-2019 NFL Schedule -Strength of Schedule
MOCK DRAFT
Ask the Commish.Com 2019 Draft Kit
We're expecting Greg Olsen to be back on the field for the Panthers in 2019, but we're not sure just how effective he'll be. Limited by significant foot injuries in each of the last two seasons, the 34-year-old has missed 16 games and has just five touchdowns and two appearances with 70-plus yards. As he slows down, the Panthers might have found a replacement for him in Ian Thomas, who finished 2018 with a touchdown and at least 40 yards in two consecutive games. Until the situation clears itself up - and it may not clear up at all - Olsen shouldn't be considered the reliable Fantasy starter he once was. Let someone else draft him.
Can Austin Hooper set new career-bests for the third consecutive season? For that to happen, he'd have to pop for more than four touchdowns and exceed 700 yards. In this iteration of the Falcons offense, and given Hooper's track record as a short-area receiving option, it seems possible but not with much upside. Furthermore, Hooper's never been a consistent Fantasy asset (four games last season with 10-plus non-PPR points, nine with four or fewer - and only nominally better in PPR). It's highly unlikely he'll ascend to the Kelce-Ertz-Kittle pantheon of Fantasy heroes, but if you want to target a decent option at a necessary position, Hooper should be found in the double-digit rounds in non-PPR and Round 9 at the earliest in full PPR.
There's a chance Vance McDonald becomes a good Fantasy tight end, but it'll take a lot of touchdowns and plenty more targets. Maybe it can happen - he will no longer share the field with Jesse James and the Steelers will use McDonald, among others, to help replace Antonio Brown's production. McDonald has seen five-plus targets in 10 of 21 games with the Steelers already, so it wouldn't take too much for him to get the target bump needed to help his numbers. Unfortunately, McDonald is considered injury prone (23 games missed) and has never been a strong yardage contributor (70-plus yards in four of 73 career games). Your best move is to take him late as an early-season streaming tight end, especially if you like his schedule to begin the year.
Charles Clay signed in Arizona this offseason, and he will compete with Ricky Seals-Jones for playing time. We'll see if Clay can emerge as the starter, but he's been a Fantasy flop since going to Buffalo in 2015. Keep an eye on his role in training camp, but Clay is not worth drafting in most leagues. In 2018, Clay had no games with double digits in PPR points.