DLF’s Weekly Impact Events

Ryan McDowell

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The 2013 fantasy football off-season is in full swing and dynasty drafts are in progress. You have to pay close attention to everything in order to stay on top of your dynasty league. For most of us, we do well to steal some time away from our families and jobs to watch the games on Sunday. It becomes difficult to monitor the daily happenings around the league and even more demanding to process how that news affects your dynasty team.

That’s why we’re here!

Now that we’ve entered the off-season and have completed the NFL Draft, the next few months will be filled with rumors. Much of the “news” will be speculation about the futures of individual players. While this can be important, it can also be a challenge to determine the validity of certain reports. I will include many of these reports and share my opinion about how the player’s value might be affected, for better or worse.

Here is a quick look at the events of the past week and how they impact players on your team:

Aaron Hernandez, TE FA

For the second consecutive week, the only real story in the league centered around tight end Aaron Hernandez and his alleged involvement in the murder of Odin Lloyd. Hernandez was arrested, charged with murder in the first degree and was denied bail. Subsequently, the New England Patriots waived the superstar tight end, shocking many in the NFL community. The release was a sure sign the situation was as dire for Hernandez as could be imagined. Following his arrest, there have been reports Hernandez may have also been involved in a double murder nearly a year ago in Boston. This is not the place for speculation, but it has all clearly fallen apart for Hernandez. I have shared my opinion on Twitter regarding the dynasty value of Hernandez and the likelihood of him ever playing again. The more I have read and heard of this story, the more disgusted I have become. For dynasty owners, there is only one move. Quickly and emphatically rid yourself and your team of Aaron Hernandez.

AJ Jenkins, WR SF

Local beat reporters in San Francisco give the second year wide receiver the slight edge to earn the starting role opposite veteran Anquan Boldin to start the season. Jenkins was used sparingly in his rookie season, but with top wideout Michael Crabtree expected to be out of action for much (if not all) of the season, Jenkins will be given a shot at extensive playing time. Jenkins’ ADP has been on the rise since the Crabtree injury, but he is still a good value as a draft or trade target.

LaVon Brazill, WR IND

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver LaVon Brazill has been suspended for the first four games of the 2013 season for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. Following the suspension, more negative reports have leaked out regarding Brazill’s work ethic and dedication to the game and now his roster spot is reportedly in danger. Brazill was a sleeper in deep leagues, but this puts an end to his dynasty value for now. He is clearly behind wide receivers Reggie Wayne, TY Hilton, Darrius Heyward-Bey, as well as tight ends Dwayne Allen and Coby Fleener in his battle for targets.

Danny Woodhead, RB SD

There was another report this week emphasizing the Chargers plan for running back Danny Woodhead, who will reportedly be a big part of the San Diego offense. Based on these consistent reports from Chargers coaches and beat writers, Woodhead’s value has seen a dramatic jumps over the past couple of months. He is a solid flex option in PPR leagues and can still be had relatively cheaply, especially if your leaguemates have not been paying attention to off-season reports.

Zach Sudfeld, TE NE

Undrafted rookie tight end Zach Sudfeld is already making a strong impression on the New England Patriots staff. Sudfeld’s pass catching has been noticeable during OTAs and he now has a great opportunity not only to make the team, but earn playing time with the Patriots’ issues at the tight end position. Sudfeld has quickly landed on the radar of dynasty owners and is a player to monitor. He displayed great receiving skills in college, but also dealt with numerous injuries. For owners with a sudden and surprising open spot on their roster, Sudfeld is a great stash.

Christine Michael, RB SEA

The positive reports regarding Seahawks rookie running back Christine Michael continue as the Seattle coaching staff reportedly came away from the team’s OTAs and mini-camp impressed with their second round pick. The situation Michael landed in was at first considered to be a poor one for his chances, but it is looking better and better. Starting running back Marshawn Lynch could be facing a suspension stemming from his DUI arrest a year ago. Also, while Robert Turbin is a solid backup running back, he is not expected to hold off the talented Michael. One ESPN report even predicted that Michael would be an every-down back stud running back by 2016. It could happen even sooner if the team chooses to part ways with Lynch and his hefty contract. It goes without saying that Michael is a great target for dynasty owners, but he may be easier to acquire during the season when Lynch is getting the majority of the carries.

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