|
|
Quarterbacks
|
|
|
|
|
Player
|
% Owned (Yahoo)
|
Notes
|
FAAB
|
Worth #1 WW?
|
Next 4 Opponents
|
|
Jay Cutler (MIA)
|
28%
|
- After learning of their Week 1 cancellation, Cutler had a full 10 days to prepare for LAC.
- LAC just let Trevor Siemian hang 24 fantasy points on them.
- Cutler has a fantastic group of weapons and isn't afraid to chuck it deep.
- Gets 4 easy matchups to start the year.
|
$2
|
No
|
@LAC, @NYJ, NO, @TEN
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sam Bradford (MIN)
|
25%
|
- I'm far from in love with his Week 2 matchup @PIT but Bradford looked legit on MNF, going 27/32 (mostly drops on the inc.), but looking every bit of an elite QB that earned him the NFL's highest completion % of all time in 2016.
- Diggs and Theilen have emerged into electric weapons, as well as Cook out of the backfield.
- I know this game was against NO, and I wouldn't suggest starting him in Week 2 @ PIT, but he should be plenty useful throughout the season, gets playoff matchups home vs. CIN and @ GB in Wk16.
|
$4
|
No
|
@Pit, TB, DET, @CHI
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Alex Smith (KC)
|
23%
|
- Hard to ignore Smith after that Week 1 game in NE (28-for-35 / 368 yards / 4 TDs).
- As expected, Smith was taking shots down the field, and it's something we should get used to.
- With Tyfreak leading the charge on the outside, Hunt out of the backfield and Kelce eating up hash-mark targets, Smith has a great group of weapons to keep defenses guessing.
- I do think PHI pass d is underrated, and I'd be weary to start Smith in Week 2, but given that Ronald Darby is slated to miss an extended period of time, you could do worse than Smith.
- It's worth noting, Smith also started off with a bang in 2016 too, throwing for 363 yards and 2 touchdowns in Week 1.
- In his last two 300-yard games, Smith followed up with an averaged of 183.5 passing yards, 0.5 passing touchdowns, and 8.5 fantasy points per game.
|
$3
|
No
|
PHI, @LAC, WAS, @HOU
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Running Backs
|
|
|
|
|
Player
|
% Owned (Yahoo)
|
Notes
|
FAAB
|
Worth #1 WW?
|
Next 4 Opponents
|
|
Chris Carson (SEA)
|
16%
|
- With Thomas Rawls out, Carson was easily them most impressive SEA backfield.
- He led RBs in snaps with 27, followed by Prosise (15) and Lacy (7).
- Was the only RB that made something out of anything, rushing 6 times for 39 yards and adding a catch for 10.
- The SEA o-line is really bad, so they need an RB that can make something out of nothing, I.E. - Carson. Lacy is now firmly buried on the depth chart.
- We're still awaiting for Rawls' return, but if he sits again, Carson has a great few matchups in the coming weeks. The team as a whole plays much better at home, so if Rawls sits in week 2, Carson could be a nice streaming RB2 for ya.
- It's still a messy backfield, but Carson has passed the eye test in every way possible, running, catching and blocking. At this point, I'd pin him as the likely favorite to lead this backfield in touches in 2017.
|
$20-25
|
Yes
|
SF, @TEN, IND, @LAR
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tarik Cohen (CHI)
|
15%
|
- Cohen is who we thought he is and "the secret's out of the bag" according to QB Mike Glennon.
- With Cameron Meredith and now Kevin White lost for the year, the Bears offense is badly in need of playmakers, and Cohen fits the bill.
- A small (5'6 - 180), but absolutely electric talent out of the backfield caught 8 of a league leading among RBs, 12 targets in Week 1 versus Atlanta. He finished with 66 rushing yards on 5 carries and 47 receiving yards on his 8 catches including a score.
- Cohen saw a monster 41% of snaps at RB for the Bears, and looks like the clear change-of-pace, pass-catching and 2-minute drill back for the Bears on a team that that's projected to win less than 5 games according to Vegas, and trail a ton. It doesn't hurt (well it does literally) that pass-catching compliment Benny Cunningham left Week 1 with a high ankle sprain and will miss a chunk of time.
- The Bears should be at least touchdown underdogs in their next four matchups, a formula that lends itself to Cohen's success.
- Jordan Howard isn't going anywhere and should continue to be their leading rusher, but that 75-80% snap share he owned in 2016, is likely to dwindle between 55-65% for the near future.
- This could play itself out like the 2012 Saints, where Darren Sproles caught 75 passes on a 7-9 Saints team, racking up 900+ total yards and 8 touchdowns in the process.
- Cohen is a PPR must-grab, with much lower value in standard, but worthy of your waiver claim regardless.
|
$20-25
|
Yes
|
@TB, PIT, @GB, MIN
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Javorious Allen (BAL)
|
4%
|
- 1. Fuck Danny Woodhead for getting me excited. There's no number 2.
- Buck Allen should be the main beneficiary of what's likely to be a serious hamstring injury for dynamo pass-catcher in Danny Woodhead.
- Splitting snaps with Terrance West (50%), Allen out-carried West 21-19. Both had a single target that wasn't caught.
- Had it not been that Baltimore lead the entire game, it's likely that split would've been even more in favor of Allen as the main pass-catcher. If Allen can contribute 90% of what Woodhead was going to (3 catches and 33 yards in about 4 seconds), Allen will be a real nice RB3/flex in PPR leagues going forward.
|
$10-15
|
No
|
CLV, @JAX, PIT, OAK
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kerwynn Williams (ARZ)
|
9%
|
- With David Johnson missing an expected long period of time, there's a lot of production up for grabs in that Arizona backfield.
- A few things are for sure: David Johnson's production won't be close to matched. The Cardinals offensive line, who just lost D.J. Humphries, is bad. The Cardinals as a whole are going to be bad.
- Williams is likely the next man up for early-down work in this backfield, but I fully expect a committee between himself, Andre Ellington and either Elijhaa Penny or D.J. Foster. Even the rumor of resigning of Chris Johnson has been floated around.
- K-Will was the only RB that even rushed the ball following DJ's departure, scoring a touchdown on 5 carries but only racking up 10 yards.
- I think given their matchup with a Luck-less Indy in Week 2, Williams actually has a lot of RB2 upside and I'd say it's 50/50 he gets in for a score. But beyond that, this offense is going to struggle, and it's not crazy to expect Andre Ellington to out-snap Williams while Johnson heals.
|
$8-12
|
No
|
@IND, DAL, SF, @PHI
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Alvin Kamara (NO)
|
14%
|
- No one was sure how this backfield would play itself out. And honestly, I don't think we got many answers last night against the Vikings.
- While Ingram was the most effective back imo, Kamara actually led the Saints backfield in carries (7), snaps (31) and rushing yards.
- As expected, Kamara was a big piece of this passing game, but the Saints trailed for a large portion of this game, if not the whole thing and are a much worse team on the road. But, Kamara did get in on the opening series and I believe he was the second back in the game after Peterson got the nod as as starter. AP played just 9 snaps the entire game, but again, could very well be due to game script. But Kamara is making a serious push as the second RB on the depth chart behind Ingram.
- Ingram tied Kamara with 11 touches and out-produced the rookie with 71 yards while also seeing 4 goal-line touches. MI is the back to own in NO for the future, but it's possible that changes on a week-to-week basis.
|
$8-12
|
No
|
NE, @CAR, @MIA, BYE
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mike Tolbert (BUF)
|
1%
|
- Looks like Tolbert is going to be who we thought Jonathan Williams was going to be, the number two to Shady, vulturing TDs on a weekly basis.
- He only played on 28% of Buffalo's snap in Week 1, but still wound up with 13 touches, 55 yards and a rushing touchdown on 3 goal-line carries.
- It had a lot to do with their matchup with the Jets, but the Bills ran the ball 42 times in this game and someone other than Shady will need to contribute when his legs turn to spaghetti.
|
$2-5
|
No
|
@CAR, DEN, @ATL, @CIN
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Andre Ellington (ARZ)
|
2%
|
- As I was saying with Kerwynn, Ellington will help make up some of the production ARZ loses with David Johnson.
- Ellington is a much better PPR play than standard, as he should dominate this backfield in targets.
- AE out-snapped Williams 20-9 in their Week 1 game, catching 2-of-3 targets for 35 yards.
- The Cardinals and Palmer utilize the RB position heavily in the pass-game, especially without many weapons outside of the 34-year old Larry Fitz.
- Ellington had a good preseason and is healthy for the first time in a while. It wouldn't surprise me if he was the leading fantasy scorer in this backfield while DJ recovers from his wrist injury.
|
$2-5
|
No
|
@IND, DAL, SF, @PHI
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Marlon Mack
|
9%
|
- With the game out of reach, Indy turned to their rookie RB Mack down the stretch. He turned 10 carries into 24 yards and a score, along with a 21-yard reception that should've been reviewed and correctly called a touchdown if anyone not named Chuck Pagano was their HC. It was good to see Mack getting involved in the first quarter, though.
- Seeing the same number of touches as Gore isn't something to look into as the Colts were down 27-3 at halftime, what's the point of playing Gore at that point?
- Mack showed his explosiveness though, and as I mentioned plenty throughout the offseason, I think this will eventually become his backfield.
- He's someone to stash in deeper leagues and sit on until the second half of the season rolls around.
|
$4-8
|
No
|
ARZ, CLV, @SEA, SF
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wide Receivers
|
|
|
|
|
Player
|
% Owned (Yahoo
|
Notes
|
FAAB
|
Worth #1 WW?
|
Next 4 Opponents
|
|
Corey Davis
|
46%
|
- Davis certainly didn't look like he missed the entire preseason on Sunday, he looked exactly like a number 6 overall pick.
- Despite finishing third in snaps (42-of-64) behind Decker (60) and Rishard Matthews (52), Davis led the offense in targets (10) and posted a respectable 69 yards on 6 catches.
- I'd say temper expectations for the near future as he has 3 tough matchups in a row following their Week 1 game with one of the worst pass defenses in Oakland.
- Also worth noting that Decker, Matthews and Delanie Walker all had at least 8 targets in this game too. They're going to spread the ball around and each weapon will have their weeks.
- Davis is the most talented weapon on the team and will only get stronger as he recovers from his 90% healed hamstring issue.
- Following Houston, Davis and the Titans get a ton of juicy matchups which is when I expect Davis to start throwing up WR3 numbers at worst for the rest of the season.
|
$15-25
|
Yes
|
@JAX, SEA, @HOU, @MIA
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Allen Hurns/Marqise Lee (JAX)
|
10% / 16%
|
- With Allen Robinson gone for the season (torn ACL), someone in the WR group will have to step up. I'm firmly in the minority that Allen Hurns is the better option to Marqise Lee, but I don't hate either of them.
- Hurns, would primarily played on the outside during his rookie season and sophomore season in which he combine for 115 receptions, 1,708 yards and 16 touchdowns.
- Lee, the 2nd round pick out of USC, has struggled to stay healthy but quietly broke out last season for 63 catches and 851 receiving yards.
- In Week 1, following Robinson's injury, Hurns reeled in 3-of-4 targets for 42 yards while Lee failed to catch any of his 4 looks.
- In full PPR, I prefer Lee to Hurns, but not by alot. Hurns is my target in 0.5 ppr or standard leagues.
- Allen Robinson has averaged 150+ targets over the last two season. With Dede Westbrook on the I.R., there is almost no one else to throw to besides these two in Jacksonville.
- Both players offer little touchdown upside, or any upside for that matter in an offense that is clearly predicated on running the ball and playing tough defense. It wouldn't surprise me if neither finished better than a WR3.
|
$5-10 each
|
No
|
TEN, BAL, @NYJ, @PIT
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cooper Kupp (LAR)
|
28%
|
- A guy I touted all off-season, Kupp paid off big time for those with a big enough brajole to start the rookie in Week 1 versus the Vontae Davis-less Colts.
- Kupp caught 4-of-6 targets leading the Rams with 76 yards and a score.
- It's clear that Kupp is going to be the much improved Goff's security blanket in 2017.
- How much value does that give Kupp? Hard to tell but he's a really nice floor PPR play.
- He played in 57% of the teams snaps, which I expect to increase as the year goes on and he blows by Robert Woods for WR2 duties.
- We can't get out of control here, though, as the Colts without Andrew Luck and Vontae Davis are arguably the worst team in the NFL.
- But it is a step in the right direction. Kupp very well might lead the Rams in targets and receptions in 2017 and finish as a WR3 in PPR.
|
$6-12
|
No
|
WAS, @SF, @DAL, SEA
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kenny Golladay (DET)
|
20%
|
- The preseason hype of Minitron aka Gollatron aka Kenny Haveaday continued into Week 1 of the Lions regular season. The impressive rookie continues to have a nack for the endzone, finding pay-dirt twice, catching 4-of-7 targets for 69 yards.
- As has been the case all offseason, K-Goll was competing with T.J. Jones for snaps, but I can't imagine that continuing with these type of displays on his resume. Golladay played on 68% of their snaps compared to Jones' 13%.
- At 6'4 - 215, and a 92nd percentile size-adjusted speed score, Golladay presents a deep threat opposite Marvin Jones and a huge redzone presence in an offense that lost a big one in Anquan Boldin (26 RZ targets).
- Also worth noting that reports originally had Patrick Peterson shadowing Golden tate in Week 1, but it was Marvin Jones that Peterson stuck too.
- He's still firmly behind Golden Tate and Marvin Jones in the pecking order, so don't expect consistency from the rookie but the Lions frequently run 3-WR sets and with this type of upside Golladay needs to be owned everywhere.
|
$8-14
|
No
|
@NYG, ATL, @MIN, CAR
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sterling Shepard (NYG)
|
44%
|
- With OBJ sidelined in Week 1, Shepard, not Brandon Marshall looked like the true WR2 in this offense, catching 7-of-8 targets for 44 yards against Dallas.
- Marshall looked washed, and despite everyone thinking Shepard would take the biggest hit with the addition of the former Jet and 1st round pick Evan Engram, it doesn't look to be the case.
- It's still an offense that relies heavily on the health of OBJ and isn't going to explode regularly, but Shepard looks like the weapon to own outside of Beckham.
|
$4-6
|
No
|
DET, @PHI, @TB, LAC
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Paul Richardson (SEA)
|
15%
|
- Jumping over Tyler Lockett this offseason to become the WR2 in Seattle, Richardson had a pretty good first game for an offense that struggled mightily to move the chains against a terrible pass defense (or at least was in 2016).
- Richardson played on 83% (41/49) of Seattle's snaps catching 4 balls for 59 yards and tying Jimmy Graham for the team-lead in targets.
- Seattle's offensive line is miserable and it's going to lower the ceiling of this offense as a whole, but they play better at home and he gets gorgeous home matchups against SF and IND over the next 3 weeks, along with a Tennessee defense that allowed 11 catches, 145 yards and a touchdown to Oakland's top two wideouts in Week 1.
- He's a WR4 for now, but I wouldn't be against pluggin him in as a WR3 or flex in either of those matchups.
|
$8-10
|
No
|
SF, @TEN, IND, @LAR
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nelson Agholor (PHI)
|
16%
|
- This actually pains me to write this piece, because I can't imagine Agholor being any good going forward, but he ran as a starter, splitting outside reps with Torrey Smith and moving into the slot on 3WR sets in the Eagles Week 1 win over Washington.
- He played on 63% of their offensive snaps, reeling in 6-of-8 targets for 86 yards and a 58-yard touchdown spiral from Wentz.
- Imo, he looked good, but the numbers aren't that impressive when you consider outside of that deep touchdown (which I expect mostly to be Smith's going forward), he caught 5-of-7 targets for just 28 yards.
- Alshon Jeffery was also shadowed by Josh Norman for most of the game.
- Agholor and the Eagles get four brutal pass defenses in a row starting at Arrowhead in Week 2. It was nice what we saw from Agholor in Week 1, and he should have a nice role in an offense that throws the ball a ton (6th most in NFL in 2016, 39 on Sunday), but he's a low-floor, medium-ceiling type fantasy play.
|
$2-4
|
No
|
@KC, NYG, @LAC, ARZ
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jermaine Kearse (NYJ)
|
2%
|
- I'm not sure if this hurts more than Agholor, but it might.
- Jermaine Kearse is an extra medium talent, on a horrendous offense in New York.
- He ran most of his routes from the slot against the Bills, racking up a team-high 7 catches on 9 targets for 59 yards. He's nothing more than a PPR dart on a team that projects to be trailing in all 16 games.
- Despite just joining the team just weeks ago, Kearse played in 95% of their snaps, so don't expect that to grow.
- Newly signed Jeremy Kerley may be active sooner rather than later, pushing Kearse to the outside which would probably be a downgrade to Kearse in PPR formats.
|
$1-2
|
No
|
@OAK, MIA, JAX, @CLV
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tight End
|
|
|
|
|
Player
|
% Owned (Yahoo)
|
Notes
|
FAAB
|
Worth #1 WW?
|
Next 4 Opponents
|
|
Charles Clay (BUF)
|
11%
|
- Lacking any real receiving talent in Buffalo, Clay was forced into a feature role, seeing 9 targets on just 28 attempts by Tyrod Taylor. Clay tied Jason Witten and Delanie Walker for the most TE targets in the NFL in Week 1.
- Clay caught 4-of-9 targets for 53 yards and a score while playing on 82% of the Bills offensive snaps. LeSean McCoy was the next leader in targets with 6 and it keeps falling off after that.
- If nothing else, Clay gives you a solid PPR floor as he should see 5-7 targets a game.
- Next week, Clay gets a Panthers defense that surrendered 5 receptions to 49ers TE George Kittle.
|
$3-5
|
No
|
@CAR, DEN, @ATL, CIN
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jared Cook (OAK)
|
19%
|
- Cook hauled in all 5 of his targets for 56 yards in Oakland's Week 1 win over the Titans.
- With Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree commanding a ton of attention on the outside, Cook should constantly see light coverage over the middle and is a safe bet to be the 3rd receiving option for Carr.
- Cook gets a Jets defense next week which I explained let Charles Clay wash them, followed by a Redskins defense who just let Zach Ertz run wild on them for 8 catches and 93 yards.
|
$5
|
No
|
NYJ, @WAS, @DEN, BAL
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Julius Thomas (JAX)
|
47%
|
- I was a little concerned about Julius Thomas' minor back scare in preseason, but he's had plenty of time to rest and prepare for their Week 2 matchup against the Chargers given the cancellation of their Week 1 game.
- The Chargers have a great tandem in Casey Heyward and Jason Verrett on the outside but are vulnerable to TEs, letting Denver tight ends compile 98 yards on 5 catches on MNF (combination of A.J. Derby, Jeff Heuerman & Virgil Green).
- Thomas is a low-ceiling yardage guy but should be heavily involved in the redzone and has touchdown upside every week.
- As a 4.5 point underdog, Vegas expects the Dolphins to trail so we can expect a nice workload for Jay Cutler through the air.
- After the Charges, Thomas gets the Jets who I've already bullied enough in this article.
|
$2-4
|
No
|
@LAC, @NYJ, NO, TEN
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Zack Miller (CHI)
|
5%
|
- Miller benefits from the season-ending injuries to Cameron Meredith and Kevin White. Mike Glennon has to throw the ball somewhere, other than Tarik Cohen.
- Z-Mill reeled in 4-of-6 targets for 39 yards, which isn't impressive, but I think that's his weekly floor.
- Dion Sims actually played in 69% of Chicago's offensive snaps compared to 63% for Miller, but Miller was involved (targeted) on 10% of his snaps, compared to just 4.8% for Sims.
- Miller is the clear fantasy TE to own in Chicago and this offense is in desperate need of playmakers without their top 2 wideouts and expecting to trail a lot throughout 2017.
|
$2-3
|
No
|
@TB, PIT, @GB, MIN
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Jesse James (PIT)
|
6%
|
- I'm not at all an advocate of Jessie James, but he showed exactly what he is on Sunday, scoring two short touchdowns in a game that the Browns surprisingly kept close throughout.
- The bandit caught all 4 of his redzone targets, turning his 8 total targets (2nd on the team) into 41 yards on 6 catches, scoring twice.
- The 6.8 yards per reception is what pins James as a low-floor player, because if he doesn't score, there's a good chance he's throwing up a 3-23 or 4-29 line.
|
$1-2
|
No
|
MIN, @CHI, @BAL, JAX
|
