Washington Redskins
Derrius Guice
The Washington Redskins have big plans for Derrius Guice. Expected to be one of the team’s building blocks, Guice was instead one of many to fall victim to the Redskins’ terrible injury luck as he tore his ACL in the 2018 preseason. While there’s no shortage of competition for touches in the backfield, Guice has the youth and talent to separate himself from the field. His lack of experience passing catches may limit his upside, especially with the presence of Chris Thompson and Bryce Love on the roster. If Guice is still the explosive player he was pre-injury, then he could be the spark that the offense needs.
Paul Richardson
It’s difficult to know exactly what to make of Paul Richardson. After impressing in a limited role in 2017 with the Seattle Seahawks, Richardson was the crown jewel of the Redskins’ free agency class a year ago. Unfortunately, a string of shoulder injuries meant that he was forced to play through the pain en route to a disappointing stat line, as the team sent him to injured reserve after only seven games. The Redskins will hope that Richardson’s speed and big-play potential can spark an offense lacking in star power. The talent is there and Jamison Crowder’s departure will open up targets; it’s now up to Richardson to capitalize on them.
Jordan Reed
Once bitten, twice shy. Well, Jordan Reed has continued to bite since posting 87 receptions, 952 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2015. Reed’s talent and upside are unquestionable, but it’s difficult to count on his availability. We’ve seen young quarterbacks rely on tight ends before and if Reed can develop chemistry with Dwayne Haskins, then there’s no reason he shouldn’t produce. Tight ends are a big part of head coach Jay Gruden’s offense and Reed could prove an astute pick providing you have another option to cover for his inevitable weeks off.
Sleepers
The devastating injury to Alex Smith left the Redskins in a terrible position. Enter Dwayne Haskins. Haskins may not have the highlight reel of previous first-round quarterbacks, but he’s smart, efficient and avoids mistakes. For a one year starter in college, Haskins is a clean prospect who should continue to develop in the league. His lack of rushing ability limits his ceiling, but he fits the Redskins’ system.
The addition of Terry McLaurin, his college teammate, should ease the transition. McLaurin shined as a big play threat at Ohio State, using his speed and route running to get open and gain yards after the catch. He may struggle for consistency, but don’t be surprised to see some big weeks.
It seems strange to refer to somebody who put up 1,200 yards and 8 touchdowns as a “sleeper,” but Adrian Peterson is in the twilight of his career. He’s a tough runner and still has enough speed to break away from defenders, but he offers little in the receiving game. The floor is there, and he should get a healthy number of carries each week but, barring injury, he’s unlikely to see the touches that he did in 2018.
Andy Gallagher is a fantasy football writer for PFN. Follow him on twitter @AndySGallagher
