Maximizing your players’ draft position or auction price

Posted by Joseph Buccellato July 16, 2009

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Reach: Jonathan Stewart, RB, CAR

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The number one ranked running back in all of fantasy football in 2008 was DeAngelo Williams. In his third pro season, he galloped for 1518 yards, caught 22 passes for an additional 121 yards, and totaled 20 TDs without losing a fumble. Sensational season, and if you drafted him you most likely got him at a bargain price. Forward the clock seven months, and DeAngelo is getting little respect in the fantasy community. The reason: Jonathan Stewart. I have a hard time believing anything will be different for Carolina in 2009. In the words of James Brown, DeAngelo was “Funk on Ah Roll”, and there is no way the Panthers coaching staff should mess with it. While DeAngelo’s Dynasty/Keeper rank isn’t low enough to make him featured as a “value” player, Stewart’s current projection is certainly worthy of being classified as a “reach”. He currently sits in the mid-to-low-teens. If you take him this high, you’ll be passing on a boatload of quality running backs. I believe he’ll put up identical stats as last season – 180 carries, 800 yards, 10 TDs – and that’s a terrible job at maximizing your draft value.

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Value: Lance Moore, WR, NO

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Um, where the heck did his 2008 season come from? A general afterthought in many leagues, he exploded for 79 catches, 928 yards, and a fat 10 TDs in his third season. And don’t think he only produced when Marques Colston was out of the lineup. Moore averaged five catches for 65 yards per game, and produced eight TDs in weeks eight through 17 when both were active. Don’t worry about his role on the offense; he’ll get enough chances with Drew Brees slinging the ball. Moore’s current Dynasty/Keeper league wide receiver projection is hovering in the high-30’s. That makes him a WR#3 in fantasy leagues, and a starter on most weeks. Chances are he’s available in many Dynasty/Keeper leagues due to his undrafted 2008 status. Try and draft/buy him at this price because you are going to get WR#2 value out of him.

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