Davante Adams

The fantasy football season is a constant series of evaluations and re-evaluations.

That said, with three weeks of the 2019 NFL campaign now done, all 32 teams have more or less tipped their hands when it comes to their identity.

The elite ranks in fantasy are already expanding, as players like Keenan Allen, Lamar Jackson, Dak Prescott and Dalvin Cook are all seemingly solidifying their spots. Conversely, Aaron Rodgers, Baker Mayfield and James Conner might all be signaling they won't have the standout years so many expected.

There's a ton to process, so let's shift our focus ahead and examine positional rankings for Week 4.

                      

Quarterbacks

1. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs at Detroit Lions

2. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys at New Orleans Saints

3. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens vs. Cleveland Browns

4. Philip Rivers, Los Angeles Chargers at Miami Dolphins

5. Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons vs. Tennessee Titans

6. Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans vs. Carolina Panthers

7. Tom Brady, New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills

8. Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals

9. Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

10. Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals vs. Seattle Seahawks

There isn't a sweeter sign on the schedule than having your quarterback go up against this Miami defense. The Dolphins have allowed the NFL's most fantasy points per game to opposing passers, via Yahoo Sports, and even Robert Griffin III got loose against them in Week 1 mop-up duty (6-of-6 for 55 yards and a score).

The least productive passer against them was Prescott, and he still managed 264 yards with two touchdowns (plus a rushing score), despite sharing the backfield with multiple 100-yard rushers.

This a long-winded way of saying Rivers is about to feast all-you-can-eat-buffet style. The veteran quarterback sits third in passing yards with 944, and while he's had trouble staying upright (10 sacks, tied for seventh-most), that shouldn't be an issue against this depleted unit.

Murray owners should also prepare for a bountiful weekend. Arizona finally allowed him to use his legs on Sunday, and he delivered 69 yards on eight carries⁠—while still chucking 43 passes. The Seahawks have had trouble containing Andy Dalton, Mason Rudolph and Teddy Bridgewater. Murray might do some real damage this weekend.

                

Running Backs

1. Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers at Houston Texans

2. Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints vs. Dallas Cowboys

3. Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys at New Orleans Saints

4. Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers at Miami Dolphins

5. Marlon Mack, Indianapolis Colts vs. Oakland Raiders

6. Mark Ingram, Baltimore Ravens vs. Cleveland Browns

7. Josh Jacobs, Oakland Raiders at Indianapolis Colts

8. James Conner, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cincinnati Bengals

9. David Johnson, Arizona Cardinals vs. Seattle Seahawks

10. Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears

It feels weird having a running back ranking that doesn't include Saquon Barkley at the top. Injuries are the worst.

It's also different reserving the No. 4 spot for Ekeler, who's part of a timeshare at running back in a pass-first offense. But again, this is the Dolphins defense, and they're nearly just as bad against the run (second-most fantasy points allowed).

While Ekeler rushed a season-low nine times in week 3, he recorded a season-high seven receptions. He has yet to see fewer than six targets, and he has cleared 100 scrimmage yards twice. Clearing both marks shouldn't be too difficult against a defense that just let Elliott and his backup, Tony Pollard, reach triple digits on the ground.

Wondering who the only defense is to surrender more fantasy production to the running position? It's the Bengals, who are allowing 168.7 rushing yards per contest. That's why Conner stays in the top 10, despite being off to a frustratingly slow start (97 rushing yards through three games).

                    

Wide Receivers

1. Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers at Miami Dolphins

2. Amari Cooper, Dallas Cowboys at New Orleans Saints

3. Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons vs. Tennessee Titans

4. Davante Adams, Green Bay Packers vs. Philadelphia Eagles

5. DeAndre Hopkins, Houston Texans vs. Carolina Panthers

6. Sammy Watkins, Kansas City Chiefs at Detroit Lions

7. Odell Beckham Jr., Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens

8. T.Y. Hilton, Indianapolis Colts vs. Oakland Raiders

9. JuJu Smith-Schuster, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cincinnati Bengals

10. Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals

We might as well dub this #ChargersWeek in fantasy.

The matchup alone doesn't get Allen at the top spot, but it helps. More importantly, he's atop the statistical leaderboard in receptions (29) and receiving yards (404).

Frustrated Adams owners could be in for an overdue treat this weekend. Not only does he draw an Eagles defense that has already allowed four different receivers to top 100 yards, he also has Rodgers urging for more involvement after Adams was only targeted four times⁠—he caught all of them⁠—in Week 3.

"Four targets for Davante is obviously not enough, especially on a day like today when there was a lot of soft coverage and some stuff to be hit outside," Rodgers told reporters. "We've got to keep finding ways to get him the ball more often."

Keep a close eye on Hilton. He has a good matchup, but only if he's able to go. He re-aggravated a quadriceps injury during the first half of Sunday's game and did not return. His status for Week 4 is unknown.

                     

Tight Ends

1. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs at Detroit Lions

2. Zach Ertz, Philadelphia Eagles at Green Bay Packers

3. Evan Engram, New York Giants vs. Washington Redskins

4. Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens vs. Cleveland Browns

5. Darren Waller, Oakland Raiders at Indianapolis Colts

6. Austin Hooper, Atlanta Falcons vs. Tennessee Titans

7. Delanie Walker, Tennessee Titans at Atlanta Falcons

8. Will Dissly, Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals

9. Greg Olsen, Carolina Panthers at Houston Texans

10. O.J. Howard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Los Angeles Rams

The list of receiving-yard leaders is mostly (predictably) a who's who of elite wide receivers. Except holding down the No. 5 spot is Kelce, an outlying receiving force who happens to play tight end.

The four-time Pro Bowler looks as awesome as ever, even if he's managed only a single score through three contests. He has yet to finish an outing with fewer than 88 receiving yards, and his "low" point came during a three-catch opening week.

Quietly, Engram isn't far behind on the pecking order.

The third-year tight end is tied for eighth in receiving yards with 277, and he has collected touchdown passes from both Eli Manning and Daniel Jones.

                    

Kickers

1. Justin Tucker, Baltimore Ravens vs. Cleveland Browns

2. Harrison Butker, Kansas City Chiefs at Detroit Lions

3. Greg Zuerlein, Los Angeles Rams vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

4. Wil Lutz, New Orleans Saints vs. Dallas Cowboys

5. Matt Bryant, Atlanta Falcons vs. Tennessee Titans

6. Joey Slye, Carolina Panthers at Houston Texans

7. Stephen Gostkowski, New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills

8. Ka'imi Fairbairn, Houston Texans vs. Carolina Panthers

9. Jake Elliott, Philadelphia Eagles at Green Bay Packers

10. Brett Maher, Dallas Cowboys at New Orleans Saints

               

Defense/Special Teams

1. Los Angeles Chargers at Miami Dolphins

2. Los Angeles Rams vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

3. Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears

4. New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills

5. Chicago Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings

6. Jacksonville Jaguars at Denver Broncos

7. Indianapolis Colts vs. Oakland Raiders

8. Houston Texans vs. Carolina Panthers

9. Baltimore Ravens vs. Cleveland Browns

10. Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals

Whether you're an intense player or casual participant in fantasy football, the long-awaited moment has finally arrived. It's officially time to set your  Week 1 lineup.

But even after weeks or months of research on how to draft a championship-caliber roster, making a lineup can be frustrating. Coaching changes, scheme tweaks and several other factors have influenced teams over the offseason, and last season's trends won't necessarily carry over to 2019.

Right now, though, past performance is the greatest indicator of success. Preseason reports and expected strength of opponents also factor in organizing Week 1's rankings.

The rankings are based on a league with a point-per-reception scoring format that includes a flex in the starting lineup.

          

Week 1 PPR Flex Rankings

1. Saquon Barkley, RB, NYG (at DAL)
2. Christian McCaffrey, RB, CAR (vs. LAR)
3. Alvin Kamara, RB, NO (vs. HOU)
4. DeAndre Hopkins, WR, HOU (at NO)
5. Michael Thomas, WR, NO (vs. HOU)
6. Odell Beckham Jr., WR, CLE (vs. TEN)
7. Davante Adams, WR, GB (at CHI)
8. Dalvin Cook, RB, MIN (vs. ATL)
9. David Johnson, RB, ARI (vs. DET)
10. Le'Veon Bell, RB, NYJ (vs. BUF)
11. Mike Evans, WR, TB (vs. SF)
12. Julio Jones, WR, ATL (at MIN)
13. Tyreek Hill, WR, KC (at JAC)
14. Leonard Fournette, RB, JAC (vs. KC)
15. James Conner, RB, PIT (at NE)
16. Nick Chubb, RB, CLE (vs. TEN)
17. Julian Edelman, WR, NE (vs. PIT)
18. Stefon Diggs, WR, MIN (vs. ATL)
19. Amari Cooper, WR, DAL (vs. NYG)
20. JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, PIT (at NE)
21. Chris Carson, RB, SEA (vs. CIN)
22. Travis Kelce, TE, KC (at JAC)
23. Keenan Allen, WR, LAC (vs. IND)
24. Antonio Brown, WR, OAK (vs. DEN)
25. Chris Godwin, WR, TB (vs. SF)
26. Adam Thielen, WR, MIN (vs. ATL)
27. Robert Woods, WR, LAR (at CAR)
28. Tyler Lockett, WR, SEA (vs. CIN)
29. Kerryon Johnson, RB, DET (at ARI)
30. George Kittle, TE, SF (at TB)
31. Zach Ertz, TE, PHI (vs. WAS)
32. Kenny Golladay, WR, DET (at ARI)
33. Tyler Boyd, WR, CIN (at SEA)
34. Brandin Cooks, WR, LAR (at CAR)
35. Joe Mixon, RB, CIN (at SEA)
36. Mark Ingram, RB, BAL (at MIA)
37. O.J. Howard, TE, TB (vs. SF)
38. TY Hilton, WR, IND (at LAC)
39. Mike Williams, WR, LAC (vs. IND)
40. D.J. Moore, WR, CAR (vs. LAR)
41. Will Fuller, WR, HOU (at NO)
42. Alshon Jeffery, WR, PHI (vs. WAS)
43. Dede Westbrook, WR, JAC (vs. KC)
44. Cooper Kupp, WR, LAR (at CAR)
45. Allen Robinson, WR, CHI (vs. GB)
46. Hunter Henry, TE, LAC (vs. IND)
47. Devonta Freeman, RB, ATL (at MIN)
48. Larry Fitzgerald, WR, ARI (vs. DET)
49. Tarik Cohen, RB, CHI (vs. GB)
50. James White, RB, NE (vs. PIT)

         

Davante Adams, WR, Green Bay Packers

Although the Chicago Bears have an excellent defense and a top cornerback in Kyle Fuller, Davante Adams still has decent upside.

Last year in two matchups with Chicago, he caught five passes for 88 yards and a touchdown (19.8 PPR points) and eight passes for 119 yards (19.9). For good measure, he caught a touchdown in both clashes against the Bears in 2017.

It's good to be Aaron Rodgers' favorite target.

Overall in 2018, Adams received seven-plus targets in each of his 15 appearances. Even more impressively, he posted at least 80 yards or snagged a touchdown in every game. Adams finished the year with 111 catches for 1,386 yards and 13 scores.

Adams is a must-start receiver until proven otherwise, and that's not likely to happen in 2019.

          

Julian Edelman, WR, New England Patriots

Despite a four-game suspension to begin 2018, Julian Edelman collected 74 receptions for 850 yards and six touchdowns. That broke down to a quality 16.3 PPR points per game.

And this year, there's no Rob Gronkowski to demand the ball.

To some degree, his absence means defenses can devote more attention to the shifty Edelman in the slot. Still, he's such a reliable option for Tom Brady, and the veteran quarterback regularly peppers Edelman with quick-hitters that add up quickly. Without Gronk, the trend is likely to continue and might even increase.

Plus, he recorded team-high marks of seven catches and 90 yards in a late-season win over the Pittsburgh Steelers last year.

Edelman isn't always viewed as a top fantasy option, but this is an appealing matchup for him.

          

TY Hilton, WR, Indianapolis Colts

So you drafted TY Hilton, and Andrew Luck retired. What now?

Well, don't panic yet.

No reasonable person will argue Hilton's fantasy ceiling has dropped considerably with Jacoby Brissett running the Indianapolis Colts offense instead of Luck. Rather than having a Pro Bowl-caliber quarterback, the Colts are hoping to survive at the position.

Nevertheless, Hilton is the undisputed top target for a decent offense. Even in a tough matchup against Casey Hayward and the Los Angeles Chargers, he's worth a start.

If the players had no previous connection, it would be worth a second look. Brissett started for most of 2017, though, and Hilton posted four 100-yard showings that season. They should be a more consistent pairing this time around.

         

Need more help with your fantasy football lineup? Matt Camp answers your fantasy questions live on B/R Gridiron's new show, Your Fantasy Fire Drill. Download the B/R app now to submit your questions and tune in every Sunday at 11:30 a.m. ET.

Millions of people are eagerly awaiting the start of another NFL season, but fantasy football teams are still waiting to be drafted.

Though time is running somewhat thin before the beginning of the campaign, many fake-football players are fine-tuning their strategy for the early portion of the draft.

Which wide receivers are better than pass-catching backs? At what point is Ezekiel Elliott or Melvin Gordon, despite their holdouts, more valuable than the next best option on the board? Should I avoid players dealing with preseason injuries, whether personally or to their teams' quarterbacks?

All of those questions are reasonable, and you might have a different struggle. That's why research and practice are so critical. While no draft strategy is perfect, this is a recap of our thought process during a two-round, 12-team points-per-reception mock.

          

Two-Round Mock Draft

Round 1

Team 1: Saquon Barkley, RB, New York Giants

Team 2: Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints

Team 3: Christian McCaffrey, RB, Carolina Panthers

Team 4: Le'Veon Bell, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers

Team 5: DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Houston Texans

Team 6: Davante Adams, WR, Green Bay Packers

Team 7: Julio Jones, WR, Atlanta Falcons

Team 8: David Johnson, RB, Arizona Cardinals

Team 9: Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Dallas Cowboys

Team 10: Michael Thomas, WR, New Orleans Saints

Team 11: Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs

Team 12: Todd Gurley, RB, Los Angeles Rams

           

Round 2

Team 12: James Conner, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers

Team 11: Melvin Gordon, RB, Los Angeles Chargers

Team 10: JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

Team 9: Joe Mixon, RB, Cincinnati Bengals

Team 8: Nick Chubb, RB, Cleveland Browns

Team 7: Tyreek Hill, WR, Kansas City Chiefs

Team 6: Odell Beckham Jr., WR, Cleveland Browns

Team 5: Antonio Brown, WR, Oakland Raiders

Team 4: Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Team 3: Dalvin Cook, RB, Minnesota Vikings

Team 2: Adam Thielen, WR, Minnesota Vikings

Team 1: Keenan Allen, WR, Los Angeles Chargers

         

Strategy Breakdown

Holding the No. 6 overall pick is a tricky spot, but that's exactly the reason we chose the position. The no-brainer players—Saquon Barkley, Christian McCaffrey and Alvin Kamara—were long gone, and Elliott remained on the board.

DeAndre Hopkins was our ideal target, but the No. 5 team swooped up the Houston Texans superstar. At this point, we considered Elliott, David Johnson, Davante Adams and Julio Jones.

Uncertainty surrounds both of the backs. Elliott's holdout means he might not play a full season, and Johnson is adjusting to a new offense. Elliott at least has a sturdy blocking unit if he returns, but Johnson does not. His upside is dependent on usage as a receiver, yet Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury seldom leaned on the backs for pass-catching production at Texas Tech.

So, what level of risk are you willing to absorb?

If the answer is not much—like us, in this mock—Adams and Jones are the safest picks. They're the undisputed No. 1 options on offenses with All-Pro quarterbacks and will demand a hefty target share. Adams earned the nod because of his touchdown edge (35 since 2016 compared to 17 for Jones), but either player is a sensible choice at sixth overall.

For the second-round pick, we hoped to select a true featured back or another No. 1 receiver. The truth is we got lucky.

Somehow, Odell Beckham Jr. slipped to 19th and made this a painless choice. Mike Evans, Antonio Brown and Adam Thielen otherwise would've been the preferred alternatives, in that order.

Beckham's injury history is notable—he's missed 16 games over the last two seasons—but he's an elite producer when healthy. For his career, Beckham is averaging 6.6 receptions, 92.8 yards and 0.75 touchdowns, which is basically 20 points per game in a league with PPR scoring.

If OBJ manages to slide this far in your league, don't let the injuries scare you off. His value only rises the further he falls.

Adams and Beckham would be an excellent foundation for a fake football team in 2019.

          

Follow Bleacher Report writer David Kenyon on Twitter @Kenyon19_BR.

Houston Texans rookie cornerback Lonnie Johnson Jr. was kicked off the field during a joint practice with the Green Bay Packers on Monday for his physical play. 

According to ESPN's Rob Demovsky, Johnson was removed from the practice after he "leveled" two Green Bay players in what was supposed to be a non-tackling session. Per Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette, Johnson hit Packers tight end Jace Sternberger hard enough to pop his helmet off on one of the plays in question.

That tackle and ensuing celebration led to an on-field scrum:

Gotta love joint practice fights #Packers #Texans pic.twitter.com/HTkh2WRx4l

— Ryan S (@unriggedrhino) August 5, 2019

Lonnie Johnson just smoked a TE. Fight ensues. Smoked. #Texans

— patrick (@PatDStat) August 5, 2019

First scrum of joint practice: #Texans rookie CB Lonnie Johnson lit up #Packers TE Jace Sternberger on a crossing route and then flexed over him. Green Bay players immediately went after Johnson while Sternberger was down. Broken up quickly.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 5, 2019

Houston head coach Bill O'Brien said afterward, per Demovsky, that Johnson's hits were "not a big deal."

Bill O’Brien on Lonnie Johnson. The play he is referring to is the hit on Jace Sternberger that started the small scrum. #Texans pic.twitter.com/l5qyxV1JmK

— patrick (@PatDStat) August 5, 2019

Green Bay players felt otherwise.

Packers receiver Davante Adams said, per Demovsky, Johnson's actions were "unnecessary":

"That was unnecessary. You've got plenty of time for that. You can do it in the games and you get fined. Be a coward when you do stuff like that in practice, it's not a good look. We take care of each other up here. I don't know how they practice, I don't know what they do over there, but there's consequences for stuff like that. ... It's a brotherhood across the league, period. I had plenty of times where I could take somebody out but I decided not to because I felt like that's not the appropriate thing to do when we're trying to get better and look out for one another."

Five-time Pro Bowler Jimmy Graham called the hits "absolutely ridiculous," saying the first-year defensive back needs to learn how things are done in the NFL, via Demovsky:

"I respect a lot of those guys over there on the Texans; I've played against them quite a bit over my career. Obviously he's a rookie and he needs to know you can't be hitting guys live in practice. That's absolutely ridiculous. And we're not going to stand for that here, obviously. I know his older guys over there are going to be on him about it because my young guy's just running through a zone, obviously. Just run by him. We know you're going to blow him up in a game. This isn't a game. We're going to play on Thursday. You can do that then. It's one of those things, rookie on rookie, but [No.] 32 has to chill out."

First-year Packers coach Matt LaFleur added that there is "no place for that." 

Johnson later took to social media to make it clear he was not trying to hurt anyone:

Not trying to hurt nobody just wanna be great 🙏🏾‼️ https://t.co/tv734EE9TH

— Lonnie Johnson jr. (@Lonnie30johnson) August 5, 2019

The 23-year-old was taken out of Kentucky in the second round of the 2019 NFL draft.

Three Los Angeles Chargers, a couple of star NFC North wideouts and a conference-champion quarterback highlight the No. 31 through No. 40-ranked players on the NFL Network top-100 list entering next season.

The player-voted list now has 30 spots left to be revealed. Until that's done, here's a look at the 70 released so far. 

                      

NFL Network List: No. 100-No. 31

100. Eric Weddle, S, Los Angeles Rams

99. Derrick Henry, RB, Tennessee Titans

98. Tyler Lockett, WR, Seattle Seahawks

97. Byron Jones, CB, Dallas Cowboys

96. Carson Wentz, QB, Philadelphia Eagles

95. Kyle Fuller, CB, Chicago Bears

94. Mitchell Schwartz, OT, Kansas City Chiefs

93. T.J. Watt, LB, Pittsburgh Steelers

92. Jurrell Casey, DT, Tennessee Titans

91. Andrew Whitworth, OT, Los Angeles Rams

90. Julian Edelman, WR, New England Patriots

89. Devin McCourty, S, New England Patriots

88. Cameron Heyward, DE, Pittsburgh Steelers

87. Cam Newton, QB, Carolina Panthers

86. Darius Slay, CB, Detroit Lions

85. Frank Clark, DE, Kansas City Chiefs

84. Jarvis Landry, WR, Cleveland Browns

83. Harrison Smith, S, Minnesota Vikings

82. Bradley Chubb, LB, Denver Broncos

81. Trent Williams, OT, Washington

80. Mark Ingram, RB, Baltimore Ravens

79. Geno Atkins, DT, Cincinnati Bengals

78. Kirk Cousins, QB, Minnesota Vikings

77. Taylor Lewan, OT, Tennessee Titans

76. Robert Woods, WR, Los Angeles Rams

75. Gerald McCoy, DT, Carolina Panthers

74. Leighton Vander Esch, LB, Dallas Cowboys

73. Stefon Diggs, WR, Minnesota Vikings

72. Jason Kelce, C, Philadelphia Eagles

71. C.J. Mosley, LB, New York Jets

70. T.Y. Hilton, WR, Indianapolis Colts

69. Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta Falcons

68. Phillip Lindsay, RB, Denver Broncos

67. Dee Ford, DE, San Francisco 49ers

66. Eric Ebron, TE, Indianapolis Colts

65. Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

64. Amari Cooper, WR, Dallas Cowboys

63. Jadeveon Clowney, LB, Houston Texans

62. James Conner, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers

61. Jaylon Smith, LB, Dallas Cowboys

60. Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona Cardinals

59. Zack Martin, OG, Dallas Cowboys

58. A.J. Green, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

57. Danielle Hunter, DE, Minnesota Vikings

56. Joey Bosa, DE, Los Angeles Chargers

55. Xavien Howard, CB, Miami Dolphins

54. Calais Campbell, DE, Jacksonville Jaguars

53. Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

52. Tyron Smith, OT, Dallas Cowboys

51. Deshaun Watson, QB, Houston Texans

50. Baker Mayfield, QB, Cleveland Browns

49. Myles Garrett, DE, Cleveland Browns

48. Melvin Ingram, DE, Los Angeles Chargers

47. JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

46. Patrick Peterson, CB, Arizona Cardinals

45. Demarcus Lawrence, DE, Dallas Cowboys

44. Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers

43. David Bakhtiari, OT, Green Bay Packers

42. Christian McCaffrey, RB, Carolina Panthers

41. Cameron Jordan, DE, New Orleans Saints

40. Zach Ertz, TE, Philadelphia Eagles

39. Akiem Hicks, DT, Chicago Bears

38. Keenan Allen, WR, Los Angeles Chargers

37. Jamal Adams, SS, New York Jets

36. Chris Jones, DT, Kansas City Chiefs

35. Davante Adams, WR, Green Bay Packers

34. Melvin Gordon, RB, Los Angeles Chargers

33. Adam Thielen, WR, Minnesota Vikings

32. Jared Goff, QB, Los Angeles Rams

31. Derwin James, SS, Los Angeles Chargers

          

A Trio of No. 1 Wideouts

Recently, Chargers wideout Keenan Allen made his displeasure regarding his overall Madden NFL 20 score known via social media:

safe to say Keenan isn't happy with his Madden rating 😂 pic.twitter.com/vZwn4ZNeZl

— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) July 15, 2019

It's hard to argue with him. Allen snagged 97 passes for 1,196 yards and six touchdowns for a 12-4 Chargers team that finished tied for the AFC's best record. Austin Gayle of Pro Football Focus called him "unfairly overlooked" in a June 10 article, citing his excellent route running and versatility.

Allen also notably led the Bolts to one of their most impressive wins of the 2018 season: a 33-30 Sunday Night Football victory at the Pittsburgh Steelers in which star Chargers running back Melvin Gordon did not play. The Bolts' No. 1 wideout caught 14 passes for 148 yards and a touchdown.

Elsewhere, the Green Bay Packers' Davante Adams, who ranked No. 45 on last year's list, has hauled in 35 touchdown passes over the past three seasons and just recorded a career-high 97 catches and 1,196 yards last year. The 6'1", 215-pound wideout makes tremendous use of his size, specifically his dominant red-zone abilities. Ben Fennell of NFL Network explained further:

Last 4 seasons.. Red Zone Receiving

Davante Adams - 50 receptions, 30 TDs
Michael Thomas - 50 receptions, 22 TDs
Antonio Brown - 47 receptions, 23 TDs
Larry Fitzgerald - 46 receptions, 23 TDs

Davante Adams/Aaron Rodgers RZ combo is one of the most dangerous in football #Packers

— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) July 27, 2019

Most impressively, Adams did all this while seeing the most targets per game of anyone in the league. Granted, that gives Adams more opportunities to rack up stats, but he was clearly the Packers' No. 1 offensive weapon outside quarterback Aaron Rodgers and had the attention of defenses. Fatigue or pressure to excel never seemed to get to Adams, though, as he enjoyed a fantastic year.

As for the Minnesota Vikings' Adam Thielen, all he did was earn the NFL's second-best catch rate among wideouts who accrued at least 100 targets. His 73.9 percent rate was impressive considering he was working with a new quarterback in Kirk Cousins, and he amassed 113 receptions for 1,373 yards and nine scores too.

Thielen also ranked fourth in Football Outsiders' Effective Yards stats among all wideouts. His route running certainly helped him earn that mark, as evidenced by this series of moves shown during 2019 training camp:

We see you @athielen19 👀👀 pic.twitter.com/9CwglZJo9a

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) July 28, 2019

The two-time Pro Bowler is entering his sixth NFL season.

               

Jared Goff Continues Climb Up Top 100

Los Angeles Rams signal-caller Jared Goff helped lead his team to a 13-3 record and a Super Bowl appearance. The third-year pro largely dominated along the way, completing a career-high 64.9 percent of his passes and tossing 32 touchdowns to just 12 interceptions.

Ranked sixth in Football Outsiders DYAR (defense-adjusted yards above replacement) and DVOA (defense-adjusted value over average) last year, Goff figures to take another step ahead this year, especially with his top three receivers (Robert Woods, Brandin Cooks and Cooper Kupp) all returning.

Kupp only played eight games last year after his season ended prematurely due to a torn ACL. With him back in the mix, Goff gets back a security blanket who snagged 72.7 percent of his targets, which ranked best among Rams wide receivers. The frequent red-zone target also tied for the team lead with six touchdowns despite missing half the regular season.

Impressively, Goff has also been excellent outside the pocket, as noted by Pro Football Focus:

Jared Goff posted the highest passer rating outside the pocket in 2018! pic.twitter.com/ga2BXDIFce

— PFF (@PFF) July 24, 2019

The ex-Cal star isn't the most mobile of quarterbacks (108 rushing yards), but he's still great at making plays if needed.

Ultimately, Goff's ceiling is quite high under head coach Sean McVay, who has turned around the Rams' fortunes after the team went 4-12 during the 2016 season prior to his arrival.

Los Angeles' offense has arguably been the league's best ever since, with McVay taking the team to a 24-8 record and a Super Bowl appearance.

McVay has been extended through 2023, and if general manager Les Snead's words comes to fruition, Goff is next:

On a potential Jared Goff extension, #LARams GM Les Snead says, “Not a matter of if — it’s just when.”

— Myles Simmons (@MylesASimmons) July 26, 2019

It won't be a big surprise if Goff makes another sizable leap up the top 100 next year as well, perhaps into the top 20.

Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the NFL fantasy world. 

          

Le'Veon Bell Open to Record-Setting Workload

Le'Veon Bell missed the entire 2018 season while in a protracted holdout with the Pittsburgh Steelers. As a result, he's feeling good physically heading into his first year with the New York Jets—so good he's willing to do something no NFL player ever has.

Bell told reporters he'd be willing to register 500 touches.

James Wilder set the single-season record for touches in 1984 when he had 407 carries and 85 receptions. Larry Johnson is in second, having logged 457 touches in 2006.

Fantasy owners shouldn't expect Bell to actually get the ball 500 times in 2019, but he's clearly willing to shoulder a heavy load for the Jets offense. As long as he stays healthy, he should once again be among the NFL's elite fantasy threats.

        

Derrius Guice Cleared for Training Camp

Derrius Guice missed his entire rookie year with a torn ACL and then he injured his hamstring earlier this offseason. Washington Redskins head coach Jay Gruden told reporters Thursday that Guice is cleared for a full return to the field, which is great news for fantasy owners.

Guice also opened up on his status:

#Redskins RB Derrius Guice on his return and how he feels. #HTTR pic.twitter.com/EHGzzJ39Te

— Lake Lewis Jr (@LakeLewisJr) July 25, 2019

The torn ACL obviously raises questions about how good Guice can be right out of the gate. Because of that, owners should temper their expectations for the 2018 second-round pick.

But he will likely be Washington's primary ball-carrier, thus putting him firmly in RB2/flex territory. The preseason will provide a little more insight into Guice's role and how he might perform once the regular season opens.

        

Marquez Valdes-Scantling Making Big Impression; Geronimo Allison Discusses Role

Davante Adams is clearly the Green Bay Packers' No. 1 option through the air, and he projects to be one of the top performers league-wide at wide receiver.

Beyond Adams, the Packers' receiving corps offers little in the way of fantasy security.

In an interview with former teammate James Jones on NFL Network, Aaron Rodgers spoke highly of Marquez Valdes-Scantling, telling Jones the second-year wideout is showing more confidence:

"There's a big difference between a guy who can time fast and play fast. And playing fast is where the confidence comes."@89JonesNTAF catches up with @AaronRodgers12 who has been impressed with one WR in particular 👇

📺: @gmfb pic.twitter.com/AU016J6xQ2

— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) July 25, 2019

Geronimo Allison, who made only five appearances in 2018 before suffering a season-ending groin injury, talked about his role in Green Bay's offense, particularly how he'll line up in the slot.

"I like it," Allison said, per ESPN's Rob Demovsky. "Coming in, I've always been that utility guy, that versatile guy to kind of move around. I'm loving it. I'm getting comfortable inside and outside, and I'm going to make the most of every opportunity."

Valdes-Scantling and Allison are both worthy of a late-round pick in 12-team standard leagues, though owners should be wary of reaching for them too early. Either could deliver a breakout fantasy campaign yet carry the risk of getting lost in the mix a bit.

Randall Cobb is leaving the Green Bay Packers, as he reportedly agreed to a deal with the Dallas Cowboys on Tuesday. 

Jay Glazer of Fox Sports reported the news, while Adam Schefter of ESPN noted the wideout received a one-year, $5 million contract.

The Packers spent much of the 2018 offseason retooling their roster following a 7-9 campaign. New general manager Brian Gutekunst spent big money to sign tight end Jimmy Graham while releasing stalwart receiver Jordy Nelson. 

Davante Adams signed a four-year extension worth up to $58 million in December 2017. This past season, he led the team in receptions (111), receiving yards (1,386) and touchdowns (13) while taking over as Aaron Rodgers' No. 1 option. 

Because of Green Bay's commitments to Graham and Adams—and Rodgers' new $134 million deal—Cobb didn't appear to have a long-term future with the organization. 

During the Aug. 22 episode of the GM Street podcast (via Rotoworld), The Ringer's Mike Lombardi said the Packers were dangling Cobb in trade talks. No deal ever materialized, which allowed the 28-year-old to play one final season in Green Bay. 

A hamstring injury limited Cobb to nine games in 2018. He finished with 383 yards and two touchdowns on 38 receptions.

It marked his second straight year of declining performance, per Pro Football Focus:

Is Randall Cobb due to change scenery this offseason? Where do you see him playing in 2019? pic.twitter.com/NMuK1KG4KP

— PFF (@PFF) February 2, 2019

Injuries and wear and tear are becoming issues for Cobb as he gets older. This past July, he told reporters he had offseason ankle surgery to remove cartilage. 

Cobb has been an excellent slot receiver throughout his career. He's also proved to be an asset on special teams as a return man on kicks and punts with three touchdowns. However, he hasn't managed more than 10.5 yards per catch in a season since 2014. 

With star wideout Amari Cooper commanding the attention of top cornerbacks in Dallas, Cobb should feast on inside routes alongside veteran tight end Jason Witten.