-Arian Foster has gone anywhere from second pick overall to the 9th selection in the first round. The workhouse back has carried many fantasy football teams to the championship over the last few seasons and has caused several owners to think twice about where to draft him. His battering mate Ben Tate who has looked promising in the preseason, is earning an eight to ninth round draft selection as a handcuff or a trade chip if Foster were to miss any time. Foster has piled up the carries the last few seasons, but Houston is still a run first team and Foster is the main threat for touchdown numbers. Still a top five back, but make sure you grab Tate before another owner does.
-Vick is being drafted a starting quarterback. Even with the knowledge that Vick will likely miss significant playing time due to injuries, he is being drafted before guys like Romo and Eli Manning. With Chip Kelly leading the way, fantasy owners are hoping the run first play-calling will keep Vick upright. At the same time, Desean Jackson is the only electric proven play-making receiver left on the roster. I like Vick myself, but a guy like Romo throwing to Dez, Austin and Witten has more upside then Vick. Make sure you draft his replacement in a player like Rothlisberger, Dalton or Bradford.
-Gronkowski is still the number two tight-end being drafted. Even with several surgeries and limited off-season practice, the play-making and dominance of Gronk is hard for owners to not draft if available late fourth round to early fifth. Is he worth the gamble? He is a monster of a player and will produce enough for this high-risk/high reward selection to pay off.
-Kenbrell Thompkins has seen the biggest jump in fantasy football draft position. From an undrafted rookie to a “must have” for fantasy owners, Thompkins is the hot name right now. With future Hall of Famer Tom Brady showing a lot of trust and attention to the former Georgia Bulldog, and top receiving targets from 2012 elsewhere, someone needs to make plays and that someone appears to be Thompkins.
-There is significant wide receiver depth available from rounds seven to eleven. If you want that early quarterback, the depth at running back and a top five tight-end, you can have your cake and eat it too. Players like James Jones, Hilton, Gordon, Golden Tate, Michael Floyd, Emmanuel Sanders, Rueben Randle, Sidney Rice, Miles Austin, Lance Moore, Greg Jennings, Stevie Johnson, Justin Blackmon are all most likely going to be available. There are several break-out candidates and other players who can contribute to your fantasy squad. Hilton, Austin and Tate are all going to have tremendous seasons. Josh Gordon and Justin Blackmon have amazing talent, they both have suspensions to serve but can offer great value for your playoff run once they return.
The draft last night left me fuming…I kept wanting to hit people upside the head ’cause I kept missing my guy by like one spot…lol
AND I shoulda taken Olsen and not Gates – but I couldn’t figure out who was the best bet at the time (I’ve never played fantasy before) and chose Gates.
It was a long night. lol
I’ve had TE Gates the last 3 Seasons..
A couple years back he was a Stud, but last year he was a disaster for him as he missed a lot of games due to his chronic ankle issues, plus on a bad Team which couldn’t run the ball to set him up with play-action like years past.. He has peaked as an NFL Top TE, Greg Olsen (Panthers) a much better choice with more upside ..
Yes.
I realized that AFTER the fact. Thanks for rubbing it in though.
lol
I resent this game, anybody that cheers for their fantasy football players when they’re playing the eagles, or players like tony romo etc. you should be banned from watching the eagles. here’s your draft
QB michael vick
RB lesean mccoy
WR desean jackson
WR riley cooper
WR jason avant
TE brent celek
K alex henery
DEF eagles
Dude I love you loyalty but in my league we call guys like you a donator. Thanks for the money homie.LOL
Yeah.. enjoy your 2-14 season buddy.
Chris Givens is another name to throw in there. Last year, he averaged 16.6 yards per catch and was targeted 81 times.
Givens is listed as The Rams #1 WR this year on the depth charts and he’s taking over Danny Amendola’s position which will open him up more in the in field and not used solely as a deep threat as he was last year.
Not to mention he has been one of the “Gems” this preseason. Tavon Austin will be drafted ahead of him because of his ability but Givens is an ideal WR3 with WR2 upside. 7th round average. Not too shabby.
Givens should absolutely be taken ahead of Austin. The deep threat is obviously there, but as you mentioned he will be taken over the role of Amendola. When Amendola went down with the injury last year Givens became Bradford’s go to man.
Nice post.
Jordon Cameron is being way over hyped. He is now being labeled as the next Rob Gronkowski. Ridiculous! The Browns haven’t had a 1000 yard receiver since Braylon Edwards in 2007.
To believe in Jordon Cameron would mean that you believe in Brandon Weeden. I dont believe in Weeden. I think he stinks! with guys like Vernon Davis, Witten, Gonzalez, even Kyle Rudolph why would you pass up on these guys to target Jordon Cameron? wayyyyyyy over hyped.
While I think the comparisons to Gronk are way too premature, he does have the kind of ability. Weeden’s inconsistent play is going to hold Cameron and Gordon from reaching the level of play they should.
Gonzalez and Witten are the only 2 TE’s you listed that I like more than Cameron in fantasy, though. When Kaep took over in San Fran, Veron Davis’s numbers feel drastically. That could change with the absence of Crabtree who was Kaep’s favorite target. Rudolph also has QB play holding him back, although he does have the big advantage of when they get to the red zone he’s who Ponder is looking for. Of course, when they aren’t just running it in with AP.
If you can’t get Jimmy Graham/Rob Gronkowski without reaching I’d just wait until the TE position as a whole plays itself out. Just a lot of inconsistent play after those two. I like Zach Sudfeld a lot but he had that fumble against the Lions last week which caused him to be benched so he is on a short leash with Belicheck.
A couple of under the radar TE’s
Greg Olsen – Panthers
Scott Chandler – Buffalo Bills
Brandon Myers – NY Giants
Jared Cook – Rams
Dwayne Allen – Colts
Martellus Bennett – Bears
Zach Miller – Seahawks
Good call on Greg Olsen, he doesn’t get mentioned all that often, but believe he was the 2nd best fantasy tight end the second part of the season when Cam got it going. I’m intrigued with Jared Cook, who had a quiet first two preseason games, but during the “dress rehearsal” game put up 50 yards and a TD I believe it was. Martellus Bennett is another interesting one with Brandon Marshall currently upset with the rehabbing of his hip. If Bennett can gain Cutler’s trust early he can have a good year if Marshall isn’t 100% healthy. Alshon Jeffery would stand to gain a lot from that as well.
Not sure how much I like Brandon Meyers, though. He had a career year last year, but hasn’t done much of anything throughout the preseason. Although, he does have the potential to be even better than last year with the other weapons that defenses have to worry about first.
I agree with your assesment..
You look at the Panthers, who Newton’s #1 Target is WR Steve Smith, after that, their WR is pretty mediocre and Newton likes to use the middle of the field when scrambing which makes Olsen a Great Target and should put up some good Numbers..
The Rams with Cook are another Team with inexperience at WR and Coach Fisher has always liked his QB using the TE.. I think he’s in for a big Season as TE Bennett who has great Talent, but loses his focus to easily.. With Marshall still rehabbing, Cutler and new HC Trestman’s system of controlled passing, qucik routes and spreading th eball around, Cutlet & Bennett could become a nice Combo.. and playing the Packers,Vikings, & Lions twice a Years means Cutler will not have a lot of time to thros Deep Routes to Marshall which should means he throws more intermediate routes to the middle of the field to Bennet.. The NFC North Defenses all have strong DL who get after the QB, but have average Secondaries that give up a lot of passing yards and plays down the field, Bennett is a match-up nighmare
I selected Meyers for ELi has not really had a top TE during his Giants Career.. Most were blockign type of TE’s
Hicks is injury prone, probably leaving for Free-Agency after 2013 and I question his Motor and committment to be honest and Cruz is coming off an injury so he may a little of a slow start to his Season, s oI expect Eli to adjust accordingly and find Myers a lot as his Safety blanket for a Giant Team that has a very banged up and questionable OL to start the Season….
Good point on Eli lacking a pass catching TE in recent years. I’d be a lot higher on Meyers if he and Eli were able to hook up a little more this preseason, but the potential is there for him to have a good year. I don’t like Nicks this year at WR he’s to oft-injured for my taste. I actually think his injury history opens the door for Randle to have a breakout type of season. One last tight end worth mentioning I think would be Ed Dickson. They lost Pitta and Boldin this off-season, but even with them last year Dickson still led the Ravens in red zone targets. He got hurt and didn’t get to showcase himself this preseason, but if you need a TE with top 10 production potential I think Dickson can do the job and you can snag him late.
I got both Vernon Davis & Jared Cook as TE’s fyi..
Paulman’s Fantasy Football Team that I just Selected
(I was selecting 7th in a 8 Man League)
QB- Drew Brees, Andrew Luck & Joe Flacco
RB – CJ Spiller, Demarco Murray, Kendall Hunter & Bryce Brown
WR – Roddy White, Randall Cobb, D-Jax, Malcolm Floyd
TE – Vernon Davis & Jared Cook
Defense/Special Teams – Seattle Seahawks
Kicker – Blair Walsh (Vikings)
Is this a 2 QB league? If it is you killed it nailing Brees and Luck. I’m guessing you got Spiller at 7? Overall, you got a good team. Only thing I’d be worried about is the RB depth, got a couple of good handcuffs, but Murray worries me, if he can stay healthy he can produce.
Franks 10 team league…had the 10th pick
qb- a rod
wr- calvin johnson, james jones, mike wallace,hakeem nixks, deandre Hopkins.
Rd- chris johnson, eddie lacy, laveon bell, bernard pearce.
te- jared cook
d- 49ers
Nice team, I think you did well picking from last. Wallace scares me because he and Tannehill haven’t gotten on the same page at camp. Nicks can’t stay healthy, but I think you nailed it Hopkins.
Thanks bro. I have the same doubts about wallace and nicks..hoping between the two, one will step up