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For degenerates like me, fantasy football never ends. Sure, there's always dynasty to keep you busy all year, but my heart now belongs to best-ball leagues.
If you aren't familiar with a best-ball league, check out our general strategy article for a thorough overview. Once you've looked that over, come back and check out my recommendations for players you can get on the cheap who can help you take home that top prize!
Here are some best-ball values and sleepers by position that should be targeted in early 2018 MFL10 drafts.
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Quarterback Values and Sleepers
Mitchell Trubisky (QB, CHI) ADP: 161.18
Let's be honest, Trubisky's rookie season wasn't great. In 12 starts, he averaged just 182.8 yards per game and had seven touchdowns to go with seven interceptions. He only threw for over 200 yards in three games, had five games without a touchdown, and never had a multi-touchdown game. Still, there is reason for optimism heading into 2018. First is the addition of former Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy who will take over as the Bears new head coach. Nagy should open up an offense that was the seventh run-heaviest team in 2017. Second is the addition of receiving weapons Allen Robinson and Trey Burton. We have seen what Robinson's upside can be, and Burton has produced quite well when Zach Ertz has missed time in the past. While it's unlikely Trubisky will enter the realm of the QB1, he should be a solid QB2 and has some potential upside in this offense. Pair him with a "safer" QB1 and he could be a great boom/bust option for your best ball team.
Tyrod Taylor (QB, CLE) ADP: 161.56
While Trubisky will give owners more of a roller-coaster ride, Taylor can be a safe option for those who draft a riskier quarterback early. Over the last two seasons, Taylor has only had four single-digit fantasy games and has scored 14 or more points in 22 of 28 games played. That is about as safe and consistent as it gets. He is also going to a team that has plenty of weapons with Jarvis Landry, Josh Gordon, Corey Coleman, David Njoku and Duke Johnson. Far more than he ever had in Buffalo. Plus, the Browns have one of the league's better offensive lines. He is the perfect quarterback to pair with higher upside players like Ben Roethlisberger or Jameis Winston as he'll give you that safe floor to pair with the high upside.
Andy Dalton (QB, CIN) ADP: 167
Dalton is a potential post-hype sleeper in 2018. Entering 2017 there was a lot of optimism behind Dalton as he was one year removed from a 4,200-yard, 18-touchdown season. Unfortunately, playing behind one of the league's worst offensive lines did Dalton no favors and he had his worst season since his rookie year. Things should be better in 2018, however, as the Bengals have already improved their offensive line and are expected to continue to do so in the draft. If Dalton can come anywhere close to those 2016 numbers, and I think he can, he will be an absolute steal at this price. He finished 2016 as fantasy's QB14. Even if he plays like he did in 2017, however, you are still getting him at a discount as he finished as QB17. Don't wait until the Bengals improve their offensive line and his price goes up, grab him now while he is still dirt cheap.
Other Quarterback Values: Case Keenum (QB, DEN) ADP: 165.45, Sam Bradford (QB, ARI) ADP: 206.8, Ryan Tannehill (QB, MIA) ADP: 210
Running Back Values and Sleepers
LeGarrette Blount (RB, DET) ADP: 180.72
Blount is a screaming value at this point in the draft. He's moving to a Lions team that had no confidence in its running game in 2017, and he's joining his former defensive coordinator from his years in New England, Matt Patricia. While Blount offers little in the passing game, he should be featured heavily in the early down running game and is a much needed presence around the goal line. The Lions had just 10 rushing touchdowns in 2017 (21st) versus 29 passing touchdowns (fourth). He's not going to give you weekly consistency, but that's not what you need from your 16th round pick. He'll be good for his share of double-digit games and is a steal at this cost.
Jeremy Hill (RB, NE) ADP: 195.01
Hill is another one of those late-round running backs with real touchdown upside. When the Patriots signed Mike Gillislee in 2017 the fantasy community went crazy and Gillislee's ADP skyrocketed all the way up to the fifth round. Absurd. Thankfully the community has learned it's lesson and Hill is being relegated to an afterthought. Interestingly, Hill's situation is much better than Gillislee's was. When Gillislee was signed he was in a backfield with Dion Lewis, Rex Burkhead and James White. Lewis has since moved on to the Titans, and taken his 180 carries and six rushing touchdowns with him. Looking back at 2017 as a guide, it is likely Hill and Burkhead will split the early down work, while Burkhead and White will split the passing down work. Hill likely won't be a guy you can count on week to week, but he'll offer touchdown upside in this offense and that's what you're looking for from your RB5/6 in best ball formats. The Patriots ranked sixth in rushing touchdowns in 2017 and Hill will get his share of those.
Austin Ekeler (RB, LAC) ADP: 197.59
As a rookie in 2017, Ekeler was a pain in Melvin Gordon owners' sides as he took 74 touches away from Gordon. As of now, the Chargers seem content to roll with Gordon and Ekeler once again in 2018. Ekeler is a perfect best-ball RB5/6 as he won't give you much week to week, but can have those big games out of nowhere. He had four games with at least three receptions, and another four with at least one touchdown. His role should increase in 2018 as well as the Chargers have said they want to reduce Gordon's workload. At this cost all you need are a few 10 plus point games and you're happy, and Ekeler should have no trouble delivering that.
Other Running Back Values: Spencer Ware (RB, KC) 193.26, Javorius Allen (RB, BAL) ADP: 197.67, Chris Ivory (RB, BUF) ADP: 209, De'Angelo Henderson (RB, DEN) ADP: 213.64, Corey Grant (RB, JAC) ADP: 215.92, C.J. Prosise (RB, SEA) ADP: 221.92
Wide Receiver Values and Sleepers
Mike Wallace (WR, PHI) ADP: 201.2
Wallace was a popular late round pick in 2017 who flopped in an inept Baltimore offense. In 2018 he will play on one of the NFL's premier offenses with one of the NFL's premier quarterbacks, Carson Wentz. That is a big upgrade for Wallace. He will take over for Torrey Smith, who acted as the Eagles deep threat. Wallace is a much better player than Smith and will give Wentz one more weapon to make use of. Despite playing in a worse offense in 2017, Wallace only had 12 less PPR points than Robert Woods, 17 less than Marquise Goodwin and 20 less than Michael Crabtree. Oh and he had 61 more than Torrey Smith. Drafting Wallace at this price is getting him at his absolute floor, and he offers his share of big games with his new team.
Allen Hurns (WR, DAL) ADP: 206.81
The Dallas receiving corps is a mess. Dez Bryant looks to be on the decline and the team still hasn't committed to him for the upcoming season. Terrance Williams suffered a broken foot and has never been a reliable option. Cole Beasley only had 36 receptions in 2017 and played limited snaps. Brice Butler, while he's shown flashes, has never been a big part of the team's offensive game plan. That leaves Hurns, who signed a two-year, 12 million dollar contract with the Cowboys. While we shouldn't expect Hurns to come close to his 2015 numbers when he caught 64 passes for 1,031 yards and 10 touchdowns, he should post solid WR3/4 type numbers. But at this price you are getting him for basically free. If Bryant is let go his value only goes up. Start grabbing him now while his ADP is still subdued.
John Brown (WR, BAL) ADP: 207.53
Brown has become sort of a forgotten man in the fantasy community, as he has only started 11 games over the last two years while dealing with his well-known sickle cell trait. He signed a one year, five million dollar deal with the Ravens as he looks to rejuvenate his career in 2018. One thing Brown has always excelled at is the deep ball, as his career 14.5 yards per reception shows. Flacco, for all his inabilities, is actually a good deep ball passer and Brown should get his chances. Assuming he can stay healthy, Brown should be the clear number two behind Michael Crabtree and is always just one play away from making his fantasy owners happy. Grab him late and reap the rewards when those big plays occur in 2018.
Other Wide Receiver Values: Corey Coleman (WR, CLE) ADP: 177.27, Chris Godwin (WR, TAM) ADP: 172.35, Travis Benjamin (WR, LAC) ADP: 209.44, Jaron Brown (WR, SEA) ADP: 220.31, Geronimo Allison (WR, GB) ADP: 220.81
Tight End Values and Sleepers
Charles Clay (TE, BUF) ADP: 170.89
Is the departure of Tyrod Taylor hurting Clay's value? For the last five years, Clay has had at least 50 catches and 500 yards every single season. In only 13 games last year he finished as TE18, yet he's being drafted as TE22. I get it, the Bills are either going to start "Mr. Five Interception" Nathan Peterman, career backup A.J. McCarron, or whatever rookie they draft. But so what? This offense has next to nothing in the way of weapons and Clay should see his share of targets. Sure, you don't want Clay as your TE1, but he is a safe TE2 and an even better TE3, and his price is very cheap.
Ricky Seals-Jones (TE, ARI) ADP: 199.6
Seals-Jones gave fantasy owners a two-week breakout in 2017, when he caught a combined seven catches for 126 yards and three touchdowns. Unfortunately that was the majority of the rookie's 2017 production. Still, there is reason for optimism entering 2018. Seals-Jones should see a bigger role as he enters his sophomore year. Former head coach Bruce Arians is notorious for not playing rookies (see David Johnson, 2015), but the new staff should give him more opportunity. Second, he will have one of the tight end friendliest quarterbacks throwing him the ball, Sam Bradford. The last time Bradford played an entire season in 2016, Kyle Rudolph finished as PPR TE3. While Seals-Jones doesn't have that kind of upside, he is a bargain at this price and makes for a great boom/bust TE3.
Gerald Everett (TE, LAR) ADP: 202.53
Another sophomore tight end, Everett showed flashes as a rookie and should see an expanded role in 2017. In a Rams offense that appears to be one of the league's elite, he should see plenty of red zone chances as well. When you're drafting a tight end this late that's really all you're asking for. He'll be a headache week to week, but should offer his share of high upside games that take best ball teams over the top. As a TE3 you could do worse.
Other Tight End Values: Adam Shaheen (TE, CHI) ADP: 203.88, Vernon Davis (TE, WAS) ADP: 211.74, Stephen Anderson (TE, HOU) ADP: 216.73, Ed Dickson (TE, SEA) ADP: 217.69
More MFL10 and Best-Ball Strategy
