Coach: Frank Reich 6 PPG

QB: Jameis Winston 27 PPG

Crab legs, Burger King, Uber and the horrific sexual assault case that was terribly mismanaged by Tallahassee police is how we should remember Winston. He’s full of potential, but he’s never delivered. 2019 is do or die for his Buccaneer chances and if he flounders again he will hopefully be ejected back to Alabama. Arians must fix his interception problem, which has plagued the Bucs since he was drafted. With an excellent set of weapons and the QB guru head coach, it seems like this is the best chance Winston has ever had. His fantasy prospects gives him top 5 upside, but he will likely settle in as a middling top 15 option.

RB/WR/TE: Saquon Barkley 30 PPG, Chris Godwin 16 PPG, Christian Kirk 15 PPG, Austin Hooper 14 PPG, DJ Moore 14 PPG 6^th men: Keke Coutee 14 PPG, Dante Pettis 13 PPG, Peyton Barber 13 PPG, LeSean McCoy 13 PPG, Dion Lewis 12 PPG, Jack Doyle 12 PPG, Greg Olsen 12 PPG

I’ll take the L. Saquon Barkley is more valuable than Dalvin Cook and Derrius Guice. Dude is proving to be a generational talent and our new most valuable asset in our league. (Zeke Elliot held that title since the end of his rookie season) Barkley’s thighs are straight out of an LA Fitness catalog right next to Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson holding his World’s Strongest Man trophy. Barkley’s cuts and acceleration is what makes him a big-play threat every time he touches the ball. He had the most runs over 20 yards last season. Barkley will be the Giants offense until they replace Daniel Jones in 2022. Looking forward to seeing our first $75 million contract being doled out to a player. (OBJ holds the record at an incredible $60 million)

After two tease years, Chris Godwin is finally ready to join the 1,000 yard receiving club… right? Can Winston and the Arians’ offense produce three viable receiving weapons with Evans, Howard and Godwin? Much of it is reliant on the skill of Godwin and there’s no doubt he’s the real deal. With Desean Jackson stealing targets in Philly, Godwin is ready to move into the top 15 receiver discussion. A Robert Woods like season is in play and keep an eye on how he’s used in the red zone… he’s a superb jump ball playmaker.

Christian Kirk’s role is a bit precarious currently, but he will certainly be a full-time starter and punt returner. We don’t know what his targets will look like or even if the Cardinals offense will be at all effective. Their offensive line likely won’t be worth much of anything, creating an environment of constant pressure for their rookie QB. On a positive note, it appears they will be really bad, creating many opportunities for garbage time. A 15 PPG projection is a safe bet, with some upside for more if he can take over the #1 role from Fitz.

Austin Hooper’s career hasn’t reached elite levels by any means, but he’s a solid player for a TE premium format. Hooper finds himself in an offense that has an excellent chance at providing multiple viable fantasy contributors. Heading into year 3, perhaps he takes the next step, but with zero career games of over 100 yards, receiving, I’m not expecting a monumental breakout.

DJ Moore’s 2018 showcased the promise that made him a 1^st round pick. All things considered, it was a success with just under 800 yards, paving the way for a progression into the 1,000 yard territory. With a heavier commitment to spreading the ball out and Cam Newton staying upright, it’s likely Moore can reach that feat. What’s more unpredictable is his touchdown numbers, which landed at a sad 2. A positive regression to 4-6, Moore will be a top 20 receiving option and decent 5^th starter option if these numbers ring true.

PK: Matt Prater 8 PPG

PN: Andy Lee 12 PPG

DT: Maurice Hurst 11 PPG

Ho Hurst’s draft slide was catastrophic, costing him millions of dollars due to an enlarged heart diagnosis. Sliding to the 5^th round after getting 10 top consideration may have been tragic, but the Raiders appear to have stolen their now starting 3-tech. Hurst may enter 2019 as the Raiders best pass rusher, which isn’t saying much despite only snagging 13 all year. With now a starting job locked in, Hurst has been receiving positive buzz and appears to be trending into low-end DT1 territory.

DE: Stephon Tuitt 12 PPG, Yannick Ngakoue 12 PPG

Stephon Tuitt is just entering his prime and like his pal Cameron Heyward, he’s a solid, but unspectacular 3-4 defensive end. Dude gets his 6-8 sacks and goes about his business. A 12 PPG projection is solid low-end DE1 numbers and that’s what you expect.

The snap count, the pressures and the opportunity is there for Yannick to take the next step, but he struggles in the run game. Dude had himself an excellent season in 2017, with 12 sacks, six forced fumbles and a touchdown. Last year, he had no forced fumbles and only eight sacks. He’s a big-play threat with an opportunity for progression, but he’s nothing more than a DE2.

LB: CJ Mosley 20 PPG, Blake Martinez 19 PPG, Chandler Jones 16 PPG, Jon Bostic 15 PPG

CJ Mosley was already going to go ham with his new situation in New York, but now that Avery Williamson is going to miss the 2019 season, he may finish as the top linebacker in our scoring. He’s going to be an absolute tackle machine, with ample opportunity for a huge season. Similar to Darius Leonard in 2018, there aren’t many players to take tackles away. (Jamal Adams will eat though) Mosley’s last couple of years haven’t been up to his standards, but chapter 2 of his career is likely to see him settle in as a top 5 option.

Poor Blake Martinez has zero help with the Packers’ defense. Who else in Green Bay is a playmaker? Kenny Clark? That’s about it. Martinez is really the only one to eat the tackles, which equates to a top 10 option at the position. Martinez comes from a pedigree from Stanford and has been a starter from day one. Moving into a contract year, expectations for Martinez is to replicate his productive past. With no little to no improvements around him and Oren Burks down for the season, there’s no reason to expect him not to eat again.

Chandler Jones is an excellent pass rusher, but unfortunately he has the LBer designation in the Cardinals’ new 3-4 scheme. Jones is a safe bet for double digit sacks and is one of the few OLB that are startable in our league. Jones played in a 3-4 just two seasons ago, so predicting similar projection isn’t a risky bet.

Bostic was left for dead just a couple months ago, but after Rueben Foster went down, they quickly responded by signing the journeyman. Bostic instantly slid into a starting role, even calling the plays right away. It doesn’t appear he will be leaving the field in 2019, giving him ample opportunity to be a very startable asset. A top 32 season is likely if he can stay healthy.

CB: Eli Apple 14 PPG, Joe Haden 12 PPG

Eli Apple is an excellent option at the corner position for our league. Opposite Marshon Lattimore, Apple is going to be targeted heavily by offenses. Apple started to turn his play around at the end of 2018 too, so he could be in for a big year if he continues to progress.

Joe Haden has been around forever and seems like he’s been a pretty solid fantasy option for years. Haden isn’t an elite corner like he once was, but he’s still a full-time starter in Pittsburgh. He leads a poor secondary, so expect him to receive ample opportunity blanketing #1 receivers.

S: Johnathan Abram 14 PPG, Shawn Williams 14 PPG

Johnathan Abram is incredibly overrated and with the Raiders’ first round picks, I’m very worried that Mayock and Gruden are in over their heads. Abram is weak in coverage, so he will have to be a traditional box safety. This role could be valuable, especially in Oakland next to a weak linebacking corps. A Landon Collins career arc would be the absolute best case scenario.

Shawn Williams had a career year in 2018, coming out of nowhere and posting over 250 points. Dude was on the waiver wire into training camp, providing an excellent find to savvy (and perhaps lucky) GMs. Regression is going to happen, there’s no doubt about it. Cincinnati’s scheme is a bit of a mystery at this point, but it’s possible Williams falls off the face of the Earth back to his old waiver wire fodder life. I don’t think that’ll happen, but expecting a repeat of last year is asking for too much.

Off: Houston Texans 11 PPG

PPG: 312

W-L: 8-8

Floyd’s team is comprised of some of the best options at running back and linebacker, just the overall sum its parts are mediocre. There are startable, but middling options on defensive line and offense, which really holds the PPG down. If there are players that unexpectedly take a step forward, than he can finally reach the postseason after a 3-year drought.

Coach: Pete Carroll 6 PPG

QB: Cam Newton 30 PPG

Cam Newton is one of my favorite quarterbacks in the NFL and is the type of player I wish was leading the Buccaneers. He’s a fantastic team guy and genuinely cares about connecting with the fans of Carolina. One of the most special things in the NFL is when any offensive player on Carolina scores a touchdown. They find a kid in the stands wearing a Panthers’ jersey and give them the ball. Cam may have a bad rep for his poor attitude with the media after losses, but I appreciate someone who is himself. Newton’s dual threat ability keeps him in the conversation as a top 3 option at the position and with reports of his deep ball returning, he may be ready to return to elite status. The fate of the Panthers fall on his shoulder, so hopefully he can keep it 100%.

Continue reading Pre-Season Projections: Seattle Seahawks →

Coach: John Harbaugh 6 PPG

QB: Kyler Murray 30 PPG

Kyler Murray is ready to take over the NFL by storm, with the new age, Air Raid offense. Murray is expected to lead a balanced offense, spreading the ball around to multiple weapons, many of which will be rookie receivers. There will be growing pains and likely many sacks behind a terrible offensive line, but Kyler’s rushing upside gives him an elite ceiling. Murray’s projection is a fringe top 10 option, with a Deshaun Watson ceiling if Kliff Kingsbury can properly install his offense.

Continue reading Pre-Season Projections: San Francisco 49ers →

Coach: Anthony Lynn 6 PPG

QB: Phillip Rivers 29 PPG

Good old Phillip Rivers led the Chargers to a 12-4 season, but it doesn’t appear it will ever come together for the 37-year-old after again losing to his bitter rival Tom Brady. The Chargers are cursed. Their franchise is poorly managed by a frugal owner and it seems like they annually deal with more injuries than any other team. Rivers gives it his all though and with a litany of weapons at his disposal, Rivers is a locked in QB1. One of the best values to buy in our league due to his advanced age, his floor is among the highest in the league. Age may begin to take a toll, but Rivers is in line for one of the best years of his career.

Continue reading Pre-Season Projections: Los Angeles Rams →

Coach: Bill O’Brien 6 PPG

QB: Deshaun Watson 31 PPG

If Patrick Mahomes didn’t take over the fantasy world in 2018, Deshaun Watson would be considered the best young option at the position. His upside with his legs combined with his solid receiving weapons profiles him as an elite asset. Even against improving AFC South defenses, Watson appears to be the real deal and likely to continue his blistering PPG pace from his last two seasons. There is always some durability concerns with running QBs, but Watson, for the most part, has stayed healthy throughout his football career.

Continue reading Pre-Season Projections: Arizona Cardinals →

Coach: Mike Zimmer 6 PPG

QB: Jared Goff 30 PPG

Just two offseasons ago, everyone and their mother thought Jared Goff was a bust. Notorious for not knowing which direction the sun rises, Goff may not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but he doesn’t need to be with Sean McVay making the offense easy to understand. Goff’s 2019 season should mirror what he did in 2018, which is a fringe top 10 fantasy quarterback without an elite ceiling.

Continue reading Pre-Season Projections: Philadelphia Eagles →

Coach: Adam Gase 4 PPG

QB: Sam Darnold/Josh Allen 24 PPG

DJ will play the matchup game with his AFC East quarterbacks. Darnold’s floor is higher than Allen, but Allen brings his running and big play ceiling. Will one or both of these guys struggle with consistency in their 2^nd years? It’s likely, but DJ can put together a serviceable player out most weeks.

Continue reading Pre-Season Projections: New York Giants →

Coach: Doug Pederson 6 PPG

QB: Kirk Cousins 28 PPG

Good ol’ Kirk keeps rolling along with his mediocre results and terrible play in big games. Everyone knows that Kirk can’t win big games and is like 4-30 (don’t know the exact record) against teams over .500. Kirk’s stats are slated to take a hit with the Vikings stating they are committing to the run game. A slight regression is likely, but he still is a mid-range QB1.

Continue reading Pre-Season Projections: Dallas Cowboys →

Coach: Freddie Kitchens 6 PPG

QB: Baker Mayfield 30 PPG

Baker must be waking up feeling dangerous every day with that porn stache of his. He reminds me of Johnny Manziel with the right amount of discipline… and more accuracy. Mayfield is ready to explode into the elite fantasy quarterbacks with just an ungodly amount of weapons. OBJ and Landry form an excellent receiving duo. Nick Chubb is a budding star in the receiving game. The defense has playmakers at all three levels. The key for the Browns rides on Mayfield’s decision making and continuing his progression. The Browns may have been in the playoffs in 2018 if Hue Jackson wasn’t an idiot and started Mayfield from the jump. Instead, he’ll lead the Browns to their first playoff appearance since 2002.

RB/WR/TE: Todd Gurley 30 PPG, Chris Carson 22 PPG, Damien Williams 19 PPG, Sterling Shepard 15 PPG, Hunter Henry 15 PPG, 6^th men: Courtland Sutton 13 PPG, Anthony Miller 12 PPG, Marquez Valdes-Scantling 11 PPG

Fuck the Todd Gurley hate. His arthritic knee issues are vastly overstated. I don’t think there is all of a sudden a better chance this year that he will be injured compared to his last two. That is not to say that Gurley isn’t going to regress from his 35 PPG pace, but he’s not going to run circles around the even elite talent anymore. He’s just one of another great 7-8 running backs for the next few seasons and that’s just fine. Whether it’s Malcolm Brown or rookie Darrell Henderson backing him up, Gurley is the boss for both rushing and receiving at the position.

Back in September 2018, Pete Carroll was reaping the praise onto Carson on his work ethic. It was beyond epic and made me think that this dude was going to be the real deal. How could this guy be impressing his head coach so much to not be legit? Well despite the Seahawks wasting a 1st round pick on Rashaad Penny, Carson kept the starting job and ended the season top 5 in rushing. There will always be injury concerns from his bruising style and (which btw, he wasn’t a brusing back in college, he learned that) the Seahawks are notorious for cycling through running backs since their Lynch days, Carson is a safe bet as a 2/3 option for an offense.

Damien Williams is no Kareem Hunt, but the dude enters an excellent situation with the elite offense of the NFL. Williams hasn’t been utilized as a bell cow for an entire season, but as long as he’s healthy, he will eat. Question marks about his long term serviceability will persist, but he’s an elite option heading into the season… numerous reports have popped up that Williams will be involved in a timeshare. What his opportunity will be is unclear, but he is still a very startable asset. Took his PPG down 3 points from the AFC entry.

Sterling Shepard’s role is a bit in the air with new addition Golden Tate taking over for target hog OBJ. A progression in targets is very likely, especially with his rapport with Eli and Golden Tate missing the first four games because of a PED bust. The Shepard wagon can only go as far as Eli can take him… which is about a solid 5th starter option. He’s not ideal, but he’s the #1 on a bad offense.

Hunter Henry tragically tore his ACL in OTA last season but was able to play a limited role in the Chargers’ short-lived playoff run. Henry will be where he left off as a solid red zone weapon and security blanket for Rivers. There are so many viable targets for the Chargers and Mike Williams will take away some red-zone looks. With no Antonio Gates however, Henry will finally be the guy, but I still don’t expect him to ascend into elite tight end production. A solid top 10 TE if he can be the number two receiving weapon in the offense, there is upside for more.

PK: Aldrick Rosas 9 PPG

PN: Britton Colquitt 9 PPG

DT: Fletcher Cox 12 PPG

Sadly, Fletcher Cox is not an elite option in our format, but that doesn’t mean he’s not serviceable. Cox is an mid-range DT1 and doesn’t rack up enough counting stats to annually land in the top 5. With a huge amount of pressures, Cox is always prone to the blow up weeks, which come often.

DE: Danielle Hunter 19 PPG, Justin Houston 12 PPG

Danielle Hunter is entering his 5th season and is only 24! That’s nuts, especially when you factoring in he’s accumulated 38(!) sacks in 4 seasons. The dude is an animal on a stud muffin defensive line and in 2018 he showcased an elite ceiling of tackles and sacks. 2017 likely showed his floor and provided GMs a buy low opportunity. Fresh off a 320 point season, it will be difficult for Hunter to replicate, but he will likely flirt with double digit sacks with 60 tackles. He’s a locked in top 5 option.

Justin Houston is finally a DE! Transitioning to a 4-3 scheme will be interesting to see, but Houston is still a pro-bowl level talent. Houston will likely find himself in a rotation with many talented options on the Colts’ defensive line, capping his tackle upside. Houston is still good for double digit sacks and is a low-end DE1.

LB: Jarrad Davis 16 PPG, Denzel Perryman 14 PPG, Ja’Whaun Bentley 11 PPG

Jarrad Davis’ role in Matt Patricia’s defense is safe, but it’s not a high upside role as a MIKE backer in many other schemes. Davis has struggled with consistency through his career, but seemed to take a step forward last season. Nothing is changing with his usage, so a fringe top 16 season is in the cards again.

Denzel Perryman is an enigma. Every year, he garners hype that he will finally be able to put together a full season… and every year some aliment takes him out of the lineup for multiple weeks. Hopefully this year will be different and we can finally see what he can do as the MIKE in an ascending defense. With many excellent player taking away tackle opportunities, his upside is capped a bit, but he’s a solid startable asset.

Bentley’s role is still unclear and one of the most interesting things to watch during week 3 of the preseason. The snap distribution between Bentley and Collins will become a bit clearer, as we just don’t know how much either guy will be utilized. For now, he’s a low-end linebacking option, with upside for more depending on his opportunity.

CB: James Bradberry 12 PPG, Pierre Desir 10 PPG

Bradberry has been a relevant corner since he entered the league, as he’s consistently been an above average option. He’s not someone that offensive coordinators avoid, so he’s able to have ample opportunity for production. Nothing has changed for 2019 and it’s safe to expect another top 20 season.

Pierre Desir is your traditional corner that never leaves the field. He’s a solid option, but it will be tough to replicate his career 2018 season. He only has two career interceptions and his huge tackle numbers are likely to decline.

S: Ronnie Harrison 14 PPG, Eric Weddle 12 PPG, Antonie Bethea 12 PPG

Ronnie Harrison is ready to rock as the strong safety on a stellar Jacksonville defense. Barry Church’s 2018 flop of a season opened the door for Harrison to take over and Harrison performed admirably. Harrison profiles as an all-around solid safety out of Alabama and will likely be an above average option for fantasy players. He should flirt with top 16 production.

Eric Weddle’s production took a nose dive in 2018 and was not worth rostering with his role on the Ravens. Now playing with the Rams, Weddle’s production should take a step forward, but it’s no guarantee with rookie Taylor Rapp likely to be heavily involved in the secondary. As a full time player in Baltimore, it is really concerning he was only averaging 9 PPG, so his floor is definitely low. Weddle’s body of work points to a rebound, so I’m cautiously optimistic he can return to startability.

Antoine Bethea is so old AARP made an elite tier of discounts for him. Bethea is so old his cavities were replaced with wooden teeth. Bethea is so old… ok you get it. Despite his age, Bethea is slated to be the strong safety in a James Bettcher 3-4 scheme, a place that he’s thrived in the past. He’s a top 10 option as long as he doesn’t play free safety, where teammate Jabrill Peppers played in 2018 with the Browns. Welp, that wasn’t the case, which drops Bethea down to a low-end S2. Peppers has the role to own in this defense.

Off: Pittsburgh Steelers 13 PPG

PPG: 312

W-L: 9-7

The retooling in Minnesota has been successful. This is the best team Wade has ever had and acquired the players to make his first playoff appearance. The season rides on Gurley’s knee and usage. If he can be close to what he’s been the last couple of years, Wade has one of the best playmakers in the IFL on his roster. If his tally of missed games add up or Henderson are Brown are heavily involved, Wade could be looking at another year on the sidelines in December. Even with a tough division and non-division schedule, I like Wade to be fighting for a wild card spot week 12.

Coach: Matt LaFleur 5 PPG

QB: Ben Roethlisberger 30 PPG

Big Ben’s career has been Hall of Fame worthy, but it almost seems as if he’s left a little bit of meat on the bone in not making a Super Bowl with Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown. Those two guys were perhaps the best at their positions and they couldn’t get past the AFC Championship. In fact, they weren’t even that close. I listened to an Antonio Brown interview where he stated Ben and him never got together to work out in the offseason and it made me think that maybe they didn’t do the little things to put them over the edge. Maybe they had all the God given talent in the world and were comfortable with being known as one of the best at the position, but didn’t want to put in the work to beat the Pats. Now Ben is nearing the end of his career and has flirted with retirement. He has James Connor and JuJu Smith-Schuster as admirable replacements, but certainly not at a Hall of Fame level of talent like AB and perhaps Le’Veon if he can rack up a couple more excellent years. The biggest help to Ben would be a vastly improved defense, which doesn’t appear to be coming in 2019. With a group of lesser talent, I expect a regression from his amazing 36 PPG from 2018. 30 PPG still places him in the top 10 of the position, which is still a safe bet for a QB who may begin to decline.

RB/WR/TE: Michael Thomas 23 PPG, Mike Evans 20 PPG, Jarvis Landry 13 PPG, Latavius Murray 16 PPG, James Washington 13 PPG 6^th men: Breshad Perriman 11 PPG, Danny Amendola 10 PPG

The Brees/Thomas stack is elite and a very effective method in posting monster points any given week. (Stacking is a very common DFS strategy, btw) Thomas led the NFL by 11 receptions (Ertz was 2nd) and is one of the safest commodities in our league. A wide receiver that annually scores over 300 points, there’s no reason to expect he will take a step back. All that needs to be worked out is he’s holding out for a new contract, only making 1.1 million on the final year of his rookie deal.

Mike Evans’ has quietly put together 5(!) straight 1,000+ yard seasons and 2019 could be his best ever. Now with stud muffin Bruce Arians as his head coach, it’s very possible we get the most out of all the Bucs’ position players. Dirk Koetter’s offense was a very solid unit, so it’s not like he can rapidly progress, but Evans can return to his 1,300 yard, 12 touchdown days.

Lat Murray is one of the biggest winners from real-life free agency. Going from a highly regarded handcuff to a projectable role in New Orleans makes him an underrated asset for the near future. Kamara is not built for the workload he was given in weeks 1-4 when Ingram was suspended in 2018. More than likely, Murray slides comfortably into Ingram’s old role which in our running back booko league, makes him a valuable asset.

I am a huge Jarvis fan, but I have doubts he will see the necessary volume to be a viable asset in our format, let alone worth a 1st round pick. I’m sure Landry is excited to play with a good friend and college teammate OBJ, but ramen noodle head is the main target hog in this offense. Baker can certainly provide two receivers fantasy production, but expecting Landry to post similar numbers may be asking too much. Also, keep in mind he threw two touchdown passes in 2018.

James Washington may not be the #2 receiving option in Pittsburgh right now, I do believe his role is increasing from his rookie season, which, if improved by a few PPG, will be a startable option. Washington has flashed with big plays both during his rookie year and preseason. There are sooooo many targets up for grabs in this offense and I don’t see a scenario where Washington isn’t benefiting to back-end starter numbers.

PK: Giorgio Tavecchio 9 PPG

PN: Bryan Anger 7 PPG

DT: Javon Hargrave 11 PPG

Hargrave is one of the best nose tackles in the NFL, and flirts with low-end DT1 numbers. While his ceiling will never make him someone you have to own, he has decent bye-week filler appeal. Hargrave has he comes from the football powerhouse South Carolina State. Did you know that the entire state of South Carolina smells like sulfur? Hargrave knows.

DE: Michael Brockers 11 PPG, Dean Lowry 9 PPG

Michael Brockers isn’t a bad player by any means, but he’s a bye week fill-in option in a 3-4 defense. He’s a solid run in the run game, but in his 7-year career, he’s only had over 4 sacks twice.

Dean Lowry is a part time DE and isn’t worth rostering as a DE option. His ceiling as a part-time as a 3-4 DE is barely bye-week filler worthy.

LB: Jordan Hicks 19 PPG, Sam Eguavoen 17 PPG, TJ Watt 16 PPG

Jordan Hicks’ value in Arizona appears to have increased from his time in Philly. The MIKE linebacker in a defense that will be on the field a ton equates to one of the highest PPGs received by any player in our league. If Hicks can just stay healthy, which he hasn’t been able to do up to this point in his career, then he’s in line to turn into one of the most productive backers in the IFL.

It pisses me off when I read that Raekwon McMillan and Kiko Alonso are the linebackers to own in Miami. That is simply not the case and if these analysts were doing any sort of research on the situation would realize the Eguavoen and Baker are the 3-down backers. Eguavoen is uber athletic and appears to be the real deal. Baker, like Eguavon is a smaller athletic type and it’s clear the Dolphins are prioritizing speed. Eguavoen’s projection is around Jarrad Davis’ production in Detroit.

The little Watt brother proved that he’s a stud pass rusher just like his brother. Watt exploded last season with AFC North high 14 sacks. Watt’s a top 16 option at linebacker, but he comes with many bust weeks. He’s a 3-4 after all.

CB: Denzel Ward 11 PPG, Vernon Hargreaves 11 PPG, Jalen Ramsey 11 PPG

Denzel Ward is trending toward elite corner territory and will likely be targeted less with an inferior talent playing on the other boundary. Terrance Mitchell and Greedy Williams are battling to be the starter. Ward’s outlook this year is a bit murky, but it doesn’t appear that he’s being avoided by offenses. Ward will often shadow #1 receiving options, hopefully providing him another successful 2019.

Vernon Hargreaves appears to have locked down one of the starting spots in Tampa and he’s looked really good in training camp. VHIII’s early career has been hot garbage, but perhaps a new defensive scheme can transform his game. It’s very possible he takes a step forward and is in a decent spot for fantasy production.

Jalen Ramsey is one of the best corners in the NFL, so his ceiling is lower than normal due to a lack of targets. He still provides a good amount of PD and 3-5 interceptions a year. He’s a mediocre option in a positon chock full of them.

S: Bradley McDougald 14 PPG, Devin McCourty 12 PPG

Seattle underwent a multitude of changes in their secondary the last few years, overhauling virtually every position. Bradley McDougald is a major piece of their overhaul and is an above-average talent that replaced Kam Chancellor. Seattle spent a 2nd round pick on missile Marquise Blair and he is poised to potentially challenge McDougald for the starting job. It’s possible McDougald moves to free safety while Blair plays closer to the line of scrimmage.

Devin McCourty is a mainstay as a solid back-end starter at safety. McCourty has better real-life value than in our league, but having ample opportunity makes him an annual option at the position. Like the last several years, the 12 PPG range is about right.

Off: Green Bay Packers 12 PPG

PPG: 290

W-L: 4-12

Barry has begun a rebuild and it’s clear this team is not competitive heading into the season. The offense and defense both lack depth and star power. The most concerning thing about Barry’s roster is the lack of foundational pieces, with really Michael Thomas as the only building block. I feel like Barry had an opportunity to compete in 2019, but a horrendous free agency period saw him sign an incredible 8 or so trash players. Barry dug himself a hole he couldn’t get out of with a poor offseason and will be interesting to see what he can do with an extra 5 months to build for a 2020 run.