Daily Dynasty Update – August 29th

College football kicks off tonight. Start looking at who might be on your dynasty draft board in 2014. In the meantime…

  • The Raidas’ will alter their offensive scheme to fit quarterback Terrell Pryor’s skills. Typically, altering your scheme when camp is almost over doesn’t work out well. The Raiders may want to watch that South Carolina game tonight.
  • Jets quarterback Geno Smith may get the start in Week 1, dashing any taxi squad chances for dynasty owners. It’s anybody’s guess who this will turn out.
  • Browns running back Trent Richardson has another year under his belt with his underrated offensive line. T-Rich is in for a big year and should be a running back stud for years.

Not much news heading into the last week of pre-season. Giddy up.

Daily Dynasty Update – August 28th

With the season a little over a week away, position battles are solidifying.

  • With the recent injury to Chiefs tight end Tony Moeaki, Travis Kelce is all-systems go from Week 1. Kelce didn’t show much in pre-season and is even coming off injury but with a lack of talent in this year’s rookie class, he’s one of the more highly rated tight ends to pick.
  • Pat White looks like the third-stringer QB in Washington. Depending on how deep your league goes, he might be an option for RG3 dynasty owners as a taxi-squad candidate.
  • Roy Helu has sewn up the backup running back spot to Alfred Morris. Already the passing down back, Helu is only 24 and has extreme dynasty potential. Plus, with the always shifting Mike Shanahan, you never know who’s going to be the main man. Get Helu if you can.
  • Darrius Heyward-Bey is locked in as the #2 receiver in Indy this year. This puts a damper on T.Y. Hilton’s value but it may be a blessing in disguise. Hilton’s value is sure to drop early on as Indy plans to run more. But don’t sleep on him in your drafts or even in a trade if you can get him for the right price.
  • Johnathan Franklin is not ready to contribute to the Green Bay running game this year. We’ve always been skeptical of just how Green Bay planned to use Franklin. He’s currently being overdrafted in dynasty drafts. Stay away.

That’s it for this Tuesday. Go get ’em.

Daily Dynasty Update – August 27th

Almost to that three-day weekend ya’ll.

  • MJD looks like he’s good to go this year in Jacksonville. He is coming off injury but that hasn’t stopped him before.
  • While Houston running back Arian Foster appears ready to go for Week 1, this will be a make-or-break year for Foster dynasty owners. No runner has more carries the last three years and there have been multiple signs of a break down. Dynasty owners should have a contingency plan in place.
  • The fact that Dolphins coaches are talking up Daniel Thomas means little. Lamar Miller is the running back now and, possibly, for years to come.
  • Montee Ball has (finally) been elevated to first team status in Denver’s running game. Keep an eye on it as coach John Fox is known to love committees (see: Williams, DeAngelo; Stewart, Jonathan) but Ball may have more early impact that previously thought.
  • Dallas defensive end Anthony Spencer has been cleared to begin running again. Spencer will be in his first year as a defensive lineman opposite DeMarcus Ware.

That’s it for now.

Daily Dynasty Update – August 26th

We’re getting closer and closer to the beginning of the season. Let’s see what’s happening down the final stretch.

  • It appears Ronnie Hillman and Montee Ball are doing everything they can to NOT start at running back for Denver this year. Neither can pass protect and have had trouble holding on to the ball. Their stock should drop in dynasty drafts this week but Ball still makes a ton of sense long-term.
  • Rob Gronkowski is expected to play most, not all, of this season. However, at just 24, he’s still a top two tight end dynasty pick. The only hesitation would be his injury history, which is getting more  frequent. It’d be ideal to draft Gronk’s current backup, rookie Zach Sudfeld for insurance.
  • Rookie Mike James is officially the #3 running back in Tampa. He’s got some talent but is only worth a taxi squad spot at this point, especially if you have Doug Martin.
  • Oakland appears to be moving on from Matt Flynn and giving Terrelle Pryor a shot at quarterback. Pryor has flashes but, ultimately, won’t be the long-term answer. We fully expect Oakland to be in the mix for the top pick in the NFL draft in 2014 and could take one then.

That’s all for now. One more pre-season game to go.

Daily Dynasty Update – August 19th

It’s almost time sports fans.

More drafts in the weeks ahead. Get excited!

Daily Dynasty Update – August 16th

Fantasy drafts will be in full swing between now and the season. Let’s see what we got:

We’ll keep it short today. Updated rankings to come. Gooooooooood luck everybody.

Daily Dynasty Update – August 15th

Almost there:

Go get ’em.

Daily Dynasty Update – August 14th

We’re halfway home folks. Make it a good one.

  • Cam Newton spent most of Carolina camp in the pocket which is fantastic news for his long-term health. Newton is a no-brainer, top three quarterback in dynasty ranks.
  • Rookie receiver Aaron Dobson has looked much better in Pats camp. Between Dobson and UDFA Kenbrell Thompkins, you can’t go wrong taking a young Patriots receiver this year.
  • San Diego rookie receiver suffered some kind of knee injury yesterday and had to receive treatment. Allen suffered knee injuries throughout his career so this shouldn’t come as a surprise. It’s still disappointing as Allen had first round talent. I’d personally hold off drafting him until later.
  • Receiver Chris Givens has had an excellent camp so far in St. Louis. Tavon Austin has gotten the attention but Givens has a more definitive role in the Rams young offense. Overall, I’d go with Givens.
  • Minnesota linebacker Desmond Bishop might not even make the team. Plan accordingly.
  • Things are not going well in Jacksonville when Marcedes Lewis is complaining about the offense. Anything related to the Jacksonville offense should probably be avoided, even in dynasty circles.
  • Arizona running back Ryan Williams is undergoing platelet-rich plasma therapy for his gimpy knee. Williams has yet to be fully healthy in camp, allowing rookies Stepfan Taylor and Andre Ellington to step up. All of them are fighting for backup duties to Rashard Mendendhall which should give you an idea of how lacking the Arizona running game is in quality. It’s best to avoid if you can.

2013 Dynasty Rookie Rankings Big Board – Round 2 (1st Edition)

We kicked off the series looking at the potential first round of rookies drafted in dynasty leagues here. Next, we look at the next set of picks in a 12-team, PPR league.

Round 2, Pick 1 – WR-Cordarelle Patterson (MIN) – In his first NFL game, first round pick Patterson exhibited exactly what scouts were drooling over at the draft which was his play-making ability. He totaled 104 yards and had a beautiful 50-yard catch after catching the crease.  Patterson is still extremely raw but talent will win out over time in dynasty leagues. The only draw back will continue to be Christian Ponder and the quarterback situation in Minnesota. Not to mention, the current NFL MVP dominates the playbook (as he should). Patterson won’t be in a position to get big numbers early in his career but he’s got the talent to do some special things.

Round 2, Pick 2 – WR-Aaron Dobson (NE) – As with fellow rookie Kenbrell Thompkins, the opportunity for Aaron Dobson is the better than any other in the league. Massive turnover has opened up the opportunity for anyone to be the starting X receiver. He’s played well and is making plays in camp but he’s also getting into shoving matches and not exactly setting the world on fire in-game action. He’ll move on from that but he may not be able to beat out Thompkins for first crack. The talent is there, and the competition is bare, so Dobson is an excellent value pick in the second. Of course, it doesn’t hurt to have Tom Brady lobbing passes either.

Round 2, Pick 3 – TE-Travis Kelce (KC) – The first pick of the third round, Kelce is a physical specimen at the tight end position at 6′ 5″ and 260 pounds. He’s also a great receiver and athletic and can block. His only major downfall was character concerns. He was suspended the whole 2010 season which, in this day and age of leniency, means he majorly messed up. The hope is he’s moved on since then and seemingly has since he hasn’t had any issues since. Looking at his situation, he’s got a pass-happy coach who has committed to throwing more. Alex Smith will have the first shot of getting Kelce the ball. Smith didn’t have a problem getting Vernon Davis the ball so there is hope. He’ll have to battle Anthony Fasano and Tony Moeaki for snaps but his sheer athleticism should take care of that. Kansas City does plan to line him up in a variety of positions. Giddy up.

Round 2, Pick 4 -QB-Geno Smith (NYJ) – Drafted in the second round, Smith was drafted to inject some life into the abysmal Jets offense. Originally graded to be the first quarterback taken, Smith slid to the second after several off-field issues regarding agents and attitude. But the football skills are all there and Smith looks like the real deal. With little competition ahead of him (see: Sanchez, Mark), Smith has a golden opportunity to join E.J. Manuel as the only starting rookie quarterbacks. He did trip a little leading up to his first pre-season game but turned in a solid performance. The supporting cast is a different story. With zero legitimate targets to throw to, it’s hard to imagine Smith putting up even decent numbers his first year. The hope is he takes his rookie year to sort things out and be ready to utilize whatever new targets the Jets bring in. He’s a taxi-squad candidate at this point.

Round 2, Pick 5 -WR-Robert Woods (BUF) – Second rounder Woods is already stated to start in Buffalo. Like Spider-Man, that can be a gift and curse. Woods was the most NFL-ready coming in to the draft and has impressed so far in camp. He’s a part of the renaissance in Buffalo with rookie E.J. Manuel quarterbacking. But he’ll be tied to Manuel’s growing pains which will prohibit huge numbers from any Buffalo receiver for the foreseeable future. Not huge upside but has the chance to be a steady contributor for years to come.

Round 2, Pick 6 – WR-Keenan Allen (SD) – Unlike Robert Woods, Allen is a project. Drafted in the third round, the skill is there as he set the Cal record for receptions. The injury bug also has afforded Allen the opportunity to use those skills early on. However, Allen has had an up-and-down camp so far and everyone agrees that Allen has ways to go. Originally projected as a first round pick, he’s not immune from injuries either after missing the last couple games of his college career. The path is certainly clear for Allen to take over but it’ll remain to be seen if he can stay healthy.

Round 2, Pick 7 – RB-Marcus Lattimore (SF) – The ultimate taxi squad player in dynasty drafts this year, Lattimore was a legit first round talent before shredding both knees in college. Drafted in the 4th round, neither fantasy owners or San Francisco has any hope that he’ll contribute this year as he hopes to follow in the foot steps of fellow knee-injury victims Willis McGahee and, you guessed it, Frank  Gore. He enters a delicious situation with Gore’s contract ballooning to $6.5 million in 2014 (at age 31), Kendall Hunter with just 184 carrie to his name, and LaMichael James as nothing more than a passing situation back. With San Francisco’s power running scheme, Lattimore is sure to be in the mix. Draft him and stash him.

Round 2, Pick 8 – TE-Zach Sudfeld (NE) – Another undrafted rookie for New England, Sudfeld has rapidly found himself playing with the first string unit. At 6′ 7″ and 255 pounds, he’s being compared to that other New England tight end (who’s still on the team) and could get work as the injures dictate. Jake Ballard was originally supposed to take over Aaron Hernandez’s production but that now appears to go to Sudfeld, who’s catching everything in sight. He’s a huge unknown but New England seems to trust him. Don’t be afraid to draft him in the second round and look like a genius.

Round 2, Pick 9 – RB-Johnathan Franklin (GB) – Franklin steps into an ideal situation for a pass-catching back. The Green Bay offense, and Aaron Rodgers in particular, will continue to pass the ball despite the presence of Eddie Lacy. He won’t be an every down back but if Franklin can establish himself as a passing-down back, he could be in for a bunch of catches. Of course, he’ll have to shore up his pass protection to even see the field. Assuming he can work those issues out, he’ll be an intriguing change of pace back.

Round 2, Pick 10 – WR-Stedman Bailey (STL) – While Bailey only sits at #4 on the depth chart, he’s had a good camp so farSt. Louis claims to be opening up the offense more which would mean more opportunities to spread the wealth. Of course, it remains to be seen if Sam Bradford can handle that load. If so, Bailey stands to gain in the long-term. If not, Bailey wouldn’t be worth a taxi squad spot.

Round 2, Pick 11 – QB-Tyler Bray (KC) – Signed as an undrafted free agent, Bray already has the strongest arm in Kansas City camp (which isn’t saying a whole lot). His lack of maturity was what set him back in the draft but he seems to have overcome those. Setting behind Alex Smith and Chase Daniel, Bray doesn’t have a clear shot to starters minutes but could develop into a tradable asset. He’s not a bad pick to stash on taxi squads especially with other rookie quarterbacks struggling.

Round 2, Pick 12 – WR-Kenny Stills (NO) – Drafted in the fifth round, there was not clear spot for Stills until Joe Morgan went down with an injury and smaller injuries allowed him to play with the first string. Now entrenched as the 3rd down receiverStills has put together a quietly good camp and could receive considerable attention from Drew Brees and co. He should man the slot between Marques Colston and Lance Moore. If Sean Payton works his magic upon his return, they’ll be plenty of targets to go around including ones to Stills.

Daily Dynasty Update – August 13th

At least it’s not Monday?

  • The injury bug hit Jamaal Charles on Monday. He went down with a foot sprain but looks fine. The fantasy world probably won’t be comfortable until he sees game action.
  • Receiver DeSean Jackson looks like his old self in Philly camp. Currently ranked 44th in dynasty ranks, Jackson may be a tad undervalued at this point. The hope is to be a regular WR3 with a WR2 as his ceiling.
  • Second year receiver T.Y. Hilton says the game is slowing down for him. After a good pre-season opener, Hilton is in prime position to succeed this year and in the future with Andrew Luck at quarterback and Reggie Wayne close to retirement. Grab Hilton if he’s available.
  • Second year tight end Ladarius Green is looking good in San Diego. With Antonio Gates at 33, Green is in a prime position to take over the starting role but will need to have a good season.
  • Rookie tight end Gavin Escobar has been quiet so far in Dallas.  So far, he grades out as the worst blocking tight end this pre-season, according to Pro Football Focus. Not exactly a recipe for success. Escobar is no more than a taxi squad candidate at this point. He’d be even more valuable if Jason Witten is on your roster.
  • Third year receiver Jon Baldwin dropped a couple of passes during practice Sunday and has yet to stand out in Kansas City’s camp. It’s not inconceivable to imagine this might be Baldwin’s last chance to validate his first round status. Andy Reid does like to throw it around so Baldwin will have his chance.