Fun exercise for discussing fantasy players... I'll list a couple matchups and you tell me who you would draft first and why. Assume standard format scoring. Randy Moss or Reggie Wayne? Aaron Rodgers or Drew Brees? After you answer, list a couple matchups of your own.
I would take Andre Johnson first among WR's this season, but to answer your exact question I would always take Wayne over Moss. Moss is on the decline and "the patriot way" is starting to fade away, he could become a malcontent this season especially if Welker is fully healthy from the get go. QB wise, I would love to snag Rodgers in the 3rd. I have a feeling brees will generally be taken higher, even though Rodgers is the better fantasy player.
non-PPR and non-keeper, i'm assuming. Moss and Wayne is tough, as Moss always has a better chance of putting up 150 and 3 TDs on any given Sunday, but Wayne may be the safer pick. I'd go with Moss. Even in "bad" years he gets double-digit TDs. I'd also give the edge to Rodgers, as he has a better chance of getting a few rushing yards and rushing TDs. In a keeper league, Rodgers would be #1 QB. How about this one: Knowshon Moreno or Ryan Mathews (non-ppr/non-keeper)?
I would say Moreno. I think Matthews is the better player, but without Marshall (or any solid receiver for that matter) in Denver, they will move to a running style of football which will give moreno a chance to shine in year 2. Matthews is going to be a rookie trying to replace the shadow of LT and on top of it is in a very pass first offense. Moreno should get more touches, and with a year under his belt, should be more reliable imo.
I agree with both Moss and Rodgers. I'm currently looking at taking either of the 2 with my 1st round pick (11th overall), but I'm leaning towards Moss... too much value in the middle rounds for QBs where the drop off isn't that substantial. Moss is in a contract year and should see lots of targets with Welker somewhat questionable. As for Moreno vs. Mathews, I gotta go Mathews. He's the more talented back, and San Diego will be playing more games with a lead. Mathews should get tons of carries this year, and he'll get all the goal-line work as well. Mathews just has the better upside. Here's the match-up I've been struggling with for my 3rd round pick, Moreno vs. Beanie Wells Jonathan Stewart vs. Lesean McCoy P.S. I'm not sure you're quite getting it nyjetsrule... you answer the previous question then post a new match-up question for the next guy.
Beanie > Moreno. I think Knowshon is going to be better this year, but Beanie is in a position to really excel. Fitz and Breaston have enough juice to keep the D honest, even with Leinart, and should be dominant on the goal line. Knowshon has to deal with life w/o Brandon Marshall, not going to be easy. McCoy > Stewart. McCoy could do really well in that offense, and I just can't get behind Stewart with a guy like DeAngelo on the roster. McCoy has that J Charles breakaway potential, could put up the 40+ yard TDs that can change a game. My questions: The rookies (Ben Tate, Montario Hardesty) vs. the late season risers (Arian Foster, Jerome Harrison)
Tate > Harrison > Hardesty >>> Foster I think Tate definitely has some pretty good upside. The fact that the Texans traded up for him and took him in the 2nd shows me what they think of him, and what they thought of Foster and Slaton. Harrison vs. Hardesty is a little bit of a toss up in my mind. I give the nod to Harrison just because he's already proved he can produce when given the opportunities. Hardesty could end up getting most of the carries by the end of the season. I think the main reason Foster really got any time last year was because Slaton just couldn't hold onto the ball. As long as their isnt fumbling issues I don't expect him to see the field all that much. Lets look at some WRs Fitzgerald vs. Calvin Johnson Garcon vs. Nicks
Well Fitz vs CJ is kinda hard now because of the QB situation on both teams. I think I would still take Fitz. Maybe the absence of Boldin helps him in that aspect but who knows Nicks is a big play guy with 5 of his 47 catches going for 40+ yards. I think still I'd trust Peyton over Eli though, even if Garcon is not Peytons 1st or 2nd main target. How bout MJD vs Ray Rice?
About a month ago I had Rice as the #2 player in fantasy, now I have MJD as the #2. I think you really can't go wrong with a top 4 pick this year... CJ, AP, MJD, Rice are all pretty elite players. I'm starting to consider moving Gore into the #4 spot and Rice down to #5, but it probably won't happen. Gotta do with the young legs. MJD is really almost the entire Jacksonville offense, and there's no one there to steal his touchdowns away like there is in Baltimore. How about Hines Ward vs. Sims-Walker? Both good WRs but lots of uncertainty surrounding them.
Sims Walker. I don't love him, but the questions around Ward are pretty big, he can't keep up a 1,000 yard pace forever and Big Ben missing time will hurt him the most. Sims Walker is at least on the upswing and could put up really nice numbers, even with Garrard at QB. Big debate here for my team with pick 10 (in Rd 2), Shonn Greene vs. Rashard Mendenhall.
I'd say while Greene may have the higher upside, Mendenhall is the safer pick. He's probably going to get a higher percentage of the carries for Pittsburgh, plus he's really the only goal line back. Greene has a little more injury risk as well as a backup who may steal some TDs. All that being said, I'd be pretty surprised if you were able to get either of them with the 10th pick in the 2nd round. Cedric Benson vs. Ryan Grant anyone?
I dig this.... Benson has a higher ceiling but Grant is more of a for sure guy. Benson is the priority of the Bengals offense so I'd go with him. I wouldn't touch either of these guys in the first 4 rounds though. VJackson VS. Welker
I've got Calvin. I'm bias because he's my favorite WR. Nicks has more potential and should get more balls thrown his way with Gonzo comin back for the Colts. I had MJD above Rice and I just recently changed mine. I had both guys last year so I hate to see either of them not on my team this year but I feel more protective over Rice. I had him when he broke out and I want to keep him. He's more consistant than MJD too. As for your question, Walker has more potential but I personally feel with Holmes leaving that Ward will have one of his best seasons. I'd take Mendenhall first because I just worry about Greene's health too much and I don't wanna be too bias.
Welker, at this point Jackson is almost undraftable, if he really is going to sit out the first 10 weeks, he is going to be taking a bench spot until just before the playoffs.... Welker may be injured, but chances are very good he will at least be going full time by week 6 (if placed on PUP) if not earlier... How about a defensive debate? Baltimore vs. Pittsburgh
I have liked Baltimore's D more but I think I've undervalued Pitts. Plus Baltimore is having injuries.. Chaz Schillins vs. Steve Breaston vs. Torry Holt
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNs5nlqylqY[/YOUTUBE] Fitz now having an average QB like Megatron does = Calvin is my #3 WR on my board, not to mention my favorite WR.
I feel like Pittsburgh has better takeaway opportunities if Polamalu is healthy. Him and Reed are both slight question marks, and while I might take Baltimore to give up less yards this year, I'd probably take Pitt to score more fantasy points. Not quite ready to touch this one yet... give me a few weeks. Most definitely Breaston. He's a pretty talented receiver, and defenses shouldn't give him too much trouble while they focus all their attention on Fitzgerald. Schillins may be able to break out this year with a decent QB throwing him the ball so I'd put him 2nd. If you're starting Holt on your fantasy team you are in some trouble.
Steve Breaston, you have to assume, even with Leinart throwing him the ball his numbers can only improve from his 3rd receiver numbers behind Fitz and Boldin. Last year he had 55 rec 712 yards and 3 tds. Chaz may be the best in oakland, but he doesnt really have any past numbers to say he is ready to bust out. In his career, he has 44 recs, 591 yards and 4 tds, which is less than breaston had last year as the #3 in Zona. add in that their offense is so inconsistent over the past few years, I can't see drafting him as anything more than a bench guy with some potential to be a starter later in the season. Torry Holt is the #3 in NE, meaning he should receive less targets than either of the previous two, and its already presumed he is all but washed up and done, could work out exactly like Joey Galloway did last season, horribly. Rookie playmaker debate begins, Mardy Gilyard vs. Dexter Mccluster
I have Megatron anywhere between #4 and #8 right now, definitely don't see him passing AJ, Moss, or Wayne on my board though. Being a Jets fan I assume you have him ahead of Moss, with AJ and Wayne 1 and 2... why so? Haven't had a TE debate yet. How about Gates vs. Dallas Clark?
Gilyard vs McCluster? My response: who gives a crap, I'm not drafting either one. Ward vs MSW? Give me Ward in PPR, MSW in non-PPR. It also depends on what other players you have. You're probably picking one of them in round 5, so if you have some riskier guys behind him, I'd lean Ward because he has a high ceiling. MSW is a nice player though since he offers both upside and some stability as a #1 WR threat. Jamaal Charles or Ryan Mathews? DeSean Jackson, Greg Jennings, or Sidney Rice?
