2016 Fantasy Football Draft Day Dilemmas: Remember the Titans on Draft Day?
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“In Greek mythology, the Titans were greater even than the gods. They ruled their universe with absolute power. Well, that football field out there, that’s our universe. Let’s rule it like Titans.” – Coach Boone
Well, at the very least the Tennessee Titans have ruled the news cycle the last week.
From the dominant performance of their running game to the trade of Dorial Green-Beckham, the perceived value of this offense has definitely been in flux. So what should you do with them on Draft Day?
Remember these Titans
Walker is the one player on this team I feel confident in when it comes to role and Fantasy impact. Last season he was spectacular, finishing as the No. 5 tight end in standard scoring leagues and No. 3 in PPR. While I’m not sure we’ll see a repeat of those numbers, I fully expect him to be the No. 1 option in the Titans passing attack and a security blanket for Marcus Mariota.
Walker is being drafted early in the sixth round in both standard and PPR leagues. While I’m fine with his standard ADP, in PPR he presents a real value. With Jordan Reed‘s health concerns, an argument could be made that Walker should be the third tight end off the board in that format.
As I wrote earlier in the week, I’m not fully buying into the Titans’ performance in the first week of the preseason. That doesn’t mean there can’t be value. Both backs are a deal at their current ADP (Murray late fourth round, Henry early ninth) and I especially like Murray in PPR. He has caught at least 40 passes each of the past three seasons and I don’t see Tennessee taking him off the field regularly for Dexter McCluster.
The one thing I don’t agree with is that the value of either back is tied to the other. I’m fine with taking Henry in the ninth round even when I don’t have Murray and vice versa. Either could produce a top-20 season this year but the payoff is obviously much higher at Henry’s price tag.
I know I’m on an island here but I think Wright is an excellent sleeper pick in any PPR league. Yes, the injury concerns are real, but here is his 16 game pace over the past three seasons:
| REC | YDS | TD | FP | RANK | |
| 2013 | 94 | 1,079 | 2 | 213.9 | 20th |
| 2014 | 65 | 817 | 7 | 188.7 | 31st |
| 2015 | 58 | 653 | 5 | 153.3 | 44th |
Yes, that’s a bad trend, but Wright is going off the board as the 67th receiver in PPR leagues. Even if he only plays eight games, he’ll give you No. 3 receiver value for half the season then you can pick up someone else. I’m not suggesting you reach for Wright (you obviously don’t have to at his ADP), but take him with your last pick before kickers and defenses and you’ll be pleased.
Deep Leagues Only
The rest of the Titans passing game is best left for deeper or 2-QB leagues. I have Marcus Mariota ranked as my 19th quarterback, which happens to be where he’s being drafted. He has more value in leagues where passing touchdowns are only worth four points, but I still wouldn’t move him into my top 12.
I fully expect Rishard Matthews to start for the Titans and he had some good weeks last year. Still, I struggle to get excited about a starting wide receiver in an “exotic smashmouth” system when he’s probably going to be third at best in targets. That goes for Tajae Sharpe as well.
Sharpe is a rookie, so people will get much more excited about him than Matthews. I’m not sure that’s fair, but I’d be more likely to draft the rookie in the later rounds of a deep draft as well. There is some thought that it is Sharpe’s development that enabled the team to let Dorial Green-Beckham walk. Even so, it’s a long road to a productive Fantasy season in this offense.
The bottom line is that this is a bad team that wants to run the ball a ton and has two backs they want involved. That doesn’t lend itself to consistent Fantasy production, but for the most part the ADP is in line with the risk/reward.
I’d be very happy to land Delanie Walker as my tight end and could talk myself into one of the running backs. The passing game is fine as long as you’re risking next to nothing in draft capital.
