Stefon Diggs Is Here To Stay - RB Roles - Auction Talk and MORE

[Footballguys Email Updates]( [Go PRO]( | [View Online]( [Unsubscribe]( | [Sign Up]() [Footballguys.com](=)Daily Email Update • Vol. 23, #74 • Jul. 4th[,]( 2021 --------------------------------------------------------------- Thanks To Our Sponsor, [RotoPass](=) Howdy {NAME}, Good Monday to you. I hope you hade a sweet 4th of July and thank you to the ton of folks who sent such awesome emails yesterday. You rock. We're back in the Football Saddle and ready to give you all we can to help you win more this year. Our Pat Fitzmaurice breaks down why Stefon Diggs is here to stay. Drew Davenport has more Auction goodness. Our Chad Parsons dives into running back roles. And of course, our Cecil Lammey has the News and Notes you need. Let's go. J --------------------------------------------------------------- [Matthew Berry - RotoPass](=) Sponsored by [RotoPass](=) [RotoPass - Many Great Sites For One Low Price]( Our long-time friend Matthew Berry’s idea was simple. Bundle the best premium season long fantasy football sites into one subscription. Then offer them for over 60% off. And when we say the best, we mean the best. From Matthew: “I'm putting my name on this because I know the quality of the rankings, analysis, tools, draft software, apps and alerts of these sites for season-long play.” The Footballguys Season Long Pro subscription is proud to be a part of [RotoPass]( and we have been for years. And if you already have a Footballguys subscription, purchasing a RotoPass will just add another year of Footballguys to whatever you have. It’s the way to go if you truly want it all. [Get RotoPass Now]( --------------------------------------------------------------- SITE NEWS A. [Stefon Diggs Is Here To Stay]( Our Pat Fitzmaurice explains why Stefon Diggs' 2020 breakout isn't his peak, but a new baseline of excellence. B. [Average Auction Values]( Our Drew Davenport dives into average auction values looking for discounted players. C. [Running Back Role Matrix](=) Our Chad Parsons distills NFL charts into easily digestible fantasy football information for opportunity and upside. In this one, he dives into running backs. [] INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1. [IND - RB Taylor the 'Main Guy' in Backfield](#1) 2. [DAL - RB Elliott 'way more elusive' per RBs Coach](#2) 3. [JAX - Ground Game to Be Centerpiece?](#3) 4. [NYG - WR Sterling Shepard popular with QB](#4) 5. [LAC - RB Jackson on the Bubble?](#5) 6. [BAL - Tylan Wallace in rare company](#6) 7. [NYG - TE Evan Engram lacked efficiency](#7) 8. [CLE - Will Put More on Mayfield's Plate](#8) 9. [NO - QB Jameis Winston to adjust style?](#9) 10. [SF - Offense To Be 'Drastically Different' with QB Trey Lance](#10) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 1. [IND - RB Taylor the 'Main Guy' in Backfield]( Source: Zak Keefer - The Athletic Zak Keefer, from The Athletic, reports Indianapolis head coach Frank Reich acknowledged the run game will go through Jonathan Taylor, who has "earned the right to be the main guy" in the Colts' backfield. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Some have predicted a regression from Taylor based on historical data in the NFL. Taylor is one of 30 running backs since 2000 to top 1,000 rushing yards as a rookie, but only five backs in that group had more rushing yards in their second season. History aside, it looks like Taylor will be able to beat those numbers based on his role. Yes, Marlon Mack (when healthy) could push for more snaps. Yes, Nyheim Hines will get plenty of work as a receiver. However, Taylor should be able to post RB1 numbers for your fantasy team as the lead back for the Colts. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 2. [DAL - RB Elliott 'way more elusive' per RBs Coach]() Source: Jon Machota - The Athletic Jon Machota, from The Athletic, reports Cowboys running backs coach Josh Hicks said Ezekiel Elliott is "way quicker, way more elusive, more fluent" than he was in 2020. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] There has been nothing but glowing reports about Elliott from Cowboys camp - from reporters, OC Kellen Moore and now his RBs coach is pitching in. Elliott had a poor 2020 season and only had three rushes over 20 yards last year. With QB Dak Prescott back in action, things should open up for Elliott. Couple that with his improved speed and elusiveness to see how a bounce-back season for the superstar running back is likely in 2021. He's an RB1 for Fantasy GMs as per usual, and if he finished 2021 as the best running back in fantasy football it would not be a surprise. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 3. [JAX - Ground Game to Be Centerpiece?]( Source: Connor Orr - Sports Illustrated Connor Orr, from Sports Illustrated, speculates the Jacksonville Jaguars could center their offense on the run game in 2021. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer had a run-heavy approach during his time coaching the Buckeyes of Ohio State. The team's offensive coordinator, Darrell Bevell, used the ground game as the centerpiece during Russell Wilson's rookie season with Seattle years ago. Now, those two will be calling the shots for the Jaguars offense in 2021. This is good news for James Robinson. His fantasy value took a hit when the Jaguars selected RB Travis Etienne in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft. However, if they're running early and often he could post strong RB2 numbers for Fantasy GMs. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 4. [NYG - WR Sterling Shepard popular with QB](=) Source: ESPN.com - Jordan Raanan New York Giants WR Sterling Shepard has averaged 8.1 targets per game from QB Daniel Jones over the past two seasons. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Shepard is not a no.1 wide receiver, even though the Giants have miscast him as such in years past. With the addition of Kenny Golladay, we'll see Shepard work against softer coverage as their no.2 receiver. The talent and upside is there with Shepard but he needs to stay healthy in order to play up to his potential. He's a deep flex WR5/WR6 for Fantasy GMs, just like he has been over the last couple of seasons. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 5. [LAC - RB Jackson on the Bubble?]() Source: Fernando Ramirez - Sports Illustrated Fernando Ramirez, from Sports Illustrated, speculates Los Angeles Chargers RB Justin Jackson is "on the bubble." [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] The writing was on the wall when the Chargers selected Larry Rountree in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL draft. Jackson is a slashing running back with talent as a reserve but he missed six games to knee and quad injuries last year and may now be on the outside looking in. He's got a $920k cap hit this year with zero in dead money. We'll see if a strong training camp and preseason can save Jackson's job. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- FOOTBALLGUYS PICKS SAVE TIME | WORRY LESS | WIN MORE - Winning fantasy football can be difficult. And time-consuming. Winning’s rad but losing sucks. With a Footballguys Season Long Pro Subscription customized just for you, you’ll save time, worry less, and crush your competition. [Join Now]( --------------------------------------------------------------- YOUR QUEST FOR $500K AWAITS - The 2021 FOOTBALLGUYS PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP is filling up fast. Both the $500,000 grand prize and the $3,700,000 total prize pool are fully guaranteed. Drafts are filling daily so you can compete right away. But don't miss out -- this contest has limited space. [Sign Up Now]() --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 6. [BAL - Tylan Wallace in rare company](=) Source: Pro Football Focus - Ben Linsey Baltimore Ravens WR Tylan Wallace was one of three receivers in the 2021 draft class to average more than 3.0 yards per route run in both 2019 and 2020. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Wallace has track speed and was a deep threat, arguably the nation's best, for Oklahoma State over the last few years. He averaged over 100 yards per game over the last three seasons and his 43 contested catches are the most in the FBS during that time. Wallace will be a deep threat for the Ravens while working on his route running and release against press coverage in the pros. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 7. [NYG - TE Evan Engram lacked efficiency]() Source: ESPN.com - Jordan Raanan New York Giants TE Evan Engram's 5.9 yards per target in 2020 was fourth worst in the NFL. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Engram has incredible talent, and that's why he was selected in the first round of the 2017 NFL draft, He's never played up to his potential in the pros due to injuries and inefficiency. Engram has been a low-end TE2 (TE19, TE18) over the last two seasons. We'll see if better play from QB Daniel Jones gets Engram back on track after a rookie season where he finished as the no.5 tight end in non-PPR leagues. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 8. [CLE - Will Put More on Mayfield's Plate](=) Source: Mary Kay Cabot - Cleveland Plain Dealer Mary Kay Cabot, from the Cleveland Plain Dealer, reports the Cleveland Browns to "put more on Baker Mayfield's plate (this season) because they know he can handle it." [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] Cabot, one of the best Browns beat writers, speculates we could see no-huddle offense implemented at times for Mayfield. He's had the same playcaller for back-to-back seasons entering 2021 and should be more comfortable calling his own audibles and using tempo as a weapon. Mayfield is a streaming QB option for Fantasy GMs and a QB2 you can now pick up at QB19 (12.05) in 12-team PPR leagues. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 9. [NO - QB Jameis Winston to adjust style?](=) Source: Pro Football Focus - Ben Linsey New Orleans Saints QB Jameis Winston led the NFL with a 10.8 average depth of target during his five years as the starter for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and during the same stretch, the Saints ranked dead last as a team in average depth of target. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] There's going to be an adjustment from Winston, but there will be an adjustment from Sean Payton. The two sides will work together to build a system that fits both Winston's style while also cutting down on the turnovers. That should come with more efficient passes, working the short-to-intermediate routes to then take some shots downfield. It will be fewer shots 20 yards or more than we're used to seeing from Winston but that's the compromise that could make Winston a strong starter for the Saints. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- [] 10. [SF - Offense To Be 'Drastically Different' with QB Trey Lance]( Source: Connor Orr - Sports Illustrated Connor Orr, from Sports Illustrated, reports the 49ers offense will be "drastically different" when QB Trey Lance is in the game. [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ FOOTBALLGUYS VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] An interesting perspective from Orr, who looks back on Kyle Shanahan's work with Robert Griffin III in Washington years ago. Lance, like Griffin, is a dangerous rusher who can be a threat to run no matter the down and distance. We could see a run-heavy approach from the 49ers if (when?) Lance takes over as the starter. Keep that in mind when considering pass catchers like TE George Kittle, WR Brandon Aiyuk and WR Deebo Samuel in your fantasy drafts. [Back to Top](#top) --------------------------------------------------------------- That'll do it for today, Folks. Thanks for reading and thanks for being part of the Footballguys Family. We'll see you tomorrow with the Update. Peace, J [Get More At Footballguys.com]( [Joe Bryant - Guide - Footballguys.com]() Thank you for subscribing to our Footballguys Daily Update Email! You're subscribed as {EMAIL} To unsubscribe, click [here](. * Footballguys.com * PO Box 937 * Cabot, AR 72023-0937 * News Items Powered By: [USA Today Fantasy Sports](=)