2020 Fantasy Football Question Marks and Storylines: NFC Edition

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]We talked about the AFC previously, but here are 3,000+ words about some of the best fantasy football question marks and story lines from the NFC in 2020![/vc_column_text][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”NFC EAST” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]

Dallas Cowboys

Dak Prescott’s contract (or lack there of it) will be the story line for a bit, but his play on the field should distract the national media and fantasy football players. Being drafted as the QB3 behind Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson, Dak could finish as this year’s QB1 with the weapons at his disposal and his motivation for a new deal.

Ezekiel Elliott is one of the safest picks in the draft. He is my RB2 and I was THRILLED to get him at 4 in one league.
I’m still scratching my head by the 1st round select of stud WR CeeDee Lamb considering Dallas signed Amari Cooper to a $100m extension, but whatever. I don’t care about the Cowboys win/loss record. With 3rd year WR Michael Gallup in tow as well, the Cowboys boast arguably the best pass catching trio in the league.

And let’s not forget about breakout candidate TE Blake Jarwin. Cowboys beat writers are raving about him, but I question how many targets he will get as the 4th/5th option in the passing game.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

New York Giants

Saquon is a stud. We all know that. I just feel bad for him that he will have to run behind one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL. The dump offs will be there, and he will definitely break off a long run or two per game, but it may be painful to watch at times. That said, he’s still a lock for high end RB1 production and should be taken in the Top 3 of every fantasy football draft.

Daniel Jones flashed at times last season and this year he will finally have a healthy WR corps for at least Week 1 (though Golden Tate may already be banged up.) Sterling Shepard, TE Evan Engram (one of my breakout candidates this season) and the aforementioned Tate all missed time last year with various injuries.

The one WR who was the constant was rookie breakout Darius Slayton. I’m not as high on him as most so I did not target him this year in drafts, but he could prove me wrong.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Philadelphia Eagles

This team can’t catch a break with injuries. First, they lost their starting LG and then their starting LT. Future Hall of Famer (I said it) Jason Peters came out of retirement to protect Carson Wentz’s blindside, so hopefully they can keep him upright.

But injuries have even hurt the skill players. Wentz missed time with a soft tissue injury, Miles Sanders missed a few weeks with a hamstring injury and 1st round WR Jalen Reagor is iffy for Week 1 due to a shoulder injury sustained in practice.

That being said, I love Miles Sanders this year, along with his running mate Boston Scott. Sanders is a great late 1st/early 2nd round pick and Scott was a late round target for me this summer. The Eagles, while as much as they will pump up Sanders’ tires, will still use more than one back and I think both guys have standalone fantasy value.

JJ Arcega-Whiteside is a guy I was targeting in Dynasty leagues. We’ll see if he pans out, but people were throwing dirt on his grave after a rough rookie season. Let’s not forget he was a 2nd round pick in 2019 and a pretty solid player at Stanford. I won’t give up on him yet.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

The Washington Football Team

This team is pretty bad. Prettay pretty bad.

The youth is pretty interesting. WR Terry McLaurin had a phenomenal rookie season and will be the lead receiver Week 1, but after that, there is a whole lot of unknown.

RB Antonio Gibson looks like he will eventually take over the starting job, but how good will he be? He was a WR at Memphis, but has looked pretty good in the limited film we saw from practice. With Derrius Guice being a terrible person (allegedly) and Adrian Peterson cut, there are a ton of touches to go around. Personally, I am putting my money on former Heisman candidate RB Bryce Love to take the starting role by midseason. He suffered a terrible injury in college and has yet to regain his form, but I’m optimistic he will find it in 2020.

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Chicago Bears

Imagine this. You could have picked up Cam Newton for free and paid him a couple million dollars, but instead you trade a pick and pay Nick Foles $20 million just to have him lose the QB competition to Mitch Trubisky. This is GM Ryan Pace’s career as the Bears GM in a nutshell.

RB David Montgomery should be on track to play Week 1 after scaring the fantasy football community with a non contact groin injury. Back up RB Tarik Cohen is a fine piece, but there is no way the Bears would be able to rely on him to hold up as an every down back. I’m not sure why the Bears haven’t picked up a legit RB2 incase Montgomery’s injury flares up but…

WR Allen Robinson returns as the alpha receiver. Will 3rd year guy Anthony Miller be able to step up and be the Robin to his Batman?

I wish I could say I expect TE Jimmy Graham to emerge as the second option in the passing game, but I don’t see it. I have him in a Dynasty league solely for the hope that maybe…just maybe he can recreate some magic from half a decade ago.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

Detroit Lions

Have you been able to figure out how the RB rotation will go in Detroit with Kerryon Johnson, D’Andre Swift and newly signed Adrian Peterson will go? No? Me neither. That is why I have avoided this backfield at all costs and you should too.

QB Matthew Stafford is fully recovered from a 2019 back injury. Before that injury, he was sneakily a nice QB1 and WR Kenny Golladay was his favorite target. Marvin Jones Jr. continues to hang around as the WR2, but do you trust him? I don’t.

The most rostered player on my team (all in redraft unfortunately) is TJ Hockenson. I love him as a breakout star this year and think he can finish as a Top 8 TE. I was consistently picking him up late in drafts as my TE2, with the expectation that he is a starter for me in a few weeks (fingers crossed.)[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

Greenbay Packers

I have avoided this team like the plague. In fact, other than Jamaal Williams as a long-term play in dynasty leagues and Allen Lazard as my WR5 in a league, I don’t have any other Packer players on my roster across 7 leagues. The one player I would consider is Davante Adams, but I did not have a draft pick this year where I could have targeted him in the last 1st/early 2nd.

I am still shocked that the Packers took QB Jordan Love in the 1st round and RB AJ Dillon in the 2nd round of the draft. In a draft that will go down in history as one of the best WR drafts, they chose to draft 2 positions they didn’t need…and this was after being a game away from the Super Bowl in 2019!

Seriously, go get Aaron Rodgers some help. It wasn’t that hard this year. This is why I am not in on Rodgers. I love Davante, but he’s all they got and it’s not like Rodgers is running as much as he used to. Based on talent alone, I am sure he will finish as a low end QB1, but I don’t see where there is any upside with him.

RB Aaron Jones had a phenomenal 2019 season, but I think he is a TD regression candidate in 2020. Even though he was there for me to take in the 2nd round of most drafts (And that’s great value), I didn’t take the bait and went for WRs like Chris Godwin or TEs like George Kittle/Travis Kelce. Jones is one of those guys where I was relieved when others took him so I didn’t have to worry about that decision.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

Minnesota Vikings

Last year I planted my flag in Kirk Cousins being the QB to lead my 4 redraft teams. You can imagine how poorly that went. Needless to say, I did not draft him in 2020.

Dalvin Cook, however, I did draft as much as possible. I have him as my RB4 headed into the season ahead of Alvin Kamara and Derrick Henry. Injuries are a concern with Dalvin, but when he’s 100%, he’s amazing.

The Stefon Diggs trade wasn’t surprising considering he made it known he wasn’t happy in Minnesota, and that move opened up 93 targets in the Vikings passing game. I have never been a huge Diggs guy because he disappears often, but he was a weapon. Fortunately, stud WR Justin Jefferson was available with the 22nd pick of the draft (the same pick the Vikings got for Diggs) so hopefully he can learn the ropes and turn into the future WR1 in Minnesota.

The current WR1 Adam Thielen is starting to get long in the tooth and had a bunch of injuries in 2019, but I like him to eclipse 100 catches for the 2nd time his career this season. He should be a low end WR1.[/vc_column_text][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”NFC South” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]

Atlanta Falcons

I love Todd Gurley’s landing spot in Atlanta. I think the claims that he is past his prime or that his knee is shot are false. Are there concerns there? Sure, but the dude isn’t about to be put off to pasture just yet. I think a lot of his issues from 2019 were more attributed to Rams QB Jared Goff’s regression and a poor O-Line. Heading back home to Georgia should be what he needs to get back in fantasy players good graces.

There isn’t much to say about Julio Jones that hasn’t been said. He’s a stud. He’s a Hall of Famer. He’s a Top 5 All-Time WR in my book. His counterpart Calvin Ridley though, well that’s a different story. I like him a lot, but 2019 was a lost season due to injury after a solid 2018 rookie campaign. I was hoping to grab him in a few leagues as a WR3 in the 5th/6th round, but his round 4 ADP was too much for me to pay. We’ll see if he can live up to it.

TE Hayden Hurst was traded from Baltimore to Atlanta for a 2nd round pick (original pick was from New England for Mohamed Sanu and turned into JK Dobbins in Baltimore. I’m not bitter or angry. I swear.) after Austin Hooper left for Cleveland in free agency. Hurst is a former 1st round pick, but never panned out in Baltimore. I love his chances in Atlanta as the 3rd option in the passing game. He was drafted as a back end TE1 and should return on that investment.

QB Matt Ryan has a ton of weapons. No reason why he won’t throw for 4,000 yards. The only issue with him is he will throw a few too many INTs, but he is a middle of the road QB1.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

Carolina Panthers

New HC Matt Rhule is bringing his up-tempo offense from Baylor to Carolina. Will it translate into fantasy success? Not with QB Teddy Bridgewater. Bridgewater is a fine player and a great game manager, but he won’t put up gaudy stats no matter the system. He was never on my radar in fantasy football this summer.

That being said, WR DJ Moore could still put up low end WR1 numbers thanks to volume alone. With limited TD upside though, you feel a lot more comfortable with him as your WR2 and not your WR1.

After Moore, the WR depth chart is interesting. Robby Anderson has had some solid games in his career and Curtis Samuel is a solid slot option. Both should be considered WR4s at best though.

RB Christian McCaffrey won me a bunch of money last year as he basically played two positions for fantasy owners last year. Expect him to put up gaudy numbers again as the focal point of the Panthers offense.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

New Orleans Saints

WR Michael Thomas is really good at football. How good are the other WRs behind him? We’ll see. Newly signed Emmanuel Sanders looks past his prime, but with a full off season (of sorts) in New Orleans, he could be a nice PPR WR3. The one receiver I’m hopeful will finally breakout is 3rd year player Tre’Quan Smith. He was a 3rd round pick in 2018 and in a prime spot to break out. Reports are that he has had a good camp. I wouldn’t suggest rostering him just yet, but keep an eye out for him.

Did you know that once Drew Brees came back from injury in Week 10 last season TE Jared Cook was the overall TE2 for the rest of the season? Well now you know. I like Cook a lot in 2020.

I like RB Alvin Kamara a lot in 2020, but I am PETRIFIED of him. He got an epidural shot in his back. My wife got one of those when she popped out my kid. I’m pretty sure that Kamara isn’t pregnant…but I do know that I am picking up Latavius Murray wherever I can. If Kamara (my RB5) is forced to miss time, Latavius serves as a no brainer RB1.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

There is so much I could write about this team considering my affinity for Tom Brady, but I am trying REALLY hard to keep this under 3000 words. TB12 heads to Tampa and will be a QB1 (HOT TAKE). We won’t see 2007 Tom Brady (though these are the best weapons he has had since 2007 and I will go to my grave saying his receivers and O-Line were the issue in 2019 and not him), but with Chris Godwin and hopefully a healthy Mike Evans, we will see a QB6-QB8 finish from Brady.

Much has been made about Gronk teaming up with Brady, but I think the TE to own may end up being OJ Howard. I love Gronk from his time in New England, but this isn’t the guy from 2011. A year off from football may have helped his body recover, but there are some things you can’t get back and sadly I think that may be the case for his explosion.

RB Ronald Jones was the guy who was getting all the pub, but once Leonard Fournette was released, the Bucs quickly swooped in. I think RoJo will be the best fantasy option for the first few weeks, but Fournette will eventually take the reigns and be a low end RB1.[/vc_column_text][vc_separator][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”NFC West” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]

Arizona Cardinals

I love the move the Cardinals made by going and getting WR Deandre Hopkins to help QB Kyler Murray grow. Murray was my main QB target in drafts and my bet for the guy who takes the next step into the elite echelon of signal callers. We’ve seen Mahomes and Lamar do it in Year 2 and we will see Kyler do it in 2020.

The WRs behind Hopkins take a pretty big hit. Christian Kirk was poised for a breakout 3rd year, but the Hopkins trade kind of cools that off…though he could possibly still eclipse 1,000 yards if the Cardinals offense takes a significant step forward. Future Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald will flash at times, but he can’t be trusted for consistent production.

RB Kenyan Drake left Miami and became a star in the desert. The Cardinals didn’t do much in the way of giving him much competition for touches, so the low end RB1 production should continue for Drake in 2020.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

Los Angeles Rams

I was excited for 2nd year RB Darrell Henderson to take over the role as bell cow once Todd Gurley was released, but then the Rams had to go and muddy the waters by drafting Cam Akers out of Florida State in the 2nd round. This will be a messy situation, but I do think that Akers comes out on top.

WRs Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods continue to be the most under the radar receivers. You could argue that both should be drafted in the 3rd round, but they consistently slip into the 4th and sometimes 5th rounds. 3rd round rookie Van Jefferson may not have much redraft value, but I like him long term.

TE Tyler Higbee came on like gangbusters in the fantasy playoffs and was right around 20 ppg in Weeks 13-16, but can he continue that production? If he can, he will have great return on his 6th/7th round ADP.

So, with all these weapons, why isn’t Jared Goff a Top 10 QB? If he’s able to limit his turnovers, he could easily finish in the Top 10.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

San Francisco 49ers

I thought RB Tevin Coleman and the 49ers were a match made in heaven, but it was Raheem Mostert who came out on top of that pecking order. I just hope and pray that HC Kyle Shanahan can do us fantasy players a solid and feed Mostert early and often.

TE George Kittle is awesome and my TE1. That’s all I got.

WR continues to be an issue for the 49ers. Deebo Samuel broke out in 2019 as a rookie but suffered a foot injury. SF is hopeful they will have him early on, but the risk of re-injuring a broken foot is pretty high if they rush him back. 2020 1st round pick Brandon Aiyuk is also likely to miss Week 1. I like QB Jimmy Garoppolo’s upside in this system, but not when there aren’t any weapons to speak of outside of George Kittle.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

Seattle Seahawks

Many will have QB Russell Wilson as their overall QB4 after Dak, and that’s in line with what I believe (though I have Kyler over him and sliding Wilson back to 5) since I think he will be throwing to my favorite dark horse to be a WR1 DK Metcalf. WR Tyler Lockett continues to put up stats, but I think Metcalf surpasses him this year.

Call me crazy, but I think TE Greg Olsen ends up having a solid season. The athleticism is there. His body just needs to not fail him.

The running game is always the focal point of the Seahawks offense and I don’t see that changing. RB Chris Carson should be a nice RB2 as the lead back, while Carlos Hyde may be a spot starter or a RB2 in his own right should Cardon go down with injury.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text el_class=”blog-callout”]Well I couldn’t keep it under 3,000 words. My bad. Enjoy the 2020 fantasy football season and keep checking back at www.cardsczar.com for more fantasy football content and your favorite fantasy players’ football cards![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]