We are here today to point out the difference between the Razzball rankings and those that ESPN has released to the masses. The first difference you’ll probably notice is that there is no Mathew Berry in our rankings. Whether that’s a good or bad thing, I’ll let you decide. Because, hey, I’m just that kind of guy. Beyond that, well, ESPN certainly likes the color of red in their logo. RED EVERYWHERE. Well, touché, we also like a color. And that color is mustache, which is totally a color. Just ask Razzball founder Grey Albright. Not be outdone, I do run around with a five-day shadow on my face on most occasions, which technically counts as facial hair, and a mustache is also facial hair, ergo, the color of mustache. And sure, you could say that I’ve added some yellow to the palette with my face, but then you’d be raycess. Now that the main differences have been established, we’ll move on to things that are more fantasy relevant, well, depending on the type of fantasy that is. Hey now. So after you clear your internet history, we’ll be comparing our rankings to that of ESPN’s and their new “What the ef is this? Facebook? Are you serious” interface. Get yer knives ready!
Quarterbacks
Teddy Bridgewater (QB13 +5) – This is bound to happen with Yahoo (I actually haven’t looked into it yet, since that’s tomorrow’s project), but I think it’s safe to say that Teddy is “water under the bridge” for me. Oh god, did I just go Chris Berman? This is what I get for visiting ESPN. I understand that Bridgewater may be last year’s Ryan Mathews (one of my biggest ranking regrets from last season… or was it?), but there are a few things going for him. First, he’s not on the Chargers roster, certainly a plus for you. Second and Third and Fourth all go like this: Adrian Peterson, Charles Johnson, and Mike Wallace. He finally has weapons and I love the fact he grew as a quarterback in the second half last year. You can read the long version here, but suffice it to say, I like him. I like him a lot.
Colin Kaepernick (QB20 -5) – It’s interesting, because when I look up last year’s comparison, ESPN and I disagreed on Kaepernick by five spots as well. GUESS WHO WON THAT BATTLE? Regardless, the things I didn’t like roughly 365 days ago still are the same today, plus the team around him jumped in the dumpster and set themselves on fire. His mobility is a true fantasy asset, but with inconsistent accuracy mixed with an offense that only has Carlos Hyde and… uh. I don’t even know what else is there. Reggie Bush? Oh god. Alright, he still has Boldin and the addition of Torrey Smith, but they won’t do much if he throws 20 feet to the left of them every other down…
Others: Tom Brady (QB16 -6), Marcus Mariota (QB29, -6)
Running Backs
Roy Helu (RB48 +16) – I’m not saying Roy Helu is going to be a guy you want to start every Sunday (or Monday, Thursday, and probably that one weird Wednesday game), but I’m surprised that Helu isn’t being looked at as a solid bench guy. Plagued by one ridiculous coaching staff after another in Washington (and to be fair, some health issues), we’re still talking about a back with solid speed, good downfield running, and great pass-catching ability. I do like Latavius Murray, but this Oakland offense is being underrated and I think Helu will have enough volume and thrive in this system to be a tangible fantasy asset.
Theo Riddick (RB50 +4) – I seem to be the only person who likes Riddick (ESPN comes close), and I’m not sure why. Sure, Joique Bell is still around (though he’s having a rough preseason with a knee injury), and Ameer Abdullah is taking the spotlight away, but Riddick can be a solid bench piece for your team, especially in PPR formats. If you look back at what he did last year, it isn’t impressive, I agree, but when he actually started for Reggie Bush (during his annual “I strained something” injury), he essentially produced the same that Bush normally would. Here’s the proof. I just think, with running depth being especially shallow this year, guys like this on your bench are much more valuable than a guy like Mohamed Sanu.
Donald Brown (RB92 -23) – Uh…
Others: David Cobb (RB47 +8), Isaiah Crowell (RB37 -8), David Johnson (RB43 +9), Joique Bell (RB29, -9), Ameer Abdullah (RB25, +11), Tre Mason (RB45, -12), Reggie Bush (RB38, +18).
Wide Receivers
Allen Hurns (WR47, +33) – I did want to talk about Andre Johnson being ranked criminally low by ESPN, but a rankings difference of 33 is just like your mom, a pretty big deal. It might be a team thing, as I also have Robinson ranked 12 spots higher, but Marqise Lee is out for who knows, which elevates Hurns and his big-play ability to the number two receiver slot. I wouldn’t say I’m the biggest Bortles fan, nor do I think the Jaguars are set to take the league by storm, but they are improving, and as a later-round flier, I don’t see much of a downside here.
Sammy Watkins (WR31, -14) – Pick your poison… Matt Cassel, Tyrod Taylor, or EJ Manuel. Yes, Sammy Watkins is immensely talented, but someone actually needs to get him the ball. And unless they just start handing it off to LeSean McCoy to lateral it to Watkins, I’m remaining somewhat bearish.
Others: Marques Colston (WR30, +9), Charles Johnson (WR44 -8), Steve Smith (WR33, +10), Torrey Smith (WR45 -11), Eddie Royal (WR40 +11), Roddy White (WR41 -8), Allen Robinson (WR17, +12), Andre Johnson (WR12, +12), Pierre Garçon (WR32 +14)
Tight Ends
Heath Miller (TE15 +4) – ESPN generally agreed with most of my likes, so I struggled to find someone meaningful to talk about. Heath Miller is probably a streamer option, but he’s Big Ben’s best escape option next to a civil defense lawyer.
Vernon Davis (TE28 -8) – Â There are plenty of other tight ends that do everything better, so… like I said above, I had to really go fishing for any disagreement with our tight ends. And yes, that was innuendo. THAT’S WHY YOU CAME HERE, RIGHT? That was also quite possibly innuendo…
12 team PPR league. Last keeper spot is between Kelce in Rnd 15 vs Brandin Cooks in Rnd 5. I initially was leaning toward Kelce because of the later round. Cooks can go crazy this year and plays in the better offense. Wish I could keep both, but my other two keepers are Beckham in Rnd 14 and CJ Anderson in Rnd 19.
Who would you keep between Kelce or Cooks?
@Erich: I’d still go Cooks. So much upside there right now.
10 team league, ppr, 2 flex spots, bouns points for points for 40 yard plays and 40 yd tds, i had the 10th pick
Starters
Luck
G Tate
E Sanders
S Smith Sr
L Miller
Lat Murray
Gronk
A Boldin
Tre Mason
J Tucker
Denver Def
Bench
Blount
R Jennings
K Wright
Duke Johnson
David Cobb
D Green-Beckham
Thoughts? I know i could use another top WR but i like my depth
@mcBlunty: I actually disagree slightly there. I think your tight end, running back, and bench pieces are strong, so it’s okay if you don’t have an elite catcher. I think you should do fine here.
How do you like these trade offers super flex league
I give gore graham i get peterson
I give graham cutler perriman i get beckham foles
I give gore graham i get lacy
I give graham marshall crowell funchess i get cooks devante adams mathews
My qbs newton rivers cutler
My rbs murray gore blount crowell coleman
My wr dez marshall robinson agholor perriman funchess
My te graham olsen
I need to clear two spots for K and def hence 2 for 1 3 for 2 4 for 3 trades
Is perriman the most expendable at this point?
@Barker: I like the Gore side, I like Beckam side, I like the Lacy side, I like the Graham side. And yeah, Perriman is expendable right now.
Had 2 drafts this week (Mon/Wed) and it seems like everyone else rolled with ESPN rankings while I used Razz. Here is what I ended up with last night in a 10-team 1pt PPR (QB/3 WR/2RB/1Flex/1DTS/1K):
Unfortunately drew the 1st pick (wanted to go late in the shallow league…not the exact order drafted, but in order of Razzball ranking):
1. Le’Veon Bell
2. Justin Forsett
3. DeMarco Murray (I know, 3 RBS in a row)
4. Golden Tate
5. Allen Robinson
6. Russel Wilson
7. Pierre Garcon
8. Anquan Boldin
9. Eddie Royal
10. Duke Johnson
11. Isaiah Crowell
12. Julius Thomas
13. Tre Mason
14. Antonio Gates
15. Dorial Green-Beckham
16. Cameron Artis-Payne
I didn’t draft a DST or K in either PPR draft this week since there are still 2 weeks to go in preseason. Maybe I get lucky with a RB injury or something before the season starts.
I’m guessing waiting that long on WR wasn’t advisable?
@BambooLounge: Yeah, I do the same thing, I rarely draft kickers or defenses just to see what develops on my bench. I like this draft, three running backs are okay this year. The depth is disgusting.
Good read. I always love comparing my rankings to E! & Y! to remind me why I don’t just go off their boards as well.
On a side note I just finished my work league draft last night and curious what you thought (other than a fact that I corned the market on Johnsons).
Q – Tannehill
R – Lacy
R – L Miller
W – C Johnson
W – A Johnson
T – Cameron
F – K Allen
B – Foster, Abdullah, Royal, Wheaton, Rivers. S Johnson, Hillman
12 team league, ppr, .25 per rush, .25 per completion (weird, I know) — everything else is normal.
@John: To be honest, an all Johnson team wouldn’t turn out all that bad. Strong RB depth, and I think the receivers are great.
Great timing with this article. I’m in two leagues; one on ESPN which drafts tomorrow and one on NFL.com that drafts on Sunday. Will you being doing one of these for NFL.com?
@RePete: I’ll think about it, but most of the demand comes from ESPN and Yahoo. I might do a misc. post, quickly going over some of the other sites… let me think about it.
I had my first draft last night (picked 8 of 12), and Yahoo gave me a C+
(who cares, I know, and I do like my team)
I more or less was cornered into taking Rivers in the 8th round, but I did take Bridgewater in the 10th for the reasons you state above. Cross yer fingers.
I have no idea why I took Heath Miller in the 11th then Ebron in the 12th. I blacked out?! Maybe I should free up a bench spot? Who’d you rock here out of the gate?
@CL (UncleCos): Yeah, their grading system is pretty whack, has been for years. I think you can drop Ebron for something else.
@Jay: you think that’s F’ed up, you should see some of the “names” they have ranked highly in IDP.
Hey Jay,
14 team league, 1 point PPR, .25 Point per carry
I kept 3 WRs, so do you think it makes sense to trade my second and third round picks for a second first rounder and get 2 RBs? It’ll be the 4th round (3 keepers), so I’m looking at Ingram, Spiller, Gordon, Randle, etc.
Thanks!
@Steve: Yeah, I think that makes a lot of sense.
Shallow 10-tm dynasty, rookie/FA draft coming up and I have the last pick every round b/c I won the league last year. Standard scoring, 2RB/2WR/1RB-WR Flex/1TE.
1) In what order would you be dropping L. Green (my TE2 behind Graham), R. White and V. Cruz (my WR4/5 behind Dez, Megatron and K. Allen)?
2) Given the strength of my top 3 WR, would you be comfortable dumping both White and Cruz for rookie WRs you have ranked lower this year (say, Green-Beckham and Lockett), should the opportunity present itself?
@Steve Stevenson: I would drop in that order. Not for Lockett probably, but Green-Beckham, I might take a shot with.
@Jay: Thanks. I suspect I won’t have to go as far as dropping my WR, but sometimes these dummies make some curious decisions during the draft and I end up having to make a move (last year I showed up late because I was drinking and missed my 1st 3 scheduled picks, but still ended up with Jeremy Hill and Jordan Matthews at 25 & 26).
@Steve Stevenson: Yeah, that was probably me drinking…
so is Riddick plus 28? or -28?
@Tehol Beddict: Just checked Riddick is 54 in ESPN Rankings. Whatever that means, as far as this discussion is concerned… But the responsible thing would be to check Jay’s rankings.
@Tehol Beddict: Yeah, looks like I read that wrong. But yo momma read that wrong too.
This is one of my favorite kind of posts. Simple yet highly effective at giving us actionable information.
I do think you have Teddy ranked to high, especially if he’s still ahead of Eli Manning.
I don’t think he’s “this year’s Ryan Mathews” for you, even though I know you are kinda joking around with that, I’m commenting anyway. For one thing, there’s almost nothing at stake with QB13, except maybe for 2QB leagues. Different levels of risk, so totally different scenarios. And darn you if you jinx my Teddy Bridgewater.. his pick was the second time I screamed/shouted with joy upon the Vikings making a draft pick, the first being Adrian Peterson.
@RotoLance: YOU LEAVE MY TEDDY ALONE HEATHEN. Fair enough, but I feel like there’s always one guy I really fall in love with that will essentially fuck over someone’s team this year. I had plenty of hits last year, but Mathews was just terrible. But you bring up a good point, Bridgewater probably won’t hurt as much if it doesn’t work out.
Tre Mason should’ve maybe gotten his own blurb. Gurley isn’t even practicing pass blocking as it’s too strenuous only 9 months from ACL surgery. He’s not AD. Mason is going to start at least the first few weeks and has talent. What are your thoughts on him?
@pbmax: _My_ thoughts are “ESPN is sure high on Tre Mason” and that’s coming from a guy that’s high on Tre Mason (I have a blurb about him in my risk post). One spot above Doug Martin though? I don’t think so.
@RotoLance: Well I should clarify I think that’s partially a matter of Doug Martin needs to be moved up. Man, some of these ESPN rankings… they boggle my mind.
Just to be clear though, I like Tre and I’m more or less fine with him as the RB 33, if you are not in an ESPN draft you can get him at a value because Fantasy Pros, for instance has him as 39 via ECR.
@pbmax: He has been cleared to practice, but you’re right, he’s on the teams timetable so no one really knows. I like Gurley, but I think if you draft him, you have to go with Mason. While it’s a situation I find myself avoiding, I think I can justify the 12 spot difference until we get more info. Depending on what I see this weekend, I might close the gap there on the usually Sunday rankings update.
I had no interest in Charles Johnson a few weeks ago, but have read nothing but great news on him lately. He seems to be Teddy’s guy. I’m betting on him and TB to hook up a lot..until you cooled me on him. Do u see upside Jay?
@heeisenberg: I’m still buying, but WR depth is really good this season, so there are several other guys I like. But no knock on him, I think he’s going to be part of a special year for Bridgewater.
I’m so screwed I know, but who would you keep in a 12 team PPR league:
Reggie Bush
Tre Mason
Rashad Jennings
Thanks
@Dennis: leaning Mason, but Bush seems intriguing. Yeah, it’s PPR… I’d go with Bush.
@Jay: Was thinking the same. Thanks!
I got 8 spots left in my second Razzball IDP league. You all better join….that’s what the cool kids are doing
https://yho.com/nfl?l=941637&k=bc3b99db7495f8ca&ikey=d7532df3040a4673
Jay–thanks for all the work you do.
Got my draft coming up this Sunday. 10 team standard Yahoo league. This is also our inaugural keeper season (keep one player, give up that round the following season)
I’m leaning Le’Veon with the #1 overall, partially because of the keeper rules. The question then becomes what to do with my next picks (#20 and #21)
In mocks, I’ve typically been seeing some combination of these guys on the board:
RBs: Forsett, Lamar Miller, McCoy
WRs: Cobb, Jeffery, TY Hilton
QBs: Rodgers, Luck (rarely)
Which way would you lean if those guys are available? I know we’re punting QB this year, but if Luck or Rodgers are there, is it a no-brainer to take them in the 3rd round and then give up that pick next year?
Also, how do you feel about pairing a Rodgers and Cobb?
Appreciate your thoughts.
@Harrison Ford in Air Force One: Honestly, in keeper leagues with round restrictions, I don’t like holding onto QBs… but I agree with the Bell hold. Out of those guys, I do like the McCoy and Cobb combo. Alshon works too.
Hey, Jay! I’m in a 12 team ppr league and have the 5th pick. I’m able to keep Jeremey Hill or Mike Evans. Who would you go with? Thanks!
@Jerry: Hill
@Jerry: Leaning HIll there.
with m.bryant’s suspension i’m having to adjust him and wheaton. with bryant it’s easy, just take 75% or so of his to end up with 12 rush yds, 39 catches, 608 catch yds, 5 TD’s, but how much should i move up wheaton’s 15 rush yds, 55 for 667 and 4 TD’s?
@Beware the Shit Rope: I’d probably say 15-20 percent uptick on the high end. I’ll be thinking about this a lot as I update the rankings on Sunday.
@Jay: also, projections machine has kevin white down for 57/741/5 but he’s likely out for most of year, or at least half. this should be giving more stats to mostly
wilson’s 25/270/2
and maybe some of the others: mariani/bellamy
trying to figure out how to divy that up.
@Beware the Shit Rope: actually that probably mostly benefits royal.
@Beware the Shit Rope: Yeah, I think Royal is going to be a huge part of that offense.
In a 12-tm 0.5 PPR w/ 2RB, 2WR, 1TE, 1RB-WR, what do you prefer with your first 4 picks?
A. Gronk-J. Hill-Gore-A. Robinson
B. C. Anderson-Forsett-A. Johnson-Kelce
@Steve Stevenson: Hmm. Goin A there, but it’s damn close.
@Jay: Ended up punting TE and QB–we’ll see how that goes!
@Steve Stevenson: Honestly, I think you’ll be fine.
In an auction league with $250 budget. Get to keep up to 5 keepers. Its a ppr league and WR stats are the same as RB standard stats plus 6 pts per TD. Got a couple of guys who are suspended so basically making some hard choices. Starting lineup includes 2QB, 2RB, 3WR, 1TE, 2Flex. Keepers are due tomorrow and the definite ones are:
Roethlisberger ($10) QB1
Forte ($48) RB1
Green ($47) WR1
My 2 remaining spots are up for grabs and these are to bad apples:
Martavis Bryant ($16)
Antonio Gates ($2)
Tom Brady ($26)
Needless to say, my plan A and B are out the window
Plan C now is to keep LaFell ($10) for my WR3/Flex1 slots. Drop consideration for Brady and Bryant (if I really had to have them they should be available for cheaper than their prices, right?). However, a $2 price tag for Gates is a great value and one that is typical for a bench player. I’m thinking to keep Gates slotted for my bench and giving me more money to spend on my starting lineup for an RB2 and a WR2. This wouldn’t change my allotted budget for my other spots except TE. Gates fills in after week 4 and I can spend less than anticipated there.
Another alternative is Andre Williams ($2) or Rashad Jennings ($7). With this one I think Jennings can be had for a comparable price and he wouldn’t be a RB2 for me nor a top flex option (WR & RB stats are now equal for our league). So I can keep Williams with his upside as a speculative guy for the bench. I can easily see him finding himself getting significant touches with an injury.
With all that, it comes down to Gates or Williams, or, do you recommend a different route? I’ve pretty much laid out all my pieces of note. Also have Foster ($32) and DJax ($11) BTW, but don’t think they are worth the money going in.
Thanks
@David: Yeah, tough one there. I like your first option, I think Gates gives you the best value there.
Jay Wusup Man!!! Happy Football season… I get 2 keepers. 1 is Luck and who else would you keep, Martavis Bryant, Cruz or Wallace???
@Frank White: What up Franky! Leaning Wallace here, but if there’s no round restriction, and you think you can draft around it, Bryant is still an option, even with the suspension.
Thanks Buddy!!
Just had espn 10 team standard draft
Picked 9th
Here is the team
Qb. Rodgers
RB. Forsett. Ivory, Abdullah, ryan Matthews, andre Williams, David Johnson
WR. DEZ, J Matthews, Allen Robinson, Charles Johnson
TE Kyle Rudolph
Dst. Jets,vikings
K. Dan Bailey
Wanted Murray he went 8th
Took Rodgers 12 th after all the rbs gone (except McCoy )
Luck went 11th
Got caught waiting for TE
Thoughts??
Thx
@Mike: I think the depth here is good. Nothing super crazy exciting except Dez, but I think you’ll be okay. TE, just stream it if Rudolph doesn’t work.
L Murray or Hyde in a keeper league?
@Dave: Murray if you want ceiling, Hyde if you want floor. Slightly Murray for me.