Fantasy Football: 8 Players With Easy Early-Season Schedules
Jesse James, Pittsburgh Steelers
| Week | Opponent | Projected Defensive Pass NEP Rank | Football Outsiders DVOA Rank vs. Tight Ends |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Browns | 32 | 32 |
| 2 | Vikings | 3 | 24 |
| 3 | Bears | 18 | 28 |
| 4 | Ravens | 12 | 3 |
Jesse James has real potential to be a good sleeper pick at tight end this season. With Ladarius Green now released, the Steelers are still looking for Heath Miller's replacement. James will get his chance to prove he can be that guy.
We'll also find out how good he can be in the first game as he squares off against a really bad pass defense in the Cleveland Browns. In fact, in the first three weeks of the season, James squares off against three straight bottom-third defenses against tight ends according to Football Outsiders' metrics.
With news that Ben Roethlisberger has been working with James in the red zone, it's apparent that the Steelers want the tight end position back as a force in their passing game. While James wasn't particularly effective last year -- his 0.49 Reception NEP per target ranked 25th out of the 32 tight ends with at least 50 targets -- Pittsburgh clearly seems comfortable moving forward with the 6'7" specimen in that role, at least for the 2017 season.
Draft James as a late-round flyer with upside. That upside could rear its head early on in the season.
