With a boatload of meaningful free agent signings already in the books, the fantasy football landscape will undoubtedly be altered in 2016. While changes of scenery will enhance some players' fantasy values, others will be hindered with different roles and supporting cast. Yes, there are still a few notable players that have yet to decide on a fresh landing spot (Arian Foster and Colin Kaepernick among others), but most of the major moves have occurred by now. Let's take a look at some players on the offensive side of the ball that will be wearing new uniforms this season, as I highlight the fantasy football implications of several offseason acquisitions. Running Backs Lamar Miller (RB): Houston Texans The Texans finally cut ties with the injury-prone Arian Foster, and were in need of a replacement workhorse. Interestingly enough, the man they got was never fully let off his leash by his former team, but certainly seemed capable of handling a larger workload. The ex-Dolphin speedster, Lamar Miller, was signed by the Texans on the same day they reeled in Brock Osweiler, completing what will be a new-look attack down in Houston. Lamar Miller is an elusive, durable, and effective overall running back that was underused in Miami, and I assume HC Bill O'Brien realizes that. Believe it or not, Lamar Miller finished last year as the sixth overall RB in standard leagues, so a major jump in production may not be certain. However, there is a chance that Miller explodes in 2016. His 194 carries were criminally low, especially when compared to AP's whopping 327 carries. Assuming Miller stays healthy and handles a full workload this season, I think his floor is a low-end RB1, while his ceiling is frightening. I'm thinking he has a chance to finish as a top 3 RB this year, especially since he's come so close to cracking the top 5, even with absurdly limited touches. I wouldn't pass him up in the early second round of your draft, regardless of scoring format, as he fits the mold of a dynamic pass-catcher as well. Matt Forte (RB): New York Jets Seemingly able to fit into any NFL system, Matt Forte had multiple landing spot possibilities this offseason. Ultimately, he followed his ex-Bears teammate Brandon Marshall to New York, where he'll be wearing green and white for the 2016 season. Forte is entering the dreaded 30 year old season for NFL running backs, but he was still averaging 4.0 yards per carry over the last two seasons combined, showing his effectiveness as of late. Still, he missed 3 games last year, after only missing 5 games during his first seven seasons. While I wouldn't classify him as an injury risk, his slightly declining performance paired with his recent bumps and bruises has me worried about durability in terms of a full season. With the Jets losing Chris Ivory and re-signing third down back Bilal Powell, Forte is expected to carry the load for the Jets. This means double digit carries every game with the chance of goal line work on a fast-paced Jets offense. His QB this season is still a mystery, but assuming the Jets can lock up Fitzmagic or another solid option, Forte should be able to provide safe RB2 fantasy numbers. And much like Ivory in 2015, if his workload remains heavy, he'll have a few RB1-worthy weeks in him. The main concern, again, is that his age and tread on the tires could result in deteriorating play down the stretch. Demarco Murray (RB): Tennessee Titans After being one the league's most dominant rushers in 2014, Murray flopped during his stay in Philly. He was repeatedly hit in the backfield, struggled to make people miss, and was outperformed by his backups. Some of this can be blamed on the system he was in, which clearly didn't utilize his downhill running style, but Murray himself deserves a decent amount of the blame. Regardless, he's a Tennessee Titan in 2016, and I actually have higher expectations than most. This Titans offense has a ton of young talent to build around, and getting a veteran RB like Demarco behind Marcus Mariota is a major upgrade from Antonio Andrews, who some desperate fantasy owners were forced to use at times last season. Murray may not be a top-tier RB1 like his days with Dallas, but I envision him getting 15-20 touches per game with definite goal line totes. With recent protection issues, it wouldn't surprise me if the Titans address their O-line in the draft for both Mariota and Murray's wellbeing... While many owners will shy away from him earlier in drafts due to his age and ineffectiveness last year, I see Demarco Murray as a safe RB2 while he's healthy. He's also bound to sprinkle in a few solid RB1 weeks, similar to Forte. Chris Ivory (RB): Jacksonville Jaguars One of the most intriguing signings of the offseason was Chris Ivory to the Jaguars. If the Jags didn't have a promising young runner in T.J. Yeldon, I would probably be ecstatic about the move, as I'm a big fan of Ivory's running style. He hits the hole hard and punishes defenders, but also has breakaway speed in the open field. He does usually experience a few minor injuries during the course of the NFL season, but when you consider his running style, Ivory is relatively sturdy. As it stands now, we're not sure just how the Jags will divvy up the carries out of the backfield, but something near a 50-50 split seems reasonable. I can see Ivory as the early down thumper, and someone who might get more carries as the game goes on. He can wear defenses out, and he'll probably get the first crack at goal line carries. Still, with Yeldon healthy and in the mix, I can't see either Jacksonville RB getting more than 10-15 touches per game, unless one catches fire. I'd prefer Ivory to Yeldon if I had to choose a side of the coin, but he's more of a flex or RB3 option that you take a stab at in the middle rounds of your draft. In reality, the Jags have a great backfield duo. In fantasy, we call that a headache. Alfred Morris (RB): Dallas Cowboys With the Cowboys' backfield a bit dry on depth, they were in line to beef up their committee either through free agency or the draft. While drafting a young running back in April certainly isn't a bad idea, and remains very possible, Dallas chose to go out and sign former Washington RB Alfred Morris to a 2-year contract. Although, by signing Morris, the Cowboys didn't exactly get a young, dynamic runner who is going to slide atop the depth chart right away. In fact, Jerry Jones says that McFadden, who is coming off a rejuvenated season in which he averaged 4.6 YPC with 1400+ scrimmage yards, will remain the team's starting running back. However, we know that DMC is anything but durable, regardless of his healthy 2015. Still, when I look at Morris and his recent decline, I'll admit I'm a bit worried. His 751 rushing yards, career low 3.7 YPC, and single TD on the year all have me a bit skeptical to say the least. Then there's this: Did you know that Alf actually has the most carries in the NFL over the past four seasons? If all goes well, I could see Alf and DMC in a relatively even timeshare, with Morris coming out on pretty much all passing downs. A preseason injury to McFadden would catapult Morris to the top spot by default, making him a great bounce-back candidate behind that offensive line and an RB2 at minimum. But at this stage, I'm taking the cautious approach on Morris in terms of fantasy production. While he should improve his YPC in Dallas, I would say he's no better than a dicey RB3 pick when draft season approaches. Wide Receivers Marvin Jones (WR): Detroit Lions The wide receivers in this year's free agency market were underwhelming in comparison to running backs, but Marvin Jones sits atop the rankings for the position. Jones has been nothing more than a #2 option beside A.J. Green in Cincinnati, but he was very effective in that role. He had over 800 yards last season but only hauled in 4 touchdowns, which was strange, since Jones caught 10 touchdowns back in 2013. Only 26 years old with plenty of talent, he'll now be heading to Detroit to do his best Calvin Johnson impersonation. While that might be not possible, Jones is expected to be the Lions' top wideout nonetheless. Across from Golden Tate, who best serves as a shifty second option, Marvin Jones should find himself catching a lot of balls from Matthew Stafford. He's shown that he can be a red zone threat, and Detroit is definitely expecting big things from him, but it will take more than one man to reproduce Megatron's impact. I see Jones as a solid WR3 from the get-go, with potential to be a WR2 if things go according to plan. Travis Benjamin (WR): San Diego Chargers One of the many players the Browns lost that they couldn't really afford to lose was WR Travis Benjamin. Playing an important role for Cleveland this past season, Benjamin racked up nearly 1000 yards on a pitiful offense while hauling in 5 touchdowns. With a much more competent signal-caller in Philip Rivers, he will be a much happier campier out in sunny San Diego. With Keenan Allen entrenched as the Bolts' top WR option, Benjamin will be looking to inch ahead of Stevie Johnson for the #2 spot. I believe he'll win the job, meaning that he'll see a steady amount of targets on a weekly basis. He's known to be a one-trick pony who wins with go-routes down the field, but Benjamin actually showed decent hands while catching 68 balls last year. With Rivers throwing to him, and Allen drawing coverage to his own side of the field, I can see Travis Benjamin putting up decent numbers in his first year with the Chargers. Whereas last season he was a risky boom-or-bust WR3, he looks to be a safe WR3 if he can definitively win the second receiver job for SD in 2016. Rishard Matthews (WR): Tennessee Titans On pace for 963 yards as the second receiving option in Miami, the 26 year old Rishard Matthews had himself a breakout season in 2015. While Miami was open to bringing him back for this year, the Titans ultimately sealed the deal and signed him to a 3-year deal that will pair him with talented wideouts Dorial Green-Beckham and Kendall Wright. In addition to the young WR corps in Tennessee, the Titans also has a stud TE in Delanie Walker. All of these weapons should be of great value to sophomore QB Marcus Mariota, who is coming off a promising rookie season himself. The reason I mention all of these offensive parts is because the newly acquired Matthews will have plenty of competition for targets, but he should settle in and have some decent fantasy value in 2016. He's more polished as an outside receiver than DGB (with much less upside, however), and Kendall Wright strictly mans the slot position. All in all, I think the Matthews signing was a wise move by the Titans in terms of developing their offense, but I don't think he comes to Tennessee and puts up overly impressive fantasy stats. Still, similar to the aforementioned wideouts above, I believe Rishard Matthews can maintain WR3 value this season. His odds of approaching WR2 territory are fairly slim, barring an injury or suspension to DGB, who Mariota built some nice chemistry with last season. Chris Hogan (WR): New England Patriots Let me start by saying the least notable name on my list of wide receivers has a legitimate chance to be the best of the bunch this season. In a sneaky move that could send WR Danny Amendola packing, the Patriots went and signed restricted free agent Chris Hogan, coming over from Rex Ryan's Bills. Hogan is a bigger receiver than his smooth gameplay shows, coming in at 6'1" with 4.5 wheels. He can play inside and outside, and will likely become New England's second wideout in 2016. He should be an ideal fit for New England's methodical short passing game, although he'll have Gronk, Bennett, Edelman, and a running back stable to compete with for targets. Still, the passing game in NE is voluminous enough for Hogan to have a breakout year. If Amendola is let go, I see Monmouth product Chris Hogan as a surefire WR3 to start the season simply based on his probable role in the Pats offense. Oh, and Tom Brady is his QB. Tight Ends Martellus Bennett (TE): New England Patriots One of the bigger offseason trades up to this point is the Patriots acquiring the oft-disgruntled Martellus Bennett, formerly of the Chicago Bears. Bennett is coming off a lost season, where he failed to eclipse 500 receiving yards in 11 healthy contests. He will be a prime bounce-back candidate this season in Foxboro with Tom Brady slinging him the ball in 2-TE sets. Opposite the mammoth that is Rob Gronkowski, Bennett will undoubtedly be playing a different role than in past seasons with Chicago. He'll be going from the obvious top tight end on his squad, to playing second-fiddle to Gronk in New England's complex offense. Still only 29 years of age, Marty B has definite fantasy appeal. Before Aaron Hernandez got drowned in legal issues, he was a fantasy force on the Patriots. While Bennett may not be the same player as he was, this is simply evidence that the Pats can provide two TE1s for fantasy purposes. I expect Bennett to be a lower-yardage, higher-efficiency option in 2016, and it wouldn't surprise me to see him being ranked inside the top 10 at his position for most weeks. Ladarius Green (TE): Pittsburgh Steelers The offseason tight end signing with the most upside in 2016 goes to the Steelers and Ladarius Green, who is coming over from San Diego to team up with Big Ben. Green, annually buried behind Antonio Gates on the depth chart, has shown brilliant flashes in his limited NFL starts. Now he has some big shoes to fill in Pittsburgh's dynamic offense, as longtime TE Heath Miller is heading into retirement. While he isn't the proven commodity that Heath was, Ladarius Green is actually a solid, all-around tight end. First used for his blocking abilities in SD, Green quickly showed tremendous athleticism as well, which shouldn't have been too surprising after the 6'6" frame ran a freakish 4.56 forty back in 2012 at the NFL combine. Now, he is the uncontested top tight end on Pittsburgh's depth chart, and he's stepping into a high-flying offensive attack for 2016. With Martavis Bryant getting hit with a 365-day suspension, there will certainly be targets to disperse on offense. In a shallow position, it wouldn't be crazy to immediately throw Green into your top 10 at the TE spot. In fact, I wouldn't be able to provide you with enough reasoning to doubt he has top 5 potential. Coby Fleener (TE): New Orleans Saints It's not often you feel the need to talk about Coby Fleener. Judging by his time in Indianapolis, he's an athletic, yet underwhelming, pass-catcher that was forced to split time with Dwayne Allen. Well, he'll now be moving on to New Orleans, where he'll catch passes from Drew Brees. Coming off a year where he failed to surpass 500 receiving yards and caught only 3 touchdowns, there doesn't seem like much to be excited about. Yet, there are plenty of reasons that Fleener could be a reliable fantasy option in 2016. First off, an aging veteran like Benjamin Watson was able to have a fluky, but extremely effective 2015 season, a year in which he celebrated his 35th birthday. While Watson figures to fall down the rankings this year in Baltimore, his old spot on the depth chart is Fleener's for the taking. As Drew Brees' top TE, he will undoubtedly improve upon last year's dismal stats, and he is only two seasons removed from racking up nearly 800 yards and 8 touchdowns. I think Fleener will settle in as a low-end TE1 during fantasy draft season. *This original article was composed on February 10th, 2016. Make sure to click here for my most recent positional rankings for the 2016 fantasy football season*
After the Denver Broncos and their top notch defense extinguished Cam Newton's red hot Carolina Panthers by a score of 24-10 last Sunday, I think it's safe to say the 2015 NFL season has officially come to an end. The conclusion of Super Bowl 50 puts a bow on what was undoubtedly another wild and unpredictable year of fantasy football. Injuries, suspensions, and breakout players were, like always, among the most common reasons that 2015 played out like it did. Although we can't predict who will be traded, signed, released, or arrested, this off-season is sure to be filled with breaking news and drama in the upcoming months. Not to mention the 2016 NFL Draft kicks off on April 28, which will deliver loads of talented young players into the NFL and the fantasy football world alike. Keeping in mind how fluid the NFL picture will remain until the 2016 season begins, let's take an early look at my top 10 positional rankings for QB, RB, WR, and TE. These rankings were constructed based on ESPN standard league scoring systems. Quarterback 1) Cam Newton (CAR) 2) Andrew Luck (IND) 3) Russell Wilson (SEA) 4) Aaron Rodgers (GB) 5) Ben Roethlisberger (PIT) 6) Tom Brady (NE) 7) Carson Palmer (ARI) 8) Blake Bortles (JAC) 9) Drew Brees (NO) 10) Derek Carr (OAK) Just outside my top 10: Tony Tomo (DAL), Tyrod Taylor (BUF), Jameis Winston (TB) Coming off his NFL MVP season that fell just short of a ring, Cam Newton will be the frontrunner for the top QB ranking next season. His dominant rushing skills paired with drastically improved throwing mechanics make for another elite year of production. One of the biggest disappointments of 2015 was Andrew Luck, who struggled early on before injuring his ribs/kidney midseason. I think he's a prime bounce-back candidate next year with a young and speedy WR corps (once Andre Johnson moves on). Unlike Luck, Russell Wilson was a delightful surprise, finishing as a top 3 fantasy QB in standard leagues. His ability to scramble and extend plays was evident in 2015, as Wilson went on an absolute tear in the second half of the year. He should continue to be a safe option next year and it wouldn't hurt to give him another weapon during the offseason. Aaron Rodgers had an uncharacteristically mediocre season to his own standards. Getting Jordy Nelson back for next year will almost certainly slide A-Rod back into the top 5 at his position. Ben Roethlisberger had a rollercoaster season, dealing with a myriad of injuries and suspensions both to himself and his playmakers. However, it's hard to imagine Big Ben putting up less-than-stellar numbers in 2016 if offensive weapons like Bell, Brown, and Bryant are all on the field. Tom Brady came out of the gates on fire, and the only thing that really cooled him down was injuries on the offensive side of the ball. Going into his 16th season, Brady will likely continue to offer QB1 value as long as Gronk and Edelman are healthy. After turning in a great season for the Cards in 2015, Carson Palmer stalled out in the postseason. With an arsenal of playmakers on a vertical offense, Palmer should remain a solid QB1 next year. Blake Bortles finished his sophomore season as a top 4 fantasy QB in ESPN standard leagues. With Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns shaping up to be a nightmare duo for opposing defenses, Bortles should be drafted as a starter in 2016 leagues. Drew Breeshad his ups (505 yards + 7 TD) and his downs (228 yards + 0 TD) this past year, but still finished as the 6th best QB on ESPN. With a defense that gives up so many points, I see Brees as a safe, back-end fantasy option in 2016. Another sophomore who outperformed expectations was Derek Carr of the Raiders. He already looks comfortable in the pocket, and having Cooper and Crabtree on the perimeter doesn't hurt his outlook. Running Back 1) Todd Gurley (STL) 2) Le'Veon Bell (PIT) 3) DeVonta Freeman (ATL) 4) David Johnson (ARI) 5) Doug Martin (TB) 6) Thomas Rawls (SEA) 7) Adrian Peterson (MIN) 8) Jamaal Charles (KC) 9) Mark Ingram (NO) 10) Lamar Miller (MIA) Just outside my top 10: Carlos Hyde (SF), Latavius Murray (OAK), Eddie Lacy (GB) The top spot for fantasy RB ranks isn't nearly as definitive as it is for other positions. As of right now, I'm going with Offensive Rookie of the Year Todd Gurley. His Rams squad goes from STL to LA, but his dynamic skills won't be going anywhere. The major knee injury to Le'Veon Bell during week 8 of this past season is the only thing keeping me from putting the Steeler RB at #1. If rehabilitation of the MCL and PCL proceeds without any setbacks whatsoever, he'd almost positively slide past Gurley as my top 2016 fantasy ball carrier. The biggest steal of your 2015 draft was most likely Falcons speedster DeVonta Freeman, who rumbled his way to the top scoring spot for fantasy RBs. His yardage may have diminished down the stretch, but his opportunities didn't. As of now, he's firmly ahead of Tevin Coleman, but we'll have to wait a few months to be sure. One player that I'm hoping enters 2016 as a clear-cut starter is David Johnson, who carried the Cardinals to multiple big wins late in the year. I believe his versatile skill set can easily make him a top 5 fantasy option next year. Doug Martin had a massive year, finishing as the 3rd best fantasy runner and rushing for less yards than only AP. It looks like he'll be back in Tampa, so for now he's a top-notch RB1 for next year. With Marshawn Lynch hanging up the cleats (literally) after 9 seasons in the NFL, another "beast mode" looks to be the next man up in Seattle. I'm speaking, of course, about Thomas Rawls, who looked very explosive in his limited role as a starter this year. He's locked in as a top 10 RB for 2016. After sitting out an entire season, Adrian Peterson returned in 2015 with a typically strong performance, rushing for just under 1500 yards. While age is a concern, AP should still be an RB1 in nearly all formats next season. Jamaal Charles had his season ended prematurely after suffering another torn ACL in week 5. Assuming he is fully healthy by training camp this summer, I don't think KC has any reason to demote him from a starting role, although it would make sense to spell him more often. Mark Ingram was performing like a high-end RB1 before his season came to a halt due to a shoulder injury late in 2015. A tough runner with a nose for the end zone, he should remain a top 10 option next year. One RB that is likely to relocate this offseason is Miami Dolphin RB Lamar Miller. Annually underused in South Beach, a change of scenery might be the best thing for Miller to finally become a team's workhorse. Wide Receiver 1) Antonio Brown (PIT) 2) Julio Jones (ATL) 3) Odell Beckham (NYG) 4) DeAndre Hopkins (HOU) 5) Dez Bryant (DAL) 6) Allen Robinson (JAC) 7) Alshon Jeffery (CHI) 8) Sammy Watkins (BUF) 9) Keenan Allen (SD) 10) Brandon Marshall (NYJ) Just outside my top 10: Demaryius Thomas (DEN), A.J. Green (CIN), Jordy Nelson (GB) Had Big Ben stayed healthy, it isn't crazy to think Antonio Brown would have had the most receiving yards in NFL single season history. AB provides both a ceiling and a floor that other wideouts simply cannot. The NFL's leading receiver in terms of yardage, Julio Jones will almost surely offer up top 3 WR numbers again in 2016. Odell Beckhamfinished in the top 5 of fantasy WR scoring this past year, solidifying that this young star is here to stay. You won't find many sources that have ODB outside the top 5 for his position. DeAndre Hopkins was one of many surprisingly dominant wideouts in 2015, consistently posting elite stats with no-name QBs at the helm. Assuming the Texans find a QB for the future this offseason, "Nuk" should blow up again next season. Dez Bryanthad sort of a lost season in 2015, breaking his foot and returning only to see Romo break his collarbone (again). As of right now, I think people could underdraft Dez next year by holding this year against him, making him a great selection after the first round. Allen Robinson had his breakout season with the Jags this past year, posting a whopping 1400 yards and 14 scores as well. With a young offense all around him, the arrow is pointing up for A-Rob. Bears WR Alshon Jeffery had an injury-riddled contract year that allowed him to play in roughly half of his 2015 contests. Still, Chicago will look to retain him and he looked absolutely dominant in the few games in which he was fully healthy. Clemson burner Sammy Watkins came on strong at the end of this past season, and I look for him to continue being a borderline WR1 in 2016. Someone who people may forget about during the offseason is Keenan Allen of the Chargers. He was off to a fantastic start this year before hitting the IR, so he should be a fine selection in the early-to-mid rounds when draft season arrives. There were a lot of contenders for the last spot in my top 10, but I went with Brandon Marshall following his elite campaign with the Jets. His chemistry with Fitzpatrick was evident this year, leading to fourteen weeks with 100+ yards and/or a TD. Tight End 1) Rob Gronkowski (NE) 2) Greg Olsen (CAR) 3) Jordan Reed (WAS) 4) Travis Kelce (KC) 5) Tyler Eifert (CIN) 6) Delanie Walker (TEN) 7) Julius Thomas (JAC) 8) Gary Barnidge (CLE) 9) Zach Ertz (PHI) 10) Austin Sefarian-Jenkins (TB) Just outside my top 10: Maxx Williams (BAL), Ladarius Green (SD), Charles Clay (BUF) As expected, Rob Gronkowski ruled the NFL in a year he nearly stayed injury-free. Hits to the knee are always a scare for Gronk and his owners, but he will continue to provide overwhelming fantasy numbers with Brady at the helm, making him worthy of a 1st or 2nd round pick next fantasy season. Greg Olsen was Cam's top target in the passing game this year, and he delivered steady numbers all year long. I look for their rapport to remain strong, making Olsen an elite TE option in 2016. Jordan Reed had yet another year slowed down by injury, but he has never had a problem with production when healthy, as seen during his three week rage during weeks 14-16. He will be a top 5 TE selection in virtually every league. Travis Kelce has all the tools to be a dominant TE in the NFL, and the Chiefs just paid him like one. It would only make sense for them to increase his role in the passing game in 2016. Even with only 615 yards this year, Tyler Eifert made up for it in a big way by hauling in 13 TDs. I expect him to be a solid TE1 next season, but I would imagine his receiving yardage goes up while his TD total goes down. Delanie Walker quickly became Marcus Mariota's favorite target in his rookie campaign, racking up almost 1100 yards and finishing in the top 5 of ESPN standard leagues. I only expect their chemistry to improve over the offseason, making him a very intriguing fantasy option in 2016. After breaking his hand in the preseason, Julius Thomas missed the first month of action with his new Jags team. Orange Julius should reap the benefits of a full offseason with QB Blake Bortles and settle in as a quality starting option next year. Not many NFL players wait until their 30th birthday to break out, but that's exactly what Gary Barnidge did in 2015. He just signed a contract extension after going for 1000+ yards and 9 TD with a revolving door at QB, so as long as Cleveland finds a decent option in the upcoming draft, Barnidge should be a relatively safe TE1 again. Speaking of contract extensions, Zach Ertz just got one of his own after coming on very strong at the end of this season. He's young and has a ton of athleticism, making him an ideal fantasy TE that you can grab later on in most drafts. One big-bodied TE that I think can make a major stride next year is Austin Sefarian-Jenkins of the Bucs. Although he sat out most of last season, he makes his presence felt when on the field, especially in the red zone. - I'll continue to post updated rankings with more positional depth as the unforeseeable offseason headlines unfold... and they will. Stay tuned. Hopefully everyone had a relaxing Thanksgiving with their families, food, and football. It took until 8:30 PM for us to see a game that wasn't a complete blowout. In a great day for large cats around the NFL, the Lions stomped the Eagles 45-14, while the Panthers beat the Cowboys 33-14. Surprisingly, the only close game resulted in the Bears upsetting the Packers 17-13 at Lambeau Field, on Brett Favre's big night. A few notable headlines in the fantasy world include the Lions' surging offensive play, Tony Romo's return to the IR with another fracture in his clavicle, and Eddie Lacy's seemingly revitalized value just in time for the fake football playoffs. Let's take a look at these Turkey Day headlines, plus a few others, and examine what sort of impact they'll have for Fantasy Football owners as the postseason rapidly approaches. Lions (45) vs. Eagles (14)
Panthers (33) @ Cowboys (14)
Bears (17) @ Packers (13)
Entering the 2015 season, there were plenty of reasons to doubt that a meaningful statistical year from Cardinals veteran receiver Larry Fitzgerald would be on the horizon. First off, he was going into his 12th year in the NFL at the age of 32. Additionally, Larry was set to count for a massive $23.6 million against the Cardinals' cap in 2015, making him a prime candidate to be traded or cut. Last but not least, Fitz had shown signs of sharp decline in his abilities the past few years, failing to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark for three years in a row (2012-14). This, of course, was after he averaged a whopping 1,202 yards per season after his first 8 years in the league (2004-11). In that span, he went over 1,400 yards in a mind-boggling four different campaigns. Clearly, the legendary early and middle part of his career yielded Hall of Fame numbers, proving that he is one of the great wideouts of this generation. Regardless of his productive past, nobody expected Larry Fitzgerald to have the resurgence that he has had thus far in 2015, both in real life and for fantasy owners alike. Drafted, on average, as the 29th overall fantasy wide receiver on ESPN online drafts, Fitz slotted in right behind Vikings WR Mike Wallace. Just for fun, let's put this into perspective. Going about 30 picks ahead of Fitzgerald were wideouts like Redskins WR DeSean Jackson, while Colts veteran WR Andre Johnson was drafted 15 picks before him as well. This put his draft stock right at 83rd overall, also behind other underwhelming positional players such as Giants RB Rashad Jennings, who slotted in with an average draft position of 78.5. Before the season kicked off, nobody would have argued that he wasn't deserving of that low ADP, myself included. However, something magnificent has occurred this year for Fitz and the Arizona Cardinals. Playing in Bruce Arians' offense with a healthy Carson Palmer at the helm, Larry Fitzgerald seems to have truly discovered the ever-elusive "Fountain of Youth". Larry Fitzgerald has always thrived with a quality signal caller. Whether that meant the legendary Kurt Warner or a healthy and capable Carson Palmer, Fitz has proven to be drastically more effective with a good quarterback. And for the record, Drew Stanton and/or Ryan Lindley do not count as quality signal callers. On a per game basis, Fitzgerald was averaging about 70 yards during the first nine games of 2014 with Palmer playing. While that isn't spectacular by any means, he certainly wasn't showing many signs up being a washed-up veteran. However, in Week 10 against the Rams, Carson Palmer went down with a torn ACL in his left knee. This was the beginning of the end for Larry Fitzgerald, as numerous incompetent backups just couldn't get the ball to him on a consistent basis. He was still being targeted plenty, but that simply didn't transition into solid statistics. Aside from his two missed game due to a sprained MCL in weeks 12 and 13, Larry Fitzgerald hadn't sat out a single contest since 2007. Even in the five remaining weeks that Fitzgerald played at the end of the season with a backup quarterback slinging him the ball, he couldn't muster up anywhere close to the yardage he gained with Palmer earlier in the season. In those games, he averaged a paltry 31.8 yards and never even exceeded 34 yards. Slowed by his knee injury and poor quarterback play, Larry Fitzgerald was entering the offseason as a quickly declining veteran wide receiver with his best days almost surely behind him. Then 2015 happened. With a fast-paced offense led by a now healthy Carson Palmer, there was reason for optimism this season. Still, like previously mentioned, there were even more reasons to doubt that a productive statistical year was in the near future. Young wideouts John Brown and Michael Floyd were big parts of the offense in 2014, and they figured to remain integral pieces of Arizona's offense this season as well. Targets were evenly distributed between the trio of Cardinal receivers, which put a damper on all three of their fantasy outlooks for this year. For good reason, most fantasy analysts pegged Brown and Floyd as the higher upside options of their passing attack. But it didn't take long for the savvy veteran to once again claim his dominance over the younger options. A revived Larry Fitzgerald burst onto the scene in the first month of the season, hauling in 432 yards from 30 receptions, five of which went for touchdowns. Since then, he has cooled down a bit, but this Pitt product still remains a dominant force in fantasy as a current top 5 scorer at his position. In Week 10, Fitzgerald came off of his bye week and had the tough task of traveling to Seattle to take on the once-feared "Legion of Boom". There were rumors of Richard Sherman shadowing Fitz, but he shrugged them off, saying that Sherman should focus on the younger Cardinal wideouts instead of covering an "old, grizzly, washed-up veteran". Maybe this tactic actually worked, as Sherman manned the left side of the field on Sunday night. Fitzgerald moved all over the place, including the slot, taking on a similar role to what Hines Ward used to play for Bruce Arians in Pittsburgh. Larry proceeded to shred the Seahawks secondary all night, gaining chunk yardage on multiple occasions, many of which were chain-moving receptions. With John Brown ailing and Michael Floyd hurting his hamstring after a superb early performance, Carson Palmer peppered Fitz with targets. He ended up grabbing 10 out of his 15 targets, which he turned into 130 receiving yards. As the undeniable top receiving threat on one of the NFL's most prolific offenses, Larry Fitzgerald is enjoying his best season in recent memory. After his first month of play, it didn't seem feasible for him to keep up his historic pace. However, we are heading into Week 11 in the NFL, and Fitz is on pace for 151 targets, 116 receptions, 1,486 receiving yards, and 12 touchdowns. Twelve years into his majestic NFL campaign, those receptions and receiving yards would set career records for Fitz, while his season high for touchdowns is only 13. A combination of scheme, quarterback play, and his surrounding weapons all combine to give Larry Fitzgerald possibly his most potential in his entire career. He continues to be a tough player who takes walloping hits across the middle of the field but still manages to hang on to the rock. In terms of fantasy football, Fitz has entrenched himself as a top 10 WR for the rest of the season, while nobody would be surprised if he finished the year close to (or inside) the top 5 at his position. As Carson Palmer's go-to target, he's as safe as they come for producing quality numbers, regardless of the opponent. It truly is remarkable for someone of his age to discover the so-called "Fountain of Youth", but Fitz obviously found it. Author:
Playing behind two of the best wide receivers in Clemson school history in DeAndre Hopkins and Sammy Watkins, Pittsburgh Steelers WR Martavis Bryant flew a bit under the radar when the 2014 NFL Draft arrived. While his counterparts, Hopkins and Watkins, were both selected in the 1st rounds of the 2013 and 2014 NFL draft, respectively, Martavis Bryant had to wait until the 4th round of last year's draft to hear his name called. Being an electric playmaker in college and coming in at 6' 4", 211 lbs, a few NFL player comparisons I can specifically recall include similarly built wideouts such as A.J. Green and the great Randy Moss. While he clearly was viewed as a much more raw prospect, the size-speed combination was imminent, as he impressed many teams at the 2014 combine with his 4.42 official (4.34 unofficial) 40-yard dash. The Pittsburgh Steelers coaching staff admittedly was thrilled that he fell on draft day last year, and they scooped him up with the 118th overall selection. With the Steelers seemingly always finding gems on draft day at the wide receiver position, the selection of Martavis Bryant further proves that notion at this point in his young career. Coming out of Calhoun Falls, South Carolina, Bryant was given a 4-star recruiting grade and ranked 43rd on ESPN's top 150 recruits (8th at WR) back in 2010. The Clemson Tigers proceeded to offer him a scholarship, which he signed and faxed to the Tigers back in February of 2010. In his freshman year at Clemson, he was buried behind the depth chart behind current pass-catching pros like DeAndre Hopkins, Jaron Brown, Dwayne Allen, and Sammy Watkins, another highly touted freshman. However, he still made a small impact in 2011, mainly as a situational deep threat. In 10 games, he caught 9 balls for 221 yards along with 2 touchdowns, averaging a whopping 24.6 yards per reception. In the following season, Bryant remained buried on the WR depth chart behind Hopkins, Watkins, and Brown. In 2012, he suited up for 8 games, catching 10 balls for 305 yards and 4 touchdowns. Grabbing 4 TDs in his 10 total catches, while also averaging a ridiculous 30.5 yards per catch, Martavis was proving his potential in a very small sample size. Finally, in 2013, Bryant was able to crack the top 3 at his position on the depth chart, after seeing "Nuk" Hopkins head to the Texans in the NFL draft. Playing second fiddle to Sammy Watkins' mammoth season of 101 catches for almost 1500 yards, Bryant was a deep ball maven who wasn't gaining nearly enough attention from around the country in his junior year. Still, he turned in his best season by far, grabbing 42 balls for 828 yards and 7 TDs. Even with more volume, he still was averaging 19.7 yards per grab, solidifying his playmaking potential. Coming into the 2014 NFL combine, Bryant seemed like a very lanky and raw prospect in the NFL's eyes, and he also had a relatively small sample size in college. On the other hand, his teammate at Clemson, Sammy Watkins, was looking like a lock for a top-10 overall pick. Watkins ended up going to the Bills as the 4th overall pick, and they gave up a whole lot in order to get him. These reasons, among others, undoubtedly masked his NFL readiness when draft day approached. However, when looking at his statistics, you can tell that a 4th round selection was an enormous bargain. One aspect of his game that stands out to me is his touchdown tendency, which is evident for the Steelers, but was also obvious in college. Let's break down his numbers back at Clemson: Martavis Bryant had small sample sizes for his freshman and sophomore year, so I'm going to combine all three seasons for a better sense of his stats. His first year, he caught only 9 balls, but 2 were for touchdowns. The following year, he converted 4 of his 10 catches for touchdowns. During his junior season at Clemson, Bryant tallied 42 receptions, 7 of which were for scores. If we add those numbers up, Bryant amassed a total of 61 receptions. Out of those 61 grabs, 13 of them went for a touchdown. This means that 21.3% of Martavis Bryant's receptions at Clemson went for touchdown. So, on average, about 1 out of every 4.7 catches he recorded in college were going for touchdowns. That's just insane. For some laughs, here's a few wideouts that were selected ahead of Marty B in the 2014 draft: Shaq Evans, Bruce Ellington, Jalen Saunders, Josh Huff, and Paul Richardson (2 entire rounds ahead) - just to name a few. When the Steelers landed Bryant in the 4th round, they made it known that he wouldn't immediately be thrown into the lineup opposite of all-pro WR Antonio Brown. They knew he needed to get up to speed with the playbook as well as put some muscle on his tall frame. He finally made his debut in Week 7 against the Texans on Monday Night Football. He was instantly an unstoppable force that made Ben Roethlisberger and the entire Steelers offense better. He played in every game from that point on, compiling a stat line of: 26 receptions - 549 yards - 8 touchdowns... Talk about production - for a rookie who didn't play until the midway point of the season. Let's dive into what those numbers really showed. For one, his big-play ability carried over from college, as he averaged a massive 21.1 yards per catch, and had a whopping 94-yard TD catch as his season long. Secondly, his red zone dominance also carried over, as his impressive 8 rookie year touchdowns show. Bryant's 2015 season started off on the wrong foot, however. He was handed a 4-game suspension for failing, what some claim, were "multiple" drugs tests. Martavis appealed his suspension, but it was upheld, and he then received treatment away from the team to heal his off-the-field issues. While he was eligible for a Week 5 return in 2015, a minor knee injury held him out until the following week. This past Sunday, he returned with an emphatic performance to say the least. With Big Ben out and Mike Vick in, Bryant had only 8 receiving yards at halftime. However, when Vick went down with a hamstring injury, third-stringer Landry Jones entered the game. This is when Martavis made his return evident. Bryant finished the day with 6 grabs for 137 yards and 2 touchdowns, plus a rush for 8 yards. His first touchdown was an excellent display of red zone awareness, as he skied into the air and got both feet down in the back of the end zone on a pass from Landry Jones. His second score sealed the upset win for the Steelers and was a truly spectacular play. In a play that Martavis ran a total of 130 yards, he caught a simple slant route, threw off defender Tyrann Matheiu, then proceeded to make his way to the outside of the field. He strided down the sideline, picked up a few blocks, and then cut inward to gallop into the end zone. This 88-yarder was a prime example of his game-breaking ability at the professional level. In summary, I'm going to take a look at his statistics as a Pittsburgh Steeler, in combination with the numbers he compiled at Clemson. In a total of 11 games as a Steelers, Bryant has 32 receptions for a behemoth 686 yards. That means he is averaging 21.4 yards per catch as an NFL receiver. This year alone, only the one-trick pony Torrey Smith is averaging more yards per grab (23.1), and has nowhere near the ability in the red zone. For comparison, last year's leader was DeSean Jackson with 20.9 yards per grab, only due the fact that Bryant didn't play enough games to qualify as the leader - he averaged 22.8 in 8 games last season. Basically, Martavis has unbelievable big-play potential that is hard to find in an NFL receiver. To go along with his high YPR, he has continued to be a TD magnet. Of his 32 career receptions in the NFL, a ridiculous 10 of them have gone for touchdowns. That means that his NFL touchdown potential is 31.25% - somehow even better than his filthy college percentage of 23.1%. To put this into perspective, this means that almost 1 out of every 3 catches in his NFL career have gone for touchdowns! He'll get Ben Roethlisberger back soon, which will only boost his stock, along with all Steelers skill players. Martavis Bryant is the ideal receiver to place opposite of the quick and sure-handed Antonio Brown. He has the size, speed, and skills to materialize into a legitimate wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and should emerge as a high-end WR2 within the next few weeks, with the true possibility of Bryant scoring like a low-end WR1 from this point til the end of the 2015 season. While many think of him as being boom-or-bust, I simply do not agree. The Steelers offense consistently scores more points with him on the field, and he is a top 3 weapon in the NFL's premier offense. He should only get more consistent as he grows stronger, more mature, and builds chemistry with his QB. This kid is a freak of nature that has proven to be a real-life draft steal as well as a juggernaut in fantasy. Get him into your starting lineups as soon as possible. He has week-winning potential every time he steps foot onto the football field. Author:Robert Kohnfelder |
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