Sometimes it isn’t always the race for number one that is important (although it is). But for our fantasy draft, it matters because we all know that the fantasy draft is often won in the middle rounds and those players are often in the battle for the backup in their positions.
Now that the second preseason games are in the books, most of the rosters are taking shape. But there may still be battles for our fantasy hearts and minds. Going by positions, here are redraft battles that will affect our fantasy football fortunes.
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Fantasy Football: Redraft Position Battles
Quarterbacks
There are still teams that have not designated a starting quarterback. Then there are teams that have named a starting quarterback, but as fantasy managers, we are dubious of how long they will be under center. Should we draft the QB2?
Pittsburgh Steelers
Mitchell Trubisky v Kenny Pickett
Mason Rudolph is out of contention as the Steelers starting quarterback. Mike Tomlin and the coaching staff appear to be ready to start the season with Trubisky under center.
But are we drafting Trubisky or Pickett?
Pittsburgh’s Offense:
Last season then, first-year offensive coordinator Matt Canada was strapped with aging quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. The Steelers scored 34 total touchdowns (25th in the league). Roethlisberger averaged 6.7 yards per attempt (32nd in the league) while attempting 605 passes (6th in the league).
The Steelers were second in the league with passing play percentage last season (63.44%), 15th in passing yards per game (221.1) and 16th in passing touchdowns per game (1.4 average).
Trubisky’s Strengths:
Mobility
Escapability
Above-average arm strength
Trubisky’s Weakness:
Accuracy is volatile
Slow decision making
Can struggle to hit receivers on crossing routes
Pickett’s Strengths:
Good recognition and decision-making on combo-route throws
Arm strength to push deep outs without a problem
Elusiveness to escape and scramble for yards
Pickett’s Weakness:
Nervous feet and poise
Poor placement and touch
Needs to take an incompletion instead of the sack
2022 PRESEASON
Pickett: 22 passing attempts, 19 completions, 171 passing yards, three touchdowns, 0 interceptions, 7.77 yards per attempt
Trubisky: 15 passing attempts, nine completions, 123 passing yards, 8.2 yards per attempt, 0 interceptions
Who Do You Draft?
In this redraft position battle, who do you draft?
In the Steeler’s first six games, they play the following:
| TEAM | AVERAGE PASSING YARDS ALLOWED 2021/RANK | SACKS AVERAGE PER GAME 2021/ RANK |
| CINCINNATI BENGALS | 248.2/26TH | 2.5/11TH |
| NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS | 193.8/ 19TH | 2.0/ 21ST |
| CLEVELAND BROWNS | 202.3/ 14TH | 2.5/ 10TH |
| NEW YORK JETS | 259.4/ 30TH | 1.9/ 25TH |
| BUFFALO BILLS | 176.7/ 1ST | 2.5/ 12TH |
| TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS | 245.3/ 24TH | 2.7/ 9TH |
It was thought to be a foregone conclusion that Trubisky would be the starting quarterback for the Steelers in Week1. Now, however, with the play of Pickett in preseason games, things are a little bit muddled.
The redraft fantasy battle goes to Pickett. Trubisky could still get the starting nod, but the Steeler’s offensive line is not very good (they are bad), and four of their first six games are against the top half of the league in sacks.
Draft Pickett with an eye on the future.
Carolina Panthers
Sam Darnold v Baker Mayfield
The decision has been made; Mayfield will be the starting quarterback for the Carolina Panthers. This redraft position battle was anti-climactic. From the time the Panthers acquired Mayfield, it was assumed that the “quarterback battle” was a farce. The Panthers knew what they had in Darnold.
Darnold 2021 QB28: 12 games, 406 passing attempts (24th), 39 deep ball attempts (28th), 45 red zone attempts (45th), and 59.9% completion percentage.
It wasn’t great.
But Mayfield did not fare much better in Cleveland.
Mayfield 2021 QB25: 14 games, 418 passing attempts (23rd), 58 deep ball attempts (19th), 48 red zone attempts (26th) and 60.5% completion percentage.
Sure, Mayfield probably played hurt for some of the seasons, but the inability to find a trading partner for him until late and desperate is disturbing.
Here is the thing you never want to count Mayfield out. His current ADP per fantasypros.com is #191 overall and QB24. He is sandwiched between Jameis Winston (QB23) and Carson Wentz (QB25), which feels right.
Darnold’s injury came after Mayfield was announced. For redraft, I would draft Mayfield just for game one. He is just stubborn enough to ball out against his former team, and you should be able to get him late enough that you have your starter for the rest of the season (unless it is Russell Wilson who you want to play game one too).
Seattle Seahawks
Geno Smith v Drew Lock
Smith may have a knee injury, and Lock is back after his battle with Covid. Both played in the first season game:
Lock: 11-of-16, 102 yards, two touchdowns, 0 interceptions, two sacks, one carry, 3 yards
Smith: 10-of-15, 101 yards, 0 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, one sack, two carries, 9 yards; Smith left the game with an injury
Lock did not play in the second preseason game (Covid, remember), but Smith did:
Smith: 10-of-18, 112 yards, 0 touchdowns, 0 interceptions, two sacks, 0 carries
What we know is that the Seahawks want to be a running team. Last season with Russell Wilson, they were 20th in passing percentage per game (56.71%) and 32nd in passing attempts per game (29.1).
Smith got the nod, but seriously, in this battle, neither quarterback offers fantasy upside.
Tight Ends
Washington Commanders
Armani Rogers v Eli Wolf
This is a battle bought on by regression. Logan Thomas has been taken off the PUP list but is still unlikely to play Week1. Cole Turner is recovering from a hamstring injury, and John Bates has a calf injury.
The tight-end pool for fantasy purposes is very shallow. If you are drafting a tight from this battle, your fantasy hopes at the tight end position are most likely doomed.
New York Jets
Tyler Conklin v CJ Uzomah
Follow the money? Uzomah deal is for three years and $24 million. Conklin’s deal is three years, $20.3 million.
The Jet’s history with tight ends isn’t very good. Last season the Jets’ tight ends accounted for 50 receptions and 534 receiving yards. That was 31st in the NFL. Per Sharp Football Stats, in 2021, the Jets used 12 personnel, 20%. That number dropped to 12% from Weeks 10-18.
In the preseason, Conklin has been targeted four times with three receptions. Uzomah has one target and zero receptions. Conklin has also been the darling of training camp.
Uzomah is the better blocker of the two. Last season he was credited with one pressure on 41 pass-blocking snaps. That would give him a rate of 2.4%, which was the fifth best out of 49 qualified tight ends.
Conklin, on the other hand, is not known for his blocking prowess. He did play on 98 snaps that required him to pass block last season (the most of any tight end) and was on the field for 320 run-blocking snaps. But it is his ability to balance his blocking with his receiving skills. Last season he had a 15.6% target share while running 427 routes (7th best tight end in NFL). He finished with 87 targets, 61 receptions, 593 yards, and three touchdowns.
It looks like the Jets will utilize Uzomah as the blocking tight end and Conklin as the receiving tight end. This makes Conklin the winner for the redraft battle of tight ends.
Running Backs
Washington Commanders
Antonio Gibson v Brian Robinson
This is becoming the most talked about position battle. Last season Gibson led the NFL running backs in fumbles with six. It didn’t help that on his second possession in the preseason, he once again fumbled the ball.
In their second preseason game, Robinson had eight carries for 31 yards. Gibson had two carries for three yards and three receptions for 37 yards. Gibson was also on the field to return for the opening kick-off.
It is apparent that Gibson is losing his footing as RB1 in Washington.
This position battle currently goes to Robinson. But with JD McKissic also in the running back room, expect a running back by committee approach.
Robinson’s injury is unfortunate. For anyone to suffer what he has is unfortunate. Gibson still can’t be trusted at his current ADP. It is a lot of draft capital for someone who led the league in drops last season.
New York Jets
Michael Carter v Breece Hall
Last season the Jets running backs had 22.4 rushing attempts per game and averaged 4.35 targets per game.
They both played in the first preseason game, where Hall had five touches for 15 yards, and Carter had three touches for five yards. Hall wasn’t targeted, and Carter had one target and one reception.
Per head coach Robert Saleh, “You have to be able to pound it. You have to be able to run it in the red zone; you have to be able to run it in short-yardage situations…Michael has great versatility, Breece is a three-down player, and Tevin has such an explosive running style….”
While it appears to be a running back by committee, Hall has shown in training camp that he is a three-down back. While Carter is listed first on the depth chart, fantasy pros have Hall’s current ADP RB20 and Carter RB38.
Carter is still listed as RB1 on the depth chart. Hall has more potential to be every down back. It’s Hall.
Miami Dolphins
Chase Edmonds v Raheem Mostert v Sony Michel v Myles Gaskin v ZaQuandre White
The question is, can you count on any of the Dolphins’ running backs in your redraft?
Mostert has not played preseason. Edmonds played in the second preseason game, collecting three touches for three yards. Both are seemingly solid starters. Michel and Gaskin have played, with Gaskin having eight touches in two games for 39 yards and Michel accounting for four touches for minus two yards.
For fantasy purposes, head coach Mike McDaniels comes from the FU fantasy school of running backs. He will play two or three on a revolving door basis. For redraft, it is best not to count on any as your RB2 until the muddy waters clear.
