The ESPN Fantasy Football crew is counting down the days until the season begins! This summer, we've looked at each NFL division with a focus on what is new, old and perhaps quite a bit in between!
Click below to check out your favorite division:
AFC East | AFC North | AFC South | AFC West
NFC East | NFC North | NFC South | NFC West
NFC East
Key fantasy offseason movement
--New York Giants fans desire a new quarterback and they may get one for 2022, but for now disappointing Daniel Jones gets another chance, with WR Kenny Golladay brought in as his top weapon. Golladay was fantastic for the Detroit Lions in 2019, but a hip injury ruined much of his 2020 season. It may not be hip to expect much from this passing offense, but at least the organization tried to improve. Still, Jones is not exactly Matthew Stafford, so we should not expect Golladay to thrive like 2019. He initially misses my top 25 PPR wide receivers.
--The Washington Football team added QB Ryan Fitzpatrick and WR Curtis Samuel, and in each case, they may be precisely what electric WR Terry McLaurin needed, someone to throw deep and some other weapon to attract attention! Fitzpatrick may have to battle Taylor Heinicke, the surprise from the team's wild-card game loss to Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but I think fantasy managers underrate the bearded wonder from Harvard. He threw for multiple touchdowns in five of seven starts for the Miami Dolphins last season.
--Perhaps they had little choice, but the Philadelphia Eagles sent QB Carson Wentz packing to the Indianapolis Colts, presenting Jalen Hurts the starting job in just his second season. Hurts may be more valuable in fantasy than real life, though, and if he cannot win games, the Eagles boast impressive draft capital to replace him in 2022. Still, Hurts seems safe to start in 2021 and if he runs the way we think he will (he averaged 68 rushing yards in four starts), he will be a valuable fantasy option.
Something to prove
--How 'bout those Dallas Cowboys, who re-signed QB Dak Prescott to a long-term contract, hoping he performs like the 2020 version, who was on a record statistical pace before breaking his ankle in Week 5. Prescott certainly has the receivers around him to shine, and reports are positive about his health.
--RB Saquon Barkley tore the ACL and MCL in his right knee in Week 2, and even though that appears enough time to return to full health by September, the Giants are taking things cautiously with him this offseason. In addition, when ESPN injury expert Stephania Bell appears concerned, we should all appear concerned. Remember, Barkley was the No. 2 selection in most fantasy drafts in 2020, but if the organization continues to discuss ways to compromise his workload, he must slip in drafts.
--Speaking of the Giants, fantasy managers continue to judge TE Evan Engram as one of the top 10 producers at his shallow fantasy position, but it would be nice to see some relevant numbers deserving of the honor. Engram caught six touchdown passes as a rookie in 2017; he has eight touchdowns (one rushing) in three years since then.
--Speaking of higher first-round selections, Cowboys star Ezekiel Elliott was not efficient in 2020, and while most blame the absence of his quarterback, Elliott simply looked different on the field. The expectation is Elliott rebounds to prior status, but he needs to prove it.
--Frankly, all the running backs in this division have something to prove. The Eagles' Miles Sanders may have issues with fumbling and durability. Washington's Antonio Gibson was not a high-volume option. This division really could provide four of the top 10 running backs in fantasy, or it may give us four relative disappointments.
Whose fantasy stock may fluctuate?
--The obvious situation to watch here is with Barkley's health and the proverbial picture the Giants paint about workload. If it looks like Barkley initially may share touches with newcomer Devontae Booker, which seems rather silly, then he may fall from the top five in drafts. There is risk there regardless.
--Hurts is going to make fantasy friends with his legs, but the Eagles drafted Heisman Trophy-winning WR DeVonta Smith from Alabama, and that figures to help the quarterback. Everyone loves and tends to overrate the rookies, in real life and fantasy, and Smith figures to rise in drafts as the summer goes on. Just remember Hurts is hardly the most accurate passer in the league.
--As of this writing, the Eagles still employ TE Zach Ertz, the record holder for most receptions in a season at the position. It is far from a secret that they want his contact off the books. In Philadelphia, Ertz competed with Dallas Goedert for targets; on a new team, they would compete for fantasy love. Goedert is younger, seemingly established in drafts. Ertz may not go in drafts at all.
--Cowboys WR Amari Cooper overcame the quarterback situation to catch a career-best 92 passes and he topped 1,000 receiving yards for the fourth time, but some think CeeDee Lamb, entering his second season, offers more upside. Good problem to have, Dallas. Fantasy managers may take Cooper and Lamb among the WR2 options, but the order could switch, which is a story in itself.