Five fantasy players in danger of sluggish start in 2016

Carson Palmer, QB, Arizona Cardinals
Coming off a career campaign, the expectations are high for Palmer and the Cardinals’ offense. They’ll be kicking off 2016 by hosting a Tom Brady-less Patriots squad. With Jimmy Garoppolo playing substitute signal caller, this matchup figures to be less of a shoot-out, which should keep Carson’s numbers in check.

Additionally, there’s a good chance John Brown – who has missed four weeks of the preseason due to a concussion and subsequent headaches – isn’t 100 percent, or even on the field. While this should boost the immediate stocks of David Johnson and Michael Floyd, I wouldn’t expect Palmer to throw for more than 210 yards and 2 TDs.

Carlos Hyde, RB, San Francisco 49ers
Opening the season running against three of the NFLs top rushing defenses (Rams, Panthers, Seahawks), Hyde will have the odds (and defenders) stacked against him. While he has been cleared for non-football activities since suffering a concussion in the third week of the preseason, there’s a good chance he’ll still be shaking off cobwebs come Week 1. Owners who took advantage of Hyde’s current discount will have to be patient before seeing a return on their fourth round investment.

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Matt Jones, RB, Washington Redskins
While reports seem to indicate that Jones’ recovery from the AC joint injury he suffered in mid-August is coming along “nicely,” I’m still reticent to trust an RB with a bad shoulder, especially one who’s being billed as a between the tackles bruiser. Facing a Steelers run-stuffing squad that allowed the third fewest fantasy points to the position in 2015 doesn’t improve Jones’ chances of making a splash in the season opener either.

UDFA Rob Kelley, who played a majority of snaps with the first team during Washington’s regular season dress rehearsal, has emerged as Jones’ handcuff. Given the disparity in price, I’d rather stash the under-the-radar Kelley and pass on Jones in the fifth or sixth rounds of 12-team exercises.

Stefon Diggs, WR, Minnesota Vikings
After reeling in all five of his looks for 71 yards during the Vikings’ third preseason contest, Diggs’ ADP was on the rise. Showing strongly throughout camp and emerging as the team’s clear-cut No. 1 WR, the second-year baller showed great chemistry with Teddy Bridgewater.

Unfortunately, Minnesota’s signal caller was lost for the season this past Tuesday, succumbing to a torn ACL and dislocated knee. With Shaun Hill expected to start under center, Diggs’ value takes an obvious hit. It’s going to take time for the duo to develop a rapport, especially given the run-first nature of the offense.

Coby Fleener, TE, New Orleans Saints
After four years of bro-ing out with former college teammate Andrew Luck in Indianapolis, Fleener has been tasked with learning a new playbook in New Orleans. The undertaking has apparently been more big than easy for the former Colt. Struggling to develop a rapport with Drew Brees and being called a “work in progress” by Sean Payton, Fleener has seemingly lost reps to fellow TE Josh Hill.

Fleener will start the season facing a much-improved Raiders defense. Pro-Bowl FS Reggie Nelson, who spent the last six years wreaking havoc in Cincinnati, will attempt to fill Charles Woodson’s role in the Raiders secondary. That’s not a favorable matchup for Fleener, especially if he has yet to earn Brees’ trust. The former Colt should find his groove eventually, but is currently being dramatically overvalued (No. 76 overall, TE6) by fake footballers who appear to have forgotten the plethora of pass-catching weapons thriving in NOLA.

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