32 Teams - Last Second Fantasy Situations And Targets By Team

NFC West

49ers

Everything was shaping up for the 49ers to have a powerhouse aerial attack in 2020. Unfortunately, the team lost WRs Deebo Samuel to a foot injury and most recently hyped rookie Brandon Aiyuk to a hamstring injury. These injuries have hurt Jimmy Garoppolo’s stock to start the season as Kendrick Bourne will be the WR1 if both Samuel and Aiyuk are unable to suit up.

The 49ers club ran the ball the second most in 2019. With injuries at wide receiver, RBs Raheem Mostert, Tevin Coleman and Jerrick McKinnon seem primed for more heavy work early in the season. At the right price though, how can you not want to jump on George Kittle who is the highest paid TE in the league? He’ll be gobbling targets.

Seahawks

Chris Carson is coming off a hip injury and has been in and out of training camp dealing with some personal issues. The Seahawks acquired the back-up of RB back-up headaches, Carlos Hyde. In addition, the organization expended a 2020 5th round draft selection on ‘Canes RB Deejay Dallas. Let’s also not forget that Rashaad Penny will be returning from injury mid-season. Is it just me or does it seem like there are some red flags to stray away from Chris Carson this season?

While logic is speaking “stay away from Chris Carson this year,” desire is saying “Let Russ Cook.” A healthy Tyler Lockett, freak in DK Metcalf, Russel Wilson “wanting to cook,” and an uncertain backfield, it seems like the year to finally target the aerial attack in Seattle. Lockett and/or Metcalf in the 5th round continues to feel good when clicking the draft button.

Rams

Todd Gurley is in Atlanta. I repeat, the RB that hasn’t finished worse than RB15 in the last five years is in Atlanta. It’s an ambiguous situation not knowing what offensive mastermind head coach Sean McVay will do in 2020. Will he be running 12 man sets which could ascend Tyler Higbee to TE1 and potentially hurt the value of Cooper Kupp? Who will the RB be that gets the volume? It’s hard to tell, but one thing is for certain: there will be points in LA.

I’m fading the Rams receivers because there are other WRs and situations i’d prefer to target in the 4th to 5th round (*clears voice, Seattle WRs). If Robert Woods or Cooper Kupp fall below ADP to the late fifth round, I’ll draft them. As for the ambiguity at RB, I’ll take my shot at second round draft pick Cam Akers to turn into a workhorse and hit the 250 touch mark in 2020. Note: Limited to zero Woods and Kupp exposure might really, really hurt.

Cardinals

The fastest pace of play offense in football. Plus, continuity improvement as head coach Kliff Klingsbury and QB Kyler Murray are now in year two together. Year one was really an experiment in Kliff Klingsbury’s offensive scheme. Year two will either be another let down and experiment turned failing, or a fantasy haven.

The debatable best WR in the league DeAndre Hopkins is now on the team and that looks sexy on paper. However, with COVID-19 limiting offensive reps prior to the season, there will be very limited time for Murray and Hopkins to build a rapport. I am betting on Arizona moving the ball in 2019. However, Hopkins and Murray are too expensive for my taste. I’ll take a mid-round shot on Christian Kirk or a late round shot on Larry Fitzgerald. My favorite pick, however, is Kenyan Drake who I believe ends the season as a RB1. 

NFC North

Packers

Could it be any more clear that Matt LaFeur is writing “The Aaron Rodgers era is nearing an end” on the wall? One of the most obvious positions that the Packers needed depth at in 2020 was WR. The 2020 WR class was as deep as any in the last ten years. Instead, they drafted RB QuadsHamsMgee in AJ Dillion in the second round. They also drafted QB Jordan Love. 

Allen Lazard is the only Green Bay player that I have been targeting in drafts. He is set up to be the Packers WR2 and I am buying into the Aaron Rodgers loves him storyline. After all, a 14th round pick isn’t exactly costly if it doesn’t work out. I don’t own a single Aaron Jones share. Why? Over 30% of his production the last two years has been touchdown dependent. Don’t think for a second that part of that 30% production wont be going straight to Dillons glutes.

Vikings

Stefon Diggs is out of town buying snow gear in Buffalo. What he left behind in Minnesota was a five season average of 102 targets. Also, a surprise in today's RB era that star Dalvin Cook is going to be playing football without a new contract that he asked for. 

ESPN’s Adam Schefter has said there is reason to be cautious when drafting Dalvin Cook because of the contract situation. I say, FULL STEAM AHEAD on gaining shares of the #6 2019 PPR RB. Aside from Cook, I’ve been taking shares (A LOT) of Irv Smith Jr. as my TE2 or TE3 on FFPC, planning for a breakout. Also, I’m growing overly tickled by Adam Thielen and have planted a flag with him as my WR7.

Bears

Nick Foles is in the windy city competing with Mitchell Trubisky for the starting quarterback position. The good news is that no matter what the quarterback position should be better than 2019 as it will either be Foles or an improved Trubisky that beats out Foles. Recently at training camp a slimmed down David Montgomery pulled his groin and may not be ready for week 1.

David Montgomery's injury gives Tarik Cohen a boost to start the season. We cannot forget that Cohen is only two years removed from finishing 2018 season as the RB11 in PPR. That’s interesting, but I don’t think I will be drafting him these last two weeks before the season.

I still prefer my woeful Bears offense exposure through wide receivers Allen Robinson and Anthony Miller. Robinson finished 2019 as WR7 in PPR and was targeted 153 times which was second most in the league. It doesn’t seem unrealistic that he repeats those numbers with what should be improved quarterback play. The talented Miller is in year three AKA WR breakout territory. 

Lions

QB Matthew Stafford will be returning healthy in his second year with offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell. Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones are a top WR tandem in the NFL. TJ Hockenson is the former John Mackey award winner. Danny Amendola is rock solid in the slot. The organization drafted talented Georgia RB D’Andre Swift who bolsters the rushing attack, but also the aerial assault. 

I want Detroit exposure everywhere.

NFC East

Eagles

There wasn’t more production on any other team in 2019 from the TE position. Will this be repeated production or was it forced production from quarterback Carson Wentz due to injuries at the wide receiver position? We can’t forget that 2019 third string WR Greg Ward was literally the number one WR threat for what seemed like the entire second half of the 2019 season.

I am really not a believer that both Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert will produce at the same levels they did in 2019. Instead of drafting Ertz in the 4th round, I have been and will continue to draft both rookie WR Jalen Reagor between rounds 9 - 11 and veteran burner Desean Jackson in the 12th - 14th rounds. Seriously, Desean Jackson in the 14th round is highway robbery. If you are playing best ball, BUY, BUY, BUY. Oh, RB Miles Sanders is going to breakout in 2020 so get your shares of him too if you are able. 

Breaking on 8/30: Per Adam Scheffter, Jalen Reagor left practice with a shoulder injury. He is receiving an MRI. 

If Reagor suffered a serious injury, draft Desean Jackson and don’t look back. Greg Ward also again becomes noteworthy. 

Cowboys

Roster: QB - Dak Prescott, RB-Ezekiel Elliot, WR1 - Amari Cooper, WR2 - Michael Gallup, WR3-CeeDee Lamb, TE-Blake Jarwin. 

This roster is as exciting as any in the NFL. All three WRs have WR1 talent and it could be debated that Elliot is the best running back in the league. Don’t even think for a second that Jarwin isn’t a significant upgrade from old man Jason Witten, because he is.

All of these weapons set up Prescott to finish as QB1 for the fifth straight year. I think overall this offense has the potential to finish as the best in the league in 2020, which is exactly why I have Elliot ranked as RB1. I have to admit that I have exposure to all players listed except for CeeDee lamb. That is scary. MY advice though, put on your boots, draft all Cowboys, and enjoy the Texas 

Giants

New coach Joe Judge has been running training camp like it’s the 1960’s when players didn’t even wear jock straps. Seriously, he’s been making players run laps for mistakes like Herman Boone made Petey in Remember The Titans. He almost had the team have a padless full contact practice. THESE GIANTS WILL BE TOUGH, which they will need to be starting the season with an ugly schedule (Steelers-Bears-49ers). 

I like targeting ambiguous running back situations because a bell cow could emerge. I am not as big of a fan for targeting ambiguous WR situations when all the WRs are talented, but not elite. For that reason, I will only take the Giants WRs as they fall in my lap. If there is one Giant I want exposure to, it’s TE Evan Engram. Engram was one pace to finish 2019 as a top five TE prior to being injured. He’s back healthy and apparently thriving in what has been a training camp mistaken for training to become a Navy Seal. Saquon? No thanks for me.

Washington Football Team

Alex Smith is cleared to play and is back on the roster competing. What a story. However, it still looks like Dwayne Haskins is going to be the starter for the club week 1. It will be the second year that the former Ohio State QB will be slinging the ball to former Ohio State WR Terry McLaurin. The team has added nice rookie talent in RB Antonio Gibson and WR Antonio Gandy-Golden who could both be producers early in the season. Especially Gibson since Derius Guice is now off the team and out of the competition. 

All signs point to a McLaurin breakout as he is clearly the best offensive weapon on the team. Due to Guice being an idiot, Gibson receives a significant bump and path to what looks like immediate usage and production. I think Gibson is the most talented RB on Washington, but I also think that veteran Adrian Peterson will be the thorn throughout the season that has Gibson owners yelling, “Why in hell is he (Peterson) in the game when Gibson is clearly better?” For that reason, I think the price tag of the 8th round is a bit expensive. However, if in need of a RB due to starting the draft light at the RB position, I have drafted Gibson in the 8th.

NFC South

Saints

Michael Thomas broke the NFL receptions record in 2019 while Alvin Kamara had what seemed to be a “disappointing” season finishing the season as the PPR RB9….That’s actually a little eye opening when Kamara only played 14 games. The Saints also added skill position players WR veteran Emmanuel Sanders and rookie TE Adam Trautman.

As long as Drew Brees is the quarterback in New Orleans, the Saints will continue to have number one offense upside. This is more than represented in ADP as Kamara and MT are both top 6 draft selections in 2020. My favorite value to target is Emmanuel Sanders in the 10th - 11th round. Sanders may be 33 years old, but he can still cook down the sidelines. Drew Brees is no foreigner to producing two first tier WRs in the same season (2016 Brandin Cooks and Michael Thomas).

Falcons

Offensive Coordinator Dirk Koetter has stated newly acquired RB Todd Gurley will see 15 to 25 touches per game. As Gurley is new, so is previous first round TE draft selection Hayden Hurst who is replacing Austin Hooper who left for the Browns. There may not be a more hyped WR to breakout in 2020 than third year WR Calvin Ridley.

Hooper leaving opens up significant opportunity as he recorded 70+ receptions the previous two years. My first priority is to draft Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley as both WRs have established rapport with QB Matt Ryan. However, I also like targeting Hayden Hurst as I believe he will be a first tier TE. Really, I have been drafting all pieces of the Atlanta offense as I believe the team finishes as a top five offense.

Buccaneers

Hype. Hype. HYPE. Tom Brady leaves New England and joins debateably the best young WR tandem in the league in Chris Godwin and Mike Evans. Also, TE Rob Gronkowski decided to come out of retirement to add even more excitement to the situation. It’s worth noting that there have been whispers that OJ Howard looks like the best TE in camp...

At Gronkowski’s ADP, there are much better TEs to draft with younger legs and higher upside (i.e. Chris Herndon). I’m a hard fade on Gronk and have been taking shots at OJ Howard in the 15th round of drafts on FFPC. Actually, I’m overall fading the Buccaneers as a whole. 

Panthers

The Panthers have a new coach in Matt Rhule and are projected to be one of the fastest paced teams in the league. They also improve their quarterback play replacing Kyle Allen with accurate passer Teddy Bridgewater. Their defense is pretty much expected to be terrible. 

I have been twisted about how I feel about the Panthers. Really twisted. I love the fast pace offensive play and bad defense game script and storyline. However, I am pumping the brakes and raising caution because the fact is that the team has a new coach, a new offensive scheme, and a new quarterback. I fear there may be very little continuity with a shortened training camp and no preseason. Still, DJ Moore, Robby Anderson, and Curtis Samuel are worth selection if they fall below ADP (obviously draft CMC).

AFC North

Ravens

The Ravens rushed for the most yards in NFL history in 2019. Since then, the franchise has only bolstered their backfield by drafting rookie RB JK Dobbins who may be a threat to Mark Ingram's lead-back role. The entire fantasy community is starting to buzz about a potential second year breakout from WR Marquise Brown. He looks sharp, and has put on 23 lbs of muscle by consuming four protein shakes a day.

I’m not scared of drafting Lamar Jackson. Everyone continues to want to group Jackson in the category of other quarterbacks, but the fact is that he’s not like other quarterbacks as his rushing equity has never been seen before (1200 yards rushing in 2019). I continue to hit the smash button on JK Dobbins in the 6th-7th round. As for Brown, it’s exciting and in the right construction I have drafted him when needing a WR. However, I prefer Baltimore receiving exposure through TE Mark Andrews who I think can be the TE1 in 2020.

Steelers

The Steelers story can be summed with three words: Big Ben’s Return. Ben Roethlisberger missed 14 games in 2019 and is coming off elbow surgery. As there has been concern that Ben doesn’t look sharp, the word from beat writers is that his arm looks strong. Roethlisberger has even reiterated that sentiment by saying his elbow has never felt better in the last 10 years. 

Like the Lions and Falcons, I want and have a lot of exposure to the Steelers. If we rewind the clock back to 2019 draft season, both James Conner and Juju Smith-Schuster were first - second round draft selections. In 2020, you are able to draft both in the third round. A nice price reduction all due to poor seasons in 2019 primarily because Ben was hurt. Good news, he’s back and looking good in camp.  I like taking shots late in drafts on James Washington or Chase Claypool, opposed to Johnson's 7th round price. 

Browns

The Brownies have a new coach in Kevin Stefanski who was the previous offensive coordinator in Minnesota. Stefanski loves to run the ball and has two of the most talented running backs to run the rock with. Odell Beckham Jr. is also back to full health after dealing with nagging injuries all through 2019.

I can’t get away from the statistic that Kareem Hunt had more PPR fantasy points than Nick Chubb each of the last 8 weeks of the 2019 season. There is a four round difference in ADP between the two, so if I am drafting either, it’s Hunt in the 5th or 6th round. Not Chubb. Jarvis Landry always seems to finish as a top 24 WR. Even though he’s not the sexiest of picks, a 7th to 8th round selection seems very safe. I don’t have Odell exposure, but wouldn’t be surprised if talent ascends him to a top 5 WR again in 2020.

Bengals

The new era has arrived and it is the Joe Burrow era. The best QB in collegiate history seems confident and feeling comfortable entering the season. He also has plenty of weapons around him to be successful: workhorse RB Joe Mixon, elite WR AJ Green, speedster WR John Ross, slot wrecker WR Tyler Boyd, lengthy rookie WR Tee Higgins. 

I want this to be a party in Cincinnati. Each day as the season gets closer, I think it is going to be. I think Burrow has the talent to step in and hit the grounding. I do however think that AJ Green’s health is the difference between the Bengals being a good offense and a dynamic-fun one. I’ve been drafting Green risking the injury concern as he could be a top five WR. I think Tyler Boyd in the 7th round is one of the safest most exciting picks in the entire draft. 

AFC West

Chiefs

Really, what is there to say here? It’s the returning super bowl champs with the second best quarterback in the league (Yes - I prefer Lamar) and the offense has the best weapons from top to bottom at all positions. Plus, a new rookie RB in Clyde Edwards-Helaire that is primed to lead the backfield week one. 

Fantasy Take: Travis Kelce, Tyreek Hill, and Patrick Mahomes are all too pricey for me in the first two rounds. I like CEH in the second half of round 1 and LOVE drafting Mecole Hardman after round 10. If something happens to Hill, you have the same top 5 WR in Hardman.

Broncos

The Broncos front office made intentional strategic moves to surround Drew Lock with offensive weapons. The organization acquired RB Melvin Gordon. On 2020 draft day, Denver selected debatably the most talented wide WR in Jerry Jeudy and also added speedster KJ Hamler from Penn State. To add a cherry to a strong drafted wide receiving corp, they finished the draft by selecting Albert Okweuegbunam, who played with Lock at Missouri. Let’s not forget about Courtland Sutton who emerged as WR19 in 2019 and TE Noah Fant who finished his 2019 rookie year as TE14.

I am betting on three things: 1) Drew Lock takes the necessary step forward to make Denver a quality offense 2) Courtland Sutton finally gets the respect he deserves and competes for a top 12 WR finish 3) Melvin Gordon silences the Philip Lindsay truthers.

Raiders

The buzz is whether or not Josh Jacobs will get the passing working in Las Vegas. Jacobs has stated his goal in 2020 is to record 60 receptions. However, Raider management continues to signal red flags when they first drafted WR/RB Lynn Bowden, second picking up third down specialist Devonta Booker, and most recently picking up RB receiving specialist Theo Riddick. 

Aside from the RB position,it was reported that WR Tyrell Williams has a torn labrum. He is going to try and play though it, but this could mean serious opportunity for rookie WRs Henry Ruggs and hyped Bryan Edwards.

Fantasy Take: Logic and all the signs are screaming that Jacobs won’t get the pass work in 2020. I think you have to respect these signs. I don’t think Jacobs is worth fading however and will still draft him early in the second round. If he does get the receiving work, he could end the season as RB1. My new favorite draft strategy for WR is cornering the market and selecting both Ruggs and Edwards. 

Chargers

It will be the first time in 15 years that the Chargers team has a new quarterback leading the huddle. Philip Rivers is now in Indianapolis and Tyrod Taylor is set to be the starter. This alone has caused a near majority fade of the Chargers offense by the fantasy community. 

I think there is a world where Taylor fits the team better as the starting quarterback. The Chargers offensive line has been terrible for the last five years and Taylor’s scrambling ability should extend play and may create opportunities. Keenan Allen has finished the last three seasons as a top 12 PPR WR, and is being drafted as WR24. RB Austin Ekeler finished 2019 as PPR RB4, and is being drafted in the middle of the second round as RB12. At these prices, yes, I believe they are worth drafting.

AFC East

Patriots

The 2020 season was looking grim. The boy toy of the franchise departed for Tampa leaving what looked to be an offense with no future. Then it happened. Cam Newton posted the announcement that he was heading North. In a split second, the Patriots went from an avoidable situation to a desirable one. There are still questions at the skilled positions. However, I like the picture that logic is painting. 

The team's WR depth was shallow in 2019, but they did not acquire or draft a WR in 2020. I believe this means the team hasn’t given up on 2019’s first round draft pick, N’Keal Harry.  Their TEs in 2019 were very poor to say the least. To address the issue, the Patriots expended their first two 2020 draft picks on TEs. Veteran TE Matt Lacosse opted out of the 2020 season and the Patriots did not pick up any promising replacements. I believe this means that they are true believers in rookie TE Devin Asiasi to be the guy. Cam is one of my favorite QBs to draft this year, and the Harry or Asiasi targets in late rounds is my favorite cheap stack dart throw.

Bills

The hype has been building for a 2020 breakout and even potential MVP campaign from QB Josh Allen.  Reports from camp have been positive that his accuracy has seemed to improve and he will also have new weapon WR Stefon Diggs to throw to. At running back, the competition has been heated between second year man Devin Singletary and Zack Moss. In May, Moss could be drafted in the 11th round. Now, he is consistently being drafted in the 8th.

If I am buying a Buffalo RB, I am buying Moss. He is a better receiver out of the backfield and will be the one to get the goal line work at his 5’9” 225 lb build. I have not been aggressive drafting Allen, Diggs or John Brown. They are all guys that I will take if they fall below ADP. You can draft Diggs in the 7th round, Allen in the 8th round and Brown in the 10th round to stack. For me, that’s too much capital on an offense that will be run heavy.

Jets

J-E-T-S. JETS. JETS. JETS. The Jets have been hit by the WR injury bug in training camp. Both newly acquired WR Breshad Perriman and rookie WR Denzil Mims have been sidelined by injuries. This really leaves WR Jamison Crowder and TE Chris Herndon as the only pass catchers that will have any sort of rapport with QB Sam Darnold to start the season. 

Adam Gase couldn’t stop at signing RB Frank Gore, he then traded for RB Kalen Ballage, who the Miami Dolphins were going to drop. You really can’t make this stuff up. 

Logic says that both Jamison Crowder and Chris Herndon are going to be target monsters. Below average intellect says stay far away from Le’Veon Bell as Adam Gase is truly the worst. I’ll only draft Crowder and Herndon, but am still cautious just because Gase is a first ballot worst head coach in the NFL candidate.

Dolphins

2020 will be year two for head coach Brian Flores leading Miami. It will be the first year in Miami for new offensive coordinator Chan Gailey. The big question for the club is quarterback. QB Alabama prospect Tua T. was selected third overall in the 2020 draft by the Dolphins. However, gunslinger Ryan Fitzpatrick is still on the team. As of now Fitzpatrick looks like a lock to start the season as the quarterback, but that doesn’t mean there couldn’t be a change to Tua mid-season.

Also, 2020 opt outs from WRs Allen Hurns and Albert Wilson create target opportunities for other receivers on the team.

I am really not that concerned about the quarterback uncertainty. Fitzpatrick bolsters the outlook for pass catchers because of his “take shots” mentality, while Tua is clearly talented. My favorite target on the dolphins to draft is TE Mike GeSICKO. I expect him to see slot usage and more targets due to the opt outs. If there ends up being a QB change to Tua, rookie QBs have higher TE targeting tendencies.

AFC South

Texans

No more DeAndre Hopkins in Houston who was traded for David Johnson. Hopkins is leaving behind a five year average of 158 targets per season (that’s a lot) and Will Fuller will have the opportunity to be the number one WR in a Texans uniform. It’s not that cut and dry however as WR Brandin Cooks who has multiple fantasy WR first tier finishes is also now in town.

The case for David Johnson is nothing but logical. Head coach Bill O’Brien traded one of the best WRs in the league for Johnson. O’Brien needs it to work and I believe is going to force the ball to Johnson. Even though he seems stale, I like DJ for that reason and will draft him in the fourth round. I like the discount of a later ADP (~1.5 rounds) of Cooks over drafting Fuller. I still have shares of both players and will draft both as they have WR1 upside.

Titans

Have you ever observed a litter of puppies when it is feeding time? All of the puppies are hungry. All of the puppies push their way to the breast of the mother to eat. There is a lot of talent and reasons to like elite breakout candidates WR AJ Brown and Jonnu Smith. However, even though they are hungry puppies, the BIG DOG (Derrick Henry) will be the that pushes his brother aside to eat as the offense revolves around him. 

I’m not jumping on AJ Brown unless he falls to me in the fourth round. I am fully on team this is Derrick Henry’s offense and he sees 25-30 touches per game. I will draft Jonnu Smith as part of a late TE drafting strategy.

Colts

The Colts have a new Hall-Of-Fame caliber quarterback in Philip Rivers who I expect to be an elite fit and game manager in Indianapolis. Emphasis on “game manager” as the Colts have the easiest strength of schedule in the NFL. While Rivers is finding a home for a team that can actually block for him is exciting, the hype building around rookie RB Jonathan Taylor is overwhelmingly exciting.

Again, the Colts have one of the best offensive lines in the league and have the easiest strength-of-schedule in the NFL. The Colts were already a run heavy team in 2019 and now they have Jonathan Taylor who is a generational specimen at RB. This screams positive game scripts and I will die with Jonathan Taylor this year if it doesn’t pan out. Mack is a good runner and I do still think he will be involved. 15-20 carries for Taylor and 5-10 carries for Mack sounds about right when the Colts will be leading most games.

Jaguars

Minshew madness. The Jaguars moved on from Nick Foles and confidently are riding behind year two QB Gardner Minshew to be the future QB of the franchise. No one has more swag than Minshew in the NFL. Not even Cam Newton. THAT’S A LOT OF SWAG.

RB Leonard Fournette is in his last year of his rookie contract and there has been speculation that Jacksonville will part ways with the RB after 2021. There are the Fournette truthers and the Fournette haters, but the haters outweigh the truthers as Fournette finished as a top 12 RB in 2019 and has a 2020 ADP in the third round. 

I’m all on board WR DJ Chark season 2020. He has been my favorite fifth round selection. As for Fournette, well, I don’t have any ownership. If he falls to the fourth round on a team that needs a RB, he is then in play.