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Fantasy Football Week 1 Projection: Brandon Marshall

By Matthew Ordazzo

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When it comes to fantasy football, Brandon Marshall should be on everyone’s roster. The wide out is entering his tenth season in the NFL, on his fourth team. Marshall was shipped north to the New York Jets in exchange for some mid to late draft picks.

Marshall recorded about 100 catches with at least 10 touchdowns and over 1,300 yards in two of his three seasons with the Chicago Bears. Although making the transition from Jay Cutler to Ryan Fitzpatrick may decrease his fantasy value, he’s still a solid WR2 or FLEX player.

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Despite who Marshall’s quarterback has been during his ten-year career, he has always posted between 120-216 fantasy points a season.

With Geno Smith out for at least the first four weeks of the season, Fitzpatrick will take over as the starter. With Fitzpatrick now at the helm, Marshall could be poised for bigger fantasy stats for Week 1.

I was curious as to how Smith truly progressed during the off-season, but due to a locker room brawl, leaving him with nothing but a broken jaw, it’s obvious immaturity is something Smith hasn’t worked on improving.

Fitzpatrick is nowhere near considered as an elite franchise starting quarterback, but he is, in my own mind, an upgrade and better option to have as your quarterback if Smith is on your team’s depth chart. Now, with that being said, Marshall, in my opinion also, is on track for about six receptions for 80 yards and one touchdown in their Week 1 season opener against the Cleveland Browns.

Depending on what type of fantasy league you’re in, those Week 1 projected stats accumulate to about 13-14 points. Marshall will pick apart the Browns’ defensive secondary and have a huge game to prove his worth. Now, I know what your all thinking, “Well, the Browns have Donte Whitner and Joe Haden.” The reason why I believe he’ll have a monster game, is simply because of his critics.

Aug 21, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall (15) runs with the ball while trying to avoid a tackle by Atlanta Falcons linebacker Allen Bradford (53) during the first half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

Marshall, from the minute he stepped foot in MetLife Stadium as a member of the Jets, immediately, the press came down on him. What motivates Marshall the most has to be his critics. Ever since his rookie season, the press has followed him wherever he’s gone, Denver, Miami, Chicago and now New York. Everyone, not just the media, fans are also expressing their opinions on Marshall saying “You wont succeed with the Jets.” and the most famous one, “You wont win a ring in New York.”

Believe me folks, as long as that man is healthy every year is a big year, fantasy wise and reality wise. Marshall is projected to record 119 total fantasy points this season, I believe he tops that number.

Besides having a bigger fantasy year overall than expected, Marshall will have a big Week 1 in fantasy. I believe the veteran wide out will want to go out there and put on quite the show. Marshall stands as a valuable WR2 or FLEX player to plug into your roster this week against the Browns.

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