DLF’s 2015 Predictions: Best Dynasty Buy
This is one of our favorite times of the year. After working hard to produce content all off-season, we can finally look forward to the 2015 Fantasy Football season in our beloved dynasty leagues – that means it’s time for our annual fantasy predictions. We gathered a ton opinions from the DLF Team and compiled eight different articles for the upcoming fantasy year. The categories were as follows:
Fantasy MVP
Fantasy Rookie of the Year
Most Overvalued Dynasty Player
Most Undervalued Dynasty Player
Fantasy Sleeper
Best Dynasty Buy
Best Dynasty Sell
Fantasy Comeback Player of the Year
We’re covering the best buys today as we continue to bring you another category every day until the season starts.
Let’s get to the best players to buy!
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Jacob Feldman
Kendall Wright, WR TEN
Wright is only 25 years old and for the first time has a real quarterback throwing to him. His talent is easily on par with Golden Tate and Emmanuel Sanders – we should finally see that show up this year. He could even surpass his 94 receptions and 1,079 yards from 2013. With his ADP in the eighth round, he’s a bargain.
Eric Olinger
Ryan Mathews, RB PHI
The Philly run game is going to be a wild ride this year. People are drafting DeMarco Murray based on last year’s incredible performance but his workload terrifies me. In fact, Chip Kelly has already openly discussed monitoring and or dialing back his carries this year based on his usage. Normally you don’t have to pay too much attention to coach speak, but Mathews was brought in for a reason and is arguably a better fit for the offense than Murray. The best part is he’s a fraction of the cost. At worst he’s a weekly flex play.
Chris Heil
Josh Robinson, RB IND
Robinson is a player I have been grabbing everywhere I can. Frank Gore’s wheels are going to fall off soon. Robinson is the type of player who can run the ball 20 times a game and really wear down a defense. He will be much higher on everyone’s rankings next year.
Jarrett Behar
Justin Hardy, WR ATL
While the focus is on Leonard Hankerson potentially getting playing time now, Hardy is the player I believe will ultimately take over for Roddy White. He’s got an Anquan Boldin-like ability to box a defender out that is severely underrated.
Benton McDonald
Dorial Green-Beckham, WR TEN
The talented rookie who would have been a top 10 pick if not for the off-field issues, is a force to be reckoned with on the football field. A price that hasn’t seen a major rookie bump to a fear of off-field issues has Beckham currently at WR33. The talent is there (as well as the opportunity and situation) and the off-field issues are not as worrying as some players.
Matt Price
John Brown, WR ARI
Brown will play the role previously occupied by T.Y. Hilton and Antonio Brown in previous incarnations of Bruce Arians’ offense. Brown isn’t at the same level as those players yet, but with a full season from Carson Palmer, his value is sure to increase significantly in 2015
Nathan Miller
Isaiah Crowell, RB CLE
This one was tough. I typically only buy cheap and there are a ton of cheap players I like in dynasty leagues. For Crowell, the addition of Duke Johnson and continued presence of Terrance West have slaughtered his stock. In my mind, Crowell already earned the trust of the coaching staff last season over West, and while Johnson can cut into Crowell’s production, I still like him as the bread and butter for this offense.
Dr. Scott Peak
Josh Gordon, WR CLE
I’ve been down on Gordon for a long time. He has demonstrated a maddening inability to make good decisions dating back to college. I don’t trust Gordon and I think his chances of reaching his vast potential are very low. So why is he a buy? There are a few constants in dynasty and one of them is that media and dynasty owners have short memories. Plus, dynasty players badly want Gordon to be the player we all dream about and any sign of a renaissance will drive his price tag back up into the stratosphere. Gordon’s August ADP is 176 (WR75), and he’s being drafted behind Stefon Diggs and Kenny Bell. Buy him now and sell him later when his value skyrockets in 2016.
Ryan Finley
Brandon Marshall, WR NYJ
This pick is entirely dependent on whether you have a team that can compete. Marshall is a player you can get for pennies on the dollar, but could still produce WR1 numbers this year. The shift to Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback could even help his value, rather than hurt it. Marshall isn’t done yet, and he may have something to prove to the league now after a not-so-gracious exit last season.
James Simpson
Jimmy Graham, TE SEA
In many people’s minds, there is only one player worth investing heavily in at the tight end position. However, looking at the numbers, I feel Graham is being given up on too early. For as long as he plays this game, he will be a top two tight end and his move to Seattle could arguably be a positive on his dynasty value as he could hog the team’s targets. He has fallen from a first round pick this time last year to a borderline third rounder now – a place I am more than comfortable buying him.
Brian Malone
Jordan Cameron, TE MIA
“Be fearful when others are greedy and greedy when others are fearful.” There are plenty of reasons to be afraid of Jordan Cameron – concussions, concussions and concussions, to name a few. But at a position where upside abounds and production is rare, Cameron has shown he can contribute and I think he’ll have plenty of opportunity to do so in Miami.
Eric Breeze
Calvin Johnson, WR DET
Megatron is still an elite receiver in the NFL and is capable of carrying your team to the championship. If you have a top contender and have not tried to acquire Calvin at a price outside of the top ten dynasty receivers, stop reading this and do so.
Rob Leath
Lamar Miller, RB MIA
There are few who seem confident Miller is a long-term starting running back in the league. Detractors will cite anything from lack of bulk to the selection of Jay Ajayi as reasons to knock him. Still, 24-year old running backs with talent and a top ten season behind them are rare and I don’t see anyone unseating Miller as a key offensive piece anytime soon.
Adam Tzikas
Dorial Green-Beckham, WR TEN
I’m getting a bit risky here, but the payoff could be huge. There is one thing you can’t teach even the most studious of receivers, that’s being 6’5”, 230 pounds. As a personal practice, I don’t let the off-season stuff bother me when evaluating a prospect. DGB just has it all and has looked like he has major chemistry with Mariota. This is a player who you will be kicking yourself for not drafting next year. His ceiling is Julio Jones (shocked I like him yet?) and his floor is bagging groceries at Walmart. If you are into that risk, it’s time to buy.
Jeff Beran
Michael Crabtree, WR OAK
Still shy of his 28th birthday, Crabtree checks in with an August ADP of WR60 and likely won’t cost you more than a late second or early third round pick – that’s a low risk price point for a potential WR2/WR3 and the type of transaction which usually separates a championship contending dynasty team from the teams who fizzle out in the playoffs because of a lack of depth.
Izzy Elkeffas
Josh Gordon, WR CLE
Well, it’s quite simple, let’s say there’s a 25% chance Gordon plays in the NFL again. Now, let’s look at his current valuation. He could be acquired for as little as a fourth round pick, but let’s say most can get him for a third. That’s an insta-buy (especially if you’re rebuilding). As Nick Whalen wrote, if Gordon returns, he’s a proven elite WR1. I’ll take my chances. Third round picks pan out less than 25% of the time, and if they do, they don’t provide the same upside as Gordon.
Kyle Pollock
Tom Brady, QB NE
Buying a 38-year old quarterback who’s suspended for four games sounds like pure craziness. However, Brady has consistently put up QB1 numbers and should come pretty cheap for a contending team. He’s currently being drafted at QB19 and the 163rd player overall in dynasty startups. My hunch is Brady comes out very angry and plays like a top five quarterback the rest of the way. For a contending team, it’s worth the price of a late second round pick to get a quarterback this productive for at least one to two more seasons.
Jeff Miller
Brian Quick, WR STL (expecting someone else?)
While I doubt he will achieve the 285 fantasy point pace we saw in the first month of 2014, I do feel strongly Quick has every opportunity to be a nice WR2 as early as now. I have him ranked as the WR39, which I expect to end up being conservative a couple months down the road. The only things holding him back from my top-30 are the injury and lack of a track record. As the WR51 in our August ADP, he is a fantastic value who will certainly outperform his cost.
Jeff Levy
Jeremy Maclin, WR KC
I’ve been as guilty as any at being down on him due to his move to Kansas City. That said, his August ADP of 57.5 is an over reaction. We’re not the only ones who noticed the Chiefs failing to throw a touchdown to a wide receiver last year – you can be certain their coaching staff wants to remedy that. He’ll be a solid but un-sexy WR2 who will make a lot of his owners happy this year.
Mike Valverde
DeAndre Hopkins, WR HOU
The fact he plays on a team with bad quarterbacks pushes his ADP low, but he still can put up some solid numbers. It won’t take long for the Texans to get a legitimate quarterback and when that happens, Hopkins is only going to get better.
Mo Brewington
Davante Adams, WR GB / Phillip Dorsett, WR IND (TIE)
Maybe it’s a cop out choosing two players instead of one, but so what. Go get both of them if and while you still can. As unfortunate as Jordy Nelson’s injury is for Nelson and the Pack, Adams just hit the Powerball. He will now get the chance to establish himself as a dependable weapon in Green Bay’s offense and could potentially be the big play receiver for the third act of Aaron Rodgers’ Career. Davante, if you’re out there reading this, I implore you to take a cue from Randall Cobb when your rookie contract expires. Do not play hardball with the Packers. Negotiate yourself a fair contract and stay in Green and Gold. You will reap all the benefits of playing with the best quarterback of the era and carve out a place for yourself in NFL history.
Much of the same applies for Dorsett. While he may need to wait for Andre Johnson to move on, he should have a John Brown-like season in 2015 and the wait for Johnson’s departure likely won’t be long. If anything, Dorsett probably deserves a slight edge over Adams, as the recent run on Davante’s stock has widened the gap between these players’ prices dramatically. Owner will also need to endure a certain amount of uncertainty with Adams in 2016 as we wait to find out what type of player Nelson is upon his return, and how Adams fits in the system with him back in the mix. Of all the exciting young receivers in the game, these two play with the guys who will battle for the title of ‘Best Quarterback on Earth’ for the next decade. They may battle for a few titles as well. This makes them the best bets to have success year in and year out, thus excellent Dynasty buys who will pay dividends for years to come.
Honorable Mention: Brock Osweiler, QB DEN
Young Brock is about to get his hands on the keys to Papa Elway’s Ferrari 250. The only question is whether he drives it like Cameron Frye or Ferris Bueller?
Tyler Huggins
Paul Dawson, LB CIN
I have had my flag firmly planted in camp Dawson throughout this entire off-season. He isn’t going to win any foot races or bench 500 pounds, but this is a player who can flat go get the ball carrier. He is lost in the rookie wash right now and can be acquired for very little. I literally have no idea how to predict his short term usage, but this is a player you want to get on your roster(s) right now.]
Eric Burtzlaff
Tyrod Taylor, QB BUF
Whoa whoa whoa… did I just say Tyrod Taylor? The fantasy world is screaming that Tyrod is a bum and can’t make the throws. They want you to believe he’s Tim Tebow or Terrelle Pryor. He’s not. I actually think he can be a stud and will shock all for years to come at the helm of the Bills. With this breaking news, I also decree Sammy Watkins is a massive buy.
Justin Huestis
Russell Wilson, QB SEA
With a new contract extension for Marshawn Lynch and new shiny toy Jimmy Graham, Wilson is only going to keep getting better. Imagine last years numbers with more receiving touchdowns. Wilson is one of the top dogs in the new era of franchise quarterbacks.
Bruce Matson
David Johnson, RB ARI
Johnson has been falling in rookie drafts to the middle of the second round. I can’t wrap my head around that. He’s highly athletic and all he has to do is unseat Andre Ellington for the starting job. You need to buy him now before his value goes through the roof.
Doug Green
Martellus Bennett, TE Chicago
No Brandon Marshall. No Kevin White. Alshon Jeffery is banged up. Bennett is going to be a key piece of the Bears passing game going forward.
Carla Gruse
Charles Johnson, WR MIN
He is currently the WR35 in dynasty drafts and has been Teddy Bridgewater’s favorite wideout even with the addition of Mike Wallace. He has no problem running accurate routes and fighting for every catch. Simply put, Johnson is a nice young receiver to help your fantasy rosters.
Eric Hardter
Sammie Coates, WR PIT
I’ve always been lower on Martavis Bryant and his recent indiscretions do nothing to quell that fact. Simply put, if you don’t trust Josh Gordon or Justin Blackmon, why would you trust a guy who, in one short year, has already been busted in the league’s significantly friendlier substance-abuse policy. It’s my belief players like that aren’t just going to wake up and “get it,” making 2015’s third rounder Coates that much more interesting. Yes, he had drop issues in college, but he also showed an ability to make highlight reel plays and dominate upper echelon competition (just watch his game against Alabama). He’ll have a shot early this season and I think he has a chance to produce – he might not pay off immediately, but I think the future still looks good.
If you’re still counting, that gives us the following votes:
Josh Gordon (2 votes)
Dorial Green-Beckham (2 votes)
Kendall Wright (1 vote)
Ryan Mathews (1 vote)
Josh Robinson (1 vote)
Justin Hardy (1 vote)
John Brown (1 vote)
Isaiah Crowell (1 vote)
Jimmy Graham (1 vote)
Jordan Cameron (1 vote)
Calvin Johnson (1 vote)
Lamar Miller (1 vote)
Michael Crabtree (1 vote)
Tom Brady (1 vote)
Jeremy Maclin (1 vote)
DeAndre Hopkins (1 vote)
Brandon Marshall (1 vote)
Davante Adams (1 vote)
Phillip Dorsett (1 vote)
Tyrod Taylor (1 vote)
Russell Wilson (1 vote)
David Johnson (1 vote)
Martellus Bennett (1 vote)
Charles Johnson (1 vote)
Sammie Coates (1 vote)
…and a shout out to Paul Dawson from Tyler, who went outside the box to take the IDP angle for us this year.
So, who do you predict will be this year’s fantasy football best buy? Let us know in the comments below.
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Ken is on Twitter at DLF_KenK
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