Chicago Bears:
Nick Foles: Looks like we have a training camp battle on our hands! Nick Foles or Mitch Trubisky. Neither would be a QB I would trust drafting in fantasy but the ripple effect to the WRs is interesting. Allen Robinson has been so talented, and you can’t get worse than the play of Trubisky last year. He should remain a top 16 WR. Foles should improve the overall offense but Robinson’s target share is what we question. His 98 receptions last season were the most in his career and will likely regress, but he’s seen 150 targets in all three seasons he’s played a full 16-game schedule. I look to a blend of his successful 2015 and 2016 Jaguars season, he’ll likely put up over 75 receptions, 1,000 yards, and at least 7 TDs with Foles at the helm.
I also think Anthony Miller in the slot will take another step forward. Foles loves to target slot receivers. It was an up and down year for Miller who scored double-digit fantasy points weeks 11-15 but could not outside that time frame. With an improved offense, he should score more than last year’s 2 TDs and eclipse the 50 receptions and 600 yards he produced.
Jimmy Graham: I will not be buying in on any Jimmy Graham. I personally like to invest in the top tier TE talent, but regardless Graham is a declining TE. At this point, I’d rather invest in a young up and coming talent like Noah Fant or Mike Gesicki.
Green Bay Packers:
Devin Funchess: Won’t make a huge impact. An improvement from Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Geronimo Allison but not by much. The best you can hope for is a TD generator, as a big-bodied red zone threat. The Colts tried that last year, but a broken collar bone suffered in week 1 placed him on IR. Funchess has averaged 40 receptions, 558 yards, and 5 TDs over his 5-year career. He’ll be behind target monster Davante Adams and running back Aaron Jones in the pecking order but will likely blend in the cesspool of MVS and Allen Lazard. The Packers are strong candidates to add more offensive playmakers in the draft.
Marcedes Lewis: The TE signed a one-year deal. The Packers addressed both WR and TE with discount deals. Addressing without addressing. These positions could still use some upgrades via the draft, but these low-cost contracts yield low-risk/low-ceiling players for the Packers.
Minnesota Vikings:
Tajae Sharpe: A decent WR to help plug up the gigantic hole Stefon Diggs left behind after being traded to Buffalo. This fix is not nearly enough, the Vikings are likely to draft another WR in this year’s strong WR class. With Stefon Diggs out of the picture, Adam Thielen’s targets will skyrocket up. Diggs vacated over 1,000 yards and 94 targets from last season.
Detroit Lions:
Halapoulivaati Vaitai: Strong right tackle replacement. The Lions had a terrific O-line last year, ranking top 11 in the NFL according to PFF. The right guard and right tackle left in free agency and the Lions replaced their right tackle with another strong free agent in Vaitai. Vaitai should help improve their run blocking as well.
All the other offensive weapons remain the same in Detroit. Golladay will be the most sought-after playmaker on the team and Matthew Stafford will hopefully return to the tear he was putting on prior to his back injury suffered at the end of week 9.