My Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings 2020 (6-10)

By: Brandon Carr

Photo Taken By (Kim Klement/USA TODAY Sports

6.) Chris Godwin

Chris Godwin is coming off of a huge breakout season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this past season. Godwin finished the season with catching 86 balls on 121 targets for 1,333 yards and 9 touchdowns. In half PPR formats, Godwin finished as the WR2 on the season with a total of 233.1 fantasy points in 14 games played.

Positives

Chris Godwin and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had a wild offseason with the biggest acquisition being a future hall of famer and who is widely considered as the greatest quarterback in the history of the NFL, Tom Brady. What this means for Godwin’s fantasy outlook is that he will once again be catching a lot of passes. Godwin this past season according to PlayerProfiler lined up in the slot for 50.5% of his snaps during the season and Tom Brady has been notorious throughout his career of always having that slot guy he targets heavily. Whether that was Wes Welker or Julian Edelman, Brady has fallen in love with his slot receiver and Godwin should be no different. Godwin was on pace before he got injured, to finish the season with 98 receptions for 1,523 yards and 10 touchdowns according to Pro Football Reference. Godwin would have been close to hitting the triple crown for a wide receiver. Godwin would have been even closer to becoming the WR1 on the season.

Negatives

Godwin has a couple of concerns for me. I worry about a shortened offseason and the potential of no training camp that he won’t be able to establish strong chemistry with Tom Brady. However, Brady was recently seen throwing to Mike Evans, O.J. Howard, and Cameron Brate so even though there might not exactly be a training camp, players are still finding ways to get their reps in with each other and I am sure that Godwin will be joining those guys at some point as well. Godwin is on an offense that has a lot of mouths to feed with Mike Evans, Rob Gronkowski, O.J. Howard, and Cameron Brate. Godwin I believe has a strong chance to finish with the most targets on the team with Tom Brady at quarterback considering of how Godwin’s skill set compliments Brady’s tendencies.

Overall

Chris Godwin I believe will have another strong WR1 season for fantasy owners even with a change at quarterback. Brady I believe will target Godwin the most in this Buccaneers offense and he will have a great season with Brady at the helm. Godwin’s current ADP is the 2.03 in half PPR formats.

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7.) Kenny Golladay

Kenny Golladay is coming off arguably the best season of his career in the NFL. Golladay this past season finished with 65 receptions on 116 targets for 1,190 yards and 11 touchdowns which was first in the NFL. Golladay’s season landed him as the WR6 on the season in half PPR leagues with 215.5 fantasy points.

Positives

Kenny Golladay quietly was a top 6 WR in fantasy last season even with Matthew Stafford missing the second half of the season due to a back injury. Golladay was able to produce with both Stafford and David Blough this past season as Golladay in the games Stafford played, was the WR10 and in the games he didn’t, he was the WR9. Now with Stafford hopefully playing healthy this season, he will be able to see a lot more deep targets. According to PlayerProfiler, Stafford finished with 55 total deep ball targets this season in the 8 games he played. If he had played all 16 games, he would have been on pace to finish with 110 deep ball targets which would have finished 2nd in the NFL. Golladay may have even had a chance to finish first in the NFL in total target distance because he still finished 4th in that category even with Stafford missing half the games.

Negatives

Kenny Golladay’s biggest flaw in his game is that he doesn’t catch a lot of passes which doesn’t make him an elite PPR league option with the lack of reception volume. This, therefore, would make him a better standard league option but this doesn’t destroy his value by any means. Golladay still finished as the WR6 even with ranking 29th in the NFL in receptions amongst wide receivers. 

Overall

Kenny Golladay is a really good fantasy option heading into the 2020 season. He led the NFL in touchdown receptions which is how high his ceiling can be and I expect him to be one of the favorites to lead the league in touchdown receptions again. If Matthew Stafford can remain healthy throughout the season, Golladay will again make for a great WR1 option for your fantasy team. Golladay’s current ADP in half PPR formats is the 2.09.

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8.) Mike Evans

Mike Evans is coming off of another great season. Evans this past season finished with 67 receptions on 118 targets for 1,157 yards and 8 touchdown receptions in 13 games played. Evans finished the season as the WR12 in half PPR formats with 199.2 fantasy points.

Positives

Mike Evans consistently throughout his career has been a 1,000-yard receiver. Evans has hit that mark in every single season of his 6-year career in the NFL. He has done it with Jameis Winston to Ryan Fitzpatrick to Mike Glennon to Josh McCown. Now he has the opportunity to do it with Tom Brady. Brady hasn’t had a wide receiver of Evans’ down the field talent since Randy Moss and we know what they were able to do together. Brady will have an opportunity to still show that he can throw the ball down the field to Evans in the Buccaneers offense. Evans was a receiver with Jameis Winston last year who commanded a lot of deep ball targets as Evans finished 2nd in the NFL in total target distance with 1,875 total yards and he also finished 4th in the NFL in average target distance with 15.9 yards per target (PlayerProfiler). 

Negatives

A lot of the same negatives with Mike Evans are very similar to the negatives of Chris Godwin since they both are in almost the same exact situation. However, with Mike Evans, there is one thing that I am concerned about that I am not with Chris Godwin. The big question is, how many deep ball targets will Tom Brady take in this offense? Although Tom Brady is considered an upgrade over Jameis Winston, Winston did fantasy wonders with his wide receivers in Tampa Bay. Winston according to PlayerProfiler was 1st in the NFL in deep ball attempts (113) and 1st in pass attempt distance (6,597 yards). Tom Brady in these same categories was ranked much lower than Winston. Brady finished with 60 deep ball attempts which was 15th in the NFL and 4634.5 yards in pass attempt distance which was 10th in the NFL. You can definitely point to the weapons Brady had and in the offense he was in with New England which is a reason why of these lower numbers. I don’t believe Tom Brady will hit these numbers that Winston had because Winston is more of a risk-taker and Brady is more less of a risk-taker. Brady will improve in these categories but he won’t match Winston or pass him with those statistics. Evans still will receive a high amount of targets and deep ball targets from Brady. I could see Evans’ yards per catch take a slight hit but he still is a lock for 1000+ yards receiving and he is too talented to not be a WR1 option for fantasy.  

Overall

Mike Evans is a great fantasy option heading into the 2020 season. He has a very safe floor of 1000+ yards receiving and he is one of the best overall receivers in the NFL. Evans on the season will finish as a middle to low end WR1 for fantasy in 2020 and he will again be a great option for fantasy teams. Evans’ current ADP is the 2.08 in half PPR leagues.

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9.) Amari Cooper

Amari Cooper is coming off of his first full season as a Dallas Cowboy. This led to Cooper having the best statistical season of his career this past season when he caught 79 passes on 119 targets for 1,189 yards and 8 touchdowns. Cooper finished the season as the WR9 on the season with 207 fantasy points in half PPR formats. 

Positives

Amari Cooper entering the 2020 season is the number one receiver in an offense that is going to be one of the best in the NFL and one that is going to be throwing the ball quite a bit. Dak Prescott this past season was 6th in the NFL in passing attempts with 596 passing attempts and second in the NFL in passing yards with 4,902 passing yards. Cooper and the Cowboys come into this season with a brand new head coach in Mike McCarthy who’s coaching philosophy for his offense is to lean more towards a dose of passing style of offense, which only means good things for Cooper and the rest of the Cowboys wide receivers. 

Negatives

Amari Cooper is a well known to be a big boom or bust player. Cooper according to PlayerProfiler had a weekly volatility rate of 11.1 which was 6th in the NFL. This stat means that if you have a high volatility rate, then that means you are very inconsistent with your performances. Cooper had 8 games where he finished as a WR1 (1-12) or WR2 (12-24) on the week. Cooper also had 7 games where he didn’t finish as a WR1 or WR2 excluding the Jets game when he left early due to injury. A valid excuse for Cooper is that he was dealing with a lot of injuries this past season. He dealt with a knee sprain, quadriceps sprain, and an ankle sprain throughout the 2019 season. But this inconsistency has always been something that Cooper has dealt with in his career ever since he entered the league. The Cowboys also drafted CeeDee Lamb who many people had as their top wide receiver prospect heading into the 2020 draft. Lamb will take targets away from both Cooper and Michael Gallup but considering the Cowboys will be a heavy passing offense, all three of those guys are going to eat this year and Cooper will still finish with over 100 targets on the season. 

Overall

Amari Cooper and the Cowboys offense will be very fun to watch and will be great for fantasy football. Cooper I believe will finish as a low-end WR1 this season and again will bring his high ceiling every week this season. Cooper’s current ADP is the 2.12 in half PPR formats.

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10.) Calvin Ridley

Calvin Ridley is coming off of another productive season. Ridley this past season caught 63 balls on 93 targets for 866 yards and 7 touchdowns in 13 games. Ridley finished the season as the WR25 when he posted 165.5 fantasy points.

Positives

Calvin Ridley before he got injured was well on his way to hitting 1,000 receiving yards for the first time in his young career. Ridley’s 16 game pace according to Pro Football Reference would have had him finishing with 78 receptions on 114 targets for 1,066 yards and 10 touchdown receptions. Ridley is on a team that figures to once again throw the football at a high level with Matt Ryan under center. Ryan and the Falcons were first in the NFL in passing attempts this past season with 684 attempts. The Falcons also lost Austin Hooper in free agency and they traded away Mohammed Sanu midway through last season to the Patriots. That is a total of 139 targets that need to be spread around. I expect Hayden Hurst who the Falcons traded for and Russell Gage to see an uptick in their career production but I believe that Ridley is due to have a breakout season and I think this is going to be the year he does so.

Negatives

The emergence of Russell Gage does put some pause for concern for me considering he was receiving a lot of targets from the slot. Gage finished the season 4th on the team in targets despite Sanu being there for 7 games. Gage emerged having 25 targets total in the games that Ridley missed due to injury. I don’t think that this is going to mean a dropoff for Ridley’s production necessarily. Ridley is firmly the number 2 on a pass-heavy offense and I believe that Ridley has shown that he is a very talented player who can be a number one receiver in the NFL if given the opportunity. Another negative for Ridley is that he has also never had the high reception volume in the passing game. In Ridley’s two seasons in the NFL he only totaled 63 and 64 receptions. We have seen guys like Tyreek Hill, Kenny Golladay, and Mike Evans who all haven’t hit 100 receptions in a season have done well for themselves in fantasy so Ridley can have similar success.

Overall

I am very high on Calvin Ridley unlike a lot of people, but I believe in his talent, the situation he is in, and he is a guy who I think has shown he took a step forward in his second season in the league but just was cut short due to injuries. If you don’t think that two top 10 receivers can be on the same team in fantasy, just look at last year with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, both were top 10 when healthy. Ridley is a guy who you can draft confidently and get at a really good discount in drafts. Ridley’s current ADP is the 4.02 in half PPR formats. 

References: 

https://www.fantasypros.com/

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/

http://www.PlayerProfiler.com

My Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings 2020 (6-10)

By: Brandon Carr

Photo Taken By (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

6.) Derrick Henry

Derrick Henry comes into the 2020 season as my running back six. Henry is coming off of his best season as a pro. Last season, Henry carried the ball 303 times (1st) ran for 1,540 yards (1st) with 16 rushing touchdowns (1st). This led to Henry finishing the season as the RB3 when he totaled 285.6 fantasy points in half PPR formats.

Positives

Derrick Henry is 2020 is primed to once again receive a lot of carries. The Tennessee Titans have a clear motive to run the football with Henry. The Titans finished this past season 10th in the NFL in rushing attempts with the guy who led the league in carries. There isn’t much competition for carries in the Titans offense and they may have brought in Darrynton Evans who was a 3rd round pick, but he doesn’t figure to take carries away from Henry and will be more of a change of pace back. It is guaranteed that Henry is going to be amongst the top in the NFL in rushing yards once again with a high touchdown total on the ground which makes him a relatively safe fantasy option heading into the 2020 season.

Negatives

One of the biggest negatives for Henry’s fantasy outlook is the volume in the passing game. Henry’s floor can be somewhat limited if he doesn’t catch passes. Henry’s career-high in receptions is 18. That is not a lot and it has capped Henry’s potential to insert himself in the elite RB1 conversation. Austin Ekeler finished ahead of Henry in full PPR formats in fantasy because Ekeler catches passes and Henry doesn’t. That is how much passing volume means in fantasy football when you are playing in half or full PPR leagues.

Overall

Derrick Henry overall I believe is still a safe fantasy option. You know what you are getting with Henry because you know that his lack of receptions may cap his ceiling and his floor but the floor for Henry’s fantasy outlook for the 2020 season is still safe because you know that he will be amongst the top of the league in rushing yards and he will get close to 300 carries once again. The Titans want their offense to run through Henry and I feel that an RB6 finish for Henry on the season is right where we should expect him to finish. Henry’s current ADP in half PPR formats is the 2.03 in 12 team formats. 

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7.) Joe Mixon

Joe Mixon is my running back seven heading into the 2020 season. Mixon is coming off of another productive season with the Bengals. Mixon last season totaled 1,137 rushing yards on 278 carries for 5 rushing touchdowns. Mixon finished as the RB13 on the season with a total of 207.9 fantasy points.

Positives

Joe Mixon’s numbers may not be eye-opening but if you think about it, Mixon was playing behind one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL. Per Football Outsiders, the Cincinnati Bengals ranked as the 26th best offensive line in the NFL in terms of run blocking. Mixon had 6 games this season where he finished with over 100 total yards from scrimmage even with bad quarterback play, a game script that doesn’t benefit him, and behind that offensive line. It shows you how talented Mixon is. The Bengals offense this season should be a lot better than what it was last season. Joe Burrow will make the offense better for the Bengals and the Bengals will get a boost to their offensive line with Jonah Williams coming back to the offense who was the Bengals first-round pick last year who missed the entire 2019 season due to injury.

Negatives

Joe Mixon in coming into the NFL was seen to be a much more effective pass catcher and a lot of people have been waiting for him to have that breakout season where he catches a lot of passes. However, that still has not happened yet. Mixon’s career-high in receptions is 43 and last season he only finished with 35 receptions. Giovani Bernard is still on the Bengals and he has seen just about the same amount of passing work as Mixon. He is part of the reason why Mixon’s floor is somewhat limited without that pass-catching volume to keep his floor stable. There also have been rumors that Joe Mixon is a likely holdout candidate if he doesn’t receive a contract extension this offseason, keep an eye out on that storyline.

Overall

Joe Mixon I believe will have the best season of his career in 2020. The Bengals offense should be much improved which means that Mixon will have a better opportunity to score more touchdowns and be a little more efficient than he has been throughout his career. I like Mixon for the 2020 season and I am confident enough to slot him in as my RB7. Mixon is a fantastic late first early second round add for your team and I have no problem taking him as your RB1. Mixon’s current ADP is the 1.10 in half PPR formats.

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8.) Miles Sanders

Miles Sanders is my running back eight on the season. Sanders, who is coming off of his rookie season in the NFL, was very productive. Last season, Sanders carried the ball 179 times for 818 yards, caught 50 balls on 63 targets for 509 yards, with a combined 6 touchdowns. Sanders finished the season as the RB15 with 193.7 fantasy points. 

Positives

Miles Sanders broke out when Jordan Howard last season got injured. Sanders from week 11 on was the RB7 with 106.6 of his 193.7 fantasy being accumulated during that time period. This led to Sanders finishing as the RB1 out of all rookie running backs from last year’s class including Josh Jacobs. Now Jordan Howard is gone and off to the Miami Dolphins so Sanders will have his opportunity to build off of his dominant stretch in a Carson Wentz led offense and an Eagles offense as a whole that should be much healthier heading into the 2020 season. 

Negatives

The biggest negative for Miles Sanders’ 2020 outlook is Doug Pederson. Pederson is well known for his desire to run an RBBC (running back by committee) offense. Miles Sanders has had the most carries out of any running back in a Doug Pederson coached team which is saying a lot. Now could Pederson change his philosophy and see that Sanders is more than capable of being a workhorse running back? He could. The Eagles have not signed or drafted a running back that could compete with Sanders for touches. Will Boston Scott get touches in this Eagles offense? He will, but that doesn’t stop Sanders from being the lead dog in the backfield. Carlos Hyde is a name that I have been seeing linked to the Eagles as a possible signing which is something that needs to be closely monitored. Hyde had a 1000+ yard rushing season with Houston last year which is worrisome for Sanders’ outlook if he is signed. If Hyde is signed, Sanders is more of an RB2 heading into this season.

Overall

The Eagles so far have not done anything to risk Sanders’ 2020 outlook and I am very high on Sanders as a player and for this season. Sanders in year 2 will finish in my opinion as an RB1 and he will be a great value pick up in the second round of drafts this season. Sanders’ current ADP in half PPR formats is the 2.10 so later in the second round.

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9.) Kenyan Drake

Kenyan Drake heading into the 2020 NFL season is my running back nine. Drake in the 2020 season finished with 170 carries for 817 rushing yards with 8 touchdowns along with 50 receptions on 68 targets for 345 receiving yards. Drake with these numbers finished the season as the RB16 when he finished with 189.2 fantasy points.

Positives

Kenyan Drake coming into the 2019 season was a part of the Miami Dolphins and it seemed clear that he needed a change of scenery. The Cardinals were willing to trade for Drake as they traded for him and have not looked back since then. Drake in the 8 games that he played with the Cardinals saw a major uptick in yards per carry from 3.7 to 5.2 yards per carry and saw total yards from scrimmage per game increase from 58 yards per game to 101.4 yards per game. Drake also in these games was the RB4 for the rest of the season. Drake clearly is in a way better situation with the Cardinals than with the Dolphins. If Drake played the entire season with the Cardinals, he would have been on pace to have 246 carries for 1,286 rushing yards with 16 touchdowns on the ground with 56 catches for 342 yards receiving. 

Negatives

Drake hasn’t had a great NFL career up to this point which is something to take note of. But he also has been with Adam Gase for most of his career so that doesn’t help. Drake hasn’t hit the 60 reception mark in any season he has played. His reception numbers took a slight hit when he got to the Cardinals when his receiving yards per game dropped from 29 to 21.4 yards and his targets per game went from 5.5 to 4.4. It isn’t a huge difference but still something to take note of. Chase Edmonds is someone I don’t worry about either because in the games he played in with Drake starting, he only had 2 total carries in the games he was healthy for. Drake will be the workhorse in this Kliff Kingsbury offense.

Overall

I like Kenyan Drake this season. There are not a lot of potential negatives attached to Kenyan Drake heading into the 2020 season and I feel confident having him as an RB1 this season in any format. Drake you can draft for a really good discount as his current ADP in half PPR leagues is the 3.08. That is an absolute steal! Draft Drake and expect him to be great for fantasy this season.

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10.) Nick Chubb

Nick Chubb for the 2020 season is my running back ten. Chubb this past season carried the ball 298 times for 1494 rushing yards with 8 rushing touchdowns. Chubb finished the season as the RB7 with 237.2 fantasy points.

Positives

Nick Chubb is in that category where you know what you can expect from him. He is a guy who is going to get a lot of carries and he is going to rush for a whole lot of yards. The Cleveland Browns have a brand new head coach in Kevin Stefanski who will help the Browns become more of a ground and pound football team. Stefanski was the offensive coordinator last season with the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings last year were fourth in the NFL in rushing attempts compared to the Browns who were 22nd in the NFL in rushing attempts. The Browns offensive line also will get a boost with tackle Jack Conklin coming over from the Titans in free agency and the Browns drafting Alabama tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. 10th overall in the NFL draft.

Negatives

There is one problem that is keeping me from putting Chubb a lot higher. Kareem Hunt is still on the Browns and he figures to be part of this Browns offense. Chubb’s offensive snap percentage did go down when Hunt returned to the Browns lineup. Chubb went from seeing 76% of the snaps without Hunt in the lineup to 64% of the snaps with Hunt in the lineup. Hunt will be more so used as a 3rd down back for the Browns which means that Chubb’s passing work will take a hit, which he never got a lot of anyways in that category. Chubb’s floor is not as high as one would like, however, he brings that consistency in the running game that keeps him very relevant in fantasy, even if Hunt takes a few of those carries away from Chubb.

Overall

Nick Chubb despite Kareem Hunt taking away some of Chubb’s potential will still be a great fantasy running back in 2020. He is a guy who will see a lot of opportunities with an even better offense and a better system that will make Chubb shine once again for fantasy football. Chubb’s current ADP is the 2.02 which is exactly where he should be drafted. 

References:

https://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/nfl/offensive-line/2019

https://www.fantasypros.com/nfl/

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/

My Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings 2020 (1-5)

By: Brandon Carr

Photo Taken By (Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

1.) Michael Thomas

Michael Thomas enters the 2020 season as the top wide receiver on the season for me. Michael Thomas this past season had one of the most dominant seasons by a wide receiver in fantasy football history. Thomas posted out of this world numbers as he broke the NFL record in receptions with 149 receptions on 185 targets for 1,725 yards with 9 touchdowns. This made Thomas the WR1 this past season by a landslide when he scored 300.1 fantasy points (HALF PPR) which was the most in a season since 2015 by any wide receiver. 

Positives 

Michael Thomas this upcoming season is still in for monster production at the position. Thomas ever since he has entered the NFL has had at least 121 targets or more in every single season he has played in and for the past two seasons has led the NFL in total targets. Thomas showed this dominance even without Drew Brees in the lineup for the 5 games that Teddy Bridgewater started. Thomas in the games that Bridgewater played averaged 10.4 targets, 8.4 receptions, and 110.2 receiving yards per game. To put into perspective how dominant Thomas was, his 300.1 fantasy points was still 67 more points than the WR2 (Chris Godwin) this past season. A little added bonus is that Thomas has never missed a game due to injury and hasn’t even been listed on the injury report in his entire professional career.

Negatives

There aren’t that many negatives to say about Michael Thomas and his 2020 outlook. Could Emmanuel Sanders steal some targets away from Thomas? He will but this is something that I would not worry about too much. This could even help Thomas if he receives less attention from the defense with another proven pass catcher playing alongside him. Sanders figures to split work from the outside and in the slot depending on what personnel group the Saints are in. Thomas in his rookie season received 121 targets and that was with Brandin Cooks still on the roster. Alvin Kamara could take some targets but Thomas again has shown that he can command a lot of targets even with Kamara getting his usual high target volume out of the backfield.

Overall

There is not much that can make you from fading Thomas in your draft this year. He has shown how consistently dominant he has been for fantasy owners during his career and this year should be no different. Thomas is my top fantasy wide receiver and you can draft him as such with supreme confidence. Thomas’ current ADP in half PPR drafts is the 1.03.

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2.) Davante Adams

Davante Adams is my number 2 wide receiver for the 2020 season. Adams last season despite missing 4 games due to a toe sprain that he suffered in Week 4 against the Eagles still finished as the WR24 with 171.2 fantasy points this past season. That was ahead of Odell Beckham Jr, DK Metcalf, and Jamison Crowder who played in all 16 games this past season. Adams on the season finished with 83 receptions on 127 targets for 997 yards and 5 touchdowns.

Positives

Heading into the 2020 season, Adams is in for a huge bounce-back year. Adams, before he suffered the toe sprain, was on pace for 100 receptions for 1,512 yards on the season which would’ve placed him right in the conversation to finish as the top fantasy wide receiver on the season. Adams on a point per game basis this past season finished with 14.3 fantasy points per game which was 6th amongst wide receivers. I expect that number to increase with him being healthier throughout the season and with other player’s situations changing that were ahead of him. Adams’ situation remains about the same with the Packers. The Packers didn’t make many additions to their receiving corps except for Devin Funchess who missed the entire 2019 season due to a clavicle fracture. Jimmy Graham and Geronimo Allison who were 3rd and 5th in total targets on the team departed in free agency which leaves 115 more targets to go around. Adams doesn’t face any competition for targets in this offense and Aaron Rodgers will be looking Adams’ way quite often this season.

Negatives

There are a couple of small concerns with Adams’ 2020 outlook. Aaron Rodgers is 36 years old and has seen his touchdown numbers take a decrease from past years which could have some pause for concern if those numbers continue to take a dip. However, Adams was the recipient of 16 out of Rodgers’ 25 passing touchdowns back in 2018 which is not far removed. This doesn’t make me too worried. Another concern that people may have is that the Packers could lean more towards a run-first offense. The Packers opted to draft running back AJ Dillon in the second round which potentially could indicate the Packers desire to run the ball on more of their plays to do what they can to preserve Aaron Rodgers. With all of that being said, I am not concerned by any of this for Adams in 2020.

Overall

Adams has consistently been a great fantasy option for owners and I believe that he is due for a huge bounce-back year with the Pack next year. I have Adams as my number two wide receiver for 2020 with a very high volume of targets being the guy in the Packers passing attack. Adams’ current ADP is the 1.07. 

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3.) Julio Jones

Julio Jones for the 2020 season is my wide receiver three. Jones continues to produce at an elite level despite being 31 years old. Jones this past season had 99 receptions on 157 targets for 1,394 yards and 6 touchdowns. Jones’ 224.6 fantasy points this past season ranked 3rd even with missing a game due to injury.

Positives

Julio Jones will now enter his 10th season in the NFL and still has shown no signs of slowing down. A guy of Julio Jones’ talent and ability can keep him producing at an elite level for a long time. It also helps that he happens to be in an offense that is among the top in the NFL in passing attempts for the past few seasons. They finished first this past season when as a team, they attempted a total of 684 passes which was 51 more than the next team (Carolina Panthers). I don’t expect this to change because of a Falcons defense that hasn’t been very good which means they need to put up a lot of points in order for them to compete. This means Jones’ target volume is going to remain high and it helps even more than 93 targets are being left behind with Austin Hooper out of the picture would have been even more if Hooper didn’t miss 3 games. 

Negatives

Julio Jones also doesn’t have a lot of negatives heading into the 2020 season. What many have pointed to with Jones’ production is that he lacks a lot of receiving touchdowns. However, this hasn’t made a difference in where Jones has finished on the season. In 2017, Jones finished with only 3 touchdowns on the season and he still finished as the WR4 on the season in fantasy. That says enough of how good Jones is for fantasy if he can produce a top 5 season at the position with a lack of touchdowns. If you are worried about his age, look at his numbers, and tell me where he has shown any signs of slowing down. 

Overall

Julio Jones has always been one of the more safer bets when it comes to fantasy football. I expect once again he will insert himself with the elite fantasy options for this season and he will finish as such. Draft Jones and expect similar outcomes to years prior. Jones is my third wide receiver in my rankings and his current ADP is the 1.11.

Photo Taken By (Troy Taormina/USA TODAY Sports)

4.) DeAndre Hopkins

DeAndre Hopkins is my wide receiver four for the 2020 season. Hopkins with the Houston Texans this past season had another great season. Hopkins finished the season with 104 receptions on 150 targets for 1165 yards and 7 touchdowns. Hopkins finished the season as the WR5 with 217.5 fantasy points in 15 games played.

Positives

DeAndre Hopkins in the 2020 season is now on a brand new team as he was traded to the Arizona Cardinals in the offseason. What Hopkins provides the Cardinals is consistent production and dominance at the wide receiver position. Hopkins has had three straight seasons of 1,100+ yards and 95+ receptions, along with finishing inside of the top 5 for fantasy football wide receivers in those seasons. He doesn’t suffer a huge dropoff in quarterback play from Deshaun Watson to Kyler Murray, who is an up and coming star in the NFL and was the NFL’s offensive rookie of the year last year. Murray also finished ahead of Deshaun Watson in terms of passing attempts with Murray having 542 attempts to Watson’s 495 attempts. Hopkins will have a good chance to have another top 5 season this year with his new team. 

Negatives

Going to a new team is definitely a challenge considering how unpredictable it can be. Especially with a potentially shortened offseason on the horizon, it is going to be hard to start building chemistry especially if you are a wide receiver. DeAndre Hopkins I think is too talented to face that difficult of a time with this change. Hopkins, I do expect will see a slight regression in his targets. Hopkins in Arizona is going to face more competition for targets than he had with Houston. Christian Kirk and Larry Fitzgerald both had over 100 targets this past season while meanwhile in Houston, Will Fuller finished with 71 targets even though he missed 5 games. So will Hopkins hit 150 targets again this season? I don’t believe so, but I don’t believe that Kirk or Fitzgerald are going to eat into Hopkins’ production. I suspect he still tops over 135 targets with his new team. It will be more so Kirk and Fitzgerald who are going to take a massive hit in their passing volume.  

Overall

DeAndre Hopkins is still one of the best receivers in the NFL and has proven that in his career. Arizona is just as good of a situation for Hopkins and Hopkins has proven time and time again that he can produce with whoever is throwing him the football. Remember the Tom Savage and Brock Osweiler and Brian Hoyer years in Houston? Hopkins still found a way to remain relevant. Even the down year he had in 2016 in Houston he was close to 80 receptions and 1,000 yards even with Osweiler and Savage throwing mostly inaccurate passes Hopkins way. Hopkins in 2020 will be the alpha on an up and coming Arizona team and once again will prove that he is more than capable of producing another elite WR season. Don’t fade Hopkins with going to a new team; he is my wide receiver four this season. Hopkins’ current ADP is 1.09 in half PPR formats.

Photo Taken By (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)

5.) Tyreek Hill

Tyreek Hill is my wide receiver five heading into the 2020 season. Hill last year missed 4 games due to a clavicle injury that caused a down year for Hill. Hill on the season finished with 58 receptions on 89 targets for 860 yards and 7 touchdowns. Hill only finished as the WR30 this past season with 159.3 fantasy points.

Positives

Tyreek Hill had a rough year this past season but that was due to Hill himself missing time. Hill missed 4 games and was taken out of another game early when he played the Chargers in week 11. Pat Mahomes may have also missed a couple of games, but Hill still played exceptionally well in those two games when he had a total of 12 catches for 216 yards and a touchdown. It shows how good Hill really is but now he comes into the season with both him and Mahomes healthy and coming off of a Super Bowl victory. Don’t forget that Hill was the wide receiver one in 2018 when he played a full 16 games with Mahomes under center, that’s how high Hill’s ceiling can be in fantasy.

Negatives

Tyreek Hill has had his fair share of boom and bust type of games which some people can see as a risk. This past season, Hill finished in the top 10 in 4 different weeks, but he also had 4 weeks where he finished outside the top 30. You could also point to the fact that Hill isn’t someone who catches a lot of passes which could hurt his PPR value. His career-high in receptions on a season is 87 in the year he was the wide receiver one. Do I believe that you should fade Hill because of these reasons? No, and that is because you have to remember how good Hill is for fantasy. As I said, he finished as the WR1 in half PPR formats even with the low reception total that season. Hill’s ceiling is one of the highest ceilings in all of fantasy football with a relatively safe floor. Travis Kelce or Sammy Watkins haven’t diminished any of Hill’s fantasy value even when they get a high percentage of targets. 

Overall

Tyreek Hill going into the 2020 season is going to have a monster bounce-back season. Hill has the luxury of being the number one wide receiver and the deep threat for the best quarterback in the NFL and that alone makes the sky the limit for Hill and his fantasy outlook for the 2020 season. I confidently have Hill as my wide receiver 5 for the 2020 season. You can confidently draft him and hope that he falls in drafts if people are afraid to take him early. Hill’s current ADP is the 1.08.  

References: 

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/

https://www.fantasypros.com/nfl/

My Top 5 College Football Quarterbacks Heading Into The 2020 Season

Left: Photo Taken By (Paul Sancya/AP Photo) Right: Photo Taken By (Matthew Emmons/USA Today Sports)

By: Brandon Carr

The college football season is only a few months away (hopefully). It is never too early to start to talk about some of these players and in this article, I wanted to touch upon some of the top quarterbacks in the nation for the upcoming season. Here are my top 5 college football quarterbacks for the 2020 season.

Both Photos Taken By (Kirby Lee/USA Today Sports)

5.) Kedon Slovis or JT Daniels (USC)

At number 5 we have two quarterbacks from USC. True freshman and 5-star recruit JT Daniels going into last season was the starting quarterback for USC but had suffered a season-ending ACL injury in USC’s opener against Fresno State. After the news broke, head coach Clay Helton named fellow true freshman quarterback Kedon Slovis USC’s starter for the rest of the season. From there, Slovis had himself a great season for the Trojans.

Slovis threw for 3,502 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions with a completion percentage of 71.9% this past season with the Trojans which all ranked 2nd in the PAC-12 only behind Anthony Gordon from Washington State. Slovis was also the first quarterback in school’s history to throw for 500 yards in a single game when he did so against UCLA. Slovis had suffered a few injuries that took him out of games this season. Most notably in the Holiday Bowl against Iowa but in the games where Slovis had played the entirety of the game, Slovis had a record of 6-3 with the Trojans. 

JT Daniels had previously entered the transfer portal but the NCAA had voted against the one-time transfer rule that allowed players to not have to sit out a season upon transferring. This makes Daniels more likely to have an opportunity to play this season if he can win the job against Slovis at camp.

I believe whoever wins the job at camp, will end up having a top 5 quarterback season for the Trojans. The Trojans did lose Michael Pittman Jr. to the draft but still come into the season with one of the best wide receiver trios in the country with junior Amon-Ra St. Brown, senior Tyler Vaughns, and sophomore Drake London. Whoever is under center for the Trojans are bound to take a step forward in their second season and will make the Trojans a threat to win the PAC-12 with a prolific passing attack.

Photo Taken By (Tim Warner/Getty Images)

4.) Sam Ehlinger (Texas)

My number four quarterback heading into next season is Sam Ehlinger. Ehlinger decided to return for his senior season with the Longhorns. Elingher is coming off of his best season yet as the quarterback for the Longhorns in a season where Elingher set career highs in every statistical category with 3,663 passing yards, 32 touchdown passes with 10 interceptions. Elingher also continued to show his rushing ability with 663 rushing yards and 7 rushing touchdowns. Ehlinger once again led the Longhorns to a winning record with an 8-5 record and an Alamo Bowl victory against Utah. 

Ehlinger and the Longhorns did take a step back this past season because, during the preseason, they were given high expectations after a 10 win season the year before. This year they appear to be in position once again to have a shot at winning the Big 12 with the departures of key players and coaches from some of the top schools in the conference.

Ehlinger this season will be without his top two wide receivers from this past season in Devin Duvernay and Collin Johnson. However, I do expect Jake Smith and Brennan Eagles to take another step forward in the passing game for the Longhorns to help Ehlinger to continue his sustained success.

I have Ehlinger slotted in at number four because I do expect the Longhorns to be in contention this season and Ehlinger once again will have another fantastic season where he will put up great numbers and take the Longhorns to another winning record for the fourth straight season as one of the best quarterbacks to come out of this program. 

Photo Taken By (Brett Davis/USA Today Sports)

3.) Sam Howell (North Carolina) 

Another true freshman from last season cracks the top 5 list. Last season Sam Howell came in and turned the Tar Heels program around. The Tar Heels went from a 2-9 record the previous season to a 7-6 record this past season with Howell and new head coach Mack Brown taking over the program. This past season was UNC’s first winning season since 2016. Sam Howell was named the ACC’s offensive rookie of the year and the ACC’s overall rookie of the year this past season. Excluding championship and bowl games, Howell led the ACC in passing yards with 3,347 passing yards and 35 touchdown passes. The 35 touchdown passes are an FBS single-season record for a true freshman. Howell in the Military Bowl against Temple led the Tar Heels to a blowout victory 55-13 which was UNC’s first bowl win since 2013.  

Howell coming into this season will have the same wide receiver corps he had last season with returning senior Dazz Newsome and junior Dyami Brown leading the charge. Howell I expect will come into next season taking another step forward in his progression. Howell after the end of last season had committed himself to become an even better quarterback by studying the tape of last year’s Heisman Trophy winner and national champion Joe Burrow. Howell watched every cut-up of Joe Burrow’s tape from every LSU game three times. Howell is committed to winning and making himself a better quarterback. I expect Howell to continue his success this season. He will continue to make the UNC football program grow and when it comes time to the 2022 NFL Draft, he will be a guy among the top of draft boards.

Photo Taken By (Joe Maiorana/USA Today Sports)

2.) Justin Fields (Ohio State)

Justin Fields, in my opinion, will have the best season out of any quarterback this season. Fields this past season as a transfer from Georgia had an incredible season with the Buckeyes. Fields last season had a dominant season when he threw for 3,273 yards (1st in the Big Ten) with a 67.2% completion percentage (3rd in the Big Ten), 41 touchdowns (1st in the Big Ten), with only 3 interceptions while adding 484 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground. Fields took the Buckeyes to a 13-1 record overall and a Big Ten championship which he figures to do again this upcoming season.

Fields comes in according to Vegas as the favorite to win the Heisman trophy with 7/2 odds and he is deserving to be the favorite heading into the 2020 season. Fields does lose running back J.K. Dobbins and slot wide receiver KJ Hill to the NFL draft. However, Ohio State has two promising wide receivers in now sophomore Garrett Wilson and now junior Chris Olave. The Buckeyes could also see one of their two incoming 5-star freshman wide receivers in Julian Fleming and Jaxon-Smith Njibga come in and make an immediate impact in their first year. Ohio State had also fixed their running game for the time being with former Oklahoma running back Trey Sermon transferring for his senior season. Fields once again is set up for success with the Buckeyes.

Fields will end up having the best season out of any college quarterback this season which means that he will end up winning the Heisman Trophy. Fields definitely deserves to be in the top 2 and I have no problem if anyone were to put him at number one because he is super talented. I do however think Trevor Lawrence is still the best college quarterback heading into the 2020 season.

Photo Taken By (Gerald Herbert/AP)

1.) Trevor Lawrence (Clemson)

Trevor Lawrence is my top quarterback heading into the 2020 season. Lawrence last season from a lot of people’s eyes had a down year in terms of his production. Lawrence was inconsistent throughout the season. From Weeks 1-7, Lawrence threw 14 touchdowns on 8 interceptions with a 65.2% completion percentage. Then Lawrence from Week 8 up until the ACC championship game saw his numbers improve when he threw for 21 touchdowns with no interceptions with a 76% completion percentage. Everyone including me thought Lawrence had hit his stride at the right time but in the two college football playoff games, Lawrence again came back down to earth. Lawrence had only thrown for 2 touchdowns and his completion percentage was only 51.6%. Lawrence ultimately finished the season with a stat line of 3,665 passing yards 36 touchdowns 8 interceptions with a 65.8% completion percentage. These numbers are all career highs for Lawrence however, there is not much excuse for his inconsistent play overall. I do expect Lawrence to bounce back this season to silence his critics.

Lawrence has shown time and time again that he is nothing but a winner as his record as the starting quarterback for the Clemson Tigers is 29-1. Lawrence this upcoming season again will dominate the ACC and take the Tigers to the college football playoffs. Lawrence loses Tee Higgins this season however he still comes in with Justyn Ross and I expect now sophomore Joe Ngata to have a featured role in this Tigers offense and to step up. It also helps that one of college football’s top running backs in Travis Etienne returned for his senior year. Lawrence is still primed to be dominant this season.

In my opinion, Trevor Lawrence right now heading into the 2020 season is the best quarterback in college football. I do believe that Justin Fields has a real shot to pass Lawrence in many people’s eyes because I do believe that Fields is going to have a better season than Trevor Lawrence. It will be a tight race but I am sticking with Lawrence this season.

My Top 5 Fantasy Football Running Backs (2020)

By: Brandon Carr

With the NFL schedule release, a lot of people will now begin to prepare for the 2020 fantasy football season. In this article, I will be breaking down my top 5 running backs for the fantasy football season. These rankings are for half point PPR leagues. 

Photo taken by (Michael Conroy/AP Photo)

1.) Christian McCaffrey

No surprises here, I have Christian McCaffrey as my RB1 on the season. McCaffrey is coming off of one of the greatest seasons by a running back we have ever seen in the NFL. McCaffrey this past season ran for 1,387 yards, had 1,005 yards through the air with an NFL record 116 receptions by a running back, and had a total of 19 touchdowns on the season. Now will McCaffrey expect to see a slight decrease in numbers? He probably will because I don’t believe he can have a better season than he did last year. However, you can expect McCaffrey to have similar production to where he finishes as the RB1 on the season.

I know some people are worried because of a brand new coaching staff and a new quarterback in town for the Panthers. As well as the statement made by new head coach Matt Rhule that said he wants to avoid having McCaffrey on the field for every snap and to cut back his snaps. I am not worried at all by any of this and here is why. 

Joe Brady who many know last year was calling plays for the historic LSU Tigers team last year is the Panthers new offensive coordinator. Brady’s creative play calling is only going to make the Panthers offense better which means more touchdown opportunities for McCaffrey. Along with the spread offensive scheme it’ll open up more running lanes for McCaffrey with less defenders in the box to stop him. Brady also helped now Kansas City Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire catch 55 passes out of the backfield for the Tigers last season, which only means that McCaffrey’s passing volume is going to continue to be high. McCaffrey isn’t going to get 403 touches like he did last year but his volume is still going to be very high even with Matt Rhule wanting to dial back on McCaffrey’s snap count. Even if McCaffrey’s snap count were to go from what it was this past season at 93% to 88% of the snaps which is where Leonard Fournette was last year, that still isn’t a huge drop off. The Panthers also didn’t bring in a running back in free agency and in the draft which suggests McCaffrey’s workload is still going to be high which should cause little to no concern. Don’t expect Mike Davis or Reggie Bonafon to be vultures this season to McCaffrey’s production.

With Teddy Bridgwater now coming in as the starting quarterback this is only going to help McCaffrey. Bridgewater is not known for being a down the field thrower of the football so I expect him to throw a lot of short and intermediate passes in this offense which is where McCaffrey is going to eat in the passing game.

The Panthers offense is overall improved and McCaffrey I can safely say is my RB1 on the season. McCaffrey’s current ADP is 1.01 which is exactly where he should be taken in 2020 drafts no matter the format.

Photo taken by (Elsa/Getty Images)

2.) Saquon Barkley

Saquon Barkley is my RB2 on the season. Barkley last season dealt with a high ankle sprain which caused him to miss 3 games and be banged up for most of the season with this injury which immensely hurt his production. However once Barkley started to get more and more healthier throughout the season, he found his groove during the last few weeks of the season. Barkley during the last few weeks of the NFL season was the RB1 when he scored 89.4 fantasy points during those weeks and it seemed like Barkley finally hit his stride during the fantasy playoffs.

The Giants are another team that have made some changes heading into the 2020 season with the hiring of a new head coach in Joe Judge and the hiring of former Dallas Cowboys’ head coach Jason Garrett as their new offensive coordinator. Joe Judge recently had stated that the Giants offense will be similar to what Jason Garrett ran in Dallas. This could mean that Saquon Barkley is going to see a lot of carries this year which means his volume is going to be immense. Ezekiel Elliott with Dallas has seen 300+ carries in every single season of his career except in 2017 when he was suspended for 6 games, so expect Barkley to also receive that type of workload this year with the Giants. Barkley last season saw 73 targets which was 8th among running backs so I expect that he will receive around 85-100 targets this season which gives him a very safe floor with a high ceiling.

The Giants improved their offensive line via the draft by drafting 3 offensive lineman. Most notably offensive tackle Andrew Thomas with the 4th pick in the draft. The Giants are in position to see their offense take a step forward this season with Daniel Jones in his second season along with his weapons such as Darius Slayton, Golden Tate, Sterling Shepard, and Evan Engram which only means Saquon Barkley is bound to have a nice bounce back season this year in fantasy. Barkley’s ADP is currently the 1.02 which is where he needs to be selected with confidence. 

Photo taken by (Brace Hemmelgarn/USA Today)

3.) Dalvin Cook

 Dalvin Cook is my RB3 for the 2020 season. Cook last season finished with the fifth most fantasy points for a running back (266.9) despite missing 2 games and being taken out of 2 games due to injuries. Cook was dominant this season when he was healthy. Cook had 10 games of 20 touches or more and 8 games with over 100 yards from scrimmage in 14 games played. 

Cook comes into this season with a new offensive coordinator in Gary Kubiak who was the assistant head coach last season with the Vikings. Kubiak was a huge reason why the running game last season was improved for the Vikings and now with him being the full time offensive coordinator, will only help Cook’s production. 

Cook’s 63 targets was 13th among running backs in the NFL even with the games he missed. With Stefon Diggs off to Buffalo, there are 94 targets that he is leaving behind. Although first round pick Justin Jefferson will probably end up seeing most of these targets, Cook still figures to see an uptick in targets. The Vikings were eight in the NFL in running back targets with 126 total targets to that position and 28.6% of the Vikings targets were to running backs which was second most in the NFL. Cook also was first in the NFL with 21 carries inside the 5 yard line which means that he has real touchdown upside in this offense. Cook’s 13 rushing touchdowns was 4th in the NFL despite the missed time.

The Vikings figure to be a run heavy team again this season with Cook being at the helm of this attack. Cook’s ADP is currently 4th but I believe that he will have a top 3 season this year if he remains healthy throughout the course of the season. 

Photo taken by (Andrew Dieb/Icon Sportswire/Getty Images)

4.) Ezekiel Elliott

Ezekiel Elliott is my RB4 for this upcoming season. Zeke finished the season as the RB4 last year with 284.7 fantasy points. Zeke was 4th in the NFL in rushing last season with 1,357 yards on 301 carries along with 54 receptions for 420 yards and 14 total touchdowns. 

The Dallas Cowboys in the offseason made a drastic coaching change when they fired Jason Garrett and hired former Green Bay Packers head coach, Mike McCarthy. McCarthy is well known for his tendency to throw the football more than he wants to run the football as the Packers have consistently finished among the bottom half in the NFL in rushing attempts when McCarthy was the head coach.

This could mean that Zeke is in for his carries to take a dip. Now I believe that Zeke won’t hit 300 carries like he has in almost every season of his career, however McCarthy has never had a running back as good as Ezekiel Elliott and I still believe Zeke will be in for 250+ carries this season even with the tendency to throw the football more from McCarthy. 

Zeke also will be the featured back in what projects to be one of the most high powered offenses in the NFL with the likes of Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, and CeeDee Lamb forming a deadly trio with quarterback Dak Prescott slinging the ball. What this means is that Zeke could see a slight decrease in his passing volume but Zeke’s touchdown upside may be the highest in the NFL with a great offense who will put up a lot of points. Zeke also will see less defenders in the box which could mean that his yards per carry sees an increase as well.

In conclusion, Zeke figures to see a decrease in his workload but he will still remain effective with being in this potent offense and having little to no competition for snaps in the backfield. Zeke’s current ADP is the 1.03 which I have no problem taking him at that spot but I believe he is one spot below that ADP heading into this season.

Photo taken by (Derick E. Hingle/USA Today Sports)

5.) Alvin Kamara

Alvin Kamara is my RB5 heading into the 2020 season. Kamara last season had his worst season as a Saint. This mainly was due to playing through knee and ankle injuries throughout the season that limited him to 797 rushing yards, 533 receiving yards on 81 catches for a total of 6 touchdowns. Kamara with having this down year along with missing 2 games still finished as the RB12 with 208 fantasy points.

Kamara heading into this 2020 season is due for a bounce back year with the Saints. The Saints are coming in with the same offense except for adding Emanuel Sanders via free agency and coming in with the same coaching staff. Sanders could steal some of Kamara’s targets from the slot but with Drew Brees getting older and his arm strength not being what it once was, this could mean that Kamara could be in for a lot of targets out of the backfield. Kamara has averaged 6.7 targets per game since he entered the NFL which has consistently been among the most among running backs in the NFL.

Kamara’s only competition for carries and touches is Latavius Murray but Murray only averaged 6.2 carries per game when Kamara was on the field last season which figures to decrease even lower with Kamara being healthy this season and Murray being over 30 years old.

Kamara is one of the more safer options for fantasy heading into this season knowing that there have been no drastic changes to the Saints offense and coaching staff and Kamara will figure to be one of the top PPR running backs once again for fantasy. Kamara’s current ADP is the 1.05 which is exactly where he should be heading into this season.

References

https://www.fantasypros.com/nfl/

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/

5 College Football Players Who Will Break Out (2020)

By: Brandon Carr

Every single college football season, there are guys that get the opportunity for more playing time when their teammates head to the NFL. These are guys who are considered potential breakout players. Guys who burst onto the scene and put themselves on the map. Today I will be looking at 5 players that I believe will have breakout seasons this upcoming season.

Photo taken by Jackson Stewart (The Daily)

Spencer Rattler (QB-Oklahoma)

Spencer Rattler has a real opportunity to be a Heisman candidate next season. Rattler was a freshman last season and was the third string quarterback for the Sooners behind Jalen Hurts and Tanner Mordecai. Rattler was rated as the number one quarterback from the 2019 recruiting class due to his MVP performance at the Elite 11 tournament when he led his team to a victory at the opening. Rattler was featured in the popular Netflix series, “QB1” which showcases some of the best quarterback recruits in the country. Throughout watching the show, you can see how Rattler brings a confidence and swagger to his game. Sooners teammate Trejan Bridges had this to say about Rattler, “He definitely ain’t compared to any other quarterback, he just carries himself different. He thinks he’s the best, and he is the best.” 

Head coach Lincoln Riley has made a living off of making his quarterbacks shine with his offensive system he runs at Oklahoma. Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray have won the Heisman trophy under Riley’s coaching and Jalen Hurts last season had the best statistical season of his college career under Riley. Spencer Rattler has all of the tools to succeed at the collegiate level. Rattler will have to compete with Tanner Mordecai, but Rattler’s talent will win him this job. The sophomore’s arm talent is nothing to scoff at. Rattler has been seen throwing a ball 75 yards down the field which showcases his arm talent. Rattler will be a fan favorite with his elite arm talent at the position and the confidence that he exerts is something that college fans will gravitate towards. Look for Rattler to thrive in the Oklahoma offense next season.

Photo taken by Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Zamir White (RB-Georgia)

Zamir White aka “Zeus” was a five star recruit coming out of North Carolina. White was the number one running back from the 2018 class and before he could get his freshman season started, White had torn his ACL for the second time of his career during a scrimmage which led to him redshirting his first season. 

White finally got his opportunity this past season in the Sugar Bowl against Baylor. White had replaced an injured D’andre Swift and White carried the ball 18 times for 92 yards and a touchdown to help lead the Bulldogs to a 26-14 victory that day. It was the first time that we had seen White really have an opportunity to showcase his talents since his high school days. White was a monster for Scotland High School where in his four years he ran for a total of 7,169 yards along with 119 touchdowns.

White now has an opportunity to be the lead dog in the Georgia backfield with the departure of D’andre Swift. Georgia has always been a school that has produced some great running backs with the likes of Nick Chubb, Sony Michel, and Todd Gurley. White has the opportunity to be next in line for the line of dominant running backs who played for Georgia. Look for White if he can remain healthy, to have a breakout season for the Bulldogs.

Photo taken from “Eleven Warriors”

Zach Harrison (DE-Ohio State)

Zach Harrison has some big shoes to fill this upcoming season for the Buckeyes. Harrison was a five star recruit for the Buckeyes back in 2019. Harrison had his opportunity this past season for the Buckeyes when he stepped up for the then suspended Chase Young. Harrison had finished the season with 24 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks. These numbers are eerily similar to Chase Young’s numbers his freshman season when he put up 18 total tackles, 5 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks along with a forced fumble.

Harrison now has an opportunity to build from his freshman season with more of an opportunity with Chase Young departing for the NFL. His 6 foot 6 265 pound frame along with his quickness and speed that he showcases on the football field makes him an athletic freak. Buckeyes co-defensive coordinator Greg Mattison had this to say about Harrison, “You’ve got a young man that’s got great height, great range. He’s as fast as some running backs at places. He’s got great character, he works extremely hard, he’s tough, and the technique coach Johnson is working with him gets him better and better….he’s just what you thought he would be.”

Harrison is a guy who has a real opportunity to become that next great defensive lineman from Ohio State following the likes of the Bosa brothers and Chase Young. Look for him this upcoming season to make his mark and build off of his freshman season with the opportunity he has been given.

Photo taken by Richard Shiro (AP)

Joe Ngata (WR-Clemson)

With wide receiver Tee Higgins heading for the NFL, there leaves an open spot for that other outside receiver spot in Clemson with Justyn Ross being the team’s number one. Enter Joe Ngata. Ngata was a four star recruit out of California and was the 9th best wide receiver out of the 2019 class. Ngata was buried in the depth chart his freshman year. Ngata, with the opportunity he got, finished his freshman season with 17 catches for 240 yards and three touchdowns.

Ngata has a similar build to Tee Higgins as Ngata is a 6 foot 3 215 pound receiver who possesses the ability to be another red zone target and run after catch guy for the Tigers. Ngata will have the opportunity to take Higgins’ spot in the Tigers offense. He will have to compete with fellow soon to be sophomore Frank Ladson. I expect Ngata to win that job in camp as he is more of a physical wide receiver that fits the profile of a typical Clemson wide receiver, although both guys possess great ability.

Ngata now with the opportunity to be an everyday starter for the Tigers will now get the chance to prove that he has the capability of filling some big shoes for the Tigers. Look for Ngata to have a breakout season this year with this opportunity along with Trevor Lawrence being his quarterback to maximize his skill set.

Photo taken from Ole Miss Athletics

Jerrion Ealy (RB-Ole Miss)

Jerrion Ealy was a five star recruit and the third best running back from the 2019 class coming out of Mississippi. He was immediately thrusted into a huge role for the Rebels this past season. Ealy with that opportunity ran for 722 yards along with 6 rushing touchdowns. Ole Miss had made a big change after their abysmal 4-8 season when they fired head coach Matt Luke. They replaced him with the widely respected Lane Kiffin. Kiffin I believe will change the fortunes for the Rebels offense, which means big things for Ealy.

Ealy’s talent is something to take note of. Ealy was a monster in the 2019 Under Armour All American game. He was named the game’s MVP when he rushed for 116 yards and 2 touchdowns. The 116 yards is a record for the UAAA game. Ealy also is a two sport athlete as he was a MLB draft selectee when he was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks with the 31st pick in the 2019 draft out of high school. Ealy decided to play football and baseball at Ole Miss forgoing the draft. There is obvious talent that this kid possesses being a two sport athlete and him dominating in a game with some of the best recruits in the country. He has an opportunity with an improved offensive system to take that next step forward and be a dominant player in the backfield for the Rebels next season. Ealy next season will be able to prove that he has the ability to be one of the best running backs in the SEC. I suspect that he will and will be a breakout player this upcoming season for the Rebels. 

The Sky Is The Limit For Tua Tagovailoa

By: Brandon Carr

(Photo taken by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)

In a time where no sports are on, us sports fans have been trying to find anything to keep us excited. One thing that can get us excited is the NFL Draft. The draft is rapidly approaching and this is a time of year where football fans can look forward to seeing who their favorite football team selects in the draft. We get to see where some of the best junior and senior players from college football land. 

One of the most talked about players in this draft has been Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Tua in most analyst eyes is the second best quarterback coming out of this class behind LSU’s Joe Burrow. There have been a lot of Tua supporters and a lot of people who are on the fence about this kid. I for one am a Tua supporter. 

I have been a fan of this kid ever since he took over for then Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts in the biggest game in all of college football as a freshman. He provided a spark for the Crimson Tide when he entered the game in the second half and threw for 3 touchdowns. One that capped off the Crimson Tide victory with a 41 yard walk off touchdown in overtime to DeVonta Smith to come back down 13 points to win the game 26-23. 

I had first heard about Tua when I saw that Alabama recruited a 5 star quarterback from Hawaii. I didn’t make anything out of it because I knew of the history of Alabama quarterbacks under Nick Saban when they made that jump to the NFL. Guys like A.J. McCarron, Jake Coker, Greg McIlroy who all were quarterbacks who won a national championship under Nick Saban didn’t pan out at the next level. None of these guys are even close to Tua Tagovailoa’s level. 

After Tua won Nick Saban’s fifth national championship as a head coach, I knew that there would be some quarterback controversy heading into training camp. After Saban named Tua the starter for the first game of the 2018 season against Louisville, Tua went on to have a dominant performance. Tua had 227 passing yards along with 2 passing touchdowns and 1 touchdown on the ground. Nick Saban had seen enough from Tua that game to then name Tua the full time starter over Jalen Hurts for the rest of the season.

From there, Tua would go on to have one of if not the best careers at the University of Alabama. Tua’s next two seasons would see him throw for 6,806 yards, 76 touchdowns, and only 9 interceptions with a 70.2% completion percentage. Tua’s 87 career touchdown passes is the school’s all time record as well as his 69.2% completion percentage (min 300 attempts). Tua also has a record of 22-2 as the starting quarterback for the Crimson Tide. Tua’s numbers are nothing to take lightly and he is in my opinion the best quarterback in the history of Alabama football.

Tua’s success at Alabama is something that scouts and general managers have taken note of, however there is one huge problem that a lot of scouts and general managers have been turned off by. Tua has suffered numerous injuries in his collegiate career. Whether it was the multiple ankle injuries that required offseason surgery or some minor injuries he suffered that caused him to miss little time, he has been injured quite a bit. None of these injuries have proven to be a long term concern until he suffered the biggest injury of his career in a game versus Mississippi State. Tua and the Crimson Tide were up big in the second quarter of the game and with about 3 minutes left in the half, Tua dropped back to pass and scrambled outside of the pocket. From there, Tua was met by two Mississippi State defenders and he was crushed as he threw the ball away. Tua was in clear pain and he was carted off the field shortly after. It was founded out later that Tua had suffered a dislocated hip and he would miss the remainder of the 2019-2020 season. 

This was a huge blow for Tua who many thought even with the historic season that Joe Burrow was having, would be the first quarterback selected in the NFL Draft. After this injury, many people began to question Tua’s durability as a pro. This obviously is a huge cause for concern as if a player cannot remain on the field then he holds no value to a football team if he can’t play. Tua’s recovery has gone tremendously well since the injury. Tua himself told NFL Network’s Steve Wyche that, “”I feel 100%, I feel like if there was a game today, I’d be able to go out and perform the same way I was able to perform in previous years. I feel as mobile as possible. I feel 100%.” Tua has posted on social media numerous videos of him throwing the football at a disclosed training facility. What has hurt Tua in this recovery process is that teams are unable to visit him to see first hand how he looks due to the coronavirus. But what we can see from the videos that Tua shared, he looks like he has fully recovered from the injury. There will always be concerns from his doubters if his 6 foot 1, 218 pound frame can hold up at the next level due to these injuries.

Tua throughout the scouting process of the NFL Draft has received a lot of good feedback from analysts concerning his play on the field. A lot of analysts have compared Tua to New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees. Many have called Tua a left handed Drew Brees due to his accuracy, his mechanics, his leadership, competitive nature, and his stature. Being compared to one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time is high praise, but will also come with great expectations as well. Tua has all of the tools to reach that level, it will be just if he can stay on the field which I am confident in his ability to do that. 

I truly believe that the sky’s the limit for Tua Tagovailoa. What I saw this kid do throughout his career at Alabama was incredible. I saw him enter the national championship game as a freshman on the biggest stage in college football and deliver. I then saw him single handedly turn Alabama’s traditional ground and pound offense into a high octane passing attack offense with massive production from him and his weapons. The doubters will still say that Tua’s receiving corps is one of the best in college football which helped him a lot. Yes, guys like Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs, Devonta Smith, and Jaylen Waddle will help any quarterback. But that is an unfair argument when it comes to other quarterbacks who have also had help. For example, Joe Burrow had the greatest season in college football history, but he still had incredible weapons at his disposal too and no one has knocked him for that. Not every quarterback is going to do incredible things if they don’t have some help, it takes a lot of different components for any quarterback to be successful. 

The injury concerns are a real thing to be concerned about, but I saw Tua work his tail off to recover from this serious hip injury to earn more praise from scouts and general managers, and analysts on his recovery. 

At the end of the day, Tua will end up going to a good situation. Whether Tua gets drafted by the up and coming Miami Dolphins or the ready to win now Los Angeles Chargers, he will land in a good situation. Tua will most likely redshirt his first season and he will be able to sit behind a solid veteran quarterback like Ryan Fitzpatrick or Tyrod Taylor who can share as much wisdom as possible to Tua. You hear how much Patrick Mahomes gushes about how Alex Smith helped him out when Mahomes was his backup before bursting onto the scene. Having a veteran quarterback in the quarterback room is helpful to any young quarterback. 

Tua’s potential is the highest out of any quarterback in this draft and I am confident in saying that Tua will be able to live up to those expectations that people have said about him. Tua Tagovailoa will be someone who we will be talking about for years to come and I cannot wait to see him at the NFL level.

My 2020 NFL Mock Draft 1.0 (Round 1)

By: Brandon Carr

The NFL Combine festivities have officially ended. Over 300 NFL prospects participated to showcase their physical traits and to improve their draft stock come draft day. I wanted to wait until after the combine to make my first mock draft. Here is my first official NFL Mock Draft for the 2020 draft….

Round 1 – Pick 1 Cincinnati Bengals

Pick: Joe Burrow (QB-LSU)

This pick has gotten to the point where it has become obvious that the Bengals are drafting their future signal caller. Joe Burrow is coming off of the greatest season ever by a college quarterback where he set multiple single season passing records along with a heisman trophy and a national championship victory. The Bengals have a lot of holes but with the likely departure of Andy Dalton, the Bengals will need a quarterback and they will get one of the best quarterbacks in this draft who will start day 1.

Round 1 – Pick 2 Washington Redskins

Pick: Chase Young (DE-Ohio State)

The Redskins have been rumored with them taking a quarterback with this pick or they trade the pick to a team in need of a quarterback. However I believe none of that is true. The Redskins will draft the best player in this draft in Chase Young. Young is one of the most dominant pass rushers that the NFL draft has seen in a long time. His athletic ability and his ability to cause havoc to opposing quarterbacks will be hard to pass up. Ron Rivera will get his guy and Young will be a player who can help turn around the Redskins defense.

Round 1 – Pick 3 Miami Dolphins (Trade w/ Detroit Lions)

Pick: Tua Tagovailoa (QB-Alabama)

The Miami Dolphins in my projection will look to move up in this draft to take their quarterback for the future. There are a lot of hungry teams who are in need of a quarterback and the Dolphins have the most draft capital to give up to move up in this draft. Tua Tagovailoa’s hip injury is a huge concern, however his MRI on the hip came back clean which is a good sign. Tua is one of the best quarterbacks to come out of Alabama. Miami can draft Tua knowing that they can sit him to learn under Ryan Fitzpatrick and if the hip is a concern that gives him as much time as possible.

Round 1 – Pick 4 New York Giants

Pick: Jedrick Wills (OT-Alabama)

The Giants at this spot could go in multiple directions as they have a lot of needs. However their biggest need is at the offensive line. Jedrick Wills in my opinion is the best offensive lineman in this draft. Wills played a lot of right tackle for the Crimson Tide due to Tua being a left handed passer. Which made Wills his blindside protector. Wills has the talent at the position to move over to the left side to protect Daniel Jones. Giants quarterbacks last season were sacked 43 times. This is a pressing need for the Giants and Wills will help to protect Daniel Jones for years to come.

Round 1 – Pick 5 Detroit Lions (Trade w/ Miami Dolphins)

Pick: Isaiah Simmons (LB-Clemson)

The Lions still get the player they would have taken with their original pick. Isaiah Simmons at the combine proved that he is the best athlete in this draft. His physical traits are off the charts. Simmons at the combine ran a 4.39 40 along with a 39” vertical, and a 11” broad jump all with being 238 pounds. Simmons played 5 different positions for the Clemson Tigers and the Lions would be getting a guy who can play all over their defense. 

Round 1 – Pick 6 Los Angeles Chargers

Pick: Justin Herbert (QB-Oregon)

The Chargers fail to move up to take Tua Tagovailoa over the Dolphins in this projection. They instead take Justin Herbert who has improved his draft stock from the Senior Bowl to his combine workouts. Herbert would have a strong chance to open up the season as their starter if he can beat out Tyrod Taylor. Herbert would go to a situation where he has a lot of good offensive weapons and are moving to a brand new stadium.

Round 1 – Pick 7 Carolina Panthers

Pick: Derrick Brown (DT-Auburn)

The Panthers could be in the market for a quarterback with this pick however the Panthers take the best available player on the board here. Derrick Brown was a monster for Auburn this past season who is an elite run stuffer and has pass rush upside. With the Panthers most likely losing Gerald McCoy in free agency, Brown would take over his spot. Brown’s combine wasn’t anything to be blown away by but Brown is the best defensive tackle in this class and would fill a need for the Panthers.

Round 1 – Pick 8 Arizona Cardinals

Pick: Tristian Wirfs (OT-Iowa)

The Cardinals are in desperate need of offensive line help. Enter Tristian Wirfs. Wirfs had the most impressive combine out of any offensive lineman in this draft class. Wirfs had the best 40 yard dash (4.85), the best vertical jump (36.5), and the best broad jump (121.0”) out of any offensive lineman in this draft class. Wirfs athleticism can’t go unnoticed and he has the ability to play tackle and guard. Wirfs would be a huge boost to this Cardinals offensive line that allowed Kyler Murray to be sacked 48 times.

Round 1- Pick 9 Jacksonville Jaguars

Pick: Jeffery Okudah (CB-Ohio State)

The Jaguars are fortunate enough to land Jeffrey Okudah. The Jaguars traded Jalen Ramsey to the Rams last season and look to replace him with a guy like Okudah. Okudah was a shutdown corner for the Buckeyes last season and will look to fill that hole for the Jaguars. Okudah is the best cornerback in this draft class and has all of the measurables to translate to the NFL.

Round 1 – Pick 10 Cleveland Browns

Pick: Mekhi Becton (OT-Louisville)

The Browns are the next team to take an offensive lineman in this projection. They take Mehki Becton who is listed at 6”7 and 364 pounds. Becton at the combine while being this size ran a 5.10 40 time. Becton is a freak for a guy his size and moves like he is way lighter than what he really is. Baker Mayfield was sacked 40 times last season and Becton will look to help protect Mayfield for years to come.

Round 1 – Pick 11 New York Jets

Pick: Andrew Thomas (OT-Georgia)

The Offensive tackle fire sale continues with the New York Jets. The Jets grab Andrew Thomas in this projection. Thomas checked off a lot of boxes at the combine this year. He may have not had anything that blew everyone away at the combine but he dominated when he was at college and will fill an immediate hole for a Jets team who has struggled protecting Sam Darnold’s blind side.

Round 1 – Pick 12 Oakland Raiders

Pick: Jerry Jeudy (WR-Alabama)

The Oakland Raiders are in need of a wide receiver and they have the luxury of choosing between the two best receivers in this year’s draft with Jerry Jeudy and CeeDee Lamb. In my projection the Raiders go with Jeudy. Jeudy is the best route runner in this draft and he had an impressive combine performance to solidify his standings. Jeudy can play in the slot and outside. Jeudy would fit right in with the Raiders who don’t have a number one receiver on their roster currently. 

Round 1 – Pick 13 Indianapolis Colts

Pick: Jordan Love (QB-Utah State)

The Colts at this point know that they need a franchise quarterback. Jordan Love had an up and down career at his time at Utah State however his talent is off the charts. He would go to a situation where he can sit and develop behind Jacoby Brissett or another quarterback if the Colts sign one in free agency. Love has the arm talent but his mechanics and feetwork needs work and going to a team like the Colts gives him a chance to develop under Frank Reich.

Round 1 – Pick 14 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Pick: CJ Henderson (CB-Florida)

The Buccaneers could use help on their offensive line, however since 4 have been drafted already the Buccaneers in my projection decide to get some help on the back end of their defense. CJ Henderson is one of the better corners in this draft and at his time spent at Florida he is a man to man corner. Along with his 4.39 40 at the combine, Henderson is also 6’1 which makes him long. He would be a fit in a Todd Bowles defense that tends to play more man to man coverage. The Buccaneers get their number one corner who fits with the scheme and has the ability to cover the number 1 receiver on an opposing team.

Round 1 – Pick 15 Denver Broncos

Pick: CeeDee Lamb (WR-Oklahoma)

The Denver Broncos begin to surround Drew Lock with more offensive weapons. CeeDee Lamb who many consider to be the best receiver in this draft falls to them the middle of the first round. Lamb is a physical receiver who wins a lot of jumps balls and is also the best run after the catch receiver in this draft. Lamb would lineup opposite of Courtland Sutton in this Broncos offense and he would provide another great pass catching weapon for Drew Lock to thrive in this Broncos offense.

Round 1 – Pick 16 Atlanta Falcons

Pick: Javon Kinlaw (DT-South Carolina)

The Falcons get some help on their defensive line. Javon Kinlaw who many project to be a top 10 pick in the draft falls all the way down to 16 in my projection due to other needs and him missing the combine due to tendinitis. Kinlaw is the best interior pass rushing defensive tackle in the draft and he can play alongside Grady Jarrett to give the Falcons a great duo in the interior of their defense.

Round 1 – Pick 17 Dallas Cowboys

Pick: Xavier McKinney (S-Alabama)

The Cowboys are in desperate need of a playmaker in their secondary. Xavier McKinney is regarded as the best safety in this draft. McKinney’s versaitility to play multiple positions in the secondary will provide that boost that the Cowboys secondary needs.

Round 1 – Pick 18 Miami Dolphins

Pick: K’Lavon Chaisson (LB-LSU)

The Dolphins land a pass rusher with this selection with K’Lavon Chaisson still being on the board. Chaisson is more of a speed rusher and he will provide the Dolphins with some help rushing the passer. The Dolphins were last in the NFL in terms of total team sacks. Chaisson is a player who not only was asked to rush the passer but he also played in coverage when asked which makes him versatille.

Round 1 – Pick 19 Oakland Raiders

Pick: Kenneth Murray (LB-Oklahoma)

The Raiders get some help on their defense with Kenneth Murray. Murray was far and away the best player on a lackluster Oklahoma Sooners’ defense last season however he has some real talent. He has a great ability to stop the run and he is athletic enough to cover if need be. Murray would be a boost to a Raiders defense that needs more talent.

Round 1 – Pick 20 Jacksonville Jaguars

Pick: Josh Jones (OT-Houston)

The Jaguars now look to help boost their offensive line with this pick. Josh Jones would be the 5th tackle to be selected in the first round of this draft. Jones had a very impressive Senior Bowl and a solid combine to show that he has the ability to translate to the next level. He would play on the opposite side of Jawaan Taylor for the Jaguars who need some help on their line.

Round 1 – Pick 21 Philadelphia Eagles

Pick: Henry Ruggs III (WR-Alabama)

The Eagles could go in a lot of different directions however they have the opportunity to grab the fastest receiver in the draft with Henry Ruggs. Ruggs is an explosive player who the Eagles desperately need in their receiving corps. Without DeSean Jackson the Eagles offense lacked a down the field threat. Ruggs can provide that for the Eagles to give Carson Wentz another weapon in their offense.

Round 1 – Pick 22 Buffalo Bills

Pick: Tee Higgins (WR-Clemson)

The Buffalo Bills add another weapon for Josh Allen in my projection. Tee Higgins would be an immediate red zone threat for the Bills. Higgins is 6”4 who has the physicality and the size to win a lot of jump balls for the Bills. Higgins is a perfect receiver for what the Bills are looking for since they don’t have a lot of size at that position. 

Round 1 – Pick 23 New England Patriots

Pick: Patrick Queen (LB-LSU)

The Patriots have a lot of concerns however Bill Belichick I believe goes with a guy to add to their defense. Patrick Queen was the defensive MVP of the national championship game and he is an athletic linebacker who has the ability to play every down. With the likes of Kyle Van Noy and Jamie Collins potentially leaving in free agency, Queen would fit right into Bill Belichick’s defense.

Round 1 – Pick 24 New Orleans Saints

Pick: Justin Jefferson (WR-LSU)

The Saints go and get Michael Thomas a running mate with Justin Jefferson. Jefferson is a very good slot receiver who has great run after the catch ability and he had an impressive combine showing that made him stand out. Jefferson would be an immediate upgrade over any of the receivers the Saints have except Michael Thomas and will be a solid option for Drew Brees in the Saints passing attack. 

Round 1 – Pick 25 Minnesota Vikings

Pick: Trevon Diggs (CB-Alabama)

The Vikings have some holes on their team however in my projection they get some help in the secondary. Trevon Diggs is a rangy corner who would help the Vikings secondary who most likely will part ways with Xavier Rhodes this offseason. Diggs was Alabama’s top corner this past season and for the most part was able to shut down opposing wide receivers. Diggs would join his brother Stefon with the Vikings which would be a cool moment.

Round 1 – Pick 26 Detroit Lions (Trade W/ Miami Dolphins)

Pick: Kristian Fulton (CB-LSU)

The Lions get one of the Dolphins first round picks in my projection and with this pick they get some help on the backend of their defense. Kristian Fulton comes from a program where defensive backs tend to develop nicely. Fulton has been solid in coverage for the Tigers over the past couple of seasons and fills a need for a Detroit Lions team who need back end help on their defense.

Round 1 – Pick 27 Seattle Seahawks

Pick: Yetur Gross-Matos (DE-Penn State)

The Seahawks have a need on the defensive line with the likely departure of Jadeveon Clowney. Yetur Gross Matos enters the equation for the Seahawks. Gross-Matos has the make up to translate to the NFL with his physical traits and was productive with 9.5 sacks last season for the Nittany Lions. He does need some more time to develop his skills but he can become a key contributor to the Seahawks defensive line if he can hone those skills.

Round 1 – Pick 28 Baltimore Ravens

Pick: A.J. Epenesa (DE-Iowa)

The Ravens with this pick look to enhance their defense. A.J. Epenesa who many considered at one point to be a top 15 pick falls all the way to 28th. Epenesa didn’t have an amazing performance at the NFL Combine which hurt his draft stock however he is a player who by his production and film can be a contributor to a defense the first week of the NFL season. The Ravens might be losing Matthew Judon in free agency so Epenesa will fill an upcoming need for the Ravens.

Round 1 – Pick 29 Tennessee Titans

Pick: Noah Igbinoghene (CB-Auburn)

The Titans in my projection get some more help on their defense. They go with Noah Igbinoghene who may lack the size, however he is physical from the line of scrimmage, is solid in coverage, and can stop the run very well. He would be a solid fit for the Titans defense who could be without Logan Ryan since he will be a free agent this off-season. Igbinoghene played in the SEC which also should be enough to make him worthy of a first round selection.

Round 1 – Pick 30 Green Bay Packers

Pick: Jalen Reagor (WR-TCU)

The Packers could decide to go on the defensive side of the ball however they decide to give Davante Adams a running mate with this pick. Jalen Reagor isn’t the biggest receiver however he is a great run after the catch receiver who is explosive with the ball in his hands. The Packers could use some more talent at that position and Reagor can provide Aaron Rodgers with another weapon in this offense.

Round 1- Pick 31 San Francisco 49ers

Pick: Grant Delpit (S-LSU)

The 49ers with this pick look to add another piece to their already dominant defense. Delpit this past season didn’t have as great of a season as he did in the 2018 season but he is a player who is versatile and can play all over the defense. He has the tangibles to be a solid safety in the NFL. He however had a lot of missed tackles which he needs to work on but he would be a guy who can carve out a role in this 49ers secondary.

Round 1 – Pick 32 Kansas City Chiefs

Pick: Marlon Davidson (DE-Auburn)

The defending Super Bowl champions decide to get some help on their defense with this selection. Marlon Davidson was a four year starter for the Tigers in his college career and is exceptional against the run and has been improving as a pass rusher. The Chiefs could use a guy to play alongside Frank Clark on their defense and Davidson would be a solid fit in this 4-3 defense for the Chiefs.

My Thoughts On The Mookie Betts Trade

By: Brandon Carr

Getty Images

Mookie Betts going to the Los Angeles Dodgers has become official. Here are the official terms of this blockbuster trade….

  • Dodgers receive: Mookie Betts, David Price, cash (From the Red Sox), Brusdar Graterol, 2020 Competitive Round B draft pick (from the Twins)
  • Red Sox receive: Alex Verdugo, Jeter Downs, Connor Wong (from the Dodgers)
  • Twins receive: Kenta Maeda, and cash (from the Dodgers)

Let’s breakdown this trade for the Dodgers and the Red Sox….

Red Sox:

The Red Sox were forced to trade their star player because they refused to pay him. Mookie Betts was looking for a contract that was a 12 year year deal and was in the ballpark of 400+ million dollars. The Sox didn’t want to pay their star and wanted to trade him while he was on the last year of his contract. What the Red Sox got in return was 3 prospects from the Dodgers’ farm system. 

The first player in this trade is outfielder Alex Verdugo. Verdugo is considered one of the better prospects in the Dodgers’ system. Verdugo in his career with the Dodgers has appeared in 158 games in over 3 seasons and has posted a .282 batting average, has hit 14 home runs and 49 RBI’s. Verdugo is the most experienced member out of all three of these prospects and the Red Sox will look for him to make an immediate impact on their roster as a day one player.

The next player in this trade is shortstop Jeter Downs. Downs last year played in the Double-A and in the High A. His numbers were impressive as Downs had a .276 batting average with 24 home runs, 86 RBI’s, and 24 stolen bases. Downs will most likely swap positions with Xander Boegarts manning the Red Sox shortstop position for years to come. Downs will more than likely see playing time in the majors at some point in the season. 

The last player in this deal is catcher Connor Wong. Wong last year played in the Double-A and the High A. Wong last year combined for a .281 batting average for 24 home runs and 82 RBI’s. Wong is the prospect out of this deal that most likely won’t play for the Red Sox this season as he needs more time to develop.

The Red Sox are also paying for half of David Price’s contract. Price has 3 years left in his 7 year, $217 million extension that he signed in December of 2015 with the Red Sox. Price is due $96 million dollars over the next 3 years.

Dodgers:

The Dodgers have decided to push all of their chips to the middle of the table. Their time to win the World Series is now. The pieces they have acquired in this trade, make them a threat to win it all this season.

Acquiring Mookie Betts is a huge boost to this already loaded Dodgers roster. Betts is one of the best outfielders in all of baseball. Betts last season with the Red Sox had a .295 batting average with 29 home runs, 80 RBI’s, and 16 stolen bases. Betts was an all star, a silver slugger, and a gold glove winner last year. Betts is still only 27 years old and is only 2 years removed from being named the AL MVP. Betts is on his last year of his contract and is expected to make 27 million dollars this season.

David Price is the next piece from this deal that the Dodgers acquired in this trade. Price last year with the Red Sox pitched in 22 games and finished with a 7-5 record with an ERA of 4.28. Price joins an already good Dodgers rotation that features the likes of Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler. Price figures to be the third guy in the rotation and will provide solid pitching for this team. The Dodgers also only have to pay him $16 million a season to play for their ball club since the Red Sox will pay for half of the contract.

The last player in this deal for the Dodgers is pitching prospect Brusdar Graterol. Graterol was the player that originally was supposed to go to the Red Sox however the Red Sox were concerned with his injury concerns. Graterol has gone Tommy John surgery in his playing career and last year he was dealing with a shoulder injury. Graterol this past season in the minors pitched in 18 games and finished with a 7-0 record with an ERA of 1.92. Graterol was considered one of the top pitching prospects in the Twins’ farm system. Now he joins the Dodgers and looks to develop into a key contributor in their pitching rotation in the future.

Who Won?

The Dodgers look like they have won this trade due to what they gave up to get one of the best players in baseball. Verdugo was one of their best prospects but where this Dodgers team is currently at shows they are ready to win now. The Dodgers have been in 2 of the last 3 World Series matchups and they have come out on the wrong end in those series. Betts provides the Dodgers with more star power and gives them a great outfield and hitting rotation. Price is a good replacement for Kenta Maeda who the Dodgers traded to the Twins. As for the Red Sox, it hurts to give up the face of your organization and your best player, however since the Red Sox didn’t want to pay Betts over $400 million, then it was better that they got something in return for him. All three of these guys are talented baseball players who give the Red Sox potential to be successful in the coming years. With that being said, the Red Sox should’ve given Betts what he wanted considering how special of a player he is. For the Dodgers the pressure is on for them to get over the hump and bring a World Series to Los Angeles. The Red Sox’s expectations this season are lowered, however Red Sox fans expect for this team to compete. The team needs to make moves in the coming years to get them back into contention.

As a Red Sox fan, it hurts to give up a player of Betts’ caliber especially what he did for our team over the years. Betts was one of those guys that I thought would be a franchise player for the Red Sox for many years but at the end of the day, the MLB is a business and you need to make moves in order for what is best for the baseball team.

Patrick Mahomes Is The New Face Of The NFL

By: Brandon Carr

Photo Taken By: AJ Mast (New York Times)

Last night, we witnessed the start of a brand new era in the NFL. The Kansas City Chiefs won this year’s Super Bowl with a come from behind win to beat the San Francisco 49ers 31-20. My biggest takeaway from this game is that the NFL has a new face of the league. His name is Patrick Mahomes.

The Chiefs had a 10 point deficit heading into the fourth quarter and it didn’t look good for Kansas City. With 12:05 minutes left in the fourth quarter, Mahomes threw his second interception of the game and gave the ball back to the 49ers. Even when the Chiefs forced the 49ers to punt the ball, Kansas City, when they got the ball back, were in a 3rd and 15 situation and looked like they were going to have to punt the ball back to the 49ers. This was until Mahomes reminded us that he is a special player. As the pocket began to close in on him Mahomes heaved the ball down the field to an open Tyreek Hill for a 44-yard reception. From there, Kansas City never lost momentum and their offense put up 21 points in the fourth quarter to win the game. This was the third time in this postseason where the Chiefs had to come back down from 10 or more points. The reason why they can do this is because of their quarterback.

Mahomes’ teammates never lost faith even when trailing in this football game. Travis Kelce of the Chiefs had this to say about his quarterback. “It’s Magic Mahomes,” Kelce said. “It’s Showtime Mahomes. He’s going to be himself no matter what the scenario is, and you know what? I love him. He willed this team back into the game” ….”It doesn’t matter the score,” Kelce said. “Doesn’t matter. We’ve got Pat Mahomes.” (The Washington Post). Mahomes’ teammates love him because of knowing that they will always have a chance to win with him at the helm.

Patrick Mahomes last night was asked by a reporter about him becoming the new face of the NFL. Mahomes had this to say, “There’s several guys that could be the face of the NFL. Lamar [Jackson], who was [named] the unanimous [league] MVP last night, he had one of the best seasons of all time at the quarterback position. And, so, there’s guys like that it seems like every single year. A lot of young quarterbacks, still a lot of veteran guys that are playing at a very high level. And, so, I just try to be the best Patrick Mahomes I can be.” (YouTube). 

Head coach Andy Reid before the Super Bowl gushed about how great Mahomes is. “He’s a great kid, first of all,” said Reid. “So you give the guy a kid that grew up in the locker room, so you’ve got a feel for that. He understands the leadership role he’s been put in by position and how important that is, and he’s got that innate ability to lead. So you give him a little guideline on that, and he takes it and goes. “I’m not sure he doesn’t have a photographic memory because you give something to him one time, and he takes it and runs with it and doesn’t forget. We throw a lot of verbiage at him for these plays that we run every week and he’s able to make the other ones evaporate and put the new ones in without any flaws, so he’s special that way. “And he’s got great vision on the field, so he can see, which becomes important for quarterbacks, in particular, the way he does things. He utilizes all his receivers, and I always tell the guys, I said, ‘There’s never a dead route. There’s no clearing routes.’ Everybody’s alive because of his vision. He’ll shoot you and you better be ready. I like the way he goes about his business and he still has plenty of room to grow, which is exciting.” (ArrowheadPride.com).

Mahomes last night became the face of the National Football League. Everything that makes Patrick Mahomes what he is makes him the face of the league. He is as humble as it gets, his teammates always believe in him, and his ability to take control of the game and playbook is unlike most others. All of these qualities make him a great leader and combined with his talent and success, all of this is the recipe for giving him this title.

 You have guys like Deshaun Watson, Lamar Jackson, and Jimmy Garoppolo. None of these guys even come close to Patrick Mahomes. What he has done in his career thus far is remarkable. Mahomes has won a league MVP, a Super Bowl, and was named the Super Bowl MVP, all being at the age of just 24 years old. With guys like Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, and Drew Brees all being at the tail-end of their careers, the NFL needed to have a new face that would be the face for years to come. The world got to witness the greatness that is Patrick Mahomes. For him to continue his unbelievable heroics on the biggest stage in American sports, puts him on the top of the NFL.   

References: 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/nfl/patrick-mahomes-chiefs-comeback/2020/02/02/cc3ac448-45fb-11ea-8124-0ca81effcdfb_story.html

https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2020/2/1/21118102/andy-reids-quote-about-patrick-mahomes-tells-you-everything-you-need-to-know-about-super-bowl-liv

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