Fantasy Football Impact: A WR Seeks A Trade And An Injured RB

In today's Fantasy Life Newsletter, presented by FantasyLife+:

I thought yesterday would be a drama-free day of fantasy football.

We kicked things off with Terry McLaurin and the Commanders coming to terms on a new deal worth up to $96 million, delighting Washington fans and fantasy gamers alike.

But then all hell broke loose— my definition of “hell” is fairly loose and colored by drafting way too many fantasy teams …

1) Jakobi Meyers requested to be traded from the Raiders.

Whoa, apparently Meyers isn’t thrilled about his contract and/or role on the team with two intriguing rookies—D’onte Thornton and Jack Bech—waiting in the wings, but it sounds like the Raiders have no plans to do so … or do they? Immediately following the rumors they announced that they signed WR Amari Cooper.

I’ve found Meyers’ price in drafts puzzling all year, with the impending target squeeze on tap and have only selected him in 5% of my drafts, as you can see from the Best Ball Hub:

I don’t love taking Raiders in managed leagues beyond Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty (and maybe Geno Smith as a QB2), but both of the aforementioned rookie WRs are nice, late-round dart throws in best ball.

2) Joe Mixon was placed on the reserve/non-football injury list.

We’ve been desperate for more details on this Mixon injury for some time now and we finally have something to work with—he’ll miss (at minimum) the first four games of the year.

Head coach DeMeco Ryans gave a fairly ominous quote about the situation, mentioning his “deep running back room,” with “guys who can get us through the season.”

Mixon should be completely off draft boards at this point. Here’s how I’d play the rest of the backfield…

If you need early-season RB production—maybe on a team with a few rookie RBs—Nick Chubb is the guy.

If you need an upside selection at the end of the draft—rookie Woody Marks is the pick.

If you are skeptical that a 29-year old RB coming off two reconstructive knee surgeries and a fourth-round rookie with a shaky production profile can do anything—Dameon Pierce is your guy.

WHAT ARE THEIR PROJECTIONS?

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Editors’ Picks

No messing around now. Let’s lock in. Our Fantasy Life Draft Kit is filled with information you need to get you ready. BTW, it’s FREE! If your league is an auction, our Auction Values Chart is a big help. And don’t forget our Draft Champion Mock Draft Simulator, presented by Gopuff, to get some practice in. Now before you draft, here’s more great content.

Worst Picks In Every Round

Can you really pass on Justin Jefferson in Round 1? Matthew Freedman goes round by round on the players he’s passing by.

Best Draft Position?

From 1.01 to 1.12, the debate rages on the best draft spot. Four of our experts propose their favorite draft slots. Is yours one of their favorites?

How High For Egbuka?

There may be no rookie who’s risen more during training camp than Emeka Egbuka. Sam Wallace updated his dynasty rankings for the Buccaneers rookie and a few others.

Week 3 Preseason Takeaways: Name That Player

Sure, we could highlight some players Dwain highlighted and make it easy for you—but why not do a game … within a game? Can you name this player??

He is Dwain’s most-drafted RB after Round 10 this preseason.
He was Thor’s RB12 in the NFL Draft, and his comp was Ahmad Bradshaw.
Quoth McFarland: “He is a cheap potential Week 1 surprise.”
Fantasy Life projections have him getting 713.5 total yards this season.
He broke Eddie Lacy’s rushing yards record at his high school.
His high school coach said this about him: “He's always got a smile on his face. He's always saying hello to people, whether it be the bus driver, the trainers, the managers, whoever. He goes out of his way to make people feel at ease when he's around.”
You can get his autographed card for under $5.

Think you have it? Click below and search for “potential Week 1 surprise” for the answer 👇👇👇

ALL OF DWAIN’S PRESEASON WEEK 3 TAKEAWAYS

Why Choose One When You Could Draft Them All?

Emeka Egbuka, TreVeyon Henderson, Tyler Warren, Jacory Crosky-Merritt.

These four rookies have been hyped up beyond measure. Whether they made the cut as potential league winners, highlighted as ADP risers, or as elite sleeper targets, they’re everywhere, and you can’t escape them.

With how quickly they’re scorching up draft boards, you’d think it’s almost impossible to get them all, right? And you’d be counting your lucky stars if you walked away from your draft with one of them?

John Laghezza is here to prove that theory wrong. In his latest 12-team mock draft, he walked away with not one, but ALL of them, and did it without reaching unreasonably!

Walk through how he built a powerhouse around Bijan Robinson and all of the buzzy players you can think of. Maybe you could apply this strategy to your own drafts this week …👀⤵️

WHAT AN ELITE BUILD

Stock Watch: Jaxson Dart To Take A Bite Of The Big Apple

Preseason games are done and 53-man rosters are about to be set. Fantasy drafts are happening left and right, and more to come over Labor Day Weekend. What a great time to be alive!

It’s also a great time for Mark Drumheller to take the temperature of all 32 NFL teams, with at least one player whose stock is either rising or falling as we steamroll to Week 1. And one of the biggest risers is a quarterback who may actually start the season holding a clipboard. But that won’t stop him from having a higher ADP than the team’s actual starter. ⬇️

OF COURSE WE HAVE MORE BILL

Around the Watercooler

The latest fantasy nuggets, silliness, and NFL gossip from our merry band of football nerds.

📈 Kendall and Ronis share their 3 favorite sleepers.

🎯 Top-10 preseason takeaways. A few Dart throws in here.

🐬 Uh oh, this Dolphins news doesn’t sound good. Keep drafting Ollie Gordon.

📣 How does BRob feel about joining the Niners? Here’s the dispatch.

🤔 RG3 has thoughts on the Browns QB. Interesting take.

📺️ Watch a live stream of a Guillotine Leagues^TM draft. Strategy and snipes galore.

🚚 Cleveland’s QB room got less crowded.

💪 Faith in 5 at No. 4.