Welcome to the weekly Fantasy Football Mailbag!
Andrew Erickson of PFF is here to answer any questions about fantasy football on a weekly basis during the NFL press season. The mailbox will appear periodically during the regular season.
Subscribe to PFF’s EDGE or ELITE subscriptions to access the following tools, charts, etc.
– All Premium Article Content
– Fantasy football rankings and projections
– Fantasy Football Design Guide, Cheat Sheets & Advanced Stats
– Fantasy Football Mock Draft Tool (DraftMaster)
– Fantasy football strength of scheme Matrix
– NFL Player Degree
– NFL Premium Stats
Sign up now!
Submit questions to Andrew via email ([email protected]) or Twitter @AndrewErickson_ of @PFF_Fantasy. Without further ado: Let’s talk about RoJo, Zeke, Saquon and some auction strategy.
This week’s questions come courtesy of @profootballfocus on Instagram.
May DeAndre Hopkins out in Houston, forseze jo DJ Chark Jr. emerged as the top WR in the AFC South? – @Tefro_D
In my present PFF rankings for fantasy football, I have DJ Chark Jr. but one place behind AJ Brown (WR16 vs. WR17).
With both projected the no. 1 broad recipient to be in their respective crimes, it’s a narrow call, but I stand by my rankings and remain lean Brown. My reason is that Brown will see a larger increase in volume in 2020 with the Titans not likely to land and pound at the same rate as 2019.
It’s also just too hard to ignore Brown’s Goal of 24% with the team he once started playing full time and his absurd efficiency of 3.20 yards per run. Even if you remove Chark’s last three games in which he missed or was restricted due to injuries, his 1.84 yards per run and 21% goal share just did not reach Brown’s level.
Brown also offers more upside to the catch. His yards to catches per reception (8.9) ranked second in the league and Chark’s (4.3) more than doubled. Plus, Brown’s aDOT (13.6) was higher than Chark’s (12.3).
Soene Nick Chubb’s fantasy owners prioritize handcuffs Kareem Hunt? Is it viable to start both in the same lineup? – @ bounceback10
The best advice is to forget about brushing your running back and focus on backup RBs for teams whose starters you do not have. This maximizes your front – if these players step into starting roles, you will potentially have a top file running again next to the running backs you already have on your roster. You should not dwell on your fantasy concept and think that your running backs will be hurt if time is wasted. Select instead if running someone else hurts when games are missed.
When it comes to the Cleveland Browns‘backpacks, I do not think it is viable to start them in the same lineup or set them both up.
For starters, the price to pay is far too expensive. Second, the focus with your team should be to maximize the maximum side – playing two players who will correlate negatively with each other is not a winning strategy.
Kareem Hunt becomes overvalued by the narrative that his role will be the same as last season, even though it’s a new offense and the Browns have two tight ends in Austin Hooper en David Njoku who will eat in his purpose. Running and tight end goals negatively affect each other.
What are the chances of that Miles Sanders ends as top-5 running back?
– @ anthonygalioto29
In an article on or buy or sell small sample sizeTo, I identified Miles Sanders‘ run at the end of the 2019 season as no fluke. From weeks 11-16, Sanders averaged close to 20 touches per game, 18.75 fantasy points per game and ranked as the RB3.
With the departure of Jordan Howard, Sanders should get more work near the goal line. With more touchdowns on top of a set role in the passing game, Sanders has a good chance of finishing in the top-five, as he has already shown us that he can deliver top-five running production back over a period of several weeks.
PFF’s consensus rankings have ranked him outside the top five as RB8 behind Clyde Edwards-Helaire en Derrick Henry.
Thinking about how to decide a fantasy champion when the season ends early due to COVID-19? – @axel_foxyy
With COVID in mind, is it a good idea to stock up on positions that would normally flow like QB and TE in designs? – @ stags2
I wrote a piece that addresses all COVID-19 related issues: Fantasy Football and COVID-19: league recommendations and best practices. With these two questions in particular, here’s how I would approach things: Before the season starts, determine rules on how a winner will be determined if the season gets short. In my opinion, the winner should be the owner with the best record as the owner with the most accumulated points.
It is a good idea to deposit what I call the positions of the onesie (QB, TE). Most years I will only draw one, but in 2020 setting two or three is the right way to go. You will probably need the depth more often than you think. In the ‘normal’ season last year, 57 quarterbacks started a game.
Quick Hitters
Every hope for a Le’Veon Bell bounceback season? – @mark__song
Yes, I think Le’Veon Bell is in value at its current ADP and should show sufficient volume in the New York Jets‘ failure to be productive by 2020. He will still serve as the primary passer running backwards and could end up with a high share for team goals given the lack of established receivers on the roster.
Which rookie wide receiver will have a breakout year? – @ qmark90
I have previously written about how rookie wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk was in fantasy rises after the injury of Deebo Samuel. With the expectation that the veteran will miss games, I think Aiyuk will strike with his chance. He fits perfectly in a 49ers scheme that is valuable after catching – his YAC per reception (10.9) ranked in 2019 fourth in the nation.