Post by Cincinnati Bengals (Chris) on Mar 29, 2016 1:38:33 GMT -5
www.pff.com/news/nfl-houston-texans-sign-linebacker-zach-cunningham-contract-extension-14-5-million-year
Everyone from the MFL should know how straightforward I am to deal with and that no one on my roster is EVER untouchable. That said, some players are much harder to get than others. Just because I'm willing to talk about a player doesn't mean you'll get him. But hey, make me an offer if you want him and we'll see what we can do. Here are the tiers.
Tier 1-
Baker Mayfield (CLE-QB) $3/4y (Mayfield wrapped up his rookie year finishing 2nd in the ROY vote to Saquon Barkley (Despite quadrupling his Rookie of the Week honors) in only 13 starts, broke the all-time rookie mark for TDs for a rookie QB (Previously held by Peyton Manning and Russell Wilson) with 27, had the most passing yards per game of any rookie in history (286.5) and would've broken the all-time yardage mark in a full season. He finished 16th in points among QBs in 2018, and was ranked as the #75 overall player as a rookie in PFF's top-101 players in the league. The former walk-on to Heisman Trophy-winner was the #1 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft after recording the best statistical season in college football history in 2016...and then besting it in 2017. Pro Football Focus ranked his last two seasons as the best two seasons, irrespective of position, that they've ever graded in college football, and including 2015, three of the top-6 seasons they have ever graded at the QB position. In fact, so good was Mayfield in 2017, that he had a 143.8 passer rating from a clean pocket (Which has shown to be the single-most predictive stat for success in the NFL), best in the class by over 20 points. But the truly astonishing stat: Mayfield's passer rating under pressure, of 111.6 was not only the top number among this year's QB class as well, but it was also higher than the clean pocket number of the top-5 quarterbacks in the class. Among draft eligible QBs, he finished with the top adjusted completion percentage (81.5%), passer rating vs. pressure, vs. the blitz, and short. He finished second in intermediate passer rating, but tops in deep passer rating. He also threw the third least turnover-worthy throws, which illustrates his penchant for taking care of the ball. He also throws the best deep ball of any member of this QB class, as he was the most accurate, owning two of PFF's top-three graded seasons all-time in throws of 20+ yards, and tied the NFL Combine's all-time mark for throw velocity at 60 mph. (With Pat Mahomes, Bryan Bennett, and Logan Thomas), before Josh Allen reset the all-time record at 62. While he had the highest passer rating of any QB in this class on easy throws, he also didn't only feast on those, as he attempted the eighth-most NFL throws of any QB in this class, and once again led in that category. He also had a higher average passing depth in yards than either Darnold or Rosen. Those who say he played a bad schedule/defenses, against the top-10 defenses he ever faced, including SEC and Big-10 opponents, his passer rating was still better than the career passer ratings of Darnold, Rosen, and Allen (Whose passer rating against Power-5 teams, Mayfield quadrupled). He was also the best from play action, under 2.5 seconds, and over 2.6 seconds. He finished with the 8th-best grade among all QBs as a rookie, with a grade of 84.5, and had the 2nd-best big throw percentage in the league)
Christian McCaffrey (CAR-RB) $3/3y (McCaffrey is currently the #10 RB with 15.94 PPGand as the #12 player in fantasy (And would've been and top-10 overall if he wasn't rested in Week 17). He was ranked by PFF as the #38 player in football in their top-101 players in the league, after finishing his rookie season #11 among RBs with 12.34 PPG, making him one of the truly elite players in fantasy football, especially in PPR. He also finished the #11-rated RB with a grade of 84.1 per PFF in 2017, despite very uneven play by Cam Newton and the Panthers' offensive line. He also is currently ranked the #11 RB by PFF this year as well. According to Sports Science, McCaffrey can change his vector by 45 degrees in .19 seconds, which is faster than a defender is physically able to react (.24 seconds), meaning if McCaffrey wants to change direction at a full sprint, the defender is not physically capable of reacting in time to stop him)
Cooper Kupp (LAR-WR) $2/3y (Kupp, college football's all-time leading receiver, put together the best tape of any receiver in the class, and ranking #20 among WRs in PFF grades, with a grade of 81.1, making him easily the top-rated rookie WR. He also finished second in yardage among rookie WRs, and would've finished first if not for the Rams resting their key players in Week 17, of which Kupp was one. He finished his rookie year as WR #27 with 9.73 PPG)
Blake Martinez (GB-LB) $2/2y (Martinez elevated his to truly elite in 2017, averaging a whopping 13.04 PPG, good for 3rd in the league, and grading out as PFF's #23 LB with a grade of 80.2 in the process, and the #8 grade against the run (89.7). Given his contract, and his production, he's the #1 Dynasty LB)
Zach Cunningham (HOU-LB) $3/3y (Cunningham was the best 3-down LB in the 2017 draft, and has shown that in short order, taking over as the starting ILB late in Game 1 this year, and subsequently putting up the 21st-best grade among LBs according to PFF, with a grade of 80.6. Cunningham finished as LB #38 as a rookie with 8.05 PPG, meaning he finished 2nd in both fantasy and in PFF grading among rookies)
Julian Edelman (NE-WR) $7.5/1y (Edelman was WR #16 in 2016, WR #7 in PPG in 2015, and WR #12 in PPG in 2014. He was also the #20 graded WR by PFF, and the most-efficient slot WR in the game. One of the most consistent receivers in the league, he'll return as Tom Brady's top-option in 2018 and will again vie to return top-10 WR value)
Dede Westbrook (JAX-WR) $2/3y ()
Tremaine Edmunds (BUF-LB) $3/4y ()
Zach Ertz (PHI-TE) $5.5/1y ()
Jerome Baker (MIA-LB) $3/4y ()
Thomas Davis (CAR-LB) $1/1y ()
Mason Foster (WAS-LB) $5.5/1y ()
Alshon Jeffrey (PHI-WR) $7.5/1y ()
Tier 2-
Chris Thompson (WAS-RB) $4/1y (Chris Thompson cemented himself in 2017 as the league's top pass specialist RB, carving out so much value on 3rd down that he finished JUST outside of the top-10 scorers among RBs with nearly 14 PPG (13.85). Even with the drafting of Derrius Guice, Redskins' Coach Jay Gruden has made it clear that 3rd down still belongs to Thompson, and that Guice won't factor in there, so Thompson is locked and loaded for a repeat of his 2017 masterpiece. He finished 2017 5th in PFF receiving grade at 87.2 behind only Alvin Kamara, Duke Johnson, Todd Gurley, and Christian McCaffrey)
Jabaal Sheard (IND-DL) $2/1y (Sheard finished 2017 as the #9 EDGE rusher by PFF, and the #41 overall player, with a grade of 91.3, the highest of his seven-year career, though he has never finished with a grade lower than above average. As PFF said, "Jabaal Sheard was their best player and one of their most durable, racking up 900 snaps and a pretty monstrous 67 total pressures. Sheard also graded well against the run, with 38 total defensive stops to his name. PFF Elite Stat: Sheard was 13th in total pressures (66) and fourth in total run stops (30) among edge defenders." He was, however, an OLB, and therefore was not an elite scorer at his position. However, I'll let Fantrax tell you why his 2018 will be different: "Sheard is expected to move from outside linebacker to defensive end with newly hired defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus planning to implement a speed-based, 4-3 defensive scheme. Eberflus' scheme calls for the defensive front to provide more pressure on quarterbacks and limit big plays, something that wasn't asked of the Colts' linemen as often in the 3-4 setup used under recently fired head coach Chuck Pagano. In the new one-gap line arrangement, Johnathan Hankins is expected to slide over from defensive end to defensive tackle, opening up a spot on the edge for Sheard. The 28-year-old Sheard is coming off a 2017 season in which he recorded 52 stops (37 solo), his highest total since 2012, his second season in the NFL. The presumed move to the line will minimize the tackle opportunities available for Sheard, though he could notice an uptick in the 5.5 sacks he registered last season; over his career, Sheard has delivered three seven-plus sack campaigns, all of which came under coordinators who favored 4-3 defenses." Even at OLB, where he has seen fewer sacks across his career, his 5.74 PPG would have seen him finish as DL #26. He was the #5 DL as a rookie in 2011 with 7.45 PPG, top-20 with 5.88 PPG in 2012, top-35 with 5.48 PPG in 2013 (Again, even as an OLB), and top-25 with 6.63 PPG back as a DL in 2015. In other words, he's basically a lock for 7+ sacks and top-25 status in 2018)
Haha Clinton-Dix (WAS-DB) $5.5/1y ()
Michael Bennett (NE-DL) $2.5/1y (5 PPG #42 in points 68.98%, 85% for the Seahawks in 2017, Bennett finished 2017 as the #31 DL in points with 5.48 PPG. A top-25 DL by PPG in 2016, top-10 in 2015, top-40 in both 2014 and 2013, top-5 in 2012, and top-20 in 2011, he has a track record as one of the most consistent DL in both football and fantasy football. His average PFF grade over that time is of 87. He finished 2017 as the #36 EDGE with a grade of 80.6, but ranked as the #12 DE by PFF in 2016 with a grade of 86.4. Previous to that grade, Bennett had finished with a grade no lower than 85.4 over the previous 6 seasons. Bennett joined the top-pass rushing team in football in 2017 over the off-season, and should up his production and play now seeing next to no double teams)
I'm seeing what's out there for him, but ultimately might keep him. The big news is, his value increased today, as Bennett was traded from the Philadelphia Eagles to the New England Patriots. Bennett received strong marks from PFF in 2018, finishing 21st among EDGE defenders with a grade of 75.9, 17th in Pass Rushing grade, and producing 9 sacks, which was also tied for 17th, despite playing on just over 2/3 of the Eagles' defensive snaps. He's replacing Trey Flowers, the Patriots' outgoing DE, who finished 2018 in 18th, with 7.01 PPG, a top-5 overall grade, the 12th-best pass rushing grade, and 7.5 sacks. Among NE's remaining DEs, no returning player had a grade of even average (They were all below average in 2018). Flowers also played roughly 3/4 of all the Patriots' defensive snaps, so Bennett should see an increase in playing time in that role.
Since 2014, only Khalil Mack and Von Miller have generated more pressures than Bennett among EDGE rushers. In fact, last year he tied for third in the league (With Trey Flowers and J.J. Watt), with 78 pressures. He's generated multiple pressures in over 80% of his career games. He averaged 5 PPG, good for #42 in points among DL, but only played 68.98% of the Eagles' snaps. In 2017, Bennett finished as the #31 DL in points with 5.48 PPG. A top-25 DL by PPG in 2016, top-10 in 2015, top-40 in both 2014 and 2013, top-5 in 2012, and top-20 in 2011, he has a track record as one of the most consistent DL in both football and fantasy football. His average PFF grade over that time is of 87. He finished 2017 as the #36 EDGE with a grade of 80.6, but ranked as the #12 DE by PFF in 2016 with a grade of 86.4. Previous to that grade, Bennett had finished with a grade no lower than 85.4 over the previous 6 seasons. Bennett joined the top-pass rushing team in football in 2017 over the off-season, and should up his production and play now seeing next to no double teams
Emmanuel Sanders (DEN-WR) $3/1y (Prior to his 2017, which was marred by historically bad QB play and ankle injuries, Sanders was a top-25 WR with 10.82 PPG in 2016, a top-20 WR with 12.74 PPG in 2015, and the #6 WR in 2014 with 15.87 PPG. Clearly, he's demonstrated that he's one of the most-consistent performers at WR in football and fantasy football, and when healthy, his floor is top-25 production)
Tim Patrick (DEN-WR) $2.5/1y ()
Jamaal Williams (GB-RB) $3/3y ()
Devin McCourty (NE-DB) $3/2y ()
Latavius Murray (NO-RB) $3/2y ()
Tier 3-
Randy Bullock (CIN-K) $1/2y ()
What I'm Looking For
Everyone from the MFL should know how straightforward I am to deal with and that no one on my roster is EVER untouchable. That said, some players are much harder to get than others. Just because I'm willing to talk about a player doesn't mean you'll get him. But hey, make me an offer if you want him and we'll see what we can do. Here are the tiers.
Tier 1-
Baker Mayfield (CLE-QB) $3/4y (Mayfield wrapped up his rookie year finishing 2nd in the ROY vote to Saquon Barkley (Despite quadrupling his Rookie of the Week honors) in only 13 starts, broke the all-time rookie mark for TDs for a rookie QB (Previously held by Peyton Manning and Russell Wilson) with 27, had the most passing yards per game of any rookie in history (286.5) and would've broken the all-time yardage mark in a full season. He finished 16th in points among QBs in 2018, and was ranked as the #75 overall player as a rookie in PFF's top-101 players in the league. The former walk-on to Heisman Trophy-winner was the #1 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft after recording the best statistical season in college football history in 2016...and then besting it in 2017. Pro Football Focus ranked his last two seasons as the best two seasons, irrespective of position, that they've ever graded in college football, and including 2015, three of the top-6 seasons they have ever graded at the QB position. In fact, so good was Mayfield in 2017, that he had a 143.8 passer rating from a clean pocket (Which has shown to be the single-most predictive stat for success in the NFL), best in the class by over 20 points. But the truly astonishing stat: Mayfield's passer rating under pressure, of 111.6 was not only the top number among this year's QB class as well, but it was also higher than the clean pocket number of the top-5 quarterbacks in the class. Among draft eligible QBs, he finished with the top adjusted completion percentage (81.5%), passer rating vs. pressure, vs. the blitz, and short. He finished second in intermediate passer rating, but tops in deep passer rating. He also threw the third least turnover-worthy throws, which illustrates his penchant for taking care of the ball. He also throws the best deep ball of any member of this QB class, as he was the most accurate, owning two of PFF's top-three graded seasons all-time in throws of 20+ yards, and tied the NFL Combine's all-time mark for throw velocity at 60 mph. (With Pat Mahomes, Bryan Bennett, and Logan Thomas), before Josh Allen reset the all-time record at 62. While he had the highest passer rating of any QB in this class on easy throws, he also didn't only feast on those, as he attempted the eighth-most NFL throws of any QB in this class, and once again led in that category. He also had a higher average passing depth in yards than either Darnold or Rosen. Those who say he played a bad schedule/defenses, against the top-10 defenses he ever faced, including SEC and Big-10 opponents, his passer rating was still better than the career passer ratings of Darnold, Rosen, and Allen (Whose passer rating against Power-5 teams, Mayfield quadrupled). He was also the best from play action, under 2.5 seconds, and over 2.6 seconds. He finished with the 8th-best grade among all QBs as a rookie, with a grade of 84.5, and had the 2nd-best big throw percentage in the league)
Christian McCaffrey (CAR-RB) $3/3y (McCaffrey is currently the #10 RB with 15.94 PPGand as the #12 player in fantasy (And would've been and top-10 overall if he wasn't rested in Week 17). He was ranked by PFF as the #38 player in football in their top-101 players in the league, after finishing his rookie season #11 among RBs with 12.34 PPG, making him one of the truly elite players in fantasy football, especially in PPR. He also finished the #11-rated RB with a grade of 84.1 per PFF in 2017, despite very uneven play by Cam Newton and the Panthers' offensive line. He also is currently ranked the #11 RB by PFF this year as well. According to Sports Science, McCaffrey can change his vector by 45 degrees in .19 seconds, which is faster than a defender is physically able to react (.24 seconds), meaning if McCaffrey wants to change direction at a full sprint, the defender is not physically capable of reacting in time to stop him)
Cooper Kupp (LAR-WR) $2/3y (Kupp, college football's all-time leading receiver, put together the best tape of any receiver in the class, and ranking #20 among WRs in PFF grades, with a grade of 81.1, making him easily the top-rated rookie WR. He also finished second in yardage among rookie WRs, and would've finished first if not for the Rams resting their key players in Week 17, of which Kupp was one. He finished his rookie year as WR #27 with 9.73 PPG)
Blake Martinez (GB-LB) $2/2y (Martinez elevated his to truly elite in 2017, averaging a whopping 13.04 PPG, good for 3rd in the league, and grading out as PFF's #23 LB with a grade of 80.2 in the process, and the #8 grade against the run (89.7). Given his contract, and his production, he's the #1 Dynasty LB)
Zach Cunningham (HOU-LB) $3/3y (Cunningham was the best 3-down LB in the 2017 draft, and has shown that in short order, taking over as the starting ILB late in Game 1 this year, and subsequently putting up the 21st-best grade among LBs according to PFF, with a grade of 80.6. Cunningham finished as LB #38 as a rookie with 8.05 PPG, meaning he finished 2nd in both fantasy and in PFF grading among rookies)
Julian Edelman (NE-WR) $7.5/1y (Edelman was WR #16 in 2016, WR #7 in PPG in 2015, and WR #12 in PPG in 2014. He was also the #20 graded WR by PFF, and the most-efficient slot WR in the game. One of the most consistent receivers in the league, he'll return as Tom Brady's top-option in 2018 and will again vie to return top-10 WR value)
Dede Westbrook (JAX-WR) $2/3y ()
Tremaine Edmunds (BUF-LB) $3/4y ()
Zach Ertz (PHI-TE) $5.5/1y ()
Jerome Baker (MIA-LB) $3/4y ()
Thomas Davis (CAR-LB) $1/1y ()
Mason Foster (WAS-LB) $5.5/1y ()
Alshon Jeffrey (PHI-WR) $7.5/1y ()
Tier 2-
Chris Thompson (WAS-RB) $4/1y (Chris Thompson cemented himself in 2017 as the league's top pass specialist RB, carving out so much value on 3rd down that he finished JUST outside of the top-10 scorers among RBs with nearly 14 PPG (13.85). Even with the drafting of Derrius Guice, Redskins' Coach Jay Gruden has made it clear that 3rd down still belongs to Thompson, and that Guice won't factor in there, so Thompson is locked and loaded for a repeat of his 2017 masterpiece. He finished 2017 5th in PFF receiving grade at 87.2 behind only Alvin Kamara, Duke Johnson, Todd Gurley, and Christian McCaffrey)
Jabaal Sheard (IND-DL) $2/1y (Sheard finished 2017 as the #9 EDGE rusher by PFF, and the #41 overall player, with a grade of 91.3, the highest of his seven-year career, though he has never finished with a grade lower than above average. As PFF said, "Jabaal Sheard was their best player and one of their most durable, racking up 900 snaps and a pretty monstrous 67 total pressures. Sheard also graded well against the run, with 38 total defensive stops to his name. PFF Elite Stat: Sheard was 13th in total pressures (66) and fourth in total run stops (30) among edge defenders." He was, however, an OLB, and therefore was not an elite scorer at his position. However, I'll let Fantrax tell you why his 2018 will be different: "Sheard is expected to move from outside linebacker to defensive end with newly hired defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus planning to implement a speed-based, 4-3 defensive scheme. Eberflus' scheme calls for the defensive front to provide more pressure on quarterbacks and limit big plays, something that wasn't asked of the Colts' linemen as often in the 3-4 setup used under recently fired head coach Chuck Pagano. In the new one-gap line arrangement, Johnathan Hankins is expected to slide over from defensive end to defensive tackle, opening up a spot on the edge for Sheard. The 28-year-old Sheard is coming off a 2017 season in which he recorded 52 stops (37 solo), his highest total since 2012, his second season in the NFL. The presumed move to the line will minimize the tackle opportunities available for Sheard, though he could notice an uptick in the 5.5 sacks he registered last season; over his career, Sheard has delivered three seven-plus sack campaigns, all of which came under coordinators who favored 4-3 defenses." Even at OLB, where he has seen fewer sacks across his career, his 5.74 PPG would have seen him finish as DL #26. He was the #5 DL as a rookie in 2011 with 7.45 PPG, top-20 with 5.88 PPG in 2012, top-35 with 5.48 PPG in 2013 (Again, even as an OLB), and top-25 with 6.63 PPG back as a DL in 2015. In other words, he's basically a lock for 7+ sacks and top-25 status in 2018)
Haha Clinton-Dix (WAS-DB) $5.5/1y ()
Michael Bennett (NE-DL) $2.5/1y (5 PPG #42 in points 68.98%, 85% for the Seahawks in 2017, Bennett finished 2017 as the #31 DL in points with 5.48 PPG. A top-25 DL by PPG in 2016, top-10 in 2015, top-40 in both 2014 and 2013, top-5 in 2012, and top-20 in 2011, he has a track record as one of the most consistent DL in both football and fantasy football. His average PFF grade over that time is of 87. He finished 2017 as the #36 EDGE with a grade of 80.6, but ranked as the #12 DE by PFF in 2016 with a grade of 86.4. Previous to that grade, Bennett had finished with a grade no lower than 85.4 over the previous 6 seasons. Bennett joined the top-pass rushing team in football in 2017 over the off-season, and should up his production and play now seeing next to no double teams)
I'm seeing what's out there for him, but ultimately might keep him. The big news is, his value increased today, as Bennett was traded from the Philadelphia Eagles to the New England Patriots. Bennett received strong marks from PFF in 2018, finishing 21st among EDGE defenders with a grade of 75.9, 17th in Pass Rushing grade, and producing 9 sacks, which was also tied for 17th, despite playing on just over 2/3 of the Eagles' defensive snaps. He's replacing Trey Flowers, the Patriots' outgoing DE, who finished 2018 in 18th, with 7.01 PPG, a top-5 overall grade, the 12th-best pass rushing grade, and 7.5 sacks. Among NE's remaining DEs, no returning player had a grade of even average (They were all below average in 2018). Flowers also played roughly 3/4 of all the Patriots' defensive snaps, so Bennett should see an increase in playing time in that role.
Since 2014, only Khalil Mack and Von Miller have generated more pressures than Bennett among EDGE rushers. In fact, last year he tied for third in the league (With Trey Flowers and J.J. Watt), with 78 pressures. He's generated multiple pressures in over 80% of his career games. He averaged 5 PPG, good for #42 in points among DL, but only played 68.98% of the Eagles' snaps. In 2017, Bennett finished as the #31 DL in points with 5.48 PPG. A top-25 DL by PPG in 2016, top-10 in 2015, top-40 in both 2014 and 2013, top-5 in 2012, and top-20 in 2011, he has a track record as one of the most consistent DL in both football and fantasy football. His average PFF grade over that time is of 87. He finished 2017 as the #36 EDGE with a grade of 80.6, but ranked as the #12 DE by PFF in 2016 with a grade of 86.4. Previous to that grade, Bennett had finished with a grade no lower than 85.4 over the previous 6 seasons. Bennett joined the top-pass rushing team in football in 2017 over the off-season, and should up his production and play now seeing next to no double teams
Emmanuel Sanders (DEN-WR) $3/1y (Prior to his 2017, which was marred by historically bad QB play and ankle injuries, Sanders was a top-25 WR with 10.82 PPG in 2016, a top-20 WR with 12.74 PPG in 2015, and the #6 WR in 2014 with 15.87 PPG. Clearly, he's demonstrated that he's one of the most-consistent performers at WR in football and fantasy football, and when healthy, his floor is top-25 production)
Tim Patrick (DEN-WR) $2.5/1y ()
Jamaal Williams (GB-RB) $3/3y ()
Devin McCourty (NE-DB) $3/2y ()
Latavius Murray (NO-RB) $3/2y ()
Tier 3-
Randy Bullock (CIN-K) $1/2y ()
What I'm Looking For
- Picks: I'm always listening out for/looking to add picks
- TE: I need a backup/future TE