By Chet Gresham – @ChetGresham
Follow @walterfootball for updates.
Each offseason brings change to NFL rosters, and those changes often have fantasy implications. Below, I lay out the changes at the skill positions and how those moves impact the fantasy status of the new roster.
2017
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QB: Jay Cutler, Matt Moore
RB: Kenyan Drake, Jay Ajayi, Damien Williams, Senorise Perry
WR: Jarvis Landry, DeVante Parker, Kenny Stills, Jakeem Grant
TE: Julius Thomas, Anthony Fasano
2018
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QB: Ryan Tannehill, Brock Osweiler
RB: Kenyan Drake, Frank Gore, Senorise Perry, Kalen Ballage
WR: DeVante Parker, Kenny Stills, Albert Wilson, Danny Amendola
TE: Mike Gesicki, MarQueis Gray, A.J. Derby, Gavin Escobar, Durham Smythe
Pre-Draft Offseason:
The Dolphins will get Ryan Tannehill back after a season-long injury, which is an upgrade to the Cutler/Moore duo of doom, although not one that will turn the Dolphins’ fortunes around, as we’ve seen what Tannehill can do. He’s shown flashes, but his inconsistency remains a problem. Thankfully, he should be an upgrade for the offensive players though.
The Dolphins let Jarvis Landry walk all the way to Cleveland, which seems like a fairly stark change in scenery, but that’s neither here nor there – but you really don’t want to be there. Landry’s loss moves Kenny Stills, Albert Wilson and DeVante Parker into the hot seats, especially without a starting-caliber tight end on the roster.
Wilson was a free-agency add for Miami and one that could pay off, especially with Parker not living up to his potential so far. I still have hope for Parker, but Wilson has shown ability in his limited time on the field and I could see him pushing Parker if he can’t get things together.
At running back, the Dolphins already shipped Jay Ajayi off during last season and then let Damien Williams go in free agency. That left Kenyan Drake as the lead back, but Miami also added the ageless wonder Frank Gore to the backfield. There is a chance the organization ends up adding C.J. Anderson after the Broncos let him go, but after signing Gore, the odds aren’t as high as they would have been. Gore was still good in short-yardage last season, but coach Adam Gase usually prefers an every-down back and should use Gore as a backup more than just an early-down/goal-line back. The Gore signing hurts Drake, but not as badly as a younger, more dynamic back might have, as Gore has lost any long speed and can’t make people miss like he once could.
Post-Draft Update
The Dolphins went ahead and grabbed two tight ends in their first four picks, with Mike Gesicki out of Penn State at 42nd overall. Gesicki isn’t known for his blocking, so if he gets on the field, which he should, he’ll be used primarily as a receiver. He has skills and could be one of the few rookie tight ends to be a fantasy asset. Durham Smythe was the second tight end Miami took, but his fantasy upside doesn’t jump off the tape. I doubt I’ll invest in Gesicki in redraft, but he’s a worthy dynasty pick.
The Dolphins took running back Kalen Ballage out of Arizona State in the fourth round, but he’s similar to Kenyon Drake in skill and won’t threaten Frank Gore as a short-yardage guy, as he is a much better receiver than between-the-tackles runner.
The Dolphins did upgrade their pass defense, but they also skipped on a quarterback. I don’t have much hope for this team or its fantasy skill players, but opportunity is still king and even the worst teams have fantasy players.
2018 Fantasy Outlook:
Stud: None
Solid: Kenyan Drake
Sleeper: Kenny Stills
For more recommendations, check out WalterFootball.com’s Fantasy Football Rankings.
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Fantasy Football Rankings
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings:
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterbacks - 9/5 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Quarterback Rankings - 8/29 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Running Backs - 9/5 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings - 8/29 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Wide Receivers - 9/5 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings - 8/29 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Tight Ends - 9/5 (Walt)
Chet Gresham's Fantasy Football Tight End Rankings - 8/29 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Kickers - 8/21 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Rankings: Defenses - 8/21 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings: Dynasty - 8/21 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Rookie Rankings: Dynasty - 5/18 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Mock Drafts:
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 9/1 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/30 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/27 (Walt)
Fantasy Football PPR Mock Draft - 8/23 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/22 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/16 (Walt)
Fantasy Football PPR Mock Draft - 8/9 (Walt)
Fantasy Football Mock Draft - 8/2 (Walt)
Fantasy Football PPR Mock Draft - 8/1 (Chet)
Fantasy Football PPR Mock Draft - 7/26 (Walt)
Fantasy Football 2-QB Dynasty Draft - 5/25 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheets:
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 PPR - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 2-QB - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Top 250 Touchdown League - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Custom - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football: Dynasty Rankings - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Spreadsheets - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Articles:
2018 Fantasy Football Stock Report: OTAs, Training Camp - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Sleepers - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Busts - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Mid-Round Values - 9/5 (Walt)
2018 NFL Preseason Game Recaps - 8/31 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Stock Report: Preseason Games - 8/31 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football Notes - 8/31 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Quarterback Preseason Targets Tracker - 8/30 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football D/ST Drafting - 8/28 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football ADP Values: Running Backs - 8/16 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Round-by-Round Strategy Guide - 8/15 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football ADP Values: Quarterbacks - 8/15 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Tight Ends to Target - 8/9 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football - PPR Draft Strategy: Rounds 1 and 2 - 7/27 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football: Doug Baldwin's Value - 7/25 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football: Chris Hogan's Value - 7/18 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football: Alvin Kamara's Value - 7/16 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule: Tight Ends - 7/11 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule: Wide Receivers - 7/6 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule: Running Backs - 7/5 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Strength of Schedule: Quarterbacks - 7/4 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Tight Ends Better Than ADP - 6/29 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Wide Receivers Better Than ADP - 6/28 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Target Shares - 6/22 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Points Per Game - 6/13 (Chet)
2018 Fantasy Football Mock Draft Simulator - 6/2
2018 Fantasy Football Value Players - 5/25 (Chet)
2017 Fantasy Football Quarterback Look-Back - 1/28 (Walt)
2018 Fantasy Football: Running Backs with the Most Carries - 1/28 (Walt)
2024 NFL Mock Draft - April 16
NFL Power Rankings - Feb. 22
Fantasy Football Rankings - Feb. 19
NFL Picks - Feb. 12
