Building the best AFC North fantasy team

One of many largest keys to being a profitable fantasy football supervisor is being unbiased as doable on the subject of your fandom of your favourite crew and your unwell will in direction of their rivals. In fact there may be nothing unsuitable with drafting Ravens gamers, as I for one attempt to get a pair on my crew yearly. Fantasy soccer is meant to be enjoyable, and watching Lamar Jackson break-off an extended landing run for the Ravens and my fantasy crew is double the enjoyable.

On the flip aspect, rooting for a Brown, Steeler, or Bengal is a troublesome tablet to swallow — particularly with some followers of these groups nonetheless doubting the skills of Ravens gamers. However it might be very silly to overlook out on the Ravens’ rival gamers as there are some big-time fantasy studs throughout the board within the AFC North.

Wanting previous the jersey and appreciating the expertise of the participant is necessary. If you are able to do that, there are an abundance of AFC North gamers who can paved the way to fantasy glory. Right here is the last word fantasy soccer roster made up of solely Ravens, Steelers, Browns, and Bengals gamers.

QB1: Lamar Jackson

Lamar is the clear QB1 from the AFC North as he’s the definition of a fantasy cheat-code. He has amassed 62 landing passes the previous two years whereas being solely one in all 5 rushers to have over 1,000 yards on the bottom in again to again seasons. The Ravens upgraded his weapons and offensive line this low season, giving Jackson all he must take the following step as a passer.

His consensus ADP in keeping with FantasyPros (common draft place) proper now could be QB4 off the board. That could be a slight low cost for a man who can simply be the highest fantasy scorer within the league as soon as once more. Goal Lamar within the fifth spherical of drafts, escape that #8 jersey and watch the previous MVP lead the Ravens and your fantasy squad to glory.

RB1 & RB2: Nick Chubb & Joe Mixon

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The AFC North might need essentially the most stacked working again group in the entire NFL with all 4 groups having a top-tier fantasy working again. Whereas the Ravens and Browns have two of the most effective backups as effectively.

The clear prime again within the division is the Browns’ Nick Chubb. Chubb has a declare of being the most effective pure rusher within the league. In simply 12 video games final season he went over 1,000 yards, averaged 5.6 per carry, and scored 12 touchdowns. Chubb is Derrick Henry-lite, the place he doesn’t provide you with a lot by way of pass-catching capability, however a wholesome Chubb has a shot to guide the league in speeding yards and/or touchdowns. In most leagues he’ll price you a High-12 choose, and he’s definitely well worth the worth as a secure RB1 on fantasy rosters.

As a fantasy supervisor who was burned by Joe Mixon final 12 months, placing him because the RB2 right here pains me however I have to be as unbiased as doable. Mixon’s expertise is obvious however he simply hasn’t put all of it collectively for a complete season. 2021 might be the 12 months he joins the elite working again group within the NFL. In simply 6 video games final 12 months Mixon had 140 touches (119 carries / 21 receptions). A wholesome Mixon with that sort of quantity in what ought to be an improved Bengals offense, makes him a really fascinating choose on the 2nd/third round-turn in fantasy drafts.

WR1 & WR2: Diontae Johnson & Tee Higgins

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Seeing two of the Ravens largest rivals draft and develop stud broad receivers 12 months after 12 months just isn’t enjoyable. The Steelers and Bengals simply proceed to hoard receiver expertise as every of them have 3 viable fantasy broad receiver choices.

To me, the highest fantasy broad receiver possibility within the division is the Steelers’ Diontae Johnson. He might need a foul rap due to his drops, however Johnson is a really underrated receiver within the league who’s a goal monster. He completed sixth within the league final 12 months with 144 targets regardless of basically enjoying in solely 14 video games. If he improves on his drops, a 100-catch & 1,000 yard season is definitely within the playing cards for Johnson (88 grabs for 923 yards in 2020). Johnson is a safer WR2 on fantasy rosters however he has upside to complete within the High-12 on the place.

A sophomore receiver who seems to be prime for a second 12 months breakout is the Bengals Tee Higgins. He constructed fairly the rapport with Joe Burrow within the 7 weeks the place they had been each within the beginning lineup, per FantasyPros Higgins was the WR11 throughout these weeks. Higgins nonetheless carried out nice down the stretch even with a back-up quarterback. Posting a 67-908-6 stat-line as a rookie and completed at WR28 in fantasy. With Burrow coming back from damage, there may be sufficient passing-game quantity the place Higgins ought to enhance on all of his rookie receiving numbers. Making him a top-24 fantasy WR in 2021 with room for extra upside if can flip right into a double-digit landing risk like he was at Clemson.

TE1: Mark Andrews

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The opposite very apparent place selection within the AFC North is at tight finish, the place the Ravens’ Mark Andrews is the clear prime canine within the division. When it comes to fantasy soccer and actual soccer, Andrews is the consensus TE4 throughout the board. Solely Travis Kelce, George Kittle, and Darren Waller that ought to be going forward of Andrews in fantasy drafts. Touchdowns are by no means a sure-bet in fantasy, however Andrews is as shut as assure you will get for landing manufacturing throughout all positions. His 17 scores since 2019 are essentially the most by a decent finish, and solely seven broad receivers have scored extra. He might not put up 1,400 yards like Kelce or 100 receptions like Waller, however Andrews remains to be a top-tier possibility at a weak place in fantasy. Seize “Mandrews” within the fifth or sixth spherical and watch his smash video games present that week-winning boast.

Flex 1 & Flex 2: J.Ok. Dobbins & Najee Harris

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Maybe the participant who has essentially the most upside out of everybody within the AFC North this 12 months is the Ravens sophomore sensation working again, J’Kaylin “J.Ok.” Dobbins. I did a function on what to anticipate from Dobbins again in Could. The expertise is plain with J.Ok., however his fantasy influence this 12 months will all come right down to what his quantity will seem like.

He had 152 (134 rush / 18 receptions) touches final 12 months as a rookie who didn’t actually get utilized till November & December. My projection for Dobbins this 12 months is 200+ touches (180+ rush / 20+ receptions), 1,300 complete yards, and 10 touchdowns. In PPR scoring formatting these numbers equal 210 fantasy factors, which might have been good for the eleventh ranked working again final 12 months. That projection is fairly modest on the receptions and touchdowns. If Dobbins sees upwards of 30 receptions and/or over 10 scores (each very doable), he has all of the upside to complete as a High-10 fantasy working again. Seize Dobbins as your RB2 within the third spherical of your fantasy drafts and watch that younger man breakout this season.

The AFC North is so loaded with expertise I added-in a further flex place and did with out the kicker and protection/particular groups. Unbiased and to no shock, Justin Tucker and Ravens D/ST would have gotten the nods for what’s it value.

Nevertheless, the participant who secures the final beginning spot on this fantasy roster is Steelers’ rookie working again Najee Harris. Being the primary working again taken within the NFL Draft and having speedy fantasy success as a rookie has been the case every of the final 4 seasons — highlighted by Saquon Barkley’s total RB1 end as a rookie in 2018. The opposite finishes had been nonetheless strong; final 12 months Clyde Edwards-Helaire was RB22, Josh Jacobs was RB21 in 2019, and again in 2017 Leonard Fournette was RB9. It is going to be tough for Harris to duplicate Barkley’s standout rookie 12 months, however the Alabama product has the expertise and potential workload to be a High-12 working again as a rookie.

Pittsburgh’s offense all the time makes use of one workhorse again. No disrespect to James Conner however Harris is the most effective twin risk working again for the Steelers since Le’Veon Bell. The Steelers woes on the offensive line as actually the one knock on what might be a particular rookie season for Harris. Goal Harris within the third spherical in your fantasy drafts for a really secure RB2 with upside for a top-10 total working again.

Bench:

Kareem Hunt: The previous elite fantasy working again in Kansas Metropolis confirmed final 12 months he nonetheless has top-tier expertise together with his RB10 end in 2020. Hunt will get sufficient work every week within the passing recreation the place he’s a weekly flex possibility. Plus as we noticed final 12 months, if Chubb had been to overlook time, Hunt turns into an instantaneous weekly RB1 in lineups. He is a perfect third working again on a fantasy rosters.

Chase Claypool: The second Steelers’ receiver to land on the squad is the man who goes by “Mapletron” — massive Chase Claypool. He was a waiver wire hero final 12 months as he was went undrafted in virtually all fantasy drafts however ended the season because the WR19 total. Claypool is a bit more boom-or-bust than his teammate JuJu Smith-Schuster, however Claypool’s upside is way superior. If I needed to wager on which broad receiver within the AFC North has essentially the most touchdowns 2021, Claypool could be my choose.

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Ja’marr Chase: Sticking with the upside strategy for this roster, I seize the shiny new toy within the division with the No. 5 total choose within the NFL Draft, Ja’marr Chase. Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd cap Chase’s ceiling somewhat bit, as a Justin Jefferson-type rookie 12 months for Chase will likely be a tall job. However final time we have now seen Chase catches passes from Joe Burrow, we noticed magic occur at LSU. Chase is a right away weekly flex play with all of the upside on the earth.

Joe Burrow: The Bengals have fairly the exhibiting on this all AFC-North fantasy crew because the younger gun at helm, Joe Burrow lands right here on the clear QB2 within the division. There may be apparent threat together with his very severe knee damage however all the weapons are in place for Burrow to emerge as a beginning high quality fantasy quarterback in 2021. If like to attend for a QB in your fantasy drafts, Burrow is a pleasant goal in spherical 10 or later.

Rashod Bateman: For the final roster spot, I needed to go together with a sleeper fantasy asset fairly than a confirmed vet like Odell Beckham Jr and Jarvis Landry. I needed to focus on the big-time potential worth choose that’s Ravens’ rookie receiver Rashod Bateman.

Under no circumstances you must anticipate a High-10 season from Bateman, however for the fee he’s going for in drafts he can present some first rate fantasy worth all through the season. There’s a path the place Bateman may be essentially the most focused receiver on the Ravens this 12 months. Mix that together with his present ADP of the 59th broad receiver off the board, you might be principally spending zero draft capital on a man who seems to be prime to be a Day 1 contributor and the potential No. 1 broad receiver in Baltimore.