Dynasty Rookie Spotlight: Demarcus Ayers, WR Pittsburgh Steelers

Rookie Spotlight: Demarcus Ayers, WR Pittsburgh Steelers

 

Height: 5’ 9 3/8”
Weight: 182 lbs
Hands: 9 1/4 ’’
Arm: 31 1/4’’
40 yard dash: 4.72 (Combine) 4.57 (Pro-Day)

NFL Comparison: Tyler Lockett, Alan Bonner

 

Scouting Notes: Ayers did pretty much everything at Houston including field kick-offs and punts, run reverses, throw the ball, and line up all over the field — though he found himself operating mostly out of the slot. Ayers was drafted in the 7th round of the 2016 NFL draft by the Steelers. He has solid hands, dropping just two of 98 catchable passes in the slot during his college career, though his output was moderate save for his final season when he notched 98 catches for 1,222 yards and 6 TDs. Ayers is deceptive on the field and can make the first defender miss with the ball in his hands, which is why he’s so effective in close spaces and over the middle. He doesn’t have great long speed though and fails to impress on go routes. His explosive testing numbers at the NFL combine were downright miserable, yet somehow was one of the premier kick returners in the nation. Ayers has great vision in traffic and nimble feet. He’ll need to bulk up and polish his route-running to be effective as anything other than a kick returner in the NFL, though.

Fantasy Outlook: Ayers has negligible injury history and a good head for the game. Unfortunately, his small stature and jack-of-all-trades-master-of-none role will make it hard for him to stand out as a WR in his first season with the Steelers. The return game is where he stands the best chance of seeing considerable action, and that won’t do much good in fantasy leagues. He’s had a good camp thus far, though, and the lack of WR playmakers behind Brown in Martavis Bryant’s absence makes Ayers an intriguing late-round flier in deeper dynasty formats.

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17 Comments

  1. ↓ Post By wmcgrath

    My workplace has a 12 team full point ppr redraft league. In the past, this league restricted how many QBs, RBs, WRs, etc you could have on your roster. This year the league removed those restrictions. Our starting lineup is as follows:

    QB
    RB
    RB
    WR
    WR
    TE
    FLEX (RB/WR/TE)
    DEF
    K

    We get a total of 7 bench spots. How would you utilize the 7 bench spots? I was thinking about stocking the entire bench full of RBs and WRs to whether injuries or to facilitate trades with other owners in the league. This may sound like a stupid question but I have not had roster flexibility in the past three years I played in this league. If I did have roster flexibility in the past, I probably would have won the league every year. I discovered Roster Watch on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio two years ago. I love the show and appreciate all the content and advice you guys provide.

    1. ↓ Post By Alex Dunlap

      The first thing we’ll always say is to follow the cheat sheet. With seven bench spots, you will be allowed the same amount of flexibility as your leaguemates, so it’s a problem that not only you have had, but that your leaguemates have had also. The goal should always be gaining as much value as possible with every pick, especially with the later picks that will start out in bench roles once your starting roster has been selected. I guess what I’m saying is that you’ve been doing it right and there is no real way to make the perfectly flexible roster with seven bench spots. Use the cheat sheet. -ad

  2. ↓ Post By darkcloud682

    Sigh. Le’Veon is looking at a possible 4 game suspension. If the suspension is upheld, I need to change a keeper. This was my original post on the site

    [quote]”Hey RW, I’m gearing up for my RW Pro season again to lead me to another championship! We’re making one of my leagues a keeper league this year and I’m kind of new to it all. We’re keeping 3 players at the round they were drafted at +1 (3rd rounder will cost me a 2nd round pick) for up to 2 more seasons. So therefore you can’t keep someone who you drafted in the 1st and 2nd round unless you trade draft picks to get 2 1st round picks. Here are my options–I’ll post what I’d have to give up for them, not where they were drafted last year. Who should I keep?

    Full point PPR with return bonus points
    1st Round: Le’Veon Bell, Julio Jones
    2nd Round: DeAndre Hopkins
    3rd Round: Amari Cooper
    6th Round: Doug Martin, Tom Brady
    10th Round: Chris Ivory
    15th Round: Allen Hurns, Buck Allen, Stefon Diggs [multiple players picked here would be 14th & 15th round]”[/quote]

    Your response was Bell, Hopkins, and Martin. Totally agreed. But now let’s say that he isn’t going to be back until week 5. I don’t know my draft position yet. Who would you keep instead of Belle? Would you go Julio? I’m going to know my draft position before the draft, if I were to keep Julio, what draft position order would you say it is safe to keep him in and when should I pass on him and try to make another pick?

    1. ↓ Post By Alex Dunlap

      we’ll talk about this one on the show today.

      1. ↓ Post By darkcloud682

        =\ I listened to the whole 2 hour show and didn’t hear anything about this.

        1. ↓ Post By Dorian Colbert

          Jones is your other keeper imo.

        2. ↓ Post By Alex Dunlap

          crap, I’m sorry I forgot, I even made a note. I actually disagree w/ Trashman and would keep Hopkins in the second.

          1. Post By darkcloud682

            It’s cool. You’re dishing out too much sizzle sometimes to remember guys like me lol. I’m actually keeping Hopkins and Martin already, it was basically a question of whether I should swap Bell for Julio or if it should be someone else.

  3. ↓ Post By Baron VonIronCock

    Dark Cloud, at least you got to listen to the best show on SXm for 2 hrs !

    Personally, Id lock in Hopkins, martin, julio

    then depending on where you pick in the draft, ( say you pick top 2-4) you can swoop in and secure julio or lev back with your 1st !

  4. ↓ Post By jz3386

    Cheat sheet worked great for my 10 team league but I have another 2 qb league that it hasn’t worked out for 2 years now. Do you have a 2 qb league cheat sheet?

    1. ↓ Post By Dorian Colbert

      We’ll be releasing one within the next few days my friend.

  5. ↓ Post By cwink2121

    You guys really believe today that Le’Veon is worth 10th pick? Also you’re that high on Elliott (which I guess, maybe) The other thing I wanted to ask, I typically wait on both TE/QB – If I’m looking at Cam on your sheet and I really don’t want to take a QB, do you believe/recommend a follower of this sheet still takes Cam when you’d rather wait.

    1. ↓ Post By Alex Dunlap

      The sheet is put together through months of research and thousands of simulations with ADP and other factors baked in. We recommend following what the sheet says, it says the things it does for very good reasons at every pick.

  6. ↓ Post By rw-HrUPiRJMe

    Hi Cwink-

    We tend to believe in waiting on TE and QBs as well, but trust us- if Cam is the highest on the sheet- take him- and feel good about it. If there is another guy available who is tied with him- then pick the guy you like better.

    Herding all you cats is a tough chore- so for those who refuse to listen, and choose to deviate and break the rules- we say be warned- and at least don’t go too far off the reservation. Because, that’s when things get cockamamie.

    -Byron

    1. ↓ Post By cwink2121

      Alex/Byron –

      #InRosterWatchITrust – just wanted to ask a couple questions and I appreciate the feedback.

      1. ↓ Post By rw-HrUPiRJMe

        No prob Cwink!

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