MANALAPAN, NJ – A tip of the cap to Ben Whitney (can we get a nickname for this guy, already?) mentioning yesterday that there are now 53 days remaining to kickoff of another NFL season. The idea also coincides with NFL news that I’ve chosen as today’s topic – Fantasy Football Advice – and how the items will effect a fantasy football draft.
Growing Pains: It has nothing to do with the Alan Thicke-led sitcom of years past but the trouble Buffalo Bills excellent backup running back Karlos Williams finds himself in. Much to Williams dismay, last month’s OTA’s (organized team activities) didn’t involved a hot dog eating contest because he would have excelled since he showed up with an extra 20-25 pounds of fat on his body. The cause of the weight gain was apparently via sympathy pounds for his pregnant wife. There should be little sympathy for Williams from Bills faithful, though, since he has also failed a drug test.
When suspended for four games for violating the substance abuse policy, it means a player has been in Stage II for a specific time and now moves into Stage III where the next occurrence will net a 10-game suspension. What’s more, you get the feeling this guy might be dumb enough to relapse… Fantasy Football Advice: Don’t be the one to draft him in the early to mid-rounds of a conventional draft. Use him only as a handcuff if you also own LeSean McCoy. In a keeper league, don’t consider him until the last half of the draft. Keep an eye on Mike Gillislee during the preseason.
https://youtu.be/DohRa9lsx0Q
Steelers Wheel: “Stuck in the Middle With You” is where the Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves with yet another mercurial wide receiver. You remember the names: Plaxico Burress, Santonio Holmes, and Mike Wallace. All were pretty terrific in their time spent with the Black-n-Gold only to eventually move on after making waves and getting into trouble with management. Outside of Burress’ gun play, I don’t know if the trio were ever suspended by the NFL but the team tired enough of their antics to the point that they were eventually shipped elsewhere.
Add Martavis Bryant to the list, as he will sit out the entire 2016 NFL season after testing positive for marijuana. We could be looking at the new Josh Gordon (Johnny Football’s roommate, of all things) as Bryant, in Stage II of the protocol must have failed more than one test due to the one-year ban whereas one positive piss test would have netted him a ten-game suspension. Don’t be the guy to draft him at all, even in a keeper league, it will only be a waste of a roster spot and open you to ridicule. Be the guy that drafts one of the other Pittsburgh receivers, first and foremost, Markus Wheaton who showed glimpses of being an asset in a pass-happy offense. One to watch is Sammie Coates and is under his rookie contract for several more seasons while Wheaton is in his all important walk year.
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