The Lead
As I've previously written, I’m bullish on Noah Fant’s potential entering his second season. With the addition of so much talent at other positions on offense — particularly at wide receiver and running back — Fant should be able to take advantage of soft spots over the middle.
But you don't have to take my word for it; it appears several other analysts feel similarly.
Doling out fantasy football predictions for every NFL team, Pro Football Focus writer Ian Harlitz said he sees Fant as a top-10 fantasy tight end in 2020.
"Fant became just the 10th rookie TE to average at least eight yards per target since 2000 (min. 50 targets)," Harlitz wrote. "Only A.J. Brown (8.8 yards after the catch per reception) and Deebo Samuel (8.5) were more efficient with the ball in their hands than Fant (8.5). New OC Pat Shurmur has a history of feeding his offense's TE. This is a situation where talent *should* meet opportunity, making Fant arguably the prime late-ish round TE of 2020."
Bleacher Report's Brad Gagnon also identified Fant as a sleeper with “mouth-watering” potential at tight end.
"He and [Drew] Lock became a dynamic duo, and they should be expected to take off together as sophomores," Gagnon wrote. "Don't be fooled into drafting a worn-down Rob Gronkowski or an unreliable alternative like Tyler Higbee or Evan Engram. Fant is where the value's at in the middle rounds."
Below the Fold
Is it ever too early to look at mock drafts? Yeah, probably. Still, if you're interested, ESPN’s Todd McShay has put together an early mock for the 2021 NFL Draft. He's got the Broncos picking Texas tackle Samuel Cosmi, who "brings 6-foot-7, 310-pound size with superb mobility," as McShay writes.
Speaking of the draft, the NFL may have to be flexible in the spring if some NCAA conferences end up playing a season in the spring. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport has reported the league is prepared to do just that if necessary.
