X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Join the Best Live Fantasy Chat Community!

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Player Comparisons
News and Alerts

NFL Draft Reaction - Most Improved Offenses

What Appears In This Article? hide

The dust has cleared and the picks are in. With the 2017 NFL Draft in the books, it's time to take a long look at how some of the most notable selections may impact the fantasy football landscape. Some of the effects will be immediate for current NFL players, but others may not be so obvious.

In this piece, we'll look at which teams could provide the biggest increase in fantasy value, based on the results of the NFL Draft. This could be especially important for dynasty owners and early drafters in MFL10 leagues.

For more NFL draft coverage, free agency news, and fantasy football analysis, bookmark our NFL page to get the advantage over your competition.

 

Most Improved Offenses for 2017

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Key draft picks: O.J. Howard, Chris Godwin, Jeremy McNichols

If there is a team that "won the draft" from a dynasty owner's viewpoint, it has to be the Bucs. O.J. Howard may have to share targets with Cameron Brate at first, but his talent level should elevate him to TE1 status before too long. He's a solid second-round pick in rookie drafts and is worth a late-round flier even in re-draft leagues. Godwin will take time to develop, but some fantasy draft evaluators liked him enough to call him a top-five talent at WR.

McNichols is the sneaky pick here because Doug Martin begins the year on suspension and has a growing history of injuries. Jacquizz Rodgers hasn't sold the team on using him as a feature back and Charles Sims is nothing more than a pass-catching specialist. McNichols is a speedy back (4.49 40-yard dash time) who could pick up the slack if given the opportunity, much like fellow Boise State alum and undersized RB Martin (they're both 5'9") did five years ago. According to PlayerProfiler.com, he had an excellent College Dominator rating of 41.4%. Dynasty owners would be wise to stash McNichols in the third or fourth round of rookie drafts.

Jeremy McNichols combine numbers

 

Jacksonville Jaguars
Key draft picks: Leonard Fournette, Dede Westbrook, Cam Robinson

This is mainly about the first player on this list, who also happened to be the first RB/WR taken in the 2017 NFL Draft. Leonard Fournette should make an immediate impact on a team starving for a run game to support embattled quarterback Blake Bortles. The following selection of OT Cam Robinson, in addition to the trade for veteran Branden Albert, should solidify an offensive line that was middle of the pack in terms of grading as a unit. This should have a trickle-down effect to the receiving game, where Allen Robinson now becomes a prime bounce back candidate. Expecting him to reproduce his 2015 numbers would be foolish, however.

If anything, the Jags don't plan on playing from behind nearly as much, as their young defense is also improving. Expect a more consistent, but less prolific output from Robinson and Blake Bortles. Allen Hurns and Marqise Lee shouldn't anything more than flex plays in standard leagues as the team continues to seek offensive balance in order to compete with a vastly improved AFC South.

 

Cincinnati Bengals
Key draft picks: Joe Mixon, John Ross, Josh Malone

It would seem the Bengals now have an embarrassment of riches at the skill positions. Jeremy Hill didn't have the best season in his turn as the feature back, but still managed to score nine TD. Giovani Bernard returns from ACL surgery after averaging 3.4 receptions per game and 4.2 yards per carry in his four-year career.  Enter Joe Mixon, who could quickly replace them both. It's likely that we'll see RBBC to begin the season, but Mixon should eventually assert himself. That's assuming Jeremy Hill is still around by the time the Bengals break camp.

Andy Dalton will also have multiple choices in the passing game, rather than forcing the ball to A.J. Green when nobody else is open. Green missed six games and failed to reach 1,000 receiving yards for the first time in his career. As a result, Brandon LaFell suddenly became a viable target (that's not a good sign). John Ross will come along slowly as he recovers from shoulder surgery and is a dynasty-only pick for this season, but his speed threat should open things up underneath for slot receiver Tyler Boyd and tight end Tyler Eifert, who may resume his role as a major red zone threat if he can stay healthy all season. The biggest winner for short-term value seems to be Dalton. If he could throw for 4,206 yards without Tyler Eifert for half the season or Green for six games, 4,500-4,750 yards with 30+ TD is a legitimate target. If you're like me and play the waiting game on QB in re-draft leagues, grabbing him in the ninth round while you load up on other positions earlier could prove to be a steal.

 

Tennessee Titans
Key draft picks: Corey Davis, Taywan Taylor, Jonnu Smith

Corey Davis is currently the most common first pick in rookie drafts and mocks, and for good reason. Davis should immediately step in and give Marcus Mariota a reliable target that can work underneath routes and extend the defense deep at times. For all the preseason hype about Tajae Sharpe last year, he caught less than 50% of his targets and scored all of two TD despite starting 10 games. Rishard Matthews proved to be a reliable red zone weapon, but Davis has a superior skill set. Although he won't step into fantasy relevance right away, Davis is a top-notch dynasty prospect.

The Titans will continue to pound the rock with DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry whenever possible. If anything, the additions they made to the receiving corps will help the fantasy value of each RB. DeMarco Murray shouldn't see much of a reduced workload and is currently a great value in early PPR drafts (#45 overall). It's more advisable to pick up Tennessee receivers in a best-ball format like MFL10 because of the uncertainty around touchdown distribution to their receivers. Jonnu Smith is no immediate threat to Delanie Walker, so he too could be undervalued in re-draft leagues due to his age.

 

You might notice I didn't include the L.A. Chargers or Minnesota Vikings, despite the additions of big-name players like Mike Williams and Dalvin Cook. Williams will be slow to work his way into the rotation with numerous mouths to feed in that receiving corps and the Chargers haven't given Melvin Gordon a solid backup RB to keep him fresh. Cook, for all his talent, has way too many red flags to be trustworthy just yet and their other skill players like Bucky Hodges and Stacy Coley will likely be projects for the next year or two, if they even pan out.

Let me know who else you thinks belongs on this list or why you agree or disagree with the names mentioned above by hollering at me on Twitter @pfunk00 any time. Always stay tuned to RotoBaller for the best fantasy football analysis around!




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Player Comparisons
News and Alerts
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Jason Foley6 hours ago

Notches Seventh Save Of Season Tuesday
James McArthur6 hours ago

Earns Fifth Save Of Season Tuesday
Cal Raleigh6 hours ago

Hits Sixth Homer Of Season Tuesday
Julio Rodríguez7 hours ago

Julio Rodriguez Hits First Homer Of 2024 Tuesday
Tanner Houck7 hours ago

Pitches Well Again In Tough Loss Tuesday
Emmanuel Clase7 hours ago

Locks Up Seventh Save Tuesday
Max Fried7 hours ago

Tosses Complete-Game Shutout Tuesday
Michael King7 hours ago

Pitches Short Outing Tuesday
Justin Lawrence7 hours ago

Earns First Save Of Season Tuesday
Nolan Jones7 hours ago

Exits Early Tuesday With Back Stiffness
Merrill Kelly7 hours ago

Out For At Least A Month
Daniel Gafford8 hours ago

Returns To Game 2
Karl-Anthony Towns8 hours ago

Has A Rough Night On Tuesday
Jaden McDaniels8 hours ago

Erupts In Game 2
Daniel Gafford8 hours ago

Questionable To Return To Game 2
Jon Gray9 hours ago

Scheduled For Wednesday's Start
Luke Kornet9 hours ago

Out Again For Game 2
Blake Treinen9 hours ago

Starting Rehab Assignment
Cade Cavalli9 hours ago

Throws Bullpen Session
Grayson Allen9 hours ago

Won't Return To Tuesday's Game
Cody Bellinger9 hours ago

Exits After Hitting Outfield Wall
Gio Urshela9 hours ago

Resumes Baseball Activities
Francisco Alvarez10 hours ago

Likely Out Eight Weeks
Pete Fairbanks10 hours ago

Rays "Encouraged" By Pete Fairbanks' Tests
TJ Friedl10 hours ago

Closing In On Rehab Assignment
Lane Thomas10 hours ago

Leaves With Apparent Leg Injury
Kawhi Leonard10 hours ago

Returns To Clippers Lineup
DJ LeMahieu10 hours ago

Suffers Setback Tuesday
Grayson Allen13 hours ago

Ready To Go Tuesday
Zion Williamson13 hours ago

Confident Of Returning In Playoffs
Terry Rozier13 hours ago

Ruled Out For Game 2
Giannis Antetokounmpo13 hours ago

To Remain Out On Tuesday
Andrew Peeke13 hours ago

Considered Week-To-Week
Ryan Lomberg13 hours ago

Unavailable Due To Illness
Alexandar Georgiev14 hours ago

To Remain Between The Sticks Tuesday
Nick Jensen14 hours ago

Rasmus Sandin Not Ready To Return
Samuel Girard14 hours ago

Set To Remain Out On Tuesday
Thatcher Demko14 hours ago

Out For Game 2, Questionable For Rest Of Series
Brandon Aiyuk14 hours ago

Trade Remains "Very Much In Play"
Denver Broncos15 hours ago

Broncos Pick Up Fifth-Year Option On Patrick Surtain II
Kawhi Leonard17 hours ago

Present For Shootaround
New England Patriots17 hours ago

Patriots Haven't Received "Serious" Offers For No. 3 Pick
Kadarius Toney17 hours ago

Still In Chiefs' Plans
Jake Browning17 hours ago

Bengals Re-Sign Jake Browning
Ivan Fedotov17 hours ago

Agrees To Two-Year Extension With Flyers
Timo Meier18 hours ago

To Undergo Shoulder Surgery
Lucas Johansen18 hours ago

To Make Postseason Debut Tuesday
Brett Pesce18 hours ago

Questionable For Game 3
William Nylander18 hours ago

A Possibility For Game 3
Adrian Kempe21 hours ago

Keeps Postseason Scoring Streak Going
Adam Henrique21 hours ago

Collects Two Points In Game 1 Victory
Andrei Svechnikov21 hours ago

Sends Out Two Assists In Monday's Win
David Pastrnak22 hours ago

Ends Goal Drought Monday
Max Domi22 hours ago

Produces Multi-Point Performance In Game 2
Brett Pesce22 hours ago

Injury "Not Looking Good"
Nikola Jokic22 hours ago

Posts Special Triple-Double In Game 2 Victory
Jamal Murray22 hours ago

Completes 20-Point Effort With Big Game-Winner
LeBron James22 hours ago

Outstanding In Losing Effort
Anthony Davis22 hours ago

Leads All Scorers In Game 2 With 32 Points
Jarrett Allen22 hours ago

Gobbles Up 20 Rebounds In Game 2 Victory
Donovan Mitchell23 hours ago

Does It All For Cleveland In Game 2
Kyle Anderson23 hours ago

Questionable For Game 2
Mark Stone1 day ago

Starts Scoring In Game 1 Win
Sebastian Aho1 day ago

Posts Goal And Assist In Game 2 Win
Seth Jarvis1 day ago

Leads Huge Comeback Win In Game 2
Evan Bouchard1 day ago

Puts Up Four Assists From Back End In Game 1
Josh Hart1 day ago

Gets It Done In Game 2
Mitchell Robinson1 day ago

Cools Off On Monday Night
Brandon Aiyuk2 days ago

49ers Have Received Calls Regarding Brandon Aiyuk
Dak Prescott2 days ago

Not Trying To Be Highest-Paid Player
Zach Wilson2 days ago

Broncos Acquiring Zach Wilson From Jets
Matt Ryan2 days ago

Officially Retires From NFL
Cincinnati Bengals2 days ago

Sam Hubbard Recovering From Ankle Surgery
New England Patriots2 days ago

Patriots Listening To Calls For No. 3 Pick
Rashee Rice2 days ago

Expected To Receive Multi-Game Suspension
Tyler Reddick2 days ago

Survives At Talladega For First Win Of 2024
Brad Keselowski2 days ago

Finishes Second At Talladega After Last-Lap Wreck
Anthony Alfredo2 days ago

Gets Best Finish For Beard Motorsports Since 2022
Todd Gilliland2 days ago

One Of The Strongest At Talladega
NASCAR2 days ago

Bubba Wallace Finishes 36th At Talladega Superspeedway
Kyle Larson2 days ago

Fails To Deliver Value In DFS At Talladega
NASCAR2 days ago

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Finishes Fourth At Talladega
Noah Gragson2 days ago

Surprisingly The Most Consistent Driver At Talladega
Shane Van Gisbergen2 days ago

Shane van Gisbergen Acquits Himself Nicely In Drafting Debut
Michael McDowell2 days ago

Ends Talladega Wrecked From The Lead
Alex Bowman2 days ago

Quietly Captures Top-Five Finish At Talladega
Brock Bowers2 days ago

Jets The Favorite To Take Brock Bowers At No. 10
Drake Maye2 days ago

Giants Could Be Eyeing Drake Maye
Daniel Hemric2 days ago

Surges To Ninth-Place Result At Talladega
Harrison Burton2 days ago

Squeezes Into Top 10 At Talladega
NASCAR3 days ago

Bubba Wallace Will Start 14th For the GEICO 500
Tyler Reddick3 days ago

Avoid Rostering Tyler Reddick At Talladega?
John Hunter Nemechek3 days ago

Should DFS Players Roster John Hunter Nemechek At Talladega?
Joey Logano3 days ago

Expect Joey Logano To Compete For The Win At Talladega
Denny Hamlin3 days ago

Is Denny Hamlin Recommended For Talladega?
Justin Haley3 days ago

Is A Top DFS Value At Talladega
William Byron3 days ago

Is One Of The Top Favorites To Win Talladega
Christopher Bell3 days ago

Is Best Suited As A Tournament Play At Talladega
Zach Wilson4 days ago

Jets Still "Open" To Trading Zach Wilson
Marquise Brown4 days ago

Could Have Lucrative Role In KC
Dak Prescott4 days ago

Hasn't Started Contract Negotiations With Cowboys
Zach Wilson5 days ago

Not At Voluntary Workouts
Jayden Daniels5 days ago

Not Interested In Playing In D.C.?
DJ Chark Jr.5 days ago

Visits With Chargers
Courtland Sutton5 days ago

Broncos Not Concerned With Courtland Sutton

MORE RECENT ARTICLES

 
Brock Bowers - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Rookies, Draft Sleepers, NCAA College Football, Prospects

2024 NFL Draft - Overvalued Prospects Who Could Slip on Draft Night

A few weeks ago, I was watching the 2007 NFL Draft. It was on the NFL's Pluto TV channel and I didn't have anything else to do, so I figured I'd turn it on. I was struck by two things. First, it's wild how far technology has come since 2007. They kept advertising that you... Read More


Bo Nix - College Football Rankings, NCAA CFB DFS Lineup Picks

2024 NFL Mock Draft - Round 2 and 3 Final Predictions

Can you feel it? We're just over one day away from the 2024 NFL Draft, folks! Summer's breeze is almost here as well, but not before we dive deep into draft season. With the initial wave of free agency settling down, the roster blueprints for our 32 teams are coming into sharp focus. Hunting for... Read More


Tyler Boyd - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Lineup Picks

Is Tyler Boyd a Free Agent? Top Landing Spots for Boyd This Offseason

For eight seasons, Cincinnati was Tyler Boyd’s home. He amassed 6,000 receiving yards on 513 receptions and scored 31 touchdowns during his time with the Bengals. Boyd was a trusted option for quarterback Joe Burrow and was great as the team’s primary slot receiver. Unfortunately, the club opted not to re-sign him this offseason. After... Read More


Caleb Williams - Fantasy Football Rankings, College FB, NFL Rookies, Draft Sleepers

2024 NFL Draft - Potential Busts In First-Round Fantasy Football Rookie Drafts

The fantasy football offseason is an interesting time for dynasty players. With the combine behind us and the NFL Draft just ahead, we have collected nearly every bit of information we need aside from landing spots. This year's class brings in a new wave of gifted athletes primed to impact the NFL and our fantasy... Read More


Bo Nix - College Football Rankings, NCAA CFB DFS Lineup Picks

2024 NFL Draft: Updated Draft Stocks For Bo Nix, Michael Penix Jr. - Will They Be First-Round Picks?

Oregon quarterback Bo Nix and Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. are being compared to each other ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft, and it makes sense considering their similar collegiate career paths. Both signal-callers struggled early in their career at different schools but turned it around and blossomed into stars in the Pac-12. However, projecting... Read More


Jaylen Wright - Fantasy Football Rankings, College FB, RB, NFL Draft Sleepers

Dynasty Primer #2: How and When to Rebuild Your Fantasy Football Dynasty League Team

Several weeks ago, we published the first part of my Dynasty Primer series. That article delves into how dynasty managers can and should value dynasty draft picks, especially rookie-only picks. The aim is to help fans understand how to value dynasty draft picks, independent of player valuations or analyst opinions on the players you might... Read More


2024 NFL Mock Draft Round 1 - Final Predictions from All 32 Teams

Alright, folks, NFL Draft week is finally here: that magical time when every fan can dare to dream again! If you've been reading some of these mocks during the season, you know what a ride it's been and I sincerely appreciate any of you who've been following along. With the first big wave of NFL... Read More


Garrett Wilson - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, Waiver Wire Pickups - rotoballer icon

Fantasy Football: 2024 Positive TD Regression Candidates At WR

Touchdowns are the name of the game in fantasy football, especially at running back, wide receiver, and tight end. In most leagues, both rushing and receiving touchdowns count for six points. In a half-PPR league, that's the same thing as three catches for 45 yards. Now that we're on the topic of touchdowns, this article... Read More


Breece Hall - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Who are the Top Five Running Backs in 2024 Fantasy Football?

With the NFL Draft finally within our sights, we are not far away from the start of the NFL season. More importantly, we are one step closer to our fantasy football drafts. Now is a good time to get an early look at each position. We all know how important an elite running back is... Read More


CeeDee Lamb - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Targets, NFL Injury News

Who are the Top 12 Picks in 2024 Fantasy Football?

We might be a few months away from fantasy football drafts, but it is never too early to start researching and getting an idea of where players are falling in drafts, especially in the first round. Despite many fantasy managers choosing to wait until closer to the season to start studying, the best managers are always... Read More


Sam LaPorta - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Who Are The Top Five Tight Ends in 2024 Fantasy Football?

The tight end position is sometimes one of the hardest to navigate in fantasy throughout the season. Usually, there are only three to four elite options, and the rest are all the same. However, we saw that change significantly in 2023 as several young tight ends became reliable fantasy options throughout the year. That means... Read More


2024 NFL Draft: Five Dream Fantasy Football Fits For Rookie Prospects

Football never sleeps at RotoBaller! With the 2024 NFL Draft fast approaching, we're digging into what might transpire in this year's edition. RotoBaller analyst LaQuan Jones previews the 2024 NFL Draft and dives into the dream fits that would equal fantasy football production for five top prospects. Win MORE in 2024 with RotoBaller! Be sure... Read More


Michael Penix Jr. - CFB DFS Picks, Daily College Fantasy Football, NFL Draft Rookies

Bo Nix vs. Michael Penix Jr. - 2024 NFL Draft Prospect Comparison

There are three names that stand out above the rest when talking about the upcoming quarterback class: Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, and Jayden Daniels. A fourth, J.J. McCarthy, is starting to get a lot of added attention and could wind up going in the top five as well. But this is a very deep quarterback... Read More