Eric Sorenson
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Every Wednesday during the season NFL Network and NFL.com Senior Fantasy Analyst Michael Fabiano joins Sports360AZ.com’s Brad Cesmat to share his insight on building and developing your fantasy team for success.
Here are some hi-lights from our most recent conversation (February 24th) with the Fantasy Sports Writer’s Association Hall of Famer.
How do you see the Adrian Peterson situation playing out? “It’s one of the biggest storylines in fantasy football in 20015. One thing I can see happening…if the Cowboys decide to let DeMarco [Murray] walk…the Cowboys could look to make a trade for Adrian Peterson or if the Vikings outright release him which I don’t think will happen, that could be a match made in heaven. Imagine Adrian Peterson, off a year that he didn’t play, behind the Cowboys’ offensive line…that would be fantasy gold. That’s one of the biggest storylines that fantasy owners will have to pay attention to.”
If Tampa takes Jameis Winston, what does that do from a fantasy standpoint? “Well, he’s certainly going to be an upgrade over Josh McCown who was their quarterback last year or Mike Glennon. He’s not the running style of quarterback that maybe a lot of people think he is…a lot of people compare him more to a Ben Roethlisberger-type. A guy who can run if he needs to. You know me I love running quarterbacks but Winston is probably someone who won’t get picked in re-drafts maybe until the late rounds, if at all. A lot of people like to pick players based on name value…over the last couple years we haven’t seen rookie quarterbacks make a big impact…Winston’s draft-able in seasonal leagues but not worth [it] until the late rounds.”
We saw big-time production from Melvin Gordon at Wisconsin…how much translates to NFL? “Both the NFL and fantasy fans are really clamoring for young talent at the running back position. If you look at the top 10 guys going into 2015, there’s some age there Brad. Some guys are getting up there…obviously, everyone is going to be in love with Gordon. Wisconsin running backs going into the NFL don’t have the best pedigree but if he ends up, for example, with the Indianapolis Colts. Boy, that’s a good match. Or maybe he ends up with the Baltimore Ravens and they decide not retain Justin Forsett you’re looking at a guy who could make an immediate impact. You’re looking for opportunity and you’re looking for talent. Nine times out of 10 that’s the combination you need as a rookie, regardless of position, to come in and make that immediate impact.”
How about Miami’s Duke Johnson? “Miami running backs have a very good track record in the National Football League…you’re talking about Frank Gore and Willis McGahee and Clinton Portis…Lamar Miller last year. So that could be a scenario where he’s drafted by a team who has a need at running back and all of a sudden, like Bishop Sankey last year, he’s in the conversation as one of the top drafted rookies from a fantasy standpoint.”
Big story here in Arizona was the Cards re-signing Larry Fitzgerald: what fantasy value does he still hold? “I don’t know if his value is going to increase or decrease as the result of the contract I’m more interested in seeing about the rehab of Carson Palmer…as good as Fitzgerald has been in his career…he’s probably about a three right now in fantasy and that’s about as much as you’re going to see him drafted as in 2015.”
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