What is the anatomy of a fantasy football MVP? Consistency, value, health, and a matchup winning ceiling. The players on this list have checked every box in 2020. If you’re lucky enough to roster one or more of these players you’re likely at the top of standings in your league. Let’s present these men with some midseason, fake awards and I’ll tell you whether you can expect more of the same in Weeks 8 through 16.
Embed from Getty ImagesQB – Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
QB6 ADP, QB1 ranking
He has been a model of consistency by finishing as a top 12 QB every week while not once finishing lower than QB10. He is on pace for nearly 1,000 rushing yards and 16 rushing TDs. That’s right… he has averaged one rushing TD per game over the first seven weeks of the season.
Murray has sincerely enjoyed the upgrade to the WR corps DeAndre Hopkins provides. The Arizona Cardinals have top 12 passing blocking offensive line according to Football Outsiders. This is allowing Murray to enjoy a cleaner pocket and more time to scan the field. That is an indicator his passing numbers could see an uptick in the remainder of the season. Running QBs are THE cheat code in fantasy football. Murray will continue to run the ball efficiently and rack up fantasy points for his owners. He will finish inside the top five QBs in 2020.
Embed from Getty Images
RB – Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints
RB4 ADP, RB1 ranking
There was trepidation in selecting Kamara as the fourth RB in this year’s draft. It is obvious now that Kamara was dealing with some injuries in 2019. He has been explosive and dominant as a runner and receiver this season. He has 824 all-purpose yards along with seven TDs. He is responsible for 36 percent of all yards and 35 percent of all TDs for the Saints. He is the offense especially in the absence of still injured Michael Thomas.
Kamara is not a “value”; his place on this list is based on how dominant and consistent he has been. He is averaging 24.6 fantasy points per game which is 3.1 more points per game than second place (Derrick Henry). Expect Kamara to continue on his torrid pace and finish as the number one RB in 2020.
RB – James Robinson, Jacksonville Jaguars
RB95 ADP, RB5 ranking
Four finishes in the top 12 and one finish in the top 24 in seven games played. He finished as the third and second highest scoring RB in Weeks 3 and 7, respectively. Robinson has been the annual early season free agent pick-up that produces league winning numbers out of nowhere. He exemplifies the value component of a midseason MVP.
There is no reason to believe his utilization will decrease unless the Jaguars make a move for a veteran RB. They are not in contention for the playoffs so I expect them to stay the course with Robinson and ride his three down skill set for the remainder of the season. I project him to be a high-end RB2 with RB1 upside for the rest of the season.
WR – Calvin Ridley, Atlanta Falcons
WR17 ADP, WR5 ranking
The offseason hype train was careening down the tracks for Ridley. Those who bought in are being rewarded with a Chris Godwin like break-out season. The injuries to Julio Jones, the porous defense, and the pass happy nature of the Falcons has converged for Ridley to lead the team in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving TDs in 2020. He finished as the number two and number one overall WR in Week 1 and Week 2, respectively. Since then his finishes have been: WR26, WR113, WR13, WR11, and WR17. The Week 4 zero point game really crushed some fantasy teams. The average of his finishes (other than the zero catch, zero point Week 4 debacle) has him as the 12th overall WR.
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His top five ranking is buoyed by the monster Week 1 and Week 2 performances; however, he has established himself as a bonafide stud and focal point of a very good Atlanta offense. This offense can support two top 15 WRs, so that’s where I have him ranked for the rest of the season.
Embed from Getty ImagesWR – Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks
WR19 ADP, WR2 ranking
Ceiling, ceiling, ceiling! He is the least consistent WR on this list as he has only finished in the top 24 four times in seven weeks; however, Lockett has ended up as the number one WR on the week twice in 2020. Lockett is the quintessential week winning player that strikes fear in opponents’ hearts when they see him on the opposing team.
Week 4 and Week 5 were extremely disappointing for Lockett owners but he has seen seven-plus targets in four-of-six games played. The worry is the TD production. Lockett boasts seven TDs on the season; however, he has scored six of those in two games. That inconsistency will hurt his rest of season outlook. He will finish as a borderline top 12 WR, but keep in mind that he will have some disappointing games paired with those monster outings.
WR – Stefon Diggs, Buffalo Bills
WR27 ADP, WR10 ranking
Diggs was one of two WRs with 100 percent above average route success in 2019 according to Matt Harmon’s Reception Perception. He has averaged 10 targets over seven games and matured into a legitimate WR1 on a playoff contending team. Diggs has always been an incredible WR talent. His WR27 ADP was largely due to the man throwing him the ball in Buffalo, but Josh Allen has looked spectacular.
Diggs is top three in the NFL in targets and receptions this season. His volume will remain steady and the return of John Brown will only help Diggs as Brown will provide that deep threat which allows Diggs to operate in the soft areas of zones. Diggs is a locked and loaded top 12 WR for the rest of 2020.
Embed from Getty ImagesTE – Jonnu Smith, Tennessee Titans
TE20 ADP, TE4 ranking
Smith was the most hyped TE this offseason for good reason. His measurables are off the chart and Delanie Walker is finally out of the picture. He responded to the offseason hype by finishing as a top 12 TE in four-of-six weeks with two of those finishes in the top four of the position. He has been a dominant weapon for Ryan Tannehill in the red-zone and a stalwart for owners who snagged Smith in the later rounds of the draft.
His rest of season outlook is not as rosy as some players on this list. He is going to see 5+ targets a game, but A.J. Brown is healthy and has been Tannehill’s receiver of choice in the red-zone since his return. Smith will be a top 12 TE rest of season, but his week winning upside is limited with Brown healthy.
FLEX – Adam Thielen, WR, Minnesota Vikings
WR12 ADP, WR4
The Minnesota Vikings are a run-first team. Everyone knows it and yet Thielen is averaging 8.2 targets per game. He has finished as a top five WR in three of the six games he has played. He is tied for the league lead in receiving TDs. He is an all-around stud who wins immediately off the line of scrimmage while being the go-to option on third down.
Thielen is great, but Justin Jefferson is waiting in the wings to usurp that number one WR role in Minnesota. I expect Thielen to see a dip in targets over the second half of the season as Jefferson becomes more familiar with the offense and with Kirk Cousins. There aren’t a lot of targets to go around on this team so the emergence of Jefferson has Thielen as a mid-range WR2 for the rest of season.
FLEX – Todd Gurley III, RB, Atlanta Falcons
RB15 ADP, RB10
“Gurley is washed, he’s on one leg, he’s learning a new offense, etc.” The joke is on all of us, because he has been incredibly consistent. He has finished inside the top 24 five-of-seven weeks. In Week 5 and Week 7 he was a top three fantasy RB. His current per gaming ranking is only five spots higher than his ADP, but his level of consistency has been shocking. Fantasy managers drafted a RB2 and have received RB1 production.
Gurley is averaging 20.1 opportunities per game, he has always had a knack for scoring TDs, and he’s attached to a prolific offense. He won’t finish the season as a top 12 RB, but fantasy managers can rely on him for solid, consistent, top 24 production each and every week.
This is not a comprehensive list and many more players could have been featured. It has been a whirlwind of a fantasy football season so far. Make sure you’re scouring the waiver wire and staying active. Plenty of teams without midseason MVPs have made a second half push and end up with championship gold after Week 16. Stay safe and enjoy the second half of the season!
ADP date is from https://www.fantasypros.com/
Current data is from https://fantasydata.com/
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