Michael Gallup is in prime position to become a Top-10 fantasy receiver in 2020 per PlayerProfiler’s advanced stats and metrics, following in the footsteps of Chris Godwin’s performance in 2019.
Production
When the Dallas Cowboys addressed the wide receiver position in the 2020 NFL Draft, Michael Gallup became an obvious buy candidate. Now a third-year receiver, Gallup established himself as an important piece in the Cowboys passing game last season. He recorded 66 receptions on 113 targets, a 55 target increase from 2018.
Chris Godwin/Michael Gallup Early Career Stat Comparisons
Gallup boasted a 21.7-percent (No. 30 among qualified wide receivers) Target Share, which is up 7.5-percent from 2018 and was exactly 1-percent ahead of teammate Amari Cooper. Gallup’s role in the Dallas offense has grown exponentially, with an 87.6-percent (No. 29) Snap Share in 2019, 10-percent higher than Cooper.
Value
According to DLF’s ADP model. Michael Gallup was being drafted at No. 50 overall and No. 24 among receivers in dynasty startups in March. Post-draft, Gallup plummeted to No. 80 overall and No. 40 among receivers, even falling behind a number of rookies. After a monster breakout season in 2019 that saw his statistics double, it is difficult to not place Gallup on Chris Godwin’s career arc of supplanting the 26-year-old “alpha” of his respective passing game. Like Tampa Bay in 2019, the Cowboys will have over 150 vacated targets with the departures of veterans Jason Witten and Randall Cobb.
Michael Gallup ADP History – DLF Mock Drafts
Dallas acquiring CeeDee Lamb in the 2020 NFL Draft put a wrench in dynasty gamers’ hearts by hypothetically putting a cap on Gallup’s upside. In 2019, Dak Prescott supported four 80-plus target receivers, and two of those players have since departed. There is no reason to doubt his ability to support two fantasy WR1s in 2020, with Lamb and Blake Jarwin not far behind. Since coming into the league, Prescott has increased his passing attempts each season, closing in on 600 in 2019. He’ll be joined by new head coach Mike McCarthy, whose offense in Green Bay finished 2018 with 597 pass attempts.
Talent
With a 99.1 (66th-percentile) Speed Score and 11.32 (40th-percentile) Agility Score, Michael Gallup‘s athleticism metrics do not jump off the screen. However, he had a 36.4-percent (97th-percentile) College Target Share at Colorado State, where he outran the competition for two years with over 2,700 yards and 21 touchdowns on nearly 300 targets. He shows great ability to stay on the field, attract targets from a fantasy-viable quarterback, and dominates the Target Share alongside other talented receivers. What’s not to like?
Check out Michael Gallup’s 2020 Projection on PlayerProfiler’s “World Famous” Draft Kit:
Being the true alpha of a passing game does not always entail being the flashy, big-name early-round receiver that the fan base flocks to. Surpassing a top receiver in his second or third year in the NFL is a job for an uber athletic, versatile receiver who has the ability to play anywhere on the field. Gallup and Chris Godwin exhibit these traits to the highest degree. Both measured in at 6-1 and around 205-pounds, and both were drafted in the mid-third round. Both experienced increased targets by 40-plus from their first to second season. Their versatility to play in the slot and outside will allow them more opportunities. The slot position in Dallas is open after Randall Cobb‘s departure, leaving opportunities for Gallup and Cooper, who combined played 20-percent of their snaps from the slot in 2019.
Conclusion
Michael Gallup is currently among the most valuable players in fantasy football. From March to May, his DLF ADP dropped from pick No. 50 to pick No. 80. This will allow fantasy gamers to follow the robust RB strategy, pounding running backs in the first five rounds. Gallup has a top-5 ceiling in 2020, and can be drafted as late as the seventh round, where you should smash the button every time.
