2020 NCU Fantasy Football Season Preview


Introduction by Jamaal Gilbert

In many ways this year has been complete piss. Social chaos. Global health crisis. Political fireworks. Not to mention some of us have lost loved ones (me, for one) and were unable to attend in-person memorials. We've experienced higher volumes of isolation, unrest,  frustration, anger, uncertainty confusion than we ever imagined as we flipped the calendar to 2020 eight-ish months ago. So it's really been something.


In the middle of it all, against considerable odds, the greedy bastards in the NFL figured out how to scrape together a football season. And that means fantasy football survived...and now we're all here hoping for the best. Because it's another level of normalcy that wasn't guaranteed...so there's more gratefulness for the opportunity. It feels like a gift.


***


This is Year 18 for NCU Fantasy Football, but for me, it's Year 17. The weight of some responsibilities last year led me to the previously unthinkable decision of stepping away. It sucked to miss out, but I'm so glad to be back. I missed you all last year — the camaraderie, the rhythms of league life, the banter. I was so excited when Matt and Troy said "yes" to writing this giant preview...we spent a few days ranking teams and reviewing rosters and writing our guts out. This time, we separated teams in categories and we're counting down from #16 to #1. We sure hope you enjoy it. 


Welcome to the 2020 NCU Fantasy Football season. Let's do this.



• MAYBE NEXT YEAR •
We don't believe in you.

#16 Garbage
















RANKINGS: Balego - #16 | Hurm - #16 | Gilbert - #16


Jamaal: It’s funny how Jake’s team name has either been ironic or meta. This year, it’s the latter. I’m of the thought that Minshew is going to get murdered this year, Conner was a one-year wonder and that this roster will be gutted for picks come Week 7. Awful.


Troy: This has to be one of if not the worst groups of keepers the league has ever seen. Keeping a DST and not even a top 3 DST? That’s  poor ownership and an amateur move for sure. I actually like Deebo Samuel the best of all players as a long term keeper on this squad but it's crazy him or Conner are the best options here. Jake should try making some moves and look for picks in the future. No idea what Jake is doing here-wasn't he supposed to be some great juggernaut owner? I guess no one should be surprised about a candidate that Liddiard is shoving down everyone’s throats being an utter failure. I do think there is a trophy for Jake in the near future though-unfortunately for Jake that award would be the Ben Montgomery award for Incompetent Ownership.


Matt: Hold on guys, we rip rookie owners all the time for making bad picks or making silly short-term decisions. Finney isn't doing that at all. He actually has a number of high-upside guys I was hoping to nab, like D'Andre Swift, Mike Gesicki, and Levisha Shenault. Deebo Samuels is an elite keeper, Conner is a top 15 RB this year and Finney had a good draft to help him rebuild the shit foundation he was handed. He may not be very competitive this year, but he has a good chance of having a good crop of keepers to build around next draft. Ignore the haters, Finney. I see what you are doing and I like it.

#15 Falcon Punch


















RANKINGS: Balego - #16 | Hurm - #15 | Gilbert - #12


Matt: I don’t know if I will ever understand DJ. He keeps Cam Newton and drafts Drew Brees. He needs to rebuild and drafts Drew Brees. Beyond the Drew Brees pick, I just don’t see the strategy here. He certainly has a couple pieces to build around with Courtland Sutton and Jonathan Taylor, but he is gambling an awful lot on injury risks and underperformers. Evan Engram is wildly talented, but the most important ability is availability, and he simply isn’t available often. David Montgomery was a huge disappointment in 2019 and yet he was kept. As was another disappointment, Cam Newton. This roster had a lot of holes and not a lot of players with high enough ceilings to fill them. DJ’s roster has fooled me before. This might just be one of those years. But I don’t think so.


Troy: The Cam Newton love with DJ is ridiculous. Like with other owners there was plenty of chances to upgrade that keeper slot on the cheap before the deadline. The Brees pick was a head scratcher as this is likely his final year meaning he wont have more value after the draft, doesn't make sense for a rebuilding team to take him. As bad as the Brees pick was, DJ did the right, smart thing drafting Johnathan Taylor, Michael Pittman and Henry Ruggs. If those guys work out it could help DJ establish a better keeper core, but no matter how well they do he will never keep any of them over Cam Newton apparently. 


Jamaal: The roster has the flavor of someone who caught the vision for their future after the keeper deadline. I don’t mind the draft picks; it’s the keepers that were basically putrid — in fact, his keepers are indistinguishable from his early draft picks. It’s uncanny! All this to say he’s earned his #15 ranking. 


#14 Lucky Charms

















RANKINGS: Balego - #13 | Hurm - #14 | Gilbert - #15


Troy: There is good news and bad news with this team. The good news is this is probably the best team that Caleb has ever had in this league. The bad news is Caleb has set a low bar missing the playoffs each of the first 3 seasons he’s been in the league. His starters are decent but there’s no true, #1 WR you can trust on a weekly basis. He traded away most of his draft picks, but seeing how he drafts that was probably a wise move. With having no depth it was a bit of a head scratcher that he picked up a backup QB with his 2nd pick in the draft. There were some younger players with more keeper potential than Bridgewater available there-why not take a chance on Tua or another rookie who could pay more dividends there? This team could have a chance if their starters hold up but with the lack of depth and no elite keepers this is likely to be another season missing the playoffs for the “Lucky” Charms.0


Matt: I am not a Caleb truther by any stretch of the imagination this year, but I don’t think things are nearly as dire as Troy does. He has a respectable option at every starting position. If Ingram can maintain his central role in the best running attack in the league, he’s a stud. That uncertainty lowers his value, but as long as he keeps doing what he is doing, he is a top 10-15 back. Goff remains young and talented. Marquise Brown was a good pick in the 1st round and Ertz remains an elite option at TE. I am not saying this is a playoff team as they lack anything resembling depth, but they have a couple pieces to build around.


Jamaal: There is zero reason to believe Mark Ingram will be able to maintain his 2019 production. Not even his own team believes in him! It’s the ultimate turn-back-the-clock squad though… just a few short years ago, we’d be trembling at the thought of facing Gurley, Goff, Hilton, Ertz and Ingram. No longer. Like 5G connections in the Boundary Waters, this is the land of intermittent performance.


#13 We Are Terrible



RANKINGS: Balego - #11 | Hurm - #13 | Gilbert - #13


Jamaal: The biggest thing driving the low ranking here — and I’ll admit, we may end up eating crow — is that people don’t think much of Mike Evans (TB) and Kareem Hunt for 2020. Russ Wilson is nice, Josh Jacobs will probably take a step forward. There’s some sneaky depth with Mostert and Cooks. But all optimism here is rooted in hypotheticals. Could be a tough year.


Troy: This is one of the more aptly named teams in the league I'd say. I am expecting better things for Mike Evans with an upgrade from Jameis to Brady and he's always great, maybe Jacobs takes another step forward this season and Russ should be a top 5 QB again this year. The biggest knock on this team is that year in and year out Nate has shown he isn't willing to make moves to set his team up for short or long term success and that is my biggest knock on this squad.


Matt: Ya, this squad is two players deep in guys not to worry about. That's why they are where they are. Russell Wilson will be an above average fantasy QB. He almost always is. And Josh Jacobs will be a top 10 RB. I have no reason to doubt it. The rest of his team needs something to change or the player to improve to be above average options and I just don't buy it. 


• LONG SHOTS •


Prepare now for your imminent failure.

#12 Country Bear Jambaroo



RANKINGS: Balego - #14 | Hurm - #11 | Gilbert - #8


Matt: There is a lot to be excited about in Springfield. The Bears are home to two of the most exciting young backs in the NFL in Miles Sanders and Cam Akers. They should form a solid foundation for 7-8 years. And A.J. Brown looks like the real deal in Tennessee and could have a long productive career ahead of himself. But for this season, I just don’t see it happening for Amy. Daniel Jones looked good...compared to Eli Manning. Not sure that makes him playable in fantasy. Keenan Allen will take a step back after losing his QB. And I am not on the Blake Jarwin hype train. At all. She has a solid bench and a number of high ceiling guys who, if things break right, could fill her roster holes and make this team playoff-worthy. But right now, I don’t see it.


Jamaal: I like the receivers here. I think the Chargers are one of the biggest unknowns this season because their skill players are very much intact and we don't know how big the gap is between Taylor and Rivers (at this stage of his career). There's no way San Diego is just tanking this season -- they believe they can have success and Keenan Allen is going to be a big part of it. Agreed that Jones is a problem Amy will need to solve...that's the main issue I found and what pushed her back to #8 in my personal rankings.


Troy: Matt you're counting on RBs to be healthy and productive for 7-8 years? I know that’s what you had to tell Amy when you used your fancy lawyer guy book reading words to convince Amy to accept some of your deals but lets stop with the hyperbole. Akers and Sanders should both get a chance to lead potent offenses in RB touches and put up decent points. Both are fresh and that's what you want in a RB-although I prefer mine out of shape, old and unmotivated like LeVeon Bell. If i had to build my team around any WR who's been in the league 3 years or fewer I’d  choose AJ Brown. He looked completely dominant last year and helped Ryan Tannehill resurrect his career. I’m sure he will pair nicely with Michael Thomas once Hurm hoodwinks Amy in another deal.


#11 Urine Trouble



RANKINGS: Balego - #10 | Hurm - #6 | Gilbert - #14


Troy: This team has a lot going for it. They are solid at every position in a 16 team league-Julio Jones and Chris Carson should put up consistent, good scores. Mayfield should benefit with a new HC and Kelce is the best TE in the league IMO and will be a huge advantage every matchup for Jon. If not for some questionable moves by Jon in the past I feel this team would be getting more respect. But once you draft 2 kickers including one round 4 you’ve got to win what, 3-4 championships before everyone feels you aren’t a total noob.


Jamaal: Just two years removed from a league title, Jon has fallen from grace -- #11 overall and my #14 team. It can't feel good knowing Penny and Hyde are behind Carson -- his upside seems capped. The QBs are a mess as well… maybe somebody works well enough to drag Urine to .500.


Hurm: Jon Hurm is the Rodney Dangerfield of this league...he just can’t get no respect! Guy rebuilds a struggling franchise to competitiveness. No respect. He constantly competes for division titles. No respect. He wins a league title. No respect. It’s bonkers! Jon’s squad is a playoff contender. Period. Ranking this team #14 is clearly the result of an untreated head wound. His WRs rank among the best in the land with Julio Jones, D.J. Moore, Tyler Boyd, Jarvis Landry and Antonio Brown. Baker Mayfield is a stud who struggled with a horribly underqualified head coach. His new coach should help him back to respectability. And if J.K. Dobbins ever takes over the bulk of the reps from Mark Ingram this season, Jon could win his division and make a deep playoff run. Oh ya, and he has the best TE in the land. Seriously, someone in this league needs to wake up and take this kid seriously before he comes in and steals all your lunch money again.


#10 Trojan Horses



RANKINGS: Balego - #9 | Hurm - #10 | Gilbert - #10


Jamaal: Still banking on LeVeon Bell! Maybe there’s a bounce-back coming… the Jets will certainly give every opportunity. Bills QB Allen looks good. Waller is a top-5 TE. Troy’s WRs (Hopkins, Lockett) are going to be great trade targets after the Horses drop to 2-4 around midseason. After that, it’s uninspiring all over the place. Number 10 overall is the perfect starting spot this year.


Matt: For a franchise with hardly any draft assets this year (or next) I am astounded by how solid of a roster Troy was able to cobble together. He gambled everything mid-2019 and it didn’t go well. He traded Thielen to Lance for a couple 2020 picks and it gave him some roster flexibility this season. Josh Allen was a nice pick, as was Waller. I foolishly hoped Antonio Gibson would last to round 5. Troy made me pay for that one. Round after round, he made solid selections and has a good-looking roster. That said, I don’t particularly love any of his position groups. Maybe Hopkins is equally dominant in Arizona. Or maybe Murray doesn’t develop and Hopkins is merely human this season. Maybe Lockett holds off Metcalf for another season. Or not. Troy made a purse out of a sow’s ear, but I am not sure a purse wins a title.


Troy: I don’t know what this whole purse or sow’s ear thing is that you’re talking about means so just to cover my bases: Thank you! and Go to Hell! I’ve shown in the past that I can make it happen with less and intend to do so again here as well. If that doesn’t work i'll just quit and come back a year later, hoping to inherit a better roster. Nothing is off the table for me this year and I'll be looking to mix it up. 


#9 David’s Johnson



RANKINGS: Balego - #12 | Hurm - #7 | Gilbert - #9

Matt: This squad lacks sexy superstars, but there are a ton of quality fantasy players on this roster. The combo of Golladay, Kupp, and McLaurin could be a top 3 WR combination if things go right. David Johnson is on a better team with more opportunities to score, hypothetically. Aaron Rodgers is still doing State Farm commercials. I loved the Jonnu Smith pick and Joe Burrow could be one of those immediate stars...we shall see.  Don’t blame me for this low rating, Pruett, I had you in the top half, easily.


Troy: At this point I don't think you can say David Johnson is going to a better team with more opportunities to score. Even when he was on the field last year Johnson was literally one of the worst RBs in the league. I think it’s a leap of faith to expect a RB to get that much better after a down year when they have the wear and tear Johnson has. Golladay should be even better this year with Stafford back and healthy. I like the Burrow pick and if it works out it could mean Aaron Rodgers would be available in the draft next year for the first time in over a decade. Latavius Murray and Jordan Howard provide nice depth on the bench. With some luck this could be a fringe playoff team.


Jamaal: What a horribly boring team. When the upside is a first-round knockout, you need to question the strategy. So many things have to go right for this team to knock on the door of 7-6. 


I predict… frustration and despair. 




• DARK HORSES •

Congrats: the top teams know you exist.


#8 The Numbers (4 8 15 16 23 42)



RANKINGS: Balego - #7 | Hurm - #9 | Gilbert - #11

Troy: As his team name would suggest, Lance likes to hold onto things that are now irrelevant. That may help explain why he chose to keep AJ Green and Leonard Fournette. The addition of Adam Thielen and his extra targets should help Lance but it seems his upside each week may be limited with him having so many Vikings on the roster. George Kittle is a top 2 TE at a position that can be a back hole in a 16 team league. If Leonard Fournette doesn’t land a starting RB job it will make it difficult for Lance to put up a competitive score week in and week out. At least he has Dalvin Cook, who should be seriously motivated to jeopardize his future with no long term deal during the COVID19 season. Yeah, good luck!


Matt: Fournette landing in Tampa was his best case scenario and even there, I don't know how good he will be. He averaged 3.3 yards a carry in 2018. I mean, wow is that bad. 2019 was better, but still. And A.J Green as a keeper? Risky. He may end up looking brilliant, or he may look like DJ keeping Johnny Manziel. I would probably bump his squad up a spot with where Fournette landed, but Lance is still not a playoff favorite.


Jamaal: It's embarrassing that Lance's team rose this high in our standings. I had him at #11. There’s nothing special about this roster and unless he can fleece a family member nothing great will come from this season.




#7 1.21 Gigawatts



RANKINGS: Balego - #8 | Hurm - #8 | Gilbert - #7

Jamaal: I think it’s safe to say Drew has some belief in what’s happening down in Dallas. He’s got Dak and Zeke locked in as every-week killers, but after that things get a little dicey. WRs Lamb and Jeudy will be very good very soon — but probably not immediately, and possibly not in 2020. Marlon Mack has to fend off Jonathan Taylor, and there’s no reason to believe Indianapolis will keep Mack in their plans if Taylor goes off in Week 1. The Patriots D/ST is helpful; Drew’s depth is not remarkable. 


Matt: An awful lot of questions on this team beyond Elliott. Is Prescott willing to be the dual threat QB that is fantasy gold when running could expose him to injury for a team that refuses to sign him to a long term deal? Will any of the rookie WRs he is counting on bloom their first season or will they be the typical boom or bust rookies that ruin good rosters? Mack may be playable the first month, but I don’t know what Drew does after that. It’s just too many question marks for me to put them very high.


Troy: Agreed that there are a lot of questions with this team but if there’s an owner who's going to step up and answer them I'm sure it’s not Drew. 2 of the 3 best players on this roster are QBs-will Drew move on to add more depth? Maybe trading one of his rookie WR and a QB for a #1WR would propel this team forward?



• CONTENDERS •


You're a serious team. Now the real work starts.


#6 Joseph Addai














RANKINGS: Balego - #2 | Hurm - #12 | Gilbert - #6

Matt: I rate Joseph Addai’s squad the lowest of any writer and there is one reason why...depth. If this was a normal year and we didn’t have plague, murder hornets, sports boycotts, and a maniac in the White House, I would emphasize the starting lineup centrally and only glance at a teams’ bench. But we can all anticipate key players missing multiple weeks and we all need to be prepared. Ironically, Lidds, the league’s ultimate prepper, is not prepared for 2020. He doesn’t even have the depth to fill his starting lineup. Renfrow and Moss both have upside, but are not starters on a good team right now. Maybe they will end up being so, but it’s not something I would gamble a starting spot on. And the rest of the bench consists of backups and broken dreams. Are Lamar Jackson, Christian McCaffrey, and Amari Cooper a great start? Abso-fricking-lutely. But if you look an inch deeper, there may be trouble ahead for Joseph Addai.


Jamaal: I don’t know how any team can have CMC and Lamar Jackson and not be considered a playoff lock in our format. Adding Cooper and Andrews… that’s a rock-solid core. Agreed that the other pieces don’t inspire confidence… but I see a window of opportunity here because of that pair of monsters. Hurm… ranking Lidds down at #12 is disgraceful and disrespectful — it feels spiteful. What made you this way?


Troy: Agree with Jamaal on this 100%. Lamar Jackson plus CMC = playoffs in a 16 team league. Hurm ranking Liddiard this low was done completely out of spite. Hurm, why so you hate this country er franchise so much? Amari Cooper and Mark Andrews give Lidds a solid option at every position. You could start those 4 along 4 turd sandwiches and still have a 50%+ chance of making the playoffs. The rest of Lidds team is pretty much a turd sandwich so I guess we will get to test my theory this season.



#5 Fighting Minnow















RANKINGS: Balego - #3 | Hurm - #5 | Gilbert - #5


Troy: Throughout the history of this league the idea of Matt Hurm winning a championship seemed as improbable as Donald Trump becoming President of the United States back in 2015. Like our President and Lance, Hurm took to the strategy of bringing his lackeys into the league to make himself a winner, riding their ineptitude and loyalty to a league title. Thanks to their help Hurm, like Trump, may continue to wreak havoc and destroy the very fabric of this league for years to come.  Michael Thomas puts up the same amount of points of 2 WR and is consistent as they get. This team has solid options at every position with Carson Wentz at QB, Aaron Jones at RB and Hunter Henry at TE. There are some depth concerns but I’m sure Hurm will be able to get some help there from his own swamp. LAW AND ORDER!


Jamaal: Hurm 2020 = Lance 2001 = Trump 2016… got it. I’m sure they’re thrilled at that comparison. 


I see Aaron Jones as a candidate for enormous disappointment, mostly because of that wildly unsustainable TD number from last season (19? NINETEEN!). There’s no other trustworthy RB support on this roster (outside that shaky situation in Buffalo with Singletary), which scares the life out of an old school dude like me. Alas, this fleet of WRs is the best in the league — that might end up being good enough to battle for his division title again this season.


Matt: That was some amusing reading, Troy. The ravings of a lunatic, but entertaining nonetheless. In 2017, Troy said no Hurm will ever win an NCU title. Jon won a title in 2018. Myself in 2019. That's the kind of thoughtful analysis and sage predictions we've come to expect from Troy. Aaron Jones will get 1300 yard, 8 TD and be a very startable RB. My WRs are the best in the land. The roster is deep. I am one of five teams that can win a title this year. And if I don't? I will trade my extra keepers in the offseason and use the extra draft assets to make a run in 2021. This isn't a flash in the pan, it’s the result of a 5 year rebuild. And there is no reason to believe the Minnows will go hungry.



#4 Serenity Now!












RANKINGS: Balego - #5 | Hurm - #2 | Gilbert - #4

Jamaal: I really love this team. Loads of promise at both RB (Barkley & Edwards-Helaire) and WR (Adams, GB; Metcalf, SEA). I think it’d be easy to rank them higher, but we sure didn’t. Truth be told, no one ranked them lower than #5 and the highest ranking was #2. The only real knocks are questions at TE and bench depth. But when you’re trying to separate teams, those are the things that matter. To me, Matt Ryan is the key to unlocking elite performance — and if the second half of 2019 was any kind of omen, there’s reason to be skeptical.


Troy: Edwards-Helaire likely should have been the #1 pick but I think there’s some level of hype there as KC has shown they like to spread carries around. That being said I think this team might have the best combo of depth and elite talent of any team in the league. There are RBs that could benefit established starters getting hurt or are ineffective (Pollard, Brown) and WR depth with Mike Williams coming back. I expect Paul to really lock in on this team and make a few moves. He should have plenty of time for that with his baseball season being over now.


Matt: I ranked Paul second, so I clearly rate this team high, but part of me wells up in tears thinking of what could have been. If Paul wasn't a complete boob and kept an actual elite player, instead of Gronk, this squad would be unstoppable. Instead Paul had to try and be the smartest guy in the room again and keep Gronk. The RBs are elite and the WRs solid. I had Matt Ryan last year and he is consistently good. Imagine if Paul ever stopped knee-capping his own team?! Just silly.


• FAVORITES •


Don't screw it up.

#3 Jabad’s Sheep


















RANKINGS: Balego - #6 | Hurm - #1 | Gilbert - #2

Matt: Kamara, Henry, Godwin, and Ridley. This squad can go toe-to-toe with anyone in keeper quality. Those four guys are extremely talented and young. With Kamara and Henry, Jabad should be able to win the RB matchup every week.  Higbee and Stafford are serviceable pieces as well. The depth is the only trouble spot on this team, as D.J. Chark is the only player on the bench I wouldn’t be embarrassed to start. The starting lineup is elite and if the Sheep can dodge the 2020 minefield of injury and disease, they have a great chance to add to Jabad’s legend. 


Troy: Derrick Henry and Alvin Kamara are a great duo to have at RB. Kamara had an off year last season even with the Saints offense putting up big numbers. That is a cause for concern but maybe he's able to bounce back and be a more elite option this year. Like you said the starting lineup for Jabad looks good on paper but there is no depth whatsoever. If he can avoid injuries he should do well but I expect him to struggle when his big names are on byes due to his lack of depth. I mean realistically, most teams can expect to start their best players every week. Not like there’s a global pandemic that will undoubtedly cause players to miss time this year, right?


Jamaal: For my money, this is the best running baaaaa-ck combo in the league. Estaaaaa-blished powerhouses, both of them — it’ll be a surprise if they ever dip below 35 points. Sneaky WRs and Staaaaaaafford make it a wonderfully consistent lineup. I have the same questions thaaaaaat Troy aaaaaa-nd Maaaaaa--tt have — one injury will aaaaaaaa-bsolutely derail Jabad this year aaaaaaa-nd with just the staaaaaa-ndard picks trade, there’s very little in the way of baaaaa-rgaining chips to get things baaaaaa--ck on traaaaa-ck. 



#2 Denny Ekeler















RANKINGS: Balego - #1 | Hurm - #4 | Gilbert - #3

Troy: With Denny Ekeler Jamaal has done one of the more masterful jobs of turning a pretender into a contender in recent history. It seems like just 2 years ago Jamaal had a roster full of question marks with no promising keepers and limited draft capital. Now he has a great young core of talent to build around including DeShaun Watson, Nick Chubb, Austin Ekeler and the Adrian Peterson father of the year winner Tyreke Hill. That core should help carry this team week in and week out. Jamaal, you have to let everyone know how your secret to turning a franchise around!


Matt: A little harsh and a lot fair, Troy. I will say this...I like Will Fuller and TJ Hockenson a lot. Those are two high upset guys that, when paired with his elite keepers, make a very formidable starting eight. Granted, I don't love another single player on his roster, but hey, you can't score points from the bench. If Solberg is the safe and reliable 100/week favorite, Jamaal is the behemoth squad that will score 70 and then 140. He took big swings in the draft and trades and will make some serious contact some weeks. Will it be enough? Can his guys stay healthy and reach their high upside? Stay tuned.


Jamaal: I'll just say that shaping this roster in about seven days was a labor of love. Moving Barkley and McCaffrey was super painful, but with the time I had left + a BUNCH of keeper-level talent already on the roster, it was the quickest way to grab folks’ attention to get something done. And I pulled off three trades in four days.


When I left the league before last season, I was coming off a stretch where I made the playoffs three times in four years, advancing to the title game twice. Either way, I'd have blue chip talent and be near the top of the standings. And now I'm positioned for years of success. Tip o’ the cap to Marcus; I’ll take it from here, buddy.



#1 All Mahomies















RANKINGS: Balego - #4 | Hurm - #3 | Gilbert - #1


Jamaal: It’s usually so easy to fawn over the top team. But this year we have a more balanced league without a dominant force… so while I ranked All Mahomies #1 overall, it was extremely close. Most people believe Mahomes is the best QB in the game, but beyond this we just see excellent balance. You can’t or wouldn’t argue with starting any of Beckham Jr., Diggs, Drake or Mixon. The question marks are more like footnotes or minor quibbles… everyone believes these guys will produce. It’s a stable, solid roster, and that counts for a lot in a 16-team league. There’s a limited week-by-week ceiling here — I’m not expecting this roster to ever produce like 143 points. But I bet they’ll never fall below 85.


Matt: I’m not sure I’m buying your whole low-ceiling-high-floor analysis. All Mahomies can hurt you in a ton of different ways. We know Mahomes can go off and win games on his own. Then you look at his bench and see a ton of high ceiling guys who could be big time players if the stars align. Mecole Hardman is the most explosive player since Tyreek Hill...and he doesn’t hurt children...allegedly. Diontae Johnson could be an exciting option if the Steelers revert to 2018 form.  There is some dynamite in this roster. And I didn’t even mention his starting lineup full of proven producers. He has all the tools to win a title.


Troy: Any team with Pat Mahomes real or fantasy has a chance to win a title every year. I’m not a Joe Mixon fan but with a better cast around him including Joe Burrow he may be able to drop points this season like he drops women at a sandwich shop (Google if you don’t know the reference and imagine having to root for this guy) and OBJ cant be much worse than last season. Mahomes, elite starters and a deep bench = a definite contender.

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