2017 Team Preview — Mikey
How do the Handcuffs look heading into 2017?
With the 2017 season fast approaching, I’m doing a preview of each team! The previews will be looking at each team from a redraft perspective instead of dynasty, so they’ll also function as a peudo 2017 Power Ranking when all the previews are done.
Rosters were graded by using FantasyPro’s 2017 Draft Rankings in order to judge a team’s strength strictly for the 2017 season. So teams have players ranked higher in Dynasty Rankings than 2017 Rankings and vice versa.
Overall grades were assigned as well as broken into a team’s starters, bench, and by position. Every group is graded on a scale versus the other teams in the league. I’ll basically leave it at that but if anyone wants to know in more detail or just see the roster analysis for their own knowledge just hit me up.
Same disclaimer as always, these are just for fun. Fantasy football is super random year to year and “expert” websites are wrong just as often as they are right. With that out of the way, let’s get started!
13. Mikey, Overall Grade: C
Strengths: WR, Backup TE, Overall Depth
Weaknesses: RB, TE, DEF
Projected Starters: C
QB: B- [Dak Prescott]
RBs: C- [Tevin Coleman, Matt Forte]
WRs: B [Amari Cooper, Jarvis Landry, Tyrell Williams]
TE: C+ [Jack Doyle]
K: C [N/A] (Graded as a replacement level K, which are easy to acquire)
DEF: C+ [Oakland]
Depth: B+
QB: B [Blake Bortles]
RB: B- [Jeremy Hill]
WRs: B [Kevin White, Marqise Lee]
TE: A- [Jason Witten]
Reminder: Every grouping is graded on a scale against the other teams. Starting QB is graded against other starting QBs, backup vs backup. That’s why Mikey’s bench players have higher grades than his starters. Jack Doyle is in the bottom tier of starting TEs, but Jason Witten is in the top tier of backup TEs.
2017 Rankings weren’t kind to Kevin’s WRs and while it’s not as drastic, they don’t look highly on Mikey’s RBs either. Tevin Coleman is Mikey’s RB 1, but rankings view him as a low-floor, high-ceiling type player better suited as an RB 2. Meanwhile, I was surprised to see Forte ranked so low, but I imagine the people behind the rankings are factoring in his age/injury risk as well as just the dumpster fire that is the Jets offense.
While he hasn’t built a great starting unit thus far, Mikey’s activity in trades and the waiver wire has allowed him to accumulate good depth at every position. Jeremy Hill is a disappointment compared to his rookie season, but he consistently gets work as the goal-line back: scoring 29 touchdowns in the last 3 years. It could definitely be another year of the same production if the coaching staff is slow to play the rookie Mixon. Witten is an ageless wonder guaranteed to get you 5 catches for 50 yards a game. And if Kevin White stays healthy, he’ll get plenty of opportunity on a Bears team that needs a WR outside of Cam Meredith to produce.
X-Factor: Jamaal Charles
The rankings had Jeremy Hill ahead of Jamaal Charles, but Jamaal Charles has the highest ceiling out of all of Mikey’s RBs, higher than even Tevin Coleman (assuming Devonta Freeman doesn’t get hurt). Flipping Greg Olsen back to Tani for Charles was a huge gamble, but if Jamaal does stay healthy and has one last magical season, he could immediately flip the script on Mikey’s team and put the Handcuffs in playoff contention.
Summary:
When other D|League teams suffer injuries and struggle to fill-in bye weeks, Mikey could have another steady season and inch to the playoffs, where anything can happen (as he constantly reminds me). Otherwise, his lack of elite options could push him down the standings.
