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About Nick Mariano - RotoBaller
Senior MLB/NFL Fantasy Analyst & Editor here at RotoBaller, I've been lucky enough to work here since 2015. Spent two seasons writing for MLB.com as well.
FantasyPros ranked me as 2018's most accurate fantasy baseball draft dude, and I'm a three-time top-12 ranker in their fantasy football weekly accuracy competition as well. I rank the things good, or something.
NY born and raised, but now you can find me in Boston with my awesome Star Baker of a wife. Addicted to apples, peanut butter, learning about cognitive biases, and baseball cards. Lots of baseball cards...
Feel free to reach out on Twitter or ride with me on Peloton: @NMariano53
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Nick Mariano - RotoBaller has written 1887 articles so far, you can find them below.
2015 Fantasy Football Week 5: Risers and Fallers From Week 4
Week 5 is upon us, and things are getting REAL. Teams are starting to separate from the pack, both upwards and downwards. We've got four weeks to react to now, and while the phrase "any given Sunday" is definitely proving itself accurate, some trends are definitely taking shape. While Week 3 was an insane points... Read More
Owen Daniels (DEN, TE) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team PPR Leagues / Matchup Stream (FAAB Bid: $3 - 5) OWNED IN: 47% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: Owen Daniels has now put together back to back games with a touchdown, and while the volume doesn't make you feel comfortable, he does get to face the Oakland Raiders in Week 5. No... Read More
Nick Foles (QB, STL) - Waiver Wire Analysis
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues (FAAB Bid: $3 - 5) OWNED IN: 33% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: Nick Foles turned a lot of people off in a stinker against the bum Steelers' secondary in Week 3, only to turn around a lead the Rams to a victory over the previously undefeated Cardinals. The Cardinals have a... Read More
Jay Cutler (QB, CHI) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 10+ Team Leagues (FAAB Bid: $6 - 8) OWNED IN: 35% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: Yeah I know, he went against the Oakland Raiders in his return from a hamstring injury, and those stats that he accrued with Martellus Bennett won't always be there thanks to Oakland's refusal to guard tight ends appropriately. Week... Read More
FAAB Auction Bidding – Week 5 NFL Waiver Wire Targets
We now find ourselves passing the quarter-mile marker in this fantasy football race (unless you play in a 17 week league and want to get technical on me), and the standings are really starting to take shape. Week 4 does not appear to be bringing gifts for those in need, though that's not to say... Read More
Saints Put Cowboys Away in Overtime
People were still rattling off comical tweets and hilarious gifs of kickers failing after Saints' kicker Zach Hocker hit the left upright on a 30 yard field goal attempt in the waning moments of the fourth quarter game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football. The referee may also have still been explaining the... Read More
Todd Gurley Flexes Muscle As Rams Upset Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals were coming into Week 4 off of a brutalizing of the San Francisco 49ers in Week 3, while the St. Louis Rams had pretty much offensively rolled over to a Pittsburgh Steelers team that lost Ben Roethlisberger. After everything was said and done in Arizona, the Rams were celebrating a 24-22 upset... Read More
DeMarco Murray: Not So Sunny in Philadelphia
DeMarco Murray was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles in the offseason to a five year, $40 million contract. While Murray's bank account isn't ailing, it appears his ego is. That's not to be rude the guy is a stud and he feels underutilized, ego's aren't always a bad thing. After a Week 4 loss to... Read More
Lance Dunbar Goes Down Hard - Grabbing Left Knee
In a Sunday Night Football game that had plenty of buzz surrounding Dallas Cowboys' running backs due to the news that Christine Michael would finally be active, it was Lance Dunbar who captured the headlines to open the second half. He was returning the opening kickoff and started to change direction as he shook off... Read More
Eric Ebron (TE, DET) - Week 4 Lineup Booms?
I know that they were without Kam Chancellor for the first bit of the season, so the horrid third worst DVOA rating against tight ends is skewed, but it's still noteworthy if you're looking for a contrarian type play below the Jordan Reed level. The Lions have yet to start firing on all cylinders as... Read More
Charles Clay (TE, BUF) - Week 4 Lineup Booms?
The New York football Giants have quite a few things they struggle with, but their linebackers in coverage are at the top of the list. Jon Beason coming back helps, but he is mostly in there for run defense. Young middle linebacker Uani' Unga is the guy who gave Jason Witten a five yard cushion... Read More
Rueben Randle (WR, NYG) - Week 4 Lineup Booms
Speaking of that DVOA stat, the Bills are 20th against #2 receivers versus being ranked 3rd best against #1 receivers. Now obviously I'm not saying Odell Beckham Jr. is a bad play, that guy is matchup-proof, but with Victor Cruz ailing again and the Giants being thin at wide receiver, Randle has to step up.... Read More
Allen Hurns (WR, JAX) - Week 4 Lineup Booms
What is this? I've recommended multiple Raiders and all of these Jaguars?! What a time to be alive. Okay, so Allen Robinson should draw Vontae Davis, which leaves Hurns against a Colts secondary that ranks 22nd against #2 receivers according to Football Outsiders DVOA (Defense-adjusted Value Over Average). I've mentioned Bortles (and Yeldon), and if you're... Read More
T.J. Yeldon (RB, JAX) - Week 4 Lineup Booms?
T.J. Yeldon is getting an incredible market share of Jacksonville's backfield work, and has a good chance at returning 4x value. Not to mention if Andrew Luck doesn't go for the Colts, I think Yeldon could provide amazing return in a game where the Jaguars won't have to abandon the run. I think I would... Read More
Derek Carr (QB, OAK) - Week 4 Lineup Booms
Derek Carr may very well be more owned than this column should see, but I'm banking on people chasing the marquee names, especially after Aaron Rodgers' crazy Monday night and the tier of Cam Newton, Matt Ryan, Carson Palmer, and even Andy Dalton, drawing a lot of attention. There was a lot of hullabaloo regarding... Read More
Sam Bradford (QB, PHI) - Week 4 Lineup Booms
When will I ever learn? Well, when the heck will the Eagles learn how to be a cohesive unit? Oh, they play Washington this weekend? Okay. Weather concerns are real, and that's giving me some trepidation about the game in general, not for fear that the game is cancelled (you would have ample heads up),... Read More
Week 4 Fantasy Football Risers, Fallers & Trade Candidates
Well folks, we're heading into Week 4 now. That sense of familiarity with football is setting in. The chaos of week-to-week adjustments, realizing you saw a trend where there wasn't one, or hitting the jackpot and cashing in a huge day. We can all agree that Week 3 was pretty absurd, with many studs and... Read More
Week 4 DraftKings Deeper Sleeper Tournament Plays
We're back in the mines for Week 4 after an absolutely insane Week 3. Almost every stud and touted mid-range pick went off. I had friends texting me about how their safer cash game lineups would've won tournaments. The DraftKings Milly Maker winner had 301 points. Breathe. I should say that if you haven't yet, go... Read More
Darren McFadden (RB, DAL) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Stash in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 62% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: Darren McFadden picked up a lot of steam in the preseason, becoming a hot commodity as it was being reported that he might pass Joseph Randle for "lead dog" duties in Dallas' running back committee. As it stands, Randle has a pretty clear handle... Read More
Bilal Powell (RB, NYJ) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team PPR Leagues OWNED IN: 28% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: Bilal Powell was thrust into the action last week as the bellcow running back for the New York Jets against the Philadelphia Eagles, much to the chagrin of Chris Ivory owners as Ivory was listed as active, only to chill out on the sidelines.... Read More
Dorial Green-Beckham (WR, TEN) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 42% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: First things first, he is on the Titans, and the Titans have a Week 4 bye. Do not pick him up expecting to plug him in this week. Okay, now that I'm confident you're informed, here's why you want this guy. Green-Beckham is... Read More
Leonard Hankerson (WR, ATL) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 13% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: So maybe you didn't see this Adam Schefter tweet, saying how the Falcons view Hankerson and Roddy White as "2 and 2A" receivers. If you're a Roddy White owner you've definitely noticed. White went without a catch again in Week 3, while Hankerson ended... Read More
Duke Johnson (RB, CLE) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team PPR Leagues OWNED IN: 49% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: Duke Johnson was a very hot name coming into 2015, however the first few Browns games have really cooled off the fire surrounding him. Isaiah Crowell has gotten the first crack at the running back job with Johnson dealing with a hamstring injury... Read More
Ted Ginn (WR, CAR) - Waiver Wire Pickups
BALLER MOVE: Add in 14+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 12% of Fleaflicker Leagues ANALYSIS: Ted Ginn is exactly what you think he is. He's a speedy deep route specialist who needs to connect on the long ball in order to provide value for fantasy owners (and the Carolina Panthers). Luckily, Cam Newton is pretty darn good at... Read More
Mike Evans (WR, TB) - Fantasy Football Risers
Many were very worried about whether Mike Evans would get on the same page with Jameis Winston, as well as be used effectively by Lovie Smith and company in Tampa. Well, those questions weren't really answered cleanly. Evans actually finished Week 3 tied with Steve Smith for the third most targets on the week with... Read More
Andrew Luck (QB, IND) - Fantasy Football Fallers?
This was the first quarterback off of draft boards more often than not, and while Aaron Rodgers casually drops five touchdowns on the Chiefs on Monday Night, Andrew Luck struggles yet again against the Tennessee Titans defense before staging a late comeback. As the game was happening, my friend was talking to me about buying... Read More
Teddy Bridgewater (QB, MIN) - Fantasy Football Fallers
What the heck Teddy? Bridgewater was looking amazing in the preseason (I know, I know) and seemed poised to take steps forward with a growing Charles Johnson, the return of Adrian Peterson, and the acquisition of Mike Wallace. This has not happened. His overall numbers are being somewhat salvaged by a solid Week 2 effort... Read More
Golden Tate (WR, DET) - Fantasy Football Fallers
The Lions have not looked too good so far, and Matthew Stafford being banged up helps nothing. That being said, Golden Tate has not started this year strong. Tate's line so far in 2015: 24 targets, 15 receptions, 161 yards and 0 touchdowns. Another piece of this that scares me is that out of those... Read More
Doug Martin (RB, TB) - Fantasy Football Fallers
Originally, Doug Martin was going to be one of the "obvious" examples at the beginning of the piece, but I watch Tampa Bay a bunch and others might (should) not right now. Tampa Bay's offensive line is terrible. There's no hope right now. It's in shambles. The highest rated player according to ProFootballFocus is Evan... Read More
Fantasy Football Fallers - Carlos Hyde, Anquan Boldin, Colin Kaepernick
The entire San Francisco offense is on my fallers list following Week 3. I like doing this. Don't hate on blanket statements, they can be efficient sometimes. It shouldn't be news to anyone that the 49ers were absolutely embarrassed in Week 3 against the Arizona Cardinals. The 49ers are an interesting case. One couldn't get much... Read More
