Fantasy Football: Jason’s ‘Deal With It’ Rankings for 2018
After reading Andy’s 32 Shamelessly Bold Predictions and Mike’s Ultimate Value Hitsquad for 2018, I wanted to prove to the #FootClan that not only do I know how to speak good into a microphone, but I am a literate man with the skills to prove it.
Before the season gets underway next week, I took a look at our Ballers Consensus Rankings for each of the main positions and found 10 major discrepancies, nay atrocities, when I compared with my own. I’m putting on the hate blockers, screaming at Andy and Mike to Get Bodied! as I give you my #DealWithIt ranks for 2018.
Editor’s Note: Who are some of your #DealWithIt Ranks for 2018? Use the #DealWithIt on Twitter @FFBallers to let us know.
Quarterback
Ben Roethlisberger– (My Rank-5, Ballers Consensus-10)
My colleagues seem to think Big Ben possesses no ceiling as their ranks sunk mine to a bland ranking of QB10. But I’m seeing a guy who, from Week 10 on, averaged 22.7 fantasy points, the MOST for QBs in the second half of the year. He was THE QB1 and should have a full arsenal of weapons available to shred opposing secondaries. He’s available in the 10th round so the cost is there to reap the rewards.
Running Backs
Kenyan Drake– (My Rank-17, Ballers Consensus 21)
I’ve been a Drake believer since he came out of Alabama a couple years ago and I firmly stand by his talent. When he has been given opportunity by the Adam Gase regime, he has been electric on the field and shows that he can make things happen in the passing game. With the recent news of getting him 15-20 rushes and 6-8 targets per game, I emphatically give Drake my stamp of approval with the added upside that he could finish as an RB1.
Kerryon Johnson– (My Rank-21, Ballers Consensus 30)
Sing it with me people… Kerryon has been the song I proudly have been singing all off-season almost to the detriment of my own fantasy teams as his ADP has skyrocketed since May. I loved his all-around college tape at Auburn and gladly would take him in the 5th or 6th round. Whether Andy is holding onto the yesteryears of LeGarrette Blount or Mike is still broke after buying a one-way ticket on the Abdullah Express years ago, the best RB in the Detroit backfield is Kerryon Johnson and he will finish the year as valuable RB2.
Marlon Mack– (My Rank-28, Ballers Consensus 38)
Despite an injury and a plethora of RB bodies brought into Indianapolis, I stand by the fact that Marlon Mack is a good NFL RB. He has that dynamic, one-cut breakaway ability that this backfield has sorely missed after the plodding, immortal Frank Gore had reigned supreme. Marlon Mack is the RB to own over Christine Michael, Jordan Wilkins or Nyheim Hines.
Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Jamaal Williams– (My Rank-29, Ballers Consensus 35)
I’m not sure what Andy and Mike are seeing but Williams is the starting RB in an Aaron Rodgers-led offense with ample opportunity to produce. There’s not a guarantee Aaron Jones will win it back after being suspended for the first 2 games. This preseason, it’s been the Jamaal Williams show while Ty Montgomery faces constant nagging injuries. Coach Mike McCarthy has said he’s the guy so I’m willing to draft Brooks’ “my guy” for 2018, especially with his draft price.
Wide Receivers
Josh Gordon– (My Rank-32, Ballers Consensus 26)
Hold on a second as I put on my shades… for all the hype and hard knocks this off-season, I still want to rein in the expectations for Gordon in this offense. He’s a ridiculous athletic specimen with the history of proving he can be an elite fantasy WR. But Tyrod Taylor has shown he’s not a volume guy and should eventually get replaced by Baker Mayfield. Rookie QBs historically don’t finish among the league leaders in pass attempts which is what Gordon needs to shine especially when factoring in Jarvis Landry, Duke Johnson, and David Njoku to the mix. To me, the risk is not worth the reward.
Dede Westbrook– (My Rank-37, Ballers Consensus 52)
With the recent news of Marqise Lee‘s season-ending ACL tear, my rank of Westbrook makes me look…. well, how should I say this… smart. At least smarter than Andy and Mike who have him buried at WR52. Despite only appearing in 7 games due to injury, Westbrook was on a 116 target pace including seeing 6 or more in all but one of those games. Blake the Snake likes him and I think he’ll be the Jacksonville WR to own in 2018.
Marquise Goodwin– (My Rank-41, Ballers Consensus 32)
I mentioned him on the recent Busts episode but Twitter has been set ablaze with praise for Goodwin and his connection with Jimmy Garoppolo. Despite calling him Marquise “Greatwin” last year, I worry that we’ve seen his ceiling already. With Pierre Garcon returning, I think his time in the sun has set. His concussion history also is troubling for a player of his size. There’s no doubt he’s talented but his current draft price in the 5th round is a definite pass for me.
Tight-Ends
Ricky Seals-Jones– (My Rank-12, Ballers Consensus 20)
(Insert an overwhelmingly accurate noise of a seal by yours truly) On the Sleepers + Values podcast, Seals-Jones was discussed by Andy, who finally woke up from his Grandpa nap to stop sleeping on this guy. He was a converted college WR so he has the hands and route-running ability to be one of Sam Bradford‘s favorite targets. I love him as a late-round TE if you’re willing to wait and my current projections have him as a TE1.
Tyler Eifert– (My Rank-21, Ballers Consensus 16)
I love Eifert, maybe not as much as Mike who seems to have kept his enduring obsession with this man’s looks. And I think he’ll be very good when he’s on the field. But I cannot possibly fathom seeing Tyler Eifert play more than 12 games in a season. He’s much lower on my projections because as our own fantasy physical therapist Matthew Betz stated, Eifert’s next injury could mean his last time playing on a professional football field.