Eric Sorenson
Whether you’re a first timer or an experienced fantasy football veteran, NFL.com has the league for you. Set up your FREE and customizable league on NFL.com today!
Every week during the season NFL Network and NFL.com Senior Fantasy Analyst Michael Fabiano joins Sports360AZ.com’s Brad Cesmat to share his insight on building and developing your fantasy team for success.
Here are some hi-lights from our most recent conversation (March 15th) with the Fantasy Sports Writer’s Association Hall of Famer.
How does DeMarco Murray fit in Tennessee? “This was a very good fantasy trade. DeMarco goes from Philadelphia were he was a disaster to Tennessee where they’re going to be improving their offensive line and could be taking one with the first overall pick. (Murray’s) the guy. Fantasy owners like what? Featured backs. So, he’s not going to be the number one fantasy running back like he was in Dallas in 2014 but can he be nice RB2? No question about that.
As it stands today, who will be impacted the most in Denver with so much uncertainty at quarterback? “The biggest [impact] which is going to be felt is the value of Demaryius Thomas and the value of Emmanuel Sanders. Do the Broncos go out and get Colin Kaepernick? Maybe from a fantasy perspective that’s the best-case scenario but Colin Kaepernick certainly hasn’t been a quarterback who has been reliable for fantasy fans in the last couple years. In fact, he was waiver wire fodder last season. It’s odd that the Denver Broncos just won the Super Bowl and as we stand right now the Houston Texans have a better offense.”
How does Matt Forte fit in with the Jets? “I like the move. The Jets will utilize him as the featured back and he has said so much…I know he’s 30 and you see the trend of 30-year-old running backs who change teams who don’t really succeed in terms of rushing yards. In fact, the last running back to change a team at the age of 30 or older was Hershel Walker. He was the last guy to rush for 1,000 yards in that scenario. Matt Forte doesn’t really need to have 1,000 yards rushing to succeed because he’s a really good pass-catcher, as well. So, even though they signed Bilal Powell and signed Khiry Robinson, I don’t see those two guys putting a huge dent in Forte’s touches. The Jets are clearly going for a win-now attitude…I still see him as a low RB1, high RB2 with additional value in PPR leagues but we need to see what the Jets do at that quarterback position.”
How about Murray’s replacement with the Eagles Ryan Mathews? “He looks like he’ll be the featured back in Philadelphia which adds depth to the position…you’re looking at a situation now where Ryan Mathews and DeMarco Murray are both on the RB2 radar. Murray having a little more value. Now, who knows if the Eagles keep Mathews, try to trade him. Maybe they draft Ezekiel Elliott in the first round and that throws a monkey wrench in everything. You have to understand that was a good trade for both Murray and Mathews.”
Who do you see as one young player who could really break through from a fantasy perspective? “Everyone is in love with David Johnson, in love with him from a fantasy standpoint. I’ve heard Bruce Arians say that he could be great in this league and I hope he is because the running back position lacks depth and really needs a guy like David Johnson to come out and become a star that I think a lot of people feel he will become.”
