The talent of Gabe Davis has never been a question, but fantasy football managers have been unable to trust the 24-year-old week after week.
If he explores free agency this offseason, could he be unlocked in the fashion that we’ve been hoping for?
Potential Landing Spots for Gabe Davis
Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons got a league-low 1,650 receiving yards from the WR position last season, a stat that has as much to do with their dated rush-rate-over-expectation offense as it does their lack of receiver depth.
With Arthur Smith fired, this offense can only move in a more fantasy-friendly direction, and that is the part that has me interested. Many fantasy managers are going to look at this situation and take it as an opportunity to hop off of the Davis rollercoaster.
I’m not saying that is the wrong move, but in an offense that figures to experience as much change as this one, what harm does it have to roll the dice late on a talented player like Davis?
I’d argue that Davis Truthers should be rooting for this as a landing spot. Not because it offers the most upside (it doesn’t keep reading), but because it leaves the door open for him to return the greatest profits on his cost.
We need to see who takes over this offense and what the QB situation looks like, but there is certainly a path to volume next to Drake London, and it likely won’t come with a ton of attention from opposing defenses as they gear up to stop the Bijan Robinson led run game.
Rostering Davis in any situation isn’t for the faint of heart, but buying stock at its floor is a solid strategy, and that could very well be the case should he land in a spot like Atlanta that isn’t overly flashy.
New York Jets
How aggressive the Jets will be loading up this offense for Aaron Rodgers remains to be seen.
However, after a dud season from Allen Lazard (I understand that the QB play was prohibitive, but 23 catches on 49 targets in 14 games with five drops is downright unacceptable), the question around New York’s WR2 needs to be addressed.
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Rodgers throws a pretty deep ball, but the aging star needs help down the field, and a player like Davis can complement the budding star that is Garrett Wilson. When throwing down the field …
- Rodgers, 2018-21: 41.5% complete, 1.0% interception rate
- Rodgers, 2022: 38.5% complete, 4.1% interception rate
If the Jets truly think that they are in a position to challenge for the AFC East crown with a healthy Rodgers, adding a bona fide splash play-maker like Davis fits their needs like a glove.
- Over 15.5 yards per catch every season
- At least six TD catches in every season
- Average touchdown length: 22.8 yards (18.1 air yards)
At this point, counting on Davis to be a consistent producer is similar to Charlie Brown trying to kick a football. That said, given the narrative around Davis and his spotty production, I’d be willing to dive again, as long as it didn’t cost me the price of a weekly starter.
I maintain my faith in Davis as a producer at this level, so if I can get him on the cheap with a Hall of Fame quarterback and a reasonable path to targets, the process is sound.
Arizona Cardinals
With Marquise Brown an unrestricted free agent this offseason, there are targets to be had in this passing game. Assuming Kyler Murray remains the trigger man, the sheer opportunity in Arizona would be enough to roster Davis, but the consistency that we’ve been searching for is unlikely to present itself.
I think a signing like this would help the development of promising WR Michael Wilson. He is coming off of a rookie season in which he flashed some play-making ability, and a player like Davis who demands vertical respect has the potential to unlock Wilson a bit further.
This passing game is one that I am eager to invest in (Wilson and Trey McBride), but Davis joining the party wouldn’t move the needle much for me.
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