There are many fantasy nuggets you can get out of preseason football, but you have to be selective and even then you can’t be 100% sure what you see will translate into the regular season. Take for instance Victor Cruz. The man has shown he can compete in the NFL. It’s been amazing to see him take his shot and run with it. I am not here to tell you the guy can’t play in this league, but unless you are in a deep dynasty league, there is no reason to even think about drafting him right now.
Take a look at all the receivers in front of him. He just won’t have the opportunities it takes to be fantasy relevant. This is usually the problem that pops up. Can the preseason star find playing time? Another example of this is Stephen Williams of the Cardinals. All indications out of training camp were that he was the real deal. Then he gets into preseason games and just continues to shine. He even does it with the first team because Larry Fitzgerald has been hurt. I got to see the guy play live and I believe the hype, but will he play?
Williams outplayed Early Doucet who was poised to take a step this season. He’s right up there, but we have to look at the bigger picture. Larry Fitzgerald will be back for opening day. Steve Breaston may not be the next Jerry Rice, but he is a talented player who is seasoned in the offense and trusted by the coaches. And the same holds true for Doucet as well. Add to that the questions surrounding Matt Leinart and Derek Anderson and you just don’t have a recipe for success at this point. Williams has the ability to make an impact this season if everything falls into place, but there is no need to draft him.
Then there are players that show their stuff in preseason and at the same time find their self with an opportunity to win the starting position. Arian Foster fits that bill to a tee, but he may be a little obvious at this point. Jabar Gaffney may be a better example of a player having a good preseason that looks like it could translate into regular season production. Coming into this season the Broncos wide receiver situation has been extremely difficult to decipher. It’s still pretty muddled, but Gaffney has been targeted by Orton the most out of all his receivers. When playing time is up for grabs like it is in Denver these preseason numbers can be helpful. Another Bronco receiver could easily shine and move ahead of Gaffney, but right now the #1 job is his to lose.
So when looking at preseason numbers always look at their context. Did that player gain all those yards in the 4th quarter against 3rd stringers? Was the starter out with an injury that they will be healed from by the start of the season? Preseason is a great time to pick up dynasty league fliers. If I am in a deep dynasty league I am all over Stephen Williams, Victor Cruz and company! But don’t wast fliers in normal sized redraft teams on guys that wont have much of a chance to break into the starting lineup.
1 ppr 3 wr 2 rb league, would you rather have jamaal charles and andre johnson or mjd and greg jennings?
@Broadstreetbrawler: That’s hitting where it counts! I love AJ and JC so I’m leaning that way.
Trade question for you Doc…12 team dynasty league, PPR
A. Rodgers, 2012 and 2013 2nd round picks
FOR
Flacco, 2011, 2012 and 2013 1st round picks…plus either James Jones or Kenny Britt thrown in
Which side do you like and Jones or Britt? I like Jones because of the system and should step right in for Driver.
@Fletch: I do like Jones more, but I want to keep Rodgers!
Even with getting all those future round picks eh?
In response to your response in the last posting…What do you think about this:
Dropping McFadden for Jones, waiting out the CLE RB shituation, and if Harrison somehow loses the job to Hardesty, picking McFadden back up or snagging Hardesty? I definitely recall Harrison going apeshizz at the end of last season, so I know the talent is there so I’m not sure I want to give up on him yet, but these damn 8 Team leagues leave so many available players. Plus I wouldn’t mind blocking someone else from getting Jones instead of watching him go off on their team.
@Fletch: Well, since it’s a dynasty aren’t you getting rookies? If you knew they would be top 3 I could see it, but if they are late 1st round you could really get the shaft.
@Wilsonian: If I’m remembering correctly (which is a stretch) this is a ppr league right? DMac’s upside is pretty high in ppr even with Bush there. It’s really what he is good at and I think they might have finally figured it out. I would lean more toward dropping Harrison if you really want Jones.
@Doc: Great point Doc…I thought about that. That is the one reason why I wouldn’t want to do it. If I knew those would be top 3 picks it changes things. Thanks for the advice.
@Doc:
Different league now…just had my draft yesterday. Non-ppr 12 team redraft. I had the 9th pick…16 rounds total. Manning, Rodgers and Brees went before my 9th pick. We start 1 QB, 2 RB, 2 WR, 1 TE, Def, K…that’s it.
QB -Romo (3), Kolb (6) Orton (14)
RB – Turner (1), Foster (4), Jacobs (8), Hightower (11), D. Brown (12), Snelling (15)
WR – A. Johnson (2), Smith-NYG (5), Floyd (7) Gaffney (9)
TE – Z. Miller (10)
Green Bay Def (9)
K – Graham (16)
A. Johnson fell to me in the 2nd! You think this team can compete for a title? Anyone you would dump Gaffney for?
@Fletch: Wow, AJ in the second is a great drop. I would hold onto Gaffney. i don’t think you need 3 QBs as long as you are only starting 1. And I think I would rather have Snelling as Turner’s handcuff.
My only upgrade would be to S Smith. In non ppr he scares me. Floyd could outplay him.
As long as Foster keeps on doing his thing and Floyd and Smith can combine for a strong 2 you should be good.
@Doc: yep, it’s a 0.5 PPR, so you did remember correctly. Well done, sir! I like that idea, maybe Harrison is the way to go…and then play the wait and see game with him to see if he ends up the starter and figures out how to smuggle super glue onto his gloves.
And I would just like to showcase the ridiculous roster I acquired in an 8 Team H2H League (my final draft of the year):
QB: Rodgers
WR: Marshall
WR: Boldin
WR: Welker
RB: CJ
RB: Best
TE: Miller
K: Akers
D: Cincy
IDP: Beason
IDP: Lofton
BN: Maclin
BN: Wallace
BN: Foster
BN: McCoy
BN: Beanie
BN: Big Ben
I know I can’t play all of those backs, but good lord it’s nice to have a collection. I’m pretty stoked for this team, too bad there’s no money involved.
Doc, I enjoyed your analysis on fantasypros.com about “Preseason Studs” a lot and I am sure the Fantasy Gods did as well!
BTW, What are the chances Ryan Torain ends up starting for Washington this year? I feel like they are decent since Parker will be cut, LJ doesn’t seem to be doing well (could he be cut too?), and Portis is hurt and will be hurt again (it’s inevitable).
& I am also extremely high on Jahvid Best, but would you start him week 1 over Knowshon (recovering)?
(Week 1-Moreno @ Jags; Best @ Bears)
@Doc:
So I’m in the middle of a new keeper draft and we start 1 QB, 2 RB, 2 WR and I currently have Rice, Mendenhall, Austin, DeSean Jackson. The top 7 QBs are gone, so I’m debating btw taking another RB (Best, Foster, or Moreno), taking another WR (Steve Smith-Carolina), or snagging the last elite TE (Finley). It’s non-PPR and we can keep 3 guys each year for one round more. Thoughts?
@Wilsonian: Jeez, that is stacked. Your bench has a lot of starter worthy players on it!
@Seth: Yeah, I wish a guy would have really shined as the #2. It looked like LJ was on the bubble, but I’m hearing that was overblown and then he had decent game with 42 yards on nine carries and a 15-yard TD reception. It’s tenuous, but I’m back in the LJ camp for now.
@Chris: Wow, I hate to pass up those three RBs for a TE even if they are going to be on the bench, but with Rice and Mendy I think you have to go with Finley. Sadly, your bench won’t score you any points.
Do you know of a place where I can find updated projections? Seems like every site uses projections made back in June.
@Doc:
I’m just curious, do you think there’s enough value in keeping Best or Foster next year for a 4th rounder to justify a drop-off from Finley to Witten or Gonzalez
@Doc: I know, and thank you. I’m assuming some of those guys might be trade bait later on. I really took advantage of the auto-drafters who started taking defenses and kickers in the middle rounds, so I just feasted on the studs. Again, I reiterate…no damn money. (sad emoticon)
@Chris: I could see that because I wouldn’t want to keep Finley for a 4th (probably). Best has more potential to be a stud next season as well (Tate could take carries away from Foster next season). I would really take any excuse to grab Best there cuz I love his upside.
Just drafted, 10 team PPR IDP 2 QB league with a point for every 25 punt/kick return yards.
QB Tom Brady
QB Eli Manning
RB Jamaal Charles
RB Matt Forte
RB/WR Hakeem Nicks
WR Andre Johnson
WR Percy Harvin
TE Zach Miller
LB DeMeco Ryans
LB Jonathan Vilma
DB Danieal Manning
DL Aaron Kampman
DP Stephen Tulloch
K Neil Rackers
BENCH
WRs: Johnny Knox, Kenny Britt, Jabar Gaffney, Dexter McCluster
RBs: Jahvid Best, Leon Washington, Tashard Choice
QB: Ben Roethlisberger
What do you think?
@genghis chone: Love the Manning pick in the return yardage league! I would probably go with Best over Nicks in the flex spot. Maybe Nicks over Harvin, but that might be a matchup thing. Strong team throughout.
have the 2nd pick in a 12 ppr league
peterson MJD or rice
assuming CJ 2000 drops who does doc go with??
doesn’t drop
@barker: if it’s 1 point per reception I’m going with Rice. .5 AP
It is very close and I love both of them like they were my adopted uncles, but I think Rice has slightly more upside in 1 pt ppr
thank u for the quick response im drafting in 15 minutes and im probaly going with rice unless CJ is there cause i picked first in my other two leagues
i dont think CJ will be there at all but im hopin on it
do u go QB or WR 2nd pick?
and yes 1 ppr
@barker: I usually go WR, especially in ppr.
So my first PPR draft ever is complete, and I’m wondering what you think of it. 12 teams, 8th Pick:
1. Frank Gore RB
2. Reggie Wayne WR
3. Jamaal Charles RB
4. Tony Romo QB
5. Dwayne Bowe WR
6. Arian Foster RB
7. Hakeem Nicks WR
8. Ahmad Bradshaw RB
9. Darren McFadden RB
10. Robert Meachem WR
11. Zach Miller TE
12. Devin Hester WR
13. Jabar Gaffney WR
14. Broncos D/ST
15. Lawrence Tynes K
Any position I might be thin on? Thanks in advance!
Hey Doc, Just drafted in a 12 teamer. What do you think? I’m a little nervous about my RB situation.
Frank Gore RB
Calvin Johnson WR
Greg Jennings WR
Jahvid Best RB
Pierre Garcon WR
Joe Flacco QB
Felix Jones RB
Donald Brown RB
Jabar Gaffney WR
Owen Daniels TE
Marshawn Lynch RB
Devin Hester WR
Heath Miller TE
David Garrard QB
Rob Bironas K
Patriots D/ST
@Brian: Doesn’t matter much since it’s a kicker, but after noting Feely’s Cardinals were playing the Rams, I dropped Tynes and added Feely into my kicker slot. So there ya go.
Hey Doc,
Had my draft yesterday and I’m hoping you can tell me where you think I may be deficient.
QB – Tony Romo
RB – Chris Johnson
RB – Joseph Addai
RB – Justin Forsett
RB – Correll Buckhalter
RB – Fred Taylor
RB – Javon Ringer
WR – Randy Moss
WR – Hakeem Nicks
WR – Jabar Gaffney
WR – Mike Thomas
WR – Harry Douglas
TE – Brent Celek
TE – Heath Miller
DEF – Chicago
PK – Nate Kaeding
Thanks
As of now, would you start Hightower week 1 vs. StL over Greene, McCoy or R. Brown (at flex) ? He’s projected 11.8pts in Yahoo which I think is really high compared to Greene/Mccoy at 8/9pts but thats probably just b/c of the good matchup
Sorry for the lack of detail in my last email…12-Team, .5 PPR, return yardage league…
12 team ppr 2nd pick
qb wr wr rb rb te wr/rb/te wr/rb/te qb/wr/rb/te k def/st d d d d d
5 bench slots
qbs went really fast here
whats your take on the seattle RB situation should i make room for Julius jones or stay pat
1 rice
2 roddy white
3 fitzgerald
4 matt ryan
5 J charles
6 k orton
7 maclin
8 shiancoe
9 forsett
10 donald brown
11 garrard
12 z miller
13 baltimore
14 berrian
15 demeco ryans
16 cushing
17 woodley
18 d’quell jackson
19 leon washington
20 mayo
21 tynes
Hey Doc can’t wait too take your money this season. Boom sucka!