw for at least 30 touchdowns. In other words he will be a Top 5 Quarterback this year. His receiving corps is significantly better than who he had in Washington. He got a huge contract and will be expected to earn it. Look at the season Case Keenum had behind that offensive line. Just imagine what Cousins will do. As a result of his signing I’ll draft Vikings offensive players every chance I get.
The Countdown is on.
The first week of the season is drawing near. I hope you’ve done your research because it’s sure to be another wild and crazy Fantasy Football year.
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