2020, a year that will truly live in infamy. Thus, it’s only fitting that we have a title game that best represents the times were are liven’.
Past preseason rankings have been hit-or-miss. Last year, I had Calderon at #1 and he did finish #1 in the regular season. So there’s that.
2020 PRESEASON ALL-ROBIO TEAMS
QUARTERBACKS
1st Team – Lamar Jackson (Robio)
2nd Team – Patrick Mahomes (Colby)
3rd Team – Kyle Murray (Bob)
How about this, three All-Robio quarterbacks and none of them are white dudes. And who says black lives don’t matter? Anyhow, Lamar’s legs give him the edge over pass-happy Patrick. Look for Murray to barely pass up Russell Wilson, thanks to the addition of Hopkins.
RUNNING BACKS
1st Team – Christian McCaffrey (Rob M)
1st Team – Saquon Barkley (Matt)
2nd Team – Ezekiel Elliot (Griff)
2nd Team – Dalvin Cook (Michael)
3rd Team – Travis Henry (Jeff)
3rd Team – Miles Sanders (Don)
Unfortunately, I didn’t get too creative here. Fact is, there are only so many three-down backs, who get goal line, catch the ball and never leave the field. McCaffrey will lead the league in touches, Barkley will be a close second. I expect a small drop-off from Henry, while Sanders in Philly is my one big surprise.
WIDE RECEIVERS
1st Team – Michael Thomas (Jeff)
1st Team – Davante Adams (Bob)
2nd Team – Tyreek Hill (Eric)
2nd Team – Robert Woods (Matt)
3rd Team – Calvin Ridley (Robio)
3rd Team – Julio Jones (Rich C)
No one is topping Thomas, but look for a nice rebound year from both Adams and Hill. Robert Woods is my dark horse. With Cooks gone, I think he makes a leap forward. And yes, I’m putting two Falcons on the third team.
TIGHT ENDS
1st Team – George Kittle (Jeff)
2nd Team – Travis Kelce (Eric)
3rd Team – Darren Waller (Rich B)
Look for a healthy Kittle to overtake Kelce for the top spot, while Waller bounces Ertz as everyone’s favorite tight end not named Kittle or Kelce.
PLACE KICKERS
1st Team – Wil Lutz (Eric)
2nd Team – Harrison Butker (Michael)
3rd Team – Younghoe Koo (Griff)
I love me kickers who play in domes on teams who get stuck in the red zone, so Lutz over Butker, who will lead the league in extra points. Gotta go Koo for third team, because it wouldn’t be a season without Griff earning an All-Robio with a kicker.
DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS
1st Team – 49ers DST (Robio)
2nd Team – Steelers DST (Don)
3rd Team – Rams DST (Robio)
Yeah, I’m declaring that I have two of the top three defenses. Trump’s ‘Merica, baby!
Anyhow, enough with the All-Robio teams. Below are my preseason rankings.
#12 THUNDERPANTS (RICH B)
Deshaun Watson enters 2020 without his favorite target. His new favorite target, Will Fuller, is now Burrier’s top target (Fuller) and last I checked, he is made of glass. Houston’s other receiver, Brandin Cooks is made out of concussions and their new starting back hasn’t averaged four yards per carry since the mid-2010s.
At running back, Carson and Kamara should be able to deliver a pair of 1,300 yards, which is fine, but is it playoff fine? When Ingram abandoned the Big Easy, Kamara was supposed to shine. Instead, he still hasn’t rushed for over 1,000 yards in any season. As for Carson, he was solid, getting a ton of touches (315 total), but he’s always two fumbles away from becoming someone else’s backup.
Catching the ball, I already mentioned Fuller. Watkins is starting, but why? I refuse to celebrate Mahomes fifth option; a man who hasn’t sniffed 700 yards receiving since Burrier was childless. In fact, TE Darren Waller is probably Rich’s top fantasy receiver this year.
#11 FLORIDA MAN & NY WOMAN (GRIFF)
The reality is, all but two people who earned the top overall pick have missed the playoffs. Griff will have to fight hard to not become that third. At top, Elliot is the stud back Griff usually rides to success. After that though, there’s doesn’t seem to be much worth bragging about…yet.
Fournette is the dark horse. Last year, he had over 1,600 yards on the dumpster fire that is Jacksonville. Now he’s gone south and has a solid quarterback, great receivers and a decent offensive line surrounding him. Once he becomes the starter, there is no reason why Leo can’t be a RB1, unless there was a reason why Jax cut him loose.
At quarterback, I have concerns. Tua is second string, which leaves Big Ben. He’s a 38-year-old arm coming off a season where he missed 14 games. Sorry Roethlisberger, you can’t rape yourself out of this mess.
At wideout, Griff is starting Boyd and Gallup, but his backups might be better. T.Y. Hilton needs to stay healthy, but he certainly has a better quarterback with Rivers tossing the ball around. JuJu had a horrid 2019, but if he’s healthy and Big Ben is healthy, he could easily return to 1,000 yards territory. Or maybe he’s just horrid and will remain horrid forever.
#10 DUDELOVE (MICHAEL)
Okay, let’s label Mike’s squad the “team I’m most underestimating” this season. Drew Brees is old, but when playing last year, he was still pretty much Drew Brees. Still, I can’t help wonder if Daniel Jones won’t be the starter at some point. Dalvin Cook was a stud last year, but I’m always worried the Vikings are going to give Mattison more touches. At RB2, if the final six weeks of last season are what matter, then Mike can expect about 250 per game from Mostert. That’s a good number.
At wideout and tight end, Dudelove loves his white boys. Team Proud Boys is rolling with Edelman, Kupp and Ertz. I guess Cooper Riley wasn’t available. Ertz is an elite tight end, but can either Edelman (no more Brady) and Kupp (with Cooks gone) step up and become elite? Probably not.
#9 STURGIS STOOGES (DON)
Tom Brady and Todd Gurley lead this team and I’m not sure that’s a good thing. It would have been three years ago, but that was ages ago. Brady’s yards and touchdowns have fallen in each of the past three seasons, but living in Tampa now, he has weapons he’s never had before. Gurley also has a new home, coming off his worst season as pro. He produced just over 1,000 total yards, averaging only 3.8 yards per carry.
This simply means, Don needs his young guns to rise up. Miles Sanders is supposed to be the man in Philly, playing under a coach who typically doesn’t allow one back to be “the man.” Kenny Golladay has gone back-to-back 1,000 yards, but that’s WR2 numbers. It’s time to catch more than 70 balls and get those digits into WR1 territory. D.J. Moore took a big step forward last year, with 87 catches for 1,175 yards. However, his six touchdowns in 31 career games is not going to cut it in fantasy. Each of these three have been good. Each needs to do better.
#8 TEN POUND TAINT (COLBY)
For a second straight season, Colby will try to surround Mahomes with some talent. Clyde Edwards-Helaire is everyone’s favorite rookie, but we really have no clue how rookie backs will be used this year. Fact is, any back will need to protect Mahomes and that’s typically a challenge for rookies. Don’t be surprised if the Chiefs go committee to start the season. In the Mountain West, is Gordon the best back? I mean, the last I checked, Lindsay was pretty good. Smells like a Mile High timeshare to me.
At receiver, I see good, but not great. Mike Evans has been great, but I’m not buying Tom Brady as an elite quarterback and I’m concerned about how he’s going to throw a consistent deep ball to Evans. Chark’s 1,000 yards last year were the most surprising of the season. He appears to be the top target on a team that will be playing catchup a ton.
For Colby, the X-Factor may be his bench. While Masterson took Jon Taylor in round two, the Colts depth chart still has Marlon Mack on the top. We’ll see if he can hold onto it. Hall also has Cam Akers, who is my favorite rookie back. Right now, he’s listed as #2 on the Rams depth chart, but I don’t think that’s for long. In college, Akers averaged 5.0 yards per carry behind an awful FSU offensive line. I suspect by season’s end, assuming Colby doesn’t trade him away, he could be this team’s best back.
#7 HE WENTZ THATTAWAY (MATT)
For Matt, it’s all about the health. At quarterback, Wentz played all 16 games, but struggled to jump into the elite conversation because it seemed all his skill players were hurt last year. Barkley is an elite back, but he missed three games last year and had 700 less yards in 2019, compared to 2018. Still, I have faith these two will bounce back in 2020. I don’t feel the same about Matt’s RB2. David Johnson broke his wrist in 2017 and has never looked the same, averaging 2.1, 3.6 and 3.7 yards per carry. That’s not impressive.
At wideout, Matt has three solid options. Allen, Woods and Diggs are all coming 1,100 yard seasons. That’s good. However, for Matt to make the jump into a deep playoff run contention, he needs one of these guys to make the leap into elute status.
#6 TWO HEADED RUSHIN ATTACK (ROB M)
Masterson made the balls decision of the draft, taking Jonathan Taylor early in the second round. The fact is, with no preseason, we have no clue what rookies will do. The Colts still have Mack and he’s listed as the top back, but that literally could be meaningless. Mack could get the first series and then get out-touched by the rookie. No clue.
Still, Rob has McCaffrey back and with the Panthers expected to have one of the worst defenses in the league, so I expect last year’s top fantasy back to get a ton of touches. Last year he had over 400 and that should be expected again. At wide out, Brown and Robinson are not legit studs, but the former can certainly become one. As a rookie, he produced over 1,000 yards on just 52 catches, thanks to a 20.2 yards per catch average. With a full season of Tannehill at quarterback, the catch totals can only go up.
Of course, the X-factors are Rob’s Falcons. Matt Ryan is not considered a great quarterback anymore, despite the fact he’s expected to produced a pair of 1,000 yards receivers and has everyone’s favorite sleeper tight end, Hayden Hurst. Ryan cannot be a liability. Quarterback is just too important in this league. Last year, Matty Ice produced just four games over 300 points.
#5 AMERICAN CARNAGE (BOB)
In typical Bob fashion, he said “fuck the backs” and entered the year going three-wide. In round one, he went with that one back, Joe Mixon. The Bengals runner was awful at times last season, spending most of the year sitting on Don’s bench. Yet, he still got over 300 touches and topped 1,400 total yards. At quarterback, I love the Kyle Murray pick. As a rookie, he tossed the ball for over 3,700 yards and rushed for 500 more. What Bob needs is for Murray to use those legs more. He’s not quite Lamar, but 800 yards rushing is probably not asking too much.
The X-Factors will be Bob’s three hands. Adams and Godwin are legit WR1s, but is Beckham? The former Giant hasn’t been a great wideout since the 2016 season. He hasn’t topped 77 catches or 1,100 yards since that year. He’s basically Bob’s second back, so 1,050 yards and five scores isn’t going to do it.
At TE, Tyler Higbee is fine, but would love to see a full season of elite before I start gushing. Going to see once Gronkowski gets his sea legs back, will he be the true starter? Either way, back to the playoffs for Bob.
#4 THE CZAR (ROBIO)
Based on CBS projections, my starters are in good shape. Every starter I have is ranked as a top-12 guy, except Drake, who is ranked 17th, which seems low. For me, it all starts at the top. As long as Lamar Jackson is healthy and running, I’m going to compete. Getting 500+ points from your quarterback will do that. Last year he had 1,200 yards rushing and I see no reason he won’t top 1,000 again.
My receivers have real potential to be elite, if they can get the touches. Hopkins is coming off a down year and has a new home. He’s been great in the past because of his targets (150+ per season). Will he see that in Arizona? If Kyle Murray takes any kind of step back, that’s bad. On the flip side, I have Calvin Ridley in his third year. I love three-year receivers. While he’s never topped 100 targets or 1,000 yards, I’m predicting that Ridley scores more in fantasy than Julio Jones does in 2020. At tight end, while I didn’t get any of the big three (Kelce, Kittle, Ertz), Andrews is next in line, giving me two in Baltimore’s high scoring offense.
Of course, running back will be the X-Factor for me. Kenyan Drake is the man in the desert now. The coaching staff believes in him and should feed him the ball. For him. it’s about consistency. In his final eight games, he produced 404, 532 and 488. He also scored 82, 102 and 134.
As for Conner, 2020 is a boom or bust season. The Steelers didn’t bring in any other backs, which means they’re still willing to let Conner be their boy. However, he needs to be able to stay on the field, which has been his biggest problem since I traded for him in 2018.
#3 KEEP CALM AND KERRYON (ERIC)
For Eric, it begins with the hands. A healthy Tyreek Hill is a top-five receiver thanks to Mahomes throwing the ball. Tyler Lockett is listed as the 20th best receiver, but that’s low to me. He’s coming off a career year (80+ catches, 1,000+ yards) and he’s clearly has become Wilson’s favorite target. At tight end, Eric snagged Kelce and didn’t even waste a first-round pick on him this time. This gives him two ball catchers on the same team, but since it’s the Chiefs, that’s okay.
At quarterback, Prescott needs to get his consistent on. While he lit up some bad defenses, he also struggled against the better foes. He’s the kind of guy that can kill your championship dreams with a 120-point effort in the semifinals against the Eagles.
Eric’s X-factor(s) will be his backs. Josh Jacobs is the unquestionable man in Vegas and as a rookie, 1,300 yards is fine, but as a sophomore, Eric needs an elite back, so another 300 yards total would be nice. At RB2, Mark Ingram is sorta forgotten, as his backups remain popular sleeper picks. This is what happens when you turn 32 at running back. Last year, despite averaging 5 yards per carry, he only got 202 carries and I suspect if some of the younger backs prove their blocking worth, Ingram won’t get 200 carries this season and could be a liability come playoff time.
#2 THE DICK-TATERS (RICH C)
Here’s the concern about Calderon’s squad. What if all these players peaked already? Here me out. Nick Chubb had nearly 1,500 yards rushing. That’s great. Yet, the Browns resigned Kareem Hunt, who last I checked was really good. Now the head coach in Cleveland is known for his timeshares, so it’s hard to see Chubb getting 300 carries again. At RB2, Aaron Jones had nearly 1,500 yards and 18 total touchdowns in Green Bay. He’s a great back. It just seems like the coaching staff doesn’t believe in him by drafting a running back in the second round. If allowed to dominate the carries though, I’m going to regret passing up Jones for Drake.
In Atlanta, Julio’s 2019 was not as good as his 2018 and for the seventh straight year he failed to score double digit touchdowns. Can he hold off Ridley as the top dog down south? Lastly, Adam Thielen peaked in 2018. I refuse to believe he’ll ever come close to those numbers again.
Despite my negative write up, I still have Rich ranked #3, which means I clearly don’t even believe half the shit I write.
#1 FOOTBALL? (JEFF)
Is it truly the year of the Jeff? Would I dare make such a balls out prediction? Greenblatt doesn’t win championships in football. Jeff is one less Eric away from being the worst fantasy team in league history. This can’t be right. Yet, here we are.
Stud keepers help. Henry was last year’s leading rushing and Michael Thomas had nearly 150 catches. George Kittle would have been the league’s top tight end if it wasn’t for him missing two games due to injury. Austin Ekeler delivered over 1,500 yards last year (thanks to 900+ in receiving yards), although he had just two 200-point fantasy games after week eight. Once Amari gets healthy, I except him to become Jeff’s WR2. He’s a guaranteed 1,000 yards, but surprisingly, he’s never topped 1,200.
Of course, the X-factor is at quarterback. Jeff nabbed Josh Allen, who shined at moments last year. As a passer, he doesn’t offer up a lot. He barely passed for 3,000 yards, which is not good. Perhaps adding Stefon Diggs will fix that. However, as long has Allen is willing to shuffle those little legs of his, Jeff should be good. He had over over 500 yards rushing and nine scores last year. If he fails, Cam Newton is waiting in the wings. Still hard to imagine a world where Newton is a backup to Allen. Yet, this is a world where I’m predicting Jeff to win it all, so yeah…it’s 2020.