2023 Quarter Pole- What I've Learned- NFC

October 10, 2023 by Mark Ringo in 2023 Quarter Pole- NFC

We’re through more than a quarter of the season. Here’s what I’ve learned so far.

NFC EAST
Philadelphia- My call on Jalen Hurts being a mild disappointment was looking good until the last two weeks. Hurts has rebounded with solid games. At WR, A.J. Bown is up to his usual solid fantasy season. Unfortunately, it’s come at the expense of Devonta Smith. Smith is too talented to stay down for long. It could be a good time to buy low………TE Dallas Goedert finally showed signs of life. Prior to last week, he was nowhere to be seen……D’Andre Swift’s health is holding up so far. I didn’t think the Eagles would use him as much as they are, but the result has been a boon for fantasy owners who took a chance on the former Lions’ RB…….Jake Elliott is currently the top fantasy kicker.

Dallas- I thought Dak Prescott’s passing numbers would be down this season and they are. Prescott has struggled. He’s currently at QB 21. His ADP over the summer was around QB 9. Those poor numbers have spilled over to the Cowboys’ WRs. Cee Dee Lamb is WR 19 while Brandin Cooks is WR 102…….TE Jake Ferguson has shown flashes. He’s at TE 13. Tony Pollard is also mildly disappointing fantasy owners. He’s at RB 13 and struggling to get into the end zone. Things should go better against the Chargers. If they do, it could present an opportunity to cut bait if some of the guys have a good week.

Washington- Talk about streaky, look no further than Sam Howell. Sam I Am, Green Eggs and Ham. One week Howell throws four interceptions and the next he throws for 388 yards and two TDs. If only he could play the Bears every week. But because he can’t, I’m expecting Howell to come back down to earth…….WRs Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson are nowhere to be found. Both have struggled mightily this season. Good thing I had them lower in my draft rankings. On the flip side, Brian Robinson is quietly a top ten RB. I didn’t see that coming.

N.Y. Giants- What a disaster it’s been in the Big Apple. Daniel Jones is struggling big time. He hasn’t had much help from a banged up offensive line……Darren Waller finally showed something, but it’s a far cry from where many fantasy pundits were touting him as an elite fantasy TE. I ranked him lower than my peers because of his injury risk. So far, that bet has paid off………As for the RBs, Saquan Barkley’s high ankle sprain is awful news. Even when he comes back, those injuries tend to linger much of the season and will most likely hamper his effectiveness.

NFC NORTH
Detroit- So far, I’m one out of two with my Lions’ RB picks. Jahmyr Gibbs has plenty of talent, but he needs a heavier workload. So far, he’s not producing enough stats to warrant his early draft price tag of RB 16. Gibbs is currently at RB 35 (Note- Gibbs missed last week with an injury). However, his teammate, David Montgomery, is producing. Monty is getting the calls at the goal line. He’s taken over Jamal Williams’ role and is perched all the way up at RB 7. That’s a major profit from his draft ADP at RB 27. Sam LaPorta is doing even better. LaPorta is currently ranked as TE 1. Somewhere in Chicago Andy Behrens is smiling. He loved LaPorta back in August. Of course, if my betta fish (Midnight) was a rookie TE coming out of the University of Iowa, he’d love him too (Andy is an Iowa alum). Actually, Midnight is a pretty cool little guy to love…….WR Jameson Williams’ workload is being ramped up. He’s a future star imo. He just needs the opportunity. Hopefully, the Lions will give him one. If not, Midnight told Coach Campbell he’s ready haha!

Minnesota- RB Alexander Mattison is off to a shaky start. He had a case of the dreaded “fumble-itis”. If he doesn’t fix it, the Vikes will be more than willing to put in recently acquired RB Cam Akers. Head coach, Kevin O’Connell, knows Akers from his time with the Rams. I was not expecting that curve ball back in August. If Mattison had just hung on to the ball, he would have garnered close to a bell cow role. Now, that heavy workload is in jeopardy……Kirk Cousins is at QB 4, but that could change soon if Justin Jefferson’s hamstring keeps him on the shelf. Jordan Addison, KJ Osborn and Brandon Powell will try to fill his shoes, but those are big shoes to fill- size 11 actually haha! Just like I thought, T.J. Hockenson’s ADP at TE 3 in August seemed risky. The former Hawkeye TE is at TE 5, which is still good, but owners who spent an early pick on Hockenson were hoping for better than that. Curse you Andy Behrens! A pox on your University of Iowa TEs I say haha!

Green Bay- The Packers have been up and down so far this year. Jordan Love has had some decent weeks, but last week in Vegas did not go well……Aaron Jones and Christian Watson have been slowed by injuries, which hasn’t helped Love……Romeo Dobbs has been the silver lining. He was WR 29 heading into Monday night. Romeo Romeo where for art thou Romeo? I’m in Vegas baby, on my way home. I’m pretty sure that’s how it went down, according to Shakespeare haha!

Chicago- Justin Fields started off with a few clunkers, but he’s come back strong. It’s amazing what playing the Broncos and Commanders can do for you. He’s jumped all the way up to QB 3 in two weeks! We’ll see if he can keep it up. WR D.J. Moore is now at WR 3! I doubt Moore’s success will last, at least to that extent, but what a week! Injuries are piling up at RB- look for D’Onta “Red” Foreman to become a factor. As Red would say in the sitcom, That 70’s Show, “Nighty night, and don’t let the fantasy bed bugs put a foot in your ass!” Haha!

NFC SOUTH
New Orleans- The Saints’ offensive line is leaking worse than the Titanic. Derek Carr is dealing with a shoulder injury. Those factors have impacted WRs Michael Thomas and Chris Olave. Thomas is WR 40 while Olave is at WR 31. It’s hard to see things improving without better protection from the line. At least RB Alvin Kamara is back. New Orleans needs his playmaking skills. For some reason, the Saints refuse to use Taysom Hill. Good thing I listed Hill as one of my sleeper TEs- ugh! He’s one of their most dangerous weapons and naturally, they refuse to use him. Who do they think they are…the Falcons? Haha!

Atlanta- Speaking of the Falcons, hey this just in, they actually used Kyle Pitts last week. It only took them two years. Of course, I ranked him lower than most of the other analysts did last week because they never use him. I swear they threw to him last week just to tick me off! I’m worried that Pitts’ knee isn’t 100%. When I rank him high, he gets a goose egg. However, when I rank him low, he does well. I can’t win…..On another note, I think it’s just a matter of time before Taylor Heinicke takes over at QB. Desmond Ridder just isn’t accurate enough with his passes. Ridder’s struggles have affected Drake London. At least I got the London call right. His ADP was around WR 23 in August. He’s currently at WR 39 in half point PPR……Rookie RB Bijan Robinson is the real deal, but of course the Falcons don’t give him a full workload either. I mean they only drafted the guy in the top ten! Thankfully, I heeded Peter King’s warning and dropped him in my draft rankings. Bijan is currently at RB 11…… Younghoe Koo is currently Kicker 23. For anyone who drafted Koo early, you’re Cuckoo (I mean Koo Koo) for Cocoa Puffs. There’s no real fantasy insight there, I just wanted to say Cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs haha!

Tampa Bay- Fire the cannons, the Bucs actually have something close to an offense. Baker Mayfield has showed signs of life. The bad news is he might have to do it without star WR, Mike Evans, at least for a while. Evans hurt his hamstring two weeks ago. Evans is currently at WR 15. Chris Godwin is struggling mightily though. He’s at WR 49. Blyme!

Carolina- The good news for Carolina fans is that the Panthers are getting better. The bad news is they’re still pretty bad. The offensive line has played poorly, which has led to rookie QB Bryce Young struggling as well…….Miles Sanders has also not lived up to his ADP of RB 20. The only silver lining has been WR Adam “I’m Hooked on a” Thielen. He’s at WR 9. I doubt it will last, but he’s been a pretty good value pick.

NFC WEST
San Francisco- Brock Purdy’s shoulder is holding up. He’s proving last year was no fluke and has picked up right where he left off. He’s currently at QB 7……Christian McCaffrey has stayed healthy and that’s a good thing. He’s been dominant…… WR Brandon Aiyuk looks like a different player. He’s finally reaching his potential. Meanwhile, Deebo Samuel is doing much better than I thought. Both are top 20 WRs. We’ll see if they can keep it up……George Kittle isn’t getting the volume he used to. However, he’s making the most of his chances. All three of his targets last week were TDs.

Seattle- Injuries to the offensive line have led to disappointing starts for everyone in the passing game: Geno Smith, DK Metcalf, and Tyler Lockett have all struggled. The only fantasy bright spot has been Kenneth Walker III. He’s at RB 10.

L.A. Rams- Matthew Stafford is one tough cookie. Stafford got his brains beaten in by the Colts and still led them to a win two weeks ago…….Rookie WR Puka Nacua continues to impress. He’s filled in admirable for the Rams without Cooper Kupp. Perhaps even more impressive is that Puka continues to perform well, even with Kupp back. He looks like one of the sleepers of the year. Nacua is currently at WR 4……..With Cam Akers sent packing, it’s opened the door for RB Kyren Williams. Despite a bad outing last week, Williams is still at RB 5!

Arizona- The Cardinals have shown more fight than many envisioned in a rebuilding year, including myself. Despite a bad outing last week, Joshua Dobbs is still at QB 16. That’s incredible considering he was traded to Arizona late in the preseason…..RB James Conner was doing well, but a knee injury last week figures to keep him on the sideline for awhile……Hollywood Brown is putting on a show at WR 14, while teammate Michael Wilson is no slouch at WR 36. However, one thing is certain. I’m a tremendous slouch, especially when it comes to getting a lot of these fantasy calls right. Until next time.

2023 Quarter Pole- What I've Learned- AFC

October 10, 2023 by Mark Ringo in 2023 Quarter Pole AFC

We’re through more than a quarter of the season. Here’s what I’ve learned so far.

AFC EAST

Buffalo- I’m one for two on my Buffalo sleeper picks. Gabe Davis is quietly sitting at WR 12. That’s pretty good considering he was going around WR 40 in drafts. His ankle is healthy this year and it’s made a difference. However, on the flip side, rookie TE Dalton Kincaid is off to a slow start. Perhaps he’ll pick it up later in the season, but fantasy owners might have to wait until next year for the talented youngster to make an impact.

Miami- Tua is flourishing. Hopefully, he can stay healthy. That’s the only concern I had on him entering the season. I’m rooting for him. If he can, he should continue to flourish with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle catching his passes…..Two of the biggest sleepers have been the Dolphins’ RBs. Rookie Devon Achane and veteran Raheem Mostert are ranked as RB 3 and RB 2 respectively. I thought Achane was too small to handle a big workload, especially with a sore shoulder entering the season. However, despite not getting anywhere close to a bell cow role, his game breaking speed alongside Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle has been nightmare for defenses to stop. Unfortunately, a knee injury last week will put the exciting rookie on the shelf for a while. Mostert has been a force too. The Dolphins will most likely lean on him and possibly Jeff Wilson, if he’s healthy.……Tyreek Hill has been his usual dominant self, but was nicked up last week. Hopefully he’s okay. If he’s not that could be a boon for Jaylen Waddle, who’s off to a slow start. Waddle should rebound regardless. He’s too talented.

N.Y. Jets- Breece Hall appears to be bucking the odds of RBs returning from reconstructive knee surgery and doing well the following year. I still think he went too high in drafts, given his limited snap count to start the year and the risk of a setback, but he looks explosive. I’m happy for him and every player who bucks the odds of such a devastating injury……The Jets passing game is pretty much cooked without Aaron Rodgers. And despite Hall’s incredible week, the Broncos aren’t on the Jets’ schedule anymore. Now seems like a good time to sell high.

New England- The Patriots’ offense has officially reached rock bottom. What a dumpster fire it’s turned into. Only my jokes have garnered more boos haha! Don’t be surprised if New England replaces Mac Jones with Bailey Zappe or even Will Grier permanently……At least my call fading RB Rhamondre Stevenson at his exorbitant draft cost ADP RB 10 is looking good. Zeke is cutting into his workload, which is brutal for Stevenson owners, especially considering how inept the offense has been.

AFC NORTH

Cincinnati- Prior to last week, Joe Burrow’s calf sunk the Bengals’ offense. However, it held up last week in a “get right” game for Cincinnati against Arizona…...JaMarr Chase finally showed his first-round fantasy chops. However, Tee Higgins’ rib injury could be problematic throughout the season. That could be a boon for Chase owners if the Bengals can protect Burrow, which surprisingly, isn’t a given this year.

Baltimore- My biggest sleeper pick, Odell Beckham, has been a no-show. I thought he was healthy coming into the season, but his ankle has caused him to miss time. Lamar Jackson struggled mightily last week with a poorly underthrown pass in the endzone intended for Beckham, which was intercepted. At least Beckham’s WR 59 price tag was cheap enough to not hurt owners too much who rolled the dice on the former star. Hopefully, Odell’s ankle is healthy and they can get on track.

Cleveland- DeShaun Watson finally started coming alive and then he injured his shoulder. This injury has caused some frustration between him and the coaching staff. That’s never a good sign. I still believe in his talent, but I did not see that curve ball coming. Per Browns beat writer, Mary Kay Cabot, Watson could miss multiple weeks……The Browns suffered another huge loss when Nick Chubb went down earlier in week 2. He’s one of the best RBs in the NFL. Chubb’s leadership in the locker room is invaluable. Fortunately, it looks like his injury isn’t career ending……David Njoku, has burned not only himself (literally), but yours truly who had Njoku as one of his sleeper/undervalued TEs. I still believe in his talent, but so far, the chemistry with Watson has yet to materialize into fantasy points for frustrated owners.

Pittsburgh- One of the calls I have been accurate on has been George Pickens. Pickens has asserted himself as the de facto go-to-guy in the Steel City. His TD catch last week versus the Ravens was the game winner. He’s been a good value so far this year. Pickens is currently at WR 13, which is amazing given how much the Steelers’ offense has struggled. It might be a good time to see if you can sell high. Kenny Pickett has not taken the next step, at least not yet, and that caps the entire offense, including Pickens….The Steelers’ ground game appears to be in a state of transition. Jaylen Warren looks faster and better than Najee Harris. I never thought I’d say that, but I trust my eyes. And my eyes tell me Warren is better. This reminds me when “Fast” Willie Parker came out of nowhere and took the starting job in Pittsburgh circa 2004/2005.

AFC SOUTH
Jacksonville- Trevor Lawrence and Evan Engram have been a disappointment so far. Both are talented enough to rebound, but time is running out for frustrated fantasy owners who need a W…….Travis Etienne has been a fantasy star. Naturally, I trusted Jaguars’ head coach, Doug Pederson, when during the offseason, he said Etienne’s workload would be reduced this season. I had him on my bust list. Etienne is currently RB 4! Tank’s Doug! (That’s a reference to rookie RB Tank Bigsby, who I thought would have a bigger fantasy impact.)

Indianapolis- Anthony Richardson is everything I hoped he’d be and more. He’s truly one of the most athletic players in the league. Richardson is big and fast. Some scouts might say he’s Cam Newton-eske. Unfortunately, Richardson injured his shoulder and is out for the season. Naturally, this happens to one of my sleeper picks. What unbelievably bad luck I have! Out of 200 people in the Fantasy Pros accuracy contest, it was yours truly who had Richardson ranked the highest coming into the year at QB 6. That would have worked had he stayed healthy- ugh! Gardner Minshew takes over at QB……..At RB Jonathan Taylor is back. The Colts and Taylor agreed to a contract extension. They’ll ramp up his workload in the coming weeks. When Richardson returns next year, it will be interesting to see who gets the call at the goal line. Regardless, I’d expect Taylor to lose valuable touches, both there and in the passing game, but for now he should return to being an elite fantasy RB.

Tennessee- The Titans’ offense in general has struggled, but more so with the passing attack. Tennessee’s offensive line is a work in progress. Ryan Tannehill is currently at QB 29. As expected, WR DeAndre Hopkins’ stats have taken a major hit now that he’s on a more run-heavy offense.

Houston- C.J. Stroud has been one of the surprise fantasy players in 2023. He’s currently at QB 14 and that’s with an injury riddled line. Once they heal up, Stroud could take yet another step forward. Two of the beneficiaries of Stroud’s strong start (say that fast five times haha) have been Nico Collins WR 10 and Tank Dell WR 23. Even the most optimistic Collins’ supporters didn’t see that coming. And even less fantasy folks had the Stroud-Collins or Stroud-Dell stacks on their bingo cards.

AFC WEST
Kansas City- Like I thought in my sleeper article, Isiah Pacheco has taken another step forward. He’s currently at RB 12. Pacheco is providing plenty of profit considering his ADP over the summer was around RB 27. His increased usage in the passing game is helping his ascent towards the top ten……Paging Kadarius Toney! Kadarius Toney! Where are you? (Probably offsides haha, but I digress.) So much for that sleeper call. It’s still hard for me to believe that, despite playing with one of the greatest QBs in history, the highest ranked Chiefs’ WR is Rashee Rice at WR 50. Good grief! Well, as long as they don’t show Taylor Swift cheering during a telecast, I can live with that bad call. Seriously, enough with that jazz. No one cares! I just want to watch a football game in peace. Is that asking too much? End of rant.

L.A. Chargers- Justin Herbert is back folks. Hopefully, Austin Ekeler will be too. Apparently, he’s the only RB who has any fantasy value on the Chargers. Joshua Kelley did nothing while Ekeler was out except hurt me in the accuracy contest. Fortunately, I’m so bad at those contests the joke is on him haha! With Mike Williams out for the season, (*note to self, never rank Williams high again. His injury risk is too high.) look for Joshua Palmer or first round rookie Quentin Johnston to step up. Keenan Allen has taken advantage of his absence with a strong start. The crafty veteran currently sits at WR 7!

Las Vegas- Well, like I feared the Raiders’ offensive line is still a work in progress folks. Jimmy Garoppolo’s limited mobility is not the best match for a shaky line. He’s already been injured and rookie Aidan O’Connell came in and struggled……Josh Jacobs was on my bust list because of his high price tag. That call looks like a good one right now. He’s currently at RB 17, which isn’t good enough for owners who spent a first or second round pick on the talented RB…….WR Davante Adams isn’t happy with his usage or the fact that his friend, Derek Carr, was allowed to leave for New Orleans. Don’t be surprised if the star WR gets traded before the deadline, especially since the Raiders are in a rebuilding year.

Denver- While their defense has struggled mightily, one of my sleeper picks is doing decent. Russell Wilson has showed signs of fantasy life. He’s currently at QB 9. I thought the hate on Russ was too much. Hopefully, Jerry Jeudy will start to benefit. He’s been a disappointment so far. There’s talk that Jeudy could be dealt before the trade deadline. The Colts are reportedly, one of the teams interested in Jeudy. Rookie WR Marvin Mims would see his stock jump if that rumor were to transpire…….On another note, I give up when it comes to picking the right RB in Denver. I thought if Javonte Williams was slow getting out of the gate, Samaje Perine would be the main benefactor. That hasn’t happened. He’s talented enough to handle a full workload, but Sean Payton sees it differently. Coach Payton is a lot smarter than me, but I’m still better looking haha!

The ADP is too Damn High!

August 25, 2023 by Mark Ringo in The ADP is too Damn High

Setting- The Fantasy Sports Writers Association Presidential Debate

I represent the ADP is too damn high party. People are working eight hours a day, forty hours a week. Many have no choice, but to get a second job. Fantasy owners can’t afford to draft some of these QBs, RBs, WRs, and TEs at their current ADP prices. My main job is to provide sound fantasy football advice that helps owners get a lifetime of bragging rights over their friends, sleepers and busts on their table, and money in their pockets. This is politics as usual by analysts in the industry playing the silly game. Listen, did you hear it? A child’s stomach just growled due to hunger. You have to listen like I do. Fantasy owners can’t afford to feed their children because of the players listed below at their current prices. Why? You know why. Because the ADP is too damn high!

QBs
Dak Prescott ADP QB 10- Head coach Mike McCarthy stated the reason former offensive coordinator, Kellen Moore, is gone is because he wanted to pass it too much. McCarthy wants to run the ball. That’s bad news for everyone involved in the Cowboys’ passing attack, including Dak.

Kyler Murray ADP QB 24- Kyler is coming off a torn ACL. A big part of his fantasy value relies on his rushing ability. Will Murray be able to make quick cuts on his surgically repaired knee less than a year from surgery? In addition, the Cardinals figure to be in the running for the top pick in next year’s draft. There’s little incentive for them to bring Kyler back in a rebuilding year.

RBs

Tony Pollard ADP RB 7- The word on the street is that Pollard won’t hold up if given too heavy a workload. And if that’s not enough, he’s coming off a broken leg.

Josh Jacobs ADP RB 8- The Raiders’ offensive line is shaky and if newly signed QB Jimmy Garoppolo goes down, their offense could be in deep trouble. In addition, Jacobs was not happy with the Raiders’ contract offer. He finally signed, but it’s only a one-year deal. Will Jacobs have the motivation to play through injuries as the season progresses?

Travis Etienne ADP RB 12- The Jaguars have already said they want to reduce Etienne’s workload. They also drafted Tank Bigsby last April. Doug Pederson could use Bigsby in short yardage to vulture TDs from Etienne in the red zone.

Breece Hall ADP RB 19- Hall is coming off a torn ACL. The Jets finally showed their poker hand when they signed free agent RB Dalvin Cook. It’s clear, Hall isn’t getting a bell cow role anytime soon.

Cam Akers ADP RB 22- The Rams didn’t upgrade their offensive line in the offseason. This is the same Rams’ line which struggled mightily last year. In addition, Kyren Williams could be a larger factor in the passing game than many fantasy analysts realize, at the expense of Akers.

WRs

Cee Dee Lamb ADP WR 7- See reason listed for Dak Prescott.

Davante Adams ADP WR 8- The Raiders’ offensive line is shaky at best. And if anything happens to Jimmy Garoppolo, it’s Brian Hoyer or Aidan O’Connell running the offense.

Deebo Samuel ADP WR 19- Samuel was great when he handled the rushing duties, especially in the red zone. Unfortunately, with Christian McCaffrey and a stable of heathy RBs behind him, that seems unlikely. And without those rushing stats, Deebo loses his edge over WRs in that ADP price range. In thirteen games last season, Deebo had over 100 receiving yards, once. Once!

Drake London ADP WR 25- London plays for one of the most run heavy teams in the league. As if that’s not enough, Kyle Pitts is back. In addition, the book is still out on Desmond Ridder. Accuracy isn’t one of his strengths.

TEs

Darren Waller ADP TE 5- When Waller plays, he has the potential to be a difference maker. However, when’s the last time Waller was healthy? TE 5 is a pretty lonely place to find out.

Pat Freiermuth ADP TE 9- The Steelers figure to lean heavily on the run. When they pass, George Pickens is their go-to-guy, but wait there’s more. Pittsburgh brought in WR Allen Robinson and drafted TE Darnell Washington. Both are big bodies who could vulture TDs in the red zone. Finally, can Kenny Pickett take another step forward? He’ll need to improve on seven TDs in thirteen games from last season.

Chigoziem Okonkwo ADP TE 13- The Titans’ offense revolves around RB Derrick Henry. They also signed free agent WR DeAndre Hopkins, who joins Treylon Burks. That’s a lot of competition for a small piece of the passing pie.

Ringo's 2023 Sleepers and Busts

May 28, 2023 by Mark Ringo in 2023 Sleepers and Busts

Note- I have some family matters that will keep me pretty busy this summer. I will try to update this article throughout the summer the best I can until week one as more information becomes available. Keep in mind, these sleepers and busts are fluid, until we get close to week one, then I lock them in. But here’s an early look at my sleepers and busts in late May. Also, note some players are in here for entertainment purposes (my jokes because I like acting like an idiot haha) & because I want to talk about them, rather than being true sleepers.

Note #3- if you see a video that is grayed out, click the Watch on YouTube button. Hopefully, that will work.

QBs I like

Joe Burrow- Burrow isn’t a sleeper. Not with a consensus ADP of QB 4 on Fantasy Pros. I wanted to talk about him. In addition, WKRP in Cincinnati Thanksgiving episode is an all-time classic so I included him haha!

The free agent signing of Orlando Brown should pay dividends for Joe Burrow and the Bengals' offense. Brown will fortify Burrow's blind side at left tackle. This should permeate throughout the offense. If Burrow has time, he'll slice up defenses like the head of the household slices up a turkey on Thanksgiving. There hasn't been this much excitement in Cincinnati since the great turkey giveaway promotion by legendary sitcom radio station WKRP. Famous last words, it should have worked. I planned this QB ranking down to the last detail. It was perfect. As God as my witness, I thought turkeys could fly haha! -Ringo "The Big Guy" Carlson

Justin Herbert (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- QB 7) Herbert was hurt last year. He took a beating. He's healthy now and should bounce back to his old self. The Chargers also added Quentin Johnston to bolster their WR room. He adds some size and speed. They also changed their offensive coordinator. Kellen Moore comes over from Dallas.

There should be plenty of shootouts in the AFC West. I expect Justin Herbert to be a big part of them. He's fairly valued right now. Herbert's current ADP is QB 7. I think the time off will help him "recharge his batteries" in 2023 haha! Where's NBC at? I should have my own sit-com with lame jokes like that haha! The Mark Ringo Show. We'll be right back after these messages from our sponsors haha! Bounce Back Candidate

Deshaun Watson (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- QB 10) If you look up recency bias in the fantasy dictionary, there should be a picture of Deshaun Watson next to it. There's no way he should be ranked with an ADP of QB 10. He's entering the prime years of his career at age 27. He's also finished as a top five his first 3 years in the league. He helped Clemson win a national title in college by going through the Crimson Tide's defense like a hot knife through butter. In the biggest game with the game on the line in the final seconds, Watson delivered (see the video below). Yes, there were off-the-field issues, but that's in the past. And now he's had over a year to get familiar with the Browns playbook and develop timing with his WRs. I'm throwing last year out. Watson is too good to base his ranking on a small six-game sample size. That stretch was his preseason tune-up. The Browns aren't paying him $230 million to hand the ball off. They could have kept Jacoby Brissett to do that. They're going to center the offense around Watson. Expect the Browns to pass it more this year. And if that's not enough, Watson can run it some too. He's a good bet to rush for over 400 yards and run it into the end zone a few times. I expect a huge bounce-back season. Undervalued.

Jared Goff (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- QB 16)- The Lions keep adding pieces to their offense, and it was pretty lethal last year. Jameson Williams is suspended for the first six games, but once he arrives look out! Rookies Jahmyr Gibbs and Sam LaPorta should make an impact as well. Gibbs reminds me of a slightly slower version of Tyreek Hill. He can fly! The Lions figure to use him as a WR. Defenses will have to pick their poison. And with one of the better offensive lines in the league to protect him, Goff figures to have plenty of time to get the ball out to his playmakers. Goff should change his name to Go Off because that’s what I think he’ll do in 2023. With a current ADP of QB 16, Goff seems like a pretty good value considering the weapons he has. Jared Goff could be sitting on a career year, especially once Jameson Williams arrives in week seven. Sleeper

Anthony Richardson (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- QB 17) Richardson is a raw prospect. Scouts said he should have stayed in school for another year. However, out of all of the QBs who came out, he's the one with the most upside. Richardson is absolutely electric on the field. He's big (6'4" 244 lbs.) and fast (4.43 forty). When Richardson steps on the field, few can match his athleticism. He has a cannon for an arm too. The concerns are his accuracy and inexperience. Richardson can miss easy throws. Despite those concerns, few QBs possess the fantasy upside that Richardson has. With a current ADP at QB 17, if you want to take a home run swing at QB, Richardson is the guy imo. Sleeper

Ringo's comp- a combo of Cam Newton's mobility and Doug Williams throwing motion.

Russell Wilson ((Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- QB 18) I know what you’re thinking. Last year, on this very site I wrote….it’s time to Let Russ Cook so I hope you’re hungry for some TDs. Unfortunately, when it comes to cooking I suck and I got burned. Good thing I have my incredibly funny jokes to fall back on haha! Anyway, here’s my take. I’m throwing last year out. Nathaniel Hackett was a train wreck as a head coach. He was quickly fired. The Broncos brought in former Saints head coach Sean Payton. Things should go more smoothly under Payton. He’s an offensive guru whose creativity is second to none. Prior to last year, Wilson has consistently been a top-ten fantasy QB. He still has plenty of weapons around him with guys like Jerry Jeudy, Greg Dulcich, and Courtland Sutton still there. In addition, last time I checked Denver still plays in the AFC West. There should be plenty of shootouts with four games against all-pro QBs Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert.

Wilson’s current ADP at QB 18 seems incredibly cheap given the circumstances. I’m betting on talent here. I’m a big believer in Russell Wilson and Sean Payton. Payton gets the most out of his players. The hate on Russ seems overdone. Sleeper

Mike White (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- QB 45) Longshot Pick for deeper leagues- When given the chance Mike White showed flashes last year. And he might be given a chance in Miami a lot sooner than many folks realize. Tua took several nasty hits last year. He was thrown around like a rag doll. Several of them led to concussions. I'm afraid the next hit could be his last and force his retirement. If Tua misses time, it's Mike White who will take over. At 6'5" 224 lbs White is big and has a rocket for an arm. He would be throwing to arguably the best WR core in the league- Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, both of whom can flat out fly. White could have a Brock Purdy-type of impact in 2023. Mr. White could help you in 2023.

Ringo's comp- Mike White reminds me of a less mobile version of Justin Herbert

You're a kite dancing in a hurricane Mr. Ringo. You have no idea who you are up against with this fantasy call.

QBs I’m Avoiding

Dak Prescott (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- QB 9)- With Kellen Moore fired as offensive coordinator, expect some big changes in Dallas in 2023. Here's what head coach Mike McCarthy had to say about it.....

"I've been where Kellen has been: Kellen wants to light the scoreboard up," McCarthy told reporters at the NFL combine. But I want to run the damn ball so I can rest my defense. I don't desire to be the No. 1 offense in the league. I want to be the No. 1 team in the league with a number of wins and a championship. And if we have to give up some production and take care of the ball better to get that, then that's what we'll do."

That's a bad sign for Dak Prescott's fantasy outlook. Prescott's current ADP of QB 9 is way too high a price for Mark Ringo. I'm dropping everyone remotely related to the Cowboys' passing attack significantly down my rankings. This ain't my first fantasy rodeo. Ya'll remember what I told you come draft day. Ya'll steer clear of fantasy analysts who try to tell you to take Dak. There will about a lot of fantasy folks out there to hang you this year. Get moving. Bust -William Munny Ringo

Tua Tagovailoa (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- QB 11) If Tua stays healthy all season, I'm twenty spots too low here (I have Tua ranked at QB 28 in the accuracy contest). Throwing to all-pro WRs like Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle is a fantasy goldmine. Unfortunately, I don't think he will stay healthy. Concussions are no joke folks. They're very serious injuries. They ended the careers of Roger Staubach, Troy Aikman, and Steve Young. They also diminished the life of Jim McMahon. The problem with concussions is that once you have one, it becomes more likely to have another. And the next one will probably send Tua into early retirement. Honestly, I think he should have retired last year. I have no inside information, just a gut feeling. And my gut says that Tua is trying to survive as long as he can in the NFL. He wants to provide for himself and his family over prioritizing his long-term health. He loves the game, but let's face facts. Few jobs are as lucrative as professional athletes for most folks. If this job paid much less, like in construction, would he have returned? I doubt it. I'm rooting for him, but I fear it's not a matter of if, but when he gets thrown down like a rag doll and knocked out. Avoid

Matthew Stafford (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- QB 19) Last December here's what Michael Lombardi, former NFL executive spoke about Matthew Stafford's health on his podcast, "The GM Shuffle".

"There's a good chance, I would say better than 70% that Matthew Stafford doesn't play next year. I have a sense that…it's more than a hunch, it's talking to people in the league that maybe Stafford's body is breaking down."

Kyler Murray (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- QB 21) Kyler Murray tore his ACL on Dec 12th. Murray had his surgery on January 3rd. I'm at a loss why so many of my peers are ranking him so high. Most folks need 12 months to recover from a torn ACL. And many don't feel close to 100% until closer to two years after their operation. This is a serious injury folks. And Murray is not a typical QB who just throws from the pocket. He's undersized. He uses his mobility a lot to elude pass rushers and pick up valuable rushing yards. He's essentially a part-time RB.

That's how he hurt his knee in the first place- scrambling. Quick cuts are the most difficult skill needed to do after tearing up a knee and that's all Kyler does. For many folks, there's doubt if the knee will hold up or if it will give out like it did before. I know this firsthand after tearing my ACL a long time ago. That can lead to unintentionally compensating for it which in turn, leads to other injuries such as hamstring strains.

The Cardinals' offensive line is a work in progress. They added Paris Johnson in the first round, but they need to upgrade it further. In addition, DeAndre Hopkins is most likely headed out of town. So Murray will lose his top WR threat. And they're not a good team. They'll be in the running for the top overall pick in next year's draft. There's little incentive to rush Murray back once they're eliminated from the playoffs. There's a good chance they just redshirt him this year, and play the long game by letting Murray fully recover.

My advice- don't burn a draft pick and a bench spot waiting for Murray to comeback in 2023, because there's a very real chance that might not happen. Bust

RBs I like

Bijan Robinson (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- RB 5)
(8/22) UPDATE…NBC Sports’ Peter King is cautioning fantasy owners about drafting Bijan Robinson early. He said there are a lot of mouths to feed in Atlanta. King is pretty dialed in when it comes to the NFL. For that reason, despite his talent, I’m bumping Bijan down a few spots.

Many scouts had Bijan Robinson as the most talented player in the 2023 NFL draft. He's a prototypical bell cow RB. He's big 220 lbs., fast, and has good receiving skills. Let's do it. I'm ranking Bijan RB #1. Don't Fear The Reaper, I mean Don't Fear The Rookie. And Falcons head coach Arthur Smith loves to use his bell cow. Guess what? I've got a fever. And the only prescription, is more bell cow. I've gotta have more cowbell baby! I mean bell cow baby haha! Arthur Smith made sure Derrick Henry got plenty of touches when he was the offensive coordinator in Tennessee. I expect Atlanta to lean heavily on Robinson to help out their young QB Desmond Ridder. So, when you're drafting this summer, why don't you pick up some Honey Bijon mustard and add some flavor to your draft haha! Fantasy babies, before we're done here, you all will be living in gold-plated cribs.

What does that mean?

Never question legendary fantasy analyst Bruce Dickinson Ringo! Haha!!

Ringo's comp- a combo of Edgerrin James/Ricky Williams

Austin Ekeler- (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- RB 2) (5/23) UPDATE...It appears Austin Ekeler is staying in L.A. The Chargers added some incentives to his contract. For that reason, the risks I mentioned below seem lower. I'm bumping him up the rankings. I've had to adjust my player notes for him one day after writing it. Once again, you've thwarted my evil plans Ekeler. You'll pay Powers, I mean Ekeler. You'll pay for this!! I'll get you for this Ekeler! (possibly in drafts this summer) I'll get you!!! Dr. Evil Ringo

(5/22) Full disclosure- the last two years I've faded Austin Ekeler and the last two years I've been burned. Now I know how Dr. Evil feels. Austin Ekeler is the snake to my mongoose. Or the mongoose to my snake? Either way, it's bad. This time it's personal haha!

The Chargers can score with anyone. That's good news if you have their starting RB on your team. However, who that starting RB will be is another story. Ekeler is looking for a long-term deal. He's not happy with the way contract talks are going. He's already asked for a trade. It's hard to imagine a better fantasy spot for Ekeler than in L.A.

There's more risk here than I'm comfortable with considering his current ADP of RB 2. I wish I knew if Ekeler was going to be traded. Come on Chargers throw me a fricken' bone here! I'm a fantasy football analyst! Need the info! Okay, we'll go to plan B. Let's just do what we always do....draft a bunch of awesome players who aren't asking for trades and dominate. Muah!!! Dr. Evil Ringo

Jahmyr Gibbs (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- RB 16) Many criticized the Lions for reaching and drafting Gibbs in the 1st round. They argued that picking a RB in the 1st round wasn't good value. And if you view Gibbs solely as a RB, then the argument makes sense. However, Gibbs is much more than a RB. He's a weapon. Gibbs is electric with the ball in his hands. He's fast. He ran a 4.36 forty! He can take it the distance from anywhere on the field. However, he is also undersized at 5'9" 201 lbs. He'll wear down if given short yardage./goal-line duties. He works best in space. Because of that, I think he's best looked at as an all-purpose weapon. Detroit would be smart to use Gibbs at WR instead of a RB imo. They'll also probably use him to return kickoffs and punts. And it sounds like that's exactly what they're going to do.

According to Gibbs, "They're planning to use me almost as they did at Alabama. Probably a little more at wideout and stuff. Running more routes. Not just like goals, and hitches and slants and stuff. Probably more real receiver routes."

If Gibbs can stay healthy, he's about fair value right now with a current ADP of RB 16 on a Detroit team that should pass the ball a lot in 2023. I expect his ADP to rise as the season approaches. So, I'm calling it now. I've got dibbs on Gibbs haha!

Ringo's comp- a slightly slower version of Tyreek Hill.

Joe Mixon (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- RB 19) (7/15) Joe Mixon restructured his contract with Cincinnati. He's no longer a risk to be a salary cap casualty. That takes some of my concerns out of the equation. However, he's still facing a misdemeanor aggravated menacing charge. That could result in a suspension by Roger Goodell once the case ends. Whether that happens in 2023 is another question.

Bottom line- there's still risk here. That said, Cincinnati has one of the best offenses in the league. Mixon's current ADP at RB 20 seems cheap given his talent and the high-powered Bengals’ attack, even amid the legal issues. I think Mixon could be this year's 2022 Josh Jacobs. I've got a little riverboat gambler in me. I'm willing to roll the dice and hope Mixon hits it big. Come on baby- one time! Ringo needs a new pair of shoes haha!!!

Isiah Pacheco (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- RB 27) About ten months ago I listed Isiah Pacheco in Ringo's 2022 Sleepers and Busts article. Many, scoffed. What are you nuts? When they look up stupid in the dictionary they should put a pic of you next to it. (*Note- they still should do that, just not for that call haha!) He's a seventh-round pick. He might not even make the team you clod. Pacheco ended up being a good sleeper pick. He would have been a great one if not for Jerick McKinnon- sigh! McKinnon played a bigger role than I ever envisioned, stealing away key touches in the red zone. Fast forward to May 2023. How the times have changed. As 2023 approaches, it's Pacheco who's the starting RB for K.C. He should be more comfortable with the playbook. While the Chiefs are still a passing team, they still score an awful lot of TDs. In fact, in the last eight games in the regular season and three playoff games, Pacheco averaged about 11 fantasy pts a game (11.6). Over the course of the season, he would have finished as RB 22. And if Andy Reid wants to reduce Jerick McKinnon's role and give Pacheco more of the touches. Pacheco could easily become a top-ten RB. Note- McKinnon averaged 14.5 pts a game in the regular season but dropped off in the playoffs. In the most important games of the season, which culminated in a championship. it was Pacheco who got more touches, not the veteran! And he did that with a torn labrum for much of the season. Even if Pacheco only siphons off some of McKinnon's touches like three or four fantasy points a game, that would shoot Pacheco up in the rankings. Obviously, he's not as cheap as last July when I wrote my article RB 113- man that was nice. But he's still cheap on a relative basis. I think there's still upside profit with Pacheco at his current ADP of RB 27. Side note- after last year's call, you may now refer to me by my fantasy football stage name....Ringcheco haha!!

David Montgomery (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- RB 27) Jahmyr Gibbs might have the title of RB, but it's David Montgomery who will be the one getting most of the goal-line carries. And the Lions should score a lot of TDs in 2023. Montgomery outweighs Gibbs by twenty-five lbs. He's more suited for short-yardage work. Detroit will use Gibbs plenty, but a lot of it will be as a WR. He works best in space.

Jameson Williams, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Sam LaPorta only add to the speed and explosiveness of this offense which was pretty potent last year. Monty could be the Lions' version of 2016 LeGarrette Blount. And best of all, Monty's current ADP of RB 27 seems cheap. Ringo is going the full fantasy Monty in 2023 haha!

Alexander Mattison (Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- RB 38) UPDATE (6/09)- Once again the word on the street was right. Dalvin Cook was released by the Vikings. Expect Mattison’s current ADP RB 38 to shoot up in the coming days. Based on what I’ve been hearing on Twitter, I still think he’ll be a value, just not a massive steal like he was prior to the rumor.

The word on the street is that the Vikings aren't bringing back Dalvin Cook. They've signed Alexander "The Great Fantasy Pick" Mattison to a two-year contract. Mattison could be looking at a huge workload. The Vikings view him as a three-down RB. Mattison's current ADP at RB #38 in early June is dirt cheap. I'm all in.

"And when Alexander saw the breadth of his domain he wept for there were no more fantasy worlds to conquer. Benefits of a Die Hard movie education." Hans Gruber Ringo!

Samaje Perine (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- RB 41) While Javonte Williams is getting most of the press and has a higher ADP, it's Samaje Perine that could be the most valuable Broncos RB for fantasy owners in 2023. When healthy, Williams is one of the best RBs in the NFL. However, he suffered a major knee injury last year. It's very difficult to return to form the following season- see J.K. Dobbins and Odell Beckham last year. In addition, even if Williams makes it back sometime this season, the Broncos would be insane to give him a full workload after the devastating injury he's returning from. The best way to play this situation, in my opinion, is to pass on Javonte with a current ADP of RB 28 and draft Perine instead. Perine is also dirt cheap with a current RB ADP of RB 41. He seems like Williams' top backup over Tony Jones. When Joe Mixon was hurt, Perine delivered for the Bengals and put up great numbers. He has a good chance of at least splitting the carries and is the only one with a realistic shot at a bell cow role. Offensive guru Sean Payton taking over as head coach can only help Denver's offense which struggled mightily last year.

Side note #1 - Perine holds the most rushing yards in a college FBS game- 427 yards vs Kansas.

Side note #2- The Kentucky Derby winner was Mage. That's only a few letters off. Is that a sign or what? I mean where else do you get fantasy football analysis like this? Haha! If this call hits just call me Samaje Ringo haha! Sleeper

Kareem Hunt (Current Expert Consensus Rankings on Fantasy Pros RB 71) Longshot Pick (08/21) UPDATE...Jonathan Taylor's unhappiness in Indy could have a chain reaction. If Taylor gets dealt, don't be surprised if the Colts sign Kareem Hunt to fill his shoes. A bigger role and paycheck could be enough to entice Hunt to sign in the Hoosier state. Stay tuned.

The word on the street is to keep an eye on Denver and, most recently, Washington as potential landing spots for Kareem Hunt. Hunt's former college coach at Toledo, Lou Aveni, is the new RBs coach in Denver. If they bring him aboard, he would presumably form a RBBC with Samaje Perine. Perine would most likely be the short-yardage and goal-line RB with Hunt handling the passing work. I guess you could say Denver could be in the hunt for another RB. No? Nothing? The good news is if you're in the hunt for terrible jokes you've got the right guy. Mark Ringo is a can't-miss 1.01 pick with that format haha!

Zonovan Knight/ / Israel Abanikanda- (Current Expert Consensus Rankings on Fantasy Pros- Zonovan Knight RB 94 Israel Abanikanda RB 78) Longshot Pick

(8/14) ***UPDATE- The Jets have signed Dalvin Cook. This pretty much kills my RB sleepers Zonovan Knight and Israel Abanikanda. I’m convinced the Jets did this just to screw me haha! Barring an injury, these two are off my radar for now. I’m keeping them listed in this article only because I busted my tail writing this and don’t want to delete it haha!

Breece Hall is coming back from a torn ACL, those are tough to come back from in the following season. If he isn't ready, it's between Zonovan "Bam" Knight and rookie Israel Abanikanda for the lion's share of the carries.

Just like Billy Beane with his Moneyball strategy, I like to play the percentages. Could Hall be the exception to the rule? Sure he could. I hope he (and all players) make a quick and full recovery. But the odds say to pass on players coming back from a torn ACL the following season. Do I care if I draft Breece Hall for his name value? No. I do not. I care that my players are on the field scoring TDs a lot. Now, what we might be able to do is recreate Hall's stats in the aggregate......RBs Zonovan "Bam" Knight & Israel Abanikanda.

Who?

Exactly. Those guys sound like Mark Ringo sleeper picks already haha!

Knight was impressive last year. (see video of his college highlights below) He ran a slow forty time (4.58) in college, but looks faster on tape. He runs without hesitation and is excellent at breaking tackles. And it was Knight, not Michael Carter, who got most of the carries after Hall went down last year.

Abanikanda is also impressive. He jumps off the screen. (see video below) He's bigger and faster than Knight. He ran a blazing forty time under 4.40! His weakness is the passing game. He didn't have many receptions. And, like most rookies, he struggles in pass protection. Whoever is better at pass protection will probably win the coveted backup role. Keep an eye on this battle in training camp. If Hall starts off on the PUP list or has a setback, one of these RBs could make a big impact in 2023. Stay tuned.

Ringo's comp- Abanikanda reminds me of Isiah Pacheco. He has tremendous acceleration and burst. He can fly. However, he doesn't have the pass protection chops that Pacheco did coming out of college. That could limit his playing time.

Rico Dowdle (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- RB 117) Longshot sleeper for deeper leagues. The Cowboys have been eerily silent this offseason when it comes to replacing Zeke. Whether it was Dalvin Cook, Leonard Fournette, or even Zeke himself, they have held firm in their resolve to stand pat. However, that resolve still doesn't mean Tony Pollard is going to be the bell cow RB that many fantasy analysts are penciling him in for. It's hard to envision Tony Pollard holding up if given too heavy a workload, especially coming off a broken leg. Don't be surprised if Rico Dowdle takes over Zeke's old role. With a current ADP at RB 117, Rico is dirt cheap. Those are the prices famed fantasy oil baron J.R. Ewing Ringo loves. Ringo is staking a sleeper claim on Rico “Suave” Dowdle. Fantasy owners might just strike fantasy oil when mining for a RB sleeper deep in the heart of Texas. And to my opponents, I'm amazed you're not better losers after all of the experience you've had. Haven't you noticed, you have to be a man to play in my fantasy league. Now I’m busy. Run along. Haha!! (see second video below at 3:20 reference from tv show Dallas) And if this pick hits, just call me Ringo Suave haha! Longshot Sleeper

RBs I’m Avoiding

Josh Jacobs (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- RB 6) Under new head coach, Josh McDaniels, Josh Jacobs had the best season of his career. It probably didn't hurt that his name was Josh haha! Jacobs finished first in the RB rankings. His current ADP is at RB 6. That seems very risky for someone who is coming off a career year and is currently holding out for a new contract. Jacobs has always had talent, but he's been nicked up in the past. In addition, the Raiders' offensive line is shaky at best. And if anything happens to Jimmy Garoppolo, this offense goes bust. But, what am I saying? You guys are Fantasy Pros (shameless plug). The best. I'm sure you guys have already figured out a way for Jacobs to be worth an ADP of RB 6 even with some of my concerns. Of course, lest we forget, Jimmy hasn't exactly been the picture of perfect health throughout his career and if something happens to him you're stuck with Brian Hoyer or Aidan O'Connell running the offense in the middle of the freakin' desert!!! Remember, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, except for bad fantasy calls. That stuff will come home with you. Ringo has left the building. Bust

Tony Pollard (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- RB 8) Pollard is an electric RB. He showed his running chops that last season. Many folks have been clamoring for him to be "the guy". With Zeke out of the picture as of this writing in mid-May, most analysts are penciling him in for a bell-cow role. I have my doubts.

For one, he's coming off a broken leg in late January 2023. Second, the word on the street is that Pollard won't hold up under a full workload- and that was when he was 100% healthy. And right now he's coming into training camp rehabbing from a broken leg & high ankle sprain. He should be ready, but it's not ideal. Finally, Dallas is even open to bringing Zeke back or signing another free-agent RB to alleviate Pollard's workload. Watch out for Leonard Fournette folks! Fournette's power-rushing style would be a good fit to handle the short-yardage duties.

With Pollard's ADP currently at a lofty RB 8, that's pricing him at his ceiling imo. It's too rich for Fantasy Marshall Mark Ringo, despite his explosive playmaking ability. I'll be moseying on to draft another player instead. And for putting up with my awful Western puns. much oblige. Haha! Overvalued

Breece Hall (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- RB 11)
(8/14)*** UPDATE...The Jets have signed Dalvin Cook. That pretty much kills the Breece Hall truthers thinking he was a bell cow RB. They're not doing that if they wanted him to carry the load. At best, Hall is in a RBBC. Like I said earlier, coming back from reconstructive knee surgery takes time. Hall's ADP was way too high given his knee still isn't 100%. I'm still fading him. Bust

Hall is returning from the dreaded torn ACL injury. Most folks need two full years after surgery to feel close to 100%. It's difficult for athletes to come back the following year after having reconstructive knee surgery. How did J.K. Dobbins and Odell Beckham do last year? Exactly. Adrian Peterson is the exception, not the rule. At a minimum, even if Hall plays week one, it's unlikely the Jets give him a full workload. They'll probably put him on a snap count. It doesn't even factor in the possibility that Breece could be put on the PUP list and miss the first six games to start the season.

Who?

Exactly. Those guys sound like Mark Ringo sleeper picks already haha!

Bottom line- I can't afford Hall's current ADP at RB 11. It's too risky given the odds he's facing. Coming this summer to a fantasy football website near you. Mark Ringo stars in.....Ringoball! Bust

Travis Etienne (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- RB 11) Many analysts have Travis Etienne going pretty high this year. I'm not one of them though. The Jaguars had a great year in 2022. Doug Pederson completely turned the franchise around. They should be even better this year, especially on offense. I just don't know if Etienne's stats will be. Doug Pederson has never been a bell cow RB kind of guy. He believes in a RBBC so his RBs don't wear down. His time in Philadelphia showed that. The Jaguars also drafted Tank Bigsby in the third round. They want to reduce Etienne's workload. Bigsby is a tough inside runner. He'll probably assume the short-yardage role. I mean the guy's name is Tank for Pete's sake. When you have a guy named Tank, you have to use him in short yardage haha! In addition, Etienne only had 35 receptions last year. Etienne's current ADP is RB 12. That's way too pricey for Mark Ringo considering the very real possibility Bigsby could vulture TDs at the goal line, even for a talented player like Etienne. Bust

Cam Akers (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- RB 22) Cam attempted to come back from one of the toughest injuries for athletes to overcome, the dreaded torn Achilles. Those are career-enders. Akers is still playing, but I doubt he's the same player he was before the tragic injury. I'm hoping for the best, but fearing the worst. The Rams’ offensive line won’t give him much help. They struggled mightily last year. And without high draft picks, they were unable to upgrade it. As if that weren’t enough obstacles to overcome, I have major concerns about Matthew Stafford’s ability to make it through the season. Last December here's what Michael Lombardi, former NFL executive spoke about Matthew Stafford's health on his podcast, "The GM Shuffle".

After seeing that statement from Michael Lombardi, unless those opinions have changed, the thought of drafting or ranking ANY Rams offensive player high scares the living hell out of me. Lombardi is pretty dialed in when it comes to news in the league. Akers’ current ADP at RB 22 is way too risky for Mark Ringo. There are ominous signs in Los Angeles. Bust

D’Andre Swift (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- RB 26) - In a surprising move on draft day, the Lions traded Swift to the Eagles. That was not a good landing spot as far as his fantasy outlook is concerned. Swift is primarily known for his receiving chops. Unfortunately, mobile QBs like Jalen Hurts don’t throw it to their RBs much. They don’t have to. If they’re under pressure, it’s easier for them to just take off and run. In addition, Swift isn’t a power RB. He’ll wear down. Rashad Penny seems more suited for that role, although he’s had issues staying on the field as well. Swift’s current ADP at RB 26 seems very expensive for what looks like a bad fit in the City of Brotherly Love.

Side note- The city of Philadelphia should have gotten insurance for the Liberty Bell like Kramer advised Jerry to do with his stereo. “It came that way in the mail. It’s a write-off for them. They just write it off haha!” -Ringo Kramer

Javonte Williams (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- RB 28) I don't care what Sean Payton said, I find it very hard to believe Javonte Williams will be ready for training camp. Javonte suffered a devastating knee injury in week 4. He tore several ligaments, not just his ACL. At a minimum, I expect Javonte to miss several games. And even if he somehow has a great recovery, do you really think the Broncos are going to give him the lion's share of the carries after suffering such a serious injury? That would be pretty stupid. It's a long season. They signed Samaje Perine for a reason folks. Talking to some fantasy analysts/fans about this is like talking to a brick wall when it comes to ACL tears. They simply won't listen. They see the name on the draft board when they're up and think, look I can get so and so in this round. What a steal! However, so and so isn't the same player he was before the injury. Serious injuries need time to heal and plenty of rehab. They're very difficult to come back from the following year. How did J.K. Dobbins and Odell Beckham do last year? Exactly. Yes, I know about Adrian Peterson- but A.P. was the exception, not the rule. Most people don't feel close to 100% until two years after their surgery.

Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it. I'm a messenger from the fantasy gods. Heed my warning. Your fantasy team is doomed if you count on Javonte in 2023. I got to warn ya. There’s a fantasy curse. Your teams are all doomed if you stay. Go. Go. The others didn’t believe me. I warned them not to draft J.K. Dobbins and Odell Beckham last year after they tried to come back from reconstructive knee surgery the following year. Your team is doomed. Your teams are all doomed. This player note sounds like a horror movie haha! I'm like the old guy, Crazy Ralph, in the movie "Friday the 13th", warning the camp counselors before riding my bike into the woods. -Crazy Ringo Bust

WRs I like

Garrett Wilson (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- WR 10) Wilson had 83 receptions and 100 yards in a very impressive rookie year. And that was with Joe Flacco, Mike White, and Zach Wilson at QB. Now he gets one of the best QBs to ever lace them up in Rodgers. The Jets didn't bring him over to hand the ball off. They want to pass it more. That should help improve all of Wilson's stats- including TDs where he only had 4 in 2022. The big question is, will the tackles be able to protect Rodgers? Duane Brown is getting up there and Mehki Becton has had injury issues. The Jets were leapfrogged in the draft by the Steelers for their first-round target, left tackle Broderick Jones. That could prove costly. However, if Rodgers has time and can stay healthy, Wilson could put up a Davante Adams-like season. With a current ADP of WR 10, Wilson seems a little undervalued given the upgrade he gets at QB. So, grab some Garrett’s popcorn in your draft and enjoy the show.

Jerry Jeudy (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- WR 22) (8/24)UPDATE…..Jeudy had to be carted off the field in practice with a hamstring injury. Denver personnel are describing it as a moderate injury, sidelining Jeudy for a few weeks. Hamstring injuries are notoriously tricky though. They could linger throughout the season if not fully healed. I’m tempering my expectations for Jeudy given this injury and his history of missing time.

Last year the Broncos’ offense was a complete train wreck. And yet, even amidst the carnage, Jerry Jeudy showed glimpses of why he was a first-round pick. Jeudy can take it to pay dirt anytime he touches the rock. Head coach Nathaniel Hackett was fired and replaced by former Saints’ head coach Sean Payton. I’m throwing last year out. Payton has already indicated he wants Jeudy to be a big part of the passing game. He wants Denver to establish the run and then use play action to throw over the top of the defense, which is right up Russell Wilson’s and Jerry Jeudy’s alley. Jeudy’s current ADP at WR 22 seems cheap given the immense talent both he and Wilson have. Add in Sean Payton running the show, and Jeudy could be sitting on a career year. Undervalued

George Pickens (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- WR 37) Last year I said Diontae Johnson was getting all of the press from fantasy football fans, but it was George Pickens who was the most talented WR on the Steelers. Pickens quickly ascended from WR #3 to the Steelers' defacto WR #1 go-to guy. That's not meant as a knock on Diontae. He's a good WR. I just think Pickens is a great one. The concern this year with Pickens isn't his talent, it's his situation. Can Kenny Pickett take the next step at QB? The Steelers upgraded their offensive line with veteran OL Isaac Semualo and rookie LT Broderick Jones. They also drafted TE Darnell Washington. Those moves will definitely help. I'm just not sure Pickett can take the next step to be a franchise QB. Despite that, Pickens's current price tag of WR #37 still seems like a good value based on his talent alone. However, keep in mind the Steelers' QB situation could cap his upside. Undervalued

Ringo's comp- A.J. Green in his prime

Gabe Davis (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- WR 42) Gabe Davis was a polarizing player last summer. He was one of my breakout players. Unfortunately, Davis was injured early last season. The dreaded high ankle sprain caused him to miss a few games and hampered him throughout much of the season. In addition, the Bills-Bengals game was canceled due to the Damar Hamlin collapsing on the field. They were only nine minutes into the game. Before I cut bait, I want to give him one more chance. Hopefully, this time we'll see a healthy Davis. When he's healthy he can be a difference maker. His two TD 171 yard game vs the Steelers showed what he's capable of. All players have some level of risk. Not all have upside. Davis is one that does. The Bills' offense can score a ton. The biggest risk is if the Bills sign free agent WR DeAndre Hopkins. That would really hurt both Davis and Diggs. Davis's current ADP of WR 42 is incredibly cheap. At that price I'll echo what Sonny and Cher used to sing, I've Got You Gabe haha!

Kadarius Toney (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- WR 40) Toney showed flashes last year after being traded to Kansas City. Now he actually knows the offense so the sky is the limit. I expect the Chiefs to feature him more. It sounds like he'd be a good fit for the role vacated by Tyreek Hill. The concerns: Can he stay healthy? Toney has yet to make it through a full season. Second. with the news that DeAndre Hopkins is now a free agent, there's a chance that Kansas City tries to bring Hopkins aboard. If that happens, Toney would lose valuable targets. Hopkins would become the defacto receiving option #1A or #1B to Kelce for Patrick Mahomes. Toney's current ADP is WR # 40. That seems pretty cheap for possibly the top target in the Chiefs' potent offense. Keep an eye on Hopkins's landing spot. If DeAndre signs with another team, few WRs have the fantasy upside that Toney possesses with such an affordable price tag. Sleeper

Jameson Williams (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- WR 48) Unfortunately, for football fans, the debut of 100% healthy Jameson Williams has been delayed. Williams is suspended for the first six games because he violated the NFL's betting policy. This is a big blow to his fantasy prospects for 2023, but not a death blow. When Williams finally arrives, he has star potential. He's big 6'1" 190 lbs. and fast 4.39 in the forty. He's more explosive than any rookie WR this year. Williams torched SEC defenses, including the National Champion Georgia Bulldogs who had one of the best defenses in college history. The Lions figure to be in plenty of shootouts. Most fantasy analysts have Amon Ra St. Brown as the Lions' defacto #1 WR and go-to guy, but I think they're incorrect. It's Williams who is the most talented WR in Detroit. Any time he touches the ball, Williams is a threat to take it the distance. I guess you could say I'm rolling the dice with Jameson Williams in 2023. And if you get Calvin Ridley too you could parlay that into a fantasy title. Haha! Just a little betting humor folks haha! No? Nothing? Well, one thing is for sure, Ringo's jokes are always a good bet to be terrible haha! Kidding aside- Jameson Williams is a potential league winner. Sleeper

Ringo's comp- Jameson Williams reminds me of a poor man's Randy Moss. That's a major compliment. He's that explosive.

Donovan Peoples-Jones (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Prs- WR 60) If you believe in DeShaun Watson, then you should believe in Donovan Peoples-Jones too. When Watson was in Houston DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller both did well. Yes, Hopkins is an all-pro, but Fuller is currently out of the league. One of Watson's strengths is the ability to buy time. That could lead to some big plays down the field. The Browns should pass it more this year too. There's no way they're paying Watson $230 million to hand the ball off. They're going to center the offense around him. And I expect Peoples-Jones to be one of the beneficiaries if he can hold off rookie WR Cedric Tillman. Remember, if you have a problem with other fantasy analysts ranking a player too low, don't take matters into your own hands. You take them to court, in our forum, The People-Jones Court. With the honorable Judge Ringo presiding. Sleeper.

Odell Beckham Jr. (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- WR 62) Many fantasy analysts have written off Odell Beckham Jr. Not Mark Ringo though. When healthy, OBJ is one of the most electric players in the league. And folks, I think he's finally healthy. He's had time to heal after his reconstructive knee surgery. He's also playing with a QB who is tough to sack- Lamar Jackson. Jackson can either take off and run or buy time in the pocket. And it's very difficult to cover Beckham Jr. for a long time. The best part, Odell's price tag is dirt cheap. His current ADP is WR 61! In 2023 OBJ stands for Odell's Bringing the Juice haha! He only needs three fingers to make acrobatic TD catches. He should use the other two to flip off the haters haha! At least that's how I'd play it haha! And if this pick hits, I think I will haha! Sleeper

Cedric Tillman (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- WR 111) Longshot-deep league rosters Tillman is a rookie, but he could make some noise sooner than many people expect. He's a big, physical WR at 6'3 215 lbs.. And while it's true he's not a burner and lacks explosiveness, he has plenty of toughness. He gutted out a high ankle sprain last season to help his team which impressed scouts. The Browns should throw it a bunch in 2023. There's talk that Tillman could make an immediate impact this season. If that happens, the most likely casualty would be People-Jones. While Tillman lacks speed, he's an excellent red-zone target. And the Browns should be in the red zone a lot in 2023. Tillman's current ADP at WR 111 is a rock-bottom price. Honestly folks we're practically giving away WRs at these prices at Ringo's Sleeper WRs. If you call right now, I'll throw in a chia pet and Ringo's Book of Terrible Jokes at no extra charge. That's the sleeper WR, a chia pet, and the book of terrible jokes all for one amazingly low price. An incredible value, but you have to act fast! Ringo's sleeper WRs won't last long. Just call 1-800-URANIDIOT Operators are standing by. Haha!

WRs I’m Avoiding

Cooper Kupp (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- WR 3) Last December here's what Michael Lombardi, former NFL executive said about Matthew Stafford's health on his podcast, "The GM Shuffle".

After seeing that statement from Michael Lombardi, unless those opinions have changed, the thought of drafting or ranking ANY Rams offensive player high scares the living hell out of me. Lombardi is pretty dialed in when it comes to news in the league. I said it last year because I was concerned about his elbow and I'll say it again in 2023, if Stafford breaks down, the Rams' offense falls off a cliff. And last time I checked, Cooper Kupp is a big part of the Rams' offense. Bust

CeeDee Lamb (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- WR 6) With Kellen Moore fired as offensive coordinator, expect some big changes in Dallas in 2023. Here's what head coach Mike McCarthy had to say about it.....

That's a bad sign for CeeDee Lamb's fantasy outlook. Prescott's current ADP of WR 6 is way too high a price for Mark Ringo. I'm dropping everyone remotely related to the Cowboys' passing attack significantly down my rankings. This ain't my first fantasy rodeo. Ya'll remember what I told you come draft day. Ya'll steer clear of fantasy analysts who try to tell you to take Lamb. There will about a lot of fantasy folks out there to hang you this year. Get moving. Bust -William Munny Ringo

Davante Adams (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- WR 7) Uh oh- there's trouble in Paradise. Paradise, Nevada that is haha! Raiders beat writer, Vic Tafur is reporting that Davante Adams isn't happy with the direction of the offense. Apparently, Adams wants the Raiders to attack downfield more. Instead, it sounds like they'll try and get the ball out quickly and focus on shorter patterns. This is presumably to protect QB Jimmy Garoppolo. The Raiders' offensive line is shaky at best. Jimmy G could be under a lot of pressure in 2023. Over the course of his career, Garoppolo has played a full season once. Once! And that was behind a good offensive line in San Francisco. He'll be more vulnerable in Vegas. And if anything happens to him it's Brian Hoyer or rookie Aidan O'Connell. For those reasons, Adams current ADP of WR 6 is a little rich for me, despite Davante being one of the most talented WRs in the NFL.

Remember when in Vegas always bet on black...or as my devoted fans would say, against Mark Ringo's picks haha! You shouldn't make fun of Ringo's fantasy football picks. My grandmother made fun of my fantasy football picks once. Once! Haha! Danny Vermin Ringo

Deebo Samuel (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- WR 18) I'm trying to figure out why Deebo's ADP is so high, and I still can't figure it out. He's two years removed from handling the RB duties. Last year I cautioned folks that it appeared his RB role was more a product of necessity due to the onslaught of injuries at RB than by design. Coach Shanahan confirmed it. The thing is, that's where Deebo separated himself from other WRs, at least as far as his fantasy prospects go. With Christian McCaffrey, Elijah Mitchell, and possibly Trey Lance healthy, that ship appears to have sailed far from San Francisco Bay. Samuel's current ADP at WR 18 is way too expensive and risky for Mark Ringo. Bust

Drake London (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- WR 23) London might be getting a lot of press at the Falcons #1 WR, but I think it's Kyle Pitts who will be the top receiving option. London had most of his larger volume reception games after Pitts was shelved for the season. While Pitts was a disappointment last year, he still broke the rookie record for TEs two years ago. He had over 1,000 yards! He's faster than London. He's a bigger matchup problem for defenses in my opinion because of his speed. London is big, but not as fast. He has a hard time separating from defenders. That means he needs a bigger volume (more receptions) to score fantasy points since he won't score long TDs like Pitts can. It's not only Pitts returning, the Falcons also added TE Jonnu Smith and RB Bijan Robinson. Robinson is an excellent receiver out of the backfield. All this on a team that didn't pass it much in 2022. Head coach Arthur Smith says Atlanta will pass it more. Well, even if they do, no one will mistake Atlanta for the Kansas City Chiefs. There's only one football, and not everyone will get a big piece of peach cobbler. London's current ADP at WR 23 seems expensive considering the competition for receptions and the run-oriented Falcons offense. For that reason, Ringo has London bridges falling down his rankings. He's a good player, but I hate The Drake's fantasy outlook in 2023! Now, can someone please pass the cobbler? Haha!

TEs I like

Evan Engram (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- TE 8) Engram seems to have finally found a home. Jacksonville is building something special. They have one of the best young QBs in the game in Trevor Lawrence. Engram is a TE in name only. He's really a WR. The entire team should be more comfortable with the playbook as it's their second year in Doug Pederson's offense. The biggest concern I have is the addition of WR Calvin Ridley. Ridley was very good at Alabama and in Atlanta. He'll take some targets away from Christian Kirk, Zay Jones, and Engram. Engram's current ADP is TE 8, which is about fair value.

David Njoku (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- TE 10) If you believe in DeShaun Watson as I do, then you should believe in David Njoku too. Njoku's biggest strength is his athleticism. He makes acrobatic catches and can flat-out fly (see his career highlights below). In addition, Watson is the best QB he's ever had. The Browns should pass it a bunch this year. There's no way they're paying Watson $230 million to hand the ball off. They're going to center the offense around him. And I expect Njoku to be one of the beneficiaries. My only concern is that Njoku added some weight this year to be a better run blocker. Will that slow him down and make him less effective? Hopefully not. I'm betting that the talent and favorable situation wins out here. I’ve had my eye on Njoku since he was a rookie. And now he finally has an all-pro QB throwing him the rock. Sleeper

Greg Dulcich (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- TE 14) The early word from Sean Payton was that he was not impressed with Greg Dulcich's blocking. However, he seems to have changed his tune with regard to Dulcich's potential in the offense.

"Man, he can run and has good ball skills," Payton said. "I think his menu is going to be lengthy in the passing game, and there's enough stuff we can do in the run game."

Since Coach Payton is changing his tune, I'm changing mine. Anytime a coach says his menu is going to be lengthy in the passing game- that's an item Ringo is ordering at the fantasy restaurant. Remember, Payton created plenty of fantasy success with Jason Witten (as an assistant at Dallas) and with Jimmy Graham over the years. Despite the addition of Adam Trautman, Dulcich is the best receiving TE in Denver. With a current ADP of TE 14, Dulcich seems cheap given the new information. There are worse things you can do than hitch your TE wagon to a Sean Payton offense. Yes, I'd like the Dulcich lengthy passing game on the menu.

And then?

A side of yardage.

And then?

A side of receptions

And then?

Oh some extra TDs for dessert.

And thennn?

And then Dulcich is one of my Sleeper TEs.

And thennnn?

No more and then!!! Coming this summer to a fantasy website near you. Mark Ringo stars in....Dude, Where's My Sleeper TE? And thennnnnnn??? Haha!!

Taysom Hill (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- TE 22) Even if you take out Taysom Hill's 34-point monster week last season, he still finished as TE15. If you include it, Hill finished as TE5! And that was with an offensive line decimated with injuries last season. Yes, the Saints signed Derek Carr to a big deal, but Carr is less mobile than last year's starting QB Andy Dalton. They also signed TE Foster Moreau and still have TE Juwan Johnson. And they re-signed Hill. To me, that says New Orleans wants to keep using Hill as a wildcat QB/gadget player. He's a major weapon in the red zone. And if somehow they were to cut Hill, head coach Sean Payton would scoop him up immediately in Denver. Payton loves Hill's versatility. The possibilities for his creative play calls are endless.

With a current ADP of TE 22, Hill is a cheap lottery ticket to grab late in drafts. When you consider Hill's potential usage as a wildcat QB in the coveted red zone, few TEs offer the ceiling that Taysom Hill has. I guess what I'm saying is this is a fantasy Hill I'm willing to die on haha!

Who dat rank Taysom Hill so high and tell these bad jokes?

Mark Ringo dat who. Haha!! Sleeper

Dalton Kincaid (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- TE 27) The Bills traded up to draft Kincaid in the 1st round. That should tell you something. Kincaid is a TE in name only. He's really a WR. That's why scouts rave about him- his receiving prowess (see college highlights of Kincad below). The Bills also paid Dawson Knox big $. They fully intend to use both. It sounds like Buffalo will use more twelve personnel- (start two TEs) in 2023. The only concerns I have is how quickly Kincaid can pick up the offense and how healthy is back will be. From what I've heard, his back should be fully healthy by week one.

There's a whole lot of fantasy lovin' about what Dalton "don't call him Reuben from The Partridge Family" Kincaid is bringing (including his cheap price tag- current ADP TE 27)! Come on get happy! If this pick hits, I'm going to be singing "I Think I Love You" & "Come on Get Happy" all year long haha! Come on Get Happy! Come on get Happyeee! Draft some Mr. Kincaid in 2023! Just call me Ringo Partridge haha! Sleeper

Tyler Conklin (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- TE 40) Longshot deeper leagues. Aaron Rodgers upgrades the entire Jets offense. Conklin seems like a good bet to outperform his draft position. The only concern is the Jets’ offensive line. The tackles are shaky and could require Conklin to help protect the Jets' star QB. However, at this bargain basement price, (current ADP TE 40) Conklin is worth a shot. Sleeper

TEs I’m Avoiding

Mark Andrews (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- TE 2) Mark Andrews is a good player. There’s no disputing that. The issue I have is his price tag. There’s a huge gap between Travis Kelce and whoever is TE 2. And I’m not sure it should be Andrews. Baltimore upgraded its WR room. They signed Odell Beckham and drafted Zay Flowers. Both will take away valuable targets from Andrews. And even though new offensive coordinator Todd Monken wants to pass it more, it sounds like the Ravens want to emphasize passing it down the field more. That would seem to favor WRs like Beckham and Flowers over Andrews. If for some reason Andrews slides in your draft, I’d be less bearish. But as of now, his TE 2 price tag is too rich for my blood. If I miss out on Kelce, I’d rather wait and get a more affordable TE, the gap is a lot closer among the remaining TEs after Kelce is off the board. All this despite the fact that Andrews has the coolest first name in the league haha! Overvalued.

Pat Freiermuth (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- TE 9) Freiermuth is really a WR who qualifies at TE. I like his talent. I’m just not crazy about his situation. He’ll go as far as Kenny Pickett can take him. How far that is though is the question. The upgrades on the offensive line will help, but Pittsburgh is still far from an offensive juggernaut. I want TEs I draft to be on explosive offenses. I want them to have a good chance at scoring TDs. I’m not sure Freiermuth can, even if Pittsburgh gets in the red zone. It’s George Pickens who is their go-to guy. They also signed Allen Robinson. He could vulture some TDs in the red zone as well. Freiermuth’s current ADP of TE 9 seems like his absolute ceiling if everything goes right, and I’m not sure it will. For that reason, I’m passing on him. Sorry Fry Guy, it’s bye guy for Mark Ringo haha! Bust

I Get No Respect

July 09, 2022 by Mark Ringo in I Get No Respect

*Note- this article pays tribute to legendary comedian Rodney Dangerfield. This shtick is his. It’s too good to be forgotten. I tweaked a few things and gave it my own fantasy football touch. I hope you like it.

I tell you I get no respect. It started when I was born and followed me as an adult. Here are just a few of the things I’ve gone through.

I knew from the start it wasn’t going to be easy. When I was born my parents gave me up for adoption. The adoption agency gave me back.

When I was a kid I had a parrot. Instead of her saying Polly wants a cracker mine said, “Polly wants a hitman.”

I tell you nothing comes easy for me. Some parents teach their kids how to swim by throwing them in the middle of a lake. Mine threw me in the middle of the lake with an anchor tied to my leg.

In high school, my friend was voted most likely to succeed. I was voted most likely to get tarred and feathered.

Even when I played football I got no respect. In practice, my teammates got chewed out by the coaches for jumping offside. I got chewed out for not jumping in front of a bus.

I tell you even my followers give me a hard time. Most analysts get their followers on Twitter. They get comments and likes. I get my followers when I go for a walk in the park. I get pitchforks and torches.

Even wild animals don’t give me any respect. I came across a skunk during my walk. A few minutes later he was the one taking a bath in tomato juice.

Even at a work seminar, I get no respect. Last month I gave a presentation in Hawaii about my fantasy picks. The virgins volunteered to jump into the volcano.

How bad was my article? I left it near some dental floss and the roaches hung themselves.

Even with the NFL referees, I get no respect. Bill Belichick threw a challenge flag arguing I couldn’t possibly be that stupid. The referees overruled him.

It’s not easy being me. Even when I go to the zoo, I get no respect. I went to the chimpanzees’ section. They tried to teach me sign language.

I tell you I don’t get respect from anyone. ESPN called me last week. They said, “We want to make you an offer. We pay Matthew Berry $500,000 a year to write fantasy articles for us. We’ll pay you twice that not to write any.”

How bad were some of my fantasy picks this year? I went to church to seek forgiveness. The priest refused. He said my QB sleeper was so terrible; ten Hail Marys still wouldn’t be enough to help his fantasy team win.

I tell you, even when I play fantasy football I get no respect. One of the other fantasy writers invited me to participate in an auction draft. Normally there’s a bidding war to acquire the star players. Well, at the one I went to, there was a bidding war not to sit next to me.

I was so depressed over my picks not working out I called a suicide hotline. They tried to talk me into it.

So then I decided to jump off a tall building. My followers called a priest to talk to me. He said, “Make sure to use your arms when you spring forward.”

On my way home I was hit by a cab driven by one of my followers. I yelled out, “Are you blind?” He responded, “I hit you didn’t I?”

After I was hit by the cab I had to go to the hospital. The doctor told my followers, “I tried my best, but he pulled through anyway.”

I tell you people aren’t nice. How much do my followers hate me? When other analysts get blocked on Twitter, their followers press a button. When I get blocked on Twitter, mine use the Cowboys’ offensive line.

Even in Texas, I get no respect. A few of my followers invited me to hang out with them. They said just climb up the steps and put my neck in the noose.

I tell you it’s not easy being me. When other fantasy analysts recommend a kicker, the worst thing that happens when he misses a field goal is the football hits the crossbar. When my kicker misses a field goal, my followers hit me with a crossbar.

How bad was my kicker this year? I picked up Charlie Brown and Lucy Van Pelt from Peanuts and they were an improvement.

I tell you it’s not easy being me. One of my followers invited me to go skydiving. I said, “Hey, don’t I need a parachute?” He responded, “That would take all the fun out of it.”

How much do my followers hate me? One of them suggested a good restaurant. I figured at worst, if I was unlucky, my soup might have a fly in it. Mine had a python in it.

So then the owner apologized and gave me a complimentary dessert. He said it was the specialty of the house. I mean how can pie make a ticking sound?

I tell you, even in the criminal justice system I get no respect. The judge gave the convicted murderer his choice of punishment, death or life in prison on the condition he’d have to read my articles. The murderer chose death. So the judge sentenced him to death by my articles.

I went to the Cubs game last week. During the 7th inning stretch, instead of singing, “Take Me Out to the Ballgame, they sang, “Take Me Out Permanently.”

How ugly was my top sleeper pick this past year? I took him to a dog show and he won.

What a bunch of followers I’ve got. I told them my favorite sleepers and busts this year. They told me their favorite methods of torture and revenge this year.

How bad was my pick, Kyle Pitts, this year? I got more fantasy juice out of the pit from the orange I ate than from the former All-American TE.

I tell you, people aren’t nice. I went to the sportsbook and asked, “What’s the line on the USC-UCLA game?” They said, “USUCK -10,000.”

Even in a pandemic, I get no respect. After I got infected, I went to the hospital. The doctor put the Covid virus on a ventilator.

It’s not easy being me. One of my followers sent me a chair as a birthday gift. He wrote in the note all I have to do is plug it in.

One of my junior followers sent me a kite for my birthday. He wrote in the note that it works best in thunderstorms.

Last week I saw my doctor. I said, “Doc, every morning when I get up I feel like throwing up. What's wrong with me?' He said, “Stop reading your articles.”

I just got a new fantasy football website. I asked my followers for ideas on a logo. They suggested a dog with fleas.

I tell you people aren’t nice. One of my followers is a travel agent. She gave me an all-expenses-paid vacation as a gift. I said “That’s great. Where to?” She said, “Afghanistan.”

I tell you, even in the fantasy industry I get no respect. No respect at all. The FSWA created a new category named after me. I said, “That’s great. What’s it called?” They said, “Article Most Likely to Make Someone Vomit.”

My dog doesn’t like me either. Last night he went to the bathroom five times on my article. Four of those times I was still writing it. My followers chimed in, “Don’t worry. It’s an improvement.”

Most dogs beg for a treat. Mine begs for me to leave.

Even from my peers, I get no respect. Last year I decided I needed a break so I took the year off. They voted me Fantasy Writer of the Year.

And now here is the final joke of this article. I see you cheering over there. (Me shaking my head) I tell you, even with this article, I get no respect. No respect at all. So anyway, here it is.

Even in my love life, I get no respect. It took some convincing, but I had sex with my girlfriend last night. Afterward, she seemed surprised that she enjoyed it. I asked, “Why are you surprised?” She said, “I thought it would be as bad as your fantasy articles.”

Ringo's 2022 Sleepers and Busts

July 07, 2022 by Mark Ringo in 2022 Sleepers and Busts

Are there really any sleepers anymore? Honestly, with the wealth of information available at fantasy owners’ fingertips, probably not many, but that’s the name of my website so it’s kind of important for me to write at least one article about them. Without further adieu- here are Ringo’s annual sleeper and bust picks for 2022!

QB’s I like

Joe Burrow (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- QB 7- Cool Joe led the Bengals to their first Super Bowl since the 80’s. And that was with a shoddy offensive line. Cincinnati wisely decided to invest in their offensive this past off-season to protect their star QB. With weapons like JaMarr Chase, Tee Higgins, Tyler Boyd, Hayden Hurst, and Joe Mixon, along with more time in the pocket, Burrow could be in store for a career year.

Russell Wilson (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- QB 10) Wilson was traded in a blockbuster deal to the Denver Broncos. New head coach Nathaniel Hackett wants to install a pass-heavy offense. Wilson will have plenty of weapons with Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy catching the ball. It’s finally time to Let Russ Cook so I hope you’re hungry for some Wilson TDs!

Tua Tagovailoa (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- QB 16) Maybe it’s the record heat this summer, but I’m warming up to Tua. He has some of the best weapons in the league in Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Both WRs are really talented and can fly. Throw in Cedrick Wilson and Mike Gesicki and the Dolphins could make plenty of fantasy noise real soon. The million-dollar question is, can Tua can stay healthy? If he can, Tua could make a colossal leap in 2022 and be a QB one-ah. Haha!

Trevor Lawrence (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- QB 18) Trevor’s rookie season was a disaster. The combination of Urban Meyer’s failed leadership and a leaky offensive line was too much for the talented rookie to overcome. The good news is both situations have been addressed. Meyer is gone and replaced by former Eagles Coach Doug Pederson. Pederson worked some magic with Carson Wentz and Nick Foles. The Jaguars also addressed their offensive line. They added all-pro guard Brandon Scherff from Washington. Those upgrades in addition to adding Travis Etienne (returns from injury), Evan Engram, and Christian Kirk should help Lawrence take a big step forward towards reaching his potential.

A lot of analysts are talking up Trey Lance. Lance might hit, but remember Lawrence was a more accomplished and heralded prospect coming out of college from scouts. He helped lead Clemson to a national title. Trevor (aka Sunshine from Remember the Titans) is a pretty good athlete too. He’ll definitely use his legs and gain valuable fantasy points from rushing yards and TDs. And Trevor’s potential is an elite all-pro and future star. So, my advice is don't just Remember the Titans on draft day. Remember the Jaguars too. Remember Trevor Lawrence.

Ringo’s comp- Roger Staubach (you youngsters out there can see him in the video below that’s grayed out. Just click Watch on YouTube. He was one of the all-time greats.)

Carson Wentz- (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- QB 25 UPDATE- Washington’s offensive line has struggled in camp, as has Wentz. Carson is having accuracy issues. He’s still learning the Washington offense, so maybe this will improve, but for now, I’m tempering my expectations a bit. Saying a few prayers can’t hurt. Amen, my fellow fantasy brothers and sisters!

If you’re looking for a cheaper QB in the late rounds of a deep draft- Carson Wentz might not be a bad gamble. Even with the departure of five-time pro bowl G Brandon Scherff, Washington still has a good offensive line. Wentz has some explosive playmakers in Terry McLaurin and rookie WR Jahan Dotson. Preach it Brother Ringo! Can Ginger Jesus rise from the fantasy ashes and lead Washington and fantasy owners to the promised land? You have to believe baby!

QBs I’m Avoiding

Matthew Stafford (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- QB 11- UPDATE- Stafford is throwing in practice. Both he and Rams head coach Sean McVay are downplaying his elbow. We'll see. This is the same organization that downplayed Todd Gurley's knee.

Stafford played with pain in his elbow last year. Apparently, after several months off the elbow was still causing him pain. He stopped throwing and he is receiving injections in his elbow. I’m no doctor, but that doesn’t sound good. It’s definitely not normal. Until I hear more positive news, I’m fading Stafford and his Rams’ teammates.

Justin Fields (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- QB 16 The Bears’ offensive line is a disaster. I fear Fields is going to be running for his life. There’s a good chance he gets injured. Throw in a new coaching staff with a new offense and this is like another rookie season for him. Fields has talent, but this situation is less than ideal. The Bears will struggle to score. Bust

Ryan Tannehill- (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- QB 20 Both starting WRs, A.J. Brown and Julio Jones are gone. The two WRs set to replace them are, free agent, Robert Woods, who is coming back from a torn ACL and rookie, Treylon Burks, who has had some health issues (asthma) which caused him to miss time in camp. Also gone is OL Roger Saffold. As if that were not enough, the Titans are a heavy-run offense centered around Derrick Henry. I’m going to call him Ryan Downhill because that is what his 2022 fantasy outlook looks like from my vantage point.

RBs I Like

Joe Mixon (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- RB 7) Mixon is going early. That’s not front-page news. However, he finally has some help up front. The Bengals wisely invested in their offensive line this past offseason. He’s sitting on a career year. It would not surprise me if finishes as a top 2 RB when it’s all said and done.

Saquon Barkley (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- RB 14)- Last year I warned folks about Saquon Barkley. He was too risky to be taken as a top-five overall pick. His knee wasn't 100%. Now I think the pendulum has swung too far the other way. Saquon is 100% healthy and is one of the few RBs who gets a full workload. He has a chance to be a top 5 RB. He's on sale this year. So, if some of you other drafters smell a delicious crispy chicken aroma after the draft. That's not your nose playing tricks on you. It's a little bit of shake and bake. Shake and Bake! You've got to shake it before you bake it!! Remember, if you're not first, you're last.

All this fantasy talk is making me hungry. I think it's time to get thrown out of an Applebees haha! -Ringo Bobby

Ezekiel Elliott (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- RB 17) UPDATE (8/29) The loss of all-pro OT Tyron Smith is a dagger to the hopes of the entire Cowboys offense. They simply don't have the depth to recover from a blow this big. Barring a big-time trade for an elite OT, I'm moving everyone down a few pegs, including Zeke.

(7/08) Zeke, “Do you read the bible, Ringo?”

Mark Ringo, “Not lately. No”

Zeke, "Well there’s this passage I’ve got memorized. Ezekiel 25:17. The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and goodwill, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness. For he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison my fantasy reputation and destroy my brothers. And you will know I am the Lord of Fantasy Football when I lay my vengeance upon you. I’ve been sayin' that stuff for years. And if you heard it, that meant your team was toast. I never really gave much thought to what it meant. I just thought it was some cold-blooded stuff to say to a dumb, know-it-all analyst before I destroyed his takes. But I saw some stuff this morning that made me think twice. See, now I'm thinkin': maybe it means you're the evil man. And I'm the righteous man. And my friend here on the offensive line, he's the shepherd protecting my righteous butt in the draft dead zone. Or it could mean, you're the righteous man and I'm the shepherd, and it's the world that's evil and selfish. Now, I'd like that. But that stuff ain't the truth. The truth is, you're the weak. And I'm the tyranny of evil men. But I'm tryin’, Ringo. I'm tryin' real hard to be the shepherd.”

Translation- I expect Zeke to have a bounce-back year. His knee is healthy and he's in a contract year.

(Disclaimer- this video is a scene from the movie Pulp Fiction. It’s an action movie. It’s fiction. This player note write-up on Ezekiel Elliott and the video below is for entertainment purposes only. Do NOT use guns to commit violence or illegal acts.)

Javonte Williams (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- RB 13)- The stars were all aligned for Javonte to shine this year until the news came out that Denver had resigned Melvin Gordon. Gordon is a solid RB in his own right, but Williams is on another level. Trying to predict how the workload will be split up is a crap-shoot right now. That said, Williams is one of the few RBs, who, if things break right, has the chance to be a league winner. He could very easily be the top-ranked RB come next summer. The addition of Russell Wilson should inject life into a stagnant Broncos offense. At a minimum, he should score more TDs. He’s probably fairly valued right now- but he holds major upside if the coaching staff uses Gordon more sparingly. Keep an eye on this situation as the summer progresses.

Damien Harris (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- RB 27) UPDATE- rumors are swirling that the Patriots could trade Harris. He’s in the last year of his contract and they like RB Rhamondre Stevenson a lot. Keep an eye on this as the summer progresses.

Last year one of my RB sleepers was Damien “The Running Man” Harris. That call was a winner. And yet, Harris is still not getting the respect he deserves. The Patriots are a run-oriented team. Harris is their lead RB. He probably won’t get many catches, but he has plenty of burst along with one of the league’s best offensive lines in front of him. Being ranked as RB 27 is too low. Undervalued

Rhamondre Stevenson (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- RB 36) - UPDATE (Aug 13, 2022)- I’m adding Stevenson to my sleepers list. I’m hearing rumors that the Patriots are open to trading RB Damien Harris. If that takes place- Rhamondre Stevenson would take over and jump up in the rankings. When Stevenson has played he’s done well. He’s a force to bring down. (See video below- click Watch on Youtube link.)

The big fella can catch too. Keep an eye on this situation as the summer progresses. Even if the Patriots hang on to Harris, Stevenson is too good not to get some touches. At RB 36 on Fantasy Pros, Stevenson seems cheap given his massive upside. Doctor Dre might just as be the prescription that fantasy drafters ordered. Sleeper

So you said you want some sleepers? Not undervalued guys, but some really big long shots? As in 12-team 22-round sleepers? Okay. Grab your oxygen tank folks, we’re going in.

Isaiah Spiller (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- RB 46). Spiller is an impressive rookie out of Texas A&M. He has the potential to be a three-down RB if given the chance, but will most likely work in a RBBC. Remember though that’s just like most RB situations in the NFL. He’ll be playing on one of the best offenses in the NFL. The Chargers want to lighten Ekeler’s workload. At RB 47 Spiller is cheap. And if anything happens to Ekeler, Spiller could be a game-changer. Worth a shot.

Dameon Pierce (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- RB 47) Pierce is an impressive-looking rookie with the ability to be a bell-cow back if given the chance. He's a big (218 lbs.), physical runner, who runs with good power. Pierce consistently breaks tackles, especially in short yardage and goal-line situations. The big fella also has some good hands and plays faster than his forty-time imo. Pierce has plenty of tread on his tires as he was surprisingly underused in college. The only concern is his landing spot. Houston figures to struggle offensively which caps Pierce's upside. Still, it would not surprise me to see Pierce take over the starting job and be a feature RB sooner rather than later. A potential bell-cow RB (current Fantasy Pros ADP at RB 47) on a lousy offense, still seems ridiculously cheap. Ringo's comp- Pierce reminds me of a young Frank Gore. Sleeper

Rachaad White (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- RB 60) Like many RBs, Leonard Fournette has dealt with injuries in the past. He also came into mini-camp overweight. If anything happens to Fournette, Rachaad White could be the benefactor. White is an impressive rookie who shows burst and has good hands. He could be a three-down RB if given the chance. In deeper leagues, picking a backup RB on a good offense is how to win a fantasy football title. Worth a shot.

Samaje Perine (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- RB 66) Perine was Joe Mixon’s backup last year. I’m guessing that will be the case in 2022 as well. He’s much bigger than Chris Evans, so if anything happens to Joe Mixon he should get the goal-line work. And there should be plenty of it in Cincinnati. In the highlights I saw he did well. (Yes I know he didn’t convert in the Super Bowl, but Aaron Donald is not exactly the easiest draw for a RB. ) If you draft Mixon, getting Perine is a smart insurance policy. And if you don’t it could be a winning lottery ticket. Fun fact- Samaje Perine holds the college record for most yards in a game 427 vs Kansas!

Sony Michel- (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- RB 72) - If you changed the channel or turned off your tv you missed it. Sony was cut by Miami, but quickly resurfaced in Los Angeles. The Chargers have several RBs to help Austin Ekeler with the RB workload, but none more accomplished than the former Georgia Bulldog. He brings first-round pedigree to a team searching for an upgrade at RB and a solid leader to help them take the next step. Don’t be surprised if Michel is the guy who wins out for the other role in the RBBC. And the Chargers score an awful lot of TDs as far as fantasy football owners are concerned. Michel is probably not built for a full-time bell cow role, but he could definitely be used in short yardage and in the red zone. The 2022 fantasy picture is suddenly looking brighter for Sony Michel. (see what I did there? Sony Corp makes televisions and the picture is looking brighter. Question for you readers out there, does any other fantasy analyst make stupider jokes/puns than me? I mean seriously, this entertainment is priceless and you’re getting it for free haha!) Now, don’t change that dial. We’ll be right back after these quick messages from our sponsor, Mark Ringo’s SleepersandBusts.com, and also by, FantasyPros! (I know it’s a shameless plug, but then again I’m shameless, so it kind of works haha!)

Isiah Pacheco (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- RB 113) Pacheco might not even make the Chiefs’ final roster. However, it’s July 8th. I’m looking deep in the weeds, doing my best. If you’re drafting early or are in a deep league, here’s a Ringo longshot special. Pacheco is big (215 lbs.) and can flat-out fly (4.37 forty). Note- Andy Reid prefers to use one RB in a bell cow role (see Brian Westbrook and Kareem Hunt. He’s also good at pass blocking. Clyde Edwards-Helaire is undersized for either a heavy workload or a short-yardage role. CEH has also had a difficult time staying healthy in the past, and if he goes down, things could get very interesting in Kansas City. If Pacheco gets an opportunity in the Chiefs’ high-octane offense, he’s a potential league winner. Ringo’s comp- a combination of former Bills RB Mike Gillislee and Jamaal Charles. And if this pick hits, just call me Ringcheco haha!!

Derrius Guice (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- RB unranked ) Still not deep enough for you? How about Derrius Guice? Nobody has him on their radar. Not even the big fantasy football websites whose sleepers are behind a paywall have mentioned him. Heck, he’s not even in the NFL right now. Guice is nice at that price. That said, Guice is attempting a comeback. The talented RB has first-round talent, but off-the-field issues caused him to slide into the late second round of the 2018 draft. Those same issues also led to Washington cutting him. The good news is Guice’s legal woes appear to be behind him. The NFL dropped its six-game suspension. Guice has also recovered from the knee injury he suffered. He is free to sign with any team. Guice has the talent. That’s never been in question. All he needs is a chance. I took him in the last round (round 22) of the Scott Fish Bowl draft) A Ringo longshot special! It probably won’t hit, but if it does, oh baby!

RBs I’m Avoiding

Austin Ekeler (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- RB 3) Last year I was way off on Ekeler. I didn’t think he would hold up. And once again I’m out on Ekeler- not because he’s not a good RB, but rather because of his expensive price tag (RB 3) and the looming presence of rookie RB Isaiah Spiller and recently signed free agent, Sony Michel. Both Michel and Spiller are bigger than Ekeler. It’s clear the Chargers want to lighten Ekeler’s volume. Both Spiller and Michel could easily vulture Ekeler at the goal line. A first-round price tag for a RB who might have his TDs vultured at the goal line is too rich for my blood. I’m out.

Alvin Kamara (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- RB 12) UPDATE- Kamara’s case has been delayed again, this time two months (end Sept/beg Oct). Since the NFL usually waits until the legal process has ended, it’s possible Kamara could avoid a suspension in 2022. If that happens, he is no longer a bust at his current ADP & could be a value. Drafting Kamara is risky, but could pay off if his lawyers can keep delaying his case. The question is, how much gamble do you have in you? Stay tuned.

It’s not a question of if, but when Alvin Kamara gets suspended. There is a video of him hitting someone. The Saints expect a minimum suspension of six games, maybe more. The only question is when the NFL will impose it. RB 12 is way too high for a RB who is going to miss time, no matter how good he is.

Nick Chubb (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- RB 9) Chubb is one of the best RBs in the NFL. Unfortunately, at the time of this writing (early July) DeShaun Watson is looking at an eleven-game suspension. Jacoby Brissett is set to man the helm in the meantime. He’s more of a game manager than a gunslinger. I expect the Browns’ offense to struggle for most of the year. Bottom line- this is one of those- I love the player, but hate the situation type of scenarios. An eleven-game suspension for Watson is too long for me to invest a high pick in Chubb. Overvalued

Cam Akers (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- RB 18) Akers is coming off an Achilles tear. Those injuries are notoriously hard to recover from. Even though he’s on the field, I doubt he will have the same burst as he did before the injury. In addition, the risk of a second Achilles tear increases substantially on the unaffected leg. The body tries to compensate. As if that weren’t enough, Matthew Stafford is still experiencing pain in his elbow. If Stafford were to miss significant time, you can put a fork in the Rams’ offense. They’ll be done. Too many risks here for me. Avoid

David Montgomery (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- RB 16) There’s a new GM, Ryan Poles, in Chicago. It’s unclear if Monty is their guy. Even if he is, the Bears’ offense will probably struggle. They failed to address a leaky offensive line this past offseason. And if anything happens to Justin Fields, it will be Trevor Siemian or Nate Peterman running the offense. I want no part of Monty or the Bears’ offense in 2022. Avoid.

WRs I Like

JaMarr Chase (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- WR 3) So much for the concerns about Chase dropping passes last preseason. He set the league on fire with his old college teammate Joe Burrow. This combination is going to terrorize defenses for the next decade. JaMarr is my top-ranked WR to help you in the Chase for a fantasy championship!

Gabriel Davis (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- WR 33) Maybe I’m drinking the Bills Kool-Aid, but that four TD performance from Davis last year, on the road vs the Chiefs in the playoffs made me a believer. (click the Watch on YouTube link below if you need a reminder of what this youngster can do. I know the box is grayed out, but it should still work. Blame the NFL for that.) Davis moves into the starting role now and has one of the best QBs in the NFL throwing him the rock. I made sure I got that combo in the Scott Fish Bowl Tournament, even if I had to reach a round or two to do it. The Bills are going to score a ton of points this year folks. I think Davis is in store for a breakout season! Out of over 200 fantasy analysts on FantasyPros I’ve got Gabriel Davis ranked the highest. Just like Sonny Bono and Cher sang on Letterman, “I Got You Gabe!” Haha!! (see video below)

Jerry Jeudy/Courtland Sutton (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- J Jeudy WR 24/ C Sutton WR 20) The addition of Russell Wilson should inject some much needed life into the Broncos’ offense. The two biggest benefactors should be Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton. Jeudy is more explosive of the two. I give him a slight edge in my rankings. He’s a threat to score anytime he touches the football. His speed and crisp routes create separation, leading to big plays. With Wilson’s scrambling ability- I’m expecting a bunch of big plays from Jeudy, like the ones he made at Alabama. (See highlights below.)

Sutton is more of a physical beast. He doesn’t create separation but outmuscles defenders with his size and strength. (See Courtland Sutton in the video below. It’s grayed out but the link should still work.) He’ll be a target in the red zone. However, I don’t think Sutton can be a home run threat like Jeudy can. So for that minor reason, I give Jeudy the slightest of edges, although I still think Sutton will have a career year.

Juju Smith Schuster/Marquez Valdes-Scantling (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- JuJu WR 32 / MVS WR 54) Juju is only a few years removed from being a high draft choice. People forget in 2018 Juju had 111 catches, 1400 yards, and 7 TDs. He’s still only 25 years old. Now he goes to one of the most pass-heavy and explosive offenses in the NFL- Kansas City. I expect him to play underneath and be an end zone target. There should be plenty of catches and TDs there for the taking.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling comes over from Green Bay. I think he’ll take over the Tyreek Hill role, well as best as can reasonably be expected. No one can replace Tyreek. Even with that, he goes to a QB with one of the strongest arms in the game. There should be a lot of big plays for MVS in 2022.

Jahan Dotson (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- WR 66)- Dotson is an impressive-looking rookie out of Penn St. He plays bigger than his size and makes leaping catches seem easy. He reminds me of Odell Beckham. At WR 66 he seems cheap in what figures to be an improved Washington offense in 2022.

Julio Jones (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- WR 89) The only question regarding Julio is his health. He was unable to stay on the field last year. Julio still has the talent. He’s big and can run like a racehorse. And leaving Tennessee is probably a good thing. The Titans’ offense is centered around Derrick Henry, not the passing game. If Julio lands at a more pass-heavy offense like Green Bay or Tampa Bay he could be a major steal on draft day. At WR 89 there is no downside. Last year I went one for two on my middle/late-round veteran WR takes- A.J. Green was a bust, but Antonio Brown was a hit until he got hurt, and later walked out in the Jets game. I’m in on Julio.

Sammy Watkins (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- WR 106)- Watkins is my new A.J. Green albatross. Every time I swear I won’t pick this guy he reels me back in. I’ll take a shot simply because of his landing space and cheap price tag. Leaving the run-heavy Ravens is a good thing. Watkins gets to play with one of the best of all-time, Aaron Rodgers. There’s a path for Sammy Watkins to be the #1 WR option in Green Bay. The million-dollar question, can he stay healthy? At WR 106, why not? I’ll roll the dice and hope for fantasy greatness.

WRs I’m Avoiding

Cooper Kupp (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- WR 1) The major concern I have with Kupp is Matthew Stafford’s elbow. He was still experiencing pain after the season. He’s been having injections into his elbow to relieve the pain and has not been throwing. If Stafford is shelved for any length of time, the entire Rams’ offense will fall off the mountain, including Kupp. (See the video below haha!) Keep an eye on Stafford’s health as the summer progresses. The price tag for Kupp is too rich for my blood. The Kupp love runneth over haha!

Deebo Samuel (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- WR 6)- Deebo had a phenomenal season last year. A big part of his fantasy success stemmed from his usage in the running game. He had 365 rushing yards and 8 rushing TDs. That seems unlikely in 2022. Trey Lance is at the helm. He’s a lot more athletic than Jimmy G was. He’ll be the 49’ers version of Josh Allen (in his rookie year), at the goal line at least. Lance will probably vulture plenty of TDs Samuel would have gotten last year. Peter King at NBC Sports is reporting that, after talking with head coach Kyle Shanahan, he expects San Francisco to use Deebo much less in the running game in 2022 than they did last year. Shanahan said they did it out of necessity last year due to a bunch of injuries at RB. That’s a big deal as far as fantasy owners are concerned.

As if that’s not enough, I expect the 49’ers to pass less often. Trey Lance is pretty raw. He only played one year of college football and that was against lesser competition. He might struggle. The losses of center Alex Mack to retirement, and OL Laken Tomlinson to free agency, adds to my concern. If the protection breaks down Lance can just take off and run, unlike his predecessor, Jimmy G. That would hurt Samuel’s receiving numbers. Deebo isn’t a typical #1 fantasy WR. He isn’t tall or fast. He thrives on short passes and running the ball, especially near the goal line. Those valuable rushing yards & TDs gave him a significant edge over most WRs last year. Without that, Deebo’s current Fantasy Pros ADP of WR 6 makes him very risky imo. Avoid

A.J. Brown (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- WR 9) Brown is very talented. That’s not the issue. Unfortunately, he’s ranked in the stratosphere. Last year, he didn’t live up to expectations on a run-heavy Titans’ offense. Now in Philadelphia, it’s hard to imagine his numbers improving on another run-heavy offense. Jalen Hurts is just as likely to take off and run rather than throw a pass to Brown. In addition, DeVonta Smith isn’t exactly chopped liver. Smith won the Heisman Trophy in college. He and Dallas Goedert will fight for targets. Brown seems overvalued to me., Love the player, hate the situation. I’ll need to see it first before taking him at WR 9. Pass

Michael Pittman (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- WR 13) Pittman is a good-looking young WR. He’s big and strong. He outmuscles and outjumps defenders. The negatives are he’s not a burner or a home run threat. He has trouble creating separation. Another hurdle is the Colts’ defense. They’re pretty good. They’ll probably run the clock out instead of play catch-up in the 4th Qtr. Their offense is run-oriented and centered around Jonathan Taylor. In addition, I have concerns with their offensive line. In particular, their tackles could be problematic for a pocket passer like Matt Ryan. Ryan has never been mobile and in his late 30’s he’s even less so, He’s a solid leader, but he’s on the decline. If the tackles have issues in pass protection, the Colts’ offense will struggle. Pittman is good, but WR 13 is too high for me. At best this is Pittman’s ceiling. It’s hard to see him cracking the top 10 given the concerns I’ve mentioned. Avoid

Diontae Johnson (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- WR 14) Big Ben retired. He probably waited a year or two too long. He looked washed last year. The Steelers’ offensive line didn’t do him any favors. Pittsburgh didn’t upgrade it for 2022 either. Mitch Trubisky was signed in free agency. He’s mobile and has a strong arm, but he threw too many interceptions in Chicago. He seems like a placeholder QB until the Steelers feel rookie QB Kenny Pickett is ready. Rookie WR George Pickens is very talented. He’s probably the best WR on the team. He slipped in the NFL Draft because of character concerns, not talent. Pickens will steal targets and red zone looks. Bottom line, Diontae is a good player, but the situation is less than ideal. Let someone else pay the hefty WR 14 price tag. I think you’re better off waiting and grabbing a cheaper WR in a better situation. Avoid

DJ Moore (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- WR 16 ) Moore is an exciting young speedy WR. However, he’s undersized which caps his TD upside in the red zone. Christian McCaffrey is back. He’ll command a bunch of targets. In addition, Terrace Marshall should take another step forward. At the end of the day, it all comes down to Baker Mayfield. It’s hard to envision Moore justifying his high draft price (WR 16) given the struggles of the Panthers’ offense. And if things go south, head coach Matt Rhule could lose his job this season. Mayfield just got there. He has to learn the playbook quickly and develop timing with his WRs. That’s a recipe for disaster, even if the QB is named Baker. (See what I did there Baker, recipe? Haha!) Moore needs more sugar for this fantasy analyst. Bust

DK Metcalf (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- WR 18) Without Russell Wilson, the Seahawks’ offense takes a major hit. No disrespect to Geno Smith or Drew Lock, but Russell Wilson is a future Hall of Famer. His scrambling ability covers up leaky pass protection and creates big plays. Without Russ, the entire offense will suffer, including Metcalf. WR 18 seems way too high for a WR on what figures to be a struggling offense. No thanks.

Amari Cooper (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- WR 22) With DeShaun Watson suspended for eleven games, Amari Cooper’s outlook takes a nosedive. QB Jacoby Brissett is more of a game manager than a gunslinger. And Cleveland is a run-oriented offense as it is. WR 22 is way too high for a WR on Browns’ offense that figures to struggle this year. An eleven-game suspension for Watson is too long for me to invest in Cooper at WR 22 Bust

Chris Godwin (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- WR 28) Godwin is coming off a torn ACL & MCL. He injured it late in the regular season (week 15) and had major reconstructive surgery in early January 2022. He might start the season on the PUP list. And even if he comes back for week one, he won’t be 100%. There is no way the human body heals that fast. It takes time, both to build back the strength in the muscles around the knee and the confidence that the knee will hold up when making quick cuts that a WR has to make. The Buccaneers won’t be in any hurry to rush him back either. They want him ready for the playoffs, not for your fantasy team’s schedule. The name might be Godwin, but Ringo says if you draft him you lose. Avoid

TE’s I like

Darren Waller (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- TE 5) Darren Waller is one of the most underrated TEs in the league. He’s a mismatch for defenders. He’s too big for DBs to cover and too fast for LBs. It’s true that newly signed WR Davante Adams will take some of his targets. But Adams presence will also free up some coverage. The bigger concern I have is with the offensive line. They struggled in pass protection last year and didn’t make any significant improvements. That could spell trouble for a stationary QB like Derek Carr. That said, the AFC West figures to have plenty of shootouts. Darren Waller might be an ADP faller, but Ringo thinks he’s still a baller- word! At TE5, Waller seems undervalued. In Vegas, always bet on the Silver and Black.

Zach Ertz (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- TE 9) Last year Zach Ertz was one of my sleepers. He came through like I figured he would. Rumors of his fantasy demise were greatly exaggerated. Ertz is one of the better receiving TEs in the league. The mid-season trade which sent him to pass-heavy Arizona was a boon for fantasy owners. Now with an entire offseason to get comfortable with the playbook, he should do even better. Add in the fact that DeAndre Hopkins is suspended for the first six games and Ertz could command even more targets than 2021. He’s also a solid red zone threat. At TE 9 he seems undervalued.

Dawson Knox (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- TE 10) Dawson Knox came out of nowhere to be a top 10 fantasy TE. The Bills added OJ Howard, but the early reports are that he isn’t as athletic as they envisioned. Achilles injuries are tough to come back from. That’s what Howard is attempting to do. With Howard having a subpar offseason, that creates more chances for Knox. The Bills’ offense is one of the most explosive in the league. That’s important considering one of the biggest factors with TEs is scoring TDs. Knox is in a great position to repeat his performance. When opportunity Knox later in your draft, make sure you answer.

Noah Fant (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- TE 15) The worst thing about the Russell Wilson trade was that Noah Fant wasn’t going to be sticking around to play with him. Fant is one of the most talented receiving TEs in the NFL, but maturity issues and Denver’s inconsistent QB play have caused him to not reach his potential yet. On a struggling offense like Seattle, Fant still might not reach it. The hope is Seattle takes more deep shots with him. I’m not crazy about the situation, but as game show host Bob Barker would say, The Price is Right. At TE 15, I’ll roll the dice based on his talent alone.

Evan Engram / Dan Arnold (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- E Engram TE 21 / D Arnold TE 28 ) Evan Engram and Dan Arnold are TEs in name only. They’re really WRs who qualify for TE. They’re not on the field for run blocking. That’s not their forte. Instead, both are fast and athletic. The Jaguars want to use them as WRs. Engram needed a change of scenery. Pairing up with Trevor Lawrence and new head coach Doug Pederson (formerly of the Eagles) who loves using his TEs in the passing game figures to help his numbers. Both Engram and Arnold should be a big part of the offense. I think Engram will be the #1 option- even over Christian Kirk and Marvin Jones. Engram has home run threat ability. He needs to stay on the field though. Injuries have plagued his career. If he does get hurt, look for Dan Arnold to capitalize. After he was traded to Jacksonville last year, he found his groove with Trevor Lawrence. Arnold was having a sneaky good year until he got hurt. At TEs 21 and 28 respectively, both seem cheap. The Jaguars’ offense should take a step forward this year and either of these TEs could finish as top ten TEs if things break right. Sleepers

Gerald Everett (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- TE 19) Everett was signed in free agency by the LA Chargers. He joins one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL. There should be plenty of shootouts in a loaded AFC West. Playing with Justin Herbert should be an upgrade after he showed glimpses last year in Seattle. Unfortunately, Russell Wilson missed some time which capped Everett’s numbers in 2021. Everett is athletic and has the speed to create mismatches in the secondary. The comp scouts gave him coming out of college was Jordan Reed, who was a fantasy football favorite. At TE 19, on a good offense, Everett is cheap and worth a shot. Sleeper

Jonnu Smith (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- TE 26 ) Last year Jonnu Smith was signed for big money by Bill Belichick. Unfortunately, Smith never hit his stride. He was a flop both in fantasy and for the Patriots. That said, he’s still young (26 years old) and talented. When NFL executives were polled a year ago, most ranked Jonnu Smith as a top 5 TE. He can flat-out fly. He has tremendous athletic ability that jumps off the tape (see his highlights below). As Smith enters his second year he should be more familiar with the playbook, as should his teammate, QB Mac Jones. I expect that connection, and the Patriots’ offense as a whole, to take a step forward this year. Smith has too much talent to not break out sooner or later. I’m guessing it’s sooner. Sleeper

TE’s I’m Avoiding

Dallas Goedert (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- TE 8) Dallas Goedert took things to another level after Zach Ertz was traded. Here’s the problem, while Ertz is no longer there, now A.J. Brown is. Just how many targets and receptions are going to be available for A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Zach Pascal, and Dallas Goedert? Hurts has never been an accurate QB. Philadelphia says they want to throw it more. We’ll see. Unless Hurts is passing for 300 yards a game, someone is going to be left without a seat in the game of fantasy musical chairs. A.J. Brown & DeVonta Smith scare me. Both are extremely talented and should be the first reads as Hurts goes through his progressions. TE 8 might be where Eagles’ fans dare, but it’s too high for Ringo. I’m out.

Pat Freiermuth (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- TE 11) Freiermuth is a good-looking receiving TE who helped the Hoosiers turn around their football program. The problem is he’s on the Steelers. Pittsburgh didn’t significantly address their leaky offensive line in the offseason. Big Ben retired. It’s Mitchell Trubisky that will most likely start for an offense that figures to play conservative and rely on their running game and defense to win games. Maybe Mitchell’s mobility will inject some life into the offense, but the book is still out on him. Big Ben looked washed last year. But if the Steelers get off to a slow start, keep an eye out for rookie QB Kenny Pickett to get a shot. Keep in mind that the 2022 Draft wasn’t a heralded QB class and rookie QBs usually struggle. All that adds up to one of those love-the-player hate-the-situation-type scenarios. Give me a TE on a better offense than the Steelers. Avoid.

Cole Kmet (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- TE 13) See Freiermuth above. Kmet is a good-looking, young TE who looks like he’s ready to take the next step. The problem is the Bears’ offense isn’t ready to help him. Just like the Steelers, the Bears’ offensive line struggled in pass protection last year. They didn’t address it in the offseason. Justin Fields figures to be running for his life. And if anything happens to Fields, Trevor Siemian will take over. It’s hard to see this turning out well. Give me a TE on a more potent offense instead. I at least want a chance of him catching a TD this year. Avoid

Tyler Higbee (Current Expert Consensus Ranking on Fantasy Pros- TE 18) For whatever reason (and maybe that reason is star WR Cooper Kupp), the Rams don’t use their TEs much. They had a good one in Gerald Everett, but let him walk in free agency last year. Tyler Higbee showed flashes, but they just don’t go his way enough. Even with an upgrade in Matthew Stafford at QB, fantasy owners were left asking what happened? It’s hard to see Higbee doing better in 2022. Don’t get stung by Higbee. Avoid

The Opposite

September 12, 2021 by Mark Ringo in The Opposite

It’s not working. It’s just not working. Despite having thirty years’ experience playing fantasy football my team did awful. Today, I found out that twelve year old Hope Golden did better than me in last year’s Scott Fish Bowl Fantasy Football Tournament. Actually, she did much better. Hope finished 8th out of 1,440 people. I finished 1,366th! Yes, I lost to a twelve year old. Just to put things into perspective, I had played fantasy football for seventeen years before she was even born!

Why did it all turn out like this for me? I had so much promise. I was personable. I was bright. Oh, maybe not in an academic sense. However, I always knew when people were laughing at me. It suddenly all became very clear for me, sitting here, in front of my computer, that every fantasy football decision I have ever made has been wrong. My life is the complete opposite of everything I want it to be. Every instinct I’ve made in fantasy football, whether it’s been who to draft, who to start, what article I should submit, etc. has all been wrong. And that’s when my friend Chad chimed in with his suggestion.

Chad, “Well, if every instinct you have is wrong, then the opposite would have to be right.”

Hmnn…. I guess it’s worth a shot. Normally, this is where I would transition from my introduction by mentioning that my 2021 sleepers and busts are next. However, I don’t think that’s a good idea. We don’t know each other very well. It’s been a long day. You’re probably tired. I think you should take a nap.

Right now you’re probably thinking, “What kind of fantasy football article is this?”

This is the opposite of every fantasy football article that you’ve ever read.

QB Carson Wentz

My Natural Instinct- Wentz recently underwent surgery on his foot in the preseason. In addition, the Colts starting left tackle, Eric Fisher, is injured. This will cause Wentz to rush his passes and take more hits, increasing his chance for injury.

The Opposite- Who needs a healthy foot and a good offensive line to do well?

QB Sam Darnold

My Natural Instinct- Darnold panics under pressure. He throws off his back foot too much, leading to a lot of interceptions.

The Opposite- Darnold will show poise under a blistering pass rush. He’ll set the NFL on fire with his gunslinger mentality.

QB Tom Brady

My Natural Instinct- Brady is one of the greatest QBs to ever lace them up. He’s more familiar with the playbook and has developed a good rapport with his talented WRs.

The Opposite- Brady is overrated. Anyone can win seven Super Bowl rings.

RB DeAndre Swift

My Natural Instinct- Swift is being drafted too high. He’s in a time share on a lousy team. He’s also had a difficult time staying healthy.

The Opposite- Swift will be used heavily and become a bell cow RB. He’ll stay healthy all year despite getting more carries. The Lions will turn into an offensive juggernaut.

RB Saquon Barkley

My Natural Instinct- Saquon is coming off a devastating knee injury. He plays on a team with a terrible offensive line and a shaky QB. He’ll be a bust.

The Opposite- Saquon will break the single season rushing record on one leg.

WR Sammy Watkins

My Natural Instinct- Watkins was a bust when he played for the NFL’s most prolific passing offense in Kansas City. If he can’t do well there, he can’t do well anywhere.

The Opposite- Watkins will turn his career around in Baltimore. The Ravens are the most run heavy offense in the league. Receiving yards and receptions are overrated for wide receivers in fantasy football.

WR Odell Beckham

My Natural Instinct- Beckham is ten months removed from having major knee surgery. There is no way he’s 100% healthy to start the season.

The Opposite- Beckham will defy the medical world and have his best season ever.

TE Kyle Pitts

My Natural Instinct- Trust my eyes which tell me that Kyle Pitts is the best tight end prospect I’ve ever seen.

The Opposite- Don’t believe anything I’ve seen. It’s all an illusion.

TE O.J. Howard

My Natural Instinct- Howard is coming off an Achilles injury which is notorious for ending many athletes’ careers. Howard won’t be the same player he once was.

The Opposite- Howard will be even better after tearing his Achilles tendon to ribbons.

Jennifer Aniston

My Natural Instinct- Notice Jennifer smiling at me in a restaurant and not do anything.

The Opposite- Go up to Jennifer, and say, "Hi, I’m unemployed, and live with my parents. Are you free Friday night?"

FSWA Judges

My Natural Instinct- Attempt to write the best fantasy football article possible and then thank the judges for their time.

The Opposite- Insult them as an embarrassment to the journalism profession, not worthy of reading my masterpiece.

Saquon Debate- How Did RBs Perform the Year after Reconstructive Knee Surgery?

July 26, 2021 by Mark Ringo in Saquon torn acl odds

This past summer there was a debate on Twitter about how Saquon Barkley would do in 2021 after he suffered a major knee injury last season. One side argued that reconstructive knee surgery was no small issue. They said it took two years for some athletes to feel close to 100% again. They warned there is a substantial risk of selecting Saquon in the early rounds of a fantasy football draft in 2021. (Note, Saquon Barkley’s current ADP on Fantasy Pros is fifth overall.) The other side argued that those concerns were overblown. Advances in the medical field had shortened the rehab time for athletes to feel 100%. Who is right? So that got me thinking, how did other RBs perform the following season after they underwent reconstructive knee surgery?

First, let's start with the great outcomes. Adrian Peterson stunned the NFL and medical world by coming back a mere nine months after he tore his ACL. His story is the gold standard by which all injured RBs strive for. Peterson eclipsed the 2,000-yard rushing mark, a feat only a few RBs have accomplished, even when they entered a season completely healthy. He also added 13 TDs. In addition to Peterson, Jamaal Charles and Jamal Lewis both had over 1,700 yards and added either 6-7 TDs. While those TDs were a little on the low side, the yardage numbers were impressive.

THE GREAT OUTCOMES

Adrian Peterson tore his ACL and MCL Dec 2011

Following season 2012- 16 games 348 rushes 2,097 yards 12 TDs 40 receptions 217 yards 1`TD

Jamaal Charles tore his ACL Sept 2011

Following season 2012- 16 games 285 rushes 1,509 yards 5 TDs 35 receptions 236 yards 1 TD

Jamal Lewis tore his ACL and sprained MCL Aug 2001

Following season 2002- 16 games 308 rushes 1,327 yards 6 TDs 47 receptions 442 yards 1 TD

The next tier RBs are in the good outcomes category. Jamal Anderson, Edgerrin James, Ronnie Brown, and Deuce McAllister fall into this tier. All four finished with at least 1,200 total yards. Their TD totals were 3, 6, 10, and 10. Brown and McAllister scored the most with 10 TDs each. Both performed much better than Anderson and James who scored only 6 and 3 times respectively. All of the RBs in this group had fine seasons, however, they were still a few pegs below Peterson.

THE GOOD OUTCOMES

Jamal Anderson- torn ACL Sept 1999

Following season 2000- 16 games 282 rushes 1,024 yards 6 TDs 42 receptions 382 yards 0 TDs

Edgerrin James- torn ACL Oct 2001

Following season 2002- played 14 games 277 rushes 989 yards 2 TDs 61 receptions 354 yards 1 TD

Ronnie Brown- torn ACL Oct 2007

Following season 2008- 16 games 214 rushes 916 yards 10 TDs 33 receptions 254 yards 0 TDs

Deuce McAllister- torn ACL Oct 2005

Following season 2006- 15 games 244 rushes 1057 yards 10 TDs 30 receptions 198 yards 0 TDs

Finally, let's look at the ugly outcomes. The best performance from this group was also the most recent RB who came back from a torn ACL, Dalvin Cook. Cook had over 900 total yards and 3 TDs in 2018. However, he was unable to last the season. He played in only 11 games. Many in this tier, such as Terrell Davis, Robert Edwards, Rashard Mendenhall, and Kevin Jones, did poorly (if they played at all). One last note worth mentioning, many of their careers ended shortly afterward.

THE UGLY OUTCOMES

Robert Edwards- torn ACL, MCL, and PCL Feb 1999

Following season- Did not play. Played sparingly in 2002.

*Note- during surgery Edwards was 2 hours away from having his leg amputated.

Terrell Davis- torn ACL and MCL and had cartilage damage in Oct 1999

Following season 2000- 5 games 78 rushes 282 yards 2 TDs 2 receptions 4 yards 0 TDs

Kevin Jones- torn ACL 2007

Following season 2008- 11 games 34 rushes 109 yards 0 TDs 2 receptions 5 yards 0 TDs

Rashard Mendenhall- torn ACL Dec 2011

Following season 2012- 6 games 51 rushes 182 yards 0 TDs 9 receptions 62 yards 1 TD

Knowshon Moreno- torn ACL Nov 2011

Following season 2012- 8 games 138 rushes 525 yards 4 TDs 21 receptions 167 yards 0 TDs

Dalvin Cook- torn ACL Oct 2017

Following season 2018- 11 games 133 rushes 615 yards 2 TDs 40 receptions 305 yards 2 TDs

CONCLUSION

Out of the thirteen RBs who underwent major reconstructive knee surgery the prior season: three had great outcomes, four had good outcomes, and six had ugly outcomes. And while it’s true that there is more than one factor that affects a RB’s performance (for ex. the offensive line, the QB, the opponent’s defense, etc.), coming off a serious knee injury is one of the most impactful. The research in this study show that drafters who assume that Saquon Barkley is a safe first-round pick in 2021 are wrong. The lesson by Spanish philosopher George Santayana here is, “Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it”. Keep in mind, Saquon is currently ranked as the fifth overall player at Fantasy Pros ADP (average draft position). Also note that these rankings were not made by casual fans, but instead compiled by industry analysts who follow fantasy football year-round. Historical data tells us there is almost a 50% chance that Saquon will turn into a bust in 2021. So basically these analysts are willing to risk their first-round picks and, what amounts to, their fantasy seasons, on a coin flip. It's very difficult for most owners to overcome a first-round pick who either gets injured or turns into a bust. Before the injury, Saquon Barkley was considered by many as one of the most talented RBs to ever set foot in the NFL. If anyone can overcome the odds and replicate an Adrian Peterson comeback season it’s Saquon. However, to dismiss reconstructive knee surgery as no big deal is foolhardy. There’s an old saying in fantasy football, you can’t win your league in the early rounds of a draft, but you sure as heck can lose it. I’m rooting for Saquon, but the odds are stacked against him. The data clearly shows that there is a significant risk for drafters who decide to select him (or any RB) coming off reconstructive knee surgery from the prior season, in the first-round.

Mark Ringo

Ringo's 2021 Sleepers and Busts

July 21, 2021 by Mark Ringo in 2021 Sleepers and Busts

Are there really any sleepers anymore? Honestly, with the wealth of information available at fantasy owners finger tips, probably not many, but that’s the name of my website so it’s kind of important for me to write at least one article about them haha! The Olympics start Friday so hopefully we’ll get a few gold medal picks. The good news is you don’t have to wait four years to get them. Without further adieu- here are Ringo’s annual sleeper and bust picks for 2021!

QBs I like

Tom Brady- Ahoy there fantasy mateys! TB12 knows the playbook now and has developed a rapport with his WRs which is scary. Seriously, how much better can the Buccaneers’ offense be in 2021? Everyone came back too. Not only that, but they also get TE O.J. Howard back from injury and added RB Gio Bernard from free agency. The Bucs offense is loaded. Brady should be in for another monster year if he can stay healthy. Father Time be damned! Give me the soon to be 44 year old QB and set sail for fantasy gold! Arghh!!!

Lamar Jackson- Lamar "Action" Jackson disappointed owners in 2020 mainly because they took him too early, but he's still very talented and the fastest guy on the field. His rushing yards add up quickly in the fantasy box score. He had 1,000 yards and he missed a game- incredible! The Ravens improved offensive line should help. He's Michael Vick 2.0. Jackson will be cheaper on draft day this year which I like. Probably because I'm cheap haha!

Taysom Hill- Drew Brees' retirement opens up the competition for the starting Saints QB gig. It's between Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill. Even if Winston wins the job, it's only a matter of time before he throws it to the other team. If Winston continues his three interception games, it won't be long until Sean Payton gives him the hook and goes with Hill. Taysom's accuracy isn't the best, but his mobility means valuable rushing yards for fantasy owners. His use around the goal line separates him from other QBs. No one is talking about him (at least not yet) so he should be cheap on draft day. Worth a shot. Sleeper

Trey Lance- Everything I've heard is Lance is at least one year away, maybe two. That was the perception anyway. Now I'm hearing the 49'ers thought Lance was the most pro ready in the draft. He could start much earlier than many pundits thought. Nick Mullens and CJ Beathard are gone. That leaves only Trey Lance and Josh Rosen as the backups. Lance isn't very accurate, but he's incredibly sharp, loves to study film, & read defenses. The comp scouts gave was Josh Allen. Lance is big and can run. That's valuable in fantasy. The 49'ers have plenty of weapons. If he gets a shot, he could make a huge impact. (Click play to see highlights of Trey Lance below)

QBs I’m fading

Josh Allen- Josh Allen took a huge leap last year. I think he takes a step back. He had a career year in 2020. Those are hard to duplicate in back to back seasons. For where he's being drafted, the cost is too rich for my blood.

Jameis Winston- If fantasy owners got points for their QBs throwing to the other team I'd have Winston ranked #1 haha! He throws too many interceptions. Even if he wins the starting job in training camp, I doubt he can keep it. In addition, if Sean Payton pulled future Hall of Fame QB Drew Brees at the goal line for Taysom Hill, you can bet he’ll do the same thing with Jameis. Avoid.

Joe Burrow- The Bengals drafted Burrow's old college teammate, WR JaMarr Chase which should help the offense. The concern- can the Bengals offensive line protect him? Cincy also plays a brutal schedule. Baltimore, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh all have tough defenses and they play each of them twice! I really like Burrow's future, but I'd temper expectations for 2021.

Ben Roethlisberger= Big Ben looks washed. He's gotten old. He can't scramble. He's also jumpy in the pocket. You can tell he doesn't want to get hit. Well no one does, but he especially doesn't. The Steelers didn't even want him back. He took a very team friendly deal. As if that's not bad enough the offensive line lost some major pieces. They're in shambles. This isn't the same Steelers offense from a few years ago. I doubt he makes it through the year, not that it matters. Avoid.

Daniel Jones- The Giants gave him some new toys in Kenny Golladay and Kadarius Toney, but the offensive line is still a mess. In addition, Saquon Barkley is coming off a devastating knee injury. It's a make or break year for Jones. My money is on break. Avoid

RBs I like

Derrick Henry- The Titans trade for Julio is great news for Henry. It forces defenses to pick their poison. If they drop the safety in the box, Tannehill can throw it over the top. If not, it opens up room for Henry to operate. If Julio can stay healthy, the Titans offense could propel to a whole new level.

Ezekiel Elliott- The Cowboys offense was decimated by injuries in 2020. However, before Dak got hurt they were rolling. Zeke is a value in the late 1st round or in the 2nd round.

Clyde Edwards Helaire-Edwards-Helaire was a disappointment for fantasy owners last year after getting off to a good start. Andy Reid's offense is difficult to learn and he's had an entire offseason to become more familiar with it. Reid's history is he likes to utilize one RB. The comp by scouts after watching Helaire was a better version of Brian Westbrook. And the Chiefs' offense is more explosive than the Eagles offense that Westbrook was a part of. Looked at Chiefs' Kingdom, he is finally there, to sit on his thrown as The Prince of Helaire. I'm a buyer of the Fresh Prince of Helaire!

Antonio Gibson- Well this call could make me look really smart or really foolish. Just an FYI- the smart money is on foolish haha! Antonio Gibson is still recovering from a turf toe injury he suffered in late 2020. That's a concern. If he's okay, then things could get real interesting. Coach Ron Rivera said he wants him to be more involved in the passing game (Note- he played WR in college). He came into the NFL really raw as a RB which means he could make a huge leap. Gibson is one of the few RBs with major three down upside if things break right, well assuming it's not his toe. He's big (220 lbs), fast (ran a 4.39 40 yard dash), and a natural playmaker. Can his toe hold up? That's the million dollar question? If it does, lookout! Gibbaay!!!

Javonte Williams- New GM George Paton didn't sit around on draft day. He traded up in the 2nd round to get his guy, RB Javonte Williams. Williams has the potential to be a 3 down RB if given the chance. Right now it's a RBBC with Melvin Gordon. Williams reminds me of Frank Gore in his younger days. His ability to consistently break tackles is impressive. He can also catch the ball out of the backfield. It sounds like the Broncos want to run it more in 2021. And if anything happens to Gordon, things suddenly will get very interesting here.

Damien Harris- With Cam Newton vanquished to free agency, the sea opens up for Damien "The Running Man" Harris to get most of the goal line carries. In the words of the legendary actor Richard Dawson who plays Damon Killian in the 1987 movie, The Running Man, "It's time to start running!"

RBs I’m fading

Saquon Barkley- Saquon's coming off a devastating knee injury. The Giants might ease him back by limiting his touches. Even if they don't, Barkley's running style, which involves plenty of quick stops and starts isn't ideal for an ACL injury. Can he be the same RB? Will he have the same burst of acceleration that made him special? Can he stay healthy? And I speak from personal experience having torn my ACL, albeit 20 years ago. The Giants line isn't very good and the book is still out on QB Daniel Jones. Saquon is too risky in 2021 for me as an early round pick. Let someone else take the chance. Pass

Alvin Kamara- Losing Brees will hurt Kamara's receiving numbers. Brees was the king of check down passes. Kamara's receptions nosedived in three of the four games Brees missed last year due to injury. Make no mistake folks, that's where Kamara needs to shine to justify his first round price tag. My fear is QB Jameis Winston will eventually lose the job. He throws too many interceptions. And if Hill takes over that really hurts Kamara. Taysom will take off and run instead of throwing the check down pass. Also, the Saints need to keep Kamara fresh. If they overwork him he'll wear down. Like many NFL players, he was not in favor of the regular season increasing by one week. Despite Kamara's immense talent, I think there's a very real chance his numbers disappoint fantasy owners in 2021.

Aaron Jones- Second year RB A.J. Dillon lurks as a goal line vulture. Dillon is a 247 lb. wrecking ball. You'd have to figure the Packers pull Jones at the goal line unless they opt for a field goal. Too soon? Sorry I couldn't resist haha! Jones is going too high for me. Too risky. Pass

Najee Harris- Najee Harris is such an impressive RB. He is a three down RB who has the goods and fights for every yard. The bad news is the situation he's in. While Pittsburgh will make him an every down RB, their line is garbage and Big Ben is washed up. I don't see this turning out well. The 2nd/3rd round is too high for a guy on an offense which figures to struggle.

J.K. Dobbins- If Gus Edwards eats into his carries at all, Dobbins owners will be in trouble. Even if Edwards doesn't, expect Lamar Jackson to vulture some goal line TDs. Also, the Ravens don't pass it much. That caps Dobbins upside in half point and full point PPR formats. Given those concerns, JK is too risky for me at his current 3rd round ADP. If you decide to ignore my advice by going to Baskin Dobbins and scooping him up in the 3rd round, don't be surprised if you see your team's championship hopes melt away in 2021. Bust

WRs I like

Cee Dee Lamb- CeeDee Lamb was just starting to come on when Dak got hurt. Lamb is the real deal. He's a big play machine. He's better than Amari Cooper imo. With a full offseason to get more comfortable with the playbook, Cee Dee should makes a huge jump. I'm going to call him TD Lamb because he should score a bunch of them. The best part is, Lamb can be still be had for relatively cheap in the 4th round.

DeVonta Smith- The only concern with DeVonta is can he stay healthy? He's undersized, but this kid wants to be great. He has the chops to do it. The former Heisman winner dominated college football in 2020. He's a big play waiting to happen and he should get plenty of opportunities- (translation a lot of catches in half point and full point PPR formats.) He should make an immediate impact. My comp is former Michigan Wolverines and Minnesota Vikings star WR Anthony Carter. Google him. He was really good. DeVonta Smith will be just as good if not better.

Brandon Aiyuk- I expect Aiyuk to take a major jump in year 2. He started coming on late in the season. He's had a full offseason to get comfortable with the playbook. 2020 was brutal for rookies trying to learn plays with covid protocols. Aiyuk has some serious juice when he runs. He's great in the open field. Coach Shanahan also used him on running plays, which led to two TDs. This kid is going to be a good one. The comp scouts gave him coming out of college was Torry Holt. That's pretty good company to be in.

Antonio Brown-Antonio gets a full offseason to get more familiar with the playbook and Tom Brady. Remember his first game in 2020 was week 9. The only knocks are: 1.) There are a lot of mouths to feed in Tampa. 2.) His off the field issues could crop up at any time. The hope, though, is with Tom Brady there to mentor him, he'll stay in line. He did last year. Seven rings commands respect folks. Brown is way too cheap (ADP 10th round) given he's still one of the best WR's in the game, on a potent offense. And if Evans or Godwin gets hurt- oh baby! For those reasons, I prefer getting Antonio later rather than taking Chris Godwin earlier in drafts.

Jaylen Waddle- Prior to getting hurt in 2020 it was Waddle who was considered the best WR on Alabama, not eventual Heisman winner Devonta Smith. How sick is that? The Crimson Tide truly are loaded with talent. The comp for him by scouts is Tyreek Hill. He's got some serious wheels. Waddle reunites with his old Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa. If Tua can take a big step forward this year and stay healthy, Waddle could surprise some folks.

A.J. Green- Apparently I'm a glutton for punishment. Every winter I swear I'll never pick A.J. Green again, no matter how cheap he is on draft day and every summer I drink the green flavored Kool Aid. The Bengals' schedule in 2020 was horrific. They played some very tough defenses and their o-line was non-existent which, in turn, proceeded to get Joe Burrow killed. Even the poised Burrow admitted he needed to work on his deep throw accuracy this offseason, most likely a product of being under duress. Green heads out West where he's no longer the focal point of attention for defenses with DeAndre Hopkins on the other side. He also has a very mobile young star QB in Kyler Murray whose speed is a threat defenses need to be aware of. If Green can stay healthy (he did last year), he could do surprisingly well in Kliff Kingbury's Air Raid offense. However, that's a still a big if. The good news is A.J. is dirt cheap. His current ADP is the 21st round. even if he doesn't pan out, you've lost nothing. This is a Mark Ringo Long Shot Special! This time for sure Green will hit. I just know it. I mean sooner or later the law of averages has to kick in on Green right? Haha!

Parris Campbell- UPDATE- Carson Wentz is coming back from surgery on his foot. If he has a setback and the Colts don’t upgrade their QB- their entire offense takes a massive hit, including Campbell. This is a fluid situation. As if that isn’t enough, Parris Campbell has yet to stay healthy. Twice he's been on my sleepers list and twice he's had injury plagued seasons. That said, if Parris can stay healthy he has the talent to make some noise. He's big and fast. He also gets an upgrade at QB if Carson Wentz returns to form. Campbell will be dirt cheap on draft day (current ADP 19th round) so he's worth a late round flyer. I probably just put the famous Ringo jinx on the poor guy again- sacrebleu!

Van Jefferson- Desean Jackson takes over for Josh Reynolds, but he usually has a hard time staying healthy. If he goes down, don't be surprised if Van Jefferson comes in and does well. The scouting report on Jefferson is what he lacks in speed, he makes up for in route running. That's how he creates separation. His dad is a NFL coach who taught him well. With an upgrade at QB in Matthew Stafford, Van Jefferson could make an impact sooner than many fantasy pundits realize.

WRs I’m fading

Stefon Diggs- Diggs had a career year. Those are hard to repeat. Even with that he still only had 8 TDs. He's only 6'0" so he's not exactly a huge red zone threat. And TDs is what separates the good fantasy WRs from the great ones. I think he takes a step back this year. His 2nd round ADP is too rich for my blood. Can you Digg it?

Amari Cooper- Dak's injury destroyed the Cowboys offense last year. Their line was also decimated. Things should be better in 2021. That bodes well for Cooper. There should be more TDs in 2021. He'll have to compete with Cee Dee Lamb to get them though. That's easier said than done. Cooper is a steady top 15 WR. It's hard to see him produce much better than that though. Also note Amari injured his ankle in May. Will his ankle hold up? Keep an eye on this as the summer unfolds. At his current ADP (48th overall), It might be time to let Amari fly the fantasy coop.

Pitt WRs- Juju Smith-Schuster/Diontae Johnson/Chase Claypool- I want no part of the Steelers’ offense. Their offensive line lost some major pieces. Big Ben will be under siege. If he lasts the season I’ll be shocked. He looks washed. No thanks.

Odell Beckham- Odell Beckham is one of my favorite players. That three finger catch he made against Dallas on Sunday Night Football saved my bacon and got me into the playoffs. The concerns, and they are big ones, are 1.) Beckham is coming off a torn ACL. He hurt it late Oct 2020 and had surgery in early Nov. Those usually take two years for players to feel normal. The stopping and starting for WRs is even tougher to come back from than say for a QB. He could reinjure it if he comes back too soon. He also might lack the confidence it holds up and not play like his old self.

2.) The Browns are a run oriented team. Even if he was 100% healthy coming into the season his targets will be more limited than if he were on a passing team. For those reasons I'm down on Beckham in 2021 even though he's one of the most talented WRs in the NFL.

Courtland Sutton- Sutton is coming off a torn ACL he hurt early in 2020. The loss of LT JuWann James to injury (out for the year) and shaky QB play makes Sutton a risky pick imo. Too risky for me. No thanks.

TEs I like

Kyle Pitts- What if I told you it was possible to draft Calvin Johnson and play him at TE. Would you do it? In 30 years of playing fantasy football, Kyle Pitts is the best fantasy tight end I've ever seen. I had that same feeling back in 1998 when I first saw and drafted a rookie WR from Marshall on the Vikings, Randy Moss. I had that feeling again after I saw RB Saquon Barkley. Many experts said a rookie couldn't be drafted as the 1st or 2nd RB because he hadn't done it before. Saquon had over 2,028 total yards 91 receptions 15 TDs his rookie year. To paraphrase the line from A League of Their Own, "I know the goods when I see it. And he's the goods." When his career is all said and done Kyle Pitts will rewrite the record books at TE.

Zach Ertz-A change of scenery should do Zach Ertz good. We're still waiting to find out where he ends up, but it seems like a trade is imminent. The word on the street is the Colts are one of the teams interested. Reuniting with Carson Wentz would be good news for Zach's 2021 fantasy outlook. Ertz is only two years removed from 88 rec 916 yds and 6 TDs.

Blake Jarwin/Dalton Schultz— Jarwin was set to take over the reins from Jason Witten, but a knee injury ended his season in week 1. He's faster than Schultz, and Dallas paid him some decent money so the smart money is on him having the edge to win the starting job in training camp. Whoever wins the Dallas starting TE gig is in a good spot. Dallas throws it an awful lot. Remember, most of the season Dallas played with a backup QB and a decimated line. Dak and the o-line are back for 2021. Both Jarwin and Schultz are solid late round sleepers.

Dan Arnold- Dan Arnold ranked 15th? Whatcha talkin' about Ringo? (reference to Arnold Jackson’s character played by Gary Coleman on the tv show Diff’rent Strokes see below) Arnold is a hybrid WR/TE. He's got some serious wheels and big time athleticism to make acrobatic catches. The Panthers went out and got him in free agency, reuniting former Saints and current Panthers offensive coordinator, Joe Brady, with his former player to make him their starting TE. If Carolina gets anything out of Sam Darnold at QB, it will be Darnold to Arnold. Hasta la vista baby! The Terminator at TE. I'll be back.

TEs I’m fading

TJ Hockenson- He's probably the #1 receiving target for Jared Goff given the lousy core of wide receivers the Lions have with the departures of Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones. However, the Lions want to be a physical team that features the run. I have concerns about their passing attack and offense in general. He's going too high for me given the lack of offensive firepower here.

Dallas Goedert- Many fantasy owners are expecting Goedert's stats to soar with the expected trade of Zach Ertz. I'm not sure that's going to happen. Goedert isn’t anything special speed wise and Jalen Hurts has accuracy issues. He'll take off and run more than throw. Rookie WR Devonta Smith should command a lot of targets as well. No thanks.

Austin Hooper- Austin Hooper was signed for big money by the Browns, but they have a run oriented offense which made no sense. After he left the Falcons, his stats sunk quicker than Quint’s boat, Orca, in the movie Jaws. It's hard to see things getting any better in 2021. Hoopah! Slow ahead if you please! No thanks.

FantasyNation Weekly Ranking Contest Results

July 16, 2021 by Mark Ringo in 2020 FantasyNation Result

The results are in. Out of 72 analysts I finished 12th overall in Fantasy Nation’s Weekly Rankings Contest. And in the categories I finished 1st in QB, 18th in RBs, 11th in WRs, and 10th in TEs. That’s the second year in a row I’ve won the QB rankings! I’m getting better at this ranking stuff. Hopefully I can take the overall crown in 2021. Thanks to all of the other analysts for competing and for the invite from Emil Kadlec.