Dede... for realz?

[cc texan]

He may be, but you're going to have to pay way too much to get him right now. Even if he beats out Lee and Hurns to start, are you really looking to start the WR2 in Jacksonville with how they look right now? How many Jags does any of us want to start at this point in time?

But this is dynasty... and things can change quickly. They are now a team with a solid D, a stud RB and WR1. Imagine how different this conversation becomes if they get a competent QB.

Trust me, I'm neither in or out on Dede... just trying to start a conversation and get the forum's opinion.

My point wasn't that he won't have value or isn't good, just that his current perceived dynasty-value is a lot higher than his actual production value (That's why I used the words "right now"). His dynasty value has a much greater probability of going down throughout this season than going up further, so he's someone to target after the shine has rubbed off a bit. Talent or athleticism alone doesn't make someone a "thing" in dynasty, they need an opportunity to produce and provide return on investment (among other things).

[RightlegTucker]

He's a solid prospect, he probably would've went in the 2nd-3rd round if he didn't have the off the field issues. His preseason performance just reaffirmed the ability he showed in college.

[ace1250]

I picked him up as a stash in my dynasty leagues. chances are the jags wont be very good and will have a pretty good pick in the draft, which they just may take a QB who is competent. He is a dart throw in the dark, but when he has played, he's played well.. Have to start somewhere....

[captain caveman]

Never seen a player get dropped and wavered as much as him in the preseason.

[TampaBay216]

I agree with most of you. He's a hold. At this point in the season, if you have room to roster him, why wouldn't you take a shot in the dark? Its pickups like these that pay off in 1-2 years that win leagues. I'm all in, even if it was just preseason against 3rd stringers. Putting up those numbers at that level of play is still impressive. You could do a whole hell of a lot worse.

[Jason]

Never seen a player get dropped and wavered as much as him in the preseason.

Probably everyone picked him up, then everyone cut bait when Blake Bortles was announced the starter

[gopackgo]

Give: Dede
Get: '18 2nd (early to mid) and a '18 3rd (late)

As much as I like him, gotta pull the trigger right?

[lukkynumber13]

Give: Dede
Get: '18 2nd (early to mid) and a '18 3rd (late)

As much as I like him, gotta pull the trigger right?

Of course you take the picks. Stop bragging & hit accept.

[ericanadian]

IR'd.. Tough break.

[PingPwng]

IR'd.. Tough break.

And it's still unclear what exactly is wrong.

[Cowboysfan33]

IR'd.. Tough break.

And it's still unclear what exactly is wrong.

The only thing that I read was a core muscle injury.

[PingPwng]

Same. Still unsure what the diagnosis or any of the reasoning is.

[Seventy5]

Seeing as he played in the last pre-season game, if he didn't have a major 'setback' during practice this week....it kind of sounds like they needed a roster spot at another position, felt comfortable rolling with the receivers they had for a short period of time, and placed him on IR instead of trying to sneak him onto the practice squad (can't do that with a Biletnikoff award winner who just lit the pre-season up). That's just a guess though.

With that said, and thinking big picture, I'm still not sure what to think of Dede. I liked his tape early in the off-season (wasn't blown away, but I had him as an early-mid 2nd round talent in a tier with Godwin/Jamaal Williams/Everett/Brian Hill/Cooper Kupp), but I wasn't blown away enough to ignore what appeared to be a handful of severe character concerns (a handful of people didn't directly say this, but their comments seems to suggest Dede was nearly creeping towards being at a place somewhere between an extremely odd character to maybe having a screw or two loose upstairs). I mean, just look at these three quotes to get a general idea:

"So @McShay13 just said new Jags WR Dede Westbrook is the only player he's ever heard of being kicked out of a 15-minute combine interview." -Albert Breer on twitter

"And then, there's this text just now from an AFC area scout on Dede Westbrook: "No thoughts. It is what it is. He's a degenerate."

"There's no margin for error." -Jaguars GM David Caldwell on Dede Westbrook off field moving forward

Dede himself said “But as for me, I got in some trouble and I did some things as well, but I was never convicted of anything,” Westbrook said in March, per USA Today’s Tom Pelissero. “Like, I’ve been to jail, but all the charges dropped. I have no pending charges or anything. So, I think I’m just like you.” I'm not one to judge, nor am I going to say anything negative here without actually seeing the video of what exactly was being discussed...but that quote quite literally makes me laugh and shake my head ha.

Of all the fantasy owners/GMs I know, I probably swing for the fences and take more risks than most owners I know (drafted Crowell after his freshman year and held/still own in those devy leagues. Owned Marcus Lattimore everywhere, and I am the guy drafting Josh Gordon/Calvin Johnson/Justin Blackmon/Marshawn Lynch everywhere, etc..I literally have Gordon drafted in an NFFC big money redraft league this year)...but his off-season red flags were enough to basically make me remove a player from my draft boards for the first time. He was always far and away the best talent I saw available in the mid-late 4th of all my leagues, but I didn't touch him.

His pre-season is making me want to take a step back and dig a little deeper into his background/character...especially when you consider he was drafted 4.03 overall by the Jags who came out saying they couldn't pass on him there because he was a falling talent whose value far outweighed that draft slot (suggesting they had him as at LEAST an early 3rd-early 2nd round talent...but he was a forgotten man after the fall+presumed 4th or 5th option in Jacksonville+having an improved D+commitment to Leonard fournette+Blake Bortles as his QB...so he was probably being udnervalued). BUT, to any owners excited and looking to buy...I'd recommend pumping the brakes before sending any offers of even moderate value; this guys character concerns were some of the strangest I can remember and I couldn't help but think of Titus Young 2.o.

*Not saying Westbrook has a mental issue or comparing him to Titus in any way, just reminding everyone about the massively strange red flags that were popping up just a few short months ago.