The fantasy season for some players has started slow. For those who do not have enough depth and talent on their team, these slow starts can be killer. The players on this list have all started the 2017 NFL season off below-expectations and now may find themselves on the chopping block for cheap. If you have a chance to get any of these players for cheap, do yourself a favor and a make a deal, because there are many reasons to expect these players to turn their seasons around.
T.Y. Hilton, WR, Indianapolis Colts
After leading the NFL in receiving last season, T.Y. Hilton came into 2017 with high expectations. Through two weeks of the season Hilton been a relative disappointment, catching seven balls for 106 yards and no touchdowns. Hilton is currently on pace for a career low in receiving yards and for about 600 yards less than he had last season. Obviously, the injury to Andrew Luck has hurt T.Y. Hilton, but there is a reason to be optimistic for him from this week onward. Hilton has had some great fantasy games without Luck in the past, including a 95-yard, two-touchdown performance in 2015. Hilton has yet to play against his division this season, and in 2016, the shifty wideout had at least 95 yards receiving or scored a touchdown in five of six games.
Joe Mixon, RB, Cincinnati Bengals
The season could not have gotten off to a worse start for the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals have failed to score a touchdown in their first two games, and the fans are ready to replace the current regime, or mostly Marvin Lewis and Andy Dalton. No one, outside of maybe A.J. Green, has done anything on the Bengals and that includes Joe Mixon. There is a reason to believe will turn his season around after early struggles. Mixon faced two tough defenses to start the season but has the volume in touches to rank third on the Bengals in yards from scrimmage. With two games against the Browns, plus the Bears and Colts on the schedule, get Mixon now while he is struggling and enjoy him as he improves throughout the season.
Jamison Crowder, WR, Washington Redskins
Coming into the season, Jamison Crowder looked like a great pick to have a breakout year in 2017, after moving up the depth charts in the offseason. So far though, Crowder and the Redskins passing offense in general, has been lackluster. Crowder has just 61 receiving yards and more fumbles than touchdowns coming into Week 3. At this point of the season, many people may begin to leave Crowder on their bench and now is the time to get him at a good value. Crowder is currently catching at 58.7%, which is 12% below his career rate while averaging 22 yards less per game this season than he did last year. Crowder has favorable matchups ahead as well, including the 49ers, the Saints and two games against the Cowboys. Expect the Redskins passing offense to improve this season and Crowder to start producing at a higher level.
Jimmy Graham, TE, Seattle Seahawks
The season could not have started much worse for Jimmy Graham, who is averaging an absolutely embarrassing 2.25 yards per reception on four catches. Graham started the first two games of his first two seasons in Seattle slow, averaging just 28.8 yards per game over the last two years. Add in that his last two against Green Bay, he had just two receptions for 27 yards and this sort of start should have been expected. Still, many fantasy owners are likely getting antsy with Graham and may want to rid themselves of his services for cheap. Seattle’s offense has been slow overall to start the season but they did that last year too. Remember that they barely scored in their first two weeks, even losing 9-6 to the St. Louis Rams. The team gets the Colts and Rams before their bye in Week 6. These games and the bye should help the offense improve and allow for Jimmy Graham to get into form by mid-season when he has historically done his best.
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