Rookie Standouts Achane and Nacua break out, old staples like McCaffrey and Kelce continue to shine
By Charlie Miller, Staff Writer
Fantasy football is an aspect of the gridiron that is always met with high preseason expectations and anticipation. However, it always results in either disappointment or elation at the end. It seems that every year, you feel good about your draft, only for your best players to get injured or underperform while late-round picks make the difference between wins and losses. With top pick Justin Jefferson’s lengthy injury, managers are scrambling everywhere, but surprises like Puka Nacua have saved many.
The Good
Top Scorers so far this season are Dolphins’ wide receiver Tyreek Hill, the fastest player in the league who is thriving in Miami. Since leaving Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, the “Cheetah” has posted career highs in yards per game last year and so far this season. He is surrounded by even more speed in Miami with rookie running back De’von Achane who has scored 20+ fantasy points (PPR) three weeks in a row, including a 51-point effort against Denver. Unfortunately, though, the blazer from Texas A&M went on Injured Reserve and will be out until mid-November, which has elevated tailback Raheem Mostert and speedy wideout Jaylen Waddle’s workloads.
Christian McCaffrey proves yet again why he is a fantasy stud, as he is averaging 24.37 points per game, and scoring less than 20 points only twice. The running back landscape in fantasy is a bit unusual this year, with breakouts like Zack Moss and Kyren Williams, along with returning stars like Alvin Kamara and Jonathan Taylor. At wide receiver, Hill leads the pack, along with Jefferson before the injury. A return to glory for Adam Thielen is a nice site for an otherwise dismal Panthers season, and A.J. Brown is a top-3 scorer so far.
Travis Kelce is right where we left him at the top of the tight-end rankings, but rookie Sam LaPorta has been a touchdown machine for the upstart Lions. Each year proves why running backs and tight ends are the most top-heavy positions, with this year being no exception. The position with the most fantasy depth is ironically the most important in the real game: quarterback. Supermen Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts, and Patrick Mahomes outline the top three scorers, but surprises in Kirk Cousins and Jared Goff round out the top ten. Russell Wilson is having a nice bounce-back season, despite the Broncos’ struggles, and Lamar Jackson is looking like an MVP candidate. However, another AFC North quarterback is among the disappointments of the season thus far.
The Disappointing
Joe Burrow has no doubt been the most disappointing quarterback, coming in as the number 26 ranked signalcaller at the time of publication. He is behind players like Mac Jones and Desmond Ridder, who are not lighting the world on fire by any means. Burrow’s calf injury has no doubt slowed him down, but regardless, he was one of the first four quarterbacks taken in most drafts.
George Kittle has also been a bit disappointing at the tight end position, as has hyped prospect Kyle Pitts. Falcons’ head coach Arthur Smith has perhaps contributed to that, frustrating fantasy owners who want Pitts to see more targets.
Injuries, as always, have disappointed fantasy owners further, with the previously mentioned Jefferson, and running backs Nick Chubb and J.K. Dobbins who have suffered season-ending injuries. CeeDee Lamb and Devonta Smith have not had the breakout season fans wanted, but a lot remains to be seen. That goes for fantasy as a whole this year, as old stars look to continue their dominance and newcomers look to prove they aren’t flashes in the pan.
