NFL Barometer: McCoy Looks Like a Bargain

With two weeks of preseason games in the books, there's only one more meaningful game remaining before fantasy drafts occur at a fever pitch as we await the regular season. This week's barometer features players who can be found at all points in fantasy drafts.

RISING

Dez Bryant, WR, DAL

Please erase Bryant's lost 2015 season from your memory, and remember the dominant receiver who played in all 48 games while averaging 91 receptions, 1,311 yards and 12.6 touchdowns from 2012-2014. That guy looks to be back after two brief appearances in the preseason, as he's been an absolute beast while catching a pair of touchdowns from rookie quarterback Dak Prescott. Many fantasy owners are concerned about how Bryant will fare should Tony Romo get injured again, but it's possible that Prescott could erase those concerns. Worried about the heavy running attack? Don't forget, he had 1,320 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns in 2014 when DeMarco Murray carried 392 times. Although Bryant may not have the crazy upside of Antonio Brown, Odell Beckham and Julio Jones, a great case can be made for him to be the fourth best receiver in PPR leagues, and maybe he cracks the top three in standard leagues.

LeSean McCoy, RB, BUF

OK, so his five carries for zero yards against the Giants was uninspiring, but he more than made up for that by grabbing all four of his pass targets for 58 yards and a touchdown. On the score, he ran a wide receiver route and made a leaping catch of a pass that was behind him to showcase his versatility. He'll continue to be an excellent dual-threat player for the Bills, and his stock was also helped when the team released Karlos Williams, who scored nine times in 11 games last year, potentially giving McCoy more scoring opportunities. The veteran seems like a fantastic bargain, especially in PPR leagues, with his ADP of 33.

Will Fuller, WR, HOU

The Texans featured the rookie as a receiver in the second preseason game, and he didn't disappoint. He caught four of his team-high eight targets for 73 yards and a score, and quarterback Brock Osweiler put a little too much mustard on a pass that could've resulted in a second touchdown. Fuller's blazing speed was on full display, and he had little difficulty gaining separation against NFL defenders. It certainly looks as if he's going to surpass Jaelen Strong to see full-time work in the offense. He should provide fantasy teams with a high-upside bench option at his ADP of 162.

James White, RB, NE

With news breaking that Dion Lewis could need up to 10 weeks to recover from a clean-up surgical procedure on his knee, White is fully expected to serve as the passing-down back for the Patriots. He showed that he could be a valuable commodity, especially in PPR leagues, during a five-week stretch late last season when he averaged seven targets, 5.5 receptions, 65 yards and 0.6 touchdowns. It would be pretty safe to assume that he'll have this role through six games, and if Lewis doesn't heal well, possibly longer.

CHECK STATUS

Tajae Sharpe, WR, TEN

After spending the preseason opener working to establish their power-running game, the Titans spent the second game letting Marcus Mariota air the ball out a bit. The result? Sharpe saw six of his quarterback's 10 targets, catching all for 68 yards. The rookie made a dynamic leaping catch in double-coverage while later making an in-air adjustment to snare a slightly off-target pass. He was treated like a No. 1 receiver and clearly looked the part. If he puts together another solid effort in the third preseason game, he should worth a flier a round or two before his ADP of 167 as a depth player for fantasy rosters.

LeGarrette Blount, RB, NE

The veteran finished 2015 on injured reserve with a hip injury, and word was his roster spot was in question for 2016. Blount appeared to put those concerns to rest by carrying 11 times for 69 yards and a touchdown against the Bears, and he looked like the powerful runner who has posted at least 4.1 yards per carry in each of the last four years. He qualifies as a "Check Status" player because he's game-script dependent, but if he continues to impress in preseason, he offers terrific upside as a flex option with an ADP of 144.

Robert Griffin, QB, CLE

In the Browns' second preseason game, Griffin had a performance that reminded football fans of the impressive ability he showed as a rookie in 2012. He completed 6-of-8 passes for 96 yards and two scores, including a 51-yard touchdown strike to Terrelle Pryor. In addition, he ran the three times for 36 yards while showing an ability to slide well before getting hit by a defender, a skill he was woefully inadequate at early in his career. Despite the optimism, he'll need to follow this up with another solid performance in the third preseason game against a defense that actually game plans a bit. It'll be especially important to see how he does after facing pressure and taking hits in the pocket.

Isaiah Crowell, RB, CLE

The entire Browns' offense was humming in the preseason game against the Falcons, but Crowell's rushing success ensured that the team could be multi-dimensional, as he executed coach Hue Jackson's power running concepts to near perfection. He carried seven times for 28 yards while staying patient and waiting for his blocks to develop. He also showed the discipline to refrain from bouncing runs outside, which will certainly endear him to the coaches. However, Crowell's struggled with consistency during his tenure with the team, so he needs to follow this with another strong performance in the third preseason game. For a player who projects to be an early down thumper and goal-line option, he's an intriguing selection at his ADP of 132.

FALLING

Thomas Rawls, RB, SEA

This downgrade has more to do with the fantastic job that Christine Michael has done this preseason, though it doesn't help that Rawls (ankle) has yet to see a snap in a preseason game. The Seahawks' coaching staff has long been known to let players earn their roles, and it'll be extremely tough to keep Michael off the field, at least enough to take away potential touches for Rawls. Michael consistently broke tackles in a 10-carry, 55-yard performance in the last preseason game. Rawls' has an ADP of 42, which is based upon the expectation that he'd be the primary early down back, but if he loses any significant amount of his expected work load, he wouldn't merit a pick that high.

Dion Lewis, RB, NE

Those waiting for Lewis to be removed from the PUP list will be disappointed to learn he needs a clean-up procedure on the same knee that was surgically repaired last November. He'll almost certainly land on the reserve/PUP list, which would mean that he'd be forced to miss at least the first six regular-season games, and there's certainly no guarantee how he'll look when he returns, or even if he returns this year.

DeVante Parker, WR, MIA

Entering his second year with the Dolphins, the 14th overall pick of the 2015 draft is being selected roughly 74 picks into the average fantasy draft, as many expect him to close the gap on Jarvis Landry's dominance of quarterback Ryan Tannehill's pass attempts. Both receivers played extensively in the team's second preseason game; Parker saw four targets, but that was three fewer than Landry. Even though this is only one preseason game, Tannehill appears still more comfortable throwing to his favorite target (Landry), especially in the red zone. Although things can change, Parker could struggle to be the focal point of the passing game, and he may not see enough consistent targets to be the value pick many expect.

Josh Ferguson, RB, IND

While starting the preseason opener while Frank Gore rested, the undrafted rookie only mustered three yards on eight carries. Ferguson then came in as the third-string back in the second preseason game, facing the Ravens' reserve defenders. Unfortunately, he was the least effective Colts running back while posting just six yards on five carries. For now he looks overmatched against NFL competition, and he doesn't appear worth drafting as a handcuff to Gore.