Big Board: Dez Braynt and Martavis Bryant get a bump up
The Big Board takes into consideration past returns, current performance and expected future gains in determining who should be included among the top 50 fantasy football players. Essentially, the Big Board is a cheat sheet designed for a fantasy owner who is planning to participate in a draft today. Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Football default scoring settings are used as the baseline for the Big Board.
(Note: This will be the last update for the ’15 season. Check back in late December for a first look at the top 50 for ’16)
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| Big Board 50: Football | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Pos. | vs ECR | Stock |
| 1. Todd Gurley (STL) | RB | 0 | Averaging 116.7 rush yards in past 6 games, and starting to see some play in the pass game (28 rec. YPG in past 4) |
| 2. Devonta Freeman (ATL) | RB | 0 | Teams starting to figure out how to contain him on the ground a bit (3 YPC in past 2), but his pass game work has more than made up for it (55 rec. YPG, 1 TD catch in past 2) |
| 3. Adrian Peterson (MIN) | RB | 0 | Leads RBs in rush attempt and rushing yards – 5 TDs is decent, but has left plenty on the table as he’s 1-for-12 in converting goal line carries |
| 4. Julio Jones (ATL) | WR | 0 | Arguably most complete WR in the league at this moment (hNo. 1 WR in FAN PPG thru W10) – only potential buzz kill is likely faceoff w/ CAR CB Josh Norman in Weeks 14 and 16 |
| 5. DeAndre Hopkins (HOU) | WR | +6 | No. 2 FAN WR thru W10, but has been nearly Julio Jones’ equal – has 11.7+ FAN PTS in 7 of 9 games |
| 6. Antonio Brown (PIT) | WR | -1 | Bond w/ Big Ben is 2nd to none – Has gone for 25+ FAN PTS in each of past 2 games, giving him 8 games of 20+ FAN PTS in past 24 regular-season games |
| 7. Rob Gronkowski (NWE) | TE | -1 | Has had 10+ FAN PTS in 7 of 9 games, and 2nd-most targeted TE likely to see an increase in looks going forward w/ WR Edelman out for the year |
| 8. Odell Beckham Jr. (NYG) | WR | -1 | Topped 100 yards for 5th time (and 3rd straight game) in W10 – has 90+ yards in 14 of past 19 games, and 20 TD catches in 22 career games |
| 9. Charcandrick West (KAN) | RB | +17 | No. 1 RB (21.7 FAN PPG in 3 games) since W7, in RB friendly system (Reid’s record speaks for itself – West already No. 2 RB in RZ targets)) and ROS schedule is 2nd-easiest among RBs |
| 10. Marshawn Lynch (SEA) | RB | 0 | Momentum (be it, health-wise or game flow-wise) has been elusive – that said, averaging respectable 12.2 FAN PPG in past 4 games |
| 11. Lamar Miller (MIA) | RB | +1 | Top FAN RB since Philbin firing, with 7 TDs and an average of 124.4 YFS per game in that 5-game span – ROS schedule not daunting, though backup Ajayi could cut a bit into Miller time |
| 12. DeAngelo Williams (PIT) | RB | -4 | Getting 18.6 FAN PPG in the 5 games in which he’s received 10+ touches – potential fly in ointment is a ROS schedule ranked as 4th-toughest at the RB position |
| 13. Mark Ingram (NOR) | RB | 0 | Has a high floor as the now-fully featured RB in this offense, as we’ve seen in past 3 games – 0 TDs, but salvaged fantasy respectability with 104.3 YFS per game |
| 14. Dez Bryant (DAL) | WR | +8 | In case you forgot what the return of QB Romo means, Dez entered the season w/ 50 combined TD catches in the previous 4 seasons (average of 12.5 TDs) |
| 15. Alshon Jeffery (CHI) | WR | +1 | Played roughly half the snaps in blowout win in W10 (vs STL) as he rested sore groin – clear go-to option for QB Cutler (who has settled into a nice groove throwing the ball) |
| 16. Allen Robinson (JAC) | WR | +18 | 17 catches of 20+ yards is tops in NFL, and he has 4th-most WR FAN PPG since Week 2 – faces NO in W16 (Championship!) |
| 17. DeMarco Murray (PHI) | RB | +12 | Top 5 fantasy RB since W5, w/ 3 TDs and an avg. of 118.6 YFS in that 5-game span – likely to get a small break from the Ryan Mathews buzz (concussion in W10) |
| 18. Brandon Marshall (NYJ) | WR | +6 | All he does is find a way to deliver for his owners (100 yards and/or TD in 7 of 8 contests) – he’s simply elite, and it’s never mattered what team (or QB) he’s tied to |
| 19. Tom Brady (NWE) | QB | -4 | Here’s all you need to know: In his 15-year Hall of Fame career, he’s never been better in FAN PPG than this season’s 25.5 mark (Y! default scoring) |
| 20. Latavius Murray (OAK) | RB | -3 | Sits 9th among RBs in YFS per game (90.1) and ROS schedule ranks among the 12 easiest at the RB position |
| 21. Christopher Ivory (NYJ) | RB | -12 | After a rough 3-game slide, returned to top (violent) form in W10 (135 YFS vs BUF) – 9th-easiest ROS sched for RBs |
| 22. Larry Fitzgerald (ARI) | WR | +6 | Exorcised demons vs. SEA in W10 (10/130) – is top 6 in catches, receiving yards and TDs at WR position, and has 8.7+ FAN PTS in all but 1 game |
| 23. LeGarrette Blount (NWE) | RB | +12 | Typically does his best work down the stretch (5.1 YPC mark in December) – is 3rd in Goal-Line Rushes despite being just 16th in total carries – big workload ahead w/ Lewis/Edelman out |
| 24. Calvin Johnson (DET) | WR | -4 | Has been consistently solid (an upper middle-class version of B. Marshall) since W2, averaging 11 FAN PPG in that 8-game span – Has gone for 80+ yards in past 2 despite sore ankle |
| 25. Aaron Rodgers (GNB) | QB | -6 | Top 5 QB in FAN PPG despite getting little help from his WR corps – garbage time has given him a nice boost recently |
| 26. Doug Martin (TAM) | RB | +5 | Dougie not looking so Fresh of late – 24th in RB FAN PTS over past 3 weeks despite 3rd-easiest RB schedule in that span – that’s a buzz kill for his ROS schedule (top 5 easiest at RB) |
| 27. Allen Hurns (JAC) | WR | +28 | TD in 7 straight games, and no worse than 6 FAN PTS in any game this season – there’s tremendous value in a WR w/ his lofty floor |
| 28. A.J. Green (CIN) | WR | -10 | All-or-Nothing Green has had a couple huge fantasy games, but has finished no better than No. 29 at WR in 6 of his 9 games – ROS schedule 1 of the toughest among WRs |
| 29. LeSean McCoy (BUF) | RB | -15 | Has 87+ YFS in 6 of 7 games, and 112 rush yards in each of past 2, but backup RB K. Williams stealing TDs and ROS schedule is daunting (8th toughest at RB position) |
| 30. Demaryius Thomas (DEN) | WR | -7 | We’ll see how he does w/ QB Osweiler, but I’ll still bet on DT’s size/athleticism keeping him afloat |
| 31. Amari Cooper (OAK) | WR | +5 | Top 15 WR in FAN PPG since W2 (Min. 6 games) – negligible difference between Cooper and Crabtree in that span (Cooper 11.6 FAN PPG, Crabtree 11.4 FAN PPG) |
| 32. Michael Crabtree (OAK) | WR | +53 | Top 15 WR in FAN PPG since W2 (Min. 6 games) – negligible difference between Cooper and Crabtree in that span (Cooper 11.6 FAN PPG, Crabtree 11.4 FAN PPG) |
| 33. Frank Gore (IND) | RB | -6 | The Grinder has at least 75 YFS in 7 straight games, and has avg. 97 YFS and scored a TD over his past 2 vs stout opposition (DEN, CAR) – stretch run schedule sets up nicely |
| 34. Drew Brees (NOR) | QB | +19 | W/ that awful NOLA Defense, you can count on Brees to air it out, and that should lead to fantasy playoff success as Weeks 14-16 schedule is as good as it gets at QB position |
| 35. Cam Newton (CAR) | QB | +11 | 2nd only to Brady in FAN PPG at QB despite career-low 56.3% Completion Rate – has TD run in 9 of past 12 reg-season games |
| 36. Martavis Bryant (PIT) | WR | +9 | Counting ’14 playoff game, has now amassed 1,050 yards and 14 TDs in 16 career games – he’s like a WR version of Gronk |
| 37. Matt Forte (CHI) | RB | -12 | Has been out past 2 games (MCL) and, given success of backup Langford, have to wonder if/when he returns, if it will be to a reduced role as he’s not likely to return to CHI in ’16 |
| 38. Brandin Cooks (NOR) | WR | +6 | Riding the Brees wave to the tune of a 14.2 FAN PPG since Week 5 (No. 7 WR in that 6-game span) – ROS schedule shows few speed bumps |
| 39. Darren McFadden (DAL) | RB | -1 | Most touches in NFL over past month has led to 113.8 YFS clip in that span, but TDs tough to come by – return of QB Romo should boost Red Zone work – ROS schedule is reasonable |
| 40. Mike Evans (TAM) | WR | -1 | TDs aren’t flowing like in ’14, but have to love that he’s 2nd in WR targets (53) over past 4 weeks, and he’s delivered 126+ yards in 3 of those 4 games |
| 41. Eric Decker (NYJ) | WR | +9 | Mr. 6/70/TD has scored in 7 of 8 games and has at least 9 FAN PTS in all 8 – upside may be limited playing opposite B-Marsh, but his consistency is something I cherish at WR |
| 42. Danny Woodhead (SDG) | RB | +5 | Tons of pass attempts in SD, and plenty of injuries at skill positions, have created an extremely ripe environment for Woodhead – leads RBs in rec. yds (522) and is No. 6 RB in PPR setup |
| 43. Jonathan Stewart (CAR) | RB | -1 | Just 3.9 YPC, but when you are getting 20+ carries (5 games in a row), that helps make up for lackluster production – top 10 in FAN PPG at RB in that span Week 6-10 span (min 3 games) |
| 44. Justin Forsett (BAL) | RB | -23 | Has become the fantasy definition of ho-hum – his 9.9 FAN PPG ranks outside top 25 RBs (min 4 games played) – ROS schedule is unfavorable |
| 45. Jarvis Landry (MIA) | WR | +7 | An upper middle class version of Edelman – heavy targets and potential to pad numbers in the run and return games offset low Yards per Catch – ROS schedule among easiest for WRs |
| 46. Greg Olsen (CAR) | TE | -6 | No. 2 TE in FAN PPG since Week 2 (11.9) is set-up for success down the stretch as he’ll face the 2nd-easiest ROS schedule at the TE position |
| 47. Ben Roethlisberger (PIT) | QB | +7 | Loving life in this Haley-run system: 5,315 pass yards, 33 TD passes in past 16 games (’14 playoff game inc.) – Has 300+ pass yards in 12 of those games |
| 48. T.Y. Hilton (IND) | WR | 0 | Volatility (has scored in just 10 of past 40 reg-season games) and Indy QB issue (Luck likely out for next month) put him in very tenuous position on Big Board |
| 49. Carson Palmer (ARI) | QB | -19 | Showed in W10 that he’s matchup proof (363/3 TD/ 1 INT @ SEA) – sits 2nd in TD passes and 4th in passing yards |
| 50. Chris Johnson (ARI) | RB | -9 | Only Big 3 of Gurley/Freeman/Peterson have more rush yards since W2 (avg 87.1 rush YPG in that 8-game span) – like J-Stew, workload matters here |
| 51. Philip Rivers (SDG) | QB | +9 | Avg. 43+ pass att., and pushing NFL record pace in pass yards – in a situation conducive to pass-heavy leaning, and ROS sched (outside DEN in W13) is undaunting |
Note: “vs. ECR” compares my rank to the Expert Consensus Rank (ECR) as compiled by FantasyPros.
Dropped Out: Stefon Diggs, Min, WR; Emmanuel Sanders, Den, WR; Randall Cobb, GB, WR; Tyler Eifert, Cin, TE; Eddie Lacy, GB, RB; Julian Edelman, NE, WR (foot)
ON THE BUBBLE:
(QBs) Derek Carr, Oak; Andy Dalton, Cin;
(RBs) Giovani Bernard, Cin; Jeremy Hill, Cin; T.J. Yeldon, Jac; Ryan Mathews, Phi; Karlos Williams, Buf
(WRs) Randall Cobb, GB; Stefon Diggs, Min; Emmanuel Sanders, Den; John Brown, Ari; Michael Floyd, Ari; Jeremy Maclin, KC; Rishard Matthews, Mia; DeSean Jackson, Was
(TEs) Tyler Eifert, Cin; Gary Barnidge, Cle; Antonio Gates, SD; Travis Kelce, KC; Jordan Reed, Was;
