The Players 2018 Preseason Power Rankings
I'm going to keep my introduction as short as possible (this is
the last thing I'm writing, and I want to just post this and go to
bed). The following is a look at each team, and ranking them based on
how I expect them to perform this season. It is meant to be fun, and
drive discussion. It is not meant to tear down anyone. It's not meant
to disparage. I write these articles each year with the best
intentions. If anyone is hurt, just remember (and Aaron has the stats
to prove it), my record in this league is one of the worst. I'm
coming off a year where I missed the playoffs. In seventeen seasons,
I've only one the championship once (though the same could be said of
everyone else not named: Aaron, Andy, or Derek). Now, despite my lack
of success in the league. I have been extremely successful
at predictintly the league winner. Just last year, Tony sat atop my
2017 Preseason Power Rankings, and he went on to win the title and
trophy. So, there's pretty good odds that the team named at the end
of this list will be out champion. Enjoy.
The Bottom
12 The C's
I
believe Andrew Luck
can bounce back, and be an at-least average starting QB in fantasy
this year. There's risk, yes, but he's still a top-five QB on talent,
and he has the weapons to match. Matthew
Stafford seems to be an
unnecessary luxury, although he provides Jared with a stable
substitute. The thing is, Jared paid way too high a cost for
Stafford, the number two pick.
He still needed starters at RB and WR, and there were players worth
starting available namely, Adam Thielen (WR14) and Royce
Freeman (RB15). Jared clearly
felt unsure about Luck, and wanted assurances. It was his first draft
with us, and maybe he worried we'd take QBs early. If this was the
case, then why not keep Dak Prescott? I have Prescott averaging just
a point less than Matthew Stafford per week (19.3 ppw vs 20.3). My
point isn't to pile on, Jared was certainly in a tough spot, but
there were better options available to him. With that said, QB is a
strength for Jared.
Running
Back will be Jared's weakest position. Marshawn
Lynch will be Jared's
best running back. Lynch is the twenty-first RB on my board. He's in
a good situation in Oakland, and I don't expect Doug Martin to steal
many carries. By spending his first pick on Stafford, Jared had to
wait until the end of the second to take another RB, and there wasn't
an obvious pick at that point. Bilal
Powell has been a useful
RB3 the past couple of seasons. However, he is more of a utility back
than an everyday back, and has more value in PPR leagues. The Jets
brought in Isaiah Crowell this offseason, and he should see the bulk
of the carries. Even if Crowell gets hurt, I imagine McGuire will
take his place on first and second down. Jared's third, and final,
running back is Devontae
Booker. I'd love this
pick if he had taken Royce Freeman in the first. It's still a good
pick in our ninth round. Booker is a talented running back, and
should split carries (30/70) with Freeman. He can be a RB2 if Freeman
gets injured, or falters. Jared has one solid starter in Lynch,
though he's no longer fantasy stud.
However, he doesn't have a second viable starter, and also lacks
depth with just three running backs rostered.
Jared
has a couple of my favorite breakout candidates this year: Jamieson
Crowder and Kenny
Golladay. However, he
doesn't have a single wide receiver I have ranked inside the top-36
(we start 36 wide receivers each week). Crowder and Golladay
certainly have WR3/2 upside, with both capable of emerging as their
team's best receiver this year, but both Washington and Detroit have
a variety of weapons at their QBs' disposal. Michael
Crabtree was a magnet for
the ball in the redzone in Oakland, and could prove to be equally
effective in Baltimore. However, he could also take a step back in a
new situation and with a worse QB. Randall
Cobb isn't a bad option
on the bench, but I'm betting (seriously betting, look at my draft)
that he'll be Rodgers' fourth or fifth option this year. Jack
Doyle will be a solid TE
for Jared, even with Eric Ebron in the fold, but I have Delanie
Walker higher on my list (and Jared could have kept Delanie Walker).
I
do not approve of Jared's decision to draft two kickers and two
defenses, especially since he kept a kicker. If he's going to take a
kicker in the draft anyway, he could have kept a second QB, Prescott,
or a second TE, Delanie Walker. Minnesota is the fourth ranked
defense; Matt Bryant is the fourth ranked kicker. Hopefully they
prove to be reliable, so Jared can dump the excess for RB depth.
Regardless
of how Luck performs, Jared will be strong at QB with Stafford. He
needs to add depth, and preferably high upside depth, at RB. He needs
to get lucky there. Lynch's RB1 days are gone and Jared lacks a solid
starter behind him. Jared's three WRs are fringe starters, but there
is some upside there. His defense should provide Jared with some
points at least. This team could be worse, but I do feel it could
have been a lot better with just a couple of tweaks: take a RB in the
first and keep Walker or Prescott in place of the kicker.
QB:
B
RB:
D+
REC:
D+
D/K:
A-
GPA:
1.96
11 Joshua Tree
I'll
say one thing, Jeff is loyal. He drafted Marcus
Mariota early as a
rookie, and he is sticking to him, no matter the cost. Marcus Mariota
is the eighteenth QB on my board a tier below a large group of
suitable starters: Roethlisberger, Stafford, Goff Rivers, Ryan,
Mahomes, and Garoppolo. Jeff had the opportunity to keep Alex Smith,
who's the ninth best QB on my board. I have Smith being worth more
than a point per game more than Mariota.
By
virtue of finishing last two years ago, Jeff has a bonafide RB1,
Leonard Fournette.
Fournette is the seventh best RB entering the season. He's also one
of the safest RBs in the league, who will get consistent work as an
every-down back. Jeff also kept Tevin
Coleman who has proven to
be a back end RB2 even when Devonta Freeman is healthy, and RB1 when
he's hurt. Jeff used both of his first round selections on a pair of
lottery ticket rookies: Nyheim
Hines and Sony
Michel. Hines was a
veritable overdraft at #4, and I don't like his outlook this season
behind Mack and Wilkins in a non-PPR league. Michel is a good pick
though. He's being talked up like a potential every-down back on one
of the best offenses in the league. There's significant risk
associated with Michel though. He's working on coming back from
injury, and will likely miss week 1. Once healthy he joins a crowded
backfield where Rex Burkhead, James White, and Jeremy Hill will all
have roles. Still, Michel is a high upside prospect who could become
a starter for Jeff.
Jeff
has the second worst group of receivers in the league. He kept Stefon
Diggs, who is a solid
WR2, and could finish the season in the low teens. He's the twentieth
receiver on my board. His first pick at wide receiver came in the
third round. He took Calvin
Ridley. Ridley is,
possibly, the best rookie at wide receiver this year. He could become
a top receiver some day. This season he is behind Julio Jones and
Mohamed Sanu on the depth chart. Rookie wide receivers generally take
time to develop, and become consistent fantasy contributors. Jeff had
a plethora of stable options available to him at the time. He
followed up on the Ridley pick by taking Jordy
Nelson. During the
offseason, it was difficult to project who would get targets between
newcomers Nelson and Martavius Bryant for the Raiders. Now, with
Bryant gone, Nelson should be in a good position, and I like him as a
solid WR4, possibly WR3. Jeff used a third straight pick on a
receiver, taking Allen
Hurns. Hurns is a good
pick, and should receive plenty of action in Dallas as their number
one receiver. Paul
Richardson is another
solid guy, who has shown flashes of potential to be a fantasy
starter, but we'll have to see how he fits in Washington with so many
weapons at Cousins' disposal. Jeff has a good tight end, Delanie
Walker. He's sixth on my
board. He also took George
Kittle who has some
potential in the 49es emerging offense. The tight end position gives
Jeff's receiving corps a little boost.
Jeff
did not take a kicker, so he'll have to grab one before the weekend,
and he took Dallas' defense which was not on my list of the top-24
defenses. Jeff grabbed Ryan Succop. He's a fine kicker,
fourteenth on my list.
Jeff isn't great at any position. His best is at RB, where he has a
true RB1 in Fournette. Coleman may be adequate for the time being,
but he's not an exciting starter while Freeman is healthy. Sony
Michel could turn the tide though, if he establishes himself as the
lead back for New England, he could his running back tandem would be
above-average in the league. Unfortunately, I rank Marcus Mariota as
the league's worst starting QB. Jeff's receivers are behind the rest
of the league, though I do like that he grabbed Walker as his tight
end. Jeff didn't need to take Dallas' defense.
QB:
C-
RB:
C+
REC:
C-
D/K:
C
GPA:
1.99
The Pack
10 Show Your Horns
Jason
kept Drew Brees.
I have Brees ranked eighth. He is starting to slow down, and I think
his top-five days are behind him. Last season Brees tied for eleventh
amongst QBs in our league.
Jason's
team took a blow the day before the draft. Jerrick McKinnon tore his
ACL, and will miss the season. Jason would have ranked higher on this
list if he were able to pair McKinnon with Barkley, alas that's not
going to happen. Jason did use his first pick on Saquon
Barkley. Barkley follows
Fournette, and Elliott as a potential rookie stud and RB1 available
to the worst team from last season. Either keeper, Carlos
Hyde or, second round
pick, Alfred Morris,
will serve as Jason's RB2. I have them ranked #28 and #35,
respectively. Both could serve as a capable starter since they're
expected to be their teams' lead back to start the season. Morris
especially has a great opportunity with the 49ers, but Matt Breida
could take the job as well. Hyde will share snaps with Duke
Johnson Jr, another of
Jason's keepers, and Nick Chubb, but Hyde should get the lion's share
of carries to start the season. Johnson is more valuable in PPR
leagues, but he should have his weeks, and could score more than
Hyde. Jason also took Latavius
Murray. Murray is a great
fourth RB. He should still see some carries even with Cook healthy,
and would immediately become a solid RB2 if Cook gets injured.
Jason
has three wide receivers I have ranked as starters (top-36): Marvin
Jones Jr, Larry Fitzgerald, and Golden Tate.
However, he lacks top-end talent at receiver, as not one of them do I
have tanked in the top-15. Nelson
Agholor is a solid
backup, especially with Jeffery injured to start the season. Mohamed
Sanu is a nice depth
piece. Jason's TE will be—get ready to display your best
shocked face—Kyle
Rudolph of the Vikings.
He's a middle-of-the-pack starter at TE, and should be fine.
Jason
grabbed my tenth rated defense, New
England, and my
thirteenth rated kicker, Adam
Vinateri, but who cares?
There's
a big jump between Jeff and Jason. Jason is solid at QB, even if
Brees is nearing the end. Barkley is a good get, but Jason's RB2 will
be below average. Jason has three solid receivers, but none of them
are going to WR1s this year.
QB:
B-
RB:
C+
REC:
C+
D/K:
C
GPA:
2.53
9 St. Louis Cardinals [Do Not] Rule
Andy kept Matt Ryan, and was opportunistic, taking my ninth
rated QB, Alex Smith, in the eighth round. Ryan would be a
solid starter, but I like Smith a half ppw more. Smith's moving to a
new team, Washington, and I think the move should be beneficial for
him. He's looking to build on a career year.
Andy kept a solid pair of running backs, Devonta Freeman and
Jay Ajayi. Freeman, when healthy, is a back-end RB1. Ajayi has
the potential to be a fringe RB1 to high RB2 as he enters his first
full season with the Eagles. Ajayi may have to split snaps with
several backs though: Sproles, Clement, and Smallwood. Andy
supplemented his keepers by taking a—prepare your best look of
absolute astonishment—rookie running back. Kerryon Johnson
is expected to be Detroit's lead back, at least between the
20s. However, Theo Riddick should be on the field on third down,
and LeGarrette Blount will get carries inside the redzone
(Andy did pick up Blount at the end of the draft). Johnson looked
good during the preseason, and could be a RB2 this season. Andy
grabbed Giovanni Bernard as well. Bernard should just be depth
for Andy. The days of him splitting work with Jeremy Hill, and them
both being top-24 RBs are gone.
Julio Jones is still a top-five receiver entering the season.
In addition to Julio, Andy kept Brandin Cooks, now playing for
the Rams. I have Cooks twenty-first. He has failed to live up to WR1
expectations the last couple of years. Andy drafted Corey Davis
in the second round. Now in his second year, Davis could be primed
for a breakout campaign, and could emerge as a top-twenty receiver.
Andy drafted a trio of great wide receivers, Cooper Kupp, Josh
Doctson, and Rishard Matthews. There are teams with more
quality at the top, but Andy has one of the deepest groups of
receivers, and Davis, Cooks, Kupp, and Doctson could all take a big
step forward this season. I do believe the tight end position drags
this group down a little for Andy. His is Austin Hooper, who I
have ranked eighteenth at the position.
Andy took my sixth ranked kicker, and twelfth ranked defense. They
should be fine.
Andy is another team that should be happy with their QB; Smith
shouldn't lose him points. Andy has a back end RB1 in Freeman, but
solid RB2 in Ajayi. Kerryon Johnson is a good backup with the
potential to be a starter. Andy has a balanced team of receivers, and
he has plenty of upside at the position.
QB: B-
RB: B-
REC: B
D/K: C+
GPA: 2.78
8 Newby
David took the best QB available in the first round, Russell
Wilson. Wilson was far-and-away the best fantasy QB in our league
last season, averaging 25 points per game last season. He lost
targets Jimmy Graham and Paul Richardson in the offseason, but
Seattle's running game has been strengthened, and that should be a
boon for him. I like Russell as a sure top-five QB, and highly
probable top-three QB.
David kept two RBs: LeSean McCoy and Derrick Henry.
McCoy could face suspension at anytime (except week 1 apparently)
with a pending investigation involving a home invasion of an
ex-girlfriend. If eligible for the season, McCoy has back-end RB1
upside, and shouldn't stray too far from that; he'll likely be a
top-15 RB if he plays 14-16 games. Henry has tremendous upside in our
league. He's a potential 10 rushing TD back. Dion Lewis will share
snaps with Henry though, and he has proven at other stops to be more
than a pass-catching running back. Henry is entering his third
season, and has yet to grab the brass ring, and become a fantasy
savant, but the potential is there. David's main backups will be
Jordan Wilkins, Tarik Cohen, and Chris Thompson.
All of whom are my second favorite running back on their respective
teams this season. Wilkins may open the season as the Colts' starting
running back if Marlon Mack isn't ready to go. That gives him a good
opportunity to take the job. However, I don't think he's as talented
a runner as Mack, and doesn't have as much upside this year. Cohen
and Thompson each would be more valuable in a PPR league. Thompson is
primarily a pass catcher, and is a RB3 at best in our league. He's
never going to carry the ball more than 10 times with AP, Kelley, and
Perine also in Washington. Cohen is a more dynamic change of pace
back, and holds real upside, especially if Howard struggles to stay
on the field again. David also snagged Chris Ivory just in
case McCoy misses time at some point this season. With 16 roster
spots, it's not a bad move.
Michael Thomas is a true WR1. He's the fifth best receiver on
my board. I do believe David made a mistake keeping Josh Gordon
over Adam Thielen though. Thielen is a fringe WR1, fourteenth on my
board, and he is one of the safest receivers. I think his downside is
low WR2. Meanwhile, Gordon has WR1 upside as well, but carries
significantly more risk. I don't think there's enough difference in
upside between the two to take the chance on Gordon—then again,
I've never been a big Gordon believer. Gordon missed preseason, and
may be slow coming out of the gate as well, which could cost David
the first few weeks. David's remaining three receivers are all
breakout candidates. Will Fuller has the best track record
entering this season, as long as he stays healthy. Fuller benefits
from DeShaun Watson's return and playing opposite of Hopkins.
Fuller's a legitimate WR3 to start the season. Keenum Cole and
John Ross are a pair of receivers I love, especially John
Ross. I think he can be special. I do think Ross will be a little
boom-or-bust this season, and dependent upon the big play. Cole has a
chance to be Jacksonville's best receiver. David kept Evan Engram.
He's just a cut below the elite tight ends; I have him ranked fourth.
He could have a big year on the Giants' improved offense.
David took my top kicker, and third best defense for what it's
worth.
David has a top-five QB. A pair of starter worthy running backs,
though McCoy has his risks this season, and there are questions
surrounding his depth pieces. He also lacks a top-end RB1. David has
good receivers though, and one of the best kickers and defenses in
the league.
QB: A-
RB: C
REC: B
D/K: A
GPA: 2.89
7 Old School
If we started two QBs, Gary would be in GREAT shape. He kept two
top-five QBs, Tom Brady and Deshaun Watson. Brady is
safe, and Watson is explosive, so they make a nice pair.
Gary came into the draft with just one running back, Lamar
Miller, with whom he's been frustrated with two years of
mediocrity. So, he made running back a priority in the draft,
spending his first three picks on the position. He procured three
good ones too. Royce Freeman shouldn't have fallen to him.
He's the fifteenth ranked running back on my board. Freeman has a lot
of supporters following preseason, and Denver has a great track
record with running backs—save for my first pick of this cycle,
Monte Ball. There's a good chance Freeman is going
to be a solid RB2. Next, Gary grabbed Mark Ingram, who I had
tabbed as my ideal round 2 target, and then I forgot to draft
him—leaving him for Gary. Ingram is suspended four weeks, but when
he returns, he'll be a starter. Last year both he and Kamara were
RB1s. Ingram should continue to get carries for the Saints, despite
Kamara's breakthrough last season. Peyton Barber was Gary's
third pick. Barber is the starter in Tampa Bay. He will have an
opportunity to entrench himself at the position, though there is
Ronald Jones II waiting to prove himself as well. I like Barber as a
RB3. Gary may be missing a true RB1, but he has four good options,
three of whom I think will finish the season ranked in the top-25
amongst RBs.
Gary kept two good receivers. Tyreek Hill is a fringe WR1,
with explosive potential, although week-to-week he can be
inconsistent. The same could be said for JuJu Shushcter-Smith.
JuJu has great upside, and will have some great weeks. I've got him
as a mid-to-high WR2, though he's a little reliant on the big play.
Gary ignored receivers in favor of running backs early in the draft.
I still like his third wide out, Kenny Stills. He was on my
breakout list, though he still carries some risk (and boom-or-bust
tendencies like the rest of Gary's receivers), so I had him as a
fringe WR3/WR4. He took an early flier on Michael Gallup, but
I love the value taking Sterling Shephard and Dede
Westbrook late. He's got good depth. Gary's TE is David Njoku,
who seemed to be every expert's favorite sleeper TE.
Gary grabbed my second ranked defense, and second ranked kicker. You
can tell by his ranking how much stock I put into that.
Gary has two great QBs, but he only gets to start one. He was
fortunate to have Royce Freeman fall into his lap, and he has several
good options at RB. However, he doesn't have a true RB1 still. Gary
has a variety of dynamic receivers, but I think he'll struggle with
consistency from them. He has a high ranked kicker and defense.
QB: A
RB: C+
REC: B-
D/K: A
GPA: 3.01
6 McNabbers
Cam Newton is the number five QB on my board. It's easy to
look over Newton, since NFL pundits have knocked on him since he lost
in the Super Bowl. However, as the best rushing QB in the league, he
still has tremendous value in our fantasy league—at least until
we score completion percentage. David took Jimmy Garappolo in
the midst of the sixth round QB run. He's one of several
interchangeable QBs ranked between tenth and seventeenth. Garappolo
could emerge as a solid QB1 by seasons end.
David kept one of the better pair of running backs, Kareem Hunt,
and Jordan Howard. Hunt is the eighth ranked RB on my sheet.
He's not a player I love, because he is extremely volatile
week-to-week. He'll have a few 30 point weeks, but he'll score fewer
than 10 in the same number of weeks. Howard could be a RB1 as well,
as long as he stays healthy. He could benefit from an improved Bears
squad this season. He's the eleventh best running back. David's third
running back will be Adrian Peterson. That was a nice
selection in the second round. It appears Peterson will be the
starter to begin the season for the Redskins, but others (Thompson
for sure, possibly Kelley and/or Perine) will be in the mix as well.
David got one of the best values in the draft, taking Marlon Mack
in the fourth round. Mack should be the starter for the Colts. I
think he's the back there with the most talent. He may start the
season injured, which will give Jordan Wilkins an opportunity. But, I
expect Mack to receive the bulk of carries when he returns. Mack
could breakout to be a RB2 this season, or he could be a huge bust.
Luckily, he's just David's fourth RB.
David has five receivers ranked inside my top-40. Demaryius
Thomas and Devin Funchess were his keepers. They're both
mid-to-low WRs for me. Thomas has been a top receiver in the past,
but he has struggled to duplicate that success without Peyton
Manning, although his QB situation seems to be more settled than it's
been since Manning retired. Funchess is a player I'm a little lower
on than some. I think WR20 is his upside. David took Thomas'
teammate, Emmanuel Sanders, in the first round. That was a
little early, and I think there were several better receivers there:
Goodwin, Woods, Landry, Fitzgerald, etc. Sanders is actual the
receiver I have ranked lowest of these five. However, David got
tremendous value later. He took Alshon Jeffery, who I have as
a solid WR2, two rounds later, and he grabbed Davante Parker,
who is perennially a breakout candidate, and number thirty-six on my
cheat sheet, in—astonishingly—the ninth round (fourteenth
with keepers). That's not to mention Cam Meredith who I have
ranked just outside the top-40, and has a chance to be a WR3 or
better with the Saints opposite Michael Thomas. David's TE is Greg
Olsen, who, again, if healthy, is a fine starter.
David drafted my eighth ranked kicker, and fourteenth ranked
defense. They'll do fine.
QB and RB will be strengths for David. Newton and Garappolo are a
good pair of QBs, with the former being a top-five fantasy starter.
He has two fringe RB1s. Though, I think they're a little to volatile
to rely on. He has several good receivers to chose from. However, I
think they're all WR2s-WR3s, and he lacks high end talent at WR and
TE. David's kicker and defense aren't special, but they'll be fine.
QB: B+
RB: B+
WR: B-
D/K: C+
GPA: 3.00
The Contenders
5 In the Pits
I
drafted Philip Rivers for
the second straight season (I dropped him midseason and picked up
Matthew Stafford). He's still suitable starter at QB. Rivers is the
thirteenth QB on my board, but I have him scoring just half a point
less than the eighth ranked QB. I also drafted Dak
Prescott. You can call it
unnecessary, but I like Prescott to be fantasy relevant again this
season. He's one of the best dual threat QBs in the league, and that
has value in ours. He's scored at least six rushing TDs each season
he's been in the NFL. I also like his schedule during our playoffs.
I
kept two running backs. David
Johnson returns after
getting injured Week 1 last season, and ruining my chance to follow
up on the greatest regular season in our league's history (2016).
Johnson still looks the part of an elite wide receiver, and can
finish the year as the very best performer at any position. I put him
fourth on my list, because he is coming back form injury, behind only
fellow elite backs: Gurly, Elliott, and Bell, who are all found on
rosters further down this ranking. My second keeper is Alex
Collins. Collins came out
of nowhere to finish last season as the fourteenth best RB. I have
him ranked sixteenth this season. He was a steady performer a year
ago, and I believe he has one of the highest floors amongst running
backs ranked lower than eleven. He is a solid RB2, but has less
upside than many running backs. I used my second and third round
picks to secure Green Bay Packers running backs, Jamaal
Williams and Aaron
Jones. Truth is, I'd been
talking up Mark Ingram's value despite suspension for weeks. I could
have grabbed a fringe RB1, sure-thing RB2, in the second round
(really, the seventh with keepers). Then, I became distracted by the
prospect of actually
drafted a fantasy relevant Packer, and completely forgot about
Ingram—I'm not happy with myself. I like Williams. He will be the
starter for a good offense to start the season. Aaron Jones is more
dynamic, but will be suspended for the first two games of the season.
I hope one of them, either one, establishes themselves enough to be a
solid second running back option. I definitely overdrafted Jones.
However, I felt it was necessary considering either could be the lead
back by week four. Luckily it didn't hurt me as I was still able to
capture my targets further down the draft, and get a QB worth
starting. CJ Anderson,
a fixture on my teams this cycle, will be my fifth RB. I think he'll
have a role with the Panthers, and I'm less than confident McCaffery
can hold up to the workload he'll receive this season. Anderson has
RB2 upside if McCaffery goes down, or if Anderson takes over
early-down work.
My
receiving corps is the highlight of my team. I kept a tight end, and
two wide receivers of my own, before trading my fourth overall pick
for a third wide receiver. Mike
Evans leads the group.
I've held onto Evans the last three seasons, and I'm hoping he can
have a bounce-back campaign. At his best, Evans is a top-ten
receiver, and at worst he's a WR2. Evans may struggle to start the
season with Ryan Fitzpatrick throwing him the ball though. Amari
Cooper is my second
receiver. Cooper has failed to live up to WR1 expectations, but he
still has that potential, especially now that Michael Crabtree is in
Baltimore. Cooper also has top-ten upside, and should get a ton of
targets, though he'll have to deal with his opponent's best corner
each week. TY Hilton is
third keeper at wide receiver. Fun fact: this was the second straight
year I had offered my first round pick to Jeff for Hilton; this year
I got him. I could have kept Allen Robinson, or I could have drafted
Adam Thielen. Instead, I decided to trade for Hilton. I have him
ranked higher than any receiver available in the draft.I think Hilton
will have a resurgent season with Andrew Luck healthy again. I think
I have three #1 WRs. All three of those players I have ranked between
tenth and thirteenth amongst wide receivers (I have Thielen just
behind them at fourteenth). However, I admit they are all coming off
disappointing campaigns in 2017, but this is the final year of our
cycle, and I'm ready to roll the dice. Julian
Edelman is my fourth wide
receiver. He's going to miss the first four weeks of the season due
to suspension, but he will return week five. That's perfect time, as
Mike Evans goes on bye that week. Edelman is a solid WR2 when he
returns. I overdrafted another Packer, Geronimo
Allison, in the fifth
round. I took him over several players I had higher on my board,
namely, Robby Anderson and Josh Doctson. Part of the reason I did
this was because Gary said to me, “You know, that Packers receiver,
Randall Cobb, is still out there.” To which, I couldn't help but
saying, “You're right Gary, I will
take a Packers receiver!” I'm hilarious.
Anyways, I could have taken Alex Smith that round instead, who as I
said earlier, I like a half point better than Rivers, and then taken
Allison, but Fantasy Football is meant to be amusing. At the end of
the draft I picked up Mike
Williams. I think Mike
Williams as WR1 upside, but the Chargers are deep at receiver, and he
could get lost in the crowd as well.
I
grabbed my tenth ranked kicker and eleventh ranked defense.
I'm
using my personal cheat sheet to create this document, so obviously
I'm going to score fairly high, duh. David Johnson is back, giving me
an elite RB. In fact, my top-five teams each have a top-five running
back. Alex Collins is an adequate backup, if not exciting. I think I
have a couple decent depth pieces. Ertz and three fringe WR1s gives
me one of the three best receiver groups in the league. I have a
good-enough QB, Philip Rivers. I did not go out and grab a top
defense and kicker, but I don't think it'll hurt me too badly.
QB:
C+
RB:
B+
REC:
A-
D/K:
C+
GPA
3.10
4 Syracuse Lake Effect
Bryon's
QB is Jared Goff. The
former #1 pick pick finished last season as the seventh best fantasy
QB, and was the starting QB on Tony's championship squad. There's no
reason to believe Goff won't be a QB1 again. He still helms one of
the best offenses in the league.
As
I'm writing this, I hear Le'Veon Bell
will play week 1. That's great news for Bryon, bad news for David
Beener (his week 1 opponent). Bell is the second highest ranked
running back. He's been holding out (a storm that's been brewing for
a couple of years), but when he plays he's an elite running back.
Unfortunately it does always
seem like Bell has something troubling going on at the start of the
season. Bryon kept Joe Mixon to
start alongside Bell. Mixon failed to meet expectations as a rookie a
season ago, but he looks well positioned to breakthrough this year. I
ranked him thirteenth. He should be a high end RB2, with back end RB1
upside. Bryon found himself a little flustered in the first round. He
found himself on the clock immediately following a bathroom break,
and quickly announced his pick to be Jerrick McKinnon, who tore his
ACL the day prior. He searched his list for a new player, and
announced Royce Freeman. Freeman though, had been taken two picks
prior (cut him some slack, he was in the bathroom, at least he didn't
also
ask for Nyheim Hines). After an Aaron-sized-delay,
Bryon took Seahwaks
rookie, Rashaad Penny.
I, like many, strongly considered taking Penny in the first round, a
couple of months ago.
Then, it became apparent he wasn't ready to be the
guy in Seattle. Enter
Chris Carson, a talent running back entering just his second-year.
Penny has potential, but I do not think he's going to develop into a
useful RB2 this year. Bryon's hoping by the time he needs a
spot-start Penny will be worked into the offense. Bryon took a fourth
running back three rounds later, taking Nick Chubb,
Cleveland's rookie running back. Chubb is a guy I thought might be a
great late round pick before preseason, but like Penny he hasn't
proven capable of supplanting Carlos Hyde. Meanwhile, Hyde looked
great, and Duke Johnson Jr. will be their third down back. Austin
Ekeler and Spender
Ware provide Bryon with some
more depth. Ware is especially intriguing, as a steady presence in
the backfield to contrast the volatility of Kareem Hunt.
Bryon
has the best wide receiver in fantasy football, Antonio
Brown [you're welcome], who
he has kept since the second season of this cycle [I
drafted him in 2014, and traded him for Jeremy Hill prior to the 2015
season. To be fair, Hill did give me a 13 rushing TD season].
He also kept Sammy Watkins.
I have never been a big fan of Watkins. I have him lower than most.
However, Kansas City could be a good situation for him, playing over
a dynamic receiver like Tyreek Hill. Watkins could be a solid WR2
this season, but I see him more as a fringe WR2 to high end WR3.
Bryon selected Jarvis Landry
in the third round. That's a good pick. Landry is another player I've
always been low on, deeming him a PPR darling. However, he was a WR1
in our league last season. I think he's just outside the top-20 this
year with Cleveland. Bryon's backups will be Kelvin
Benjamin, DJ Moore,
and Pierre Garcon. I
think Benjamin could click in Buffalo, entering his first full season
with the team. However, he could easily be irrelevant due to poor QB
play. He's a tough WR4 to trust. I think DJ Moore was a little bit of
an overdraft, being taken over guys like Keenum Cole and Robby
Anderson (remember, I admitted to overdrafting Allison the pick
prior), but he has potential, though I'd bet on Curtis Samuel having
a better season than Moore. Garcon is a good fifth receiver. He won't
score many touchdowns, but he has a chance to be a steady contributor
in San Francisco, and Garappolo will need to rely on the veteran at
times. Bryon has the second best TE to start the season, Travis
Kelce.
Bryon
took my fifth ranked kicker and defense.
Bryon
has been trying to sculpt a championship winner all cycle. He has as
much star power as any team, with Le'Veon Bell and Antonio Brown on
the roster. Joe Mixon gives him a potential high end RB2. Jarvis
Landry and Sammy Watkins are solid starters as well, and Travis Kelce
is an elite TE. Jared Goff will perform like a QB1 again. I do worry
about Bryon's depth though. I think some misteps in the draft have
led Bryon to have one of the worst benches in the league. Most
importantly, it seems Pittsburgh is getting fed up with Bell, and
that could spell doom for this team.
QB: C+
RB: B+
REC: B+
K/D: B
GPA: 3.11
The Favorites
3 Zach Attack
Zach failed to keep my third ranked QB, Russell Wilson, and I hope
it bites him in his Randy Bullocks. Despite dropping Wilson, Zach may
have been the most fortunate team when it comes to QBs. Carson
Wentz fell to the fifth round (tenth including keepers). That's
ridiculous. The rest of us failed miserably. [I could have taken
Wentz instead of Allison that round, crap. Ingram and Wentz, sigh.]
Wentz proved last season he can be a top-three QB. However, he
first needs to get healthy. Until then, Zach has Kirk Cousins who
will do just fine as a starter.
Zach kept one of the best pairs of running backs. Melvin Gordon
and Dalvin Cook are both RB1s to start the season. I love
Melvin Gordon. I have him ranked fifth, just behind the elite, tier 1
quartet of Gurley, Bell, Elliott, and Johnson. Cook is a fringe RB1,
but has the talent to entrench himself amongst the best RBs in the
league. That is, as long as he stays healthy. Cook missed the
majority of last season. I expect Latavius Murray to share more
carries with Cook than most expect. Zach is the only team to keep
three running backs. His third is Kenyan Drake. Drake is
eighteenth on my board. He's not a running back that really excites
me, and I don't think the Dolphins are a team that will generate a
lot of points. However, he should get a plenty of opportunity, and
that goes a long way in fantasy football. In addition to having the
best, sorry, second best [Mark Ingram], third running back in our
league. Zach has the best fourth running back, Rex Burkhead.
Burkhead a steal in the third round, taken after players like: Bilal
Powell, Jordan Wilkins, Nyheim Hines, Rashaad Penny, and [forehead to
desk] Aaron Jones. Burkhead could easily perform as a RB2 this
season. Any of New England's RBs could be the one to own, but
if I had to bet on one to be a starting caliber RB, it'd be Burkhead.
I think 8+ TDs (total TDs) is within reason. Zach also took Matt
Breida who has a decent chance of being the 49ers starter if he
proves more effective than Alfred Morris.
Wide receiver is Zach's favorite position. He began this cycle by
taking Calvin “Megatron” Johnson (did you forget about him
already?). This year, Zach kept two of the three best WRs: DeAndre
Hopkins (2) and Odell Beckham Jr (3). I haven't seen an
elite WR bust in some time. So, Hopkins and OBJ have a very good
chance to be two of the five best receivers by year's end. Zach
filled out receiver slots by adding the best wide receiver available
in the draft, Adam Thielen, who I've aleady said was
fourteenth on my board. I do worry Thielen may take a step back this
season with Cousins at the helm, as Stefon Diggs takes a step
forward. Zach took yet another wide receiver in the second round,
preseason all-breakout team member, Marquise Goodwin. To be
honest, Zach probably took Goodwin at the perfect time. Zach took a
pair of fliers late in the draft. Rookie, Anthony Miller, and
John Brown both have as good a chance as any to breakout this
year. Zach's TE will be Trey Burton. I like Burton. I think he
can be a top half TE1, but I don't think he will approach the elite
TEs.
Zach grabbed my eleventh ranked kicker, and eighth ranked defense.
Now we get to the truly elite teams. Zach had a tremendous draft.
I'm not sure he had a single bad pick. Thielen, then Goodwin, then
Burkhead, then Burton, then Wentz, then Cousins. That's a stellar
first six rounds, especially after he kept five of the best keeprs in
the league. I still think Zach should have kept Wilson instead of
Drake, and he will lost about a point per game not having Wilson in
his lineup. Wentz has top-three QB potential, but we don't know when
he'll return. Zach has two great RBs, and the best third and fourth
RBs as well. However, although I have Gordon ranked fifth, there's a
big gap between Gordon, and the top-four RBs: Gurley, Bell, Elliott,
and Johnson. Zach of course as great receivers, and Burton should be
a fine starter at tight end.
QB: B
RB: A-
REC: A-
D/K: C+
GPA: 3.31
2 Redeemed Renegades
Tony's first pick this cycle was Aaron Rodgers, and he's kept
him all the way through. Rodgers is my top QB this year. Not one to
be satisfied with the best fantasy QB (and good thing too, last year
at least), Tony took Ben Roethlisberger. First of all, if you
have Aaron Rodgers, you really only need a backup for their bye week
(Yes, I know Rodgers missed the majority of last season due to
injury). So, how can you possibly miss the fact that the Steelers and
Packers share a bye week? That's FF101.
Tony is yet another team at the top of my power rankings with an
elite RB. Ezekiel Elliott is number three on my list. He's a
steady performer, and should be a safe bet to finish amongst the five
best running backs. Tony also start second year RB, Christian
McCaffrey. I love McCaffrey as a player. I don't love him as a
fantasy player in a non-PPR league. He's the twentieth RB on my list,
which is lower than every other list I've seen. There's been talk of
trying McCaffrey as an every-down back this year. That's interesting.
It should make Carolina fun to watch. It certainly gives McCaffrey
the opportunity to be a RB1 in our league. However, it also gives him
the opportunity to get injured. I think Tony made a nice first round
selection, taking Dion Lewis. Whenever he's healthy, Lewis has
performed like a starter in our fantasy league. He's more than you're
average pass-catching, third-down back. I think he and McCaffrey
could end up with similar stat lines. Tony's fourth RB will be
rookie, Ronald Jones II. Jones II was supposed to be a
potential top-20 RB this season. However, he has struggled, like
several other rookies, to get acclimated to the NFL, and is currently
burried on his team's depth chart. The difference between Jones II
and guys I've spoken out against: Penny and Chubb, is draft position.
Tony didn't take Jones II until the seventh round. That's great
value, and as his fourth RB, Tony doesn't need Jones II to take the
Bucs' starting job, but if he does, it's a nice bonus.
I used to make fun of Tony savagely for having absolutely abysmal
wide receivers. I remember offering him trade after trade in 2016, in
the midst of my heralded regular season run, offering him wide
receivers for running backs. He declined, as he always does [Tony has
never traded in the history of our league]. I looked him in the eye,
and told him he'd never win the league with receivers like those. He
didn't win in 2016, but he did the following season with improved
receivers. Entering 2018, his receivers are even better. Tony kept
two receivers in my top-12 (making them both WR1s). Davante Adams
is the sixth ranked receiver. He has become the go-to receiver in
Green Bay, which is a good position to be in. Doug Baldwin has
strung together several great seasons in a row, and is one of the
receivers with the highest floor. Tony used his pick at the turn to
take a third receiver, Allen Robinson II. I had the
opportunity to keep Robinson, but deemed him too risky (especially
once Adam Thielen became available, and I ultimately moved the pick).
Robinson has fringe WR1 potential. However, he has spent a lot of his
NFL career injured already, and has been a disappointment the last
two seasons. He's looking to breakthrough again with a new team, Da
Bears. Tyler Lockett is Tony's only backup receiver. He's
a fine backup, though I wish he had more depth. Lockett hasn’t
emerged a consisntent fantasy contributor yet. However, he'll have
the opportunity this season with so many of Russell Wilson's weapons
moving on. Jimmy Graham is my fifth ranked TE. He could become
a favorite of Aaron Rodgers' this season, and be a top-three TE, or
he could fade into the background, like so many of Green Bay's TEs.
Tyler Eifert is a great add by Tony, when healthy Eifert can
be a top half TE1.
Tony always takes his defense and kicker early. This year he has my
third ranked kicker, and highest ranked defense.
Tony's on a quest to become the league's first ever back-to-back
champ. I think he has a good chance. It's always good to win the
league the year before we keep five. Tony, like the teams ahead of
him and behind him on this list, had five of the best keepers in the
league. Tony has the best QB in fantasy football. I have Rodgers
being worth 3.5 points more than a middle-of-the-road starter at QB
(while I have just a 1.5 point difference between the seventh ranked
QB and eighteenth, Marcus Mariota). Tony also has an elite RB,
Elliott, and decent trio behind him: McCaffrey, Lewis, and Jones II.
Either McCaffrey or Lewis should serve as a RB2. Tony's receivers are
another strength. He has two potential WR1s, and another potential
WR2, Allen Robinson. Jimmy Graham could benefit from playing with
Green Bay. Tony also has the highest ranked defense and third highest
ranked kicker. He has the most balanced team in the league.
QB: A
RB: B+
REC: B+
D/K: A
GPA: 3.40
1 Fantasy Failures
Dear God, hear my prayer, don't let me be right this time.
Aaron took his QB in the midst of the QB run between rounds
five and six. He got his guy, Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs let
a pretty good QB go, Alex Smith, to leave the starting position to
Mahomes. He is on many experts' breakout list for 2018. Mahomes is a
big armed QB, with loads of potential. It remains to be seen whether
or not he can be a top-ten QB this year though, it's just his first
year as a starter. Mahomes great weapons though: Sammy Watkins,
Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, and Kareem Hunt, for a start. I like
Mahomes. I have him ranked fifteenth, which is only an eighth of a
point behind my eighth ranked QB (Brees). Mahomes has the most upside
of any QB in that tier.
Aaron kept the very best pair of running backs in our league. He
owns the best running back in fantasy football, Todd Gurley.
Gurley has matured and morphed into an absolute beast. Aaron has a
knack for beastly, all-purpose, Rams RBs. Marshall Faulk led Aaron to
his first championship in 2001. Aaron also kept Alvin Kamara.
I'm lower on Kamara than most. He's just my ninth ranked RB. I think
Ingram will step right back into his role with the Saints once he
returns from suspension, and as a result, Kamara's touches will be
less than the other RB1s. Still, Kamara had a tremendous rookie
sason, and should be a RB1 once again. Aaron is one of the few teams
with two top-12 (RB1) starters. Aaron has a good set of backups as
well. Chris Carson is the starter in Seattle, and he may have
broken out his rookie season a year ago, if not for injury. Isaiah
Crowell joins the fantasy failures again. He is the starter, and
likely carrier on first and second down. He could perform well above
his draft position if the Jets' offense clicks with Darnold. John
Kelly is a handcuff worth having, and a talented back in his own
right. I'm not a fan of James White (First of all, he's a
Patriot); I don't think he's as useful in our league as he is in
others. Aaron has the best running back in the league; the best pair
of starters, and really good depth. This unit is the best in the
league.
Believe it or not, it's Aaron who has the best set of receivers in
our league, not Zach (who has two top-three wide receivers). Aaron
kept two top-ten wide receivers of his own: Keenan Allen and
AJ Green. Allen seems to have put his injury riddled past
behind him, and cemented himself as a WR1. He is the primary target
for a solid QB and great offense. Green has been a WR1 for a number
of years in a row now. He's one receivers with the highest floor.
Aaron took Chris Hogan in the first round. Hogan is now New
England's top wide receiver. I have him as a back end WR2, but he
could outgrow that ranking with ease, especially with Edelman out the
first four weeks of the season. Aaron's fourth wide receiver is
Robert Woods. Woods would be a starter on most other teams in
our league. He's a fringe WR2/solid WR3 on my list. However, we don't
know who is going to develop into Jared Goff's primary target yet; it
could very well be Woods. Aaron stole Robby Anderson in the
fourth round. Anderson is another player I have ranked as a starter.
He had a terrific 2017 season, despite having a worse QB than Sam
Darnold, who will be throwing to him this year. Finally, Aaron's
tight end is, of course, Ron Gronkowski. Gronkowski has become
a fixture of Aaron's teams (Aaron held him last cycle too, right?).
Gronk is the undisputed best TE in fantasy football. He accumulates
points like the eighth ranked wide receiver on my board
(coincidentally, AJ Green). That gives Aaron three top-eight wide
receivers. He also took a flier on Jordan Reed, who can be a
top-three tight end if healthy.
Aaron drafted my sixth ranked defense, and ninth ranked kicker.
Aaron is the favorite entering the season. Luckily, his is an
easy team to root against. He has a high upside QB. The best pair of
starting running backs, including the best fantasy football player
tis year, Todd Gurley. He also has the best groups of receivers,
including Gronk. Despite waiting till the final two rounds to take a
defense and kicker, Aaron got a good pair.
QB: C+
RB: A
REC: A
D/K: B
GPA: 3.42
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