During the RosterWatch Podcast (#348), Alex Dunlap and Alan Seslowsky break down the updated Fantasy Football Dynasty Rankings after the NFL Draft & talk with Armando Salguero from the Miami Herald about the Dolphins rookie class and the fantasy football expectations from the team.
After the 2021 NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins added to their wide receiver group with rookie WR Jaylen Waddle but did not spend an early pick on a running back and this is great news for dynasty managers who have shares of Myles Gaskin. Armando Salguero says that going in to training camp it is Gaskin’s job to lose with only Malcolm Brown, Salvon Ahmed and 7th round rookie Gerrid Doaks behind him vying for touches. Armando thinks that Brown will be a short-yardage situation back but Doaks is a rookie RB to keep an eye on who could take the role from Brown this season which would give him sleeper status at the tail end of rookie drafts right now. The opportunity is there for Doaks and if he capitalizes, he will provide some dynasty value.
The Dolphins acquired veteran WR Will Fuller in the offseason and Armando believes his success will depend on his ability to be a downfield threat for Miami opening up the underneath passes for guys like DeVante Parker and Mike Gesicki. His concern for Gesicki is not so much the number of pass catchers he will be competing with for targets, but his chemistry with 2nd year QB Tua Tagovailoa. A lot of Gesicki’s success last season came when Ryan Fitzpatrick was under center.
Moving on to league-wide dynasty discussion, one of the biggest stories in the NFL right now is the Aaron Rodgers situation with the Green Bay Packers. With his future in Green Bay uncertain, the fantasy value of Davante Adams, Aaron Jones, Amari Rodgers & Robert Tonyan all take a hit according to Alex, at least until we have more clarity. He has dropped Adams already in his best ball rankings behind the likes of Tyreek Hill and Stefon Diggs while we await a resolution. Alan thinks that Amari Rodgers is still a sick prospect and even if it is Jordan Love at the helm this year, he would draft the WR in dynasty because he reminds him of a Randall Cobb/Deebo Samuel type player who will still have fantasy football value regardless of the QB. Alex however would take a player such as amon-Ra St.Brown over Rodgers right now because he believes St.Brown is already the best WR on the Lions and has a better opportunity to produce from the start.
A WR who did not have a great landing spot was Rashod Bateman with the Ravens. Alan says people should not overthink it and still should draft Bateman in dynasty because you never know if the offensive scheme will change in the next year or two. In dynasty leagues you are not just drafting to win now, but for the future as well and Bateman is a guy who could provide value if there is a coordinator change in Baltimore in the coming years. The guys compared the Bateman situation to A.J Brown and how people shied away from the Titans WR because of his “poor” landing spot and is now a top-end Fantasy WR.
The RB situation in Jacksonville is muddied with the draft pick of Travis Etienne and the already established James Robinson right now but Alan doesn’t see it that way. He believes Etienne’s skillset will come to the forefront in training camp and he is the RB1 in Jacksonville already and that is how he should be valued in drafts. His price will definitely rise if James Robinson is traded before the season, but even if Robinson is still there, Alan is ready to draft Etienne ahead of guys like Clyde Edwards-Helaire this season.
