Travdogg's positional rankings from week 4 onward (1 Viewer)

[Monkian]

Why? Do you think he won't be suspended? Do you think the Browns are gonna be in a position to win most weeks?

He's one of the best RBs in the NFL. And Browns defense will keep them in games.

Agreed. Establishing the running game with Judkins should help keep the offense on the field, and the defense will keep them in games. I'm not expecting them to win a lot, but they should stay within striking distance most games.

 

[Timmay]

JSN will be in tier 1 sooner or later

 

[stillfeelme]

Weird to see Sutton, Odunze so low. JSN probably could be up a few spots. He is seeing so much target share and receptions that I find it hard to rank out of the top tier. I was expecting Chase to drop a bit.

 

[rockaction]

Weird to see Sutton, Odunze so low. JSN probably could be up a few spots. He is seeing so much target share and receptions that I find it hard to rank out of the top tier. I was expecting Chase to drop a bit.

Agree with you on both, but I will say that the counterargument could be that teams are going to get hip to Darnold locking on Smith-Njigba and not letting that go on until Kupp and Horton prove that they're up to meeting the challenge. I'm not sure Kupp is anymore, but I believed reports of Keenan Allen being done and look how that turned out. I'd still make the old guy and the rook beat me if I were the opposing coach.

Chase I have no good counterargument to steelman my own that he should be dropped at least to six.

 

[TheDirtyWord]

Caleb - Everybody including Russell Wilson is lighting up DAL. I still think he along with the CHI offense is a work in progress.
Herbert - Still think people are struggling with the 180 shift in how LAC is attacking teams via the air. Najee's injury slants that even harder IMO and to date, he's been much better than QB8. I made mention of this in your Week 1 thread to when he was QB11, but I feel like with QJ, Keenan, Ladd...he might have the best WR corps in the league now.
Jeanty - I certainly understand the commitment LV made along with a very attractive skillset. But he's non-existent in the passing game and by now we've all seen him get blown up in pass pro. Until I see mad upside on the field...he might be my biggest fade.
JK - Still feel like the FF community is just scarred from previous experiences with him. And to be fair, DEN is 1-2. But he's been playing at a pretty high level
LAC WR Room - Ladd (24), QJ (39), Keenan (NR)...I think you need to start from square one here and re-evaluate.
Andrews - he's gotten unsexy FAST. Raising Hunter Henry all those spots for a 91/2 day, but Andrews no love for a 90/2 day. TE mostly a mercurial position outside of the top guys and even then. But Andrews is still a primary look most weeks for Lamar.

 

[wlwiles]

I don't think he's getting traded either, unless some team really pays some solid draft capital (like a 3rd rounder) which feels unlikely for a guy Kamara's age.

makes very little sense for the winless Saints to hold on to the soon to be free agent. kamara isn't staying in New Orleans.

Very likely Kamara is moved unless Kamara has some huge loyalty to the Saints and the Saints are the highest bidder which I doubt...he will chase the money.

I absolutely agree the Saints should try and trade Kamara for as much draft capital as they can charge. But if he gets to FA, I could absolutely see him taking less $ to stay in NO. Kamara himself has been very vocal for years now about loving the city of New Orleans and wanting to retire as a Saints legend. Could it be lip service to fans? Sure. Would he seriously turn down more $ if it came right to it? Who knows. But he's gone out of his way to say he wants to stay where he is

 

[stillfeelme]

Weird to see Sutton, Odunze so low. JSN probably could be up a few spots. He is seeing so much target share and receptions that I find it hard to rank out of the top tier. I was expecting Chase to drop a bit.

Agree with you on both, but I will say that the counterargument could be that teams are going to get hip to Darnold locking on Smith-Njigba and not letting that go on until Kupp and Horton prove that they're up to meeting the challenge. I'm not sure Kupp is anymore, but I believed reports of Keenan Allen being done and look how that turned out. I'd still make the old guy and the rook beat me if I were the opposing coach.

Chase I have no good counterargument to steelman my own that he should be dropped at least to six.

For JSN what I see is they use him all over the field but he gets open on so many different routes that I think it would be hard to double him or take him away in a normal manner. The other factor is they really are not passing that much they are a team that wants to run,run, and then pass. They haven't really been successful in terms of YPC but they are committed to run. It is hard to focus so much on the pass or one person when that is not the way the offensive really wants to operate.

 

[zoonation]

Kinda surprised Keenan Allen isn't on your list. He's outperformed many of the WRs you list and it doesn't seem like a fluke. Unless you're thinking he doesn't play the full season or they change their very effective game plan, I don't see how he isn't top 30 moving forward.

I think its a little bit of a fluke. Mostly from a TD perspective. He's had 1 in every game, despite never really being a TD scorer throughout his career. His career high is 8 TDs.

He's playing the 3rd most snaps for the Chargers at WR, and while he's 1st in targets, I don't think that lasts. I think Allen is due some negative regression, and McConkey is due some positive regression. Personally, I'd selling high on Allen, and buying low on McConkey (which might be easy to do, as I imagine owners are very upset that he's 3rd on his own team in receiving)

I will say, this possibly happening was one of the reasons I was lower on Ladd than consensus, but Allen hasn't made it through a full season since 2021 and has been a hot starter before. I don't hate selling high on Johnston either, but I think his role has more staying power due to being their manufactured shot guy.

ETA: For what its worth, Allen was my last omission.

Both Allen and QJ are out-targeting Ladd through three weeks.

 

[travdogg]

Why? Do you think he won't be suspended? Do you think the Browns are gonna be in a position to win most weeks?

He's one of the best RBs in the NFL. And Browns defense will keep them in games.

Agreed. Establishing the running game with Judkins should help keep the offense on the field, and the defense will keep them in games. I'm not expecting them to win a lot, but they should stay within striking distance most games.

I'm not ready to agree with the premise that Judkins is one of the best RBs in the NFL. Not yet anyway. The Browns defense keeping them in games, I'm more on board with, but even then, certainly didn't against the Ravens 2 weeks ago.

 

[travdogg]

Weird to see Sutton, Odunze so low. JSN probably could be up a few spots. He is seeing so much target share and receptions that I find it hard to rank out of the top tier. I was expecting Chase to drop a bit.

I wanna give Chase a little bit. That game against the Vikings feels more like a 1-off than what the Bengals are just gonna be. I will point out, in a game where everything went wrong for the Bengals, Chase still had 5 catches and 59 yards.

 

[travdogg]

Caleb - Everybody including Russell Wilson is lighting up DAL. I still think he along with the CHI offense is a work in progress.
Herbert - Still think people are struggling with the 180 shift in how LAC is attacking teams via the air. Najee's injury slants that even harder IMO and to date, he's been much better than QB8. I made mention of this in your Week 1 thread to when he was QB11, but I feel like with QJ, Keenan, Ladd...he might have the best WR corps in the league now.
Jeanty - I certainly understand the commitment LV made along with a very attractive skillset. But he's non-existent in the passing game and by now we've all seen him get blown up in pass pro. Until I see mad upside on the field...he might be my biggest fade.
JK - Still feel like the FF community is just scarred from previous experiences with him. And to be fair, DEN is 1-2. But he's been playing at a pretty high level
LAC WR Room - Ladd (24), QJ (39), Keenan (NR)...I think you need to start from square one here and re-evaluate.
Andrews - he's gotten unsexy FAST. Raising Hunter Henry all those spots for a 91/2 day, but Andrews no love for a 90/2 day. TE mostly a mercurial position outside of the top guys and even then. But Andrews is still a primary look most weeks for Lamar.

I think QB falls off pretty quickly after the big 4. Caleb has major talent, good weapons, runs, and now has a good play caller. I want to be aggressive with him. I was tempted to have him ahead of Mayfield, given the Bears defensive woes, and Evans injury, but that just felt like pushing a little too far.

The Henry game means more to me than the Andrews one, because Henry can be the Patriots #1 pass catcher, I don't think Andrews can in Baltimore. I also have concerns about his numbers with Likely coming back. I'm also kinda making the bet that Zay Flowers bad week is an aberration and he's still an ascendent player breaking out in year 3. If I'm wrong about that, then Andrews (and possibly Henry) are probably too low.

 

[travdogg]

Kinda surprised Keenan Allen isn't on your list. He's outperformed many of the WRs you list and it doesn't seem like a fluke. Unless you're thinking he doesn't play the full season or they change their very effective game plan, I don't see how he isn't top 30 moving forward.

I think its a little bit of a fluke. Mostly from a TD perspective. He's had 1 in every game, despite never really being a TD scorer throughout his career. His career high is 8 TDs.

He's playing the 3rd most snaps for the Chargers at WR, and while he's 1st in targets, I don't think that lasts. I think Allen is due some negative regression, and McConkey is due some positive regression. Personally, I'd selling high on Allen, and buying low on McConkey (which might be easy to do, as I imagine owners are very upset that he's 3rd on his own team in receiving)

I will say, this possibly happening was one of the reasons I was lower on Ladd than consensus, but Allen hasn't made it through a full season since 2021 and has been a hot starter before. I don't hate selling high on Johnston either, but I think his role has more staying power due to being their manufactured shot guy.

ETA: For what its worth, Allen was my last omission.

Both Allen and QJ are out-targeting Ladd through three weeks.

Something I really don't think will continue.

 

[zoonation]

Kinda surprised Keenan Allen isn't on your list. He's outperformed many of the WRs you list and it doesn't seem like a fluke. Unless you're thinking he doesn't play the full season or they change their very effective game plan, I don't see how he isn't top 30 moving forward.

I think its a little bit of a fluke. Mostly from a TD perspective. He's had 1 in every game, despite never really being a TD scorer throughout his career. His career high is 8 TDs.

He's playing the 3rd most snaps for the Chargers at WR, and while he's 1st in targets, I don't think that lasts. I think Allen is due some negative regression, and McConkey is due some positive regression. Personally, I'd selling high on Allen, and buying low on McConkey (which might be easy to do, as I imagine owners are very upset that he's 3rd on his own team in receiving)

I will say, this possibly happening was one of the reasons I was lower on Ladd than consensus, but Allen hasn't made it through a full season since 2021 and has been a hot starter before. I don't hate selling high on Johnston either, but I think his role has more staying power due to being their manufactured shot guy.

ETA: For what its worth, Allen was my last omission.

Both Allen and QJ are out-targeting Ladd through three weeks.

Something I really don't think will continue.

I think at best it will be split evenly. Ladd was only hyper-targeted and produced elite numbers for fantasy last year when that WR room was decimated. They have 3 great options and I think he will post low end WR3 numbers all year. A good game here and there. But mostly 8-12 fp in ppr. I totally regret drafting him. Total bust at ADP.

 

[VikingFrog]

@travdogg Where do you rank Godwin when he returns? Might even be this week

He was in the 50-40 cutdown. As long as he doesn't look clearly slower upon his return, he'll probably sneak his way into the top-40, at least while Evans is out.

Similar question but for Aiyuck.

Assuming a week 6 return, and Pearsall playing well, I think the San Fran offense continues to open up.

 

[Tau837]

Kinda surprised Keenan Allen isn't on your list. He's outperformed many of the WRs you list and it doesn't seem like a fluke. Unless you're thinking he doesn't play the full season or they change their very effective game plan, I don't see how he isn't top 30 moving forward.

I think its a little bit of a fluke. Mostly from a TD perspective. He's had 1 in every game, despite never really being a TD scorer throughout his career. His career high is 8 TDs.

He's playing the 3rd most snaps for the Chargers at WR, and while he's 1st in targets, I don't think that lasts. I think Allen is due some negative regression, and McConkey is due some positive regression. Personally, I'd selling high on Allen, and buying low on McConkey (which might be easy to do, as I imagine owners are very upset that he's 3rd on his own team in receiving)

I will say, this possibly happening was one of the reasons I was lower on Ladd than consensus, but Allen hasn't made it through a full season since 2021 and has been a hot starter before. I don't hate selling high on Johnston either, but I think his role has more staying power due to being their manufactured shot guy.

ETA: For what its worth, Allen was my last omission.

Posting just to register my respectful disagreement. I think Allen will outperform several WRs on your list ROS. As I posted last week: We have yet to see any point in Allen's 12+ season career in which he was not a top 30 fantasy WR in ppg other than that stretch with Waldron last season and in 2016 when he tore his ACL in the 2nd quarter of week 1.

Certainly, he could suffer an injury, as could every player on this list, but maybe at his age and with his recent injury history that is a bit more likely. But there is no reason to doubt his performance when healthy. How many more games would one need to see in the current Chargers offense to buy into that? He's not going to stop getting open.

Not meaning this to come across as overly critical of you, @travdogg . I appreciate your work in these threads, which are among the best we have all season.

 

[travdogg]

@travdogg Where do you rank Godwin when he returns? Might even be this week

He was in the 50-40 cutdown. As long as he doesn't look clearly slower upon his return, he'll probably sneak his way into the top-40, at least while Evans is out.

Similar question but for Aiyuck.

Assuming a week 6 return, and Pearsall playing well, I think the San Fran offense continues to open up.

I'm quite a bit lower on Aiyuk, though I do agree SF's offense when they can have a skill position runout of:

Purdy
CMC
Pearsall
Jennings
Aiyuk
Kittle

That will be tough for any defense to handle. I do think the WRs will take a backseat to CMC and Kittle for the most part, particularly in the redzone. I could see Aiyuk pushing ahead of Jennings for the #2 spot, with Jennijngs settling into more of a low volume chain mover role, but I kinda think Pearsall has the downfield role on lockdown. That's all assuming Aiyuk comes back good to go, and isn't eased in, which I don't see as a lock.

 

[spurs44]

Its possible I'm not giving enough of a split between Odunze/Moore. I still think Moore is a good player, and they are trying to get the ball in his hands. The backfield usage is very interesting too.

The early returns are that Odunze is the alpha now. The news in camp is consistent with what has transpired.

Odunze too low as the #1 in a Ben Johnson offense.

DJ Moore is on his way out and there are trade rumors...the targets don't lie.

Luther Burden III is a nice stash in deeper leagues.

 

[travdogg]

24. Alvin Kamara (15), OL is getting banged up already, and Saints have been kinda pass heavy in the redzone. Still pretty confident catches will be fine, but big plays are looking gone. Could be an overreaction, I think Seattle is a top-5 defense.

Heh. You did it to me last week so let me update his touches and catches even though I totally take into account your lowered ranking.

He had two targets and rushed the ball eighteen times for forty-two yards. That's not good. I don't know whether this will be good news or bad news but I don't think he's getting traded. I've read in two places that given the cap there's no incentive to deal and that a deal become punitive to the Saints. Oof. So he gets New Orleans, good or ill.

I want to add to this, given that the Saints are 16-point dogs this week, and the Bills have been one of the worst teams at covering RBs out of the backfield going back to last year, I will be a little worried if this isn't a 5+ catch game for Kamara.

 

[travdogg]

Its possible I'm not giving enough of a split between Odunze/Moore. I still think Moore is a good player, and they are trying to get the ball in his hands. The backfield usage is very interesting too.

The early returns are that Odunze is the alpha now. The news in camp is consistent with what has transpired.

Odunze too low as the #1 in a Ben Johnson offense.

DJ Moore is on his way out and there are trade rumors...the targets don't lie.

I'd be VERY surprised if DJ Moore was traded this season. The offseason is another story, but even then, I don't know that its likely. He might just be a #2 WR for them for a bit. Its not like they can't afford him.

 

[travdogg]

Kinda surprised Keenan Allen isn't on your list. He's outperformed many of the WRs you list and it doesn't seem like a fluke. Unless you're thinking he doesn't play the full season or they change their very effective game plan, I don't see how he isn't top 30 moving forward.

I think its a little bit of a fluke. Mostly from a TD perspective. He's had 1 in every game, despite never really being a TD scorer throughout his career. His career high is 8 TDs.

He's playing the 3rd most snaps for the Chargers at WR, and while he's 1st in targets, I don't think that lasts. I think Allen is due some negative regression, and McConkey is due some positive regression. Personally, I'd selling high on Allen, and buying low on McConkey (which might be easy to do, as I imagine owners are very upset that he's 3rd on his own team in receiving)

I will say, this possibly happening was one of the reasons I was lower on Ladd than consensus, but Allen hasn't made it through a full season since 2021 and has been a hot starter before. I don't hate selling high on Johnston either, but I think his role has more staying power due to being their manufactured shot guy.

ETA: For what its worth, Allen was my last omission.

Both Allen and QJ are out-targeting Ladd through three weeks.

Something I really don't think will continue.

I think at best it will be split evenly. Ladd was only hyper-targeted and produced elite numbers for fantasy last year when that WR room was decimated. They have 3 great options and I think he will post low end WR3 numbers all year. A good game here and there. But mostly 8-12 fp in ppr. I totally regret drafting him. Total bust at ADP.

This is really adding to my feeling that McConkey is a pretty good buy low. He's probably not gonna be what he was down the stretch last season (which was always unlikely) but he's not gonna stay what he's been the 1st 3 weeks either. I feel VERY comfortable calling him the best WR on the Chargers. He's been unlucky not to have any TDs yet.

 

[rockaction]

24. Alvin Kamara (15), OL is getting banged up already, and Saints have been kinda pass heavy in the redzone. Still pretty confident catches will be fine, but big plays are looking gone. Could be an overreaction, I think Seattle is a top-5 defense.

Heh. You did it to me last week so let me update his touches and catches even though I totally take into account your lowered ranking.

He had two targets and rushed the ball eighteen times for forty-two yards. That's not good. I don't know whether this will be good news or bad news but I don't think he's getting traded. I've read in two places that given the cap there's no incentive to deal and that a deal become punitive to the Saints. Oof. So he gets New Orleans, good or ill.

I want to add to this, given that the Saints are 16-point dogs this week, and the Bills have been one of the worst teams at covering RBs out of the backfield going back to last year, I will be a little worried if this isn't a 5+ catch game for Kamara.

Yeah. Bad teams are bad and are often attacking erratically. The Saints will probably get him eight targets or something.

 

[TripItUp]

I'd be VERY surprised if DJ Moore was traded this season. The offseason is another story, but even then, I don't know that its likely. He might just be a #2 WR for them for a bit. Its not like they can't afford him.

There was more speculation today from the national media that Moore could be moved.

 

[FarFromHome]

I'd be VERY surprised if DJ Moore was traded this season. The offseason is another story, but even then, I don't know that its likely. He might just be a #2 WR for them for a bit. Its not like they can't afford him.

There was more speculation today from the national media that Moore could be moved.

You'd think growing Caleb would be the Bears absolute #1 priority right now. Like even more important than winning games this season. Think long game. I don't see how moving Moore helps in growing Moore. All my opinion.

 

[stillfeelme]

Weird to see Sutton, Odunze so low. JSN probably could be up a few spots. He is seeing so much target share and receptions that I find it hard to rank out of the top tier. I was expecting Chase to drop a bit.

I wanna give Chase a little bit. That game against the Vikings feels more like a 1-off than what the Bengals are just gonna be. I will point out, in a game where everything went wrong for the Bengals, Chase still had 5 catches and 59 yards.

True no big deal though. Before the Burrow injury I had him finishing in the top 5 PPG. Without Burrow and the way that line blocks is a downgrade for him. I find it hard to think he can end the ROS in the top 5 and I have him in a league. Hoping for blowouts so he gets garbarge time stats is wishful thinking but I could just be pessimistic.