LeSean McCoy released, signs with Kansas City Chiefs: Fantasy context
By Raju Byfield
LeSean McCoy released, signs with Kansas City Chiefs: Fantasy context
John Brown
John Brown remains a WR3 option with weekly boom or bust profile. He is more nuanced as a route runner than may give him credit for, but the Bills are likely to use him in the role that Robert Foster thrived in late last season. Brown, however, will command de facto number one wide receiver attention. Brown is not likely to see a high volume role but should pace the wide receiver corps in fantasy points outside of full PPR leagues.
Cole Beasley/Zay Jones
Cole Beasley sees a slight value boost with this news. McCoy’s departure means that the Bills will be less inclined to force-feed touches to their backfield to get all three of their top runners involved and will instead operate under a hot hand scenario. As the receiver likely to lead the team in targets, Beasley could now see an additional target per game. Beasley should now push for over 100 targets on the season and remains a solid bye week filler depth piece that can be acquired late in fantasy drafts. Beasley is a flex3 with volume-based flex1 upside.
Zay Jones somehow remains in the Buffalo Bills plans as a top-three receiver. However, he is unlikely to emerge with much fantasy value outside of 16+ team leagues. Also a late-round target in deeper best-ball leagues, Jones is someone to monitor and to add to your watch lists.
Josh Allen
Josh Allen takes a hit with this news. Frank Gore and Devin Singletary are both very good runners. One is headed to the hall of fame, and the other has a chance to emerge as the best running back from this draft class. However, McCoy is someone opposing defensive coordinators would scheme to stop. Gore and Singletary? Not so much. This means that opposing defenses can now sit back in coverage and rush only four out of base or light fronts. This may mean less pressure, but it also means that a quarterback dogged by accuracy issues is now likely to have much tighter windows to work with. Add to that a wide receiver corps that is the most talent deficient in the league and we have a problem. Allen still has QB1 upside due to his legs, but his weekly floor has now seen the bottom drop out.