2017 Fantasy Football Draft Prep: Lamar Miller, Cam Newton among players on this Do Not Want List

The Average Draft Position of these eight players is just too high for Dave Richard's tastes. Whether you have yet to draft or have put a team together already, there are moves to be made to improve your squad for the season.

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Busts. Bums. Busters. Losers. Eyesores. Nobody wants them on their Fantasy Football teams. 

To quote Mike Singletary, "I want winners!" And while all the players on my Do Not Want List who were once big-time winners, the gut feeling I have after training camp and three weeks of the preseason is that these guys won't help you dominate your league. There's more hype and name-recognition value than actual Fantasy value. So try not to draft these guys. 

So you're telling me you want Newton on your Fantasy team even though the Panthers have asked him to run less? You're telling me you're ready to start him when the team wants him to throw more -- after he had surgery this offseason for a torn rotator cuff? And with a career 58.4 completion percentage? Look, I think it's noble that the Panthers want to change their offense to protect their franchise quarterback from shoulder injuries and concussions. It's the right thing to do. But we've come to know Newton for his rushing totals -- that's what puts him over the top in Fantasy Football! Without them, he's been average as a passer, save for his MVP year in 2015.

I'm not naïve enough to believe Newton won't run anymore -- the goal line will still be big territory -- but if his rushing stats crater, he'll need some unreal passing numbers to make up for them. Christian McCaffrey or not, I'm betting against that happening.

I'd draft him: Round 10
Oops! You drafted him -- now what? If he's your backup, do nothing. If he's your starter, take a glance at who's on waivers. Jay Cutler and Carson Wentz are owned in less than half of CBS Sports leagues, and others like Andy Dalton, Eli Manning and Carson Palmer might be out there. Get someone to use in case Newton disappoints you. 

I hate to say it, even mention it, but is it possible that Joe Philbin knew what he was doing? Remember him? Remember when he refused to give Miller a heavy workload in Miami? Remember how happy we all were when Miller signed with the Texans and would be at the helm of Bill O'Brien's run-first offense? Remember how Miller disappointingly finished as a top-20 running back after we took him in the early rounds last year? Remember when he had nine games with 20-plus touches but just six with 100 total yards? Remember when O'Brien said this offseason he's ready to have other running backs help Miller share the workload? Remember when the Texans drafted D'Onta Foreman? Remember when he looked good this preseason? Even better than Miller? Remember when I told you guys to draft Miller last year? I feel bad about that -- don't do it again this year unless it's in Round 4 or later.

I'd draft him: Late Round 4
Oops! You drafted him -- now what? Find a way to get Foreman on your bench -- he's owned in just 23 percent of CBS leagues and could end up being a big factor. Or, see if you can swing a trade -- I'd rather have any of the top five rookie rushers or even Isaiah Crowell or Carlos Hyde than Miller. 

Most Fantasy analysts will tell you Lynch is too old to be a great running back for your team. Some will reference his 2,337 career carries and 264 career catches while reminding you that he was retired last year and didn't deliver much when he last played in 2014. They're all correct. However, they're all overlooking the most important factor of all -- the Raiders aren't a rushing team! They're built around Derek Carr slinging the ball to a very good receiving corps. Since Carr's arrival, Raiders running backs as a group have averaged 21.1 carries per game. The unretired, 31-year-old Lynch doesn't figure to get a big workload every week -- it's unnecessary given the Raiders' young duo of DeAndre Washington and Jalen Richard hungry for touches. The fear is that Lynch will regress to a touchdown-or-bust running back with very few games close to 100 yards. He's hilarious, he's a great guy with a big heart for Oakland, but he's not going to help you win a Fantasy league.  

I'd draft him: Round 5 or 6
Oops! You drafted him -- now what? If you didn't already back up the nine-year vet with DeAndre Washington, go ahead and do that. Consider trading Lynch, especially if you drafted him in Round 2 or 3 and certain others in your league were sad they missed out on him. C.J. Anderson or Mark Ingram are acceptable targets, though you might be able to get a receiver with one of those running backs for Lynch. 

Touchdowns are great, but what happens to football players who don't score touchdowns? They become frustrating for Fantasy owners. Last year Coleman came through for 11 total touchdowns -- an obscene amount for a guy who played 13 games, started none and had 15-plus touches in two. Only one time did Coleman put up 10-plus Fantasy points in 2016 and NOT score. He's a good running back, and he's just stuck behind an even better running back in Devonta Freeman. So why in the world would you draft him in Round 5 or 6? Maybe you're counting on him getting another 11 touchdowns. Color me skeptical but I'll take the under. Way under. 

I'd draft him: Round 8
Oops! You drafted him -- now what? I suppose he's flex-worthy for most of the Falcons' first five matchups, so stick with him. But at the first chance, sell high on him unless an injury befalls Devonta Freeman.  

Let's see what happens when a team puts a running back with a recent history of hamstring injuries and with 2,295 career carries and 530 career receptions behind a woeful offensive line on the absolute worst offense in football. Will 1,000 yards happen? Doubtful. Will eight touchdowns happen? I couldn't even type that last sentence without laughing.

To be fair, Forte won't have to handle all the touches for the Jets. Bilal Powell figures to be very involved in run and pass situations. That will further lower the number of touches Forte will get, making him a part-time rusher with old man problems on the worst team in the league this season. You really want this on your Fantasy team? He's not even worth the bench spot.

I'd draft him: I'm not.
Oops! You drafted him -- now what? I wouldn't count on Forte for big numbers anytime soon. When the season gets rolling and waiver-wire players become attractive, figure Forte to be among those on your cut list.  

Will Jay Cutler's gunslinging ways really sabotage Landry's fourth NFL season? Will DeVante Parker really break out in his third NFL season? The answer to both questions is yes. Landry picked up mega-targets year after year being the play-it-safe option in the Dolphins offense. For example, in 2016 he had 94 targets of nine yards or less, 37 targets of 10 to 19 yards and five targets of 20-plus yards. When you get targets like this, of course your catches will be plentiful, which means your yardage will be good. But the lack of touchdowns has always been an eyesore and now adding an aggressive quarterback -- who has the ear of his head coach -- could make for a disaster.

I'm banking on Landry falling under 120 targets, under 85 catches, under 1,000 yards and the same amount of touchdowns. Don't draft a player like that with a top-75 choice.

I'd draft him: Round 8 (Round 6/7 in PPR)
Oops! You drafted him -- now what? Try to sell high on him before the season. If you took him in Round 5, see if you can flip him straight up for another player who went in Round 5. Ameer Abdullah, Stefon Diggs and Golden Tate would work in a one-for-one. 

My buddy Heath Cummings suggested that Robinson's 2016 was his floor and his 2015 was his ceiling. I think, given the quarterback situation in Jacksonville, 2016 is probably closer to his ceiling and 2015 was an accident. Blake Bortles will begin the season as the Jaguars' starter not because he earned it, but because it's an easier sell for the coaches to make a move after Bortles stinks. He's no longer an effective thrower for his receivers, and backup Chad Henne is a nice game manager who prefers the check-down pass. Plus the coaches want to run the ball more and not trust their quarterbacks -- how's that going to work out for Jags receivers?

If Fantasy Football was about player's talents, Robinson would be a top-30 pick. But it's about stats, and Robinson's gonna have a hard time bringing those in.

I'd draft him: Round 7
Oops! You drafted him -- now what? Fight like crazy to trade him. Other players drafted in Round 4 or 5 in your league should be targeted. Michael Crabtree, Jimmy Graham, Tyreek Hill and even Larry Fitzgerald are names to be on the lookout for. 

Mr. October, himself. Why October? Because that's about the time every season when Bennett stops producing Fantasy points. Even last year with the Patriots he had three games with 10-plus Fantasy points through Week 5, then two the rest of the way. Maybe blame a little bit of that on Rob Gronkowski playing some games in there, but it's not like Marty B really brought the heat even after Gronk was injured in Week 10. Will Aaron Rodgers and the Packers turn Bennett into a four-month sensation? It's doubtful -- the Packers love using a tight end in their offense, but that doesn't necessarily equate to big stats.

Bennett is far from Green Bay's most reliable red-zone threat. Will he finish as a top-10 option? Sure, he's got a good shot. Does it warrant taking him with a pick in Round 7?! No way!

I'd draft him: Round 9
Oops! You drafted him -- now what? Don't get committed to him as your tight end. A tough matchup against the Seahawks in Week 1 isn't exactly awesome. If you aren't OK with starting him then, and your bench is chock-full of great talent, you might be inclined to cut him for a tight end with a better opponent to begin the year. That might be taking things too far, but clearing up a roster spot for Bennett's one-week replacement is a pain you'll have to deal with.