So-called Fantasy Football experts and prognosticators litter the Internet each year with a plethora of analysis.
But at the forefront of it all is Matthew Berry, ESPN's senior fantasy sports analyst.
As each NFL season approaches, Berry authors his "Draft Day Manifesto," the most comprehensive online strategy guide for fantasy football owners.
This year's installment runs nearly 9,000 words and covers literally every facet of Fantasy Football one could think of. Even by letting a guru like Berry lead the way, though, fantasy owners should know that players such as Aaron Rodgers, Dez Bryant, Le'Veon Bell and Rob Gronkowski are projected to be at the top of their respective positions.
But what about the other players that are going to get you over the hump this season? The undervalued players.
That's precisely why Tech Times caught up with Berry to talk about the most undervalued players in Fantasy Football this season.
Here, Berry explains why he thinks a suspended Tom Brady is still a steal for fantasy owners come draft day, before rattling off a full list of his most-undervalued players for 2015.
He also discusses some hot-button topics such as rookies that can have an immediate fantasy impact, the one tight end worth taking in the first round, whether Jay Cutler can turn it around in a new Chicago Bears' system and why Adrian Peterson is his No. 1 fantasy stud.
Make sure to join a league and draft before the 2015 NFL season kicks off on Sept. 10.
Most Undervalued Players
Quarterbacks
Tom Brady, New England Patriots
I think people are really worried about the four-game suspension, but they forget that Fantasy Football is a weekly game. [New York Giants wide receiver] Odell Beckham Jr. last year missed the first four games ... and won a lot of people their leagues. I think it's really not how you start, it's how you finish. Tom Brady plus four games of a replacement-level quarterback is probably the combined, like the six or seventh-best quarterback in fantasy this year. Tom Brady is going as the 10th or 11th guy picked. I think Tom Brady is a nice value this year.
Sam Bradford, Philadelphia Eagles
I think whoever wins the [Philadelphia] Eagles' job—I think it's going to be Sam Bradford—is going to be underrated. I like this stat quite a bit, which is that since [Eagles coach] Chip Kelly took over only [Indianapolis Colts quarterback] Andrew Luck, [Denver Broncos quarterback] Peyton Manning and [New Orleans Saints quarterback] Drew Brees have more fantasy points than the Eagles' quarterback. So, that's [Michael] Vick, [Nick] Foles and [Mark] Sanchez combined obviously. My point is I'm not saying that Sam Bradford is going to be the No. 4 quarterback in fantasy this year. What I am saying is he's going outside the top 15 and I think he greatly overly delivers on that if he could stay healthy, because that system is very fantasy friendly, as we like to say.
Teddy Bridgewater, Minnesota Vikings
I think Teddy Bridgewater is undervalued. From Week 12 on from last year when Charles Johnson caught his first touchdown pass ... he's the 11th-best quarterback in fantasy. Now, a full year and second year of [Vikings coach] Norv [Turner's] system. He comes in knowing he's the starter. They added [wide receiver] Mike Wallace, they got Adrian Peterson back, they get some help from the offensive line, maybe [tight end] Kyle Rudolph back, second-year Charles Johnson now ... so I think Teddy Bridgewater is poised for a very nice year.
Carson Palmer, Arizona Cardinals
Carson Palmer I think is another guy who's undervalued. The guy averaged over 18 fantasy points a game in all the games that he was able to complete last year. Never less than 16 fantasy points in any one game. Since [Cardinals coach] Bruce Arians took over in 2013, the Cardinals have led the NFL in deep-pass attempts. They like to throw. That's all they're going to do—throw, throw, throw.
Running Backs
LeGarrette Blount, New England Patriots
I think LeGarrette Blount is undervalued. I know he'll be suspended for Game 1, so that's another player who I think people say, 'Ahh ... Patriots running back, he doesn't catch the ball, he's suspended, he's banged up.' But in 26 career games with the Patriots, LeGarrette Blount has scored 17 touchdowns. I think he's just a guy that's going to over-deliver value.
Isaiah Crowell, Cleveland Browns
I think Isaiah Crowell is also undervalued. The Browns offensive line is very, very good. I think because people feel like it's a little bit of a committee there [they're skeptical about drafting him]. Crowell is going way, way cheap.
Alfred Morris, Washington Redskins
Alfred Morris is going in the fourth round in a lot of places, sort of as the low-end running back, too. I think Washington—every indication is that they're just going to want to run the ball. Just run, run, run the ball and simplify things for [quarterback] RGIII [Robert Griffin III]. They strengthened their offensive line. I think Washington is going to go real conservative like Dallas did last year, which is run the ball and play good defense and control the clock.
Wide Receivers
Charles Johnson, Minnesota Vikings
Second year now. I think he's undervalued.
Andre Johnson, Indianapolis Colts
Andre Johnson is a Top 15 wide receiver, playing with [quarterback] Andrew Luck. I don't think [Johnson's] too old. He's going to a quarterback who threw the ball the most last year. I think Andre Johnson has one big year left in him.
Brandon Marshall, New York Jets
I understand why people are down on Brandon Marshall, but he still got 1,000 receiving yards in every single season prior to last year. He's going to an offense where they're going to throw a ton and he's a nice, big target. I think Brandon Marshall has a lot of motivation after what happened to him.
Other Fantasy Football Hot-Button Topics
Would It Shock You If Adrian Peterson Is The Best Fantasy Player Of 2015?
He's my No. 1-ranked player right now, so it certainly wouldn't shock me [if he's the top fantasy producer of 2015]. He's certainly fresh and as healthy as he has been, all reports out of camp is that he looks good, he's in shape. It's very clear that Adrian Peterson feels like he was wronged by the NFL and that his [15-game] suspension was a lot longer than it should have been, so if ever there was a guy that I believe is highly motivated and has a chip on the shoulder and something to prove, I do think it's Adrian Peterson. In the past, when there have been critics and doubters about Adrian Peterson – coming off the ACL injury, for example – he has continually proven his critics wrong. I think as a football player, he has a huge, huge year and, yes, he's my No. 1 player this year.
Rookies Capable Of Impacting Fantasy Leagues
I think [San Diego Chargers running back] Melvin Gordon and [St. Louis Rams running back[ Todd Gurley are really interesting to me, as are [Lions running back] Ameer Abdullah in Detroit and [Browns running back] Duke Johnson in Cleveland. Wide receiver-wise, I think [Oakland Raiders'] Amari Cooper is intriguing and as pro-ready as any prospect in the last five years. I think Nelson Agholor is really interesting in Philadelphia and DeVante Parker in Miami is another guy, who is kind of banged up, but again Odell Beckham showed you can play in the second half and still have an impact.
Do You Buy That Jimmy Graham Says He'll Be Blocking 75 Percent Of Time With Seattle?
He's not at all a first-rounder. The only tight end I would consider in the first round is [New England Patriots'] Rob Gronkowski. I have Jimmy Graham as my second tight end overall, but in the same second tier as [Kansas City Chiefs'] Travis Kelce and [Carolina Panthers'] Greg Olsen. He's a talented, talented athlete, one of the best tight ends in the NFL.
Super Bowl jokes aside, the fact of the matter is Seattle really struggled in red-zone efficiency last year, especially passing-wise. Last year, [Seahawks quarterback] Russell Wilson led the NFL in passing attempts outside the pocket. Those are two areas where Seattle struggled.
Meanwhile, on the other hand, I think Graham will continue to be a big red-zone target. He's got the most red-zone touchdowns the last three years. Normally, Wilson's been doing it with his legs, but now you get somebody like Jimmy Graham—a 6'-6" guy who could go up in traffic and get the ball—and I think he'll look for Jimmy Graham and say, 'OK, Jimmy, go get it.' I think he'll have a nice year, but not nearly as nice as he did in New Orleans last year. Seattle, for the second straight year attempted the fewest amount of passes in the NFL and given their success, I don't know why they would change that very much.
Mark Ingram Poised For Big 2015 Season?
New Orleans as a whole just wants to run the ball. The Saints trading Jimmy Graham for [center] Max Unger, letting [wide receiver] Kenny Stills go, letting [running back] Pierre Thomas go, not really bringing in anybody significant wide receiver-wise, and bringing in [running back] C.J. Spiller and re-signing [running back] Mark Ingram ... they want to run the ball. I don't know if Mark Ingram has a better year necessarily, but I do know that he's poised for a big year.
Can Jay Cutler Rebound?
I think losing Brandon Marshall hurts. I think Kevin White—he's a rookie and he's injured, so I think that that definitely doesn't help. I don't think they'll be as happy under [Bears coach] John Fox and [offensive coordinator] Adam Gase as they were with [ex-coach] Marc Trestman. And Cutler has had a propensity for turning the ball over. All that said, [wide receiver] Alshon Jeffery, [tight end] Martellus Bennett, [running back] Matt Forte, bringing in [wide receiver] Eddie Royal, who I feel is underrated ... there's a lot of good pass catchers for Jay Cutler to throw the ball to.
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