We've reached the quarter mark on the NFL season. The first four weeks have seen injuries to big stars, a game canceled due to Covid-19, and the resurgence of Cam Newton. In this edition of space camp, our team takes a look at the first quarter of the season, and the impact players have (or haven't) had so far.
Best Draft Day Pick
Matt Thornton (@MattFFDynasty)
Aaron Jones: Many people faded Jones entering the 2020 season as they believed his performance and touchdowns from 2019 weren't sustainable, meaning he was able to be drafted in the mid/late 2nd round. Yet here we are with Jones currently the RB2 with six touchdowns through 4 weeks.
Shane Barrett (@ffShaneB)
Alvin Kamara has been my best draft day pick. I greatly expected Kamara to have a good year and the return that I'm getting is incredible. He's already scored TDs at better rate than the 2019 season.
Nick Sarnelli (@NickSarnelli)
Dak Prescott: With the combination of great offensive weapons and an awful defense, Dak has been lighting up the fantasy football world. He is currently on pace for over 6,000 passing yards, while supporting three 1000 yard receivers.
Christian Botello (@bobotello15)
Alvin Kamara: Hindsight is 20/20. Looking back at the first round of startup drafts, it is rough. Those who chose McCaffery or Barkley are reeling. If you have Adams or Michael Thomas, you have been disappointed. However, if you have Kamara, you are ecstatic! Kamara had a 5.6 ADP this season, and if you managed to get him in the second half of the first round, then you are getting an excellent return. He is the number one overall fantasy scorer through the first quarter of the season.
Zach Zander (@Ztwiceff)
Kareem Hunt was a guy you could draft as your RB3 and get in the 6th round of drafts this year. He has been great value so far this year. Not only does Hunt have one of the highest floors in the league, getting double digits every week in PPR, but he also has a high ceiling. Even with Chubb in the picture, he put up over 20 points, likely winning weeks. There was also the thought that if Chubb ended up getting hurt, Hunt would be an RB1. Now with Chubb out for at least six weeks, Hunt is a locked and loaded RB1 in the run-heavy Browns offense.
Biggest Draft Day Bust
Matt Thornton (@MattFFDynasty)
T.Y. Hilton was a fan favorite of people who faded wide receivers early in their draft to scoop up running backs. However, Hilton has failed to top four receptions or go over 60 receiving yards in a game so far this season. Through four weeks, he has zero touchdowns and is currently the WR73. This is a disappointment for owners considering he was touted to be Philip Rivers WR1 with the Colts.
Shane Barrett (@ffShaneB)
DJ Moore was my draft day bust. I drafted him as my WR1 in some drafts and took him as early as the second round. He is flopping on that return. Robby Anderson is Bridgewater's favorite target, killing Moore's value.
Nick Sarnelli (@NickSarnelli)
Kenyan Drake was being drafted in the first and second rounds of drafts this season. A strong finish to the 2019 season gave fantasy owners false hope as he has yet to rush for 100 yards or catch more than five passes in a game this season.
Wardy (@Wardyyy96)
Chris Herndon came with plenty of promise and excitement this offseason, and so far has completely failed to live up to it. Currently, at TE39 (PPR), he's yet to reach 40 yards receiving in any match, and his top score is 6.70. The Jets offense has been terrible, and with the injuries to their wide receivers, many believed Herndon would be in line to reap the rewards, as of yet, it's failed to happen.
Nick Muzzillo (@bigmuzz26)
Miles Sanders was going around the 1/2 turn, sometimes at the back end of the 1st. With practically no training camp, a slow start, and losing carries to both Corey Clement and Boston Scott last week, you have not gotten what you paid for. Hopefully, things turn around, but right now, Sanders is looking like one of the biggest draft day busts.
Largest Dynasty Value Change
Fox (@CarbonFox_FF)
Leonard Fournette finished the 2019 season as the RB7. He was cut this offseason and sign with Tampa Bay, where it looked like he could take the lead role. Through four weeks, that has not been the case. In the three games he's played, he went over 100 yards once, and couldn't break 15 yards in the other two games. Now hampered by an ankle injury and the dominance of Ronald Jones, Fournette's value looks to be fading fast. If he puts together another decent game, I would look to sell high and be done with him.
Matt Thornton (@MattFFDynasty)
Robby Anderson was considered to be the Panthers WR3 and field stretcher after coming over from the Jets in the offseason. Anderson was a late-round dart-throw during fantasy drafts, yet he has been Teddy Bridgewater's top target through four weeks (34), which is ninth in the NFL and has 377 receiving yards. Currently sitting as the WR13, his value continues to grow.
Christian Botello (@bobotello15)
James Robinson has to be the biggest value change. He is currently outpacing all other rookie running backs, including JT and CEH. Robinson has gone from undrafted to the RB6 in PPR formats and is the feel-good story we needed in 2020. Will he keep it up? That remains to be seen, but for the first four weeks, he's been really fun to watch.
Wardy (@Wardyyy96)
Christian McCaffrey was the almost universal number one overall pick in drafts this previous year. Now, with the high ankle sprain injury he sustained in Week 2, McCaffrey's value has plummeted from where it was three months ago. Owners could be impatient and want to win now or believe McCaffrey's value has peaked. Whatever it is, CMC is valued a lot less than at the start of the season.
Dynasty Buy
Fox (@CarbonFox_FF)
CeeDee Lamb is off to a hot start. He currently leads the league in yards from the slot (271) and is on pace for over 1,000 yards on the season. Lamb has immediately stepped in and become a focal point of this offense. Dak Prescott is on pace for over 6000 yards, which means his top three receivers should all see over 1000 yards receiving. Lamb is a viable option week in and week out. If you weren't able to grab Lamb in your rookie drafts this year, I would be making moves to get him everywhere you can. He is the future of this high powered offense.
Matt Thornton (@MattFFDynasty)
Tee Higgins: The rookie wide receiver is tied to fellow rookie QB Joe Burrow, who has looked great since entering the NFL and for the foreseeable future. Fellow Bengals wide receiver, AJ Green isn't getting any younger and his role looks there for the taking by Higgins, after flashing his upside through the first four weeks of his NFL career. Grab Higgins before his value takes off when Green retires or moves on.
Shane Barrett (@ffShaneB)
Justin Herbert is my dynasty buy. Due to unfortunate circumstances with the Chargers team doctor and Tyrod Taylor, Herbert was forced into the starting role prematurely. Nevertheless, the rookie is killing it. And I'm shocked! He's got the arm strength and accuracy, and I am pleasantly surprised by his performance so far.
Nick Sarnelli (@NickSarnelli)
Justin Jefferson: With Stefon Diggs being traded to Buffalo, Jefferson had some big shoes to fill. So far he's done an excellent job posting back to back 100 yard games. He is the clear WR2 in Minnesota and with an aging Adam Thielen, the time to buy is now.
Nick Muzzillo (@bigmuzz26)
Stefon Diggs is my dynasty buy. Most, if not all, of the fantasy community, faded Diggs this offseason, and now that looks like a huge miss. Everyone underestimated his talent, as well as Josh Allen taking the next step in his progression as a franchise quarterback. With Allen silencing his critics, Diggs has reaped the rewards of being his WR1 and has seen a ton of volume. Diggs is a great target to buy now as well as moving forward. He's on 26 years old and tied to Allen for the next two years with a potential out in 2022 at a 3 million dollar cap hit. The success he's had so far, and Allen's continued progression, I'd expect Diggs to outplay that contract and potentially sign a new one to stay in Buffalo.
Dynasty Sell
Matt Thornton (@MattFFDynasty)
David Johnson made a splash Week 1 with over 100 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown but has struggled since. He isn't getting any younger at 28 years old, and we all know how fast aging running backs can fall off. He has been plagued with injuries over the last few years, and I'd look to sell now while he is still the lead guy in Houston and has value.
Shane Barrett (@ffShaneB)
Aaron Jones: I'm selling Aaron Jones right now. He is playing great! However, he does not have a contract extension, and the Packers have seemingly drafted his replacement.
