Fanelli’s Fantasy Files: NFC East ADP Values, Busts, and Sleepers

Football is back! With the preseason underway, fantasy players are doing mock drafts hourly (or maybe it’s just me) to prepare for their fantasy drafts. Each year fantasy players want to construct their team with a proper mix of good value players and upside sleepers while avoiding players with high bust potential. In the second part of an eight-part series, I will look over the NFC East and provide ADP values, likely to bust candidates and potential sleepers.

Players ADP is from Fantasy Pro’s PPR ADP.

Be sure to check out all eight parts of Fanelli’s ADP values, busts, and sleepers series.

Values

Curtis Samuel, Washington Football Team (WR40, 105.2 ADP)

Samuel had a career season in 2020, finishing with 118 touches, 1,051 scrimmage yards, and 14.1 fantasy points per game. In the offseason, Samuel joined Washington to pair up with his former Ohio State teammate Terry McLaurin. Samuel should have a similar role as last season in Washington, getting work in the passing and running game. Last season, Samuel finished as the WR23 thanks to his versatile role despite playing only 71 percent of the snaps with an aDOT of 7.2 yards. Now that he will have Ryan Fitzpatrick under center, Samuel should see plenty of downfield targets. The Washington offense projects to be high-scoring and explosive this season, giving Samuel plenty of upside.

Michael Gallup, Dallas Cowboys (WR47, 120.2 ADP)

Despite all the injuries to the Cowboys’ offense last year and the addition of CeeDee Lamb, Gallup had three games last season with a top-12 finish. Furthermore, even with the Cowboys using four quarterbacks last season, Gallup finished as the WR38, averaging 10.8 fantasy points per game. By comparison, Gallup averaged 11.6 fantasy points per game, with Dak Prescott under center. Despite playing behind Amari Cooper and Lamb, Gallup still played on 91.4 percent of the snaps and had a 17.2 percent target share. On top of his secure role in the offense, the Cowboys’ defense projects to be awful. Their defense will force the offense to keep them in games. Gallup is currently being drafted at his floor and has plenty of upside in a pass-heavy offense.

Busts

Saquon Barkley, New York Giants (RB5, 5.8 ADP)

During his rookie season, Barkley was a superstar, averaging 24.1 fantasy points per game. More impressively, Barkley’s 91 catches finished 13th in the league. However, in the two years since, Barkley has only 58 catches. The reason why is Daniel Jones. During his rookie season, Barkley had the immobile Eli Manning at quarterback. In the following two seasons, Jones was the starter for most of Barkley’s games. More importantly, Barkley has missed 17 of his last 32 games because of injuries. Currently, Barkley is on PUP, and according to reports, he won’t be off anytime soon. According to another report, Barkley could miss the first few weeks of the season. Unless Barkley’s medical situation changes for the better, taking him before the end of the second round is a mistake.

Miles Sanders, Philadelphia Eagles (RB18, 34.8 ADP)

Entering the 2020 season, Sanders had high expectations. However, like the entire Eagles team, he failed to live up to them. Sanders finished last season as the RB23, averaging 14.2 fantasy points per game. While Sanders improved his yards per carry and rushing touchdowns from his rookie season, his receiving numbers took a massive hit. His catches dropped by 44 percent. He had 312 fewer receiving yards and no receiving touchdowns. Sanders also struggled with fumbles, averaging one every three games. To make things worse, the Eagles added Kenneth Gainwell and Kerryon Johnson this offseason. Furthermore, according to reports, Sanders and Boston Scott have split first-team reps so far in camp. At this time, all signs point to Sanders finding himself stuck in a deep running back by committee situation.

Sleepers

Kenneth Gainwell, Philadelphia Eagles (RB56, 168.8 ADP)

In the offseason, the Eagles hired former Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator Nick Sirianni as their new head coach. Sirianni has a history of getting his running backs involved in the passing game. Last season, Nyheim Hines finished as the RB15, averaging 12.1 fantasy points per game. In 16 games, Hines caught 63 of 76 targets for 482 yards and four touchdowns. When the Eagles used a fifth-round pick on Gainwell, Sirianni compared him to Hines. Jalen Hurts won’t throw to his running backs as much as Philip Rivers did last season because of his rushing ability. However, Gainwell has experience playing wide receiver and running back during his time at Memphis. Fantasy players should expect Gainwell to have a consistent role in the offense as a rookie.

Daniel Jones, New York Giants (QB25, 171.6 ADP)

Last season, Jones was a fantasy disaster, averaging less than a touchdown and only 14.4 fantasy points per game. However, his supporting cast was one of the worst in the league before getting hurt. Despite the chance to draft Justin Fields, the Giants decided to give Jones another year as the starting quarterback. During his rookie season, Jones showed flashes of turning into a fantasy asset. That year, Jones averaged two passing touchdowns per start and 20.2 fantasy points per game. Furthermore, Jones can create fantasy points with his legs, averaging 3.3 fantasy points per game on the ground. With the additions of Kenny Golladay, Kadarius Toney, and at some point a healthy Barkley, Jones has the supporting cast to turn into a weekly streaming option or better this season.