The first half of the NFL season was a whirlwind of injuries, comebacks, sub-par offensive lines, and some surprisingly dominant performances. Tony Romo, quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, went down with a back injury that led to the rise of rookie Dak Prescott as a premiere QB1 option. Ezekiel Elliot, another rookie sensation for the Cowboys, leads the league in rushing yards. Melvin Gordon, running back for the San Diego Chargers, showcased his ability to be the amazing playmaker he was in college.

The season is halfway through and fantasy football is getting more intense as wins are harder to come by. Those of us that are fantasy faithfuls patrol the waiver wire and analyze other teams, looking for the best pick-ups and trades available. Some of us are so dedicated we begin looking for the weekly sleepers at midnight. All too frequently, though, we don’t have the answers and choose to look to someone else for the answers. Here at de Toledo, we have found the solution to such distressing questions as “Who is the better flex play: Mike Wallace or Julian Edelman?” or “Can Devonta Freeman be relied on as an RB1 even though he splits touches with Tevin Coleman?” We fantasy football experts Gabriel Smallson and Daniel Eidman are here to weigh in on these most controversial topics. Smallson is a two-time fantasy runner-up and Eidman is a four-time champion. Our expertise has brought us great success in fantasy, and we want to help you achieve that same success. So, we are overwhelmed with joy to bring you our predictions and advice for the second half of the NFL season.

Players on the Rise

Quarterback:

Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers

He is the current starter for the 49ers and a much stronger quarterback option than the immobile Blaine Gabbert. He can run and has a good enough arm to throw for around 200 yards per game consistently.

Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams

The Number 1 overall pick of the draft finally got his first NFL start against the Miami Dolphins and showed flashes of decision-making brilliance mixed in with the uncertainty of a rookie signal caller. He was able to thread the needle with a few passes into triple coverage, but struggled mightily due to the Rams’ lack of a capable offensive line.

Running Back:

C.J. Prosise, Seattle Seahawks

He is still developing as a route runner, but has shown an ability to be a great pass-catcher out of the backfield. Thomas Rawls’ return from injury will be a bit of a handcuff to Prosise’s potential, but he should still see plenty of time on the field.

Kenneth Dixon, Baltimore Ravens

Dixon’s value is contingent on the amount of touches he gets. When he has gotten the ball in the backfield he has been somewhat productive, with 3.8 yards per carry. That number should go up with the increase in touches that he has been getting as well as Terrance West’s decrease.

Paul Perkins, New York Giants

The explosive gap finder from UCLA has struggled a bit behind one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL, but is a nice handcuff to Rashad Jennings as a pass catcher. He has good hands as well as the speed and awareness to give Eli Manning good looks coming out of the backfield, and has showcased this ability with an average catch of 11.8 yards. Jenning’s slow season average of 2.9 yards per carry means that Perkins should be expecting more snaps coming to him.

Wendell Smallwood, Philadelphia Eagles

With Ryan Mathews and Darren Sproles out with injuries, Smallwood is the RB1 for the Eagles. He is fast and makes quick decisions in finding holes. He is a suitable flex option averaging 4.4 yards per game and has played into the passing game averaging 9.0 yards per catch.

Wide Receiver:

Tyreek Hill, Kansas City Chiefs

Hill is Alex Smith’s second target, but is racking up receptions with 22 in the past 5 weeks. His stock will rise as a WR1 while Jeremy Maclin is injured, and he should see considerably more targets. His production has the possibility of being handicapped because of Travis Kelce, one of the best pass-catching tight ends in the NFL. If you are in need of a solid flex or low-end WR2, Hill is a great option.

Taylor Gabriel, Atlanta Falcons

Gabriel is a solid receiving threat with 271 yards on 13 receptions in his last 4 games. Gabriel is a very fast receiver who can widen spaces between himself and defenders. He only has upside, while Julio Jones and Mohamed Sanu are double and sometimes triple covered. He is becoming a reliable fantasy option, and moving forward he should be seen utilized as a high end WR2.

Dontrelle Inman, San Diego Chargers

He should be in owned in all leagues while Travis Benjamin is still recovering from injury. He has become Phillip Rivers number 2 receiver and has been targeted at least 6 times in each of his last 5 games.

Tight End:

Tyler Eifert, Cincinnati Bengals

Despite coming fresh off an injury, he should be considered a high end TE1 option. Andy Dalton number one receiving threat A.J. Green is out for the rest of the season. That makes Eifert the biggest receiving weapon for the Bengals. His ability to get open and break tackles makes him a must start in any league. He has immediate fantasy relevance and should be owned in all leagues.