X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Join the Best Live Fantasy Chat Community!

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


LINEUP RESOURCES

Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Starts and Sit
Daily Fantasy
Who To Pickup
Fantasy Updates
24x7 News and Alerts

Marcus Mariota, Todd Gurley and Odell Beckham Jr.: Panic or Don’t Panic?

Millions of fantasy football owners are about to press the panic button.

Fantasy owners expected big things and bigger numbers from Tennessee’s Marcus Mariota, St. Louis’ Todd Gurley and New York’s Odell Beckham Jr. heading into the 2016 season.  What they have gotten is a lot of losses in their leagues thanks to this trio.  This threesome is not putting up the yards and scoring the touchdowns everyone projected for them.  So is it time to panic or not panic for owners with these guys on their fantasy rosters?  Here is a look:

Editor's Note: Be sure to check out FantasyAces DFS contests. New users that sign up on Fantasy Aces and make a $20 deposit will receive RotoBaller's full season NFL Premium Pass for free (including Premium DFS), normally a $59.99 value. Expert DFS research, sample lineups, matchup ratings and lots more!

 

Marcus Mariota, Tennessee Titans

The dreaded sophomore slump is hitting Mariota harder than Jack Tatum ever could have.  After throwing for 2,818 yards and 19 touchdowns, adding 252 yards and two more touchdowns on the ground during his rookie campaign, Mariota does not have one stat this season to be proud of.  He has 925 passing yards, a 4-to-5 touchdown-to-interception ratio and has sadly only rushed for a measly 72 yards, even though he should be one of the best running quarterbacks in the league.

The major problem for Mariota is his lack of weaponry at the wide receiver position.  Delanie Walker is one of the top tight ends in the NFL, but Tennessee’s receiving corps has less talent than Tulane’s.  Injury-prone Rishard Matthews, fifth-round rookie Tajae Sharpe, slowing veteran Harry Douglas and classic underachiever Kendall Wright have combined to catch zero touchdown passes.

Mariota is not absolved of blame.  He has made some ill-advised throws and is turning the ball over too much, either on fumbles or picks.  The league has probably caught up to him thanks to a year’s worth of film, so now the onus is on Mariota to adjust.

Panic?  Yes!  Mariota will continue giving his fantasy owners ulcer-inducing worries.  His only TD toss to a receiver this year was to Andre Johnson, who bowled with Fred Flintstone back in the Stone Age.  He has DeMarco Murray running well and an offensive-minded head coach in Mike Mularkey calling the shots, but unless the Titans acquire a true No. 1 receiver before the trade deadline, Mariota’s fantasy value will be mediocre at best.

 

Todd Gurley, Los Angeles Rams

Gurley was ranked as a top-5 running back and a top-10 fantasy player overall by many if not most fantasy publications entering the season, and he deserved it.  He galloped for 1,106 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns in just 13 games in his rookie season.  But the sophomore slump did not save all of its furor for just Mariota.

Gurley is averaging an embarrassing 2.6 yards per rush after a month of action.  How embarrassing is this?  His quarterback Case Keenum, who has never been confused with Michael Vick, is averaging 2.7 yards per carry.  Gurley has not had a 100-yard-game yet, nor did he score a touchdown in three of his four contests.  A Gurley for Frank Gore swap would have sounded laughable in fantasy leagues before the season started, but now Gurley owners would be more apt to listen.

Defenses are stacking eight or nine guys in the box and just daring Keenum to beat them with passes.  Gurley is an amazingly talented tailback, but even he cannot avoid one or two unblocked defenders each time he touches the ball.  The Rams have to do a better job of keeping defenses honest, while Gurley has to remain patient and just take what defenses give him instead of trying to break 40-yard gains on every play.

Panic?  Be semi-panicky.  Keep the antacids nearby, but do not take any yet.  I would be more concerned if another Rams runner was breaking tackles like Eric Dickerson when he was on the field, but Gurley is in no danger of losing his job or carries to Benny Cunningham.  Gurley has 82 rushing attempts on the season, Cunningham has four.  Look for Gurley to keep being a workhorse and eventually find enough room to become a good fantasy play every week again. Although, the odds of him ending the season as fantasy’s top back are getting larger.

Advertising

 

Odell Beckham Jr., New York Giants

Beckham Jr., a universal first-round fantasy pick after coming off his second straight superb season, had everything going for him coming into this season.  He had Eli Manning as his quarterback, better receivers around him like the returning Victor Cruz and second-rounder Sterling Shepard, and new head coach Ben McAdoo prepared to force-feed him the ball.

Everything was lined up for Beckham Jr. to have 1,500-yard, 15-TD season and challenge Pittsburgh’s Antonio Brown as not only the most valuable receiver in fantasy football but the best player overall to own in fantasy football.  A funny thing happened on the way to the Fantasy Football Hall of Fame, though.

Beckham Jr. seems more interested in sideline slap fights and creating drama than finding ways to beat top cornerbacks and double teams and getting open.  He has only managed 22 receptions for 303 yards and no touchdowns despite being targeted 39 times, which ties him for 10th in the NFL.  Defenses are frustrating and berating him while No. 1 corners are shutting him down when one-on-one. Double-teaming defenders have not allowed Beckham Jr. to beat them with big plays.

Panic?  Not as long as Manning is his quarterback and as long as Beckham Jr. doesn't get suspended.  He is one of the most talented receivers in the NFL and racked up 2,755 yards and 25 touchdowns in his first two seasons.  No player in the sport is more overdue for a humongous turnaround than he is.  If you own Beckham Jr., hold onto him and enjoy the last dozen games.




LINEUP RESOURCES

Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Starts and Sit
Daily Fantasy
Who To Pickup
Fantasy Updates
24x7 News and Alerts

WIN MORE IN 2024

Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Starts and Sit
Daily Fantasy
Who To Pickup
Fantasy Updates
24x7 News and Alerts

ROTOBALLER PLAYER NEWS

RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

MORE RECENT ARTICLES

 
Alexis Diaz fantasy baseball closers rankings draft sleepers waiver wire pickups

MLB Closers and Saves: Fantasy Baseball Depth Charts

Saves are an important component for many fantasy baseball leagues. Closers are one of the most volatile positions in fantasy baseball, and one of the highest turnover positions in MLB. Each year, closers drop like flies and many MLB teams make in-season changes due to injuries or poor performance. In addition to closers and saves, relief... Read More


Do These Prospects Matter for Fantasy Baseball?

The 2023 fantasy baseball season has been highlighted by the promotion of nearly two-dozen top prospects to the major leagues to impact fantasy rosters. This week's edition features one player who was called up as the piece was being written. Will these strong performers join the ranks of those who have moved to the majors... Read More


clayton kershaw fantasy baseball rankings draft sleepers MLB injury news

articles report test

this is a test


Starting Pitcher Waiver Wire Pickups for Fantasy Baseball - Week 24

Welcome back! It's Week 24 of our fantasy baseball Starting Pitcher Waiver Wire Pickups series! There are just two precious weeks left, and every start is becoming more and more important as most of the fantasy baseball world is in playoff matchups. If you've made it this far, there's a good chance you don't really... Read More


Aaron Nola - Fantasy Baseball Rankings, MLB Injury News, DFS Lineup Picks

Starts & Sits for MLB Week 23 - All Starting Pitcher Matchups for Fantasy Baseball

Welcome back RotoBallers! Big week in fantasy leagues as we approach the end of the season and playoffs! As always, we are here with our starting pitcher starts and sits series to help you set those winning lineups for the week ahead! For those who are not familiar, RotoBaller puts out a weekly grid of... Read More


Gunnar Henderson - Fantasy Baseball Rankings, MLB Prospects, Draft Sleepers

Points League Hitters: Waiver Wire Pickups for Fantasy Baseball - Week 24

Welcome to Week 24 and our fantasy baseball waiver wire hitters. We'll be doing this roundup of points leagues every week here at RotoBaller, with waiver wire targets and streaming pitchers being evaluated in terms of the different scoring systems of ESPN, Yahoo!, CBS, and Fantrax. Player values can vary wildly from platform to platform,... Read More


Brayan Bello - Fantasy Baseball Rankings, Draft Sleepers, Waiver Wire Pickups

Two-Start Pitcher Streamers for Fantasy Baseball - Week 24

Yo, it's Jon Anderson, continuing to run the show here in terms of late-summer fantasy baseball writing. There are just two weeks left of streaming pitchers, so let's make it count! This weekly fantasy baseball waiver wire pickups column aims to identify starting pitchers expected to make two starts in the upcoming fantasy baseball week,... Read More


Fantasy Baseball Week 24 Injury News and Updates: Tyler Glasnow, Ozzie Albies, Starling Marte, Anthony Rizzo, Zack Wheeler

September is now more than half over. The baseball season is slowly coming to a close. At this point, fantasy players are pushing for their league titles or just playing for pride. Major League Baseball teams continue to do the same and injuries continue to happen, now with the dreaded term "done for the season"... Read More


Joe Musgrove - Fantasy Baseball Rankings, Draft Sleepers, MLB Injury News

Free MLB Betting Picks - Today's Best Bets, Expert Predictions, Odds (9/17/22)

Happy Saturday, RotoBallers, we're back for another weekend of MLB betting picks! Make sure you're following my Twitter, as I can't guarantee that I'll always be able to get the added plays written here in the article, but I will typically add whatever else I'm playing throughout the day. The entire RotoBaller team has been... Read More


DraftKings, FanDuel Daily Fantasy Baseball Picks (9/17/22): Today's Top MLB DFS Lineups

Today's MLB slates are split up as is the norm for September baseball. Half the guys I think will play will not, so you have to be as flexible as Gumby to play MLB DFS in September, but that also means that there is a lot of money out there should you dare to dive... Read More


Max Fried - Fantasy Baseball Rankings, Draft Sleepers, MLB Injury News

Free MLB Betting Picks - Today's Best Bets, Expert Predictions, Odds (9/15/22)

Happy Friday, RotoBallers, we're back for another weekend of MLB betting picks! Make sure you're following my Twitter, as I can't guarantee that I'll always be able to get the added plays written here in the article, but I will typically add whatever else I'm playing throughout the day. The entire RotoBaller team has been... Read More


Robbie Ray - Fantasy Baseball Rankings, MLB Injury News, Draft Sleepers

DraftKings, FanDuel Daily Fantasy Baseball Picks (9/16/22): Today's Top MLB DFS Lineups

Fridays are big MLB DFS days and offer a nice respite from the NFL, who command our attention on Thursdays, Sundays, and Mondays. This slate, like most Friday slates, is a big one as all MLB teams are in action today and 28 of those teams are on tonight's 14-game DFS slate. This was a... Read More


kyle farmer fantasy baseball rankings draft sleepers MLB injury news

Top Hitter Streamers and Starts for Fantasy Baseball - Week 24

There are only two weeks left of fantasy baseball! It's going to be very sad when the season comes to an end, but the impending end of the season means that these are the most important, and therefore most fun weeks of the year – for those of you still competing, at least. I have... Read More


TODAY’S MOST VIEWED PLAYERS

rotating JS ad test

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF