🚨 Why You Shouldn't Trust Depth Charts

Imagine being listed 8th on a depth chart...

In today’s Fantasy Life Newsletter:

I think we need to have a conversation about depth charts.

Yesterday, the Falcons released their first depth chart of the preseason and you had to scroll through a CVS receipt's worth of RBs before you found rookie Tyler Allgeier at the very end.

The Falcons listed the presumed No. 2 back EIGHTH on the depth chart. I'm not even mad. This is hilarious:

You can check any projection source across the entire fantasy industry, including our Fantasy Life projections, and you won't find a single site projecting the likes of Keith Smith, Qadree Ollison, Caleb Huntley, Avery Williams, and John Raine for more fantasy points than Allgeier:

It's a good reminder how much noise there is with everything in the preseason and how we need to keep our eyes on the prize. In this case, it's that Allgeier was clearly brought in to take over the early down work vacated by Mike Davis.

Not to mention, he's been earning good reviews at camp:

Whether its some clueless intern putting these depth charts together or a coach having fun sending a message to the rookie, there's basically nothing actionable here as it pertains to fantasy.

Keep scooping Allgeier without hesitation in fantasy drafts, especially if this depth chart serves as a red herring for more impressionable drafters.

Don’t forget to join us and Matthew Berry TODAY at 1pm EST for an exclusive event in our Discord community! (Rescheduled from 11am ET)

Matthew will be doing a Q&A and we will have a few more surprises. Join now before our Discord closes:

🏆 The rookie WR receiving comparisons to Randy Moss. Ok, I'm listening.

👻 Um, is this Patriots WR....invisible? This is big news, if so.

🚑 The Jets lose a major piece. This doesn't bode well for Zach Wilson.

🖋️LMAO, Case Keenum goes undercover to get autographs. God bless backup QBs with a sense of humor.

🔥 The QB/WR who formed a connection over a bonfire. It's lit.

📺 You're going to want to watch Hard Knocks. This sounds like appointment viewing.

💤 I drew the 1.01 in the Sleeper Bowl. Both Cooterdoodle and I will be competing against a bunch of industry heavy hitters, as well as RBs Tyler Allgeier and AJ Dillon. The Royal Rumble Mayhem to decide the draft order was epic.

Not all late round RBs are the same. Some have way more contingent-value than others. In this series our Fantasy Life contributors share their favorite handcuff RBs who would step into a big role if there were an injury in front of them. Today, Linda sells us on Alexander Mattison and Khalil Herbert...

🎯 Alexander Mattison (Underdog ADP: 128.2, RB42)

If you were to look up “RB handcuff” in the dictionary, a picture of Mattison would be next to it. Vikings RB Dalvin Cook is one of the few remaining true bellcow backs in the NFL. In 2021 when healthy, Cook averaged 19.2 rush attempts per game. In the games Cook missed, Mattison averaged 21.5 rush attempts per game.

Last season Mattison averaged 21.7 PPG in PPR leagues in the four games that Cook didn’t play. That’s more PPG than RB Austin Ekeler finished the season with. While the four game sample size from 2021 is small, it’s potent (like a shot of fireball).

Minnesota did nothing in the offseason that indicates either Cook or Mattison’s role will change in this offense. They waited until the 5th round to select RB Ty Chandler and he’s currently listed fourth on the depth chart. Should Cook miss anytime with injury, Mattison will fill his bellcow shoes.

🎯 Khalil Herbert (Underdog ADP 155.6, RB50)

Sophomore Bears RB Khalil Herbert is another RB handcuff I like grabbing near the end of drafts. As a rookie, Herbert stepped up to the plate when starting RB David Montgomery missed three games early in 2021.

From weeks 5-7 Herbert put up (PPR):

• 7.6 points

• 19.2 points

• 18.3 points

He did this behind a putrid offensive line, one that ranked bottom 10 in the NFL by season’s end, according to PFF. While the offensive line is still #notgood, there are whispers that Herbert will be more involved in the run game this season. This means not only is he a lock for work should something happen to Montgomery, but he could have some stand-alone value as well.

Season long drafts are just around the corner. In this new series, our contributors will get you prepared from all twelve of the first round draft slots. Today, Jonathan shares how to attack a draft from the 5 hole...

The 5th spot is my favorite to draft from because I see a clear top tier of 5 players.

I am happy to take whoever falls to me from the Jonathan Taylor, Christian McCaffrey, Cooper Kupp, Justin Jefferson, and Ja'Marr Chase group and build from there. Usually that ends up being one of the WRs which then sets up nicely for either a Zero RB or Anchor RB build.

Jefferson has become my favorite of those three receivers, but I do think Chase is being a bit disrespected by those who have him in a lower tier. We should not underestimate the ceiling of a truly elite prospect who posted one of the best rookie seasons on record. And if you’re fortunate enough to get Kupp at 5, be sure to invite me to that league next year.

Ideally, I then like to grab one RB and one WR or TE in the second and third rounds to give myself maximum flexibility for the rest of the draft.

Some of my top targets are Saquon Barkley, Javonte Williams, Tee Higgins, A.J. Brown, and Kyle Pitts. There are a lot of combinations I am excited to walk away with, which means I can let the draft come to me.

It is difficult to project beyond round three, but you can see from the names mentioned above that it is very possible (dare I say, somewhat easy) to build the core of a well-balanced roster full of ascending talent with the 5th pick. That is what we should always be aiming for on our teams, which is why I love drafting from this spot.

Lastly, if you play in a non-PPR league you can consider taking an RB at pick 5, but more importantly, I would suggest you consider changing your league settings. Enjoy life, play PPR.