FROM THE PRESS BOX – As we inch closer to the start of the NFL regular season, we get deeper and deeper into fantasy football draft season.
After releasing my 2018 under-the-radar players a couple weeks ago, I’m dropping my players to caution this week.
There’s a lot of players that sport big names or a bunch of talent, but this is the time of year when hype can drive up a price for a player. The last thing you want to do is overpay for a player when you could have had a player of similar talent three rounds later.
Here we go.
Aaron Rodgers, Quarterback, Green Bay Packers
Tom Brady, Quarterback, New England Patriots
Let me preface this with the fact that I use the philosophy of never wasting an early pick on a quarterback. This isn’t an indictment on what I believe Aaron Rodgers or Tom Brady will do this season.
Both Rodgers and Brady are going as early as the third round. That’s way to rich for my blood. I’d much rather be drafting my first wide receiver or second running back at that point.
Drafting a quality quarterback is important, but if I can wait until Rounds 8-10 to draft Drew Brees, Andrew Luck, Kirk Cousins or Ben Roethlisberger, that’s the route I’m taking.
Heck, I might even be comfortable drafting two of Matthew Stafford, Philip Rivers, Matt Ryan and Patrick Mahomes and playing the matchups.
Kareem Hunt, Running Back, Kansas City Chiefs
Don’t get me wrong, Kareem Hunt is very talented and will probably be a first rounder in your league. But I’m not going to be the owner that takes him that early.
After bursting on the scene early, rushing for at least 100 yards in four of his first five games a season ago, Hunt fell off in a major way. He only did it twice more the rest of the way. In fact, Hunt rushed for less than 50 yards six times from Week 6 on.
When you’re making your selection in the first round, this guy should be as reliable as they come. Hunt wasn’t that a season ago.
Hunt is currently going as RB6 in ESPN drafts. I’d take Melvin Gordon, Leonard Fournette, Dalvin Cook and Christian McCaffery all ahead of Hunt. And McCaffery and Gordon probably wouldn’t even cost you a first rounder.
Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders, Wide Receivers, Denver Broncos
Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders have been two of the more talented wide receivers in the league for the last handful of years. But with shaky quarterback play last season, they each took giant hits to their production.
Guess what! Shaky quarterback play is back in Case Keemun.
Look, I got that Keenum had success last season with the Minnesota Vikings, but I’m much more comfortable in saying that it was a flash in the pan than a foreshadowing of the rest of his career.
Thomas is going as WR15 and Sanders is at WR29. I’m looking elsewhere.
Trey Burton, Tight End, Chicago Bears
In four seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, Trey Burton caught 63 passes for 629 yards and six touchdowns. The guy throws one touchdown in the Super Bowl and goes to a new team, and he’s all of the sudden a top-10 tight end? No thanks.
I’d much rather take a chance on a Jordan Reed, Tyler Eifert or Charles Clay than Burton.
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