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This article first appeared in the Metro news publication.
Welcome back fantasy football fans. With training camps getting underway, it’s time to start getting ready to chase another championship. Below are some players to target and avoid as you prepare for your 2017 fantasy football drafts.
Don’t forget to check out our 2017 draft sleepers and values list, which is constantly updated with our preseason draft targets. And our NFL homepage has all of the tools, rankings and analysis you need to get the edge on your league mates.
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Fantasy Football Draft Targets, Avoids
Run with Ravens Receiving Back
With Kenneth Dixon out for the season following surgery on a torn meniscus, the door is wide open for new Ravens running back Danny Woodhead to take over as the PPR back to own in Baltimore. While it’s true that Terrance West will likely get the lion’s share of the early-down work, Danny Woodhead will get a vast majority of targets out of the backfield, along with plenty of chances near the end zone.
Quarterback Joe Flacco is already singing his praises in training camp, and Woodhead could certainly turn in another 80-catch season as he did in 2015. Woodhead has a very real shot at returning top-15 PPR value, making his current ADP as RB31 an absolute steal.
Meredith By Himself on the Bears
Cameron Meredith quietly led the Bears in receiving in 2016, and there is nothing standing in his way from improving upon all of those numbers (67-888-4) in 2017. With former WR1 Alshon Jeffery now with the Eagles, Meredith is the top dog in the Chicago receiving corps. The 6’3” wideout has a much better quarterback situation in addition to the lack of competition, as Mike Glennon should provide a stable if unspectacular presence under center.
If Meredith was able to put up solid numbers with a combination of Jay Cutler, Brian Hoyer and Matt Barkley under center, he should be able to blow away his ADP (currently 113 overall) out of the water in 2017.
Alshon Too Costly to Aim For
Alshon Jeffery is undoubtedly talented, and he is far better off with Carson Wentz throwing to him than the aforementioned clown car of QBs that the Bears employed in 2016. However, his price has simply risen too high to warrant taking a shot on early in your draft this year. Jeffery is currently going as the 14th wide receiver off the board, right around the 31st overall pick in standard drafts.
That puts him ahead of guys like Demaryius Thomas, Sammy Watkins, Terrelle Pryor and Tyreek Hill--I’m simply not willing to pony up that kind of draft capital for a player who has only started 20 total games over the last two seasons. If Jeffery is still around come round five or six take a shot, but any earlier than that and you should look for a safer option.
Draft Targets of the Week
Quincy Enunwa - The Jets are a total mess, but someone has to absorb all of the targets left with Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker gone. Enunwa is now the only option for the Jets.
Isaiah Crowell - The 24-year-old is coming off a career-high in rushing yards, and the Browns aim to lean heavily on the run in 2017. Crowell is the back to own in Cleveland.
Paul Perkins - Once again, volume is king in fantasy football. For the time being, Perkins is the back to own on the Giants, and if he keeps the job through camp he should outperform his ADP (RB34, 81 overall)
