Dynasty Capsule: Washington Redskins

Every year we give our premium content members a team-by-team, player-by-player look at the NFL season that was. The coverage will be in-depth, but because the Dynasty Capsule series begins immediately after the season, we won’t use it to discuss free agency or the draft. Come see us in early May once Mr. Irrelevant is off the board for another 32-article series giving you the same detailed discussion you’ll see below.

Buckle up dynasty fans, because you’re about to be reminded why our motto is, “There is no off-season.”

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QUARTERBACK

KIRK COUSINS (JAN ADP: QB13)

With the trade for Alex Smith, it’s pretty clear – like the ocean water in Hawaii – that Cousins is well on his way out of Washington. There’s been talk of the Redskins tagging Cousins then trading him and that might put a damper on his potential fantasy outlook for next season if he is moved to a non-appealing team. If Washington doesn’t tag him, the free agent to be will have his fair share of choices. Suitors like the Broncos, Jets and possibly the Browns have a huge amount of money available.

I believe he should continue to be a fringe QB1 weekly starter wherever he may land. He’s coming off three straight 4,000 yard passing seasons and ran for a career-high in yards last season. Cousins is in his prime and if you’re an owner in dynasty you must be somewhat ecstatic with the new opportunity ahead (especially since he may have the chance to throw to Corey Coleman, Josh Gordon, and David Njoku!)

ALEX SMITH (JAN ADP: QB23)

On the night of January 30, 2018, the wild news broke that the Kansas City Chiefs had traded Alex Smith to the Washington Redskins. It was definitely a head-scratching moment at first and shortly after the trade, the Redskins gave Smith a four-year, $94-million contract (with 71 million in guarantees) so the soon to be 34-year-old QB will probably finish his career in Washington.

Smith is coming off arguably the best season of his career where he threw for 4,042 yards to go along with 26 passing TDs and five interceptions in 15 games. It was the first time he threw over 4,000 yards in his career, and his career-best in TDs thrown. He’s not going to wow you (although he had his moments in 2017), but the game manager gets the job done.

He passed for two or more scores in eight of 15 games and depending on how your league is scored he was a top-five fantasy QB last season. Smith has new weapons in Josh Doctson, Jamison Crowder, Jordan Reed and Chris Thompson and we can expect the Redskins to continue to work on the offensive supporting cast for Smith during free agency and the draft.

With age catching up to Smith, I can see why he’s roughly around the QB23 at the moment. But he should definitely be considered as a borderline QB1 in certain leagues and would make a top backup option.

COLT MCCOY (JAN ADP: n/a)

He’s 31 years old and will be an unrestricted free agent in 2019. Unless an injury happens to Smith there may be no need to consider drafting McCoy unless you’re in a deep super-flex league. He is one of the better backup QBs in the league but he does have a cap and the offense will take a slight hit if he plays.

RUNNING BACK

CHRIS THOMPSON (JAN ADP: RB35)

Thompson was having a great season before breaking his leg in week ten and missing the rest of the season. He’s expected to be ready for training camp but one has to wonder if he’s peaked already? He’s no doubt locked in as the passing-down back so he’ll still have value in PPR leagues.

In 2017, Thompson posted two games where he’s had at least four receptions and 100 yards receiving. He averaged 16 points per game in PPR leagues and that’s pretty damn impressive. Unless you can find a buyer now, you have to just hold onto him until he takes the field again to boost up his trade value. Even with a murky backfield situation, Thompson would be a hold for me.

SAMAJE PERINE (JAN ADP: RB36)

Perine had an up-and-down rookie season but with an off-season being slated as the potential starter, it should help his confidence. He does have some fumbling issues but again with a solid off-season, he can clean it up. I think he provides a better floor than ceiling because with Thompson around, he’s limited to an early-down role.

In 2017, he put up two 100-yard rushing games and just one touchdown but you can expect at least his TDs to increase moving forward. It’ll be an interesting off-season to see what or if the Redskins do anything at the RB position. I think his ADP is just about right. He might give you a couple of RB1-type games but he should be a solid RB2 and weekly flex starter.

ROB KELLEY (JAN ADP: RB66)

With an injury-riddled 2017 followed by Perine and Thompson running away with everything, Kelley’s role has diminished and he could be on the outside looking in heading into the off-season. With the talented and deep class in the draft and free agency coming up, will Kelley have a spot on the 53-man roster or will he be let go?

BYRON MARSHALL (JAN ADP: n/a)

In the final year of his deal, he is as good as gone once free agency opens up in March and should be left on waivers.

WIDE RECEIVER

JOSH DOCTSON (JAN ADP: WR39)

Doctson got the snaps in 2017. Now we need the production to match in 2018. Through the last two games of the season, he accumulated 23 targets but only converted them into six receptions and barely made it over 60 yards in one of the games. I expect Doctson to get a few 100-yard games after having zero in 2017. Going from Kirk Cousins to Alex Smith puts a slight damper on his potential but I remain optimistic that he can start putting it together.

JAMISON CROWDER (JAN ADP: WR41)

Crowder had serious hype last off-season and the production didn’t match early on. It wasn’t until week eight where owners got rewarded with a nine-catch, 123-yards outing. He somewhat got it going with some consistency during the last nine games of the season where he only had two games under ten points in PPR leagues. With Terrelle Pryor a free agent, Crowder should see a bigger role in 2018 and could become Alex Smith’s favorite weapon. However, I do I think his ceiling is capped as a WR2 (he’s no Tyreek Hill) and he will be a weekly WR3/4 for teams.

TERRELLE PRYOR (JAN ADP: WR73)

Unfortunately, the hype didn’t match any production for Pryor in 2017. He was coming off his first 1,000-yard season as a full-time receiver and he had some promise landing in a situation with a better QB. But he only ended up with 20 receptions for 240 yards and one touchdown. One has to wonder where he’ll land during the off-season because we can expect he won’t return to Washington. He’s also about to be 29 years old. If you’re an owner, could you even sell him at the moment? I’d say if there is a deal on the table you probably have to bail on Pryor already.

MAURICE HARRIS (JAN ADP: n/a)

Outside of a spectacular one-handed TD grab in week ten against the Vikings, Harris was quiet. But the Redskins remain high on him and at the moment he would be the WR3 heading into the off-season programs. Keep an eye out on him in deep leagues.

ROBERT DAVIS (JAN ADP: n/a)

Davis was on practice squad for most of the season. He was finally called upon in week 14 and that was that. He’s a big WR who’s physically gifted but is still raw and needs development. Unless the Redskins bring back Ryan Grant, Davis would enter the off-season as the WR4 and should only remain on your radar.

TIGHT END

JORDAN REED (JAN ADP: TE9)

Reed is a tough one. he provides elite upside but there’s no doubt an owner will have concerns about his injury and concussion history. He’s still just 27 years old, but it’s fair to wonder: if he gets one more blow to the head, is his career done for? In his last four seasons, he’s played 11, 14, 12 and six games. His career year was 2014 where he put up 11 TDs. Reed gains a newcomer at QB who helped make Travis Kelce an elite tight end, and if you could tell me that I’d be getting a full season out of Reed, I’d gladly take him in the top five of TEs.

VERNON DAVIS (JAN ADP: n/a)

Davis will be 33 years old and he doesn’t even make an appearance on the ADP data. In deep leagues or even 2-TE leagues, he’s going to be on someone’s roster – at least for depth purposes. When Reed went down in week six last season, Davis accumulated 15 receptions through the first three games then just 13 receptions the last seven games of the season. Once again in 2018, he’ll be the backup to Reed but I’d understand if you look another direction for a backup TE in your fantasy league – someone who’s probably younger and has an intriguing ceiling.

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