Ian Ritchie's Picks
Current Rank: #4
From: Seattle, WA
Comeback Player: NEP QB Tom Brady - I love veterans that other fantasy players undervalue. I know he is turning 37 this year, but as he has said publicly; he is in the best shape of his life. The Patriots drafted QB Jimmy Garoppolo in the second round and nothing motivates a player like seeing his intended replacement on the roster. It certainly doesn’t hurt that his young wideouts have a year under their belt, Rob Gronkowski is back and Danny Amendola is at full strength. Trust in Tom.
Bust Player: GBP RB Eddie Lacy - I have never been a fan of big, slow backs with injury issues. I love the Packers offense but I hate Lacy and his 35 catches and 4.1 YPC. When you do not catch the ball out of the backfield, your touches become limited and you run the risk of being left out of a pass-happy offense. You may think I am crazy but I am telling you right now, avoid, avoid, avoid.
Breakout Player: DEN WR Emmanuel Sanders - Sanders is a good NFL receiver that just fell into an amazing situation with Peyton Manning throwing him the football. Anytime you can be a starting wideout with Manning at the helm, you can bank on good to great numbers. This is a situation-based play and a safe mid-round Breakout target. I think Sanders scores double digit TDs and has 1,200-plus yards receiving and if Wes Welker goes down, the sky is the limit.
Stash and Cash: NYG WR Jerrel Jernigan - I expect a huge bounce back season from Eli Manning and one of the biggest beneficiaries of that will be Jerrel Jernigan. After losing Hakeem Nicks last season, Rueben Randle is expected to step in and be a big contributor on the outside. Problem is he lacks consistency. It opens up an opportunity for a guy like Jernigan that you can stash on your roster and reap the rewards. In limited opportunities, he has performed well and I think he is a great late round risk.
Sleeper: NEP WR Danny Amendola - Shh! Everyone is really quiet this year on Danny Amendola. Not me. I love Amendola and a lot of it has to do with what I think Tom Brady will do. Amendola is a reception machine and Brady will go to him non-stop. Having Aaron Dobson and Kenbrell Thompkins a year older will only help spread the attention, and if Gronkowski stays healthy, it will leave a lot of wide open space for for my guy, Amendola. Let people talk about and draft Edelman and let them overpay while you sit back and take Amendola and count on him every week.