"It's years since you've been there
Now you've disappeared somewhere
Like outer space, you've found some better place
And I miss you..."
What
is happenin' cap'n? Is it once again football season...thank you
Jesus!! August is such a boring sports month. No offense to the Sox or
baseball, but when that is the only sports entity that is on, it
literally lulls me to sleep.
At least we have the
Olympics now to kind of cure the boredom...at least a little bit...some
of that stuff is also mind-numbingly boring. Here's a few Olympic quick
takes while I'm on the subject:
- USA
Swimming and Gymnastics are going to dominate for a long, long time.
Phelps obviously, but the emergence of Katie Ledecky dominating the rest
of the world and winning the 200, 400, and 800 freestyle. Simone Biles
is the best all-around gymnast in the world, while Massachusetts' own
Aly Raisman could be #2.
- USA Basketball should be as dominating, yet have looked very
undominant (?) lately, barely getting by Australia, Serbia, and France.
Despite not having LeBron, Steph, Westbrook, and Harden, the games
shouldn't be this close.
- Korea has a bad ass Archery team.
- Fencing is so sick to watch. They black out the crowd and spotlight
the floor so all you see is the two fencers battling. Then when a touch
is made, a light illuminates the winning side...it's a sight to behold
(thank you On Demand and streaming!).
- The shooting coverage is horrible. They just show the people
shooting, but they don't show the targets that they're shooting at...am I
missing something? Isn't the entire point of the sport to hit set
target? Why would we not want to see how close a shooter is to the
target? I would put a little box next to the shooter that had a camera
on the target. This way you get the results in real time and not have to
wait for a box to turn green or red at the bottom of the screen...that
stuff really grinds my gears.
- Water polo is the most dreadful game to watch...it's like slow-motion handball, which is the second-most dreadful game to watch.
- While it's not in the games this year, there is a distinct
possibility that ballroom dancing will get added for the 2020 games in
Tokyo. I'm actually ok with this. I think there is a heightened
awareness of the art of dancing and while it may have grown through
unconventional means (Dancing With The Stars, So You Think You Can
Dance?...even Dance Moms), it's still there. Also, if you have a few
couples that you can spotlight and that put on a spectacular show, it
could be an interesting added revenue stream for an event that takes
very little to put on (basically just a dance floor right?)
- Last point: Michael Phelps is the greatest Olympian EVER. Period.
So there's some Olympic coverage for ya. Now, back to why you
clicked on this (if you came to the jam, well I'm glad you
came)...football, football, FOOTBALL!!!! Yesssssss!!! So it's been kind
of an auspicious start to the NFL season, as the Hall of Fame game that
normally gets played the Sunday after the HOF induction ceremony was
cancelled this year due to field conditions...not quite what they were
going for. How is it possible to not account for how the paint that you
use to paint the field can have an adverse reaction to the field turf
you intend to paint on? I mean have we not done this before? Literally
every Hall of Fame game ever has gone off without a hitch. Just
incredibly bad timing for a league that really did not need any more bad
pub. Sure this is not going to derail the league entirely, but it's yet
another blow to its integrity, which at some point will matter (at
least I hope).
So fantasy time is here. If you are not
familiar with how I conduct my preview, it's pretty simple. I will run
through a mock draft I did with total strangers (hopefully some of them
cared) on a now not-effed up laptop (thank you Acer for making a $200
computer). I'll show you who I picked, why I picked them, then tell you
about other targets in the area and guys that I wouldn't touch with a 10
foot pole (this Bud's for you Eli!). So, without further ado...
Team Name: Free Brady: Well
this was a fairly easy decision. Whatever the case may be, my team name
was going to be something pro-Brady or something very, very, VERY
anti-Goddell (which is tough to give away given ESPN's stance on
inappropriate names...different in private leagues though!)
Pick Position: 1: I
landed at #1 in one of the two mocks I did before this one. Nice to get
anyone you want to, but that wait after you pick until #20 is
LOOOONNNNNGGGGGGG.
1. Antonio Brown, WR, Pittsburgh: Brown
is the concensus #1 pick, which marks the first time basically ever
that a receiver will go #1 in a fantasy draft, and not only that, but
Odell Beckham, Jr. is slotted right behind him at #2. So while receivers
are suddenly dominating the top of the board, just remember this...
Theory #1: Do Not Rule Out Taking Adrian Peterson or Todd Gurley #1: Obviously
in this example, I went Antonio, but in the back of my mind, I did
consider this one fact...there just aren't many workhorse backs in the
league anymore, which explains why receivers, who play every down, are
now being valued much higher in an overall sense than backs. In the top
10 of most people's boards, you are looking at only a few RBs (AP,
Gurley, David Johnson, Ezekiel Elliot). Meanwhile, there are a slew of
guys that I would not mind being my team's top receiver in the second
round. So it's something to consider. Ultimately, I just love Antonio
and I think he's the best overall player in the league right now, and
although his numbers were eye-popping last year, there is nothing to
suggest that he cannot repeat that performance this year.
So
obviously, there's about three or four options at #1, and once you
decide on that, the wait is long for the next pick, and lots of the top
talent will go off the board. There are three guys I would be a little
bit wary of:
1. Devonta Freeman, RB, Atlanta:
I do really like Freeman's game, but he trended downward over the
second half of last year, and new head coach Dan Quinn is said to really
like Tevin Coleman, meaning there's a chance the carries could happen
in less than a 75/25 split for Freeman. He projects as a 3rd to 4th
rounder who is going in the top 10-15.
2. Eddie Lacy, RB, Green Bay: After
his rookie year, Lacy was pegged for stardom, being a top 5 pick two
years ago, but his inconsistency is well documented, and until he proves
he can play at a high level for more than a half a season, I'm staying
away from Lacy.
3. Jamaal Charles, RB, Kansas City: This
guy is one of my favorite players in the league, but comes with such a
huge risk price tag that I can't in good conscience recommend taking him
in the top 20. He is a good guy to target in a trade, especially if he
struggles out of the gate, and could be a nice buy-low candidate.
20. Mark Ingram, RB, New Orleans: Ingram
also comes with a bit of injury concern, but I feel like at 26, this is
going to be the breakout season. Again with relatively no competition
for carries, Ingram not only will get the bulk of the carries, but also
be used in the passing game, making him even more valuable in PPR
leagues.
21. Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay: I have
been a huge advocate for Evans since he was catching balls from Johnny
Manziel at A&M. He's got one of the best frames for a receiver in
the whole game, and with Jameis Winston perhaps poised for a big season
(more on that later), one would think that Evans makes the leap into the
All-Pro category this season, and that even at #21, this could become a
steal.
...and now we wait...
Guys Going From 20-40 I'm Big On:
- Russell Wilson, QB, Seattle: By far my favorite fantasy QB not named Tom Brady or Cam Newton. In
all seriousness though, I think Wilson is so good he potentially could
beat out Newton for #1 fantasy QB this year. One can only hope Thomas
Rawls can keep the running game going, which really frees up Wilson to
do his thing. Imagine if they can actually get Jimmy Graham involved
too?
- Amari Cooper, WR, Oakland: Like Evans, I
feel like this is the last time Cooper will be falling in this range.
Cooper has already shown that he can be a legit superstar in the league,
and has a reliable battery with David Carr, so look for him to wind
up in the 1200-1400 yard range with 6-10 scores.
- Keenan Allen, WR, San Diego: Of
all the receivers clumped into this range, I feel like Allen is
arguably the most reliable of the group. Despite always having an array
of receiving targets, Philip Rivers always seems to find Allen. He did
miss half of last year, but that was due to a lacerated kidney (ouch),
so I don't really think there's so-called "injury concern" (although it
is football, so there's "injury concern" about everyone really).
Guys I'm Like "If I Get 'Em In The 5th Round, I'll Be Happy, But Here?...Ehhhhh...:
- Randall Cobb, WR, Green Bay: So
Cobb couldn't crack the top 100 last year when he was by far the main
target of the offense, and now Jordy Nelson's back, and you still want
me to take him this high? Okie dokie!
- Jonathan Stewart, RB, Carolina: I feel like
we've been waiting for Stewart to be a top back since forever, and yet,
it's been kind of blah. Carolina's got a crowded backfield, and with
Kelvin Benjamin back, obviously the pass game will be even more
emphasized, so expect more blah.
40. Jordan Reed, TE, Washington: I
was ecstatic to see Reed fall all the way to me at the bottom of the
4th round. I would think he is a lock for the 3rd round, so I wouldn't
expect this turn of luck to happen again. Outside of Gronk, Reed is by
far the best TE option there is. He's clearly established a rapport with
Kirk Cousins, and could break into the top 20 this season.
41. Jeremy Langford, RB, Chicago: At
this point in the draft, you have to know that the well of potential
"star" RBs is about to completely dry up, especially if you have to wait
19 picks for your next selection. Langford could be anything from a
bust to a top 10 pick. He hasn't been the main man for a prolonged
stretch yet, but has shown he has the ability to be a star, being a
threat running the ball and almost even more so, in the passing game,
much like his predecessor, Matt Forte. The feeling is that you're not
going to be able to get him for this cheap again.
Guys Going 40-60 That You Can Call Honey Smacks 'Cause I Dig 'Em:
- Jeremy Maclin, WR, Kansas City: Maclin
broke the mold of what had been the black hole of receivers' careers in
KC (here's to you Dwayne Bowe). Also, he had six TDs in his last six
games, so clearly his value is on the uptick.
- Doug Baldwin, WR, Seattle: Baldwin
was on a TD storm in the second half of last season, producing top 10
numbers over the final eight weeks of the season. Seems like the 'Hawks
are focused on involving him more in the offense, and while he may not
go on a tear like last year, he should have a quality season.
and last but not least...
- Thomas Edmund Brady, Jr., G.O.A.T., New England: So yeah, there's the whole suspension thing, but once he returns in Week 5, expect Brady to absolutely set the world on fire.
Guys I'm Not So Keen On:
- Latavius Murray, RB, Oakland: While
he did rush for 1,000 yards, Murray was altogether really unspectacular
in an offense where he could have broken through and been a star. I
feel like Oakland may be trending towards a more pass-heavy offense with
more and more trust being placed on Derek Carr.
- DeMarco Murray, RB, Tennessee: I
feel like once he left Dallas, he never was able to find a comfort zone
in Philly, and while one would hope a change of scenery will help, my
thoughts are that Murray will end up being a timeshare back with newly
drafted Derrick Henry figuring to get 30-40% of the action right off the
bat.
Apparently I'm not a fan of Murrays in this instance haha.
60. Ameer Abdullah, RB, Detroit: Both
Langford and Abdullah will come with the exact same risk/reward
factor...either breakout stars, or duds. Again, Abdullah, like Langford,
is useful both running and catching the ball. Theo Riddick will likely
get carries, but over the long haul, it will be Abdullah getting the bulk
of the work. Remember that the Lions no longer have Megatron, so expect
a rise in the amount of work the backfield gets this year.
61. Josh Gordon, WR, Cleveland:
Theory #2: Take Josh Gordon Whenever You Can: Yes,
he's suspended for the first four games. Yes, he didn't play at all
last year, but after his 2013 and 2014 seasons, there's no way I'm not taking him.
Once he serves his suspension, he will likely rise to the top of the
FLEX rankings, making him a steal at the top of the 7th round.
Player To Watch: Delanie Walker, TE, Tennessee: I
would say Walker is in a tie with Greg Olsen for third best TE on the
board, and you can get him two to three rounds after him. Great value
play. Walker should have a big season with Marcus Mariota becoming more
and more comfortable behind center.
Player To Avoid: Arian Foster, RB, Miami: No
way...there's just no way I take him. Too much injury concern, and Jai
Ajayi actually looked competent last year, so who's to say he won't
continue to keep the starting job once Foster comes back healthy?...that
is, if he comes back healthy.
80. Tyler Lockett, WR, Seattle: Lockett
is emerging into a stud receiver and while Doug Baldwin is obviously
still the #1 threat, Lockett is a solid backup target for Russell
Wilson. There's definitely going to be a lot more passing going on in
Seattle as well.
81. Blake Bortles, QB, Jacksonville:
Theory #3: Blake Bortles Will Be A Top 5 QB This Year...Again: Yes,
Bortles actually was a top 5 QB last year, and yet he is being treated
as a borderline top 10 QB. There is nothing to suggest that Bortles
can't have close to 5,000 yards this year. He has dynamic playmaking
threats in Allen Robinson, Allen Hurns, and Julius Thomas, all of whom
are expected to have better seasons than last, and he looked very strong
down the stretch.
Player To Target: John Brown, WR, Arizona: There
are a lot of options at Carson Palmer's disposal, but he seems to be an
equal-opportunist for his receivers. Brown was great last year because
if he wasn't having big yardage games, he was scoring touchdowns.
Player To Say Class Dismissed To: T.J. Yeldon, RB, Jacksonville: The
addition of Chris Ivory has to be incredibly telling that they do not
believe Yeldon as being a workhorse guy and someone who can be of
fantasy relevance. Both Yeldon and Ivory are going in this range, so be
wary of drafting either.
100. LeGarrette Blount, RB, New England:
Theory #4: LeGarrette Blount Will Be A Top 15 Back Despite Being Drafted As The 30th RB Off The Board: With
Dion Lewis still recovering from his ACL tear last year, Blount
figures to be the main back of the committee. Also, with Jimmy
Garroppolo going the first four games, the run game likely will get a
boost in numbers. I think this is an absolute steal this late. Literally
no risk and RB2 upside at the end of the 10th.
101. Seattle D/ST: At
this point, you have to start thinking defense. I know at some point
they will have a bye week and render themselves useless, but it's
imperative to get a top 5 D. Those 15-20 points the good D's score
consistently can make a huge difference. 'Hawks, Broncos, Texans,
Panthers, Cardinals...one of those five you need.
Player To Target: Gary Barnidge, TE, Cleveland: Barnidge
was solid last year and really found his groove right as Josh McCown
was settling in as the starter. Barnidge went for over a 1,000 yards, which is quite the feat for a tight end. Remember also that
Travis Benjamin is in San Diego and Josh Gordon will not be back until
Week 5. Obviously the chemistry between him and RG3 has yet to be
tested, but if you have waited this long to grab a TE, Barnidge is a
great value pick from the 8-11th rounds.
Another Player To Target (why focus on potential duds?...it's the 11th round!!): Stefon Diggs, WR, Minnesota: Diggs
at times showed he has the potential to be a WR2 and even a FLEX play
with his explosive playmaking abilities. The Vikes did draft Laquon
Treadwell, who is expected to see plenty of run in his rookie campaign,
but Diggs remains an extremely low risk/high reward guy with Teddy
Bridgewater improving each year he is in the league and his ability to
distribute the ball around.
120. Jameis Winston, QB, Tampa Bay:
Theory #5: Jameis Winston Will Be Drafted Like A QB2 But Will Start For A Team In Your Fantasy League Playoffs: I
don't see any way how Winston will regress after what he showed last
year. Now he's clearly the leader of that team even though it's his
second year. It's very much the same way Cam Newton took over the
Panthers. They were a struggling team, then suddenly, new QB, more
wins...okay this is a philosophy we can get on board with! Winston has
weapons everywhere and is already a borderline top 10 QB (finished 13th
in ESPN last year).
121. Devin Funchess, WR, Carolina: Funchess
is a lottery pick. The height of his value will likely be due to
injury, which is unfortunate to say, but he is third in line next to
Kelvin Benjamin and Greg Olsen in terms of who's getting the targets.
However, if in some scenario he slipped into the #2 spot in that
rotation, he could easily be a 1,000 yard, 8-10 TD receiver.
Player To Target: Derek Carr, QB, Oakland: I
am at the point of almost being scared because everyone has the Raiders
as their "darkhorse" team...which means they're not much of a
darkhorse. In any event, still love Carr. He'll be a solid backup for
you and can spell you in a bye or in case of injury.
...Another One: Markus Wheaton, WR, Pittsburgh: With
Martavis Bryant gone with the wind, Wheaton becomes their #2 man, and
if Bryant's production is any indication, being the #2 in Big Ben's
rotation can be quite lucrative from a fantasy perspective. Wheaton has
also shown his tremendous upside while Bryant was suspended the first
time around, so grabbing him this late is a great play.
140. Darren Sproles, RB, Philadelphia:
Theory #6: Darren Sproles Is The Most Underrated Player In Fantasy...And Probably Has Been For His Entire Career: Sproles
is still getting it done and now has an even clearer path to touches
with DeMarco Murray out of the picture in Philly. Couple that with Ryan
Mathews...where it's like who the hell knows what you're gonna get with
him? Obviously Sproles has been a PPR phenom his whole career, but is
also quite useful in standard leagues. He's a tremendous handcuff given
Mathews' injury-prone past. Here we are at the end of the 14th round,
and Darren Sproles is still here? Really?...alrighty then!
141. Roberto Aguayo, K, Tampa Bay: Obviously
I have a proclivity for Tampa's offense, and I get the impression that
they are going to be putting up a lot of points. Aguayo is amongst the
likes of Sebastian Janikowski, Martin Gramatica, and Stephen Gostkowski
in terms of most ballyhooed kickers coming out of college (not going to
lie, this article was just a giant rouse in order for me to slip the
word ballyhooed into a discussion haha). And...well...you apparently
have to draft a kicker right? Well then it's settled.
160. Eric Ebron, TE, Detroit: Ebron's
gigantic frame sets up as a great target for Matthew Stafford.
Obviously there is a great deal of risk with injuries, but his
production should see an uptick with Megatron retiring, and you're
drafting him as a backup, so really there's no risk involved at
all...this is the last pick of the draft so you can afford to get a
little nuts.
Undrafted Player Who You Should Think About: Anquan Boldin, WR, Detroit: In
getting back to Megatron retiring, I feel like this move went wildly
under the radar. Golden Tate is the clear #1, but Boldin is in line for a
60-70 catch season regardless.
Sooooooooooooooo here's a rundown (round drafted in parentheses):
QB: Blake Bortles (9)
RB: Mark Ingram (2)
RB: Jeremy Langford (5)
WR: Antonio Brown (1)
WR: Mike Evans (3)
TE: Jordan Reed (4)
FLEX: Ameer Abdullah (6)
D/ST: Seattle (11)
K: Roberto Aguayo (15)
BN: Josh Gordon (7)
BN: Tyler Lockett (8)
BN: LeGarrette Blount (10)
BN: Devin Funchess (13)
BN: Darren Sproles (14)
BN: Eric Ebron (16)
As
with any draft, of course I'm going to say that went well. Also keep in
mind that Josh Gordon is likely to slip into the FLEX spot upon his
return from suspension, so it stands to reason I'll have three top 10
receivers starting for me every week. Also, if Langford busts (I don't
see that happening, but you never know), I have plenty of insurance with
Abdullah, Blount, and Sproles, who you could make an argument could all
be in the RB2 tier at some point this season.
I
wasn't really sure how to react to having the first pick. Sure you get
Antonio, but again...the wait for the next pick is brutal, but after
running through this sim, I did a ton of damage. It's also nice to have
back-to-back picks and strike twice in one swoop. I've always enjoyed
that position.
Well I hope this was informative for you
guys. When all is said and done though, obviously this isn't gospel.
Your team is dependent on your likings and your observations. I'm not an
expert, but I've always enjoyed educating people and arguing ideas and
opinions. You're going to be inundated with fantasy football stuff, so
I'm just very happy you chose to check this out. It means the world to
me. Hope y'all have a great day! Good luck in your drafts and leagues
this year! (unless you're in my leagues...y'all are in trouble haha).
Stay safe and happy y'all! Peace.
~Mell-o