The Fantasy Football season is very close to starting and that means it's time to start thinking about which players to draft in 2017 fantasy football. In the last Fantasy Football Weekly post, we took a look at eight fantasy football sleepers that could make some noise this year. In this article, we'll take a look at eight players who aren't likely to provide a return on value in 2017.
1. Saints Receiver Michael Thomas
My least favorite player this season is New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas. Thomas was the 9th best fantasy wide receiver in 2017, averaging 9.8 fantasy points each game.
Thomas did manage to play in every game last year, which helped him notch eight double digit fantasy performances last season.
Now Brandin Cooks is gone, and everyone seems to think Thomas will immediately become a top 10 wide receiver easily. Why? Cooks wasn't a top 10 fantasy receiver in drafts last year, and Thomas shouldn't be this year.
Drew Brees spreads the ball around too much for any fantasy owner to draft Michael Thomas at the 15th spot in 2017 fantasy drafts. Avoid him and instead pick Jordy Nelson, Mike Evans, Dez Bryant, or T.Y. Hilton instead.
2. Vikings Tight End Kyle Rudolph
Rudolph finished as the 3rd best fantasy Tight End last season, averaging 7.5 fantasy points per game. Despite that, Rudolph only posted double digit fantasy games five times, and one of them was in week 17.
Sam Bradford might target him a lot, but it's hard to see Rudolph improving upon his season last year. For that reason, there's NO way he should be drafted at 65. Avoid Rudolph and wait to take a tight end until the later rounds, as they do not typically score too many points.
3. Dolphins Running Back Jay Ajayi
He was really good for certain games last year, but Ajayi's production tailed off significantly in the last few games of the season.
In his last eight games, Ajayi scored double digit fantasy point totals just 2 times, and one of those times was against a Bills defense that couldn't tackle anybody. Now that Tannehill is injured, the Dolphins might lean more heavily on the run game, but that won't help Ajayi. He got almost 20 carries in every single one of those games last season and still couldn't score fantasy points.
Do yourself a favor and avoid drafting Ajayi in the second round of 2017 fantasy football drafts.
4. Rams Wide Receiver Sammy Watkins
When Sammy was on the Buffalo Bills, I was already against drafting him. Now that he's on the Rams, he's borderline undraftable in 2017 fantasy football leagues. Jared Goff is an undeniably terrible quarterback, and even if Watkins does manage to stay healthy, it's hard to see how he could finish as even a top 20 wide receiver on a Rams offense that featured virtually zero startable fantasy wide receivers last season.
5. Ravens Running Back Danny Woodhead
Why is Woodhead being drafted in ESPN fantasy leagues as if he is a starting running back? There's no indication that he's going to be the main guy in Baltimore, and even if he is, Joe Flacco and the Ravens much prefer throwing the ball to running it.
All of that makes for a bad combination, and means that fantasy owners should dodge Woodhead at the 55th spot and consider other options.
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