Today I was planning to kick off the FF4W Challenge. Then the NFL decided to go nuts. So instead, let's try to catch up on all of the fantasy-relevant things that happened Saturday. Granted, this isn't a 100% comprehensive roundup; we'd need 5,000+ words for that. But with many of you drafting today and in the days that follow, we have to make sense of this stuff.
The Bills released LeSean McCoy. Clearing more than $6 million in cap space, I think this was Buffalo's plan all along. For all we know, they've been trying in vain to trade him since drafting Devin Singletary. McCoy's landing spot will be closely watched. There aren't many destinations where he'd be a clear #1, and the 31-year-old can't be counted on for RB2+ production even as a lead back. But it will be interesting to see where he ends up, and which fantasy RB(s) will take a big hit.
McCoy's departure opens up Buffalo's backfield a bit, with Singletary expected to be the de facto starter, while the 36-year-old Frank Gore fills in as only Gore can. The wild card here is one of my favorite underappreciated backs, T.J. Yeldon. Singletary wasn't much of a pass-catcher for most of his college career, corralling only six balls his senior year. That's Yeldon's specialty. For now, don't over-reach on Singletary, but appreciate the fact that his upside is higher than Gore's and Yeldon's.
Kenny Stills and Laremy Tunsil are now Texans, while Miami officially enters its eighth rebuilding mode in something like 12 years (apologies to all your Dolphins fans). On the South Beach side, one of my favorite WR bargains all summer, Devante Parker, gets a terrific boost, while Albert Wilson becomes a very reasonable deeper-league target. Meanwhile, Kenyan Drake and Kalen Ballage take hits with the loss of Tunsil. I'd say the same for Ryan Fitzpatrick and Josh Rosen, but (a) that goes without saying, and (b) How many of you are actually drafting Fitzpatrick or Rosen?
In Houston, I picked the wrong week to poo-poo Deshaun Watson. Now he gets a terrific veteran receiver and a solid blind-side lineman. For the record, I still believe Jared Goff will be better. But this move certainly improves Watson's health and production outlook, and I've moved him up from #5 to #4 as a result. Meanwhile, Keke Coutee is the biggest loser; with regular playing time no longer assured, he plummets on my draft board.
Carlos Hyde is now a Texan. He was already quite low on my draft board, meaning Damien Williams and Darwin Thompson haven't moved. And I'm actually keeping Duke Johnson as my #25 PPR RB. That's what I think about Hyde, who I've bumped up only to #50. Damarea Crockett is the biggest loser, booted from a team only a few days after appearing to be no worse than Duke's handcuff.
Equanimeous St. Brown is out for the year. Trevor Davis or Jake Kumerow will slide into the #4 spot in Green Bay's receiver corps, which obviously will matter if one of the top-3 guys goes down this season.
New Orleans parted ways with Devine Ozigbo, someone I thought could challenge Latavius Murray for at least a share of handcuff duties. Instead, Murray gets some breathing room as the unquestioned #2, while the largely ineffective Dwayne Washington moves up to #3. Washington actually netted 5.7 YPC last season on 27 carries. That said, he's not much of a passing-game threat and needs Kamara and Murray to get hurt to achieve fantasy startability.
Jerick McKinnon is officially out for another season. What a disastrous 12 months it's been for a guy who last summer was expected to be a long-term fixture in San Francisco's backfield.
Theo Riddick is also done for the year. Devontae Booker will assume the Dwayne Washington role: biding his time in case Phillip Lindsay and Royce Freeman go down.
Surprisingly (to me, anyway), Seattle released their presumed #2 receiver, Jaron Brown. D.K. Metcalf pops in his place, and David Moore deserves at least some attention in Best Ball and very deep leagues. I'm having trouble gauging whether Russell Wilson's in for a tough year, or whether he'll do what he always does: make the most of the resources he has. The tandem of Metcalf and Tyler Lockett could prove to be one of the league's most top-heavy receiving corps.
Finally, Washington has given up on former first-rounder Josh Doctson. It's never a good sign when one of the NFL's worst passing teams waives you. The news makes Trey Quinn and Paul Richardson more valuable; drafting one gives you a 50-50 shot at top-40 production.
What else? There's plenty to talk about, so feel free to shout it out.
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The Bills released LeSean McCoy. Clearing more than $6 million in cap space, I think this was Buffalo's plan all along. For all we know, they've been trying in vain to trade him since drafting Devin Singletary. McCoy's landing spot will be closely watched. There aren't many destinations where he'd be a clear #1, and the 31-year-old can't be counted on for RB2+ production even as a lead back. But it will be interesting to see where he ends up, and which fantasy RB(s) will take a big hit.
McCoy's departure opens up Buffalo's backfield a bit, with Singletary expected to be the de facto starter, while the 36-year-old Frank Gore fills in as only Gore can. The wild card here is one of my favorite underappreciated backs, T.J. Yeldon. Singletary wasn't much of a pass-catcher for most of his college career, corralling only six balls his senior year. That's Yeldon's specialty. For now, don't over-reach on Singletary, but appreciate the fact that his upside is higher than Gore's and Yeldon's.
Kenny Stills and Laremy Tunsil are now Texans, while Miami officially enters its eighth rebuilding mode in something like 12 years (apologies to all your Dolphins fans). On the South Beach side, one of my favorite WR bargains all summer, Devante Parker, gets a terrific boost, while Albert Wilson becomes a very reasonable deeper-league target. Meanwhile, Kenyan Drake and Kalen Ballage take hits with the loss of Tunsil. I'd say the same for Ryan Fitzpatrick and Josh Rosen, but (a) that goes without saying, and (b) How many of you are actually drafting Fitzpatrick or Rosen?
In Houston, I picked the wrong week to poo-poo Deshaun Watson. Now he gets a terrific veteran receiver and a solid blind-side lineman. For the record, I still believe Jared Goff will be better. But this move certainly improves Watson's health and production outlook, and I've moved him up from #5 to #4 as a result. Meanwhile, Keke Coutee is the biggest loser; with regular playing time no longer assured, he plummets on my draft board.
Carlos Hyde is now a Texan. He was already quite low on my draft board, meaning Damien Williams and Darwin Thompson haven't moved. And I'm actually keeping Duke Johnson as my #25 PPR RB. That's what I think about Hyde, who I've bumped up only to #50. Damarea Crockett is the biggest loser, booted from a team only a few days after appearing to be no worse than Duke's handcuff.
Equanimeous St. Brown is out for the year. Trevor Davis or Jake Kumerow will slide into the #4 spot in Green Bay's receiver corps, which obviously will matter if one of the top-3 guys goes down this season.
New Orleans parted ways with Devine Ozigbo, someone I thought could challenge Latavius Murray for at least a share of handcuff duties. Instead, Murray gets some breathing room as the unquestioned #2, while the largely ineffective Dwayne Washington moves up to #3. Washington actually netted 5.7 YPC last season on 27 carries. That said, he's not much of a passing-game threat and needs Kamara and Murray to get hurt to achieve fantasy startability.
Jerick McKinnon is officially out for another season. What a disastrous 12 months it's been for a guy who last summer was expected to be a long-term fixture in San Francisco's backfield.
Theo Riddick is also done for the year. Devontae Booker will assume the Dwayne Washington role: biding his time in case Phillip Lindsay and Royce Freeman go down.
Surprisingly (to me, anyway), Seattle released their presumed #2 receiver, Jaron Brown. D.K. Metcalf pops in his place, and David Moore deserves at least some attention in Best Ball and very deep leagues. I'm having trouble gauging whether Russell Wilson's in for a tough year, or whether he'll do what he always does: make the most of the resources he has. The tandem of Metcalf and Tyler Lockett could prove to be one of the league's most top-heavy receiving corps.
Finally, Washington has given up on former first-rounder Josh Doctson. It's never a good sign when one of the NFL's worst passing teams waives you. The news makes Trey Quinn and Paul Richardson more valuable; drafting one gives you a 50-50 shot at top-40 production.
What else? There's plenty to talk about, so feel free to shout it out.
---
Sign up for Pre-Draft Top 300 Rankings: http://www.fantasyfootballforwinners.com/
Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/_FF4W