Fantasy Football Bounceback Candidate: Evan Engram

TE Evan Engram (New York Giants) | 4th Year

2019 Stats: 44 receptions for 467 yards, 3 TD

Entering his fourth season, it’s hard to tab Evan Engram as a breakout or bounce back candidate in fantasy football terms. On a per game basis, he has been top-10 in fantasy points (full PPR) in each of the last two years. But that’s where it gets cloud. A foot injury cost him the final seven games in 2019, and a knee injury on a short week in Week 6 cost him another. In 2018, knee and hamstring issues cost him a total of five games.

But as a rookie in 2017, Engram played 15 games and posted good numbers (64 receptions for 722 yards and six touchdowns). He finished as TE5 in standard, full PPR and half PPR. So for 2020, a couple years away from a strong season, bounce back it is.

In six games with Daniel Jones at quarterback last year, Engram averaged 11.55 PPR fantasy points per game (27 catches for 303 yards and two touchdowns) with at least seven targets in five of those games. Counting the two games Eli Manning started (17 catches, on 22 targets, for 164 yards and a touchdown), Engram was TE6 in full PPR and TE5 in standard scoring through Week 9. With a missed game, and a dud in Week 7 (one catch for six yards against the Arizona Cardinals).

Engram’s average depth of target the last two years (5.0 in 2018, 6.0 in 2019) has been a misuse of his speed and athleticism. It’s unclear how much that will change with Jason Garrett as the Giants offensive coordinator, but overall the change in coaching staff should be a good thing.

An area of possible growth for Engram appears to be in the touchdown column, but there was a positive sign in 2019. In eight games, he equaled his red zone target total from 2017 over 15 games (11), and usurped 2018’s seven red zone targets over 11 games. Of those 11 red zone looks last year, nine came when Jones was the quarterback (1.5 per game).

It comes down to health for Engram. When he’s on the field, he is among the top fantasy tight ends. He’s at TE7 (12 teams, full PPR) and TE6 (12-teams, standard) in ADP right now. After the first tier of tight ends, and before the late-round fliers down the board, he’s definitely an appealing option.

A projection for Engram probably has to have a missed game or two mixed in. But a bounce back is on the way if he only misses that game or two, with a re-entrance into the top-5 fantasy tight ends at the top end.

2020 Projection: 65 receptions for 720 yards, 7 TD 

Bounceback Confidence Level: 80%

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