We are now over a month into this NFL season! We must focus on the top takeaways now that we have film and statistics to study. No longer can we rest on our offseason takes of who will succeed and who will fail. We now have a reasonably large sample size of NFL football. The fantasy season will move quickly, and in a dynasty, it is essential to acquire players before they break out or unload players before they falter. We can lead our team to a fantasy football title by focusing on weekly top takeaways!
It’s Time To Trade Jacoby
Jacoby Brissett has been playing well as the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns. Some costly late turnovers cost the Browns wins, but that doesn’t hugely impact fantasy performances. Before Monday Night Football, Brissett is QB14 on the year. In Superflex leagues, that is solid production. A solid QB2 for your Superflex spot cannot be understated.
This past Sunday marked the fourth game in a row where Brissett put up at least 15 fantasy points. He completed 21 passes for 230 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. However, there is something that managers in your league might not remember. We are only six games away from Deshaun Watson returning as the quarterback for the Cleveland Browns. If you have Watson on your team, then you are enjoying the production you are getting from Brissett. If you do not have Watson, now is the time to move Brissett. Perhaps the Mac Jones manager is still searching for a QB2. Take a third-round rookie pick and move on.Â
Kenny Pickett Growing Pains
Pickett made his first career start this past Sunday, and unfortunately, it came against the Buffalo Bills. The Bills currently have one of the best defenses in the league, a monumental test for a rookie quarterback. Pickett didn’t look bad, given the circumstances. He attempted 52 passes and completed 34 of them for 327 yards. No touchdowns and one interception on the day aren’t great, but things could have been worse.
The concerning thing for dynasty managers would be the lack of production from the other offensive pieces. Najee Harris could only accumulate 20 yards on 11 carries, and no pass catcher broke 85 yards receiving. There will be growing pains as Pickett gets acclimated to the league, and expectations for the Steelers’ should be adjusted accordingly. Â
Kenyan Drake Comeback
Drake led the Baltimore Ravens running backs in snaps on Sunday Night. In a key AFC North matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, Kenyan Drake was on the field for 27 snaps, while JK Dobbins was on the field for 26. Drake was even active for this game because Justice Hill was out with a hamstring injury. If Hill were to miss another game, expect Drake to be out there again.
The main concern for dynasty managers is the lack of bellcow work for Dobbins. However, I don’t think we will ever get to that point. Dobbins looked dominant when he had the ball in his hands. Baltimore will most likely continue to rotate backs in to keep each runner fresh. This may limit the upside of any running back in the Ravens’ offense.Â
Tee Higgins Disappearing Act
Higgins played in a crucial AFC North matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. Unfortunately for fantasy managers, he didn’t do anything. He was only on the field for ten of the Bengals’ 63 offensive snaps. Tee Higgins suffered an ankle injury but, oddly enough, remained on the sideline with both his pads and helmet on. Fantasy managers who only needed a few points to secure a victory were left pulling their hair out as they watched a zero all night long.
This makes a good point about this Bengals team; they have plenty of depth at the receiver position. This depth grants players like Higgins the ability to sit out if less than 100%. This realization is no comfort to dynasty managers who lost because of a dud from Higgins. It is something to remember, as Zach Taylor may be hesitant to bring back receivers early from injuries.Â
Information is the most powerful tool any dynasty fantasy football manager possesses. If you can stay on top of the correct information more than your league-mates, you will come out on top. The AFC North is home to many fantasy-relevant players. Be sure to check back with us, as we will be breaking down takeaways from every division this week. And be sure to come back next week, as we will be doing the same for all 18 weeks of the 2022 NFL season!
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I hope you enjoyed this piece in our Winning With Vegas series. For more content like this, follow me on Twitter @DanT_NFL. DMs are always open for any questions, comments, or craft beer recommendations!