If you ask any Fantasy owner what their goal for the upcoming season is, 95% will tell you they want to win their league and take home the glory. The other 5% would be lying to you to try and gain an edge. Yet, every Fantasy owner will tell you that victory is that much sweeter when the guy you spent hours researching and combing the waiver wire for, comes up big for your squad. The same could be said for making an offseason trade. You need to sometimes take chances, especially pre-NFL Draft, but if you gamble correctly, the payoffs are tenfold. Finding these diamonds in the rough is ever so important in Dynasty formats to try to separate yourself from the competition. So my comrade and I took it upon ourselves to alleviate some of the leg work for you and identify players we like for this coming season and beyond.
Arizona Cardinals
The fifth-round pick out of Alabama-Birmingham has a lot of question marks surrounding his potential moving forward. Is this the year Fitzgerald finally hangs up his cleats? Will John Brown be able to overcome his condition and get back on the field 100%? When Palmer comes back, will he be any good? Some Dynasty owners, there is too many factors to get a proper read on the situation. However, the one thing that is not in question about Nelson, is his talent. The guy is dynamic! Not only can he turn on the jets for the deep ball, but he seems to be pretty handy when getting the pigskin out of the backfield as well. As evident with his 56-yard score on a reverse against the Dolphins week 14. I strongly believe Nelson’s performance the last four games of the 2016 season gave us a taste of what was to come in 2017. Scoring five touchdowns from week 13-16 is no fluke. Stash him where ever you can.
YOU. CANNOT. STOP. J.J. NELSON.
Too Fast. 😳 #BeRedSeeRed https://t.co/7ePDYtaqY9
— NFL (@NFL) December 11, 2016
Carolina Panthers
Funchess is going to be 23 years old going into his third season in the NFL. This 6’5” tall wide receiver was drafted in the second round and has flashed on one of the league’s most underperforming passing games. Going into 2017, Funchess is putting off a strong Davante Adams vibe, and dynasty owners should take note. A year three, physically gifted wide receiver, and he has a talented franchise quarterback throwing him the ball.
Minnesota Vikings
McKinnon is an intriguing Dynasty prospect for a few reasons. On the field, he has shown flashes of potential. Culminating a total of 794 yards and four scores behind Pro Football Focus’s 14th ranked Offensive line while competing for touches with vulture extraordinaire, Matt Asiata. His competition for touches may have been lessened in 2017 with the uncertainty of Adrian Peterson’s contract and Asiata becoming an Unrestricted Free Agent. For this season McKinnon is the only running back certain to return to the Vikings roster. The second reason I’m high on him is in 2018 McKinnon also becomes an UFA. So the plethora of potential landing spots after this season excites me. Plus we all know players tend to step their game up on contract seasons. Tim and I are hanging onto him in personal leagues, with high hopes for the future!
Houston Texans
To say Miller had a bad season would be an understatement. The bad news is Miller managed his lowest yards per rushing attempt and his lowest reception total since 2013. The good news has Miller managed the most touches of his career and is still only 26 years old going into the 2017 NFL season. With Nick Martin returning to this already talented offensive line and a hopeful quarterback upgrade in the works, Miller will be an undervalued piece to acquire in most dynasty leagues.
Chicago Bears
The silky smooth wideout from Illinois State is heading into his third season in 2017 and he is my favorite Wide Receiver stash this offseason. Despite questionable at best QB play in 2016 Meredith managed to rack up 66 catches for 888 yards and four scores in 14 games. Another factor playing in Meredith’s favor was the disappointing season for both Alshon Jeffery and Kevin White. I would be very surprised if Chicago chose to resign Alshon this offseason. And White has yet to stay healthy long enough to get much experience under his belt. Making Meredith a prime candidate to take over the #1 Wide Receiver spot for the Bears in 2017. A role that he is no stranger to, racking up 1061 yards and 9 touchdowns in 2014 as a fourth year Redbird. We can’t wait to see what lies ahead for Mr. Meredith.
Chicago Bears
This is the year. This IS the year. These are the words we keep saying when speaking about Bears receiver Kevin White. He was a top 10 pick in the NFL draft, highly productive in college, and the athletic ability to hang with ANY of the top wide receivers in the NFL. Think of 2016 as White’s true rookie season and 2017 as the year for him to really get his opportunity with the Chicago Bears as the WR1 option.
Ok, @mrkevinwhite!
This one-handed, over the CB catch is 👌 #CHIvsDAL https://t.co/ExwTbviCuI
— NFL (@NFL) September 26, 2016
NFL.com wouldn’t allow us to embed a Highlight video of Kevin White, but we highly suggest you check this out.
Jacksonville Jaguars
It’s easy to say that the young star from USC has had a rocky start to his pro career, but we’re choosing to let those first couple seasons slide and focus on the 2016 season. We believe last year is a more accurate depiction of Lee’s potential. As the third wideout in a disappointing Jacksonville offense, Lee emerged as the only consistent receiving options Bortles had last year. He recorded 4+ receptions in 11 of 16 games. Easily outperforming Allen Hurns. A fact that I’m guessing won’t be overlooked by new Head Coach Doug Marrone. Speaking of Marrone, We’re expecting him to work with Bortles to improve his decision making and efficiency this offseason. Which should have a trickle down effect and improve the output of Lee & Co for 2017 and beyond.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Buy low and sell high. Dynasty fantasy football is like playing the stock market, and we would consider Yeldon a low-risk investment. He is a young workhorse running back who has improved in the receiving game, was lacking touches in the red zone, and is on a team with MUCH bigger fish to fry than drafting another running back early. If Yeldon can finally stay healthy and play a full 16 game schedule, he may have an RB1 season.
Tanner is a Colorado Native and 3rd generation Denver Broncos season ticket holder. He grew up on a Cattle Ranch in North East Colorado. He began playing Fantasy Football in ’08 while attending College at the University of Northern Colorado, and has been a Dynasty player since 2012. Tanner resides in the Colorado Springs area where he is an avid fisherman/hiker and enjoys pretty much anything outdoors (like most Coloradans). He has been married to his wonderful wife, Nicole since June 2014. And they are expecting a beautiful baby girl January 2017. Tanner has recently taken up Home Brewing, and if he doesn’t blow anything up, aspires to own his own Brewery someday.
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