Bounce Back Candidates: Brandin Cooks, TY Hilton, Ben Roethlisberger
Bounce Back Candidates: Brandin Cooks, Ty Hilton, Ben Roethlisberger
by Alan Seslowsky
Fantasy players are fickle. We fall in love with a player, and if they disappoint we are prone to add them to our do not draft list the following season. With more experience playing fantasy football, we learn that is not an optimal strategy. In fact “last year’s bums” can represent great value in our drafts. Below is a list of players that make for interesting bounce-back candidates in 2020.
Brandin Cooks (ADP 131, WR36)
Still only 26 years old, it wasn’t too long ago Brandin Cooks put up four consecutive 1,000-yard seasons on three different teams. Admittedly he became an afterthought in the Rams offense in 2019. Cooks has had the benefit of catching passes from Drew Brees and Tom Brady, but his move to Houston still puts him on the receiving end of an elite passer, Deshaun Watson. Houston traded DeAndre Hopkins this offseason, and with that are over 165 available passing targets. There is going to be plenty of opportunity for Cooks with the Texans. Cooks can plausibly be projected for 115-125 targets if healthy. If we use his 9.48 yards per target he averaged over the past four seasons, that would put Cooks’ projection at around 1,100 yards. The five documented concussions are a major concern but it is priced in, at his 10th round ADP. In a year where the economy of RBs is inflated, Brandin Cooks makes for a great WR target and bounce-back candidate in 2020 drafts.
TY Hilton (ADP 110, WR27)
A perfect storm of unfavorable events struck TY Hilton in 2019. During the ’19 pre-season, Andrew Luck abruptly retired. Replacement QB Jacoby Brissett was a decent emergency plug and play for the Colts, but the drop off was steep. Hilton was in and out of the lineup all season long. In 10 games he still managed to garner a 45/501/5 line for the season. Looking back to when TY Hilton was healthy in the first month of the season, he started off strong averaging over 20 PPR fantasy points in the first three games of 2019. In that span, he scored four TDs. Hilton is now 30 years old, but his game is based more on speed. He is 5’10 and about 185 lbs; players of that build tend of age better than the Andre Johnson or Calvin Johnson types. Add to that the Colts signed veteran Philip Rivers to stabilize the QB position. Most of the risk is accounted for with Hilton’s 9th round ADP. TY Hilton is looking like a prime bounce-back candidate for 2020.
Ben Roethlisberger (ADP 173, QB16)
The Steeler’s offense collapsed without Big Ben last year. Pittsburgh ranked bottom five in many passing metrics stats for 2019. It is easy to forget that the last time Roethlisberger was healthy he led the NFL in passing yards and attempts. Going by off-season reports, Roethlisberger, now 38 years old, is on schedule to start week 1. There is a reason for concern as the other 2004 first-round QB draft class has looked poor over the last two years. Eli Manning retired and Phillip Rivers doesn’t look as sharp as he once did. However, the Steelers are deep with talented young pass-catchers and brought in veteran TE Eric Ebron to help in the redzone. If Ben can return to form, he still has top 10 upside. It is difficult to find a difference-maker for fantasy at his current 14th round ADP. Roethlisberger checks the boxes to bounce back in 2020.
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12 team dynasty PPR. extra flex spot
QB-Wilson, Jameis, D Jones
RB-Jonathan Taylor, D Montgomrey, Guice, Sony, Damien Harris, AP, Mattison
WR-Hopkins, Evans, A Rob, Anthony Miller, Paris Campbell, Golden Tate, Lazard
TE-Engram, Gronk, OJ Howard
We are doing our rookie draft, Burrow has not been drafted, but every RB and WR ahead of him on the RW rookie draft sheet have been taken, pull the trigger on him even with the QBs I have? Top available skill positions are Gibson and Aiyuk
Follow up. I am a handcuff guy and the Mack owner offered to swap seconds (I would go from 16 to 20) and Anthony Miller for his Marlon Mack. I dont like that. I could offer either the 2nd pick and forego Burrow to get Mack, or try and offer just Anthony Miller and keep the 2nd for Burrow, Gibson, or Aiyuk
Happy 4th GWay! I’d probably trade the pick for Burrow— OR select Burrow and trade Daniel Jones. Don’t hate the Mack handcuff, esp since he could be on another team in the relatively near future, and it could represent a stock split for you. Don’t think I can give Burrow up for Mack , though.
Miller is a closer call for Mack. That’s probably fine since you have ARob.
You could also do Daniel Jones for Mack. Good luck!
Thanks Byron happy 4th to you too. If I’m sticking with the luck you’d go Burrow over Aiyuk in that spot?
Pick* sorry
Yes, I think so
Would also be cool if somehow you could ship a guy like Sony Michel off in this deal- in a combo-to net yourself one really good asset in return
Two QB 10 team dynasty league. This year is the start up draft (30 rounds), and Ive been offered the 7th pick of the 4th round for my 2021 1st round pick and my 11th round pick this year. The 2021 rookie draft order will the inverse of the standings, so the better I finish this year the less value the 2021 pick will have. I have never played in a dynasty before, but it seems like a good deal for me. I just wanted to hear you alls thoughts.
I’d probably stand pat, and see if they sweeten the offer
I love moving down in startups esp when there are no top younger players available that u like.
That offer isnt bad. It probably equates to someone like sutton for next yrs first and likely who ever is available in the 11th (carson, mack, and the like)
It gives u one more top young player to plug into ur starting lineup.
So if u do take that deal build the best line up u can for this year, while trying to keep an avg starter age of less than 27.5
But id rather trade an early pick for two more inside the the top 8 rounds.
Let us know what u decide
@vonironcock