Dynasty Impact – Cleveland Browns select Johnny Manziel, QB

manzielDynasty Impact: Finally, Manziel is taken after the Browns trade up to get the quarterback. Pairing him with Josh Gordon will be a dynamic duo in dynasty circles but he could possibly sit for a year behind current starter Brian Hoyer. Manziel has the arm and wheels to be successful and will have the weapons to do well for many years. He’ll play behind a great offensive line as well. Manziel should challenge for the first quarterback taken in rookie dynasty drafts.

Updated Dynasty Wide Receiver Rankings – April 2014

Click here for updated dynasty wide receiver rankings. 

  • sandersOne change in the top five as Julio Jones enters the top five. Calvin Johnson, A.J. Green, Dez Bryant, and Josh Gordon precede Jones.
  • Big risers this month include new Bronco Emmanuel Sanders to 45th from 55th thanks to having Peyton Manning as his quarterback; Eagles receiver Riley Cooper moves to 52nd from 60th thanks to the trade of DeSean Jackson; and finally Packers receiver Jarrett Boykin to 58th from 68th thanks to James Jones’ departure.
  • The big drops this month include Saints receiver Marques Colston from 42nd to 50th thanks to the Saints more balanced offensive approach; the Vikings’ Greg Jennings drops from 43rd to 51st; finally Steve Smith drops from 58th to 70th thanks to his probably reduced role in Baltimore.

Updated Dynasty Wide Receiver Rankings – March 2014

Click here for complete dynasty wide receiving rankings, now with rankings from Rotoworld

  • Top five remains the same with Calvin Johnson, A.J. Green, Dez Bryant, Josh Gordon, and Demaryius Thomas in the same positions as last month.
  • Big risers this month include Michael Crabtree, who will have a full pre-season to perform; the Cardinals Michael Floyd, who should be taking more targets from Larry Fitzgerald; the Titans Kendall Wright, who caught almost 100 balls with over 1,000 yards despite shoddy quarterback play; and the Patriots Julian Edelman, who re-signed with New England where his dynasty value will never be higher.
  • The drops this month include Larry Fitzgerald, who at 31, is a year older and has a steadily falling dynasty value; recently signed Eric Decker, who had his value drop once he left Denver; the Texans Andre Johnson, also a victim of time; and the Patriots Danny Amendola who just can’t seem to stay healthy.
  • New to the rankings are the Seahawks Doug Baldwin, who should see more targets now that Golden Tate is out-of-town; the Giants Jerrel Jernigan, who should see more targets now that Hakeem Nicks is out of New York; and Jarrett Boykin who should see more looks now that James Jones is out-of-town.

Updated Dynasty Wide Receiver Rankings – February 2014

Click here for the complete dynasty wide receiver rankings. 

  • No changes to the top five with Calvin Johnson, A.J. Green, Dez Bryant, Josh Gordon, and Demaryius Thomas. Nothing should change this group of top-tier receivers any time soon.
  • A big drop includes Giants receiver Victor Cruz, still recovering from a knee scope. The drop is nothing to worry about as Cruz will be the top receiver in New York now that Hakeem Nicks is a free agent. Another drop is Baltimore’s Torrey Smith. Luckily for Smith, he has Gary Kubiak as a new offensive coordinator who oversaw big seasons from his own #1 receiver, Andre Johnson. However, with Dennis Pitta and the Ravens far apart on contract talks, the lack of support in the Ravens passing game can only hinder Smith.
  • Rising this month is Cowboys receiver Terrance Williams. With current second receiver Miles Austin on his way out, it will be Williams jobs to lose. Some others include newcomers to the list, Colts receiver Da’Rick Rogers and Eagles free agent Riley Cooper. Of  the two, Rogers has more potential as he has an elite talent throwing him the ball and, hopefully, a more pass-oriented offense. Cooper, meanwhile, is a free agent and it’s anybody’s guess as to where he ends up.

Your Dynasty Questions Answered, Part V

After a week to re-charge, we’re back at it with the latest dynasty news and notes. Also, we’re back at answering your questions. Be sure to email us at dynastyfantasyfootballcentral(at)gmail.com. Taylor writes:

I’m in a quasi-dynasty 12 team keeper league non-PPR, starting 1QB (1pt/20yds passing & 6pt/pass TD), 2RB, 2WR, 1TE, 1(RB/WR/TE), 1K, 2LB, 2DL, 2DB, & 1(LB/DL/DB). IDP scoring is, presently, 1pt/tackle (.5/assist), 3/sack, 2/stuff (does not count sacks), 3/force fumble, 4/INT, and 1/pass defensed. However, there is a possibility IDP scoring may significantly increase this coming year.

We keep 10 players from our 25 player roster, giving free agency pretty good depth going into the next year. My roster is as follows:
QB: Andy Dalton, Jay Cutler
RB: Gio Bernard, D Murray, D Wilson, Helu, Gerhart, K Robinson, and L Murray
WR: Green, Gordon, VJax, Hopkins, Boykin, Jernigan
TE: J Cameron, L Green
LB: David, Wagner, Laurinaitis, D Smith
DL: Watt, Quinn
DB: B Pollard, H Smith, & J Cyprien
So, my current absolute keepers are Bernard, Murray, Green, Gordon, David, Watt, and Quinn
Leaving me with three spots left, who should I fill out my keepers with? I’m thinking VJax, Cameron, and either Wagner, Laurinaitis, or Hopkins.  I really don’t know how much it’s worth investing in speculation, but VJax is aging and TE’s are HUGELY important (I do like Cameron’s consistency though, especially also having Gordon). Yes, I know my team is stacked (came in 2nd this year), but I’m pulling my hair out trying to decide who to keep, and where on my roster I might be able to get value from trading. HELP!!!!!!

Alright, let’s take a look at your roster with your starting line up with the absolute keepers since I agree with all of those:

QB:
RB: Bernard
RB: Murray
WR: Green
WR: Gordon
TE:
FLEX:
DL: Watt
DL: Quinn
LB: David
LB:
DB:
DB:
FLEX:

QB – Your quarterbacks are good but not great. I would say they’re not even QB1 in your 12-team league so dropping them is ok. And while quarterback is certainly important, with only 12 teams in your league, it’s not as if there won’t be other options in your draft.

RB – You have several high-upside guys like David Wilson, Khiry Robinson and Latavius Murray but with only keeping 10 players, it’s a luxury you can’t afford right now. Besides, DeMarco Murray and Giovani Bernard, both under 27, are fine options in a dynasty league.

WR – With Josh Gordon and A.J. Green, you have two of the top five receivers in dynasty. Kudos to you for making that happen. Those are guys you’ll have for a few years. As for your other options, guys like Jerrell Jernigan and Jarrett Boykin also have a lot of upside but you just don’t have enough spots.

To me, dropping Vincent Jackson is preferable to dropping DeAndre Hopkins. Jackson is very talented and produces very well for fantasy teams. But he’s also 31 with a new coach and an uncertain situation at quarterback, three big red flags as you head in to next year and beyond. With DeAndre Hopkins, you’re getting a 22-year old that produced a 50-catch, 800-yard season with one of the worst quarterback situations in the league. And while he’ll have a new coach and quarterback as well, the assistance of Andre Johnson allows Hopkins’ game to open up. Houston is also a lot further long, talent-wise overall than Tampa. However, I still wouldn’t keep Hopkins because…

TE – In Jordan Cameron, you have a top five option at tight end that’s only 26. He’s coming off an 80-catch, 900-yard season with equally as bad quarterback play as the two receivers mentioned above. You can easily slot him in as your starter next year. To me, Cameron is a keeper.

This may come as a surprise but Ladarius Green also would be a keeper for me. Freakishly athletic at 6′ 6″ with a 4.5 40-time, Green has Jimmy Graham-like physical attributes. Green is the heir apparent to Antonio Gates and if quarterback Philip Rivers uses him like he did Gates in his prime, you’re in line for a few 1,000 yard, 10-touchdown seasons. As you alluded to, tight end is becoming more and more important. Having a tight end now and for the future can server you well.

DL – Again, kudos for snagging two of the top five defensive ends in the NFL and dynasty. Robert Quinn and J.J. Watt are both under 25 and play in aggressive schemes, insuring high sack totals. This is an easy call.

DB – Defensive back may be the most replaceable position in all of IDP football. The stats for defensive backs are just too random with a multitude of outside factors determining who gets tackles, interceptions, etc. You’re correct in passing on all of them.

LB – Lavonte David was a top three linebacker in fantasy leagues last year and shows no signs of slowing down. Just 24 and playing in new coach Lovie Smith’s system, David should replicate his production for man years to come. As far as keeping another linebacker, I think you’d be wise to do so, especially with IDP points potentially playing a bigger role in your league. I would keep Bobby Wagner as your second LB. Wagner racks up the tackles with 140 his rookie year and averaging 10 per game in his final eight games of 2013. Those tackle number would balance out David’s big-play ability nicely. He’ll be just 24 when the season starts and plays on one of the best defenses in the league, if not all time.

There you have it. I’d keep Cameron, Green, and Wagner to fill out your roster. Your defense of Quinn, Watt, David, and now Wagner should challenge for the best in your league. I’d also have a hard time believing there’s a stronger set of tight ends. Good luck!

Remember, send your questions to dynastyfantasyfootballcentral(at)gmail.com!

Daily Dynasty Update – Super Bowl Edition

Your dynasty question answered!

julius-thomas-denver-broncos-baltimore-ravens.jpg?w=600&h=425Here at DFFC, we try to answer any and all questions we get about your dynasty roster – trades, drafts and more! Be sure to email us at dynastyfantasyfootballcentral (at) gmail.com to get yours answered. Today we have a question from Shawn. Shawn asks,

I have to keep four of the following: Dez Bryant, Demaryius Thomas, Josh Gordon, Aaron Rodgers, Julius Thomas, and Giovani Bernard. Is it dumb to keep Rodgers and all 3 WR? Keeper league (keep 4), 10 teams. Non-PPR with 6 points for any kind of TD. Starting roster is 1 QB, 2 RB, 2 WR, 1 TE/WR, 1 TE, DEF, K.

First off, how you managed to get all those guys is incredible and in a 10-league team no less. Kudos to you.

Secondly, I don’t think that’s dumb considering your starting roster requirements. However, it wouldn’t be my first choice. Let’s break this down:

  • Giovani Bernard will be a good running back but the position is one of extreme turnover. Additionally, with your league being a non-PPR, Bernard’s best asset (pass catching) is neutered. Not keeping him is an easy call.
  • Next, let’s look at the three receiver set you accumulated. Every dynasty ranking will have Bryant, Gordon, and Thomas as top five wide receivers. Using any two of those three will give you an advantage over every other team in your league. All three are young (26 or younger) and are the focal points of their respective offenses. Bryant and Thomas play with elite quarterbacks and Gordon did  amazing things with some of the least production at the position in the entire league. Unless someone managed to get Calvin Johnson and AJ Green together, you’ll always have the advantage. Furthermore, by process of elimination, that third receiver will be better than any flex option a team may have after filling their own WR and TE requirements. Those three simply can’t beat.
  • Which brings us to decision time: Aaron Rodgers or Julius Thomas. For man years, Aaron Rodgers has been the top quarterback in dynasty leagues. However, with the emergence of Eddie Lacy after Rodgers’ collar bone injury, it’s fair to wonder if the Packers might shift more towards the run. They will never be a run-first team but might want to utilize Lacy in order to lessen the load on Rodgers. For dynasty owners, this means less production than they’re used to from the Packers quarterback. Meanwhile, Julius Thomas could make a case for the 3rd best tight end in dynasty leagues. He plays on a top-rated offense with an elite quarterback with one of the receivers he shares targets with (Eric Decker) possibly leaving via free agency. Also consider the depth at each position. The differences in the best quarterback and the 10th (approximately 150 points in my own league) compared to the differences between the best tight end and 10th tight end (nearly 200 points) show that it would be a lot easier finding a replacement for Rodgers over Thomas especially considering your league only starts one quarterback.

So there you have it. While you certainly can’t go wrong with your original strategy of Rodgers, Bryant, Thomas, and Gordon, you might also consider keeping Julius Thomas. Hope this helps and keep the questions coming!

Updated Dynasty Wide Receiver Rankings – January 2014, 2.0

Click here for updated dynasty wide receiver rankings.

  • A new entry in the top five with Josh Gordon at #4. Gordon did a lot with little to work with on offense so anything should be an upgrade in 2014.
  • You can certainly see a trend in the biggest risers: the Bears Alshon Jeffery is up to 9th from 15th; Steeler Antonio Brown is up to 11th from 14th; Chargers rookie Keenan Allen makes the biggest leap to 15th from 24th; and the Vikings Cordarrelle Patterson to 17th from 21st. All are under the age of 26.
  • Drops include the Seahawks Percy Harvin from 9th to 12th primarily because he can’t seem to get on the field; Bucs Vincent Jackson goes from 20th to 26th since Lovie Smith was hired as coach; the enigma Hakeem Nicks drops from 23rd to 29th and could fall further depending on where he signs.  

Updated Dynasty Wide Receiver Rankings – December

Be sure to check out the latest dynasty wide receiver rankings here

  • No changes at the top as the top seven stay the same: Calvin Johnson, A.J. Green, Dez Bryant, Demaryius Thomas, Julio Jones, Brandon Marshall, and Randall Cobb all stay the same.
  • The big risers include Josh Gordon (8), Antonio Brown (14), and Alshon Jeffery (22). All had the skill it was just a matter of putting it together. There should be no doubt heading in to 2014.
  • The only real drop was Marques Colston (47) which primarily is age. Any receiver in New Orleans is bound to be limited by the in-house competition.

Dynasty Recap – Week 17 – Steelers beat up Browns, 20-7

  • Heading in to 2014, Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell looked good, rushing for 90 yards on 20 carries and a touchdown. Bell will be a RB1 in 2014.
  • Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown capped his stellar 2013 season with nine catches for 87 yards, finishing with over 100 catches and just shy of 1,500 yards. He also had five catches and 50 yards in each game, a first in NFL history Brown has elevated his game into WR1 status and will be just 26 heading in to 2014.
  • Meanwhile, Browns receiver Josh Gordon had seven more catches for 82 yards. Gordon elevated his game to a top five dynasty receiver in 2014 and, assuming the offense improves around him, should be even better.
  • With Jason Worilds out, rookie linebacker Jarvis Jones stepped in admirably with nine tackles and a pass defended. It’s been a largely disappointing 2013 for Jones but it’ll be interesting to see what the Steelers do between Jones, Worilds and LaMarr Woodley.