Devin Singletary
Devin Singletary had some impressive moments in his 2019 rookie campaign. He also spent some time on the bench with a lingering hamstring injury. After starting his season with limited opportunities, Singletary was trusted with 20 carries in week nine. He made the most of that opportunity, finishing as the sixth-best running back that week with 140 rushing yards and 38 yards receiving and added a touchdown. From weeks 11-16, Singletary averaged 17.16 rushes per game and 77.66 rushing yards per game, averaging 4.52 yards per attempt. Not too shabby.
If you’re a Singletary shareholder you were feeling pretty good to close the season. Singletary was trusted with double-digit carries repeatedly and was a presence in the passing game. As a rookie who only played in 12 games, to finish the season with nearly 1,000 total yards and four touchdowns is encouraging.
Then came the whispers in the offseason about the potential for Buffalo to draft a running back in the 2020 draft. The window to sell Singletary immediately closed with the 86th pick in the 3rd round when Buffalo selected Zack Moss out of Utah. Since the draft, there has been a difference of opinion on how the Bills will use Moss and Singletary and which of the two is the running back to own in Buffalo this season. For this reason, specifically, he is a hold. There is no chance that you will get the value for Singletary that you could get once the season starts. Moss has dampened Singletary’s value to the point where you would be underselling yourself if you attempted to move on him at this point in the off-season.
Based on the glimpses of electric running and vision we saw last season, trading him for anything less than a first-round draft pick seems ill-advised. But you’ll be hard-pressed to find anyone that will give that type of draft capital for him now. Singletary is a perfect example of a player whose trade window has closed and will only reopen once the season is underway Keep an eye on the workload split this season and read the tea leaves in the Bills offense. You don’t want to be left holding the Singletary bag if the Moss-train leaves the station.
Julian Edelman
It has been one heck of a career for the now 34-year-old wide receiver in New England. Over the last three seasons that he has played, he finished as WR15, WR20, and WR7. Edelman has come a long way from playing quarterback at Kent State and being drafted in the seventh round to being a perennial WR1 or WR2. Edelman is a consistent PPR format fantasy producer but he has lost the GOAT quarterback Tom Brady. He has a new presence in the huddle with Cam Newton. Not a bad swap considering he could have been stuck with Jarrett Stidham under center.
Edelman is going to produce this season because he always has, but he is also one of the oldest wide receivers in the league. It isn’t crazy to think he plays out the remainder of his contract in New England and retires at the end of the 2021 season. He can give you WR2 production for at most two more seasons, and in a dynasty league that is an interesting predicament to find yourself in. You’re not going to get much in return for this old of an asset, but he can also still win you a championship. This is another perfect example of waiting on the season to start, and if you find yourself out of contention this season, sell to a contender who needs that additional piece to put them over the top.
Edelman’s return mid-season is going to be far greater than his return currently. He is dealing with a new quarterback, the inclusion of N’Keal Harry, and two new tight ends. All of these factors can be used to drive his price down. Assuming he continues to produce the way he has for the last six seasons, you’ll be in a great position to capitalize on his in-season value rather than selling for less now.
O.J. Howard
O’Terrius Jabari (O.J.) Howard noticeably underwhelmed last season when the majority of fantasy prognosticators had pegged him as a breakout candidate. In his first two seasons in the league, he finished as TE21 and TE14 in PPR formats. He was a no brainer candidate for that classic 3rd-year breakout. On a team with no other exciting talent at tight end and Jameis Winston throwing indiscriminately, you figured Howard would progress statistically. We were wrong. Howard ended the 2019 season as TE29 and was largely unstartable in all formats.
Concerningly, Howard’s snap share increased from 39.1% in 2018 to 68.4% in 2019. He was still unable to improve upon his 2018 season. Winston threw for over 5,000 yards and 30 touchdowns with the Buccaneers last season. Howard was only able to bring in 459 yards receiving and one touchdown, yikes. Now, the talent is unquestionably there. He has the draft capital (drafted with the 19th overall selection in the 2017 NFL draft), he has the workout metrics but now he has Rob Gronkowski ahead of him on the depth chart.
Over 25% of the plays the Buccaneers ran last season included two tight ends. The question will be which tight end will the Buccaneers deploy between O.J. Howard and Cameron Brate. Rob Gronkowski is unquestionably going to be the top tight end target in Tampa. Gronkowski and Brady are arguably the best two players at their respective positions in NFL history. Currently, if you tried to trade O.J. Howard, you would get peanuts in return. He holds very little value even in tight end premium leagues. His window is closed on trading him away. I also cannot argue that you should be buying him right now either.
It is unclear how things will shake out in Tampa Bay this season. There is a scenario in which Howard blossoms into the tight end we all thought he would be. That proposition became much cloudier with the addition of Gronkowski. Howard is a nice second or third tight end to have on your bench to play around with. Depending on how this season shakes out, of course. Gronkowski has never been the picture of health throughout both his college and NFL career. Plus, there is a chance Howard gets increased playing time at some point this year. Hopefully, he elevates his game with Tom Brady in town. Hold onto Howard until this season gets going to see what your best move is.
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