Five Must-Have Franchise-Tagged Players
We are into free agency for the 2020 NFL off-season and as such, many players have been tagged. This is essentially a last-ditch resort to keep players you can’t come to terms with on a new deal soon enough, so most – if not all – of the players tagged this off-season will remain with their team this upcoming season.
As with trades and signings, franchise tags can also have major dynasty implications. There are certain players not worthy of the franchise tag, but for the most part, these were wise decisions by said teams to at least keep these players around. So, which players are essentially dynasty must-haves?
As it turns out, I’ve come up with five must-have players in your dynasty leagues.
Chris Jones, DT KC
Jones is a game changer for the Chiefs defense. Finishing with 9 sacks, 9.5 TFLs and 20 QB hits, Jones came off another stellar season in the interior. Despite missing a couple of games due to injury, he still finished inside the top 25 in FantasyData’s fantasy metrics for all defenders with a total of 94.5 points.
His performance in the Super Bowl was underrated, as Jones was applying constant pressure to Jimmy Garoppolo and the 49ers offense. He’s an explosive, quick player for a defensive tackle, and is arguably the best interior pass rusher in the AFC.
The Chiefs defense is fortunate to have a cornerstone like Jones on their roster. Even as there were concerns if he would adapt to Steve Spagnuolo’s 4-3 defense, he flourished and went to the first Pro Bowl of his career. It would be very wise to track Jones down in an IDP draft for your defensive tackle needs.
Matt Judon, OLB BAL
In a contract year, Judon delivered the goods on the stat sheet, with 9.5 sacks, 18 TFL, and 33 QB hits. His 139.95 fantasy points ranked 26th on FantasyData’s metrics for all defenders, and with the constant pressure he was getting, Baltimore saw fit to keep him for at least another season.
Individually, the Ravens pass rush in 2019 wasn’t noted for its star talent, but the blitz-heavy scheme of defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale got the most out of the group, and Judon, in particular, benefited from it. While some might be skeptical of whether Judon can have this level of production in a different defense, in the Ravens pass rush he’s pretty essential for your IDP leagues.
The addition of former Cardinals and Jaguars lineman Calais Campbell should also help causes as well.
Shaquil Barrett, OLB TB
After years of playing as a backup in a star-studded pass rush in Denver, Barrett was given the chance of a lifetime and signed a one-year contract to be a starting edge rusher for the Buccaneers. The move paid off in ways few expected going into the season, as Barrett led the league in sacks (19.5) and put up 22.5 TFLs and tied with Green Bay’s Za’Darius Smith for the league lead in QB hits (37).
FantasyData had Barrett with 186.15 fantasy points, second behind Pittsburgh’s TJ Watt for all defenders and 44th-most among all players. Barrett was also getting constant pressure, as Pro Football Reference had him with 51 pressures during his breakout campaign.
The Buccaneers “rewarded” Barrett by electing to give him the franchise tag over Jameis Winston. As the new leader of Tampa Bay’s defense, Barrett just might be more than a one-year wonder, and if you’re able to buy the hype there’s no excuse not to acquire the IDP star.
Dak Prescott, QB DAL
It’s far from a hot take to suggest that Prescott has been one of the NFL’s more polarizing players, as opinions on him range from good, to top ten, to average. The Cowboys were in talks to extend Prescott throughout the 2019 season and leading up to free agency, but price talks among other things ultimately made it clear the two sides were not on the same page.
Regardless, it’s clear that Prescott was one hell of a dynasty player in 2019, posting 4,902 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. His 337.78 fantasy points were second among all quarterbacks and third among all players, only trailing the likes of Lamar Jackson and Christian McCaffrey.
While Prescott has been afforded some quality protection throughout his career, he’s also been capable of making plays under pressure and creating outside of the play structure. He’s more than mobile enough to do so and his accuracy looked more consistent than it was in 2018.
With Amari Cooper returning, as well as the continued development of Michael Gallup and the presence of Ezekiel Elliot and Tony Pollard in the backfield, Prescott also has enough skill players to help him out. The one question is if Mike McCarthy will be an upgrade over Jason Garrett, who held the team back from an NFC East title in 2019. Still, based on his resume, and especially last season where he put up career numbers, Prescott should have no problem helping your team out in 2020.
Derrick Henry, RB TEN
Once thought of as a talented yet inconsistent player at his position, Derrick Henry fully realized his potential in 2019, earning Pro Bowl and Second-Team All-Pro honors as his efforts helped lead the Titans to their second postseason appearance in three seasons. This was on his way to having an excellent postseason.
Henry was a monster on the stat sheet, putting up 1,540 yards and 16 touchdowns on the ground. FantasyData had him with 276.6 fantasy points, putting him second behind McCaffrey for all running backs and 11th among all players in 2019. The Titans have no plans to reduce the usage of Henry in 2020, so if his body is up to the task he should continue to rack up numbers.
With quarterback Ryan Tannehill returning on a new, expensive deal, that gives the Titans the offensive trio of Tannehill, Henry, and wideout AJ Brown. It’s been a while since the offense has looked this exciting, and Henry looks poised to capitalize off a career year and continue to deliver for your dynasty teams in the upcoming season.
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