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Fantasy Executive Desk: Buccaneers Peyton Barber Among Risers in Latest Rankings Update

Fantasy Executive Desk: Buccaneers Peyton Barber Among Risers in Latest Rankings Update premium
Corey Parson August 17, 2018 12:06PM EDT

Fantasy Football Musings from the Desk of the Fantasy Executive

Corey “The Fantasy Executive” Parson checks in regularly here on his new Xclusive Edge blog with his thoughts on the latest Fantasy news and trends. Corey is the host of the Fantasy Football Frenzy on the FNTSY Sports Network and is a widely known and respected multiple high stakes league winner. His championship resume includes a 2016 Fantasy League of Experts (FLEX) title and he has won high stakes and expert leagues every season dating back to 2013. 

It’s Friday so it’s time for updated rankings. Week 2 of preseason action has started and the pictures are getting clearer around the NFL.

Rankings Risers

Browns quarterback Tyrod Taylor seems to be locked into the starting job. The Browns have nice weapons on offense and could be adding Josh Gordon and Dez Bryant to the mix soon. Tyrod is one of the most underrated players in the NFL. If you are in a 2QB or Superflex league, or just like to draft multiple quarterbacks, Taylor will be a nice fit for your roster. Peyton Barber gets a big boost in the rankings this week simply because he will be the Bucs’ starting running back. Rookie Ronald Jones has failed to impress. Barber will not be a three-down back but he has that skill set. Many people won’t remember this, but Barber led the Bucs in rushing last season.

Rankings Fallers

Rex Burkhead is a very talented player but this guy can’t stay on the field. Burkhead has been dealing with a knee injury for the majority of training camp. The Pats are saying that Burkhead has a minor tear in his knee that will not sideline him for long. Even if Burkhead is ready for Week One you better believe he will deal with this knee injury again during the season. Rishard Matthews has been one of my favorite value picks the past two seasons. That won’t be the case this season. Matthews has yet to practice this summer and no one has any idea whats going on with Matthews. The Titans’ young wideouts are playing well and they may have to bring in reinforcements at the position. Matthews will be sliding down the depth chart and rankings until there is more clarity on his undisclosed injury.

August 15

For at least a decade every so-called Fantasy Football expert has preached to owners to wait on your quarterback. It is sound advice, as quarterback is normally very deep and you don’t need the top player at the position to win your league. Dudes like Blake Bortles can get hot at the right time and lead you to Fantasy glory. In seasons past many local or home leagues will have guys that will draft quarterbacks in the first three rounds. From the draft boards I have seen this year that is no longer the case. Everyone, not just the “experts” are waiting on their quarterbacks. That means it is time to switch up the strategy and pay up for the big-name quarterbacks. I’m not saying to go overboard and draft Aaron Rodgers in the first round, but there is a method to my madness. Luckily I’m willing to share that with you.

Aaron Rodgers – I’m willing to draft Rodgers in round 4. Rodgers has a MFL 10 ADP of 50 overall. If Rodgers is on the board in the fifth round  that’s the steal of the draft. In the FLEX league draft I snagged Rodgers on the 6-7 turn. He should never be around that late.
Russell Wilson – Wilson has a MFL 10 ADP of 64 overall. This a guy who could win the NFL MVP this season. Wilson is the Seahawks’ entire offense. Whether its rushing or passing, the offense flows through Wilson. He can normally be found in Round 7 of drafts. Which is quite absurd.
Deshaun Watson- Watson may scare owners because he is coming off a torn ACL. Don’t worry about Watson. He is a young Russell Wilson, except he has one of the best receivers in the game to throw to. If he is on the board in the seventh round or later grab him and reap the rewards.
August 11

The first run of the Fantasy Executive rankings is here. Unfortunately, due to injuries in this weekend’s preseason games, some players no longer have rankings. My rankings will be updated every Friday so you will have them for your upcoming weekend drafts.

One of the players you will notice that I am lower on than the rest of the industry is Green Bay Packers tight end Jimmy Graham. I had Graham on multiple teams last season and I still think he has some game left in him. The reason for the low rank actually has nothing to do with Graham. It has to do with his new team and QB. Aaron Rodgers doesn’t care to throw the football to the tight end. Many will say he will target Graham in the red zone. Graham will be a nice decoy in the red zone but Rodgers will just likely run it in himself. Let’s use the last season Rodgers was healthy all year in 2016. Packers tight ends Richard Rodgers and Jared Cook finished as tight ends 36 and 38 in PPR scoring. They had 101 targets and three touchdowns between them. The last time a Packers tight end made noise in Fantasy it was Jermichael Finley. Rodgers ran him out of town.

 

Stefon Diggs is my 10th ranked wide receiver in PPR. Diggs’ teammate Adam Thielen is my 14th ranked wide receiver in PPR. I know Thielen finished as a Top 10 wide receiver last season, I still like Thielen, I’m just convinced Diggs is headed for a breakout season.The Vikings gave Diggs a big contract extension in the offseason, making him the sixth highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL. Thielen got his money last season, and his contract is nowhere near the size of Diggs’. I’m not just following the money with these two. I’m also looking at skill sets. Diggs is an elite route runner who many have compared to Antonio Brown. It doesn’t hurt that new quarterback Kirk Cousins also raves about Diggs’ game.

 


August 8 

Every year as more and more people get into Fantasy Football and start mock drafting, ADPs on certain players begin to change. Two players with Average Draft Positions headed in the wrong direction are Rashaad Penny and Tyreek Hill. Let’s examine both, starting with the new Seahawk. Penny (FantasyPros RB22 in PPR) was drafted by Seattle with its first selection in the 2018 NFL Draft. The San Diego State standout led the FBS in rushing and all-purpose yards. The 5-11 Penny was going in the third round of Fantasy Football drafts throughout the month of July. I have noticed over the past couple of weeks Penny’s ADP is starting to slide to the 4th and even 5th rounds. The reason mainly is because of the presence of Chris Carson, who is having a great camp. Carson, whose rookie season ended in Week 4 with a leg injury, has said that he is better prepared for the rigors of the NFL. Carson has created enough of a buzz to affect Penny’s ADP. Penny will have the opportunity to take this backfield from Carson but I don’t see it happening this season. As the Seahawks offensive line improves their running game should also. When Seattle was good, the rushing attack was the staple of their offense. In the past two seasons, the Seahawks have finished 24th and 25th in rushing, causing a major problem for the offense. Penny, along with Carson, will improve the rushing game this season, but not to the point that either will be a Top 12 Fantasy back. Penny should not be drafted any higher than Round 4. The Seattle backfield will be a nightmarish timeshare that will cause headaches for Fantasy Football owners.

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