It’s getting to be crunch time. Opening weekend is just a week away and many fantasy football drafts are taking place this weekend. We’ve been updating our cheat sheets for more than a month. Today’s version is the 11th we’ve published. This morning’s additions take into account various position battles being settled and a leg injury to Giants running back Andre Brown.
We’ve got five scoring formats and they’re all in PDF so you can print them out and take them to your drafts. Best of luck this weekend.
“Sleeper” is arguably the most overused of the many fantasy buzzwords out there. Everyone who plays fantasy football has the guys pegged they think will far outperform their draft position and will be absolutely giddy when they land the player—sometimes regardless of cost. But with scores of fantasy football writers out there firing their sleepers throughout the internet, and the masses gobbling them up and claiming said sleepers as their own, often-times the shine has worn off of sleepers by the time draft day rolls around. After all, if everyone thinks a guy is a sleeper, he’s no longer a sleeper.
Thus, I bring you the value/reach segment I hope to supply a handful of times during fantasy draft season, where I use the ADP data from www.mockdraftcentral.com to enlighten you on who is going for value, and who’s sleeper status has been jeopardized. For starters, let’s stick with the top 100. I’ll venture into the deeper territory in later iterations of this article. (more…)
Almost regardless of what we learn about Rob Gronkowski in the next six weeks, he will own the No. 2 tight end spot on my cheat sheet.
Yes, this differs from the tight end rankings I posted a few weeks ago, but a lot has happened since then. That said, this has nothing to do with the incarceration of Aaron Hernandez. Rather, it’s a tactical change of heart.
Sure, if Gronkowski suffers myriad setbacks in the next two months and is ruled out for the season, I’ll be singing a different tune. But for now, let’s discuss the next-worst-case scenario: Gronkowski struggling to recover from his latest malady and landing on the PUP to start the season. At this juncture, let me refer to a paragraph from my tight end rankings write-up:
“In my other positional write-ups I haven’t done much draft strategy discussion, but in the case of tight ends this year I think it’s worth it. I’m not overpaying for a top five tight end this season, because by the time my draft is over, if I’ve landed two of my top 18 in any scoring system—even numbers 17 and 18—I’ve cast myself a reasonable net for success. Sure, the upside of a top five tight end may not be there, but I can make a reasonable argument for as many as 20 tight ends winding up in the top 10 in positional scoring, and if you’ve appropriately built your roster elsewhere, all you need is a top 10 tight end to be successful.” (more…)
In the coming weeks, ZoneBlitz will feature rankings for each fantasy position in five scoring formats. The rankings will be accompanied by a brief article highlighting some of the big names, surprises and sleepers. Combined cheat sheets for each format will be available August 1 and constantly updated based on the latest news to keep you prepared for your drafts.
Editor’s Note: Team defense rankings are the sixth and final rankings to be posted to ZoneBlitz.com. Quarterback rankings can be found here, running back rankings can be found here, wide receivers can be found here, tight ends can be found here, and kickers can be found here.
Team defenses: along with kickers, the red-headed step-children of fantasy football. I have to say—my favorite fantasy league that I personally play in is a dynasty league that foregoes team defenses altogether. It’s a purer fantasy football experience in my estimation, but hey, it’s your league. Do what you want with it.
As for my rankings, I’ll just point out a few things. One, I’m high on the Chicago Bears defense, but not necessarily as high as some others. Lovie Smith and his defensive-minded approach has been replaced by offensive guru Marc Trestman. That’s not to discount his coaching staff, but I guess I’m a bit of a pessimist.
The Seahawks and 49ers are interchangeable as far as I’m concerned, and I honestly think division-mate Arizona could be even better than where they are ranked if their offense can show an ability to stay on the field this year and give the weary defenders a breather. Generally speaking I tend to be down on teams that I think will struggle offensively simply because the defense is relied upon too much. But if your league scoring system doesn’t punish you for point surrendered and instead just rewards sacks, turnovers forced, etc., then teams like Buffalo and Cleveland could be a little higher.
On the flip side, I might be too high on the Ravens even at No. 11 due to reputation alone considering the pieces they lost this offseason, but I feel like ranking them as barely a starting defense in a 12-team league I’m not exactly causing an uproar among those who feel like Baltimore will fall off while defending its crown.
I may be giving the Rams too much credit as well. While I knocked the Bills and Browns for their offense, I’m a believer that St. Louis is turning a corner in that regard. But if I’m wrong, it could spell some long afternoons for their defense, which could ultimately mean I’m a little high on them. But again, at No. 15, I’m not exactly their strongest advocate.
Have a question? Take umbrage with any of my rankings? Want to discuss the topic further? Post in the comments section and let’s chat! And if enough questions trickle in through the course of the offseason and training camp, I’ll post a few mailbag stories. Thanks for reading. Now comment away!
In the coming weeks, ZoneBlitz will feature rankings for each fantasy position in five scoring formats. The rankings will be accompanied by a brief article highlighting some of the big names, surprises and sleepers. Combined cheat sheets for each format will be available August 1 and constantly updated based on the latest news to keep you prepared for your drafts.
I’m not going to go into a ton of details about kickers because there isn’t a ton to say. Generally speaking, the kickers on teams with better offenses are the best to own, though you don’t want TOO good of an offense. Guys like Garrett Hartley and Mason Crosby have struggled in the past not only by their own inaccuracies, but also by their offense reaching paydirt rather than settling for chippies most of the time.
You’ll notice Crosby way down at No. 29 on this list, and that’s not due to my anti-Green Bay bias—which I rarely if ever let cloud my fantasy judgment. His offense has little trouble reaching the end zone so he’s kicking for one point instead of three more often than not, he’s failed to kick with even 80% accuracy in two of his last three seasons, and he’s among three kickers with a reasonable chance at losing his job during training camp. Rian Lindell and Dan Carpenter are the others, but since both are on mediocre offenses at best to begin with, their rankings won’t rise much even if given the job outright at a later date. So if you see Giorgio Tavecchio (GB), Dustin Hopkins (BUF) or Caleb Sturgis (MIA) on cheat sheets in the coming weeks, don’t be surprised.
Sure, there are other potential competitions, particularly if injury situations with David Akers and Randy Bullock take a turn for the worse (the former being more likely than the latter), but otherwise things are pretty much set in the kicker universe.
One final point I’d like to make is as to why I didn’t include dynasty rankings with kickers. Yes, had I done kicker dynasty rankings, they would’ve been different from the rankings you see listed here. However, the kicker position is a volatile one in that any given year the total points scored can change drastically based on schedule (weather), accuracy, injury or an assortment of other factors. So unless you’re in a league with obscene roster sizes, you should be using your kicker position for roster flexibility during the season and revisiting your kicker on an annual basis. Every fantasy season finds another waiver wire gem. Last year it was Blair Walsh. In 2011 it was John Kasay. In 2010 it was Nick Folk.
Even in redraft leagues you can take the “don’t worry about it” approach to fantasy kickers. So don’t waste time worrying about them in dynasty leagues. Live in the now!
Have a question? Take umbrage with any of my rankings? Want to discuss the topic further? Post in the comments section and let’s chat! And if enough questions trickle in through the course of the offseason and training camp, I’ll post a few mailbag stories. Thanks for reading. Now comment away!
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I'll stick to my opinions and leave it there
"Robert let me explain what Porter’s family has to do with the election I bet they’ve heard the complaints too"…
Robert yes I did see it I check talk of fame everyday
Andy did you see this: https://talkoffametwo.com/nfl/hall-of-fame-voting-changes I'd be OK with this
Robert let me explain what Porter’s family has to do with the election I bet they’ve heard the complaints too