X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Kirk Cousins - Still Underrated and Undervalued?

kirk cousins fantasy football rankings draft sleepers NFL injury news

Minnesota Vikings QB Kirk Cousins is still being undervalued in fantasy football drafts in 2018 despite a better overall situation. Dom Petrillo highlights the reasons why Cousins should be a primary quarterback target in fantasy drafts.

Why? Why is it so hard for analysts and fantasy players to give Kirk Cousins any respect?

By this point in time he must be feeling like Rodney Dangerfield. Yes, he is going to a new team with a new offense. But this is where the hardship stops.

Despite obvious upgrades across the field and a better overall situation, Cousins' ADP this season (QB8 at 7.12) has remained almost identical to last season (QB9 at 8.02). Is he still being undervalued and underappreciated as a franchise QB in fantasy football?

Editor's Note: Discover RotoBaller’s top Fantasy Football Sleepers to gain an edge in your drafts. Our free who to draft tool and expert picks spotlight undervalued players, breakout candidates, and late-round gems for all league formats.

 

You Like That? You Should...

He has better receivers in Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen than he ever had in Washington. He has a reliable tight end in Kyle Rudolph who, while not as talented as Jordan Reed, is at least healthy. We know Cousins loves using the tight end position as seen with Reed and Vernon Davis. Now he has a tight end, who along with Jimmy Graham, has the most touchdown receptions from the position over the last two seasons in the NFL. That’s right. Kyle Rudolph has more touchdown receptions over the past two seasons than even Travis Kelce or Rob Gronkowski.

When it comes to the running game, while Dalvin Cook is an enigma at the moment based on his start to the season last year before his injury, he is a better player than any running back Cousins ever played with in Washington over his time there. The likes of Alfred Morris, Samaje Perine and Chris Thompson pale in comparison talentwise to Cook, which should be apparent this season in Minnesota. With an offensive line in Minnesota which is comparable to the solid line in Washington, the last thing to worry about for Cousins is his blocking either.

When it comes to the defensive side of the ball, enter the Skol. Minnesota is a legit, elite defense. They are in the conversation with Jacksonville as the best in the NFL. This is a far cry from the dregs of the Washington defense, which at times could not get out of its own way. The Vikes offense should find itself in better position to score and keep opposing defenses guessing.

Kirk Cousins perennially threw for over 4,000 yards in Washington, where in 62 games played he averaged 261 yards per game, including five games in which he came into the game in relief. His touchdown to interception ratio is not great at slightly less than 2:1 with 99 touchdowns to 55 interceptions, but this can be directly attributed to his lack of superior talent surrounding him. Talent which is there with the Vikings in the form of Cook and Rudolph as well as Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen. He got the most out of his surrounding cast that he possibly could in Washington, including the likes of Terrelle Pryor and Josh Doctson. This was in a division in which the playing style is more old school - running the ball and tossing short passes to get down the field.

Now, in moving to a division which is more open with the likes of Aaron Rodgers and Matthew Stafford, it will be imperative for Cousins to throw. He should easily continue his production of 4,000 yards and could hit the 5,000-yard mark with the weapons surrounding him, and as mentioned the wide-open nature of the division.

His QB8 finish in 2017 should be his floor moving forward and with this said he is being criminally undervalued in fantasy drafts where he should be going as a top-five quarterback option. Currently being taken in drafts as the eighth quarterback off the board, he is being taken at his floor and will easily outperform this draft position by the end of the season. While some quarterbacks have a roller coaster of possible weekly outcomes based on things such as rushing attempts, Cousins, who can run some when called upon, still has the stability of the pass others may not have.

Look at a player the likes of Cam Newton, if he does not get the rushing work on a given week, there is no way for him to finish top 10 for the week. The same goes for a player like Deshaun Watson, who not only counts on his mobility, but also is coming off of a major knee injury. If an unproven Watson is going as the second overall quarterback off the board, Cam Newton is going fifth, and Carson Wentz, who isn't even playing in Week 1, is going seventh ahead of Cousins, we should be willing to take a shot on Kirk Cousins. At least he has the proven track record to back up his draft position.

 

More Draft Sleepers and Values




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Terry McLaurin

Could be a Holdout at Training Camp
Roger McCreary

a Candidate for a Contract Extension?
Max Fried

Exits Start With Blister
Mike Evans

Buccaneers Could Have Difficult Time Retaining Mike Evans
Charles Cross

Could Sign Extension Before Training Camp
Xavier Restrepo

One to Watch Going into Training Camp
Calvin Ridley

Appears Re-Energized
Mark Andrews

Still a Key Piece in Ravens Offense
Ndamukong Suh

Officially Announces his Retirement
Jaylen Waddle

Motivated After Disappointing Season
Tre Harris

Still Unsigned
Hunter Dobbins

to Miss Rest of Season With Torn ACL
Nolan Arenado

Held Out of Lineup on Saturday
Alexandre Sarr

Plays Well in Summer League Loss to Phoenix
Yang Hansen

Looks Good on Friday Night
Carlos Correa

Sitting on Saturday
Austin Riley

Placed on 10-Day Injured List
Nolan Arenado

Exits Friday's Contest With Sprained Finger
Jake Burger

Expects to Play on Saturday
Erik Karlsson

Open to Move Away From Pittsburgh
Zach Hyman

Hopes to be Ready for Start of Next Season
SJ

Jeff Skinner Joins Sharks on One-Year Contract
Wyatt Langford

Records Four-Hit Night
Cal Raleigh

Homers Twice, Drives in Five
Cody Bellinger

Swats Three Homers in Victory
Jake Burger

Leaves With Quad Discomfort on Friday
Carlos Correa

Exits Game With Mild Ankle Sprain
Edward Cabrera

Dealing with Posterior Elbow Discomfort
Austin Riley

Leaves Game Early on Friday With Abdominal Tightness
Kon Knueppel

Struggles in Summer League Win
Rafael Devers

Dealing With Back Inflammation
Walter Clayton Jr.

Plays Well on Friday Night
Cody Williams

Scores 21 Points in Summer League Loss
Kyle Filipowski

Leads the Way on Friday Night
Teoscar Hernández

Teoscar Hernandez Returning on Friday
Sauce Gardner

Wants to be Highest-Paid Cornerback
Rhamondre Stevenson

Heading into an Important Season
Minnesota Vikings

Josh Metellus, Vikings Have Mutual Interest in Extension
Tua Tagovailoa

2025 Could be Tua Tagovailoa's Last Season in Miami
Rashawn Slater

has "Full Confidence" a Deal Will Get Done
Byron Buxton

Returns on Friday
Isaiah Jackson

Signs Three-Year Extension
Jake Meyers

Placed on 10-Day Injured List With Calf Strain
Brandon Lowe

Placed on 10-Day Injured List With Oblique Tightness
Kodai Senga

Reinstated to Start on Friday
Alex Bregman

Officially Activated and Starting on Friday
Marvin Bagley III

Joining the Wizards
Herbert Jones

Signing Extension with Pelicans
Jacob Toppin

Returning to Hawks
Chicago Bears

Bears Extend General Manager Ryan Poles
Dalton Knecht

Avoids Serious Injury
MarShawn Lloyd

in a "Much Better Spot" Heading Into Training Camp
Javon Small

Signs Two-Way Deal
Dustin Hopkins

Browns Still Counting on Dustin Hopkins
Demarcus Robinson

Sentenced to Three Years of Probation
Jalen Nailor

In Line for WR3 Role in Minnesota
Andrew Thomas

Could Miss Start of 2025 Season
Ryan Reaves

Traded to Sharks
Vladislav Kolyachonok

Moves to Dallas
Matt Dumba

Lands in Pittsburgh
Mackie Samoskevich

Re-Signs with Panthers on One-Year Deal
Josh Manson

Inks Two-Year Extension with Avalanche
EDM

Isaac Howard Signs Three-Year, Entry-Level Contract With Oilers
Tallison Teixeira

Set For His First UFC Main Event
Derrick Lewis

Set To Headline UFC Nashville
Gabriel Bonfim

Looks For His Third UFC Win
Stephen Thompson

Returns At UFC Nashville
Steve Garcia

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Calvin Kattar

In Dire Need Of Victory
Morgan Charrière

Morgan Charriere A Favorite At UFC Nashville
Nate Landwehr

Aims To Bounce Back
MMA

Austen Lane Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Vitor Petrino

Set For His Heavyweight Debut
Tuco Tokkos

Set To Open Up UFC Nashville Main Card
Junior Tafa

Set For Light-Heavyweight Bout
Jalen Williams

Signs Contract Extension With Thunder
Alijah Martin

Agrees to Two-Way Deal With Raptors
Tristan Vukcevic

Set to Return to Washington
Anfernee Simons

Celtics Are "Actively Trying to Trade" Anfernee Simons
NBA

Alex Ducas Heading to Australia
Dominick Barlow

Inks Two-Way Deal With 76ers
Jordan McLaughlin

Spurs Re-Sign Jordan McLaughlin to One-Year Deal
Dylan Harper

Out Thursday, Expected to Play Saturday
VJ Edgecombe

Diagnosed with a Sprained Thumb
Gary Woodland

Looking to Find Rhythm at Scottish Open
Aaron Rai

Brings Consistent Play to Scottish Open
Maverick McNealy

a Solid Value Play at Scottish Open
Aldrich Potgieter

Making Scottish Open Debut
Tom Kim

Looks to Rebound at Scottish Open
Brian Harman

a Safe Option at Scottish Open
Luke Clanton

a Sneaky Value Play at Scottish Open
Sam Burns

Looking to Stay Hot at Scottish Open
Nicolai Hojgaard

May Feel More at Home in Europe
Harry Hall

Showing Fine Form Heading to Scotland
Ryan Fox

Playing Well Since Early Spring Struggles
Max Greyserman

has Solid History at the Genesis Scottish Open
Harris English

Aims High for Scotland Next
Corey Conners

Primed for the Genesis Scottish Open
Daniel Brown

Attempts the Scottish Swing Again
Jacob Bridgeman

Needs Putter to Work at Genesis Scottish Open
Scottie Scheffler

Headlines Field at Genesis Scottish Open
Rory McIlroy

a Smart Play for Scottish Open
Adam Scott

Looking to Build on History at The Renaissance Club
NASCAR

Sepp Straka Not Likely to Find Momentum at Scottish Open
Justin Rose

Hopes Month Hiatus Helps Him Bounce Back at Scottish Open
NHL

Tyler Johnson Retires After 13 NHL Seasons
Jack McBain

Inks New Five-Year Deal with Mammoth
Cam York

Re-Signs with Flyers for Five Years
Jake Knapp

Fits the Mold for Success at The Renaissance Club
Ty Gibbs

Finishes Second at Chicago and Advances in In-Season Challenge
Alex Bowman

Defeats Bubba Wallace in In-Season Challenge, but Not Without Controversy
Alex Bowman

Bubba Wallace Wrecked by Alex Bowman Again, Putting Playoffs in Doubt
Michael McDowell

Throttle Failure Ends Michael McDowell's Chances to Win at Chicago
Austin Hill

Earns First NASCAR Cup Series Top Ten at Chicago
Tyler Reddick

Scores a Strong Third-Place Run at Chicago
Kyle Busch

Matches his Best Career Finish At Chicago on Sunday
Denny Hamlin

Fights his Way to a Top-5 Finish at Chicago
William Byron

has his Worst Weekend of the Season at Chicago
Sonny Milano

on Track to Be Ready for Training Camp
Jakub Dobes

Signs Two-Year Deal with Canadiens
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF