Consistency isn’t always the ONLY answer to winning in Fantasy Football! Sometimes, it’s revenge – PLAYER REVENGE! This brings us to five fantasy football players with an AX to GRIND!
I was a therapist with a Master’s degree in psychology. That’s why I love to focus my drafts on players with an ax to grind. Angry players show their displeasure with their team in two ways. They can pout, sit out, and have dubious injuries, or they can bust their butts to have an outstanding year that gets them paid or validates their injured pride after they got traded. Over history, many consistent players that wanted a contract, or were pissed they got traded, have been the source of some fantastic fantasy football seasons. One more of these articles is coming before the season starts.
CeeDee Lamb AND George Pickens: Yes, both of these guys are going to try to show out this year. George Pickens is motivated because he’s on a franchise tag and wants to get paid. Cee Dee Lamb, on the other hand, wants to get his “Cowboys #1 Wide Receiver tag” back from GeorgePickens. They’re reportedly close friends and support each other, but just like you and I wanted to beat our older brother (or sister) at something, they will want to one-up each other every game. Here are two more tidbits for you that will help George and Cee Dee: the Cowboys have the 20th most difficult schedule in the NFL and the third most rest days between games during the season. I think we’re looking at the NFL trying to get another Cowboys-Bills Super Bowl. Wouldn’t that make a great storyline?
RJ Harvey: As another 5’8″ guy, I get RJ Harvey. His ax to grind isn’t about his contract. It’s an ax to grind about life. In his mind, he’s always been underestimated. When he went to college, he was heavily recruited, but not by any of the big-shot schools (Alabama, Ohio St., Texas, etc). In high school, he was a dual-threat QB, but then in college at UCF, they made him into a running back. In the NFL draft, four other RB’s were drafted before Denver grabbed him at the end of the second round. In our fantasy drafts, he isn’t getting drafted high, and you know his friends razz him about it. For a guy who scored 12 times last season on a very good team, where’s the buzz? You can bet that he’s pissed about all the Omarion Hampton buzz. Hampton didn’t even play a whole season. Btw, RJ can catch the ball too! He had 7 rushing TD’s and 5 receiving. The Broncos also drafted another RB in the fourth round this year. RJ is not happy about that. And they brought back perpetually injured JK Dobbins! RJ Harvey is a really good fantasy and real football player, and he wants you to know it. Yes, I know his consistency metrics weren’t great, but I believe in him. I see you RJ.
Daniel Jones: Last year he thought he had it. He thought he was putting together a playoff run for the Colts. In every single consistency metric, he was better than all his previous seasons. Then came the torn Achilles. According to training camp reports, he is as consistent and focused as he was last season. He seems like one of those QBs who take a few years to find a good groove, or, in this case, maybe he found some really good coaching. His ax to grind is that lost season. Playoff berths are hard to get in the NFL and you don’t get a lot of chances. If I’m Daniel Jones, who is finally not working with the clown show that was the New York Giants, I’m putting my nose down and going to work. I’ll pay attention to every detail. As a fantasy player, I’m grabbing him as my backup QB. I think he could be a consistent surprise all over again, and you’re getting him cheap in your drafts.
Breece Hall: You’re saying, “But Phil, we know Breece Hall is a good running back, but we have to downgrade him as long as he’s shackled to the cesspool that the Jets have become.” First of all, I like when you use my name when you talk to yourself about fantasy football; and secondly, yes, he’s still on the Jets. BUT… the Jets committed to both Breece Hall and the offense. Breece has a new contract, and he wants to prove to New Yorkers that he deserves it. Last season he had his best rushing season with over a thousand yards and 48 catches for another 350 yards. That was his most consistent season since 2023. He knows that if he doesn’t have an RB 1 season, the New Yorkers will eat him alive in the press. He knows that he’s now the face of the franchise. I’d be happy to have him as my RB2 with RB1 potential.
That’s it. Five guys from four teams who can make you look like a psychic genius when you hit on all of them in your draft.
