Fantasy Football- Players You Should Want!
As the NFL season is set to kick off in a week, here are some players that I think are notably interesting in fantasy. This does not mean players who aren't mentioned aren't worth drafting. These are just players that I am more optimistic towards. I try to go team-by-team but (spoiler!) not every team has someone notably appealing.
NFC East
Dallas Cowboys: Ezekiel Elliott is going to get all the run he can handle due to the weak receiving core. Zeke is talented and durable, so I believe he can overcome the issues the offensive line may be facing health-wise. I'm not advertising him over Todd Gurley or Le'Veon Bell, but he is a fine mid-first round pick.
New York Giants: I find that Saquon Barkley looks as special as any running back we've seen in recent memory. Plus, he is a solid receiving back and the rest of the offense is talented enough to keep the running game open. Odell Beckham Jr. was hurt last year but every other season he is constantly a top five fantasy WR. There's no reason to expect any different this year. Sterling Shepard will have solid late round value assuming Eli Manning has enough time in the pocket to be effective in the passing game. Beckham and Barkley will draw all the attention and Shepard can shine.
Philadelphia Eagles: This opinion may be unpopular- Alshon Jeffery is coming off shoulder surgery and will miss at least the first few weeks, but his ADP is falling and he may end up a steal if you snag him in double digit rounds and he stays healthy. Zach Ertz is a stud. Nelson Agholor is an upside late round pick in that offense.
Washington Redskins: Alex Smith has been trending up fantasy-wise the last few seasons, and HC Jay Gruden has proved beneficial for fantasy QB's. Smith is a great late round value for those who prefer to pile on depth the first half of the draft. I'm not too into Adrian Peterson but it's worth drafting him late, hoping he starts out strong and you can make someone overpay for the big name in a trade. Jamison Crowder is coming off a rough season but as a slot receiver working with conservative Smith, may be a nice weekly flex option.
NFC North
Chicago Bears: Jordan Howard is going to get a bunch of carries and scoring opportunities with new HC Matt Nagy's system. He is falling to the third or fourth rounds of drafts and is worth that price. Tarik Cohen was electric last season, and is going to get more reps as a receiver this season. I am one-hundred percent invested in him. Trey Burton was pretty good in limited action last season in Philadelphia and has had good chemistry with Mitch Trubisky this summer. He could be last season's Zach Ertz.
Detroit Lions: Golden Tate continues to be a high floor PPR option at a fair price, and if you like tater tots, Golden Tater Tots is a great team name. Marvin Jones Jr. has really came on strong the last few seasons and is a big-play machine.
Green Bay Packers: While Jamaal Williams appears HC Mike McCarthy's favorite, Aaron Jones has more explosiveness (over 5 yards per carry in 2017). In reference to the great Matthew Berry, Jones has the big play potential and talent to be a reduced version of Alvin Kamara.
Minnesota Vikings: Stefon Diggs is a stud, and with Kirk Cousins in town I think this is the season he finally cracks 1,000 yards. Adam Thielen seems like a match made in heaven with Cousins. PPR monster.
NFC South
Atlanta Falcons: Tevin Coleman is always a safe value in the mid-to-late rounds and has a high floor in an explosive offense. Calvin Ridley perhaps may bust out later in the year as a big play threat in offensive shootouts.
Carolina Panthers: Greg Olsen was hurt last season but was an iron man all the time before that. Cam Newton and he have been very good together. Christian McCaffrey will be very intriguing; with the workhorse rumors plus his receiving prowess (80 catches last season), he could see himself be a first round pick next season.
New Orleans Saints: Alvin Kamara was amazing last season. He is so elusive and I do not see him regressing. Maybe touchdown-wise, but not yardage-wise. Michael Thomas is legit. He's a physical specimen with a QB who will feed him all game-long.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Mike Evans is a really good player and will get all sorts of targets when the Bucs are trailing in the second half of most games.
NFC West
Arizona Cardinals: You have to love Larry Fitzgerald. He is very consistent and has hardly slowed down (three consecutive seasons with at least 100 catches, 1,000 yards, and 6 touchdowns).
Los Angeles Rams: Obviously Todd Gurley is worth the number one pick. Cooper Kupp received the majority of redzone targets last season and has undeniable chemistry with Jared Goff.
San Francisco 49ers: I believe in Jimmy Garoppolo being a New England disciple and playing for Kyle Shanahan. He is going later in drafts and is worth waiting for if you don't like reaching for QB's early. He had great chemistry with Marquise Goodwin last season, and it is supposedly even stronger this preseason. Goodwin will be a nice depth piece.
Seattle Seahawks: Russell Wilson was the highest scoring fantasy QB last season, with little contribution. In Yahoo!, he is being drafted as QB4 overall, which is a fair bargain for last year's success.
AFC East
Miami Dolphins: Everyone is high on Kenyan Drake but I'm not so sure he'll get the amount of run that will justify his price (fourth round). From Miami, I like Kenny Stills for end of the bench depth. Jarvis Landry is gone and that means more targets available. Plus, the Dolphins won't be that good so they may be throwing often.
New York Jets: I will say this: the Jets are not going to be that bad! Isaiah Crowell is being drafted in the eleventh round but should lead the team in carries and will get redzone looks. He can easily beat his ADP. Robby Anderson has performed well the last two seasons with suspect QB play so why can't that happen again?
*Obviously the Patriots are the best team in the AFC, but nobody excites me. I'd rather not pay for Brady as QB2 overall; Gronkowski's health makes me hesitate to take him so early. I never am comfortable guessing Belichick's RB carousel. And many agree the Bills have the least exciting fantasy roster in the league.
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens: John Brown has not been fully healthy for a few seasons but finally might be now. Joe Flacco has good history with big play type guys. Brown is going undrafted and may prove to be worth a final bench spot.
Cleveland Browns: I love me some Jarvis Landry in PPR. I never understand why experts rank him in the WR20 range every season. He always outperforms that. With conservative Tyrod Taylor, Landry should still catch a lot of balls.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Any season you can draft Le'Veon Bell is a plus. Antonio Brown seems to fall off a cliff when Ben Roethlisberger is hurt but Brown still finishes right at the top every season; he's that good with a healthy Roethlisberger. He is being drafted later than usual this season and will please many owners.
*Sorry, Bengals. I did not see enough from Joe Mixon. I've always wanted A.J. Green but he has not been as good lately unfortunately.
AFC South
Houston Texans: DeAndre Hopkins is amazing even when he had backup QB's throwing his way. Lamar Miller played well with Deshaun Watson under center and is the clear starting RB. He will get many scoring chances.
Indianapolis Colts: Jack Doyle had 80 catches last year, and that was with Jacoby Brissett. Doyle is being drafted rather late but is a fair pick for those preferring WR/RB depth.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Leonard Fournette was pretty good last year and could be better after slimming down. He is a fair get in the second round.
Tennessee Titans: Corey Davis was a first round pick in real life and is shaping up to be the number one receiver with a capable QB. Dion Lewis is a fine multi-purpose back who has a nice floor.
AFC West
Denver Broncos: Case Keenum did well with Adam Thielen in the slot last season, and I can see Emmanuel Sanders being successful too, assuming good health.
Kansas City Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes has a big cannon for an arm, and Tyreek Hill is known for catching the long ball. Hill has been targeted often in the preseason.
Los Angeles Chargers: Philip Rivers has all sorts of weapons and has thrown for 4,000 plus yards and 25 plus touchdowns nine of the past ten seasons. He is only being drafted as the 11th overall QB but is as durable as they come.
*Sorry, Raiders. Amari Cooper has been too inconsistent, and I'm not sure Jon Gruden won't run Marshawn Lynch into the ground.
While some of these are based off stats, a lot of this is simply my opinion.
