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| Friday, March 29, 2024 |
| The CBS FFT team held its first 12-team 0.5-PPR mock draft and in his mock draft recap, Jamey Eisenberg posed the question: Is RB-RB a good strategy to use given the format? In this article, Jamey also explores other strategies employed by others that participated in the mock draft. |
| Heath Cummings also put together his updated position by position Dynasty rankings this week. Following all the shuffling that took place after free agency, the Dynasty rankings at each position have changed considerably. In his Dynasty quarterback rankings, Heath details Will Levis' rise in rank after the Tennessee Titans acquired Calvin Ridley and Tony Pollard in free agency. |
| At the running back position, we all know that 30 years old is usually the age their production begins to taper off. Heath provides a variety of reasons Derrick Henry and Austin Ekeler could get back to posting big numbers in his Dynasty running back rankings. His Dynasty wide receiver rankings provide interesting stats regarding the Pittsburgh Steelers receiving corps, while his Dynasty TE rankings send us back to the well again hoping for a breakout for a certain pass catcher. |
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| Post Free Agency .5 PPR Mock Draft |
| In this mock draft recap, Jamey points out that I started my draft with a double running back strategy. At pick No. 10, I selected Kyren Williams and followed that up by selecting Saquon Barkley . Williams averaged 19.2 0.5-PPR points per game last season and is poised to have another stellar season barring injury. Saquon Barkley will be running behind the most talented offensive line he's ever had in his professional career and figures to have a very good season of his own. |
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| Jamey prefers a Hero running back strategy, and it became clear as to why that is when you look at the wide receiver pool after I took running backs in two consecutive rounds. While I was able to land Brandon Aiyuk, Tee Higgins, and Terry McLaurin with my next three picks, each of those wide receivers (while very talented) has a question mark or two attached to their name. Brandon Aiyuk's target shares must be taken into consideration, Tee Higgins wants out of Cincinnati, while Terry McLaurin is still waiting to find out who's going to be throwing him the ball for the foreseeable future. |
| To see how the rest of the post free agency .5 ppr mock draft played out, be sure to read Jamey's recap. |
| Dynasty Fantasy Football Quarterback Rankings |
| Heath's quarterback Dynasty rankings provided interesting perspective on how free agency can shake up the Dynasty football world. Justin Fields was once thought to be a must-start, top-12 quarterback in Fantasy. However, his stock suddenly dropped when the Chicago Bears traded him away to the Pittsburgh Steelers for a sixth-round pick, which could become a fourth, depending on playing time. Heath has since dropped him to QB18, the lowest he's been ranked since the summer of 2022. |
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| While many believe this is an indictment on Fields' skill set, I firmly believe he hasn't found the right situation. If the Steelers eventually build the team around his skill set, you'll see him climb up the Dynasty rankings similar to the way Will Levis has post free agency. Levis is now QB16, ahead of both DeShaun Watson and Justin Fields, thanks to the Tennessee Titans' willingness to build around their new franchise quarterback. He should be very productive with the additions of Calvin Ridley and Tony Pollard. |
| Dynasty Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings |
| Age 30 is typically when running backs fall off the proverbial cliff, but there's hope for the likes of Derrick Henry and Austin Ekeler. Henry will be paired with a mobile quarterback, which will make the game much easier for him. His rushing lanes will be wider as a result, and we'll suddenly see plays that should only go for three to five yards become explosive plays. Additionally, the plays that would typically go to Lamar Jackson at the goal line will absolutely go to Henry, as the Ravens will look to continue to preserve the health of their franchise quarterback. |
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| Austin Ekeler will likely split time with Brian Robinson, but he could still be extremely productive, especially if a rookie quarterback is asked to play immediately. He'll be an excellent checkdown option for a young quarterback and could post big numbers due to his ability to uncover quickly against linebackers and safeties. He reads leverage exceptionally well and is always on the same page as his quarterback. While I do agree with Heath that selling Ekeler for a Round 2 pick makes a ton of sense, I would consider holding on to him in hopes that his production might improve in 2024. |
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| Dynasty Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings |
| A lot changed for the Steelers wide receiver corps this offseason. After acquiring Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, it's borderline common sense to conclude that George Pickens will post even better numbers in 2024 compared to his stellar 2023 campaign. Last season, Pickens posted 1,140 yards and five touchdowns on just 63 receptions. Additionally, I think it's safe to say that no matter who starts between Wilson or Fields, it'll be a major upgrade in talent compared to Kenny Pickett and Mason Rudolph. |
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| In 2022, he led the NFL in yards per reception. With the departure of Diontae Johnson (who is also a riser in Heath's updated Dynasty wide receiver rankings), Pickens will likely see more targets this season. As of now, Pickens is Heath's WR20. While Heath currently has Pickens rated higher than Johnson, he did rise from WR 44 to WR 34 after being traded to the Carolina Panthers. Due to his ability to get open early in his routes, he will become a primary target for Panthers quarterback Bryce Young, who could use a lot more help on the flanks. |
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| Dynasty Fantasy Football Tight End Rankings |
| Free agency was quiet on the tight end front, which caused Dynasty tight end rankings to remain relatively unchanged. However, with Kirk Cousins being traded from Minnesota to Atlanta, we're now all back on the Kyle Pitts hope train. Pitts is Heath's TE4 in his updated Dynasty rankings, and understandably so. Cousins loves throwing to his tight end. Prior to his Achilles injury, nearly 27% of Cousins' passes were aimed at his tight ends. This number placed him fifth among all starting quarterbacks in the NFL. |
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| In other tight end news, Pat Freiermuth is back in Heath's top 10 following the Steelers' quarterback acquisitions and the addition of Arthur Smith as the team's offensive coordinator. Heath predicts that there's a possibility that Freiermuth could finish second on the Steelers in targets next season, which could earn him a top-five Fantasy finish at the position. |
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