Tuesday NFL and Fantasy Football Links, Images and Quick Hits
The NFL will have 64 more player employees in 2014 than it has had before thanks to practice squads moving from 8 to 10 players per team.
The Cardinals fear disaster with the news that DT Darnell Dockett has a torn ACL.
The r/nfl subreddit comes through with a killer breakdown of every snap that Matt Cassell and Teddy Bridgewater took versus the Cardinals in preseason Week 2.
According to PFWA president D. Orlando Ledbetter, the injury to Falcons starting LT Sam Baker has resulted in rookie Jake Matthews making an earlier-than-anticipated move to the left side of the line.
Rob Gronkowski owners, rejoice. Gronk participated in full-speed, full-pads 11-on-11 drills at Patriots camp Monday and is looking more and more likely to be available Week 1.
Titans rookie RB Bishop Sankey seems to be on his way to Ken Whisenhunt’s doghouse thanks to a pretty chronic case of fumble-itis.
With the injury to rookie Charles Sims, Bucs HC Lovie Smith is now saying that Doug Martin is expected to be Tampa’s bell-cow, and that Martin has also looked very good catching the ball.
In case you missed it (how could you have?) Johnny Manziel flipped the Redskins bench the one-finger salute in Monday’s preseason game in DC.
Former Giants RB David Wilson is now setting his sights on a dream of being an Olympian at the triple jump.
Rookie Bills WR Sammy Watkins is “day-to-day” with bruised ribs that the team does not consider serious.
The Finsiders give a unique look at new Dolphins OC Bill Lazor’s “Impressive Journey” to the highest ranks of coaching.
With many unhappy about the new contact penalties applied to defensive backs, we’ve seen few “miscalls” more egregious than this “illegal contact penalty” called on Kansas City in preseason Week 2.
Saints TE Jimmy Graham faces $33K in fines over touchdown goal-post dunk celebrations.
What’s the best part of dating a girl who’s a Chiefs fan?
It’s the same thing that’s best about dating a Bengals fan, apparently.
The word is out on Justin Hunter and Kelvin Benjamin as sleepers according to this ADP chart.
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I listen to you guys on Sirius often. I think you offer the smartest analysis in the business. No bullshit. Please do me a solid and respond to this post. I never ask the experts for advice, but I am having a tough time making a decision.
I am in a 12 team, 1 point PPR, keeper league. I am keeping Stacy (12th rd), C. Patterson (9th rd), and Cobb (7th rd). Great start. Thank you. Gronk, J. Thomas and Jordan Cameron are all being kept.
I have the 1.2 pick. All off season, I have been taking for granted that I would pick Charles, Shady, or Forte with my first round pick. However, considering that three of the top four TE’s are already off the board, I cannot get the idea of drafting Jimmy Graham with the #2 overall pick out of my mind. I can probably snag Doug Martin at 2.10 (my next pick). Is Stacy good enough to be my RB1? Does taking Graham at 1.2 give me enough of an advantage at TE to make it worth it? The thought of McCoy and Stacy leading my team is very enticing. I can then take a WR (Allen, Roddy White) at 2.10 (or best player available). I can wait and take Rudolph and/or Reed later in the draft (I have a couple of extra picks, due to trades). Obviously, the keepers skew the ADP’s for all these players.
What do you think? Graham, Stacy, Martin, Cobb and Patterson? or McCoy, Stacy, Cobb, Keenan Allen, Patterson and Rudolph?
I would sincerely appreciate a response to this query. Thank you for your time.
Scottie,
This is an incredible question, we see why you are asking. Albeit, difficult- it’s a great situation to be in. We LOVE Shady, and believe he is the safest pick in all of fantasy- while also having enormous upside. However, we can make the argument that Jimmy Graham is worthy of the #1 overall pick even in standard leagues. We can make a bigger case for it in PPR formats, and we can make an even bigger case for it in a PPR league where all the other elite TEs are being kept. You are thinking about this properly.
If you have some guile, and a pair of onions- and plan on being an active manager throughout the season (which it sounds you are)- then we would go with Jimmy if you believe you can get either Doug Martin, Arian Foster, Rashad Jennings- or possibly even DeMarco with that RD2 pick. Good luck!
Damn dude – I think Byron and the Trashman would be with me in saying that’s incredibly tough, especially with those TEs off the board. As heavy as we lean to Graham in many situations, I can’t do it over Shady in these circumstances. I think you’re exactly right to have honed in on Rudolph and then I would back him up with a Ladarius Green, travis Kelce, Dwayne Allen-type. It’s very hard because there’s a good argument to be made for Graham in your spot, but gun to my head, I can’t pass up Shady there.
LOL- now he’s more confused – like I said, you can make the argument either way. I think Byron’s right in that if you’re a good owner and the right guys fall, you can make Graham work for you better if things go as they should in the season. My reasoning for not passing on Shady is I figured that with so many keepers, it wouldn’t allow for guys like Foster, Murray, etc. to be available in the 2/3rd.
Thanks for the input. Jennings, Morris, and Elllington are all keepers. I doubt Foster will be there at 2.12. It is possible, but less than likely that Martin is there. I think Gerhardt and Reggie Bush might be my next best options. I do not like Bush for all the reasons I shouldn’t like Bush. I am trying to trade the 1.2 pick for a 1.5 or 1.6 pick. I want to use it to move up in the second round. I can then take Graham and maybe Murray, Foster or Martin. I would not feel confident with Gerhardt and Stacy as my two top RB’s. Thoughts? Thanks again.
Maybe the Trashman can settle this?
Scottie, I lean McCoy here. I don’t devalue Stacy as much as a lot of people do with the addition of Mason, but he’s just not a TOP back in PPR formats- especially full point PPRs. He had only 26 receptions last season. I don’t know if trades for draft position are allowed in your league, but if you’re so sure of the rest of your lineup, you might consider trading some of your earlier picks for another first round pick in attempt to get Graham and eat your cake too. You could also trade back into a later first round pick so you could still conceivably get Graham and a solid pass catching back on the turn.
-Trashman
After reading your most recent comment I think you’re on the right track.
-Trashman
I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to respond to my post. All three of you have been thoughtful in your responses. If you are interested, I will let you know how it all turns out. Thank you!
I’ve got the 1st pick in a two round rookie draft that will be followed by the regular auction, minus all the keepers. My question is who do I take #1 overall? I know Watkins is the phenom, however I don’t trust his QB like I trust Breese. Not to mention Robert woods has the chemistry thing already with EJ Manuel. Evans will be a beast, but in a ppr league, won’t Cooks be just as good long term? I’m leaning towards Cooks #1 overall. Am I crazy? My keepers are AJ Green and Patterson.
wolfgang-
Good question, you are not crazy. We agree completely on Watkins. He was one of the best players we have ever scouted live, and love his talent for the NFL. Yet, we’ve said since May 8th (RD1 of NFL Draft)- he landed in a less than ideal situation compared to other rookies.
Our Dynasty Rankings are Mike Evans, Kelvin, Cooks- and our re-draft rookie rankings are Kelvin, Cooks, Evans – it’s all very razor thin. You are free to take the guy you like most and not feel bad about it. We’d likely take Evans or Kelvin here. Evans is the most talented of the three for the future. He could be as good as AJ Green, or at least Alshon Jefferey. Kelvin and Cooks are neck and neck for top rookie production- Kelvin could become Cam’s Jimmy Graham and also be a PPR monster for years to come. We’d try to trade back a few spots if you aren’t sure, and see if you can pick something extra up on the deal while still getting somebody you love