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4-EYED TEAM PREVIEW: WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM (2021)

Jorge Edwards

It’s Day 9 of our 4-EYED TEAM PREVIEW SERIES and we are starting our coverage of the NFC EAST with the Washington Football Team! This morning we’re talking offense so strap in, get ready, and enjoy the ride!

First off, you’re welcome Washington!

Yes, it was I and I alone who wished that dream into existence, and low and behold the universe heard my humble plea and made it happen. OK, so MAYBE there were a few more parties involved in this process of bringing this gunslinger to our nation’s capital, but since this is MY article and MY hometown team I’m just going to take all the credit for this and say what I did in the beginning of this article, you’re welcome.

I’m typically a very humble person, btw.

Moving on.

In 2020, we saw the formation of an elite defensive unit unfold in Washington, but despite head coach Ron Rivera bringing in vertical passing game purist, Scott Turner, as offensive coordinator to D.C. we did NOT see the same elite level of production from this offense. The fact of the matter is we never saw what this offense could REALLY look like in his typical scheme. His mantra in 2020 was to maximize the talent of the players he had around him, which resulted in a short-to-intermediate passing attack that never really evolved into something else. In 2021, Washington Football Team and fantasy football fans alike are hoping that changes as the Football Team brought in veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, utility player at WR Curtis Samuel, and the dynamic rookie speedster out of The University of North Carolina, WR Dyami Brown, to better help implement his system. These three important additions combined with the playmakers from last season could do wonders for both this offense and for fantasy football managers.

So with that being said, since this is supposed to be a fantasy football article let’s get down to business and ask the important question here: Who are the players from Washington’s offense that can help you win a fantasy championship in 2021?

Find out below in our 2021 WFT 4-EYED Offensive Team Preview!

Quarterbacks

Ryan Fitzpatrick

In nine games with the Dolphins last season, Fitzpatrick averaged 20.7 fantasy points per game, had the second-best deep ball completion percentage amongst all quarterbacks in 2020 (56.5%), was QB12 in air yards per game with 143.4, and was QB11 in adjusted completion percentage, according to Fantasydata and PFF. This guy is a fantasy goldmine not just as a viable streaming option but for the skill players he’ll be slinging the ball to.

Yes, I know with some #FitzMagic comes some #FitzTragic moments from Fitzpatrick but as with any streaming option that risk usually comes with the territory. While not an every-week streaming option, start him in matchups where either the WFT faces a high octane offensive opponent or poor defensive unit. Whether garbage time points or blowout points, points are points and with Fitzpatrick take them where you can get them.

Running Backs

Antonio GIbson

The RB17 in fantasy points per game in half-PPR scoring (13.1) last season, Antonio Gibson will look to take an expanded role in this offense for Washington in 2021. The prevailing theory is with more vertical field stretchers on the field there will be fewer defenders crowding the line of scrimmage allowing for Gibson’s playmaking ability to take over. Speaking of playmaking did you know that he was the RB12 in avoided tackles last season, according to PFF? Neither did I. From all the highlight reels he always looked like a prototypical downfield runner. That just goes to show you that you should never use highlight reels to evaluate a player’s potential.

My concern with Gibson is his involvement in the passing game out of the backfield. There are SO. MANY. OPTIONS. at receiver in this offense I’m not sold there are enough targets to go around. As a result, his perceived reception boost in half or full PPR leagues might not be a plentiful as some may hope in my opinion.

I will, also, say that there have been a few comparisons of what Gibson could do in this offense to what Christian McCaffery did in this offense when Scott Turner was the offensive coordinator in Carolina. For the LOVE OF GOD stop making that comparison. Antonio Gibson is NOT Christian McCaffery and any attempt to try and sell yourself on the fact that he could be just as good is straight-up foolish. Just because player A can run fast, catch, and be dominant doesn’t mean player B, who can run fast and catch can be just as dominant. That is why I’m valuing Gibson as an RB2 on the season, not an all-worldly RB1 some analysts will make you think.

J.D. McKissic

So, fellow analyst here at Fantasy In Frames, Teddy Ricketson, and I have differing views of just what McKissic can still bring to this offense. To hear this debate make sure to download and listen to our 2021 NFC EAST FANTASY PREVIEW on our 4th And Frames podcast next week!

Wide Receivers

Terry McLaurin

Despite playing in a conservative passing offense in 2020, Terry “F1” McLaurin still produced 1,118 yards receiving (WR11) on 134 targets (WR9), 87 receptions (WR15), 87.9 air yards per game (WR15), and averaged 12 fppg in half-PPR scoring (WR20) in 2021.

Can you imagine what he could do with Fitzpatrick this season?! While his perceived ceiling is relatively high, I’m still a “believe it when I see it” analyst thus will recommend him as a high-end WR2/low-end WR1 in 2021.

Curtis Samuel

So here is a tricky bit of analysis. In 2019, in Scott Turner’s offensive, Samuel had an average depth of target (aDOT) of 14.8 yards which would have set him up well for big-play potential and a relatively high fantasy point-scoring floor. That season he only averaged 9.5 fppg in half-PPR. Flip the script to the 2020 season under Joe Brady’s offense in which he only had an aDOT of 7.54 yards, yet he averaged 11.7 fppg in half-PPR scoring.

What gives?

My best assessment is Brady was able to cater his offense to maximize Samuel’s skillset thus allowing for more playmaking potential and a higher fantasy floor. The million-dollar question is whether Scott Turner, this season, will learn from what Brady did in 2020 and apply that logic and scheme to Samuel in 2021. From all the reports out of minicamps that seems to be the case. Therefore, until I actually see it in games I would recommend you start Samuel as a WR3/FLEX and nothing more for the time being.

Dyami Brown

Leading the ACC in receiving yards in 2020, Dyami Brown is a fast deep-threat receiving option that can take the top of many defenses over the course of his career. However, given the lack of awareness of his place on the depth chart you should only, currently, roster him in Best Ball and Dynasty leagues, not for redraft in 2021.

Tight Ends

Logan Thomas

Last season, Logan Thomas thrived down the stretch in this offense. He finished as the TE3 in targets & receptions, TE7 in red zone targets, TE8 in end zone targets, and TE7 in fantasy points per game with 9.2 in half-PPR scoring. With a potential emphasis on downfield passes, Thomas and his aDOT of 7.7 yards from 2020 might be at a slight disadvantage, but given his success last season it’s hard to imagine Scott Turner won’t put him in similar situations in 2021. Not to mention finding a viable tight end from week to week is tricky enough as is, therefore out of all the options available you could do worse than drafting Thomas as your starting TE this season.

That’s all for Washington’s fantasy preview on offense for 2021. Check back later as we cover the relevant IDPs in Washington, wrapping up our two-a-day coverage of the Washington Football Team.

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