Fantasy Football: Late Round Sleepers

The time has come when most fantasy football drafts will be taking place. Whether the stakes are high or none at all, bragging rights are an invariable reward for those who come out on top. 

Most people head into draft day with their eyes on a select few players who rank at the top of points-per-game projections. However, the reality is that Jonathan Taylor will only end up on one team; the same goes for Cooper Kupp and Christian McCaffrey. So, it is of paramount priority to have a list of players in the back of your head that you can fall back on in the event that your top choices are picked ahead of you. 

Here are some late-round sleepers that will make great additions to your fantasy football team. 

Round 1: Deebo Samuel (Wide Receiver, San Francisco 49ers)

The jack of all trades in Deebo Samuel is as close as you can get to a guaranteed 10+ points per game from a skill position player, whether he is carrying the ball out of the backfield or catching passes from Trey Lance. 

Out of 25 starting QB's in 2021, Jimmy Garoppolo ranked 20th in pass attempts. With Lance at the helm, who is known for his ability to sling the ball down the field, look out for Samuel's receiving production to take even more of a leap this year. The only limiting factor to Samuel's fantasy football success would be his own teammate Brandon Aiyuk, who averaged 14.8 yards per reception a year ago. His ability to get vertical will likely be rewarded by Lance, but to what extent, we are yet to find out. 

Round 2: Deandre Swift (Running Back, Detroit Lions)

One big factor I look at when picking running backs is their quarterback who hands the ball off to them. Take the Chiefs as an example. I probably wouldn't pick someone like Clyde Edwards-Helaire or Jerick Mckinnon because of the pass-heavy offense that they are a part of. With that being said, Patrick Mahomes will consistently get the ball down the field, which could lead to many red zone opportunities for his running backs to get a fair amount of 2–3 yard touchdowns.  

Now back to Deandre Swift. 

I first look at his quarterback in Jared Goff. Goff was below average in total pass attempts among starting quarterbacks and did not even crack the top 22 in yards per attempt. This tells me that Deandre Swift will have many opportunities out of the backfield to run the ball, and he will have a lot of field to work with. Swift is also a major receiving threat for the Lions, who don't have the strongest receiving core. 

Another factor to take into account with running backs is their offensive line. You can have someone with top-10 talent (like Saquon Barkley) but give them a below-average o-line (Giants' o-line ranks 18th in the league), and there is only so much they can do. Pro Football Focus ranks the Lions' offensive line as 3rd in the NFL. This will obviously have a huge impact on the success of Swift and his ability to get downhill. 

Round 3: Aaron Jones (Running Back, Green Bay Packers)

With the departure of Davante Adams, I think Aaron Jones will have an increased role in the offense. The Green Bay receiving core is not looking too strong this year, and Aaron Rodgers will have to rely on Jones out of the backfield quite often when his receivers aren't getting enough separation. I don't anticipate Jones to have a breakout year rushing, with the emergence of young back A.J. Dillon, however, I do believe that Jones's role as a receiver this year is where he will rack up most of his points. 

Round 4 and beyond: Gabriel Davis (Wide Receiver, Buffalo Bills)

While his position rank is 58 on ESPN Fantasy Football, Gabriel Davis is someone you should keep an eye on in the late rounds. Through some research on Next Gen Stats, I found that Josh Allen was 8th in the league in Time to Throw, meaning the average amount of seconds it took on each pass for his to get rid of the ball. This indicates that Allen is willing to hold onto the ball a little longer than most quarterbacks, allowing deeper routes to develop. Davis's numbers didn't jump off the chart during the 2021 regular season, but his playoff production was greater than any of his fellow Bills receivers. In particular, his performance against the Chiefs, where Davis racked up 200 yards on eight receptions, with four touchdowns! I believe Josh Allen will have an added level of trust in Gabriel Davis this season, and you should too. 

Thoughts on Commanders Week 1 Preseason game

The NFL season is finally back! Preseason, that is. Over the next few weeks, teams will be able to see how their players gel with each other, and what changes need to be made before their final cuts. 

The Washington Commanders played their first preseason game this past Saturday against the Carolina Panthers. This was the first time Washington fans got to see Carson Wentz suited up in a real game. Overall, Wentz was in total control for much of the three drives he was out there for. He completed 10/13 passes for 73 yards and didn't turn the ball over. Other than an underthrown deep ball to Terry McLaurin on Washington's 3rd drive, Wentz looked very sharp for his first in-game action with the team. 

Let's get into some positives, and negatives that I was able to take away from this game. 

Positive: Great promise shown from Brian Robinson 

Washington brought in Brian Robinson to fill the role of a "power back" for the team: what they were missing in the absence of Peyton Barber. Standing at 6' 1" and weighing 225 pounds, Robinson was effectively able to make his presence known, after stepping in for Antonio Gibson, who committed a fumble on Washington's second drive. 

Robinson rushed for 26 yards and a touchdown on six carries: not a stat line that jumps off the page. However, it was Robinson's ability to get downhill and push the pile that caught my eye, which is exactly the skillset that Washington brought him in for. Robinson provides a change-up from the finesse-style of running that Antonio Gibson provides, and I think the two will complement each other well. If J.D. Mckissic continues his consistent play, Washington's backfield could become a scary three-headed monster. 

Negative: Defense looked a step too slow vs. Baker Mayfield

Carolina's new starting QB only played one drive; however, he made his presence felt early. Baker Mayfield led his Carolina offense methodically down the field, in the process converting multiple third downs. While this drive ended in a field goal, it seemed all too familiar to many drives that took place in the 2021 season, where Washington would make a good play on 2nd down but give up a 3rd down conversion. I am hoping that Washington's defense was only shaking the rust off. 

Positive: Return of Curtis Samuel

One of the things that Washington fans were most excited about leading into the 2022 season is finally getting a chance to see a healthy Curtis Samuel. While he only caught two balls for 13 yards, it was great to see him back, and we can all hope Samuel will fit right in with this offense that has top-10 potential. 

Negative: Special Teams Issues (sort of)

This one may not be as big of a deal but seeing Joey Slye miss that extra point after Robinson's touchdown run gave me a feeling of "here we go again." After Washington's kicking struggles in years past, I would hate to see them have the same problems in the upcoming season. 

All in all, there was a lot to be excited about with this preseason game. The biggest factor in Washington's success this year will once again come down to quarterback play. From Saturday's game, Carson Wentz showed precision and stable decision-making, and there is good reason for Washington fans to hope for a winning season. But only time will tell. 

Is Stephen Curry the greatest point guard of all time?

Stephen Curry has once again won an NBA Championship. In addition, he has finally won his first Finals MVP, something that many "experts" expressed he needed to validate his career. The question that many may be asking now - how does the outcome of this series affect Curry's legacy, and his possible standing in the debate for the greatest point guard of all time?

The Warriors entered the 2021 NBA season widely dismissed when brought up in early NBA Championship discussions. After missing the playoffs for two straight seasons, many believed that the dynasty had ended, and that age and injuries were starting to take its toll on the core stars of the roster. 

However, the dominance of Stephen Curry early in the year resulted in finals talks disseminating throughout the media when speaking of the Warriors, and the emergence of Andrew Wiggins and Jordan Poole has only helped their cause. 

In addition, the return of Klay Thompson sparked a discussion over a new and improved version of the Splash Bros (which now included Jordan Poole), or "lethal weapon three," as Stephen A. Smith referred to them as.

Getting back to our discussion about the GPGOAT (greatest point guard of all time), does a win in the Finals and a Finals MVP solidify Curry as the greatest to ever do it at his position?

There are two "point gods" that are often brought up in this debate. Magic Johnson, and Isiah Thomas. Then there is the group on the fringe of this discussion, the John Stockton's and Chris Paul's of the world. I believe Curry has far surpassed this category of point guards.

There is one thing that Curry easily has the two legends, and that is shooting. Not much needs to be said in that department. 

Curry boasts a considerably higher career average than Johnson and Thomas. 

In the assist category, which could arguably be the most telling stat of a point guard, Curry is significantly behind Thomas and Johnson, with a career assist average of 6.5. Thomas has a career assist average of 9.3, Johnson with an incredible 11.2 assists per game. 

Curry also loses the rebounding battle to Johnson and is just ahead of Thomas in that regard. Other than 3pt shooting stats, and free throw shooting, Curry doesn't jump out in any department as better than any of the other two guards. But if we only took standard stats into consideration, then Oscar Robertson would be the undisputed GOAT of point guards. However, most people consider Magic Johnson to be the greatest. Why is that? Well, that is because of his ability to win games, more specifically, his legacy of winning championships. 

Magic Johnson is a 5x NBA Champ, more than the other three guards. The next closest is Curry, who currently has 4 Championships. One key factor to note is that Johnson earned Finals MVP in three out of the five championships he won. Curry has just one Finals MVP in the four he has won. As much as people say that Curry doesn't need Finals MVPs to validate his career, having them does matter when it comes to the GPGOAT conversation. Magic Johnson has three of them, and Isiah Thomas has one. 

Through standard stats and metrics that determine how accomplished a player is, it's clear that Curry holds his own among the all-time greats, but when taking a closer look at one advanced stat, Curry separates himself by miles in the department of TS% (True shooting percentage) and effective field goal percentage (eFG%). Both statistics takes into account 2-point field goals, 3-point field goals, and free throws. These two statistics demonstrate the magnitude of the efficiency in which Curry has been scoring for his entire career. Even legends like Michael Jordan and Lebron James don't come near Curry in eFG% and TS%, showing the true value of the 3-point shot, and how Curry has revolutionized the game of basketball. 

As it stands right now, Magic Johnson is neck and neck with Curry in the GPGOAT race, with higher career averages in rebounds, assists, as well as one more championship and two more Finals MVP's. If Curry maintains his level of play for most of the remainder of his career, and wins one more championship AND a Finals MVP, there should be no question that Stephen Curry is the greatest point guard of all time. Curry's impact on the game has been profound, and he has transformed the role of the modern NBA point guard. 

Washington Commanders Early 2022 Season Predictions

The time has come to analyze rosters and predict outcomes for the upcoming NFL season. With the 2022 NFL Draft behind us, and the new schedule being released, it is now the time where most begin to make bold predictions on how their favorite team will fare with newly added stars and young additions. 

The Washington Commanders chose to upgrade the wideout position, selecting Jahan Dotson, wideout from Penn State in the first round of the draft. Adding him to an already lightning-quick receiving core of Terry McLaurin and Curtis Samuel, Washington should be much more of a vertical threat on offense this year. 

What this pick also tells us is that Washington management and Ron Rivera are going all in on Carson Wentz, making a concerted effort to give him the necessary tools for success. For the past few years, Washington's offense has limited them from getting to the postseason. To say that quarterback play for them has been below average would be an understatement. For the past four seasons, Washington has not cracked the top 20 in average passing yards per game. Part of this has to do with a flat-out lack of talent Washington has had at the position, but a large factor has been the revolving door of numerous QB's that Washington has started in years past. 

Electing to draft an offensive player disrupts the pattern of past years, as Washington has drafted a defensive player in the first round in four out of the last five years. Each of those four defensive players have made their respective impacts on the field, but none of it has amounted to much success on that side, outside of the 2021 season. 

In the second round, though, Washington opted to go with another defensive lineman. This choice arose in large part because of the loss of interior lineman Matt Ioannidis and Tim Settle. Both were essential to the run stopping and pass rushing ability of the front four. Jack Del Rio (Washington defensive coordinator) will look for second round pick Phidarian Mathis to fill the shoes of Settle and Ioannidis in their absence. 

With the release of the 2022 NFL season schedule, the Washington Commanders are tied for the easiest schedule in the entire league, according to the NFL. Let's do a quick run through of their schedule, and key games + final regular season record prediction. 

Week 1 - vs Jacksonville Jaguars

Week 2 - @ Detroit Lions

Week 3 - vs Philadelphia Eagles

Week 4 - @ Dallas Cowboys

Week 5 - vs Tennessee Titans

Week 6 - @ Chicago Bears

Week 7 - vs Green Bay Packers

Week 8 - @ Indianapolis Colts

Week 9 - vs Minnesota Vikings

Week 10 - @ Philadelphia Eagles

Week 11 - @ Houston Texans

Week 12 - vs Atlanta Falcons

Week 13 - @ New York Giants

Week 14 - Bye

Week 15 - vs New York Giants

Week 16 - @ San Francisco 49ers

Week 17 - vs Cleveland Browns

Week 18 - vs Dallas Cowboys

Over their 17 games, I am predicting that Washington will go 10-7 in the regular season. This should get them to the playoffs, however, with a 10-win record, they would likely need to claim one of the wild card sports, as opposed to being a division winner. The Dallas Cowboys are tied with Washington for the easiest schedule, and with their loaded roster, I expect them to finish with at least 12 wins. With that being said, let's take a look at some of Washington's big games, and how they will fare in those matchups. 

Week 4 - divisional matchup @ Cowboys:

Up until week 4, I am predicting that Washington will go 3-0, beating the Jaguars, Lions, and Eagles. Week 4 will be Washington's first game of the season facing an elite offense and defense in the Dallas Cowboys. They will lose this game in a high scoring bout, 34-27. 

Week 8 - revenge game @ Colts:

I expect Carson Wentz to struggle in this game, going against a defense that is pretty familiar with his playing style and tendencies. Washington's defense will do a good job containing the Colts offense for the first half of the game, but Jonathan Taylor will wear the front seven down and take over in the latter half of the game. Washington will lose this game with a score of 24-16. 

Week 10 - Monday Night Football @ Eagles

In Washington's second matchup against the Eagles will be a tough one, largely because it will take place at Lincoln Financial, where winning divisional games is never a simple task. Washington will win this game from a stout performance from their defense, and a 4-touchdown game from Carson Wentz. Final score prediction: 34-28 (Washington wins).

With added pieces and upgrades at certain positions, the Washington Commanders have set themselves up for success in their 2022 season. Much of their success will lay in the hands of Carson Wentz - his production or lack thereof will determine whether or not Washington makes the playoffs. 

Sleeper Fantasy Football Picks for the 2021 Season (Receivers)

Every year, a select few players electrify the fantasy football world, bringing smiles to the faces of people who may be making money from the game, or just competing against friends. 

The wide receiver position is always one that boasts a few top scorers in fantasy (the top 5-10%), with a large amount of them being in the 7-12 point per game range (35%). Last year, Davante Adams, Tyreek Hill, and Stefon Diggs were among the few who proved to be consistent scorers week in and week out. 

However, not every fantasy football player has the luxury of a high enough pick in their respective draft to pick someone like Tyreek Hill or Davante Adams. Those players are usually gone after the first few picks. Here are a few sleeper picks that you will be able to rely on this year for heavy production. 

Curtis Samuel (WR) - Washington Football Team

Samuel will be a great dual-threat option for all fantasy football players this year. It would be best to have him at your FLEX position. Not only did he rack up 851 receiving yards and three touchdown receptions in 2020, but he also rushed for 200 yards and two touchdowns. Moving from Carolina to Washington, Samuel will have a more aggressive QB when it comes to slinging the ball down the field. Paired with a rising star in Terry McLaurin, the Washington offense will cause problems for opposing defenses with their plethora of speed. Samuel will have many opportunities to make plays, being that the attention from defenses was often given solely to McLaurin in the 2020 season. Look for increased production from Curtis Samuel this year.

DJ Moore (WR) - Carolina Panthers

Going back to Carolina is a receiver who is moving into his prime at a young age of 24 years old. DJ Moore has gone back-to-back years with 1,000+ receiving yards, with average quarterback play in doing so. Moore will now have a new quarterback in Sam Darnold, and a loss of Curtis Samuel might benefit him in the amount of targets he receives. I am predicting that DJ Moore will go for 1,350 reception yards this year, a new career high if he does so. 

Jerry Jeudy (WR) - Denver Broncos

Last season, a rookie receiver in Jerry Jeudy posted a productive 856 receiving yards on just 52 receptions. Jeudy was able to accomplish this with a second year quarterback who threw just about as many interceptions as touchdowns. With the acquisition of Teddy Bridgewater, the Broncos now have some quarterback competition. Whether Bridgewater takes the QB1 job, or Drew Lock proves he is competent enough, Jeudy will be in a much better position than he was a year ago. With his talent and route-running, look for Jeudy to have a breakout year and become a top 10 receiver in the coming years. 

Who is the WFT player to look out for this season?

As an influx of young talent flows into Washington, strengthening both the offensive and defensive end, Washington is now well equipped to make improvements from their past deficiencies in the 2021 NFL season.

While all of the incoming players must prove their worth and work for their respective spot in the lineup, I will be focusing on a player who had a solid rookie year at the running back position. That player is Antonio Gibson, second year player out of Memphis, who will heavily impact Washington's success on offense this year, for better or worse. 

As a fan of Washington, there have been years where the offense was loaded, but the production just wasn't there when it mattered most. Take the 2016 season as an example. Desean Jackson, Pierre Garcon, and Jamison Crowder were Washington's go-to guys on offense. In addition, Washington had one of the best tight ends in the league at the time (Jordan Reed). With Kirk Cousins at the helm, this team was only able to muster an 8-7-1 record, not making it to the playoffs. Now don't get the wrong idea, they put up big numbers through the air. Cousins threw for almost 5,000 passing yards, completing 25 touchdown passes in the process. However, in a win-or-go-home game against their division rivals (New York Giants), Washington only scored 10 points. A large part of this has to do with the lackluster run game during that season. Washington's leading rusher (Rob Kelley), only had 704 rushing yards that entire season. Whether that was the issue, or poor quarterback play, the lack of a potent run game clearly plagued Washington's ability to win games in the 2016 season. 

Washington heads into the 2021 season in a similar scenario. A gunslinger leading the way in Ryan Fitzpatrick, with elite receivers in Terry McLaurin and Curtis Samuel. However, whether or not Antonio Gibson can produce at a high level will impact the success of the offense, and the team when it comes to winning games. 

I am predicting that Gibson will step up in a big way this season, rushing for just under 1,000 yards, but also contributing in the pass game, with around 400 yards receiving. 

Is the WFT equipped to have a Top 10 Offense?

As we move into training camp for the 2021 season, each team in the NFC East is returning with an upgraded roster from the previous season. Each team has added more offensive playmaking ability, which was a problem for every team in the NFC East during the 2020 season (with the exception of the Cowboys). One thing is for sure: we won't have a division winner with a losing record. 

Washington enters training camp with several notable offensive additions. Starting with their new starting quarterback: Ryan Fitzpatrick. Say what you want about Fitzpatrick, but he is certainly an upgrade from any QB Washington had under center in 2020. Often times, Fitzpatrick gets a bad rap for being careless with the ball and inconsistent over long periods of times. Ryan Clark of ESPN (made the point skip to 4:25) that never in Fitzpatrick's playing career has any team ever said they were a "Fitzmagic away from being the best team in the division." While this is true, not many teams in past years have been as properly equipped as Washington on the defensive end. As plenty of analysts have already declared, all Washington needed was competent quarterback play to have won at least three more games last season. Putting points on the board was often the issue that plagued Washington's ability to win games. What people fail to realize is that Fitzpatrick has actually played very well over his past few seasons. In the 2020 NFL season, Fitzpatrick was the #1 quarterback under pressure. His 98.6 passer rating and 62.1% completion percentage under pressure were the highest in the league. After ranking 25th in points per game and still making it to the playoffs, albeit with a losing record, I think it's safe to say that Washington is a Fitzmagic away from being the best team in their division. 

The receiving core of the Washington Football Team took huge strides this offseason, signing Curtis Samuel, Adam Humphries, and drafting Dyami Brown from UNC. Samuel and Brown add much needed speed for explosive plays down the field, and Humphries will likely take Steven Simms' role as the primary slot receiver. The closest receiving core Washington has had to this was in the 2016 season, when Desean Jackson and Pierre Garcon lined up on the outside, and Jamison Crowder was in the slot. This was when Kirk Cousins was at the helm, throwing for 4,000+ yards every year as a starter. With the 2016 season culminating in a 8-7-1 record, Washington looked to their defense as a liability. Fast forward to this past season, the roles have been reversed. But not for long. Washington now has a similar dynamic as the 2016 offense, with much more speed in Samuel, McLaurin and Humphries. In addition, Washington now have a solid young running back in Antonio Gibson, who I think is more of an offensive threat than Robert Kelley was. 

With a plethora of offensive talent and speed, Washington should have no problem putting points on the scoreboard. A defense that will continue to improve can't hurt their chances at another playoff run. After an offseason in which the WFT refined their strengths, and took their lackluster offense and rebuilt it, their 2021 season will come with high expectations. I expect them to finish with an 11-6 record (there are now 17 games in the regular season), and make the playoffs. Their offense displays the potential to be a top-10 offense, but whether that plays out as planned depends on the ball security and overall play of Ryan Fitzpatrick. 

Deshaun Watson would make the WFT immediate Super Bowl contenders

 This season was very surprising for many fans of the WFT, seeing their team embark on their first playoff run since 2015. Although they did have a 7-9 record doing so, there were many positives that came out of this season. 

They now have a solid foundation on the defensive side, with their d-line packed with first round picks. This year, they were lead by edge rushers Chase Young and Montez Sweat. Young amassed 7.5 sacks over the course of the season, while Sweat had 9 sacks. 

The defensive line was where most of the action happened, but Washington did fairly well against the pass as well. They gave up the third least amount of passing yards per game over their 18 games (including the wild card game). Only giving up 201 yards per game through the air, that secondary more than held their own. While I do think a lot of that had to do with the circumstances they were under, such as a poor rushing defense at times, and abysmal quarterback play on the opposing side, it was a substantial improvement from last year. 

With a defense that is just beginning its ascent, it would be confusing as to why the WFT only went 7-9, looking from the outside in. Well, this is because of their subpar offense, accumulating only 216 yards through the air per game, 8th worst in the league. A rushing attack that was 7th worst in the league did not help their cause. To top everything off, Washington started three different quarterbacks this year (during the regular season). And mind you, their best offensive performance came in a game starting Taylor Heinicke, against a top defense in the Bucaneers, who are now in the Super Bowl. 

Dwayne Haskins, Kyle Allen, and Alex Smith were the three starters in the regular season. QBR is a total quarterback rating measuring they're performance, that incorporates all of their stats and numbers. The WFT quarterback trio combined for an average QBR or 46.8. To put this into perspective, Deshaun Watson, who was 12th in the league in this category, had a QBR of 70.5. 

This is a clear indicator that QB play throughout the year was the leading cause of the WFT record being below .500. 

Deshaun Watson would bring consistent quarterback play, less turnovers, and some mobility, which was heavily lacking this past season. Watson posted 4,823 passing yards (1st in the league), 33 TD's (7th in the league), and just 7 INT's (7th in the league). 

Going back to my point on mobility, Washington gave up even more sacks than they forced themselves (50), and I can guarantee a large amount of those were caused by the lack of mobility at the QB position. 

At this point, however, all Washington needs is competent QB play in order to take a drastic leap forward. If that new QB happens to be Watson, then I believe that puts Washington into the conversation for Super Bowl LVI. 

Written by: Ben Kim

How Likely is a Washington Football Team Playoff Appearance?

This season has been a roller coaster so far for the Washington Football Team, with more lows than highs. 

Starting from week one: The Eagles eased their way into a 17-0 lead, making all Washington fans think, "another one of these years," which is what has been going through the heads of Washington fans on most week one's within the past 20 years. What happened next was both surprising and also magical, being that Washington's 27 unanswered points have been just about the only glimpse of hope given by this team. 

Other than the football team's week one comeback against the Eagles, they have not had much success at all. 

It seems as if every time the WFT gives some hope to the fan base, all of it is taken away in the next game. They win week one against the Eagles, but lose five straight games. They shut down the Cowboys, playing aggressive and with great energy on defense and looking flawless on offense. Only to turn the ball over five times against the Giants the following week... and lose by only three points. And just as fans are starting to say "Wow! I didn't know we were capable of making a 17-point comeback again," Washington goes on the road, puts themselves down 21 points, and comes back to tie the game up.... only to lose the game by a 59-yard field goal, given up with just 16 seconds left of play. It almost seems like they are trying to find a more interesting way to lose every week.  

As obvious as it might seem, it is clear that Washington wins games when they don't turn the ball over. Non-coincidentally, in the three games where they haven't turned the ball over, Washington is 2-1. That one loss came in a game where Alex Smith had to replace Kyle Allen, and was sacked 7 times in horrible (rainy) conditions. In all other games, they are 0-6.

It has become very evident over time that Washington is repeatedly shooting themselves in the feet, in games where they have a solid chance of winning. While this may seem obvious, there is another hidden reason behind why Washington has been so horrible within these first seven weeks.  

When field goals are made, the kicker goes unnoticed. However when they are missed, the kicker will start to take some blame. Right now, the latter is happening to Dustin Hopkins, kicker for the Washington Football Team. So far, Hopkins has made a rough 12/17 when it comes to field goal attempts, putting him at 70% on the year. While this happens every year for some kickers in the NFL, Hopkins is hurting his team the most. In games where Hopkins is asked to take two or more field goals, he has failed to convert at 100% accuracy in every one of those games, except for one. When Washington has put their trust in him to help them win games, he hasn't come through. 

As horrible as Washington has been over these first nine games, it's crazy to think that if they just clean up half of the avoidable mistakes they are making EVERY SINGLE game, they could easily make the playoffs. But it's true, seeing that even after five turnovers, they managed to be within three points of the New York Giants. And after seeing a 43-yard missed field goal and a fumble being the main reason why they didn't beat the Lions in a 21-point comeback. 

Looking at Washington's schedule over the last seven weeks, it won't be easy by any means, but there are winnable games in there.

Week 11: vs Cincinnati Bengals

Week 12: at Dallas Cowboys

Week 13: at Pittsburgh Steelers

Week 14: at San Francisco 49ers

Week 15: vs Seattle Seahawks

Week 16: vs Carolina Panthers

Week 17: at Philadelphia Eagles

Over that 7-game stretch, I believe Washington is capable of pulling out 4 wins, which puts them at 6 wins on the year - all they need to make the playoffs.  If Washington can limit the turnovers, MAKE field goals, and not continue to shoot themselves in the feet every game, there is no reason why this team shouldn't be well on their ways to the playoffs this year. 

Was trading Quinton Dunbar the right move for the Redskins?

So far, this offseason, the Washington Redskins have made many different moves in giving away and acquring different players. Not many of their acquisitions were very notable, other than their large investment in cornerback Kendull Fuller (who is now returning to the Redskins after playing with the Kansas City Chiefs for two seasons. Although, other than that, most of the other players that the Skins have brought it were previous reserves from other teams.

However, in lieu of signing Kendull Fuller, to their depleted secondary, the Skins traded fellow cornerback Quinton  Dunbar to the Seattle Seahawks, for a fifth round draft pick. This move greatly surprised me, not because of the trade though. Weeks before the trade, Dunbar had displayed interest in moving elsewhere to a new team, but I was never certain until hearing about the news of the trade. What I intitially was surprised about was what the Redskins received in return of trading Quinton Dunbar; a fifth round draft pick. According to Pro Football Focus, through week 17 of the 2019-20 NFL season, Dunbar ranked as the second best cornerback in the league in his overall PFF grade (which is judged by completion % allowed, opposing QB passer rating, etc.). Dunbar also had four interceptions, tied for eighth in the league. I get that Ron Rivera (Redskins new head coach) has a philosophy that only players who want to be on the team will play under him, but I am still astonished at the value dropoff that the Redskins received in return of trading Dunbar. However, I shouldn't be surprised, as the Skins' front office has a history of making questionable decisions.

Before this trade, I had my hopes up high for the Skins defense in the upcoming 2020-21 season. Those high hopes took a big dip after the trade. But it's time to reconsider.
The big question is: Does trading Dunbar really make a big difference?

Kendull Fuller, cornerback who the Redskins recently acquired from the Chiefs, played alongside Dunbar in the 2017-18 season. During that season, Dunbar had a 74.7 overall PFF grade, while Fuller had a grade of 90.6, one of the best in the league at the time. Although there grades show significant difference, they both allowed pretty much the same completion percentage, at about 56%. With a promising young core of Fuller and Dunbar, in a struggling secondary with a declining Josh Norman, the future looked bright, as the Skins were expected to develop their young cornerbacks for the next season.

Despite the fact that Fuller had one of the highest overall grades in the league as a cornerback, the Skins decided to trade him to Kansas City for an aging Alex Smith, who would replace Kirk Cousins as the starting quarterback. That year, Dunbar's production took a dip, receiving more targets, and allowing a higher completion percentage to opposing quarterbacks. It was clear that Dunbar wasn't used to being the top corner on the team, and he used that season to adjust. The year after (2019-20), was much different, as I eluded to earlier.

With almost an entirely new coaching staff, along with a new defensive coordinator (Jack Del Rio), and also verteran corner Josh Norman leaving to the Bills, Dunbar and Fuller would have been the leaders of that secondary. I'm sure a whole lot of Redskins fans were looking forward to that, but unfortunately, things didn't pan out the way we wanted it to, which happens a lot when you're a fan of the Washington Redskins.

So, to sum everything up: did the trade make a big difference?
The final answer is yes. The Redskins secondary could have been significantly better with him playing alongside his old teammate Kendull Fuller. With that being said, this young secondary has great promise. Former slot corner, Fabian Moreau, started stepping up later in the season once being moved to the outside. The Skins also have a guy who is more comfortable covering in the slot, Jimmy Moreland, who is coming off a solid rookie campaign. With the recent addition of Ronald Darby (corner from the Eagles, who struggled a bit last year, but a proven defender in past years), there should be some interesting competition for starting spots as the upcoming 2020-21 season approaches.

Why the Lakers might have to split up

One of the most talked about teams in this years' off season has been the Los Angeles Lakers. They have made a lot of key acquisitions that have bumped up their chances of doing well this year.

One of the less talked about acquisitions has been the inclusion of Rajon Rondo. The Lakers front office loves their new addition, but the media has been focused more on LeBron James, and his decision to move to L.A. LeBron going to the Lakers might have been the most exciting investment, but the Rondo addition could cause the team to split up.

Even before LeBron came over, the Lakers had a lot of players who needed the ball in their hands to be effective such as Lonzo Ball and Julius Randle. This is why Randle left. He knew he wouldn't be able to get his hands on the ball with all of the new ball dominant additions, not to mention the fact that the Lakers also picked up Lance Stephenson.

One reason why Rondo causes problems for the Lakers is because they already have two other point guards who would not accept to take a shooting guard role. Lonzo Ball and Isaiah Thomas. Everybody knows that Rondo (a 1x champion, 4x all-star, and 2x NBA all-defensive first team), will not accept losing his starting role to a second year player in Ball. The two could possibly both be starters, but both are non-changeable players and they can't play any other position. It is also well known that if Ball was ever a bench player, his father would not be happy, and that could lead to disagreement with him and Luke Walton (Lakers head coach), and could also lead to Ball leaving. Don't forget that Thomas will also want to be added to the mix, and it is likely that he won't be on the team for much longer.

A reason why it wouldn't make sense for Ball and Rondo to both start is because the Lakers just resigned Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to a 1 year $12 million deal. It wouldn't make sense for two guys who are getting payed less than Caldwell-Pope to be starting over him.

The Lakers will once again be a very compelling team to watch, but keep an eye on Rajon Rondo and Lonzo Ball, and what their roles are.

Why Alex Smith will Thrive in the Redskins Offense

       The NFL off season and free agency has started, and there have been many changes in rosters. A lot of quarterbacks are now on new teams. In particular, the Redskins made a change at the quarterback position. They replaced Kirk Cousins with Alex Smith. This resulted in Cousins departing, and starting a new chapter of his career with the Minnesota Vikings. A lot of the experts have been criticizing the move by Washington, saying that the Redskins just got a cheaper version of Kirk Cousins, and that Smith would not make a difference to the success of the team. But, the Redskins actually got a more mobile quarterback, who doesn't throw as many interceptions. Interceptions has been a huge factor in why the Redskins haven't been able to stay consistent.

      One area where they have struggled in the past couple years is in the red zone. Last season, Kirk Cousins threw 4 red zone interceptions. Smith did not throw any red zone interceptions. This is one reason why the Redskins upgraded at the quarterback position.
      A lot of experts also said that Alex Smith had better weapons in Kansas City. He had a rookie running back in Kareem Hunt, who led the league in rushing yards. He also had arguably the best tight end in Travis Kelce. And the fastest player in the NFL, which is Tyreek Hill. Smith was criticized for not going far in the playoffs with all of those weapons. But, if you look at his overall success, Alex Smith has shown that he can be consistent in getting his team to the playoffs. The only drawback is that he has only won two out of the seven playoff games he has played in. However, Kirk Cousins has only played one playoff game, and he lost that one.
      The Redskins offense is very underrated. Part of the reason why they ended up unsuccessful last season was because their main target offensively in Jordan Reed had injury issues. After Terrelle Pryor also had injury issues, and wasn't living up to what had been expected of him, second year receiver Josh Doctson became the first option on offense. For basically being a rookie because of being injured the previous year, Doctson did a great job. Jamison Crowder also really stepped up his game last season. Don't forget that the Redskins also have Vernon Davis who is probably the most consistent offensive player on the team. There are so many talented offensive players on the Redskins roster. Not to mention that they just added Paul Richardson, a wide receiver from the Seahawks. He can be Alex Smith's Tyreek Hill with the speed that he has.

     On top of the offense being just as dangerous as Kansas City's, the Redskins will also have a better defense. Before all of the injuries started to take a toll on the defense, the Redskins had one of the best defenses in the NFL in the first few weeks of the 2017 season. One particularly memorable game was when they went up against the Oakland Raiders on Sunday Night Football. They ended up winning 27-10. With a healthy defense this year, the offense will be able to play off of their success.

     For the most part, obtaining Alex Smith was a good decision by the Redskins. If you look for any problems with the Redskins new offense, the only one is that Alex Smith might have trouble spreading the ball around, which could lead to unhappiness with the players.

The Redskins' Defense Has a lot of Potential Going Forward

       The Washington Redskins' defense are starting to accomplish things that they wouldn't have last year or the year before that. Last Sunday, against the Seattle Seahawks and Russell Wilson, the Redskins defense only allowed 14 points. They also intercepted two of Wilson's passes. They are starting to find a consistency in their level of play on defense, something they haven't had in a while.

       Some people would disagree with that and say that there were a lot of games this year where the Redskins defense fell apart and gave up a large amount of points, but this is some of their guys' first year playing for the team. Part of the reason why team defenses struggle is because they have new players. The Redskins are always signing and releasing players on defense, and have never stuck to a specific group of guys. So it will always take time for a defense with new players to develop. But now with the new additions of D.J. Swearinger and Zach Brown, I think the Redskins have finally found there group of guys on defense that they want to stick with. Last year that new addition was Josh Norman. But that wasn't enough. While Josh Norman was locking down opposing receivers, Washington's other defensive backs weren't able to make plays on other receivers which was why Washington was notorious for giving up big plays last year. So they went out and got two more leaders for that defense who have already made a big difference. And other guys in the secondary are developing like Quinton Dunbar and Kendall Fuller. Quinton Dunbar has had to step in when Josh Norman was injured and played great. Kendall Fuller is a young guy who has added a lot to the secondary this year. He already has three interceptions. Now, they aren't having the same problems as last year. And soon enough, the Washington Redskins could have one of the best defenses in the NFL.

      This new Redskins defense is young, talented, and energetic. It might not be this year when they make a big run to the playoffs or maybe the Super Bowl. But the Redskins defense has a very bright future going forward.

My biggest takeaway from the Ezekiel Elliot suspension

 The NFL off-season was very fascinating, but the riveting decisions do not stop there. Recently, Ezekiel Elliot was suspended for six games after a domestic violence investigation. This will obviously impact other teams, specifically the teams in the NFC East. It could also lead to the Cowboys not winning the NFC East, which opens up spots for the Redskins, Giants, and Eagles.

But my biggest takeaway from this suspension is the fact that Dak Prescott will be playing his first regular season games without Elliot in the backfield. The only other game that Prescott has played without Elliot was in week 17, but that game didn't really matter because the Cowboys had already clinched the first seed in the NFC playoffs.

Last season, Elliot was a huge reason for Prescott's success. The running game was a huge part of the cowboys offense, so when they set up the play action, teams often fell for the run which led to Prescott completing most of his play action passes. Now without Elliot, their might be some struggles in the first couple weeks for the Cowboys offense and specifically Prescott. While Darren Mcfadden and Alfred Morris are solid running backs, they won't provide the same luxuries to Prescott that Elliot does. But one of the great components of the Cowboys offense is their offensive line, which I think is the key to keeping them in playoff contention. But even their remarkable offensive line has taken a blow with Tyron Smith questionable for week 1 of the regular season because of a knee injury.

The first game back that Elliot will be able to play in will be against the Redskins on October 29th. I'll recap my predictions for the weeks before that.

Week 1: vs Giants

I think the Cowboys will lose this game 27-13. Because of the loss of Morris Claiborne and Brandon Carr, it'll be easier for the Giants to attack that defense with the addition of Brandon Marshall, wide receiver coming from the Jets. Linebacker Sean Lee will really have to lead the Cowboys defense.

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Week 2: vs Broncos

This game will be a good test for Prescott playing against one of the best defenses in the NFL. I think the broncos receiving core of Emmanuel Sanders and Demaryius Thomas will be too much for the Cowboys defense again. I am predicting the score to be 24-10. I think the Cowboys secondary will be a big part of them winning or losing.

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Week 3: vs Cardinals

I think the Cowboys will win this game 20-17 despite the Cardinals great defense. This year, I feel like the age factor for Carson Palmer will start to kick in.

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Week 4: vs Rams

I think the Cowboys will also win this game 23-16. The Rams are a young team and still learning but they do have a bright future.

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Week 5: vs Packers

I think the Cowboys will lose this 34-30. The Cowboys will finally be finding some rhythm without Elliot but Aaron Rodgers will be too much again for that defense.

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Week 6: Bye

Week 7: vs 49ers

This will be the last game that the Cowboys will play without Elliot and I think they will lose 27-20. I think Kyle Shanahan at head coach will make the 49ers offense function well with the addition of Pierre Garcon who he knew during his time as offensive coordinator for the Redskins.

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Why Josh Norman will have his hands full against NFC East Teams

Last off season, the Washington Redskins signed Josh Norman to a 5 year, $75 million dollar deal, after the Panthers foolishly let him go. In the 2016-17 NFL season, the Skins didn't quite reach expectations, especially their defense. However, Josh Norman did play fairly well in his first year with the Skins. He had 3 interceptions along with 2 forced fumbles. But defense doesn't work out with just one man doing his job. Other Skins defenders that, in my opinion, didn't reach their expectations were Bashaud Breeland, Ziggy Hood, and Preston Smith. One Redskins defender that I think played very well was Mason Foster. At the inside linebacker position, he didn't get that many sack opportunities, but did come up with a lot of
big plays throughout the year. I definitely think that with the addition of D.J. Swearinger, former Arizona Cardinals free safety, that pass defense for the Skins will definitely improve.

Let's get back to Josh Norman. At times, he could get into scuffles with fellow NFC East receivers Dez Bryant, and Odell Beckham Jr. This year, the receiver to defensive back match ups will be even tougher. The New York Giants have added former Jets receiver Brandon Marshall, while the Philadelphia Eagles have added Torrey Smith and Alshon Jeffery. Smith being a former 49ers wide out, while Jeffery coming from the Bears as a receiver also.

This means that Norman will have to play Dez, Jeffery and Smith, and Beckham and Marshall a total of 6 times! Hopefully he gets help because if not, it could be another long season for the Redskins defense.

Gonzaga vs UNC: Who Wins?

The 2017 March Madness tournament has finally come to an end. But there is still one more game left to be played. The Gonzaga Bulldogs and the North Carolina Tarheels have made their way all the way to the end of the Natioinal Championship game. UNC is looking for redemption after being in the same game last year but falling to Villanova on a buzzer beating shot. Gonzaga is looking to win their first national championship game. Here is a main key to the game for both teams. 

Key for UNC

Contain the Twin Towers:

Gonzaga has a luxury that few other teams have. Two big men who can play. Przemek Karnowski and Zach Collins(also know as the twin towers) make a huge impact on games for Gonzaga. Karnowski, who is 7'1", is a huge post threat. Collins, who is 7'0", comes off the bench and replaces Karnowski, and provides a lot on the offensive and defensive end. In Gonzaga's most recent game against South Carolina, Collins had 14 points on 6-10 shooting, 13 rebounds, and 6 blocks. If UNC can contain the big men, then they can focus on stopping Nigel Williams-Goss, a dangerous three point shooter, and inside threat.  

Key for Gonzaga

Defend the three ball

We all know that UNC has a couple of players who love to take threes. Joel Berry II and Justin Jackson. Jackson is a player who can score inside and outside, but likes to take a lot of threes. In UNC's most recent game against Oregon, Jackson shot 4-9 from beyond the arc. Joel Berry II did struggle in the game against Oregon, shooting just 2-8 from beyond the arc. Berry has been battling an injury throughout the tournament, so struggles haven't been a surprise.

I think in the end, Gonzaga will win this game. I don't think the UNC big men will be able to defend the twin towers on Gonzaga. UNC also has to worry about Nigel Williams-Goss, and Jordan Matthews, who can both shoot the three ball really well. I think Gonzaga just has too many weapons. I'm predicting the score to be 72-65.

Why the Falcons offense is too good for the Patriots defense

Super Bowl 51 is coming up, and it's going to be a fun one. The Patriots and the Falcons will be facing off in both of their most important games of the year. On one side, you have Tom Brady who is going to his 7th Super Bowl. On the other side, you have Matt Ryan who is going to be playing in his 1st Super Bowl. For now, I'm going to focus in on the Falcons offense, an offense that has been on fire these past few weeks.

I do not think the Patriots defense will be able to slow down the Falcons offense. Whatever Matt Patricia does, it won't be enough to stop them. Here's why.

I'm going to start off with Matt Ryan, who, by the way was just named the 2016 NFL MVP. Matt Ryan has been tearing apart defenses in the playoffs. He started off against the Seattle defense, and threw for 338 yards and three touchdowns. Then the Falcons played the Packers and Ryan threw for 392 yards and 4 touchdowns. In the Seattle game, Ryan had a 125.7 passer rating. In the Packers game, Ryan had a 139.4 passer rating. Tom Brady does have more experience in big games, and that might come into play late in the game.

Then there's Julio Jones. I don't think anyone can cover him man to man. Jones went against a 6'2" Ladarius Gunt
er in the NFC Championship game, so I don't think he'll have much of a problem against the 5'11" Malcolm Butler. Even if the Patriots double cover Jones, the Falcons still have Mohammed Sanu, another tall 6'2" receiver. Once they focus on Sanu, Matt Ryan can start going to the speedy Taylor Gabriel.

I didn't even get to the running backs. Tevin Coleman and Devonta Freeman. Both are a lot alike and can run the ball and slip out for a pass outside of the backfield. I think the Falcons will win 31-23.

Warriors vs Hornets Preview

For one of our Wednesday night game, we have the Hornets and Warriors on ESPN. This match up will be featuring two elite point guards. Kemba Walker and Stephen Curry. Both are very good ball handlers and play makers, but which one of them will get the satisfaction of a win tonight?

Already looking on the offensive end, Curry has better play makers around him such as Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. All of whom can drive to the rim, and shoot from the outside. On the Hornets side, Walker has Nic Batum and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist as his two other main play makers. I think Kidd-Gilchrist will be able to contain Durant for most of the night. Kidd-Gilchrist is 6'7" and has good length. He is known more for defense than on the offensive end.

Batum and Thompson will most likely be guarding each other at some points in the game. Both are pretty tall, Batum standing at 6'8", and Thompson standing at 6'7". They are also both good three point shooters. Thompson shoots 39.9% from beyond the arc, while Batum shoots 32.2% from beyond the arc. They are both good two way players. I think Batum will score 19 points and Thompson will score 21 points. 

Back to the point guard match up. For Curry and Thompson, the Warriors run them off of a lot of screens to get them good looks at three point shots. The Hornets have to find some way to limit the amount of clean looks that they give Curry and Thompson. Curry shoots the three at 40.1% and is lethal in that area of his game. Walker might have trouble contesting Curry's shots, being that he is two inches shorter. One way to limit Curry is to make him work at the defensive end. The Warriors will most likely have Klay Thompson on Walker, but I think the Hornets should set screens for Walker with Curry's man and make him switch onto Walker. I think Walker will score 27 and Curry will score 19 but also have 9 assists.
This will definitely be a fun game to watch. I'm predicting it to be close all the way through, but in the end, I think the Warriors will win 112-107.  

The Cowboys Better Watch out for the Giants

Ever since week 1, the Cowboys have been on a 11 game winning streak. But their one loss was against the team they are playing this Sunday. The New York Giants. Here are three reasons why the Giants might beat the Cowboys.

1. The Giants have allowed the least amount of rushing yards to Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliot. Even though Elliot has gotten a lot better since then, the Giants defense only allowed 51 rushing yards from Elliot, and 2.5 yards per carry. The Giants have a defense that perfect for stopping running backs like Elliot. With Jason-Pierre-Paul on the outside, the eliminates the outside run game. Then, they have Damon Harrison and Jonathon Hankins at defensive tackle to clog up the middle.

2. The Giants have also allowed the lowest completion percentage of Dak Prescott. When they played each other in week one, Prescott completed just 55.6% of his passes.He also had zero touchdown passes. I think in this match up, Prescott throws one interception against this Giants secondary. They have a lot of talent in their secondary. Landon Collins has really improved this year. He is one of their hard-hitting safeties.


3. The Cowboys defense will not be able to handle the Giants offense. We have seen in past weeks when that defense has played teams with a stacked receiving core. When they played the Redskins on Thanksgiving, the Cowboys allowed 449 passing yards. The Giants have a similar offense. They have two amazing slot receivers in Victor Cruz and rookie Sterling Shepard. Then they have Odell Beckham Jr. on the outside who has had some big games against the Cowboys.  

I think the Giants will win this game 26-17. I think Dez Bryant will have 5 receptions for 43 yards. On the other side, I think Odell will have a big game with 7 receptions for 116 yards and a touchdown.

Can the Redskins Still Make the Playoffs?

After the Redskins have had two consecutive losses, people are starting to doubt their ability to make the playoffs. I think it's still possible for them to get a playoff spot. Here's why.

If you look at Washington's upcoming schedule, you'll see that 3 out of their last 4 games are against teams with losing records. They will play the Eagles[5-7], the Panthers[4-8], the Bears[3-9]. Their last game is against the Giants, who do have a winning record of 8-4. As long as the Redskins win their games, they mostly won't have to worry about other teams winning or losing. In my opinion, they pretty much have to win every single game left to make the playoffs. But if they start losing, it could get pretty hard. The Packers have been on a recent winning streak, and they definitely have a shot at the playoffs. They are 6-6 as well as the Vikings, who have been going downhill lately. They are mainly competing with the Buccaneers who are 7-5. The Redskins are 6-5-1, so they're not even a full game behind the Buccaneers. All it takes is a win for the Skins and a loss for the Buccaneers against the Saints, and the Skins would be in the playoffs.

Offense

The offense has been fine. The only thing with the offense is that they have to score on drives that the defense creates for them. With all the talent that they have, they should be doing much better than they are doing now. I think they should be throwing the ball down the field more to Desean Jackson. I have also been surprised by how much Kirk Cousins has been targeting Pierre Garcon. I thought going into this year, he wouldn't have the same amount of energy, but I was wrong. Otherwise, the run game is solid with Robert Kelley, who is hard to tackle, and Chris Thompson as their third down back.

Defense

Defense for the Redskins has been their problem. They can't seem to come up with a stop when they most need it. Against the Lions in week 7, they were up 17-13 with a couple minutes left in the third quarter, and the defense allowed a Matthew Stafford game winning drive. Last week against the Cardinals, they had them on 4th & 1, and they let them convert. A few plays after, they gave up a 42 yard touchdown pass. They were also horrible against third and long. Also, starting the game off  well on defense has been really hard for the Redskins defense. They usually end up giving the other team possession first, and their defense is just letting the opposing team to just march down the field. At the beginning of the season, the Redskins defense was actually creating some turnovers. But now, they are just giving up long drives and big plays. I also wish that Joe Barry [defensive coordinator] would let Josh Norman follow the opposing team's best receiver. When they put Kendall Fuller on the best receiver in the slot, it doesn't work out well. The pass rush has been pretty good. If the secondary can start covering better, they will turn into a good defense.

A lot of people are doubting that the Redskins will make the playoffs. It won't be easy, but I have a feeling that they will come away with a second straight year going to the playoffs.