The players that feast weekly in your lineups

Since we are in the season of thankfulness and we are coming down the stretch of the regular season, what better thing is there to do than reflect. For many NFL teams they look back on the season and see defining moments, whether those be close loses/wins, injuries, playoff seeding, or the next offseason. For fantasy owners the first thing you look back on is your draft. The draft is what your team is built through every year, and this article will look back on what draft picks to be most thankful for.

Be thankful you took the risk on Patrick Mahomes and his ridiculous talent. Patrick Mahomes is currently sitting at 37 touchdowns to only 10 interceptions, with 5 games left and a legitimate shot to break the passing touchdowns record. Mahomes has had 8 games with more than 25 fantasy points, including 3 games with 32 plus fantasy points. He has consistently been great, averaging over 27 points throughout the season and becoming the number one fantasy quarterback. If you watch Mahomes play you see the magic that this second-year quarterback has and why he is doing so good. Mahomes was drafted, on average, in the range of 110-123. He lasted till pick 110! In most leagues the guy is carrying his fantasy team to the playoffs, by himself nearly. So, if you were lucky enough or smart enough to draft Mahomes as your fantasy quarterback I suggest you be very thankful this season.

Be thankful for the resurgence of Andrew Luck and the return of his great arm talent. With a shoulder injury nearly derailing the career of Luck, there was a lot of fear and concern in drafting him or any of the Colts weapons. He was drafted in a large range across many leagues, because of many different beliefs about the condition of Lucks shoulder and his ability to return and play well. His average draft range, varied from 66-101 on different websites. While early in the season, Luck had his struggles, he has turned it on lately. In the first 3 games, Luck did not top the 20-point mark, but since the opening three weeks, Luck hasn’t had less than 21 points in a game. He has at least 3 touchdowns in every game since the first 3 weeks, including a week four game in which he stunned the talented Texans defense with 464 yards and 4 touchdowns. This game provided many people with a sight into the rest of the season, and why you should be thankful you took Andrew Luck.

Be thankful Anthony Lynn developed into the complete fantasy back you wanted him to be when you drafted him. Melvin Gordon has developed into a PPR stud, with a much-improved pass-catching ability. In PPR leagues Melvin ranks as the fifth running back, even though he missed a game this season. In games he has played, Gordon has scored below 21.5 points only twice (19 points and 16 points). The consistency is one of the things that makes him a steal, and the other is the fact that he was a second-round pick in nearly every league. To get running back who produces with high volume or limited volume, and produces in multiple facets of the game in the second round, is something to be thankful for.

Be thankful that you trusted a rookie to be your first-round draft pick. Saquon Barkley was drafted as the 6th best running back across almost every platform and is currently putting up the 3rd most points out of any running back, being outpaced by only Todd Gurley and Alvin Kamara. Barkley has had only one game where he scored less than 20 points. For a rookie to be that consistent is incredible and is why he has been such a good fantasy running back. Barkley has also been able to put up 2 games with 35 plus points on a terrible offense, behind the league’s worst offensive line. What Barkley has been able to do is truly incredible and all his fantasy owners should be extremely thankful he has performed so well.

Be thankful you were smart enough to add James Connor, either late in the draft or in free agency. He is easily the steal of the year in most leagues, because he did not cost most owners anything to add him. He turned out to be the number 4 fantasy running back and won a lot of fantasy team games, possibly even tilting the balance of power in many fantasy leagues. There could not have been a better fantasy add. He fully replaced Le’Veon Bells production and by adding him, a fantasy owner was able to basically to steal a first round pick. That is something to be extremely thankful for this season.

Be thankful you believed in Tyreeee… Patrick Mahomes arm. Don’t get me wrong, Tyreek Hill is a great receiver with excellent speed, and almost unmatchable quickness. BUT there is a big difference in last year Tyreek Hill and this year Tyreek Hill. While I truly believe Hill has improved from 2017 to 2018, I can not help but think Patrick Mahomes had something to do with Hill’s improvement too. In 2017 Hill finished the season as the number 11 receiver, but this year he is the number one ranked fantasy receiver. The only real change that would affect that, besides internal improvement, would be the change from an average-armed conservative Alex Smith to the gun-slinging uber talented arm of Mahomes. Be thankful not only that you drafted Hill, but that Mahomes is now his quarterback.

Be thankful that you believed in the Aaron Rodgers effect. If you believed in Davante Adams and his ability to develop into a number one receiver in the Packer’s offense, then you should be thankful for ere you drafted him. Adams has outperformed Antonio Brown who was the top receiver taken in most fantasy leagues. Most fantasy owners did not take him until the end of the second round and he has been consistent week in and week out. There has not been a game where Adams has scored under 16 points. He has consistently scored points every week and continuously found the end-zone. In 10 games, Adams is sitting pretty with 9 touchdowns. If you’re a fantasy owner and you got Adams in the late second round instead of spending your first-round pick on Antonio Brown, I’d be thankful during this season too.

Be thankful that you stole Robert Woods. Woods was looked over in fantasy for many reasons. The first reason being that Woods looked like the number four option in the passing game after the acquisition of Brandin Cooks. The path to Woods becoming relevant in fantasy, seemed to be a difficult one. He was drafted between pick number 80 and 110 on average across different fantasy platforms, no one saw this breakout coming. The reason for the breakout was not an injury or a change in the pecking order, but instead his hyper effective and efficient role in a flourishing offense. It also helps that out of the receiver trio, he is the only of the three to not miss a game. Woods has also been the most consistent of the three as he has eclipsed 70 yards in every game after week one. Be thankful you snagged Woods and believed in his ability to thrive in a lesser role in a prolific offense.

Be thankful for George Kittle. His production has earned him a spot among the elite fantasy tight ends as he currently sits number 3 among fantasy tight ends. This is especially impressive for 2 reasons, the first being the fact that Kittle has caught passes from several different quarterbacks, with only one of them being a starting caliber quarterback in the NFL. The second reason is that he isn’t touchdown reliant as he only has three so far this season. Be thankful that the plethora of injuries has not affected Kittle’s production and that you have a top three fantasy tight end because of it.

Be thankful that you fully trusted Ertz ability. If you trusted in Zach Ertz as a player and didn’t think missing Carson Wentz would have a big affect you were smarter than me. In six leagues I made it a point not to take Ertz and I am currently regretting it. If you take away last weeks dud verses the Saints in which the Eagles forgot what offense was, then Ertz has been wildly consistent. He has scored 10 or more points in every game in PPR and had had 5 games with 20 plus points, which is exceptional for a tight end. This includes 4 games with double digit catches, four with 100 plus yards, and 4 games with a touchdown. Be thankful you took Ertz as he has outperformed a lot of fantasy teams wide receiver number two.

Be thankful you believed in the Khalil Mack affect. Some drafts were done by the time the Khalil Mack trade happened. Mack has not been the only reason the Bears Defense has risen into the elite ranks. The defense has 6 defensive touchdowns which is partially due to the improvement of the secondary. Another reason the Bears defense has been so good is because Roquan Smith has quickly become a heat seeking missile middle stuffing the middle and flying sideline to sideline. The Bears are forcing turnovers left and right which is fueling their fantasy production. They currently have 29 turnovers on the season and Mack has 6 of them. Be thankful you stole the Bear’s defense who on average was drafted aa the number 13 defense. They are currently the number one fantasy defense.

Be thankful you have patience. The Steelers defense has not been a top 5 fantasy defense in a little bit but after their last two games they have risen to number 5 in fantasy defense after being drafted as the 9th defense on average across leagues. The best news if you have the Steeler’s defense is that they are hot and ready for the stretch run as an every week start. Sometimes fantasy football is all about timing and if you have a defense that you can trust to get you points going into the playoffs you are sitting pretty. Be thankful the Steelers have turned it on in time for the fantasy playoffs.

Be thankful if you waited till the last round of the draft and you were able to get a top five kicker. Be even more thankful if you were able to pick one up off the waiver wire.