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Running backs Saquon Barkley, Andre Swift and Clyde Edwards-Helaire have all been part of the injury toll for most of the preseason. Time is running out before fantasy football drafts are over, so owners need one last update on each of their statuses. Check out the latest news on three of the most intriguing RBs so you can adjust your rankings and cheat sheets accordingly.
Before diving into these, get an up-to-date look at the fantastic value of Michael Thomas. here and that of Deshaun Watson here. For news of position battles, Click here. For all the latest fantastic news, follow us on Twitter @SN_Fantasy.
DOMINATE YOUR PROJECT: Ultimate 2021 Cheat Sheet
PPR FANTASY 2021 RANKS:
Strategist | To recover | Wide receiver | Tight end | D / ST | Kicker | First 200
Does Saquon Barkley play in week 1?
Barkley has been a mainstay of our Fantastic Injury updates, and we received one final nugget of news ahead of the final Fantasy Football Draft weekend. Yesterday, Barkley made contact for the first time since her ACL rupture almost a year ago. While this still isn’t groundbreaking news and doesn’t give us a clear update on his Week 1 status, it is somewhat significant. Looks like Barkley could play, but it all depends on how the Giants decide to handle his situation. The smart thing of course would be to play it safe with him if it takes another week. So while his Week 1 status remains uncertain at the moment, he is moving in the right direction. Our best guess is that it will be a game time decision, but with the way things go it becomes more and more likely that he is at least ready for week 2.
If you need help deciding whether or not to draft Barkley in the first round, Click here.
Barkley is our No. 4 RB in Standard Leagues and 3rd RB in PPR, although the risk is clearly present. His range of results is anywhere between being the RB1 overall to another season of injury-related frustrations.
STANDARD FANTASY 2021 RANKS:
Strategist | To recover | Wide receiver | Tight end | D / ST | Kicker | First 200
Does Andre Swift play in week 1?
As we get closer to Week 1, concerns about Swift (groin) continue to grow. Last week, Lions head coach Dan Campbell expressed concern about the second year backstroke’s availability for week 1 and what it might look like after missing most of the offseason workouts. However, better news arrived today and Detroit general manager Brad Holmes said Swift looks explosive so far in practice. While both pieces of information come from the men inside the Lions building, it’s good to hear the shift from worry to positivity. Oh how can things change quickly. Holmes said it remains to be seen how much Swift will play, but he almost hinted that Swift is ready for Week 1 to some extent. Of course, that could change, so be sure to stay tuned for the latest injury information.
If he dresses for week 1, he is likely to receive less contact than usual. A 50/50 split between him and Jamaal Williams could be in order. Still, he remains one of the best values in the draft as he often falls in the third or fourth round.
Swift is our 17th RB in the standard leagues and No. 16 RB in PPR leagues. His highest cap is in PPR, as we’ve seen bad infractions produce fantastic RBs with heavy passing volume in the past.
FANTASY SLEEPING 2021:
Strategist | To recover | Wide receiver | Tight end | D / ST | Each team
Clyde Edwards-Helaire Injury Update
Edwards-Helaire suffered a sprained ankle in a Chiefs preseason game, but he should definitely be ready for Week 1. You shouldn’t worry about his availability, but rather his high ADP with a history of intimidating injuries early in your career. According to FantasyPros ADP, he bypasses the last pick of the second round. It’s not that he can’t match that ADP, but is that his cap at this point? It can be difficult to draft a player at their absolute cap. With so many elite fantastic mouths to feed at KC, CEH feels like a risk, especially with recurring injuries.
We all want the Chiefs offense to produce a top-five season because that would be fun or fantastic football. The problem is, the offense will never pass through it as the Panthers, Vikings, and Titans pass through Christian McCaffrey, Dalvin Cook, and Derrick Henry respectively. If he slips in the middle of the third round he now becomes a value, but in 24th place in the draft you give up on a player like Justin Jefferson or AJ Brown – who seem to have higher ceilings and higher floors. Don’t be afraid to stray from both RBs in the first two rounds strategy. As noted above, Swift will likely be there for the take later.
2021 FANTASY LEVELS AND DRAFT STRATEGY:
Strategist | To recover | Wide receiver | Tight end | D / ST
CEH is our RB11 as standard and RB9 in PPR. Our rankings indicate that could and should be a fantastic stallion, but be weary of where you take him to the draft, especially in the standard leagues.
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