Brandon Marshall’s dynasty value hinges heavily on his quarterback situation
Buffalo Bills
Sammy Watkins (WR – BUF)
Watkins could be one of the best receivers in the league, but he has two things holding him back: his quarterback situation and his injury history. Tyrod Taylor was fine as a fantasy quarterback last year, but I’m skeptical of his ability as a real-life quarterback. The rushing yards are great, but they won’t help Watkins’ owners.
Plus, Taylor is entering his contract year, and he may not be back next year. If not Taylor, Watkins’ quarterback beyond 2016 could be any number of people. It could be someone better or worse than Taylor, but the uncertainty is enough to make his owners nervous.
As for the injuries, Watkins has only missed three games in his first two seasons, but he always seems banged up, and he’s already dealing with a foot injury. Of course, Julio Jones had injury problems in his third season, and he’s turned out alright. Watkins has as much talent as anyone, and he could be a superstar if his body holds up and he gets some consistent quarterback play.
Start preparing for your league now with our NFL Draft Simulator 
Miami Dolphins
Jarvis Landry (WR – MIA)
Miami has two younger players with higher upside in Jay Ajayi and DeVante Parker. However, both had disappointing rookie seasons.
Ajayi could be better with Lamar Miller in Houston, and Parker could be better if he gets over his injuries. That said, I’d rather have the guy who has done it before.
Landry already has 194 receptions in his first two seasons, so he’s a top PPR receiver. He picked up 1,100 yards in his second season and doesn’t turn 24 until November. It’s entirely possible Ajayi and/or Parker will surpass him, but for now, he’s the safest play.
New England Patriots
Rob Gronkowski (TE – NE)
Gronk is the consensus top tight end in the league and probably will be for several more years. Tom Brady deserves consideration, but Brady needs Gronk more than Gronk needs Brady.
If Brady were to retire or otherwise be unavailable, Gronk would still be the most desired asset at tight end. Brady’s performance dips when Gronk is injured, which lowers Brady’s value.
Speaking of which, the injuries are a concern with Gronk. He has a history of back problems and defenders have started targeting his knees to bring him down.
These are legitimate concerns, but assuming that risk is just part of owning Gronk. Enjoy the ride while it lasts, but make sure you have a backup plan.
New York Jets
Brandon Marshall (WR – NYJ)
The Jets’ roster is a bit grim in terms of dynasty assets. Their best players are a bit older, and their young players haven’t shown much to get excited about. In that case, I want the most talented player on the team, and I’ll deal with age some other time.
That means the best choices are Marshall, Matt Forte and Eric Decker. Given those three, I’d rather have Marshall.
Now, in terms of Marshall’s fantasy value, we all have to hope Ryan Fitzpatrick is back next season. Without him, this spot goes to Forte by default. But he’s 30 now, and he has 2,000 career carries. The end is near for him, and it could be as early as this year.
But if Fitzpatrick does return to New York, Marshall is the most likely to shine. He’s one of the best red zone threats in the league—Antonio Gates and Larry Fitzgerald are the only active players with more touchdown receptions.
Marshall had a career-high 14 last year, so he’s still got it. If his quarterback situation is stable, he could have some good years remaining.
- Best Dynasty Assets: NFC North
- Best Dynasty Assets: NFC South
- Best Dynasty Assets: NFC West
- Best Dynasty Assets: NFC East
- Best Dynasty Assets: AFC West
- Best Dynasty Assets: AFC North
- Best Dynasty Assets: AFC South
Derek Norton is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Derek, visit his archive, follow him on Twitter @mdereknorton, or visit his website, Sports Monocle.
