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Where should you draft NC State players on your fantasy football team?

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If you’re like me, then you like to have Wolfpack players on your fantasy football team.

The one problem is that I tend to over-value them and reach a little bit to secure them on my roster. This leads to me finishing in the middle of the pack almost every year.

That’s why I decided to dive a little deeper and come up with some concrete rules on when to draft Wolfpack players in this season’s draft.

1) Russell Wilson | QB | Denver Broncos
Wilson is being taken in the 6th or 7th round. He’s the 76th overall pick on average and the #11 QB. The Wolfpack legend is in a new spot this season and he’s coming off a down year, which is leading to some questions about his future value.

That said, if you’re looking to land Wilson this year, he’s kind of in a good spot. You can focus on filling out your RBs and WRs before jumping in Wilson later in the draft.

Last year, Wilson threw for 3,113 yards, 25 TDs and only 6 INTs. He missed a couple of games, so honestly, his yardage was only slightly down and his passing TDs were down no matter how you slice it. The big problem was that his rushing yards took a huge hit. he ran for just 183 yards. In 2020 Wilson ran for 513 yards, so you can see the concern. People are wondering if he’s just getting older and becoming less of a threat on the ground.

I think he was banged up last year and on top of that, the Seahawks weren’t very good. They finished 7-10 on the season. I think things will be different in Denver. SI is predicting the Broncos to go 10-7. They have weapons all around, with Jerry Jeudy, Courtland Sutton and Javonte Williams. I think Wilson is being drafted too late by most, so leaning in and drafting him a little early might be a steal.

2) Nyheim Hines | RB | Indianapolis Colts
Hines is being drafted 122nd overall and 44th among running backs. While I love Hines, he’s not a guy I’m going to be reaching for this season. He had way less volume last season thanks to the emergence of Jonathan Taylor at RB. Taylor is going to get the volume, so unless he gets hurt, it’s hard to see Hines playing a big role. He’s a guy who is probably being drafted correctly and while Matt Ryan is now the QB in Indy, I don’t think it’s going to mean more looks for Hines. Last year the Colts already had an above-average target rate for RBs. I’m passing on Hines this season.

3) Jacoby Brissett | QB | Cleveland Browns
Brissett is being drafted 241st overall and 35th among QBs. Brissett actually is in an interesting spot. He’s going to start in Cleveland (most likely) since Deshaun Watson is suspended for the first 11 weeks, however, there is too much depth at QB in the league to reach for Brissett. He’s a fine QB and he’s a guy that has had a nice little career. In fact, Brissett has gotten a lot of opportunities in his career, thanks to injuries to starters. Overall though, Brissett is mostly a game manager in the NFL. He is pretty conservative with his legs, and he doesn’t take many chances when he throws. If you have an early bye week QB and the Browns have a weak matchup, then maybe he’s worth taking with one of your last picks. Otherwise, I’d steer clear.

4) Jakobi Meyers | WR | New England Patriots
Meyers is being drafted 165th overall and 60th WR on average. Call me an NC State homer, but I think Meyers is being undervalued. This is a guy who as NE’s #1 WR the past two seasons. He has had poor QB play with Cam Newton and a rookie QB in Mac Jones. That said, he put up over 800 yards last season and 2 TDs. I think he’s being ranked as if he’s going to have a worse season than that. No way, if you ask me.  Jones is going to take a big step this season (as most 2nd year QBs do) and NE has brought in DeVante Parker. Meyers may no longer have the best CB on him every game. I think these things should boost Meyers value. If you can grab him in the 14th round, go ahead. I think there is value here. However, don’t expect WR1 numbers. I’d say his ceiling is mid-level WR2, and his basement is a flex guy.

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Pack in the Pros

T-Wolves Sign Former NC State Forward TJ Warren for Remainder of the Season

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Back during the first week of March, former All-ACC NC State Forward TJ Warren signed a 10-day contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves. After finding success as a scoring option off the bench, the T-Wolves signed him to another 10-day contract.

With only 11 games remaining in the regular season, Minnesota went ahead and signed him for the rest of regular season yesterday.

In the 7 games Warren has played for the T-Wolves, he has averaged 4.1 points per game in 14.0 minutes of play, shooting 47.8% from the field and 38.2% from beyond the arc.

Warren has not played in Minnesota’s past two games, but he has a chance to prove his worth once again tonight in the T-Wolves matchup vs. the Pistons. As things currently stand, Minnesota sits in 3rd place in the Western Conference.

Here’s a look at the former ACC Player of the Year’s stats over 10 seasons.

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Former NC State All-American Nyheim Hines Signs 1-Year Deal With Cleveland

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Former NC State All-American Nyheim Hines has signed a 1-year deal with the Cleveland Browns worth up to $3.5 million.

Maybe Cleveland will use Hines to his full potential. If you’re not using him as a Swiss Army Knife in the passing game, you’re wasting an opportunity.

The former All-ACC Running Back Hines missed all of last season due to a torn ACL he suffered in a boating accident.

This will be Hines’ 7th season in the NFL.

When you look at what former NC State players have done in the NFL, Hines ranks in the Top-10 in Rushing and Receiving.

His 1,015 rushing yards ranks 7th in school history and his 10 rushing touchdowns rank 9th. Hines’ 240 receptions rank 8th and his 1,778 receiving yards rank 10th.

In the return game, he’s one of the best to represent NC State in the NFL as well. His 1,015 punt return yards ranks 2nd in school history and his 817 kickoff return yards rank 6th. Hines’ 2 punts returned for TD’s ranks 3rd, and his 2 kickoffs taken to the house ranks 1st.

 

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Former NC State Quarterback Jacoby Brissett Signs 1-Year Deal with Pats

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Former NC State Quarterback Jacoby Brissett is signing a 1-year deal with the New England Patriots, rejoining the team that drafted him in the 3rd Round back in 2016.

The deal is worth $8 million.

After the Pats traded away Quarterback Mac Jones to the Jaguars yesterday, it’s abundantly clear what they are planning to do with the 3rd pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

After winning a Super Bowl in his lone season in New England in 2016, Brissett went on to spend 4 seasons in Indy, before spending the next 3 seasons in 3 different cities: Miami, Cleveland and Washington.

Brissett has had a great career as a backup Quarterback through 8 seasons in the NFL, playing in 79 games (starting 48), throwing for 10,574 yards and 51 touchdowns, with 23 interceptions, and a QB Rating of 85.3.

Brissett ranks 5th in NC State history in career passing yards and touchdowns, and 3rd in QB Rating by a former Wolfpack player in the NFL.

Prior to making a dime from New England in 2024, Brissett has made $50.9 million through his first 8 seasons in the league.

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Former NC State Defensive Tackle Justin Jones Signs with Arizona

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Former NC State Defensive Tackle Justin Jones (2014-17) has signed a 3-year deal with the Arizona Cardinals.

The deal is worth a total of $30.1 million, with $19.75 million guaranteed.

Jones spent the past two seasons in Chicago, where he started in every game, recording 101 tackles, 22 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks.

In 2018, Jones was taken in the 3rd round by the Chargers. After playing in 15 games as a reserve as a rookie, Jones started for the Bolts for the next 3 years before signing with the Bears.

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