Fantasy News & Analysis

Fantasy 5: Positive signs for Hooper, Perriman, Booker

ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 18: Austin Hooper #81 of the Atlanta Falcons scores a touchdown over Jaquiski Tartt #29 of the San Francisco 49ers during the first half at the Georgia Dome on December 18, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)

(The Fantasy 5 is a quick-hit wrap-up of some of the biggest news topics of the day for fantasy football players, giving you advice you need to improve your team.)

Are we there yet? Yes. We are. Rookies reported to training camp in Baltimore, Chicago, Jacksonville, and New Orleans today. The first batch of veterans hit training camp in Arizona on Friday. That means we’ll finally start getting some answers to our questions. We’ll also final have some more heavy-hitting news to discuss in the Fantasy 5. So this is likely the last batch of puff pieces in the NFL news cycle for a long time. Enjoy.

1. Austin Hooper worked out with Matt Ryan this summer

Big deal, right? Well, it actually is a big deal that the second-year tight end spent time working out with his quarterback in the time between minicamp and training camp. Hooper isn’t quite a household name in fantasy circles, but he’s poised to take a big step forward in 2017.

A third-round pick in 2016, Hooper caught just 19 balls last season. Despite the lack of volume, he flashed upside at times, including an 84-yard performance in Week 2 and a 42-yard touchdown reception in Week 4. Hooper finished second among Atlanta Falcons tight ends in snaps played, but did lead the group in routes run with 220. That number will likely increase this year, as the No. 2 finisher, Jacob Tamme, is no longer on the team.

At this point, Hooper is still a bit of an unknown for fantasy purposes. But his upside and good situation make him an intriguing dart to throw in the late rounds. Hooper’s current ADP is in the 14th round as the 18th tight end off the board.

2. Good offseason for Breshad Perriman

There a point in the offseason where Perriman was a popular breakout candidate. The Jeremy Maclin signing took the wind out of those sails, but does that mean we should complete write off Perriman for fantasy purposes?

It’s rare for No. 3 receivers to produce viable fantasy numbers, but Perriman does deserve our attention following a strong performance in spring practices. He’s likely to open the season as the No. 3 option with Maclin and Mike Wallace on the field in two-wide sets. But the Ravens are expected to deploy more three-wide this year in the wake of Dennis Pitta’s season-ending injury. That still would mean marginal fantasy value for Perriman, but a lot can change over the course of the season. Perriman’s offseason improvement and high ceiling make him an intriguing late-round candidate.

3. Devontae Booker feels “more ready” this year

The Broncos 2016 fourth-rounder touched the ball 205 times in his rookie season, managing a disappointing 3.5 yards per attempt. While many point the finger directly at Booker for his poor performance, his offensive line averaged just 1.2 yards before contact per attempt, which ranked a lowly 27th in the league. Booker was also just one year removed from a knee injury that cut short his final season at Utah.

Booker said the knee now feels 100 percent and he wants to compete for the No. 1 job. C.J. Anderson remains the favorite for those duties, but Broncos head coach Vance Joseph said “it’s going to take two or three guys at that spot to make it a complete unit.” In other words, expect a committee in Denver this year. Jamaal Charles is also in the mix, but he isn’t expected to have more than a situational role this year. For fantasy purposes, Anderson shouldn’t be considered anything more than a back-end RB2. Booker is likely to get first crack at lead back duties if Anderson goes down with an injury.

4. Bad news for Jeff Janis supporters

I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of draftnik and deep dynasty voices suddenly cried out in terror, and were suddenly silenced. That’s right. Their precious small-schooler may never “develop significantly more as a receiver” according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal. If you’re still holding out hope for Janis to mature into a future WR3-plus, it may be time to temper those expectations.

5. Zach Miller on the roster bubble

This isn’t a huge deal for fantasy purposes, but the veteran tight end reportedly needs a strong training camp to keep his spot on the Bears’ 53-man roster. Miller is entering his age-33 season and missed six games to injury last season. Meanwhile, the Bears added to their tight end stable this offseason, signing Dion Sims and drafting Adam Shaheen. They also have wide receiver convert Daniel Brown on the roster.

If Miller doesn’t make the team, Sims is the best bet to emerge as the top pass-catcher this season. However, he won’t have more than marginal fantasy value in that role. Shaheen has an intriguing long-term outlook, but the athletic and freakishly big rookie will face a steep learning curve at the pro level.

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