NFC East Fantasy Preview: Part I

#SFB9 was trending on my twitter after divisions and draft positions were revealed last Wednesday. What spot are you drafting from and what division are you in? If you were fortunate enough to get a Scott Fish Bowl bid, make sure to do your part in actively connecting with others and most of all- donating to a great cause at FantasyCares. Congratulations to all 1,200 owners and good luck. For those of you that did not receive a bid, do not give up as I was in your shoes last year on the outside looking in. Razzball will host a number of leagues against our writers this season and so will other outlets, get yourself in there and make your name! Now, let’s get in to this weeks NFC East preview.

If you missed my previous division previews you can view them here, AFC North – NFC North.

ADP, and strength of schedule stats referenced below are based on fantasypros.com data. 2019 projections referenced are based on razzball.com 2019 projections managed and updated by our very own @RudyGamble

^{housekeeping: I’ll be splitting my division previews to two teams to help keep the overall length of the article down. Making it easier and quicker for you to digest. Enjoy!}

NFC EAST

Dallas Cowboys

QB Dak Prescott
- 2018 Recap
  - QB10
  - Started all 16 games
  - Beat weekly projections 7 out of 16 games
  - 28 total TDs (6 rushing) and 14 turnovers (8 INT/6 FUM)
  - 305 rushing yards (QB9) on 75 attempts (QB5)
  - 526 pass attempts (QB13)
  - 17.9 fantasy points per game (QB13)
- 2019 Outlook
  - Strength of schedule at-a-glance
    - Weeks 1-4, faces one top 10 easiest fantasy defenses (#3 @NO week 4) and one top 10 toughest (#9 vs NYG week 1)
    - 11th overall easiest strength of schedule
    - Rough finish to the season and start to the fantasy playoffs (weeks 13-16), faces the #1, #3, and #10 toughest fantasy defenses (vs BUF wk 13 – @ CHI wk 14 – vs LAR wk 15) but has a nice championship matchup week 16 @ PHI, #6 easiest fantasy D for QBs
  - Dak has a lot of green arrows pointing up heading in to 2019. Starting with the return of future Hall of Fame TE in Jason Witten, a full offseason with Amari Cooper, 2nd year for promising sophomore WR Michael Gallup, a healthy O-line and new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. Dak is getting drafted 135 overall (~round 11) and the 20th QB off the board. Rudy has Dak projected to finish as QB17 in 2019. If you are like me and like to wait on QBs then Dak can provide us that late round value we seek. After ranking 22nd in total yards and points under the previous OC, look for Moore to improve this offense in both categories. As an Eagles fan it pains me to say, but put my order in for a few stocks in Dak Prescott Inc.
RB Ezekiel Elliott
- 2018 Recap
  - RB5
  - Started all games excluding a meaningless week 17 game
  - Beat weekly projections 8 out of 15 games played
  - 7 games over 100yds rushing
  - 5.1 receptions per game on 6.3 targets per game
  - 4.7 yards per carry and 7.4 yards per reception
  - 21.9 fantasy point per game
- 2019 Outlook
  - Strength of schedule at-a-glance
    - Attractive start to the season (weeks 1-4), facing the #8 and #4 easiest fantasy defense for RBs, week 1 vs NYG and week 3 vs MIA. Only facing one defense in the top 10 toughest against RBs, week 4 @ NO
    - 27th easiest strength of schedule
    - Finishes the season (weeks 13-16), facing only one top 10 easiest and one top 10 toughest fantasy defenses for RBs. The #9 easiest in week 13 vs BUF and the #1 toughest in week 14 @ CHI
  - The return of All-Pro Center Travis Frederick will be a huge upgrade for this offense, his presence impacts the other men on this 0-line which will in turn benefit Zeke and Dak. Hopefully you are lucky enough to get the #2 overall pick in your fantasy drafts this year. Zekes ADP, #2 overall, aligns perfectly with his #2 projected overall finish this fantasy season. Rudy has him finishing with 1,362 yards on the ground and 622 yards receiving. Fingers crossed that he slips past the #2 spot for those of us unfortunate to have prime draft real estate.
WR Amari Cooper
- 2018 Recap
  - WR19
  - Played all 15 games active (incurred two BYE weeks due to trade w/ Raiders week 7 before Cowboys week 8 BYE)
  - Beat weekly projections 5 out of 15 games played (beat projections 3 games out of 9 played as a Cowboy)
  - 4 games over 100 yds receiving (1-game over 200yds)
  - 8.4 targets per game (in 9 games with DAL) and WR13 in total targets, 135* _{(*projected tgt tot, if played full 16 games w Dallas, based on 8.4 tgts per 9 gms played w Dallas)}
  - 5.9 receptions per game (in 9 games with DAL) and WR10 in total receptions, 94* _{(*projected rec tot, if played full 16 games w Dallas, based on 5.9 rec per 9 gms played w Dallas)}
  - 7.7 yards per reception and .67 TDs per game (w/ Dallas)
  - 14.4 fantasy point per game
- 2019 Outlook
  - Strength of Schedule at-a-glance
    - Starts the season (weeks 1-4), faces one defense in the top 10 easiest and on top 10 toughest fantasy defenses for RBs. The #7 toughest in week 1 vs NYG and #1 easiest @ NO week 4
    - 5th easiest strength of schedule
    - Weeks 13-16, faces the #5 and #9 toughest fantasy defense weeks 13 & 14. Plays the fantasy championship versus the #3 easiest fantasy defenses for WRs, @PHI week 16
  - Even if you don’t believe Cooper will reach his lofty goal of exceeding 2,000 yards receiving this season (quoted on an interview w/ ProFootballTalk PM) I’m okay with buying stock in a player that has his heart set on this goal. Energy follows thought, right? With a sense of rejuvenation in DAL, Cooper is motivated as ever to prove his worth to Jerry Jones as he looks to back up the brinks trucks after his 2019 campaign. Rudy has Amari finishing as WR19 putting him to finish with only 115 targets and 71.9 receptions, both lower than his projected totals in 2018 based on his average with the Cowboys last season. Sometimes you have to go with intuition in situations like this because I believe Cooper will beat Rudy Gambles projection of WR19. His ADP would agree with me, 34th overall and WR13 off the board. Give me all of the shares of Cooper at the end of the 3rd round.
DAL Quick Hits: I like the upside Michael Gallup presents but it’s hard to invest a ton of draft capital in an offense that features running the ball with Zeke first, followed by feeding Amari Cooper targets second. Will there be enough left over to make them worthy of a bench spot? It depends on how drastic new OC, Kellen Moore, can change this offense in year 1. Cobb is expected to replace Beasely’s role, who has been a waiver wire mainstay over recent years unless you are in a league with a 10+ person bench. Rudy has Gallup and Cobb finishing WR63 and WR64 respectfully, putting them in WR5/6 range…bench warmers. Jason Witten is an interesting wild card at a shallow position. Rudy has Jason Witten finishing as TE28 and not worth drafting in most leagues. The Cowboys D/ST, in real football, arguably is a top 5 unit but failed to finish in the top 10 of fantasy defenses in 2018. Look for improvements here, Rudy has this unit finishing 2019 as the D/ST 5. I like the addition of Robert Quinn to bolster this D-Line and look for 2nd year LB, Leighton Vander Esch, to improve coming off his stellar rookie season. Cowboys D/ST is currently getting drafted 180 overall and the 14th D/St off the board. Grab this unit in the final round(s) of your drafts this season.

New York Giants

RB Saquon Barkley
- 2018 Recap
  - RB1
  - Played all 16 games
  - Beat weekly projections 9 out of 16 games (T-1st for most of every player covered in previous weeks)
  - 7 games over 100 yards rushing
  - 5.7 receptions per game on 7.6 targets (121 total targets)
  - 5.0 yards per carry on and 7.9 yards per reception
  - 24.1 fantasy points per game
- 2019 Outlook
  - Strength of Schedule at-a-glance
    - 31st easiest strength of schedule for RBs
    - Decent fantasy playoff stretch (weeks 13-16), facing no fantasy D in the top 10 of toughest and the #4 easiest fantasy D in week 15
  - I’ll spare you the long blur about how you should be drafting Barkley. He finished as WR15 in total targets for he whole 2018 season AND RB2 in yards and carries. With OBJ off too Cleveland, Barkley will see more usage. Don’t over think this one.
WR Sterling Shepard
- 2018 Recap
  - WR30
  - Played all 16 games
  - Beat projections 5 out of 16 games
  - 2 games over 100 yds receiving
  - 6.7 tgts per game on 107 tot tgts (WR24)
  - 4.1 rec per game on 66 receptions (tied-WR26)
  - 13.2 yds per rec and .25
- 2019 Outlook
  - Strength of Schedule at-a-gance
    - 4th easiest overall strength of schedule
    - Attractive finish to the season (weeks 13-16), not fantasy ranked in the top 10 toughest and faces the #5, #3, and #10 top easiest fantasy defenses for WR
  - Low TD rate but we have the exit of Odell Beckham Jr’s 124 targets and 6 TDs. Talk about opportunity. Many lack confidence in Eli Mannings overall arm strength which is driving Shepards ADP down, but getting a teams WR1 with an ADP of 86 overall and WR35 off the board, I’m all about it. Dont draft him as your lead WR1 because the QB position is a risk point in NY.
NYG Quick Hits: If you want the positive spin on Eli Mannings aging arm, it is the potential resurgence of the Detroit Lions Golden Tate we are accustomed to after he finished the season in Philly. Dink and dunk between Saquon and Tate could easily be Mannings best approach. Rudy projects Tate to finish ahead of Shepard, WR38 to WR40 and Golden is currently 11 picks cheaper (ADP WR86 to Tate WR97). Did I just convince myself Tate is the better way to go in NYG? Engram is projected to finish as TE7 and his slightly expensive at his current ADP of 63 and TE5 off the board. Either you go with Kelce, Ertz, Kittle early or then you wait on TEs, trust me.

Everyone leave their comments below or find me on twitter.

Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins will be release by Thursday.

Happy 4th of July! Do not drink and drive, UBER everywhere.