Intro
In this article, I want to quickly chat about some things that caught my eye during Sunday’s slate of NFL games. It’s not going to be a comprehensive article, but I think there will be actionable advice in here. It’s like getting an inside view into my personal thoughts after Week 17, which I’m sure lots of you want to hear. Let’s jump into it!
Tua Tagovailoa’s Struggles
At this point, we need to mention Tagovailoa’s struggles in terms of his dynasty value. The Dolphins lost to the Bills 56-26 in a must-win game. Tagovailoa threw 361 yards, a touchdown, and three costly interceptions, looking nothing like the can’t-miss prospect he once was.
Dynasty owners also must consider that the Dolphins own the third overall pick, acquired in a trade with the Texans. I would be shocked if they select a quarterback, but anything is possible. Therefore, I’ve dropped Tagovailoa in my dynasty Superflex rankings. He’s my QB10, but he’s in the fourth round, along with quarterbacks like Ryan Tannehill and Aaron Rodgers. I’m no longer confident that Tagovailoa will provide consistent fantasy or real-life value.
Jonathan Taylor’s Eruption
Jonathan Taylor broke out with a massive performance in Week 17, leading the Colts to the playoffs. He took 30 carries for 253 yards and two touchdowns, bringing him to 230 carries, 1,169 yards, and 12 touchdowns for the season. Overall, we have to consider Taylor’s rookie year a smashing success.
Going into 2020, Taylor is the unquestioned Colts’ lead back, although Nyheim Hines will continue to mix in on passing downs. Taylor turns 22 years old in January, making him one of the youngest top running backs in the league. Therefore, I currently rank Taylor as my second overall player, behind only Christian McCaffrey.
Cam Newton: Career Saved?
Cam Newton may have saved his career with a strong Week 17 game against the Jets. Newton completed 21/30 passes for 242 yards and three touchdowns. Considering that Newton only had five touchdowns coming into this contest, he improved his value to NFL teams.
With their win, the Patriots improved to 7-9, placing them at the 15th slot for the 2021 NFL Draft. While the Patriots will likely still draft a first-round quarterback, I could see them bringing Newton back as a bridge quarterback. Whoever they draft will be a raw prospect, so having Newton on the team to start some games in 2021 could be a healthy option.
Justin Jefferson: The Stud
I’m just unbelievably impressed with Jefferson’s rookie year. In Week 17, he caught nine passes for 133 yards in another solid game. For 2020, Jefferson finished with 88 receptions for 1,400 yards and seven touchdowns. Those numbers are impressive for any wide receiver, but Jefferson was a rookie in a run-first offense opposite a solid WR1 in Adam Thielen.
Jefferson won’t even turn 22 years old until June, making him about two years younger than A.J. Brown or D.K. Metcalf. Considering Jefferson’s rookie-year production, I can’t see any way to avoid ranking him as my dynasty WR1. He’s already had a better season than most receivers ever have, and that was just his rookie year. I have Jefferson as my third overall dynasty asset, behind only Christian McCaffrey and Jonathan Taylor.
Teddy Bridgewater Benched
Yes, I heard the rumors that Panthers’ head coach Matt Rhule benched Bridgewater due to an ankle injury. However, he also stated that Bridgewater could have played. Franchise quarterbacks like, say, Matthew Stafford, don’t usually come out of games due to minor injuries, especially considering the game was still close when the Panthers pulled Bridgewater.
P.J. Walker was horrible in Bridgewater’s place, completing 5/14 passes for 95 yards and three interceptions. I’m not saying that Walker is the Panthers’ answer in any way, nor is their other backup, Will Grier. But, the Panthers select eighth overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, in a quarterback-heavy class.
They likely will not have access to Trevor Lawrence or Justin Fields, but they could trade up or select someone like Zach Wilson or Trey Lance. Either way, Bridgewater is not their long-term answer. The Panthers are currently searching for a new general manager who will want to bring in their own quarterback. Bridgewater ranks presently as my Superflex QB22, but he’s a risky asset going into the offseason.
Marvin Jones’ Revival
All of a sudden, Marvin Jones has rediscovered his form as a top NFL receiver. In the first five games, Jones totaled 14 receptions on 24 targets for 146 yards and a touchdown, averaging just 29.2 yards/game. However, since then, Jones has had 54 catches on 80 targets for 652 yards and six touchdowns in the next 10 games. In Week 17, Jones punctuated that strong run with eight receptions, 180 yards, and two touchdowns.
Jones’ outburst brings his season total to 76 receptions, 978 yards, and nine touchdowns, his best stats since his last full season in 2017. Jones is now a free agent, and he has all but confirmed that he will not return to the Lions. Considering that Jones only turns 31 years old, I expect him to sign a sizable contract with a contending roster as their WR2. Imagine him as the WR2 in Green Bay or Kansas City. Jones suddenly has dynasty appeal once again, after he was a dead asset in midseason.
Thanks for reading this article. You can find me on Twitter at @DFF_Karp. I love to interact with anyone in the community, so reach out at any time! I take fantasy questions and help with all formats, so keep sending those questions my way.
