2014 Fantasy Football - who are you buying or selling, value picks, sleepers?

I figure with fantasy football season around the corner, this is a good place to discuss guys who you feel like will have a breakout year, bounce back, continue to put up huge numbers, and guys who you are good value based on projected draft position. Any insight on players or other team factors (new player additions, loss of other players, new coaches, anything particular you've heard, etc.) that might affect a team or players is welcomed.

Quarterbacks:

RG3: expecting a big bounce back year from him. He should be more healthy, plus they added Desean Jackson to go with Jordan Reed and Alfred Morris.

Kaepernick: he was also a disappointment last year. Not sure if he was overrated to begin with, but I like him more this year having Crabtree back.

Anyone feel strongly about any QB sleepers? Josh McCown is my guy. Not really a sleeper, but he could be in for fantasy emergence with Vince Jackson and Mike Evans. I still hate Sam Bradford, Locker, and EJ Manuel.

Running Backs - going with mostly value here. I have to admit I have a PPR bias as well.

Trent Richardson: don't ask me why, but I'm feeling him this year. He really can't be that bad, can he? Donald Brown is gone and Ballard also just tore his achilles tendon. He should be good for a lot of goal-line touchdowns at the very least.

Pierre Thomas: departure of Sproles should mean more touches for Thomas. He will get a lot more passes thrown his way as well as being the #1 back.

Andre Ellington: didn't get as many touches as I felt he should last year, but near the end of the season, the Cardinals tried to feature him more. Cardinals will also be getting top draft choice from 2013 OG Jonathan Cooper back.

I have to say I'm not a huge fan of some of these top RBs. Lacy is decent, but is he really the #4 fantasy RB this year? I also don't understand the Montee Ball and LeVeon Bell rankings. Being top 10 rbs ahead of guys like Bernard, Bush, and Doug Martin doesn't seem right (PPR bias).

Wide Receivers - a ton of discussion to be had here. Can't say I have a lot of confidence in any WRs besides the obvious commodities.

Terrance Williams: Williams was solid as a rookie last year. He will be the #2 WR for the Cowboys with a lot of attention going to Dez and Witten. Williams should put up solid numbers with Romo slinging.

Cordarrelle Patterson: as I'm typing this, I just looked at Yahoo's fantasy news and they claim he is being overdrafted as the 15th ranked receiver. I like him for the fact that he is explosive, a burner, powerful, the #1 WR in Minnesota, and he also returns kickoffs. I wouldn't rely on him on a week to week basis, but he's definitely a guy I'm trying to get on my team due to upside.

And of Course, Sammy Watkins. Manuel has to throw to somebody and Watkins looks like he has a very underprojected draft slot at this time. I'm also keeping my eye on Michael Floyd, yet I'm not comfortable with Palmer at QB. Reuben Randle and Riley Cooper are also some guys who should be good value.

Tight Ends

Jordan Reed: started busting out at the end of last year and it should continue into this season, especially with RG3 becoming more comfortable playing again. He's ranked behind Pitta, Rudolph, and Olsen. He should outperform all those guys.

I don't like thinking too hard about tight end because it always seems like a crapshoot week-to-week after Gronk, Thomas, and Graham. Ladarius Green, Eifert, Garrett Graham, Ertz, Fleener/Allen, Delanie Walker...anyone feel strongly about these guys?

Defense: I'm gunning for St. Louis because they are absolutely stacked, as well as the Browns.

Who do you guys like, feel is over/underrated, and due for breakout years? Who are players you're trying to stay away from?

I am not going to say who I like b/c I will probably be in a league here, but there are a shit ton of hits/misses in important positions.

Romo/Ryan. TRich/Ellington/Gerhart. TWilliams/Cruz/Hawkins. Risk a high pick on Gordon to sit him 8 games? (hopefully) Are we biased to the Browns D? Chicago going to step it up this year?

It is going to be an interesting season.

Love me some Lacy and Gerhart this year. Toby really has shown well in his limited opportunities and the data backs it upc(yards per play)

Agree on C. Patterson. In. Norv's offense he should get plenty of chances. I think AD has a so so year. Norv, contrary to popular belief doesnt run the ball much

V. Cruz is very volatile player.

As long as I get Jamal Charles I'll be happy. Also like Martin, Bell at RB. Rodgers at Qb. Reggie Wayne WR. Andrew Luck. Some names off the top. Of course Peyton and his WRs. Seattle's defense killed it for me in my league last year because how dumb my league was set up. Gronk!!!

Edit-bit off topic, everyone should already know what I posted.

I won a keeper league last year where you only had one keeper. Manager put a poll out there to see if we want to increase it to 4. Really tough call on Josh Gordon for obvious reasons.

I'm not feeling Charles this year.. Is he a top back? Yes. But he has only managed to stay healthy for what, 1-2 seasons? I don't really trust his health.. So I wouldn't risk taking him 1st overall.

In my league we have PPR and then bonus points for 40+ yard touchdowns for receivers, backs, tightends, and the QB for throwing it.. I'm hopeful in getting a later round pick, so I can nab Calvin Johnson, then come right back and select Jimmy Graham - or even Brandon Marshall.

Anybody think I'm crazy for not wanting a running back with my first two picks? You have to think that Johnson, Graham, and even Marshall will go before my 3rd pick. Pro bowl receivers who get a ton of targets are huge to have, in my opinion.

Plus, like Nimble said, you can always go with T-rich somewhere in the draft considering he can't honestly be that. Frank Gore is also an option later in the draft, along with a few other backs - including Ben Tate.

I also play PPR and have a crazy set up. I don't think it's crazy if you don't take a RB, especially if you get something along the lines of Calvin/Graham or Dez/Graham with your first 2 picks. You can find middle round backs (Bush, Ellington, Spiller etc) who will get you points from receptions and they will still contribute. Non-ppr, I don't think I'd risk not taking a RB in the first 2 rounds.

For my PPR league, I will consider Calvin or Charles with the 1st pick because I know that I'm getting an absolute stud. After those 2 and McCoy, Peterson, Forte, I don't feel strongly enough to go RB early, especially PPR. I'll load up on WRs or a WR/TE combo instead of risking blowing a first round pick on Foster or a guy like Murray.

Need to select a keeper for a PPR league. Adrian Peterson or Lesean McCoy? Is McCoy the safe pick due to being in a better offense and AP having some injury issues within the last 3 years?

CavsRules said:

I'm not feeling Charles this year.. Is he a top back? Yes. But he has only managed to stay healthy for what, 1-2 seasons? I don't really trust his health.. So I wouldn't risk taking him 1st overall.

In my league we have PPR and then bonus points for 40+ yard touchdowns for receivers, backs, tightends, and the QB for throwing it.. I'm hopeful in getting a later round pick, so I can nab Calvin Johnson, then come right back and select Jimmy Graham - or even Brandon Marshall.

Anybody think I'm crazy for not wanting a running back with my first two picks? You have to think that Johnson, Graham, and even Marshall will go before my 3rd pick. Pro bowl receivers who get a ton of targets are huge to have, in my opinion.

Plus, like Nimble said, you can always go with T-rich somewhere in the draft considering he can't honestly be that. Frank Gore is also an option later in the draft, along with a few other backs - including Ben Tate.

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I haven't started all my research but didnt JC lose 3 starters on the OL?

I can definitely see a regression from JC. I expect him to have a good year, dont think #1 back tho

Just drafted my team. Looks like this. 1 pt PPR.

QB- Russell Wilson
RB- Marshawn Lynch
RB- Arian Foster (5th round I think?)
WR- Demaryius Thomas
WR- Andre Johnson
TE- Jordan Reed
Flex- Frank Gore
DEF- Rams
K- Blair Walsh

BN- Trent Richardson (pretty sure I got him in the 7th? Couldnt pass)
BN- Alex Smith
BN- Terrance West
BN- Cordarelle Patterson
BN- Mike Evans
BN- Hakeem Nicks

Go ahead and grade me out fellas.

Triplethreat said:

Just drafted my team. Looks like this. 1 pt PPR.

QB- Russell Wilson
RB- Marshawn Lynch
RB- Arian Foster (5th round I think?)
WR- Demaryius Thomas
WR- Andre Johnson
TE- Jordan Reed
Flex- Frank Gore
DEF- Rams
K- Blair Walsh

BN- Trent Richardson (pretty sure I got him in the 7th? Couldnt pass)
BN- Alex Smith
BN- Terrance West
BN- Cordarelle Patterson
BN- Mike Evans
BN- Hakeem Nicks

Go ahead and grade me out fellas.

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How many teams in the league? You're team looks nasty actually. And just out of curiosity, when did Reed and Wilson go?

Cam Newton (Car - QB)- Round 1
Demaryius Thomas (Den - WR)- Round 2
Danny Amendola (NE - WR)- Round 3
Calvin Johnson (Det - WR)- Round 1
LeSean McCoy (Phi - RB)- Round 1
Shane Vereen (NE - RB)- Round 6
Jason Witten (Dal - TE)- Round 5
Alfred Morris (Was - RB)- Round 1
Kirk Cousins (Was - QB)
Joique Bell (Det - RB)- Round 15
Bobby Rainey (TB - RB)
Jordan Reed (Was - TE)
Cordarrelle Patterson (Min - WR)- Round 8
Zach Ertz (Phi - TE)

So my money league I've played in since 2005 switched to having an option for keepers this year. You can keep up to 3 players, but it will cost you the pick 1 round ahead of where they were drafted last year. The round beside their name is updated to what they would cost to keep.

Above is my team. Anyone who wasn't drafted will cost a 16th round pick to keep. It's a 12 team league, 1 PPR.

I've never done keepers before, so I wonder what you guys think of my strategy.

At this point, I'm planning on keeping McCoy (1st), Demaryius (2nd), and Joique Bell (15th) because of the value hebrings for such a late pick. I figure even though I won't have a pick until the 3rd round, a 1-2 of McCoy and Demaryius is a good guaranteed starting point.

Thoughts?

SuperSurge said:

How many teams in the league? You're team looks nasty actually. And just out of curiosity, when did Reed and Wilson go?

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I think I got Wilson in the 8th and Reed in the 10thish?

12 team league. I couldn't believe the value that kept dropping to me. A lot of risk at my RB position though.

SuperSurge said:

Cam Newton (Car - QB)- Round 1
Demaryius Thomas (Den - WR)- Round 2
Danny Amendola (NE - WR)- Round 3
Calvin Johnson (Det - WR)- Round 1
LeSean McCoy (Phi - RB)- Round 1
Shane Vereen (NE - RB)- Round 6
Jason Witten (Dal - TE)- Round 5
Alfred Morris (Was - RB)- Round 1
Kirk Cousins (Was - QB)
Joique Bell (Det - RB)- Round 15
Bobby Rainey (TB - RB)
Jordan Reed (Was - TE)
Cordarrelle Patterson (Min - WR)- Round 8
Zach Ertz (Phi - TE)

So my money league I've played in since 2005 switched to having an option for keepers this year. You can keep up to 3 players, but it will cost you the pick 1 round ahead of where they were drafted last year. The round beside their name is updated to what they would cost to keep.

Above is my team. Anyone who wasn't drafted will cost a 16th round pick to keep. It's a 12 team league, 1 PPR.

I've never done keepers before, so I wonder what you guys think of my strategy.

At this point, I'm planning on keeping McCoy (1st), Demaryius (2nd), and Joique Bell (15th) because of the value hebrings for such a late pick. I figure even though I won't have a pick until the 3rd round, a 1-2 of McCoy and Demaryius is a good guaranteed starting point.

Thoughts?

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I'd agree with those keepers. Instead of Joique I would definitely grab Cordarelle. He's going to go much higher than the 8th in Norv's offense this year, and I'm expecting him to have a big one with what Norv did with Gordon last year.

Just something to think about

Triplethreat said:

Just drafted my team. Looks like this. 1 pt PPR.

QB- Russell Wilson
RB- Marshawn Lynch
RB- Arian Foster (5th round I think?)
WR- Demaryius Thomas
WR- Andre Johnson
TE- Jordan Reed
Flex- Frank Gore
DEF- Rams
K- Blair Walsh

BN- Trent Richardson (pretty sure I got him in the 7th? Couldnt pass)
BN- Alex Smith
BN- Terrance West
BN- Cordarelle Patterson
BN- Mike Evans
BN- Hakeem Nicks

Go ahead and grade me out fellas.

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I would love it if this was my team after my draft.

Great value in the later rounds picking up Foster and Richardson. Both are buy low guys who have the upside and potential to become explosive fantasy backs. If healthy, Foster is a steal in round 5, and I expect T-Rich to at least get the goal line touches, especially with the injuries the Colts have had at running back.

Overall, I give you an A. I can't find much of anything wrong outside of your 2nd running back being somewhat of a gamble, but again, the value was great and the potential is there.

SuperSurge said:

Cam Newton (Car - QB)- Round 1
Demaryius Thomas (Den - WR)- Round 2
Danny Amendola (NE - WR)- Round 3
Calvin Johnson (Det - WR)- Round 1
LeSean McCoy (Phi - RB)- Round 1
Shane Vereen (NE - RB)- Round 6
Jason Witten (Dal - TE)- Round 5
Alfred Morris (Was - RB)- Round 1
Kirk Cousins (Was - QB)
Joique Bell (Det - RB)- Round 15
Bobby Rainey (TB - RB)
Jordan Reed (Was - TE)
Cordarrelle Patterson (Min - WR)- Round 8
Zach Ertz (Phi - TE)

So my money league I've played in since 2005 switched to having an option for keepers this year. You can keep up to 3 players, but it will cost you the pick 1 round ahead of where they were drafted last year. The round beside their name is updated to what they would cost to keep.

Above is my team. Anyone who wasn't drafted will cost a 16th round pick to keep. It's a 12 team league, 1 PPR.

I've never done keepers before, so I wonder what you guys think of my strategy.

At this point, I'm planning on keeping McCoy (1st), Demaryius (2nd), and Joique Bell (15th) because of the value hebrings for such a late pick. I figure even though I won't have a pick until the 3rd round, a 1-2 of McCoy and Demaryius is a good guaranteed starting point.

Thoughts?

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Its not possible to keep Calvin Johnson, McCoy, and Demaryius? If so, that would be the three I would maintain. You would get one of the best backs and two of the top 5 fantasy wide outs in the game. Definitely a hard team to beat week to week.

SuperSurge said:

Cam Newton (Car - QB)- Round 1
Demaryius Thomas (Den - WR)- Round 2
Danny Amendola (NE - WR)- Round 3
Calvin Johnson (Det - WR)- Round 1
LeSean McCoy (Phi - RB)- Round 1
Shane Vereen (NE - RB)- Round 6
Jason Witten (Dal - TE)- Round 5
Alfred Morris (Was - RB)- Round 1
Kirk Cousins (Was - QB)
Joique Bell (Det - RB)- Round 15
Bobby Rainey (TB - RB)
Jordan Reed (Was - TE)
Cordarrelle Patterson (Min - WR)- Round 8
Zach Ertz (Phi - TE)

So my money league I've played in since 2005 switched to having an option for keepers this year. You can keep up to 3 players, but it will cost you the pick 1 round ahead of where they were drafted last year. The round beside their name is updated to what they would cost to keep.

Above is my team. Anyone who wasn't drafted will cost a 16th round pick to keep. It's a 12 team league, 1 PPR.

I've never done keepers before, so I wonder what you guys think of my strategy.

At this point, I'm planning on keeping McCoy (1st), Demaryius (2nd), and Joique Bell (15th) because of the value hebrings for such a late pick. I figure even though I won't have a pick until the 3rd round, a 1-2 of McCoy and Demaryius is a good guaranteed starting point.

Thoughts?

Click to expand...

I'd keep Vereen for a 6th rounder over Bell for a 15th in a PPR league, Vereen's a monster in that format.

On a side note, I'm still in shock Andy Dalton was the 3rd highest scoring fantasy QB last year. How the fuck did that happen?