Fantasy Football Player Notes

Trey McBride was a league-winning pick last year as the TE1 in fantasy points per game (the closest tight end was 3.9 fantasy points per game behind McBride). He was a volume monster in what was a pass-happy Arizona offense. With Jacoby Brissett under center (Weeks 6-18) last year, Arizona was first in neutral passing rate and second in snaps while trailing by seven or more points (per Fantasy Points Data). The Cardinals were throwing a ton while playing catch-up weekly. McBride ran 156 more routes last year than any other tight end. This fact and McBride's talent fueled plenty of fantasy teams to championships last season. Among 59 qualifying tight ends, McBride was first in target share (25.4%), receiving yards per game (72.9), red zone targets (32), and first-read share (33.8%). Among the same sample size of tight ends, McBride was also tenth in yards per route run and 15th in first downs per route run. Arizona will likely be trailing in many games this season again, so we should expect Arizona to be chucking the ball again. In Mike LaFleur's two seasons with the Jets as offensive coordinator, he ranked ninth and fourth in negative script passing rate. McBride could repeat this season as the TE1 overall.