AFC East Fantasy Football Stock Market

AFC East Fantasy Football Stock Market
This series of articles focuses on how the new breed of talent from the NFL draft plans to affect overall fantasy football player value. Continuing with our stock market report, Gridiron Experts takes a look at the AFC East.
Previous Articles: NFC EAST

*AFC East: This division approached the NFL draft differently and was split between two teams trying to improve missing links  and two teams drafting best available talent on the board.

Buffalo Bills
C.J Spiller RB/WR | 5’10 195 lbs.
1st round 9th overall

Did selecting C.J Spiller 9th overall improve the Buffalo Bills chances this season? -probably not.

Does C.J Spiller have fantasy potential?  -Hell, Yes!

While a quarterback or offensive lineman would have made more sense for the Bills this year, the home-run threat that C.J Spiller add’s to the Bills offense is arguably a smart long-term move.

We here at Gridiron Experts seem to agree that this pick was stupid for the Bills, as they already have two solid running backs with Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson. But, if the Bills can unload one of these veteran RB’s before the start of the season, people may change their minds over grabbing Spiller so high. Of coarse, none of this would be even talked about if Buffalo had attempted to add more to the offense in the 2nd, 3rd or even 4th rounds of the draft, but after snubbing USC’s Charles Brown in favor of Ed Wang (no joke, that’s his name) in the 5th, critics are leaning towards the Bills being clueless with an overall direction.
Opportunity: Starting RB
Stock Value: High- Love’em or Hate’em, C.J Spiller’s fantasy value will keep you up at night, as he could turn out to be a boom or bust player. Remember when people were handing out low marks for the Titans 2008 draft, the year they selected Chris Johnson. Everyone said: “they just took a RB last year? and the year before that” but the team made it work and Johnson slipped in fantasy leagues to become one of the biggest fantasy football gem’s in the last decade. This player should be the “make or break” fantasy pick of the year.

New England Patriots

Rob Gronkowski TE  | 6’6, 270 lbs.
A typical Patriots Bill Belichick player;  hardworking, hard-nosed kid. Fantasy experts are going to have to watch Gronkowski closely, after missing all of last season at Rutgers. The height and strength is very alluring but Gronkowski hands are average at best. New England might make this kid a stay at home blocker rather than the streaking receiver.
Stock Value: Medium

Aaron Hernandez TE  | 6’2, 245lbs
We love Hernadez, and think he actuality has more fantasy value than Rob Gronkowski at this point. As a pass catcher who functioned as an H-back in the Florida offense, Hernandez was rarely asked to block. Instead this average sized TE, made circus catches and could become a goal-line target or sleeper option for Brady up the middle.
Stock Value: Sleeper

Taylor Price WR | 6″0, 205lbs
With injuries to Wes Welker and Brandon Tate, along with the overall questions surrounding the possibility of  J. Edelman being a fluke, Price’s value is one to watch. This Patriots third-round pick said his position coach at Ohio, Dwayne Dixon, got him ready to play at the NFL level, we’ll just have to wait and see.
Stock Value: Low-Medium

Miami Dolphins

Defensive Draft Makes Marshall Trade Important

Miami added OT John Jerry in the 3rd round and then told the offensive staff to go home for the weekend. The Dolphins felt that the acquisition of Brandon Marshall was enough attention to the offense, as they spent 7 out of their 8 picks on the other side of the ball.

Marshall is a huge piece to the Dolphins fantasy puzzle. And while his numbers should see a small dip, the other fantasy players on this team should strive. The running game will no longer be the only weapon and young quarterback Chad Henne now has a go-to target on passing downs. Overall the offseason doesn’t completely change how this team will call plays, the only difference now is how defenses will defend it.

New York Jets

Trio Of RB’s Isn’t Hard To Figure Out

The Jets added only one fantasy player through the draft and he doesn’t play wide receiver. New York snagged former USC Trojans RB Joe McKnight in the 4th round while getting rid of Leon Washington in the process.

We all know Shonn Greene will be the guy really soon in New York, but it will be a major wake up call when Tomlinson gets the news. Ladainian Tomlinson currently suffers from “aging superstar denial”, and should create a few headlines come August when he isn’t the man of the hour.

Although, this trio of RB’s doesn’t seem to be as much of a carousel as other teams, we do see Greene getting 70-80% of the carries,  leaving the scraps to LT. Goal line carries could be the difference on how high people select Shonn Greene

McKnight will most likely be groomed to take over after LT hangs it up or to handle the punt and kick return duties.

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One Comment

1. College Football Tickets says:

   06/09/2010 at Wednesday, June,9

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