Fantasy Football 2019 Team Previews: Washington Redskins

Washington Redskins

Must Own

Derrius Guice, RB (ADP: 85): Guice, a second round pick from last season who blew out his knee before the games counted, is now the 36th RB off the board. That means he’s either a crazy value, or a trap. Guice was a monster at LSU, rushing for well over 1,000 yards and posting back-to-back double-digit touchdowns seasons in his final two years against the best defenses in college football. He didn’t catch many passes, but he has been billed as a potential three-down, bell cow back. That will be a valuable role in Washington provided he can withstand the punishment that entails. I wouldn’t want to rely on Guice, but at this ADP his upside is well worth the risk. If he does stay healthy, I expect him to far outperform this ADP.

Fantasy Relevant

None

Handcuff(s)

Adrian Peterson, RB (ADP: 120): Peterson refuses to go quietly, the way of most veteran RBs. After struggling through poor performance, suspensions and legal battles, Peterson returned to the 1,000-yard club for the first time since 2015, rewarding fantasy owners with a season-long RB2. The overall numbers were very impressive, but the truth is AP is 34 years old with a lot of mileage. His performance was a product of volume, and if Guice is healthy, that volume is going to be scaled back significantly, if not disappear almost entirely. Peterson is a must-own for Guice owners, but otherwise I don’t see the need to draft him even though he was productive in 2018.

Deep Sleepers

Jordan Reed, TE (ADP: 156): Once a top option at TE, Reed has been left for dead, going 17th at the position. I can’t say I blame fantasy owners for no longer wanting to deal with Reed’s injuries, but he shockingly may be the top pass-catching option in this offense. At his peak, Reed flirted with 1,000 yards and he scored 11 touchdowns. I think his body is sufficiently altered at this point to no longer be a threat for massive yardage totals, but a double-digit TD season is possible if he can stay on the field. A big if, sure, but at this rate he could be your last pick of the draft.

Chris Thompson, RB (ADP: 224): Thompson is an explosive player who has become an afterthought because he’s constantly hurt. Now that he’s basically free though, he’s worth a look, especially in full-PPR formats. Thompson’s breakout was in 2017, when he was averaging 51 receiving yards per game and had scored six total touchdowns in 10 games before injury wiped out the rest of his season. Thompson still has that ability, and the opportunity will be there for him as Washington’s receiving corps is arguably the worst in the NFL.

Trey Quinn, WR (ADP: 258): Quinn is currently the first Redskins WR off the board, which says a lot. The second-year slot receiver may well see the most targets of this receiving corps, but I want no part of a slot receiver in a low-volume offense with a rookie QB and a retread veteran duking it out for starting duties. Hard pass.

Dwayne Haskins, QB (ADP: 279): Haskins is intriguing, but the scuttlebutt is that he will begin the year No. 2 on the depth chart. That stinks, because his 2018 campaign at Ohio State was extremely prolific, and I’m eager to see what he can do in the NFL. Haskins might be raw, but putting up 4,831 yards and 50 touchdowns is no joke. Haskins won’t run much, which would limit his upside this season, and his pass-catching options are terrible. That, combined with him not even guaranteed a starting job at this point, remove him from the pool of players I’d draft. He could be a late pick in a two-QB league in the hopes he eventually takes over from Keenum, but even then the upside is capped.

Paul Richardson, WR (ADP: 288): Once upon a time Richardson was an interesting big play threat. Now, he’s a nominal No. 1 receiver in what could be one of the worst offenses in football. Richardson becomes more interesting if and when Haskins takes over QB duty, but as long as Case Keenum is out here “managing games,” I’m not interested in owning him.

Josh Doctson, WR (ADP: 293): Doctson has so much talent, and I’ve been hyping him since he was a rookie. No more. Sometimes there’s more to football than talent, and Doctson has been in this receiving corps for three seasons, without big names to steal opportunity from him, and he hasn’t excelled. This year, Doctson may put up decent touchdown numbers due to lack of other options, but I’m probably staying away from this passing game entirely unless I take a flier on Chris Thompson.

Case Keenum, QB (ADP: 338): Keenum is on his third team in as many seasons, and that’s because he’s an average NFL QB if I’m being charitable. Keenum is a must-own in two-QB leagues if he’s named the starter, and nowhere else. I expect him to be backing up Haskins before midseason.