Post by The Cowboys on Jul 1, 2022 0:17:11 GMT -5
I can't keep all of these guys and if history is any indication, at least one of them is going to GO OFF this year (Last year I let Dalton Shultz and Devondre Campbell go. I traded Cameron Jordan to the Chargers and his 75 points in the playoffs helped him to a championship. A few years ago I cut Demarcus Lawrence before his break out year. I traded Emanuel Sanders the year he had his career season.) Grab a superstar while you can...
OFFENSE
Mike Davis, RB, BAL: Davis signed with the Ravens in the off-season and, with Dobbins and Edwards still recovering from injury, is currently RB1. He's getting a lot of positive talk in camp: Ravens coach John Harbaugh lauded the performance of running backs Mike Davis and Tyler Badie after the recent mandatory minicamp. “[I’m] very positive about Mike Davis," Harbaugh said. "He shows up as a veteran running back. [He’s] quick, has really good vision, and he’s always been a good receiving running back, but when you see it in person, it kind of opens your eyes." Davis is a solid downhill runner that fits into the Ravens' system. If he has a solid training camp, the coaches will have a tough decision to make.
TY Hilton, WR, FA: TY still has gas in the tank and should sign with a team before training camps begin. PFF released an article yesterday saying the Packers could be strong contenders.
Ameer Abdullah, RB, LVR: Signed with the Raiders to provide depth. "Last season, Abdullah appeared in all 17 contests with one start, recording 51 carries for 166 yards and 38 receptions for 289 yards with one TD. He set career highs with receptions (38) and receiving yards (289) in 2021."
Carlos Hyde, RB, FA: Currently a free agent, but a former 1,000 yard rusher is garnering interest...The Pittsburgh Steelers are still in search for depth at running back and they could find some in the form of a former 1,000-yard rusher. As Dale Lolley of DK Pittsburgh Sports noted on May 18, veteran running back Carlos Hyde could be a candidate for the Steelers. “The 31-year-old Hyde has been a 1,000-yard rusher in his career, doing so in 2019,” says Lolley. “And he’s caught as many as 59 passes in a season. There won’t be a starting job out there for him. But if the former Ohio State star wants to play in 2022, backing up Najee Harris wouldn’t be a bad spot.”
Tajae Sharpe, WR, CHI: Someone has to catch the ball, other than Mooney, in Chicago. Sharpe has as good a chance as Byron Pringle or Velus Jones Jr.
[DEFENSE
Dayo Odeyingbo, DE, IND: Last year Dayo missed half the season recovering from ACL surgery and only played 25% of the snaps when he returned. “Towards the end of the year I started to get more comfortable, but definitely through this offseason I’ve made a lot of progress with my Achilles and just my body in general. So, I’m really excited for this season,” said Odeyingbo. As Gus Bradley implements his new defensive scheme, Odeyingbo is likely going to be working all around the defensive line. He could see some work on the edge while also kicking inside to the three-technique when the Colts run their NASCAR packages. Going into the spring workouts, Odeyingbo is ready to make an impact with a front seven that has a lot of upside.
Odafe (Jayson) Oweh, LB, BAL: Oweh split time last year with Justin Houston, who is now gone. "In terms of ability, Oweh has more than enough. He was drafted in the first round in 2021, largely thanks to his ridiculous athletic profile. Oweh stands 6’5″, weighs in at 257 pounds, and possesses unnatural speed and quickness for a man of his size. He showed off those traits throughout his rookie season as he chased quarterbacks down outside of the pocket, deflected passes, and overpowered opposing offensive tackles. Oweh put up three sacks, 15 quarterback hits, three forced fumbles, and 56 tackles despite only playing 56 percent of Baltimore’s defensive snaps. Now, Oweh will be expected to take on a much bigger role in the Ravens’ defense."
Jaelan Phillips, LB, MIA: "Phillips is flying under the radar and not getting spoken about much. In 2021 as a rookie, Phillips recorded 8.5 sacks which are outstanding for a first-year player. Six of those sacks came in a three-game span as a rookie, five in back-to-back games. Phillips did not record a sack in the final four games of the season, the most critical four games. This upcoming season I would like to see Phillips more consistent on a week-to-week basis. Where we see his impact in all games, not just a handful of games; with that said, though, Phillips should be able to use his freakish athleticism and high motor to improve on his rookie season. I think the addition of Melvin Ingram will only help free up Phillips with more favorable match-ups, and I can see a double-digit sack season on the horizon for him. Micah Parsons was the rookie who got all of the attention last year with the Cowboys and he became a household name. By the end of 2022, I think Jaelan Phillips will be a household name."
Willie Gay, LB, KC: RotoHeat has them as their LB Sleeper this year: "Willie has things to clean-up to become a full-time, dependable starter, but progress has been made. He improved a lot in coverage last year, and still has all the physical tools you want in an NFL linebacker. Not having to be the man in the middle, and calling plays, should help him focus on what his role is. Doing well in coverage will help keep him on the field more and thus give us the chance for more fantasy production.
Willie Gay is the consensus LB 35 on RotoHeat and FantasyPros has him at LB 36, so he is going as a back end LB 3 right now overall for 12 team leagues, and an LB 4 for 10 team leagues (which makes him LB2 in our league). This is much higher than he has finished at any point in his career. He has the potential to finish higher than this on skill and opportunity alone; that and his prior season-ending stat lines make him a 2022 IDP Sleeper for me."
Leighton Vander Esch, LB, DAL: Vander Esch got over the injury hump last season and was PFF 9th ranked LB over the last 11 games of the season. "...last year showed glimpses of Vander Esch’s rookie form. He was playing his best ball late into December and was one of the few standouts in the Cowboys’ playoff loss to the 49ers. That momentum was enough for Dallas to give Leighton a one-year deal to come back and prove he’s worth an even greater commitment."
OFFENSE
Mike Davis, RB, BAL: Davis signed with the Ravens in the off-season and, with Dobbins and Edwards still recovering from injury, is currently RB1. He's getting a lot of positive talk in camp: Ravens coach John Harbaugh lauded the performance of running backs Mike Davis and Tyler Badie after the recent mandatory minicamp. “[I’m] very positive about Mike Davis," Harbaugh said. "He shows up as a veteran running back. [He’s] quick, has really good vision, and he’s always been a good receiving running back, but when you see it in person, it kind of opens your eyes." Davis is a solid downhill runner that fits into the Ravens' system. If he has a solid training camp, the coaches will have a tough decision to make.
TY Hilton, WR, FA: TY still has gas in the tank and should sign with a team before training camps begin. PFF released an article yesterday saying the Packers could be strong contenders.
Ameer Abdullah, RB, LVR: Signed with the Raiders to provide depth. "Last season, Abdullah appeared in all 17 contests with one start, recording 51 carries for 166 yards and 38 receptions for 289 yards with one TD. He set career highs with receptions (38) and receiving yards (289) in 2021."
Carlos Hyde, RB, FA: Currently a free agent, but a former 1,000 yard rusher is garnering interest...The Pittsburgh Steelers are still in search for depth at running back and they could find some in the form of a former 1,000-yard rusher. As Dale Lolley of DK Pittsburgh Sports noted on May 18, veteran running back Carlos Hyde could be a candidate for the Steelers. “The 31-year-old Hyde has been a 1,000-yard rusher in his career, doing so in 2019,” says Lolley. “And he’s caught as many as 59 passes in a season. There won’t be a starting job out there for him. But if the former Ohio State star wants to play in 2022, backing up Najee Harris wouldn’t be a bad spot.”
Tajae Sharpe, WR, CHI: Someone has to catch the ball, other than Mooney, in Chicago. Sharpe has as good a chance as Byron Pringle or Velus Jones Jr.
[DEFENSE
Dayo Odeyingbo, DE, IND: Last year Dayo missed half the season recovering from ACL surgery and only played 25% of the snaps when he returned. “Towards the end of the year I started to get more comfortable, but definitely through this offseason I’ve made a lot of progress with my Achilles and just my body in general. So, I’m really excited for this season,” said Odeyingbo. As Gus Bradley implements his new defensive scheme, Odeyingbo is likely going to be working all around the defensive line. He could see some work on the edge while also kicking inside to the three-technique when the Colts run their NASCAR packages. Going into the spring workouts, Odeyingbo is ready to make an impact with a front seven that has a lot of upside.
Odafe (Jayson) Oweh, LB, BAL: Oweh split time last year with Justin Houston, who is now gone. "In terms of ability, Oweh has more than enough. He was drafted in the first round in 2021, largely thanks to his ridiculous athletic profile. Oweh stands 6’5″, weighs in at 257 pounds, and possesses unnatural speed and quickness for a man of his size. He showed off those traits throughout his rookie season as he chased quarterbacks down outside of the pocket, deflected passes, and overpowered opposing offensive tackles. Oweh put up three sacks, 15 quarterback hits, three forced fumbles, and 56 tackles despite only playing 56 percent of Baltimore’s defensive snaps. Now, Oweh will be expected to take on a much bigger role in the Ravens’ defense."
Jaelan Phillips, LB, MIA: "Phillips is flying under the radar and not getting spoken about much. In 2021 as a rookie, Phillips recorded 8.5 sacks which are outstanding for a first-year player. Six of those sacks came in a three-game span as a rookie, five in back-to-back games. Phillips did not record a sack in the final four games of the season, the most critical four games. This upcoming season I would like to see Phillips more consistent on a week-to-week basis. Where we see his impact in all games, not just a handful of games; with that said, though, Phillips should be able to use his freakish athleticism and high motor to improve on his rookie season. I think the addition of Melvin Ingram will only help free up Phillips with more favorable match-ups, and I can see a double-digit sack season on the horizon for him. Micah Parsons was the rookie who got all of the attention last year with the Cowboys and he became a household name. By the end of 2022, I think Jaelan Phillips will be a household name."
Willie Gay, LB, KC: RotoHeat has them as their LB Sleeper this year: "Willie has things to clean-up to become a full-time, dependable starter, but progress has been made. He improved a lot in coverage last year, and still has all the physical tools you want in an NFL linebacker. Not having to be the man in the middle, and calling plays, should help him focus on what his role is. Doing well in coverage will help keep him on the field more and thus give us the chance for more fantasy production.
Willie Gay is the consensus LB 35 on RotoHeat and FantasyPros has him at LB 36, so he is going as a back end LB 3 right now overall for 12 team leagues, and an LB 4 for 10 team leagues (which makes him LB2 in our league). This is much higher than he has finished at any point in his career. He has the potential to finish higher than this on skill and opportunity alone; that and his prior season-ending stat lines make him a 2022 IDP Sleeper for me."
Leighton Vander Esch, LB, DAL: Vander Esch got over the injury hump last season and was PFF 9th ranked LB over the last 11 games of the season. "...last year showed glimpses of Vander Esch’s rookie form. He was playing his best ball late into December and was one of the few standouts in the Cowboys’ playoff loss to the 49ers. That momentum was enough for Dallas to give Leighton a one-year deal to come back and prove he’s worth an even greater commitment."