This is a blog about players who you may have drafted in an early round, but just aren't producing the way you may have expected two weeks into the season. These are players that are currently ranked in the bottom third of their respected positions, but were drafted to produce like top 15 starters, BUT Don't Fret Just Yet, because I expect these players to turn around their early-season woes and produce numbers closer to their true potential.
1. Lamar Miller, RB (MIA)
If you drafted Miller, you probably did so at a 3rd or 4th round price, expecting him to finish as a top 15 back. In 2014, Miller finished as the #9 RB in standard scoring leagues. Currently, two weeks into the season, Miller is the 40th ranked RB. 40th. Do you know who finished 40th in 2014? Alfred Blue. Don't fret just yet: I expect Miller to turn around and hit his stride before it's too little too late.
2. Andrew Luck, QB (IND) and Drew Brees, QB (NO)
I combined Brees and Luck because they have both been equally disappointing, especially considering where they finished last year. Luck finished as QB #2 and Brees finished as QB # 6, respectively. Currently, Luck ranks as QB #27 and Brees as QB #17. Mark Sanchez finished as QB #27 in 2014. If you drafted Luck or Brees, you probably wasted a 2nd or 3rd round pick on Luck, while Brees dropped to the 5th round in most drafts. Don't fret just yet: Luck and Brees are both elite quarterbacks in the NFL and, despite injury, I expect both to return to form sooner rather than later.
3. Greg Olsen, TE (CAR)
With TE's, there is a top 5-ish and then there is a significant drop off in talent. Olsen in in that top 5. Last year, finishing at TE #4, Olsen enjoyed the best statistical year of his career. Currently, Olsen ranks as TE #24. In 2014, TE #24 was Luke Wilson of Seattle. Olsen is considered a top talent at the TE position, drawing a 5th round price tag. Don't fret just yet: He has a touchdown called back in week 1 due to a penalty on the offensive line, so he is still a redzone favorite. Olsen is still the most talented receivers in Carolina and Newton will find him in the endzone.
4. Frank Gore, RB (IND)
The ageless wonder, Frank Gore. The 32 year old running back finished his 2014 campaign with the 49ers ranked as RB #17. After proving age is nothing but a number and mutually parting ways with San Francisco, Indianapolis signed Gore without hesitation. Being the bell cow back in a potent offense has its perks, like being a 3rd round commodity in fantasy football. Gore has not lived up to the hype, currently clocking in at RB #54. In 2014, RB #54 was Ryan Mathews - who only played in six games. Don't fret just yet: The Colts offense has been horrendous to start, so the only place to go is up. And i promise you, Frank Gore is better and more efficient than a six-game Ryan Mathews.
5. Justin Forsett, RB (BAL)
What a huge year in 2014 for Forsett, right? Taking over the Baltimore backfield after Ray Rice was kicked off of the team and finishing as RB #8. After a career-season and the addition of OC Marc Trestmen, the OC with Matt Forte when he broke the record for receptions by a running back, the buzz over Forsett was absurd, producing a 3rd round price tag. Currently Forsett ranks at the 35th ranked RB. Guess who finished as RB #35 in 2014, just guess. Chris Johnson...CJ2K! Don't fret just yet: Forsett will still be the #1 guy in Baltimore and Trestman will send some balls his way. Baltimore can't ignore the production he had in 2014.
Friday, September 25, 2015
Saturday, September 19, 2015
"Dont be surprsied if..."
*a spinoff of Matthew Berry's Bold Predictions*
Well, Week 1 is in the books and it may have left some of you scratching your head in disbelief, or, if you're one of the lucky ones, you're jumping for joy over how well you drafted. If you're the latter, congrats on the 1-0 start!
If your team turned in a not-so-stellar week, "don't fret just yet" (a plug for a column I will be running next week). But if you're someone that likes to jump-the-gun and take some risks, then I have the list for you. This is a list of things that aren't necessarily expected to happen, but very well COULD happen. This column is a list of one player from every team and how they could be a "boom or bust" candidate on your team:
Arizona Cardinals: Don't be surprised if...John Brown finishes the season with 1,000 yards and 10 TD's. Carson Palmer says he feels better than ever and he wants to prove that with his help, the Cardinals can be a threat in the NFC. Brown was a player that went undrafted in almost every league, but has proven is worth throughout the pre-season and Week 1 of the regular season. I mean, someone has to catch passes from Palmer, right?
Atlanta Falcons: Don't be surprised if...Tevin Coleman finishes as a Top 20 RB. Offensive Coordinator Kyle Shanhan, Heach Coach Dan Quinn, and the front office in Atlanta drafted Coleman in this year's draft and have invested their time in him. Devonta Freeman was drafted by a previous Head Coach, Mike Smith. Coleman was given the first shot as the lead back and didn't disappoint. He ran the ball 20 times for 80 yards, averaging 4.0 yards per carry. He's the #1 guy in Atlanta and I don't look for that to change.
Baltimore Ravens: Don't be surprised if... Justin Forsett catches 70 balls in Marc Trestman's offense. Forsett proved his worth last year and was rewarded with a new contract. We all know what Trestman can do, after all, we say Matt Forte break the record for number of passes caught be a running back in one seasons (102). Now, I don't think Forsett breaks that mark, but I do think he sets career highs in both catches and receiving yards.
Buffalo Bills: Don't be surprised if...Tyrod Taylor finishes as a Top 15 QB. Week 1 Taylor showed bursts of excitement. Is Taylor going to be a guy who throws for 300 yards and 3 TD's? No. But QB's get points for running the ball too, and I think that's where Taylor's value lies. Taylor is also protective of the ball - no erratic INT's or costly sacks. The game plan in Buffalo is to run, run, run, and run some more, so that takes the pressure off of Taylor's arm and puts it more in his legs. I look for him to have a good year throwing to the likes of Sammy Watkins, Percy Harvin, Robert Woods, Charles Clay, and Shady McCoy.
Carolina Panthers: Dont' be surprised if...Jerricho Cotchery has 10 TD's. He quietly did it in Pittsburgh in 2013 and there is nothing stopping him from being a redzone monster again in Carolina. Cam Newton doesn't have many other threats opposite of Greg Olsen, so I look for Cotchery to have a quiet, touchdown dependent year.
Chicago Bears: Don't be surprised if...Matt Forte finished the year as the #1 RB in fantasy. Forte is in a contract-year and new OC Adam Gase will ride him into the ground. Forte is the bellcow back in Chicago and when you incorporate his ability to catch the ball and Cutler's overall reliance on him, that gives Forte a very good chance to finish as the best back in fantasy.
Cincinnati Bengals: Don't be surprised if...Jeremy Hill leads all RB's in touchdowns. He is the top back on a team that is looking to take some pressure off of Andy Dalton and if Week 1 proved anything, it's that he can handle the workload. This isn't for Dalton's lack of redzone threats - Tyler Eifert and AJ Green - but more for Cincinnati utilizing one of the best big backs in the league.
Cleveland Browns: Don't be surprised if...Johnny Manziel keeps the starting job in Cleveland. I don't believe in McCown's ability - he's a "journeyman" for a reason, because no one wanted to keep him. Cleveland used a 1st Round pick on Manziel in 2014 and they will do anything they can to get what they can out of him. Looking more mature and more comfortable in the offense, I look for Manziel to keep the job.
Dallas Cowboys: Don't be surprised if...Joseph Randle finishes as a Top 10 RB this season. Last year, behind that offensive line, DeMarco Murray was the #1 overall rusher. While I don't think Randle finishes with a season quite like Murray, I do believe that he takes the job over Darren McFadden and tops off as a Top 10 back.
Denver Broncos: Don't be surprised if...Ronnie Hillman takes over the Broncos backfield. If you're anything like me, you drafted Montee Ball last year, got disappointed, then drafted CJ Anderson this year and was, again, disappointed. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. You won't fool me a third time because I will NOT draft a Broncos RB next year.
Detroit Lions: Don't be surprised if...Calvin Johnson finishes outside of the Top 10. Last year's injury riddled season, Megatron finished 14th, one spot below his teammate, Golden Tate. Megatron claims to be back and better than ever, but with a team that now has more weapons - Abdullah, Tate, Ebron, and Joique Bell - We may have seen the best of Megatron.
Green Bay Packers: Don't be surprised if...James Jones leads the team in TD's. A reunion that no one predicted: Jones joins the Packers 7 days before Week 1 and scored 2 redzone touchdowns. That's a win for both Jones and Aaron Rodgers.
Houston Texans: Don't be surprised if...DeAndre Hopkins posts 15 TD's. If a ball is going through the air, it's going to Hopkins. He's the only viable target for either Brian Hoyer or Ryan Mallett. Nate Washington posted a fluke-y 100 yard game in Week 1 and I don't expect that trend to continue.
Indianapolis Colts: Don't be surprised if...Andre Johnson sees the field on possession downs alone. After his Week 1 performance and the poor rapport with Andrew Luck, it seems like he has been surpassed on the depth chart by Donte Moncrief. The injury to T.Y. Hilton could have something to do with it, but I'm willing to bet that Andre Johnson is there to teach the young WR's and have the chance to get a ring.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Don't be surprised if...TJ Yeldon finishes both in the Top 15 and as the best rookie RB this year. Yeldon seemed to hold his own in Week 1 against a stout Caroline Defense. The only things holding Yeldon back will be redzone work. Do the Jaguars have what it takes to get that close to the endzone?
Kansas City Chiefs: Don't be surprised if...Travis Kelce finishes at the #2 TE in football. Oh, but Darren, #2, that's not so bold! Why not just say #1? Because fans, let's be real...no one, and I mean no one, can out-Gronk the Gronk.
Miami Dolphins: Don't be surprised if...Jarvis Landry finishes the season will 100+ catches. With 84 balls caught last year, Landry has done nothing but improve alongside of Ryan Tannehill. The offense as a whole has garnered more attention - Lamar Miller, DeVante Parker, Jordan Cameron. Landry will be the #1 target in Miami.
Minnesota Vikings: Don't be surprised if...Kyle Rudolph becomes a Top 10 TE, maybe even squeezing into the Top 5. Teddy Bridgewater has deep threats, and lots of them - Mike Wallace, Charles Johnson, Cordarrelle Patterson - but not many possession threats. *In walks Kyle Rudolph fresh off of an injury.*
New England Patriots: Don't be surprised if...Edelman leads the league in catches. He's always at the top, hovering around 90 catches, but I think this is the year that Edelman eclipses 110 catches and leads the league - barring another Antonio Brown 130 catch season. Brady will be in complete "eff you" mode to the league and that will be to Edelman and the entire Patriots' team advantage.
New Orleans Saints: Don't be surprised if...Brandon Coleman leads the Saints in receptions. Brandin Cooks will get his. He's the deep threat. His spot is secured. Marques Colston, however, is aging quickly and Coleman looked to understand the offense well and showed off some hands with that diving endzone grab.
New York Giants: Don't be surprised if...Eli Manning finishes with more points than his brother. OC Ben McAdoo along with Manning, Odell Beckham Jr, Shane Vereen, and a healthy Victor Cruz, should be a flawless offense. Last year, Eli finished 6 spots behind his brother Peyton, but I look for Eli to take a leap this year.
New York Jets: Don't be surprised if...Chris Ivory finishes as a Top 15 back. Really guys, the Jets offense isn't that bad....Brandon Marshall, Eric Decker, and Chris Ivory. With receivers like Marshall and Decker, defenses will need to be more conservative. He's currently being drafted as RB26 and you could do much, much worse in the 9th round of your drafts than drafting Ivory.
Oakland Raiders: Don't be surprised if...Latavius Murray finishes outside of the Top 20 RB's. There's a lot of hype there with very little proven. In a Raiders offense that just isn't that great, I can't see Murray doing a whole lot.
Philadelphia Eagles: Don't be surprised if...Sam Bradford plays all 16 games. But really though: The Eagles game plan is fast. Very fast. Faster than Jimmy Johns fast. With Bradford not holding onto the ball for long periods of time, he should be safe in the pocket, which means he should be hit as often.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Don't be surprised if...The Steelers D/ST finishes dead last in fantasy points. The inability to take the ball away has been a problem with the Steelers for the past 5 years, since Troy Polamalu has been out of his prime.
San Diego Chargers: Don't be surprised if...Stevie Johnson posts another 1,000 yard season. Philip Rivers is the best QB he's been with during his career, easy. He posted three 1,000 yard seasons while in Buffalo with Ryan Fitzpatrick at QB. Keenan Allen and Stevie Johnson make for a good one-two punch and I look for Rivers to enjoy his time this year throwing to productive targets.
San Francisco 49ers: Don't be surprised if...Carlos Hyde finishes as a Top 5 RB this season. That's a little steep, I know, but that's what this is supposed to be about. It's supposed to be BOLD. Hyde has all of the physical capabilities any runner would ever want - 6'0, 235 lbs, 4.6 40 yard dash speed. He's got it all. And now with Frank Gore in Indianapolis, the backfield is all Hyde's. Big, fast, physical, and the focal point of the offense? Sign me up.
Seattle Seahawks: Don't be surprised if...Marshawn Lynch doesn't score double digit TD's. Each of the last four seasons Lynch has scored double digit TD's, but that was before Jimmy Graham came into town. Graham will eat a few of the redzone score that were one Lynch's, thus dwindling Lynch value slightly.
St. Louis Rams: Don't be surprised if...Brian Quick finishes at a Top 30 WR this season. Nick Foles is in town and he loves the deep ball. Who else loves the deep ball? Brian Quick. I look for the Foles/Quick connection to develop sooner rather than later.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Don't be surprised if...Doug Martin finishes with 1,000 yards and 8 TD's, placing him in the Top 15 of RB's. Tampa Bay has a *better* offense this year. Austin Sefarian-Jenkins proved his worthiness in Week 1 by posting 2 TD's, and you have two giants for wide receivers on the outside in Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson. To me, that spells that the defense has to play more conservative, giving Martin running lanes.
Tennessee Titans: Don't be surprised if...Marcus Mariota finishes as a Top 20 QB. He obviously won't repeat the success he had in Week 1, but he did prove that taking snaps under center was no problem for the Oregon-alum. He'll be a viable plug-and-play when it comes time for bye weeks, but not a consistent starter.
Washington Redskins: Don't be surprised if...Jordan Reed stays healthy and finished as a Top 5 TE. We all know that after the Top 5 TE's, there is a significant drop off in talent. Reed has the talent, but not the longevity. If he stays healthy, Cousins will need to rely on his TE to get him out of the trouble that has essentially haulted RGIII's career.
**Information regarding players was found on ESPN**
Well, Week 1 is in the books and it may have left some of you scratching your head in disbelief, or, if you're one of the lucky ones, you're jumping for joy over how well you drafted. If you're the latter, congrats on the 1-0 start!
If your team turned in a not-so-stellar week, "don't fret just yet" (a plug for a column I will be running next week). But if you're someone that likes to jump-the-gun and take some risks, then I have the list for you. This is a list of things that aren't necessarily expected to happen, but very well COULD happen. This column is a list of one player from every team and how they could be a "boom or bust" candidate on your team:
Arizona Cardinals: Don't be surprised if...John Brown finishes the season with 1,000 yards and 10 TD's. Carson Palmer says he feels better than ever and he wants to prove that with his help, the Cardinals can be a threat in the NFC. Brown was a player that went undrafted in almost every league, but has proven is worth throughout the pre-season and Week 1 of the regular season. I mean, someone has to catch passes from Palmer, right?
Atlanta Falcons: Don't be surprised if...Tevin Coleman finishes as a Top 20 RB. Offensive Coordinator Kyle Shanhan, Heach Coach Dan Quinn, and the front office in Atlanta drafted Coleman in this year's draft and have invested their time in him. Devonta Freeman was drafted by a previous Head Coach, Mike Smith. Coleman was given the first shot as the lead back and didn't disappoint. He ran the ball 20 times for 80 yards, averaging 4.0 yards per carry. He's the #1 guy in Atlanta and I don't look for that to change.
Baltimore Ravens: Don't be surprised if... Justin Forsett catches 70 balls in Marc Trestman's offense. Forsett proved his worth last year and was rewarded with a new contract. We all know what Trestman can do, after all, we say Matt Forte break the record for number of passes caught be a running back in one seasons (102). Now, I don't think Forsett breaks that mark, but I do think he sets career highs in both catches and receiving yards.
Buffalo Bills: Don't be surprised if...Tyrod Taylor finishes as a Top 15 QB. Week 1 Taylor showed bursts of excitement. Is Taylor going to be a guy who throws for 300 yards and 3 TD's? No. But QB's get points for running the ball too, and I think that's where Taylor's value lies. Taylor is also protective of the ball - no erratic INT's or costly sacks. The game plan in Buffalo is to run, run, run, and run some more, so that takes the pressure off of Taylor's arm and puts it more in his legs. I look for him to have a good year throwing to the likes of Sammy Watkins, Percy Harvin, Robert Woods, Charles Clay, and Shady McCoy.
Carolina Panthers: Dont' be surprised if...Jerricho Cotchery has 10 TD's. He quietly did it in Pittsburgh in 2013 and there is nothing stopping him from being a redzone monster again in Carolina. Cam Newton doesn't have many other threats opposite of Greg Olsen, so I look for Cotchery to have a quiet, touchdown dependent year.
Chicago Bears: Don't be surprised if...Matt Forte finished the year as the #1 RB in fantasy. Forte is in a contract-year and new OC Adam Gase will ride him into the ground. Forte is the bellcow back in Chicago and when you incorporate his ability to catch the ball and Cutler's overall reliance on him, that gives Forte a very good chance to finish as the best back in fantasy.
Cincinnati Bengals: Don't be surprised if...Jeremy Hill leads all RB's in touchdowns. He is the top back on a team that is looking to take some pressure off of Andy Dalton and if Week 1 proved anything, it's that he can handle the workload. This isn't for Dalton's lack of redzone threats - Tyler Eifert and AJ Green - but more for Cincinnati utilizing one of the best big backs in the league.
Cleveland Browns: Don't be surprised if...Johnny Manziel keeps the starting job in Cleveland. I don't believe in McCown's ability - he's a "journeyman" for a reason, because no one wanted to keep him. Cleveland used a 1st Round pick on Manziel in 2014 and they will do anything they can to get what they can out of him. Looking more mature and more comfortable in the offense, I look for Manziel to keep the job.
Dallas Cowboys: Don't be surprised if...Joseph Randle finishes as a Top 10 RB this season. Last year, behind that offensive line, DeMarco Murray was the #1 overall rusher. While I don't think Randle finishes with a season quite like Murray, I do believe that he takes the job over Darren McFadden and tops off as a Top 10 back.
Denver Broncos: Don't be surprised if...Ronnie Hillman takes over the Broncos backfield. If you're anything like me, you drafted Montee Ball last year, got disappointed, then drafted CJ Anderson this year and was, again, disappointed. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. You won't fool me a third time because I will NOT draft a Broncos RB next year.
Detroit Lions: Don't be surprised if...Calvin Johnson finishes outside of the Top 10. Last year's injury riddled season, Megatron finished 14th, one spot below his teammate, Golden Tate. Megatron claims to be back and better than ever, but with a team that now has more weapons - Abdullah, Tate, Ebron, and Joique Bell - We may have seen the best of Megatron.
Green Bay Packers: Don't be surprised if...James Jones leads the team in TD's. A reunion that no one predicted: Jones joins the Packers 7 days before Week 1 and scored 2 redzone touchdowns. That's a win for both Jones and Aaron Rodgers.
Houston Texans: Don't be surprised if...DeAndre Hopkins posts 15 TD's. If a ball is going through the air, it's going to Hopkins. He's the only viable target for either Brian Hoyer or Ryan Mallett. Nate Washington posted a fluke-y 100 yard game in Week 1 and I don't expect that trend to continue.
Indianapolis Colts: Don't be surprised if...Andre Johnson sees the field on possession downs alone. After his Week 1 performance and the poor rapport with Andrew Luck, it seems like he has been surpassed on the depth chart by Donte Moncrief. The injury to T.Y. Hilton could have something to do with it, but I'm willing to bet that Andre Johnson is there to teach the young WR's and have the chance to get a ring.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Don't be surprised if...TJ Yeldon finishes both in the Top 15 and as the best rookie RB this year. Yeldon seemed to hold his own in Week 1 against a stout Caroline Defense. The only things holding Yeldon back will be redzone work. Do the Jaguars have what it takes to get that close to the endzone?
Kansas City Chiefs: Don't be surprised if...Travis Kelce finishes at the #2 TE in football. Oh, but Darren, #2, that's not so bold! Why not just say #1? Because fans, let's be real...no one, and I mean no one, can out-Gronk the Gronk.
Miami Dolphins: Don't be surprised if...Jarvis Landry finishes the season will 100+ catches. With 84 balls caught last year, Landry has done nothing but improve alongside of Ryan Tannehill. The offense as a whole has garnered more attention - Lamar Miller, DeVante Parker, Jordan Cameron. Landry will be the #1 target in Miami.
Minnesota Vikings: Don't be surprised if...Kyle Rudolph becomes a Top 10 TE, maybe even squeezing into the Top 5. Teddy Bridgewater has deep threats, and lots of them - Mike Wallace, Charles Johnson, Cordarrelle Patterson - but not many possession threats. *In walks Kyle Rudolph fresh off of an injury.*
New England Patriots: Don't be surprised if...Edelman leads the league in catches. He's always at the top, hovering around 90 catches, but I think this is the year that Edelman eclipses 110 catches and leads the league - barring another Antonio Brown 130 catch season. Brady will be in complete "eff you" mode to the league and that will be to Edelman and the entire Patriots' team advantage.
New Orleans Saints: Don't be surprised if...Brandon Coleman leads the Saints in receptions. Brandin Cooks will get his. He's the deep threat. His spot is secured. Marques Colston, however, is aging quickly and Coleman looked to understand the offense well and showed off some hands with that diving endzone grab.
New York Giants: Don't be surprised if...Eli Manning finishes with more points than his brother. OC Ben McAdoo along with Manning, Odell Beckham Jr, Shane Vereen, and a healthy Victor Cruz, should be a flawless offense. Last year, Eli finished 6 spots behind his brother Peyton, but I look for Eli to take a leap this year.
New York Jets: Don't be surprised if...Chris Ivory finishes as a Top 15 back. Really guys, the Jets offense isn't that bad....Brandon Marshall, Eric Decker, and Chris Ivory. With receivers like Marshall and Decker, defenses will need to be more conservative. He's currently being drafted as RB26 and you could do much, much worse in the 9th round of your drafts than drafting Ivory.
Oakland Raiders: Don't be surprised if...Latavius Murray finishes outside of the Top 20 RB's. There's a lot of hype there with very little proven. In a Raiders offense that just isn't that great, I can't see Murray doing a whole lot.
Philadelphia Eagles: Don't be surprised if...Sam Bradford plays all 16 games. But really though: The Eagles game plan is fast. Very fast. Faster than Jimmy Johns fast. With Bradford not holding onto the ball for long periods of time, he should be safe in the pocket, which means he should be hit as often.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Don't be surprised if...The Steelers D/ST finishes dead last in fantasy points. The inability to take the ball away has been a problem with the Steelers for the past 5 years, since Troy Polamalu has been out of his prime.
San Diego Chargers: Don't be surprised if...Stevie Johnson posts another 1,000 yard season. Philip Rivers is the best QB he's been with during his career, easy. He posted three 1,000 yard seasons while in Buffalo with Ryan Fitzpatrick at QB. Keenan Allen and Stevie Johnson make for a good one-two punch and I look for Rivers to enjoy his time this year throwing to productive targets.
San Francisco 49ers: Don't be surprised if...Carlos Hyde finishes as a Top 5 RB this season. That's a little steep, I know, but that's what this is supposed to be about. It's supposed to be BOLD. Hyde has all of the physical capabilities any runner would ever want - 6'0, 235 lbs, 4.6 40 yard dash speed. He's got it all. And now with Frank Gore in Indianapolis, the backfield is all Hyde's. Big, fast, physical, and the focal point of the offense? Sign me up.
Seattle Seahawks: Don't be surprised if...Marshawn Lynch doesn't score double digit TD's. Each of the last four seasons Lynch has scored double digit TD's, but that was before Jimmy Graham came into town. Graham will eat a few of the redzone score that were one Lynch's, thus dwindling Lynch value slightly.
St. Louis Rams: Don't be surprised if...Brian Quick finishes at a Top 30 WR this season. Nick Foles is in town and he loves the deep ball. Who else loves the deep ball? Brian Quick. I look for the Foles/Quick connection to develop sooner rather than later.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Don't be surprised if...Doug Martin finishes with 1,000 yards and 8 TD's, placing him in the Top 15 of RB's. Tampa Bay has a *better* offense this year. Austin Sefarian-Jenkins proved his worthiness in Week 1 by posting 2 TD's, and you have two giants for wide receivers on the outside in Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson. To me, that spells that the defense has to play more conservative, giving Martin running lanes.
Tennessee Titans: Don't be surprised if...Marcus Mariota finishes as a Top 20 QB. He obviously won't repeat the success he had in Week 1, but he did prove that taking snaps under center was no problem for the Oregon-alum. He'll be a viable plug-and-play when it comes time for bye weeks, but not a consistent starter.
Washington Redskins: Don't be surprised if...Jordan Reed stays healthy and finished as a Top 5 TE. We all know that after the Top 5 TE's, there is a significant drop off in talent. Reed has the talent, but not the longevity. If he stays healthy, Cousins will need to rely on his TE to get him out of the trouble that has essentially haulted RGIII's career.
**Information regarding players was found on ESPN**
Saturday, September 12, 2015
Undrafted players you need on your bench
If this preseason has taught us anything, it should be that FANTASY FOOTBALL DRAFTS SHOULD TAKE PLACE CLOSER TO THE START OF THE SEASON.
For most of us, fantasy football drafts have come and gone, so I hope you love the teams you drafted; if not, it's time to make some trades and watch that waiver wire!
This years' preseason was riddled with injuries and suspensions of the like, so if you drafted early this year, you could have gotten snake-bitten. If you drafted early, you may be breathing a breath of fresh air knowing that Arian Foster, who's groin could have sideline him for up to the first 8 games of the season, is expected back by Week 4. Those of you that drafted Jordy Nelson or Kelvin Benjamin may not feel as lucky, as they are out for the remainder of the season with torn ACL's, respectively. So, if you're one of the unlucky ones to waste a high draft pick on a player that is sidelined for the season, here is a list of the most notable undrafted players to look out for on the waiver wire:
UNDRAFTED PLAYERS YOU NEED ON YOUR BENCH:
For most of us, fantasy football drafts have come and gone, so I hope you love the teams you drafted; if not, it's time to make some trades and watch that waiver wire!
This years' preseason was riddled with injuries and suspensions of the like, so if you drafted early this year, you could have gotten snake-bitten. If you drafted early, you may be breathing a breath of fresh air knowing that Arian Foster, who's groin could have sideline him for up to the first 8 games of the season, is expected back by Week 4. Those of you that drafted Jordy Nelson or Kelvin Benjamin may not feel as lucky, as they are out for the remainder of the season with torn ACL's, respectively. So, if you're one of the unlucky ones to waste a high draft pick on a player that is sidelined for the season, here is a list of the most notable undrafted players to look out for on the waiver wire:
UNDRAFTED PLAYERS YOU NEED ON YOUR BENCH:
- David Cobb, RB (TEN): Listen, someone has to run the ball in Tennessee and let's be honest, it's probably NOT going to be Bishop Sankey. Sankey was given the opportunity last year and he dropped the ball (pun intended). Cobb is a first-year back looking to make his mark on the league. With a mediocre offense all-around, someone has to shine through alongside of Marcus Mariota.
- John Brown, WR (ARIZ): Carson Palmer is healthy...for now. Larry Fitzgerald will attract attention, as always, but other than Fitz, no one has stepped up to the plate. Michael Floyd had the opportunity last year and proved to us that when the spotlight shines on him, he...gets injured. Brown is the most explosive player on the Cardinals roster and I look for them to use him in anyway possible.
- Marvin Jones, WR (CIN): This seems to be a name people are forgetting about. Jones has secured his #2 spot on the Bengals roster behind AJ Green. People forget that this is a guy that had 10 touchdowns in 2013 and was poised to be a solid one-two-punch with Green in 2014 before getting injured during the preseason and not making it back to game-form before the season's end. No, Andy Dalton isn't the best QB in the world. Yes, the Bengals will be more run-heavy with Jeremy Hill and Giovani Bernard, but Dalton will still throw the ball 25-30 times a game. To me, that's enough to make Marvin Jones FLEX material.
- Cameron Artis-Payne, RB (CAR): This one is a no-brainer to me. CAP needs stashed on your bench, and that's fact. Jonathon Stewart has proved that when healthy that he is a very capable lead back that can bust open defenses for large gains - but he hasn't played a full 16-game season since 2011! Enter Artis-Payne, the thick-downhill runner who I believe could take some carries away from Stewart just so they can preserve Stewart's health.
- Steve Johnson, WR (SD): San Diego lost it's top two contributors from last season, Eddie Royal (traded) and Antonio Gates (suspended until Week 4). Those two combined contributed 19 TD's through the air. Enter Johnson, a speedy, slot WR who has proven he is a 1,000 yard receiver when given the opportunity (he posted 3 straight 1,000 yard campaigns while in Buffalo). I'll give Keenan Allen the benefit of the doubt and blame his sophomore slump for the bad season, and I'll ignore the fact that he showed up to training camp over weight. He is going to be Philip Rivers #1 target, and Rivers is going to throw ball around just as he does year after year. But that #2 position seems to be a fight between Malcolm Floyd and Johnson. Definitely a situation to keep your eye on.
Thursday, September 3, 2015
First Blog
This blog will be dedicated to the world of Fantasy Football. No, I'm not Matthew Berry. I don't have a podcast. I don't have a big-time gig at ESPN. What I do have though, is a full head of hair and an ever-growing love for the analysis of the NFL.
Fantasy Football now goes hand-in-hand with the NFL. This blog will not be centered around the NFL teams as a whole, but more so geared towards the NFL players and how their fantasy season is coming along as well as projections for them in the weeks to come.
This is a passion of mine, and one I would like to explore post-graduation. This blog gives me the opportunity to share my ideas and my insight on the fantasy football world and prove to future employers that my insight, knowledge, and predictions are thorough and critical.
What to Expect When Reading This Blog:
Fantasy Football now goes hand-in-hand with the NFL. This blog will not be centered around the NFL teams as a whole, but more so geared towards the NFL players and how their fantasy season is coming along as well as projections for them in the weeks to come.
This is a passion of mine, and one I would like to explore post-graduation. This blog gives me the opportunity to share my ideas and my insight on the fantasy football world and prove to future employers that my insight, knowledge, and predictions are thorough and critical.
What to Expect When Reading This Blog:
- Statistics
- Predictions
- Answers to some questions that were brought to my attention throughout the week
- And more importantly...ENTERTAINMENT. This is a contemporary topic, so it will be light-hearted and easy to read!
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