Fantasy Football 2015: Teams, Players You'll Want to Stay Away From

It’s important to weigh every factor when making a decision on a player, whether it’s putting together a cheat sheet, making draft picks or filling out your starting lineup. When I’m torn between certain players, one of my key tiebreakers is how I feel about their respective teams.

In this column, I’ll be highlighting eight teams I’d recommend staying away from this year, if at all possible.

To be clear, this doesn’t mean you should go all out to avoid players on all of these teams, but if it comes down to an important decision, like taking Shane Vereen in an established Giants offense with a good quarterback in Eli Manning over T.J. Yeldon in a young offense with a developmental QB like Blake Bortles, you might be better off sticking with the better team situation.

I’m fully aware these eight teams have some pretty talented players, such as Todd Gurley in St. Louis, Sammy Watkins in Buffalo and DeSean Jackson in Washington, so I’m not trying to steer you away from talent, but I am trying to steer you away from bad situations.

At the end of each team breakdown, I’ll list the players I’d consider at the right price, the ones I’d shy away from and those I want nothing to do with this year.

It’s time to alienate eight fanbases. Or if you’re reading without bias and going in with an open mind, it’s time to learn why these eight teams will likely cause more harm than good to your fantasy rosters in 2015.

Cleveland Browns

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This one shouldn’t take much convincing. 

If you look at the Browns skill players, would any of them start on another NFL roster? Don’t take too long to think about that because the answer is no.

Despite using a first-round pick on Johnny Manziel last season, the Browns have turned to yet another veteran QB to bridge the gap to Manziel. But is that an admission of failure as it pertains to the selection of Manziel, or is Josh McCown really just keeping the seat warm for Johnny Football? If that’s a legit discussion, this team is in even more trouble than I thought.

I broke down the backfield battle earlier this month, yet we still don’t have much clarity as to who the Week 1 starter will be, which has to be a concern. Although it shouldn’t be a surprise after Isaiah Crowell and Terrance West failed to separate from one another last year. The Browns need to run it, but this is looking like an ugly committee yet again. 

How do you make up for the losses of Josh Gordon and Jordan Cameron at wide receiver? If you’re the Browns, reach to the bottom of the free-agent barrel and bring in Dwayne Bowe, Brian Hartline and Rob Housler. I’ve heard more chatter about Terrelle Pryor than the rest of the receiving corps combined and he sat out the second preseason game with a hamstring injury. This is the worst group in the league, and it’s not close.

This is a mess of a franchise from top to bottom, and there’s no light at the end of the tunnel. Cleveland plays in a tough division and also has Denver, San Diego, Seattle and Arizona on the schedule. It’ll be another long season for the Browns, so you’re better off keeping their players off your fantasy roster.

Under consideration: Duke Johnson, Browns defense

Shying away: Isaiah Crowell

Not a chance: Josh McCown/Johnny Manziel, Terrance West, Dwayne Bowe, Brian Hartline, Andrew Hawkins, Rob Housler

Buffalo Bills

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Will Rex Ryan ever have a top-16 quarterback leading his team? How about top 20? That’s not happening this year no matter who wins the job.

What looked like a two-man race between veteran Matt Cassel and wasted 2013 first-round pick EJ Manuel turned into a three-way dance when Tyrod Taylor pushed his way in at the start of training camp. After two preseason games, it looks like Manuel has fallen behind and Taylor has a legit chance to win the job. Ryan isn’t naming a starter until Week 1. Yikes.

No matter who wins the QB job, it’s pretty clear the Bills are going to pound the rock. That’s if they have any healthy options at running back.

LeSean McCoy has a hamstring injury Ryan is “cautiously optimistic” about in terms of his Week 1 status. Fred Jackson (hamstring) and Anthony Dixon (calf) have been out multiple weeks and are taking it slow, per the team’s website. Karlos Williams is out after an unknown procedure and is expected to miss at least two weeks, said Ryan, per Mike Rodak of ESPN.com.

McCoy continues to have an ADP around 16, yet I’m not sure why so many are expecting a bounce-back season after a disappointing performance on a much better Eagles team last year. I’ve already called McCoy one of the most overrated players in fantasy football this season, and this injury is just the latest knock against him.

With a bad QB situation and a need to run the football, it’s hard to get excited about Sammy Watkins with an ADP around 53 as the 22nd wide receiver off the board. Buffalo doesn’t have any game-changing talent in its receiving corps when you look at players like Robert Woods and Charles Clay, so Watkins will likely attract a lot of attention as the only major threat in the passing game.

The Bills have talent all over their defense, even with the loss of Jarius Wynn to a torn ACL, and we know Ryan is one of the best defensive minds in the league, which is how this team will stay in games and why I’d consider them one of the best fantasy units this season.

I want to be more excited about this team, but I’m not because I hate the QB situation. This isn’t a bad quad, but it will be better in reality than it is for fantasy.

Under consideration: Bills defense

Shying away: Sammy Watkins, Fred Jackson

Not a chance: LeSean McCoy, Charles Clay, Robert Woods, any of the QBs

Tennessee Titans

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I think the Titans are the worst team in the league.

If Marcus Mariota ended up elsewhere, I might feel a little better about him this season, but he’s coming to an organization that lacks leadership from the front office to the coaching staff. 

We’re talking about a head coach in Ken Whisenhunt who last season featured Shonn Greene in a meaningless Week 15 game against the Jets because he thought Greene would be motivated against his old team. The Titans lost and Greene was so motivated he racked up 50 yards on 16 carries.

Besides not having faith in the leadership, Mariota doesn’t have a lot to work with this year. Rookie wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham certainly has plenty of talent, but he still needs a lot of polish and will likely be an inconsistent contributor at best. Kendall Wright has been somewhat miscast during his short time with the Titans and can’t be considered their top option in the WR corps. 

Veteran tight end Delanie Walker has to be considered the safest fantasy option on this roster and could be a security blanket for Mariota, but he’s hardly a game-changer for the passing game.

Bishop Sankey looked lost last season and is likely better off in more of a change-of-pace role, which could happen now that the Titans have a bigger, younger back in David Cobb to replace Greene. Even if Cobb wins the starting job, will he get many chances on a team that won’t be in many games?

There’s too much rebuilding going on and I do not trust the architects of this franchise to put together a winner.

Under consideration: Delanie Walker, David Cobb

Shying away: Kendall Wright, Marcus Mariota, Dorial Green-Beckham

Not a chance: Bishop Sankey, Titans defense

Washington Redskins

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Robert Griffin has been damaged and possibly irreparable goods since the Redskins rushed him back from a torn ACL two years ago. They’re still trying to convince their fanbase and themselves that wasn’t a mistake and he can still lead this team. Until they figure out the error of their ways, this team isn’t going anywhere.

As we saw in Washington’s second preseason game, Griffin was abused by the Lions behind a poor Redskins offensive line and eventually left the game with a stinger and yet another concussion. As our Jason Cole reported, the concussion isn’t expected to keep Griffin out long, and they plan to stick with him as the starter. Stubbornness will get them nowhere.

Alfred Morris’ fantasy value has been diminished by being part of this below-average offense in addition to his lack of a role in the passing game. With the addition of rookie Matt Jones, who might steal touches near the goal line, this backfield has become even more of a headache for fantasy owners. Jones is worth keeping an eye on and isn’t even being drafted in most leagues.

Pierre Garcon went from being the most targeted wide receiver in football two seasons ago to a fantasy ghost in 2014. Playing with three different QBs doesn’t help—and it’s not like the QB situation has improved at all. DeSean Jackson is the definition of a boom-or-bust receiver, and those busts can be unpredictable, especially on this team. Plus, he continues to deal with a sprained AC joint in his shoulder and missed the second preseason game.

After rising to the top of the depth chart, the Redskins lost tight end Niles Paul in the first preseason game when he fractured and dislocated his ankle. With Paul on injured reserve, the team turns back to the oft-injured Jordan Reed, who’s played just 20 games over the last two seasons and is already dealing with another hamstring injury that kept him out of the second preseason game.

If you’re trying to find any positives on this team, good luck. Be prepared to see Griffin, Kirk Cousins and Colt McCoy all get playing time again this season. That’s a recipe for disaster.

Under consideration: Matt Jones

Shying away: DeSean Jackson, Pierre Garcon, Alfred Morris, Jordan Reed

Not a chance: Any of the QBs, Redskins defense

San Francisco 49ers

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The window of opportunity for the 49ers shut pretty quickly last season after three straight appearances in the NFC Championship Game and a loss to the Ravens in Super Bowl XLVII. 

Gone is the man who turned the team around, Jim Harbaugh, and in comes Jim Tomsula, who has been with the team since 2007 as a defensive line coach but earned a promotion to head coach when Harbaugh and the 49ers parted ways. In another effort at providing some continuity, the team promoted quarterbacks coach Geep Chryst to offensive coordinator. 

That brings us to Colin Kaepernick, who is the primary reason I’m so down on the 49ers entering this season. Kaepernick completed just 60.5 percent of his career-high 478 attempts last season. That’s not asking your QB to do much, yet Kaepernick still failed to put up impressive numbers and seemed to go backward in his development as a passer. Is Chryst the man to fix that?

Other than a very reliable, seemingly QB-proof receiver in Anquan Boldin, the 49ers have a lot to prove in their receiving corps. Vernon Davis is coming off a terrible season in which he blamed the game-planning, according to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee. Torrey Smith was signed to give Kaepernick a true deep threat to match his big arm, but with Kaepernick’s struggles, Smith will likely be an inconsistent fantasy option.

The biggest change on the offensive side of the ball is the move to Carlos Hyde from Frank Gore, who didn’t re-sign after spending 10 years with the 49ers. Hyde is fully expected to lead the way in the ground game, but the addition of Reggie Bush will cut into Hyde’s targets, which will limit his fantasy value. Plus, if the defense takes a step back, will the 49ers be able to run it as much as they did with Gore?

If Kaepernick can’t be fixed, this team is in trouble, and it’s not like they can turn to a backup with any kind of confidence. Blaine Gabbert is still holding that job down, so Kaepernick has a very long leash, which isn't necessarily a good thing. The 49ers took a big step backward last year and don’t look ready to take a step forward in 2015.

Under consideration: Anquan Boldin, Reggie Bush

Shying away: Carlos Hyde, Torrey Smith, Vernon Davis

Not a chance: Colin Kaepernick, 49ers defense

Jacksonville Jaguars

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Quarterback play is a major concern for just about every team on this list, and the Jaguars are no exception.

Expectations were not high for Blake Bortles in his rookie season, but he seemed to get worse as the year progressed. His mechanics were a mess and, according to general manager Dave Caldwell, he dealt with a dead arm due to shoulder inflammation. He still has a lot to prove in his second season.

Luckily, Bortles isn’t short on talent in his receiving corps. Allen Robinson looks like he can be a legit No. 1 wide receiver, and Julius Thomas is a big upgrade over Marcedes Lewis at tight end. Those two will have legit fantasy value, but Thomas’ Week 1 status is in question after fracturing his hand in training camp. The team is confident he’ll be ready, per Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union. 

After Robinson and Thomas, the Jaguars need to get more out of second-year WRs Allen Hurns and Marqise Lee. Hurns is in line to start, not only because he’s performed well but because Lee is still two weeks away from returning because of a hamstring strain, according to head coach Gus Bradley, per Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com.

That leaves us with a backfield that missed badly on the signing of Toby Gerhart last season, so they tried to make up for it by selecting T.J. Yeldon in the second round of this year’s draft. Yeldon looks like he’ll lead the way, although the team may take it slow with his carries, per DiRocco. That could be an annoying committee to open the season, although it shouldn’t last. 

Jacksonville is a rebuilding team that seems to be going in the right direction, but the Jags have a lot to prove before you can buy into them for fantasy with a lot of confidence. Bortles needs to bounce back from last year, and the offensive line has to be better than the 71 sacks allowed last season.

I’ve gone from hard pass to at least considering some Jaguars to play important roles on my fantasy team, but expectations won’t get too high until they show results—and that may not happen quickly in 2015.

Under consideration: Allen Robinson, T.J. Yeldon

Shying away: Julius Thomas

Not a chance: Blake Bortles, Denard Robinson, any other WR, Jaguars defense

St. Louis Rams

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Before we get into the negatives with the Rams, I’m well aware of the talent of Todd Gurley and think he’ll eventually be a great player this season. I’m not as pumped about him as I am with Ameer Abdullah, but that’s only because I’m expecting the Rams to take it slow with Gurley early in the season. 

With the most talented player out of the way, it’s time to focus on what’s wrong with the Rams.

After watching Nick Foles fall apart in Philadelphia last year, I don’t have a lot of confidence in his chances on a new team with less talent and a coaching staff that is very conservative compared to Chip Kelly. Foles produced for fantasy but was a product of the offense and would have been benched if he didn’t break his collarbone. He’s a poor decision-maker and doesn’t react well to pressure.

That’s a problem when you look at a receiving corps that doesn’t have a lot of talent. Tavon Austin has been a bust because he’s been woefully underutilized in his first two seasons. Kenny Britt flashes at times but is hardly consistent. Brian Quick was coming on last year before tearing his rotator cuff and dislocating his shoulder. He’s still working his way back but should play in the preseason, according to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Jared Cook has been one of the biggest fantasy disappointments and, much like Stedman Bailey, doesn’t do much to move the needle. Opposing defenses shouldn’t be scared of them, which means they shouldn’t be on your fantasy team.

The Rams are loaded on defense, specifically when it comes to pass-rushers, so that will keep them in games. Besides the defensive unit, looking at Gurley for the long term and Tre Mason early on are your best fantasy options for this team. I’d rather stay away from a Foles-led passing attack.

Under consideration: Todd Gurley, Tre Mason, Rams defense

Shying away: Brian Quick, Stedman Bailey

Not a chance: Nick Foles, Kenny Britt, Jared Cook

New York Jets

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For a short time during the offseason, I was warming up to the Jets for fantasy. But after further examination and a quarterback change, the cooling process came in a hurry. 

Geno Smith’s locker room kerfuffle has put veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick in the spotlight since he’ll be manning the ship while Smith recovers from a broken jaw. Are the Jets better off with Fitzpatrick?

I don’t think they’ll change much. The defense has a ton of talent, and if they play at a high level under new head coach Todd Bowles, how much will they really have to throw it? That’s part of the reason I cooled on the offense. I don’t think they’ll need to score a lot of points.

Brandon Marshall still has plenty left in the tank and has overcome bad QB play for most of his career, so I’m not overly concerned about him, although an ADP of 59.5 as the 25th WR off the board seems a little too optimistic on this team. Eric Decker isn’t getting the same kind of love. He’s around the 37th WR drafted with an ADP of 99. That’s not a big investment, but I’d rather look elsewhere for more upside.

Jeff Cumberland and Jace Amaro will likely steal targets from each other, so neither has much fantasy value. Amaro is tabbed for the H-back role and has been sidelined with a shoulder sprain since the first preseason game.

Chris Ivory is in line to lead the backfield once again, although that resulted in just 198 carries last year playing ahead of Chris Johnson. The Jets traded for Zac Stacy and signed Stevan Ridley, although he’s a candidate to open the season on the PUP list, per Rich Cimini of ESPN.com. Ivory doesn’t have a lot of upside, and last year’s 18 receptions were a career high for him. It’s a pretty boring backfield. 

The returns of Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie give the team some much-needed help in the secondary. With a strong front seven, they should be a tough matchup for any opponent, making them one of the best fantasy units coming into the season. 

Whether the Jets stick with Fitzpatrick or end up going back to Smith, it’s hard to get excited about the prospects for this offense. Look elsewhere to help fill out your fantasy roster.

Under consideration: Jets defense

Shying away: Brandon Marshall, Eric Decker, Chris Ivory

Not a chance: Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jeremy Kerley, Jace Amaro

All rankings and statistics are from Fantasy Pros unless otherwise noted.