Dynasty Player News

The rookie has not played less than 75% of total offensive snaps in the past five weeks and has averaged 83% over that same period. Only Jordy Nelson has averaged more. The snaps are an improvement on his prospects but he has yet to produce in a significant way, reeling in only two of five targets for 20 yards in a loss vs. the Bengals on Sunday. The Raiders are desperate for receiving talent and Nelson is signed through 2019 and Seth Roberts is the only other receiver offering competition. Add Ateman in dynasty leagues for upside as a sophomore in 2019.

Gus "The Bus" Edwards tallied 104 yards on 19 carries including a touchdown while Kenneth Dixon could only muster 48 yards on 11 totes. Dixon also reeled in his sole target for two yards. It would seem the Ravens favor Dixon for pass protection given his snap-to-carry ratio (28%) over that of Edwards (58%) but it makes for a muddy committee to navigate during championship week. Edwards is clearly the favored runner but is best utilized in standard (non-ppr) formats due to his touchdown dependency. Standard scoring league players can play Edwards as an RB3 but Dixon remains an underwhelming last-flex option. Edwards is DLF's RB66 but is rising.

Despite leading in snaps, it was Gus "The Bus" Edwards who performed. Edwards tallied 104 yards on 19 carries including a touchdown while Dixon could only muster 48 yards on 11 totes. Dixon also reeled in his sole target for two yards. It would seem the Ravens favor Dixon for pass protection given his snap-to-carry ratio (28%) over that of Edwards (58%) but it makes for a muddy committee to navigate during championship week. Edwards is clearly the favored runner but is best utilized in standard (non-ppr) formats due to his touchdown dependency. Standard scoring league players can play Edwards as an RB3 but Dixon remains an underwhelming last-flex option.

Sherfield totaled only 15 yards on 3-of-5 targets but hauled in the garbage-time touchdown, his first in the NFL. In fact, most of Arizona's offensive totals came in garbage time as they could get nothing going against the Falcons on Sunday. For Sherfield, however, the far more notable stat was that of his offensive snaps. For the second week in a row, he totaled more than 90% of offensive snaps, this time notching a season high 94%. Christian Kirk and Chad Williams are out due to injury so Sherfield's role is far more likely due to circumstance than stellar play, but in his past two weeks he has produced eight receptions, 92 yards and a touchdown. Deep roster dynasty coaches can add him as 2019 developmental prospect.

It seems the reins have been passed though Flacco isn't a free agent until 2022. Rookie Lamar Jackson has had moments of magic and moments of misery and it's no certainty he stays healthy. But all things remaining the same, it would seem Flacco will be in a new uniform come kick-off of the 2019 season. Jacksonville anyone? Miami? Still only 33 years of age, Flacco is a statue in the pocket and needs a good offensive line in place to provide the most of his football I.Q. and rocket arm. In dynasty, Flacco has never climbed the ladder to QB1 status though has been a stable and reliable QB2. In another uniform, his status won't be upgraded until proven otherwise but he remains a solid, if not pedestrian, hold as DLF's QB32.

Gronk hasn't played a full 16-game season since 2011. In the past year, there's been talk of retirement, discord with head coach Bill Belichick and continuing injuries. Turning 30 prior to kickoff of the 2019 season, his final contract year, it's fair to wonder whether he will decide to simply hang up the cleats and pursue acting or professional wrestling, or if he'll return for one more year with the aging GOAT, Tom Brady. Thus far in 2018, Gronk has only played in 10 games, compiling 637 yards and three touchdowns, though he did have his second best game of the year in yardage, including a touchdown, in a last-second heartbreaking loss against the Dolphins. Scheduled to make $9M in 2019, it's hard to imagine Gronkowski retiring should Brady choose to return (and all signs point to just that) but dynasty owners should be preparing for the possibility. He carries a very tenuous TE5 ranking on DLF's tight end rankings.

Howard was an upside value pick in all formats heading into 2018 and while the 'value' seemed to be there, the production hasn't been. Howard's 3.6 ypc. average is a career-low and he's on the outside looking in to a 1,000 yard rushing campaign in 2018. Additionally, the expanding role of Tarik Cohen will likely find Howard with a career low in receptions as 2018 comes to a close. Through 14 weeks, his 16 receptions projects to 20 on the season, below 2017's 23 receptions. Howard has one more year in Chicago before becoming a free agent in 2020 and it appears as though the Bears are quite happy with their running back tandem, meaning 2019 doesn't project much better. As DLF's RB20, and still only 24, Jordan Howard remains no more than a touchdown-dependent RB3 at best and his value is falling. Enterprising dynasty coaches should consider a low-cost acquisition with the hope he finds his way to a better starting situation in 2020.

It's been a year no one could have foreseen for the top-five running back in all formats. Now 27 (today), Johnson signed a three-year contract in Sept. of this year and is unlikely to see a change of scenery any time soon. His last 100 yard (137) performance came during week 11 against the Raiders and he didn't record a touchdown in that game. On the year, he's now amassed 810 yards and six touchdowns on his way to a 3.7 ypc. average, the low of his career save a lost 2017 when he saw only 11 carries before falling to injury. It's fair to wonder what Johnson's upside is on a rebuilding Cardinals' organization lacking dynamic receiver talent to keep defenders out of the box. Still in the prime of his career, Johnson has fallen to the RB9 on DLF's running bank rankings but should be an intriguing, but risky, upside target in 2019.

Efficiency is another thing, however. Aside from a dismal week 12 performance in which he failed to record even a single target, Jones has converted on 15-of-30 targets over the past four games, and 7-of-18 over the past two weeks. Over the past three weeks, his snap share as a total of offensive snaps has not fallen below 91%. On the year, Jones now has 44 receptions, 481 yards and four touchdowns, two of the touchdowns coming in week 13. Still only 23, he isn't a free agent until 2021 and should have little competition for his WR1 role heading into 2019. Rookie quarterback Josh Allen continues to develop and has shown signs of development leading to some upside to Jones' WR68 status on DLF's rankings.

Still without a 100 yard game, Sutton continues to produce only modestly now as the unquestioned WR1 in the Broncos' offense. The knock on Sutton coming out of SMU was his lack of physicality off the line of scrimmage, leading many experts to question his potential in the NFL. Whether due to physicality or his somewhat heavy-footed route running, it's fair to question Sutton's upside though he's only a rookie and is now operating as a WR1 due to Emmanuel Sanders' season ending injury. Sutton's 6'3/216 lbs. frame carries undeniable upside and 2019 will find him back as the WR2 in Denver's offense as long as Sanders returns. Sutton is a wide-ranging WR30 on DLF's rankings as we near the close to 2018.

He's garnered 25 targets over the past two weeks and his three touchdowns in week 15 has cemented his ascension to the WR2 across from Keenan Allen. Through 14 games, Williams has amassed 37 receptions for 592 yards but with nine touchdowns. He also scored a rushing touchdown in week 15. His 15 targets over the past two weeks almost matches his total targets from the previous six weeks and occurred as Tyrell Williams returned from injury. Williams has proven to be too much of a play-maker, especially in the red zone, to not be a fixture on offense going forward. As DLF's WR34, he's still a bargain as we close out 2018. Look for Williams to be an upside WR3 to begin 2019, with enough glide path to WR2 early in the season.

He may be hitting the rookie wall. Ridley did produce eight receptions, 93 yards and a touchdown on 13 targets in week 12 against the Saints, all season high marks. But since that game, he's only produced four receptions on nine targets for 32 yards. He's been a modest fantasy performer from week five on after his famously hot start in which he produced six touchdowns during weeks two-through-four. But since that time, he's found the end zone only twice. He's still an upside rookie player and seemingly has a bright career ahead of him but is best as a last-flex play for the remainder of the season, but with breakout potential. He's found as DLF's WR27.

Funchess has yet to record a game with over 100 yards receiving, his high-point on the year being 74 during week five. He hasn't eclipsed 50 yards or four receptions since week six and his targets have continued to decline. A 2019 free agent, it's obvious Funchess is not suited to be a WR1, at least in Carolina and a new destination is likely in the cards during the off-season. Still only 24 year's of age and with great size (6'4/225) he's fallen almost completely off the radar and is a bench-stash in dynasty until he proves otherwise. Funchess is found as DLF's WR38 and is certain to fall further as we enter the off-season.

In his last two weeks, Samuel has seen 19 targets, converting on 10 of them for 168 yards. He hasn't found the end zone since week 12 but does have four on the year and is obviously now the starting slot receiver. The second year player is coming on in the second half of 2018 and will provide sleeper potential heading into 2019. He's DLF's WR78 but looks poised to rise into the end of the season.

In his last three weeks, Allen has now rushed for 335 yards and two touchdowns while passing for 597 and three touchdowns. He's also thrown four interceptions during that same period. Allen is putting up fantasy numbers but there's no way this trend can continue if he expects to have a long NFL career. His passing rating during that three game stretch has fallen from 89.8 to 44.4. The Bills are in dire need for receivers and the running game has been anything but consistent while the defense remains stout. Look for 2019 to be an offensive building year as the search for productive skill-position players are sought. Allen is found as DLF's QB27 but is one significant hit away from taking a tumble.

This one stings. He also caught both of his targets for 23 yards. After scoring his first touchdown during week 13 on eight carries, the hope was the Chargers would feed him as the primary runner with Austin Ekeler rotating back to third-down duty. Instead, Ekeler was the primary ball carrier, receiving 15 carries to Jackson's seven. The Chiefs and their dismal run defense are on tap in week 15 though Jackson won't be anything more than a last-flex play as an emergency fill-in as his touch volume cannot be trusted. As a dynasty hold in deeper leagues, there does remain some value but he'll return to no better than third on the depth chart once Melvin Gordon returns.

He also had a single reception for six yards. Wilson was a hot volume-touch play heading into week 14 but his modest production, and very little play out of the backfield as a receiver, will leave owners somewhat dissatisfied. The 49ers have little behind him and even had the lead for the entire game though still couldn't produce better yardage totals, though he did produce a 3.9 ypc. average. Matt Breida's injury status is unknown but all signs point to him being down in week 15 as well, meaning Wilson will receiver volume touches again against a surprisingly tough Seahawks team. As long as he's not sharing the load with Breida, Wilson will be a back-end RB3 in week 15 and can be held in dynasty formats heading into the off-season.

Patrick has been running as the WR4 but the injury to Emmanuel Sanders produces immediate opportunity. As a bigger receiver, best on the outside across from rookie Courtland Sutton, Patrick is going to get plenty of snaps and his production today secures his role going forward. He's 25 and will carry more value in 2019 should Sanders be released during the off-season.

Better yet, he garnered nine targets, turning them into seven receptions and 47 yards. Emmanuel Sanders fell to the dreaded Achilles rupture during practice, vaulting Hamilton into a starting role. He immediately paid dividends with a solid game and a touchdown. Drafted in the fourth round out of Penn State, Hamilton is similar in style to Sanders and could take over in that role should Sanders not return to the team in 2019. Due to injury clauses, it's likely Sanders does return to the team but the Broncos are said to be able to save $10M by releasing him in the off-season. Hamilton carries a fair amount of intrigue as a sophomore in 2019.

His production came on seven total targets. The 6'1/205 lbs. rookie has been trending up in snap share of late and finally had material production. Undrafted out of Vanderbilt, he has run a 4.45 40 in his past and the Cardinals are in desperate need for play-makers at receiver behind aging veteran Larry Fitzgerald. Sherfield has seen 50% or more of total offensive snaps three times since week ten so he's trending in the right direction to be an intriguing developmental addition in deep-roster leagues. Consider an addition if you have the space and a lot of patience.