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With his suspension knocked down to three games, Le'Veon Bell's fantasy stock is on the rise.
With his suspension knocked down to three games, Le'Veon Bell's fantasy stock is on the rise.Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

Fantasy Football 2016: Matt Camp's Post-Preseason Week 2 Big Board

Matt CampAug 24, 2016

Are you sick of the preseason yet?

If you’ve already had your draft, then the answer to that is probably yes. Anxiously watching players in hope that they don’t get hurt in a meaningless game is a great reason to wait as long as possible to hold your draft. However, I know it’s hard to get your whole league together, so waiting might not be a luxury you can afford. 

As we head into the most important week of preseason action—if such a thing exists—we should get a good look at most of the key starters around the league. Opinions will be swayed with bigger sample sizes, but remember that this is still August football, and players won’t have the same preparation you’ll see in the regular season.

If you need a summary of what went down in the second week of games, then make sure to check out this week’s Fantasy Notebook since I make a point to concentrate on players or situations that matter the most for fantasy. 

Between watching all the games and tracking the latest news and injuries, I’ve made further adjustments to my rankings at each position, which I’ll break down with a look at the biggest changes. Plus, you’ll get highlights of values, overvalues and sleepers, including adjustments in average draft position (ADP) that could change your approach to each player.

The rankings in this article focus on points per reception (PPR) format, but if you play in non-PPR formats, then you can check out those rankings here.

Top 100: Get Comfortable

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Mark Ingram has turned into a great all-around fantasy asset.
Mark Ingram has turned into a great all-around fantasy asset.

Has there been a shift in rankings and perceptions since the preseason got underway? 

If we look back at my initial preseason big board, ADP information showed that the first 100 picks were comprised of 10 quarterbacks, 39 running backs, 40 wide receivers and 11 tight ends. My first top 100 included 10 QBs, 38 RBs, 42 WRs and 10 TEs. 

The current ADP numbers show the top 100 picks are made up of 10 QBs, 39 RBs, 41 WRs and 10 TEs. The top 100 you see below features 12 QBs, 37 RBs, 42 WRs and nine TEs. That’s not a major difference in positional numbers, but the players have shifted around within those positions. 

In the big picture, top 100 rankings are what you make of them, especially when you get past the first 60 picks or so. It comes down to what you need on your team and when you’re willing to address certain positions, like QB. If you want to wait on a QB, you might not even consider the position in the first nine rounds and that’s fine. Ultimately, it’s your team and your call.

2016 Top 100 PPR Draft Rankings

1Antonio Brown PIT (8)WR00
2Julio Jones ATL (11)WR00
3Odell Beckham Jr. NYG (8)WR00
4DeAndre Hopkins HOU (9)WR+20
5David Johnson ARI (9)RB-1+1
6A.J. Green CIN (9)WR+1+1
7Todd Gurley LA (8)RB-2-2
8Lamar Miller HOU (9)RB+3+4
9Ezekiel Elliott DAL (7)RB+1+1
10Adrian Peterson MIN (6)RB+2-2
11Brandin Cooks NO (5)WR+11+12
12Brandon Marshall NYJ (11)WR+3+6
13Allen Robinson JAC (5)WR0-2
14Le'Veon Bell PIT (8)RB+90
15Rob Gronkowski NE (9)TE-7-2
16Dez Bryant DAL (7)WR-7-7
17T.Y. Hilton IND (10)WR+9+10
18Keenan Allen SD (11)WR-4-3
19Eddie Lacy GB (4)RB+9+7
20Amari Cooper OAK (10)WR+4+2
21Mark Ingram NO (5)RB0+3
22Devonta Freeman ATL (11)RB-4-5
23Golden Tate DET (10)WR+15+12
24Jordy Nelson GB (4)WR-5-8
25C.J. Anderson DEN (11)RB+7+12
26Carlos Hyde SF (8)RB+13+16
27Mike Evans TB (6)WR-10-7
28Doug Martin TB (6)RB+1+1
29LeSean McCoy BUF (10)RB-4-1
30Thomas Rawls SEA (5)RB+16+10
31Randall Cobb GB (4)WR+2+1
32Demaryius Thomas DEN (11)WR-5-7
33Sammy Watkins BUF (10)WR-2-3
34Alshon Jeffery CHI (9)WR-14-13
35Danny Woodhead SD (11)RB+12+20
36Jamaal Charles KC (5)RB-20-17
37Jeremy Maclin KC (5)WR-1+2
38Matt Forte NYJ (11)RB+5+3
39Donte Moncrief IND (10)WR+6+10
40Aaron Rodgers GB (4)QB0+3
41Andrew Luck IND (10)QB+9+12
42Cam Newton CAR (7)QB-5-4
43Jeremy Hill CIN (9)RB+22+28
44Julian Edelman NE (9)WR-9-11
45Jordan Reed WAS (9)TE-11-11
46Jarvis Landry MIA (8)WR-16-15
47Eric Decker NYJ (11)WR-60
48Russell Wilson SEA (5)QB+1+10
49Travis Kelce KC (5)TE+9+10
50Latavius Murray OAK (10)RB-8-4
51John Brown ARI (9)WR+12+10
52Matt Jones WAS (9)RB+26+5
53Giovani Bernard CIN (9)RB+1+9
54Greg Olsen CAR (7)TE-10-9
55Larry Fitzgerald ARI (9)WR-2-4
56Devante Parker MIA (8)WR+14+14
57Doug Baldwin SEA (5)WR-9-9
58Kelvin Benjamin CAR (7)WR-6-22
59Marvin Jones DET (10)WR+9+21
60Tyler Lockett SEA (5)WR+12+14
61Melvin Gordon SD (11)RB+15+14
62Duke Johnson CLE (13)RB-11-6
63Drew Brees NO (5)QB-4+6
64DeMarco Murray TEN (13)RB-7-14
65Zach Ertz PHI (4)TE+20+22
66Michael Floyd ARI (9)WR-11-14
67Ryan Mathews PHI (4)RB-60
68Frank Gore IND (10)RB-2+10
69Ameer Abdullah DET (10)RB+10+14
70Ben Roethlisberger PIT (8)QB+4+3
71Theo Riddick DET (10)RB+24+27
72Emmanuel Sanders DEN (11)WR-10-12
73Delanie Walker TEN (13)TE-13-10
74James White NE (9)RB+60+174
75Charles Sims TB (6)RB+7+14
76Kevin White CHI (9)WR+16+6
77Carson Palmer ARI (9)QB-2+4
78Josh Gordon CLE (13)WR+12+8
79Allen Hurns JAC (5)WR-2-11
80Stefon Diggs MIN (6)WR+20+22
81Arian Foster MIA (8)RB-8-15
82Rashad Jennings NYG (8)RB-2+9
83Eli Manning NYG (8)QB0+14
84Jeremy Langford CHI (9)RB-17-19
85Tevin Coleman ATL (11)RB+35+18
86Tyler Eifert CIN (9)TE+13-7
87Coby Fleener NO (5)TE-23-23
88Gary Barnidge CLE (13)TE-4-3
89Jordan Matthews PHI (4)WR-33-35
90Michael Crabtree OAK (10)WR-19-14
91DeSean Jackson WAS (9)WR-10-3
92Sterling Shepard NYG (8)WR-4+2
93Chris Ivory JAC (5)RB-40
94T.J. Yeldon JAC (5)RB-7+1
95Shane Vereen NYG (8)RB+34+41
96Matthew Stafford DET (10)QB+27+42
97Derek Carr OAK (10)QB+17+11
98Blake Bortles JAC (5)QB-2-8
99Tom Brady NE (9)QB-1-22
100Markus Wheaton PIT (8)WR+19+12
     

Quarterbacks: Avoid the Run

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Grabbing Carson Palmer after the top tier of quarterbacks is a wise strategy.
Grabbing Carson Palmer after the top tier of quarterbacks is a wise strategy.

There are no notable changes in rankings this week. I’m still waiting to see how the QB situations play out in San Francisco and Denver before locking those players in, but even then, I’m expecting both teams to start at least two different QBs during the regular season. 

The same goes for Cleveland’s QBs. Robert Griffin III is the unquestioned starter and has a great head coach in Hue Jackson to help get his career back on track. Initially, I ranked Griffin with the expectation he’d only start half the season before losing his job. This week’s adjustment moves him up a little higher but still not into fantasy relevance.

Targets Based on Value 

Carson Palmer, ARI

My Ranking: QB7 (no change)

Last Week’s ADP: 85.3, QB8

Palmer’s standing at the position hasn’t changed, but as a reliable QB, his overall status has risen slightly.

Eli Manning, NYG

My Ranking: QB8 (no change)

Last Week’s ADP: 96.8, QB10

This Week’s ADP: 96.3, QB10

It hasn’t been a pretty preseason for the Giants’ passing offense, but that’s not doing anything to Manning’s status as a good value QB.

My Ranking: QB9 (no change)

Last Week’s ADP: 142.5, QB17

This Week’s ADP: 140.5, QB17

It’s been a gradual climb for Stafford, and I’d expect that to continue with more buzz about Stafford’s connection with wide receiver Marvin Jones.

Overvalues Based on ADP vs. Ranking

Tony Romo, DAL

My Ranking: QB24 (no change)

Last Week’s ADP: 125.8, QB13

This Week’s ADP: 132.3, QB14

Romo saw his first preseason action over the weekend, although I doubt that had anything to do with his slip down the board. He’s been trending downward all month, which is exactly what should be happening. There are plenty of better options with more upside in better situations available at a similar cost.

Kirk Cousins, WAS

My Ranking: QB22

Last Week’s ADP: New addition to overvalues

This Week’s ADP: QB13, 126.8

While I have just 14 fantasy points separating Cousins as the QB22 from Joe Flacco as my QB13, I can’t get behind a 10th-round ADP (12-team league) for Cousins. His sample size is too small to believe in him that strongly.

Potential Sleepers 

Joe Flacco

My Ranking: QB13

Last Week’s ADP: 194.3, QB23

This Week’s ADP: 195.7, QB23

Flacco’s never been a consistently reliable fantasy QB, so I’m not surprised to see him buried on draft boards. He’ll see his first action of the preseason on Saturday, according to an interview he did on Sirius/XM Mad Dog Radio’s Schein on Sports (via Jamison Hensley of ESPN).

2016 Quarterback Draft Rankings

1Aaron Rodgers GB (4)+1+1
2Andrew Luck IND (10)+2+2
3Cam Newton CAR (7)-2-2
4Russell Wilson SEA (5)-1-1
5Drew Brees NO (5)00
6Ben Roethlisberger PIT (8)+10
7Carson Palmer ARI (9)-10
8Eli Manning NYG (8)0+2
9Matthew Stafford DET (10)+7+9
10Derek Carr OAK (10)+4+2
11Blake Bortles JAC (5)-1-2
12Tom Brady NE (9)-1-4
13Joe Flacco BAL (8)+10+10
14Jameis Winston TB (6)+3+2
15Philip Rivers SD (11)-6-4
16Andy Dalton CIN (9)+2-1
17Tyrod Taylor BUF (10)-50
18Matt Ryan ATL (11)+2+2
19Ryan Tannehill MIA (8)+3+3
20Marcus Mariota TEN (13)-1-1
21Ryan Fitzpatrick NYJ (11)0+5
22Kirk Cousins WAS (9)-9-8
23Jay Cutler CHI (9)+1+6
24Tony Romo DAL (7)-9-11
25Alex Smith KC (5)00
26Brock Osweiler HOU (9)+1-2
27Teddy Bridgewater MIN (6)+1-6
28Sam Bradford PHI (4)+1+2
29Mark Sanchez DEN (11)+1+3
30Josh McCown CLE (13)+10N/A 
31Colin Kaepernick SF (8)+2+2
32Carson Wentz PHI (4)0+2
33Robert Griffin CLE (13)-7-6
34Jared Goff LA (8)+2-6
35Blaine Gabbert SF (8)-4+1
36Case Keenum LA (8)+3N/A  
37Jimmy Garoppolo NE (9)+40
38Paxton Lynch DEN (11)-3-3
39Trevor Siemian DEN (11)-1N/A  
40Cody Kessler CLE (13)+13N/A  

Running Backs: You Can Wait

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Carlos Hyde could be an important part of a WR-heavy draft.
Carlos Hyde could be an important part of a WR-heavy draft.

Notable Changes in Rankings

6. Le’Veon Bell, PIT (up three spots)

7. Eddie Lacy, GB (down one spot)

8. Mark Ingram, NO (down one spot)

9. Devonta Freeman, ATL (down one spot)

56. DeAngelo Williams, PIT (down seven spots)

Obviously, these moves have everything to do with Bell’s suspension getting reduced from four games to three. I thought about moving him higher, but I didn’t want to assume he’d be thrown back into a huge, productive role in his first game, especially after the MCL and PCL tears that ended his season prematurely in 2015.

29. James White, NE (up 36 spots)

46. LeGarrette Blount, NE (up four spots)

59. Dion Lewis, NE (down 43 spots) 

The biggest fantasy injury news of the preseason opened this week up on a sour note when it was revealed that Lewis would need a second surgery on his knee and is expected to miss 8-10 weeks, per Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald.

It’s a slight bump for Blount since Lewis did get carries near the goal line. The biggest bump goes to White, who should step right into Lewis’ role as the pass-catcher out of the backfield. When Lewis went down last season, White had the sixth-most fantasy points of any RB in PPR formats from Weeks 10-17. He could arguably be ranked higher.

Targets Based on Value 

My Ranking: RB3 (no change)

Last Week’s ADP: 12, RB5

I’ll be interested to see if Le'Veon Bell overtakes him by next week.

Eddie Lacy, GB

My Ranking: RB7 (down one spot)

Last Week’s ADP: 26, RB10

This Week’s ADP: 26, RB10

Lacy’s strong preseason clearly hasn’t been enough to wash the bad taste out from last year’s disappointing performance.

C.J. Anderson, DEN

My Ranking: RB10 (no change)

Last Week’s ADP: 38, RB14

This Week’s ADP: 37, RB13

Is the ugliness of Denver’s quarterback situation putting more focus on Anderson as the focal point of the offense? It should have been there all along.

Carlos Hyde, SF

My Ranking: RB11 (no change)

Last Week’s ADP: 43, RB17

This Week’s ADP: 42, RB16

Hyde’s slight move up the ADP chart is very similar to Anderson’s in that they both have terrible QB situations. But Hyde’s is definitely worse. He’ll be busy this season.

Danny Woodhead, SD

My Ranking: RB15

Last Week’s ADP: 52, RB20

This Week’s ADP: 55, RB20

If you saw my video on making the case for Woodhead, you know I’m baffled by the lack of respect he gets from fantasy players, and I can’t believe he’s fallen three spots overall. We’re talking about the No. 3 RB in PPR formats last season. I’m already building in regression and considering the rise of Melvin Gordon to drop him 12 spots from where he finished last season.

Overvalues Based on ADP vs. Ranking

My Ranking: RB16 (up one spot)

Last Week’s ADP: 18, RB7

This Week’s ADP: 19, RB8

Charles is off the PUP list, but he isn’t expected to play in the third preseason game, according to head coach Andy Reid (via Pete Sweeney of Chiefs.com).

My Ranking: RB24 (up three spots)

Last Week’s ADP: 51, RB19

This Week’s ADP: 50, RB19

Murray moved up because his upside is better than players like Ryan Mathews and Frank Gore, but I still believe Derrick Henry will have a significant role as more than just a backup to Murray. I’d compare it to the one-two punch of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart when they played together in Carolina.

Jeremy Langford, CHI

My Ranking: RB33 (no change)

Last Week’s ADP: 63, RB24

This Week’s ADP: 65, RB25

Langford’s moving in the right direction based on where I have him ranked. Langford has yet to practice since injuring his foot in the second preseason game, per Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.

Jonathan Stewart, CAR

My Ranking: RB44 (up one spot)

Last Week’s ADP: 72, RB28

This Week’s ADP: 72, RB28

Jay Ajayi, MIA

My Ranking: RB41 (no change)

Last Week’s ADP: 85, RB33

This Week’s ADP: 100, RB35

Ajayi’s stock has done nothing but fall since the signing of Arian Foster.

Potential Sleepers

Charles Sims, TB

My Ranking: RB30 (no change)

Last Week’s ADP: 87, RB34

This Week’s ADP: 89, RB33

Doug Martin sat out the second preseason game with bruised ribs. Concern doesn’t seem major, but it’s something to monitor. Sims should have an active role in the offense regardless of Martin’s status.

Tevin Coleman, ATL

My Ranking: RB34 (no change)

Last Week’s ADP: 104, RB40

This Week’s ADP: 103, RB40

Coleman and Devonta Freeman worked with the first-team offense in both preseason games. That could be a sign of things to come in the regular season.

Jerick McKinnon, MIN

My Ranking: RB43 (up one spot)

Last Week’s ADP: 136, RB52

This Week’s ADP: 132, RB51

2016 Running Back PPR Draft Rankings

1David Johnson ARI (9)0+1
2Todd Gurley LA (8)0-1
3Lamar Miller HOU (9)+1+2
4Ezekiel Elliott DAL (7)-10
5Adrian Peterson MIN (6)0-2
6Le'Veon Bell PIT (8)+20
7Eddie Lacy GB (4)+4+3
8Mark Ingram NO (5)+1+1
9Devonta Freeman ATL (11)-2-2
10C.J. Anderson DEN (11)+3+3
11Carlos Hyde SF (8)+3+5
12Doug Martin TB (6)00
13LeSean McCoy BUF (10)-3-2
14Thomas Rawls SEA (5)+40
15Danny Woodhead SD (11)+2+5
16Jamaal Charles KC (5)-10-8
17Matt Forte NYJ (11)-1-2
18Jeremy Hill CIN (9)+5+9
19Latavius Murray OAK (10)-4-1
20Matt Jones WAS (9)+8+2
21Giovani Bernard CIN (9)-1+3
22Melvin Gordon SD (11)+5+8
23Duke Johnson CLE (13)-4-2
24DeMarco Murray TEN (13)-3-5
25Ryan Mathews PHI (4)-3+1
26Frank Gore IND (10)-1+3
27Ameer Abdullah DET (10)+3+4
28Theo Riddick DET (10)+6+11
29James White NE (9)+12+44
30Charles Sims TB (6)+2+3
31Arian Foster MIA (8)-2-8
32Rashad Jennings NYG (8)-1+2
33Jeremy Langford CHI (9)-7-8
34Tevin Coleman ATL (11)+9+6
35Chris Ivory JAC (5)-2+1
36T.J. Yeldon JAC (5)-1+1
37Shane Vereen NYG (8)+9+13
38Isaiah Crowell CLE (13)+4+4
39Derrick Henry TEN (13)+5+4
40Darren Sproles PHI (4)+7+5
41Jay Ajayi MIA (8)-1-6
42Bilal Powell NYJ (11)-4-1
43Jerick McKinnon MIN (6)+6+8
44Jonathan Stewart CAR (7)-20-16
45Justin Forsett BAL (8)-6-7
46LeGarrette Blount NE (9)-1+2
47DeAndre Washington OAK (10)+1-1
48Chris Thompson WAS (9)+4+12
49Andre Ellington ARI (9)+29+25
50Shaun Draughn SF (8)+7+19
51James Starks GB (4)+4+7
52Jordan Howard CHI (9)+6+5
53Cameron Artis-Payne CAR (7)+27+24
54Terrance West BAL (8)+7+8
55Spencer Ware KC (5)+4+4
56DeAngelo Williams PIT (8)-19-24
57Wendell Smallwood PHI (4)+5+7
58Devontae Booker DEN (11)-2-4
59Dion Lewis NE (9)-23-42
60Tim Hightower NO (5)+6+7
61Josh Ferguson IND (10)+10+2
62Javorius Allen BAL (8)-9-13
63Charcandrick West KC (5)+9-10
64Benny Cunningham LA (8)+21+19
65Christine Michael SEA (5)-11-4
66Kenneth Dixon BAL (8)-16-14
67Alfred Morris DAL (7)+7-1
68Chris Johnson ARI (9)+5-12
69Khiry Robinson NYJ (11)+25+20
70Dexter McCluster TEN (13)+19+27
71Jonathan Williams BUF (10)+13+9
72Reggie Bush BUF (10)+4+21
73Matt Asiata MIN (6)+39N/A  
74Stevan Ridley DET (10)+28+20
75Ronnie Hillman DEN (11)-5-5
76Alfred Blue HOU (9)+22+14
77Keith Marshall WAS (9)0-9
78Ka'Deem Carey CHI (9)+40
79Fozzy Whittaker CAR (7)+36N/A  
80Mike Gillislee BUF (10)-11+6
81Darren McFadden DAL (7)-21-26
82Alex Collins SEA (5)+25-7
83Kenyan Drake MIA (8)-4-12
84Mike Davis SF (8)+12N/A  
85Branden Oliver SD (11)+7N/A 
86Robert Turbin IND (10)-3+1
87Tyler Gaffney NE (9)+35+13
88C.J. Prosise SEA (5)-37-44
89C.J. Spiller NO (5)-24-17
90Lance Dunbar DAL (7)-23-14
91Paul Perkins NYG (8)-16-26

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Wide Receivers: More Than Enough for Everyone

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Marvin Jones is primed for a breakout in Detroit.
Marvin Jones is primed for a breakout in Detroit.

Notable Changes in Rankings 

19. Alshon Jeffery, CHI (up three spots)

20. Jeremy Maclin, KC (down one spot)

21. Donte Moncrief, IND (down one spot)

22. Julian Edelman, NE (down one spot) 

Even though I’m still worried about Jeffery’s ability to stay on the field and a potential big role for Kevin White, I see more upside in Jeffery than the players he jumped this week, and he did come back from his hamstring injury quicker than I expected.

30. Marvin Jones, DET (up four spots)

31. Tyler Lockett, SEA (down one spot)

32. Michael Floyd, ARI (down one spot)

33. Emmanuel Sanders, DEN (down one spot)

These moves have nothing to do with Lockett or Floyd. There’s been nothing but good things said about Jones all month, and the rapport with Matthew Stafford was evident in the second preseason game.

I love Jones’ fit in the offense to go along with Golden Tate and Anquan Boldin, and I love the offense in general for fantasy. Sanders was easier to bump down because of how bad the quarterback situation looks for the Broncos.

Targets Based on Value

Brandin Cooks, NO

My Ranking: WR6 (no change)

Last Week’s ADP: 23, WR14

My Ranking: WR7 (no change)

Last Week’s ADP: 19, WR10

This Week’s ADP: 18, WR10

I’m still not sure why Marshall is going after Jordy Nelson, even if it’s only by two picks. Marshall’s only a year older and actually played last season.

T.Y. Hilton, IND

My Ranking: WR10 (no change)

Last Week’s ADP: 27, WR16

This Week’s ADP: 27, WR16

Golden Tate, DET

My Ranking: WR13 (no change)

Last Week’s ADP: 34, WR21

This Week’s ADP: 35, WR21

Even if Marvin Jones is building a rapport with Matthew Stafford, Tate has posted 90-plus catches in each of his first two seasons playing with Stafford. There’s plenty to go around for both of them to produce at a high level.

Donte Moncrief, IND

My Ranking: WR21 (down one spot)

Last Week’s ADP: 49, WR27

This Week’s ADP: 49, WR26

Marvin Jones, DET

My Ranking: WR30 (up four spots)

Last Week’s ADP: new addition to values

This Week’s ADP: 80, WR37

Tyler Lockett, SEA

My Ranking: WR31 (down one spot)

Last Week’s ADP: 75, WR34

This Week’s ADP: 74, WR34

Overvalues Based on Rankings vs. ADP

Jordy Nelson, GB

My Ranking: WR14 (no change)

Last Week’s ADP: 15, WR9

This Week’s ADP: 16, WR9

He’s finally off the PUP list, but expectations remain a bit too high for Nelson.

Alshon Jeffery, CHI

My Ranking: WR19 (up three spots)

Last Week’s ADP: 21, WR12

This Week’s ADP: 21, WR12

Jarvis Landry, MIA

My Ranking: WR23 (no change)

Last Week’s ADP: 30, WR17

This Week’s ADP: 31, WR18

DeVante Parker should cut into Landry’s targets for the entire year, and Arian Foster could do the same as long as he stays on the field.

Kelvin Benjamin, CAR

My Ranking: WR29 (no change)

Last Week’s ADP: 36, WR22

This Week’s ADP: 26, WR22

Jordan Matthews, PHI

My Ranking: WR38 (no change)

Last Week’s ADP: 54, WR28

This Week’s ADP: 54, WR28

Even though he remains sidelined by a knee injury and the team added some size in Dorial Green-Beckham to possibly steal some touchdowns from Matthews, his ADP hasn’t changed over the last week.

Potential Sleepers

Sterling Shepard, NYG

My Ranking: WR41 (no change)

Last Week’s ADP: 98, WR40

This Week’s ADP: 94, WR40

If Shepard moves up any more, he’ll be off the sleeper list next week. It doesn’t seem like anyone is sleeping on him.

Devin Funchess, CAR

My Ranking: WR43 (no change)

Last Week’s ADP: 147, WR57

This Week’s ADP: 142, WR56

Funchess is creeping up, but he still remains a very cheap option to grab as a lottery ticket in your last few rounds.

Michael Thomas, NO

My Ranking: WR55 (no change)

Last Week’s ADP: 142, WR54

This Week’s ADP: 131, WR52

Thomas shooting up 11 spots doesn’t surprise me at all considering how good he looked in the first preseason game. Too bad he failed to replicate that performance in the second game. He’s still worth grabbing at his current ADP since the upside of his talent and situation is low-risk, high-reward.

Phillip Dorsett, IND

My Ranking: WR56 (no change)

Last Week’s ADP: 143, WR56

This Week’s ADP: 143, WR57

Breshad Perriman, BAL

My Ranking: WR58 (up five spots)

Last Week’s ADP: new addition to sleepers

This Week’s ADP: 170, WR59

Perriman is finally off the PUP, so while it may take a little time to get up to speed, I still contend he has a good chance of finishing the season as the team’s top fantasy WR.

Tyler Boyd, CIN

My Ranking: WR59 (up six spots)

Last Week’s ADP: 188, WR69

This Week’s ADP: 178, WR62

Boyd jumped up the board due to Brandon LaFell’s hand injury, which wasn’t a surprise. He played well in LaFell’s absence during the second preseason game, so he could carve out a consistent role in the offense, even if LaFell is healthy enough to play.

Tajae Sharpe, TEN

My Ranking: WR64 (not ranked last week)

Last Week’s ADP: new addition to sleepers

This Week’s ADP: 200+, WR75

Tennessee’s WR corps isn’t very deep, so Sharpe is getting a chance to play and has taken advantage of his opportunity. He’s one to watch in the third preseason game.

2016 Wide Receiver PPR Draft Rankings

1Antonio Brown PIT (8)00
2Julio Jones ATL (11)00
3Odell Beckham Jr. NYG (8)00
4DeAndre Hopkins HOU (9)+10
5A.J. Green CIN (9)-10
6Brandin Cooks NO (5)+7+8
7Brandon Marshall NYJ (11)+2+3
8Allen Robinson JAC (5)-1-1
9Dez Bryant DAL (7)-3-3
10T.Y. Hilton IND (10)+5+6
11Keenan Allen SD (11)-3-3
12Amari Cooper OAK (10)+2+1
13Golden Tate DET (10)+9+8
14Jordy Nelson GB (4)-2-5
15Mike Evans TB (6)-5-4
16Randall Cobb GB (4)+3+3
17Demaryius Thomas DEN (11)-1-2
18Sammy Watkins BUF (10)-1-1
19Alshon Jeffery CHI (9)-8-7
20Jeremy Maclin KC (5)+1+3
21Donte Moncrief IND (10)+3+5
22Julian Edelman NE (9)-2-2
23Jarvis Landry MIA (8)-5-5
24Eric Decker NYJ (11)-10
25John Brown ARI (9)+5+6
26Larry Fitzgerald ARI (9)+1+1
27Devante Parker MIA (8)+6+6
28Doug Baldwin SEA (5)-3-3
29Kelvin Benjamin CAR (7)-3-7
30Marvin Jones DET (10)+2+7
31Tyler Lockett SEA (5)+4+3
32Michael Floyd ARI (9)-4-3
33Emmanuel Sanders DEN (11)-2-3
34Kevin White CHI (9)+5+2
35Josh Gordon CLE (13)+5+4
36Allen Hurns JAC (5)0-4
37Stefon Diggs MIN (6)+6+6
38Jordan Matthews PHI (4)-9-10
39Michael Crabtree OAK (10)-5-4
40DeSean Jackson WAS (9)-3-2
41Sterling Shepard NYG (8)-3-1
42Markus Wheaton PIT (8)+8+4
43Devin Funchess CAR (7)+6+13
44Vincent Jackson TB (6)+4+9
45Willie Snead NO (5)-3-4
46Pierre Garcon WAS (9)+15+22
47Tavon Austin LA (8)-10
48Travis Benjamin SD (11)-10
49Rishard Matthews TEN (13)+5+9
50Chris Hogan NE (9)+14+19
51Steve Smith BAL (8)+1+4
52Corey Coleman CLE (13)-11-10
53Sammie Coates PIT (8)+4-2
54Kamar Aiken BAL (8)-9-9
55Michael Thomas NO (5)-4-3
56Phillip Dorsett IND (10)0+1
57Anquan Boldin DET (10)+6+10
58Breshad Perriman BAL (8)+19+1
59Tyler Boyd CIN (9)+3+3
60Torrey Smith SF (8)-16-16
61Mohamed Sanu ATL (11)-8-7
62Robert Woods BUF (10)+14+18
63Dorial Green-Beckham PHI (4)-3-13
64Tajae Sharpe TEN (13)+2+11
65Terrance Williams DAL (7)+3+9
66Laquon Treadwell MIN (6)-11-17
67Cole Beasley DAL (7)+39+32
68Seth Roberts OAK (10)+5+16
69Will Fuller HOU (9)+1+1
70Kenny Britt LA (8)+15+24
71Brandon LaFell CIN (9)+1+8
72Justin Hardy ATL (11)+23+9
73Bruce Ellington SF (8)-15-9
74Mike Wallace BAL (8)-15-2
75James Jones SD (11)+37+26
76Rueben Randle PHI (4)+16+7
77Jermaine Kearse SEA (5)-3+10
78Danny Amendola NE (9)+18+10
79Andrew Hawkins CLE (13)+43N/A  
80Jarius Wright MIN (6)+44N/A  
81Eddie Royal CHI (9)+20+27
82Ted Ginn CAR (7)-2-4
83Braxton Miller HOU (9)+25+7
84Ty Montgomery GB (4)+29N/A  
85Chris Conley KC (5)+9+11
86Josh Doctson WAS (9)-19-25
87Davante Adams GB (4)-8-10
88Kenny Stills MIA (8)+10N/A  
89Albert Wilson KC (5)+8N/A  
90Victor Cruz NYG (8)-1-24
91Quincy Enunwa NYJ (11)+40N/A  
92Jamison Crowder WAS (9)-17-7
93Kendall Wright TEN (13)-28-30
94Philly Brown CAR (7)+29N/A  
95Rashad Greene JAC (5)+42N/A  
96Marquise Goodwin BUF (10)+51N/A  
97Nelson Agholor PHI (4)-28-37
98Brian Quick LA (8)-10N/A 
99Jaelen Strong HOU (9)-21-34
100Pharoh Cooper LA (8)-9-9

Tight Ends: Potential Is Dangerous

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Can Gary Barnidge remain a reliable fantasy TE?
Can Gary Barnidge remain a reliable fantasy TE?

There are no notable changes to the top 20 tight ends, and barring a major injury in the third preseason game, it’s hard to see anything changing next week, either. I’ve added an interesting name to the sleepers list, but I wouldn’t call him a top-20 player at the position. 

Targets Based on Value 

Zach Ertz, PHI

My Ranking: TE5 (no change)

Last Week’s ADP: 90, TE9

Ertz could be the top overall receiver for the Eagles this season, and he looked like a favorite target of Sam Bradford down the stretch last year. Hopefully, they can build on that this season.

Martellus Bennett, NE

My Ranking: TE12 (no change)

Last Week’s ADP: 120, TE15

This Week’s ADP: 116, TE14

The Bennett believers are starting to multiply, and Rob Gronkowski’s undisclosed injury is only helping his cause.

Overvalues Based on Rankings vs. ADP 

Coby Fleener, NO

My Ranking: TE8 (no change)

Last Week’s ADP: 67, TE6

This Week’s ADP: 64, TE6

Is Fleener really worth a sixth-round pick in a 12-team league? I know the position is low on established talent, but that ADP is ridiculous. According to head coach Sean Payton, Fleener is a “work in progress,” per Josh Katzenstein of The Times-Picayune.

My Ranking: TE17 (no change)

Last Week’s ADP: 116, TE13

This Week’s ADP: 110, TE12

Graham is coming off a major knee injury and wasn’t a consistent fantasy option when he was healthy, so why is he being drafted as a potential fantasy starter? Name value is clearly clouding judgment.

Potential Sleepers 

Clive Walford, OAK

My Ranking: TE16 (no change)

Last Week’s ADP: 193, TE22

This Week’s ADP: 179, TE22

The ADP gets a boost this week, but Walford is still undervalued in the context of the position. Oakland’s passing game has a lot of promise, and Walford could theoretically cut into Michael Crabtree’s targets a bit.

Vance McDonald, SF

My Ranking: TE19 (no change)

Last Week’s ADP: 200+, TE26

This Week’s ADP: 200+, TE26

I don’t trust any of San Francisco’s quarterbacks, and the team might not either. Keeping things short and simple could be the way to go, which could lead to a busy role for McDonald.

Virgil Green, DEN

My Ranking: TE21 (up 13 spots)

Last Week’s ADP: new addition to sleepers

This Week’s ADP: 200+, TE36

Similar to McDonald’s situation, Green could find himself used as a safety valve for whoever ends up playing quarterback in Denver. Green played that role in the second preseason game.

2016 Tight End PPR Draft Rankings

1Rob Gronkowski NE (9)00
2Jordan Reed WAS (9)00
3Travis Kelce KC (5)+1+1
4Greg Olsen CAR (7)-1-1
5Zach Ertz PHI (4)+3+4
6Delanie Walker TEN (13)-1-1
7Tyler Eifert CIN (9)+40
8Coby Fleener NO (5)-2-2
9Gary Barnidge CLE (13)-2-1
10Julius Thomas JAC (5)-10
11Antonio Gates SD (11)-10
12Martellus Bennett NE (9)+1+2
13Eric Ebron DET (10)+2+3
14Zach Miller CHI (9)+2+4
15Dwayne Allen IND (10)-3-2
16Clive Walford OAK (10)+4+6
17Jimmy Graham SEA (5)0-5
18Jason Witten DAL (7)-4-1
19Vance McDonald SF (8)+2+7
20Charles Clay BUF (10)-1+1
21Virgil Green DEN (11)+10+15
22Austin Seferian-Jenkins TB (6)+3-3
23Kyle Rudolph MIN (6)+4+6
24Jared Cook GB (4)-2-4
25Benjamin Watson BAL (8)+1+5
26Jordan Cameron MIA (8)-3-2
27Jesse James PIT (8)+8+10
28Jacob Tamme ATL (11)+4-5
29Will Tye NYG (8)-5-2
30Tyler Higbee LA (8)-1+1
31Maxx Williams BAL (8)+6N/A 
32Richard Rodgers GB (4)-2+3
33Ryan Griffin HOU (9)+14N/A 
34Tyler Kroft CIN (9)+19-6
35Lance Kendricks LA (8)+7N/A 
36Brent Celek PHI (4)+12N/A 
37Jace Amaro NYJ (11)+2-12
38Jeff Heuerman DEN (11)-5N/A 
39Hunter Henry SD (11)+6-5
40Darren Fells ARI (9)+9N/A 
41Garrett Graham DEN (11)+15N/A 
42C.J. Fiedorowicz HOU (9)+16N/A 
43Niles Paul WAS (9)-5N/A 
44Dion Sims MIA (8)+20N/A 
45Mychal Rivera OAK (10)-1N/A 
46Crockett Gillmore BAL (8)+4N/A 
47Larry Donnell NYG (8)-11N/A 
48Josh Hill NO (5)-8N/A 
49Austin Hooper ATL (11)-15-17
50Jermaine Gresham ARI (9)+9N/A 
    

Defenses/Kickers: The Waiver Wire Is Your Friend

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Chandler Catanzaro was a waiver wire hero in 2015.
Chandler Catanzaro was a waiver wire hero in 2015.

The waiver wire will be your best friend when it comes to defense and kickers.

Instead of taking a defense early, like the Broncos (ADP 118.7) or Cardinals (ADP 121), you’re better off going for useful skill players with upside in those rounds and waiting until the end of your draft to get your defense, if you even have to draft one at all. Following the third preseason game, I’ll provide some defenses to target based on early-season schedule. 

Some leagues, including a couple I play in, have eliminated the kicker position altogether because of the randomness. If you’re lucky enough to end up with Stephen Gostkowski or Steven Hauschka, then you’ll probably hang onto them all season, but for everyone else, the waiver wire will become a necessity. Embrace it.

2016 Defense Draft Rankings

1Denver Broncos DEN (11)+10
2Seattle Seahawks SEA (5)-10
3Arizona Cardinals ARI (9)00
4Carolina Panthers CAR (7)00
5Houston Texans HOU (9)0+1
6Los Angeles Rams LA (8)+1+1
7New England Patriots NE (9)+1+2
8Kansas City Chiefs KC (5)-2-3
9New York Jets NYJ (11)+2+1
10Minnesota Vikings MIN (6)0-2
11Cincinnati Bengals CIN (9)-2+1
12Jacksonville Jaguars JAC (5)+5+2
13Buffalo Bills BUF (10)00
14Green Bay Packers GB (4)-2+3
15Oakland Raiders OAK (10)0-4
16Miami Dolphins MIA (8)+2+9
17Baltimore Ravens BAL (8)+2+2
18Philadelphia Eagles PHI (4)-2-2
19New York Giants NYG (8)+3+2
20Washington Redskins WAS (9)00

 

2016 Kicker Draft Rankings

1Stephen Gostkowski NE (9)00
2Steven Hauschka SEA (5)00
3Justin Tucker BAL (8)0+1
4Mason Crosby GB (4)0+3
5Chandler Catanzaro ARI (9)+1+4
6Graham Gano CAR (7)+2-3
7Dan Bailey DAL (7)-2-1
8Adam Vinatieri IND (10)-1+3
9Brandon McManus DEN (11)0+1
10Blair Walsh MIN (6)0-2
11Cairo Santos KC (5)0+1
12Matt Prater DET (10)+1+6
13Dan Carpenter BUF (10)+2+10
14Josh Lambo SD (11)+4+11
15Sebastian Janikowski OAK (10)+1-2
16Chris Boswell PIT (8)-4-11
17Mike Nugent CIN (9)0+2
18Greg Zuerlein LA (8)+5N/A 
19Matt Bryant ATL (11)0+3
20Robbie Gould CHI (9)+2+1
 
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