Fantasy Football Wish List: How good is Vance McDonald?

With Antonio Brown and his 168 targets gone, and with Jesse James hitting the road, Vance McDonald is suddenly one of the primary Fantasy Football options in the Steelers offense.

Vance McDonald entered the league back in 2013, and he finally seemed to come into his own in 2018, in his sixth season. He was heralded as an intriguing prospect when he entered the NFL, having been drafted in the second round by the 49ers due to his strong Combine performance. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.69 seconds, which is impressive at 267 pounds.

But what scouts have always seen, and the rest of us saw in flashes last year, is more than size and speed. McDonald has excellent power, balance, vision, and footwork. Those are qualities that most great running backs have, but they are rare for a tight end.

Further, the Steelers have shown their trust in McDonald. Throughout last season his snap count was relatively even with Jesse James, their other tight end. By weeks 16 & 17, however, McDonald was roughly doubling James in snaps.

Then this off-season the Steelers allowed James to walk in free agency, and he signed with the Lions. That they did not draft or sign another tight end to challenge McDonald for playing time is telling.

This fabulous opportunity for increased snaps and targets is reason enough to get excited for what McDonald can do. But when you combine that opportunity with the attributes I saw on tape, we have a player on my wish list.