APRIL
- RB Christian McCaffrey, Panthers
- RB Saquon Barkley, Giants
- RB Dalvin Cook, Vikings
- RB Aaron Jones, Packers
- RB Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys
- WR Michael Thomas, Saints
- RB Josh Jacobs, Raiders
- WR DeAndre Hopkins, Cardinals
- RB Alvin Kamara, Saints
- WR Davante Adams, Packers
- WR Chris Godwin, Buccaneers
- WR Julio Jones, Falcons
- TE Travis Kelce, Chiefs
- RB Derrick Henry, Titans
- WR Tyreek Hill, Chiefs
- RB Kenyan Drake, Cardinals
- WR Mike Evans, Buccaneers
- RB Mark Ingram, Ravens
- QB Lamar Jackson, Ravens
- RB Leonard Fournette, Jaguars
- WR Kenny Golladay, Lions
- RB Nick Chubb, Browns
- QB Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs
- RB Chris Carson, Seahawks
- QB Kyler Murray, Cardinals
- RB Joe Mixon, Bengals
- WR A.J. Brown, Titans
- RB Miles Sanders, Eagles
- RB Le’Veon Bell, Jets
- RB Raheem Mostert, 49ers
- WR DJ Moore, Panthers
- TE George Kittle, 49ers
- RB Todd Gurley, Falcons
- WR DeVante Parker, Dolphins
- TE Mark Andrews, Ravens
- QB Deshaun Watson, Texans
- RB Austin Ekeler, Chargers
- WR Adam Thielen, Vikings
- WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, Steelers
- QB Russell Wilson, Seahawks
- WR Allen Robinson, Bears
- WR Stefon Diggs, Bills
- RB James Conner, Steelers
- QB Josh Allen, Bills
- WR DJ Chark, Jaguars
- RB Melvin Gordon, Broncos
- RB David Montgomery, Bears
- QB Matthew Stafford, Lions
- RB Marlon Mack, Colts
- RB Devin Singletary, Bills
- WR D.K. Metcalf, Seahawks
- RB Phillip Lindsay, Broncos
- WR Odell Beckham Jr., Browns
- RB Kerryon Johnson, Lions
- WR Courtland Sutton, Broncos
- QB Dak Prescott, Cowboys
- WR Christian Kirk, Cardinals
- WR Terry McLaurin, Redskins
- RB Derrius Guice, Redskins
- QB Carson Wentz, Eagles
- WR Keenan Allen, Chargers
- WR A.J. Green, Bengals
- RB Damien Williams, Chiefs
- TE Zach Ertz, Eagles
- WR Cooper Kupp, Rams
- WR Michael Gallup, Cowboys
- QB Aaron Rodgers, Packers
- WR Will Fuller, Texans
- WR Mike Williams, Chargers
- QB Tom Brady, Buccaneers
- QB Jared Goff, Rams
- WR Marquise Brown, Ravens
- WR Tyler Boyd, Bengals
- TE Darren Waller, Raiders
- WR Sterling Shepard, Giants
BREAKDOWN
a) Christian McCaffrey was a runaway choice for Fantasy MVP honors in 2019, the happy result of 2,392 scrimmage yards, 19 touchdowns and 116 receptions — the NFL single-season record for tailback catches.
McCaffrey’s fortuitous owners, many of whom scooped C-Mac up at picks 4-6 in Round 1, supremely benefited from his otherworldly production and bedrock consistency, accounting for 130 total yards and/or one touchdown 14 times.
b) At first blush, Giants tailback Saquon Barkley (1,441 total yards, 8 TDs) didn’t live up to the sky-high expectations of being the consensus No. 1 overall pick in last year’s drafts.
However, when extrapolating his per-game averages of 111 total yards and 0.62 touchdowns over a full season of 16 outings, it shakes out to 1,776 total yards and 10 touchdowns; and that includes Barkley leaving the Buccaneers game in the first half with a gruesome ankle injury.
Essentially top-five numbers (among tailbacks) for a physical freak who should be a yearly candidate for 2,000 total yards and double-digit touchdowns, moving forward.
As for the No. 2 ranking for 2020, we’re putting a lot of stock into Barkley’s finishing kick for Weeks 15-17, enjoying otherworldly averages of 180 total yards and 1.7 TDs.
c) Unfortunately, you can bet the proverbial farm on Saints wideout Michael Thomas (149 catches, 1,725 yards, 9 TDs) incurring a production dip in 2020, citing four strong presumptions:
****Thomas recently put the finishing touches on the NFL single-season record for catches. As such, the odds of improving that feat are likely long, regardless of who’s under center for the Saints next year.
****It’s too early to tell if the Saints will re-sign quarterback Drew Brees for the coming season, even though it seems like an obvious fit for both parties.
****It’s difficult to envision Saints tailback Alvin Kamara (three-year average: 1,492 total yards, 12.3 TDs) falling short of 1,500 total yards and/or double-digit touchdowns next year, especially with the University of Tennessee product set to hit unrestricted free agency after the 2020 campaign.
****The Saints’ peculiar model of having Thomas outperform his wideout teammates by three or four times the targets reeks of absurdity; and this lack of balance might help explain why the Saints averaged three points less in 2019, compared to the 2018 offense.
d) Tailback Le’Veon Bell averaged 1,600 yards and eight TDs from 2013-17, without really breaking a sweat in the Steelers offense.
With the Jets, however, there were zero games of 100 yards rushing, zero outings of multiple touchdowns and only two efforts of 120-plus total yards.
Bottom line: In 2019, Bell likely didn’t carry a single owner to victory for any isolated week.
e) It’s time to acknowledge one cold, hard fact: The Odell Beckham Jr. we knew from 2014-16 — boasting Hall of Fame-like averages of 96 catches, 1,374 yards, 12 TDs — doesn’t exist anymore.
Chalk it up to injuries, ego, complacency, general unhappiness, unwanted change of scenery or simply getting older.
Whatever the reasons, isolated or cumulative, the days of presuming 90 catches, 1,300 yards or even double-digit touchdowns have likely passed.
The lesson here: Stop taking OBJ high in Round 2 of PPR drafts!