The 2019 NFL offseason witnessed several top-tier playmakers change teams for the upcoming season, which will without a doubt shake up the way fantasy players draft their teams.
As these stars get settled into new schemes with different personnel surrounding them, some should be better off because of the change, while others may struggle. Here, we’ll break down whose stock rose and fell after changing jerseys for 2019.
STOCK UP
Odell Beckham Jr., WR, Cleveland Browns
The Browns improved tremendously in 2018 under Freddie Kitchens (5-3 record, 395 yards per game) and will have franchise quarterback Baker Mayfield entering his second season.
So not only does Beckham get out of the dumpster fire that has become the New York Giants, but he’ll join a quarterback whose style fits with his perfectly and an offensive-minded head coach. Look for Beckham to return to WR1 form in 2019.
Mark Ingram, RB, Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens' ceiling this season will depend heavily on Lamar Jackson’s development as a passer, but unless he makes a significant leap, it’s realistic to expect Baltimore’s offense to rely on the running game. Ingram will see a lot more carries as the lead back than when he shared a backfield with Alvin Kamara in New Orleans.
Assuming Jackson won’t make a lot of throws in the red zone, Ingram should have plenty of goal-line carries to boost his touchdown total, as well. Ingram won’t be highly ranked in your drafts, but could have the workload of an RB1 with a high touchdown ceiling. What more could you want?
DeSean Jackson, WR, Philadelphia Eagles
Jackson struggled to produce in Tampa with Jameis Winston, and now he’s returning to the team that drafted him as the missing piece to a stacked offense. The Eagles severely lacked a deep threat in 2018, primarily operating their passing attack in the middle of the field. Jackson will open things up tremendously, while secondaries won’t be able to key in on him with Alshon Jeffrey and Zach Ertz on the field.
You can expect Carson Wentz to find Jackson on deep balls throughout the year thanks to all the weapons Philly already has, while head coach Doug Pederson will most likely incorporate the 11-year veteran in his complex screen game to get Jackson into space.
Tevin Coleman, RB, San Francisco 49ers
Coleman will re-join former Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco as the 49ers’ best option as an all-purpose back. Jerick McKinnon is coming off a torn ACL, and while Matt Breida showed some flashes last year, Coleman should get the most carries and targets in the passing game.
Once a super-charged handcuff in Atlanta behind Devonta Freeman, Coleman has his chance as the lead back under a coach he’s familiar with. It’s all the right ingredients for a breakout season.
Jamison Crowder, WR, New York Jets
With the Redskins going full rebuild drafting Dwayne Haskins, Crowder made a good move signing with the Jets in free agency. The quick slot receiver thrived with Kirk Cousins in Washington and should find a ton of targets in Adam Gase’s offense.
Gase’s system in Miami was built for inside receivers like Crowder. Jarvis Landry had three straight seasons over 90 receptions, and Albert Wilson led the league in receiving yards last year before a hip injury ended his season.
STOCK DOWN
Le’Veon Bell, RB, New York Jets
Bell forced his way out of Pittsburgh for a big payday, but he won’t have the production to back it up in 2019. Gase obviously hasn’t had a running back like Bell before, but the Jets’ new head coach has never prioritized the position in his offense.
There were also reports that Gase didn’t want to sign Bell in free agency. Not a lot is working in Bell’s favor and defenses will likely key in on him considering the lack of outside threats the Jets have at the moment. It’ll be new territory after playing in loaded Steelers offense for five years.
Antonio Brown, WR, Oakland Raiders
Brown is easily the Raiders' best option in the passing game, but Jon Gruden has preferred to use the run to set up the rest of his offense.
It’s also difficult to expect Brown to keep up the level of production he experienced with the Steelers. Even though Derek Carr is a fine quarterback, it will take time to develop chemistry for a player known for route running and precision on timing patterns.
Golden Tate, WR, New York Giants
The Giants are just so, so bad. Their offensive line stinks, Eli Manning might have five games left in him while Daniel Jones needs more time to get ready, and the receiving core is an embarrassment outside of Tate.
Tate got a nice payday to replace Beckham, but it’d be unwise to expect him to do better than last season with the Lions and Eagles. He's also suspended for the first four games of the season, further dropping his draft stock.
Jared Cook, TE, New Orleans Saints
This is hardly a knock on Cook, who should help the Saints’ versatility in the passing game and help them remain a powerhouse in the NFC. Cook's stock takes a dip primarily because he was targeted heavily by Derek Carr in 2018 and Drew Brees tends to spread the ball around to his receivers.
Cook won’t have a bad year, but we’re talking fantasy here, and we can’t expect the same volume of targets for Cook in New Orleans.
Cole Beasley, WR, Buffalo Bills
Beasley was one of check-down artist Dak Prescott’s favorite targets in Dallas, but Josh Allen is not the same kind of quarterback. In his rookie season, Allen tended to use his legs when the pocket broke down regularly.
There’s a chance he looks to Beasley as his release valve, but there’s little evidence where we should expect that to happen.
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