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Fantasy Football

Fantasy Football 2016: Updated Rankings and Advice for Team Names

Fantasy Football
August 23, 2016

We’ve reached the halfway point of the 2016 NFL preseason, which means, well, not that much.

Week 3 will answer most of our biggest questions, as starters will get their most extended action. Hints at the winners of battles at quarterback and running back will provide the most intrigue, especially given the fantasy implications.

But what if your league is drafting this week? Before all of that?

Well, um, sorry to hear it. But in the meantime, here are some pre-Week 3 rankings to get you through your draft and some rules to live by.  

       

QB

The Rule: Wait It Out

You might be tempted to take Cam Newton. After all, what other quarterback doubles as his team’s goal-line running back? Newton has had at least 500 rushing yards and five scores in each of his five NFL seasons and is the reigning MVP; there’s a lot to love here.

But value matters. Newton’s 2015 season stands out as a sore-thumb outlier, in part because it was a historically great year and in part because we’d never seen him play like that before. Newton nearly doubled his touchdown passing total from 2014 and literally doubled his rushing touchdowns.

A regression to the mean is inevitable.

This isn’t meant as a rebuke of Newton, who is great, but as a representative sample of a quarterback position that’s largely fungible within its top eight.

If I had to bet, I’d pick Newton to be the top-scoring QB this year. Do I feel great about it? Absolutely not. There isn’t enough of a difference between him and Drew Brees to offer much of a concern in waiting a few rounds.

      

RB

The Rule: Do Not Go RB-RB

For years, this was the preferred draft strategy. Get your star running backs early and build your roster around them. The class of pass-catchers was always deeper, and we’ve all shaved years off our lives reading way too much into preseason gossip over dudes who wind up rushing for 38 career yards.

That time has passed.

Going running back-running back is now the surefire way to destruction. Not even the guys at the top are bankable. Adrian Peterson is 31 years old. He’s breaking down sooner or later. Todd Gurley rushed for 100 yards once in his final eight games. Le’Veon Bell is suspended for three games and coming off an injury. Ezekiel Elliott has zero career carries.

And those are the good ones.

The chances are high that I walk out of the first three rounds with just one running back, which leads us to…

      

WR

The Rule: If You Can Get Away with Going WR-WR, Do It

This mostly applies to those who are sitting near the top of the draft in snake formats. The ideal team could see you begin with an Antonio BrownJordy Nelson core, before adding a falling Doug Martin or Jamaal Charles on the turnaround.

There are some years where it’s better to be toward the middle of the first round. This is not one. Brown is a points-per-reception godsend who is one of the most reliable performers in the league using standard settings.

Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger has tunnel vision in his direction, and for good reason. There is no better player in the league at getting open.

Even if you can’t get the top pick, beginning with Odell Beckham or Julio Jones isn’t so bad. As long as there is a second top-eight or top-nine receiver hanging around in the second, WR-WR is the way to go.

      

TE

The Rule: Don’t Go Gronking in the First Round; in the Second Though…

Rob Gronkowski is the best tight end in football. Assuming he’s healthy, he’s good for 1,000 yards and 10-plus touchdowns at a position where you’d be thrilled with 70 percent of that action. Jordan Reed and Greg Olsen had stellar seasons, but consistency matters; Gronk is the only tight end worth drafting in the first four or five rounds.

Just don’t throw your first-round eggs in his basket.

We have no idea how Jimmy Garoppolo will perform in Tom Brady’s stead. He could be a Brady clone, a solid Matt Cassel placeholder or an abject Ryan Mallett. Gronk is good enough that he’ll still have value regardless of Garoppolo‘s performance, but those four weeks matter when it comes to playoff positioning.

Also keep in mind that you have one tight end, two running backs and two receivers. Again, these things matter. Reed and Olsen will be available rounds later and replicate 85 percent of Gronk‘s value. Gary Barnidge will be available seven or eight rounds later and could get to 75 percent.

       

DEF

K

The Rule: Do Not Draft These Positions Until the Last 2 Rounds

I repeat: Do not draft these positions until the last two rounds. Thank you.  

      

Team Names

  • And Hurns to You, Allen Robinson
  • Abdullah Oblongata
  • Fat Bottomed Gurleys
  • Edward Forte-Hands
  • Make AmariCarr Great Again
  • Almost Jameis
  • Le’Veon a Prayer
  • Drinkin‘ Fortes
  • Dez’d & Confused

Read more Fantasy Football news on NerdyFootball.com

NFL

Fantasy Football

Preview/Prediction

Fantasy Football 2016: Must-Adds Emerging This Preseason

Fantasy Football
August 22, 2016

Preseason football is notorious for altering fantasy football draft plans.

Whether it be injuries to starting players, developing news or unexpected players performing so well that the coaching staff is forced to find them a role, it’s never safe to draft early in the preseason.

In my opinion, the best time to draft your squad is after Week 3 of the preseason, also known as the dress-rehearsal week.

Fantasy drafts will always look substantially different if you draft in July as opposed to Labor Day weekend.

In this slideshow, you will find eight players that should find a way onto your fantasy teams moving forward.

Make room for these emerging preseason studs.

Begin Slideshow

NFL

Fantasy Football

Fantasy

Mark Sanchez Not A Lock For Broncos’ Roster?

Fantasy Football
August 22, 2016

Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak announced that Trevor Siemian will start the club’s third preseason game against the Rams, and that decision could have implications for veteran quarterback Mark Sanchez, as Mike Klis of 9NEWS writes. First-round rookie Paxton Lynch could leap Sanchez to become Denver’s backup signal-caller, and if that happens, Sanchez may not have a spot on the roster, Klis suggests.Mark Sanchez (Vertical)

[RELATED: Ronnie Hillman may not make Broncos]

“I expected [uncertainty at QB],’’ said Kubiak. “We’ve got three quarterbacks, two of which weren’t on this team last year. One has one regular-season snap. So I knew this was going to take some time and I think it’s a credit to them in how well they’ve battled and pushed each other. It’s down to the nitty gritty here – I don’t have to but I’m going to make a decision next week.’’

Sanchez, whom the Broncos acquired from the Eagles earlier this year in exchange for a conditional seventh-round pick, has completed 66% of his passes during the preseason but struggled otherwise, as he’s tossed an interception, lost two fumbles, and been sacked three times. Siemian hasn’t been great either (17-of-23 for 163 yards and a pick-six), but if the competition is considered close between him and Sanchez, salaries could come into play.

As a former seventh-round pick, Siemian is only due to earn a minimum salary during the upcoming, but Sanchez is scheduled to earn $4.5MM, $1MM of which is guaranteed. Sanchez can also earn another $3MM through incentives, but the Broncos could clear $3.5MM off their books by releasing him before the start of the season. If Sanchez is going to be the No. 2 quarterback, his salary is manageable — but if he falls to No. 3, there’s a decent chance Denver isn’t willing to pay the price to keep him around.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Ezekiel Elliott primed to make debut this weekend

Fantasy Football, NFL News
August 22, 2016

Participated in team drills Monday

Dallas rookie RB Ezekiel Elliott (hamstring) went through practice today and appears set to make his preseason debut Thursday vs. Seattle. (Adam Schefter on Twitter)

Nerdy Football Analysis: The best part: Owners will get to see the rookie against one of the best defenses in the league. The Cowboys have every intention to protect Tony Romo by feeding Elliott early and often this season, making him one of the surest bets for high-end RB1 production behind Dallas’ stellar offensive line. If things break right for him and he pushes 320 touches like some expect, he could finish his rookie season as fantasy’s top back.

Eagles grab No.2 pick from Browns

Fantasy Football, NFL News
April 20, 2016

Will quarterbacks go 1-2 in this year’s draft?

Eagles have agreed to a trade with the Cleveland Browns to acquire the second-overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. Eagles get: 2016 1st RD (#2), 2017 4th RD.

Browns get: 2016 1st RD (#8), 2016 3rd RD (#77), 2016 4th RD (#100), 2017 1st RD, 2018 2nd RD. (Eagles on Twitter)

Nerdy Football Analysis: It’s a big haul for the Browns and a steep price to pay for the Eagles who presumably will take QB Carson Wentz, assuming the Rams take Jared Goff at No.1. The Eagles signed Chase Daniel this off-season and re-signed Sam Bradford giving him $26 million guaranteed over two years.