New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady defeated the NFL in a court ruling that overturned his four-game suspension that was handed down for the DeflateGate controversy.
Tom Brady suspension overturned, fantasy value on the rise
Tom Brady will take the field in Week 1 following a court ruling that overturned his suspension. We break down the fantasy implications.
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The NFL can appeal the ruling; however, during that time, Brady is likely to suit up for Week 1 and beyond. It’s the latest plot twist that originated from a suspension that was handed down from Commissioner Roger Goodell in May, and upheld on Brady’s appeal to the league.
It was initially reported that Brady’s suspension would be overturned with new evidence such as phone records, although it is unclear if any was presented in advance of the overturned suspension ruling.
Fantasy Spin: Finally, some clarity to the situation. Brady’s average draft position sat in the seventh round before this ruling, and could rise significantly past his current ranking of being the ninth quarterback off the board. Fantasy owners who drafted Brady at a discounted rate due to the uncertainty of his status got themselves a steal.
While fantasy owners should be excited for this ruling, expectations should be tempered with Julian Edelman and Brandon LaFell ailing. Brady remains a mid-level QB1 in leagues of all formats with a healthy Rob Gronkowski still in the mix, and has vast Week 1 potential versus a vulnerable Pittsburgh Steelers secondary.
