
Introduction
While it is not a particularly busy time in the dynasty season, savvy dynasty owners can make trades now to target players with a good chance of increasing in value after free agency and the draf play out. In addition, now may be the last opportunity to trade some veterans before changes to their situation over the next few months that could cause their value to plummet. Now is a time of uncertainty with many player values in flux pending free agency and the NFL draft. Uncertainty breeds opportunity and educated deductions about the way free agency will play out and what positions each team is most likely to target in the draft are the biggest key to finding value.
As detailed in previous iterations of my Dynasty Trade Value articles, each player is assigned a numerical trade value (Antonio Brown for example is worth 51) which should serve as a strong approximation of each player's true dynasty value. The number is calculated by summing the expected per game VBD of each each player for the 2015 season (Brown is expected to outscore a replacement level WR by 11 PPG and thus his 2015 value is 11) and each player's value in 2016 and beyond (Brown's is 40).
One of the primary purposes of calculating a numerical value for each player is to provide an easy way for dynasty owners to check to see if they are receiving equal (or superior) value in return for their trade assets. Simply sum the value of each player on both sides of a potential trade and a "winner" can be determined. As long as trades check out to be within a few points on each side, it should be considered a "fair trade" for both parties.
The one big difference between the early offseason version of this article and the in-season versions is that instead of relying upon the Top 200 Forward by Bob Henry and specific statisical projections for players, I lean more heavily on other sources to try to best determine the 2015 player values. One source I have leaned on heavily is the ADP data from early MFL10 drafts. This ADP data is more valuable than normal because the players drafting in MFL10s right now are the hardcore fantasy owners with generally high levels of knowledge. This is a strong summary of the conventional wisdom of which players are most likely to perform at high levels next season and helps to rank the players by position. For players with high boom/bust potential (Justin Forsett for example) due to free agency or other factors, the MFL10 ADP does a good job of splitting the difference between the upside and downside as players attempt to balance risk and reward. Other data such as past performance and some expert projections was also factored in to come up with the 2015 value numbers.
Other differences between this early offseason version of the article and previous versions are:
1. I have included approximate values of 2015 rookie picks because many trades at this time of the year revolve around rookie draft choices.
2. I have written summaries for each of the top 75 players overall to give some insight as to why players are ranked and valued where they are.
3. The Longevity Factors for each position (a component of future value) are 0.5 smaller than during the season because 2016 and beyond are further away and more owners are focused upon short-term value at this point in the calendar than during the regular season.
4. I have adjusted the Longevity Factor for TEs down a little bit in relation to other positions. The recent data on the occurence of injuries to TEs points to the position suffering more injuries than any other fantasy position and that needs to be taken into account when valuing TEs in a similar way to how we account for the potential for RB injuries.
The Value of 2015 Rookie Picks
1.01- 25
1.02- 22
1.03- 19
1.04- 17
1.05- 15
1.06- 12
1.07- 10
1.08- 8
1.09- 7
1.10--1.12- 5 or 6
2nd round (early)- 4
2nd round (mid)- 3
2nd round (late)- 2
3rd round- 1
The above listed values are approximations based upon the information known at this time. There are multiple strong candidates for the 1.01 in rookie drafts and the top rookie (after landing spots are determined in the NFL draft) should find himself as a top 20 dynasty asset immediately and the 1.01 should be valued as such in any currents trades. While these values serve as my best approximations as to the current true value of the specific picks, I would like to note that I tend to believe that rookie picks are slightly undervalued by most dynasty owners in comparison to other young players (particularly the players who were rookies last season). When in doubt, go with the draft picks because there is a lot of upside and the downside is limited as long as you sell within a year.
While the landing spots (particularly for RBs) will impact the values of each pick, after the combine it seems as though there is perhaps an elite tier emerging with three WRs (Cooper, White and Parker) and two RBs (Gurley and Gordon). Thus, the top five picks should be valued at a little bit of a premium with a small tier break before 1.06. Though QB and TE are particularly weak, the RB and WR class both look to be deep with talent. Thus, there is an argument that can be made to bump the value of the late 1st rounders and 2nd rounders by a point each to account for the unusual depth of the 2015 class.
The Top 75 Overall
1. (51) WR Antonio Brown- Daily fantasy has helped put the week-to-week value of Antonio Brown in the proper perspective as he is the top WR option most weeks. Put him in your lineup in any given week and you know you are nearly guaranteed above average production. Not only is Brown safe, but he also has as much ability as any player out there to put up a massive score that single handedly wins you the week. In terms of upside, there is a very real argument for a younger player like Odell Beckham, Jr. over Brown. With similar production, Beckham, Jr. would be more valuable simply due to having more prime years left than Brown. However, when it comes to balancing risk and reward, Brown wins the day because he has two full years of performing as fantasy's top WR and is simply a safer bet going forward than the younger guys. At age 26, Brown is not likely to slow down anytime soon either.
2. (48) WR Odell Beckham Jr- Has there ever been a more meteoric rise than Beckham's? He went from somewhat of a dynasty afterthought in October to arguably the most valuable asset in all of fantasy less than three months later. Due to the small sample size of what we have seen from Beckham, Jr., it is hard to fault a more risk adverse player for ranking him a handful of spots lower. For a less risk adverse player, it is hard to argue against taking Beckham, Jr. with the 1.01 in a startup draft. Overall, Beckham, Jr. has done enough to quickly earn his place amongst the elite players in all of dynasty. Not only was his rookie production astounding, but Beckham, Jr. passed the "eye test" with flying colors. He should be a mainstay near the top of the WR1 ranks for many, many years.
3. (44) WR Dez Bryant- Speaking of the "eye test," there is perhaps no player more impressive than Dez Bryant. Like Antonio Brown, he has established himself as a high-end WR1 over multiple seasons and still has many years of his prime ahead of him. His status as a free agent throws a little bit of uncertainty into the equation. However, it is very hard to see the Cowboys letting Bryant get away either this season (franchise tag) or anytime in the near future. Furthermore, Bryant is such a talent that he is not dependent upon Tony Romo or his situation in Dallas for his value. So unlike some others (Randall Cobb, Demaryius Thomas, Julius Thomas, etc.), his value would likely not drop too precipitously (if at all) should he eventually make his way out of Dallas.
4. (41) RB LeVeon Bell- Bell has seperated himself from the pack at RB by a good margin and is clearly the top dynasty runner. Generally, it makes sense to value the elite WRs ahead of the elite RBs but Bell is the one potential exception to the rule. Bell's extreme youth, elite production and exceptional skillset (especially for PPR formats) make him the rare RB valued right alongside the elite dynasty WRs.
5. (41) WR Julio Jones- The only chink in the armor for Jones has been his tendency to struggle with injuries. The injury issue is the one factor separating him just slightly from the WRs ranked above him. Despite the injuries, Jones still ranks as a top five dynasty asset because he is a freakish talent just entering his prime years. In addition, he is paired with an oustanding QB and plays over half of his games every season in domes.
6. (40) WR Mike Evans- Like Beckham, Jr., Evans has the potential to put up elite production for the next decade. For an owner willing to take a little bit of a risk, Evans has a strong argument to be ranked even higher. His production for his age and obvious physical talents stand out as special. Evans' long-term value is likely to be tied to some extent to either Jameis Winston or Marcus Mariotta since the Bucs are likely to go with a QB first overall this spring.
7. (40) WR A.J. Green- Green's dynasty value seems to be down just slightly after suffering through an injury-plagued 2014 season. However, he is still firmly entrenched in the elite tier of dynasty players, basically on par with Bell, Jones, and Evans. Green is an elite WR who is not at all QB-dependent and just entering his prime years.
8. (34) TE Rob Gronkowski- Gronkowski is an undeniably great talent. On pace to be one of the all-time greats. His trade value being just below elite is based almost exclusively upon positional factors. Specifically, no position has more regularly taken injury hits like the TE position. Even moreso than RB, the TE position in the NFL leads to injuries at an astounding level. Downgrading RBs in dynasty due to injury potential is a well-accepted principal amongst top dynasty players and should become an accepted principal with regard to TEs as well. Gronkowski is no different than any of the other top dynasty TEs in that he has spent a great deal of time on the IR throughout his career. Every player can suffer an injury, but Gronkowski is statistically more likely to be out with injury before the fantasy playoffs next year than any of the seven guys ranked ahead of him.
9. (34) QB Andrew Luck- Arguably the safest player to own in all of dynasty is Andrew Luck. All evidence points towards Luck being an elite fantasy QB for the next decade. Over the long haul, Luck should exceed all but the most elite players at other positions in terms of career VBD. An owner must be willing to take the long view if drafting a QB this early however as Luck (and all the other QBs) are unlikely to produce VBD on par with the top RB, WR and TE in any given season.
10. (33) WR Demaryius Thomas- How much is Thomas' elite WR1 production dependent upon Peyton Manning? That is the question dynasty owners must ask because soon Thomas will not be on the receiving end of passes from one of the all-time greats. This ranking assumes some fall off post-Manning but that Thomas will still remain a WR1, though more of a lower-end WR1 option in 2016 and beyond.
11. (31) WR Alshon Jeffery- Jeffery is a undoubtedly a talented young WR. Is he an elite talent or was his monstrous 2013 somewhat fluky? Will his numbers go up or down if he no longer has Brandon Marshall on the other side of the field? There are enough questions to knock Jeffery out of the elite tier, but he is near the top of the 2nd tier of dynasty WRs.
12. (30) WR T.Y. Hilton- Hilton has such a high floor from week-to-week in PPR leagues and the potential to post huge numbers at least a few games every year. This ranking is probably higher than most will have him, but this is a case where the numbers don't lie. Luck-to-Hilton should be a very productive pairing for fantasy owners for a long time.
13. (29) RB Eddie Lacy- The clear #2 dynasty RB came on strong down the stretch after a slow start. Has not put together a truly monster season yet which is the primary thing keeping him from ranking even higher.
14. (29) WR Sammy Watkins- The talent was obvious as a rookie but there may not be a worse QB situation in the league and that is not likely to improve anytime soon. In addition, Watkins did not show the route running chops that fellow rookie Beckham, Jr. did. There is a bit more risk here than many want to acknowledge and it would not be a shock to look back at this time next year and question how we all had Watkins so highly ranked.
15. (29) WR Calvin Johnson- Johnson is an incredible talent but age catches up to everyone in the form of injuries and losing a step. The injuries have begun to pile up for Johnson and expect him to lose a little bit of the explosiveness that has made him so special in the next year or two. Still a force when healthy and a guy who you can ride to championships for the next couple seasons. However two years from now his value is not going to be on the same level as guys like Bryant, Green, and Jones which is why they are a full tier higher in dynasty rankings that take into account future projections.
16. (29) WR DeAndre Hopkins- While 2014 was a brutal year for most of the 2013 rookie WR class (Austin, Patterson, Hunter, etc.), Hopkins avoided the sophomore slump and took his game to a higher level. Hopkins came into the league very young and still has more upside and is likely to continue to improve. The only thing keeping Hopkins just a notch below some of the young guys ahead of him is that he is not the freaky physical athlete that most of those other young WRs are which caps his upside just a bit.
17. (26) WR Jordy Nelson- Nelson is in a similar boat to Calvin Johnson in that he is likely to put up huge numbers the next two to three years. After that, it is likely his production falls off fairly quickly. Worth more to contenders than squads that are rebuilding.
18. (26) QB Aaron Rodgers- The clearcut #2 dynasty behind only Luck. Rodgers is the gold standard of fantasy QBs and shows no signs of slowing down as he enters his early 30s. His age is less of a concern than other positions as elite QBs have been regularly producing into their late 30s.
19. (24) WR Randall Cobb- Cobb is a tough guy to rank pre-free agency. He is reportedly seeking $9M per year on the open market. It is not a crazy amount that makes it impossible for the Packers to keep him and odds are he stays in Green Bay. If a Green Bay extension is finalized, his value goes up a little bit (bump him up 5-6 points of value) as there is no better spot for WRs than catching passes from Rodgers. If he leaves, his value could potentially plummet depending upon the landing spot.
20. (23) TE Jimmy Graham- Graham has proven unable to make it through a full season completely healthy. Especially frustrating for fantasy owners is that Graham amasses a huge portion of his production in the early part of the season. However, by the time the playoffs roll around, he has been "just a guy." Still the clear #2 dynasty TE and Graham could set records if he ever has a season in which he avoids getting dinged up.
21. (22) WR Kelvin Benjamin- Benjamin is tough to rank. On the one hand, he obviously is a talented player and his big rookie season proves he is a valuable fantasty player. He is probably locked in long term as Cam Newton's #1 WR and is likely to be a red zone terror throughout his career and a guy who regularly notches double-digit TDs. On the other hand, Benjamin did suffer through drops and inconsistency in 2014 and it took a whole lot of targets to produce the counting numbers he put up. Can he put up similar or bigger numbers if Carolina adds a legit #2 WR? Is there a chance that he is one of those guys who never equals his rookie production? This ranking splits the difference a little bit.
22. (19) RB Jamaal Charles- Charles recently turned 28 and it's no secret that he is nearing the age when RBs usually fall off a cliff. Can Charles beat the odds to a certain extent? Perhaps. His receiving ability helps but Charles is also a guy who could fall off fast if he loses a step. For now, enjoy what should be another huge season in 2015 and hope for the same in 2016. Anything beyond that should be viewed as gravy.
23. (18) RB Jeremy Hill- Hill passed the eye test with flying colors as a rookie in 2014. He emerged as a major weapon over the 2nd half of the season with the ability to pound it between the tackles and enough speed to break quite a few long runs. The presence of Giovani Bernard in Cincinnati is a mixed blessing for Hill. It limits his short-term upside as he is going to split snaps and likely won't put up big receiving totals with Bernard the go-to 3rd down option. From a longer-term perspective, Bernard's presence should help the Bengals avoid the temptation of running Hill into the ground with too many touches. Hill is a fairly safe bet to have a long and productive career but don't expect the 350+ touch seasons that make for truly elite RB1 production.
24. (17) QB Russell Wilson- This admittedly feels a little high for Wilson. Is he a big fantasy difference-maker? Not really. However, Wilson has a few things in his favor that make him a sneaky bet to live up to this lofty ranking. First, his rushing ability is a wild card that few of the other top QBs can match and provides the few extra PPG of separation that value is built upon. Second, Wilson is one of the few players who you can likely plug into your starting lineup and have him remain there for a decade and with many of the other top QBs entering their mid or late-30s, that is important. Lastly, Wilson wouldn't be the first QB who becomes more of a fantasty threat later in his career. We've seen it happen with Drew Brees, Tom Brady, Matt Ryan, Ben Roethlisberger and others. When Marshawn Lynch retires, expect Wilson to shoulder more of the load and produce some top 3 QB seaons.
25. (16) RB DeMarco Murray- Some will rank Murray much higher, but there is so much uncertainty for all of the free agent RBs right now. The rookie RB class is loaded and the ability to add one of those players on a dirt cheap contract has to look extremely attractive for teams in need of a RB. As a GM, do you want to spend a 2nd or 3rd round pick on a talented 21-year-old with fresh legs and pay him a million per year or invest a lot of money in a 27-year-old coming off of a 400+ touch season? The answer seems pretty obvious and it would not surprise to see Murray find less of a market than expected. Perhaps that leads to a return to Dallas (which would be the best case scenario for fantasty owners) on a reasonable deal. Or perhaps he ends up in Jacksonville as all of the contenders with tight cap space balk at paying his asking price.
26. (16) RB LeSean McCoy- McCoy is still pretty young (turns 27 this summer), but he came into the league at a young age and has amassed a lot of touches over the past few seasons. He looked like he lost a step last year and Chip Kelly does not appear to be the sentimental type. If he senses he can get similar production from an inexpensive rookie and create nearly $10 Million in cap space by cutting McCoy, he won't hesitate to make the move. Like Jamaal Charles, expect a good 2015 and hope for the same in 2016, but expecting any big production beyond that is probably unwise.
27. (15) WR Keenan Allen- Allen suffered through a bit of a sophomore slump. He was still relatively productive but did not find the end zone often and was unable to build on the momentum of his monster 2013 second-half. It's pretty safe to say already that Keenan Allen will be a fantasy factor for quite a long time. The question though revolves around how much upside he has and whether or not he ever develops into a fantasty WR1 or if his ceiling is more along the lines of a solid WR2.
28. (15) WR Jordan Matthews- Matthews had a productive rookie year and will be a popular candidate for those forecasting major 2015 breakouts. It certainly could happen. Or Matthews could settle in as just one of many solid players in the Eagles offense with hit or miss production from week-to-week. Keep a close eye on what happens with Jeremy Maclin. If Maclin signs an extension in Philadelphia it somewhat caps Matthews' upside. If Maclin moves on in free agency, it may be time to warm up the hype train.
29. (15) WR Brandin Cooks- Cooks is another extremely difficult player to rank because there is so much guesswork involved. Brees likes to spread the ball around and with Graham, Kenny Stills, Nick Toon, Marques Colston and Brandin Cooks (amongst others), he has plenty of weapons at his disposal. Cooks was a very young rookie and showed flashes of potentially becoming an elite playmaker. It wouldn't shock to see him emerge into a fantasy star and far exceed this ranking. It also wouldn't shock if he is just one of the guys in the Saints offense going forward and his ranking in the top-30 overall looks foolish in hindsight.
30. (13) QB Cam Newton- Newton is in a similar boat to Russell Wilson. Much of his fantasy value is based upon his running ability. Even with his rushing ability, he needs to put up better passing stats going forward to really seperate from the pack at QB and be an elite fantasy player. Whether that happens is in large part dependent upon if Carolina's front office can fix the atrocious offensive line play and continue to surround Newton with weapons.
31. (13) WR Jeremy Maclin- Maclin's relatively young age and 2014 production would seem to indicate that he should be valued more highly. However, he is a free agent and it is unclear where he will land. How much of his value is dependent upon maintaining his role in Chip Kelly's offensive system? Like Randall Cobb, if Maclin signs an extension with his current club, his value probably bumps up 5 or 6 points. If he doesn't, he probably loses some value (how much depends where exactly he lands).
32. (13) TE Travis Kelce- With most of the promising young TEs suffering through disappointing, injury-plagued seasons in 2014, Kelce was one of the last men standing. Kelce's talent is clear and over the 2nd half of the season his production finally started to match the talent. The upside is obvious and for that reason (along with a lack of competition amongst the dynasty ranks), Kelce ranks as the #3 dynasty TE. However, Andy Reid is extremely frustrating with how he uses players at times and it is possible that Kelce ends up being more hit or miss than his owners hope in the Chiefs offense.
33. (12) RB Tre Mason- Mason is a little bit of a boom or bust option. Would it shock to see the Rams draft another RB fairly early and make Mason part of a timeshare? Not really. Would it shock to see Mason take the starting job and run with it? Not really. Mason is very young and showed enough glimpses in 2014 that he possesses real upside. Especially if the Rams can finally get solid QB play and Greg Robinson lives up to his draft position on the offensive line.
34. (12) WR Davante Adams- Randall Cobb's free agency landing spot will have a big impact on the value of Adams. If Cobb signs an extension in Green Bay, Adams is likely stuck as the 3rd WR for the foreseeable future. He could still be productive in that role, but will probably not have the weekly production to justify a high dynasty ranking. If Cobb walks as a free agent, expect Adams's value to skyrocket. In fact, if Cobb leaves the Adams hype might get out of control.
35. (12) WR Donte Moncrief- Moncrief is an upside play that could end up burning owners in the long run. Is Moncrief the next Cordarelle Patterson/Justin Hunter type of WR who shows flashes as a rookie but doesn't put it together early in his career like his owners hoped? Or is Moncrief going to develop into the co-#1 alongside T.Y. Hilton in the explosive Colts passing offense? The truth is likely somewhere in between and watching whether the Colts look to add any WRs in free agency or the draft should provide some clues as to just how high the organization is on Moncrief.
36. (12) WR Allen Robinson- Another member of the incredible WR Class of 2014, Robinson was emerging into a legitimate fantasy factor before suffering a stress fracture in his foot that landed him on injured reserve. Robinson showed a strong chemistry with fellow rookie QB Blake Bortles and his youth (Robinson turns 22 in August) likely means there is a great deal of upside possible. While Robinson certainly showed flashes as a rookie, he was seeing an incredibly high percentage of the passing targets in the Jaguars offense due to injuries to most of the other WRs. Do not assume his production will take a huge leap going forward as Robinson will have more competition for targets going forward.
37. (11) WR Emmanuel Sanders- While Sanders is right in the middle of his prime years (turns 28 soon), he almost has to be valued like an older player due to the fact that so much of his value seems tied to Peyton Manning. Sanders made little impact his first four years despite playing with a very talented QB in Pittsburgh before turning into an elite fantasy WR1 in Denver last season. Expect another big year in 2015, but his production in 2016 and beyond is hard to predict with any degree of confidence without knowing who will be throwing him the ball.
38. (10) RB Matt Forte- Forte had another monster season in 2014 despite turning 29 in December. He is poised to have another big year in 2015, but it will be interesting to see how much his receiving numbers suffer under a new coaching staff. As it stands, expect a very good 2015 from Forte but don't expect too much in 2016 and beyond.
39. (10) RB C.J. Anderson- Anderson is tough to rank due to some uncertainty regarding his role going forward. It seems as though he should be the starter in 2015 after strong play down the stretch in 2014, but nothing can be taken for granted. There is a new coaching staff and it is possible that Montee Ball forces his way into a committee. In a dynasty landscape where nearly all the RBs have questions and concerns, Anderson is a great player to gamble on however. There is real upside here that makes it worth the risk at his current prices.
40. (10) RB Arian Foster- Foster proved his doubters wrong with another strong season in 2014 (though he did miss some time with injuries). Foster is a difference-maker when healthy and should be in line for another very good season. However, he does turn 29 during training camp and has logged a ton of touches over the past five seasons so the wheels could fall off at any time. Enjoy the ride while it lasts but try to snag Alfred Blue just in case.
41. (10) RB Carlos Hyde- Hyde's rookie numbers don't look great, but he showed a real burst and looked like a runner who deserves his shot as the starter. Will the 49ers bring back Gore again to split carries with Hyde? Will they add a runner in free agency or the draft to potentially form a committee? Bet on Hyde's talent to rise to the top and earn 300 carries eventually, but it is possible that 2015 could be a frustrating year for Hyde owners if the ageless Gore returns to San Francisco.
42. (9) WR Martavis Bryant- Can the Steelers offense support a fantasy star opposite Antonio Brown while Le'Veon Bell also gets more than 20 touches per game? That's the real question when it comes to Bryant's upside becomes it seems clear that he will be the Steelers' #2 WR going forward.
43. (9) QB Matt Ryan- Like Cam Newton, Ryan's fantasy upside hinges in large part upon what his team's front office can do to upgrade the talent around him. The offensive line suffered through injuries and poor play and the Falcons need to think about adding another young receiving weapon to complement Julio Jones.
44. (9) WR Jarvis Landry- Landry had 54 receptions in the final eight games of 2014. His monster second half only slid under the radar due to the exploits of his fellow rookie WRs (including college teammate Odell Beckham, Jr.). Landry is not a speedster and averaged 9.0 yards per catch in 2014, so his upside is somewhat limited. That being said, the 100-catch pace is impossible to ignore and Landry could put up Julian Edelman type numbers going forward in the Dolphins' emerging offense.
45. (9) QB Drew Brees- Brees had a surprisingly poor season in 2014 but still put up big fantasy numbers. There are few safer bets for QB1 fantasy production and despite his age, Brees has showed no signs of slowing down and should have a number of good seasons left.
46. (9) TE Julius Thomas- How much of Julius Thomas' production was due to Peyton Manning? With Thomas set to test free agent, odds are pretty good that we will soon get to learn the answer to that question. Like Eric Decker before him, Thomas may find big money but a much worse situation. Historically, TE production is largely tied to the QB and the passing offense, so Thomas' true value is a huge unknown as of today.
47. (8) RB Giovani Bernard- From a talent and age perspective, Bernard deserves to be much higher on this list. However, he looks to be stuck behind Jeremy Hill for at least the next couple years. With his talent as a pass catcher, Bernard should remain a RB2 option in PPR leagues but his owners' dreams of young Ray Rice type production have been dashed.
48. (8) RB Lamar Miller- Miller came on strong at the end of the 2014 season and seemed to finally find his groove in the Dolphins offense. Miller turns just 24 this spring, so he is just hitting his prime years. He is however entering the last year of his rookie deal and it would not surprise to see the Dolphins add a RB on Day 2 of the NFL draft. Should Miami not add any serious competition for Miller this offseason, his value would go up a few points but it could also fall a few points if they do add another good young runner.
49. (8) WR Golden Tate- Tate put up surprisingly strong numbers when Calvin Johnson was out with injury but fairly pedestrian numbers when Johnson was healthy. If searching for upside, Tate is probably not your guy. He will not get enough targets opposite Johnson to be a WR1 (and probably not even a high-end WR2). However, he is likely to out-produce most of the young WRs listed ahead of him and there is value in having a safe WR2 or WR3 option to plug into your lineup every week going forward.
50. (8) WR Julian Edelman- Edelman turns 29 soon and has suffered some injuries over the years (including some concussions), so he is probably not going to be highly productive for many more years. It was impossible not to be impressed with Edelman's performances in the 2014 playoffs though and he and Brady have a real connection. Expection at least a couple more strong PPR seasons from Edelman.
51. (7) RB Andre Ellington- Was Ellington miscast as a lead back in Arizona or will he be able to maintain the role going forward? Odds are the Cardinals at least hedge their bets by adding a talented back in free agency or the draft. Even if Ellington does find himself in a timeshare going forward, his pass catching and big-play ability could still allow him to put up strong fantasy production without regularly logging 20 touches per game.
52. (7) RB Latavius Murray- Murray showed flashes of the talent last year that excited dynasty owners when he was drafted in 2013 and looks poised to possibly be the lead back in an improving Oakland offense. Murray has the talent to match Carlos Hyde, Tre Mason and some of the other talented young backs and just needs the opportunity to showcase his skills. He may get it next season in Oakland but it is not a guarantee.
53. (7) RB Adrian Peterson- Peterson turns 30-years-old in March and essentially had to take a full year off. Were he any other RB, it would be easy to write him off as washed up. Peterson is obviously a special case though. Expect at least one more big season from Peterson and maybe more. Peterson is currently one of the most underrated dynasty assets and worth gambling on at this point.
54. (7) RB Marshawn Lynch- Is Lynch retiring or negotiation a multi-year extension? Lynch's owners are again left in limbo but the smart money is on Lynch coming back for at least one more season. There is enough uncertainty to knock him down the dynasty rankings a bit, but even one year of Lynch makes him a bargain at his current prices.
55. (7) WR Michael Floyd- Basing dynasty rankings on statistical projections has caused Floyd to be ranked lower here than anywhere else over the past year. At some point, a WR just needs to put up stats and it does not matter if he looks good in a uniform. Floyd is entering his fourth season and is still not a player who can be counted on to contribute to fantasy victories. Perhaps there is a golden parachute out there somewhere after Larry Fitzgerald eventually moves on but Floyd's value will continue to fall the longer he goes without producing.
56. (7) WR Brandon Marshall- Usually it is the RBs who just fall off of a cliff and the WRs who tend to age gracefully, but Marshall looks to be a potential exception to the rule. His age 30 season in 2014 was an injury-marred disaster. Marshall has always been a tough guy for his coaches and teammates to deal with (hence his being traded twice in his prime) but the juice was worth the squeeze when Marshall was one of the best WRs in the NFL. As he enters his age 31 season, the Bears are considering cutting ties with Marshall who would be left looking for his 4th team. Marshall is still a playmaker but is clearly on the downside of his career and it could be a harder fall than other lower-maintenance WRs experience.
57. (7) QB Ben Roethlisberger- Roethlisberger is a bit of an anomaly in that he is having a fantasy breakout in his 30s, notching by far the best season of his career at age 32. Roethlisberger exceeded his career high in passing yards by more than 600 last season. Is this the new normal for Roethlisberger with Antonio Brown, Martavis Bryant and Le'Veon Bell at his disposal or a one year anomaly? Roethlisberger is a great bet at his current prices because if he can produce more seasons like 2014, he will be a real value for his dynasty owners.
58. (7) QB Teddy Bridgewater- Bridgewater is one of the young QBs best poised to step into the fantasy void that will be left when guys like Peyton Manning and Tom Brady finally retire (or see their production fall off). Bridgewater had a promising rookie season and if the Vikings can solidify his offensive line and continue adding weapons in the passing game, Bridgewater has a chance to emerge as a fantasy QB1 in the coming years.
59. (7) QB Matthew Stafford- Stafford has been a QB1 for most of the past three seasons and should remain a fantasy factor as long as he is throwing to Calvin Johnson. With the improvement of the Lions defense however, Stafford was cast more in the role of game manager in 2014 instead of the gun slinger that had to win shootouts. Can the Lions afford to keep their talented defense together or will they have to lean more heavily on Stafford, Johnson, Tate and Ebron going forward?
60. (7) WR Torrey Smith- Smith has been more valuable on the football field for the Ravens than he has been for his fantasy owners. His speed keeps opposing defenses honest and should earn him a big contract this spring in free agency. It is possible he lands in a more favorable spot in free agency but even if he does, he is likely to remain an inconsistent big play threat that fails to provide consistent fantasy production in PPR leagues.
61. (7) TE Dwayne Allen- Allen is near the top of the deep 2nd tier of fantasy TEs. This tier has a lot of younger guys who have shown some flashes but failed to stay healthy and provide consistent production. Allen has proven to be a red zone threat for Andrew Luck but there are a lot of mouths to feed in the Indianapolis offense.
62. (6) RB Alfred Morris- Morris has had back-to-back seasons where his production landed just above "replacement level." There is some value in having a RB on your roster who can get you 12 PPG, but it's not worth the price that Morris still fetches.
63. (6) TE Zach Ertz- Ertz is another of the "pick your poison" group of young TEs. He exploded with 15 receptions in Week 16 to somewhat salvage an otherwise disappointing sophomore season. Ertz has a lot of competition for targets and loses playing time due to his mediocre blocking ability but there is still upside there should Ertz get more snaps.
64. (6) WR Kenny Stills- Stills did not start to get significant snaps until Brandin Cooks went down with injury. When given the opportunity, Stills excelled and regularly produced game-changing catches. Stills is a talented young WR but Cooks is back and all the WRs take a backseat to Graham so week-to-week consistency could continue to be lacking going forward.
65. (6) WR Desean Jackson- Jackson is an extremely talented WR and big play threat but in the mediocre Washington offense only caught 56 balls in 2014. The 56 receptions are more in line with Jackson's career norms (with the exception of 2013 in Chip Kelly's offense) which leaves fantasy owners dependent upon big plays and the occasional long TD for weekly production.
66. (6) TE Greg Olsen- Olsen had the best season of his career in 2014 and was one of the top TEs in the league. However, Carolina is likely to add some talent at WR this offseason which makes it possible that Olsen won't see the 124 targets he received in 2014 and Olsen turns 30 this offseason. For dynasty owners not eager to take a chance on one of the myriad of younger upside TEs, Olsen provides a much safer short-term option at the same price.
67. (5) Tyler Eifert- Eifert looked great in the preseason and was poised for a big 2014 season with three catches against Baltimore in the first quarter of Week 1 when he went down with a dislocated elbow that kept him out of the rest of his sophomore season. Jermaine Gresham is expected to move on in free agency and Eifert will again have the opportunity to be a big part of the Bengals offense if he can stay healthy.
68. (5) TE Eric Ebron- Ebron suffered through rough rookie season that likely had the Lions wishing they would have drafted Odell Beckham, Jr. instead. TE is a notoriously difficult position for rookies to step in and make an immediate impact however, so there is still plenty of reason for optimism that Ebron breaks out in the coming years.
69. (5) TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins- Seferian-Jenkins had some injury issues that plagued his rookie season but even when healthy he was not a difference maker. Still, like Ebron he showed some flashes of talent and owners need to be patient with their young TEs.
70. (5) QB Ryan Tannehill- Tannehill has slowly but steadily improved through his first three years in the league and quietly passed for 4,000 yards last season. Tannehill also rushed for over 300 yards which allowed him to finish as a low end QB1 in 2014 at age 26. TE Charles Clay is a free agent and WR Mike Wallace might be released for cap reasons, so Tannehill could improve without seeing his numbers appreciate significantly in 2015.
71. (5) WR Victor Cruz- Cruz is a huge unknown coming off a potentially career-ending injury in 2014. While Cruz was gone, Odell Beckham, Jr. emerged in a major way so even if Cruz does come back near 100%, he will likely be only a secondary option in the Giants offense.
72. (5) TE Martellus Bennett- Bennett put up surprisingly big numbers in Bears coach Marc Trestman's Bears offense. Bennett has developed a nice rapport with QB Jay Cutler and could continue to produce even if the Bears become more run-heavy going forward. Expect some decrease in Bennett's production but he should remain a solid TE1 for the next couple years.
73. (5) WR John Brown- Brown outplayed more highly touted teammates Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd for long stretches of his rookie season. His talent level may dictate that he should be ranked higher but lack of opportunity as the WR3 in a mediocre offense with serious questions at QB limits Brown's upside for now.
74. (4) RB Isaiah Crowell- Crowell will be ranked much higher by many and is talented enough to far-exceed this ranking at the bottom of the Top 75. Crowell flashed the explosiveness that made him such a coveted recruit coming out of high school and had a respectable 4.1 YPC. He had a tough time separating himself from Terrance West in the Cleveland backfield and will have to prove himself again to a new offensive staff. Does Crowell have the character to put in the hard work necessary to improve and become a legitimate bellcow NFL RB?
75. (4) QB Tony Romo- While the counting numbers were not out of the ordinary for Romo, 2014 was his best season by a decent margin. With a strong offensive line to protect him, Romo showed off the big play ability without the mistakes and turnovers that had previously plagued his career. Romo turns 35 this offseason, but he should have quite a few good years left throwing to Dez Bryant.
Quarterback Detail
Rk | First | Last | Team | Contract | Age | 2015 | 2016+ | LF | FV | Total | rounded |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Andrew | Luck | IND | 2015 | 25 | 5 | 5 | 5.5 | 27.5 | 32.5 | 33 |
2 | Aaron | Rodgers | GB | 2019 | 31 | 5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 20.25 | 25.25 | 25 |
3 | Russell | Wilson | SEA | 2015 | 26 | 3 | 2.5 | 5.5 | 13.75 | 16.75 | 17 |
4 | Cam | Newton | CAR | 2015 | 26 | 2 | 2 | 5.5 | 11 | 13 | 13 |
5 | Drew | Brees | NO | 2016 | 36 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 6.25 | 9.75 | 10 |
6 | Matt | Ryan | ATL | 2018 | 30 | 2 | 1.5 | 4.5 | 6.75 | 8.75 | 9 |
7 | Ben | Roethlisberger | PIT | 2015 | 33 | 2 | 1.5 | 3.5 | 5.25 | 7.25 | 7 |
8 | Teddy | Bridgewater | MIN | 2017 | 22 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 4.5 | 6.75 | 7.25 | 7 |
9 | Matthew | Stafford | DET | 2017 | 27 | 1.5 | 1 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 7 | 7 |
10 | Ryan | Tannehill | MIA | 2015 | 26 | 1 | 1 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 5.5 | 6 |
11 | Tony | Romo | DAL | 2019 | 35 | 1.5 | 1 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 4 | 4 |
12 | Tom | Brady | NE | 2017 | 37 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
13 | Peyton | Manning | DEN | 2016 | 39 | 3 | 1 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 3.5 | 4 |
14 | Philip | Rivers | SD | 2015 | 33 | 1 | 0.5 | 3.5 | 1.75 | 2.75 | 3 |
15 | Derek | Carr | OAK | 2017 | 24 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 4.5 | 2.25 | 2.75 | 3 |
16 | Eli | Manning | NYG | 2015 | 34 | 1 | 0.5 | 2.5 | 1.25 | 2.25 | 2 |
17 | Joe | Flacco | BLT | 2017 | 30 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 3.5 | 1.75 | 2.25 | 2 |
18 | Colin | Kaepernick | SF | 2020 | 27 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 3.5 | 1.75 | 2.25 | 2 |
19 | Andy | Dalton | CIN | 2020 | 27 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 3.5 | 1.75 | 2.25 | 2 |
20 | Blake | Bortles | JAX | 2017 | 23 | 0 | 0.5 | 3.5 | 1.75 | 1.75 | 2 |
21 | Jay | Cutler | CHI | 2020 | 32 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 2.5 | 1.25 | 1.75 | 2 |
22 | Carson | Palmer | ARZ | 2017 | 35 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 0.75 | 1.25 | 1 |
23 | Robert | Griffin | WAS | 2015 | 25 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 0.75 | 1.25 | 1 |
24 | Nick | Foles | PHI | 2015 | 26 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 0.75 | 1.25 | 1 |
25 | Johnny | Manziel | CLV | 2017 | 22 | 0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.25 | 0.25 | 0 |
Running Back Detail
Rk | First | Last | Team | Contract | Age | 2015 | 2016+ | LF | FV | Total | Rounded |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Le’Veon | Bell | PIT | 2016 | 22.3 | 10 | 9 | 3.5 | 31.5 | 41.5 | 41 |
2 | Eddie | Lacy | GB | 2016 | 23.9 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 21 | 29 | 29 |
3 | Jamaal | Charles | KC | 2017 | 27.9 | 7.5 | 6 | 2 | 12 | 19.5 | 19 |
4 | Jeremy | Hill | CIN | 2017 | 22.1 | 4 | 4 | 3.5 | 14 | 18 | 18 |
5 | DeMarco | Murray | DAL | 2014 | 26.8 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 10 | 16 | 16 |
6 | LeSean | McCoy | PHI | 2017 | 26.4 | 5.5 | 5 | 2 | 10 | 15.5 | 16 |
7 | Tre | Mason | SL | 2017 | 21.3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 12 |
8 | Matt | Forte | CHI | 2015 | 29 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 10 |
9 | C.J. | Anderson | DEN | 2015 | 23.8 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 10 |
10 | Arian | Foster | HST | 2016 | 28.3 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 9 |
11 | Carlos | Hyde | SF | 2017 | 23.2 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 6.25 | 8.75 | 9 |
12 | Giovani | Bernard | CIN | 2016 | 23 | 1.5 | 2 | 3.5 | 7 | 8.5 | 8 |
13 | Lamar | Miller | MIA | 2015 | 23.6 | 3 | 2 | 2.5 | 5 | 8 | 8 |
14 | Andre | Ellington | ARZ | 2016 | 25.8 | 1.5 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 7.5 | 7 |
15 | Marshawn | Lynch | SEA | 2015 | 28.6 | 5 | 4 | 0.5 | 2 | 7 | 7 |
16 | Adrian | Peterson | MIN | 2017 | 29.7 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 1 | 3.5 | 7 | 7 |
17 | Latavius | Murray | OAK | 2016 | 23.8 | 2 | 2 | 2.5 | 5 | 7 | 7 |
18 | Alfred | Morris | WAS | 2015 | 26 | 2 | 1.5 | 3 | 4.5 | 6.5 | 6 |
19 | Isaiah | Crowell | CLV | 2016 | 21.9 | 1 | 1 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3.5 | 4 |
20 | Mark | Ingram | NO | 2014 | 24.9 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
21 | Bishop | Sankey | TEN | 2017 | 22.2 | 0.5 | 1 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 3 | 3 |
22 | Joique | Bell | DET | 2016 | 28.3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
23 | Jerick | McKinnon | MIN | 2017 | 22.6 | 0.5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2.5 | 3 |
24 | Knile | Davis | KC | 2016 | 23.2 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 1 | 1.5 | 2 | 2 |
25 | Justin | Forsett | BLT | 2014 | 29.1 | 1.5 | 1 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 2 | 2 |
26 | Christine | Michael | SEA | 2016 | 24.1 | 0.5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1.5 | 1 |
27 | Jonathan | Stewart | CAR | 2017 | 27.7 | 1 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.25 | 1.25 | 1 |