Mike Fanelli, Joshua Abbe, Brandon Braasch, Mason Thompson, Frank Ammirante | March 14th, 2020
It’s the offseason and that means the NFL world is moving slowly. Actually, who am I kidding. Free agency is almost here and where players sign will have ripple impact throughout the league. Not only for Super Bowl odds next year but also for dynasty fantasy owners. Each signing changes the views for not only that player but the rest of the team he’s leaving and joining, as well as potential landing spots for rookies.
Here at The Scorecrow, we offer another fantasy football roundtable. This time we will give our opinions on where some of the top free agents should sign to have the biggest fantasy impact for dynasty owners. Yes, keep in mind we are all clueless and hate your favorite team with a passion. Without any further ado, let’s get into it.
For answers more specific to your league settings, feel free to contact any of the writers on twitter.
For part one of the roundtable click here.
Amari Cooper
Mike Fanelli: Green Bay Packers
This may seem like a horrible fantasy landing spot given that Davante Adams is the WR1 in Green Bay and Aaron Rodgers has put together back-to-back disappointing fantasy seasons. However, Rodgers has shown several times that he can support two WR1s. As recent as 2016, Jordy Nelson and Adams finished the season as a WR1; both top nine. Cooper finished as the WR10 in his only full season in Dallas with Dak Prescott. Imagine what he could if he is rarely double teamed and has Rodgers throwing to him.
Josh Abbe: Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles are in desperate need of wide receivers; Cooper could provide the missing piece needed here. Carson Wentz needs someone to throw to and Alshon Jeffery isn’t getting any younger nor staying healthy. With a thin wide receiver corp, he would be “The Guy” for Eagle fans. He was hit and miss with fantasy numbers, but when he was on, he won weeks for fantasy teams. If you haven’t given up on Wentz, which you shouldn’t, Cooper would have a QB1 that wouldn’t get killed by play calling and be heavily targeted.
Brandon Braasch: Philadelphia Eagles
Cooper’s career was revived when he went to the Dallas Cowboys. Last year he went for 1,189 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. However, Cooper would have even better numbers if he went to another team in the NFC East. The Eagles need a wide receiver. Wentz throwing to Cooper would be one of the best tandems in the league. Wentz has a big arm Cooper has speed. It’s a great fit for both players.
Mason Thompson: Buffalo Bills
If the Cowboys are smart they will re-sign Cooper at all costs. However, they are too worried about paying their middle-of-the-pack quarterback instead. Buffalo needs a number one receiver and has enough cap room to spend big on Cooper. The addition of Cooper would be a welcome addition and John Brown should take some of the defense’s attention off of Cooper. Just imagine how many fantasy points Josh Allen would have with two elite deep threats.
Frank Ammirante: Philadelphia Eagles
Cooper has been fantastic as a Cowboy, but it appears that there’s a chance that he moves on since they need to pay Prescott. The division rival Eagles have a clear need at receiver, where Cooper would step in and immediately be a target hog, number one option for quarterback Wentz. This would give the team a solid skill-position corps which would include Cooper, Zach Ertz, and Dallas Goedert, along with Miles Sanders. Cooper would thrive in this offense.
Robby Anderson
Mike: Philadelphia Eagles
Can we please give Wentz some help? Only one wide receiver or tight end played all 16 games for the Eagles last year and that was rookie JJ Arcega-Whiteside (who had just 22 targets). Nelson Agholor missed five games, Jeffery missed six, and DeSean Jackson missed 13. Agholor is a free agent while Jeffery could be traded this offseason. Jackson was brought back to give Wentz a deep threat, but he can’t be that threat from the sideline. Meanwhile, Anderson has played all 16 games in three of his four seasons. Pairing Wentz with Anderson would give him the upside to finish the 2020 season as a top 15 wide receiver.
Josh: Green Bay Packers
The Packers are in dire need of a WR2 on their depth chart. No one stepped up and helped Adams on the perimeter and Rodgers’ frustration showed in 2019. Anderson provides an extra opportunity for the offense to have him featured in that Matt LaFleur offense. With Adam’s dealing with double coverages, Anderson can get the targets. He is a good prototype wide receiver that can be used on the outside and in the slot. With the Packers’ receivers and tight ends having trouble staying healthy in 2019, Anderson could be the boost they need.
Brandon: Philadelphia Eagles
I have never really been a huge fan of Anderson. If he finds the right home then he would be back on my fantasy radar. I know I said Cooper to the Eagles would be great but Anderson could be even better. Wentz used his arm strength early in 2019 with Jackson on the deep balls. He went down to injury and Wentz never had a receiver with that type of speed. Anderson would be a great replacement and would result in a lot of success for years to come.
Mason: Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens need more receivers and are trying to replicate a track team on offense. Well, Anderson helps with that. In Baltimore, he and Marquise Brown will trade deep ball blows to the opposing team. Teaming up with Lamar Jackson will work in his favor as well as his fantasy owners’ favor.
Frank: Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders need a deep threat because Tyrell Williams is not going to cut it. Anderson has shown flashes of potential playing for a mediocre Jets offense. I think that if the Raiders were to pair Anderson with Jameis Winston, they would have a solid group of skill position players. Anderson would immediately step in as the number one wideout on the team, playing for a head coach that prefers to pass the football. It would be a boost to his dynasty value for sure.
Emmanuel Sanders
Mike: New Orleans Saints
I love Michael Thomas as much as the next fantasy owner but can we get the guy a sidekick, please? Taysom Hill is a gadget player, Ted Ginn is over the hill and Tre’Quan Smith isn’t a starting caliber wide receiver. The Saints showed they are willing to bring in older veterans last offseason when they fixed their tight end problem by signing Jared Cook. Sanders almost won a Super Bowl in San Francisco and could potentially win one in New Orleans. Drew Brees loves his slot receivers and Sanders would be a PPR machine in that offense. While pairing up with an older quarterback isn’t great for his dynasty value but at 33 years old, Sanders doesn’t have a lot of years left in his career either.
Josh: Minnesota Vikings
With Stefon Diggs wanting to be traded, the Vikings could easily fill that void with Sanders. He would come to a passing attack that needs a receiver for the slot position. At 33 years old, he would be used in the role. Even if Diggs were to stay, the trio would be very effective.
Brandon: New Orleans Saints
Sanders never had much success with the San Francisco 49ers. He will likely be moving on and at 33 years old he likely only has a couple more good seasons left in him. He would be a perfect fit in the place where he had his best game of the season. That game was at the Superdome. He and the Saints would be a great match. The Saints could use his veteran leadership. Sanders alongside Thomas would be a great duo for Brees.
Mason: Green Bay Packers
Green Bay was reportedly in on Sanders at the trade deadline but couldn’t work out a deal with Denver. Now, Sanders can make his own decision. The Packers need anyone opposite of Adams and Sanders fits. He can fit in the slot while Allen Lazard plays on the outside opposite of Adams.
Frank: New England Patriots
I think that Tom Brady is gone and the Patriots will add a cheap replacement like Andy Dalton while investing resources in the skill positions. New England has been interested in Sanders for a while. He would be a nice veteran addition who can play in the slot or line up out wide. I think that Sanders would step in as the 1B to Julian Edelman, where he could produce solid numbers for a Patriots offense that will remain solid without Brady. Since the Pats have been interested in him for years, I’m confident that they would use him well.
Austin Hooper
Mike: Dallas Cowboys
If Cooper is back, the Cowboys won’t have the space to sign Hooper. However, if Cooper leaves, the Cowboys should turn their attention to Hooper. Jason Witten appears to be out the door and even at 37 years old, he finished the 2019 season as the TE11. He saw 83 targets and Hooper could see close to double that in 2020 as Prescott trusts his tight ends. Last season, Hooper had a career year across the board with 75 catches on 97 targets for 787 yards and six touchdowns despite missing three games with an injury. He also finished the year as the TE3 on a points per game basis. At just 25 years old, his best fantasy seasons are ahead of him.
Josh: Cincinnati Bengals
With an out of the blue landing spot. Tyler Eifert is a free agent and the Bengals could give future 2020 first-round pick Joe Burrow a very reliable target in Hooper. He was the number one fantasy tight end before the injury. Hooper could easily become a top target in the Bengals offense that in return should be a safety net for a rookie quarterback.
Brandon: New England Patriots
Hooper was one of the best pass-catching tight ends in 2019. If Brady stays with the Patriots then Hooper and the Patriots would be a dream combo. Brady needs more weapons if the Patriots are going to convince him to stay. They could sign Hooper to help persuade Brady to re-sign. If Brady stays and Hooper signed with the Patriots then I expect a career year for Hooper.
Mason: Washington Redskins
Hooper is being allowed to test the waters in free agency surprisingly. The Redskins are a good fit as he will be the number one option on the offense. He will be peppered by targets from a second-year quarterback trying to impress a new coaching staff. Being the number one option as a tight end is vital in fantasy football.
Frank: Green Bay Packers
Jimmy Graham was an absolute bust for the Packers, so the team needs a replacement at the tight end position. Hooper would be a great fit because he’s more than just a red zone threat. He caught 75 passes in only 13 games last year. Hooper would do wonders for the Packers intermediate passing game, providing another option to go along with wideout Adams. This is exactly the player that Rodgers and the Green Bay offense needs to kick start their passing game.
Eric Ebron
Mike: New England Patriots
Whether Brady or someone else is under center in New England next season, the Patriots need to upgrade the tight end position. While Ebron isn’t the best tight end on the market, he offers the Patriots a red zone weapon. With Andrew Luck under center in 2018, Ebron had a career year, catching 66 balls on 110 targets for 750 yards and 14 total touchdowns. However, last season, with poor quarterback play and missing five games because of injury, Ebron seriously regressed and had just three touchdowns. Led by Edelman and James White, the Patriots have several possession receivers but lack a red zone guy. If Ebron ends up in New England, he could have another fantasy dominant season like he did in 2018.
Josh: Green Bay Packers
With the Packers moving on from Graham and if Jace Sternberger isn’t the answer, Ebron is a prime target for the Packers. He broke out after leaving Detroit with Indianapolis, but with Luck retiring, he didn’t get utilized much. Rodgers could need someone to help with Adams and split up the coverages.
Brandon: Arizona Cardinals
Ebron’s 2018 season resulted in 13 receiving touchdowns and many expected him to have similar numbers in 2019. Luck retired and it was all downhill from there. Ebron is still a great red-zone target and would be a great fit for the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals struggled in the red-zone. They converted only 45% of the time which is bottom four in the league. Ebron would be set up great for a lot of touchdown opportunities, which is what he does best.
Mason: Chicago Bears
The Bears have already been linked to Ebron as a potential landing spot. Trey Burton hasn’t been able to stay healthy since the team forked out a bunch of cash to sign him. Ebron is the tall red zone threat and safety blanket that Mitchell Trubisky or whoever plays quarterback (ahem, Dalton) will want in Chicago.
Frank: New England Patriots
The last of three additions to join Andy Dalton in the Pats’ revamped offense. This team missed the red zone dominance of Rob Gronkowski in 2019. Ebron would be a great fit to help replace this production as he scored 13 touchdowns back in 2018. The former 10th overall pick is still only 27 years old. I think that he can find a home in New England. It’s a realistic option that would allow him to have the lion share of targets at tight end after splitting them with Jack Doyle for the last couple of seasons.
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