The days between the final preseason games and the start of Week 1 are supposed to be relatively quiet. Jerick McKinnon's non-contact injury on the last play of Saturday's practice was a shocking reminder that dramatic fantasy shifts can happen anytime.
As most of you know, I've been bullish about McKinnon all summer. Signed this past offseason to a sizable four-year contract ($15.7 million guaranteed), he was supposed to be a focal point of the best Niners offense in years. His loss is a devastating blow to those (like me) who drafted him in the second or third round. And to those of you who warned he was a higher-than-normal injury risk, you wisely saved yourself from some preseason heartache.
It leaves Matt Breida and Alfred Morris to carry the load. Morris has the experience and knows Shanahan's system and has been hyped as the Week 1 starter. But he also hasn't been a bellcow in years, and he's caught only 57 passes in three seasons. If he becomes the 1A in this backfield, Jimmy G. will lose value. Think about it: San Francisco's franchise QB was looking at about 50-70 dump-offs to McKinnon for 500-700 yards and a few TDs. Without Morris at the helm, Garoppolo's projected stats will take a meaningful hit.
So this is a backfield to monitor closely. At this moment I prefer Breida because of his youth and versatility. Morris will be 30 in December and, before running behind a dominant Dallas o-line last season, was no lock to continue playing in this league. In other words, don't overpay for Morris.
In other big news, New Orleans cut Jonathan Williams, who many believed would form a tandem with Alvin Kamara before Mark Ingram's return. That opens the door for rookie Boston Scott or Trey Edmunds to earn RB3/4 numbers in September -- not bad for players rostered in ESPN leagues by 0.3% and 0% of fantasy managers, respectively. If you had McKinnon and don't land Morris or Breida, absolutely take a flyer on the practically-forgotten Boston (preferably) or Edmunds.
Finally, Martavis Bryant is gone. Is anyone surprised? The 14% of ESPN managers who drafted him shouldn't have been. Bryant has been a train wreck for roughly a year, and his NFL career is now likely over. It's one of several terrible blows to a Raiders club that's made some seemingly horrendous decisions this year. It's also a boon for Amari Cooper and Jordy Nelson, whose monopoly on Derek Carr targets is now even more assured.
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As most of you know, I've been bullish about McKinnon all summer. Signed this past offseason to a sizable four-year contract ($15.7 million guaranteed), he was supposed to be a focal point of the best Niners offense in years. His loss is a devastating blow to those (like me) who drafted him in the second or third round. And to those of you who warned he was a higher-than-normal injury risk, you wisely saved yourself from some preseason heartache.
It leaves Matt Breida and Alfred Morris to carry the load. Morris has the experience and knows Shanahan's system and has been hyped as the Week 1 starter. But he also hasn't been a bellcow in years, and he's caught only 57 passes in three seasons. If he becomes the 1A in this backfield, Jimmy G. will lose value. Think about it: San Francisco's franchise QB was looking at about 50-70 dump-offs to McKinnon for 500-700 yards and a few TDs. Without Morris at the helm, Garoppolo's projected stats will take a meaningful hit.
So this is a backfield to monitor closely. At this moment I prefer Breida because of his youth and versatility. Morris will be 30 in December and, before running behind a dominant Dallas o-line last season, was no lock to continue playing in this league. In other words, don't overpay for Morris.
In other big news, New Orleans cut Jonathan Williams, who many believed would form a tandem with Alvin Kamara before Mark Ingram's return. That opens the door for rookie Boston Scott or Trey Edmunds to earn RB3/4 numbers in September -- not bad for players rostered in ESPN leagues by 0.3% and 0% of fantasy managers, respectively. If you had McKinnon and don't land Morris or Breida, absolutely take a flyer on the practically-forgotten Boston (preferably) or Edmunds.
Finally, Martavis Bryant is gone. Is anyone surprised? The 14% of ESPN managers who drafted him shouldn't have been. Bryant has been a train wreck for roughly a year, and his NFL career is now likely over. It's one of several terrible blows to a Raiders club that's made some seemingly horrendous decisions this year. It's also a boon for Amari Cooper and Jordy Nelson, whose monopoly on Derek Carr targets is now even more assured.
--
SUBSCRIBE: Preaseason Top 300 Rankings
www.fantasyfootballforwinners.com (Big Blue Box registration form)
JOIN: 4th Annual Survivor Pool
officepoolstop.com/JoinLeague.aspx
League ID: 20432
Password: mariota