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Fantasy Wasteland - Five NFL Offenses to Avoid in 2016

Sometimes it's best to just say "no." Well, at least "probably not." You should never go into a fantasy draft with a list of players that you absolutely, under no circumstances, would consider drafting. Every player has value at a certain point and, as Herm Edwards told us back in 2002, you play to win the game!

With that being said, there are a handful of NFL teams that you should try to avoid this season. Earlier this week I looked at the top five offenses to target in fantasy drafts. Now I've identified five teams I'll be avoiding in fantasy drafts, along with individual players currently being selected in 15-round standard drafts.

Editor's Note: RotoBaller has the best Premium NFL Subscription for only $1.99 per week. We have all the preseason tools to help win your drafts, and in-season tools to win your seasonal and daily leagues: Draft Kit, Premium Rankings, ADP Sleepers Tool, Matchup Ratings for every player, Daily DFS Cheat Sheets, Lineup Picks, Expert Lineups, Stacks and Avoids. 

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

Fantasy Football Offenses to Avoid

San Francisco 49ers

RB Carlos Hyde (4.02), WR Torrey Smith (10.02)

Oh boy, this is ugly. The 49ers had virtually no fantasy relevant standouts last season, and based upon these average draft results, the fantasy world doesn't expect that to change in 2016. Hyde is being drafted as a lower-end RB2, which seems about right for him. Smith, a No. 1 receiver in title only, is currently being drafted as the 45th wideout off the board on average.

Is it possible that one of San Francisco's quarterbacks, either Blaine Gabbert or Colin Kaepernick, ends up as a decent QB2? Is it possible that Bruce Ellington, Quinton Patton, Vance McDonald, or any of the 49ers' other young pass-catchers has a breakout season? Yes and yes, but I'm not betting on either of those. As it currently stands, the 49ers have the most hopeless fantasy situation and looks to be bound for a top pick in the 2017 NFL draft.

Los Angeles Rams

RB Todd Gurley (1.04), WR Tavon Austin (10.09), D/ST (12.07)

Just to clarify -- this is not an indictment on Gurley, who is a stud and should be drafted with confidence in the first round of every fantasy draft. Of course, the Rams' fantasy appeal plummets quickly once you get past Gurley. The supremely-talented Austin has a skill set in the mold of Percy Harvin, but he has become a perpetual underachiever. Perhaps the arrival of No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff will help him, but he's being drafted even lower than Smith (48th among WRs).

Los Angeles does boast a top-10 defense/special teams, anchored by arguably the most talented defensive line in the NFL. The potential for 50 sacks, combined with Austin's return ability, makes this unit a viable option. Outside of Gurley and the D/ST, however, there's little to get excited about in the city of angels in 2016.

Cleveland Browns

RB Duke Johnson (7.01), TE Gary Barnidge (8.06), RB Isaiah Crowell (8.12), WR Corey Coleman (10.06), WR Josh Gordon (11.11), QB Robert Griffin III (14.11)

The Browns have more players being drafted than either the 49ers or Rams, but they aren't coming until later in drafts. Johnson is Cleveland's top-drafted player and he's lasting until the seventh round on average (RB3 range). He has considerably more value in PPR leagues. Barnidge, a major regression candidate, is being drafted as a top-10 tight end, which speaks to the weakness of the position.

Cleveland's two highest-upside players are at receiver -- Coleman and Gordon. Coleman, the No. 15 overall pick in April's draft, enters training camp as Cleveland's de facto No. 1 receiver. Gordon, who is three years removed from a league-leading 1,646 receiving yards, is still seeking reinstatement. Griffin is another wild card, but not one worth taking until the final non Kicker/Defense pick in fantasy drafts.

Philadelphia Eagles

RB Ryan Mathews (5.09), WR Jordan Matthews (6.07), TE Zach Ertz (10.09), RB Wendell Smallwood (13.06), RB Darren Sproles (13.11), WR Nelson Agholor (14.04), D/ST (14.09)

Like the Browns, the Eagles have a decent number of players being drafted, but none stand out as elite options. Mathews, the presumptive starter at running back, is being drafted in the RB3 range. Matthews and Ertz are going 30th and 12th among wide receivers and tight ends, respectively.

Smallwood and Sproles both going in the 13th round speaks to the uncertainty surrounding the Eagles' backfield. Agholor is talented, but with a new coaching staff and an average quarterback in Sam Bradford, his upside appears limited.

Tennessee Titans

RB DeMarco Murray (4.06), TE Delanie Walker (7.03), RB Derrick Henry (9.04), WR Dorial Green-Beckham (9.10), QB Marcus Mariota (12.01), WR Rishard Matthews (14.05), WR Kendall Wright (14.08)

This was a tough call for the fifth and final spot between Tennessee and Miami, but ultimately the Titans got the nod. Walker, who is coming off a 94-catch, 1,088-yard season, is a stud and deserves to be drafted as a TE1. The rest of Tennessee's draft-worthy players are either too risky, too unproven, or both.

Murray is just two years removed from a league-leading 1,845 rushing yards, but last season destroyed his stock. He's being drafted as a low-end RB2, which seems about right, although Henry could steal carries. Green-Beckham and Mariota could take big steps forward in their sophomore seasons. "Could" seems to be the word of choice in describing the Titans' fantasy options. They could be great, or they could disappoint. There's too much uncertainty here to heavily invest in Tennessee players.

 

Honorable mention

Miami Dolphins: WR Jarvis Landry (4.04), RB Jay Ajayi (5.03), WR DeVante Parker (6.11), QB Ryan Tannehill (13.05), TE Jordan Cameron (13.09), D/ST (14.07), RB Kenyan Drake (14.09)

 

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Check out RotoBaller's famous fantasy football draft sleepers and waiver wire pickups list, updated regularly!




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