Are You Ready For Some Football?!

It’s about that time ladies and gents!

• The temperature is starting to get a LITTLE cooler
• The air is crisper in the morning
• PUMPKIN beer is being sold in stores
• And finally, Panini has released almost 20 2019 football sets already…crazy, I know.

So the question is…are you ready for the 2019 season? Over the summer, there have been a lot of NFL players picking up steam as collectors hope to buy low for investment purposes or to bolster their PC (Personal Collection). Other players are already at a high price, so it is tough to make a buck on them, but you may want to hold in case the elite play continues. To help efficiently build your best possible collection, why don’t we take a look at some of those players?

BUYING- Here are some players we have been seeking out at shows, online or in trade recently. There prices are at a point where they are still affordable, yet we see some room for growth from an investment standpoint.

• James Washington- A bit disappointing that Donte Moncrief is starting ahead of him on the depth chart, but if you saw Washington’s ability to get after the ball in preseason, then you know he is going to be a stud. With Antonio Brown in Oakland, Washington has a great opportunity to step up and earn a starting job across from JuJu Smith-Schuster.
• Ito Smith- The clear RB2 in Atlanta behind Devonta Freeman, Ito could have a big 2nd year considering that the Falcons often use both running backs. The market has not dictated an uptick in his card value because he hasn’t produced yet, but 2019 could be a big season for Smith. We have been picking up his autos and RPAs anywhere we can and you should too before we see his price go up.
• Royce Freeman-Very underwhelming as a rookie, Freeman is starting to see some smoke with news that the Broncos want to have a 2 headed monster with him and Phillip Lindsay in their backfield. Many card collectors and fantasy football players felt burned by Freeman’s lacking ROI in 2018, but 2019 should be a different year for the former Oregon Duck.
• Jameis Winston-Yes, you read that right. I am saying that a 5th year player will break out and will be a great Buy Low candidate. The former #1 overall pick has has a bit of a turbulent NFL career, but with QB whisperer Bruce Arians coming to town, Famous Jameis should see his production rise. If his production rises, well you know what happens to his card value…
• Trey Quinn-Yes, many of you are probably saying “Trey who?”, but by midseason, I bet we are out of stock of his cards (unless we seek out some more). Maybe this is the fantasy football player in me talking, but Quinn possesses a skill set that rookie QBs Dwayne Haskins will lean on early in his career once he is finally under center. Quinn was a great slot receiver in college at SMU, and he could turn into a great player in the pros as well. In regards to card collecting, Quinn has a Adam Thielen feel to him. Not a well known player, but if he produces big numbers, his card value will rise dramatically.
• Andrew Luck- That’s right. Wait a few months when all the news about Luck’s retirement has died down a bit. I wouldn’t be shocked if you saw Luck make a comeback in a year or two.

HOLD- These guys are are a point where their price is either extremely high or on their way to a price point where it doesn’t make sense to buy or sell just yet.

• Baker Mayfield- My favorite player from the 2018 rookie class, Baker has almost singlehandedly turned around the Prizm football product. Don’t believe me? Look at the sales for Prizm football rookie base cards in the past year and compare them to Prizm basketball rookie base cards from the past 4-5 years. Sure, Patrick Mahomes and his “Silver” rookie surely helped grow the demand of Prizm football as well (I put silver in quotes because all of the 2017 Prizm rookies has the silver sheen to them, so don’t get duped), but Baker’s base rookie is going for $25-$30 and the raw Silver parallel is flirting with a $500 price tag. Considering that Baker hasn’t won any accolades yet (Rookie of the Year, MVP, Super Bowl etc…) I can only see his prices rising in the future. Will his Silver Rookie ever get to Giannis Antetokounmpo levels? We’ll see!
• Aaron Rodgers- Rodgers has been a player who has struggled with injuries and a weak supporting cast as of late, but with a new coaching regime, there is a good chance that he could be back to the Super Bowl in a year or two. We saw his prices soar a few years back and I can see that happening again in the near future.
• Odell Beckham Jr.- To go along with Baker, I am holding onto my OBJ cards. We have seen Beckham be one of the best players in the league with Eli Manning throwing him the ball. Now that he is in an improve situation, the ceiling gets raised even more. Beckham has been on the downswing over the last two seasons, but a fresh start in Cleveland should be the remedy he needs to get back in the good graces of collectors hearts.
• Josh Allen- Allen can go one of two ways. First, he could improve on his rookie season where he struggled with his accuracy, but was able to get it done on the ground. Second, he could continue to struggle with his accuracy and ultimately regress in his sophomore season. I’m not as optimistic as many others that he will turn into a top tier QB, but his physical skills have me at least considering in investing in him. At this point, I’d say hold onto the Allen cards you have and if he has a couple big games early, offload what you have and make a few bucks on the deal. I have a hard time seeing his value ever getting to the level of Mahomes or Mayfield.
• Josh Gordon- Recently reinstated by the NFL, Gordon saw his stock plummet after he got popped yet again for drugs during his first season with the Patriots. Now with a new lease on life, he has one more shot at being an elite receiver in the NFL. When he hit his stride, Gordon was the most dangerous Pats receiver last season. If he keeps his nose clean, there is no reason why he can’t replicate that success in 2019 and beyond.

SELL- You gotta move them while the iron is hot

• Jacoby Brissett- Right now, but only “sell” suggestion would be Brissett. Don’t get me wrong. I am a believer in the player and think he will be successful after having a few years in the Colts system, but I saw his Contenders Variation auto card go for $150 the other day. ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS! I had a bunch of Brissett cards in my PC, but moved two of them when I could. I still have a couple listed for sale, but am planning on holding my Contenders Variation auto. Even if his value doesn’t go up, I will likely still come out ahead on that once since I bought it for $3 about 6 months ago. In fact, the two cards I did sell have made me a profit on the 6 cards I have in my PC. Not too shabby…

Have any players that you are buying or holding? Let us know! We’d love to hear what your building up your collecting portfolio with!

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