Robert Griffin will finally get the fresh start he’s been in dire need of and could be a surprising fantasy play

It’s Labor Day weekend which means football is finally here. With the preseason in the rearview mirror, it’s time to turn our attention to what’s in store for 2016. We’ve been covering all the hot fantasy topics for over a month now and there is no better time than this week to make some bold predictions. Every year, something wacky happens that nobody in their right might would have predicted unless they were trying to make a bold statement.

Well that’s what our featured experts below have done. There’s nothing safe about making the statements they’ve made, but what’s said below also comes with some reasoning behind it. So without further ado, let’s get bold.

Q. With the season about to start, please give us one bold prediction that fantasy owners should hear.

“Under the guidance of Hue Jackson, Robert Griffin III rediscovers his spark and finishes as a top-10 fantasy QB. Once Josh Gordon returns, Griffin will have a surprising number of quality weapons at his disposal in Gordon, Gary Barnidge, Corey Coleman, Terrelle Pryor and Duke Johnson. The Browns will need to pass a lot in the second half of games, and Griffin will get the opportunity to push his stats back up to QB1 level in fantasy as a result.”
– R.J. White (CBS Sports)

“Baltimore’s Kenneth Dixon will be a top-20 fantasy running back, starting from the point in which he returns from his injury. Dixon enjoyed a terrific preseason prior to hurting his knee. He’s set to return between Weeks 3-5, and once he does, it may not take very long for him to become the primary ball-carrier, given that Terrance West and Buck Allen are not ideal replacements for the recently released Justin Forsett.”
– Walter Cherepinsky (WalterFootball)

“Antonio Gates, the number eleven tight end on FantasyPros ECR, will turn back the clock with a top-five fantasy season in 2016. The aging tight end should be heavily targeted in what is expected to be an efficient, pass-first offense, and remains one of the league’s premier red zone performers. Gates was fantasy’s number three tight end in 2014, and finished 2015 as a top-five option at his position from weeks twelve through seventeen. Look for Gates to continue to produce in 2016, making him one of this year’s top draft day values.”
– Matthew Hill (DataForce Fantasy Football)

“Tyrod Taylor and Sammy Watkins will both finish in the top five of their respective positions as Buffalo wins 10 games and a wild card spot. The local Buffalo Applebee’s will be at capacity as they celebrate their first playoff appearance in what seems like one hundred years! WITNESS!”
– Tehol Beddict (Razzball)

“Kirk Cousins will be benched for Colt McCoy. A lot of people have been sipping the Cousins Kool-Aid, but I suspect that Mr. “You Like That” is in for a day of reckoning. Washington’s paucity of capable running backs will allow opponents to focus solely on shutting down the passing game, and Cousins’ efficiency will plummet as he faces heavier pass rushes and more intricate coverage schemes. When he can’t handle the greater degree of difficulty, fans will turn on him, and Cousins will eventually be replaced by McCoy, one of the top backups in the league.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (The Football Girl)

“Both Matthew Stafford and Joe Flacco will be top-12 QBs. In 2015, Stafford was the #4 fantasy QB with 19 TDs/2 INTs over the final eight games and has every chance to keep that up with a strong receiving corps in the first full season of OC Jim Bob Cooter’s offense. Last year, Flacco set a career-high of 279.1 yards per game and tied a career-high with five 300-yard games in just 10 starts and has more weapons to work with in the second year of OC Marc Trestman’s fantasy-friendly offense.”
– Matt Camp (Bleacher Report)

“C.J. Anderson and Eddie Lacy will haunt those that owned them last year and both finish in the top 5 at running back this year. I’d set these odds closer to 10% of actually happening but it wouldn’t be too surprising to me. Both are in much better physical condition and will play a more vital role in their respective offenses this season.”
– Sean Koerner (STATS)

“Derrick Henry has a huge second half in his rookie season, finishing as a top-10 fantasy back. He’s then commonly taken in the first round in 2017 drafts.”
– Dalton Del Don (Yahoo! Sports)

“A running back not named Blount, White or Lewis will lead the Patriots in yards from scrimmage from the RB position. Remember the names D.J. Foster and Tyler Gaffney. One will make the team and with the injury to Lewis along with Blount’s history… it’s the Patriots so why not.”
– Ken Zalis (Pressbox)

“Vance McDonald will outscore Zach Ertz. Ertz’s touchdowns have been going down, from a high of just four as a rookie, and now his touches may come down, as well, given the loss of Chip Kelly and the likely growing pains of rookie Carson Wentz. Meanwhile, McDonald gets the benefit of Kelly’s high-tempo offense and precious little by way of WR competition, with Bruce Ellington lost for the season and Torrey Smith being a deep threat whose skills don’t mesh well with Blaine Gabbert’s‘s conservative approach. McDonald went just 20 picks after Ertz in the 2013 draft and is the bigger and faster player of the two.”
– Des Bieler (The Washington Post)

“Matthew Stafford, with a current ADP of #127 overall and the #17 QB off the board, will finish the season as a top 6 QB in terms of fantasy production. Despite losing Calvin Johnson to retirement, the Lions offensive line will allow Stafford sufficient time for him to sit back in the pocket to wait for his deep threat receivers to get open downfield. This additional time behind the line will also allow Stafford to feel less rushed in finding an open receiver, which will, in turn, reduce his INTs.”
– Tony Mauriello (ProjectRoto)

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Thank you to all the experts who took part in making their bold predictions. For more fantasy advice, check out our latest podcast below.

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