If you’re looking for a hobby, I suggest taking up homebrewing.

I’ve been making beer for over ten years. From the Mr. Beer kits you can buy online to an electric mash system, it’s been a blast learning how to turn grain into alcohol. I’ve even won a competition or two. But having to compete is where some of the fun goes away. Having to match a specific style, down to the flavor, color, and aroma, can be frustrating at times. 

Fantasy football carries a similar vibe. We (mostly) enjoy our leaguemates. The aspect of following our favorite teams piques our interest year in and year out. But the draft forces rules on us. ADP this or strategy that. I just want my preferred players on my roster. And regardless of what type of league I join, I want to leave with these three guys.

Chase Brown, Bengals (Consensus ADP: 24.6)

Yes, I’m advocating for a Bengals player. Shocking, I know. However, if I’m targeting any RB in the early rounds, I’m looking for three key traits.

• Early-down attempts
• Short-yardage/goal-line work
• Pass-game involvement

I mean, “scoring TDs” would be a nice characteristic to choose. If I knew how to find the guys who could do that, I’d (draft my teams first and then) tell you. However, I can point out opportunities that lead to scoring. And Chase Brown has them all.

From Weeks 4 through 17 (once he started earning double-digit carries), Brown posted top-12 marks in both rushing success and forced missed tackle rate on first downs. It wasn’t just that Cincinnati had to use him in those situations (77.4% of the team’s carries in that game state), but he was able to keep the Bengals’ offense on schedule. His burst was a hallmark during big plays. But he also has the requisite power to fight through contact (3.4 adj. yards after contact per attempt – 12th best). And HC Zac Taylor didn’t just deploy him between the 20s; Brown got the money touches, too.

Brown tied for third among all RBs in touches from inside the five-yard line (20). Even better, his nine total TDs were second-most. Of course, knowing his QB, the potential for a passing TD is about as likely as a rushing score. However, Brown earned four targets (the most of any primary rusher) when the Bengals were close to putting up six points. Plus, he was active in the open field, too.

Per our Utilization Report, Brown’s 19.0% targets per route run ranked 11th amongst all RBs. He was fourth in YPRR. Said another way, he’s adding to an already prolific offense, and his preseason usage shows a growing rapport with his QB. In this one case, I don’t need to justify my bias. We all see Brown as a potential first-round RB. So let’s value him as such in drafts this year.

Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins (Consensus ADP: 73.9)

If only the entire season had looked like this.

Jaylen Waddle opened up 2024 with a five-catch, 109-yard outing. Set aside the fact that Waddle’s five targets amounted to a paltry 13.9% target share. Crossing the century mark in Week 1 was “clearly” a sign of big things to come. Instead, we got a disaster.

• Tua Tagovailoa went down in Week 2 and didn’t return until Week 8
• Waddle had five games with less than 80.0% of the snaps after injuries suffered in-game
• He suffered a knee strain in Week 15, causing him to miss Weeks 16 and 17

The fourth-year receiver had just one game over 100 yards after Week 1. He wound up with just two scores on the season. However, where he wins on the field will be critical to Miami’s passing game and a boon for fantasy managers brave enough to take him (i.e., me). 

Waddle’s ability to work across the middle of the field to generate yards after the catch has been a staple of HC Mike McDaniels’ offense. The dig route was his second-most common route in ’23, where he posted his highest success rate. However, his deployment shifted last season.

He hit a career-low 22.5% slot rate, and his aDOT ticked up to 10.3. In other words, his receptions were more difficult and against tougher coverage, all the while nursing a list of ailments. But it’s not like we haven’t seen Waddle be a top-12 WR in this offense before.

Waddle is healthy. Tagovailoa is upright. The offense is firing on all cylinders. Plus, the Dolphins signing Nick Westbrook-Ikhine should limit how often Waddle has to play on the perimeter. Or, at the very least, against an opposing defense's top corner as the split-end. After Miami let Jonnu Smith go to Pittsburgh, the signals were there for the passing game to return to the concentrated mode that got us a top-12 season out of both wide receivers. And if I have to choose between Tyreek Hill and Waddle, I’ll take the younger (and cheaper) option in drafts.

Drake Maye, Patriots (Consensus ADP: 124.7)

For QBs, it’s simple. Find the guys who can boogie in the open field. However, everybody knows this. That’s why the Lamar Jacksons and Josh Allens of the world will cost you a second or third-round pick. You might think Jalen Hurts at QB4 is your last hope to draft a mobile QB. But, in the words of Yoda from The Empire Strikes Back:

No, there is another.

Drake Maye took over as the starter in Week 6. From then on, only Jayden Daniels had a higher scramble rate (12.5% to 10.8%). New England’s new QB1 ranked sixth in rushing yards per game (32.4). His only issue was finding the end zone. 

Maye only found pay dirt twice during the season. But with OC Josh McDaniels back in the fold, the Patriots could revive some of their run-design concepts from when Cam Newton was on the team to leverage Maye’s 6-4, 225 lb. frame. Either way, Maye has the arm talent to be an above-average passer in this league and has a floor as a fantasy asset. 

Maye’s +3.5% completion percentage over expected ranked tenth out of all QBs. Essentially, based on where he was throwing the ball (e.g., depth and location relative to the sideline), Maye was exceeding expectations. And when you factor in his receiving options, his rookie season becomes all the more impressive.

Adding Stefon Diggs to the WR room helps. Drafting two linemen and adding another during free agency also ensures Maye will stay on his feet. The combination of passing and rushing is hard to find, and even more difficult at a reasonable cost. However, after digging into Maye’s metrics, his case to return a fringe-top-12 season is strong enough to warrant targeting him in the later rounds of my drafts. 

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