Week 12 Street FA Report

Updated: November 22nd 2023

Each week we will recommend a group of players that are owned in less than 75% of RSO leagues that should be rostered. Depending on roster and league sizes not all of these players may be available. For that, we will offer one (1) player that is owned in <25% of leagues as our Sleeper add.

 

Add of the Week

Charlie Kolar, TE, BAL (Owned 9%)

Week 11: 1 Rec/13 yards

I expect everyone to jump on the Mark Andrews injury with high bids on Isaiah Likely this week. Maybe they will be right but with Andrews’ injury I think this presents a great opportunity for the Ravens to take another look at another second year tight end whom they drafted higher than Likely, Charlie Kolar. Kolar was picked at the start of the fourth round in 2022 and had a propensity for finding soft spots in the middle of the field and presenting himself to the quarterback. In our rookie rankings he was my TE3, behind Trey McBride and Greg Dulcich, and noted, “If he goes to [a] team that can use him similar to Mark Andrews or George Kittle, Kolar could become a TE1 consistently after learning NFL blocking patterns”. Sure enough he was drafted to a team that needs someone to fill the Mark Andrews role and I still believe in his talent enough to think he could be a late season breakout. If you need a (better) tight end option add Charlie Kolar for basically free.

Suggested Bid: $1,000,000

RB Add

Chris Rodriguez Jr, RB, WAS (Owned 29%)

Week 11: 6 Car/43 yard, 1 Rec/5 yards

Antonio Gibson was absent in Week 11 which allowed Chris Rodridguez to see his highest share of touches thus far. The Commanders also lead the league in pass plays this season which lends itself as a best case scenario for PPR production. Brian Robinson is still the alpha of this backfield and commanded a significant majority of the snaps with Gibson absent. Still, every game that Gibson misses presents an opportunity for Rodriguez to show how he can fit in the game plan both this year and in 2024.

Suggested Bid: $500,000

WR Add

Justin Watson, WR, KC (Owned 11%)

Week 11: 5 Rec/53 yards, 1 TD

The Chiefs clearly have no WR1 and outside of Travis Kelce very few receiving options seem to have the trust of Patrick Mahomes to come up with clutch plays. This was evident on Monday night in a Super Bowl rematch (preview?) where Mahomes was more often caught patting the ball into a sack or scrambling to pick up whatever yards he could with his legs. I did however recommended as a sleeper before KC’s bye week to stash Justin Watson who was returning from injury and could play a bigger role in the offense for the second half of the season. Sure enough Watson doubled the next wide receiver in targets with eleven (11) and looked the most competent receiver on the field wearing red. Watson should be rostered in more than 1/10 leagues and could be a WR3/4 the remainder of the season.

Suggested Bid: $1,000,000

TE Add

Tucker Kraft, TE, GB (Owned 27%)

Week 11: 2 Rec/32 yards

It came out earlier this week that Luke Musgrave suffered a pretty significant abdominal injury that may cause him to be placed on Injured Reserve. At minimum it does not sound like he will be available for Week 12 and so fellow rookie tight end Tucker Kraft may see more opportunities on the field this week. The Packers have been green with more than just their uniforms this year as most of their skill position players are first and second year starters. This leaves quarterback Jordan Love with little veteran presence to command a significant target share and thus he has spread the ball around. Without Aaron Jones in the backfield to take redzone targets for much of the season either Love has had to find other outlets to score touchdowns. A 6’5”, 250 tight end might help with that.

Suggested Bid: $500,000

Sleeper Add (<25%)

A.T. Perry, WR, NO (Owned 27%)

Week 11: 2 Rec/38 yards, 1 TD

I know I am breaking my own rule for the “sleeper” threshold but with the injury to Michael Thomas and his subsequent placement on Injured Reserve, I believe that A.T. Perry could be more than a flier over the final month of the fantasy regular season. Perry played on 84 percent of the snaps in Week 10, more than any other skilled position player on the Saints. His skillset best matches with what we saw on his first career touchdown which is a box-him-out type of receiver who can be useful in the end zone. With Chris Olave taking up much of the targets between the 20s this leaves Perry much of the opportunity for fades and jump balls in the endzone. Depending on which quarterback the Saints are starting there may also be more “hero ball” opportunities with Winston than with Carr under center.

Suggested Bid: $500,000

More Analysis by Nick Andrews

Week 9 Street FA Report

Updated: October 31st 2023

Each week we will recommend a group of players that are owned in less than 75% of RSO leagues that should be rostered. Depending on roster and league sizes not all of these players may be available. For that, we will offer one (1) player that is owned in <25% of leagues as our Sleeper add.

 

Add of the Week

Demario Douglas, WR, NE (Owned 34%)

Week 8: 1 Car/4 yards, 5 Rec/25 yards

Demario Douglas becomes another graduate from positional add to Street FA’s AotW. Unfortunately it comes at the expense of Kendrick Bourne, who tore his ACL in week 8 and will miss the remainder of the season. Any time that Douglas has been available this season he has looked like the best receiver on the field outside of Bourne and without Bourne now off the field Douglas’ role should only expand into the second half of the season. The Patriots’ offense is brutal this season so do not blow your remaining cap room on Douglas but expect a better depth player than some of the other high priced receivers in your league over the last 6-9 games.

Suggested Bid: $2,000,000

RB Add

Leonard Fournette, RB, BUF (Owned 60%)

Week 8: N/A

Every season there seems to be one (1) “hired gun” offensive player that moves/is added to a new team nearing the trade deadline that might have the most impact of any free agent left in fantasy leagues. Leonard Fournette has come off the couch to join one of the better offenses in the league and fits well into the red-zone runner that the Bills were not getting with Latavius Murray. My biggest concern is that we have already seen this script with Dalvin Cook signing with the Jets before the season and that turning into a complete waste of a roster spot to this point. Is this signing just to keep more bodies in the rotation heading into the second half of the season or do the Bills see a significant role in play for Fournette?

Suggested Bid: $2,000,000

WR Add

Khalil Shakir, WR, BUF (Owned 47%)

Week 8: 6 Rec/92 yards

Speaking of the Bills, second-year receiver Khalil Shakir has had what we would consider his first consecutive string of fantasy relevant games in his short career with at least four (4) receptions in his last two (2) games. The Boise State product was expected to take on the slot role when drafted in 2022 but with Isaiah McKenzie last year and Deonte Hardy in the early parts of this season blocking him from getting on the field there were not many opportunities to showcase his skills. It seems Shakir may finally be turning the corner though and could establish himself as the third option that Josh Allen desperately needs. Hopefully he can continue to develop into this offense to springboard him into a breakout 2024 season.

Suggested Bid: $1,000,000

TE Add

Cade Otton, TE, TB (Owned 48%)

Week 8: 4 Rec/27 yards

Cade Otton enjoyed a successful, albeit quiet rookie season last year with Tom Brady but once Brady left town it was expected that the offense would take a step back and would not offer much in the way of fantasy relevance. While the offense did take a step back with Baker Mayfield now under center, Otton has still played much more than any other tight end in Tampa and has 22 of the 25 receptions by a Bucs’ tight end thus far. All this to the tune of being the TE21 on the season averaging 6.8 PPR points. He is a player for teams that platoon a group of tight ends each week to consider adding as a serviceable option.

Suggested Bid: $500,000

Sleeper Add (<25%)

Justin Watson, WR, KC (Owned 9%)

Week 8: 2 Rec/42 yards

Kansas City did not end up making any moves at receiver which means what they have is what they will be working with for the rest of the season. None of the receivers have looked like a plug and play fantasy option thus far, with only Rashee Rice looking even remotely rosterable. The one player to keep an eye on though might be Justin Watson. He missed several weeks earlier in the season with an injury but when in the lineup he seems to be their big-play setup receiver. Maybe they look to get him more involved in the game plan since the rest of the receiving group does not seem to be seizing the opportunities. 

Suggested Bid: $500,000

More Analysis by Nick Andrews

2018 Post-Draft Rookie Rankings

Updated: May 11th 2018

I’m feeling a bit bittersweet today.  After months of research, statistical analysis and film watching this will be my last post about the 2018 rookie class.  You’ll be in capable hands with the rest of our RSO writing crew but I can’t help but feel sad about losing “my guys.”  I’m looking at you Anthony Miller and Rashaad Penny.  I had been a casual college football writer for years, and a fan for much longer, but the 2018 class was the first that I went truly deep on.  Alas, I will probably feel the same about the 2019 class this time next year.  Speaking of the 2019 class, expect to see content rolling out starting in June.  I have compiled a watch list of 150 players from the FBS to Division III.  I will release conference previews in the Summer, along with a way-too-early mock draft.  I will also unveil a Madden-like grading system I devised as a way to quantitatively compare players across levels and positions.  Before all of that though, let’s take one last look at my 2018 rookie rankings.  These were updated after the NFL Draft and I have also included a write-up about some noteworthy players.  Enjoy!

#3 – Nick Chubb, RB, Browns

I have vacillated on Chubb’s ranking more than anybody else at the top of my rankings. Earlier in the year I had Chubb and Derrius Guice alternating as my RB2/RB3. Immediately after the draft I bumped Chubb down to RB4 (1.04), behind Ronald Jones, due to concerns about playing on a poor Browns team that has a crowded backfield. The more I thought about it though, I decided I’d rather have Chubb because I think he’s a better player and will earn ample opportunity early enough in his career to warrant the 1.03 pick.

#5 – Rashaad Penny, RB, Seahawks

It was hard not to have Penny rocket up my rankings after he went 27th overall to the Seahawks. It felt like a confirmation of everything I saw and loved during the 2017 season. I tempered my excitement though for two reasons. First, Penny’s struggles as a pass protector are well known and I fear this could limit his touches to start his career. Second, the Seahawks have a weak offensive line (ranked 27th by PFF after 2017) that will test even Penny’s elite evasion. I was also building some return game work into Penny’s valuation but now that he’s a first round draft pick I doubt there’s any chance he gets to return kicks.

#6 – Calvin Ridley, WR, Falcons
#7 – DJ Moore, WR, Panthers

I’m sticking to my guns here. I have had Ridley as my WR1 throughout the season and I still don’t feel he has done anything to change that for me. Moore certainly impressed at the combine more so than Ridley but it’s not like Ridley looked like Orlando Brown out there. Moore was a victim of a poor passing game at Maryland, but you could say the same about Ridley who was rarely featured. Moore will get a lot of early targets as the lead receiver in Carolina but I’d rather have Ridley’s fit in Atlanta with a top passing offense. Julio Jones will dictate coverage which should leave Ridley and his superb separation and route running skills wide open.

#20 – Bradley Chubb, DE, Broncos
#21 – Josh Rosen, QB, Cardinals

Chubb and Rosen come in as the first of their position in my rankings. IDP and QBs are always tough to rank because they are so heavily dependent on league settings and scoring. In general, for a typical RSO IDP league, I think that taking your first IDP near the second turn is a good bet; same with quarterbacks in a 1QB league. If you’re in a league featuring high IDP scoring or in a Superflex or 2QB league, you’ll need to push these guys higher by about a round. Similarly to Ridley, Chubb joins a unit where he won’t be the focus and can prosper. I’d be buying shares of the Broncos in team defense leagues, boy are they going to rack up the sacks. Rosen was the fourth quarterback taken in the NFL Draft but I think he should be the first off the board in your fantasy draft because he has the best combination of short-term opportunity and supporting cast in my opinion. Darnold and Allen may see the field just as soon but they won’t be throwing to Larry Fitzgerald, David Johnson and Christian Kirk. Mayfield is the wildcard if he beats out Tyrod Taylor, who the Browns spent a 3rd round pick on in a trade, because the Browns skill position players look intriguing if they all stay healthy and out of trouble.

#39 – Lorenzo Carter, OLB, Giants

I have a man crush on Lorenzo Carter. He’s a quick and lanky edge rusher who also showed the ability to drop into coverage late in the season. He’ll probably start as a situational pass rusher but the Giants will soon find that they found a gem in Carter. If you’re playing in an IDP league you can probably get Carter later than 39th overall but I wouldn’t chance it. Take him in the third round, stash him on your bench and be the envy of your league this time next year.

#45 – Ito Smith, RB, Falcons

Like Carter, Smith is a sneaky late round pick to stash on your bench. He’ll be lucky to find 50 touches in 2018 behind Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman but once Coleman leaves in free agency, Smith will fall into a fruitful timeshare. Smith ran for 1,100+ yards each of the last three years while catching 40+ passes. Smith is strong and thick with powerful leg drive. I rated him as a B+ blocker in his class so despite his short stature he isn’t a liability in pass protection. Smith will be the type of back who earns 75% of his fantasy production in the last two minutes of each half. He’ll come on the field for his mix of receiving and protection and stay on the field while the team runs the hurry-up.

#48 – Equanimeous St. Brown, WR, Packers
#49 – J’mon Moore, WR, Packers

I’m not very high on either of these Packer receivers but one of them is going to emerge, it’s just a matter of which one does. There were rumors that St. Brown fell in the draft because of his “diva” personality which shouldn’t really come as a surprise to anybody who has done any research about his family. That pedigree and promise is what garnered St. Brown buzz the last two years – it certainly wasn’t his on-the-field production. Moore is shorter, lighter and slower but put up two solid seasons at Mizzou in 2016 and 2017 (60+ receptions, 1,000+ yards, 8+ TDs). I wouldn’t recommend drafting either player, you’re better off waiting to see which one hits and then scramble to the waiver wire, but if I had to pick I would go with St. Brown for his superior physical attributes.

#50 – Mason Rudolph, QB, Steelers

I like Rudolph as a speculative third round pick in Superflex and 2QB leagues. While Ben Roethlisberger has been squawking about the Rudolph pick, let’s not forget that just a year ago he was considering retirement. I don’t think it’s a mistake that the Steelers brass decided to draft James Washington and then pair him with his college quarterback. There’s also a chance that Rudolph gets playing time in the short-term due to an injury to Big Ben. Ben has only played a full 16 game season three times in his 14 year career. If you happen to get two games out of Rudolph in 2018 when your own starter is hurt or on bye you’ll already be ahead of the game value-wise.

#64 – Josh Sweat, DE, Eagles

Josh Sweat is another IDP sleeper of mine. Sweat may not get much opportunity early in his career but he had first round talent and physicals but was available later due to his injury history. The stories about his knee injury are pretty gnarly so I would not recommend spending much draft capital on him but if you’re in a deep IDP league and looking for a long shot, he’s your guy.

#80 – Richie James, WR, 49ers

So you’re saying there’s a chance? The 49ers offense is an enigma at the moment. As a Jimmy G owner, I’m excited for what he showed late last year but I am concerned about who he’ll be targeting this year. Pierre Garcon will be back from injury but he’s old. Marquise Goodwin is back too but he’s nothing more than a complementary player in my opinion. The door is open for somebody to emerge and Richie James has as much of a chance as anybody else on the roster. James had two uber productive seasons to start his career: 107-1,334-8 and 105-1,625-12. He lost most of 2017 to injury but is healthy now and reports are that he played well at the team’s first mini camp. You’d have to be in a pretty deep league to consider drafting James but once you get past WR15 it’s a crap shoot anyway.


Note: When watching film for a player in the offseason, I typically pick two games at random to watch. If game film is not available I will search for highlight reels, but keep in mind these are the best plays that player had all season so they really need to jump off the screen. I do not necessarily want to watch games where they did very well or very poorly as that may not be a great illustration of their true ability. If possible, when comparing players at the same position I also like to watch film against common opponents. Full disclosure, I am not watching film of every single game any player plays, instead I am looking for a representative sample. When researching college players I use a number of resources, I would recommend bookmarking the below sites…

  • Stats: espn.com, sports-reference.com, cfbstats.com, herosports.com, fcs.football, foxsports.com
  • Film: 2019 NFL Draft Database by @CalhounLambeau, youtube.com (but be wary of highlight only reels)
  • Draft info and mocks: draftcountdown.com, draftscout.com, walterfootball.com, mattwaldmanrsp.com, draftek.com, ndtscouting.com
  • Draft history: drafthistory.com
  • Combine info: pro-football-reference.com, espn.com, nflcombineresults.com
  • Season preview magazines: Phil Steele, Lindy’s, Street and Smith’s
  • Podcasts: ESPN’s First Draft, Strong as Steele with Phil Steele, The Audible by Football Guys (specifically episodes w/ Matt Waldman), UTH Dynasty, Draft Dudes
More Analysis by Bob Cowper