NFL Pre-Season Central...Previews,Injuries,Results,Signings,Pictures,Etc,Etc.

Search

0

Active member
Handicapper
Joined
Jun 18, 2007
Messages
91,082
Tokens
0
chiefs_logo.jpg
Kansas City Chiefs:

Projected starter: 1. Jamaal Charles

Backups: 2. Spencer Ware; 3. Charcandrick West; 4. Knile Davis

2016 Outlook: Jamaal Charles is still worthy of a first-round selection in fantasy drafts this year despite the fact that he's coming back from the second ACL tear of his career and will be 30 in December. Concerns about his previous workload wearing on him shouldn't be too much of an issue since his career rush attempt average per game is 13.2. We've seen Charles produce elite fantasy numbers for years without the high volume workloads that guys like Matt Forte, Adrian Peterson and Marshawn Lynch have endured. As for Charcandrick West and Spencer Ware, who both re-upped their contracts in Kansas City, only Ware warrants a late-round pick. He's scored three goal-line touchdowns in preseason action, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see him remain in that role once the regular season starts. For now, Charles is the clear-cut No. 1 and is far and away the best option in this backfield.


Los Angeles Rams:

Projected starter: 1. Todd Gurley

Backups: 2. Benny Cunningham; 3. Malcolm Brown; 4. Terrence Magee

2016 Outlook: Todd Gurley, welcome to Los Angeles. In his second pro season, Gurley is a top-three pick at his position and will be gone in the first round of fantasy drafts. Arguably the most talented running back in the league, Gurley should be fed at least 20 carries per game. With a less-than-exciting outlook in terms of a passing attack, the Rams will have to lean on the run to have a real shot at staying competitive. Gurley averaged an impressive 4.8 yards per carry as a rookie, averaged 14.4 fantasy points per game in standard scoring leagues and ranked third overall in the league in terms of total rushing yards. He's a lock for double-digit touchdowns and 1,200-plus rush yards in 2016. Benny Cunningham is the next man up should Gurley have to miss time, but there are other handcuffs worth drafting over any of the Rams backups.

Miami Dolphins:

Projected starter: 1. Jay Ajayi

Backups: 2. Arian Foster; 3. Isaiah Pead; 4. Damien Williams

2016 Outlook: From what we've seen from Miami's offensive line play this preseason, you might be better off shying away from both Jay Ajayi and Arian Foster in fantasy drafts this season. The backs will unpredictably rotate drives, with Foster (while he's healthy) being the favorite for red-zone work early on. If you do draft Foster, you're also drafting his high injury risk, so keep that in mind. If you draft Ajayi, you'll be getting the better values in terms of ADP. Still, it's probably wise to let these backs be someone else's headache. Unless one of them misses significant time it's going to be a weekly guessing game between the two.

Minnesota Vikings:

Projected starter: 1. Adrian Peterson

Backups: 2. Jerick McKinnon; 3. Matt Asiata; 4. C.J. Ham

2016 Outlook: Even at age 31, Adrian Peterson is a first-round fantasy pick, though in some leagues you might be able to get him in Round 2. He worked on improving is his route-running to become a more complete back this offseason, so we may see him stay on the field for more third downs (he only played on 23 percent of his team's third downs in 2015). You have to love his work ethic and desire to keep improving but considering his age, the Vikings coaching staff could look to manage his touches a bit more this season which means more opportunities for Jerick McKinnon. As the potential heir to Peterson's throne, Minnesota may give McKinnon more run this year to keep All Day fresh and to get him more involved in the offense to groom him for a larger role in seasons to come. Either way, McKinnon, who has looked great in preseason action, can be snagged as a late-round handcuff to Peterson while touchdown vulture Matt Asiata is nothing more than that -- an inefficient short-yardage plow who shouldn't have an impact in fantasy this season. There are definitely worse things than ending up with Peterson on your fantasy squad, even if he's no longer the sexiest looking name to roster.

New England Patriots:

Projected starter: 1. LeGarrette Blount

Backups: 2. James White; 3. Brandon Bolden; 4. Dion Lewis*

2016 Outlook: Here we go again ... trying to predict the Patriots backfield is a fool's game. I know this. You know this. At the very least, we can provide some insight into how things are shaping up as we look ahead to Week 1. Well, things would have been easier if Dion Lewis was 100 percent healthy, but he's not and the team placed him on the PUP list rendering him out until at least Week 7. He'll obviously slip into the very late rounds of drafts because of this, and it's worth wondering if Lewis is even worth a bench stash. With Lewis out, LeGarrette Blount is the de facto "starter" but should be drafted with the caveat that he won't be an effective fantasy running back on a weekly basis because of his touchdown dependency. James White is now a popular name in PPR formats as a deep sleeper but again, we're talking about Patriots' running backs here. Tread with caution on draft day and don't invest too much in any of these guys.

New Orleans Saints:

Projected starter: 1. Mark Ingram

Backups: 2. Tim Hightower; 3. C.J. Spiller; 4. Marcus Murphy

2016 Outlook: Mark Ingram's late Round 2/early Round 3 ADP makes him a solid value pick in the early rounds as he presents RB1 upside if he can stay healthy and start a full 16 games (something he's never done). Ingram received 62 percent of the Saints' rush attempts through the 13 games he played last year -- just below the threshold of what we'd consider a high-level, workhorse-type workload of 70 percent of the team's carries. That kind of volume is becoming rarer in the NFL. If you're feeling lucky, C.J. Spiller is still hanging out in New Orleans. He's no more than a last-round dart throw but may have a more prominent role as a pass-catching back than you think. Tim Hightower remains the No. 2 for handcuff purposes and would likely slide into the early-down role if Ingram does miss time. For now, Ingram is the guy you'll want here while Spiller and Hightower remain waiver-wire guys.

New York Giants:

Projected starter: 1. Rashad Jennings

Backups: 2. Shane Vereen; 3. Andre Williams; 4. Paul Perkins

2016 Outlook: From what we've heard this summer, the Giants are going to (thankfully) stray from the headache-inducing four-headed committee the team employed last season. That is good news, especially for Rashad Jennings who is a ridiculous bargain right now in Round 9. He's in line for the early-down role and will likely be the go-to guy in red-zone situations too, as he was last year with 46 percent of the team's carries inside the 20. Shane Vereen is a late-round option in PPR formats but he's never going to be a between-the-tackles guy, so his ceiling will be limited because of that. Andre Williams, for some reason, is still on the roster and could vulture some goal-line touches from Jennings, but he's not worth a draft pick.

New York Jets:

Projected starter: 1. Matt Forte

Backups: 2. Bilal Powell; 3. Khiry Robinson; 4. Zac Stacy

2016 Outlook: Several reports from Jets camp this summer have hinted at "split" workloads between Matt Forte and Bilal Powell this season. It makes sense given Forte's resume has over 2,000 career rush attempts on it, and it's reasonable to assume he may have lost a step at age 30. Forte will be the starter, so a Round 4 asking price seems like a deal. But you have to wonder how much upside he offers if this is going to be a timeshare. Powell is the Jets running back to target later in drafts as he offers a solid weekly floor with his pass-catching abilities and you can get him in Round 13 on average. Powell emerged as a real flex option last year averaging 4.5 yards per carry while seeing 63 targets as a pass-catcher. He should retain that same role again for the New York backfield with some additional looks as a runner. Khiry Robinson, formerly Ingram's backup in New Orleans, can't be considered anything more than a handcuff at this point and probably isn't worth a spot on fantasy rosters. Zac Stacy is a longshot for fantasy relevance.
 

0

Active member
Handicapper
Joined
Jun 18, 2007
Messages
91,082
Tokens
0
raiders_logo.jpg
Oakland Raiders:

Projected starter: 1. Latavius Murray

Backups: 2. Taiwan Jones; 3. DeAndre Washington 4. Jalen Richard

2016 Outlook: Despite some of the fantasy hate that Latavius Murray has received, he still finished 2015 as fantasy's RB10 in standard scoring with over 1,000 rushing yards and six touchdowns while shouldering an extremely high workload (307 total touches). At one point this summer a report came out that the Raiders coaches want to get Murray even more carries this year. But with rookies DeAndre Washington and Jalen Richard making noise in preseason action, it's worth wondering if Murray's workload will decrease some after carrying 88 percent of his team's running back rush attempts a season ago. Washington is the favorite as the No. 2 behind Murray and he presents some deep sleeper value with a possible change-of-pace role. Nobody else in this backfield is worth a look for fantasy purposes.


Philadelphia Eagles:

Projected starter: 1. Ryan Mathews

Backups: 2. Darren Sproles; 3. Kenjon Barner; 4. Wendell Smallwood

2016 Outlook: Ryan Mathews is the primary back here and has volume upside as a Round 5 pick in fantasy drafts. Unfortunately, Mathews is not the most durable player so you won't be selecting him as anything more than a low-end RB2 or flex guy. He's capable of shouldering a full-season workload if he can stay healthy. Darren Sproles may play a bigger role than many think since he's the second-best back on this roster, even at age 33. We know what he can do as a pass-catcher but there's a chance he's rotated in more often than his Round 14 ADP suggests. Sproles is worth a late-round flier to stash on your bench in case Mathews misses time or Sproles simply has a bigger role than forecasted.

Pittsburgh Steelers:

Projected starter: 1. Le'Veon Bell*

Backups: 2. DeAngelo Williams; 3. Fitzgerald Toussaint; 4. Daryl Richardson

2016 Outlook: Draft Le'Veon Bell with the caveat that he's going to miss the first three weeks. He's still going as a second-rounder because when he plays, he's hands down the best running back in fantasy football. His role in the Steelers offense is an important one, and the team uses him on all three downs and even splits him out wide on occasion. That kind of versatility is absolute gold in fantasy football. Behind Bell, veteran DeAngelo Williams looms as a solid backup presence who, as we saw last season, can still put up huge numbers when called upon. He'll be Pittsburgh's starter for the three weeks that Bell is out serving his suspension. Suspension or not, anyone who drafts Bell must target Williams later in drafts as one of the most valuable handcuffs in the game. Beyond those top two, nobody's really worth owning from the Pittsburgh backfield for fantasy purposes.

San Diego Chargers:

Projected starter: 1. Melvin Gordon

Backups: 2. Danny Woodhead; 3. Dreamius Smith; 4. Kenneth Farrow

2016 Outlook: From what we've seen from him in the preseason, Melvin Gordon looks ready to break out in a big way this year. Because of his strong performance in exhibition games, his ADP is creeping up into Round 6. He comes with a 200-touch guarantee which makes him a ridiculous bargain as late as he's being drafted. There seem to be no lingering ill effects from his microfracture procedure and he looks like a more decisive runner, even earning some targets as a receiver too. Another worry with the Chargers' run game is the poor offensive line. But the unit was banged up for the majority of last season, and they're healthy now. Danny Woodhead excelled last season due to the decimated state of the Chargers wide receiver corps and the fact that the team was playing catch up so frequently. Woodhead actually out-snapped Gordon in 2015 by a large margin and was far and away the better option in fantasy. Woodhead's role will likely remain the same and he'll have more value in PPR formats, but his touchdown upside warrants drafting in standard leagues too, just a few rounds later. Woodhead caught more passes (81) and saw more targets (107) than any other running back in the NFL last year and converted those opportunities into 756 receiving yards and six touchdowns while adding 335 rushing yards and three scores on the ground. His total numbers may regress some this season because the other offensive weapons are healthy, but he still feels like a bargain in Round 9 in standard scoring.

San Francisco 49ers:

Projected starter: 1. Carlos Hyde

Backups: 2. Shaun Draughn; 3. DuJuan Harris; 4. Mike Davis

2016 Outlook: Under the guidance of Chip Kelly, we're going to see a brand new look on offense for the 49ers, and Carlos Hyde should be the centerpiece of that system. There have been some debates on whether or not Hyde fits Kelly's fast-paced scheme, but he (like many other players) worked to shed some weight this offseason so he can keep up. Another tidbit that makes Hyde a great back to target in the middle rounds is his potentially increased role in the passing game. He's been targeted four times in three preseason games but hasn't been able to haul in a reception yet. That blame goes to the quarterback, though, not Hyde. The one thing to watch out for with Hyde is his durability. His 2015 campaign was cut short because of a foot injury that required surgery. He's fully recovered from that now and looks like he's shaping up to be a huge bargain in drafts if his ADP holds steady in the Round 4-5 range. As for Shaun Draughn, DuJuan Harris and Mike Davis, we're not quite ready to endorse any of these guys as fantasy options just yet. Draughn got some run late last year and was a halfway decent flex option for a couple of weeks. Rookie Kelvin Taylor is a smaller back with quickness but lacks the power to be an early-down candidate. Beyond that, it's hard to envision anyone besides Hyde bringing value to your fantasy squad unless something drastic happens. So pencil Hyde in as a top RB2 target and forget about the rest.

Seattle Seahawks:

Projected starter: 1. Thomas Rawls

Backups: 2. Christine Michael; 3. C.J. Prosise; 4. Alex Collins

2016 Outlook: If you haven't heard about The Awakening yet this preseason, well you have some catching up to do. Christine Michael looks like a different player with newfound maturity and has been praised by teammates and coaches all summer and will have a definite role. Thomas Rawls, who's still recovering from last season's broken ankle, will likely be the team's lead back in what's shaping up as a committee with rookie C.J. Prosise also in the mix. Consider this a warning that if you're drafting Rawls at his current Round 3 ADP to be your RB2/the second coming of Marshawn Lynch, you're going to be disappointed. Seattle's backfield is a committee, plain and simple. Rawls should still lead the team in carries and be the starter as long as he's healthy but Michael and Prosise will be worked in. And if Rawls has to miss any time, Michael has been groomed to be the starter based on what we've seen from him in the preseason.
 

0

Active member
Handicapper
Joined
Jun 18, 2007
Messages
91,082
Tokens
0
buccaneers_logo.jpg
Tampa Bay Buccaneers:

Projected starter: 1. Doug Martin

Backups: 2. Charles Sims; 3. Mike James; 4. Peyton Barber

2016 Outlook: Last season in Tampa Bay, we saw Doug Martin bounce back following a few disappointing years along with the emergence of Charles Sims as a legitimate PPR/flex option. The one-two punch in the Bucs' backfield is up there with the best in fantasy and both of these guys need to be owned across the board. As it stands now, Martin is a late second-early third rounder, and seeing as he was fantasy's RB3 last season that seems like a bargain. This will be Tampa Bay's second season in Dirk Koetter's system and quarterback Jameis Winston's year of experience should help the offense be more productive as a whole. You should be able to draft Sims in the double-digit rounds as a change-of-pace back with some upside in PPR formats, and he'll be a plug-and-play handcuff to Martin should he miss any time. The other backups here don't hold much fantasy value, if any, but could become waiver-wire options in the case of an injury.


Tennessee Titans:

Projected starter: 1. DeMarco Murray

Backups: 2. Derrick Henry; 3. Dexter McCluster; 4. Antonio Andrews

2016 Outlook: The Titans' running back tandem of DeMarco Murray and rookie Derrick Henry has been impressive in preseason action. Both backs have collected over 150 rush yards and two touchdowns apiece. Fantasy owners will have to pay more for Murray given his Round 5 cost, while Henry is going on average in Round 10. I've said it on the NFL Fantasy Live Podcast, and have posted on Twitter that I want to draft Henry on every single fantasy team of mine this season. All it takes is one look at him moving a pile, using his height to go get a pass, or seeing his lateral quickness in the open field to understand how special of a player he is. Yes, Murray will be the primary back and as the veteran will get the first crack as the starter, but Henry is going to get his too. And if you own Henry in a dynasty league, more power to you.

Washington Redskins:

Projected starter: 1. Matt Jones*

Backups: 2. Chris Thompson; 3. Robert Kelley 4. Mack Brown

2016 Outlook: Matt Jones suffered a shoulder injury during the preseason, so the team has shut him down until Week 1, and even then his status is unclear. The fantasy community was already shying away from Jones before his injury, so now his ADP will likely sink even further below his current Round 7 price. Chris Thompson will work in on third downs and pass-catching situations and is worth a late-round flyer given what should be a safe weekly floor, especially in PPR formats. Last year, Thompson played more third down snaps than any other Washington running back with a 46 percent share. Behind him, Robert Kelley is getting a chance with Keith Marshall out on IR with a torn ligament in his elbow. Kelley could have a role if Jones can't get healthy or suffers any setbacks before the season starts. Still, Kelley is more of a waiver wire option, but one to keep a close eye on. We don't expect this backfield to be very reliable on a weekly basis, no matter who's getting the opportunities.
 

0

Active member
Handicapper
Joined
Jun 18, 2007
Messages
91,082
Tokens
0
CrRZRy_WEAATshZ.jpg
 

0

Active member
Handicapper
Joined
Jun 18, 2007
Messages
91,082
Tokens
0
CrRZDkNWEAA0EEb.jpg
 

0

Active member
Handicapper
Joined
Jun 18, 2007
Messages
91,082
Tokens
0
CrRWGClW8AAR0EQ.jpg
 

0

Active member
Handicapper
Joined
Jun 18, 2007
Messages
91,082
Tokens
0
AFC ceiling/floor scenarios: Jaguars, Raiders must prove selves.

Ceiling ... You can be a U.S. Senator one day!
Floor ... Will you be moving out before you're 28?
The highs and lows of expectations -- they're all around. From our parents. From our employers. And, of course, we turn around and project the same on our favorite football teams. If everything breaks right, the Kansas City Chiefs will go 12-4. If everything breaks down -- that is, Justin Houston misses too much time and Jamaal Charles isn't himself -- maybe 7-9 is on the horizon. With the margin of victory so slim in today's NFL -- the realization of former Commissioner Paul Tagliabue's vision of parity -- a five-game swing is actually a pretty narrow range. And the cool thing? We can do this for every franchise, you and I.

Well, I did. Below you will find the hypotheticals -- the hot-dogs-and-apple-pie version as well as the doom-and-gloom scenario -- for every team in the NFL. Bear in mind, these scenarios include eventualities where everything either goes very right or very wrong. In other words, don't get upset at the mere mention of the possibility that the Packers could go 8-8. Much would have to go awry -- like the return of Brian Brohm. Yet, if you still have an issue with these narratives, @HarrisonNFL is the place.
Let's get the dual-universe predictions going with a look at the AFC ...

AFC EAST

BUFFALO BILLS
Ceiling: 11-5. Quarterback Tyrod Taylor sees the field even better this season, receiver Sammy Watkins plays like an All-Pro and the Bills split with the Patriots. We would have gone to 12-4 had the club not lost rookie linebacker Reggie Ragland to a torn ACL and defensive tackle Marcell Dareus to suspension.
Floor: 6-10. What would send Buffalo spiraling back? If first-round pick Shaq Lawson, who is starting the season on the PUP list, fails to contribute, and the run defense is subpar sans Ragland, that could spell trouble. There will be times the ground game and defense carry this team. LeSean McCoy can't be missing game days.

MIAMI DOLPHINS
Ceiling: 10-6. The schedule is far from easy, although the Dolphins will catch the Patriots sans Tom Brady. Most important: 1) QB Ryan Tannehill receives ample protection, and 2) Cam Wake's return and Mario Williams' arrival to the defensive front goes swimmingly, because the corners ... uhh ...
Floor: 4-12. Second-year pro Jay Ajayi gets off to the same sluggish start he did in preseason, with veteran Arian Foster unable to provide the punch we saw versus the Falcons in August. Defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh endures another mediocre year in the middle, with no one to pick up the slack. Rookie offensive lineman Laremy Tunsil busts.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Ceiling: 14-2. This would be a lofty goal, especially with Tom Brady suspended the first four games. In this narrative, Jimmy Garoppolo goes 3-1 as a starter while Brady is out. The pass rush is just fine minus Chandler Jones. Rob Gronkowski and Martellus Bennett are unstoppable, catching 20 TDs as a TE tandem.
Floor: 9-7. The Patriots haven't finished 9-7 since 2002, so this is far from likely. Garoppolo would have to dink and dunk, never challenging defenses, while the running game provides no punch. New England totals 25 sacks as a team. And what if Brady comes back a little rusty? Like I said: not likely.

NEW YORK JETS
Ceiling: 12-4. The Jets blow through the AFC East, dropping one game to the Patriots and sweeping the rest. Ryan Fitzpatrick doesn't come up short versus Buffalo this time. New running back Matt Forte racks up 1,800 yards from scrimmage, with zero dropoff from veteran receivers Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker.
Floor: 6-10. In this not-feel-good story, the veteran nucleus that makes New York a player in the AFC East falls apart. One problem with Fitzmagic (33), Marshall (32), Forte (30), Nick Mangold (32) and Darrelle Revis (31): They're old. The corners outside of Revis endure another bad season.

AFC NORTH

BALTIMORE RAVENS
Ceiling: 11-5. So much goes right for the Ravens in the double-digit-win narrative. Joe Flacco is mint following his recovery from a torn ACL. Breshad Perriman's lighter -- as in, less heavy -- hair allows him to hit the deep ball like former Ravens receiver Torrey Smith. Justin Forsett, Terrance West and Buck Allen form a prolific running back committee.
Floor: 5-11. Sixth overall pick Ronnie Stanley proves to be a bust on the offensive line. The passing game ends up going through 37-year-old Steve Smith Sr. again. Linebacker Terrell Suggs provides no lift in his return from his Achilles injury. Almost everything went wrong for the Ravens last year, and they still won five games. No way Baltimore suffers nine one-score losses once more.

CINCINNATI BENGALS
Ceiling: 13-3. The Bengals went 12-4 last year, so 13-3 is possible, but everything would have to go their way. Andy Dalton must play 16 games at his 2015 level (25 TDs, 7 INTs, career-high 106.2 passer rating). Rookie receiver Tyler Boyd needs to be ready to start now. Running back Jeremy Hill plays like a man possessed, i.e., one who racks up 1,200 yards and 4.6 per carry.
Floor: 7-9. Dalton struggles in his return from a broken thumb that kept him out from Week 15 on last season. Ditto still-recovering tight end Tyler Eifert. The defense sputters without suspended linebacker Vontaze Burfict early. No one is healthy enough to replace RT Andre Smith, who signed with the Vikings. The DBs? Few INTs sans Reggie Nelson (now with the Raiders). Cincy could fall as close to this record as it could to 13-3.

CLEVELAND BROWNS
Ceiling: 8-8. Robert Griffin III proves to be the answer at quarterback. Receiver Josh Gordon's return following his February 2015 suspension brings back memories of his 200-yard games in 2013. The horrible run defense tightens up considerably. Although it's not a high ceiling, I believe Cleveland will be closer to this than its floor.
Floor: 2-14. Start with that run D, which can't allow almost 5 yards per carry again. Otherwise, even if RGIII performs, the record could still be bad. To go 2-14, the running game would have to flounder without former offensive linemen Mitchell Schwartz (who signed with the Chiefs) and Alex Mack (now with the Falcons). No one besides tight end Gary Barnidge steps up in the passing game.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Ceiling: 13-3. The Steelers enjoy a relatively easy schedule, so 13-3 is plausible, though getting there would require coordinator Keith Butler's defense to play lights-out while Le'Veon Bell (three games) sits out on suspension, especially with Martavis Bryant (one-year suspension) out for the season. Receiver Antonio Brown wins the NFL MVP award.
Floor: 8-8. Defensive lineman Stephon Tuitt and linebacker Ryan Shazier take steps backward in Year 3 of their careers. Veteran defender James Harrison is forced to be the team's pass rush. The secondary reenacts 2014, when Pittsburgh ranked 27th against the pass. Running back DeAngelo Williams' age (33) factors in while Bell is out. An older Ben Roethlisberger (34) struggles down the stretch. That's how you get to .500.

AFC SOUTH

HOUSTON TEXANS
Ceiling: 12-4. The AFC South is stronger collectively than it has been in years, so 12-4 might be a pipe dream for Houston. But if new QB Brock Osweiler throws 30 touchdowns passes, new RB Lamar Miller proves he can be a workhorse and linebacker Jadeveon Clowney lights it up, why not?
Floor: 6-10. Much would go awry here, as a yuck season for Texans fans will likely be 8-8. If defensive dynamo J.J. Watt's health still isn't right following offseason back surgery, it could spell doom, given that the new-look offense is an unknown (especially with rookie center Nick Martin out for the year and Duane Brown a question mark). Houston would have to receive little from rookie WR Will Fuller. Not likely.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Ceiling: 11-5. Andrew Luck enjoys a huge year to overcome a questionable defense. Receiver Phillip Dorsett? 900 yards. The offensive line improves drastically with rookie center Ryan Kelly. Anytime you have a quarterback like Luck, this record is possible.
Floor: 4-12. Robert Mathis plays like the 35-year-old he is, leaving the pass rush in a lurch. Running back Frank Gore slows down in Year 12. Donte Moncrief falters as the WR2, while the absence of Coby Fleener (now with the Saints) at tight end is felt. Oh, and Luck goes on one of his patented out-of-the-pocket-get-crushed runs.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
Ceiling: 11-5. QB Blake Bortles limits his costly turnovers, while the coaching staff leans more on its running backs (Chris Ivory and T.J. Yeldon) and defense (which looks to be stronger on paper) than at any time in the Gus Bradley era. While we're high on the Jaguars, we're not going higher than 11-5.
Floor: 4-12. Huge pendulum swing here, mostly because history tells us 4-12 is normal in Jacksonville. The Allen Brothers would slump drastically in this outcome, with tight end Julius Thomas adding little. Ditto new safety Tashaun Gipson on defense. But none of this is likely with the Jags' schedule.

TENNESSEE TITANS
Ceiling: 10-6. The chances of the Titans reaching 10 wins are darn near implausible. That said, if QB Marcus Mariota progresses on an accelerated curve and Tennessee leads the NFL in rushing with DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry, it's possible. Rookie receiver Tajae Sharpe would prove to be for real.
Floor: 2-14. Tennessee should be vastly improved. But another lackluster record will come about if the pass defense allows opposing quarterbacks to post a 101.1 passer rating again. Linebacker Brian Orakpo getting hurt would be majorly problematic. So would the interior offensive line performing like it did last year.

AFC WEST

DENVER BRONCOS
Ceiling: 12-4. In order to reach 12-4 again, the defense must perform as well as it did in its unreal 2015 campaign. Former defensive end Malik Jackson (now in Jacksonville) and inside linebacker Danny Trevathan (now in Chicago) will have to be quickly forgotten. Trevor Siemian throws more touchdown passes than interceptions. Better to not have to play musical QBs in 2016.
Floor: 8-8. Don't see the Broncos falling tooooo flat. Not with their home field, defense or leadership. Running back C.J. Anderson struggling out of the gate would hurt plenty, given the QB situation. If offensive lineman Russell Okung still isn't healthy and the young guards fare poorly, cover your eyes on offense.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
Ceiling: 12-4. Kansas City is one of the strongest teams in the AFC, yet it will be incredibly challenging to win 13 or 14 games in a tough AFC West without a healthy Justin Houston rushing the passer. Speaking of, in order for the Chiefs to win this many, running back Jamaal Charles would have to come back from his torn ACL with a robust 5 yards per tote.
Floor: 7-9. With health question marks surrounding Houston and Charles, linebackers Tamba Hali and Derrick Johnson being over 30 years old and former corner Sean Smith in Oakland, an imperfect storm could rain on Andy Reid's parade. What if safety Eric Berry is rusty from his franchise-tag-related layoff? Lastly ... Alex Smith, keep running, sir.

OAKLAND RAIDERS
Ceiling: 11-5. I want to go 12-4 with the Raiders, but as with the Jaguars, we've seen too much losing football from the Silver and Black to climb that high. Both lines are strengths. In this playoff-making narrative, running back Latavius Murray consistently produces while the pass rush compensates for a so-so secondary.
Floor: 5-11. QB Derek Carr would have to seriously slump for Oakland to slip this far, missing open receivers far more than he did in 2015. The signings of Bruce Irvin, Sean Smith and Reggie Nelson would have to pay minuscule dividends on defense, putting pressure on Carr to put up 25-30 points per game to win.

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
Ceiling: 9-7. First things first: No. 3 overall pick Joey Bosa rounds into shape and contributes to the defense right away after ending his holdout. Running back Melvin Gordon capitalizes on a strong preseason to provide balance, à la Ryan Mathews and Danny Woodhead in 2013. Keenan Allen leads the NFL in receptions, or comes darn close.
Floor: 2-14. Everything falls on Philip Rivers' shoulders -- and all the QB sees are oncoming pass rushers. In this storyline, the defense receives no boost from Bosa, with 31-year-old defensive tackle Brandon Mebane past his prime. Gordon makes no sophomore leap. Woodhead is the goal-to-go offense. Again.
 

0

Active member
Handicapper
Joined
Jun 18, 2007
Messages
91,082
Tokens
0
How to play fantasy football: A beginner's guide.

Whether of your own volition or due to coercion from friends/family/coworkers, if you're reading this article you're likely playing fantasy football for the first time in 2016. Or if you've played before and are just looking for a little extra guidance, that's fine too. I'm here to help you navigate these nerdy waters with a simple walkthrough on how to play fantasy football.

Overview: What is fantasy football?

So you finished your draft and are staring at a team of around 15 NFL players. Now what?
At it's core fantasy is a math-based game based on the real-life production of NFL players. Each week you fill out a roster by "starting" players at the various positions allowed based on your league settings. These usually include one quarterback (QB), two running backs (RB), two wide receivers (WR), one tight end (TE), one kicker (K), one defense (D/ST) and one FLEX (usually RB or WR, but some leagues allow for a TE or even a QB to be played here as well). The statistics your starting players accumulate on the field (yards, touchdowns, etc.) contribute to their point total for the week. The point totals of all of the players in your starting lineup are tallied into your weekly score, and if you have a higher total than your opponent (another member of your league) you win that week!

Players who you do not start are considered on your "bench." They'll still score points like everyone else, but those points will not be counted toward your weekly total.
Each week will proceed like this until the end of the fantasy regular season (usually Week 13 or Week 14, depending on your league). At this point, the teams with the best win-loss records will enter the fantasy playoffs for a few more win-or-go-home head-to-head matchups. Whoever wins the remaining games in the playoffs is typically crowned league champion following Week 16. (Again, these aren't set-in-stone timeframes, as many leagues have different rules, so be sure to know yours!).

Week 1 and beyond

OK, so you understand the basics, but the NFL season kicks off next Thursday, September 8 when the Carolina Panthers try to seek revenge against the Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos. What does this mean for you and your fantasy squad?
You'll need to make sure you set your lineup at least five minutes before the kickoff of that game (8:30 p.m. ET on NBC). If you don't, any players on your roster from those teams (Cam Newton, Jonathan Stewart, Demaryius Thomas, etc.) will be "locked" wherever you have them at that time -- either on your bench or in your starting lineup -- and you won't be able to move them until after all of the games have been played in that week.

This will be the case each and every week with Thursday Night Football, so keep an eye on the schedule and be aware of when your star players are starting on Thursdays!
Other than that, you can tinker with your lineup all the way up until the games on Sunday, when you'll want to again make sure your lineup is set by five minutes before the games kick off (1 p.m. ET). This gives you plenty of time throughout the week to check our analyst rankings, read our matchup and strategy columns, and keep up to date on player/injury news. We have everything you'll need right here at NFL.com to get your lineup in tip-top shape each and every week.

Managing the waiver wire

Once Week 1 concludes after Monday Night Football, it's time to turn your attention to Week 2. Hopefully, you've secured a win, but if not, this is where we enter one of the most crucial parts of the fantasy season: managing the waiver wire.
The waiver wire is the process used in fantasy football to acquire players who currently aren't on a team roster in your fantasy league. You put in a "claim" on free agent players, and if you have the highest priority (based on the inverse of the standings) or no one else makes a claim on that player, they'll be added to your roster. Of course, rosters have size limits, so if you wish to add a player you'll have to drop another to make space. The game will generally make you pick a player to drop when you make your waiver claim, so don't worry about that too much.

Using your priority effectively is a key strategy in fantasy. You may not want to waste it too early in the year on a random free agent -- it'd be better to save it until someone on your roster gets injured, or you have a chance to pick up someone who is emerging as a bonafide starter.
Waiver claims are submitted on Tuesdays, and players are awarded to rosters on Wednesdays (in standard leagues). More adds and drops can be made throughout the week using this same process if news breaks that a player is injured or will miss time for whatever reason. If your league uses a free agent acquisition budget (FAAB) for waiver wires, I explain a bit more about how that works here.

Bye Weeks

Every team in the NFL has a "bye week" built into their season. This is a week where the team does not have a game schedule and can rest/recover. These weeks are important for fantasy owners to keep an eye on so they can add players if needed to still field a full starting roster.
To find out when your players have byes, click on their name on your team page and scroll down in the pop-up window to see their 2016 season schedule.

These weeks will also show up as "BYE" on your team page under the "Opponent" section when your player is set to be off during the season. Make sure you have depth on your bench or can find a replacement on the waiver wire when these weeks pop up. It's never a bad idea to be a week early in terms of adding a free agent from the waiver wire when a bye is coming up for a big player on your team. For a full list of which teams are on byes when, and some replacement options for quarterbacks and running backs, bookmark this bye-week guide.

Trades

Aside from the waiver wire, there's only one other way to add players to your roster post-draft, and that's by trading with another person in your league. Trades do not have to be of a one-for-one nature, often times they'll involve multiple players or one team will give up a few players in exchange for an elite fantasy producer.
There's no exact science to executing fantasy trades. It takes time and patience. A little knowledge of who you're trading with doesn't hurt either. To prevent collusion, however, most leagues enforce a trade deadline. This means all trades need to be completed prior to the set date, and no trades will be allowed after it. In NFL.com standard leagues, November 27 is the trade deadline (Week 12). So be cognizant of that and make the appropriate moves before time is up!

Have fun


That's it! As you can see, the basics of fantasy football are quite simple. Set your lineup every week, manage the waiver wire, keep an eye on bye weeks, make a few trades (if you want), and you're good to go. The last and most important part about playing fantasy football is to remember to have fun. This is a game about a game, after all. Trash talk your league mates, but leave the players alone on social media. Keep your head up and hopefully you'll be in the mix to hoist a championship trophy at the end of the season. If not, there's always next year. And we'll still be here trying to help you take home the gold.
 

0

Active member
Handicapper
Joined
Jun 18, 2007
Messages
91,082
Tokens
0
Philadelphia to host 2017 NFL Draft.

CrR82MDXYAAF-lj.jpg


The NFL draft is moving from the Windy City to the City of Brotherly Love.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney announced Thursday that the 2017 draft will be held April 27-29 in Philadelphia, marking the annual event's third different venue over a four-year period. The 2015 and 2016 drafts were held in Chicago after calling New York home for the previous 50 years. The NFL draft was last held in Philadelphia in 1960, and the first ever NFL draft was held in Philadelphia in 1936.

"Philadelphia is a passionate football town and will serve as a tremendous backdrop for the Draft and provide a great atmosphere for our fans and incoming players," Goodell said. "Jeffrey Lurie has been a strong advocate and supporter of the draft on behalf of the City of Philadelphia throughout the entire selection process.
We look forward to working with the Philadelphia Eagles, the City of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB) to create a week-long celebration of football for our fans."

Although the draft was in Chicago for just two years, it proved to be a successful venue for the three-day event. With an outdoor fan festival called "Draft Town" anchored at Chicago's Grant Park and replete with fan attractions, this year's draft drew an estimated 225,000 fans. The previous year, the draft and its related events drew a reported 200,000.

Other cities are already vying to host drafts beyond next year.
Dallas is among the cities vying to host the draft in 2018. Green Bay has expressed an interest in hosting the draft in 2019, 2020 or 2021, while Detroit could be involved in securing a future draft, as well, along with Denver, Chicago, Los Angeles, Jacksonville, Canton, Pittsburgh, and Atlanta.
 

0

Active member
Handicapper
Joined
Jun 18, 2007
Messages
91,082
Tokens
0
Tom Brady to start Patriots' preseason finale.

CrSm7LMWIAEX4jH.jpg


With Patriots Week 1 starter Jimmy Garoppolo sitting for the team's preseason finale as a precautionary measure, New England will use its final tuneup to give Tom Brady some much needed rehearsal time.
Brady will start Thursday night against the Giants, NFL Media's Courtney Fallon reported Thursday, citing a source informed of the situation. The news was first reported by Comcast SportsNet New England.
Playing starters in the fourth preseason game is not as egregious a concept as some around the NFL make it out to be. Former Giants coach Tom Coughlin was a major proponent of sending Eli Manning to work for the preseason finale during his tenure in New York. Browns coach Hue Jackson also will be playing starters tonight.

For Brady, it will be his second appearance this preseason after missing one week and sitting out another following a sliced thumb injury. Belichick has taken great care in managing his star quarterback this offseason, but likely wants to give him one last chance to work with a live offense before Brady's four-game suspension begins.
It will be the last time we see Brady until a Week 5 game against the Browns in Cleveland.
The news energizes what can sometimes be a dull ending to the NFL's preseason slate. Quite often, teams distance their starters from the final preseason game to preserve health and give their better players a night off to relax.
For Brady, the night will be far from meaningless. As one of the league's most meticulous minds, he'll have plenty on the docket to work on Thursday evening.
 

0

Active member
Handicapper
Joined
Jun 18, 2007
Messages
91,082
Tokens
0
CrUBnfOUkAEmXEK.jpg
 

0

Active member
Handicapper
Joined
Jun 18, 2007
Messages
91,082
Tokens
0
CrUDVkAUMAEA1Vm.jpg
 

0

Active member
Handicapper
Joined
Jun 18, 2007
Messages
91,082
Tokens
0
CrUGjKgVYAQFRQ4.jpg
 

0

Active member
Handicapper
Joined
Jun 18, 2007
Messages
91,082
Tokens
0
CrUHcXZVIAQNzGf.jpg
 

0

Active member
Handicapper
Joined
Jun 18, 2007
Messages
91,082
Tokens
0
CrUJVQpVYAAoj5p.jpg
 

0

Active member
Handicapper
Joined
Jun 18, 2007
Messages
91,082
Tokens
0
CrUMlNaUkAAr913.jpg
 

0

Active member
Handicapper
Joined
Jun 18, 2007
Messages
91,082
Tokens
0
CrUNY-WVYAAx7cG.jpg
 

0

Active member
Handicapper
Joined
Jun 18, 2007
Messages
91,082
Tokens
0
CrUQj51UEAUWOe7.jpg
 

0

Active member
Handicapper
Joined
Jun 18, 2007
Messages
91,082
Tokens
0
CrUTFWeVIAMAcqA.jpg
 

0

Active member
Handicapper
Joined
Jun 18, 2007
Messages
91,082
Tokens
0
CrUUGF9VUAAUXb1.jpg
 

Forum statistics

Threads
1,119,989
Messages
13,575,872
Members
100,889
Latest member
junkerb
The RX is the sports betting industry's leading information portal for bonuses, picks, and sportsbook reviews. Find the best deals offered by a sportsbook in your state and browse our free picks section.FacebookTwitterInstagramContact Usforum@therx.com
TheRX uses cookies to help us provide, protect & improve our services. See our Privacy Policy for more details.
Accept & Close