August 23rd 2017
Wednesday Evening Edition
Fantasy Draft Watch
We are inching ever so closer to your
fantasy draft day or in many cases your next fantasy draft day. As you prepare
for your next draft, even with one or more in the books, you can never get
enough fantasy info or nuggets.
Now I can honestly say I didn’t pull any
of these off the McDonald’s menu, but I will do my best to keep this as
informative as I can. And with that, more players I like to add to your fantasy
watch list.
The Lions will see the return of a healthy
Ameer Abdullah this season (14 games missed last year). Abdullah is a talented
runner that will give the Lions backfield a needed boost; team ranked 30th in
rushing last season. There’s only been a small sample size of Abdullah since
being drafted in the 2nd round of the 2015 draft, but a lot of analysts,
including this fan like his opportunity and upside this year. Abdullah should
be in line for the majority of the early down work this season, but don’t be
fooled he’s more than a capable pass-catching back. You can wait on this kid a
few rounds, right now his ADP is 5.07, he’s going off the board as the RB26
(according to FFC).
Another running back that you can wait on
for a few rounds is the Saints Mark Ingram. With the arrival and influence of
Adrian Peterson Ingram has an ADP of 5.09, going off the board as the RB27
(according to FFC). Last season Ingram played in all 16 games and started 14,
finishing with 1,043 yards rushing, 46 receptions, 319 receiving yards, and 10
total touchdowns, good enough for the number 10 fantasy running back. Right now
he is being greatly undervalued going where he’s currently being drafted, which
is why I like Ingram so much.
Even with his three-game suspension to
start the season looming, Buccaneers running back Doug Martin is making enough
noise in camp for me to believe when he returns, he’ll eventually (if not right
away) resume his starting duties. Martin is healthy now, coming off an
injury-shortened 2016 season, and even though he was not having a great
campaign, he was on pace to finish around the RB22 fantasy back. Currently
Martin has an ADP of 5.01, the RB23 going off the board (according to FFC), but
he has looked very good this preseason and in camp. WE know Martin has upside,
finishing as the RB3 in 2015. I am one who believes in his talent and ability
and think if you take him this late, there’s plenty of good value here.
Speaking of running back Adrian Peterson,
he’s back and with his return there’s a lot of questions and concerns, but this
being fantasy football, there’s a lot of hope too. Everyone knows when healthy,
All-Day is as good as they come and when healthy he’s a top 10 fantasy running
back; top-10 eight times since 2007 (standard leagues according to
Fantasydata), including number one in 2012. Peterson is now 32, in a new
system, and figures to be in a timeshare with Mark Ingram. His volume is the
big question, but there’s little doubt of his talent. I don’t think you can go
wrong taking him beyond the 3rd round. Where he’s currently going (ADP of 4.12,
the number RB22, according to FFC), puts him around a late RB2 or an early RB3;
which is where I like him. He’s a mid-to-late 4th rounder with potential home
run upside.
Interesting Late Grabs
There have been quite a few changes in New
Orleans in the off-season, but one change that has caught my eye is the
addition of Ted Ginn Jr. He joins an offense that has one of the league’s
premiere deep ball throwers and accurate passers. Ginn has never really been a
high volume receiver, but he is coming off back-to-back seasons with more than
95 targets, averaging 49 receptions. If he can see similar volume this season
in New Orleans (last season the Saints number 3 receiver saw 104 targets),
he’ll definitely improve his number 47 fantasy receiver from last year. With an
ADP of 12.04, going off the board as the WR55, Ginn is virtually free and a
late round flier I am high on.
Until we see how Jamaal Charles looks on
the field, the best we can invest in him is a late round dart throw. He’s
healthy now, but the Broncos have yet to turn him loose, so there should be
pause. I’d expect when he hits the field, the needle will move a great deal in
either direction; shoot up the draft board or go undrafted. If you are drafting
before Saturday, he’s one of my favorite picks as a late or last round flier.
The current word around the watercooler is he’s not expected to see a high
volume of work this season (assuming he makes the team), maybe 8-10 touches,
but I believe all this could change if he has success. And the biggest thing
currently, with the exception of the team’s 6th round draft selection running
back DeAngelo Henderson, there’s not a whole lot going on with the team’s
running game.
That’s My Take
~David Ortega
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