X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Fantasy Football Pop Quiz - AFC North

Mrs. Clinton (my wife, not the politician) is a die-hard Green Bay Packers fan, so when she tells you that the players she wants on her team for her second fantasy season are among the many Lambeau Leapers, you might just smile politely and roll your eyes. But she'll also happily tell you about how she's hoping to get... David Njoku.

It's come up quite a bit this month. She brought it up at a football game we attended where David Njoku was not in the same state. She brings it up periodically on the couch. She's thinking of naming her fantasy team after him but can't quite figure out the wordplay. And this new fascination with the talented second-year tight end came from... Hard Knocks. Specifically, the scene where David Njoku is meditating and thinking about catching passes. I still don't know if she fondly remembers the month and a half where we also did yoga and then started to get attacked by a dog anytime we were in a downward position and relates to him that way, maybe she thinks he's cute, maybe she just likes the last name Njoku. The bigger issue is that... I can't really talk her out of drafting David Njoku. I haven't even given it a shot, nor will I, because the more I look at it.... the more I kind of like the pick. And the more I mostly wonder if I'm hedging my bets so I don't get annoyed when he's good and she's gloating about it, or if I like the guy too and just haven't thought about it that much.

That, my friends, is a decent summation of the AFC North. While I made sure to let you know I believe the AFC East is largely a dumpster fire, hallmarked by a 41-year old quarterback and his can't-go-over-the-middle #1 pass catcher, I believe that the AFC North has more (albeit begrudging) potential for pockets of fantasy value here and there. Consistently? No, apart from the obvious names. But potentially? There's something on each of these teams.

Editor's Note: Explore RotoBaller’s Dynasty Fantasy Football hub for year-round dynasty rankings, trade tips, rookie analysis, and long-term player outlooks. Dominate your league with our sleepers, stash targets, and dynasty draft advice. Click here for Dynasty rankings and strategy.

 

Cleveland Browns

My flyer-who-isn't-quite-a-flyer for 2018 is _____________

  1. Duke Johnson Jr.
  2. David Njoku
  3. Carlos Hyde
  4. Nick Chubb

It's a great change of pace in Cleveland that I get to write the sentence "Assume Jarvis Landry and Josh Gordon will be steady, productive fantasy assets" because I believe it's true. Despite my questioning Hue Jackson's ability to coach the best out of his players, Landry and Gordon have proven fantasy consistency in very tumultuous offenses, and this Browns team could be the best either of them have played on in years. Meanwhile, Duke Johnson Jr. is an eighth-round running back who has "PPR zero-RB running back" written all over him. Shoutout to Phil Clark and his analysis of Johnson here, but the basics are this; Johnson is catching more passes than any other back and still will be a candidate for work on the receiving end. If you expect the Browns to still be in shootouts, and odds are there will be plenty, a Johnson that stumbles into the end zone even two or three more times is a great deeper league FLEX play.

Save your one dollar bid for ________________

Did you guess Tyrod TaylorYes, this is only for re-draft leagues and it's not even guaranteed to last the whole season, but if you are in a league big enough where a backup QB is necessary, Taylor is currently going #27 in ADP though he finished as the sixteenth best QB last year. You know this about Taylor; while the Mayfield question looms, expect Taylor to be a productive quarterback with much better weapons then he had in Buffalo, and at the very least know that he won't be sat in regards to a petty squabble about Nathan Peterman. Taylor could quietly be a top-ten quarterback this year if he keeps the job, and while there is nothing sexy about the pick, getting the guy who finished within four points of Matt Ryan in 2017 for the same price as... pretty much everyone else is nothing to sneeze at.

 

Baltimore Ravens 

Damnit, are you going to make me talk about how good __________ is and how you should own him?

  1. Kenneth Dixon
  2. John Brown
  3. Breshad Perriman
  4. Willie Snead

I feel like pitching Willie Snead to you is the same thing as trying to sell you a gently used television off of a truck, but hear me out. What would you say if I told you that two things were assured; the Baltimore Ravens were going to have a hard time moving the ball, and they are going to have to rely on an asset that other teams basically ignored. Whether you think my analysis is sound or not, the second piece of this is irrefutable. I selected the four players I did because of general grouping, but pulling up all the fantasy players listed under "BAL" will give you a list of names you probably forgot, a graveyard of guys who were totally going to be good once.

I point you to Snead because, simply, you can't catch what isn't thrown at you. Following Snead's four-game suspension, he became persona non grata in New Orleans, and anyone who wasted an eighth-round pick on him in 2017 couldn't justify holding onto a player who only saw a game with multiple targets once in the whole season. Baltimore won't have that luxury, and considering Snead is likely to live in the slot full time, Baltimore will have to lean on him more than New Orleans did, meaning at least a partial return to the once flourishing player, and at the very least won't cost you as much to play wait-and-see with as he once did.

 

Pittsburgh Steelers

You'll be hurt by _____________ this year, I guarantee it

A: Vance McDonald
B: Juju Smith-Schuster
C: James Washington
D: Steven Ridley

Given that you can't be hurt by sleepers and flyers and I have all the confidence in the world in USC wide receivers, this leaves us with Vance McDonald. The tight end is going as the 13th overall at his position, overshadowing Njoku and OJ Howard and as a 49ers fan, I really couldn't tell you why. Martin has a nice breakdown of it, but trusting an oft-injured big man who is currently injured, even technically as a late TE, is a way to guarantee disappointment. I'm sure you'll wince when McDonald inevitably has his two-touchdown game, but you won't have much of an internal struggle when the big man has a hard time seeing the field (or the ball) with the consistency needed.

 

Cincinnati Bengals

I have nothing to give you here, so please accept my offering of ____________

This whole column has a "very deep draft" feel to it already, so let's keep it going and add Tyler Boyd to the list. He's not even a candidate for the deepest of drafts, but some interesting things have been happening that has made Boyd one to monitor. First off, Boyd was listed ahead of second-year WR John Ross on the preseason depth chart, and while it could be a nice sign of respect for the slightly more tenured receiver, Boyd also seems to be a bit more proficient in his limited work in preseason match-ups than Ross as well. Boyd has never had the full confidence of the Bengals staff and isn't even a reasonable add until we're sure he makes the team and sees at least five targets in his first few matchups. Nevertheless, keep an eye on him.

 

More Draft Prep and Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Pete Crow-Armstrong

Homers Twice, Drives in Three
Brice Matthews

Joining Astros
MLB

White Sox-Guardians Postponed on Thursday
Brandon Aiyuk

Likely to Begin Season on PUP List, but Not Ruled Out for Week 1
Jameson Williams

Not in the Team's Long-Term Plans?
Tallison Teixeira

Set For His First UFC Main Event
Micah Parsons

Plans to be Present for Start of Training Camp
Derrick Lewis

Set To Headline UFC Nashville
Ikem Ekwonu

Next Up for Extension in Carolina?
Jalen Thompson

Heading into Last Year With Cardinals?
Gabriel Bonfim

Looks For His Third UFC Win
Najee Harris

Suffers Eye Injury in Fireworks Mishap
Stephen Thompson

Returns At UFC Nashville
Steve Garcia

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Calvin Kattar

In Dire Need Of Victory
Morgan Charrière

Morgan Charriere A Favorite At UFC Nashville
Nate Landwehr

Aims To Bounce Back
MMA

Austen Lane Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Vitor Petrino

Set For His Heavyweight Debut
Tuco Tokkos

Set To Open Up UFC Nashville Main Card
Junior Tafa

Set For Light-Heavyweight Bout
Alex Bregman

Will Return to Red Sox This Weekend
Chris Sale

Braves Won't Consider Trading Chris Sale
Clarke Schmidt

to Undergo Season-Ending Elbow Surgery on Friday
Nick Nash

Unlikely to Make Falcons Active Roster
Lane Johnson

in No Rush To Retire
Jalen Williams

Signs Contract Extension With Thunder
Blake Corum

has "Gotten His Speed Back"
Jarquez Hunter

Picking Up Rams Offense Quickly
Alijah Martin

Agrees to Two-Way Deal With Raptors
Tristan Vukcevic

Set to Return to Washington
Kirk Cousins

Feels Misled by Falcons
Bijan Robinson

Says Falcons Have "Outlandish Goals" for the Running Game
Luther Burden III

Bears Expect Luther Burden III to be Ready for Training Camp
Cole Kmet

an Unlikely Trade Piece
Tony Pollard

Titans Hope to Balance Rushing Attack With Tony Pollard, Tyjae Spears
Byron Buxton

Sitting Thursday
Quentin Johnston

Not Assured of Starting Role
Cordarrelle Patterson

on the Roster Bubble in Pittsburgh?
Shedeur Sanders

Not Assured of Roster Spot in Cleveland?
Wan'Dale Robinson

Hoping For More Downfield Opportunities
Anfernee Simons

Celtics Are "Actively Trying to Trade" Anfernee Simons
NBA

Alex Ducas Heading to Australia
Dominick Barlow

Inks Two-Way Deal With 76ers
Jordan McLaughlin

Spurs Re-Sign Jordan McLaughlin to One-Year Deal
Dylan Harper

Out Thursday, Expected to Play Saturday
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. Homers Twice on Wednesday
Mike Trout

Homers Twice in Win Over Rangers
Jazz Chisholm Jr.

Leads Yankees to Victory
Salvador Perez

Crushes Two Homers in Win
Cleveland Browns

Greg Newsome on the Trade Block?
VJ Edgecombe

Diagnosed with a Sprained Thumb
Zach Tom

An Extension Candidate in Green Bay
Devin Booker

Agrees to Extension with Phoenix
Trevor Williams

to Undergo Season-Ending Elbow Surgery
Byron Buxton

Exits After Hit-by-Pitch, X-Rays Negative
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. Playing on Wednesday
Alex Bregman

has "Really Good Chance" to Return Before All-Star Break
Teoscar Hernández

Teoscar Hernandez Expected to Return on Friday
Walter Clayton Jr.

Leads Jazz to Summer League Win
Carter Bryant

Struggles in Summer League Loss
Kyle Filipowski

Drops a Double-Double in Summer League Action on Tuesday
Oklahoma City Thunder

Malevy Leons Logs Impressive Summer League Outing on Tuesday
Dalton Knecht

Collects 25 Points in Lakers Summer League Win
Los Angeles Lakers

Darius Bazley Drops 27 Points in Summer League on Tuesday
Gary Woodland

Looking to Find Rhythm at Scottish Open
Aaron Rai

Brings Consistent Play to Scottish Open
Maverick McNealy

a Solid Value Play at Scottish Open
Aldrich Potgieter

Making Scottish Open Debut
Tom Kim

Looks to Rebound at Scottish Open
Brian Harman

a Safe Option at Scottish Open
Luke Clanton

a Sneaky Value Play at Scottish Open
Sam Burns

Looking to Stay Hot at Scottish Open
Chet Holmgren

Agrees to Rookie Max Extension
Alex Bregman

Not Returning Wednesday
Jhoan Duran

Unavailable Due to Illness
Shane McClanahan

Tosses Clean Frame in First Rehab Appearance
Jacob Wilson

Day-to-Day After HBP
Nicolai Hojgaard

May Feel More at Home in Europe
Harry Hall

Showing Fine Form Heading to Scotland
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. to be Reassessed Wednesday
Ryan Fox

Playing Well Since Early Spring Struggles
Malaki Branham

Traded to Washington
Max Greyserman

has Solid History at the Genesis Scottish Open
Blake Wesley

Moves to Washington
Harris English

Aims High for Scotland Next
Corey Conners

Primed for the Genesis Scottish Open
Kelly Olynyk

on the Move Again
Daniel Brown

Attempts the Scottish Swing Again
Anthony Davis

Recovering From Eye Surgery
Jacob Bridgeman

Needs Putter to Work at Genesis Scottish Open
Scottie Scheffler

Headlines Field at Genesis Scottish Open
Rory McIlroy

a Smart Play for Scottish Open
Adam Scott

Looking to Build on History at The Renaissance Club
NASCAR

Sepp Straka Not Likely to Find Momentum at Scottish Open
Justin Rose

Hopes Month Hiatus Helps Him Bounce Back at Scottish Open
NHL

Tyler Johnson Retires After 13 NHL Seasons
Jack McBain

Inks New Five-Year Deal with Mammoth
Cam York

Re-Signs with Flyers for Five Years
Jake Knapp

Fits the Mold for Success at The Renaissance Club
Ty Gibbs

Finishes Second at Chicago and Advances in In-Season Challenge
Alex Bowman

Defeats Bubba Wallace in In-Season Challenge, but Not Without Controversy
Alex Bowman

Bubba Wallace Wrecked by Alex Bowman Again, Putting Playoffs in Doubt
Michael McDowell

Throttle Failure Ends Michael McDowell's Chances to Win at Chicago
Austin Hill

Earns First NASCAR Cup Series Top Ten at Chicago
Tyler Reddick

Scores a Strong Third-Place Run at Chicago
Kyle Busch

Matches his Best Career Finish At Chicago on Sunday
Denny Hamlin

Fights his Way to a Top-5 Finish at Chicago
William Byron

has his Worst Weekend of the Season at Chicago
Sonny Milano

on Track to Be Ready for Training Camp
Jakub Dobes

Signs Two-Year Deal with Canadiens
NHL

Hendrix Lapierre Signs One-Year Deal with Capitals
Carson Hocevar

Should DFS Players Consider Carson Hocevar for Chicago Lineups?
Tye Kartye

Kraken Re-Sign Tye Kartye for Two Years
Ross Chastain

May be A Decent DFS Option for Chicago Lineups
Dmitri Voronkov

Signs Two-Year, $8.35 Million Extension with Blue Jackets
Ryan Preece

Should DFS Players Roster Ryan Preece at Chicago?
Austin Dillon

Is Too Great of A Risk to Add to Chicago Lineups
Zane Smith

Is A Value Play Worth Rostering At Chicago
Austin Hill

is A Favorable Value Option for Chicago DFS Lineups
Ty Dillon

Is Ty Dillon A Decent Driver to Add For NASCAR DFS At Chicago?
William Byron

Qualifying Crash Makes William Byron a Likely DFS Must-Have
Alex Bowman

Should Finish Well, but Probably Costs Too Much for Serious DFS Consideration
Joey Logano

Has Been Relatively Mediocre on Road Courses Lately
Ryan Blaney

Doesn't Really Fit Neatly into Optimal DFS Lineups
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF