While there are always plenty of storylines heading into a season, this year, the 26th of this league’s existence, one story will dominate all others. Will Colby win back-to-back-to-back championships? It’s never been done before, but none of the other back-to-back title holders had the keepers he had entering the season. With the draft done and the season starting tonight, is Mr. Hall the favorite to earn that Colby Cup again? Does anyone have the pieces to take him down?
AI BUILD ME A TEAM – DON VOZZOLA
2024 DRAFT
1 – Bijan Robinson RB • ATL (Keeper)
Great pick; terrible keeper. Should have kept Taylor in the third, drafted Robinson here. And we wonder why Don continues to disappoint in this league.
2 – Josh Jacobs RB • GB
Keeps Mostert, but doesn’t have faith in him after back-to-back RBs to open the draft. I’m okay with this, as I think Jacobs is going to do well in Green Bay, but Don might regret passing on an elite wideout.
3 – Amari Cooper WR • CLE
His 1,250 yards last season were a career high, which just goes to show how disappointing his career has been. The problem is, too many of those stats came when Flacco was the QB last year.
4 – Stefon Diggs WR • HOU
He’s gone from a first-round WR to an afterthought in the blink of an eye. My bet is, he goes off in week one. We all will think Don has the steal of the draft, but then he never shows that greatness again the remainder of the season.
5 – Anthony Richardson QB • IND
A ton of upside, but with just three complete games under his belt, he’s basically a rookie QB again. Still, he runs and he likes to run in the red zone. That’s good for fantasy.
6 – Jayden Reed WR • GB
The Packers receiving core is crowded. Reed is the best of the bunch, but not sure that means much, but a solid pick in six.
7 – Jake Ferguson TE • DAL
Not flashy, but consistent. Dak loves tossing him the ball, especially where it matters.
8 – Rome Odunze WR • CHI
He’s a potential red shirt. With Moore and Allen in the Windy City, Rome is a slot guy at best this season.
9- Dak Prescott QB • DAL
Because Dallas has no run game, I’d be willing to bet Prescott becomes Don’s top QB and finishes as a top-five arm.
10 – Jets DST • NYJ
CBS has the Jets as the top D and for a good reason.
11 – Tyler Allgeier RB • ATL
Good handcuff.
12 – Josh Palmer WR • LAC
Someone has to catch balls for the Chargers. Just not sure it’s him.
13 – Jakobi Meyers WR • LV
Meh.
14 – Jason Myers K • SEA
Why not?
15 – Raheem Mostert RB • MIA (Keeper)
The Fins backfield is crowded and they traded up to draft a younger Mostert clone.
NOT-SO-DEEP THOUGHTS
While there are a couple of pieces I’m excited about, like a healthy Anthony Richardson and Bijan Robinson with a real quarterback running the offense, the reality is, there are simply too many players on this squad I believe have seen their best days. What Mostert did last year was out of this world and the odds are he’s not going to even come close to repeating it, especially the 21 touchdowns. I’m not saying he’s the next Peyton Hillis, but I think 800 yards rushing and 10 scores is more likely. At wideout, Amari Cooper is yet to show he has any chemistry with Watson. In fact, his three worst games with Watson at QB, he caught just six balls for 75 yards. That 11-catch, 265 yards he had in week sixteen…that was Joe Flacco.
Diggs is coming off 107 catches and 1,183 yards, but the yards were a major drop off from the previous four seasons. He’s in a new home in Houston, but I’m not confident he’s even the second best pair of hands on the team. He’s a guy who has relied on targets, as Josh Allen has targeted him at least 154 times in the four seasons he was in Buffalo. He’s not getting 150 targets this season.
On the bench, I love me some Dak, who should toss the ball a ton this year. He could end up starting for Don at some point. Josh Jacobs should be a starter and could be over Mostert, if he finds his footing in Green Bay. Don could also ship him away if the wideouts don’t perform the way he wants; although Don isn’t really known for his trades, doing it just eight times for his career.
THUNDERPANTS
2024 DRAFT
1 – Ja’Marr Chase WR • CIN
Second overall pick seemed early for a guy who has never delivered 1,500 yards. Maybe Burrier knows something we don’t know.
2 – Mike Evans WR • TB
Remember when he went in the ninth round last year? He’s scored double-digit touchdowns in three of his last four seasons.
3 – Patrick Mahomes QB • KC
Passes on a back, which is fine. I think Mahomes retakes his spot as the top fantasy quarterback this year.
4 – James Conner RB • ARI
He looked good last year when he played (average 5 per carry), but the dude hasn’t played a full season yet for his career.
5 – Najee Harris RB • PIT
Fat and slow, Harris averages less than four yards per carry. He’s entering a contract year, so maybe that will motivate him. I wouldn’t count on it. For now, he’s a backup to Connor and Singletary. Speaking of…
6 – Devin Singletary RB • NYG (Keeper)
He’s no Barkley, but there really isn’t much competition in the Giants backfield. He could be a legit three down back who also gets goal line touches. Just not sure how many times the Giants will be near the goal line.
7 – Gus Edwards RB • LAC
So, the Chargers just took a look at the Ravens backfield and said, I’ll take that. Unless Dobbins goes down, this is the timeshare of all timeshares.
8 – Keenan Allen WR • CHI
He’s 32, playing in a new home, with a rookie quarterback and at best is probably the third option for any arm. Still, nothing wrong with a veteran backup.
9 – Marquise Brown WR • KC
One would think that someone with a nickname of Hollywood, playing with Mahomes, would be fantasy gold. That person doesn’t know Marquise Brown very well.
10 – 49ers DST • SF
Stud defense and he didn’t have to reach for them. Nice grab.
11 – Brock Bowers TE • LV
Burrier decides to start a rookie TE, which is ballsy in itself. The dude is the real deal. CBS says he’s a George Kittle clone and that’s fair. He has a nose for the end zone. He also has a nose for injured reserve.
12 – Rashid Shaheed WR • NO
Decent sleeper pick. He’s not Olave, but he can turn short catches into long catches. I just don’t see him being consistent enough to overtake any of Rich’s starters.
13 – Antonio Gibson RB • NE
He grabs a backup running back from New England, while not landing any of his handcuffs. Okay.
14 – Pat Freiermuth TE • PIT
With a better quarterback in Pittsburgh, I can see Freiermuth returning to his 2022 stats of 60+ catches and 700+ yards. His biggest issue is he’s allergic to the end zone. He has just four scores in his last two years, after producing seven as a rookie.
15 – Jason Sanders K • MIA
Good offense should equal plenty of opportunities to kick.
NOT-SO-DEEP THOUGHTS
Burrier’s decided to skip on the backs and his roster looks like a team that skipped on backs. Yes, he does have Patrick Mahomes, who should keep him in many games this year and while I think Chase was a bad pick that early in the draft, he will still produce, especially now that he’s back on the field. Still, the only thing less sexier than Rich’s backfield is probably Rich himself. James Conner isn’t elite, but he can produce when he’s on the field. The problem is…staying on the field. He misses games every year. On top of that, this season the Cardinals actually have a decent, young backup. If Trey Benson gets an opportunity to start a few games, Conner may lose his starting job. And guess who didn’t draft Benson…that’s right, Rich.
Singletary is replacing Barkley in New York, but the problem is, Devin is not Barkley. And last I checked, the Giants still have no passing game and the line remains suspect (to put it nicely). Would it shock anyone to see stat lines like: 12 carries, 34 yards from Singletary? It shouldn’t.
Outside of the running backs, again, Mahomes should finish as the league’s top arm, while Mike Evans will remain Baker’s favorite target. Rookie tight ends are not typically fantasy starters, but Brock Bowers is a good one. He may end up producing rushing touchdowns, as he has a nose for the end zone. Add in the elite 49ers DST and Burrier’s team isn’t that tragic.
On his pine, Rich ignored the rookie sleepers and stacked his bench with veterans like Gus Edwards, Najee Harris, Antonio Gibson, Keenan Allen and Marquise Brown, just to name a few. Of this group, Allen has the best shot to deliver stats and may end up getting some starts. Yes, Harris is still the starter in Pittsburgh, but if that dude ran a 40-yard dash yesterday, he would finish it until today.
TWO HEADED RUSHIN ATTACK
2024 DRAFT
1 – Justin Jefferson WR | MIN
I think he’s the best receiver in football, but even the great ones need more than Sam Darnold. Yet, he just may be too good to shutdown, no matter who is tossing the ball. I mean, he caught 30 balls for 476 yards in four games with Nick Mullens.
2 – Marvin Harrison Jr. WR | ARI
With Wilson already kept and Achane off the board one pick earlier, Rob decides to ignore his team name and go three-wide, drafting the rookie wideout from Ohio State. I watched him in college. The man can catch. Will he produce 100 receptions and 1,500 yards? That might be asking a lot.
3 – Breece Hall RB | NYJ (Keeper)
In my mind, the second best back behind McCaffrey. In fact, I can see Hall leading the league in total yards.
4 – David Montgomery RB | DET
Timeshares are never fun.
5 – Kyler Murray QB | ARI
With Murray and Harrison, it looks like Masterson will be rooting for the Cardinals. If healthy, Kyler is a top-10 arm.
6 – Evan Engram TE | JAC
Engram had a career year in 2023, thanks to 114 receptions and nearly 1,000 yards. Sure he’s 30, but he should be able to repeat those digits, especially with Ridley gone. The only thing is, you’d like more scores. He only has 24 touchdowns in his seven year career and 25% of those came in his rookie season.
7 – Caleb Williams QB | CHI
Unlike Daniels, Williams is set up in Chicago, with solid receivers, a good tight end and even a nice pass catching running back. Rob should not need to start him this season, but he could turn into a solid keeper (although I still have him keeping Hall next year).
8 – DeAndre Hopkins WR | TEN
Never bad to have a veteran backup receiver. Hopkins finally played a full 17, but still only mustered a little over a grand. At best, he’s a bye-week fill in.
9 – Blake Corum RB | LAR
The Rams have Williams, but I think Corum could end up the steal of the draft.
10 – Garrett Wilson WR | NYJ (Keeper)
Wilson enters his third season and has back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons. If Rodgers can stay healthy, Masterson is predicting 1,400 yards. We shall see. If that’s the case, Rob potentially has three receivers who could challenge for an All-Robio award.
11 – Cowboys DST | DAL
New coordinator, but basically the same players. For them, it’s about staying healthy, as the Cowboys always lack depth.
12 – J.K. Dobbins RB | LAC
He’s the more talented of the former Ravens RBs now in Los Angeles. The problem is, he’s the more injured of the two also.
13 – Braelon Allen RB | NYJ
Smart handcuff.
14 – Tyler Bass K | BUF
With an all-new receiving core, perhaps the Bills will get stuck kicking more field goals.
15 – T.J. Hockenson TE | MIN
Great late pick. Slap a redshirt on him and wait until he’s fully recovered in 2025.
NOT-SO-DEEP THOUGHTS
By far, Rob’s team is the most intriguing team in the league. There is just so much unknown, but the ceiling is high as fuck. The big name of course is Breece Hall. I have him finishing second only to McCaffrey in fantasy points by a back. Kyler Murray is back and healthy, but the real question for him is, are his running days over? He really shined in 2020 when he ran for over 800 yards. Last year, he didn’t run as much once he came back. Can he be an elite passes and deliver the stats with his arm? Speaking of Cardinals, Rob is actually going three-wide and starting a rookie receiver. Everything you hear about Harrison is true. The kid is really good, but history in the NFL has taught us well that the top rookie receiver is rarely the best rookie receiver that first year.
Of course, the bigger question marks at receiver are with Justin Jefferson and Garrett Wilson. Jefferson is a stud, but can Sam Darnold toss enough good balls to keep Jefferson in stud-land? I think he’ll be solid, but I don’t have him earning an All-Robio this year. As for Wilson, he’s caught a lot of balls, but he’s actually only caught 56% of his targets. That’s not a good number, which explains why he’s barely topped 1,000 yards twice, despite having 315 balls thrown his way. Now Aaron Rodgers is back. Is that good? Maybe, if he can stay on the field. At least we know that Rodgers is better than any of the two dozen quarterbacks the Jets have started the last two years.
At tight end, Engram is a great get in round 10. He could produce the same numbers as some of the tight ends draft 5-6 rounds earlier. The Dallas D is a solid start. They will again give up a lot of yards, but they still can sack the quarterback and force turnovers.
On Masterson’s pine, he’s got a good mix of sleepers, keepers and veterans. Hopkins could help at wideout and Hockenson should have a red shirt on him. Caleb Williams is the future, as I don’t see him outproducing Murray and both Dobbins and Montgomery are only helpful if others get hurt. However, my favorite of Rob’s picks Blake Corum. I like Braelon Allen too, but he’s not replacing Hall. I actually think Corum has a chance to take the starting job from Williams out in LA. Maybe not right away, but by the end of the year.
Aiyuk Achane Adonai Eloheinu Melekh Ha’olam
2024 DRAFT
1 – Jonathan Taylor RB | IND
It’s hard to know what Bob is getting. When he’s healthy, he looks good and he should be even better with Richardson back under center. Yet, this is the same dude who has missed 17 games the last two years. I don’t like predicting injuries, so I won’t. A healthy Taylor can deliver over 1,500 yards.
2 – De’Von Achane RB | MIA
Honestly, the Miami backfield is the league’s greatest mystery. Mostert was fantastic, but he’s old. They still have Wilson and they traded up to draft a rookie who is basically a Mostert-clone. Where does this leave Achane? He was a stud with the ball in his hands. The question is, how many times will the balls be in his hands?
3 – Travis Kelce TE | KC
He finished as the top tight end again last year. I don’t think he does it again, but he’s still a top-three guy. TE will not be a problem for Castrone.
4 – Tee Higgins WR | CIN
Higgins will always be a good receiver, but never a great receiver. That title belongs to Chase on the Bengals and this isn’t the old Andre Johnson/Reggie Wayne duo.
5 – Brandon Aiyuk WR | SF (Keeper)
He got his contract, but is Aiyuk a top-15 wide receiver? I don’t think he is, but I’m wrong often.
6 – Terry McLaurin WR | WAS
Solid, backup veteran receiver.
7 – Jayden Daniels QB | WAS
This guy is going to remind Bob a lot of Cam Newton (not as strong, but faster), who once led Castrone to a championship as a rookie quarterback.
8 – Tony Pollard RB | TEN (Keeper)
He never looked great last year and he should split carries with Spears this season. I would even argue that Spears is the better of the two.
9 – MarShawn Lloyd RB | GB
An NFL team doesn’t use a third-round pick on a back without a plan to use him. However, I don’t think he does anything Josh Jacobs can’t do.
10 – Jaxon Smith-Njigba WR | SEA
He’s officially better than Lockett, but can he be the Seahawks best receiver? Might be asking too much.
11 – Jaylen Wright RB | MIA
I would say he’s Achene’s handcuff, but he’s also Mostert’s handcuff. Too many mouths to feed in South Beach.
12 – Matthew Stafford QB | LAR
Nice veteran backup QB in case Daniels can’t deliver. He’s got two solid receivers, a good tight end and a healthy running game.
13 – Chargers DST | LAC
A defensive minded coach will help, but not sure the Chargers have all the pieces yet to be great.
14 – Romeo Doubs WR | GB
I’d rather have Reed or Watson, but that’s just me.
15 – Evan McPherson K | CIN
He’s missed five field goals in each of his last three seasons. I don’t really know if that’s good or bad.
NOT-SO-DEEP THOUGHTS
Two years without a trip to the playoffs…is this the team that brings Bob back from the dead? The fact that he’s going into the season with a rookie quarterback just shows that Castrone will always play fantasy with his balls out on display. I actually like Daniel and would have drafted him in the next round if he fell. He’s got decent receivers, a good running game and he himself can take off and run. In fact, he should finish second in rushing among quarterbacks behind Lamar.
Bob’s hands are good, but will they be great? Aiyuk averaged 17.9 yards per catch last year, but Bob would love to see his catch total go up. He’s top out at 78 for a season. In the modern NFL, anything less than 100 is not acceptable for an “elite” wideout. Tee Higgins is not an elite wideout, but he’s solid WR2. If he falters, Terry McLaurin or Jaxon Smith-Njigba are waiting on the bench. Travis Kelce was the top tight end last year, but it’s hard to see him doing it again. Yes, Mahomes is his QB and that matters a lot, but he’s 34 years old, may be distracted by his other priorities and he is coming off his worst year in a long time.
Yet, if Bob is going to make a run this year, it’s going to come down to his backs. First question…is Jonathan Taylor good? I mean, he used to be. In his first two seasons he averaged 5.0 and 5.5 yards per carry. In 2021, he was the best RB in football, delivering nearly 2,300 total yards and 20 scores. Since then, he hasn’t been able to stay on the field. Word is, he’s healthy and let’s not forget, he’s only 25 years old. Can he pull off a Christian McCaffrey, who himself struggled to stay on the field for a couple of years, but got healthy and delivered big time? For me, I’d bet on Taylor doing good things this year. I’m less sure about De’Von Achane.
Don’t get me wrong, I think he’s a stud back. He was the most exciting back with the ball in his hands last year, but he struggled to stay healthy and he struggled to get touches in a crowded backfield. Now, when it comes to his health, I’m not concerned. He didn’t have a history of injuries in college. He only missed two games in 2022. The problem is, the Miami backfield is even more crowded this season. Not only is Mostert and Wilson back, but the Fins actually traded up to draft a running back. You don’t trade up for a guy and not play him. At least Bob was smart enough to draft the rookie back (Jaylen Wright).
On his pine, Bob has Matt Stafford ready to roll if Daniels struggles. He also brought back Tony Pollard, who really has year in Tennessee to prove he can do this. MarShawn Lloyd is a deep sleeper, but he’s only sniffing the field if Josh Jacobs gets hurt.
Chase’n Gold
2024 DRAFT
1 – Amon-Ra St. Brown WR | DET
Honestly, I have him rated higher than both Chase and Jefferson who went ahead of St. Brown.
2 – CeeDee Lamb WR | DAL (Keeper)
With Lamb and St. Brown, it’s becoming a tradition to see Eric with stud receivers.
3 – Joe Mixon RB | HOU
You wait on backs, this is what you get. Mixon, who traditionally has been a first or second round pick, has never turned into an elite back. It took him 18 weeks last year to produce a 100-yard rushing game and he’s never averaged more than 4.1 yards per carry in any season. Still, Houston is a great landing spot, if he can hold off Pierce.
4 – C.J. Stroud QB | HOU
Has Eric’s transition from lifelong Dolphins fan to faithful Houston fan been completed? He has plenty of reasons to cheer for the Texans. Stroud’s second half last year wasn’t as good as his first half, but it didn’t help he kept losing his receivers. He should compete for an All-Robio award this year.
5 – D’Andre Swift RB | CHI
Swift pulled off his first 1,000-yard season in Philly, but then was shipped of to Chicago. It’s a committee in the Windy City, but he is at the top of that committee.
6 – Calvin Ridley WR | TEN
He bounced back in Jacksonville, although he wasn’t very consistent. Can he become he top receiver option in Tennessee? Maybe. What does that mean? Not so sure.
7 – David Njoku TE | CLE
I love when Florida Gator fans draft former Hurricanes, but here is the deal…Njoku was amazing down the stretch last year, but that was with Joe Flacco throwing the ball. He needs to develop a relationship with Watson. Has he tried couples massage?
8 – Austin Ekeler RB | WAS
At best, he’s a third down back in Washington. However, if Robinson goes down or struggles, Ekeler could be given the starting job at some point.
9 – Jameson Williams WR | DET
I’m tired of being told this guy is going to be good.
10 – Ezekiel Elliott RB | DAL
Hope Eric likes 10 carries at 3.5 yards per carry.
11 – Browns DST | CLE (Keeper)
A keeper defense…the second year in a row (Jeff kept the Eagles last year). Eric better hope he’s not going to get similar results.
12 – Aaron Rodgers QB | NYJ
He’s old, broken and fighting with his receivers.
13 – Dallas Goedert TE | PHI
His stats have decreased three straight seasons and with Barkley there, he’s definitely Hurts’ fourth favorite option.
14 – Jake Elliott K | PHI
He’s made 15 of his last 17 field goals of over 50 yards.
15 – Ja’Lynn Polk WR | NE
There are sleepers and then there are deep sleepers. Whatever is below deep sleeper is what Polk is.
NOT-SO-DEEP THOUGHTS
Eric is looking to become just the second person in league history to attend the postseason ten straight seasons. If he fails, you won’t be able to blame his quarterback and receivers. Stroud did struggle a bit down the stretch, but he was a rookie and not only did he get hurt, so did his top two receivers. With that one year under his belt, he should continue to produce even more, thanks to a better running game and the addition of Diggs to the receiving core. Speaking of receivers…
Lamb and St. Brown potentially give Eric the best one-two punch at wideout in the league. Both are studs, both have capable quarterbacks throwing them the ball in an offense that likes to toss it around. I can see these two combining for 260 catches and nearly 3,500 yards. That’s a lot of cheddar. At tight end, David Njoku, when healthy, has all the tools to be elite. He just hasn’t developed any chemistry with Watson.
Yet, the real question mark for Eric will be his backs. He didn’t waste a high pick on one, so he landed Joe Mixon and D’Andre Swift. Of the two, Mixon has the best shot to deliver something. His only true competition is Pierce and Joe should find plenty of running room with that QB and those receivers. Unfortunately, he had the same situation in Cincy and the last time he rushed for over 4.1 yards per carry was way back in 2018. Meanwhile, Swift did some good things early in Philly, but now he’s in Chicago, it smells like a committee is coming our way.
This could end up being a headache, because Vozzola doesn’t have much on his bench when it comes to runners. He’s got two old men, Ekeler and Elliott and if he’s starting one of those two guys, then things have gone south. He does have some depth at receiver with Jameson Williams and Calvin Ridley. Polk is a popular sleeper, but I’m not buying anything out of New England.
Travis & Taylor: A Sequel
2024 DRAFT
1 – James Cook RB | BUF
When the Bills fired their offensive coordinator, Cook became a top-three running back, despite struggling to find the end zone. I think Gibbs is the better back, but Cook isn’t in a timeshare, Gibbs is.
2 – Nico Collins WR | HOU
The hope is, with a healthy Tank, a better running game and Diggs on the other side, teams won’t be able to focus on Nico and he’ll elevate his game to elite status. Or he won’t.
3 – George Pickens WR | PIT
I reached for Pickens because I felt like I knew the ceiling of the other receivers. Say what you want about Pickens, but with a QB upgrade, his ceiling should be much higher in 2024.
4 – Jaylen Waddle WR | MIA
When healthy, he’s a solid backup receiver, who could allow me to go three wide if Kamara doesn’t work out.
5 – Alvin Kamara RB | NO (Keeper)
With a pair of Panthers as the backup, I’m putting a lot of Kamara’s shoulders. I might be asking too much from a guy who hasn’t rushed for more than four yards per carry since 2020.
6 – Dalton Kincaid TE | BUF
Josh Allen has to throw the ball to someone. Why not Kincaid?
7 – Jonathon Brooks RB | CAR
If all goes as planned, I’ll slap a redshirt on him and save him for the next three years.
8 – Xavier Worthy WR | KC
I wanted to grab at least one Chiefs receiver.
9 – Ladd McConkey WR | LAC
This dude is getting way too much love by those who predict sleepers, but with the talent on the Chargers, he could easily lead them in receptions and receiving yards.
10 – Chuba Hubbard RB | CAR
A backup for me until Brooks is ready.
11 – Jaleel McLaughlin RB | DEN
I actually think McLaughlin is the best back in Denver. Unfortunately, I don’t think his coach cares.
12 – Joe Burrow QB | CIN (Keeper)
It’s year four for Joe Burrow. No more excuses. It’s time to deliver an All-Robio season.
13 – Ray Davis RB | BUF
Handcuff to Cook.
14 – Ka’imi Fairbairn K | HOU
Good offense and kicks in a dome.
15 – Bears DST | CHI
I can’t remember the last time I played a defense I drafted all year long.
NOT-SO-DEEP THOUGHTS
Like many of my teams over the years, I think I have a good team, but I don’t see greatness. James Cook should be able to deliver in Buffalo once again. It would be nice if he got more red zone touches though. While I kept Alvin Kamara, I was hoping to just have him as a backup. Well, I’m starting him. He’s pure volume, as he’s unable to actually do much damage. At receiver, I love Nico and I think Kincaid is going to be huge in Buffalo. George Pickens is getting a lot of love this preseason, but I need to see it. While the Steelers QB situation is better, is it really that much better? If both he and Nico can deliver WR1 numbers, I should be in good shape.
Yet, a lot of my potential success will fall onto the shoulders of Joe Burrow. Coming out of his sophomore season, he looked like an elite QB that could keep up with Mahomes, Allen and Lamar. Last year, he did not. He’s healthy now and in his prime. There is no excuse for him not to deliver plenty of 350-point games.
On my pine, I have a pair of Panthers running backs. I’m excited for Brooks, but I’m excited about him for next year, not this season. I grabbed Ray Davis to handcuff with Cook and I’m actually excited about both Jaylen Waddle and Ladd McConkey. If Kamara fails me, I feel confident I can go three-wide with either of these receivers.
The Dick-Taters
2024 DRAFT
1 – Saquon Barkley RB | PHI (Keeper)
There is nothing stopping Barkley from duplicating his 2022 numbers, other than his ability to stay on the grass. So, expecting 1,600 total yards is realistic. The problem is, with the Eagles, Barkley ain’t getting any goal line touches.
2 – Deebo Samuel WR | SF
The 2021 season seems so long ago. I bring it up because it’s the last time Deebo was an elite receiver. Part of the issue is health. Part of the issue is that the 49ers spread it around. To me, the biggest issue is he doesn’t catch enough of his balls thrown his way. Last year he caught 65% of the balls thrown at him. That’s a low number.
3 – Davante Adams WR | LV
Adams had 1,144 yards last year, but over 400 of them came in the season’s first four weeks. The rest of the way, he was mid-level WR2. Right now, nothing about the Raiders QB situation makes me think this will improve.
4 – Mark Andrews TE | BAL
He’s as good as Kelce, but he’s produced only a single 1,000-yard season in his career. If he can get double-digit touchdowns, he’ll be great, but I have to wonder the impact Henry will have in the red zone.
5 – Aaron Jones RB | MIN
Jones has sorta been forgotten about, but with Darnold at quarterback, one has to assume the Vikings are going to run the ball. This is a guy who has never rushed for less than 4.6 yards per carry. He just needs touches.
6 – Javonte Williams RB | DEN
A nice grab in six, getting a starting running back in the sixth round. Between him and Jones, one of them should step in and be a solid RB2 for Rich.
7 – Chase Brown RB | CIN
Why not? Moss has never proven he can hold a starting running back job.
8 – Kenneth Walker III RB | SEA (Keeper)
If Calderon had truth faith in Walker, hard to see why he draft three straight running backs right in front of him. For now, he’s on the pine until he proves he’s the man in Seattle.
9 – Tua Tagovailoa QB | MIA
Due to past concussions and the fact Miami likes to run the ball, Tua is not seen as a great fantasy QB. However, he put up great numbers the last two years: 8,000 yards passing and 54 touchdowns. Unfortunately, he won’t run, which is key in the modern game, but he’s a great starting QB in the ninth round.
10 – Courtland Sutton WR | DEN
He was Wilson’s favorite target, but now he has a rookie throwing him the ball. Now, I suspect Nix will be good this year, but I don’t see Sutton doing much damage in fantasy this year.
11 – Justin Herbert QB | LAC
Because he lost all his weapons, the world forgot about Herbert. Should he be forgotten? Hard to know, but his receivers aren’t great and neither are his backs. He can still run, but I suspect the Chargers will hand the ball off more this year.
12 – Zach Charbonnet RB | SEA
Handcuff for your backup running back. Actually, this is a good get. If Walker fails, Charbonnet has a lot of promise.
13 – Saints DST | NO
Solid D.
14 – Keaton Mitchell RB | BAL
He won’t do anything this year, but he’s a great redshirt candidate.
15 – Cairo Santos K | CHI
He had 38 field goal attempts last year, which is high. That might happen again with a rookie quarterback.
NOT-SO-DEEP THOUGHTS
Another good team that’s not quite great. Obviously, Barkley is a great player. He’s still only 27, so there remains plenty of tread on the tires. He just needs to stay on the field. The Eagles faltered last year and the lack of a stud back hurt. I suspect they’ll feed Barkley like he’s never been fed before. The same can’t be said about Kenneth Walker. Yes, I expect him to hold onto his starting job in Seattle, but his numbers all dropped last year. He had a few less carries, a lot less yards and one less touchdown. Not a major drop off, but it wouldn’t surprise me if the Seahawks went full timeshare with Charbonnet, who struggled with health as a rookie.
At receiver, Deebo officially becomes the second best receiver on the 49ers. That’s not tragic, but after delivering 1,405 yards in 2021, he’s had just under 1,600 yards the last two seasons. As for Adams, he went from having back-to-back 1,500 yard seasons to just 1,144 last year. He actually caught over 100 balls, but averaged only 11.1 yards per catch.
At tight end, Mark Andrews is a solid get, capable of putting up 1,000 yards if he stays on the field. I’m just not sure about the touchdowns with Henry expected to get goal line carries. The Saints DST is underrated and a steal in round 13 and Santos has missed only 11 field goals over the last four years.
On Calderon’s bench, Justin Herbert is solid insurance in case Tua goes down. Chase Brown could end up being the starter in Cincy this season and both Aaron Jones and Javonte Williams are actual starters. Rich also has Charbonnet in case Walker goes south. One could argue Rich has the most running back depth in the league.
Real Men Produce Porn
2024 DRAFT
1 – A.J. Brown WR | PHI
Struggled at moments last year, but he has back-to-back near 1,500-yard seasons and he was a big reason for Colby’s repeat in 2023.
2 – Isiah Pacheco RB | KC
I’m not solid on Pacheco. I believe he’s the best back in Kansas City, but he had more sub-50 yard games than games over 100 yards. However, my biggest issue is his inability to be involved in the passing game.
3 – Lamar Jackson QB | BAL (Keeper)
He’s an annual MVP candidate, who still can run the ball better than anyone. With Henry in the backfield, that should open up the RPO game this season.
4 – DK Metcalf WR | SEA
He remains the top target in Seattle, but what does that mean? Remember, he has topped 1,200 yards just once in his career (2020).
5 – Zay Flowers WR | BAL
He had a solid rookie campaign and honestly, he could be better than Metcalf, so don’t be surprised to see him in Griff’s starting lineup at some point.
6 – Brian Robinson Jr. RB | WAS
Thanks to Ekeler, a lot of people slept on Robinson. Two years into his career, he hasn’t been great, but I suspect this season he’s finally going to top 1,000 yards rushing.
7 – Diontae Johnson WR | CAR
This could prove to be a nice pick. The Panthers are desperate for a WR1 and Bryce Young is better than what he showed last year.
8 – Trey Benson RB | ARI
I love this pick. He is one of two players Griff took right before I was going to draft him. The FSU back will back up Connors for now, but we know that dude can’t stay on the field. Benson has the ability to take the starting job and keep it.
9 – Luke Musgrave TE | GB
He’s solid, especially in this round, but there are a lot of mouths to feed in Wisconsin.
10 – Keon Coleman WR | BUF
This is why you don’t let Seminole fans into your league. Coleman is the second player Coomer stole from me right before I had planned on taking him. His punishment: FSU is 0-2 with loses to Boston College and Georgia Tech. Enjoy your lawsuit, bitches!
11 – Ty Chandler RB | MIN
He snags Aaron Jones handcuff, but failed to get White’s handcuff. Hopefully that won’t hurt him.
12 – Harrison Butker K | KC
Fitting, since I assume both Harrison and Griff believe the role of the woman is to be pregnant in a kitchen (once he rebuilds his kitchen).
13 – Dolphins DST | MIA
They were decent last year, but lost some talent to free agency. We’ll see.
14 – Rachaad White RB | TB (Keeper)
Great keeper, but one has to wonder if keeping Nico Collins for two more years was the way to go.
15 – Baker Mayfield QB | TB
Homer!
NOT-SO-DEEP THOUGHTS
For Griff, he’s got a pair of elite players in Lamar Jackson and A.J. Brown. The pair will put up a lot of points. However, if he’s to make a return trip to the postseason, it will come down to his backs. Isiah Pacheco and Rachaad White are both solid backs. However, neither is elite and neither are All-Robio candidates. Coomer really needs one of them to make that leap into elite. White has potential, as he’s already a solid receiver, catching 64 balls for 549 yards last year. The problem is, he’s not a great runner so far. In two seasons, he’s averaged just 3.7 and 3.6 yards per carry. If he has a couple of bad games, how long before the coaching staff starts to give carries to Bucky Irving, who Griff failed to draft?
Pacheco is the starting back on an elite offense, but unfortunately it’s an elite passing offense. Last year, he only got 205 carries and scored only seven rushing touchdowns. That’s not enough, especially for a guy who has averaged 4.7 yards per carry for his career.
The same issue Griff has with his backs, he has with DK Metcalf and Luke Musgrave. Both have the athletic ability to be studs, but both are projected to finish outside the top-10 at their respected position. Metcalf’s best season was 1,300 yards and that was in 2020 and he’s never caught 100 balls in any season. Musgrave has so much potential, but as a rookie he only had 352 yards and one score (granted, he missed six games due to injury).
So, if I’m not that impressed with Griff’s starters, so are there any saviors on his pine? Yes. In fact, Griff has one of the league’s strongest benches when it comes to help now and potential sleepers. Flowers could be primed for a big stat jump in his second season. Keon Coleman could be Josh Allen’s favorite target in Buffalo. Brian Robinson is a starter and could be better than both of Griff’s current starting backs and Diontae Johnson could do good things in Carolina. Yet, my favorite bench player for Griff is the other Florida State Seminole; Trey Benson. I project he takes the starting job from Conner at some point this season.
The Genius
2024 DRAFT
1 – Derrick Henry RB | BAL
Does Henry have one more year left in the tank or is this Shaun Alexander in Washington all over again? I think it’s the former and I think it was a wise pick.
2 – DeVonta Smith WR | PHI
Second round is a little early for a second fiddle in Philly. I thought he would overtake Brown last year; I was wrong. I won’t make that prediction again.
3 – Jalen Hurts QB | PHI (Keeper)
He’ll always be solid due to the tush push.
4 – Zamir White RB | LV
Great get in the fourth round. The Raiders running game was better last year with White and he doesn’t face too much competition in that backfield. If the Raiders can throw the ball, he should have some room to run.
5 – Tank Dell WR | HOU
He had glimpses of greatness, but I have to believe Diggs is going to dig into his stats this year.
6 – Rhamondre Stevenson RB | NE
Here’s what a Patriots fan told me, “the offensive line is garbage.” Nothing more needs to be said.
7 – Chris Godwin WR | TB
He’ll never be Mike Evans; not in Tampa and not with Baker at QB.
8 – Nick Chubb RB | CLE
Matt snags a back who was a first-round pick last year here in the 8th round. Now there is a reason why he’s an 8th round pick, as he’s recovering from about 40 injuries all below the knee. Expecting Chubb to do much this year is asking a lot, but he’s a solid keeper option down the road.
9 – Jerry Jeudy WR | CLE
As long as Watson is the quarterback, any receiver is a waste to me.
10 – Deshaun Watson QB | CLE
Speaking of waste.
11 – Chiefs DST | KC
A solid front seven can do a lot of good in fantasy.
12 – Bucky Irving RB | TB
Dude stole Griff’s handcuff. That’s on Coomer, who took Ty Chandler in the 11th round.
13 – Younghoe Koo K | ATL
Asian kickers rock! Wait, is he Asian?
14 – Sam LaPorta TE | DET (Keeper)
Easy prediction…LaPorta is the top tight end in fantasy this year.
15 – Greg Dulcich TE | DEN
Matt had so much faith in LaPorta, he drafted a second tight end.
NOT-SO-DEEP THOUGHTS
I’ll be honest, everything about Matt’s draft decisions felt like he was playing it safe. Right now, his keepers are his two best players. Jalen Hurts is a fantasy stud QB, especially with his goal line scores. LaPorta was a stud rookie last year and I project him to finish as the league’s top TE in 2024. After those two, Derrick Henry is getting old, but he’s on a better team. I think he has another year in the tank and is good for 1,400 yards and double-digit scores this season. As for Stevenson, I have no love for that him. Nothing about the offseason decisions made by the Patriots makes me thing they’ll be better and I don’t see Stevenson being a dominant back.
At wideout, Tank Dell and DeVonta Smith at best are WR2s, who will from time-to-time deliver 250 points. Tank is a solid pair of hands, but I suspect Diggs arrival will hurt his stats the most. Smith was a stud in college, but continues to play second fiddle to Brown in Philly. Yes, he broke 1,000 yards last year, but in the modern era of football, 1,000 isn’t that impressive anymore.
On Neatock’s pine, Zamir White is a good get and in my opinion, better than Stevenson. Bucky Irving was a nice steal in round 12 and Nick Chubb is a good keeper in round eight. If Matt was smart, he put him on IR and slap a redshirt on him. At receiver, Chris Godwin and Jerry Jeudy are decent veterans who could step in for bye-week help.
Football?
2024 DRAFT
1 – Tyreek Hill WR | MIA (Keeper)
1,800 yards and 13 touchdowns is probably too much to ask for, but Hill could drop 300 less fantasy points and still compete for a first-team All-Robio.
2 – Kyren Williams RB | LAR
I have some concerns about Williams, despite coming off a solid 2023 season. When a coach tells me a RB is also going to be doing kickoff returns, it tells me the coach isn’t serious about that back being a lead back.
3 – Drake London WR | ATL
Great pick. He is ready to breakout finally.
4 – Trey McBride TE | ARI
Another solid pick. McBride should be a top-five TE and this is the perfect round to nab in.
5 – Michael Pittman WR | IND
Sorta forgot this guy caught 109 balls last year with no good QB throwing him the ball. Love to see what he can do with a full season with Richardson at QB.
6 – Christian Kirk WR | JAC
Solid forgotten receiver in Jacksonville. With Ridley gone, Kirk is the real alpha male, so he could easily top his career high numbers from 2022.
7 – Jaylen Warren RB | PIT
He’s probably still the better back in Pittsburgh, but that’s not saying much.
8 – Tyjae Spears RB | TEN
Great sleeper pick. If we learned anything last year, Pollard ain’t worth the hype. Spears actually looked good last year when he subbed in for Henry. How long before the Titans realize the better back is Spears?
9 – Trevor Lawrence QB | JAC
Probably wise to get a decent backup quarterback to Goff. Speaking off…
10 – Jared Goff QB | DET (Keeper)
Last year, Goff was a lot better when he played in a dome, as opposed to outdoors. The goods news for Jeff is, all but one of his fantasy games will be played in a dome this year.
11 – Steelers DST | PIT
According to a Steelers fan I know, expect good things from the Steelers DST.
12 – Jordan Addison WR | MIN
He shined when Jefferson was out; not so much when Jefferson returned. Yet, with Osbourne gone and Hockenson not healthy, Jefferson and Addison could be a decent one-two combo if Darnold can get them the ball.
13 – Dontayvion Wicks WR | GB
The Packers receiver core is crowded, but Wicks is a popular sleeper pick. Still I have him behind Reed and Watson though.
14 – Will Shipley RB | PHI
Stealing Barkley’s handcuff in Philly. That’s a true Giants fan.
15 – Greg Zuerlein K | NYJ
Last year was the first time since 2020 that Zuerlein didn’t miss at least six field goals, hitting 35 of 38 attempts.
NOT-SO-DEEP THOUGHTS
Greenblatt is one of three teams entering the 2024 season going three-wide, proving how far running backs have fallen. Tyreek Hill is a must-start. He’s 30 this season, but he has shown no signs of aging and say what you want about his coach, the man knows how to get the ball into the hands of the playmakers. In Indy, Michael Pittman hasn’t lived up to expectations, but if both Richardson and Taylor are healthy, this is the year to do it. He has never hit 1,200 yards in a season, but I would be shocked if he fails again. Lastly, we have Drake London. You can forgive folks if they’ve forgotten about him. He’s sorta been lost in Atlanta, due to shitty QB play. Now he has Cousins. Say what you want about Cousins, but he can deliver fantasy stats and knows how to make good receivers great fantasy receivers.
At quarterback, I got complete faith in Goff and I love McBride in round four. I think he could earn an All-Robio award this year. The biggest question mark I have for Jeff is at running back. Kyren Williams was a stud last season. He averaged 5.0 yards per carry and had over 1,300 total yards and 15 scores in just 12 games. Yet, something about the Rams coaching staff I don’t trust, especially when the team used a high draft pick to bring in a rookie back from Michigan.
To start the season, I’m not in love with Greenblatt’s pine. Kirk is a solid receiver off the bench and Addison might be able to put up some digits. However, the only true sleeper I see is Spears. Again, I don’t trust Pollard. I think Spears is the better back and the coaches will eventually see it too.
Dudelove
2024 DRAFT
1 – Jahmyr Gibbs RB | DET
I really wanted to take Gibbs. Of all the backs in the first round, he’s my favorite. I just don’t like timeshares. As long as Montgomery is there, Gibbs will continue to be hit-or-miss. If anything were to happen to Montgomery, that would be bad news for the rest of us.
2 – Puka Nacua WR | LAR
A solid second round pick. Kupp is still good, but Nacua shined with and without Kupp last year. He can potentially compete for an All-Robio award here in his second season.
3 – Jordan Love QB | GB
He threw for over 4,000 yards and 31 scores as a first time starter. Those numbers seem high, but he really came on strong towards the end of last year. If he can improve those numbers, he’ll officially become elite.
4 – Malik Nabers WR | NYG
He has the ability and the potential to be the league’s top rookie receiver. Yes, even more than Harrison. The problem is, he has Daniel Jones throwing him the ball. That’s going to hurt some. Yet, for now, he’s riding in Mike’s starting lineup as the flex.
5 – George Kittle TE | SF
He had his third career 1,000-yard season last year, despite missing a game and dealing with nagging injuries. At 31 years old, health will remain the biggest concerns. With a solid running game and two stud receivers on the outside, Kittle will always have open space in the middle.
6 – Zack Moss RB | CIN
Voted most likely to lose his starting job by midseason, if you believe the sleeper reports. Not sure why, as Moss looked really good with the Colts last season. He’s at least as good as Mixon was and the Bengals offense is better than Indys.
7 – Christian Watson WR | GB
I really thought this guy was going to breakout last year, but he failed to deliver. Injuries were the issue. I’d love to see this guy play healthy, but it’s hard to trust a man who has been dealing with hamstring issues for two straight years.
8 – Brock Purdy QB | SF
Unloved and under-appreciated, Brock belongs on Mike’s team. Let’s not forget, his stats were slightly better than Jordan Love’s last season.
9 – Chris Olave WR | NO (Keeper)
A solid keeper, although I have to wonder why Mike didn’t keep Williams in round six? Anyhow, Olave is the clear number one receiver in the Big Easy, on a team that should be trying to comeback quite often.
10 – Brian Thomas Jr. WR | JAC
I’m not sold on him, but let’s be honest, he plays in Jacksonville and to this day, I sometimes forget the Jaguars exist.
11 – Justin Tucker K | BAL
The first kicker taken. Michael clearly has taken away Eric’s claim to fame.
12 – Texans DST | HOU
Great pick. Their offense hogs all the headlines, but the Texans have a chance to be a top-three DST this year.
13 – Tyrone Tracy Jr. RB | NYG
Sure. Why not. He’s suppose to be good and may even be better than Singletary, but this is still the Giants.
14 – Adonai Mitchell WR | IND
How many rookies does Evangelist need?
15 – Ben Sinnott TE | WAS
Honestly, I never heard of this guy and Mike’s already cut him.
NOT-SO-DEEP THOUGHTS
Michael has basically turned our playoffs into his second home and this squad seems like the kind that will keep up that up. Jordan Love is getting a lot of fantasy love by the experts and I don’t blame them. I think he’s capable of putting up prime Aaron Rodgers numbers, especially if he can turn one of his receivers into an elite receiver. I love Gibbs, even with Montgomery and Puka is one of my favorite receivers heading into the season. Add in Olave and Kittle and Dudelove’s hands will catch a lot of balls this season.
The biggest question is at the flex. For now, he has Nabers in there, but I’m not sold on that. He could go back to Zach Moss, but I believe there is a ceiling on that guy in Cincy. To compete for a title this season, Michael needs one of these two to step up and prove me wrong.
On his bench, I’ve already mentioned Moss. Purdy is a solid backup QB and Watson has the goods to become that elite WR in Green Bay, if he can get enough targets. As for Tracy, Mitchell and Thomas, at best, they are potential keepers for next year, although Tracy could see action if Singletary can’t stay healthy.
Magic Numbers
2024 DRAFT
1 – Christian McCaffrey RB | SF (Keeper)
I see no reason or evidence that he won’t continue to be the top back in football by a large margin.
2 – Josh Allen QB | BUF
This year, Colby skips on the elite receiver and goes with an elite arm. Now, there has to be some kind of negative impact when a quarterback loses his two best receivers, but I still believe Allen is a top-five fantasy quarterback. Still, I’m shocked the Chiefs fan decided not to draft Mahomes.
3 – Cooper Kupp WR | LAR
Can he bring back the magic? Last season when playing, he had five 200+ games. He also had six games sub-100. If he can stay healthy, I suspect he’ll be solid, as Stafford still prefers him in the red zone.
4 – DJ Moore WR | CHI
Not sure why Moore slipped. He’s in the prime of his career, coming off a 1,300 yard season with no one good throwing him the ball. Sure, the Bears have a rookie arm, but he’s better than Fields by a lot.
5 – Kyle Pitts TE | ATL
Pitts career has been a dumpster fire through three seasons, but the dude was a stud in college. I don’t think he’ll ever be a stud in the NFL, but Cousins can certainly turn him into a starter-worthy tight end.
6 – Rashee Rice WR | KC
Off-field troubles dragged down his draft average position, but I still expect Mahomes to toss him the ball about seven times per game, as the second-year receiver remains the best receiver on the best passing in football.
7 – Jerome Ford RB | CLE
This could be an absolute steal. I can’t believe so many teams with running back issues passed on this guy. Nick Chubb is expected back, but even if he does come back, what Chubb are we getting? My gut says Ford will remain a solid starter all season.
8 – Rico Dowdle RB | DAL
Take it from a Cowboys fan; there are no worthy backs on this team, but if I took one, it would be Rico.
9 – Khalil Shakir WR | BUF
Maybe he’ll be the top receiver in Buffalo now.
10 – Ravens DST | BAL
Good defense, playing in a division not filled with great offense.
11 – Kirk Cousins QB | ATL
A solid backup. He should be fully recovered. Say what you want about him being a great NFL quarterback, but he’s always been a solid fantasy arm.
12 – Bills DST | BUF
An already solid D got better as the Bills brought in some talent via the draft. If the secondary holds up, the Bills should be a top-five defense.
13 – Travis Etienne RB | JAC (Keeper)
Etienne can be very inconsistent, but if he was available in the draft, he’d be a first rounder, thanks to back-to-back 1,400 total yard seasons.
14 – Brandon Aubrey K | DAL
Officially he only missed two field goals last year and has been hitting 60+ field goals in the preseason.
15 – Cole Kmet TE | CHI
A solid replacement if Pitts doesn’t workout.
NOT-SO-DEEP THOUGHTS
Honestly, it kills me to say it, but Colby had what I would call a near-perfect draft. I mean, there is no such thing as a perfect draft, but this team, 1 through 15 is damn good. While Mr. Hall is too active on the wire to let this happen, I could see 13 of these players still being on his roster when the regular season ends.
Anyhow, it all begins with his keepers. In a league where 25% the teams are only starting one running back, Colby still has two RB1s in McCaffrey and Etienne. Oh and McCaffrey is the league’s best player and current league MVP (in our league). This season, unlike last year, he grabbed a QB early in Josh Allen. One has to believe his stats will take a small hit. You don’t lose your two favorite targets and just move on. Even Mahomes’s numbers eventually dropped when he lost Hill. Yet, even with a few less fantasy points, Allen is still a top-five arm (thanks to his legs).
Colby waited on a receiver, but still landed two solid guys in Kupp and Moore. Sure Cooper isn’t what he once was, but Colby doesn’t need him to be. As for Moore, he’s rated only 22nd, which seems low. I know he has a rookie QB, but that rookie is better than the guys throwing the ball last year when Moore delivered 1,364 yards. I think he is more than capable of producing another 1,300 this year.
At tight end, Pitts has been a huge disappointment. He’s never sniffed 700 yards and he has just six scores for his three-year career. That’s not good, considering he was supposed to be the next Tony Gonzalez. Now he has Kirk Cousins at QB. If he can’t crack the top-five among tight ends this year, he’s never going to do it. At defense, the Bills are solid as always and Brandon Aubrey is my projected first-team All-Robio kicker.
On Colby’s pine, Cousins is a stud backup, Jerome Ford is money as long as Chubb is recovering (which might be the entire year). Rashee Rice is the top target in the top offense, Shakir could become the main main in Buffalo and the Ravens D is better than most team’s starting DST.
ALL-ROBIO AWARDS
Below are my All-Robio predictions. Like always, I refuse to go all-chalk on this.
FIRST TEAM
QB – Patrick Mahomes (Burrier)
The Chiefs QB will earn his fourth career All-Robio award, tying Peyton Manning for most by a quarterback. Last season his TD totals dropped from 45 to 27. With the team continuing to invest in speed and more speed, I believe those TD totals will rise back up to near 40 this year.
RB – Christian McCaffrey (Colby)
Yeah, it’s boring, but I see no reason why he won’t produce his third career first-team All-Robio award and that’s with his numbers dropping slightly from last year. The reality is, he’s not going to score 21 touchdowns again. But 15 is still better than everyone else.
RB – Breece Hall (Masterson)
I actually have Hall leading all backs in total yards this year, thanks to his ability to catch the ball. In fact, I have him hitting 2,200 total yards, thanks to +100 targets and 240 carries.
WR – CeeDee Lamb (Eric)
He’s coming off a holdout and is questionable heading into the season, but once he’s ready to roll, he’ll be the best wideout in football. Don’t be surprised if he tops his career high 12 touchdowns this season.
WR – Puka Nacua (Michael)
Okay, this may be a bit of a reach, but all signs point to Puka becoming a 1,500-yard stud in fantasy.
TE – Sam LaPorta (Matt)
The Travis Kelce reign of terror comes to an end, as LaPorta becomes the main man at tight end. Sam had 89 catches and ten scores as a rookie. That’s too impressive to ignore.
PK – Brandon Aubrey (Colby)
He made 36 field goals as a rookie and went 10-for-10 for over 50 yards. Enough said.
DST – Bills (Colby)
All the talk this offseason has been about the Bills offense, but an already solid defense managed to plug a lot of holes this offseason.
SECOND TEAM
QB – Dak Prescott (Michael)
Do I think Prescott is an elite QB? Not really. I do believe the Cowboys running game is a joke and they will be tossing it all over the field? Yess. Three times in his career Dak has thrown it 590+ times in a year. He’ll do it a fourth time this season.
RB – Jonathan Taylor (Bob)
Okay, I’ll bite. He stays healthy and leads the league in rushing yards, although that won’t even be 1,500 yards rushing.
RB – Saquon Barkley (Calderon)
If he can stay healthy, I can see him getting 370 total touches this season. That would be a career high. He could get bumped onto the first team if he can secure enough goal line carrier.
WR – Tyreek Hill (Jeff)
A prediction of 1,500 yards and a dozen scores seems about right, assuming he doesn’t start acting his age.
WR – Amon-Ra St. Brown (Eric)
Last season he secured 1,500 yards and double-digit scores for the first time in his three-year career. My gut says, that’s the new norm for him.
TE – Trey McBride (Jeff)
Yep, I’m skipping over the old (Kelce, Andrews and Kittle) for the new. I had LaPorta at one and I got third-year McBride at two. His receiving numbers shot up when Murray returned last year. All he needs to do is get more involved near the end zone. He has just four scores in two seasons.
PK – Cairo Santos (Calderon)
I got him second as I foresee the Bears offense moving the ball a ton, but stalling a lot…which is good for kickers.
DST – Texans (Michael)
I believe they’ll battle the Jets for most sacks and points scored this season.
THIRD TEAM
QB – Lamar Jackson (Griff)
Not only do I think Jackson will rush it for 900 yards this season, but I believe he’ll rush for 10 touchdowns, as I believe having Henry will open up things for him. Teams will need to focus on Henry at the goal line, which will make Jackson deadly on the RPO.
RB – James Cook (Robio)
CBS doesn’t give a lot of love to Cook, but I will. Remember, when the new coordinator took over last year, Cook averaged 19 touches per game and 104 yards. If he can get more scores this season, he’s going to be a stud. But that is a big if.
RB – Jahmyr Gibbs (Michael)
I still think he’s going to be a bit hit-or-miss, scoring 300 one week and under 100 the next, but go ahead and assume Montgomery misses four games, Gibbs pumps up his stats and earns his first All-Robio award.
WR – Nico Collins (Robio)
He had nearly 1,300 yards on only 109 targets, which means there is still plenty of room to grow. Having a better running back, with Diggs on the other side will only help Nico’s numbers.
WR – Drake London (Jeff)
He’s never caught more than 72 balls, he’s never produced a 1,000-yard season and he scored only two touchdowns last year. That all ends this season.
TE – Dalton Kincaid (Robio)
For about a seven week stretch between Weeks 5-11, the rookie TE was one of the best in the league. He sorta lost it the last month of the season, but Josh Allen needs receivers and Kincaid is a very talented security blanket.
PK – Younghoe Koo (Matt)
A better offense in 2024 and kicking in a dome for most of his games.
DST – Jets (Don)
They were an elite defense last year, despite having an offense that could barely string together five yards. I see no reason for a drop off with a better offense this season.
PRESEASON RANKINGS
Honestly, there is nothing more pointless than a preseason ranking, yet here we are…
#1 MAGIC NUMBERS (COLBY)
Yep, the two-time champ is the preseason favorite. He’s got a great QB, two All-Robio level backs, solid receivers and plenty of depth in case something goes south.
#2 TWO HEADED RUSHIN ATTACK (ROB M)
If Harrison can be a WR1, this team has no holes.
#3 DUDELOVE (MICHAEL)
So much love for Love, Gibbs and Nacua.
#4 CHASE ‘n GOLD (ERIC)
Eric’s backs don’t turn me on, but his receivers make me horny.
#5 NEEDS A SHORTER TEAM NAME (BOB)
Count me as a member of team Daniels.
#6 TRAVIS & TAYLOR: A SEQUEL (ROBIO)
Let’s be real, a backfield featuring James Cook and Kamara could literally crash and burn within the first four weeks, right?
#7 FOOTBALL (JEFF)
If my concerns about Williams are unfounded, then Jeff should ranked higher.
#8 THE DICK-TATERS (RICH C)
Even I’m not sure why I have Calderon this low. Something about his team just feels off to me.
#9 REAL MEN PRODUCE PORN (GRIFF)
Thursday night’s game between the Ravens and Chiefs will tell us a lot about Lamar, Flowers and Pacheco. I could move him up to sixth in my rankings and still feel good about it.
#10 THE GENIUS (MATT)
I need Stevenson and those receivers to prove me wrong.
#11 AI BUILD MY TEAM (DON)
Still can’t believe Don didn’t keep Jonathan Taylor in round three and just draft Robinson in round one. Could go down as one of the worst moves this league has ever witnessed.
#12 THUNDERPANTS (RICH B)
Honestly, I don’t know if Burrier has the worst team, but he’s been in last place so often in this league, Rich’s league and baseball, I don’t want to break tradition.