The Wide Receiver I Want Most On My Teams In 2015

Well it has been a long hiatus from writing on this blog, but I'm back. During the playoffs and the off season I didn't stop thinking, just hadn't written anything. But from this point forward, let's get back in the swing of fantasy football together.

The guy I am most interested in at the wide receiver position this season is Julio Jones. Jones was a monster last season for the Falcons offense, and I don't think that is going to change this season.

Image source myajc.com

In 2014 Julio caught 104 passes for 1593 yards and 6 scores. He did miss one game toward the end of the season after a huge game against Green Bay. Barring his broken screw in the foot in 2014 his durability has been decent. Jones played in 13 games his rookie season, 16 games in 2012, and 15 games last year. 

Image source falcfans.com

In 2015 the Falcons will play the easiest schedule in the NFL. Their division is bad. Their schedule is great. Atlanta will face only 2 top 10 pass defenses from 2014. The average ranking of the pass defenses they will face in 2015 was 19.5, the lower half of the league. Another bonus is that the Falcons will play 10 games indoors next season, including their games at Dallas and New Orleans. The indoor surface tends to play faster than outdoor, which could lead to more production for Jones and the potent Atlanta passing attack. Listening to the Fantasy Football Today podcast from CBS this week, the guys said that Kyle Shanahan has a tendency to pepper one player with targets, and one would posit that Jones is the likely recipient of this.

Image source usatoday.com

Finally taking a look at the rest of the team, Roddy White isn't getting any younger. Harry Douglas is

gone. The rest of the WR corps is unproven. The defense, which will likely be improved, will probably not be a world beater. This could lead to many games being shootouts, ballooning Julio's stats even further.

I like Jones in the late first round if all the top tier running backs are off the board. If you have the sandwich picks at the end of round 1 and beginning of round 2 and he is still there, don't let him get past you, I think you'll be sorry.

Waiver Wire Week 5

After the Sunday games here is a list of players that you may want to take a look at on the wire for week 5.

RB

Jerick McKinnon (MIN) showed up in a big way against the Falcons in week 4. With 18 carries for 135 yards and a catch for 17, McKinnon seems to have found himself a place in the Minnesota backfield. McKinnon is a guy with some great raw talent, and plays Green Bay in week 5, a great match up for running backs. At this time it is uncertain if this will be a true running back by committee, but there was plenty for everyone to eat against Atlanta.


Lorenzo Taliaferro (BAL) had a decent game and got his share of the workload for the Ravens in a blowout win over the Panthers. Gaining 58 yards on 15 rushes and scoring he gets you 11.8 points. He received an equal share of carries in the Ravens rushing attack and looks to keep his portion of the committee. Indy, Tampa Bay, and Atlanta are the next 3 match ups for Baltimore and those look like some good opportunities for Taliaferro.

Justin Forsett (BAL) was the other half of the two pronged rushing game of the Ravens on Saturday. Rushing 14 times for 66 yards and a score, plus catching 3 passes for 31 yards would have earned you a cool 18.7 points in a PPR format. As with Taliaferro, the Indy, Tampa Bay, Atlanta games coming up look to provide some good scoring chances.

Bishop Sankey (TEN) was dropped in some leagues after not getting much work, and comments about his need to improve footwork. But Sunday saw him get most of the work in the second half, with 6 carries for 34 yards and a touchdown, and adding 2 catches for 23 yards. Playing him this week would have scored you 13.7 PPR points. Sankey has some good match ups coming in the next few weeks with games at Jacksonville in week 6 and Washington in week 7. If he was dropped, grab and stash.

Darrin Reaves (CAR) was forced into action this week when DeAngelo Williams left the game. Reaves didn't do much with his 12 carries, amassing only 26 yards. He also caught 3 passes for 11 yards. Reaves is in a last man standing situation. With a week to game plan with him, you may see some improvement. I wouldn't be surprised if Carolina added a back either through free agency or called upon Lache Seastrunk. Regardless, Reaves is merely speculative until he proves what he can do if given the opportunity.

TE

Heath Miller (PIT) was a big part of the Pittsburgh passing game, catching 10 balls for 85 yards and a touchdown. Miller and Ben Roethlisberger have good chemistry. Miller has been a favorite target of Big Ben in the past. This is by far his most productive game of the season so he may be worth a stash or pickup for a bye week player coming up.

Eric Ebron (DET) is the much talked about tight end for the Lions. Through his first four games he has been consistently inconsistent catching no passes in weeks 1 and 3, and 3 balls in weeks 2 and 4. This week he caught a touchdown, and with Calvin Johnson having an ankle injury, he may see more work in the future. His week 6, 7, and 8 match ups feature Minnesota, New Orleans, and Atlanta, and should he be given targets, could produce some points for you if your tight end is injured or on bye.

Jace Amaro (NYJ) was in last weeks waiver wire article, and he is back this week. His workload increased this week, catching 5 passes for 58 yards. Those are not super flashy numbers, but an increase in work is a step in the right direction. In this game he got that increase with Eric Decker playing.

Jordan Reed (WAS) has been out with an injury, but with Niles Paul having a concussion, it may be time for him to return if he is healthy. If he was dropped in your leagues he may be a good pickup for your roster. His week 5 match up could be tough against Seattle, but after that Washington plays Arizona, Tennessee, Dallas, and Minnesota, giving him some scoring opportunity. The only caveat with Reed is that so far in his young career he is apt to be injured. This makes him slightly risky, but he does have great talent when on the field.

WR

Eddie Royal (SD) had a hot start to the 2013 season, and then disappeared. His last 3 games he has 16 catches and 216 yards and 4 touchdowns. I have a hard time knowing what he did last year, doing most of his damage in the first 2 weeks of the season, suggesting a pickup, but if you have a spot or an under performing guy on your roster, Royal could be a nice addition if he keeps it up.

Allen Robinson (JAC) hasn't scored yet this year, but he has caught 12 passes in the last two weeks. On a team that will be behind a lot, he is worth a speculative pickup in a PPR format, and may pick up momentum and possibly find the end zone. I'm not dropping a good player, but with an open roster spot you may want to pick him up and see how Blake Bortles likes him.

QB

 Eli Manning (NYG) has put up some solid numbers since his week 1 flop. in weeks 2-4 Manning has averaged 270 yards and has 8 touchdowns and only 3 interceptions. His next 3 games against Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Dallas seem to be great match ups for the rejuvenated Manning and the Giants offense. He is a good pickup if your quarterback is under performing or in 2 quarterback leagues. Manning is a must add player this week.

Teddy Bridgewater (MIN) had a good coming out party against the soft Atlanta defense. Throwing for 317 yards, and rushing 5 times for 27 yards and a touchdown, Bridgewater is a player to look at in 2 quarterback leagues and as a possible bye week replacement. He did suffer an ankle injury this week, and plays Thursday night, so temper expectations a little this week and monitor his practice reports accordingly.

Carson Palmer (ARI) said this week that his shoulder has responded to treatment. Palmer may be the forgotten commodity in your leagues, since when looking to add a quarterback, it shows them by points. Since he hasn't played, you have to go looking for him on the list. Arizona returns from their bye in week 4 to play Denver, Washington, Oakland, Philadelphia and Dallas over the next 5 weeks. By far the worst of the match ups is week 5, with the rest looking like fantasy gravy.

Good luck this week on the wire!

Forgot About Pra(ter)

It may seem odd to find a post about a kicker for fantasy football purposes, but when the kicker is likely not owned in your league, and he is on a good team, has a good home field, is highly accurate, and is past his bye, he is a good target to add.

Matt Prater (DEN) was suspended by the NFL for the first 4 games (5 weeks) of the 2014 season. Assuming that the Broncos retain him after his suspension, Prater is a valuable commodity to your fantasy team. Playing for a team that scored 75 touchdowns and attempted 26 field goals last year means that he is likely to be quite a high scoring player for your team.

His kicking situation is fantastic, playing 6 of his remaining games this year in the thin air of Denver. Prater was a very accurate kicker last season making all 75 of his extra points and 25/26 field goal attempts. He is usually one of the first kickers to come off the board in drafts and is just sitting there for the taking.This season he will be available to cunning fantasy players who pounce on the opportunity to scoop him up.

My suggestion is to wait til late in week 5, Sunday morning is the best time, and drop a player that you either don't play, or is not performing if you don't have a bench spot available. You will have a ready-to-drop player in the kicker you play in week 5 to drop and add a player during waivers in week 6.

Bargain Basement Prices

Starting your season at Seattle, against the Jets, and at Detroit is not exactly a soft landing in a new season for any running back. But this is what awaited Eddie Lacy (GB) at the beginning of the season.

Image source totalpackers.com

Leaving the opener early at Seattle with a concussion, Lacy only managed 34 yards on 12 carries. The Jets allowed him 43 yards on 13 carries. Detroit gave up 36 yards on 11 carries. One thing all these opponents have in common, a strong run defense. He has had a total of 6 catches in these games for 38 yards as well, which isn't adding much value to his stock.

This presents fantasy football players with an opportunity: Get Lacy on the relatively cheap. And if this suits you, the time is now. Starting next week the match ups start to look much better for Lacy. He will suit up against Chicago and Minnesota in the next 2 weeks. If you want to acquire him, it has to be before those games. If Eddie Lacy is going to improve, those are his chances.  If he does improve, the price of getting him will go up, if you can get him at all then.

If you happen to find yourself with a surplus of wide receivers it may behoove you to make an attempt to trade one of them for Lacy. I found myself, after another trade, with a plethora of quality talent at the wide receiver position, and a chance to use one of those guys to get a player that was a first round pick in most fantasy drafts. I offered the Lacy owner in my league Alshon Jeffery, the 3rd or 4th best wide receiver on my team, and a deal was made. This deal may be a little risky, but if you have the talent to spare, this is one of the better gambles to make in my estimation.

Image source espn.com

This same strategy can be applied to the other top running backs. Matt Forte (CHI) has had a slow start, and LeSean McCoy (PHI) had a disappointing game last week against Washington. If the owner of these players in your league is frustrated you may be able to get a heck of a value on a player that is primed to go off. And if they don't like what you offer, counter and see if you can come to an agreement. Bargain basement prices on talented players can only be found if you try.

Tight End Replacements For Week Four

The last few weeks in the NFL have taken a toll on the tight end position. With injuries and bye weeks starting in week 4 many fantasy players will be looking for a replacement for the short or long term. Here is a list of suggestions for a replacement tight end.

Larry Donnell (NYG) has been a good safety valve for Eli Manning in the first few weeks of the season. Donnell has averaged 6 catches a game and scored in week 1. If he is not owned in your league, he is a good option to pick up.

Niles Paul (WAS) has been getting targets with Jordan Reed out. Averaging 6 receptions a game for the first 3 weeks, and having a touchdown in week 2 makes him a viable addition to your team.

Owen Daniels (BAL) didn't see much action in the passing game in week 3, but he had 4 catches in week 1 and 5 in week 2 with two touchdowns. With the injury to Dennis Pitta and his familiarity in the Gary Kubiak offense, Daniels figures to see a more prominent role in the Baltimore passing attack.

Andrew Quarless (GB) had four catches and a touchdown in week 3 against Detroit. Quarless seems to have emerged as the pass catching tight end in the Green Bay offense. Some decent looking matchups against a depleted Chicago secondary in week 4 and Minnesota in week 5 set him up for success in the coming weeks.

Jace Amaro (NYJ) had 3 catches for 54 yards against Chicago Monday night. In an offense that is lacking in overall talent at pass catching positions, and has an iffy Eric Decker with a hamstring injury, Amaro may see an increased role.

Jeff Cumberland (NYJ) may see increased targets if Decker has a prolonged absence. His production has not been very big so far, but in an offense that will struggle at the outside wide receiver spots without Decker, he may be worth a speculative add in case of emergency.

Dwayne Allen (IND) has been all or nothing this season. He has scored in 2 of the first 3 games, and had no catches in the other. some tough match ups await the Colts in the near future, but if you have a desperate need at tight end, he does catch the ball.

Lance Kendricks and Jared Cook (STL) both had good games against Dallas in week three. This is likely a testament to how decimated and devoid of overall talent the Dallas defense is, so approach these guys with caution.