Daily Dr. Roto — August 17, 2018
New England Patriots Team Preview
Outlook: The outlook for the Patriots is always rosy so long as Bill Belichick is the Head Coach and Tom Brady is the starting QB. Former Defensive Coordinator (and Belichick’s right-hand man) Matt Patricia is now the Head Coach in Detroit, so it will be interesting to see how the defense plays early in the season. Even if the Patriots start out at 2-2, Belichick is the master at in-season adjustments and their defense always seems to play well as the playoffs approach.
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QB:I have come to the realization that Tom Brady is the GOAT. He has won so many games (and championships) over the years and at 41 years old, still looks like he can play for another five seasons. Think of it this way—the Patriots traded away Jimmy G because they think Brady still has a few good years left in him! Lock Brady in for 4000+ passing yards and 30+ passing TDs. If he is available in the ninth round in high stakes leagues, grab him as the QB 4 or 5 off the board. In-home leagues, you might want to grab Brady earlier especially if your league uses six points per passing TD.
RB: The Patriots are annoying when it comes to how they use their running backs. On any given week, it’s hard to know who exactly will get the most carries as the Patriots look to matchups to decide. Rookie Sony Michel out of Georgia was expected to lead the team in carries, but he is currently sidelined with a knee injury. Look for Michel to ramp up his playing time and be a monster towards the second half of the season. Michel was going in the fourth or fifth rounds before his injury, but now he might slip to Round 6 of most drafts.
Rex Burkhead is the Danny Woodhead-type cog in this offense. He is an adept pass catcher, and blocker and Brady uses him extensively in the two-minute drill. I love him in best ball formats as he can go off on any given week. NOTE: Burkhead has been diagnosed with a “small” tear in his knee, but the team seems to feel that he will be able to play through the injury. I have considerable doubts about this. I would immediately downgrade Burkhead one or two rounds on my draft board mainly because I expect him to miss time this season. Why draft an injured player who you think is probable to miss games if you don’t have to?
With Burkhead and Michel somewhat injured, I would certainly bump up James White on my draft boards. James White fills the old Kevin Faulk role, but it is hard to count on him consistently, as sometimes he is not part of the team’s weekly plan. White is another outstanding choice in best ball leagues, as well as PPR formats as he is a great ball catcher out of the backfield. Jeremy Hill and Mike Gillislee are also both on the roster and might play with Michel out, but they will both lose significant playing time once Michel returns.
Think you can beat the elite? Just $299 to find out if you have what it takes to win the $50K grand prize!WR: I would normally worry about the Patriots wide receivers, but with Tom Brady throwing the football, things are always much better than they seem. If you draft Julian Edelman, you will have to wait four weeks until he returns from his suspension. He is still Brady’s go-to guy, and I consider him a huge target monster from Week 5 forward. Taking Edelman in Round 5 is a bold move, but it might just pay off when it comes time for the Fantasy playoffs. I liked Chris Hogan last season, but I like him even more this season with Edelman out for a few weeks. Hogan has a knack for getting open, and he seems to make his biggest plays against the best defenses. While I do not expect Hogan to rack up the targets, he could be a candidate for 9-10 TDs. Outside of those two, the Patriots have Philip Dorsett, Cordarrelle Patterson, Eric Decker, and Kenny Britt. All these receivers have seen better days, but all have previously shown that they are competent receivers who can help teams win on Sunday. As of right now, no one player seems to be emerging, but if I had to guess I might choose Decker. Decker is a smart route runner, who should be able to click with Brady if given the reps. He is a sneaky sleeper pick in deeper leagues.
TE: When you think of the top tight ends in Fantasy Football, all you need to say is one word—Gronk. Rob Gronkowski is the best tight end in football and arguably one of the greatest to ever play the game. In the past, I have tended to avoid drafting Gronk not because I don’t like him, but because taking a tight end early often leaves me with a hole on my roster. However, in 2018 I am not as thrilled with the third round selections, so if Gronk is there when I pick, I might pull the trigger. If healthy (a big if), he is a lock for around 1000 yards receiving and double-digit TDs, putting him and Travis Kelce atop the position by a ton.
K: Stephen Gostkowski will be selected as the number one kicker in Fantasy Football once again in 2018. He is reliable, has a solid leg, and plays on one of the best offenses in the NFL. If you are going to take a kicker before Round 18, he’s the only one to consider.
D: There is no one player on the Patriots who I feel is an IDP beast, however, put the entire Patriots roster together and you have a solid overall group. Belichick always figures out a way to improve his defense as the season goes along, making them ideal for the Fantasy playoffs.
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