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We are here today to point out the differences between the Razzball rankings and those that Yahoo has released to the masses. (Not to be confused with Yoohoo, which I do all the time. Then again, I usually confuse most things with chocolate drink. Totally normal.) Since we’ve already compared our rankings with ESPN, the next logical step is to have some amazing chocolate drink. Err, see what I mean? IT HAUNTS ME. I meant: the next logical step is to compare our rankings to Yahoo, THEN have some chocolate drink. Exactly. Maybe I’m just thirsty. Or hungry. Or all these things. All of the time.

 

Quarterbacks

Philip Rivers (QB10 +7) – You know what’s up. Yeah. You know.

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Matthew Stafford (QB14 -9) – This goes back to last year, when I was getting some flak for ranking Stafford outside the top-10 at the position when most “experts” ranked him in the top-5. I think Yahoo is making the same mistake twice. I just don’t see the appeal for a medicre quarterback that’s already reached his ceiling. Yes, he has some offensive tools, and yes, he will probably throw for over 4,000 yards with over 20 touchdowns… but it’s those 150 yard, 0 touchdown, 2 interception games that’ll offset the few 300+ yards games he’ll sneak in. I just see him as a rich man’s Andy Dalton. Okay, not really a rich man’s anything. Maybe a middle-income option. So a Camry. Matthew Stafford is a Japanese car I guess.

 

Running Backs

Shane Vereen (RB33 +15) and Danny Woodhead (RB35 +8) – I lumped these two together because they can be considered similar players, both with grit, speed, and determination. They are essentially the movie “Rudy” in human form, but they play on the other side of ball. And they didn’t later start in Lord of the Rings. BUT, they can both catch the ball, which of course inflates their PPR value, but both these offenses depend on high-tempo passing in their game-planning, and there a lot of reasons for rebounds for both of them. Vereen is coming into an offense that could use a dynamic backfield player, and Woodhead is coming off a flukey season-ending injury a year after finishing in the top-30 running backs in scoring. And that’s non-PPR. So yes, I’m bullish on both, but with the lack of depth at the running back position this season, I’m buying in all formats.

Arian Foster (RB40 -14) – The difference here is probably a bit less impactful because it’s predicated on an injury, but I think it’s still worth talking about. It seems Yahoo agrees with his time table, and will return to be a pretty productive back, bascially to the tune of a Round 6 draft choice. I just can’t buy that with the risk that he could have complications in his return. I mean, we are talking about Arian Foster here, not exactly the bastion of perfect health, right? I’d rather take my chances with Ameer Abdullah, T.J. Yeldon, and Joseph Randle, all guys you could see in that range.

 

Wide Receivers

Mike Wallace (WR25 +12) – I was never really a fan of Wallace, but let’s be fair, the only quarterback that throws a worse deep ball than Ryan Tannehil is probably Alex Smith, and, you know, me. It’s safe to say that even if you don’t believe in my Teddy Bridgewater love, he does open up the field a bit more for a receiver whose greatest strenght is downfield running and catching.

Roddy White (WR41 -8) – Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind Roddy White, but it’s really hard to get excited about him. It’s no secret that the offense travels from Matt Ryan to Julio Jones (except when they are away from Georgia Dome, then the offense travels from him right to other team’s defensive back), and there’s usually only a stifling amount of room for the other pass-catchers. While I don’t think his minor elbow surgery this preseason will complicate things, it is worth mentioning that his 34th birthday arrives one month into the season. He should be a stable choice, but there are other flashier things I’d want to get my hands on. Like your mother, for instance.

 

Tight Ends

Zach Ertz (TE9 +6) – I’m actually so suprised by this, it Ertz. God that was a bad one. I actually thought I was on the lower spectrum when it came to ranking Ertz, but it appears Yahoo likes him even less. Here’s what I said back in June:

A lot of people are jumping on the Zach Ertz bandwagon this season (DON’T ERTZ YOURSELF HAR HAR), and while I’m sort of okay with it, I’m still a bit hesitant to join them. All of his numbers improved accross the board from 2013 to 2014, but besides a 15 reception game against Washington, he only had over four receptions once, and had nine games with three receptions or less. I like Chip Kelly’s innovative™ offense, but there’s only so much volume there, and I don’t think it’s enough to push Ertz to the top.

One thing is clear, that was a much better Ertz joke. Beyond that, while that was a fair agrument on why not to aggresively rank him, let’s remember he’s still young, in a Chip Kelly offense, and did still produce over 700 yards with three touchdowns in just his second year. Don’t go crazy for him, but he is draftable.

Coby Fleener (TE22 -5) – Not a big fan for a number of reasons. Below is a big one.

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