DFS NFL: Deal or No Deal - Renaissance Men

The NFL gives out a Comeback Player of the Year award to an individual who successfully returns from injury, poor performance or some other debilitating circumstance.

While there's no guarantee the players below will be featured on this year's shortlist, each of them have become fantasy assets again after a season or more of irrelevance.

RB Dion Lewis, Patriots

In Lewis’ first two seasons, with the Eagles in 2011 and 2012, he carried the ball 36 times, while adding a mere three receptions. Out of football since then, he’s resurfaced with the Patriots, ably replacing Shane Vereen. In three games, he’s put up a 30-146-3 rushing line, while adding 15 catches for 179 yards.

While rotation among Patriots running backs has burned fantasy owners in the past (cough, Jonas Gray, cough), Lewis’ pass-catching skills have likely reserved him a large number of snaps. Even in blowouts like New England’s 51-17 demolition of Jacksonville, in which presumptive number one back LeGarrette Blount tallied three goal-line scores, Lewis still managed to post a useful fantasy line of 67 total yards, five receptions and a touchdown.

If you don’t feel like splurging on Tom Brady or Rob Gronkowski every week, Lewis represents a low-priced route into one of the league’s best offenses, and, more importantly for fantasy purposes, one that has no qualms against running up the score late in games.

Until Lewis’ price rises to reflect his production, he makes a great FLEX option, including this week at Dallas, which allowed 12 receptions to Saints running backs this past Sunday.

Verdict: DEAL

WR Rishard Matthews, Dolphins

After a promising 2013 sophomore season in which Matthews caught 41 passes, he fell out of the Dolphins’ rotation in 2014, only recording 12 catches in 14 games. In the offseason, Miami added Kenny Stills, Greg Jennings and DeVante Parker to complement Jarvis Landry, so Matthews seemed far from assured of having a guaranteed role, let alone of making the team.

Four games into the 2015 season, Matthews leads the Dolphins with 278 receiving yards and three TDs. While Landry has more receptions (28 to 17), he has eight fewer receiving yards and has only found the end zone once, on a punt return. Jennings and Parker have been afterthoughts so far, while Stills broke out with a 5-81-1 line against the Jets in London.

With Lamar Miller struggling, Miami has averaged 42 pass attempts per game. Despite only managing one catch while stranded on Revis Island this past Sunday, Matthews can’t be dismissed as a fluke, and represents a cheaper route than Landry into the Dolphins’ offense. Miami has a bye in Week 5, but a trip to Tennessee awaits in Week 6.

Verdict: DEAL

WR Stevie Johnson, Chargers

A seventh-round pick back in 2008, Johnson carved out a solid six-year career with the Bills before joining the 49ers in 2014. A lost season ensued, with Johnson failing to mesh with Colin Kaepernick’s scattershot passing in only managing 35 receptions.

A move to the Chargers in 2015 appears to be a perfect fit, with Philip Rivers’ quick, accurate passes tailor-made for a precise route runner like Johnson, who’s managed a 18-205-2 line in four games.

A Monday night matchup with the Steelers in Week 5 isn’t as enticing without Ben Roethlisberger in Pittsburgh's lineup, as the game may be lower-scoring and more run-oriented, thus denying the Chargers the need to throw to keep up. While Johnson is still a safe play in PPR formats, as a No. 2 receiver, he doesn't possess much upside unless San Diego is throwing the ball a ton. As well, keep an eye on the hamstring injury Johnson sustained Sunday against Cleveland.

Verdict: NO DEAL (Johnson is fairly priced)