Fantasy Football 2017 Team Preview: Tennessee Titans
This is the 2017 fantasy preview of the Tennessee Titans. In this preview I will provide the Must-Own players, Sleepers, and Longshot players with upside very deep in drafts.
Must-own players are those who should be owned by someone in any league. Handcuff RBs can qualify, as they are often very important to a fantasy team over the full schedule. Sleepers are secondary players that you may find on the waiver wire at some point in the year, or may go undrafted in shallower auction-style leagues. The Longshots are players with microscopic ADP, who are being drafted at the very end of drafts, or more likely not drafted at all.
All ADP data is courtesy of FantasyPros.com.
**I will list all kickers, but I cannot give analysis on them. Sorry :-/
MUST OWNS
DeMarco Murray, RB (ADP: 11): Murray returned to being a workhorse in 2016, and you know what? He reminded us all he’s one of the best running backs in football. Murray had a terrible 2015, but it turns out he was simply a bad fit for Chip Kelly’s offense. Last year Murray totaled 1,664 total yards (1,287 rushing) and scored 12 touchdowns. Some folks are worried that Derrick Henry is going to start eating into Murray’s workload, but even if Murray cedes some carries, that will only serve to keep him fresh. Murray remains the focal point of the offense, and he’ll see no fewer than 250 rushing attempts as long as he stays healthy. He’s a safe, fine first round pick.
Marcus Mariota, QB (ADP: 65): Mariota is quite possibly my favorite breakout pick of 2017. He’s now the sixth QB off the board, which is much earlier than when I fell in love with him as a sleeper, but I think that ADP is warranted. He’s proven he can take care of the rock by throwing 45 career touchdowns against only 19 interceptions, and when he contributes on the ground he’s fantasy gold. He scored four total touchdowns in three different games last season, and rushed for 60 or more yards twice. The only things holding Mariota back are attempts – he threw fewer than 30 times in seven games in 2016 – and rushing work. If the Titans choose to utilize his rushing talent, he honestly has QB1 upside. I’m not predicting he gets there, but I am predicting his has the year most think is in store for Russell Wilson, who is going two rounds earlier.
Delanie Walker, TE (ADP: 77): I’m still a believer in Walker being a quality fantasy TE, but this ADP is too high. The 1,088-yard, six-touchdown season in 2015 was fun for fantasy owners, but it was also an outlier. More realistically, Walker is going to give you about 800 yards and six touchdowns. That’s still very good for a TE, but it’s not so good you can’t get it two or three rounds later. With the uptick in mouths to feed in Tennessee, Walker seems like the one who will take a hit.
Derrick Henry, RB (ADP: 88): Henry, a former Heisman Trophy winner, remains one of the great unknowns of fantasy. Would he be a Top 10 back if he got the lion’s share of carries? Maybe, but 2017 will be another year of not knowing because he remains stuck behind Murray. I’m not even complaining because Murray’s so good there’s no reason to force feed Henry, as good as he may be. Due to Murray’s age, Henry is as close to a must-own handcuff as there is, so Murray owners would be wise to reach for him. Some weeks Henry will have standalone value, but it’ll be hard to predict when. 88th overall is steep for non-Murray owners, but the upside in the event of an injury is tremendous.
Eric Decker, WR (ADP: 95): If there’s any reason to see Walker fall off the fantasy map, it’ll be because Decker stole his touchdowns. Decker has posted three double-digit touchdown seasons, and while I see 80 receptions as a ceiling for him here, eight to 10 touchdowns aren’t out of the question. I don’t expect Decker to finish as a WR1 for fantasy, nor as a top-tier WR2 in PPR. He is going to be a touchdown-dependent, but high-upside WR2, who plays better in standard format.
Corey Davis, WR (ADP: 111): Davis may start slow after missing the whole preseason, but this Top 10 pick has insane upside. The Western Michigan product put up video game numbers as a senior, posting a 1,500-yard, 19-touchdown campaign. He put up 1,400 yards or better for three straight seasons in college, notching double-digit touchdowns in all of them. He stands at 6’2, weighs 205 lbs., and although he wasn’t able to run the 40-yard-dash, has plenty of film displaying NFL-caliber speed. Once he and Mariota develop rapport, Davis is going to morph into a must-start WR2.
SLEEPERS
Rishard Matthews, WR (ADP: 132): Matthews was a fantasy lifesaver for many who suffered injuries to guys like A.J. Green only to snap him up off the scrap heap. He’s still a big, talented guy, but his value figures to drop with the additions of Decker and Davis to steal his TD thunder. I like Matthews early in the season while Davis gets his sea legs, but Matthews is someone to try to trade high if he gets off to a fast start in 2017.
LONGSHOTS
Jace Amaro, TE (ADP: N/A): Amaro has done nothing in the NFL since being taken in the second round of the 2014 draft by the Jets, but this will be Amaro’s first rodeo in a good offense. If Walker, 33, gets hurt, Amaro is next in line for targets. Do NOT draft him, but also don’t shy away if Walker misses time for some reason.
KICKER
Ryan Succop.