Fantasy Football 2017: Tennessee Titans outlook
The young Titans showed off their “exotic smashmouth” offense in 2016, and almost stole the AFC South title from Houston. What can their playmakers do for you in 2017?
Marcus Mariota
The Titans signal-caller will be the next young player to make the leap into the elite group of fantasy quarterbacks in the NFL. He put together an outstanding sophomore year in 2016 and showed signs of what is to come, before ending the season on a sour note with a fractured fibula in week 16.
With a strong running game, comfort in his offensive system and the addition of some new weapons in this years draft, Mariota Is in line for a huge season. In two years (27 games), he has thrown for 45 touchdowns (only 19 interceptions) and added 609 yards and four more scores on the ground, and he’s only getting started. Target him as your starting quarterback, and he could be a league winner.
DeMarco Murray
It appeared Murray had hit the running back wall in Philadelphia, but he bounced back in a huge way in 2016 with 1,287 rushing yards and 12 total touchdowns. Although exciting sophomore back Derrick Henry is waiting in the wings, I still believe this is Murray’s job in 2017 (or at least at the start of it.) He showed no signs of slowing down, and although Henry looks like a future star, it’s not the future yet. Murray’s a great option as a starting back for you.
Derrick Henry
Henry might be the best backup in the league, but for the moment, a “backup” is all he is. He’s clearly someone who should be owned, and would skyrocket up rankings if anything were to happen to Murray, but his draft price might be too high come August and September. I’ll still be drafting other starters before him, but he’s certainly someone with huge upside worth owning.
Rishard Matthews
He had a strong campaign and was clearly the top outside option for Mariota in 2016, but tailed off in the second half of the season. He scored six of his nine touchdowns in the first half of the year, and also had all three of his 100-yard games and all four double-digit catch games in that span. He could do well again in 2017, but we can be sure the team will load up on offensive weapons early in this year’s draft. He’s a decent WR3/4 option.
Delanie Walker
Walker’s been a pretty reliable option during his time in Tennessee, with three straight seasons of 60-plus catches, 800-plus yards and at least four touchdowns. However, tight end is a strength of this year’s rookie class and the team could add someone to compete with him. Even if that does happen, he’s probably going to repeat similar numbers, and you can happily use him as part of a tight end rotation for your teams.
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The Best of the Rest
Realistically, there isn’t much to talk about outside those listed above. Tajae Sharpe gained a bit of steam during the 2016 preseason, but didn’t have any success during the regular season. With the fifth and 18th picks in the Draft, look for the team to add offensive weapons.