RB Fantasy Football News
People say that it’s a passing league nowadays, which might be true, but when it’s 4th down and you are on the half yard line with 5 seconds left in the game and you’re down by four points, what are you going to do? You are gonna hand of the ball to the running back who has proven himself all offseason, preseason, and regular season - unless your name is Pete Carroll. These teams are looking for that guy that they can count on with the game on the line, to punch in the game winning touchdown or to run down the clock and get that crunch time first down.
This weekly article focuses on teams in the AFC. Up first, the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers are coming off a season in which they went 11-5 and won the AFC North. Their season came to a close in the AFC Wild Card game when they lost to the Baltimore Ravens, 30-17, without their Pro Bowl running back Le’Veon Bell.
The Steelers have arguably the best fantasy offense in the NFL, fielding two top players at their respective positions in running back Le’Veon Bell and wide receiver Antonio Brown. With two-time Super Bowl Champion Ben Roethlisberger behind center, the Steelers could very well get back to the postseason and even further.
RB Fantasy Football News
Some notable fantasy RBs switched teams this offseason. We examined the outlook for some of those backs in their new home.
LeSean McCoy – Eagles to Bills: Though this particular transaction wasn’t a free agent signing, it will have the same impact. McCoy should bounce back from last year’s mediocrity in Philly and benefit from a Rex Ryan-coached atmosphere that is more similarly oriented to one under Andy Reid, a coach whom McCoy enjoyed his most success under. Expect a more consistent and heavier workload for McCoy in Buffalo compared to what he had last year in Philly. With their shaky quarterback situation, it's not like the Bills are going to throw much. Shady should be in line to produce as a top 10 fantasy RB as he returns to a more professional, NFL-style system of play.
As NFL teams are starting minicamps, injuries are keeping key players sidelined. Here's the WR fantasy football news.
It’s all about value. It’s evolved into the trendy buzzword, which has infiltrated the fantasy football lexicon as the core mantra of every draft strategy article. The idea of drafting the best values (getting as many bargains as possible) is the ultimate goal of every fantasy owner. However, executing that strategic approach is the real challenge.
WR Fantasy Football News
When it comes to fantasy football, there are different levels of competition. There are battles for playing time and those about involving hierarchy. Each week this article will focus on these duels during the lead up the the 2015 NFL season.
In this edition of WR news, all of the wide receivers on this list have guaranteed roster spots - barring the unforeseen - and could be solid fantasy WR contributors to your fantasy football team. This list contains wide receivers who are fighting to become their team’s best wide receivers for their respected teams.
- Greg Pokriki - Fantasy Focus
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Christian Yelich- Miami Marlins
Somehow, someway, Christian Yelich is only owned in about 77% of fantasy baseball leagues. That number should be 100%, but while it’s low, fantasy owners should take advantage and pounce. Yelich is one of the top players in the game and still has plenty of room for growth. He’s been injured, explaining his low ownership percentage (though a player like this should be given roster patience while injured). Yelich is back and even popped a home run to welcome himself back into the majors. He’s in a fantastic lineup, with some of the best players in the league. Yelich may sometimes escape the spotlight, but certainly deserves the shine from your fantasy team.
- K. J. Hammond - Fantasy Focus
At age 34, Buffalo’s Fred Jackson is the oldest running back in the NFL. He vowed to be productive and make the Bills backfield as competitive as possible, but the fact is, he’s a long shot to even make the team. Rumors are swirling that Jackson is the odd man out to make the Buffalo Bills 53-man roster. The team payed a hefty price to acquire 2013 rushing champion, LeSean McCoy is who obviously one of this season's top fantasy football keepers. McCoy will undoubtedly take on the lion’s share of work in Rex Ryan’s ground and pound scheme.
- R.C. Fischer - Fantasy Football Metrics
I stumbled across a Jacksonville-based article discussing how the Jaguars are preparing for Jimmy Garoppolo (Jags play the Pats Week 3). It was real cutting-edge stuff…all about how Bill Belichick ‘made’ Matt Cassel, and a reminder of what happened when Drew Bledsoe went down years ago and wink-wink the Tom Brady era began.
Bears Head Coach John Fox's coaching history insists he'd advocate timeshare in the backfield, but he is not against using RB Matt Forte as the sole feature back. Forte has gotten significant production as a tailback in both the running and passing games and is still one of the game's top fantasy football keepers.
HC John Fox has exhibited his love for the split-carry system while coaching in the past at the Carolina Panthers (DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart), and the Denver Broncos (C.J. Anderson, Montee Ball and Ronnie Hillman), but the situation in Chicago is much different. Forte has been able to contribute heavily as a versatile asset to both the running and passing games. Don't expect to find any fantasy sleeper picks in the Bears backfield unless Forte goes down with an injury.
Forte is coming off yet another impressive season, as he picked up 1,846 all-purpose yards, and 10 total touchdowns. As a rusher alone, he broke 1,000 yards and 6 TDs in what was a disappointing 5-11 season for the Bears.
Chicago has 3 very mediocre running backs following Forte on the depth chart in second-year back Ka'Deem Carey, rookie Jeremy Langford, and former Falcons tailback Jacquizz Rodgers. None of these backs should receive more than 50 carries next season, leaving Forte with a ton of carries to deal with. More than just as a rusher, Forte could possibly even pick up more touches in the passing game in 2015 with the departure of Brandon Marshall.
Brandon Marshall, along with Matt Forte and Alshon Jeffery, was one of 3 major targets for QB Jay Cutler last season, and his targets will need to be picked up by the rest of the offensive unit. Matt Forte should capitalize on Marshall's absence, and put together another successful season. Consider Forte a top-5 RB heading into 2015 in standard fantasy formats.
Keep reading ASL for the latest NFL fantasy sleepers!
