2 adds 2 drops

It’s been crazy year of fantasy football including many surprises and disappointments. Today I am writing about 2 players to add and 2 players to drop in your fantasy leagues. Rashad Jennings and Rishard Mathews have been very hot of late, have strong upcoming matchups, and aren’t owned in enough leagues. On the other hand, Jarvis Landry and Coby Fleener are overrated, owned in too many leagues, and have been strongly under producing.

Start

Rashad Jennings- New York Giants running back

Jennings was a non-factor in fantasy leagues for the first 6 weeks of the season. He missed 3 games in those 6 weeks due to injury and he was ineffective in the other 3. However, he’s turned on the productive switch ever since week 6. Jennings has posted 10 or more fantasy points in 3 out of his last 4 games. You get the whole package with this Giants 31-year-old running back; rushing yards, touchdowns, and receiving yards. In the next two weeks, Jennings faces the Browns (30th in fantasy points against opposing running backs) and the Steelers (31st in fantasy points against opposing running backs). Jennings has totaled over 100 in two straight games and should continue this streak with these cupcake matchups. If he’s unowned in your league, he’d be a perfect pickup.

Rishard Mathews- Tennessee Titans wide receiver

Mathews has never been relevant in fantasy in his career, until 2016. Mathews had only totaled 797 yards and 6 touchdowns in the last two seasons. In 2016, the 27-year-old wide out already set his career high in touchdowns and is on pace to set career highs in catches and yards. Mathews has been a TD machine, scoring 6 touchdowns in his last 7 games. In his last 3 weeks, the Titans sleeper receiver has averaged 6.00 catches, 82.67 yards, 1.00 touchdowns, and 14.00 fantasy points. This should definitely continue, as Mathews is set to face the Bears in week 12, who rank last in fantasy points against opposing wide receivers. If you are in one of the 40.6% of leagues where Mathews is a free agent, I would snag him as soon as possible.

Drop

Jarvis Landry- Miami Dolphins wide receiver

Landry thrived as the Dolphins #1 receiver last year, catching 110 passes for 1,157 yards and 4 touchdowns. However, the 3rd year star has struggled in 2016, ranking only 30th in total fantasy points for wide receivers. After the first month of the season, Landry has averaged only 4.83 catches, 51.83 yards, 6.00 fantasy points, and totaled 2 touchdowns. Landry is a PPR stud, but is extremely hard to trust in standard leagues. Miami has become a run- heavy team this year and Landry’s stats have been affected. The 23-year-old Dolphin has produced only 2 games of 10 or more fantasy points, both of which came in the first three weeks of the season. In leagues of 10 members or less, Landry should be dropped. Some wide outs to pick up in exchange for Landry could be Jamison Crowder, Kenny Britt, and Tyreek Hill.

Coby Fleener- New Orleans Saints tight end

Coby Fleener was the big tight end fantasy sleeper coming into the 2016 season and yet hasn’t impressed. Over the last 5 weeks, Fleener has averaged 2.8 catches, 33.00 yards, 4.00 fantasy points, and has caught only 1 touchdown. These are unacceptable numbers for a starting TE. Saints receivers are very tough to rely on because there’s so many of them and Brees always mixes his options up. Elite tight ends are hard to find, so benching Fleener might be the smartest decision if you own him. Cameron Brate, Vernon Davis, and Zach Ertz are some tight ends to look to add if you decide to cut him.

 

 

Midseason Dissappointments

Cam Newton- Carolina Panthers quarterback

Newton is coming off of an MVP season in 2015, where he led the NFL in touchdowns and played at a hall of fame level. I don’t think many thought Cam would produce another year like that in 2016. However, I also don’t think many thought the 27-year-old stud would be the 16th ranked fantasy quarterback halfway through the 2016 season. Cam and the Panthers have been a completely different team this year, in a bad way. In 2015, Newton had a 45 total TD to 10 INT ratio. In 2016 so far, Superman has an 11 total TD to 6 TD ratio. This is a huge drop off. Newton also holds a horrible 57.7 completion percentage (tied for his career worst). Cam is clearly not the firm high-end QB1 he was last year. Nevertheless, he’s coming off of an MVP season, which means he’s likely to heat up in the second half of the season. Don’t give up on the Panthers star yet. 

Todd Gurley- Los Angeles Rams running back

I’m sorry for the fantasy members that listened to Todd Gurley before this season and drafted him first overall; your season is probably not going so well. Gurley has been an absolute bust and frustrating to own in fantasy. After a huge rookie season, Gurley has hit a legit sophomore slump. So far this season, Gurley’s highest rushing yard game has been 85 and has only totaled 3 touchdowns! The 22-year-old Rams running back held a 4.8 YPC in 2015 and owns a 3.1 YPC in 2016. This is a scary drop-off. The only growth we’ve seen in Gurley’s stats in his second season has been his pass-catching. Through 9 weeks, Gurley already has more catches and receiving yards than last year. The offensive line and poor quarterback play continues to block Gurley from unleashing his incredible potential. Therefore, he may not make a significant second half jump. In leagues consisting of 10 or more members, trading him would be advised.

DeAndre Hopkins- Houston Texans wide receiver

Who saw DeAndre Hopkins slumping in the first half of this season? If you did, you should have your own fantasy football show because no expert saw this coming. Hopkins was set up for a huge year in 2016. In 2015, the Texans star produced 111 catches for 1,521 yards and 11 touchdowns with Brian Hoyer and Brandon Weeden. The addition of Brock Osweiler this past offseason was expected to lift the Houston offense to new heights, but it has done the opposite. Through 8 games, Hopkins has averaged only 54.25 yards per game. He averaged 95.1 in all of last year. The Texans #1 wide out has also only caught 3 touchdowns this year; two of which came in the first two weeks. It hasn’t only been Hopkins either. The entire Texans offense has been outright treacherous, ranking 30th in total yards. If this offense doesn’t dial it up, Hopkins is going to continue on this meager pace. I would trade him if you can get a good deal.

Stephen Gostkowski- New England Patriots kicker

I think Stephen Gostkowski was the least expected player to have a disappointing season out of anyone in the NFL. Gostkowski has been the most consistent fantasy player for years, leading kickers in fantasy points for 4 straight seasons. However, 2016 has been a completely different story. Gostkowski has produced his worst field goal percentage since 2010 and has already missed 3 this year- he missed 3 all of last year. The 32-year-old has also already missed 2 extra points. Gostkowski had only missed 1 extra point in his entire 11 year career dating back to his rookie season in 2006. The good news for the Pats kicker is that he’s produced 10 or more fantasy points in 2 out of his last 3 games. The Patriots eccentric offense gives Gostkowski plenty of chances to cash in fantasy points. With Gostkowski’s elite career stats and usual reliability, it would be very unlikely and surprising that he doesn’t heat up. I would hold on to him, he’s destined for a huge second half.

Midseason Surprises

Matt Ryan- Atlanta Falcons quarterback

After many years of consistency from Ryan, we saw a bad slip of fantasy production last year. Ryan was the 7th ranked quarterback in 2014, and then fell to 19th in 2015. The best explanation for this mega-dip was the retirement of Tony Gonzalez and aging of Roddy White. Ryan was ranked very low in most fantasy magazines this offseason and wasn’t drafted in either of my fantasy leagues. Nevertheless, Ryan has bounced back better than ever and is on his way to producing his best season in his 9 year career. The 31-year-old QB is currently the league leader in fantasy points and already has thrown more touchdowns than he did in 16 games last year! Despite Julio Jones as his only elite weapon, Ryan has thrived this season, posting an insane 23 TD: 4 INT ratio. Matty Ice has been the most important waiver pick this season and is going to help win a lot of championships.

DeMarco Murray- Tennessee Titans running back

DeMarco had a historic 2014 season for the Cowboys, leading the league in rushing yards and thriving as the #1 fantasy RB. However, his movement to Philadelphia in 2015 under a much worse offense line caused Murray’s production to slip tremendously. From 2014-2015, Murray had 1,132 less yards, 7 less rushing touchdowns, 1.1 less yards per carry, and only 1 fewer game. Usually, once an elite running back hits a down year, his glory days are behind him. However, Murray was moved to Tennessee in a trade after the 2015 season and has been unbelievable this year. In 2016, Murray has looked like the back we saw in 2014 with Dallas, and is currently the #2 fantasy running back. The 28-year-old Titans back already has more rushing yards and total touchdowns in 8 games this season than all of last year. This upward trend was not foreseen by many and has been a draft day steal in many leagues. There’s no reason to believe this elite play shouldn’t continue.

Melvin Gordon- San Diego Chargers running back

Gordon was the 2nd running back to go off the board in the 2015 NFL draft. His rookie season last year was a disaster, running for only 641 yards on 184 carries (3.5 YPC). Also, Gordon was stunningly not able to get in the end zone in the entire 2015 season! In 2016, we’ve seen a completely different Melvin Gordon, totaling an absurd 10 touchdowns through 8 games! The 23 yard old back is enjoying a crazy breakout season and ranks 3rd in fantasy points for running backs. Gordon has been a huge part of the Chargers offense and a fantasy animal this year.

Terrell Pryor Sr. – Cleveland Browns wide receiver

Pryor was originally drafted in the third round as a quarterback by the Oakland Raiders in 2011. He played quarterback for them from 2011-2013 and also spent time with the Seahawks, Chiefs and Bengals. He then made the decision to switch to the wide receiver position and was signed by the Browns in 2015. Pryor received little playing time in 2015, but worked his way up as the Browns #2 wide out this past offseason. Despite this impressive achievement, Pryor was not on anyone’s fantasy radar coming into this season. Well, Corey Coleman got injured early in the year and Pryor has thrived as the Browns #1 wide receiver. He’s produced elite numbers through the first half of the season (ranking 11^th in fantasy points for wide receivers) and has shocked the fantasy world. Even with Corey Coleman expected to come back soon; Pryor has proved himself as a worthy WR2.