Fantasy: Takeaways from Friday's preseason games
Get ready for your season with theScore's 2016 Fantasy Football Draft Kit.
Every game night during the preseason, theScore's Justin Boone will provide his fantasy observations from around the league.
Remember Me?
Josh Gordon's price tag in fantasy drafts is about to rise.
After over a year away from the field, Gordon quickly reminded everyone what he can do with a 44-yard bomb on his first target against the Buccaneers. It was one of two catches on the night, the second being a 43-yard deep ball, where he outjumped the defender and landed in the end zone.
Two receptions. 87 yards. One touchdown.
Gordon was the lone bright spot in the Browns' passing game on Friday, but it's all the evidence fantasy owners need to draft the once, and maybe still, elite receiver. Hue Jackson is giving Robert Griffin III the green light to sling the ball downfield and Gordon is one of the few wideouts who could challenge Julio Jones for Calvin Johnson's vacated title as the game's most physically imposing elite receiver.
Gordon will likely move up into the low-end WR2/high-end WR3 zone when I update my rankings on Monday.
Smooth Sailing
While the Browns passing attack was struggling outside of Gordon's big plays, the Buccaneers were driving with ease on the other side of the field.
Jameis Winston racked up 259 yards and two scores, including one to Mike Evans, who finished with five receptions and 115 yards. Vincent Jackson got in on the action as well, with 78 yards of his own on four catches.
With Evans poised to take the next step in his career and Jackson looking to rebound from an injury-plagued year, Winston is an intriguing breakout candidate.
This is an offense to target in your drafts, as almost every starter represents a value at their current ADPs.
Instant Impressions
- It was a forgettable night for Cam Newton and the Panthers' offense. Newton went 13-of-29 for 100 yards and two interceptions, overthrowing his receivers on multiple occasions. Better days will come for Newton, but it serves as a reminder that it's not a given last year's numbers will be repeated.
- It's worth noting that Devin Funchess saw 10 targets in the game, hauling in five of them for 49 yards. Kelvin Benjamin and Ted Ginn are the starters, but Benjamin's hold on the No. 1 job could be slipping away with all three receivers likely to take turns leading the team in receiving. Benjamin is being severely overdrafted in the third and fourth rounds.
- Take it with a grain of salt since they were playing the Saints' overly generous defense, but the Steelers' offense looked impressive with Ben Roethlisberger under center. Antonio Brown caught a long touchdown, Markus Wheaton, Eli Rogers, and Jesse James showed they can be complementary pieces, and Le'Veon Bell carved up New Orleans on the ground and through the air. Any worries about Pittsburgh's attack can be put to rest.
- Kirk Cousins started the game 2-of-8 for 17 yards and a pick, but ended the night 12-of-23 for 188 yards and three touchdowns. His completion percentage was dragged down by a slew of dropped passes, yet Cousins was able to overcome it. It's a testament to his fantasy potential for 2016. Cousins is going to be this year's Andy Dalton, a player with limited talent who is lifted by the playmakers around him. If you're waiting on a QB, he should be on your list.
- We rarely discuss defenses in this post, but the Patriots' defense warrants mention. Bill Belichick's crew has played with fire all preseason and should be locked in as a starting fantasy unit with top-five upside.
Notable Performances
Eddie Lacy, RB, Packers
7 carries, 45 yards
Lacy is always going to look a little too big for the pads that protect him, but if he's running like this during the regular season no one is going to ask any questions. All signs point to a bounce-back year for the Packers runner, making him a quality pick early in the third round.
Isaiah Crowell, RB, Browns
8 carries, 39 yards
With all the hype around Duke Johnson, Crowell has been quiet this preseason, which might be a good thing giving his offseason social media mishap. Crowell ran well against the Buccaneers despite a offense floundering around him. In position to be the early-down back, he's worth a look in the later rounds.
Chris Hogan, WR, Patriots
5 receptions, 62 yards, TD
There are a lot of mouths to feed in New England, but Hogan is making a case why he should get to eat this season.
Robert Kelley, RB, Redskins
12 carries, 51 yards; 1 reception, -1 yard
If the season began today, Kelley would be the starter since Matt Jones is sidelined with an AC joint sprain. Washington also lost Keith Marshall to injury on Friday, leaving Kelley and Chris Thompson as the only healthy backs on the roster. Kelley would be a volume play in fantasy if he were to get a start, but one could argue that's the same value Jones offers.
Willie Snead, WR, Saints
4 receptions, 58 yards, TD
Snead is single-handedly throwing water on the Michael Thomas hype. The truth is both players will have their moments this season, but Snead is an underrated WR3 option for fantasy owners.
Martellus Bennett, TE, Patriots
0 receptions, 4 targets
Fantasy owners should be ecstatic about this headline because it will keep Bennett's ADP from rising before draft day. No tight end in the second half of the draft has the upside of Bennett, even though it would require a Gronk injury to unlock it.
Cameron Artis-Payne, RB, Panthers
9 carries, 28 yards; 1 reception, 12 yards
Artis-Payne ran hard against the Patriots and has clearly distanced himself from his competition for the No. 2 job in Carolina.
Coby Fleener, TE, Saints
1 reception, 4 yards
Fleener's best play against the Steelers won't show up in his box score. Drew Brees found Fleener down the seam, between three defenders who were closing in fast and Fleener held onto the ball for a big gain before it was called back due to holding. It's an example of how Brees can turn Fleener into a star even if Fleener isn't star quality.
Jared Cook, TE, Packers
4 receptions, 54 yards
This is a great sign for Cook, who could bring a new dimension to the Packers' attack with his athleticism at tight end.
C.J. Spiller, RB, Saints
4 carries, 20 yards; 3 receptions, -1 yard
Spiller played the first snap of the game and split time with Mark Ingram while the first-team offense was on the field. Ingram is the unquestioned starter and an RB1 in fantasy, but Spiller may have worked his way back into a part-time role.
Stephen Gostkowski, K, Patriots
2-of-4 FGs; 1-of-1 XP
The best kicker in the game missed two field goals in one night and struggling rookie Roberto Aguayo was a perfect 3-for-3. Why do we include kickers in fantasy again?
Injury Ward
Carlos Hyde, RB, 49ers
The 49ers lead back rushed for 30 yards on just four carries thanks to a 27-yard dash, but after the game it was revealed he suffered a concussion during the outing. If he's unable to get cleared before Week 1, Shaun Draughn and Mike Davis would handle backfield duties.
Bruce Ellington, WR, 49ers
Ellington has a chance for a breakout season playing the slot in Chip Kelly's offense, so hopefully the hamstring injury that forced him from Friday's game doesn't keep him sidelined for long.
Fozzy Whittaker, RB, Panthers
The Panthers' third-string back left the game in a decent amount of pain with what appeared to be a shoulder injury.
Keith Marshall, RB, Redskins
Marshall suffered a sprained left elbow and will undergo an MRI on Saturday. He had fallen to fourth on the Redskins' depth chart prior to the injury.