This year’s slate of NFL ‘dress rehearsels’ yielded some interesting fantasy football insight, per usual, gleaning individual player talent, skill, efficiency and opportunity.
New England Patriots vs Carolina Panthers
Jonas Gray and Brandon Bolden ran with the first team ahead of LeGarrette Blount. Blount looked severely better than both. Don’t read into this at all, Blount will be the starter.
Tennessee Titans vs Kansas City Chiefs
Marcus Mariota threw a beautiful ball to Kendall Wright on a slant route for 30 yards. Some expect Kendall Wright to be more involved than last season: Beat writer Jim Wyatt expects Kendall Wright to lead the Titans in receptions this year. Per Wyatt, the Titans “have big plans(for Wright)”(titans online.com). His ADP of pick 129 in the 11th round leaves room for some upside and he is reportedly Mariota’s favorite target.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs Buffalo Bills
Deangelo Williams looked great on that … Just kidding. Don’t draft him
Charles Clay had a nice 67 yard touchdown reception from E.J. Manual up the seam. He was signed for $38 million over 5 years so he will certainly have a role in the passing game. Clay will probably be the second option in a non pass friendly offense. There is some upside at his ADP that exists outside the first 15 rounds.
Minnesota Vikings vs Dallas Cowboys
Terrance Williams had a great catch and run 60 yard touchdown. He won’t be on my draft radar.
Darren McFadden had 2 nice runs. He won’t be a week to week fantasy starter.
Atlanta Falcons vs Miami Dolphins
Tevin Colemanwas ineffective versus a stout Miami defensive line going 4 rushes for 2 yards.
Jarvis Landry looked shifty and agile. He and Ryan Tannehill are really on the same page. He recorded 5 catches 84 yards.
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New York Jets vs New York Giants
Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker both looked sharp and focused. Both undervalued at their ADPs of pick 51 Round 5(Marshall) and pick 123 round 10(Decker). Decker is definitely a better value and should be targeted in all formats.
Zac Stacy had a really nice catch and run down the left side capped off with a cartwheel flip over a defender into the end zone. Ignore him, Chris Ivory will be the guy.
Cleveland Browns vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jameis Winston threw a 26 yard strike to Vincent Jackson who is undervalued at his ADP of pick 74, round 7. He had a down year last season finishing as the standard scoring WR36 on 140 targets. I expect him to bounce back this season.
Brian Hartline received a great sideline catch and tap from Josh McCown. He will not be a fantasy asset.
Washington Redskins vs Baltimore Ravens
RG3 did not play. His concussion clearance was reversed.
Steve Smith Sr. looked electric, bursting out of a come back reception on a button hook route down the sideline for the touchdown. I love him as a late round WR target. Wrote about it here: link
Seattle Seahawks vs San Diego Chargers
Melvin Gordon looked his best this week, generating some hard fought yards. I love how he keeps his legs churning. He will certainly have a significant role in a productive offense with a top shelf quarterback.
Tyler Lockett flashed again with another kick return touchdown, but it is unlikely he will find a role that is productive enough to be considered in most fantasy leagues
Philadelphia Eagles vs Green Bay Packers
Sam Bradford is looking better and better every week. He dropped a touchdown in Darren Sproles lap on perfect throw to the back of the end zone. He has been very precise in his ball placement.
Jordan Matthews had 2 leaping high point receptions. He looks immaculate. May enter the WR1 zone this season.
Randall Cobb suffered sprained AC joint in his shoulder. The Packers are not sure about his week 1 status. Pay attention to his injury status when you go to draft him.
Indianapolis Colts vs St. Louis Rams
Luck had a crisp pass to a wide open Andre Johnson up the middle on a sweet 30 yard touchdown Im not buying Johnson at his adp of pick 42 round 4.
San Francisco 49ers vs Denver Broncos
C.J. Anderson looks really good, elusive yet powerful runs and showed good hands. He should be a first round pick and wrote about it here:link
Reggie Bush‘s legs looked fresh and he was quick and decisive. He will have a bigger role than people think.
Colin Kaeperknick is moving great with his legs and is a possible late round quarterback option. He accumulated 53 yards on 3 rushes.
Houston Texans vs New Orleans Saints
Brandin Cooks looks incredibly twitched up. His hands are true as well. He may be overvalued at his ADP of Pick 25, round 3.
Mark Ingram is running with purpose and determination and showed skillful hands out if the backfield. He will be a steal at his ADP of pick 29, round 3, if CJ Spiller is banged up during the season per usual.
DeAndre Hopkins was on point like a bull horn. He had a great grab on the edge for a big gain that he played perfectly, leaving just enough sideline space on his route . Hopkins also had an out of this world one handed TD grab with tough defensive coverage that resulted in pass interference. The catch didn’t count, but I think the referees got that one wrong. Great 3rd round pick.
Alfred Blue runs like he isn’t excited to be here and. He’s shown little burst or vision. I’m not touching him. If Chris Polk had the starter role I would be far more interested.
Oakland Raiders vs Arizona Cardinals
Amari Cooper looks like he belongs in the NFL and plays like a star. He accelerates out of his cuts and runs crisp routes. He is still overvalued at his ADP of pick 45 round 4. His ceiling is capped in the Raiders unproductive offense.
John Brown had an incredible contested catch on a bomb from Carson Palmer. He represents an intriguing pick at ADP of 77 round 7.
David Johnson had some run with the first team and secured 4 receptions for 40 yards, but he did fumble. It is a murky situation, but if I had to choose a guy in respect to their ADP I’d go David Johnson.
Andre Ellington ADP: 47 4th rd
Chris Johnson ADP: outside of first 15 rounds
David Johnson ADP: 124th rd 10
Chicago Bears vs Cincinnati Bengals
Marvin Jones had a really nice catch and run from A.J. Mcarron. He could be second option in a run based team’s passing attack if Tyler Eifert doesn’t become that guy.
Jeremy Hill flashed with a strong 26 yard run, reminding one of how amazing he was in the second half of the season. He is an incredible 2ndround pick at ADP with great upside
Detroit Lions vs Jacksonville Jaguars
Golden Tate was effective, but we’ll see how many targets he gets with Calvin Johnson on the field
Damn, Zach Zenner looks too good. I hope he gets some opportunity this season.
T.J. Yeldon looked like a boy amongst men. It’s hard to draft a rookie running back in Jacksonville offense, especially when he looks like that.
ADPs courtesy of fantasyfootballcalculator.com
By Jeffrey Beall (Own work) [CC BY 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
