Add, Hold, Drop - Dynasty Series 1

- Anthony Winters (@A_Winters9) -

Well, I am down and out for the count for the next week or so. Tearing my meniscus in two spots was a wake up call in regards to injuries in the NFL. I can’t believe these guys can still walk after doing something much worse, let alone play an actual football game at full speed. I’m over here icing and elevating like a little baby after a 30 minute surgery, but I digress.

Welcome to my first segment of Add, Drop, Hold. It’s a series about players that I see value in long-term or that I’d cut bait on while you still can. We all go through these types of dilemmas in our fantasy life asking ourselves if we drop this guy for this one because his perceived value is this or that. As most of our seasons have come to an end, it’s time to look to next year in hopes that it will be our turn for fantasy glory.

ADD

AJ Dillon
Anthony, why are you telling me to add a 3rd string running back on a team that includes one of the best passers of our lifetime, with a running back who has been nothing short of remarkable the past two years? Look, this man has been active for only seven games this year totaling just about a 12% snap share (not ideal). On top of that, he is averaging a measly two fantasy points a game. However, looking further into this, Dillon is averaging 4.6 yards per carry. The receptions aren’t there because Jones generally takes a lot of receiving work, but Dillon is efficient when he touches the ball. Jones is an UFA this upcoming year and LaFleur has shown an unwillingness to give Jones all the touches. Why draft a running back in the second round if you aren’t going to use him? Add Dillon with the thought that he will be the lead back next year.

Gabriel Davis
Who on earth is this guy? That right there ladies and gentleman is the fourth receiver on Buffalo’s depth chart. Buffalo has two receivers on the wrong side of 30 who both have injury histories (Beasley and Brown). This man has a 72% snap share while boasting a 10.4% target share (16.7% in the red zone). We all know that Josh Allen is playing at an exceptional level and can throw the ball to the sun, so he is obviously going to keep passing. Throw in the fact that the Buffalo run game is about as efficient as USPS around Christmas time and you have the recipe for a breakout next season. Who’s to say that this man isn’t vaulted into the starting lineup when inevitably one of these ancient receivers gets hurt again. Add him, stash him, and cash in on him when it all comes together.

Lynn Bowden
This one hurts to write. I am a non-supporter of anything from BBN and the University of Kentucky, but my goodness this guy is good. Being traded before the season even started was a bold move and Bowden has shown the Raiders (thank God, because as a Chiefs fan I hate the Raiders) what they missed out on. Most of Bowden’s target rate (16.1% on routes run) has come when Parker is out, but when he does get the ball he is a force. Averaging nearly nine yards per catch when only running routes one yard away from the LOS is unreal. This guy has big play potential written on him every single time he touches the ball. Think of him as a poor man’s Deebo Samuel for the time being and go and scoop him up and thank your lucky stars you were told to do so before anyone else could.

HOLD

Laviska Shenault
Currently living in Jacksonville means I get to see this guy play all the time because my beloved Chiefs are always blocked out by the Jags. Look, this guy has had an up and down rookie season, but what do you expect when you play with three different QB’s that no other team wanted? This guy owns a 14% target share and averages 10 yards per reception. Can you imagine what happens when Lawrence or Fields starts throwing the ball to him? Catching nearly 93% of passes thrown his way means that when working with a new QB, he will become trusted early and often. He hasn’t had a breakout rookie campaign, but whew boy is he going to be a star.

DROP

Phillip Lindsay
But Anthony, Lindsay is an undrafted phenom who has two 1,000 yard rushing seasons. Why are you telling me to get rid of him? Lindsay has been downright awful this year. He is only playing on 40% of snaps and his injury history is extensive. Melvin Gordon has come in and while it took some time for the rust to come off, he is looking more like the pro bowl back we are used to. Lindsay can’t stay on the field and is being forced out by a much better caliber of player. Don’t get me wrong, Lindsay is a much better football player than me and most other people, but he just isn’t as good as Gordon. If you want to keep him as a deep bench stash, be my guest. But enjoy missing out on other players with potential while that roster spot is taken up.

Devin Singeltary
Does everyone remember when we thought Singeltary was going to be the second coming? What dark times those were. Singeltary has already become overshadowed by rookie Zach Moss. Josh Allen shows an unwillingness to throw to his running backs consistently and shifty backs don’t score red zone touchdowns at the rate that power backs do. Yes, he is averaging over 4 yards per carry, but is only playing 60% of snaps this year compared to 70% last year. Buffalo is phasing him out of their game plan slowly, but it is only a matter of time. If an organization that employs people to do this job doesn’t see something in a player, why do we think that we are better at seeing it? Cut him and thank me later.