Whether trying to avoid a first-round gamble or reaching for a player too soon Youth Derwin James Jersey , many fantasy football players will go into 2018 drafts with a list of performers to absolutely not trust.

Don't be that obtuse to completely exclude players. One person's disappointment could be another's bargain:

JOE MIXON, RB, Bengals: Mixon will be off most boards by the end of the fourth round yet still has the taint of a 3.5-yard average yards per carry and the shadow of Giovani Bernard, especially in point-per-reception (PPR) leagues. Mixon is worth the risk if his value freefalls. Also note that only Tennessee's Dion Lewis (91.4 percent) had a better catching percentage than Mixon's 88.2 percent.

COREY DAVIS, WR, Titans: Last year's fifth overall pick had just 34 catches for 375 yards and failed to score in 11 games. Davis was an overreach in drafts last summer, but health and the addition of new offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur are strong signs he can be a mid-round steal who could emerge as a WR3/flex with upside, which would be good news for...

MARCUS MARIOTA, QB, Titans: After firing 26 touchdown passes in 2016, Mariota threw half that number last year while tossing 15 interceptions. LaFleur will open the offense to take advantage of his dual-threat potential. He'll start as a backup option, but Mariota can easily account for 30-plus TDs this fall.

SAMMY WATKINS Cheap DJ Chark Jersey , WR, Chiefs: Despite scoring eight touchdowns, Watkins was a disappointment, catching only 39 passes for a Rams offense that broke out under quarterback Jared Goff. Now in Kansas City, Watkins' game-altering skills will be a good fit for strong-armed Patrick Mahomes.

MARSHAWN LYNCH, RB, Raiders: Oh, how he will love new coach Jon Gruden. Lynch could return to RB1 status under the new regime as he should eclipse the 207 carries he had in 2017. A 1,200-yard, 10-12 TD season is not out of the question.

WE REALLY HAVE TO TALK ABOUT CLAYTON...

Clayton Kershaw owners can't be blamed for being in near-panic mode upon the Dodgers ace returning to the disabled list last week. Kershaw's back woes will keep him out at least a month while a possible early August return is also possible.

Those who own Kershaw should look at what 鈥?if anything 鈥?they can get in return for moving him now, pitching trade partners the idea of having Kershaw for the stretch run. Equal value is no longer in discussion, so moving Kershaw for about 70-75 cents on the dollar might be as good as it gets. Owners willing to gamble on acquiring him should put themselves in position to dictate the price Authentic Ian Thomas Jersey , especially if the Kershaw owner is already out of the money.

CHASE ELLIOTT THIS WEEK

Chase Elliott is overdue for a Top 5 finish after four straight weeks of ranking between 10th and 12th place. Elliott ($9,300 at DraftKings, $10,600 at FanDuel) is still looking for his first career win and is in position to do so in Sunday's NASCAR Monster Energy FireKeepers 400.

He has run well at Michigan Speedway, having placed in the Top 10 in each of his previous four races that includes three top five finishes. Elliott has been solid in 2018 thus far yet has managed just one lap led during his previous 14 races entering Sunday.

This column was provided to The Associated Press by the Fantasy Sports Network, ://FNTSY


SAN FRANCISCO — Two teams expecting key pitchers to be ready for their regular duties clash Saturday afternoon when the St. Louis Cardinals and San Francisco Giants lock horns for the third time in their four-game series.

The clubs have split the first two games, with the Cardinals doing pretty much all the hitting in an 11-2 shellacking on Thursday night, before the Giants got the better of a pitchers’ duel in a 3-2 victory on Friday.

Two days after watching Johnny Cueto get rocked in his return from the disabled list, Jeff Samardzija is expected to make his first start for the Giants since May 29.

Samardzija (1-4, 6.56) struggled through pectoral and shoulder soreness in April and May before being shelved.

“I always willed myself through little injuries and pains here and there along the way,” Samardzija told SFGate.com. “I thought with a little break, I’d be fine. It just ended up being an uphill battle the whole time. We feel back to normal.”

He pitched well against the Cardinals last season Authentic Kennys Vargas Jersey , allowing a total of one run and seven hits in 15 innings in two starts, striking out 17.

He didn’t get a decision in either game, both of which the Giants won.

Samardzija has faced the Cardinals 23 times in his career, 12 times as a starter, and has a 4-4 record with a 3.68 ERA.

The veteran’s return means the Giants will have their three top guns — Madison Bumgarner, Cueto and Samardzija — in the rotation at the same time for the first time this season.

Samardzija will be opposed by Cardinals right-hander Carlos Martinez (5-4, 3.20), who is coming off consecutive strong outings against Cleveland and Arizona, giving up a total of four runs in 12 innings in a pair of wins.

He will be pitching in San Francisco for just the second time in his career, having allowed one run in five innings in a Cardinals win in 2014.

Martinez is 2-1 with a 3.09 ERA in his career against the Giants in five games, including three starts.

The 26-year-old has dominated his head-to-heads with several of the Giants’ top hitters, including Buster Posey (1-for-9 Youth Justin Reid Jersey , .111) and Andrew McCutchen (7-for-39, .179). McCutchen delivered the eventual game-winning hit in Friday’s San Francisco win.

St. Louis welcomed back Paul DeJong from the DL on Friday and he responded immediately with a hit and scored both of the Cardinals’ runs.

The standout second baseman had been out for seven weeks with a fractured hand.

The Cardinals didn’t have closer Bud Norris available to them in the first two games of the series after he experienced pain in his right index finger in Arizona on Wednesday.

Norris, a San Francisco Bay Area native, underwent an MRI on Friday and was cleared to remain on the active roster.

He threw a side session before Friday’s game and Cardinals manager Mike Matheny announced he would be available to pitch on Saturday.

“At this point in this season, we’re going to get every look at every guy we can,” Matheny said of recent roster shuffling that included the return outfielder Dexter Fowler from the DL on Thursday. “Whenever they get a runny nose, I think we’ll have two different doctors check it out. It’s that kind of year. Be cautious when we can.”

Fowler hasn’t started either game in the series, but is a candidate to play Saturday based on his five career extra-base hits, including a home run, in 33 at-bats against Samardzija.

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