In the second of an eight-part series, I make an argument for the best valued fantasy player on each team in the NFC North (see last week’s NFC West here). All rankings were averaged between various ESPN fantasy rankings and Fantasy Pros fantasy rankings as of June 11, 2022. Check in next week for the NFC South!
Minnesota Vikings – Kirk Cousins
It was almost painful not to select Adam Thielen at his WR35 (and beyond) ranking but was actually painful to see Kirk Cousins being disrespected yet again at the QB16-17 ranks. In the last six years, Cousins has finished in the top 11 in fantasy scoring at his position all but once. Last season, he finished ninth in fantasy scoring among quarterbacks and posted a 1.2 interception percentage, second to Aaron Rodgers. Justin Jefferson is poised to be an absolute beast. It’s ridiculous to project a wildly successful season for Jefferson and leave Cousins in the dust as a backup fantasy quarterback. Cousins was also missing touchdown machine Thielen for four games last season (Thielen and Jefferson had equal touchdowns last season despite Jefferson playing in all 17 games). Cousins finishes in the top 12 this season, if not the top seven.
Green Bay Packers – Robert Tonyan
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Peering into the fantasy future in Green Bay was a foreboding nightmare; it was falling down a rabbit hole of uncertainty, debacle, and bad Aaron Rodgers memes. It would have been safe to cling to the running back duo there for stability. However, we’re going big in the search for true value and Robert Tonyan could be light in the cheesy city this season. I’m not going to discuss last year; it was a mess before the injury. To be fair then, I won’t mention 2020 either, which was absolutely fantastic. Let’s stick to the here and now. The unignorable fact is that the Packers lost nearly 170 targets with DeVante Adams’ departure. Sammy Watkins and rookie Christian Watson are not likely to combine for even half those targets. Allen Lazard is very viable, but not to pick up that much slack. It’s totally feasible to consider Tonyan becoming the leading receiver in Green Bay. Rodgers will need his “Bobby” this season to hush his critics.
Chicago Bears – Cole Kmet
Chicago’s fantasy players are pretty well ranked, perhaps even generously, considering Justin Fields’ cringeworthy rookie season. Optimism is the abounding consensus for the young team, however. Both David Montgomery and Darnell Mooney have a good shot at outperforming their ranked expectation, but it’s Cole Kmet (TE14-18) who I’m confident will wind up in the top 12 at his position. His 10th (and beyond) round early ADP is primarily due to him scoring no touchdowns last season. Still, he ranked 8th among tight ends in targets (93) and even with one of the least accurate passers, managed to rank 12th in receptions for tight ends. He ranked 12th in yards as well. There’s no universe where he doesn’t score touchdowns this season and all his stats don’t improve with Justin Field’s reported maturity and upgraded coaching.
Detroit Lions – Jameson Williams
I’m not much of a rookie lover, in fact, I rarely touch them in redraft. Jameson Williams will be one of my exceptions. He’s ranked right around DJ Chark, going off the board at beyond the 12th round due to his ACL injury (suffered in January). Amon-Ra St Brown will be a fantastic number one wideout in Detroit again. But there is no clear-cut number two receiver, not even, I dare to say, TJ Hokensen, who might beovervalued at TE7 right now. The fiery potential of Williams is going to attract Jared Goff this season, just like St Brown did last year. Williams could easily have been the first wide receiver off the draft board had it not been for his injury. Detroit’s willingness to take him at pick 12 shows optimism that he will be able to start the season. His passion far surpasses that of ho-hum, up and down Chark. Williams has the rookie upside award in my book.
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