Fantasy Football

Played by over 30 million throughout the US and Canada, Fantasy football is back for another dominant season.  Fantasy is bigger than ever and continues to climb each year. So many different platforms to play on and so many different rules for each league. With each personal league having different rules, each draft strategy is different. 

The number one fantasy player last year was Lamar Jackson from the Baltimore Ravens, but he was taken in the 3rd round of fantasy drafts and sometimes not the first quarterback to even be drafted. Most wide receivers and running backs are taken in the first two rounds because they are upside with the scoring rules. For example in some leagues 1 catch is worth one point where a quarterback throwing a touchdown is only 4 points, so it is easier to have four catches in a game than for a quarterback to throw a touchdown that's why star receivers and running backs typically go before star quarterbacks.  

Ja’marr Chase is the number one overall player in fantasy for this season. 

This does not mean that he is going to be the best, it just means that he is taken 1st overall in most leagues. Ja’marr had a record breaking season last year for his team the Cincinnati Bengals breaking the single season franchise record for receiving yards in a season. Chase also stacked up 17 touchdowns, most by any wide receiver in the league. 

“Ja’marr Chase stole games for me. I mean he would pretty much drop 30 points every week helping my team win and when he dropped 50 points I almost shed a tear. He was so good for me last year and I hope to get him this year because he has so much upside to drop 30 points a week. Bro is a one man army,” NHS senior Travis Rekos said. 

The second rated player in Bjian Robinson from the Atlanta Falcons. Robinson was not as dominant as Chase was last year, but this year with a new Quarterback in Micheal Penix Jr. Hopes are high for the young star back. There are many experts that think Bijan is the undisputed best player in fantasy football. 

“Bijan Robinson is special. That much we know after two seasons in which he has racked up 3,350 yards of offense and 23 touchdowns, looking every bit of those numbers by averaging 4.7 yards per carry and 5.3 yards per touch in the process,” NFL Analyst Kyle Soppe Said.

Then there is Saquon Barkley who last year was the top running back in fantasy. Winning NFL Offensive Player of the Year and a Super Bowl last season. Barkley was dominant in his first year with the Philadelphia Eagles. Barkley transitioned fast into the eagles offense and had his best year ever as a running back. So why isn't Barkley the number 1 overall pick? Although he is still going top 3 overall in most leagues, Barkley is rarely being picked over guys like Chase and Robinson because people don't think he can do it again. It is really rare to do. It was accomplished by LaDainian Tomlinson in 2007 and 2008 and by Todd Gurley in 2017 and 2018, but with that being said it is very rare for Barkley to repeat his greatness. For example, two years ago Christian McCaffrey  was the Running Back 1 and was unstoppable, but last year he missed all but four games and was never fully healthy. McCaffrey's last season where he let a lot of fantasy owners down is reasons to believe that Barkley will do the same.

“I trust Saquon, I mean it's hard not to when he's got the best o-line in the league and a solid qb that can’t survive without him. He is gonna be just as dominant as he was last year as long as he doesn’t get hurt. But nah he's gonna be so good, forget i even said anything about injury, he's RB1,” NHS junior Nick Stockwell Said. 

They are also your late round steals in every league. Some players looking to breakout this season are Tight End Trey McBride from the Arizona Cardinals, Running Back Derrick Henry from the Baltimore Ravens and Wide receiver Puka Nauca from the Los Angeles Rams. These players are all last first round early second round picks that are very valuable in fantasy that can help your league.

Fantasy season is back and ready to cause agony across all players competing.