Preseason Week 2 Flames: Eddie Lacy rumbles down Thunder Road

There’s a large contingent of football fans that staunchly believe preseason games are completely inconsequential. To these naysayers, they’re nothing more than an evaluation phase for head coaches looking to comprise the best 53-man roster. However, most fanatics would vehemently disagree. Exhibition action gives owners the opportunity to gain invaluable insight into potential sleepers and busts. In an attempt to decipher the meaningful from the meaningless, here are my top-five Flames from Preseason Week 2.

Marvin Jones, Det, WR (70.7, WR37) – Practically snoring he was sleeping so hard, Jones took center stage inside Ford Field Thursday night. Clearly motivated facing his former employer, Cincinnati, the unheralded target commanded the attention of onlookers both in person and afar. On the Lions’ opening drive, he hauled in three consecutive Matthew Stafford passes for 56 yards. The eye-popping ball-adjustment and body control skills exhibited certainly sent fantasy hearts aflutter. Bengals corner Dre Kirkpatrick had no answer. Jones was only sporadically useful last year with Cincy, but he still posted the third-best contested catch rate among eligible WRs. A preeminent scoring threat, he also ranked No. 1 in red-zone catch percentage (85.7) in 2013. His length, deceptive 4.48 40-yard speed and dexterity will inflict heavy damage in an offense that should register abundant snaps. While some ‘experts’ exalt Torrey Smith and Kevin White, Jones is the sexier target available around the same time. If he coaxes 120-130 passes, it’s probable he finishes close to 70-1050-9.

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Eddie Lacy, GB, RB (31.1, RB11) – Wisconsin’s rolling block of cheddar is back. And he’s about to flatten everyone and everything in his path. Though Brett Hundley manned the controls over an inactive Aaron Rodgers, Lacy turned back the clock to 2014 and resembled the bone-crushing, thunderous runner who took the league by storm in his first two seasons. His reported shed belly folds just may have saved his career. On nine carries versus Cleveland, Lacy bulled through gang tackles, cut aggressively and even exploded off tackle totaling 45 yards with a touchdown. Running behind what many consider an ascending run-blocking line and with a future Hall of Fame QB under center, it’s entirely believable he rekindles the RB6 magic (1,566 total yards, 13 TDs) of two years ago. The most titillating part: He’s still predominately going in Round 3 of 12-team exercises. Acquire him at the spot and ridicule your leaguemates.

Jeremy Langford, Chi, RB (73.5, RB27) – Admittedly, Ryan Lochte might be smarter than the fantasy community right now. It’s truly debatable. Raked over the coals by statisticians, Langford, who ranked outside the RB top-75 in yards after contact average and tackles avoided per attempt in 2015, might be the biggest ‘expert’ whiff of the early season. Thursday against New England, Langford was nimble, assertive and displayed excellent vision. Most importantly, the rumored ‘committee’ back dominated touches with the Bears first team. To his credit, the rusher performed admirably against the Chargers and Rams in a full-time role last season. In those contests he amassed 324 total yards (on 48 touches) and found the end-zone three times. Still, his underlying numbers sounded alarms, but his efforts against New England (nine touches, 64 total yards and a TD) poked holes in the popular ‘avoid’ summer narrative. If his first-rate play carries over into next week’s dress rehearsal versus Kansas City it will be time to reassess. And that’s assuming his foot setback doesn’t prove more serious. Then again, we may have already reached that point. Similar to Jeremy Hill, Arian Foster and Melvin Gordon, he’s a potential volume (16-18 touches per game?) rusher available on the sale rack.

Robert Griffin III, Cle, QB (192.7, QB28) – Heptathlete sidepieces apparently do wonders. RGIII, without Josh Gordon and Corey Coleman, was a passing powder keg Thursday versus Atlanta. He played relaxed, showcased beautiful deep-ball touch, took advantage of what the defense gave him and, in general, unearthed the phenom from his rookie season in Washington. Nearly impeccable and a step up from his uneven Preseason Week 1 effort, he completed six of eight passes for 96 yards and two touchdowns. He also chipped in 36 ground yards. That last stat is why RGIII is intriguing. It’s extremely doubtful he’ll surpass 800 rush yards again, but he could be this year’s Tyrod Taylor, a minimally drafted, multidimensional quarterback who could penetrate the QB top-12. High comedy? Think about his situation. The Browns defense is suspect at best and the weapons around him aren’t exactly a motley crew. Gordon, Coleman, Gary Barnidge, Duke Johnson and an emerging Terrelle Pryor are nothing to scoff at. If the resurrection continues, he’s yet another reason why QB is the Marianas Trench of fantasy positions.

Tajae Sharpe, Ten, WR (189.4, WR72) – While most are bestowing greatness on Sterling Shepard and Corey Coleman, Sharpe, very quietly, is stating his case to be the rookie wide receiver to covet. The new Billy Volek to Drew Bennett, Steve McNair to Derrick Mason? The Titans don’t exactly have a storied history when it comes to vertical combinations, but Marcus Mariota to Sharpe could change that. The pair where practically inseparable Saturday against Carolina. Targeted seven times, the rookie from Victor Cruz U caught six passes for 68 yards. His willingness to climb the ladder, fight through traffic and do the dirty work underneath greatly impressed. His finest highlight: Snagging a contested pass across the middle with two defenders draped on him. The fifth-round pick isn’t the fastest or strongest wide receiver in this rookie class, but he’s long, cunning, precise in his routes and highly reliable. He dropped only seven passes on 204 catchable balls his last two collegiate seasons at UMass. Sharpe is the reason why Dorial Green-Beckham was expendable. The Titans offense will be run focused, but the youngster is a dirt-cheap option who could top out in the 60-70 catch, 850-900 yard, 4-6 TD range.

Quick Hitters: It might be time to start taking Pryor as a wide receiver seriously. The former Raiders quarterback hauled in a teardrop from RGIII and dusted his defender for a 50-yard score. No one ever questioned Pryor’s athleticism, but his advancements as a receiver have been eye-opening. Coleman’s bothersome hammy and Gordon’s possible sluggishness upon activation suggest Pryor, of all people, could be the Browns target to own … Extend that go-go-gadget arm for Jeremy Hill. The disrespected rusher, going often after the first 24 backs fall off the board, buried his tentative demeanor from last fall and plowed his way to three carries for 16 yards and a TD in Detroit. Remember, as deplorable as he was a season ago, he still finished RB14 in total points. His 69.3 ADP is highway robbery. Bank on at least 1,200 combined yards and double-digit scores. … Sticking in Cincy, I’m waiving the white flag on rookie Tyler Boyd. The svelte youngster, who I thought would struggle adjusting to the next level due to his skinny frame, continues to defy my low expectations. A standout in camp, he followed up a strong Preseason debut with two catches for 38 yards and a score. Ultra-versatile and smooth in his routes, he will likely benefit greatly from Tyler Eifert’s slow recovery and the attention A.J. Green draws. Highlight his name for the late rounds (158.4 ADP, WR59). …

Jimmy Garoppolo will be a DFS difference maker Week 1 in Arizona. Yes, the opponent is tough, but the Eastern Illinois product has shown composure, accuracy and command this Preseason. Granted it was against a Chicago defense with several inefficiencies, but Garoppolo was nothing short of brilliant completing 16 of 21 passes for 181 yards and a TD. And that was without Rob Gronkowski, Julian Edelman and Dion Lewis. Stream him merrily over the regular season’s first four weeks … Christine Michael is a love potion worth chugging in challenging formats. His low-to-the-ground style, laser vision and quick acceleration were front and center against Minnesota. On the night he gained 64 yards on 11 touches. One more studly effort and he’s sure to force a dreaded RBBC, presumably dominating pass-down work until C.J. Prosise proves competent. Shiver Thomas Rawls backers … Important to note, Ryan Mathews faders should chase Kenjon Barner. The former Duck has raced past injured rookie Wendall Smallwood for the backup role. When Mathews’ tendons inevitably dissolve, Barner could be the guy in Philly (6-41-1, 1-4-0 vs. Pit Thursday) …

If/when Tony Romo is hit by random space junk, Dak Prescott will immediately become a player of fantasy interest. Through two games, the rookie has exhibited remarkable poise, presence, accuracy and versatility. Working against mostly second-string ‘Fins he rolled up 199 passing yards (12-of-15), 28 rush yards and four total TDs (two pass, two rush). Jerry Jones isn’t blowing smoke. The kid is transitioning beautifully … Tyrod Taylor remains stupidly undervalued. The reigning No. 8 QB last season in fantasy points per game was radiant against the Giants completing seven of 10 passes for 132 yards and a TD. One of the league’s ultimate multidimensional scorers, he ranked top-10 last year in passer rating, yards per attempt and fantasy points per dropback. Considering Buffalo’s suspension/injury issues on defense and Sammy Watkins’ presence, T-mobile is undeniably one of the virtual game’s most exceptional values (134.5 ADP, QB15) … This year’s out-of-nowhere Gary Barnidge, might be Virgil Green. Only sporadically used as a receiver, the sixth-year man is finally getting an opportunity to flex his sterling metrics. Locals walking the Broncos beat have sung Green’s praises this summer and, so far, his camp efforts have translated onto the field. Through two Preseason games, he’s caught all seven targets for 83 yards. In an offense that features numerous two-TE sets and with a possible inexperienced QB(s) under center (Trevor Siemian or Paxton Lynch), he could become fantasy viable.

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