Why Jerick McKinnon's Future Value Was Predictable, Handcuff RBs to Target, and Thursday Night Football Preview
In later today’s WRAL SportsFan column I’ll highlight, for the third
time in a row, why all preseason signs pointed to Jerick McKinnon being the
most valuable fantasy RB handcuff outside of Spencer Ware. On average the 56th RB taken in drafts
(a combination of ESPN, Yahoo!, CBS Sports, etc.), McKinnon was in my top 45 all
summer long, topping out at #34 on the eve of Week 1:
So what do we do with this information?
That’s the second part of my WRAL column: How to identify the next
Jerick McKinnon. I outline five RBs
available in most leagues who have a decent shot of busting out this
season. With bye weeks approaching, it’s
hard to make room for speculative adds.
So if you’re 0-2 and need a couple wins to remain relevant, get those
wins; there’s a good chance some/all of these players will still be available
in a few weeks:
-- Jordan Howard (6% owned in ESPN leagues)
-- Devontae Booker (36%)
-- Mike Gillislee (1%)
-- Kenneth Dixon (13%)
-- Paul Perkins (2%)
I mentioned Perkins on the FF4W blog yesterday. I drafted Dixon. The other three are currently owned in my
league. For various reasons, each of
these five guys could be starting by midseason.
Howard’s time could come as soon as this week. Staying ahead of the curve—ahead of
conventional wisdom—gives us the best chance to dominate.
Looking ahead to tonight’s game, is anyone starting a player simply as
an excuse to watch? Not a fan of that
approach, but if you’re itching for reasons, LeGarrette Blount is Week 3’s biggest
boom-bust RB. Last week he had only his
second 100-yard rushing game since 2014.
But if Jacoby Brissett starts at QB, the Patriots aren’t likely to put
the game in his hands. Blount should
touch the ball 25+ times. Ranked behind
guys like Latavius Murray, Devonta Freeman, and LeSean McCoy in ESPN’s and many
other experts’ Week 3 rankings, Blount is a volume play who should give you
plenty of much-needed Thursday night entertainment if Grey’s Anatomy and
Chicago Med don’t do it for you.