My Week One Fantasy Team

QB1 – Carson Wentz – Philadelphia Eagles

Carson put in a steller performance last season taking the Eagles to the Superbowl. Sadly, Wentz didn’t get to participate in that game, or the two before after suffering an ACL tear in his left knee in a week 14 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams. Wentz is on everyone’s radars this season given he is coming off such an incredible season and that ACL injury and there is a lot of talk he won’t start the season, but that is yet to be seen. I believe when he does start, we will see a hungrier, healthier and more aggressive Carson Wentz, and that for me makes him a dangerous

QB to have on my team.

2017 Numbers

Passing Yards – 3296

Touchdowns – 33

Rushing Yards – 299

Total Fantasy Points – 281.74

Best Fantasy Game – Week 7, Washington Redskins – 31.02 Points

2018 Projected

Projected Fantasy Points - 258.38

QB2 – Jared Goff – Los Angeles Rams

Goff was lightyears ahead of where he was in 2016 under Fisher. McVay came in as a 30-year-old head coach and turned Goff into something special. He installed an offense which allowed Goff to shine. Their 2016 season ended 4-12 and Jeff Fisher was canned. The start of 2018 saw Goff get off to a great start and surrounded by talent like Todd Gurley and Cooper Kupp. Having Goff as my back-up QB ensures I have a solid stand-in for Wentz, should he not start or goes down again mid-season. He also guarantees results

2017 Numbers

Passing Yards – 3804

Touchdowns – 28

Rushing Yards – 51

Total Fantasy Points – 255.26

Best Fantasy Game – Week 9, New York Giants – 28.44 Points

2018 Projected

Projected Fantasy Points – 257.64

RB1 – Saquon Barkley – New York Giants

It’s well known that I am a Giants fan. When we drafted Barkley in the 1st round, I was over the moon. Barkley gives the Giants a running game, when arguably one has been missing since Barber in 2006. Barkley was the highest tipped player going into the 2018 NFL Draft and rightly so, his collegiate at Penn State was that of stardom. The Giants will feature Barkley heavily in 2018 and take the pressure off the passing game. I took a chance with Barkley given he is a rookie, but I have faith in his abilities and see him as standing out as one of the best backs in the league at the end of 2018 (if not before).

Given he is a rookie, there are no 2017 numbers for him.

2018 Projected

Projected Fantasy Points – 193.62

RB2 – Rashaad Penny – Seattle Seahawks

Seattle spent their 1st round pick on Penny and the running back position was a big need for them. Russell Wilson is one hell of a QB, and part of their game plan over the last few years has been Wilsons ability to use his legs to extend plays. Like the Giants, the Seahawks have not had a running game since the departure of Marshawn Lynch in 2015. Penny offers them a potential feature back. The reason I picked Penny as my RB2, is because of this reason. We know the Seahawks have lacked a running back, we know Wilson puts himself in danger trying to extend plays, now they have Penny, that load will be passed down to him, meaning he should put up some great fantasy points.

Given he is a rookie, there are no 2017 numbers for him.

2018 Projected

Projected Fantasy Points – 154.53

RB3 – Carlos Hyde – Cleveland Browns

Hyde put up some great fantasy points last year for the 49ers and now heads to the Browns, at what is arguably their most exciting time as a club in the last 3 years. Hyde will no doubt share the load with Duke Johnson and rookie Nick Chubb. I expect him to put up numbers just as he did last year in San Francisco. I also knew it would be important to have a vet running back on the team to account for those numbers if the rookies fail.

2017 Numbers

Receiving Yards – 350

Touchdowns – 8

Rushing Yards – 938

Total Fantasy Points – 174.80

Best Fantasy Game – Week 3, Los Angeles Rams – 21.40 Points

2018 Projected

Projected Fantasy Points – 127.06

WR1 – Julio Jones – Atlanta Falcons

Julio Jones has been a constant offensive weapon for the Falcons since 2011 when he was drafted 6th overall. Jones is considered one of the best wide receivers in the National Football League. It was a no brainer picking Jones to be my number one receiver and with Matty Ice tipped to be on top form in 2018, Jones will be, as he has been since 2011, his number one target.

2017 Numbers

Receiving Yards – 1444

Touchdowns – 3

Rushing Yards – 15

Total Fantasy Points – 163.90

Best Fantasy Game – Week 12, Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 38.80 Points

2018 Projected

Projected Fantasy Points – 186.11

WR2 – Amari Cooper – Oakland Raiders

Cooper was greatly targeted last year by Derek Carr which led to him putting up some good points. The Raiders sadly didn’t have a great season last year, but under new head coach John Gruden and returning quarterback Derek Carr 2018 is looking up. Cooper will be a feature in the Raiders’ offense and will hopefully put up some great numbers. I am a huge fan of Cooper and truly believe 2018 will be his stand out season.

2017 Numbers

Receiving Yards – 680

Touchdowns – 7

Rushing Yards – 4

Total Fantasy Points – 110.40

Best Fantasy Game – Week 7, Kansas City Chiefs - 33.00 Points

2018 Projected

Projected Fantasy Points – 128.97

WR3 – Brandin Cooks – Los Angeles Rams

Cooks had a fantastic year last year with the Patriots after coming over from the Saints where he was drafted 20th overall in 2014. He had some great games in New England and started 15 games out of 16 for the Patriots. I wanted Cooks because of where he is now. He will be a feature in LA, and that was proved when the Rams invested in him signing him to a 5 year deal worth $81 million. Having Goff throwing to someone hungry for the ball, and someone that McVay believes in means we should see big numbers from Cooks in 2018.

2017 Numbers

Receiving Yards – 1082

Touchdowns – 7

Rushing Yards – 40

Total Fantasy Points – 156.20

Best Fantasy Game – Week 3, Houston Texans – 27.10 Points

2018 Projected

Projected Fantasy Points – 120.66

WR4 – Nelson Agholor – Philadelphia Eagles

Agholor is a great wide receiver and really showed up last year during the Eagles superbowl run. I wanted Agholor in my receiving corps as I know he is a favorite of Carson Wentz. He had good production last year and I’m hoping with more chances on the ball, that production increases.

2017 Numbers

Receiving Yards – 768

Touchdowns – 8

Rushing Yards – 7

Total Fantasy Points – 131.50

Best Fantasy Game – Week 13, Seattle Seahawks – 20.10 Points

2018 Projected

Projected Fantasy Points – 104.47

WR5 – Sterling Shepard – New York Giants

Shepard missed 5 games last season due to issues with migraines and still put up good numbers. His success last year came from the fact that the entire receiving corps in New York went down with injuries. Shepard and Engram were left to pick up the pieces left by OBJ and Marshall being injured in the same game in week 5. I wanted Shepard on my team because of his ability. Eli will be safer in the pocket this year with the addition of Nate Solder from New England and Will Hernandez in the 2018 draft which will give him more time to pass.

2017 Numbers

Receiving Yards – 731

Touchdowns – 2

Rushing Yards – 4

Total Fantasy Points – 85.50

Best Fantasy Game – Week 15, Philadelphia Eagles – 19.90 Points

2018 Projected

Projected Fantasy Points – 109.33

TE1 – Trey Burton – Chicago Bears

Trey Burton played a very important part in the Superbowl for the Eagles, completing a pass to QB Nick Foles for a touchdown, a play now known as the “Philly Special”. That’s not why I picked him of course, but, he flashed greatness in some games last season and the Bears have stated that he will play a huge part in their newly installed, Matt Nagy offense. Burton will be a brilliant weapon for 2nd year QB, Mitch Trubisky.

2017 Numbers

Receiving Yards – 248

Touchdowns – 5

Rushing Yards – 0

Total Fantasy Points – 56.80

Best Fantasy Game – Week 14, Los Angeles Rams – 19.10 Points

2018 Projected

Projected Fantasy Points – 77.76

TE2 – David Njoku – Cleveland Browns

Njoku is probably viewed as somewhat of a risky pick, but i share the Browns aspirations for him. He had 60 targets last year and only dropped 3. He could become a great pass catching tight end. I want to see him improve on his blocking skills, as do the Browns, but as long as he can keep catching, he will get the targets he needs to put up some good numbers this fantasy league.

2017 Numbers

Receiving Yards – 386

Touchdowns – 4

Rushing Yards – 1

Total Fantasy Points – 62.70

Best Fantasy Game – Week 13, Los Angeles Chargers – 13.40 Points

2018 Projected

Projected Fantasy Points – 56.94

Kicker – Justin Tucker – Baltimore Ravens

I knew when drafting my kicker, I need Justin Tucker. He is the most accurate kicker in the National Football League by far. His numbers last season were astonishing, and I wanted that skill on my fantasy team putting up the numbers he did last year. This is a guy who has made EVERY PAT since 2012.

2017 Numbers

Field Goals Attempted – 35

Field Goals Made – 32

PAT’s Attempted – 36

PAT’s Attempted - 36

Total Fantasy Points – 151.00

Best Fantasy Game – Week 13, Detroit Lions – 16.00 Points

2018 Projected

Projected Fantasy Points – 115.38

Defense 1 – Denver Broncos

Im not going to go into too much detail about each defense as there are a lot of players to cover. So what I will do is highlight the main reasons I picked the Broncos as my number one defense. Two names, Von Miller and Bradly Chubb. These two on the field together is going to be insane and I want a piece of that.

2017 Numbers

Sacks – 33 Total

Interceptions – 10

Touchdowns – 4

Total Fantasy Points – 104.00

Best Fantasy Game – Week 14, New York Jets – 18.00 Points

2018 Projected

Projected Fantasy Points – 109.85

Defense 2 – Houston Texans

Again, I won’t go into detail. But there are two defensive players on this team that haven’t played a full season together and I am hoping they do in 2018. JJ Watt and Jadeveon Clowney take to the field together and i believe they will dominate. What can be more perfect than having a defense containing JJ Watt and Clowney as a back-up?

2017 Numbers

Sacks – 32

Interceptions – 11

Touchdowns – 4

Total Fantasy Points – 83.00

Best Fantasy Game – Week 6, Cleveland Browns – 22.00 Points

2018 Projected

Projected Fantasy Points – 102.64

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