Late Round RB Values

Gio @ 2.06 or Hill @ 9.12? Spiller @ 4.02 or FJax @ 7.10? TRich @ 6.04 or Bradshaw @ 11.10? I'm going for the late value every time, here.

— TheReidOption (@TheReidOption) August 30, 2014

If you go RB early and WR heavy mid-rounds I'd target these RBs Late: Round 7-MJD/FJax 8-Hyde 9-Hill/West/Ingram 10-AWilliams 11-Bradshaw

— TheReidOption (@TheReidOption) August 30, 2014

Where to target later-round QBs on ESPN

I've got a couple of ESPN fantasy drafts under my belt.  A question came up today on reddit as to when people should be targeting later-round QBs.  The truth is, ESPN is very low on a number of players.

Check out my posting on reddit to see where I recommend taking Matt Ryan, Tom Brady, Tony Romo, Russell Wilson and Philip Rivers based on ESPN vs. Actual ADP data.

Also, be sure to utilize FantasyPros Dissenting Opinions: Football Rankings tool to mine for value and take advantage of players in your league who will be relying on default rankings.

ADP Stockwatch Aug19: TE Rudolph passes Olsen; Pitta falling

Join the conversation on reddit!

Building your team around Jimmy Graham (PPR)

This question popped up on reddit this afternoon, so I decided to dive in and have a look.  My official response here:

Great question.

I've got the #6 pick in my standard league, so I've been toying with different strategies (up to an including taking Graham - though I believe this is too early to do so in standard). Using FFC's Scenario Calculator[1] , we can walk through your first 4 picks in PPR and see who's available. Note, MyRank based on 12-team 1PPR QB 2RB 2WR 1Flex 1TE

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2.06[2]

Player	%Avail	MyRank	ECR[3]	MyOverall	ECRoverall
Arian Foster	43%	RB9	RB10	11	17
Marshawn Lynch	51%	RB10	RB11	13	19
LeVeon Bell	63%	RB11	RB9	14	16
Giovani Bernard	66%	RB7	RB8	7	13
Antonio Brown	79%	WR4	WR7	17	18
Jordy Nelson	87%	WR9	WR8	35	21

Who I'd take: Giovani Bernard, Arian Foster, Marshawn Lynch. I'd really prefer to lock up an RB1 after spending a first rounder on Jimmy (who in some respects can be thought of as your WR1 in the TE slot).

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3.07[4]

Player	%Avail	MyRank	ECR[5]	MyOverall	ECRoverall
Reggie Bush	56%	RB16	RB15	24	27
Pierre Garcon	60%	WR14	WR11	51	26
C.J. Spiller	71%	RB19	RB17	27	38
Alfred Morris	73%	RB18	RB19	26	42
Keenan Allen	74%	WR11	WR15	47	36
Zac Stacy	81%	RB14	RB13	22	24
Victor Cruz	89%	WR17	WR14	58	33
Shane Vereen	92%	RB17	RB16	25	37
Vincent Jackson	91%	WR13	WR13	49	49
Andre Johnson	90%	WR12	WR12	48	48

Who I'd take: I'd probably be leaning towards a wideout after going TE, RB in the first two rounds, but the RB2 talent here is just too much to pass up. RB also has the most positional scarcity and is hardest to replace on the wire, so I wouldn't feel terrible using 2/3 of my first picks on a running back. I would take Stacy if he fell, or be perfectly happy with Bush, Vereen or Morris.

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4.06[6]

I'm definitely looking to take a wideout after going TE-RB-RB, so I'm going to save time by only listing the available WRs:

Player	%Avail	MyRank	ECR[7]	MyOverall	ECRoverall
Wes Welker	49%	WR23	WR17	66	41
Roddy White	52%	WR15	WR16	54	40
Larry Fitzgerald	72%	WR16	WR18	55	43
Cordarrelle Patterson	76%	WR22	WR23	65	51
Michael Crabtree	85%	WR22	WR19	64	45
Percy Harvin	90%	WR20	WR26	63	58

Who I'd take: Roddy White or Larry Fitzgerald. I'd then try to load up my next picks with WRs like Kendall Wright and Michael Floyd.

Ranking the RB Handcuffs

Rob Krattiger of Sports Porch and I got into a little discussion about the most valuable running back handcuffs on Reddit this evening.  Here's where I place them.

Terrance West

MyRank RB38, ADP RB35 (7.11) (-3) - Not sure West counts as a true "handcuff", as most people expect him to be the starter for at least some point. I'm a little lower on him than consensus, so he probably won't be on a lot of my teams unless he slips a little.

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Ahmad Bradshaw

MyRank RB42, ADP RB51 (12.10) (+9) - I'm higher on Bradshaw by the exact amount I am lower on TRich, whos middling play last year made Donald Brown look like a star. Unlike West who you have to take in the 7th, I can easily snag Bradshaw in the 12th round, a huge steal for me.

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Carlos Hyde

MyRank RB42, ADP RB46 (10.08) (+4) - Hyde has a clear path to backup RB duties for the run-heavy 49ers, who have one of the oldest worhorse backs in the NFL. We've been saying this for a while, but Frank Gore won't be around forever. Hyde is a must-stash in the tenth for the Gore owner.

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Devonta Freeman

MyRank RB45 ADP RB45 (10.02) (0) - Unlike Hyde, Freeman runs behind a much more injury prone back in Steven Jackson, who is already nursing a hammy and will likely miss the pre-season. Freeman has an excellent shot at starting this year. My concern here is that the Falcons might use their smaller backs Freeman (5'8'/206) and incumbent Jacquizz Rodgers (5'6'/196) in a timeshare should Jackson (6'2'/240) miss serious time. If you want Freeman on your team, you'll need to take him in the 9th, which seems a shade pricey to me.

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Christine Michael

MyRank RB48, ADP RB44 (10.01) *(-3) - Between Hyde, Freeman and Michael, I actually have Michael ranked the lowest, mostly because I like the chances of the other two starting more than I like the chances of Beast Mode (who is still only 28) actually going down. That said, Michael is a must-own for the Lynch owner, and will cost you your 9th round pick.

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Lance Dunbar

MyRank RB49, ADP RB56 (13.11) (+7) - DeMarco Murray has missed 16 games in the last 3 years, so opportunity seems likely. The Cowboys seem set to run the ball more behind an improved offensive line, which also bodes well. Dunbar has been impressing in camp, and makes a great depth add at a bargain basement 13th round cost.

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Bernard Pierce

MyRank RB50, ADP RB36 (8.06) (-14) - Yeah... I'm not high on Pierce, in large part because in relief of Rice last year he was actually worse than Ray! The suspension of the Ravens' main back is also only 2 games, so I'm not confident in the workload. Also, with these types of deep-RB picks I like to target players who might "pop". Pierce is not that player. We've seen him. He fizzled.