Sports Guy: Preseason Week 2

It's that time of the year again, the sun is too big, the hatch green chilis are in, and Fantasy Football (FF) has returned! Sports Guy is here to help you through yet another losing season of FF!

The beginning of the season is the best of times: new horizons, bright outlooks, draft hype, you haven't paid your league entry fee yet, and best yet, your team is still undefeated. Hope is high. Whether you're a FF noob, or a veteran, there is always something new to learn for the coming season. Sports Guy will provide you with preseason takeaways to help you prepare for draft day. So, hop on my shoulders, take my hand, saddle me up and lets ride into that big blue unknown that is this season!

Who's UP?

Najee Harris (Steelers, RB): 4 carries for 10 yards, 2 receptions for 53 yards...every year you have to decide: is this the year you take the highly rated rookie RB, and this time, it's yes, yes you should. (Keep in mind, it's preseason, he did not play the whole game.) The yards on the ground aren't great but 2 receptions for 53? With an older Roethlisberger who may want to dump off safe passes rather than chunk it for 40 yards, Sports Guy is sold.

Marquez Callaway (Saints, WR): 5 receptions for 104 yards, 2 TDs...Undrafted, 2nd year, and is already a clear favorite by the Saints eventual, new QB, Jameis Winston. Callaway is probably a ways down the draft list, so you may still be able to get him for cheap. Also worth noting, Jameis looked great. He will still likely post his occasional 3 Int. games but if you're looking for a later round QB steal, there he is!

Zach Wilson (Jets, QB): 128 yards, 2 TDs...I know what you're thinking, "I thought the Jets were banned from playing after what they did to my T.V. last year." They do still in fact play, they got rid of their old coach, brought in San Francisco's old defensive coach, and are ready to finally finish with a better record than the Patriots this year. Wilson is a rookie, he will be up and down but look for him to have a breakout year. Look for Corey Davis (Jets, WR) and Tyler Kroft (Jets, TE) to produce.

Who's DOWN?

Patrick Mahomes (KC, QB): 78 yards, 1 Int., 2 carries 10 yards...I know what you're thinking, again! "Shut up, Sports Guy!" Yes, Sports Guy will happily eat these words in 3 weeks when KC leads the AFC West. Historically, teams that lose the Super Bowl do not play well the next year. Patrick will probably play fine this year but it won't be as good as last year or the year before that, so if you're drafting him early, instead take Josh Allen (Buffalo, QB).

Dallas Cowboys (Just the whole friggin' team): Here's what the Dallas front office keeps telling Sports Guy, "Dak will be ready to play week 1."

Sports Guy:

Look, Sports Guy wants him to play, obviously. But the team is built around Dak, if something is wrong with him (his shoulder, lack of practice, ankle) then there's something wrong with the whole team. Sports Guy doesn't trust head coach Mike McCarthy to operate a run game (see Green Bay) and the backup QBs all looked rough. One note of improvement, the Dallas Defense looked markedly better, making the night very difficult for Tyrod Taylor (Buffalo, QB). But if you're looking for defenses, look no further than the Texans D, who strip sacked Dallas on their opening drive.

Joe Mixon (Bengals, RB): 2 carries for 4 yards, 1 reception for 8 yards...Every year they rate Joe at the turnaround spot from round 1 to round 2 in the draft and every year he gets taken. Don't be that person this year! If he falls to you in round 3 or 4, sure. But he is not an elite RB. If you have this spot in the draft, instead take Gibson (Washington, RB), Jacobs (Raiders, RB), or Carson (Seattle, RB). None of them will win you the league but they will be solid borderline RB1/2s.

Team Spotlight: Invest in Electricity

Do yourself a favor this draft and go electric, with Ford's all new, L.A. Chargers. Justin Herbert (Chargers, QB) had a huge season last year, it went less noticed because the Chargers are good at losing. They are not a bad team, many of their loses are in close games and they have to play KC twice a year. In PPR leagues (points per reception) Austin Ekeler (Chargers, RB) has a promising season ahead, while Keenan Allen (Chargers, WR) has solid WR2 numbers.

Rule 1: Don't set your draft too early

To all league Commissioners out there, set your draft as late as possible, preferably 20 minutes before the Bucs take on Dallas for week 1. If you've already drafted, bummer. The later you draft, the better; avoid preseason injuries and see as much of teams/players as possible before it's too late.

End of the Line

Sports Guy will return next week for preseason week 3 takeaways and a Draft Guide. Feel free to comment and let Sports Guy know what you'd like to hear more of, or less of, or of of...So, farewell!