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Welcome In. We're rolling toward the big games Sunday and in the meantime we have the goods you need.
We've got the wide receiver edition of our "Lessons Learned", plus DFS goodness and then our Bob Harris dives into what we think the future holds for Christian McCaffrey.
Plus Cecil Lammey has the News and Notes you need.
Let's Go.
J
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2024 Lessons Learned: Your 2025 Wide Receiver Strategy
By Rachel Tootsiepop - Exclusive to Footballguys
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In this week's roundtable series, I asked our Footballguys staff to discuss their fantasy New Year's resolutions for each position and their overall takeaways for approaching drafting in 2025.
Yesterday, we talked about the running back position. In today's article, we share insights on the wide receiver position.
Lessons Learned at the Wide Receiver Position
Underwhelming Year for Wide Receivers
Jason Wood: After years of fantasy leagues trending toward prioritizing receivers above all else, 2024 was a year where that strategy likely let you down. Most of the top receivers failed to deliver on their preseason ADPs due to a combination of underperformance and missed games. It was the missed games that proved most damaging; in many ways, the receiver position felt more like the running back position this year.
My New Year's resolution is to buy the dip. Next year's ADP will almost certainly skew toward running backs, thanks to their resurgence in 2024. This presents a prime opportunity to target two elite receivers within the first three rounds—a strategy that will almost certainly be a plus-EV decision.
Will Grant: Wide Receiver was the let-down position of 2024 in many cases. Top picks like Tyreek Hill, Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, and Chris Olave did not perform well enough to justify the high draft picks it took to get them. While CeeDee Lamb finished eighth in fantasy scoring, I doubt many fantasy owners were happy spending their 1st round draft picks to get him. As Jason pointed out, a big part of this was due to injury, either to the receiver or the quarterback throwing it at them.
My New Year's resolution is to be open to taking a wide receiver or two in the top three rounds but be mindful of their situations. Jaxon Smith-Njigba finished in the top 10 because of an injury to DK Metcalf. Jerry Jeudy was okay at the start of the season but came on when Amari Cooper was traded to Buffalo. Courtland Sutton provided considerable value with Bo Nix under center, and Jameson Williams finally emerged as a solid wide receiver for the Lions. For the 2025 season, wide receiver will be the position I sprinkle in here or there and look for the value as it comes to me rather than go big in the early rounds.
Philadelphia Eagles TE Dallas Goedert (ankle) was at practice on Thursday, Jan. 23, but stood off to the side while the team stretched, according to Andrew DiCecco of Inside The Birds.
Our view: Let's keep an eye on this situation. The Eagles could use a guy like Goedert out there to take the pressure of QB Jalen Hurts. Washington can get middle pressure on a quarterback, and having Goedert out there would give Hurts a relief-valve target in the NFC Championship Game. Let's see if he can at least be limited on Friday.
Washington Commanders TE Zach Ertz (rib) fully participated in practice Thursday, Jan. 23.
Our view: Good news for the Commanders here. Ertz is a security blanket target for QB Jayden Daniels. When the team needs to move the chains, Ertz is the type of guy Daniels is going to be looking for.
Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes (ankle) fully participated in practice Thursday, Jan. 23.
Our view: Mahomes is ready for the challenge in another AFC Championship Game. We'll see if the Chiefs offense has to light up the scoreboard against a Bills offense that can outscore anyone. Mahomes will be motivated to get to his third Super Bowl in a row.
Updating a previous report, Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer completed the second day of his two-day second interview for the head-coaching vacancy with the Cowboys on Wednesday, Jan. 22.
Our view: Schottenheimer has never been a head coach in the NFL, but it now seems like he's the favorite to land the job. He's been average or below average as an OC during a few stops in the NFL (Rams 2012-2014), (Seahawks 2018-2020), (Jaguars 2021). With the Cowboys under former HC Mike McCarthy, Schottenheimer did not call plays so he'd get to do that if he gets the job.
📺 11 Dynasty Sleepers To Target Before the NFL Draft
The Dynasty Fantasy Football offseason is full swing! Join Sigmund Bloom and Cecil Lammey as they look at the biggest dynasty sleepers to target before the NFL Draft!
Buffalo Bills TE Dalton Kincaid (knee) fully participated in practice Thursday, Jan. 23.
Our view: Kincaid is good to go for the AFC Championship Game against the Chiefs. The Bills don't have to beat you through the air to win, but they can at the drop of a hat. Kincaid is a field-flipper for the team if they need to light it up with the passing game.
Washington Commanders WR Olamide Zaccheaus (hip) was limited during practice Thursday, Jan. 23.
Our view: Let's see what Zaccheaus can do on Friday. Hip injuries are painful to deal with, but we expect Zaccheaus to go on Sunday against the Eagles.
Buffalo Bills WR Amari Cooper said that he is not bothered by his reduced workload in the offense recently and that winning is more important to him.
Our view: Cooper is with the Bills to chase a ring. The team doesn't need to live through the air, but QB Josh Allen can light you up at any time. If and when that needs to happen, Cooper is going to get the ball more often.
Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski announced his intention to reassume play-calling duties next season after relinquishing them to former offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey halfway through the 2024 season.
Our view: Stefanski made the announcement as he introduced Tommy Rees as the team's new offensive coordinator on Thursday, Jan. 23. The Browns are putting the power back in Stefanski's hands, and now we have to see who will be under center. With another Achilles' injury, Deshaun Watson may not be able to play in the 2025 season. The Browns are interested in a quarterback, and they may be considering someone like Cam Ward (Miami) or Shedeur Sanders (Colorado) with the no.2 overall pick.
Los Angeles Rams QB Matthew Stafford (ribs) suffered four cracked ribs during the Week 15 win over the San Francisco 49ers but continued to play through the injury, his wife, Kelly, announced on her podcast. During the Divisional Round loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Stafford aggravated the injury.
Our view: Stafford is one of the toughest quarterbacks in the NFL. He turns 37 years old later this year and may decide to play one more season. Stafford said he will "take some time to think about it" when asked about his playing future.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers inside linebackers coach Larry Foote is expected to interview with the Detroit Lions regarding their defensive coordinator vacancy, according to sources.
Our view: Foote was a fine inside linebacker during his playing days, and he's been working his way up the coaching ranks ever since. He would bring a blitz-heavy scheme to the Lions defense if he gets the job.
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