Ricardo Allen Jersey

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A majority of fantasy football research tends to focus on running backs Vernon Hargreaves III Jersey , wide receivers and quarterbacks. But the other three positions are equally as crucial and can ultimately help you win your league. Knowing the right time to grab a tight end and when to keep waiting is key, as is your weekly strategy for defenses and even kickers.

Tight end is deep, with more than 20 players that could realistically finish the season inside the top 10 at the position. However, there are a few sharp drops in talent that make it better to consider drafting tight ends based on tiers.

The upper echelon is clear with Rob Gronkowski of New England, Travis Kelce of Kansas City and Zach Ertz of Philadelphia. In order to grab one of them, though, you need to be prepared to burn an early pick. Gronkowski offers upside that is head and shoulders above everyone else, but he also hasn’t played a full season since 2011. Kelce is coming off back-to-back years with over 1,000 yards and 80-plus receptions, along with a career high eight TDs. He was locked in with Alex Smith, so the QB change to Patrick Mahomes could hurt his outlook. Zach Ertz has been a consistent threat with at least 70 catches and 800 yards in three straight seasons. He doubled his career high in TDs and further red zone attention could push him past Gronkowski and Kelce this year.

The second tier has more uncertainty and not quite as much upside, but will still get you a “set it-and-forget it” type of player. Jimmy Graham switched from one great QB to probably the best in the game with Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay. He should continue to see a massive amount of red zone work but his production between the 20s will ultimately decide whether he’s an elite weekly option this year or a TD-reliant back-end starter. Giants tight end Evan Engram took advantage of Odell Beckham Jr. and Brandon Marshall injuries to turn in an impressive rookie season with 64 catches, 722 yards and six touchdowns. He could end up the second receiving option this season for New York.

Tennessee’s Delanie Walker has been as solid as they come over the past four years, especially in point-per-reception leagues. Carolina’s Greg Olsen is coming off an injury-riddled season, but do not forget about the consistent TE1 production he provided in previous seasons. Minnesota’s Kyle Rudolph should be one of Kirk Cousins’ favorite targets Tanoh Kpassagnon Jersey , particularly in the red zone.

If you wait on the TE position, you can target potential breakout candidates Trey Burton (Chicago), George Kittle (San Francisco), David Njoku (Cleveland) or O.J. Howard (Tampa Bay). Washington’s oft-injured Jordan Reed is more name than game at this point but he could be a viable weapon for Alex Smith. The same can be said about Tyler Eifert in Cincinnati.

Veterans Jared Cook (Oakland), Charles Clay (Buffalo), Ben Watson (New Orleans) and Austin Seferian-Jenkins (Jacksonville) may not be exciting, high upside selections, but they all could finish as starting-caliber options. Jack Doyle could as well in Indianapolis, if Eric Ebron doesn’t eat into his upside. Streamers and deep leaguers that waited too long can also consider Ricky Seals-Jones (Arizona), Vance McDonald (Pittsburgh), Hayden Hurst (Baltimore), Nick Vannett (Seattle) and Austin Hooper (Atlanta). That’s a good amount of upside for going almost 30 players deep at the position.

DEFENSE

Streaming defenses based on matchups is a strong method if you are active on the waiver wire. This is a great way to exploit weak offenses and cycle through available defenses on an as-needed basis. You should know going in that there is more legwork required if you go this route. It is also a great strategy that allows you to focus your draft capital on position players while waiting until the final rounds before investing in a defense. The Saints are home for two games against the Buccaneers (sans Jameis Winston) and the Browns to open the season. The Lions, Titans and Ravens also have attractive opening weekend matchups, though you may need to grab the latter two units before the last round.

If you feel more comfortable riding one consistently good defense throughout the year regardless of matchup, you may be forced to consider taking a top option earlier than the 15th round. The Jaguars defense rose to prominence last season and they should be just as dominant in 2018. The Vikings and Eagles also have the personnel to stay among the league’s elite fantasy defenses. The Texans should rebound after an injury-filled season and the Packers beefed up their defense with impact veteran and draft day additions. The Patriots are expected to rebound from a mediocre season to be a top 10 defense. Green Bay and New England are not quite in the same grouping as the others mentioned here and can be nabbed if you pass on the very elite defenses.

KICKERS

While it is often debated whether kickers should be eliminated from fantasy rosters Jordan Phillips Jersey , a majority of leagues still require owners to start one each week. There is too much variance from week to week in what becomes a gamble to determine which kicker to play. The best way to address the position is to wait until the last round before drafting one. Better yet, take a high upside position player in the last round and then cut someone from your roster prior to Week 1 for a kicker — if it’s allowable under your league rules. Depending on when your draft occurs, this buys you more time with your roster before deciding who needs to go.

When selecting your kicker for the year (or the week), a general rule is to focus on high-powered offenses. Yes, there will be outliers to this, but it will help you more often than not. If you are looking for the cream of the kicker crop, Greg Zuerlein, Stephen Gostkowski, Justin Tucker, Matt Bryant and Will Lutz are great bets. Robbie Gould, Matt Prater, Jake El Nick Holden has only been in Boston for about a month, and he’s already learned that he needs to keep his stick on the ice when he’s playing with David Krejci.

”When you think the puck can’t get there, he can get it there,” Holden said after scoring his first goal in a Bruins uniform Ricardo Allen Jersey , tapping in a spinning, perfectly place pass from Krejci to help Boston beat the Florida Panthers 5-1 on Saturday afternoon.

”He just made a perfect play,”’ said Holden, who was acquired from the New York Rangers in late February. ”You don’t think the puck can get there, and he somehow finds you (with a) spin-o-rama pass all the way to the other side.”

Krejci had three assists and Jake DeBrusk scored twice in his first game in more than two weeks for the Bruins, who moved into first place in the Eastern Conference and clinched home ice for at least one round of the playoffs.

Tuukka Rask stopped 30 shots and rookie Ryan Donato had a goal and an assist for Boston, which has won four of its last five games. The Bruins have earned a point in eight straight games and 15 of their last 17.

Jamie McGinn scored for Florida, which remains three points behind New Jersey in the race for the eighth and final playoff spot in the East. James Reimer stopped 17 of the 22 shots he faced before he was replaced by Roberto Luongo with 3:28 left in the second period, trailing 5-1.

Luongo, the losing goalie for Vancouver in the Bruins’ 2011 Stanley Cup run, stopped all 11 shots the rest of the way.

”Obviously, you’re not going to get into the playoffs playing like that,” Panthers forward Vincent Trocheck said. ”Against a team that’s at the top of the league right now, you think you’d rise to the occasion and play your best game. It didn’t seem like we did.”

Two days after a physical battle for first place with the Tampa Bay Lighting, which the Bruins won 4-2 to take temporary possession of the top spot Marcus Sherels Jersey , Boston sent the struggling Panthers to their third straight loss and moved back into first. The Lightning had jumped ahead of the Bruins with a win at the New York Rangers on Friday night.

McGinn gave the Panthers the lead when he poked a rebound between Rask’s skate and the post five minutes into the first.

From there, it was all Boston.

The Bruins tied it when Krejci spun around at the blue line and wheeled it right to the slot for Holden, who tipped through Reimer’s legs and into the net.

Asked if he thought Krejci even knew he was there, Holden said, ”Some guys, I’d say no.”

”But Krejci, absolutely I’d say he knew I was there,” he said. ”He’s been a special player that can create so much for everyone, not just for himself.”

NOTES: Bruins D Brandon Carlo was taken off on a stretcher in the third period after an apparent ankle injury. … Reimer played in his 300th NHL game. … Referee Tom Kowal officiated his last of more than 1,000 NHL games before retiring. Both teams remained on the ice to shake his hands after the game. … The Bruins’ 7th Player Award was given to D Charlie McAvoy before the game. He accepted in street clothes before missing his 14th straight game with a knee injury. … Bruins F David Pastrnak recorded his 200th career NHL point. He is the second member of the 2014 NHL draft class to reach that milestone, joining Edmonton’s No. 3 overall selection Leon Draisaitl. … Boston F Riley Nash left the game in the second period after taking a puck off the right side of his head. … Donato has seven points in seven career NHL games.

UP NEXT

Panthers: Host Carolina on Monday night.

Bruins: Play at Philadelphia on Sunday.

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