….And You Are?
I waste some of my time researching football stuff. Some of the football stuff I research is helpful in fantasy football. I’m willing to share some of that information with you here.
The following players are good for deep leagues and dynasty leagues:
Tony Jones Jr. RB Saints
This undrafted former practice squad member comes with a surprising amount of pedigree. Jones Jr. was rated a 4 star running back recruit by 247 sports. He transferred to IMG Academy for his senior year of high school and played baseball and football for the prospect powerhouse. Like many of the athletes coming out of the IMG Academy, Jones Jr. had plenty of Power 5 offers and eventually selected Notre Dame.
Jones Jr. was the starting RB as a redshirt junior and he chose to leave college early for the 2020 draft. Due to a loaded RB class and a slowish 40 time (4.68 not really that slow) he went undrafted. Jones Jr. is a bigger back listed at 5’11 225lbs, so he brings some power and he displays surprising quickness. That lack of top-end speed did not prevent Jones Jr. from setting the Notre Dame bowl game record for the longest TD run (84 yards) in the 2019 Camping World Bowl. They have been playing football for a while in South Bend, so I’m not totally sold on his lack of breakaway speed.
Expect Tony Jones Jr. to be the 2nd string running back in New Orleans which means he is worth a late-round flier, you might even be able to snag him on the wire.
Quez Watkins WR Eagles
When asked if he is no longer a secret Quez Watkins said, “Cat’s out of the bag, I guess”. I love that Quez quote, but he’s not the only one who noticed his breakout. Darius Slay is on record saying that Quez has been “The best WR in camp.” Q is in line to be a starting WR. Likely the number two wideout. The only issue is that he is an Eagles wideout, so the quarterback and gameplan will likely limit his potential.
Watkins was selected in the 6th round of the 2020 draft after a highly decorated career at Southern Miss. In his redshirt Sophomore season, Quez had 70 catches for 900 yards and 9 TDs. He was selected 1st team All-Conference USA. Watkins provided similar results in his junior season. Quez caught 65 balls for 1170 yards despite being suspended for the first two games of the season for poor grades. Reading the tea leaves (which has become a hobby of mine) implies that he just wasn’t too fired up for Readin’, Ritin’, ‘Rithmetic, but he found plenty of motivation to study route trees. It was no surprise when Quez skipped his senior year of college to do what he was born to do, play NFL Football.
Dude ran a 4.35 40 and it shows up on the field!
Spent most of 2020 on IR but came back in time for week 15 when he scored a TD on one of his three receptions for 40 yards. Quez spent the offseason improving his route running ability, which makes me think he might be a craftsman (not a tool, a person who takes their craft seriously). Watkins measures in at 6,0 200lbs, so this is a Reggie Bush-sized player who will burn up the field with incendiary speed. Great after the grab, and he will absolutely embarrass CBs if they press.
Catch this cat wherever you can.
Tutu Atwell WR LA Rams
Tutu my minuscule mighty munchkin. He has many doubters due to size (or lack thereof) 5’ 9” 165 lbs. I am not one of those doubters. This kid has a chance to be something special. 2nd round 2021 draft pick out of Louisville. Speed and agility are off the charts. If he doesn’t get broken in half, he will break some ankles.
He uses his skills well. Runs routes that have WR coaches drooling. He gets up on the DB’s toes before breaking out routes and creates the kind of separation desired in today’s NFL.
High school QB turned Wide Receiver. I love these former QBs, they understand the game and they understand the value of being wide open. Was damn good as a high school QB, too. As a senior, he earned Miami-Dade County player of the year. Are there any other good high school football players in Florida?
He will be very popular when he gets it going, and after taking him in the 2nd round, I think Sean McVay will make sure to get him going. Take Tutu with the last pick of your draft or a little bit of FAAB.
Pharaoh Brown TE Texans
This entity is a mediator between the gods and man! Coming out of high school in Ohio, the four-star recruit verbally committed to hated rival Michigan. Upon further consideration, Pharoah flipped his commitment to Oregon where he went on to become a two-time all Pac 12 performer.
Like other ancient entities, Brown has been biding his time. He signed as an undrafted free agent with the Raiders then bounced to browns and eventually wound up on the Texans’ practice squad. The Texans cracked the ancient urn in week 10 of the NFL’s pandemic season and the Pharoah escaped (the practice squad) and seized his first NFL touchdown!
Brown has kept the momentum rolling and now is the rightful ruler of the TE room for the Texans. He received the demigod distinction as the starting tight end and did not have to play in week 1 of the preseason.
Texans will likely be chasing points and throwing the ball quite a bit this year. This Pharoah can be found by just digging in the dirt. Should be free in most leagues.
Khalil Herbert RB Bears
6th round picks in 2021. Herbert is my kind of running back. Thick dude who can run fast with a low center of gravity and great balance. I also love the dudes who bet on themselves. After being relegated to a running back rotation at Kansas, he transferred to Va Tech and went off. VA Tech allowed him to be the RB1 and he proved to be one tough turkey. Herbert was a primary playmaker for the Hokies who set the school record for all-purpose yards (358) in a single game.
Herbert measures in at 5,9’ 215 lbs. I like to call these guys “Porkchop backs” meaty, tough, a little bit of fat but that don’t hurt nuthin’ because he still has delicious moves. He’s hungry. He’s gonna sink his teeth into that 3rd spot on the depth chart. Then he’ll eat up the kick returns. Soon he’ll be nipping at Damien Williams’ heels. Two years from now, he could be the alpha hog at the Bears’ backfield trough.
You can probably get Herbert for about $2.99 a pound, depending on quality and location.
Bonus name:
Mekhi Sargent RB Titans
A monster at perennial JuCo Powerhouse Iowa Western. Sargent committed to Iowa and many in the area predicted he’d pummel Big Ten defenses running behind a pulverizing Hawkeye Offensive line. That didn’t happen. He was replaced as the starter by Michael Goodson, a dynamic back who we might be covering in a year or two. Goodson is the homerun threat, and those don’t always appear in the Iowa Backfield. Father/Son Ferentz decided to swing for the fences and start Goodson. Mekhi Sargent is more of a steady doubles hitter. There is a place for a steady doubles hitter in the NFL. Tennessee is that place. Mekhi can keep the chains moving and put Tannehill in down and distance enough to keep play action passes an option. Sargent has battled through JuCo. He fought position battles in college. He is not going back down from this challenge.
Sargent is a steady guy who continues to show up. He will take the RB 2 in Tennessee. Derrick Henry carries that franchise. I think the Titans would love to lighten the load. And if Henry misses time, you might have something special.
