DLF’s Weekly Impact Events

Ryan McDowell Posted On September 12, 2015

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The NFL season is officially here and we already have witnessed some dominant performances from some of the best players in the game. With a full slate of games coming up this weekend, there’s sure to be plenty of ammo for the next edition of DLF’s Weekly Impact Events.

In the meantime, here’s all the news you need to know to be ready for week one and dominate your dynasty league.

Ameer Abdullah, RB DET

Multiple beat reporters are projecting a major impact for Lions’ rookie running back Ameer Abdullah in week one as Detroit faces off against the Chargers. This should come as little surprise since veteran Joique Bell has dealt with an injury all preseason. There was a surprise with the release of the depth chart as Abdullah was listed third behind Bell and scatback Theo Riddick, but it’s still expected Abdullah will earn the majority of touches. His dynasty value has been on the rise since he was drafted and a big opening game performance could push him into the dynasty RB1 range.

Jonas Gray, RB MIA

After surprisingly being waived by the New England Patriots, the Dolphins signed bruising back Jonas Gray to the practice squad and have now moved him up to their active roster in time for their week one matchup against the Redskins. I don’t expect Gray to see any action this week or to ever take away meaningful carries from starter Lamar Miller, but this could be a sign for those of us hanging onto Damien Williams as a handcuff play.

AJ Green, WR CIN

The Bengals signed franchise player AJ Green to a four-year extension worth $60 million. There was never a doubt the team would retain their top wide receiver, but he’s now under team control for the next five years, which should carry him through his prime. Even with the iffy Andy Dalton at quarterback, Green has been one of the top receivers of the past few years.

Eli Manning, QB NYG

Another player signing an extension in time for the regular season kickoff is Giants’ quarterback Eli Manning, who penned a four-year, $84 million pact with the G-Men. Like Green, there was never any doubt Manning would stay with the Giants, but it now seems clear this deal will keep him with the team throughout his career. Also like Green, this move really has no effect on Manning’s dynasty value. He remains a solid fantasy starter with limited upside over the next few years.

DeAngelo Williams, RB PIT

[inlinead]Several players got their 2015 season off to a nice start, but among the surprises was veteran running back DeAngelo Williams, who was filling in for suspended Le’Veon Bell. Williams rushed for over 120 yards and made for a nice flex play for those who were desperate enough to need him in their starting lineups. Williams’ play was good enough to earn him some consideration for week two lineups, but has no long-term impact on Bell or the Steelers’ gameplan. Williams is still barely worth a roster spot unless Bell misses more time due to injury or suspension.

Dion Lewis, RB NE

The other surprising player was another fill in running back Dion Lewis of the Patriots, who saw significant action with LeGarrette Blount suspended for week one. Lewis posted the best game of his career by a long shot, nearly betting his career total yardage from scrimmage in the Thursday night game. Lewis was heavily involved in the passing game, catching four balls for 51 yards as well. With Blount due back next week and the unpredictability of the Patriots’ running game from week-to-week, now is the time to sell Lewis in dynasty leagues.

Rob Gronkowski, TE NE

While it should not be a real surprise, Patriots’ tight end Rob Gronkowski posted an incredible statline, catching five Tom Brady passes for nearly 100 yards and a hat trick of touchdowns. This doesn’t change Gronk’s value as he has pretty much topped out already as the league’s top tight end and a first round startup value. Even a string a injuries over the past couple of years couldn’t push Gronkowski outside of the elite tier.

Robert Turbin, RB CLE

The Seahawks dumped backup running back Robert Turbin on roster cutdown weekend after trying to stash him on injured reserve. The Browns claimed Turbin, who is dealing with a high ankle sprain and could miss another few weeks of action, but could end up playing a prominent role for the team considering the uncertainty with both Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson. Turbin should be considered the least talented of the three backs, but should be rostered in deeper league, regardless.

Arian Foster, RB HOU

The groin injury to Texans’ running back Arian Foster shook the fantasy landscape as there were some early reports he could miss up to ten weeks. More recent news is sounding much better though as Foster is said to be ahead of schedule and could even play as early as Week Two or Three. When Foster was expected to miss extensive time, the team immediately went shopping for help at the position, telling us they likely don’t view Alfred Blue as an every down type back.

Todd Gurley, RB STL

Expectations and dynasty value are both very high for rookie running back Todd Gurley, but a recent report has slowed the hype just a bit. Gurley, whose Georgia career ended with a torn ACL suffered last fall, will miss at least the first couple of weeks of the regular season, with some rumors keeping him out until the team’s week six bye. This hurts for a few weeks, but Gurley is still expected to make a major impact in dynasty leagues.

Frank Gore, RB IND

Former 49ers’ running back Frank Gore saw a major boost to his value in all formats when he left San Francisco following the 2014 season and signed with the Colts. Many dynasty owners acquired the 32-year old back with plans of plugging him in as their starter for the full season. Those hopes may have been dashed as Colts’ head coach Chuck Pagano announced that the team plans to limit Gore’s touches this year in order to keep him fresh for the playoffs. It’s a smart plan for the Colts, but one that could limit Gore’s week-to-week value in fantasy leagues. He already has a poor matchup in week one, so we may not gain much information for a couple of weeks.

Victor Cruz, WR NYG

Giants’ wide receiver Victor Cruz has already been ruled out for week one and Giants’ beat writer Dan Graziano believes Cruz may miss the first month of the season. Coming off the devastating knee injury, the team won’t rush him back. It’s safe to assume plenty of targets for Odell Beckham even when Cruz does return.

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Ryan McDowell

Contributor at Dynasty League Football

In addition to his senior leadership role here at DLF, Ryan is also a husband, father of three and PE teacher. Ryan is the commissioner of multiple dynasty leagues, most notably the Kitchen Sink Dynasty Leagues. Here at DLF, Ryan’s focus is on identifying, monitoring and analyzing player value.