Contents
Matt Forte
During Head Coach Marc Trestman’s two-year tenure in Chicago, Matt Forte led the NFL with an astounding 102 Receptions amongst RBs in 2014 and totaled 75 Receptions in 2013, which was only 3 Receptions shy of tying the 2013 RB Reception Leader. Before Trestman, Forte comfortably averaged approximately 57 Receptions Per Season. Now at 29 Years Old and without pass-happy Marc Trestman in town, we expect a regression, but Forte should still peak his head near the head of the pack in PPR Leagues. Without Marshall and White, Jay Cutler will look early and often to his safety valve which should quickly rack up fantasy points for owners across all scoring formats.
Justin Forsett
As expressed above via Matt Forte … Marc Trestman has migrated to Offensive Coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens. Last season, Forsett bursted onto the scene, surprising everyone with his 29 Year Old Legs. Forsett turns 30 in October and we fully expect this to be his last “Hur-Rah.” Last season, Forsett totaled 1,266 Rushing Yards, 263 Receiving Yards, 8 TDs and 44 Receptions on 59 Targets. Expect a regression in Rushing Yards, but an uptick in Receptions and Receiving Yards. Forsett makes for a quality PPR asset to be drafted, but don’t overpay.
Eddie Lacy
Lacy is an obvious name that should be at the top of Draft Boards anyway, but we want to highlight that in 2014, Lacy hit 42 Receptions, also adding 1,139 Rushing Yards, 9 Rushing TDs, 427 Receiving Yards and 4 Receiving TDs. With Jordy Nelson out for the season, each one of those numbers should only increase. We expect Lacy to finish the season as the most productive RB across all formats.
CJ Spiller
New Orleans hovers at the top each season for both Receptions and Targets to RBs. In 2013 Pierre Thomas led the NFL amongst RBs with 77 Receptions. Mark Ingram should be the hog at the goal-line which tops out Spiller’s pay-dirt play, although expect Spiller to take on the explosive CJ Spiller role which Sean Payton made famous. Spiller isn’t a high volume guy, but in small doses, New Orleans expects him to be dangerous. We like him as a RB3 in 2014 with strong upside.
Brandin Cooks
Cooks provided us with a small sample size in 2014, although we see an uptrend in production due to the exodus of Jimmy Graham and Kenny Stills, who combined for 22% of Completions, 32% of Targets, 37% of Receiving Yards and 39% of TDs in 2014.
Concerning his QB, during a nine-year tenure in the NOLA, Drew Brees has averaged 628 Passing Attempts, 4,854 Passing Yards and 35 TDs Per Season, while only dipping under 635 Passing Attempts twice. The addition of CJ Spiller will aid the transition to a heavier running attack, although it should be expected without question that there will be a sizable regression from Drew Brees.
With the loss of both Graham and Stills coupled with a 32 Year Old Marques Colston, it leaves an attractive void labeled with opportunity for Brandin Cooks. We expect Cooks to be among the league leaders in receptions and has an opportunity to skyrocket production as New Orleans unquestionable WR1.
Davante Adams
Adams has been showered with compliments from Aaron Rodgers and Head Coach – Mike McCarthy. Aaron Rodgers said WR Davante Adams “has star potential for sure and is starting to reach his humongous upside. You watch the film last year and he was open a lot on the backside of stuff and it just depended on matchups whether the ball went his way a couple times in a game or 10 times. We had two guys who caught more than 90 balls and as teams start to tilt even more to them, Davante’s going to get more opportunities.” McCarthy added that Adams is the “MVP” of Packers OTAs. These statements were prior to the Nelson injury and our thoughts of progression from Adams also precluded the injury. He is a no doubt lock for 1,000 Yards and was being primed for WR2 role in 2014 with the potential exodus of Randall Cobb. With the Nelson injury goes 98 Receptions, 1519 Receiving Yards, 13 TDs and 151 Targets from 2014. Adams is quickly sliding from “Sleeper Status” and deservingly so, as he lines up as the Number 2 Option for the Best QB in the NFL. Adams may be a young-blood who wasn’t on your radar, but we recommend drafting him for 2015.
Jarvis Landry
Landry should be flying under the radar to an extent after producing solid Rookie numbers in 2014 – 84 Receptions, 758 Receiving Yards and 5 TDs on 112 Targets with additional numbers in the Kick/Punt Return Game. Miami saw a jolt offensively in 2014 with the development of Ryan Tannehill and we expect that trend to continue. Landry will compete in Miami with strong additions made in the off-season of Kenny Stills, Jordan Cameron and DaVante Parker. That said, Landry is the “go-to” WR1 in Miami and offers strong upside, however in 2015, Landry only saw 3 Targets of 20+ yards, while he had 87 Targets within 10 yards! In PPR Leagues, you will be handsomely rewarded.
Allen Robinson
In 2014, Robinson was on pace to have a better season than fellow rookie WR’s Jordan Matthews and Sammy Watkins with 86-950-4 before going down in Week 11 with a broken foot. The 220 lb / 21 Year Old WR runs a 4.4 and is equipt with a skill set composed of a very wide catch-radius with incredible ball skills. A-Rob will be a target hog in the anemic Jags offense and possesses enormous potential if QB Blake Bortles can take even a tiny step forward.
DeAndre Hopkins
Last season, Hopkins finished as the 15th best Fantasy WR while seeing 127 Targets, compared to Andre Johnson’s 147. With Arian Foster’s season already in question, Hopkins is the lone glimpse of light in this Houston offense. Lining up beside Hopkins will be Cecil Shorts and Nate Washington, which is concerning for Hopkins. Shorts and Washington won’t see near the attention Andre drew last season and with Arian Foster already on the shelf, it’s easy to see where defenses will focus the majority of their attention. Some are quick to believe Foster’s injury means more targets for Nuk, but it just allows defense’s to focus more attention on the 3rd year wide-out. While Nuk should see close to league leading Targets, the absence of Arian Foster and Andre Johnson should provide ample attention for Hopkins.
Jordan Matthews
In DeSean Jackson’s one season under Chip Kelly, he caught 82 balls for 1,332 and 9 TD’s as the WR1. Last season as the WR1, Jeremy Maclin caught 85 balls for 1,318 yards and 10 TDs.
Last season, Matthews finished as the WR24, which was just above Sammy Watkins who were both in rookie campaigns. Matthews played the WR3 position in PHI last season where Chip Kelly often schemed him in the slot, as he saw favorable matchups against Safety’s and Linebackers. Last season, J-Matt caught 64 balls in the slot, while only playing 65% of snaps on the season. “I Like It A-Lot!!!”
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Eddie Royal
Consider Eddie Royal a sneaky play and late round flyer. Alshon Jeffery hasn’t practiced since August 11th and without both Brandon Marshall (NYJ) and Kevin White (Injured), Royal is presented with a prime opportunity. Many expect Jeffery to be ready by Week 1, even after a 3 Week absence from practice. Either way, Royal should see potential career numbers and makes for a solid late round option.
John Brown
Downtown John Brown or “Smokey” Brown has continuously impressed and has seized the WR2 role in AZ with WR Michael Floyd out with three dislocated fingers which actually came through the palm of his left hand … Yuck! It would be advantageous Floyd to return for Week 1, however many consider it a 50-50 shot. Brown has demonstrated strong chemistry with Palmer. He may not offer enormous PPR play, although we wanted him in this article as a solid sleeper candidate for 2015. Keep him in mind for late in your drafts.
Charles Johnson
Not a monster yet, but offers sleeper appeal in Minnesota as the WR1 and Teddy Bridgewater’s most trusted option. Consider Johnson late in drafts for a decent upside play in 2015.
Obvious Plays
At Running Back … LeVeon Bell, Adrian Peterson, Jamaal Charles, Marshawn Lynch, CJ Anderson, DeMarco Murray. Each name is an obvious play and easy draft pick, yielding both strong Touchdown and Yardage stats for Fantasy Owners. Consider each a can’t miss. The same goes at WR with the Top 9-10.
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