Welcome back fantasy football fans! With training camps getting underway, it’s time to start getting ready to chase another championship. Today we have Dalvin Cook Kerryon Johnson Fantasy Football avoid targets advice. Don’t forget to check out Rotoballer.com for all of the tools you need to get the edge on your league mates.
Dalvin Cook Kerryon Johnson Fantasy Football avoid targets
The big factor that will help Dalvin Cook take a step forward is going to be how much Cook improves in the passing game. He only saw 15 targets in his four games, but he hauled 11 of those in for 90 yards. Obviously, Cook was not the primary passing-down back last year (that was Jerick McKinnon’s role), and so it’s certainly not fair to write off any receiving production that he might add. It’s a borderline guarantee that he will rack up 400 receiving yards in 2018, as the only real competition for snaps he has is Latavius Murray. Cook is the clear workhorse in that offense, and he’ll be on the field for a majority of snaps in all situations. It’s perfectly possible that they use Latavius Murray as the goal line back, but Cook will more than make up for any losses there with his dominance of passing-down snaps. Plain and simple, the opportunity is there for Cook if he stays healthy–McKinnon and Murray were BOTH top-15 fantasy running backs after Cook went down last year, and if he’s on the field the fantasy production is absolutely going to come.
Dalvin Cook Kerryon Johnson Fantasy Football avoid targets
Isaiah Crowell’s situation is actually pretty similar to Dalvin Cook’s in that his next big leap is predicated on him taking a step forward in the passing game. Whether it’s Josh McCown, Teddy Bridgewater or Sam Darnold under center for the Jets, the offense isn’t going to be considered “high-flying” by any means. The Jets will be focused on controlling the ball on offense, and that means plenty of action for the running backs. Bilal Powell will certainly still be a factor, but if Crowell can continue to prove his capability in the passing game–like he did with a 16-yard catch-and-run for a TD in the Jets preseason opener–then he should have no problem assuming the lion’s share of the touches in that back field. I don’t believe he has an RB1 ceiling by any means, but at his current ADP (RB35, 85 overall) he should be a great value pick in the 7th or 8th round of your fantasy drafts regardless of what format you play in.
Dalvin Cook Kerryon Johnson Fantasy Football avoid targets
I don’t think it’s too much to assume that Kerryon Johnson is the most talented back in the Detroit backfield. The Lions took him in the second round of this year’s draft, and any skill player with that much draft capital attached to him is a near-lock to be a key part of future plans. However, I don’t see Johnson assuming that key role in 2018. While they invested draft capital on Johnson, the Lions also signed early-down bruiser LeGarrette Blount in the off-season and he certainly isn’t on the team to ride the pine. They’ve also kept Theo Riddick locked into a roster spot, as he’s been a key to their offense on passing downs in recent years. With Blount on the field for early downs and Riddick on the field for passing downs, where does the volume come from for Johnson? He’ll definitely get the opportunity to show his stuff this season, but if that’s 10-12 inconsistent touches a game, he’s simply not worth the draft day investment. In Round 6 or 7, take a guy with higher upside like Marlon Mack, Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp, or the aforementioned Crowell.
Draft Sleepers of the Week
Samaje Perine, RB, Washington Redskins – With rookie stud Derrius Guice out for the season, touches in the Washington backfield are Perine’s to lose. He should have no problem fending off Rob Kelley for early-down back duties.
Jack Doyle, TE, Indianapolis Colts – Don’t let the addition of Eric Ebron fool you–Doyle is the guy with fantasy potential in Indy. Very quietly had an 80-catch season in 2017, should replicate that with Andrew Luck back under center.
Mike Williams, WR, Los Angeles Chargers – The 2017 first-round pick had a lost season due to injury, but he has been the talk of training camp in 2018 and should win the starting job opposite Keenan Allen in an offense that should be able to support two fantasy-relevant wide outs.
