Quarterbacks Avoid: 5.) Sam Bradford (AZ): 4.) Tyrod Taylor (CLE): 3.) Blake Bortles (JAX):

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1 Football season is almost among us, which means fantasy drafts are even closer. To succeed in fantasy football, preparation is key. Do your research, make a draft board, and watch your film (if you re into that). Very rarely can someone jump into a fantasy draft unprepared and win the league. But even those who do all their work still end up falling behind as the season progresses. This isn t a complete draft guide, but it is a little extra information for you as your draft approaches. Quarterbacks Avoid: Despite contrary belief, all quarterbacks are not created equally. The theory is, that outside of the top tier elite signal callers (Brady, Rodgers, Wilson, Brees, and Newton) that all starting quarterbacks produce similar numbers ranging in the points per game range. Essentially, the theory encourages drafters to wait on drafting your starting quarterback till the 6-9 rounds and stockpile running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends. While this is a great theory that has proven to be successful, getting the right quarterback is crucial. One component of this theory that is rarely talked about is consistency. Knowing exactly what you are getting each week is a huge bonus and helps you manipulate your weekly lineup more effectively. Just knowing who is a healthier player and who has a tighter window of fantasy points per game (typically around 15-18) helps tremendously. Here are the quarterbacks you should be wary of. 5.) Sam Bradford (AZ): Injury history mixed with the temptation of turning to the tenth overall pick in the 2018 draft, Josh Rosen makes Bradford an unappealing signal caller in fantasy football. When he is on the field he plays great but whether or not he can maintain his health is a different story. He has all of the pieces needed to be successful, but he may end up getting in his own way. Avoid falling into the trap of drafting Bradford this year, he has too much to lose. He could be considered a high-end backup in most team leagues. 4.) Tyrod Taylor (CLE): As mouthwatering as this new Cleveland Brown offense is, don t jump the gun on Taylor. The past two seasons Tyrod has been a solid fantasy quarterback, usually averaging around 15 points per game, mixing up a pass attack with a great run attack. But with Baker Mayfield looming over the head of Hue Jackson, Taylor will be on a really short leash. Knowing the Browns front office, Mayfield may sneak into the starting lineup at the first sign of trouble for Taylor. He has also become more injury prone in the last few seasons so be wary of his availability. 3.) Blake Bortles (JAX): Despite having one of the best years of his career, I would still avoid Bortles in most fantasy leagues. Although the Jaguars have made some improvements in their receiving corps, but Bortles still doesn t have a lot to throw to. With top wideout Marqise Lee going down with a leg injury, that makes his receiving corps even less impressive. The Jags will also likely lean on

2 running back Leonard Fournette more than Bortles. He made a huge leap but unless we see more I d be hesitant to lean on Bortles. 2.) Ryan Tannehill (MIA): It will be interesting to see if Tannehill can continue the style of play we saw in 2016 before he tore his ACL and missed the entire 2017 season. Even if Tannehill is able to play at a good level, he has a very limited arsenal in his pass attack and will likely spend the year under duress behind a sub par offensive line. It is very unlikely Tannehill can be a viable fantasy starting quarterback and will barely be a solid backup option. 1.) Any Buffalo Bill: There is currently a heated quarterback competition going on in western New York between rookie Josh Allen, veteran A.J. McCarron, and second year man Nate Peterman. No matter who wins the starting job, this offensive line is too questionable and the receiving corps is spread too thin for me to feel confident about any of these signal callers as a decent fantasy player. Draft: Obviously you re well off if you re able to draft Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, or Drew Brees but here are some options if you choose to wait until some of the later rounds for your quarterback. 5.) Mitch Trubisky (CHI): Now that the Bears actually have some good receivers, Trubisky and the Bears may be in the best shape they ve ever been in. Trubisky may be able to make the next step and become starting fantasy quarterback. With Allen Robinson lining up on offense, Trubisky s future is looking bright. 4.) Jared Goff (LAR): After a disastrous rookie campaign under Jeff Fisher, many wondered if we would ever see what we initially expected out of Goff. In his second year, Goff dominated in the new Sean McVay offense. The California product made leaps and bounds in his development and you can expect the same in his third year, especially with the addition of Brandin Cooks. Goff has finally earned himself a seat at the starting fantasy quarterback table. 3.) Deshaun Watson (HOU): Do I really need to explain anything here? Watson dominated in his rookie season before a devastating leg injury cut his campaign short. Watson is going to dominate this year, end of story. All you ll be hearing all year long is Watson to Hopkins/Fuller for a touchdown! Watson s versatility in the running and passing attack will be elite and he is a sleeper to end the season as a top-10 quarterback. 2.) Matthew Stafford (DET):

3 From the looks of things, Stafford will actually have some help from his run game. Although, with rumors of the Patriots inquiring about wide receiver Golden Tate, Matt Stafford may deserve an asterisk beside his name. The newly developed run game will allow him to throw less interceptions because he won t be forced to chuck the ball down the field on every play. At least on paper, Stafford looks like he is in for a big year. 1.) Matt Ryan (ATL): Ever since that godly 2016 season, Matty Ice has been a viable fantasy leader and 2018 looks to be no different. Now that Atlanta s front office made Julio Jones happy, Ryan is in for a good year. Adding Calvin Ridley is exciting for Ryan owners because that is just one more athletically gifted receiver in a great offense. Although he is in a tough division, Ryan can still have a promising year. Running backs Avoid: If anyone ever tries to tell you that the most important position in fantasy football is something other than running backs, walk away. The way the game is evolving, running backs mean everything. Running backs are super effective (especially in PPR formatted leagues) because they are essentially a dual threat. They can generate yards on the ground and the air. The more great running backs at your disposal, the more W s for you. Do you remember when I told you to pass on a quarterback till the later rounds? This is why, stack up on all the running backs you can. That being said, here are a few you should reconsider come time for your draft. 5.) Marshawn Lynch (OAK): Lynch is a very popular NFL personality and fantasy selection, especially after his football hiatus. Beast Mode is now 32 years old and now will be fighting for carries from Doug Martin, who is a sleeper for a big comeback season. Once a back is past the age of 30 they are considered past their prime. Running backs like Lynch, Frank Gore, and Lesean McCoy live to prove that statement wrong. Lynch had a pretty average season last year in terms of yardage, he is still a tremendous powerback and may generate some decent fantasy points from goalline carries. Look for Lynch to be in a more short yardage back this season, but don t expect him to be your main workhorse. He is a shaky RB2 but could provide solid depth at RB or fit in well as a decent flex. 4.) Frank Gore (MIA): After spending a few seasons with the Colts, Gore returns home to Miami to play for the Dolphins. At this point, there is not a lot of hype and attention surrounding Gore but fantasy owners should stay far away from Gore. The outstanding running back has made it look easy playing at an effective level in the NFL past the age of 30, but just turning 35, you have to expect a sudden drop in Gore s efficiency. Gore s ability has already started to dwindle but joining the Dolphins might be the last nail in the coffin before completely falling off. The Dolphins, who lost several notable linemen this offseason, provide Gore with a less than great offensive line plus his age may equal a disastrous conclusion to a Hall of Fame career. It is

4 likely that Gore will split carries with rising star Kenyon Drake, which makes Gore even less appealing from a fantasy standpoint. Oh, not to mention the possibility of rookie Kalen Ballage knocking at the door begging for carries. If it comes down to it, Gase will likely opt to develop the younger guy. 3.) Nick Chubb (CLE): The first rookie on the list, Chubb is a huge fantasy don t. Not only is he third on the depth chart behind Carlos Hyde and Duke Johnson, he is also a huge injury risk. Chubb suffered from multiple different knee injuries in college. In the preseason, Chubb struggled to adjust to speed of professional football, posting a less than optimal yards per attempt. As exciting as anyone in this Browns offense is, the rookies likely limited time on the field mixed with his injury history is enough to stay away from Chubb. Not to mention, he has struggled a bit carrying the football in preseason, averaging 2.75 per carry. 2.) Any Patriots: The New England Patriots pride themselves on a successful versatille rushing attack filled with an elusive and intriguing rookie back in Sony Michel, a powerful receiving back in Rex Burkhead and a balanced back in James White, not to mention the possibility of including Jeremy Hill and Mike Gillislee. With so much uncertainty and variation from game to game, it makes it nearly impossible to know which one of the running backs will sufficiently produce enough fantasy points. Needless to say, it will be a great risk selecting one of their backs in an early round, but Michel or Burkhead may be a decent mid to late round pick for depth. 1.) Rashaad Penny (SEA): Penny was one of the only bright spots in a horrendous draft from the Seattle front office, as the team completely ignored almost all of their dire needs. One of those dire needs, included offensive line, in which they did not draft their first offensive lineman until the fifth round, after they drafted a punter. Seattle s offensive line has been among the worst in the league for years, but this may be one of the worst units we ve seen in a while. It is a good thing Russell Wilson is such a great mobile quarterback, because he will be scrambling a lot in But this affects Penny too as he will have trouble breaking free for big runs if opposing defenses are seeping through every possible gap. This terrible offensive line mixed with the fact that Penny is an unproven rookie from a small school makes him undesirable for his current position on numerous draft boards. Bonus: Ezekiel Elliott (DAL): I don t typically key in on guys in the top-10, but in an RB run world, knowing the facts is important when you invest a first round pick on someone. So I m sure I don t have to remind everyone that Jason Witten retired and the Cowboys released Dez Bryant. Dak Prescott essentially lost his two favorite receivers and now has to start from scratch with a mediocre bunch. Well, with a group of lower-level receivers, the obvious inclination is that the Cowboys will turn to the run a whole lot more. That s a good thing right? Wrong. The Cowboys godly offensive line is collapsing in every facet, as the latest bit of bad news came when center Travis

5 Frederick being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease with an indefinite return. With a shaky offensive line and an undesirable pass attack, Zeke may be more trouble than what he s worth. Just be wary come draft time. Draft: Now to the good part, the ones you want to draft. These guys are all relatively sleepers and you can easily find them in the later rounds. The key with these guys is you don t want to oversell for them but if they re available is some of the later rounds, jump on them! 5.) Marlon Mack (IND): With Frank Gore out of the picture, Mack looks to take the starting spot behind an improved offensive line and a new offensive scheme. Mack might even be poised for a breakout year in his second season in the league with all of the freedom he will likely get. Things may get rocky for Mack as the Colts will have to play the Texans and Jaguars monstrous defenses and the up and coming Titans defense twice a year. Overall, Mack has the potential to be a serious fantasy option for your RB2 spot. 4.) Doug Martin (OAK): Most of the NFL fans have written Martin off after the drama that ensued in Tampa. Joining Jon Gruden in Oakland may be the catalyst for Martin to thrust himself back into solid production. With only Marshawn Lynch standing in his way, any progress could vault Martin up a spot on the depth chart and get him more carries. It will be easy to pick up Martin in the late rounds of most drafts and he will likely be well worth the pick. Getting the former Buc in the later rounds is most definitely getting the most bang for your buck. 3.) Isaiah Crowell (NYJ): This is a guy that I am super high on but I do not want to over promise so I am putting him right in the middle. Crowell never really got the respect he deserved while in Cleveland, not only from a fantasy standpoint, but as a player. Now that he has signed with the New York Jets, he still isn t getting the recognition he deserves. Write it down now, you heard it here first, Isaiah Crowell is going to dominate this year. Towards the end of his time with the Browns, we saw glimpses of what is to come and it is enough to have fantasy owners salivating. Only problem is, no one knows about it yet. This is probably the weakest Patriots defensive line we have seen in a while, the Dolphins just got rid of Suh, the Bills are still trying to tweak their defensive line. This is the time to be a running back for the Jets. Not to mention, Rick Dennison is now the run game coordinator for the Jets. If you don t know who Dennison is, he was the orchestrator of the great year Lesean McCoy just had in Buffalo. Bottom line is, Crowell will be a steal. 2.) Alex Collins (BAL): Collins made a name for himself in 2017, as he had a great breakout season in Baltimore. As a whole, Baltimore s offense has been disappointing and dismal but that is mainly due to the inefficient passing game. With additions like Michael Crabtree and Willie Snead, the pass attack

6 looks to be more dangerous heading into This should allow Collins to have more opportunities on the field and take attention from in both on the ground and in the air. 1.) Royce Freeman (DEN): Another rookie running back on the list, although this rookie looks to make more of an immediate impact. Freeman, the Broncos third round pick, looks to fill the shoes of C.J. Anderson, who Denver cut earlier in the offseason. Freeman will compete with third year back Devontae Booker for carries and the starting spot, but things look bright for the rookie regardless. Even if Freeman does not end up in the starting role, he should still get a significant amount of carries to at least get him in the conversation of a decent fantasy flex back. If Freeman does end up starting, he will be a huge impact player, as this offensive line is improving year by year and with the addition of Case Keenum, there will actually be some hope in this offensive unit. Wide receivers: Avoid: This one is pretty straight forward, wide receivers aren t quarterbacks or running backs, but making sure you ve got some studs is still pretty important. There is generally a lot of misconception regarding wide receivers, because like quarterbacks, consistency is key. Even if you have a guy that doesn t pop off every week but still provides you some solid numbers week by week, those guys can still be very valuable. Here are a few guys that you are probably safer not drafting. 5.) Adam Thielen (MIN): After the year that Thielen had, it is difficult not to take him early in your fantasy draft. The surprise factor played a huge role in Thielen s success, as no one really expected him to have the impact he did on the Vikings passing game in Now that opposing defenses are aware and will be prepared for what Thielen brings to the table, the wideout may struggle putting up that same production we loved getting from him last season. Not to mention there are two new quarterbacks on the Vikings roster in which Thielen has no chemistry with. This is not a huge concern but it is something to consider. 4.) Kelvin Benjamin (BUF): Benjamin has been spotty in terms of fantasy points the last few seasons, battling a slew of injuries and struggling to get a significant number of targets from his quarterback. When the Buffalo Bills traded for Benjamin at the midway point of the season last year, they spent the remaining eight games figuring out how to fit the 6 5 monster into their awkwardly conservative passing game. This year, expect to see new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll go to Benjamin more frequently, but with the uncertainty at the quarterback position for Buffalo and Benjamin s injury history, he is a bit of a fantasy turnoff. 3.) Martavis Bryant (OAK):

7 With great sadness I put Bryant s name on the list. I was ecstatic when he finally got traded to Oakland because this seemed to be the big break he needed to get himself in the WR1 competition. With a struggling Amari Cooper and an aging Jordy Nelson, Bryant was in perfect position to take over for the Raiders. But with reports of him having an extremely hard time learning the playbook and Derek Carr s infatuation with Jordy Nelson, all hope may be lost for Bryant. 2.) Devante Parker (MIA): Now that Jarvis Landry is out of the picture in Miami, head coach Adam Gase and the Dolphins turned to Parker to take the lead role in that passing attack. To Dolphins fans duress, Gase has come out saying on numerous occasions that he is not impressed with Parker s development, leadership, or dedication to the game. Technically, Parker is still the WR1 in Miami, but you ve been warned. 1.) Doug Baldwin (SEA): I m going to start sounding like a broken record, but I m going to say this one more time. Be wary of all Seahawks players because their offensive line is terrible. Alright, now that that is out of the way, we can get down to business. Usually I would be super supportive of drafting Baldwin, although sometimes he is valued for more than he is worth. But now, after coming out and saying he doesn t think his knee will be 100% at all this year, I am staying away from Baldwin in every one of my drafts. You can t catch the ball if you aren t on the field. With that uncertainty looming over him the entire year, you might want to look elsewhere. Draft: If you plan on stockpiling running backs and wide receivers, these guys will be great additions to your team in mid to late rounds. These players are all what we consider low-risk high-reward, meaning that taking these players later in your draft will be a huge benefit because they are all in position to have spectacular seasons in 2018, but most of them are flying under the radar. 5.) John Ross (CIN): After a very rocky first year in the league, Ross may be in good shape to turn things around in He has shown glimpses of great play in the preseason, and we are finally starting to see some of that speed that the Bengals drafted him for. If he truly can carve out a role as Andy Dalton s deep threat, Ross will be a very valuable late round pick that could end up being a difference maker in your league. 4.) Paul Richardson (WAS): The former Seattle Seahawk signed with the Redskins this offseason and looks to be their primary deep threat in the pass game. Richardson had a pretty dismal career in his first three years in the league but made a decent jump in his contract year with Seattle, setting career highs in receptions, yards, and touchdowns. With Alex Smith stepping in as quarterback, we can only hope that the Redskins will use Richardson the way the Chiefs used Tyreek Hill as their

8 deep threat when Smith was their signal caller. No one is talking about Richardson now, but he may end up being a high end flex position player. 3.) Cooper Kupp (LAR): Sean McVay solidified his reputation as an offensive mastermind in 2017, as he completely turned around the Rams offense that ranked among worst in the league the previous year. By trading for Brandin Cooks and the emergence of Robert Woods, the pass attack is in good hands. But one component that not many people talk about is second year slot receiver, Cooper Kupp. Kupp had almost 900 yards and 6 touchdowns last season. Kupp might even be better in 2018 than he was last year. If he is available in the fourth or fifth round, don t be afraid to take him. 2.) Marquise Goodwin (SF): In 2017, we got a glimpse of what head coach Kyle Shanahan planned to do with Goodwin in the offense. With Garoppolo under center there is a lot of hype surrounding this 49er s offensive unit. Goodwin is a speedy deep threat and will likely be one of Garoppolo s favorite targets. Goodwin led the team in red zone targets and nearly recorded 1,000 receiving yards and only played 5 games with Garoppolo, so you have to assume that forgoing any possible injury, Goodwin will be a big time producer in ) Devin Funchess (CAR): With only Greg Olsen having more experience and chemistry with starting quarterback Cam Newton, Funchess looks to build upon the great year he had last season. In his third year in the league, Funchess made a huge jump, nearly doubling his targets, receptions, touchdowns, and yards. With the additions of Torrey Smith and D.J. Moore, Funchess won t be Newton s only target anymore. In light of a major injury, it would be surprising if Funchess didn t continue to be a strong starting fantasy receiver option. Tight Ends Avoid: In fantasy football, tight ends are very similar to quarterbacks. If you don t have the elite guys, you re just looking for someone consistent who can hold down the fort. Basically, if they are a starting tight end and their quarterback isn t complete trash they should be solid fantasy performers. That being said, here are the players that are farther down on that solid tight end list. 5.) Delanie Walker (TEN): It has been very impressive to see Walker maintain his high level of productivity even into his old age. Over the past few seasons we have started to see his fantasy production dwindle and we ve been wondering when to stop drafting Walker so high or even drafting him at all. This might be the year folks. Walker will be 34 heading into the 2018 season and don t expect his numbers to go up. If anything, you can expect his production to dip. Although he has been

9 Marcus Mariota s go-to target, Walker may end up being a high end injury risk throughout the season. He may be a solid late round pick for the backup tight end position but that is it. 4.) Jermaine Gresham (AZ): Gresham has been anything but a solid fantasy tight end the past couple of seasons. The last two seasons, Gresham has combined for about 650 yards and 4 touchdowns. That does not hold up in fantasy and will not help you on your road to becoming champion of your league. Gresham may come out of the shadows in Steve Wilks new scheme but until he does, you may want to avoid him. 3.) Ryan Griffin (HOU): As a whole, Griffin has not done much throughout his career but with the retirement of C.J. Fiedorowicz, Griffin is expected to assume the starting role. Griffin may be a late bloomer and have a breakout season at age 28, but it is unlikely. Despite being the best option for the Texans, don t expect much of Griffin. 2.) Dwayne Allen (NE): As long as Dwayne Allen is in a New England Patriots uniform you can count on him being an unproductive fantasy option. Allen had only 10 catches for 86 yards and 1 touchdown in 2017 and was mainly used as a blocking tight end. He was the star of the show in Indy but has quickly been humbled by the dynasty of the Patriots that has forced him into a mainly blocking tight end role. 1.) Hayden Hurst (BAL): Although Hurst was the first first round pick for the Baltimore Ravens this year, his college stats are a bit worrisome. In his three years of college football, Hurst only managed three touchdown receptions. You never know how a player s game will translate into the NFL but those stats are not very impressive. Hurst may have a hard time developing into an NFL tight end. He will likely not make any significant impact on fantasy teams, but may be useful in some PPR leagues. Draft: To conclude the article, here are the tight ends that might burst out of the gate to have a big year this year. Most of these guys are just young players in great positions to shine. 5.) Eric Ebron (IND): The former Detroit Lion was a very underrated signing for the Indianapolis Colts this offseason. Frank Reich got the most out of his tight ends while he was in Philadelphia so Ebron and Jack Doyle will be hot pickups. Ebron has been inconsistent thus far in his career but is looking for a second chance after the Lions cut him this winter. Ebron can be a solid backup tight end and may even sneak into that starting tight end or flex position spot. 4.) Tyler Higbee (LAR) :

10 Higbee has made strides in each of his two seasons in the league and looks to improve even more in For Higbee and the Rams, the addition of Brandin Cooks means absolutely everything. Cooks along with Robert Woods, will ease defenders off of Higbee and allow him space to open up in the middle of the field or in the endzone. Expect Higbee to make the next step this year. 3.) Evan Engram (NYG): Last season, Engram was forced to have a breakout season as a rookie due to all of the injuries faced by the New York Giants. With Odell Beckham Jr. and Sterling Shepard coming back from major injuries and the addition of Saquon Barkley, Engram won t be the only target out their for Eli Manning. New head coach Pat Shurmur, is an offensive guru and orchestrated the Vikings offense a year ago. This offense should be fun to watch and Engram will be a crucial part of this pass attack and will be a great red zone threat. 2.) Mike Gesicki (MIA): On a roster that has little to be happy about in the passing game, Gesicki looks to be one of the only bright spots as a rookie. Gesicki might be the best tight end the Dolphins have had in a while and he sure has a lot of fantasy potential. He may not jump out to a hot start but he may develop into a solid fantasy starter. 1.) David Njoku (CLE): The Browns have had a whirlwind of an offseason and they are ready to win a game. Last year Njoku was productive but didn t get a lot of recognition because his team lost every game. The second year tight end is now surrounded by pro-bowl talent in Josh Gordon and Jarvis Landry and now has a decent starting quarterback throwing him the ball in Tyrod Taylor. It is no secret that Tyrod loves his tight ends, as Charles Clay has been one of the team leaders in receiving yards the past three seasons the two spent in Buffalo together. With a solid signal caller under center and a pair of star receivers to take defensive pressure off of him, Njoku should eat this season, especially in the endzone.