I hyped up only one TNF player last night: LeGarrette Blount. The RB version of DeSean Jackson (he’ll get you 20 fantasy points one week and three the next), Blount carried the offense. Outside of Lamar Miller and the Patriots DST, he was the only fantasy player worth starting. He’s got Buffalo and Cleveland next. You might be able to trade him for a struggling RB1 like Todd Gurley or even the TD-less Lamar Miller, or to an RB-needy opponent for a near-elite WR like Amari Cooper.
Why do I push trades so much? Because value is often fleeting. Blount is not a top 5 fantasy RB. He’s probably not a top 12 fantasy RB. A healthy Rob Gronkowski will cut into his TD opportunities. So will the likely eventual return of Dion Lewis. And starting him during the fantasy playoffs (Broncos and Jets weeks 15 and 16) is an added risk. So cash out for a great player and move on. Based on probabilities, you should come out ahead.
Jumping quickly into a relatively new segment called “Free Agent Friday.” Which little-owned (based on ESPN leagues, though they generally translate across all leagues) players should be on your waiver / free agent acquisition radar?
Tony Romo (7% owned) – He’s averaging 2+ TDs per game since the start of the 2014 season. He plays behind the NFL’s best offensive line and throws to one of the league’s top 5-7 receivers. Despite his recent injury woes, Romo is a QB1-caliber talent. So if you don’t have a top 12 QB, in the coming weeks take a flier on a guy who could return midseason.
Dolphins DST (31% owned) – Widely viewed as a bottom-10 DST this preseason, they were one of my preseason bold predictions (top 12 unit). Their upcoming schedule is far more favorable than what we’ve seen so far, with home games against the Browns, Titans, and Bills in the next few weeks.
Jerick McKinnon (65% owned) – This is the last time I’ll mention McKinnon, because in 2-3 weeks he’ll be viewed as a no-brainer start. I put him on here two weeks ago when he was 31% owned. A lot of experts are misreading this backfield, believing too much in Matt Asiata. McKinnon will garner at least three times more fantasy points than Asiata the rest of the season.
Ryan Tannehill (33% owned) – I also placed Tannehill on this list two weeks ago, when he was 24% owned. He’s posted low-end QB1 numbers despite enduring arguably the toughest opening to the season (@Seahawks, @Patriots). I wrote this summer that he was my Andy Dalton pick of 2016. Still all in.
Tyler Boyd (22% owned) – Boyd’s upside leaves Brandon LaFell in the dust. So it’s only a matter of time before the rookie becomes Andy Dalton’s weekly #2 target. If you need a future WR3/4 and have the bench space, pick him up.
Why do I push trades so much? Because value is often fleeting. Blount is not a top 5 fantasy RB. He’s probably not a top 12 fantasy RB. A healthy Rob Gronkowski will cut into his TD opportunities. So will the likely eventual return of Dion Lewis. And starting him during the fantasy playoffs (Broncos and Jets weeks 15 and 16) is an added risk. So cash out for a great player and move on. Based on probabilities, you should come out ahead.
Jumping quickly into a relatively new segment called “Free Agent Friday.” Which little-owned (based on ESPN leagues, though they generally translate across all leagues) players should be on your waiver / free agent acquisition radar?
Tony Romo (7% owned) – He’s averaging 2+ TDs per game since the start of the 2014 season. He plays behind the NFL’s best offensive line and throws to one of the league’s top 5-7 receivers. Despite his recent injury woes, Romo is a QB1-caliber talent. So if you don’t have a top 12 QB, in the coming weeks take a flier on a guy who could return midseason.
Dolphins DST (31% owned) – Widely viewed as a bottom-10 DST this preseason, they were one of my preseason bold predictions (top 12 unit). Their upcoming schedule is far more favorable than what we’ve seen so far, with home games against the Browns, Titans, and Bills in the next few weeks.
Jerick McKinnon (65% owned) – This is the last time I’ll mention McKinnon, because in 2-3 weeks he’ll be viewed as a no-brainer start. I put him on here two weeks ago when he was 31% owned. A lot of experts are misreading this backfield, believing too much in Matt Asiata. McKinnon will garner at least three times more fantasy points than Asiata the rest of the season.
Ryan Tannehill (33% owned) – I also placed Tannehill on this list two weeks ago, when he was 24% owned. He’s posted low-end QB1 numbers despite enduring arguably the toughest opening to the season (@Seahawks, @Patriots). I wrote this summer that he was my Andy Dalton pick of 2016. Still all in.
Tyler Boyd (22% owned) – Boyd’s upside leaves Brandon LaFell in the dust. So it’s only a matter of time before the rookie becomes Andy Dalton’s weekly #2 target. If you need a future WR3/4 and have the bench space, pick him up.