Making a List: Roster Decisions

Ryan McDowell

stills

I’m a list guy. I make “to do” lists, follow “honey do” lists, and will take time to read a top ten list of almost anything. This series of articles will bring you a top five ranking about a myriad of topics in the world of dynasty football.

This time of year is always challenging for me. Yes, the start of real football is right around the corner, but with that comes some tough roster decisions for many dynasty owners. For one reason or another, dynasty owners must decide which players they will keep on their roster and which must go. It’s not quite as agonizing as watching a promising undrafted rookie being asked for his playbook (or iPad) on Hard Knocks, but it can still be a taxing choice, and one that can have a long-lasting impact on dynasty rosters. After all, we know that many of today’s most valuable players in the dynasty format could have been once considered a cut, like Marques Colston, Victor Cruz and more recently, Alfred Morris. So, will you gamble on the unknown rookie or stick with the established, yet low upside veteran? This is just an example of the decisions owners are facing.

There are a couple of reasons I can think of that owners might be facing this situation in the first place. First, in many dynasty leagues, league rules allows for expanded off-season rosters. This feature allows owners to make rookie draft picks without dropping players and also gives owners the ability to take a shot on some of the top players making a name for themselves during training camp. Another reason owners are now facing this challenging predicament is that many choose not to carry a kicker and/or a defense during the off-season. While I approve of an employ this strategy myself in each of my dynasty leagues, it creates a time of frustration as the season nears. Not only do I have to drop a player I’d like to take a chance on, but I have to drop him for a kicker. Ugh!

With all of that said, as you might be facing choices like the ones I’ve outlined here, I will give you five players you should not give up on quite yet. If at all possible, find a way to hold onto these players that might be on your roster bubble.

1. Kenny Stills WR NO

New Orleans Saints rookie wide receiver Kenny Stills was a fifth round pick of the team in April and despite landing in the perfect spot for a young wideout, he received little attention in early rookie drafts or during the off-season OTA periods. Once training camp started though, it was a different story. Stills has been on fire, and thanks to his excellent play and the unfortunate injury to fellow wide receiver Joseph Morgan, it appears Stills has claimed the third wide receiver spot for the Saints. Considering Stills numbers through the three pre-season games- seven grabs for 140 yards and two scores- expect Stills to see plenty of snaps for the high-powered New Orleans offense.

2. Brice Butler, WR OAK

Another rookie worth keeping on your roster is wide receiver Brice Butler of the Oakland Raiders. Butler was chosen in the seventh and final round of the spring draft and although the Raiders have struggled in recent years, they had their share of talented young receivers, namely Denarius Moore, Rod Streater and Juron Criner. Maybe this is why Butler got almost no attention from dynasty owners early on in the off-season. With Streater dealing with a concussion and Moore seemingly unwilling to cooperate with the demands of his coaches, the door could be open for Butler to emerge and earn playing time. It already looks like a lost season for Oakland, so Butler may not be a player worth starting in dynasty leagues this year, but he is certainly a player to watch and subsequently keep on your roster.

3. Brandon Weeden, QB CLE

This is a bit ironic since I recently chose to drop Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden in one of my dynasty leagues (in favor of Butler), but I am really looking forward to seeing how Weeden performs this season under a new head coach and offensive coordinator. Both coaches, Rob Chudzinski and Norv Turner are well known for their prolific offenses. I have seen the question asked several times and I think it has some merit. If Josh Gordon is the breakout wide receiver and Jordan Cameron is expected to make the jump into the top fantasy tight ends around, along with top young runner Trent Richardson, shouldn’t that mean that the quarterback Weeden will also be successful? I can’t recall an offense with top a top fantasy player at each position without an above average quarterback. Due to his age, Weeden will likely never make the leap to QB1 status, but he could prove to be a solid fantasy backup for the coming years. If you have a need at the backup quarterback position, take a look at Weeden.

4. Ladarius Green, TE SD

Although second year tight end Ladarius Green has not accumulated a lot of stats, he has garnered a lot of buzz heading into the regular season. Green has the ideal size for a move tight end at 6’6” and 240 pounds. He will not necessarily unseat future Hall of Famer Antonio Gates, but he will be on the field a lot more this season, as evidenced by his usage with the first team offense during training camp and the pre-season games. The Chargers have had a rash of injuries, especially to the receiving corps and need to take advantage of the few playmakers they have. Don’t be surprised to see Gates gone following this season with Green stepping into the starting tight end role. He has a chance to see the same ascension in dynasty value that Jordan Cameron has experienced this off-season. Get him while you can!

5. Isaiah Pead, RB STL

One of the recurring dynasty questions I’ve been asked on Twitter recently involves dropping Rams running back Isaiah Pead for the flavor of the week at tight end or wide receiver. While I understand the struggles of the former Cincinnati Bearcat is frustrating for dynasty owners, we should not give up on him yet. It is clear that Daryl Richardson has claimed the starting job, but I am still not convinced that he is the long-term answer. With Pead and rookie Zac Stacy on the roster as well, this could be a three-headed monster at tailback. While that is not ideal for dynasty owners, it does mean that Pead (and Stacy) still have some dynasty value. While I wouldn’t wish an injury on any player, it happens. Even a minor injury to Richardson would give Pead’s value a huge boost. Don’t give up on him yet!

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ryan mcdowell