Fantasy: 7 bold predictions for 2018
Get ready for your season with theScore's 2018 Fantasy Football Draft Kit.
theScore's Justin Boone delivers his bold predictions for the upcoming fantasy season.
Coleman outscores Freeman
Despite serving as the Falcons' secondary threat out of the backfield behind Devonta Freeman, Tevin Coleman closes the gap and finishes as the more valuable fantasy asset this season. This prediction doesn't require a potential injury, it's a straight-up finish with both players active for a similar number of games. Coleman posted top-20 fantasy stats the last two years and averaged just 1.5 fantasy points less than Freeman in 2017. In a contract year, Coleman will deliver his best season yet, edging his teammate who's going off the board five rounds earlier.
Roethlisberger tops all QBs
After flirting with retirement in the offseason, Ben Roethlisberger stays healthy for all 16 games and ends the year as the QB1 overall in fantasy. Big Ben had the second-most fantasy points among quarterbacks from Week 7 on last season, a feat made possible by one of the league's best supporting casts. The home-road splits that plagued him in recent years weren't nearly as much of an issue, allowing fantasy owners to start Roethlisberger every week. Be prepared to do the same this season.
Miller wins back fantasy owners
Lamar Miller finally becomes the fantasy player we all hoped, finishing as a borderline fantasy RB. If you don't think this prediction is bold enough, you definitely didn't own Miller over the last couple of seasons. The key to Miller's revival is improved quarterback play from Deshaun Watson, who lifts the entire offense and uses his mobility to open up defenses on the ground. Miller was a low-end RB1 during the first half of the campaign when Watson was under center and saw the majority of first-team snaps with his sophomore QB in the preseason.
Ebron scores double-digit TDs
Underrated as a member of the Lions, Eric Ebron finds success with Andrew Luck by reaching the end zone 10 times in 2018. With the Colts' limited weapons on offense outside of T.Y. Hilton, Luck begins to rely heavily on his new tight end, allowing Ebron to blow away his previous career high of five touchdowns. Though Jack Doyle still outpaces him in receptions and receiving yards, the sheer volume of scores propels Ebron into the top-six fantasy tight ends by season's end.
Gallup finishes as a top-20 WR
Third-rounder Michael Gallup breaks out in a wide open Cowboys receiving corps to crack the top-20 among fantasy WRs as a rookie. Even with a slow start to the year, Gallup's chemistry with Dak Prescott is undeniable, as is the fact he's Dallas' best wideout. Gallup carves out a significant share of the team's 272 vacated targets, 132 of which belonged to Dez Bryant, the man Gallup will perpetually be compared to as the Cowboys' new star wideout.
Peterson's stay in Washington brief
A year after fizzling out after four games in New Orleans, Adrian Peterson fails to recapture his once-great form, leading the Redskins to alter their approach in the first month. Chris Thompson's dynamic skills give the offense a boost every time he's on the field, forcing Peterson into a short-yardage back role only. Plagued by a low yards-per-carry average, and unhappy with his limited usage, the future Hall of Famer will see his time in Washington end sooner than expected.
Godwin outduels Evans
As Mike Evans sees his numbers decline for a third straight year, Chris Godwin steps into a bigger role in Tampa's passing attack and becomes the more consistent fantasy starter. Over the final four games of 2017, Godwin was the WR14 in standard formats, two spots higher than Evans. In PPR, Evans finished one slot above his young teammate, but it was a sign of what the future could hold for the Buccaneers' receiving duo. Entering his sophomore campaign, Godwin showcased an evolving skill set in the preseason, which should have fantasy owners excited given his late-round ADP.
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