5 Guys That You Hate in Your Fantasy Football League

Mr. Auto Draft - Fantasy football is all about dedication and the least you can do to display your dedication is show up to the draft.  I don't want to hear excuses like "Oh, it's my anniversary," or "I have the SAT's tomorrow," because when you asked to be part of the league you signed your RSVP to the draft.  I hope you got Jeremy Maclin in the fourth round...

That Guy That Never Sets His Lineup - I'm asking for you to check your team for ten minutes a week - that's all it takes - but you stubbornly refuse to comply.  At some point it just becomes disrespectful; tighten up your tie, put your writing utensil of choice behind your ear, and show fantasy football the respect it deserves.

The Trade Spammer - No, I won't trade you A.J. Green for five different players you just picked up.  If I had wanted them, I would have picked them up myself.  The notification emails I constantly get from you are almost as annoying as the daily emails I get from drugstore.com because I bought my sister nail polish for her birthday.  Stop it!

The Guy Who Only Knows Players From His Favorite Team - Bro, it's embarrassing... you just dropped Larry Fitzgerald so you could pick up Dexter McCluster.  You tell me "McCluster has insane potential because he returns kicks and punts also."  Are you sure you didn't pick him up just because you only know Chiefs players.  I'm not mad at you, I just feel bad for you - you're making a fool of yourself.

The League Leader Who Doesn't Know Anything about Football - You drafted Knowshon Moreno in the third round because you loved the name "Knowshon."  Now you're winning the league and you haven't checked since the draft.  Last week you beat the second best team even though you had two players on a bye and started Reggie Wayne, who's been on the IR for the last three weeks.  Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good... That being said, we all hate you.

2015-2016 Fantasy Football Love/Hate

I know it's been a while. You may not even remember me anymore. My name is Gabe Schmittlein. I'm back. Matthew Berry just came out with his Fantasy Football Love/Hate article for the upcoming season and I was inspired to give all the dedicated readers of the NFL Report my own view on the landscape of fantasy football. So -- Matthew Berry, my muse -- this one's for you.

Love:

Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers and Andrew Luck, QB, Indianapolis Colts --

Rodgers and Luck can be looped in together because they are far-and-away the top two fantasy options at quarterback this year. Brady is suspended/not-suspended/who-the-hell-knows, Peyton Manning's arm strength is right down there with the Mark Sanchez's of the world (that's not good), and Drew Brees has a receiving core made up of guys who are not Jimmy Graham. Mid-level options behind Rodgers and Luck are there, but even guys like Russell Wilson, Ben Roethlisberger, and Matthew Stafford represent steep drop-offs in value from Rodgers and Luck and don't represent extraordinarily higher values than their late draft quarterback counterparts like Ryan Tannehill or Sam Bradford. The first few rounds of fantasy football drafts are all about maximizing value in positions where value can be most effectively maximized (if ya see what I mean)... For example, running backs are often drafted so high because there tends to be a sharp drop-off in fantasy quality, while receivers are drafted lower because the difference between the 1st and 20th best receiver is marginal when compared to the difference between the 1st and 20th best running backs. So take Rodgers and Luck. Or Don't. But don't be a sucker and take Peyton Manning in the second round.

Wide Receivers in the Second/Third Round --

Dez Bryant, Antonio Brown, Demaryius Thomas, Odell Beckham Jr., Calvin Johnson, Julio Jones, Jordy Nelson, A.J. Green. Alshon Jefferey. T.Y. Hilton. With the usual high splurge on running backs, those are all the wide receivers that could be available in rounds two and three. Picking up most of those guys in the second round would represent a good value and getting any of them in the third round would be incredible. Be aware that there is a decently sharp drop-off after these wideouts, so you don't want to be the one guy in your league to go quarterback in the second round (don't. pick. manning.) and have to draft after all of these guys are gone.

Jeremy Maclin --

He's going way way way too low right now. Maclin thrived last season with Mark Sanchez at the helm, and I don't see Alex Smith being a huge downgrade from him. Sure, Chip Kelly's scheme played a part, but Maclin was great under Andy Reid when he was in Philly too. Matthew Berry said that Maclin was going in the eighth round in most ESPN leagues, down with Mike Wallace, Jarvis Landry, and Allen Robinson. Ridiculous is what that is. Hey, if you can get Maclin in the eighth round, that represents awesome value, but I'd even be happy if you took him as early as the fifth or sixth round. Pro-tip - if you're playing with a bunch of guys on auto draft, he'll likely fall right into your hands in the eighth round, so at least there's some good news with him being ranked as low as he is.

Hate

Tight Ends Not Name Gronkowski or Graham --

Ugh. See Rodgers and Luck paragraph above. Or I'll just type it out in a slightly different way down here... Gronkowski and Graham represent a massive value gap between them and the rest of their position, so I'm fine with either of them in the first couple rounds. However, guys like Travis Kelce, Greg Olson, and Julius Thomas that are being drafted around the fifth round don't seem to be providing a maximized value over a tight end that you could be drafting in the tenth round (Zach Ertz is totally gonna get it going this year!!). On the other hand, the difference between a wide receiver/running back in the fifth round and the tenth round is going to be huge.

Ameer Abdullah, RB, Detroit Lions --

The Abdullah hype train has been very real the past couple weeks, but I struggle to see where his value is going to come. He's not going to get many touchdowns, as Joique Bell is one of the more accomplished goal line backs in the league, and he's not going to get as many touches as you'd hope, once again because of the aforementioned Joique Bell. I guess he provides some value as a pass-catcher out of the backfield, but it isn't enough to warrant the sixth round (about) draft slot that he's been getting in most leagues. I do like Abdullah in the long term, but it's going to take time for him to win carries away from Bell, who I actually think is being drafted too low right now.

Defenses and Kickers --

Matthew Berry said this in his Love/Hate article, but I believe I said it in my Love/Hate article prior to last season, so if anything he's copying me. Please please please don't draft a defense or a kicker before the last couple rounds. Berry listed a whole catalog of people who he hates more than those who draft defenses and kickers in the first ten rounds, and it was all very cute. I'll say this, though, (and I mean it for real) I hate those sort of people more than I hate cleaning off the inside of peanut butter containers so they can go in the recycling. Sorry to one-up you Berry, but I hope you understand that I don't mean any harm because we're fighting on the same side. The opportunity for maximizing value in positions where value can most effectively be maximized is almost negligible when talking about defenses and kickers. In terms of defenses, it makes much more sense statistically to just pick up a defense that has an easy matchup every week, while for kickers, our ability to predict their year-to-year success is really really poor so you're better off (once again) keeping your eye on the waiver wire.

Three Rookies Ready To Make An Impact On Offense

The NFL has a new crop of talent entering the league every single year. No one is claiming that the class of 2015 is one of the best ever, but there are a number of guys who could make an impact as a rookie. Here is a look at three to keep an eye on in fantasy football.

Jameis Winston
Other quarterback rookies are probably going to start at some point in 2015, but no one is in a better position than the #1 overall pick. Tampa Bay is going to allow him to learn on the job from day one. Even though they were awful last year, Winston knows that there is some talent on the team for a quick turnaround. He’s not going to be drafted like a starter in fantasy football, but he’s worthy of a backup role from Week 1. By the end of the season, he could have similar numbers to some of the more recent rookie quarterbacks.

Amari Cooper
No receiver was considered a safer pick coming out of college than Amari Cooper. Oakland knew that they had their options, but they decided to go with the Heisman finalist out of Alabama. The Raiders had a terrible passing game last year, but Cooper becomes a featured guy right away. People in fantasy football should keep that in consideration.

Melvin Gordon
Gordon wasn’t the first running back off the board in the draft, but he was the first healthy one. Couple that with him going to a team like San Diego that definitely needs a better running game, and you have perhaps the offensive rookie of the year in the NFL. At Wisconsin, he was a workhorse. San Diego could make him the #1 running back right away as well.

2014-2015 Start 'Em Sit 'Em (Week 10)

Start 'Em:

Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta Falcons - Remember what happened last time Matt Ryan faced the Buccaneers defense - he threw for 286 yards and three touchdowns and had to be pulled in the second half before he could hand out even more of a beating. Sure, Ryan's looked increasingly worse after that game, but he still is yet to have less than ten fantasy points in a game. Also, the Buccaneers pass defense has actually continued to go downhill since that Thursday night game in week three. Start Ryan this week and your setting yourself up for a low risk high reward scenario. I like that.

Ronnie Hillman, RB, Denver Broncos - Some may wonder why I have Hillman on this list considering he's been a top ten running back over the past few weeks. Others will remember that Montee Ball is supposed to return to the Broncos' offense this week, which would result in a decreased workload for Hillman. However, to those of you who are worried about the return of Ball, I urge you to ignore your instincts this week and start Hillman, who, in my opinion, has completely won over the Broncos' organization and will still see a huge role in the offense. Additionally, Hillman gets to go up against the putrid Raiders defense that has given up nine rushing touchdowns in just eight games this year.

Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Carolina Panthers - I like the way the Eagles' defense has played this year, especially up front, but they still have a huge weakness, and that's dealing with big athletic wide receivers. Kelvin Benjamin, is exactly that, a big athletic wide receiver, and should absolutely torch Cary Williams and Bradley Fletcher on Monday night. Don't be thrown off by his poor showings the last two weeks - Benjamin is starting quality this week.

Sit 'Em:

Matthew Stafford, QB, Detroit Lions - Picking Stafford here is tough because he is getting back Megatron and Reggie Bush this week, but it's all about matchup. The Lions face the Dolphins, who have been the toughest fantasy matchup for quarterbacks and have been on an absolute roll recently, only allowing 14 total points against in the last three weeks. Love the situation, but hate the matchup, and ultimately I think the poor matchup will win out.

Chris Ivory, RB, New York Jets - Ivory only got eight carries for a measly twenty two yards last week against the Chiefs, which is concerning for this week's game against the Steelers. It is very likely that the Jets will find themselves down early and will end up airing out the ball much more than Ivory fantasy owners would want. Honestly, another single digit carry game is a large possibility, and unless Ivory gets a touchdown, that's not going to get it done. Even though there are a lot of running back byes this week, I'd recommend you try to get Ivory out of your starting lineup for the time being.

Michael Floyd, WR, Arizona Cardinals - Carson Palmer's return for the Cardinals has spelled disaster for Floyd, as he only has four catches for 36 yards in his last two games while John Brown and Larry Fitzgerald have flourished. Floyd does have an alright matchup against the Rams this week, but would be an incredibly risky start seeing as the only way he's going to score points is on the deep ball.

2014-2015 Start 'Em Sit 'Em (Week 8)

Start 'Em:

Alex Smith, QB, Kansas City Chiefs - Smith's seemingly unshakeable label as a "game manager" tends to keep him out of most fantasy football lineups. However, he has a great matchup this week against the Rams' defense and has been a remarkably solid fantasy performer thus far this year. Smith rarely throws interceptions and has a reputable 9 touchdowns over 6 games to this point. There are certainly quarterbacks who would deserve to start over Smith, but if you're in a position where you have been rotating quarterbacks week to week, Smith may be your man.

Mark Ingram, RB, New Orleans Saints - Ingram won't have inspired confidence in fantasy owners with his very poor showing last week, but you have to understand that he likely wasn't yet 100 percent. With a likelihood for more touches, and more effective touches at that, as well as a favorable matchup against a Packers' defense that has been fairly porous against the run, you would expect Ingram to have a good fantasy performance this week.

Doug Baldwin, WR, Seattle Seahawks - Baldwin has already had his breakout week, with a monster performance last week against the Rams, so this may seem like an easy pick, but it's just too perfect a scenario for me to pass up. Baldwin is now the only qualified receiver on the Seahawks' depth chart, and he goes up against a Panthers' defense that has struggled to contain opposing wideouts. Additionally, you can be sure that Seattle will be playing angry after last week's loss at St. Louis, and will likely come out swinging. This week may prove to be the perfect storm for Baldwin, who should absolutely be in your starting lineup this week.

Sit 'Em:

Andy Dalton, QB, Cincinnati Bengals - I hate to tell you to sit Dalton for the second time in the last few weeks, but I absolutely hate his matchup with the Ravens this week. Dalton proved last week how vulnerable he can be without his number one target, A.J. Green, and this week he'll be without Green again. He also goes up against a Ravens' defense that has been pretty impressive thus far, and did well against Dalton in week one with the exception of one long touchdown pass to the aforementioned A.J. Green. Sorry Bengals fans, but Dalton is a definite sit this week.

Anthony Dixon, RB, Buffalo Bills - There's lots that would point to Dixon having a good week this week, as both Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller are injured, making him the only serviceable back on the roster. However, he has a horrible matchup against a Jets run defense that is one of the best in the league. One would expect the Bills to keep the ball in the air on Sunday, so Dixon may not really get a chance to have an impact.

Roddy White, WR, Atlanta Falcons - White blew up against the Ravens last week, but he has a much tougher matchup against the Lions' pass defense this week. Even though I believe White may be a good fantasy option by the end of the season, its unlikely that he'll be able to replicate his performance against the Ravens - there's just too much inconsistency right now with White. He may be worth flex consideration, but the reality is, there are other options at the position right now that will likely be better this week.

2014-2015 Start 'Em Sit 'Em (Week 5)

Start 'Em:

Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers - This pick isn't about ability or form - it's purely based on matchup. The Steelers and Big Ben will go up against the Jaguars' abysmal pass defense this week, in a matchup that likely won't be very close for very long. Roethlisberger will have further motivation to punish the Jaguars this week on the back of a humiliating loss last week to the lowly Buccaneers. Unless you're flaunting someone like Peyton Manning or Drew Brees this week at quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger should be in your starting lineup.

Zac Stacy, RB, St. Louis Rams - The Eagles rush defense has been very poor so far this year, so you would expect that Stacy, coming off a bye weak, would have a fair amount of success. It also doesn't hurt that Stacy has been much more prominent in terms of both touches and fantasy points in his last two games. The Rams may not find themselves ahead for long portions of the game, but do expect them to stick with the run, as it should reap benefits.

Keenan Allen, WR, San Diego Chargers - Before last week's 10 catch, 135 yard performance, Allen looked like he was going to be somewhat of a fantasy bust this year. However, now that he has seemingly been reaffirmed into Philip Rivers' good graces, he probably deserves a spot in your starting lineup too. Additionally, the Chargers go up against the Jets this week, and, while the Jets have one of the best rush defenses in the league, their pass defense has been lacking this year. Keenan Allen should have another big week, and will hopefully had a touchdown to his stat sheet.

Sit 'Em:

Andy Dalton, QB, Cincinnati Bengals - I'm actually one of few people who still thinks the Patriots are a playoff-worthy team, so I don't believe that the Bengals' Sunday night matchup against the Pats will be as easy as everyone expects. The Patriots have a good secondary (at least in terms of personnel) and one of the better linebacker cores in the NFL. Even if they can't stop the run and have trouble getting to the quarterback, with the exception of Chandler Jones, they probably won't give up another huge week like they did against the Chiefs. I still think the Bengals win this game, but It'll likely be more because of their running game and stingy defense than Andy Dalton.

Montee Ball, RB, Denver Broncos - Ball really struggled before the Broncos' bye week against the Seahawks run defense, and he has an even tougher matchup this week against the Cardinals. Additionally, you can expect Peyton Manning to take over this game for the Broncos, which could mean a light workload for Ball, another factor that would indicate that this will be a down week for him.

Eric Decker, WR, New York Jets - Decker has put up decent fantasy numbers so far this year, but his role in the Jets offense as a whole has to have fantasy owners concerned. Decker has not had a single game with more than five catches, and in general hasn't been targeted very often. So far, his fantasy season has been saved by a couple touchdowns, but if the targets continue to go elsewhere, his touchdowns will probably go elsewhere too. Factor in an uneasy starting quarterback situation, and we've got a recipe for a bad fantasy week.

2014-2015 Start 'Em Sit 'Em (Week 4)

Start 'Em:

Philip Rivers, QB, San Diego Chargers - Any quarterback that's playing the Jacksonville Jaguars needs to be in your starting lineup - It's as simple as that. Rivers is probably even better than just "any quarterback," though, as he has been on fire this year, with a 6:1 touchdown to interception ratio and massive performance against the best defense in the NFL in week 2. Rivers should have a huge game on Sunday, and we wouldn't want you missing out on those fantasy points, so please put him in your starting lineup.

Lamar Miller, RB, Miami Dolphins - Miller has had an impressive start to the fantasy season when you take into consideration that he has had to share carries with one of the best fantasy running backs in the league last year, Knowshon Moreno. With Moreno out this week and the Dolphins going up against the lowly Raiders, Miller is primed for a big week.

Jeremy Maclin, WR, Philadelphia Eagles - Though this may not seem as if it's an extremely bold pick, seeing as Maclin is currently third in fantasy points for a wide receiver, there is still a general sense that Maclin is going to come crashing down to earth sometime soon. I'm not saying thats not going to happen, but I am saying that it's not going to happen this week. The 49ers demand a lot of respect as a defense, but the reality is that they haven't played well at all against the pass so far this year. They are second worst in the league in fantasy points allowed to opposing wide receivers, allowing six wide receiver touchdowns thus far. With the Eagles offense still flying high, I'd recommend you start Maclin this week.

Sit 'Em:

Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta Falcons - I'd understand if you have no backup quarterback that Matt Ryan may have to grace your starting lineup. However, if you have a serviceable backup, you should consider giving him the start. Ryan has been fantastic thus far, but I think he's destined for a down performance against a Vikings defense that has actually performed remarkably against the pass this year. After the Falcons dominated the Bucs last week, I see them coming out a bit sluggishly this week, and Ryan won't benefit from that.

Reggie Bush, RB, Detroit Lions - Bush had a really good week against Green Bay last week, but he still only saw 12 carries for just 61yards, which will worry Bush owners, especially because Joique Bell continues to get equal touches to Bush. This week, the duo will go up against a stout Jets run defense that has shut down Eddie Lacy and Matt Forte in the last two weeks. With limited touches and a tough matchup, Bush should probably see your bench this week.

T.Y. Hilton, WR, Indianapolis Colts - Hilton hasn't experienced a fast start to the fantasy season like some expected. The biggest problem for Hilton is that he has seen hardly any targets in the red zone, and he hasn't been as explosive as a deep threat either. Hilton goes up against a dominant Titans pass defense that has allowed just one touchdown against Dez Bryant and A.J. Green in the last two weeks, so I wouldn't expect Hilton's poor fantasy start to change just yet.

2014-2015 Start 'Em Sit 'Em (Week 3)

Start 'Em:

Jay Cutler, QB, Chicago Bears - Cutler has looked extremely impressive so far this year, so you'd expect him to have an absolute field day against the porous Jets' pass defense. Moreover, Cutler's main receiving targets, Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery, will be further removed from the injuries that they suffered two weeks ago. Simply put, all the stars are aligning for Cutler to have a monstrous game.

Trent Richardson, RB, Indianapolis Colts - For the first time since his rookie season, Richardson looked dominant when carrying the ball, as he was given the ball 21 times and piled up 79 yards. Granted that was against a poor Eagles' rush defense, but this week he gets to go up against an equally bad Jaguars' defense. Some will say that his value is decreased because of the emergence of Ahmad Bradshaw, but, at least for this week, I expect them to be able to coexist.

Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona Cardinals - Though he has been extraordinarily disappointing for fantasy owners so far this season, Fitzgerald's number of targets last week should have fantasy owners feeling encouraged. Though I don't expect him to put up a huge amount of yards, the Cardinals have looked to him enough in the red zone this year that a touchdown is clearly coming soon. Keep faith in Fitz this week.

Sit 'Em:

Colin Kaepernick, QB, San Francisco 49ers - Kaepernick has been an enigma thus far through the season. He had an extremely impressive opening game against the Cowboys, which he followed up with a 4-turnover game against the Bears. He may have enough fantasy potential to keep him in your starting lineup most weeks, but this week he goes up against a Cardinals defense that is a lot better than the Bears defense (and a whole lot better than the Cowboys defense). If you've got another option at quarterback, I'd recommend letting Kaepernick sit this week out.

Terrance West, RB, Cleveland Browns - After grabbing the Browns starting job and playing well in week one, West was a very popular waiver pickup going into week two. Fantasy owners who started him in week two were awarded for their clever pickup with 68 rushing yards and a touchdown. However, in week three, West will have to go up against a stout Ravens' rush defense that is yet to allow a rushing touchdown this year. I actually have faith that West will be a solid fantasy running back this year, but I don't think he will perform well this week.

Anquan Boldin, WR, San Francisco 49ers - Boldin is a solid wide receiver, there's no doubting that, and he should be a decent WR2 in most league. However, this week everything seems to point to him having a rough game. He will be going up against the Cardinals defense, more specifically, Patrick Peterson, he has had a fairly mellow start to the season, and the 49ers aren't an team that will go out and throw the ball 40 times. Honestly, I'd wait until Boldin finally regains his mojo or has a great matchup until putting him back into your team.

2014-2015 Start 'Em Sit 'Em (Week 2)

Start 'Em:

Knowshon Moreno, RB, Miami Dolphins - Coming into the season, it would have been advised to stay away from the Dolphins' running backs, considering both Moreno and Lamar Miller are fairly talented players and seemed destined to share the running burden equally. However, against the Patriots, Moreno received 23 carries to Miller's 11 and the Dolphins in general seemed extremely dedicated to the run game. This situation may turn into the sort of situation that we have in Detroit, where Joique Bell and Reggie Bush have managed to coexist as good valuable options by taking up different roles. Similarly, while Knowshon will dominate total carries and probably red zone carries, Miller may manage to make enough of a fantasy impact on third downs and passes to warrant consideration. Against a mediocre Bills defense this week expect Moreno (and Miller) to put up an impressive performance.

Andy Dalton, QB, Cincinnati Bengals - Dalton had an up-and-down week one, but one big play to A.J. Green completely redeemed him. You can expect that big play to rear its head again, as Dalton to Green may be the best deep ball combo in the league after Matthew Stafford to Calvin Johnson. Cincinnati's game against the Falcons this week should be a shootout, which plays directly into the hands of Dalton's fantasy owners as Dalton is likely to be airing the ball out early and often. Dalton may be your number one QB or he may be your number two, but either way you should seriously considering starting him this week.

Michael Floyd, WR, Arizona Cardinals - Week 1 saw Michael Floyd gain nearly six times as many yards as fellow wideout Larry Fitzgerald, which is huge in that it shows the Cardinals' dedication to feeding Floyd the ball. Of course, this lopsided production is not to be expected most weeks, but Floyd should expect to be fairly equal to Fitzgerald in terms of targets by the end of the year. Some weeks, it would be wise to let Floyd stay on the bench for your fantasy team, but going up against the Giants' horrible pass defense will allow for both Floyd and Fitzgerald to prosper, and maybe even get in the end zone.

Sit 'Em:

Zac Stacy, RB, St. Louis Rams - I actually liked Stacy a lot coming into the season, but his performance in week 1 will have owners remarkably worried. Stacy actually didn't play poorly, but he was only granted with 11 rushes, while Benjamin Cunningham, the team's other running back, was somehow on the field for more plays than Stacy. The Rams' stunning desire to play an undrafted free agent over an established player has to have fantasy owners extremely confused. While I still think that Stacy will put together a half-decent campaign this year, his production is now much more questionable than it was a week ago and owners should proceed with caution. A tough matchup against the Buccaneers defense isn't going to aid Stacy in his return to stardom, so I'd suggest letting him stay on your bench this week and reconsidering his status the following week.

Philip Rivers, QB, San Diego Chargers - It should be a given that any quarterback going up against the Seahawks defense needs to be out of your starting lineup, and Philip Rivers is no different. Rivers didn't look great against Arizona in week 1 and that probably won't improve much in week 2. The amount of viable fantasy football options at quarterback right now is incredible, so I'd scour the waiver wires for a better option because you can surely find one.

Sammy Watkins, WR, Buffalo Bills - Watkins' ribs are now healthy and he remains the Bills only legitimate receiving option, but I am still not ready to call him a legitimate fantasy receiving option. I do expect him to break out at some point, but until he does, I'd recommend keeping him on your bench. The Bills go up against the Dolphins this week, who managed to swallow up the Patriots' potent passing game last week, so don't expect big things out of Watkins just yet.

2014-2015 Start 'Em Sit 'Em (Week 1)

Start 'Em:

Colin Kaepernick, QB, San Francisco 49ers - In many 8 or 10 team leagues, Kaepernick will have ended up as a high-end backup. However, this week he shouldn't be sitting on your bench, regardless of what quarterback you need to bench to make way for him in the starting lineup. Kaepernick is going up against a Cowboys defense that was one of the worst pass defenses in the entire NFL last season and did very little to improve that over the offseason.

Mark Ingram, RB, New Orleans Saints - The Saints' running back situation has been somewhat of a carousel over the last few years, with no one back able to cement himself as a reliable player at the position. This preseason, though, Mark Ingram has been dominant, and the 2011 first round draft pick is finally looking like he is going to live up to his potential. What's remarkable about this situation is that, despite the lack of premier running backs in the NFL, Ingram hasn't even been picked up in 100 percent of leagues. If he's still a free agent in your league, you need to pick him up NOW, and maybe even consider him for your RB2 or flex spot as he has a fairly easy matchup against the Falcons.

Marquise Lee, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars - Now that Cecil Shorts has been labeled as "out" for the game against the Eagles and Ace Sanders has been suspended for the first four games, Lee is the only half-respectable fantasy target for the Jags, and he's currently available in most ESPN leagues. You would have to be fairly desperate for a flex spot to pull this move, but he is going up against one of the worst pass defenses in the NFL (that of the Philadelphia Eagles) and Chad Henne has to throw to someone, right? Right? RIGHT?

Sit 'Em:

Joe Flacco, QB, Baltimore Ravens - My honest pick for a "sit 'em" quarterback this week would have been Aaron Rodgers, but considering he already played and sorely underperformed, that would really be cheating. So, here I'll tell you to sit Joe Flacco, but only if you have a fairly strong backup. Flacco doesn't have a great matchup against the Bengals, but I doubt that he'll absolutely implode. Thus, proceed with caution when sitting Flacco, but, in many situations it would probably be the right move.

DeAngelo Williams, RB,  Carolina Panthers - Williams' yard totals should be decent enough this year, but with Jonathan Stewart, Mike Tolbert, and Cam Newton taking away from his red zone carries, he doesn't really hold much value unless one of the others gets injured or he has a great matchup. This week certainly isn't a good matchup, as Williams will go up against a Buccaneers' run defense that was one of the better run units in the entire league last year.

Golden Tate, WR, Detroit Lions - Tate was a legitimate WR2 last season, but that was in Seattle, where other wide receiver options were often scarce. In Detroit, other wide receiver options will be anything but scarce, as the best wide receiver in the NFL, Calvin Johnson, will demand most of the targets. In games against weak pass defenses Tate might be worth a look, but he goes up against the Giants this week, who were actually fairly impressive on pass defense last season. Tate may end up being a solid spot-start wide receiver, but this week is one of those weeks when you should keep him on your bench.

2014-2015 Fantasy Football Draft Do's and Don'ts

Football season is right around the corner, which means that Fantasy Football drafts are also right around the corner, which means that you are probably looking for an informed analyst to help with your draft strategy. Well... You've come to the right place. I'll be providing weekly fantasy football articles throughout the season and I guarantee that if you follow my advice you'll finish at the top of your league (disclaimer - fantasy football contains large amounts of luck and I have honestly no clue whether my insight will help your team or not). Before you can actually get to playing games, though, you need to have drafted a team, so here is my guide for your 2014-2015 Fantasy Football Draft.

Do - Draft a Running Back Very, Very High.

The running back position is extremely lacking in depth this year. After the first seven or eight there is a sharp drop, which is followed by another equally sharp drop around number 15. Simply put, if you don't pick up a running back in the first three rounds you are going to be living off of waiver-wire running backs, and that's not a very luxurious way to live. For those of you in two running back leagues, this advice is even more imperative - please pick a running back early.

Don't - Draft a Quarterback High (Unless His Name is Peyton Manning).

In my eight team league, Tony Romo, Matt Ryan, and Jay Cutler are all still on waivers following the draft. With that much depth at the quarterback position, there is no reason for you to be reaching for Russell Wilson with your third pick when you can pick up a statistically similar quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, with one of your last picks. Obviously, if you find yourself at the end of the first round, Peyton Manning might be an alright pick, considering he will be by far the best fantasy quarterback this year, but outside of him there is no need to go quarterback early. Be patient.

Do - Proceed With Caution When Drafting a Tight End.

There is absolutely no denying that the tight end position has top end talent, but there are questions about how much of that talent there is. Jimmy Graham should be a first round pick, which makes sense, Julius Thomas will probably go in the third or fourth, and Vernon Davis and Rob Gronkowski will probably be off the board by the fifth round. After that, unless you find Jason Witten or Jordan Cameron oddly dropping to the tenth or eleventh rounds, I would recommend passing on those 12 or 13 rounders including the likes of Martellus Bennett, Greg Olsen, and Dennis Pitta. Instead, wait until you can pick up a guy like Zach Ertz or Jordan Reed in the 15th or 16th. The best case scenario would be to draft a tight end high, but if that's not possible, don't panic and reach on a mid-level tight end.

Don't - Go on Autodraft.

This is certainly the case every year, but it is even more so this year. Seeing as ESPN doesn't update their player rankings to keep up with injuries and suspensions, you may end up drafting Josh Gordon, Le'Veon Bell, Ray Rice, and Sam Bradford if you're unlucky enough. Outside of the obvious desire to avoid players who are going to miss significant portions of time, your team is just going to be better if you're the one drafting it. For example, I'd much rather have Peyton Manning over Eddie Lacy, but ESPN's fantasy rankings have Lacy ranked higher - bummer.

Do - Pick For Value Over Need.

Most leagues nowadays have at least three flex spots per team, so, even if you feel like you need to fill up that running back slot, if there aren't any top-tier backs available, snatch up that star wide receiver who managed to slide down the board a bit. Flex spots are just as important as other spots and should be treated that way when drafting. Additionally, trades will allow you to acquire players in positions of need after the draft and the additional talent that you managed to nab will help you in your bargaining.

Don't - Pick a Defense Before Eighth or Ninth Round (Not Even the Seahawks).

Defenses are a fairly hard thing to predict considering how many variables they have, so why would you waste one of your first few picks on something so questionable. A large part of what makes a defense perform well or not is the opposition - searching the waiver wire for defenses who are coming up against dismal offenses (the Jets and Jaguars were great for this last year) will often yield you pretty solid results, and you may even end up finding a defense that you end up keeping for the rest of the year (see: last year's Chief's defense).

First Round Draft Picks Who Will and Won't Have a Fantasy Impact

Will - Sammy Watkins, WR, Buffalo Bills
It will come as no surprise that I would expect Watkins to be a fantasy football stud this year, seeing as he was the top receiver drafted, and, in my opinion, the second best player overall. Watkins has top-notch speed and gets past defenders in the open field with ease. He will also benefit from the fact that, despite being the fourth overall pick, he was not drafted by a team with quarterback problems, as E.J. Manuel can be effective when healthy. Because Watkins is not a huge red zone target, you shouldn't expect him to be your number one fantasy wide receiver, but he has the potential and the physical skills to put up a lot of yards this season.

Won't - Any Quarterback Drafted In the First Round
Bortles, Manziel, and Bridgewater are all decent prospects, but none of them are ready to turn into productive day one starters, even though they may be forced to try. I'm least optimistic with Bortles, as he will be surrounded by a very poor Jaguars offense with very few weapons. In Manziel's case, the potential is there, but he needs to work on his fundamentals before he can make a significant impact. Bridgewater may be the most pro-ready of the three, and he will have Adrian Peterson to work with, but right now we aren't even sure if he's going to start this year.

Will - Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Much like Watkins, it won't surprise anybody that I'm predicting Evans to have a good fantasy football season, as he was the seventh overall pick and has incredible physical tools. What will be most beneficial to Mike Evans, though, is the fact that he will have Vincent Jackson lining up across from him. With Jackson and a decent quarterback, Mike Glennon, Evans will have countless opportunities to prove himself.

Won't - Odell Beckham Jr, WR, New York Giants
Beckham Jr. is a solid player, but the Giants didn't have an immediate need at wide receiver and Eli Manning tends to be inconsistent. He will need to beat out Jernigan and Randle just to become the Giants second option after Victor Cruz. Beckham Jr. may well become a fantastic player in the future but for the present, it would be best to temper your expectations.

Will - Brandin Cooks, WR, New Orleans Saints
I think Cooks will have the most productive fantasy football season of anybody not named Sammy Watkins in this draft. Cooks has incredible speed and great open-field skills that will make him an immediate fantasy football producer, especially with Drew Brees as his quarterback. The only thing that could slow up Cooks is the fact that the Saints have so many options on offense, but I think he will sidestep this problem by stepping right into the void that Darren Sproles left.

Won't - Kelvin Benjamin, WR, Carolina Panthers
There is no denying that Benjamin is a physical specimen, but what worries me is that his route running is subpar and his hands could use some work. Sure, he has a huge catch radius, which would seem to be helpful with a quarterback like Cam Newton who has a tendency to be inaccurate, but if Benjamin can't catch the ball or create separation by running a clean route, then that goes to waste. Fortunately for Panthers fans, the skills that Benjamin currently lacked are attainable, but don't expect him to produce huge numbers right away.

2013 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers

Winners:

Anybody on the Denver Broncos Offense

Before the season started, many fantasy football players questioned how productive any single player on the Denver Broncos offense would be; there are just too many weapons.  Demaryius Thomas, Wes Welker, Eric Decker, Julius Thomas, and Knowshon Moreno are all superstar-caliber players, and it seemed impossible for them all to provide consistent fantasy performances within the same offense. The remedy for the overcrowded nature of this offense was one we should have seen all along: Peyton Manning.  I guess 5211 yards and 51 touchdowns (plus any stats that he compiles in week 17) was enough to go around.

Defenses Going Against the Giants, Jets, or Jags

The quickest thing to go every week on the waiver wire this year was any defense facing up against the Giants, Jets, or Jags.  The Giant's Eli Manning threw a league high 26 interceptions, while the Jet's Geno Smith was right behind him with 21 interceptions and was also sacked 43 times (third in the league). The Jags dynamic quarterback combo of Blaine Gabbert and Chad Henne also never failed to impress, racking up an impressive 20 total interceptions.  Don't be surprised if you find yourself constantly picking up defenses playing any of these three teams next year too.

Josh Gordon, WR, Cleveland Browns
Give me one person who thought that Josh Gordon would have more fantasy points than Calvin Johnson after week 16 and I'll give you a liar.  Megatron has had an incredible season, but Gordon's has been just as good if not better, despite playing in one fewer game.  Nine touchdowns and seven games with more than one hundred receiving yards (two with more than two hundred) make for a pretty damn impressive season.  Congrats if you jumped on the bandwagon early; I'm dearly sorry to those of you who passed on this gem of a player.

Top Tier Tight Ends
Receiving tight ends are making a comeback in the NFL, and it is largely thanks to an elite group of a few truly special tight ends.  Included in this remarkable group are the likes of Jimmy Graham, Rob Gronkowski, Vernon Davis, Julius Thomas, Tony Gonzalez, and Jason Witten (fringe stars include James Cameron, Charles Clay, Greg Olsen, and Antonio Gates). Jimmy Graham has caught an incredible 15 touchdowns, while Vernon Davis has managed 12, Julius Thomas has recorded 11, and Gronk got 4 in just 6.5 games.  The immense consistency of Tony Gonzalez and Jason Witten cannot be overlooked either. We may never see a group of tight ends as productive in fantasy terms, so enjoy it while it lasts.

Losers:
Running Backs outside of the Elite
By elite I mean AP, Jamaal Charles, Shady McCoy, and Marshawn Lynch.  Outside of them, this year's running back group has disappointing.  Sure, there have been a few bright spots, like the emergences of Matt Forte, Eddie Lacy, Knowshon Moreno, and DeMarco Murray as good fantasy producers.  However, first round running backs like C.J. Spiller, Doug Martin, Arian Foster, Ray Rice, Trent Richardson, and Steven Jackson have failed to perform.  Where did the projected breakout seasons of David Wilson and Lamar Miller go? Why are Chris Johnson, Frank Gore, and Reggie Bush so inconsistent? Why won't the Redskins give Alfred Morris the ball in the red zone? Where is MJD? Sorry to be cliché, but there are so many questions and really so few answers.

Injures
The NFL has a real problem, and it is the injury bug. Injured quarterbacks have included Aaron Rodgers, Michael Vick, and Tony Romo.  Meanwhile the injury list for running backs is much larger, including Adrian Peterson, C.J. Spiller, Arian Foster, Doug Martin, Steven Jackson, Stevan Ridley, MJD, David Wilson, Darren McFadden, Eddie Lacy, Reggie Bush, and pretty much anybody else that you can name outside of Ryan Mathews (how weird is that).  The list goes on and on for wide receivers and tight ends too, but I'm not going to make you read through another long list of injured players.  All I'll say is that something needs to change in the NFL.

Keeping the Same Defense for the Whole Season
It used to be common to draft a defense pretty high and use them consistently throughout the entire season.  To put it simply, there was a remarkable amount of scoring this year, and not even the best defenses were safe from a horrid performance.  The much more reliable technique has become to rotate defenses weekly based on matchups.  The reality is, not even the best defenses are a good start against a team like the Broncos.

Blair Walsh, K, Minnesota Vikings
Walsh was supposed to be the bee's knees this year, and through the first four games it looked like he was just that.  He had more than eight fantasy points in each of those four games, but it went sharply downhill after that, with consecutive fantasy performances of 4, 0, 7, and 5 points.  He has recovered to a certain extent, but still, we expected more out of Walsh.  The morale of the story is, kickers are about as unpredictable as they come, so don't go about drafting a kicker anywhere near the top/middle of the draft next year.

Start 'Em, Sit 'Em (Week 17)

Start 'Em:
DeAngelo Williams, RB, Carolina Panthers
The major fantasy setback for Williams this year is that he has had to share carries with Cam Newton as well as two capable backups, Jonathan Stewart and Mike Tolbert.  With Stewart injured and Tolbert acting more as a fullback now, evidenced by his one carry last week, Williams is set up to prosper. Additionally, it can't hurt that he gets to go up against the 26th ranked fantasy run defense of the Atlanta Falcons.

Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Minnesota Vikings
Early in the season Patterson put his athleticism on display in the return game, but now the Vikings have started to allow him to show off his skills in their normal offense.  He has more than ten fantasy points in each of the last three weeks, which is a product of the Vikings desire to get the ball in his hands in whatever way possible.  In a meaningless game against the Lions on Sunday, the Vikings will likely put the ball in Patterson's hands often to see what they truly have in their first round pick.

Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Roethlisberger has had a sneakily good season, and going up against the 23rd ranked Browns fantasy defense, you would expect him to produce.  Averaging over two touchdowns per game over the past eight weeks, Roethlisberger looks primed for another successful week.

Sit 'Em:
Frank Gore, RB, San Francisco 49ers
Gore has had a good season, but he has been a bit inconsistent at times.  My guess is that this week is not one of his better weeks, in a tough matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, who have allowed the fewest yards to opposing running backs.  This defense has allowed just four touchdowns to running backs all year in addition to just two weeks of allowing over one hundred rushing yards... That's pretty good.

Harry Douglas, WR, Atlanta Falcons
It was nice while it lasted, but it seems as if Douglas' time in the spotlight is over, with Roddy White finally returning to his old form with a huge game against the 49ers last week.  Even when White was not producing, Douglas' numbers were not entirely encouraging, as he has not scored more than seven fantasy points in the last five weeks.  To make matters worse, he has to go up against a Panthers defense that is second in allowing fantasy points to opposing wide receivers.

Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots
Tom Brady's number one target is a former quarterback at Kent State... That shouldn't be a recipe for success.  However it was worked out well for the 11-4 Patriots who currently sit comfortably atop the AFC East.  This week, though, the Patriots face up against the Bills, and I believe that the talented cornerback duo of Leodis McKelvin and Stephon Gilmore along with a talented front seven featuring Kiko Alonso, Marcel Dareus, Kyle Williams, and Mario Williams, will be able to expose the Patriots lack of receiving options, making for a difficult fantasy week for Tom Brady.

Start 'Em, Sit 'Em (Week 16)

Start 'Em:
Bobby Rainey, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Rainey has been frustratingly hit-or-miss through the last few weeks, but the pattern would suggest that this week will be a good one.  He consistently gets enough carries to make an impact, it is just a matter of whether he is able to turn those carries into good production.  This week he will have a good chance to produce, as he is going up against the weak Rams run defense.

Mike Wallace, WR, Miami Dolphins
Wallace is doing his best to recover from a very underwhelming start, recording more than 14 fantasy points in three of the past four weeks.  This week, you would expect that trend to continue with Wallace going up against a Bills pass defense that is 29th in allowing fantasy points to opposing wide receivers.

Jay Cutler, QB, Bears
Last week the Eagles defense allowed 28 fantasy points to Matt Cassel - surely Cutler should do just as well against them.  Cutler will have his full cast of targets including Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jefferey, and Matt Forte, a group that is much more dangerous than the tandem of Matt Asiata and Greg Jennings that tore up the Eagles defense last week.

Sit 'Em:
Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Arizona Cardinals
Mendenhall is on fire right now, but it is more than likely that the stout Seahawks defense will be able to put out that fire this week.  It doesn't help that Mendenhall will also have to share carries with Andre Ellington, who has also put in some impressive outings recently.

Larry Fitzgerald, RB, Arizona Cardinals
I'm sorry to you Cardinals fans out there for recommending that you sit two Cardinals players, but the reality is that the Seahawks defense is just too good.  It doesn't help that Fitzgerald is coming off a concussion and will likely be blanketed by Richard Sherman.

Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta Falcons
This week, Matty Ice gets the other outstanding defense in the NFC west - the 49ers defense.  Ryan, who has not been very productive as of late, should not be expected to put up big numbers against a defense that is second in allowing points to opposing quarterbacks.

Start 'Em, Sit 'Em (Week 15)

Start 'Em:
Shane Vereen, RB, New England Patriots
It is always risky to start a Patriot's running back because coach Bill Belichick rotates through several ball carriers with no consistency.  Thus, it is completely a mystery whether Vereen will be the primary runner for the Patriots offense, with both LeGarrette Blount and Steven Ridley also in the mix. However, what is certain is that Vereen is the only running back trusted to be in the game during passing downs.  With Gronkowski injured, the Patriot's will be starved for players to throw the ball to, and Vereen should be able to put in a significant receiving performance.

Cecil Shorts, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars passing offense is absolutely horrendous, but I believe that Chad Henne, who has been playing well as of late, will toss at least on touchdown on Sunday.  The reality is, if the Jags do manage a passing touchdown, it will be to Cecil Shorts, as only one touchdown has been scored by any other wide receivers on the roster.

Ryan Tannehill, QB, Miami Dolphins
Tannehill has been on a roll recently, and his production is not likely to end this week against a patriots defense that allowed 29 fantasy points to Jason Campbell last week (yes, Jason Campbell).  Surely, Tannehill will be able to utilize his speedy wide receiving core including Mike Wallace and Brian Hartline to put some points on the board against a notoriously slow-starting Patriots team.

Sit 'Em:
Le'Veon Bell, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Bell's only real redeeming value this season has been his consistent ability to get into the end zone.  He doesn't provide much upside in the yards department, averaging just 3.4 yards per carry, and is only a decent factor in the passing game.  This week, Bell has to go up against a Bengal's defense that has not allowed a rushing touchdown since week 3.  If he can't get into the end zone, there is no reason for Bell to be a starter in your fantasy team.

Victor Cruz, WR, New York Giants
Truth be told, I don't expect you to sit Victor Cruz, one of the most explosive wide receivers in the NFL, and also probably one of your first few picks.  However, I simply don't believe that Cruz will have any effect in a game against the Seahawks where he will be guarded by one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL, Richard Sherman, not to mention that Cruz has not gotten into the end zone since week 4.

Jason Campbell, QB, Cleveland Browns
If you are naive enough to put Campbell into your starting lineup after just one outstanding week, I pity you.  This is Jason Campbell that we are talking about, and based on past experiences, he should come crashing back to earth this Sunday against a very good Bear's defense.

Start 'Em, Sit 'Em (Week 14)

Start 'Em:
Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Arizona Cardinals
Last week against the Eagles, Mendenhall defiantly took the starting job back from Andre Ellington (who was hurt).  Mendenhall received a season-high eighteen carries for 76 yards against an improved Eagle's run defense.  This week he gets a Ram's defense that has allowed an average of one touchdown a game to opposing running backs.  If Mendenhall gets the same amount of carries as he did last Sunday, he should put in a big week.

Alshon Jeffery, WR, Chicago Bears
This Bears offense may be the second most difficult matchup in the NFL behind the Denver Broncos. Both Jeffery and Brandon Marshall command double teams, they are simply to big, fast, and strong for one defender to handle.  The problem is, if you double team them both, all the Bears have to do is hand the ball off to Matt Forte.  Thus, most teams choose to double just one of the wideouts and take their chances with the other.  Every week it is inevitable that one of them is going to have a huge game, and my guess for this week is Jeffery, who should dominate Morris Claiborne, the Cowboy's underperforming second cornerback.

Joe Flacco, QB, Baltimore Ravens
I don't believe Flacco is a top ten quarterback in the NFL, however, with the right matchup he could be a very productive fantasy play.  It is likely that Flacco will be able to shred a miserable Viking's secondary that is worst in the NFL in allowing fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks.

Sit 'Em:
Zac Stacy, RB, St. Louis Rams
Stacy has been an absolute revelation this season for fantasy owners, however this week he should be sitting on your bench with a tough matchup against the Cardinal's defense that is first in the NFL in fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs.  Last week this same defense managed to slow down the Eagle's LeSean McCoy, so you should temper your expectations for Stacy.

Marques Colston, WR, New Orleans Saints
Outside of one big week, Colston has been terrible this season, registering over ten fantasy points just twice all year.  Fantasy owners just have to accept that Colston is not longer a big part of the Saint's offense.  In the red zone Jimmy Graham receives all of the targets, while the Saint's versatile set of running backs gets the attention in the rest of the field.  Bottom line, there is no way Colston should be in your lineup any time soon.

Colin Kaepernick, QB, San Francisco 49ers
Though Kaepernick has put together a couple successful weeks in a row now, he will run into a roadblock this weekend against the Seahawk's defense.  This outstanding unit has allowed over ten fantasy points to an opposing quarterback just six times this year and none of those performances passed eighteen points.  Kaepernick is a solid quarterback, but he won't look one against the Seahawks defense.