So I've been praising or picking at your teams for the past 3 weeks and I'm hoping some of you can return the favor.
Details: 12 team league. No PPR. 2 keepers (can't be same position), then normal draft of remaining players. All TDs worth 6 points. Tiered scoring and yardage bonuses. RBs get 2 points for every 10 yards. WRs and TEs get 1 point for every 10. Roster limits (2QBs, 4 RBs, 6WRs, 2TEs, 1K, 2DEF/SP)Start 1 QB, 2RB, 3 WR, 1 TE, K, DEF. You can start a 4th WR instead of your second RB.
QB: Philip Rivers
QB: Matthew Stafford
RB: Steven Jackson - Keeper
RB: Cedrick Benson
RB: Lendale White
RB: Ahmad Bradshaw
WR: Calvin Johnson - Keeper
WR: Steve Smith (Carolina)
WR: Laverneous Coles
WR: Domineck (sp?) Hixon
WR: Earl Bennet
WR: Josh Cribbs
TE: Jason Witten
TE: Shiancoe Viscanthe (sp?)
K: Robbie Gould
DEF: Titans
DEF: Saints
We took a flier on Stafford being a keeper league. If he doesn't pan out quickly there are a lot of good QBs still available due to the roster limits. Not thrilled with having to settle for Laverneous Coles for our 3rd WR, but we hope having one of the best TEs will help there. We missed some depth on our team by trading our 5th round pick for Calvin Johnson during the offseason. Our reserve WRs are boom or bust type players but we hope at least one pans out. I'm hoping the addition of Greg Williams improves the Saints D. There wasn't much to choose from where we took our backup D.
We tried trading Jackson during the offseason due to his fragile nature the past 2 seasons, but couldn't get good value so we're just praying he stays healthy. If he does we like having 2 workhorse RBs that won't split carries.
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Your RB depth is a concern as you have nothing behind Jackson. Your best hope is that Jackson gets off to insane start, sell high and try and get two quality backs who arent as good but both start. Due to his fragile nature Im not sure that it would be possible but you never know; most leagues have at least 1 dunce. You could try the same scenario with Megatron if a team has good depth see if you could poach a starting RB and a decent wr from him for an elite wr because Im not sure Johnson can replicate last year with a rookie qb. After Johnson and Smith all the wr's have big questions. Coles I dont think will hold the starting job for long as Chris Henry is younger and more talented and now that he has his head on straight he is going to be a factor. Bennett was a shrewd pick. Hixon could help if he could hold off 4 former first day picks (Manningham, Moss, Barden, nicks) for playing time.
The qb situation is adequate but not spectacular. I know Rivers had a great year last year but with LT healthy and a better defense I think the Chargers will be able to return to their roots as a run first team. I like Rivers in real life, not so much in fantasy because of this.
As far as what I would do:
Hop on the James Davis bandwagon.
Look out for backs who may be taking over for their starters sooner then later like Benjarvis Green, Shonn Green, and Lesean Mccoy.MonstBlitz likes this. -
Although RB is not our position of strength, I disagree with your assessment that we have nothing behind Jackson. Cedrick Benson is one of 7 RBs who won't share carries with anyone. If he picks up where he left off at the end of last season he should be in for a decent year. Lendale White will continue to get plenty of carries spotting Chris Johnson. As far as Ahmad Bradshaw goes, the Giants had 2 1,000 yard rushers last season. One of them is gone. And even with a Ward around last year, Bradshaw got plenty of action in the 4th quarter of games. Combine that with the fact that the production of a RB tends to decline after they get their big contract (Jacobs) I expect Bradshaw to get a lot of action this year. -
LenWhale White may be thinner but I expect Johnson's workload to increase. Additionally, I doubt Tennessee is going 13-3 again so they wont be playing in front as much. This also will affect White's workload.
Bradshaw fumbles too much to ever be someone you want to rely on in fantasy. Im aware of what Ward did but I suspect Danny Ware will get many of those carries. Bradshaw's value is on misdirection plays and as a receiver. Hes a nice 4th back in fantasy if you have 2 other guys who can be counted on in case theyre needed. If you needed to go to bradshaw, white or benson as an RB2 in a 12 team league for more then 2-3 weeks imo youre pretty much done. Im sorry i cant say something more positive then that. -
Despite line issues, barring injury I still think Cedrick Benson will be a serviceable #2 RB on a regular basis. You disagree and I can respect that. I also don't see any reason why Lendale White can't be just as productive as he was last season. If that's the case, based on our scoring, he would also suffice as a #2 RB. Leaving Bradshaw for bye week replacements or depth due to injury. -
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Benson was actually decent in the pass game so I expect he will have an increased roll in that regard. I feel okay about the Bengals this year.
As far as Bradshaw he should be okay for you but obviously you know to watch out for Ware and to be quick if he shows signs of taking Ward's position on the team.
Agree with Boik14 on the Titans situation.
This is a serious RB favored league right?MonstBlitz likes this. -
As far as Lendale White and the Titans go, I'll know a lot more after seeing what he doesn't against Pittsburgh. I'm not expecting much and not starting him, but if he can notch up a score and maybe 50 yards or so I'll be optimistic about his production going forward.
We will definitely be keeping a close eye on Ware's role with the Giants.