Independence Day

Ken Kelly Posted On July 4, 2015

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It’s Independence Day, so we figured it was a great time to have some fun before firing up the barbecue and lighting off loads of illegal explosives. So, pending your house not currently burning down from idiots lighting off bottle rockets in the backyard behind you, we present to you our own unique version of Independence Day for your reading pleasure. The premise here was very simple – I asked our writers to give me the player they’re declaring their independence from this year. In other words, they won’t be drafting them in a start-up dynasty league because they undeniably have this player ranked the lowest in their leagues or are simply avoiding them like the plague for one reason or another. We had a wide variety of responses!

“I’m declaring my independence from Cordarrelle Patterson. I’ve learned not to fall in love with wide receivers who flash big-time natural raw athleticism and yet have no functional idea of how to play the wide receiver position. I don’t think Patterson fits in a Norv Turner offense and I don’t think Turner will ever change his offensive philosophy to make Patterson a fit for the Vikings. In fact, I’m steering clear of players like Patterson or Percy Harvin, dynamic raw talents who cannot be fit into a conventional offense. I just don’t think the NFL is willing to modify an offensive scheme for one gadget player. If there is a sliver of bright light in this sad story, at least Patterson as a return specialist could make the Vikings DST an interesting flier for 2015.” – Dr. Scott Peak

“I’m declaring my independence from Cam Newton. Yes, I know he is only 26 and just signed a monster deal, but take a look at his stats as a passer (after all, he is a quarterback). He is entering his fifth year in the league and has a career 59.5% completion rate, his passing yards have decreased each year since his rookie season and his touchdown to turnover rate is 1.18 to 1 because he loses so many fumbles. Toss in a lack of dynamic receivers and the pounding he takes running the ball and there isn’t any way I’m touching him at his fifth round ADP. I would much rather wait a few rounds and take someone like Matt Ryan or Matthew Stafford who have a realistic shot at 4,500 passing yards and 30+ touchdowns for the next five years.” – Jacob Feldman

“Every year on the 4th of July, my parents host a huge bash on their farm back in good ol’ South Dakota. Family from both sides, friends, and friends of friends flock to the homestead to eat, drink, be merry and fire off a couple thousand dollars worth of fireworks. As great as all that is, what happens next is nothing short of an abomination. After the smoke has cleared, we break out two huge watermelons, slice them up and pass the offensive fruit around for all to partake in a borderline ritualistic consumption of its rancid pink flesh. After 36 years of being subjected to this unwarranted torture, I’m declaring my independence from this tradition. I’ll never eat another watermelon. Also, I refuse to own Sammy Watkins.” – Jeff Miller

“I’m steering clear of C.J. Spiller in all my leagues this year. It seems we hear the same thing every off-season about his potential breakout into stardom. Outside of a few flashes here and there, he just hasn’t produced the type of consistent numbers to justify his cost. While the change in scenery to New Orleans looks like it has the possibility to really unleash his true athletic ability, it’s also inflated his price tag. I’d rather take a run at a similar ranked rookie like Ameer Abdullah than be disappointed yet again in Spiller.” – Ken Kelly

[inlinead]“I’m declaring my independence from Matt Forte. He received 130 targets in 2014 — more than any running back since LaDanian Tomlinson in 2003. Despite those targets, Forte finished as the third running back in ppr scoring. With Marc Trestman gone, I expect Forte to lose 40 to 50 receptions, and he’s not a good enough runner at age 29 to make up for those lost catches. Dynasty drafters are chasing the past, drafting Forte in the early fourth round based on DLF’s June ADP. If I’m going to draft an aging running back, give me the younger, more talented Arian Foster more than a round later.” – Brian Malone

“I am declaring my independence from the Calvin Johnson hate. He was an athletic freak coming out of Georgia Tech and has remained an outlier at the NFL level. There is no reason to think that the arbitrary rule of ‘He’s 30 so he’s done’ applies to him in any way, shape, or form. I’ll be driving the Team Megatron bus all the way to the title.” – Doug Green

“I’m declaring my independence from Adrian Peterson. Contrary to popular belief, he is not a cyborg, he is indeed human. His ADP of RB11 makes very little sense to me in the dynasty format. Peterson is a 30-year old running back coming off a year away from the NFL and he now has one of the most athletic running backs in the NFL as his back up in Jerick McKinnon. I think McKinnon will serve a major role even with Peterson back on the field. If I’m looking for short term production at running back, it will be with Marshawn Lynch going just 1 spot higher, or Arian Foster down at RB17.” – Nathan Powell

I’m declaring my independence from Gio Bernard. He’s very clearly the number-two ball carrier on the team and gets phased out of the run game when the Bengals fall behind. For all his theoretical ‘dynamic’ he only averages 4.1 YPC for his career and has yet to surpass 170 carries in a season. Cincy isn’t a good enough offense to support two high-end runners, yet Bernard is still being drafted as a top-50 player in startups. For the cost I’d much rather have guys like Alfred Morris, Ameer Abdullah or CJ Spiller, or just wait and grab better talents like Jonathan Stewart or Shane Vereen four rounds later.” – Eric Hardter

“Michael Floyd will no longer rule my fantasy football world! I am declaring my independence from the Arizona wide receiver. After watching a large percentage of his receptions last season two things became apparent: 1) His skill set is better suited as a role player and 2) John Brown might be a fantasy dynamo in the very near future. For those reasons, I am actively dealing Floyd in all my leagues. At just 25 years old, Floyd’s youth will likely make him attractive to several owners in your dynasty league. I am trying to take advantage of this situation and sell while his market value is still high. For better or worse, Floyd’s performance on the field will no longer impact my dynasty team’s future.” – Matt Caraccio

“I am gladly declaring my independence from the Cleveland Browns backfield. Whether it is Terrance West, Isaiah Crowell or Duke Johnson, reading the mind of the clueless Mike Pettine is not something I’m willing to risk my fantasy season on. Even though the weekly winner of ‘running back roulette’ will be a viable fantasy option, I am not going to waste three roster spots to fill one position. Let someone else deal with the headache.” – Eric Olinger

“I am declaring my independence from Taylor Thompson. I may be addicted to developmental TEs with their athletic prowess and ability to do the extraordinary when freed from the confining modern-day NFL safety equipment, but I know when to cut my losses. His reception total dwindled from a massive six in his 2012 rookie year to three in 2013 and a paltry two in his injury-shortened 2014 campaign. His average of .33 TDs per season is only slightly higher than mine. Now having been released by the Titans with a knee injury and embroiled in an NFLPA investigation in to that release, it’s finally time to throw in the towel on the alliterative wonder in those 100 roster spot TE premium leagues that I’ve been saving him in.” – Jarrett Behar

“I am ecstatic to exclaim my complete independence from kickers going forward. Through lobbying rule changes in a couple of leagues, MFL10 changes and quitting one league, I no longer play in any format with kickers. I could not be more happy to completely ignore kicker camp battles, injuries, and suspensions (I’m looking at you, Matt Prater). Furthermore, I no longer have to sacrifice a precious roster spot a week before the season starts to pick up a random kicker from the wire. If you are still dealing with a league with kickers, I highly suggests Jacob Feldman’s Kick the Kicker as required reading for your league. Also, check out his 2013 version. Since I am a certified IDP nut, I hope next fourth of July I can declare my independence from team defense. Although that is most likely too bold, since it would require walking away from a few leagues too near and dear to my heart.” – Eric Coleman

“I am declaring my independence from over-investing in young running backs. In recent years, former fantasy darlings such as Doug Martin, David Wilson and Trent Richardson (and to a lesser extent, Gio Bernard and Andre Ellington) have torpedoed their respective dynasty teams while failing to live up to expectations. I’m going to let the other owners in my leagues pay top dollar for players like CJ Anderson, Jeremy Hill, Eddie Lacy and the ilk while I ride into the sunset with savvy vets like Marshawn Lynch and Jamaal Charles. I’ll also look to buy low on young runners coming off of disappointing rookie or sophomore seasons – players like Montee Ball, Bishop Sankey and Carlos Hyde have a greater margin for return-on-investment in the same way Le’Veon Bell, DeMarco Murray and Lamar Miller have blossomed in the last few years.” – Jeffrey Beran

Who are you declaring your Independence from this season? Let us know in the comments below and be safe on this great holiday!

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Ken Kelly

Co-Founder at DynastyLeagueFootball

Ken is a corporate trainer by day an a tireless editor of dynasty content by night. His passion for the World Champion Seattle Seahawks is second only to his love of fantasy football and the dynasty format.

Ken is on Twitter at DLF_KenK