Feb 2, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Seattle Seahawks cornerback
Richard Sherman(25) covers against Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas (88) during the fourth quarter in Super Bowl XLVIII at MetLife Stadium.Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Demaryius Thomas: After consecutive seasons of over 1,400 receiving yards and double digit touchdowns, Demaryius Thomas has solidified his place as the number two wide receiver off the board. An argument could easily be made for Dez Bryant (25 touchdowns in past two seasons) or AJ Green as well, but with Decker gone, Thomas becomes the best fantasy prospect at wide receiver behind Calvin Johnson.
Things to Note:
Wes Welker may be limited: After his third concussion in 10 months it’s hard to say what kind of season Wes Welker will produce. In the three regular season games Welker missed, Thomas had 281 yards and three touchdowns. Hopefully, and by all indications, Wes Welker will return soon, but don’t be surprised if his playing time is limited to preserve a full season from the ten year pro.
Aug 22, 2014; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back
Marshawn Lynch(24) breaks a tackle by Chicago Bears strong safety
Danny McCray(29) to score a touchdown during the first quarter at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports
Marshawn Lynch: The most polarizing name this season in fantasy football might be Marshawn Lynch. I’ve seen him ranked anywhere from 5 to the middle of the second round (ESPN ranks him five, yet Yahoo! ranks him 10 and CBS Sports ranks him 20). While his numbers don’t lie, three straight seasons of over 1,200 yards and 11, offseason contract disputes and durability concerns have kept him from soaring up draft boards.
Things to Note:
Holdout talks: Reports in late July had Lynch as a holdout candidate to begin Training Camp. Though he eventually showed up to work, it will be interesting to see what kind of impact the mini-holdout will have on his play in 2014.
His workload in Seattle: Though he may be the most consistent back in the past three seasons, he also may be the most worked. He has finished in the top five for rushing attempts every year since 2011 and after over 900 carries in three years the 28-year old may not have much left in the tank .
Verdict: Deserves consideration at seven, but very much a high-risk high-reward player.