We’re talking Fantasy Football on the Hard Count Football Podcast! This week, I give my sleepers/breakout players and busts/overvalued players/guys I’m just staying away from!
Sleepers:
QB: Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers
From the limited sample size we have, Jordan Love has the arm talent to succeed. The offense isn’t overly complicated in Green Bay, and I don’t think they’ll be afraid to let him showcase his arm with the weapons they have. This is his year to prove he’s the guy, and he’s worth the upside on your roster.
RB: Alexander Mattison, Minnesota Vikings
Dalvin Cook isn’t going to be on the Vikings this year. When Cook was hurt, Alexander Mattison stepped in and was just as good as Cook. The offensive line and offensive system is RB-friendly, so Mattison could be a viable RB2 option next season.
WR: George Pickens, Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers are hyper-focused on the development of their young talent. Whether Kenny Pickett or George Pickens, they want them to grow together. Pickens will be the WR1 option in Pittsburgh, and he’s a guy I’m super high on next year. Once Pickens saw his target share increase, Diontae Johnson was essentially fazed out of the offense entirely. This is the breakout year for Pickens. Get him on your roster.
TE: Jelani Woods, Indianapolis Colts
Three things in life are certain: death, taxes, and rookie QBs force-feeding tight ends. That’s exactly what Anthony Richardson will do. He is a project QB, so he’s going to look for the easy targets, and that’ll be 6-foot-7 Jelani Woods. There were weeks last year when Woods was a solid option, and I think he will take that next step this year.
Busts:
QB: Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks
I’m staying away from Geno Smith in fantasy this year. Not because I think he’s bad, but because I think there’s no way he replicates what he did last year. Even if he does, I don’t want to take the chance on it and think there are better options at the QB position.
RB: Breece Hall, New York Jets
This one hurts me as a Jets fan, but nobody should be drafting Breece Hall in an early round this year. He’s coming off the same ACL injury that Saquon took two years to come back from, and for however good I know Breece will be, that isn’t something I want to worry about this season. The Jets drafted Israel Abanikanda and are apparently in the conversation for Dalvin Cook. I’m good. See ya next year, Breece Hall.
WR: Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
This isn’t a knock on Chris Godwin. I think he’s super talented, but the Bucs’ offense is going to be a mess this season. They simply don’t have a QB. Whether it’s Baker Mayfield or Kyle Trask, this isn’t going to be an air raid-style offense, and that’ll hurt the production of the receivers on this team. Any sort of production will be on the ground for the Bucs, but they’re going to be terrible either way. I’m staying away from Chris Godwin and, honestly, all Bucs WRs this season.
TE: David Njoku, Cleveland Browns
We don’t know what this Browns’ offense will look like. Deshaun Watson is back, and they got him even more weapons. He looked awful when he came back last season. Sure, he hadn’t played in quite some time, but we don’t know if he’ll ever go back to Texans’ Deshaun Watson. Elijah Moore was added to this offensive room, and the Browns will still force the ball into Nick Chubb’s hands until they fall off. Njoku feels like the odd one out in this offense, so I don’t want him on my team in fantasy this year.
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