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This article continues our team outlook series where we will breakdown each NFL team from a fantasy football perspective. We will cover the major changes on each roster from this off season and project what the team will do in the upcoming year.
Today we look at a time that has some underrated fantasy value in the Detroit Lions.
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Offseason Moves
Offseason Acquisitions: WR Marvin Jones
Offseason Departures: WR Calvin Johnson
Player to Reach For: WR Marvin Jones
Quarterback
A few years ago, Matthew Stafford was one of the poster boys for the "draft a quarterback early" movement. Unfortunately for him, that philosophy died out rather quickly once it became apparent that QB only continued to grow deeper and deeper. Fast forward to 2016, and Stafford is almost completely forgotten about when it comes to fantasy consideration. By no fault of his own, Stafford is basically being drafted as a backup at his current ADP of an 11th rounder. It's not even like it's a knock on the player himself so much as it is that so many other passers have exceeded him for one reason or another. Whether it's the upside of guys like Tyrod Taylor and Derek Carr or the reliability of veterans like Carson Palmer and Philip Rivers, Stafford is basically the odd man out at this point in his career.
None of that is to say that Stafford doesn't have any fantasy value at all. In fact, I think he's one of the perfect options to pair with Tom Brady while sitting out for the first four games due to suspension. As pedestrian as the outlook is on Stafford, he actually finished just six points behind Aaron Rodgers last season. Granted, a large part of the reasoning behind that was due to the absence of Jordy Nelson but that still shakes out to being ninth at the position for Stafford. In short, he's not bad, he's just not the bonafide stud we once thought he could be. He's a solid option to consider in deeper leagues and is most definitely worth a look for those of you in need of Brady insurance.
Running Backs
The tandem of Ameer Abdullah and Theo Riddick could prove to be one of the sneakier options for fantasy this season if all goes according to plan. Abdullah, the more traditional runner of the two, has considerable upside for standard scoring leagues. He falls directly into the category of a "post hype sleeper" such that he was going way too early last year, making it damn near impossible for him to live up to expectations. Now, he can be had at a much more affordable seventh round price. He shouldn't be drafted as a starter by any means, but that's not to say he can't fight his way into your lineup should he improve in year two.
Riddick, on the other hand, is more of a PPR play than anything else. He finished the year as the 23rd best running back in that format, totaling 80 receptions on the year. It's a respectable total for a player that wasn't anywhere close to being on the fantasy radar ahead of 2015. Heading into this season, I think his upside is becoming artificially inflated a bit. That said, it's hard to argue with his ninth round ADP at the moment. He won't come close to Danny Woodhead territory as far as pass-catching backs are concerned but he can still be serviceable under the right circumstances.
Wide Receivers
The early retirement of Calvin Johnson leaves the door wide open for Golden Tate and newly signed Marvin Jones to have big years. Tate showed flashes of dominance whenever Megatron was less than 100% so there's reason to believe that he can expand upon that in 2016. When Calvin was banged up throughout 2014, missing three games in the process, Golden Tate ended up finishing the year with 1,331 yards and four touchdowns. While his yardage total went down with a fully healthy Calvin in 2015, the touchdown numbers increased to six.
That 2014 mark is what you should be looking for out of Golden Tate this year. Even if his touchdown total ends up being low, he's poised for an uptick in targets that should make him a valuable fantasy asset. I think he has the potential to be this year's Brandon Marshall such that he's kind of an afterthought in his new role yet at season's end, everyone will be saying "well it actually makes that he had a great year." I admit his fourth round ADP is a little high at the moment but I think that might start to normalize soon because...
Because Marvin Jones is looking like a steal right now, going in the middle of the eighth round, Jones has the potential to be one of the year's best value picks. Having never really been a true number one receiver, Jones was always just another name in Cincinnati but Detroit gives him the opportunity to play in an offense that can sustain two fantasy relevant receivers. Andy Dalton might be the more polished NFL quarterback but Stafford is definitely the more fantasy friendly type. I like Jones more than the likes of Tyler Lockett and DeVante Parker this year, wideouts who are going a full round ahead of him.
Tight End
Eric Ebron recently suffered an achilles injury in practice so it might be a while before we have any clarity on his status. For me, I'd rather just avoid this situation entirely. There's far too many more reliable options at TE out there to invest in someone who's both overhyped and now dealing with injury concerns.
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