Moncrief likely a starter, Bell to skip preseason opener, Singletary with first-team
If you're scratching your head about some of these news updates and trying to make the best decision possible, let's talk it out over Fantasy Football with Breakfast! Follow me on Twitter @mattkdelima
Beat writer believes Moncrief is the potential starter alongside Smith-Schuster
NEWS: A Steelers beat writer with ESPN believes Donte Moncrief "sounds like the front-runner" based on what he's hearing coaches/players say around the team.
ANALYSIS: That's fine. But I would assume like most of you, you've already formed an opinion on Moncrief and it ain't a good one. I'm a hard no on Moncrief. He could legit put up a 15-200-3 stat line in Week 1 and I'd look at him with side-eye. I don't trust him. We've seen too many years of absolutely underwhelming inescapable nothingness from him. If you want to buy in, go for it. The guy had Andrew Luck as his QB for how many years and accomplished what? In 2015, he had over 100 targets. He's had his chance. I moved on and you probably did too.
I'm not super high on James Washington but I am working under the assumption that he will emerge here. News like this will deflate Washington's value a bit and that's probably a good thing for myself and other owners keeping their eye on him. More than happy to take a late-round flier on Washington and let others give Moncrief another shot.
Bell will not play in preseason opener
NEWS: The Jets are keeping Le'Veon Bell on the bench for their preseason opener (tonight at 7 pm eastern).
ANALYSIS: Not a surprise. This really needs to be a tryout for the backup RB spots anyway. Sure, Bell is going to be on the field all the time and I think 300 touches is a given. In Fantasy drafts, Bell is in that murky second-half of the first round range where WRs are popping off and you have to measure value vs. what will be available when the pick gets back to you. I understand the skepticism and I understand why you would pass on him. For example, if Michael Thomas is on the board vs. Bell, I'm going Thomas 100 out of 100 times. So you have to trust your first instinct. Let me put it to you this way, it's been a long time since Curtis Martin or LaDainian Tomlinson were the RBs for this team. That's basically how far back you've got to go to find a certifiably good Jets RB.
Beyond Bell, New York has Ty Montgomery, Bilal Powell, Elijah McGuire and Trenton Cannon.
I think all four have a shot to make this roster but the odd-man-out has been McGuire based on camp reports. I don't feel confident in either Montgomery or Powell to call one of them a handcuff so even if I did have Bell on my roster, I wouldn't know who to turn to if he were injured. Hopefully these preseason games can provide clarity because this looks like another awful Jets RB committee if Bell isn't able to go.
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Quick Fantasy Hot-Takes
Damien Williams returns to practice (hamstring): Let me be perfectly clear, if you aren't on the Williams bandwagon, you legitimately don't know how to play this game very well. This game is too hard for you if you see Williams and you think bust is in the equation. Whomever occupies the RB1 job in Kansas City will be a beast. Find a new hobby if you even slightly disagree with me. Period. Don't @ me.
Devin Singletary sees "steady amount of opportunities" with first-team offense: Ah yes. The coveted "steady amount of opportunities" we've all heard about. What does this even mean? 50%? 25%? 90% I have no idea. I think it should go without saying that the Bills used a third-round pick on Singletary and that tells me they will give him every opportunity to be their starter if he's capable. However, McCoy's draft stock is in the tank right now and you could do a lot worse at his ADP (117.7, RB45). Frank Gore was also recently announced to be the preseason starter.
Redskins rookie WR "showered with praise from coaches and teammates": No idea what to make of this one. The rookie in question is Terry McLaurin. The Redskins spent a third-rounder on him and he's a former teammate of Dwayne Haskins out of Ohio State. My concern is that Washington has been a dead zone for the WR position as of late. A lot of promising talent has gone there and underwhelmed. The top Skins' WR last year was Josh Doctson (44-532-2) and in 2017, it was Jamison Crowder (66-789-3). 2016 was the last time Washington had success at the position and that was when they had Crowder, DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon. It can be done, but the last two seasons have really turned me off to the idea. Maybe in a dynasty league I'd take a crack at McLaurin but I don't see him having redraft value unless he shows us flashes during the preseason.
