Fantasy Rankings Debate (Vol.1): March 31st, 2015
Welcome to Gridiron Experts first ever fantasy rankings debate. We understand that it’s the off-season and that the NFL Draft will have a huge impact on things to come, but we wanted to test drive this group article concept in the off-season to hopefully create a fun and informative regular feature here at Gridiron Experts. Fantasy Football rankings are usually tweaked throughout the NFL off-season then finalized after the draft. Rookies throw a wrench into everyone’s keeper plans although NFL free agency and second year players stepping up into large roles is a important aspect of the fantasy projection process. The following is a group discussion over the value of some of this seasons biggest questions.
How does this work?
Each fantasy guru was given three questions that involved ranking a group of players and answering how they see these fantasy prospects performing in 2015. All the fantasy ranking results were tallied to give you an overall result.
Fantasy Writer
Fantasy Website
Twitter
Mike Rigz
Gridiron Experts
@MikeRigz
Jody Smith
Gridiron Experts
@JodySmithNFL
Scott Atkins
Scout Fantasy
@RedBlueRadio
Dr. Roto
Fantasy Scout
@DrRoto
Jared Smola
Draft Sharks
@DraftSharks
Jason Willan
Gridiron Experts
@ConsultFantasy
Jack Delaney
So Called Fantasy Experts
@YourFFCoach
Liz Loza
The Fantasy Football Girl
@TheFFGirl
Kevin Roberts
Breaking Football
@BreakingKevin
Nick Schreck
Lets Talk Fantasy Football
@LetsTalkFF
Matt De Lima
Fantasy Scout
@Mattkdelima
Question 1: Which Fantasy RB Would You Rank The Highest?
Writers are asked to rank the following RB’s in highest fantasy value order in Standard scoring league format and add insight.
Team
Running Back Rankings
Mike
Jody
Jason
Scott
Liz
Matt
Dr.R
Jared
Kevin
Jack
Nick
Overall
Lamar Miller
1
1
4
1
1
1
5
2
5
2
1
2.18
Carlos Hyde
4
4
1
2
3
3
1
1
1
4
4
2.55
Mark Ingram
2
3
3
5
2
2
3
3
4
1
3
2.82
Latavius Murray
3
5
2
3
4
4
4
4
3
3
5
3.64
Justin Forsett
5
2
5
4
5
5
2
5
2
5
2
3.82
Jason Willan: The 2015 fantasy value of Hyde and Murray has been muddied recently by the additions of Reggie Bush in San Francisco and Trent Richardson in Oakland. However, I think the young Bay Area duo are poised for big things in the upcoming season. Murray should be able to run circles around Richardson in the Raiders backfield, while Bush’s biggest impact to the 49ers is likely to be in the passing game. Both Hyde and Murray are built for a feature-back workload and I think they will run with that opportunity in 2015.
Forsett had an amazing, out-of-nowhere campaign last year, but the departure of offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak from Baltimore doesn’t bode well for a repeat performance in 2015. Forsett was very familiar with Kubiak’s scheme and it suited his skill set well, but he might not fair as well under new OC Marc Trestman. Additionally, Forsett will turn 30 during the upcoming season and I think younger backs, including Lorenzo Taliaferro, will be given an opportunity to chip into the veteran’s workload moving forward.
Mike Rigz: I thought Lamar Miller was the unsung hero of the Dolphins offense last season. When he wasn’t getting his touches the offense stalled and looked out of sync. If the coaches can get behind Miller and give him a solid workload he could have monster season in 2015. Miller only averaged 13.5 carries per game last year despite ranking 10th in the league for rushing yardage. I’d love to see Miller get closer to 17 carries per game (272 total) but the goal will obviously be trying to keep him healthy. Miller’s respectable 5.0 yards per carry average deserves more touches and fantasy owners need to wake up to the idea a possible break out season could happen. I’m curious to see if the Dolphins focus on adding any talent to strengthen their offensive line in this years NFL Draft, our very own Jody Smith has OT La’el Collins going to the fish in his recent 2015 Mock Draft.
My biggest concern about Carlos Hyde is the changes across the board for the San Francisco 49ers. New coaching staff, new concepts and a lack of leadership in the locker room could put and overwhelming amount of pressure on the team as a whole. I was big on Hyde in his rookie season, but I’m a little weary of him this year.
Scott Atkins: Miller should be counted on even more in the Miami offensive plans. Miller’s dual threat attack should propel him to a Top 10 fantasy season this year. Target him early and punch your ticket to your league’s playoffs.
Hyde (83 carries and 4TDs last season) will be given every opportunity to take the lion’s share of Frank Gore’s 255 carries last season. Combined they achieved 9 TDs last season, so expect at least that with the new coaching regime.
Forsett will be asked to carry the load once again, behind a very strong offensive line. He’s a young 30 compared to other backs who’ve been asked to carry the load in the past.
Ingram 226 carries and 9 TDs last season, also surprisingly had 29 catches. Lots of moving parts to consider here with the departure of Pierre Thomas (45 receptions), Travaris Cadet (38 receptions) and the addition of CJ Spiller. Expect a significant uptick in both carry and reception volume leading to even more opportunities for Ingram.
Jody Smith: Lamar Miller has improved in each of his three NFL season and had a breakout 2014 campaign, rushing for 1099 yards, catching 38 passes and scoring nine touchdowns. As long as the Dolphins don’t add much competition, he’s the best bet for a “three-down” role in this group.
If you’re in a PPR format, Justin Forsett is someone you’ll want as your RB2. He’s going to catch a ton of passes in Mark Trestman’s offense.
I’m not sold on Mark Ingram. After three disappointing season, Ingram finally plays decently in a contract year. Even with his “breakout” 2014 campaign, Ingram still only rushed for 4.3 yards-per-carry. He’s also played all 16 games just once in his career. Though the Saints may in fact become more run-heavy, Mark Ingram’s current value is too risky for me. I’d feel happy with him as an RB3, but he’s being drafted as an RB1/2.
Jack Delaney: With the departure of Jimmy Graham and Kenny Stills, Mark Ingram receives a serious boost in value. Even though it seems like he has been in the league forever, Ingram just turned 25. Lamar Miller found success under new offensive coordinator Bill Lazor, and that should continue in 2015 with a healthier offensive line and new weapons to improve the efficiency of the Dolphins’ offense. The signings of Trent Richardson and Roy Helu do not allow me to throw my full support behind Latavius Murray, and I want to see how things play out in training camp and preseason games. Carlos Hyde will eventually take the reigns for the 49ers’ offense, but not this year. Reggie Bush and Kendall Hunter will cut into his value. Watch how things shake out in the next couple of months, but not only will Forsett have competition with Lorenzo Taliaferro, the Ravens may also pick up a running back early in the draft.
Jared Smola: Hyde gets the nod here because he’s a good bet to lead the group in total touches.
The Dolphins seem hesitant to push Miller beyond 20 touches per game — something he did just once last year. C.J. Spiller will eat into Ingram’s workload. Murray shouldn’t lose sleep over Trent Richardson’s arrival, but Roy Helu will at least steal 3rd-down work. Forsett is a soon-to-be 30-year-old who had never topped 155 touches in a season before last year.
Hyde, meanwhile, was taken in the 2nd round of last year’s draft to eventually replace Frank Gore as San Francisco’s workhorse. The 6’0, 235-pounder is built to carry the load and also flashed reliable hands last season. Look for 300+ touches and a top-10 finish in standard-scoring fantasy leagues.
Liz Loza: I put Miller in the top spot because he currently has the least competition. While the Miami native isn’t a prototypical workhorse, he exceeded expectations in 2014, averaging 5.1 YPC, and finished out the year among the top ten fantasy prospects at the position. Admittedly, Bill Lazor has shown a reluctance to feed him the ball, but assuming that Damien Williams or a later round rookie are his only threats, No. 26 should continue to produce.
After Jimmy Graham, Max Unger, and a few draft picks were swapped between Seattle and New Orleans, it seemed that the Saints were ready to harness all of the power in Mark Ingram’s compact frame… Until C.J. Spiller was acquired, and everyone lost their minds. While it does concern me that Spiller received a bigger contract than Ingram, I still think the 2009 Heisman Trophy winner will lead this backfield. He’s a beast, which was illustrated by the fact that he racked up over 100 rushing yards in three of the four games he played after coming back from a broken hand AND the fact that he managed to score 3 TDs while playing through a shoulder injury at the end of last season.
Hyde’s size and physicality are enough to make any fantasy diehard swoon. But with under 100 total touches in his rookie year, it’s hard to be sure what the 49ers have in him. And this Tomsula-led offense doesn’t exactly inspire confidence. With Gore in Indianapolis, and Reggie Bush looking like a shell of his former self, I know I’m in the minority regarding Hyde’s opportunity to ascend… but it wouldn’t be prudent to simply fall in love with potential, and to ignore how the rest of this team’s shortcomings might negatively affect his value.
With new OC Bill Musgrave reportedly smitten by Murray’s formidable talent, the Central Florida product should finally be set free. While I’m not a fan of his running style, his strength and speed make up for it. Frankly, the biggest hindrance to Murray’s production is likely to be the team he plays for. I don’t see the Raiders leading often.
Without a doubt, Forsett owned the “feel good” fantasy story of 2014. But at 29 years old and with his biggest supporter now in Denver, it’s hard to believe that he’ll replicate last season’s success.
Matt De Lima: Lamar Miller is only 23 years old. That’s the same age as Le’Veon Bell and Eddie Lacy. The Dolphins offensive line does not struggle as it did a couple seasons ago. Miller has three-down talent and a balanced offensive attack which will keep him involved in all four quarters. From what we know about the 49ers, Carlos Hyde feels like he could have the potential to outproduce Mark Ingram; however, Fantasy owners must shed their preconceived notions of the former Bama back. Ingram’s role will only build upon his successful 2014 campaign. In comparison, the sky may be the limit for Hyde, but that doesn’t come without some risks. A new offensive identity could come to San Fran. A run-oriented team is still a strong possibility. They didn’t sign Reggie Bush for no reason. When healthy, he’s sure to see playing time on passing downs. Latavius Murray, on raw potential alone, could be at the top of this list by midseason. Unfortunately, the Raiders remain seemingly unwilling to fully hand over the reins and Murray is further limited by the Raiders’ consistent inconsistencies. As for Justin Forsett, what can I say? I’m not a believer and his success points to a strong offensive system where any back can be plugged in, making his relative talent unappealing and replaceable.
Dr Roto: Very interesting, you guys all raise some good points.
The way I see it, with Gore and Crabtree gone, it looks like Hyde will get all the carries he can handle in SF. Forsett is in a great spot with Trestman as his new OC, where as Mark Ingram looked terrific at times, but I like Spiller a bit there this year. Murray is a beast–hopefully the Raiders will use him accordingly.
Kevin Roberts: I think Hyde carries the most pure upside in his new role. Forsett runs the risk of being a one-year wonder and Kubiak leaving could be a problem, but he’s fairly safe. Murray and Ingram comes 3 and 4 due to career long health issues, but both have immense upside. I like Miller a lot but he scares me. He had exactly two 100+ yard rushing games last year and zero games with 20+ carries. These guys are all in my top-20, but most hang toward the lower half.
Nick Schreck: Lamar Miller quietly had a very productive year in 2014, gaining nearly 1400 yards from scrimmage and scoring 9 touchdowns, and though it seems like he’s been around for a while, Miller will enter the 2015 season only 24 years old. With another year to develop and grow under offensive coordinator Bill Lazor, I would only expect Miller to improve.
Question 2: Which 2nd Year Fantasy WR Would You Rank Highest?
Writers are asked to rank the following WR’s in highest fantasy value order in Standard scoring league format.
Team
Wide Receivers Rankings
Mike
Jody
Jason
Scott
Liz
Matt
Dr.R
Jared
Kevin
Jack
Nick
Overall
Jordan Mattews
2
1
1
3
2
3
2
1
3
1
1
1.82
Kelvin Benjamin
1
2
2
1
1
1
3
2
1
2
4
1.82
Sammy Watkins
3
3
3
2
3
2
1
3
2
4
2
2.55
Jarvis Landry
5
4
4
4
4
4
5
4
4
3
3
4.00
Davante Adams
4
5
5
6
5
5
4
5
5
5
5
4.91
Cody Latimer
6
6
6
5
6
6
6
6
6
6
6
5.91
Mike Rigz: No matter how electrifying a wide receiver may be, I trend to rank them lower if their quarterback is the weak link of the combo. This was the main reason I steered clear of Sammy Watkins last summer. Watkins got a bump when the Bills ended up signing of Kyle Orton but my overall pre-season projection of Watkins was pretty close to bang on. This season there are questions again with the Bills quarterback unit and my opinion hasn’t really changed.
Kelvin Benjamin is my top ranked second year wide receiver not named Odell Beckham Jr. Considering the Panthers had nothing but Benjamin and their trusted tight end Greg Olsen to work with last season, I was pleasantly surprised the team fared as well as they did. Taking on such responsibly and having such a heavy workload in his first season should massively accelerate the learning curve for Benjamin in year two. If the Panthers can add some more WR depth, and I mean anybody, I would feel even better about ranking him so high.
Matt De Lima: Kelvin Benjamin has to the top choice. He is the only capable receiver on the team and Cam Newton proved willing to force-feed the former Florida State Seminoles’ playmaker. He’s a low-end WR1 for the foreseeable future. Based on sheer talent, Sammy Watkins has to be the top one or two choices in this list. He could show up to the stadium five minutes before the game, do some toe touches and catch 8 balls for 100 yards and a TD. The only concern is the talent at the QB position in Buffalo. Matthews is a wild card. There is some risk because he’s only shown flashes; however the Eagles have certainly put him in a position to be their top wideout yet I’m concerned with the Eagles spreading the ball around too much for Matthews to dominate. The Dolphins certainly cleared the depth the chart to push Jarvis Landry to the forefront. Mike Wallace and Brian Hartline are gone and Landry looks to be part of Miami’s long-term plan. Competing with Kenny Stills is a non-factor because Landry excels at the short and intermediate game while Stills is a deep-ball, extend the field threat. Adams is a little too buried on the current Packers depth chart to really grab my attention. If Jordy Nelson or Randall Cobb are injured for a game or two, I’d love to spot-start Adams but that’s not enough value to get far on this last. Latimer suffers from the same conundrum. There’s just too much talent in front of him for him to produce consistently and that’s also assuming Peyton Manning doesn’t regress at all.
Dr. Roto: I know that people will worry about LeSean McCoy, Percy Harvin, and Matt Cassel, but Sammy Watkins is too talented to be ignored. As for the Eagles, Jordan Mathews should thrive in his second year in Chip Kelly’s system. Love Benjamin around the end zone, but Cam is too inconsistent for me. Adams showed what he can do in the playoffs. Landry is a solid WR but Stills is the deep threat. Latimer needs more time.
Jody Smith: All of these players have fairly significant fantasy roles this year. Jordan Matthews is poised to become the #1 wide out in Chip Kelly’s potent passing attack. Kelvin Benjamin was a redzone beast last year and could be even better with a season of experience behind him. For the Bills, Sammy Watkins showed glimpses of why the Bills gave up so much to get him, but with Rex Ryan in town talking up running the ball 50 times per game and the Bills with and undecided QB-situation, there’s some risks of a sophomore slump.
Kevin Roberts: Latimer has immense upside but is unproven and Adams is still stuck as GB’s #3 guy, so their upside might be capped. Landry is ascending and will have at least WR3 value, while Matthews has a shot at WR1 production due to Maclin leaving.
I like Watkins and Benjamin more than the pool, though, as both are ridiculously talented and have great roles. Benjamin is the more stable of the two, however, due to his red-zone ability and better QB play.
Nick Schreck: Kelvin Benjamin – Benjamin had the most productive 2014 of this group, but he was also woefully inefficient, catching barely more than half of his targets. As Matthews, Watkins and Landry step into bigger roles in their respective offenses, Benjamin will prove less impressive than his 2014 draft-mates.
Davante Adams – With rumors around GB about the potential signing of Welker or another veteran WR, I’m concerned that the Pack isn’t fully convinced Adams development has him ready to replicate that strong playoff performance from 2014. (via Matt Rodgers)
Jared Smola: Through 2 seasons, Chip Kelly’s #1 WRs have finished 10th and 9th in fantasy points. Matthews steps into that role now and might be more talented than Jeremy Maclin and DeSean Jackson. The 6’5 Benjamin is the best TD bet in this group and could certainly boost last year’s 13.8 yards per catch. Watkins remains the top talent here, but his upside will be capped by a run-heavy offense with a deep group of pass-catchers. Landry has a chance to out-score Watkins in PPR leagues. He has an outside shot at 100 catches this year. But his lack of TD and big-play upside hurts a bit in non-PPR.
Liz Loza: There could not have been a better place for Benjamin to land than Carolina. An admittedly “raw” prospect, Benjamin and QB Cam Newton quickly developed a friendship off of the field that translated into a notable rapport on game day. In fact, he was the sixth most targeted receiver in 2014. While he certainly could have been more efficient, he did put up over 1,000 receiving yards and 9 TDs on the season. With a full offseason under this duo’s respective belts, I expect the bromance to continue to flourish, leading to a bevy of fantasy points for KBen in 2015.
Matthews may not be flashy, but he is polished. More importantly, he was drafted by Chip Kelly. With Maclin gone, Matthews currently stands atop the Eagles’ depth chart. In a system proven to produce, Matthews should soar.
The most skilled receiver in this grouping, it wouldn’t surprise me to see Watkins out-produce either Benjamin or Matthews. He has loads of playmaking ability, which was on full display last year despite below-average talent under center and a host of nagging injuries. Still, he’s now a part of Rex Ryan’s “run first” offense and one of four options in the Bills’ ever-growing stable of pass-catchers. Let’s also not forget that Matt Cassell – who hasn’t started more than 15 games since 2010 – is Buffalo’s newly signed signal-caller. These are all prodigious (but not insurmountable) obstacles for last April’s 4th overall pick.
A plucky slot receiver with good hands and exciting after the catch ability, Landry is a great fit for Lazor’s offense. He and Tanny have nice chemistry, and definitely found a rhythm after the Phins’ Week 5 bye. I expect his role to grow in 2015. That said, he lacks the size and skill set to flourish as a red zone threat, which hurts his value in standard scoring leagues.
Adams flashed in 2014, and has a generous amount of appeal. But he’s buried under Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb, both of whom have more experience in Green Bay, and with Aaron Rodgers.
Likely to receive a promotion, Latimer is expected to enter the 2015 season as Denver’s No. 3 receiver. Unfortunately, Gary Kubiak doesn’t employ many three wideout sets. A lack of opportunity in tandem with Peyton Manning’s dwindling arm strength caps the Hoosier’s appeal in redraft formats.
Scott Atkins: Benjamin is a stud. Even in games which put him against the top corners in the league, Benjamin seemed unfazed. Let the haters hate.
Mathews benefits from the departure of Jeremy Maclin. The only knock will be that he’ll be paired up against teams’ number one corner backs. He’ll be a solid WR2 option this season.
Watkins played through the pain last season and still emerged as a borderline WR2. The downside is the quarterback questions. Until those are answered, he can’t be placed higher on the list.
Jarvis “Juice” Landry (I love that name) will be Tannehill’s top target in 2015. Landry is a chain mover and as a rookie set the fourth-highest team-total in receptions with 84.
Excited to see Cody Latimer finally get his opportunity to play in what’s likely Peyton Manning’s last season. Welker managed 49 receptions last season, but he and Sanders were both slot receiver players. Latimer will play the outside with Demaryius and get a bigger role in 2015. With the signing of Cobb, Davante Adams makes for an excellent draft master pick, but with both Cobb and Jordy ahead of him, it will be hard to predict when the production will come.
Jack Delaney: In 2013, DeSean Jackson totaled over 1,300 receiving yards and hauled in nine touchdowns. In 2014, Jeremy Maclin totaled over 1,300 receiving yards and caught 10 touchdown passes. With little competition as of right now, Matthews should be ready for a big year. Cam Newton should be more mobile this year, which I think will not only reduce the fantasy football value of Kelvin Benjamin, but Greg Olsen as well. He’s solid as a WR2, but don’t expect too much from Benjamin in 2015. For those who don’t put much stock into Tannehill, remember that he was the most-sacked quarterback in 2013, and the third-most sacked quarterback in 2014. Landry doesn’t have the physical presence of Dez Bryant or the speed of Percy Harvin, but still averaged 5.6 receptions per game, which means he was a bigger part of the Dolphins’ offense than most people think. The quarterback position is less than ideal in Buffalo, and Rex Ryan is going to run the ball a ton. With Randall Cobb re-signed to the Packers, Davante Adams fantasy football value did not increase. Cody Latimer is also buried on the depth chart, with a new coach who loves to use tight ends.
Jason Willan: Matthews and Benjamin are my clear-cut choices to top this list, after both enjoyed successful rookie campaigns a year ago. Benjamin remains the definitive top option at wide receiver in Carolina and I think he will be again be close to a top-15 fantasy option at the position. But Matthews has the opportunity to vault into the top-10 conversation in 2015, thanks to the departure of Jeremy Maclin from Philadelphia. The number-one receiver in Chip Kelly’s Eagles’ offense has done just that in each of his first two seasons in the NFL, averaging 1325 yards and 9.5 touchdowns, and I see no reason why Matthews can’t fill that role this year.
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Team
Tight End Rankings
Mike
Jody
Jason
Scott
Liz
Matt
Dr.R
Jared
Kevin
Jack
Nick
Overall
Jimmy Graham
1
1
1
3
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1.27
Travis Kelce
4
2
2
2
2
2
3
2
2
2
1
2.18
Martellus Bennett
2
3
3
1
3
3
5
3
4
3
3
3.00
Zach Ertz
3
5
6
4
5
5
4
4
5
4
5
4.55
Julius Thomas
5
4
4
6
4
7
2
5
3
5
6
4.64
Tyler Eifert
6
6
5
5
6
6
7
6
6
7
4
5.82
Eric Ebron
7
7
7
7
7
4
6
7
7
6
7
6.55
Question 3: Which Fantasy TE Would You Rank The Highest?
Writers are asked to rank the following TE’s in highest fantasy value order in Standard scoring league format and add insight.
Matt De Lima: Martellus Bennett is probably the safest bet below Graham & Kelce. The departure for Brandon Marshall makes a ton of targets available in this offense. He’s not a sexy pick, but one that could slide in drafts as teams try to hit on the next big thing like some of the other names on this list.
Kelce just needs that stubborn Andy Reid to get with the program. The talent, athleticism, length. It’s all there, just give the guy the football.
Zach Ertz’s success hinges upon playing time. He only played half the snaps last year and there’s no telling if he’ll stay on the field more. Ertz gets the nod over Tyler Eifert based solely on offense and quarterback. Eifert has dealt with the same struggles as he needed to compete for playing time. The Bengals have a solid group of receivers behind A.J. Green which really hampers Eifert’s ability to break out. Finally, Julius Thomas. I’ve been put off by him this offseason. Reports of him not caring about football and only planning on playing a couple more years before getting out. The guy is just cashing a check and players like that definitely belong in Jacksonville. I want nothing to do with him because he’ll probably try to get take games off because he’s got a boo-boo. The hate is real.
Dr. Roto: Russell Wilson will love throwing to Graham. Jax did not pay Julius all that money to block. Kelce is finally healthy and should dominate. I like Ertz to continue to shine in Chip’s offense. Bennett will lose some targets, but he is a goal line threat. Ebron and Eifert are not ready just yet.
Nick Schreck: Travis Kelce – He was 6th amongst tight ends in rec. yards in 2014 despite not seeing a full compliment of snaps until week 11. Now that Andy Reid sees the weapon that Kelce is, the only TE I’ll draft higher is Rob Gronkowski.
Julius Thomas and Eric Ebron – Thomas leaves Peyton and joins the Jaguars. Personally I think he got overpaid and will clearly fall off in fantasy. When it comes to Ebron, I’ll see it when I believe it. Although the Lions are expecting more and Ebron got Stafford and his fiancee custom Jordans. Well played Ebron.
Jody Smith: Don’t fret Jimmy Graham’s new home too much. The Seahawks are a smart team and they’ll figure out how to use him properly. Graham will still be a redzone beast and should still be the second tight end drafted.
Martellus Bennett might take a step back with John Fox replacing Mark Trestman’s full throttle offense. He’s still a solid starter, but loses luster in a standard scoring format.
Zach Ertz is another sleeper candidate. With the Eagles losing two key components of last year’s offense, they’ll have to change the way they conduct business in 2015, and that could benefit Ertz in a big way.
Kevin Roberts: Jimmy Graham’s numbers can be expected to drop, but Seattle isn’t going to let him go to waste. I don’t trust Julius Thomas in Jacksonville at all, while Ebron is far too shaky right now to trust over any of these guys. Eifert has struggled to stay healthy but with no Gresham he carries upside, Bennett is pretty much what you see/what you get and Kelce just might have the highest ceiling of all of these guys now.
Jason Willan: Eifert’s 2014 season lasted less than a full quarter, as he suffered a dislocated elbow early in Cincinnati’s Week 1 game and missed the rest of the year. But first-year Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson certainly seemed like he wanted to highlight the former first-round pick, with three of the first ten pass attempts of the game going to Eifert, who caught all three for 37 yards. That extrapolates to 192 catches and 2368 yards over a full 16 game slate! But in all seriousness, the Bengals have long sought a consistent compliment to A.J. Green in the passing game and with Jermaine Gresham out of town, Eifert could be in line for enough targets to make him a TE1 in 2015.
Jack Delaney: I think Graham took a hit in fantasy football value signing with the Seahawks, but there aren’t any tight ends I would put ahead of him at this point other than Gronk. A healthy Travis Kelce will be much more involved in the Chiefs’ offense in 2015, and I don’t see Jeremy Maclin hurting his value. Alex Smith will continue to check down to his tight ends and running backs. If the Bears do not go after a major receiver in the draft, Bennett will see an increase in his value for 2015. When Brandon Marshall was limited by injuries, Bennett became much more involved with the offense. Zach Ertz’s fantasy value suffered because of his blocking abilities, but if he can prove to Chip Kelly that he has improved, than he could finish as a top-five tight end in 2015. I don’t think Julius Thomas will accumulate more than 700 receiving yards, but he is the go-to-guy in the end zone for Blake Bortles. Eric Ebron and Tyler Eifert will receive increased roles in 2015, but that doesn’t mean you should rely on them too heavily.
Scott Atkins: Jimmy Graham is still Jimmy Graham, the Hawks will utilize him just fine. Double digit touchdowns are in store.
Kelce is emerging as a top Tight End in the league. If there’s one thing Alex Smith can do, it’s throwing to the tight end. Martellus Bennett will be asked to do even more this season (if that’s possible after 90 receptions) with the departure of Brandon Marshall. Zach Ertz showed glimpses of what he can do when called upon. His power forward frame makes it easy to post up and get the ball. An injury derailed Eifert’s season before it ever started, but when healthy, represents a tremendous target that Andy Dalton will rely on. Julius goes from hero with Manning to “almost zero” in the Jacksonville offense (45 tight end receptions in 2014). He can certainly serve as your TE1, but don’t expect his total to be on par with the elites at the position. Ebron has a chance to become a borderline TE1 on your team but everything has to fall right.
Mike Rigz: Ok here’s the thing, I ranked Jimmy Graham as the highest tight end of the group but I want to plant a seed into your brain. You remember all those touchdowns that Brees and Graham connected on along the goalline, and do you remember Pete Carroll’s screw up in the Super Bowl against the Patriots…are you connecting the dots here? I’m worried that when it’s first, second, even third and goal the Hawks forcefully run the ball and Graham is left standing around.
Jared Smola: Jimmy Graham’s move from New Orleans to Seattle lands him closer to Kelce’s tier than Rob Gronkowski’s. But Graham is still a better bet than Kelce as the superior talent with a clearer path to targets. Kelce, though, might represent the better value in 2015 fantasy drafts.
Bennett led all TEs with 90 catches last year. He could go back-to-back now that Brandon Marshall is gone from Chicago.
Ertz’s 2014 season was largely considered a disappointment, but a 58-702-3 line from a 23-year-old ain’t bad. He’ll benefit from the departures of Jeremy Maclin and LeSean McCoy.
Thomas was one of the biggest losers in free agency, going from last year’s 2nd-ranked scoring offense to its 32nd-ranked unit. He’s still a TE1 in Jacksonville, but I won’t be drafting him unless he drops into the 8th or 9th round. Although Eifert and Ebron sit at the bottom of these rankings, they’re two of the better 2015 TE breakout candidates. Eifert, especially, figures to be a value in drafts this summer after missing almost all of last season.
Liz Loza: There could not have been a better place for Benjamin to land than Carolina. An admittedly “raw” prospect, Benjamin and QB Cam Newton quickly developed a friendship off of the field that translated into a notable rapport on game day. In fact, he was the sixth most targeted receiver in 2014. While he certainly could have been more efficient, he did put up over 1,000 receiving yards and 9 TDs on the season. With a full offseason under this duo’s respective belts, I expect the bromance to continue to flourish, leading to a bevy of fantasy points for KBen in 2015.
Matthews may not be flashy, but he is polished. More importantly, he was drafted by Chip Kelly. With Maclin gone, Matthews currently stands atop the Eagles’ depth chart. In a system proven to produce, Matthews should soar.
The most skilled receiver in this grouping, it wouldn’t surprise me to see Watkins out-produce either Benjamin or Matthews. He has loads of playmaking ability, which was on full display last year despite below-average talent under center and a host of nagging injuries. Still, he’s now a part of Rex Ryan’s “run first” offense and one of four options in the Bills’ ever-growing stable of pass-catchers. Let’s also not forget that Matt Cassell – who hasn’t started more than 15 games since 2010 – is Buffalo’s newly signed signal-caller. These are all prodigious (but not insurmountable) obstacles for last April’s 4th overall pick.
A plucky slot receiver with good hands and exciting after the catch ability, Landry is a great fit for Lazor’s offense. He and Tanny have nice chemistry, and definitely found a rhythm after the Phins’ Week 5 bye. I expect his role to grow in 2015. That said, he lacks the size and skill set to flourish as a red zone threat, which hurts his value in standard scoring leagues.
Adams flashed in 2014, and has a generous amount of appeal. But he’s buried under Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb, both of whom have more experience in Green Bay, and with Aaron Rodgers.
Likely to receive a promotion, Latimer is expected to enter the 2015 season as Denver’s No. 3 receiver. Unfortunately, Gary Kubiak doesn’t employ many three wideout sets. A lack of opportunity in tandem with Peyton Manning’s dwindling arm strength caps the Hoosier’s appeal in redraft formats.
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