Way Too Early Fantasy Predictions
With this CRAZY offseason so far the fantasy football world is also being turned on its side! With number one receivers finding new homes and new quarterbacks does that make the QB a better draft option or does that bring down stock on top wideouts? As we sit, right now, four months before a preseason game, here are my top booms, busts, and sleepers WAY too early in the year.
BOOMS
Amari Cooper- BrownsCooper takes over in Cleveland as the new number one receiver for Deshaun Watson. The bonus he has in Cleveland, outside of Watson over Dak, is that he has Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt demanding attention in the backfield from defenses. The Browns also picked up speedster Jakeem Grant Sr, who finished the year with the Bears last season, as their deep ball go to. Cooper will be a passing game go to each drive and with Cleveland's win-now mentality, he will be used often.
Allen Robinson- RamsAllen Robinson has joined the defending Super Bowl Champs. He now has an established quarterback in Matt Stafford and Cooper Kupp to take some of the secondary pressure. Stafford has come borderline close to having two 2000 yard receivers in Kupp and Calvin Johnson. By adding Robinson with Kupp, they may not both go for 2000 but one of them should be open on any given snap.
Josh Allen- BillsAllen had a great year last year. The front office recognized that and added just a little extra padding for him. The resigned Diggs and also brought in OJ Howard to work tight end with Dawson Knox. They got him some protection by signing Roger Saffold III and resigning Ryan Bates. Then they beefed up the defense with Von Miller and Shaq Lawson. So take last year's stats, where Allen finished sixth in the NFL in QB ratings, and build on it.
BUSTS
JuJu Smith Schuster- ChiefsDespite his obsession with social media, JuJu seems to slowly be following into the "Former Steeler Elite" congo-line. Looking at how Le'veon Bell and Antonio Brown did after they left the Steelers, I'm thinking there's got to be some kind of Madden Cover Curse that just dooms Steelers players when they leave Pittsburg. Even without the possible curse, JuJu was essentially brought in as a cheaper Tyreek Hill. He's coming off season-ending shoulder surgery and though he had Big Ben and Mason Rudolph throwing him balls as compared to Patrick Mahomes, he has only posted one 1000+ yard season and that was back in 2018. In Hills' six seasons he has 6630 yards receiving, Smith-Schuster has been in the league five years and has 3855. I see the ball being handed to Edwards-Helaire and tossed to a reliable Kelce.
Matt Ryan- ColtsHe has always been a consistent starting QB. You can always bank on Matty Ice producing points each week. The main reason is that the Falcons haven't had a decent run game since Devonta Freeman was a top-back name. He now has Jonathan Taylor. He also upgrades his line with guys like Big Q Quinten Nelson protecting him. BUT, Frank Reich's offensive philosophy is to give it to Taylor or get rid of the ball fast. Look for Ryan's numbers to be in the ballpark of Phillip Rivers two years ago.
Josh Jacobs- RaidersJacobs has had a couple injuries that have kept him out here and there. A broken collarbone is the worst. But even at full health, I have a feeling that his stats are going to dwindle a bit because of new head coach Josh McDaniels. In all my years of fantasy football, I've never trusted a Patriots running back. Don't get me wrong, they've had very talented running backs. But in New England, Josh McDaniels had them running by committee. You never knew which running back was going to get the most plays from week to week. The Raiders have Josh Jacobs, Kenyon Drake, Ameer Abdullah, Brandon Bolden, and Trey Ragas on their roster. Not to mention the addition of Davante Adams who's going to need to get a share of plays thrown his way.
SLEEPERSRussell Wilson- BroncosI know you're probably thinking that Wilson is too good to be a sleeper, but there are some highs and lows with his new team. Russ made the big move from Seattle to Denver in a QB swap trade. He went from DK Metcalf and Tyler Locket to Cortland Sutton and hopefully a healthy Jerry Jeudy, with Tim Patrick rounding out the receiving corp. He also has a solid offensive line in front of him now. But what he could really use is a running back and a tight end to take on some of the pressure. Noah Fant left with Drew Lock in the trade deal so Wilson's best check-down players are Albert Okwuegbunam and Javonte Williams. If Denver can draft or sign a key player at running back and/or tight end that will open some windows/doors for Wilson to throw through.
Darnell Mooney- BearsMooney and Justin Fields have been caught working out all offseason. That chemistry mixed with the exodus of Allen Robinson now makes Mooney the lead target in Chicago. The only downside is that there isn't another big-name receiver to pull pressure away from Mooney so he may see some more double teams. He had a good fantasy year last year and looks to build on it this year.
Marlon Mack- TexansIt's hard to show how good you are when you're playing second fiddle to an MVP candidate. Marlon Mack has shown in the past that he can run the ball. The Texans signed Mack after cleaning house. With no clear-cut number one QB, there will be a lot of running. I mean for real... look at their depth as it sits right now. Rex Burkhead is listed as the number one back but he hasn't played a full game in years. Davis Mills started 11 games and earned a 2-9 record, completing 66% of his passes with 16 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Mack is poised to be a workhorse if the Texans stop the fire sale of anyone that can help.
