When I was 18 years old I was just months away from packing up what little I had following high school graduation and moving to Tuscaloosa, Alabama to start college. I had saved up over $6 thousand in lawn mowing and lifeguard money so that I could buy a used Toyota Camry. Sure, it was no Maserati, but for the bargain it was, I loved it.
The same process holds true in fantasy football. It’s not about the player, but where the player is being drafted — their value — that determines whether or not you should love or hate them.
Our 2014 Preseason Pigskin Guy’d rolls on to a new list — our Love/Hate Guy’d.
Below are the players you should take at their current value and players you should avoid at all costs unless they fall significantly in your draft.
Related: 2014 Fantasy Football Guy’d
Josh Helmuth is the editor of CraveOnline Sports.
Photo Credit: Getty
2014 Fantasy Football Love/Hate Guide
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Toby Gerhart RB - Jacksonville Jaguars
LOVE
Gerhart has been stuck behind the best running back in football (a guy named AP) for the past four years and will finally get full-time unimpeded reps in Jacksvonville this season. How many running backs have a lock on a full-time job that is unobstructed in an offense that will hand the ball off A LOT? (Because we don't trust the QB sitch in Jax.) The 27-year-old averaged 7.9 yards per carry last year and has averaged 4.7 for his career. We likey.
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Joique Bell RB - Detroit Lions
LOVE
The Lions gave Bell more money this offseason than they gave Reggie Bush a year ago. Should that be a sign of things to come? Possibly. The Lions are a high-octane offense and Bell will be an integral part of it; he put up 151 fantasy points last year. That number will only go up. He's a very good bet to surpass his ADP of 72.
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Aaron Rodgers QB - Green Bay Packers
LOVE
You can't go wrong with Drew Brees or Peyton Manning, and we all know Aaron Rodgers is a stud as well, but I'm predicting Rodgers puts up better numbers than both this season. It may be splitting hairs, but I think Rodgers is a bonafide first rounder in nearly all formats this season. Some may write him off as a top pick after his injury-plagued 2013 season, but don't make that mistake. USA TODAY said he's been "killing it in training camp." And a fun-filled stat: he's the only QB with at least 7.8 ypa in each of the last five years; don't forget he has two of the best WRs in the league in Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb. Oh, and he can run. Can you tell I'm man-crushing much?
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Antonio Brown WR - Pittsburgh Steelers
LOVE
Emmanuel Sanders is now in Denver and only Josh Gordon had more fantasy points among WRs over the second half of last season. Boring name, thrilling results.
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Arian Foster RB - Houston Texans
HATE
Is he still battling his back injury? The fact we have to ask that question makes us wonder if he's worth the 11th overall pick, which is where his current ADP lies. Tread very carefully.
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Cam Newton QB - Carolina Panthers
HATE
With Steve Smith out of town and an aging running attack, the Panthers have an extreme limited amount of offensive weapons. Sure, Newton will still get you running points, but you're much better off taking Tom Brady, RGIII or Matt Ryan, all who are being taken later than Scam, woops, excuse me, I mean, Cam.
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Golden Tate WR - Detroit Lions
LOVE
The guy had two drops on 94 targets last year with Russell Wilson in Seattle. Now he's with an even more deadly air attack in Detroit. We expect some double-teams on Calvin Johnson, which should lead to more open routes for Tate and in return signs that read "It's always golden in
PhiladelphiaDetroit." -
Jeremy Maclin WR - Philadelphia Eagles
LOVE
With DeSean Jackson now in Washington, Maclin will be the go-to No. 1 wideout in Philly. Throw in a Chip Kelly offense and this pick is a no-brainer. The Eagles will put up a bunch of points and with a solid quarterback throwing the ball in Nick Foles, Maclin is a soon-to-be star.
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Ladarius Green TE - San Diego Chargers
LOVE
Green is 6-foot-6, 240 pounds and runs a 4.53 40, and Antonio Gates' legs are now some of the slowest in the league. Every NFL analyst has been hyping the much younger Green. It's obvious there is about to be a coronation for the newest stud at tight end in San Diego.
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Marshawn Lynch RB - Seattle Seahawks
HATE
Straight from our interview with Yahoo! Sports' Brad Evans: "He’s a 28-year-old rusher coming off his third-consecutive 300-touch campaign who is expected to shoulder a lighter load with Christine Michael’s role increasing. He’s also coming off a season in which his yards per carry dipped dramatically from the year before (5.0 in 2012, 4.2 in 2013). Let someone else taste the rainbow."
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Malcom Floyd WR - Arizona Cardinals
LOVE
Larry Fitzgerald is still a great wideout, but many predict Floyd will have the better season for a second year in a row. Floyd beat Fitz in yards last season and his 14.6 yards per catch was better than A.J. Green and Dez Bryant.
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Ray Rice RB - Baltimore Ravens
HATE
And it's not just because he beat up his girlfriend... his 2013 was demoralizing for fantasy owners as the back only averaged 3.1 ypc and scored just 4 times...all season. Even if he does have somewhat of a bounce-back year, we don't see the consistency returning, which is what you need from your starting RB2.
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Steven Jackson RB - Atlanta Falcons
HATE
Via our interview with Brad Evans: "Steven Jackson has fallen down an empty elevator shaft. Suffering a hamstring pull that will likely sideline him for most, if not all, of the preseason, has many hesitant to invest in the Falcon. After all, he’s accumulated nearly 3,000 total touches in his career, is on the wrong side of 30 and is coming off an injury laden 2013 in which he averaged a meager 3.5 yards per carry. The guy once received handoffs from Chris Chandler. Yes, THAT Chris Chandler, the one that once played for the now defunct Houston Oilers. It’s only a matter of time before rookie Devonta Freeman replaces him in the starting lineup. Avoid S-Jax at his current mid-60s ADP."
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Zach Ertz TE - Philadelphia Eagles
LOVE
Currently being taken at No. 122, Ertz has the talent and the high-powered offense that makes his draft stock one of the best low risk/high reward options available. Brent Celek was the go-to tight end last year, but many reports see him as more of a blocker this year. Again, the Eagles' Chip Kelly offense will run more plays and most likely rack up more yards than any other offense in the NFL. Ertz could be an integral part of the fun.
