20 stats that will help you win your fantasy football league
Fantasy football research is all about which stats to pay attention to, and which ones to ignore. And with so much content out there, disseminating it all can be overwhelming.
Fortunately, we have a solution for you.
Here are 20 of the most important stats to consider going into this year's fantasy football draft season:
1: Cowboys rookie Ezekiel Elliott's pass protection ranking among NCAA running backs, immediately making him one of the most complete rushers in fantasy. He'll likely be a three-down option from the get-go, and with Dallas boasting one of the greatest offensive lines of any team this century, he has a chance to put up high-end RB1 numbers.
3.2: The difference in fantasy points per game among quarterbacks (minimum 12 games) between No. 2 Tom Brady (21.5) and No. 10 Kirk Cousins (18.3). While Cam Newton set himself apart from the rest of the pack at 24.3 points per game, the rest of the top 10 was tightly bunched together. It requires patience, but waiting on a quarterback is a solid strategy.
3.9: Rams RB Todd Gurley's yards-per-carry average over his final eight games last season. After bursting onto the scene in a five-week stretch to end the first half of the campaign, Gurley slowed considerably. Between last year's ignominious finish, a difficult schedule and game flow expected to work against him, Gurley may struggle to return value at his current ADP.
4: Jaguars TE Julius Thomas' position rank in standard scoring from Weeks 11-17 last season. While he may not be blessed with the Peyton Manning Red Zone Boost that contributed to his incredible 2013-14 stretch, he's still a locked-in mid-level TE1 being drafted behind lesser options at the position. If you're looking for a tight end sleeper, Thomas is your guy.
4: The number of top-10 D/ST units in 2014 that repeated the feat in 2015. Arizona, Houston, Seattle and St. Louis/Los Angeles were the only teams to achieve the impressive double, and only the three NFC West teams were also among the top 10 in 2013. The moral: Selecting a D/ST early doesn't guarantee success, so you might as well wait until the end of your draft.
5: The number of "elite" fantasy scoring games posted by Bills QB Tyrod Taylor last season; for comparison's sake, Cardinals QB Carson Palmer has just three such games over the past three seasons combined. Blessed with terrific speed and a strong supporting cast, Taylor is the ultimate boom-or-bust option best suited for late rounds or as a second QB in MFL10s.
5: The number of touchdowns Colts WR Donte Moncrief scored in seven games with a healthy Andrew Luck at quarterback last season. That was two more TDs than No. 1 option T.Y. Hilton had over that span. With Andre Johnson and Coby Fleener out of the picture, there are plenty of targets up for grabs in Indianapolis - and Moncrief is primed to nab the majority of them.
5.5: Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles' career yards-per-carry average - and if that weren't impressive enough, he has never registered a YPC below 5.0 in his eight-year career. Knee woes have fantasy owners cautious, but he'll get the bulk of the work if healthy - and with his dual role as an elite rusher and pass-catcher in the Kansas City offense, he's a top-3 RB overall.
9: The number of games in which Steelers RB DeAngelo Williams had 15+ touches last season; he racked up a whopping 11 touchdowns in those contests, with four 100-yard rushing efforts. With Le'Veon Bell expected to miss the first four games of the season, Williams has a legitimate shot at being a top-5 running back in all formats over that stretch.
10: Doug Baldwin's touchdown tally during a fantastic four-week stretch in which he was the top scorer in fantasy. While Baldwin parlayed that late-season surge into a lucrative contract, fantasy enthusiasts should consider that Baldwin has just 19 TDs in his other 74 games. With Tyler Lockett nipping at his heels, Baldwin might be in tough to return value as a fourth-round pick.
12: The number of games in which Jets WR Eric Decker scored a touchdown last season, contributing to his 10th-place finish among wideouts in standard fantasy scoring. Consider it a once-in-a-lifetime performance for Decker; the unsustainable TD showing makes Decker a prime bust candidate despite the team's re-signing of QB Ryan Fitzpatrick.
12.1: Vikings RB Adrian Peterson's average rushing touchdowns in the eight full seasons he has played. He has never had fewer than 10, and piled up 11 last season after sitting out nearly the entire 2014 campaign. The 31-year-old has seen a modest ADP dip from last season due to age, but still has the highest floor in standard scoring formats of any running back in the game.
22.21: The average number of seconds the Eagles used per play last season, easily the fastest pace in the league. With Chip Kelly taking his talents to the Bay Area this season, look for the 49ers to employ a similar strategy. That bodes well for WR Torrey Smith, who slides into the WR1 role this coming season and could be a steal at his current ninth-round ADP.
34:51: The average time per game the 49ers trailed last season, a figure that most expect to rise this season. Any gains RB Carlos Hyde is expected to make with Kelly at the helm will almost certainly be negated if San Francisco spends that much time behind in 2016. Proceed with caution here; Hyde has RB1 potential, but his floor is alarmingly low.
43: The number of missed tackles Patriots RB Dion Lewis forced on just 85 touches in 2015. Lewis is recovering from a torn knee ligament and was placed on the PUP list, but he's expected to be ready in time for the start of the season. One of the most dangerous players in the league in open space, Lewis has legitimate RB1 upside in PPR formats.
47: The number of receptions Lamar Miller had in 2015, his final season with the Dolphins. Miller saw his catch numbers grow every year in Miami, and he's now being counted upon to be the lead back in Houston. In addition to receiving the majority of carries, Miller should see plenty of work on passing downs - making him one of the few elite RBs in fantasy.
71.9: The total number of fantasy points accrued in standard scoring by Cardinals RB David Johnson between Weeks 14-16, a stretch that covers the fantasy football playoffs for the majority of leagues. Having helped thousands of owners win fantasy titles will undoubtedly be good for his draft stock, but beware: DJ still faces competition from incumbent starter Chris Johnson.
89: Chargers WR Keenan Allen's target tally in a 2015 season that saw him play just eight games after suffering a serious kidney injury. His 11.1 targets-per-game average was fourth-highest in the league, and his on-pace totals for yards (1,450) and touchdowns (eight) would have made him a top-eight WR in standard scoring. Look for a huge bounce-back season from Allen.
161.8: The total number of fantasy points Raiders running back Latavius Murray recorded in standard scoring leagues last season - the lowest tally for any player with at least 260 carries and 35 receptions in a season since 2001. Yet, despite his stunning inefficiency, Murray remains Oakland's lead back - and you can't expect him to be that bad again this season.
676: The number of pass attempts racked up by the Ravens last season, tops in the NFL. Marc Trestman-guided offenses often rank among the league leaders in attempts, which bodes well for whoever emerges as QB Joe Flacco's top target. WR Kamar Aiken, in particular, has seen his stock soar during the offseason, and is a great speculative play with WR2 upside.