As we get closer to the start of the season, the range of preseason outcomes continues to narrow. Depth charts harden. Rookies demonstrate relevance or unreadiness. The chance of season-ending injuries diminishes (though as we learned last year with the Ravens' backfield, anything can happen).
But we still have a little over two weeks, and this recent slate of games (not to mention the Jets/Falcons tonight) gives us a little more to think about. More than anything, the Bengals' backfield jumped out at me last night. I've been all in on targeting Joe Mixon's handcuff, because Mixon's usage last season (including the in playoffs) makes him a higher-than-normal significant injury/regression risk.
On most teams, handcuffs are pretty straightforward. Often there's one to focus on, like Tony Pollard or Alexander Mattison. Sometimes there are two. Last year, it looked like Samaje Perine was the Bengals' #2 RB. He's put together a couple solid seasons in a row. But Chris Evans is two years younger and just as capable (or more capable) in the passing game. There was buzz this summer that Evans might leapfrog Perine.
Admittedly, I was rooting for Evans, because I like simplicity wherever we can get it. If he had a stellar preseason, I could draft him very late with the confidence of *thinking* he'll start at least a couple games this year, and could actually push for 150 touches overall. That's fantasy money in the bank.
And I'm not alone in this thinking. His overall ADP has jumped from 359 in late June to 285 in late July. It peaked at 230 right before his first preseason game. 13 carries and 0 rushing yards later (yes, zero), Evans is no longer a trendy pick. He might not even be worth drafting. I'm writing this Sunday night and am going to sleep on it. But as it stands, I can't justify picking him over the more proven Perine, and quite possibly even fourth-stringer Trayveon Williams.
I get it: these are meaningless games, and Evans faced tougher defenses than Williams did. Still, zero yards on 13 carries while battling for a coveted depth-chart spot probably won't move him up the ladder. And last night might have been his last chance to push for more work before the season starts.
And yet . . . Perine remains out. Williams ran pretty poorly in both games (though he scored, but that's not a key indicator). Jacques Patrick, who shared a backfield with Cam Akers in college, looked terrific. Yet he needs more than some good runs against backup defenders to prove he's ready.
So I'm not ready to throw in the towel on Evans, whose ADP began dropping last week. But I'm also hoping someone steps up in the next week. Time's running out. Perine seems like the easiest call. This could be a muddy situation in September. And it's also too important (IMO, given my views on Mixon) to ignore.
Throwing it to you: Are there any under-the-radar RBs you're targeting? Like Kyren Williams or Kevin Harris? What makes them must-draft guys for you?
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Sign up for my 2022 Top 400 Fantasy Draft Rankings ("PFN Pass") or 1:1 Advisory Services ("Touchdown Pass"):
https://pass.profootballnetwork.com/
But we still have a little over two weeks, and this recent slate of games (not to mention the Jets/Falcons tonight) gives us a little more to think about. More than anything, the Bengals' backfield jumped out at me last night. I've been all in on targeting Joe Mixon's handcuff, because Mixon's usage last season (including the in playoffs) makes him a higher-than-normal significant injury/regression risk.
On most teams, handcuffs are pretty straightforward. Often there's one to focus on, like Tony Pollard or Alexander Mattison. Sometimes there are two. Last year, it looked like Samaje Perine was the Bengals' #2 RB. He's put together a couple solid seasons in a row. But Chris Evans is two years younger and just as capable (or more capable) in the passing game. There was buzz this summer that Evans might leapfrog Perine.
Admittedly, I was rooting for Evans, because I like simplicity wherever we can get it. If he had a stellar preseason, I could draft him very late with the confidence of *thinking* he'll start at least a couple games this year, and could actually push for 150 touches overall. That's fantasy money in the bank.
And I'm not alone in this thinking. His overall ADP has jumped from 359 in late June to 285 in late July. It peaked at 230 right before his first preseason game. 13 carries and 0 rushing yards later (yes, zero), Evans is no longer a trendy pick. He might not even be worth drafting. I'm writing this Sunday night and am going to sleep on it. But as it stands, I can't justify picking him over the more proven Perine, and quite possibly even fourth-stringer Trayveon Williams.
I get it: these are meaningless games, and Evans faced tougher defenses than Williams did. Still, zero yards on 13 carries while battling for a coveted depth-chart spot probably won't move him up the ladder. And last night might have been his last chance to push for more work before the season starts.
And yet . . . Perine remains out. Williams ran pretty poorly in both games (though he scored, but that's not a key indicator). Jacques Patrick, who shared a backfield with Cam Akers in college, looked terrific. Yet he needs more than some good runs against backup defenders to prove he's ready.
So I'm not ready to throw in the towel on Evans, whose ADP began dropping last week. But I'm also hoping someone steps up in the next week. Time's running out. Perine seems like the easiest call. This could be a muddy situation in September. And it's also too important (IMO, given my views on Mixon) to ignore.
Throwing it to you: Are there any under-the-radar RBs you're targeting? Like Kyren Williams or Kevin Harris? What makes them must-draft guys for you?
---
Sign up for my 2022 Top 400 Fantasy Draft Rankings ("PFN Pass") or 1:1 Advisory Services ("Touchdown Pass"):
https://pass.profootballnetwork.com/