Geno Smith will finish as a top-five fantasy quarterback. Jamaal Williams will set a Lions franchise record for touchdown runs. Deebo Samuel will finish outside of the top 30 wide receivers, behind Joshua Palmer and Zay Jones. Darren Waller will fail to be a top-30 tight end and score fewer PPR fantasy points than Foster Moreau.
If you made any of these bold predictions before the start of the 2022 NFL season, you would have been laughed at, heckled and probably also fitted for a straitjacket.
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You also would have been right.
Weird stuff happens all the time in the NFL. As a diehard fan of the Cowboys, I’m always hoping something weird happens, like the team gets back to a Super Bowl. Dare to dream! Anyway, here are 10 (mostly) bold predictions that will probably not happen, but what the hell! Did you see Josh Jacobs leading the league in rushing yards?
Me neither. Alright, let’s have some fun…
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Trevor Lawrence will throw for 5,000 yards and 35 touchdowns
Lawrence took a positive step last season after what was a terrible rookie year, and his progression towards fantasy superstardom will continue in 2023. The Jaguars added a playmaking wideout in Calvin Ridley, who just adds to a strong list of weapons including Travis Etienne, Christian Kirk, Zay Jones and Evan Engram. When all is said and done, he’ll post huge passing totals for his fantasy managers.
Anthony Richardson will finish as a top-10 fantasy quarterback
I love mobile quarterbacks. Love, love love! That’s a huge part of Richardson’s draft appeal, and it’s what will make him a potential top-10 fantasy quarterback. Sure, he has some deficiencies as a passer, but his potential to record strong rushing totals can mask those deficiencies in the world of fantasy football. The rookie out of Florida is going to make an impact, and he could become a huge value in fantasy drafts.
Bijan Robinson will lead all running backs in scrimmage yards
You all know I love me some Bijan. He’s a first-round pick in most redrafts, despite the fact that he’s never played a single snap in the NFL. But if you look at the trend of recent running backs picked in the top 10 in the NFL draft, it’s a positive one. I think he’ll continue that trend in the same way Saquon Barkley and Ezekiel Elliott did during their respective rookie campaigns. Robinson is the next big fantasy back.
Alexander Mattison will finish as a top-12 fantasy running back
The release of Dalvin Cook opens the door for Mattison to make a major impact in fantasy leagues this season. Before his release, Cook averaged 18.5 carries and almost 22 touches per game. With little competition for those vacated touches in the backfield, Mattison should absorb most of that work and be the top back in what is likely to be a high-scoring offense. At 25, he’s also in the prime of his career.
Kenneth Gainwell will lead Eagles running backs in fantasy points
The Eagles traded for D’Andre Swift and signed Rashaad Penny, so one would think Gainwell will be third on the depth chart at best. While that might be true, I’d also remind you of two facts. First, Swift has proven that he can’t be a true featured back and he’s not overly durable. Second, Penny is one of the most injury-prone players in the league. If the cards fall right, Gainwell could be a great fantasy draft bargain.
Davante Adams will fail to post 1,000 receiving yards in Las Vegas
I said some of these predictions will be bold, right? Adams is one of the truly elite wideouts in the league, but I’m worried about the quarterbacks in Las Vegas. Jimmy Garoppolo isn’t durable and is coming off foot surgery. Even if he is good for Week 1, you almost have to expect him to miss time (which has been the norm). That means Brian Hoyer or rookie Aidan O’Connell could be thrust into action. Ouch.
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Chris Olave will finish in the top 10 in PPR points at wide receiver
Olave had a nice rookie season, scoring nearly 200 PPR points while finishing 26th among wideouts. I think he’ll take the next step to fantasy stardom in 2023 as the lead option in the passing game for Derek Carr. Sure, Michael Thomas will be back (again), but he’s played in just 10 games in the last three years. Olave, who reminds me a bit of former Colts great Marvin Harrison, will bust out in the stat sheets.
Marquise Brown will finish in the top five in catches among wideouts
The Cardinals quarterback situation could be messy without Kyler Murray, who is coming off a torn ACL. But whoever is ultimately under center has to throw the ball to someone, right? And with DeAndre Hopkins released and the team likely to face regular negative game scripts, Brown could wind up seeing a ton of targets. That could push Hollywood to produce much better catch totals than we’re expecting.
Kyle Pitts and Drake London will both have 1,000 receiving yards
Pitts has been a disappointment and the Falcons are starting a quarterback in Desmond Ridder who played sparingly as a rookie, so how is this possible? Well, I did say some of these are bold. While I love Robinson to be the centerpiece of the offense, the Falcons will likely be in a lot of negative game scripts and be forced to throw the football. That could be good news for Pitts and London in terms of their respective receiving totals.
Chigoziem Okonkwo will finish as a top-10 fantasy tight end
Are you ready to get Chiggy with it? Okonkwo showed flashes in his rookie season, leading all tight ends in PPR points (albeit with under 100). He should take a big step forward in the stat sheets this season, as Okonkwo could finish as one of the Titans’ two most targeted players in a passing game lacking weapons. When you consider how thin his position is, Okonkwo has a great chance to finish in the top 10.
