Bold Predictions from the Top Experts (2018 Fantasy Football)

Experts around the web have spent the last month meticulously ranking and tiering players while sharing their knowledge with you on who should be avoided, which players should be nabbed late in drafts, and who you’ll regret passing on. Even though the fantasy football draft season is drawing to a close, we’ve still got your back.

With one final piece to the puzzle, we reached out to the most accurate experts in the industry to take a shot at what bold feat may happen this season. See what surprises could become reality as we get ready for kickoff.

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Q. Please give one bold fantasy prediction for the upcoming season.

“Keelan Cole finishes as a top-20 wide receiver in standard leagues. Cole finished last season with 42 catches for 748 yards and, according to word out of Jacksonville, hardly knew the playbook. In the final four weeks of the fantasy season, Cole had 442 yards receiving and three touchdowns, and was the second-best receiver in fantasy. With Marqise Lee down for the year and a firm grip on the playbook, Cole has all the makings of a breakout. ”
– Dan Harris (FantasyPros)

“Trey Burton will top 1,000 yards in his first season with the Bears. Though it’s an arbitrary mark for wide receivers, eclipsing 1,000 yards is something reserved for only elite tight ends like Travis Kelce, who accomplished the feat the last two campaigns while playing under then-offensive coordinator Matt Nagy. Now with the Bears, Nagy has made it clear that he plans to feature Burton. After standing out in the preseason, Burton could emerge as Mitch Trubisky’s favorite target and has top-three upside at the position.”
– Justin Boone (theScore)

“Let’s go with Lamar Miller, who is the 21st RB off the board in standard leagues per our average ADP tool, finishes as a top-10 RB. I love beating the Deshaun Watson regression drum as much as anyone, but even regressed-Watson makes this offense better and their defense is frightening when healthy. The Texans should often control games and Miller should be a three-down horse with D’Onta Foreman trying to come back from a ruptured Achilles, which is far from a sure thing. I do wish their offensive line was better and that Bill O’Brien didn’t seem to like Alfred Blue as much as he does, but this wouldn’t be fun if it was totally straightforward now, would it?”
– Nick Mariano (RotoBaller)

“Lamar Jackson finishes as a top-15 QB. Jackson didn’t look ready for prime time for much of the preseason, but quarterbacks obviously face a daunting transition from college to the NFL and need game reps to start getting comfortable. Joe Flacco has been mediocre for years, and John Harbaugh will be quick to make a change if Flacco can’t get the Baltimore offense going. We know how running quarterbacks can pile up fantasy points, and Jackson might be the best pure runner at the QB position the league has ever seen.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (The Football Girl)

“Rex Burkhead will finish as a top-12 fantasy RB. If this bold prediction holds true, the Patriots will have three consecutive (yet different) running backs finish as a top-12 fantasy backs — LeGarrette Blount (2016), Dion Lewis (2017) and Burkhead (2018). With eight touchdowns and 30 receptions in just 10 games last season, the versatile back should get the majority of goal-line opportunities in New England’s high-powered offense and perhaps more targets early in the season with Julian Edelman suspended. In addition, the uncertain status of first-round rookie Sony Michel (knee) for Week 1 only helps his outlook.”
– Kevin Hanson (EDSFootball)

“Allen Hurns is a top 20 WR. He is being ranked/drafted as a bench player (WR48) but he is the only experienced outside target in Dallas (not counting T. Williams) and is the top candidate right now for red zone targets. Dallas cannot just run Zeke 40 times a game. Dez Bryant was a top 25 WR last year despite being toast and Jason Witten still on the team.”
– Rudy Gamble (Razzball)

“Tyrod Taylor plays the entire season and finishes as a top 12 QB. The weapons are there, the talent is there, and the rushing floor establishes him. I think the Browns stay competitive in 2018 which keeps Mayfield on the bench for now. Tyrod should be the saving grace of many teams streaming QB’s in 2018.”
– Andy Holloway (The Fantasy Footballers)

“James White will be a PPR RB1 heading into Week 5. That is, of course, the week Julian Edelman returns from his four-game suspension. White will be busy in the passing game in Edelman’s absence; he could be the third most targeted Patriot in that four-game span behind Chris Hogan and Rob Gronkowski. Don’t let Rex Burkhead’s presence keep you from underestimating White.”
– Zach Greubel (Gridiron Experts)

Thank you to the experts for giving their bold predictions. Be sure to give them a follow on Twitter if you’re not already doing so and check out our latest podcast below for more great advice.