Fantasy Football ADP Analysis and Ranking: Courtland Sutton

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Publish date:

Jun 12, 2020

Video Duration:

2:39

After his tremendous breakout season in 2019, fantasy football players have high hopes for Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton in 2020. In his second year of action, Sutton hauled in 72 catches, 1,112 yards, and six scores and displayed plenty of chemistry with then rookie quarterback Drew Lock. But the Broncos drafted receiver Jerry Jeudy in the first round and followed up that pick with another receiver by taking K.J. Hamler in the second round which lead some to think Sutton’s 125 targets from 2019 will see a big drop this upcoming season.

Currently, Sutton is getting drafted as the 17th wide receiver in PPR fantasy football leagues and his 5.05 Average Draft Position suggests plenty of fantasy managers are investing a relatively high pick in the Broncos playmaker. Is that a wise move? That’s the question we asked Sports Illustrated’s fantasy football analysts Ben Heisler and Frank Taddeo.

Read the transcript for more of their analysis:

Bill Enright: Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton had a breakout season in his second year in the NFL. But what should we expect from the third year playmaker in 2020? And do we draft him pretty high in fantasy football? Let's find out what our fantasy analysts have to say. Ben Heisler, Frank Taddeo, thanks for joining us, fellas. I want to talk about Courtland Sutton, third year wide receiver for the Broncos. Ben, I'm going to go over to you. Last year, 1100 yards, 72 catches, 6 touchdowns. Are you buying or selling, drafting or passing on Sutton anytime after the fourth round?

Ben Heisler: That's a tough one for me, Bill. I have to sell and it has nothing to do with the man's talent. I love Courtland Sutton. He's versatile, he's athletic, he can go up and get the ball. He's a great downfield threat. He led the NFL in percentage share of team air yards a season ago. But the problem is the targets are just not going to be there this year. Jerry Jeudy, their rookie wide receiver out of Alabama is going to see plenty of volume. Same with KJ Hamler, who they drafted in the second round and they're gonna play him in the slot. They have Noah Fant at tight end, and they brought in Melvin Gordon for a time share with Phillip Lindsay. So Sutton from an efficiency level might get better, but that doesn't help his fantasy value. So right now is a mid fourth round wide receiver with losing a bunch of targets. Doesn't make sense for me to go ahead and take Sutton at that price.

Bill Enright: Frank, I think a lot of fantasy managers know that the Broncos are a team on the rise. Drew Lock, the quarterback for Denver, looked really good as a rookie. But the reports are that he and Jerry Jeudy, have been working out every day. What do you make of Courtland Sutton and the possible impact that Jeudy will have on his production?

Frank Taddeo: Yeah, I think it might. I'm not really so scared off by those reports, Bill, I think it's good that they actually all working together, but once they totally assimilate to the entire offense, I'm not so sure that Jeudy is really going to steal that many targets really from Sutton in this first year. I mean, obviously, we know that he runs great routes, but obviously the pandemic right now may hurt that assimilation into this offense. For me, Bill, I think you nailed that right on the head. Any time after the fourth round, definitely sign me up because I think this offense is young, it's up and coming, and I believe in Drew Lock and I believe obviously in that running game. I think it's gonna be hard for them to double team these wideouts. And I think Sutton might be the beneficiary of that right now, because I think Jeudy may run more of the fade routes. And obviously, I think that Sutton might be more the guy that could work underneath more often. And obviously we know he does have some experience working last year with Lock at the end of the season.

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