Coach: Vance Joseph 6 PPG
QB: Tom Brady 36 PPG
GOAT! That is all.
P.S Brady has the best receiving group he’s ever had. QB1.
On his back up of Mike Glennon, there’s a case for Nils to pay close attention to the QB competition in Chicago as Brady is on a bye by week and the Bears may very well have installed the rookie QB Mitch Trubisky by that point.
RB / WR / TE: Carlos Hyde 16 PPG, Mike Gillislee 15 PPG, Odell Beckham 21 PPG, Jordan Reed 17 PPG, Greg Olsen 19 PPG
6th Men: Eric Ebron 13 PPG, Tyler Lockett 11 PPG
So I started this article a few weeks ago and true to form Nils conducted what felt like 17 trades in that time so I’ve had to re-write this peice numerous times. So as of the 24th August 2017 this is his offence.
OBJ, Jordan Reed and Greg Olsen is a nice trio with star power. Love him or hate him OBJ is a stud on the field and is a true core asset in fantasy terms. His statistics since entering the league in 2014 have been insane and he ripped up the third year WR breakout narrative. He will be on for another big season and if anything the additions of Engram and Marshall should help rather than hinder him. Usually it’s the QB that makes a receiver look good in NYC it’s definitely the other way around.
Jordan Reed is the only tight end in the league that comes close to the potential of Gronkowski in my opinion. However, both the careers of both players have been dogged by injuries and their 2017 seasons hinge on good health. If Nils can get a full season out of Reed then 300 points is very possible.
Greg Olsen has been the one stable receiver for Cam Newton in Carolina and I expect that to continue in 2017. Venturing further into his 30s, Olsen is still one of the premier fantasy tight ends in the league and a GM can feel safe in putting him in the line up each week. Unlike the aforementioned Reed and Gronkowski, injuries have not blighted Olsen’s recent years with three consecutive 1,000+ receiving yards seasons.
I’ve left the running backs until last as they are the most volatile picks in the starting five. Carlos Hyde has had a rollercoaster off season from stories of him being cut to him being the clear number one back in San Fransisco. One thing is clear, injuries have blighted his NFL career since he entered the league in 2014. Up until now, there hasn’t been a back on the roster that has truly grabbed the opportunity with both hands whilst Hyde was on the sidelines. This could change in 2017 as the new regime hand picked Joe Williams in the NFL draft back in April. I think Hyde has the better ability than Williams but this Hyde’s future in San Fran could come down to his availability in 2017. If he can stay on the field then Nils is looking at 300+ point production. If not, Hyde may be shown the door in Carolina and San Fran by the end of the season. I see Williams cutting into Hyde’s work and I think he’ll finish closer to 250 than 300 points this season.
Mike Gillislee is involved in his own Game Of Thrones style saga with six running backs vying for the starting role in New England. Rex Burkhead has drawn some plaudits from analysts and IFL GMs but I think Gillislee will be the back that ascends to the Iron Thrown in Foxborough and assumes the starting role. Other backs will feature for sure, as they did in 2016 and that will limit his scoring potential but he should get some valuable touchdown opportunities. Another volatile situation where Nils we pray Gillislee is Blount version 2.0.
Eric Ebron and Tyler Lockett provide the depth at the next man up slot and both have the potential to be productive in 2017 but injury histories and inconsistency have plagued both players in their relatively short NFL careers.
PK: Adam Vinatieri 9 PPG
PN: Marquette King 10 PPG
The ‘King’ is one of the -premier punters in the league and should put up good points for a punter. Vinateri is ageing like an Aston Martin DB9 or and E-Type Jaguar and will give you a smooth performance for the season.
DT: Marcell Dareus 14 PPG
Dareus is moving into a 4-3 scheme with the new Bills coaching staff and I think will benefit as a result. One of the top defensive tackles in the league, Dareus is a proven IDP stud and if healthy is a top three DT in 2017. Averaging 17.5 points in his seven games last year the guy is a monster IDP player if he cant stay healthy for a full season.
DE: J.J. Watt 19 PPG, Trey Flowers 16 PPG
Watt is regarded as the clear number one defensive end in the IDP world, in a tier all of his own. He has had some incredible seasons where he’s caught touchdowns whilst accumulating over 20 sacks. The big question mark with Watt in 2017 is the injuries. They’re starting to rack up now and after coming off the back of more surgery, Nils will be eager to see if Watt can get back to his high scoring ways early in the season.
Flowers was one of the IDP breakout players for 2016. The defensive end position has become more and more valuable in recent seasons. I cannot remember a year when defensive ends are more valuable than the 2017 season. Flowers went from a guy on the IFL waivers to being a legitimate starter for teams. He finished 2016 strongly and capped if off with an incredible under the radar performance in the Super Bowl, which saw him rack up three sacks. After the recent retirement of Rob Ninkovich the onus is on him to become the premier pass rusher in that New England defence.
LB: Nigel Bradham 15 PPG, Jaylon Smith 13 PPG, Sean Lee 17 PPG, Derrick Johnson 15 PPG
Nils recently traded away Lavonte David and acquired Jaylon Smith as his replacement. His linebacking contingent looked stronger with David as Smith will be eased in this season by the Cowboys. I watched the Notre Dame vs OS game where he got injured and it was devastating for a player that legitimately could have gone top 10 in the NFL draft. Nerve damage is a scary diagnosis as there’s no sure fire way to fix it and the early season reports of drop foot are especially scary. However, Smith is that good that even if they can get 70% of him pre injury then he will be a solid IDP asset. Anthony Hitchens has been serviceable for Dallas and I see a committee between Smith and Hitchens in 2017, purely to preserve Smith’s health.
We may see Gerald Hodges draw some starts early on in the season if he wins the weak side role (which is still up in the air) but Derrick Johnson should be straight back into the Kansas line up after his ACL injury and draws the start from Nils. Bradham was a stable linebacker option in 2016 and should resume the same role with the Eagles in 2017 and should be good for a solid 250 points. Sean Lee is a very talented player, an IDP stud and can easily surpass 300 points each season. His main hindrance has been his susceptibility to injuries. Lee was fit in 2017 and racked up 281 points. If Nils can get another season like that from Lee he’ll be very happy.
CB: Malcolm Butler 12 PPG, Byron Maxwell 11 PPG
Two number one corners, IDP analysts will tell you it’s the number two corners you want on your teams. Great real life corner backs dont tend to make great IDP cornerbacks.
S: Barry Church 16 PPG, TJ Ward 13 PPG
Church is on for a big year in my opinion. He’s always been one of the top drafted safeties despite his injury struggles. Church’s off season move the Jacksonville will only further boost his IDP potential and if he stays fit should be have a top five finish at the position. Church should be one of Nils’ stars on defence.
TJ Ward finds himself under a new defensive coordinator but he’s been a consistent starter at safety and he’s a plug in and play IDP asset each week. A total of 200 points should be the floor for Ward.
Off: New Orleans Saints 15 PPG
Total PPG 325
2016 PPG 353
Prediction: 10-6
It’s hard to keep up with Nils’ roster with the constant moves but if we look back to his 2016 roster I would say the offence has improved through guys like Olsen and OBJ. On defence I think it’s taken a minor step back as Nils had an incredible D line last year of Dunlap, Donald and Vernon. Hyde I dont think is a sure fire three down back and nor do I think Gillislee is either. Yes Blount got a lot of goal line carries last year but this year the Pats have an improved group of pass catchers which may lead to less goal line work. Hyde has always had injury issues, it’s doubtful he gets paid at the end of 2017, as is the way with many non-elite running backs, and there’s a new back on the roster handpicked by the new regime. He’s talented but that situation it is going to be tough to work out week to week. I like OBJ and Olsen, plus Reed if he’s fit. Linebacking situations can always change in season but Nils has a nice group with some upside. I love Church and Ward at safety but if Flowers can push on and Watt returns to form then there’s definetly room for the Panthers to increase on my 325 prediction.
