LeSean McCoy Cut: Fantasy Football Fallout

The Buffalo Bills released veteran running back LeSean McCoy on Saturday, freeing up their backfield and roughly $6 million of salary cap space. What are the fantasy implications of this move? Where might McCoy end up? Let’s take a look.

Devin Singletary is primed to shine

It was only a matter of time before Devin Singletary became the lead dog in the Bills’ backfield, though most of us didn’t see it happening until midseason.

Today, though, everything has a whole-new outlook. With McCoy’s release, Singletary’s opportunity is bigger than ever, and fans and analysts alike have high hopes for the rookie rusher in 2019.

Sure, RB Godfather Frank Gore is still in the mix, but that actually bodes well for Singletary as the two seem to have developed a mentor-mentee relationship early on this season.

Devin Singletary is in Frank Gore’s hip pocket in every warm up… LOVE IT #Mentor #BillsMafia #GoBills #ManFree pic.twitter.com/oMvwPzw21d

— Greg Tompsett (@GregTompsett) August 23, 2019

We all know Frank Gore is an absolute horse who can come in and take a beating on any given Sunday. The dude doesn’t quit. And yes, T.J. Yeldon will be in and out of the backfield for the Bills, especially as a pass-catcher. But all signs point to Singletary leading the running back group in touches for the Buffalo Bills this year.

The Athletic’s Bills beat writer Joe Buscaglia says all you need to know.

It’s Devin Singletary time, y’all.

— Joe Buscaglia (@JoeBuscaglia) August 31, 2019

Fantasy Football Fallout

If you drafted Delvin Singletary on your fantasy team, congratulations! You’ve got to be loving your late-round selection. (I “reached” for him in the 10th round of my Buffalo-based fantasy league last week. Homer pick, I know.) Doesn’t matter, because Singletary is about to eat.

If you’ve already drafted and Singletary is available in your league, see who you can afford to drop and make a move on your waiver wire—you absolutely want Singletary on your fantasy football team in 2019.

If you haven’t had your draft yet, Singletary should probably crack your top 30 RBs. I’m putting him ahead of guys like Rashaad Penny, Kenyan Drake, Latavius Murray, and Jordan Howard—most of whom are going in the mid-rounds of drafts. I’d feel comfortable taking Singletary in the 6th or 7th round of typical 12-team leagues (PPR or otherwise).

Where will McCoy end up?

First thing’s first: If you’re rostering McCoy on your fantasy squad, hold onto him. Just be aware that his most recent productivity is down and his future usage is highly in question.

After all, McCoy appeared to lose a step or two last season, and his leadership in the locker room didn’t seem to meet McBeane’s standards. (McBeane, of course, is the two-headed monster that is Bills head coach Sean McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane.) According to the Action Network’s Chris Raybon, the writing was on the wall for McCoy’s release earlier this week.

Former #Bills team captain LeSean McCoy not among 17 players included in HC Sean McDermott’s ‘Leadership Panel.’

Could be a sign McCoy is not part of team’s plans in 2019 after all.

Via @JoeBuscaglia of @TheAthletic: https://t.co/iJeDqg1srP

— Chris Raybon (@ChrisRaybon) August 27, 2019

That might not mean a whole lot from a fantasy football perspective, but if McCoy’s future comes down to guys like no-nonsense Houston Texans head coach Bill O’Brien and “Fuck the world” Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones—who do you think is more likely to make a play for a player with dubious leadership skills? (I’m just speculating here, okay? And this is an opinion piece, so all you Texas-folk can take it easy on me in the comments.)

That said, there are plenty of teams that ought to be interested in McCoy’s services, and yes, Houston and Dallas could be considerable suitors among them. Let’s make a case for three NFL ball clubs:

Houston Texans

It’s been a weird year for the Texans backfield: the team cut D’Onta Foreman, Lamar Miller shredded his ACL and is out for the year, and Duke Johnson came in via trade with Cleveland. Could LeSean McCoy be the next running back to make headlines in Houston?

It makes sense for no other reason than the Texans desperately need another rusher. I mean, just look at the team’s depth chart at the position. Yikes. A McCoy pickup in Houston seems like a no-brainer.

The idea that the Bills would keep a 31-year-old RB and a 36-year-old RB never made any bit of sense. LeSean McCoy should look good in Houston.

— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) August 31, 2019

Dallas Cowboys

Ohhh doctorrr. Could Zeke Elliott’s holdout inspire a “Shady” maneuver by the brain trust at Jerry Land? It wouldn’t be surprising, as Jerry Jones has been nothing less than boisterous about whether ‘dem Boys will start the season without their bell-cow back.

#VoiceofREason: Jerry Jones won’t stop talking about @EzekielElliott and @richeisen unpacked the latest: pic.twitter.com/h5wdmk5oog

— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) August 30, 2019

LeSean McCoy’s presence in Dallas has Cowboys Twitter divided, but you have to admit that seeing McCoy in a star-clad helmet isn’t hard to imagine. The move would be a serious blow to Tony Pollard truthers in the fantasy football universe, prohibiting his rise in ADP and putting McCoy back on the fantasy map as an RB3/Flex play with RB2 upside pending Zeke’s return.

Should the Dallas Cowboys consider signing LeSean McCoy? https://t.co/fT54ETloUE

— The Landry Hat (@LandryHat) August 31, 2019

Miami Dolphins

Some people have the Chiefs and Raiders mixed into the McCoy sweepstakes, but a case could be made for McCoy staying in the AFC East. Hear me out.

Dolphins lead back Kenyan Drake is recovering from a foot injury, and reports suggest that he’s at the center of swirling trade rumors, making him trade bait for other RB-hungry teams. If that’s the case, the Dolphins could collect what they can for Drake and pick up McCoy as a stopgap running back alongside the emerging Kalen Ballage in a clear-cut rebuilding year.

With a fantasy football focus, I think Ballage is the back to own in Miami, but a McCoy signing would certainly challenge that—and quickly, too.

Where do you think McCoy should end up? Let us know! And don’t forget to follow @WideRightNBlue and @OTHeroics1 on Twitter.