Fantasy football strategy, rankings, and podcasts

The preseason rolls on, and so do ankles, Achilles tendons and ACL's. This week has been set aside to discuss the running back position. The guys who carry the load, perhaps the most important position to deal with early in the draft (whether you take one or not). Listen to this week's podcast below, but while you do, check out our Running Back rankings, as well as the rest of the positions.

(Listen to the Fantasy Football Podcast: 8/25/15, The Preseason RB Show!)

We talked about some of the undervalued RB's, like Antone Smith, Danny Woodhead, Giovani Bernard and Chris Ivory. We also clue you in about who to avoid, overvalued guys like Rashad Jennings, Bishop Sankey, Isaiah Crowell and Carlos Hyde. Finally, we break down one of the most impressive rookie RB classes in recent years.

Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes to get notifications whenever we release a new episode. We also broadcast the shows live at http://www.mixlr.com/drinkfive on Tuesday nights at 9pm CT. Feel free to browse over and join in the discussion!

After the dust settled from Week 1's first 2017 NFL action, heavyweight fantasy players like David Johnson, Allen Robinson, and Danny Woodhead were injured for most (and in some cases, all) of the season. What happens with their targets now, and who can be picked up to offset issues on your team if you rostered one of those players? That and more on tonight's podcast. Plus beer!

Listen to the Fantasy Finish Line Ep3: Week 2 Preview / The Apocalypse

Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes to get notifications whenever we release a new episode. We also broadcast the shows live at http://www.mixlr.com/drinkfive on Tuesday nights at 8pm CT. Feel free to browse over and join in the discussion in the chat room!

We've all got one week under our belts, and probably whatever you cooked on the grill on Sunday. Football is back, which means cold beers, grilled burgers and getting up early to cook something all day long. Well, it might mean that, but right here, it really means waiver wires, who do I start, and of course, our (soon to be) world famous rankings.

Look for Peyton Manning to bounce back this week against a Chiefs defense that gave up two scoring drives to (new starter) Ryan Mallett in relief. Matt Stafford has basically fallen off of everyone's fantasy radar - he was drafted low and isn't starting material in most leagues. Maybe the time of Stafford to Johnson has passed - Calvin's numbers certainly were disappointing in week 1. Last week Danny Woodhead had 20 touches - if he has half that number this week, he should still start in your standard league flex spots. Doug Martin, meanwhile, is not the kind of back that can go out and make his own success. He'll be at the mercy of a struggling Jameis Winston for the time being.

Mike Wallace was Teddy Bridgewater's favorite target, connecting with him six times. Look for this connection to net you a TD in week 2 against the Lions. Davante Adams has taken a bit of a hit after the realization that, of course, James Jones will fit right in with his old team and will cut into Adams's workload a decent amount. Heath Miller is the clear beneficiary in the Steelers offense that's lacking two big weapons. He should have at least one more week with an increased workload.

Good luck this week, make sure to check before the games start for last minute injuries.

This year's bye weeks are finally a thing of the past, and while saying that your lineup is back to full strength may be a bit of a stretch, at least nobody is just sitting out a week. Don't forget that there's three games going on Thursday, and Sunday we get to see the Steelers @ Seahawks and Patriots @ Broncos - amazing! To top it all off, we get.....the Ravens @ Browns, ugh.

Philip Rivers has a good matchup against Jacksonville, who give up the 7th most points to opposing Quarterbacks. Malcom Floyd is trying to get back on the field as well, so go ahead and insert Rivers as a solid QB1 this week.

Don't expect a repeat of last week for Russell Wilson, who had an easy time against the 49ers. I expect Wilson to go back under 20 points vs the Steelers, where he's been almost the entire season.

Danny Woodhead is worthy of a standard league start this week, of course facing the Jags who give up the 10th most fantasy points to opposing RB's. Are you noticing a pattern here with a certain defense?

Eddie Lacy had a good game last week, but nothing he's done this year indicates he can sustain that output. I expect to see a lot more of the passing game from the Packers, so if you have an alternative, I'd go with them.

James Jones reappeared in the scoring column last week, and should stay there as the Pack have an easy matchup against the Bears. Jones has a nose for the end zone, and seems to be preferred over Davante Adams by Rodgers.

Brandon LaFell seems to have an OK stat line each week, but it's usually the result of a goofy long pass that salvages an otherwise bad game. Don't put him in the lineup against a tough defense like Denver.

If you need a streaming option at TE this week, look for Zach Miller on the waiver wire. He will be starting in place of Martellus Bennett and facing a Packers defense that gives up the 6th most points to opposing TE's.