The Super Bowl is over. The 2015 season is now put to bed. Do we miss it already? Of course. But it's time to move on and start focusing on 2016.
And you guys have plenty of questions.
For the rest of the offseason, we'll be here every week answering your keeper questions, talking strategy or just discussing players in general. So fire away, either on Twitter @jameyeisenberg or on my Facebook page, but I only have one request. Please use the hashtag #fantasymail with your questions.
We'll usually get to about 10 questions a week either on video (see above) or here. Our goal is to help you be prepared for your Fantasy draft in August, and hopefully starting now will have you ready to go.
This week, we'll cover the following topics:
- Adrian Peterson's keeper value compared to Dez Bryant and A.J. Green
- When should Kelvin Benjamin be drafted?
- Pick one keeper out of Allen Robinson, Jeremy Langford or Martavis Bryant
- Jimmy Graham's Fantasy value in 2016
- Josh Gordon vs. Amari Cooper as a keeper
OK, let's go ...
@JameyEisenberg in long term keeper league, keep AD in the 16th round, Dez in the 5th or Green in the 7th? Have Gurley & OBJ #fantasymail
— Tony Cordwell (@tonycordwell) February 8, 2016
You're obviously off to a great start with Todd Gurley and Odell Beckham as two of your three keepers, and the third choice really comes down to Peterson vs. Bryant. I love Green in Round 7, but Bryant is the better Fantasy option and is just as good if not better in Round 5. Clearly the long-term value favors Bryant and Green, but I would lean toward trying to win now and keep Peterson in Round 16. You have Gurley and Beckham for the next several years, and you can find a third keeper option in 2017 if this is the final season for Peterson or his production falls off. But in 2016 he should have one more good, if not great, campaign, and I love that trio before you make a pick in Round 1, especially since Peterson costs only a Round 16 selection. That's stealing, and you should be in great shape for next season.
#fantasymail I'm thinking kelvin Benjamin might fall due to the injury, what round would you target him in? Love the upside in that offense
— andrew paquette (@andybrochill21) February 8, 2016
We just did our first mock draft for 2016 on Wednesday, and Benjamin went in Round 4 at pick No. 46 overall in a standard league. That's about right for him coming off the torn ACL that cost him all of last season. The receivers he was drafted after included Michael Floyd, Martavis Bryant and Randall Cobb, and he was selected before John Brown, Emmanuel Sanders and Allen Hurns. He's in that group of high upside No. 2 receivers. Maybe in your league he will fall further than Round 4, especially if the reports aren't glowing during offseason workouts with his knee. But he's expected to be fine and should return as Cam Newton's No. 1 receiver. Remember, in 2014 he had 73 catches for 1,008 yards and nine touchdowns as a rookie. This year. Carolina's No. 1 receiver was Ted Ginn, who had 44 catches for 739 yards and 10 touchdowns. It would not be a surprise to see Benjamin score double digits in touchdowns, and another 1,000-yard campaign is well within reach. He could even end up as a steal in Round 4 as he enters his third season in the NFL.
@JameyEisenberg .5 pt ppr. Keep 1 A.Rob, Langford, M.Bryant, Ameer, Dalton? #fantasyfootball#fantasymail
— texasbruin67 (@texasbruin67) February 8, 2016
You have Ameer Abdullah and Andy Dalton as options, but this decision comes down to Robinson, Langford and Bryant. Langford could be good as the expected replacement for Matt Forte as the starter for the Bears, and I love the upside for Bryant in his third season. Hopefully he can play a full year with Ben Roethlisberger because he should be special playing opposite Antonio Brown in that offense. But you have to keep Robinson here after the way he played in 2015. He was dominant with 80 catches for 1,400 yards and 14 touchdowns, and he also will be entering his third season in the NFL. Blake Bortles leaned on Robinson for 152 targets last season, and he should again be the No. 1 option in a strong passing attack. Robinson is a borderline first-round pick in the majority of leagues, especially one with any PPR value, and he's the easy choice here from this group.
@JameyEisenberg is Graham worth keeping 10 team PPR dynasty 1TE 2Flex. Also have Julius & Ertz #fantasymail
— Jason Sprague (@JasonPartyRock) February 8, 2016
I hope Graham comes back at 100 percent and plays like the guy we saw in New Orleans and not like the guy we saw for 11 games with the Seahawks before suffering a torn patellar tendon in his right knee. He wasn't a great Fantasy option in Seattle with just three games with double digits in Fantasy points, and this knee injury is tough to come back from and be the same player. Some examples of players with patellar tendon injuries are Cadillac Williams and Victor Cruz, and we hope Graham can return at close to his previous form. If I had to choose one of these tight ends out of Graham, Julius Thomas and Zach Ertz in a dynasty league then I might lean toward Ertz based on his long-term appeal. I would also take Thomas over Graham because this injury makes me nervous, and I'm not sure Graham will ever be a dominant Fantasy option again, including his role with the Seahawks.
@JameyEisenberg#fantasymail#fantasyfootball 3 keepers - J. Gordon, A. Cooper, Peterson, Newton, Megatron*, Edelman. Standard scoring.
— Joshua Ehrets (@JEhrets34) February 9, 2016
These are excellent keepers to choose from, and it will be tough to pick just three. Calvin Johnson could still be in the mix, but we know he's expected to retire, so you can take him out. I would choose Peterson and Cooper for sure as two of the choices. Peterson we mentioned above, and Cooper should continue to improve in his second season and has the chance to be a Top 12 receiver in 2016. The third choice is tough because Gordon could come back from his suspension and be dominant, and Julian Edelman remains a solid Fantasy option and a beast in PPR leagues. But it's hard to pass on Newton after the season he just had. We covered his Fantasy value in a recent column, and he should again have the chance to be the No. 1 quarterback in 2016. I love that trio of Peterson, Cooper and Newton, and you should have the chance to compete for Fantasy title next season.