This is the second article of a top forty countdown to NFL Kickoff Thursday September 7th.

Running Back 39 – Devin ‘Motor’ Singletary HOU
Perhaps another surprise at running back (RB) is Devin Singletary. His father was mentioned as an example of what a football player is and Devin approaches the RB position with the same attitude. He signed a one year deal with the Houston Texans, who has a new head coach, Demeco Ryans. Coach Ryans will want to play stout defense, control the clock, and protect his rookie quarterback (QB). Singletary could see several touches from an organization that has a history of high volume running backs. Last year Dameon Pierce had 250 touches prior to being injured. So a true split, or 60/40 isn’t out of the question for Singletary/Pierce, with over 150 touches a piece with rookie QB CJ Stroud at the helm.
Singletary’s numbers last year, 1,099 scrimmage yards, 38 receptions, and 6 touchdowns, are not eye popping, but they aren’t bad. Especially when you consider he was in a timeshare with J. Cook and Josh Allen cutting into his yardage and goal line touches. His fundamentals are solid, look at the photo; football high and tight, finger on the point, shoulders over his feet, hand up to stiff arm an opponent and there is good reason to believe his stats will be equal to or better than his numbers at Buffalo. Motor wears #26 and is in his 26th year, it could be his best statistical season, so grab him late as an RB 3 or flex and feel great about it.

Linebacker 39 – Alex Singleton DEN
One of the most under appreciated football players in the NFL. His special teams play was excellent in addition to his defensive role in his first year at Denver. He played so well, he earned a three year contract and became a starting linebacker (LB). Even with a new defensive coordinator, Vance Joseph, coming (back) to Denver. Singleton’s play has been excellent the past three years, as he has earned at least 111 tackles in each season. He had a career best 153 tackles last year, and over a dozen came from special teams, a true football player.
Singleton finished LB 21 in FF7s last year, and the reason for a step back in projections has nothing to do with Singleton, Vance Joseph, or anything negative from the defense. The inverse relationship of a team’s offense and defense, from a fantasy perspective should hold true this year. The Broncos will have a much improved offense under Head Coach Sean Payton which will lower the Denver Broncos’ defensive snaps. Fellow linebacker Josey Jewell is also an outstanding linebacker and the Broncos have arguably one of the best secondaries in the NFL, all of which could take tackles, deflections, and other stats away from Singleton. He should be on any IDP (individual defensive players) draft list as a mid-to-late round draft pick. A fourth consecutive 100+ tackle season is well within reach, and although ranked 39th, his ceiling is much higher. Target Singelton for your team.

Thank you for reading Mano y Mano. Check in tomorrow for the 38th ranked RB & LB.
Bet Smart, Be Lucky – Iggy

*Stats come from FantasyPros, Pro Football Reference, Sleeper, and NFL. Rankings are based off of .5 PPR format and FF7s for IDP scoring.