Fantasy Football Implications of the Sam Bradford Trade
By Perry Lowe
The Vikings and Eagles made a shocking trade that sent Sam Bradford to Minnesota earlier this morning. The news broke earlier today that Bradford was dealt to Minnesota for a first round pick in 2017 and a future pick in 2018. As far as fantasy football goes this shockingly does not change Bradford’s value very much but makes the Vikings offense considerably better all around. This trade has multiple implications on both the Eagles and Vikings offense, many that are hard to spot at first.
Adrian Peterson Impact
The second best fantasy running back last season only gains value (slightly) from this deal. The Vikings passed the ball the fewest times last season. The offense in Minnesota is based around number 28. The Sam Bradford move only makes the passing threat slightly more relevant. This may force opposing defenses to play more conservative since Bradford can throw the ball better than Shaun Hill. This deal ultimately will not mean too much for Peterson since he will still get plenty of carries. The only real difference will be Sam Bradford’s veteran status may make him more capable of running the offense this season. Peterson’s value only rises slightly from the deal as a result but it does make the Vikings offense better.
Vikings Receivers
Stefon Diggs was at one time in 2015 the hottest waiver wire claim due to his explosive weeks. With the addition of Laquon Treadwell, the Vikings receivers suddenly look slightly dangerous. The value of these two players obviously increases since they have a player capable of throwing the ball starting. Bradford is not the best quarterback in the NFL but is much more capable than Shaun Hill would have been. It is also important to not forget about Kyle Rudolph who is hit and miss in fantasy footballs. Rudolph is a red zone threat that could be a target for Bradford throughout the season. The Vikings receivers as a whole clearly benefit from this deal but it is important to keep in mind they are not the focus of the offense.
Eagles Offense
Chase Daniel will be awful. It is quite obvious that Chase Daniel will never be a threat in the NFL and his presence as the starter hurts the Eagles offense. The value of the receivers dips considerably to the point that many of them are not worth starting regularly. Ryan Mathews will be relied on to run the ball but his value will not go up at all. Mathews may see more touches but with no threat to pass the ball defenses will be able to focus on stopping him. Jordan Matthews who was at one point a potential late round steal now sees his value sink even lower. He will not be a player that you can start regularly despite being the first receiver on the team.
Verdict
This move changed the landscape of the Eagles offense entirely and certainly made the Vikings offense better. The most notable changes will be the Eagles receivers value sinking considerably and the Vikings receivers value growing exponentially. Sam Bradford’s value does not change too much due to the fact that his new team does not pass the ball. The offense around him might be better but he will not be a quarterback to start on a weekly basis in fantasy football. Overall the Sam Bradford deal changes the Vikings and Eagles offenses drastically.