Technically, these aren’t predictions. A lot will happen over the next sixteen weeks, but these are how I see the teams coming out of the gate and by the way, I’m never, ever wrong.
#1 OH IT’S HAPPENING SWEETHEART | MATT
Yep, right out of the gate, I’m handing the top spot to Neatock. It pains me, it does. However, having the first overall pick has been the golden ticket to Wonka’s chocolate factory and Neatock has had great success in the past when given that ticket.
Le’Veon Bell and Todd Gurley (both players I have projected earning some All-Robio hardware this year), will make up the league’s best backfield. The NFL may be going away from the running game, but in fantasy, two feature backs equals a deep post-season run.
At wide receiver, neither Adams or Jeffery has earned the elite status yet, but if healthy, both could finish among the top-12 among the hands in the league. Ertz is a serviceable tight end, especially in the 7th round and both Mariota and Wentz should keep Matt happy at the quarterback spot.
On the bench, Rishard Matthews could be Mariota’s favorite target and don’t sleep on Jamaal Charles giving us one more good year if Anderson falters in Denver.
#2 THE DICK-TATERS | CALDERON
The defending champ enters the season with a strong squad and a handful of “should be” really good players. with both DeMarco Murray and Dough Baldwin, Rich has a couple of skilled position players who will challenge for All-Robio, although I do suspect Henry will dig into Murray’s touches a little more thus year.
Leonard Fournette was the second rookie back taken and he has a ton of upside. In fact, of all the rookies, he might earn the most touches. Yet, he’s struggled to stay healthy in college and hasn’t really played hard since his freshman year, so he has to start earning the hype.
To think DeAndre Hopkins would last to the fourth round is stunning. If he was available for the draft last year, he would have been a top-six overall pick. With his huge new contract, his only remaining issue us quarterback. Can Tom Savage really deliver the league a elite WR?
The other big question is, can Jordan Reed stay healthy? If so, he’s Kirk Cousins favorite target, but the dude is made from glass, so it’s tough seeing him fitting in a full 16.
Besides that, the quarterback spot is solid with Matt Ryan, although like I mentioned before, I hate their new offensive coordinator. He’s a drunk from college who couldn’t pull a good play out of his ass in last year’s national title game.
I like the wide receiver depth, as both Parker and DeSean deliver great value. Andrew Luck in the 8th could prove to be a savvy pick, which could turn into a solid trade down the line.
#3 HUNT FOR THE GOLDEN JOHNSON | MASTERSON
This one, I’m not sure about. I’m definitely projecting a lot here. I’m sold on Kareem Hunt. He was the guy I was aiming for in other leagues. I had projected him as the new Jordan Howard (late round sleeper), but then when Ware got hurt, he jumped up the draft boards. In Any Reid’s offense, Hunt should be the league’s top rookie back.
Mixon on the other hand, could be the worst of the bunch. Like I said in my All-Bust write up, he has yet to do anything in the preseason (except fumble) and I just don’t trust that coaching staff. Both Gio Bernard and Jeremy Hill were studs coming out of college and look what happened to them.
Luckily, Rob can go three wide right off the bat. With Green, he’s got a lock WR1 and with Tate and Pryor, he’s got two high-end WR2s. Jimmy Graham should see more touches in Seattle this year and don’t sleep on Matt Forte…just kidding. You can sleep on Matt Forte.
Yet, the winner of this group is Tom Brady. He should deliver over 4,000 yards and around 35 touchdowns, especially if Gronk can stay healthy. It’s always fun knowing Masterson somewhere in his heart is cheering for the Patriots every Sunday (and tonight).
#4 TRUCK NUTS | GRIFF
David Johnson is back for one more ride on the Truck Nuts, but did Griff do a good job giving him the support he needs? At receiver he certainly did, as Coomer has a pair of legit WR1s with Evans and Thomas.
He also took Keenan Allen in round two, which is a risk. If healthy, he can do some damage, but is he damaged goods? Luckily for Griff, he’s not a must-start out of the gate.
Crowell is fine as a RB2, but I like the Doug Martin selection. It’s risky, because we don’t know if we’re getting 2012/2015 Martin or 2013/2014/2016 Martin. The former can win Griff a title. The latter can kill his season.
Rivers is serviceable, as will Olsen be at tight end. I think they’re both getting a bit old and it’s only a matter of time before each starts to show it. The Texans DST should lead the league in sacks this year, so there’s that.
#5 SEB GORKA’S TAINT | COLBY
Fantasy Pros, a web site that helps with mock drafts and can analysis a league’s draft, loves him some Colby. They have the Gorka’s starters ranked first. I can see why, as Colby has a solid draft. All seven of his first seven picks are guy I wouldn’t mind having in my starting lineup. But does he have a superstar?
McCoy would be the first choice. I have him leading the league in rushing yards. Yet, he’ll need scores and need to stay healthy. The good news is, the Bills did cut the one backup I thought could eat up some of his touches.
T.Y. Hilton was a stud last year, but with Luck injured, we just can’t predict what Hilton will do. Russell Wilson is a solid quarterback, but he disappointed last year and has yet to prove, other than a couple of three-game stretches, that he belongs in the same conversation as Brady-Rodgers. Kelce is a stud TE, as long as Alex Smith keeps his job and I believe Colby got great value with wide receivers like Garcon and Crowder.
For me, the dark horse is Abdullah. The Lions back is oozing with potential and has the permanent sleeper status on his back, but is it justified? He’s done so little and he’s been hurt so much. Plus, the Lions still have Reddick and Zenner.
#6 REVENGE OF THE ‘BURBS | ROBIO
Looking at my draft, I did almost everything I wanted to do. I got Rodgers in round two, Hill two picks later and I loaded up on starting running backs (Fat Kelley and CJ Anderson), which should help me with my biggest concern; running back (Hyde, Montgomery).
I do wish I would have taken Gronk in round one over Dez and then grabbed Golden Tate in five, but I’ll live with Dez. If he stays healthy, he gives me two WR1s.
Tight end is an issue, as I missed on a few guys early and settled for Henry. Also, outside of running back, I’m not sold on my bench. Yet, I might be too reliant on one team, as I have three Packers in my starting lineup. Go Cheese!!
#7 QUARTER POUNDERZ | JEFF
This is a very safe team. Let me explain. Both Lamar Miller and Melvin Gordon are going to get a lot of touches. Sure they won’t blow the doors off, but touches matter, especially any in the red zone. On the bench, I’m not in love with Perkins (not much to love), but Woodhead has some real potential if Jeff is pressed for a backup.
At receiver, Cooper is top-10 without a doubt, but Jeff needs Demaryius Thomas to return to his top-10 roots, something that’s hard to do in Denver, where Peyton Manning doesn’t play anymore.
The x-factor is Jameis Winston. The third-year QB has thrown for 4,000 yards in each of his first two seasons. He projected by most to make the jump to top-five status, thanks to a pair of new weapons. If he stumbles though, Jeff will too.
#8 BROWN ‘N SERVIN IT |ERIC
When the draft first ended, I had Eric in my top three, but I have cooled since. Drew Brees is a stud, although I wouldn’t have taken him over Gronk. Brown and Diggs are a solid 1-2 punch at the receiver spots and Fitzgerald can certainly produce at the flex.
At running back, Jordan Howard is an All-Robio candidate, even though defenses will stack the line. The big x-factor is Lynch. Coming off a year off, can he be the back he use to be? He’s running behind a solid offensive line, so he could give Eric the third best backfield in fantasy, but it’s hard to know if he will breakdown halfway through the season.
Anyhow, on the bench, I see a pair of sleepers. Eddie Lacy has a real shot to steal the starting spot from Rawls at some point in Seattle and JJ Nelson is now a full-time starter in Arizona.
Did I forget to mention Antonio Brown? He’s real good.
#9 TRUMP? | BURRIER
I like Burrier. I really do. But sometimes his fantasy decisions make my head hurt. He walks into the season with a pair of beast running backs; Freeman and Ajayi. Those two potentially makeup the second best backfield in the league. So what does Rich do? He uses the fifth overall pick to draft Christian McCaffery? Wait, what? He realizes we don’t have a second flex spot, right?
Don’t get me wrong, Ajayi could not workout, backs get hurt, we all need depth. But to pass up on elite receivers who will easily deliver 1,300 yards and double-digit touchdowns, is insane. Starting a season with Kelvin Benjamin as your WR1 and Randall Cobb as your WR2 is not a good start to the year.
Obviously he made up for it with a great pick in round two. Rob Gronkowski should not have lasted that long. I get the injury concerns, but if he’s healthy, he’s an elite TE who puts up elite WR numbers.
Dak Prescott was a stud NFL quarterback last year, but even I, a dedicated Cowboys fan, says Rich should be concerned to enter the year with only him at QB. The fact is, he may not quite be fantasy ready, especially with Elliot’s potential suspension.
#10 DICK MCBALLFARTS | BOB
Wait, this can’t be right? Bob…this low? The dude has lived in the Robioland playoffs longer than he’s lived in LA? It makes no sense. Let’s see…
What I like…Julio Jones is a stud and a lock for first-team All-Robio, although I’m worried about the loss of his offensive coordinator. I’m a believer in Dalvin Cook, but can the Vikings offensive line open up enough holes?
I’m not confident Cam Newton is the best quarterback on Bob’s roster, so third round pick certainly feels high to me. Willie Snead is suspended and will need to fight Ted Ginn for his job back when he returns. Finally, having Eric Ebron as a starting tight end is risky. I know the potential, but the guy has yet to do it.
On the bench, I see three potential fixes. At running back, both Peterson and Burkhead are sleepers if given the touches. I also like Chris Hogan as a solid replacement for Edelman.
Plus, this is Bob. Bob doesn’t lose.
#11 MOLLY’S LIPS | MARC
Molly was infamous for her awful third round picks. Marc decided to wait one more round when he selected James White in the fourth. Even if he turns into a stud this year, which could happen, was anyone else fingering this guy before the 8th round? He was projected to go in the 10th round in the ADP. Bump him up two rounds due to keepers and that’s still four rounds too early. It’s about value, man.
Anyhow, the receivers are tight, with Beckham, Cooks and Bryant; the former two both competing for All-Robio awards this year. Bryant is a bit of a mystery since he’s coming off suspension and only played one year. He’s also only the third option on a team that features Brown and Bell.
Anyhow, Carr is a fine quarterback and Bennett will score some points at the tight end spot in Green Bay. Meanwhile, the Patriots DST will face some tough quarterbacks this year, but their division should be a cakewalk.
For Marc, it comes down to backs. Rodgers can certainly fill in for three weeks, but after that…what? The X-factor is Powell. He’s the best the Jets have to offer and was a stud when he started last year. But will the Jets coaching staff let him have the damn ball?
#12 ZEKE SQUAD | DON
Don continues to set the gay rights movement back a generation with these kind of drafts. Elliot’s suspension is the big issue. Perhaps the courts will overturn it or suspend the suspension, but this was made worse by the fact that Don failed to invest in his handcuff. McFadden went in the sixth round, but Don decided to go with Mike Gillislee in the fifth, who is a poor man’s Blount and Brandon Marshall one pick before McFadden went.
Mark Ingram is the king of 900 yards rushing. Sure he’s catching the ball more and that’s good, but with Peterson looking over his shoulder, it’s 50/50 he comes close to finishing among the top-12 at running back.
Jarvis Landry is heading into a contract year and that’s always a good thing, but can Brandon Marshall continue to be effective as the second best receiver on his team at his age?
Anyhow, I like the D (Cardinals), I think Maclin has potential and Walker is great value in the 7th round, but without Elliot, this starting lineup doesn’t scare me.
Now go enjoy your Hurricane.