10 Bold Predictions

By popular demand, and by “popular” I mean one reader, I will reprise this feature I wrote for RotoWire the last seven years. You would not be wrong if you accused me of half-assing it (literally) this year as this article has only 10 predictions instead of 20.

I honestly don’t know why I chose 20 originally, but once I did, I had to keep it at 20. Actually, that’s not true as I could have done whatever I wanted, but it’s more apt to say I felt some strange obligation to keep it at 20, the necessity of which I’ve since been disabused.

In any event, here are my “bold” predictions:

1. Saquon Barkley (RB 5) will be a top-three PPR fantasy back.

I won’t explain this one because I have in so many other places, but suffice it to say I drafted him everywhere.

2. The Buccaneers will not win the NFC South

I don’t think it’ll be the Falcons, so that leaves the Panthers and the Saints, both of which have a decent shot. I actually bet on the Panthers at +1200. The Bucs are prohibitive favorites, but Tom Brady is 45, lost two offensive linemen to injuries and Rob Gronkowski to retirement.

3. Baker Mayfield (ADP 275) will have a better fantasy year than Dak Prescott (ADP 121)

I don’t like Prescott without Tyron Smith, and Amari Cooper is gone, while Mayfield has better weather than he did in Cleveland, D.J. Moore and Christian McCaffrey.

4. Christian Kirk (55) will have a better fantasy year than Courtland Sutton (28)

Kirk is the only game in town, while Sutton has competition in Jerry Jeudy and deep threat K.J. Hamler.

5. DJ Moore (32) will outproduce Deebo Samuel (22)

Moore has a real QB for the first time in his career, while Samuel has an untested running QB and won’t score so many rushing TDs this year.