Just like finding a diamond in the rough late
in a draft can save a fantasy season, picking a player who under performs drastically can kill your chances of making the playoffs. There's no getting
away from the fact that injuries strike at random times in the NFL, but you can
minimize your chances of picking a bust.
Here are five players to stay away from as you prepare for your fantasy football draft. And if you haven't set up a draft yet or are looking to join another league, sites like Playdraft are user friendly and offer outstanding options for fantasy football.
1) Ben Roethlisberger - QB, Steelers
Roethlisberger ranked 18th among quarterbacks last year, yet he's coming off the board as the 12th ranked QB this year. He should get a bump from the return of Martavis Bryant, but his poor road performance and inevitable injury woes make him too risk for his draft position. Take someone like Matthew Stafford or Carson Wentz a few rounds later.
2) Lamar Miller - RB, Texans
Lamar Miller hasn't produced the rate stats to demonstrate that he's an elite real-world running back, even if his fantasy numbers have been respectable. The problem with looking at only fantasy production is that it's often a measure of volume and playing time. And in the case of Miller, talented rookie D'Onta Foreman looks likely to chip away at his carries per game, limiting Miller's value. Go for Bilal Powell or Adrian Peterson a few rounds later instead.
3) LaGarrette Blount - RB, Eagles
Blount put up 18 touchdowns last year, an eye-opening total, and a bit part of the reason why he's coming off the board in the first six rounds. But that 2016 touchdown total is a bit of a mirage, as Blount compiled those numbers with the mighty Patriots. What kind of fit is he for the Eagles' vastly different offense? And let's not forget that everyone tends to produce a little bit more when Tom Brady is under center. Carson Wentz is a nice prospect, but he's not in Brady's league, and that's going to trickle down in Blount's production. A guy like Danny Woodhead or Jamaal Charles is likely to produce more in fantasy at a lower draft slot.
4) Julio Jones - WR, Falcons
Julio Jones is one of the most talented receivers in the NFL, playing for an Atlanta offense that terrorized teams all the way to the Superbowl last year. So what's not to like? The main problem is with his new offensive coordinator, and what that might do for his production. Jones thrives on the vertical passing game, and new coordinator Steve Sarkisian hasn't demonstrated much penchant for throwing down the field. Jones will still put up respectable numbers, but expect him to be outperformed by Dez Bryant and Amari Cooper, who can be had more than a full round later.
5) Martellus Bennett - TE, Packers
You'd think that going to a situation where you're going to be catching passes from Aaron Rodgers would be a good thing for a player's fantasy value. And more times, it would be, but not when you're a tight end. Tight ends have historically been targeted less than 20% of the time when Rodgers drops back to pass. Bennett is talented, but his situation is Green Bay means he probably won't live up to that talent, at least not fantasy-wise. Pick Kyle Rudolph a round later, or reach deep for breakout candidate Cameron Brate.
