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- Don't Be Afraid Of This Round 2 RB
I’m sure you all expected me to wax poetic about Haynes King after an electric performance in the Hall of Fame game (3 total TDs, including a game-winner), but we’re going in a different direction. Of all of the RBs going in Round 2—and there are a lot of them—I find myself struggling with Chase Brown the most.
The offensive environment is great … He is the clear lead back with very little competition for touches … He’s only 26 years old.
So what’s my issue?
I think my lingering skepticism stems from his status as a fifth-round pick. He simply doesn’t have the same talent pedigree or prospect profile as many of the other backs going around him. It simply feels bad to take him over an explosive talent like De’Von Achane or a decade-long crusher like Derrick Henry.
And yet, I think I need to just open up my mind to the possibility of Brown very much deserving to be in this mix.
Why Draft Chase Brown?
He’s averaged 4.3 yards per carry in three career seasons behind a poor o-line, and he’s one of the fastest players in the league (NFL’s third-fastest RB since 2023 per Next Gen Stats).
And now the training camp drumbeat is starting to pick up as well.
The Athletic’s Paul Dehner said Brown has been “at the center of unique twists” in Bengals training camp. I’m not sure why we are discussing the Cincy offense like an M. Night Shyamalan movie, but consider me intrigued.
He also notes that he is “being used all over the formation, similar to the way Ja’Marr Chase has been deployed in recent years.”
In previous years, there was always concern that the Bengals would draft an RB to muddy this backfield or transfer third-down work over to a pass-catching back.
But they didn’t address the position in the draft, and I’m truly not scared of 30-year-old Samaje Perine, who has seen his receptions crater from 56 to 35 to 21 over the past three years.
So consider this my official resignation from the “Chase Brown Fader Club.” I can’t build a logical argument against him anymore.
Draft Strategy
Forget about the holidays. We know that fantasy football draft season is “the most wonderful time of the year.” Ssssh, don’t tell the family.
You get to put your stamp on your roster with the players you select. Your draft strategy will tell the story. So many people are talking about going RB-heavy in the early rounds to lock in their studs. Well, that’s going to leave some sweet options at wide receiver like Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb and Amon-Ra St. Brown who are too hard to pass up. If you’re into tight ends, but don’t want to pay the Round 2 price tag on Brock Bowers and Trey McBride, can we talk you into George Kittle almost 90 picks later? And don’t get us started on elite quarterback strategy when we can wait to get Matthew Stafford and Jared Goff well after pick 100. They’re both projected for well over 4,000 passing yards and 30 TDs. Not bad consolations late in drafts.
Mike’s Harder: Made with Real Character. Sometimes you have to go a different path to lock in a winning strategy.
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Fantasy
Around the Watercooler
The latest fantasy and NFL gossip, news, memes and more from your favorite football nerds …
👀 Who are the rookies to watch? Matthew and friends serve up the top prospects.
💸 You can win $10,000 by joining the Fantasy Life League on Renegade. Join for free here.
⛔️ Do not draft these players. Are you serious, cooterdoodle?
🤔 The Bo Nix-Kyler Murray debate. Who to draft?
😉 Don’t be worried about this WR. History on his side.
🥺 These players will not break out. Please don’t get upset.
🏆 Sure about the Rams as Super Bowl favorites? 5 teams to bet.
🤑 It must be “RBs Get Paid Week”… congrats, JT.
🙏 And then … Gibbs!
🚑️ Good news or bad news? I’m still slightly worried about Kenyon Sadiq.
👑 Some deals, you just want back. Paying a king’s ransom.
🤩 QJ’s time to shine? He has company.
🙌 AJB’s loving life in New England. ADP about to jump?
💪 Before there was Haynes King … a rookie QB picked up where he left off.
Nominees for Matthew Berry’s Ride or Die
Are you ready for Matthew Berry’s Ride or Die? We are, too, but you’ll just have to wait a little while longer for it. Though we posed the question of who our Fantasy Life staff would nominate for this year’s honor, and we had a few nominees:
The No. 4 TE in Rookie Super Model history
December is his best month
Year 2 stud WR in an offense with plenty of vacated targets
He’s plenty scary
That’s just a handful of the players that our staff nominated. Let’s go, time to Ride or Die! ⤵️
Draft Strategy From 1.08: Cook With Late-Round QB
The thing about drafting from the eighth hole, it requires some unconventional thinking. The elite of the elite players are gone by the first pick. There are too many draft picks between rounds, that it’s hard to plan like you would at or near the turn. Time to try something.
Chris Allen breaks down a late-round QB approach to use from that draft slot, which helps set up the rest of the roster in earlier rounds. As usual, he drops some helpful data that tells the story. ⤵️
Don’t Panic and Get Chopped
Early-season schedules can put you on the chopping block. Players coming off injuries might have you feeling the blade. What about murky roles and coaching changes? Chop and chop. Tipp Major and Chris Allen run through several players to watch in your Guillotine LeaguesTM drafts. Make sure to subscribe to the CHOP Podcast YouTube channel to catch every episode. ⤵️
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