2015 Fantasy Football Team Preview: Tennessee Titans
For your fantasy football draft prep and advice, continue to check on this page for updates regarding the Tennessee Titans.
Team outlook:
When a team wins only two games and uses their first-round pick on a quarterback, chances are the team won't turn it around immediately. Ken Whisenhunt will have a lot of decisions to make with plenty of rookies and competition at each skill position spot on the roster.
Bye week: 4
Rookie impacts: Marcus Mariota (QB), David Cobb (RB), and Dorial Green-Beckham (WR)
Tennessee hit the reset button at the quarterback spot and will likely hand the reigns over to Mariota. The second-overall draft pick thrived in Oregon's uptempo offense and will be under a heavy microscope as he enters his rookie season. Cobb and Green-Beckham will gladly let the spotlight rest on Mariota while they learn the ropes of the NFL. Cobb could compete for some playing time in the backfield and DGB might become the second receiver for the Titans. This young core might be the future for Tennessee, but there will be some growing pains.
Quarterback: Marcus Mariota
(See "Rookie impacts")
Running back: Bishop Sankey
One of my biggest fantasy football disapointments from 2014 was Sankey. On 152 attempts, he tallied only 569 yards last season (3.7 yards per carry) and scored only twice. The Titans didn't show much faith in the young RB either by drafting Minnesota Golden Gopher, David Cobb. I listed Sankey in the 30s for running back rankings, but that might even be generous.
Running back: Dexter McCluster
Though he is mainly utilized in the return game, McCluster is also a valuable weapon as a receiver out of the backfield. He caught 26 of his 36 targets last year and turned that into 197 yards (7.6 yards per catch). So, I would only add McCluster in deep PPR leagues.
Wide receiver: Kendall Wright
He led the Titans with six receiving touchdowns last season. However, his reception total has been all over the place in the past. Wright made 64 catches his rookie season, 94 in 2013, and 57 receptions last year. On the plus side, Wright has averaged 111 targets per season in his career.
Wide receiver: Justin Hunter
While we await to hear the ramifications from Hunter's bar fight in July, I'll try to focus on just his on-field abilities. He is entering his third season in the NFL, which tends to be a breakout season for wide receivers. However, I don't see that happening for Hunter. He hasn't caught more than 28 passes in a season and he'll possibly have to fight (poor choice of words) for playing time against Dorial Green-Beckham.
Tight end: Delanie Walker
He led the Titans with 63 receptions last season on 106 targets. However, it's difficult to carry those numbers into 2015 since there is a new QB making the passes. On the bright side, inexperienced quarterbacks tend to lean on their TEs. I expect Walker to hover around the top 12 TE spot and would gladly select him in my draft.
Placekicker: Ryan Succop
He only attempted 22 field goals in 2014 (made 19 of them). With a rookie quarterback at the helm, I'd completely avoid this kicker for 2015.
Team defense (D/ST):
The Titans added an impressive name to their defense in the offseason. However, he is a coach, not a player. Former Pittsburgh Steelers legendary defensive coordinator, Dick LeBeau, will act as an associate head coach in charge of the defense. Tennessee will be a matchup-based defense to possibly add during the fantasy football season. Especially, against opponents like the Browns, Jaguars (twice), and Texans (twice).
2015 FANTASY FOOTBALL TEAM PREVIEWS PAGE
