2014 Keeper Help - Joe

[averagejoe]

It's a 12-team redraft PPR league that also rewards return yardage same as rushing/receiving yards. I can keep only one player (and each team must select a lone keeper), and the keeper has zero impact on the draft.

These are my choices:

QB Nick Foles
RB Zac Stacy
WR Michael Crabtree
RB Andre Ellington
Others eligible for keeping: RB Bobby Rainey, TE Dennis Pitta, WR Tavon Austin, WR Harry Douglas, RB Donald Brown, LB Von Miller, DB Barry Church, LB Vontaze Burfict

I may bump this thread as we get closer to our August draft date.

Michael Crabtree - Call me crazy, but right now I'm leaning toward either Crabtree or Foles. Mostly Crabtree. He and Kaps seem to have good chemistry. He does find ways to get hurt though.

Nick Foles - was awesome last year, but generally don't like to take chances on players with a limited history. And all Foles has is 11 starts. It makes me nervous.

Zach Stacy - I'm sure there is an advantage to keeping a starting RB like Stacy or Ellington. But 2nd-year RB can have regrettable ""sophomore slumps." That term didn't come about because only a few players go through it. I've also seen reports that Stacy may not be a favorite of the Rams coaching staff and that Tre Mason could finish the season as the starter.

Andre Ellington - I've also seen negative reports on Ellington that they think he's too small. Some speculate if he can handle a heavier workload, since he's never had more than 15 touches a game.

What's your opinions?

 

[TKOSpikes]

After Stacy came on last year, I don't see how the Rams' coaching staff see him as anything other than their lead horse. He gets my vote.

I wouldn't touch Foles as a keeper in this scenario, but your Crabtree thoughts do not deem you crazy, IMO. Is this a 3 WR roster, or flex? Might make the difference for me... but I still think I'd lean Stacy either way.

 

[averagejoe]

Is this a 3 WR roster, or flex? Might make the difference for me... but I still think I'd lean Stacy either way.

2 RB
1 RB/WR flex
1 WR
1 WR/TE flex
1 TE

So you could start 3 RB and 2 WR or start 2 RB and 3 WR.

 

[TKOSpikes]

... or 3 RB, 1 WR, and 2 TE?

I guess it might depend on how many top 10 WR are kept... my guess would be not many. Crabby takes a hit, IMO. Stacy gets a bigger bump.

 

[tlance]

... or 3 RB, 1 WR, and 2 TE?

I guess it might depend on how many top 10 WR are kept... my guess would be not many. Crabby takes a hit, IMO. Stacy gets a bigger bump.

Even if you started 3 WR and 2 RBs, Stacy would be the better choice. Crabtree is good, but he is not a difference maker. There will be a dozen WRs of equal or better value available in the draft.

Most, if not all of the RBs of Stacy's caliber will be gone.

Also, it would be silly to keep Foles for the same reason.

 

[Sam Sportboy]

It's a 12-team redraft PPR league that also rewards return yardage same as rushing/receiving yards. I can keep only one player (and each team must select a lone keeper), and the keeper has zero impact on the draft.

These are my choices:

QB Nick Foles
RB Zac Stacy
WR Michael Crabtree
RB Andre Ellington
Others eligible for keeping: RB Bobby Rainey, TE Dennis Pitta, WR Tavon Austin, WR Harry Douglas, RB Donald Brown, LB Von Miller, DB Barry Church, LB Vontaze Burfict

I may bump this thread as we get closer to our August draft date.

Michael Crabtree - Call me crazy, but right now I'm leaning toward either Crabtree or Foles. Mostly Crabtree. He and Kaps seem to have good chemistry. He does find ways to get hurt though.

Nick Foles - was awesome last year, but generally don't like to take chances on players with a limited history. And all Foles has is 11 starts. It makes me nervous.

Zach Stacy - I'm sure there is an advantage to keeping a starting RB like Stacy or Ellington. But 2nd-year RB can have regrettable ""sophomore slumps." That term didn't come about because only a few players go through it. I've also seen reports that Stacy may not be a favorite of the Rams coaching staff and that Tre Mason could finish the season as the starter.

Andre Ellington - I've also seen negative reports on Ellington that they think he's too small. Some speculate if he can handle a heavier workload, since he's never had more than 15 touches a game.

What's your opinions?

Yeah Joe, been reading the same about Mason but if you want Crabby my guess is you could draft him. Stacy, not so sure he'd be there for ya..............I'd keep Stacy and hope for no slump although I really like Crabby this year.

 

[The Foot]

Joe I would look real hard at Ellington.

Foles lost his QB coach so that could effect him a bit but he should be fine and would be second on my list. Stacey would be third but he is going to lose touches to Tre Mason whom I believe is a superior runner. Crab has too many mouths to feed and not to mention that is a run oriented team in the first place so id put him fifth and I am sticking to my guns that Tavon whom I'd put fourth (maybe first but that would be crazy cause you could redraft him) on this list is going to explode this year.

 

[The Foot]

id go ellington or foles and call it a day!

 

[TREFF]

Stacy, for all the reasons already mentioned by others.
The only other option is consider is Ellington, and I'm neither sold on his ability to handle a full workload all season, nor his ability to hang on to to the job.

 

[Barilko]

Stacy, for all the reasons already mentioned by others.
The only other option is consider is Ellington, and I'm neither sold on his ability to handle a full workload all season, nor his ability to hang on to to the job.

Ditto what he said

 

[SteelersPride]

Even if you started 3 WR and 2 RBs, Stacy would be the better choice. Crabtree is good, but he is not a difference maker. There will be a dozen WRs of equal or better value available in the draft.

Most, if not all of the RBs of Stacy's caliber will be gone.

Also, it would be silly to keep Foles for the same reason.

this is what i was thinking, and i think you have to go stacy.......the upside is large there.......and well the line got better, and the talent is around him..........hes gotta be your guy........

 

[SteelersPride]

personally i find it hard to believe mason reports this earlier and think its just smoke to motivate stacy even more

 

[SmokingMonkey]

personally i find it hard to believe mason reports this earlier and think its just smoke to motivate stacy even more

agree. pass protection keeps Mason off the field this season. he's gotta cover Bradford's butt or he won't get any playing time.

 

[averagejoe]

agree. pass protection keeps Mason off the field this season. he's gotta cover Bradford's butt or he won't get any playing time.

Hmmm. There's still plenty of time for this to play out, but here's another report dated today courtesy of Rotoworld:

Rams OC Brian Schottenheimer stated Wednesday that Zac Stacy is "not guaranteed" St. Louis' starting running back job.
​

Schotty said rookie Tre Mason "and others" are in the hunt. In late March, coach Jeff Fisher said he envisioned Stacy as "probably a 70-percent of the carries" back "over time," perhaps with "others" like Mason and Benny Cunningham mixing in. Fisher made that comment before drafting Mason with a top-75 pick, though. We still expect Stacy to handle the vast majority of carries for the run-heavy 2014 Rams. Mason could be a useful year-one change-of-pace back. Jun 18 - 2:27 PM
​

 

[leftypower]

Obviously you don't have to make a choice right away, but based upon supply and demand, I see Stacy as your guy. If the roamers turn out to be true, then Ellington would be my next choice.


It's only mid-June and there is a lot of hype about all the rookies out there right now - - but it seems to die down as we get closer to the season. Happens every year. ....

 

[Bandit]

I think you have to go with Stacy. Crabtree is just too fragile and the 49ers completely abandon the pass far too often to trust him. My brother is a huge Clemson fan and he thinks that Ellington is the exact type back that Spiller is and he will break down with too many touches and I tend to agree with that assessment. I would never keep a quarterback in that scenario anyway, because there are just too many good ones to keep one, so Foles is out too. I know that the coaching staff might not be in love with Stacy, but I still think he has the most upside.

 

[averagejoe]

It's a 12-team redraft PPR league that also rewards return yardage same as rushing/receiving yards. I can keep only one player (and each team must select a lone keeper), and the keeper has zero impact on the draft.

RB Zac Stacy
RB Andre Ellington

Well, its been about a month. I was leaning toward Stacy a month ago, but I think I may go with Ellington as my keeper. Why?

Tre Mason is rumored to be competing for the starting job. Doesn't seem that Stacy and his 3.9 ypc has won over the Rams coaching staff. I'm getting cold feet about Stacy.

Meanwhile, Ellington virtually has zero competition. In fact, Arians has said that the starting job is his. And unlike the Rams, the Cards didn't draft another back.

Is someone going to talk me off of the ledge?

 

[wilwhite]

Not me. I think I'd have Ellington ranked a few spots higher than Stacy.

Stacy was a solid player in a bad stable of RBs last year, but I think most of his career will be as a valuable and reliable backup. STL just has to believe that somebody else looks like a starter starter to push him aside. Dunno yet if Mason can do that.

Unlike the Broncos, the QB has no clout in St. Louis, so I don't think pass protection and crisp execution will be the decisive factors at RB that they were last year in Denver.

 

[TKOSpikes]

I won't talk you out of it either...although I would still go with Stacy. One thing is for sure, if there's a boat for Ellington, I will miss it.

 

[TREFF]

Stacy would be my choice. . But it's by so little that I certainly wouldn't argue it much.