I’ve made an effort this offseason to develop a more comprehensive, metrics-based methodology for analyzing players in dynasty leagues. Some of the more notable features of my offseason model:
- Using metrics that have a predictive value for future production. The quality of the metrics used takes precedence over the quantity of metrics used (Keep it simple, stupid).
- Using databases that can automatically be converted to a spreadsheet format. The abundance of data included in Playerprofiler’s Data Analysis Tool combined with its ease of manipulation makes it a worthwhile investment.
- Incorporating publicly available and free data, when appropriate. Josh Hermsmeyer’s Air Yards and Mizelle ADP Utility databases are useful resources.
Players that have historically broken out were analyzed separately from those who have not. I used at least one career top-24 PPR finish and, for the 2019 rookies, a top-36 PPR finish as an arbitrary benchmark. My analysis of breakout players focuses on their NFL production over the last two years, while college production and Combine metrics are more emphasized in the non-breakout sample.
The Metrics
The following metrics were incorporated into my non-breakout model, which will be focus for my next few editions:
- Current age: The benefit of acquiring younger wide receivers is two-fold. Blair Andrews’ analysis shows that younger wide receivers are generally more likely to break out than older receivers.
Current Age vs. NFL Breakout Age – Rotoviz
Additionally, wide receivers with a younger NFL Breakout Age tend to perform better on average over their NFL careers than those with a later Breakout Age.
Breakout Age vs NFL Career Production – Rotoviz
Therefore, acquiring younger receivers from the non-breakout sample is advantageous because those are the most likely to break out. Our fantasy teams tend to be compensated with stronger career production if/when they do
- Receiving efficiency over the last two years: A wide receiver with a positive FPOE (Rotoviz’s efficiency metric) in year N tends to score more points in year N+1 than a receiver with a negative FPOE in year N. The rationale behind this trend is logical. Receivers that have performed efficiently in Year N will “earn” more volume in Year N+1. For the non-breakout sample of receivers, there is usually plenty of room to increase their opportunity from Year N to Year N+1 to overcome the likely drop in efficiency. For this study I’ve substituted Yards per Target for FPOE.
- Weight – Kevin Cole’s analysis suggests that, among all Combine metrics recorded, weight is the most positive indicator of future NFL success for wide receivers.
- Breakout Age – Age-adjusted college production is a positive indicator of future NFL success. I used Playerprofiler’s version of Breakout Age, which is the age at which a player first achieves a 20-plus-percent College Dominator Rating.
- Average Target Distance – Average Target Distance (ATD) quantifies the intent of a QB/coaching staff to get a player the ball in a particular quadrant of the field. As target volume ideally increases from year to year, receivers with a consistently high ATD will have a higher production ceiling. Additionally, yards after catch efficiency from year to year is unstable, so those receivers with lower ATD and more reliance on yards after catch efficiency will have a harder time maintaining strong production from year to year.
- Slot Rate– Slot targets tend to be more efficient than those from the perimeter.
The Methodology
The actual methodology of my statistical analysis is fairly rudimentary, but it does well enough in identifying the players I normally like to target that I don’t feel the need to tinker with it much further. I rank how well each player performs in the above metrics relative to his peers and then summate those ranks. This cumulative rank is then compared to the player’s Mizelle ADP Utility. This difference represents each player’s value, which is then converted to a percentile rank.
For me, spending less time and expending less energy in perfecting a model in exchange for a less accurate, but still sufficient model is a worthwhile tradeoff. Our time on Earth is short and valuable, and fantasy football is a source of fun for most, so no need to stress over it.
NFL breakouts are most common in Year 2, followed by Year 3 and then, interestingly, Year 5 (more about that in Part 3 of the series).
NFL Experience vs NFL Breakout Rate
Part 1 of this series will focus on the the upcoming sophomores. Part 2 will discuss some intriguing Year 3 options. Finally, Part 3 will discuss Year 4, Year 5 and a bonus Year 7 receiver.
Year 2 Buys
Scott Miller
Scott Miller is the young Bucs receiver we want to prioritize in dynasty leagues (here’s looking at you, Justin Watson), especially with Breshad Perriman entering free agency this summer. Miller is entering his second year versus Watson’s third. Miller is also more than a year younger than Watson, has a better 19.1 (88th-percentile among qualified wide receivers) Breakout Age and a massive 18.4 ATD in his rookie year. Did I mention that his best comparable on PlayerProfiler is Tyler Lockett?
Scott Miller Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
A hamstring injury derailed Miller’s rookie campaign in Week 13, right as he began to show some flashes. Watson failed to make meaningful headway in the meanwhile. Miller is outside of the top 113 in positional ADP as of March 2020. We can likely get away with keeping him on waivers and tracking his progress at the beginning of next season. I am petitioning Scotty 2 Hotty as his nickname into perpetuity (editors note: I can get into this, and he needs to do The Worm as his TD dance).
Kelvin Harmon and Steven Sims
The 221-pound Kelvin Harmon grades out strongly with a 11.6 Average Target Distance and 8.3 yards per target (ranked No. 14 of the non-breakout sample of 51) on a respectable 44 targets. Still only 22 years old, the undrafted free agent Steven Sims flashes in the model with a 19.4 (80th-percentile) Breakout Age, but leaves some to be desired with a 6.3 ADT, 5.5 yards per target (No. 48 out of 51), and only weighing 184-pounds.
Kelvin Harmon Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
Harmon may have a leg up on Sims for 2020 opportunity because he at least has some draft capital. Still, Sims drew 36 targets in the team’s final four games. He earned a meaningful rookie season role despite having zero draft capital. His excellent 72.8-percent Slot Rate speaks to his potential to improve upon last year’s poor efficiency.
Steven Sims Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
Sims and Harmon are stuck in a stagnant offense. Their current quarterback that may stink. Regardless, they’re both currently cheap (WR83 and WR84, respectively), so why not take a shot at your preferred sophomore? There is a decent chance Washington adds a wide receiver with a 2020 Day 2 pick. Although this may provide an even better buying opportunity for Sims and Harmon post-draft, depending on the receiver selected. Funny enough, I also advocate buying Terry McLaurin, who will be discussed in an upcoming edition.
Jakobi Meyers
Jakobi Meyers, a much cheaper alternative to N’Keal Harry, sported an 8.5 yards per target (No. 11 of 51) on a respectable 41 targets and a strong 50.8-percent Slot Rate. He performs well enough in the remaining metrics, with an around sample-average weight at 203-pounds, 20.8 (42nd-percentile) Breakout Age and 10.5 (No. 64) Average Target Distance to jump out in my model.
Check out Jakobi Meyers on PlayerProfiler’s Updated Dynastyu Rankings and Projections:
As of March 2020, Meyers has fallen outside of the top 113 in positional ADP. It may be due to rookie fever setting in and the uncertainty of the Patriots offense in 2020, or there may be some sunken cost fallacy biasing New England toward more Harry playing time. That said, if Harry continues to struggle, draft capital will be a decreasingly meaningful coaching consideration in determining playing time. For now, there may still be enough playing time available for both, especially considering Julian Edelman’s injury history/age and the team’s currently desolate tight end corp. We should not count out the possibility (however unlikely) that Meyers is simply than Harry.
