This is a weekly guide to my suggested Fantasy Sleepers. These are the guys that ride your bench, but could put up some surprising points for your squad. Opening week is a tough one, but I got some pretty good tips for ya!
1. Rashad Jennings- RB Jacksonville Jaguars- I look for Jennings to see a pretty nice workload with MJD being eased back into things. He is worth the pickup for the week if your soft at your #2 RB spot.
2. Eric Decker- WR Denver Broncos- The word is Manning and Decker have already developed quite a chemistry together. Decker is a lot like Colts WR's we have seen Manning pair up with in the past, with much success. I look for Manning to be victorious in his debut in Denver.
3. Ronnie Brown- RB San Diego Chargers- I look for Brown to get a big workload against a nice matchup in the Raiders. The shoulder injury to Matthews has ruled him out, and Brown looks to be the man. I look for Brown to have a very nice outing.
4. Jake Locker- QB Tennessee Titans- Locker will open up against a very good Patriots team, but this will be a very competitive game at home. Chris Johnson holds the key as the Titans need to control the clock against a very good Pats offense. I like the Pats to win, but Locker is a solid start.
5. Shonne Greene- RB New York Jets- The Bills will face the unpredictability of a Jets Wildcat Package on Sunday. Tebow will see some game time and keep the Bills defense guessing. This will open it up for Greene to have a nice afternoon.
Well Fantasy Football drafts are in full swing and I am here to give you my list of ultra value picks. These picks are also known as Deep Sleepers and you never know what may emerge. Last season during my Fantasy draft I was able to land Cam Newton in the 10th round, and Victor Cruz in the 14th. I made the Championship Game starting both of these guys on a week to week basis as the season progressed. This just proves that a ton of talent exists in the later rounds when everyone is saying it's scraps. I have compiled a list of my Top Ten Deep Sleepers for the 2012 Fantasy Football season as listed below. The picks are listed in the order I see them. 1. Shonn Greene- New York Jets- Greene has fell considerably in Fantasy drafts due to the lack of production last season, but people have to remember he spent the 2011 campaign sharing carries with L.T. This season he will be the main attraction, and he will see tons of action as the Jets lack in the passing game. Greene is dropping between the 8th and 10th rounds.
2. Reggie Wayne- Indianapolis Colts-Wayne is getting older which is shying people away with no Manning to throw the ball. The fact is Luck has already targeted Wayne a ton through 2 Preseason games and I don't expect that to change. Wayne is still a very good receiver to have, and he is falling between the 7th and 10th rounds.
3. Justin Blackmon- Jacksonville Jaguars- Blackmon is a rookie receiver so not even being taken in most Fantasy drafts. Blackmon is a specimen and the only true target Blaine Gabbert has on a very thin Jacksonville team. He has already shined through Preseason action, and I expect a solid season from Blackmon. You can get him easily between the 12th and final rounds of your draft.
4. Lance Moore- New Orleans Saints- Moore is a true sleeper playing on one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL. You can look for Moore to see more targets with the departure of Robert Meacham to San Diego. Drew Brees loves to spread the ball around and Moore holds awesome value. Moore is going between rounds 7 and 10 in most drafts.
5. Sam Bradford- St. Louis Rams- Bradford is coming off a terrible season which saw his entire team riddled by injuries. They spent most of the season with no Jackson or WR'S to help him out. Bradford himself spent considerable time on the sidelines. The Rams beefed up skill positions and I expect a nice bounce back from Bradford. He is money at your 2 or 3 QB and is sticking around until rounds 10-13 in most drafts.
6. Carson Palmer- Oakland Raiders- Palmer has had a year to get chemistry going in Oakland and was on pace for 4400 yards last season. Those yards of course were if he had played the entire season. Heyward Bey has emerged as his top threat and I expect a very nice season from Palmer. He will be there between the 7th and 9th rounds.
7. Titus Young- Detroit Lions- Titus Young will benefit a ton from double coverage on Megatron. You can look for Young to become Stafford's #2 target and be right on pace for a nice 1000 yard season. He was still there in the 12th round of our draft.
8. Michael Floyd- Arizona Cardinals- Floyd is another rookie receiver who will benefit from double coverage on Larry Fitzgerald opening him up to have a very nice first season. The QB situation in Arizona is very shaky, but whoever takes snaps will still find Floyd in single coverage situations.
9. Jacquizz Rogers-Atlanta Falcons- Rogers has incredible speed, and in a newer look Atlanta offense you can expect to see him in many formations. Rogers will also spell an aging Michael Turner leading to more opportunities to make big plays. Rogers has been going in rounds 10-13 in most drafts.
10. Kyle Rudolph- Minnesota Vikings- Rudolph is the only TE on this list, and I expect big things from him. The Vikings have a young Christian Ponder and a questionable Adrian Peterson which I think will open things up for Rudolph. I expect him and Ponder to develop a nice relationship. He will be available towards the end of your draft.
It's Friday, and I am back with my Top Fantasy Picks for 2012 on Defense and Special Teams. These are the picks that come late in the draft, but can make a huge impact for your team. I will also give you some sleeper picks, and some players or defenses you want to stay away from. I will be back tomorrow with my first look at NCAA Football and the SEC this season. I will talk about the impact of Tyrann Mathieu being dismissed from the LSU Football team this morning, and what it means for the rest of the SEC West. Make sure you check that out! " Here We Go"
Defense:
1. San Francisco 49ers- The 49ers come in boasting 2 of the top linebackers in the game today. Patrick Willis and Aldon Smith will continue to terrorize opposing offenses this season. This is the only defense worth jumping on in a middle round. They have a good kick return game as well which can pay off big.
2. Houston Texans- The Texans lost a couple players in the offseason, but don't expect this to make a significant difference. Wade Phillips has developed a ball hawking defense that finished 2nd in total defense during the 2011 season.
3. Seattle Seahawks- This Seattle defense does not get the praise deserved, but this defense finished in the Top 10 total defenses of 2011. I expect to see improvement in the pass rush making this defense one of the best for fantasy owners.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers- This defense does not get a lot of takeaways, but they make up for it by not giving up yardage. This is a defense that is getting older, and I expect a small decline this season.
5. Cincinnati Bengals- This defense was a sleeper that I drafted as my 2nd defense last season. I don't have to tell you that this pick paid off very nicely. The Bengals finished in the Top 10 in scoring defense, and racked up a very nice number of sacks.
Defense Sleepers:
1.Chicago Bears- They gave up big numbers last season, but they could never get off the field. You can look for serious improvement this season, and I don't even have to tell you about the kick return game.
2. Denver Broncos- The Broncos defense was the real reason for the run ending the 2011 season. Tim Tebow gets way to much credit considering it was this defense that kept him in striking distance. Dumervil and Miller are one of the top LB duos in the NFL and will anchor a solid squad in 2012.
3. Buffalo Bills- The Bills adding Mario Williams this offseason will help the pass rush a ton in 2012. They are very capable of making big plays on defense, and have a pretty solid return game.
Defense To Stay Away From:
1.San Diego Chargers- The Chargers defense is no longer the solid fantasy pick it was a few years back. They were near the bottom in sacks last season, and I expect much of the same.
2. Minnesota Vikings- Jared Allen make this defense tempting due to the large number of sacks, but you should look at the pass defense stats before you make this hasty decision. The Vikings were last in interceptions and gave up a ton of yards through the air.
3. Miami Dolphins- This is another team who used to be a fantasy must on defense. Those days are now gone as the Dolphins recovered a measly 3 fumbles last season. They just don't have playmakers!
Place Kickers:
1. Mason Crosby- Green Bay Packers- Crosby kicked 68 PAT's last season, and the Packers will score a lot of points again in 2012.
2. David Akers- San Francisco 49ers- Akers kicked 44 field goals last season coupled with 34 extra points. He is a fantasy stud at kicker.
3. Stephen Gostkowski- New England Patriots- He plays for the Patriots so he should come close to the 59 PAT's he kicked last season.
4. Dan Bailey- Dallas Cowboys- Bailey did a great job his first year in Dallas kicking 32 FG's and 39 PAT's. I expect Bailey to have an even bigger year in 2012.
5. Alex Henery- Philadelphia Eagles- Henry is a very good young kicker who had a great first season in Philly. I expect that just like Bailey, Alex Henry will have a very nice 2012.
Kicker Sleepers:
1. Nate Kaeding- San Diego Chargers- He suffered a major injury last season, but Kaeding should be ready to kick a ton of PAT's for the Chargers.
2. Mike Nugent- Cincinnati Bengals- It seems the Bengals have sleepers everywhere, and kicker is no different. He had 33 FG's and 33 PAT's last season.
3. Randy Bullock- Houston Texans- This young rookie kicker out of Texas A&M should get plenty of opportunities in Houston.
Kickers To Stay Away From:
1-3. This one I will make very easy! If they kick for the Jaguars, Colts, and Dolphins, reserve them as a last resort.
I am back today with my Top Picks & Sleepers for Fantasy Football 2012. I am going to be giving my picks today in the positions of WR/TE. I will list my Top 5 picks, 3 sleepers, and 3 players to stay away from. I will conclude my Fantasy Predictions tomorrow with DEF/PK so make sure you check it out. If you have not checked out my QB/RB picks, check it out in the archive. I will start my NCAA Season off on Saturday with my Top 25 Preseason Poll and an SEC preview.
Wide Receivers:
1. Calvin Johnson- Detroit Lions- This pick is a no brainer. Megatron will pick right up where he left off in 2011. You can expect to see Johnson get tons of double coverage, but it will not matter.
2. Larry Fitzgerald- Arizona Cardinals- The QB situation in Arizona can be scary, but Fitzgerald is a true Playmaker. He finished the 2011 season with 80 Rec, 1411 Yards, 8 TD's, and managed to put up these numbers with no stud QB. Expect the same in 2012!
3. Wes Welker- NE Patriots- Welker plays in an offense with a lot of mouths to feed, but you can expect Welker to see the ball plenty from Tom Brady. Welker saw the ball thrown his way 172 times last year, but the Patriots added Brandon Lloyd in the Offseason. He will also have Gronkowski and Hernandez to compete with for targets. I expect a small drop in production, but he is still the best pick in this spot.
4. Brandon Marshall- Chicago Bears- Marshall is reunited with Jay Cutler who he played with in Denver, and posted 3 1,000 Yard Seasons. Cutler is healthy and will be looking in his direction often. Marshall will see significant double coverage giving Rookie Alshon Jeffery several targets as well, but in the end you will see a 100 rec season for Marshall.
5.Andre Johnson- Houston Texans- Johnson spent most of last year hampered by injuries and on the sideline. I expect to see Johnson have a bounce back season and solidify himself back at the top.
Wide Receiver Sleepers:
1. Alshon Jeffery- Chicago Bears- You can expect Jeffery to get several targets due to double coverage on Brandon Marshall. Jeffery has great size and is quite a Matchup issue as well. He should go 6th or 7th rounds in most drafts.
2.Michael Floyd- Arizona Cardinals- We have a 2nd rookie in this category. Fitzgerald will get most of the coverage attention leaving Floyd ripe for a great rookie season.
3. Eric Decker- Denver Broncos- The word is Decker and Manning have already developed some great chemistry, and I expect that to show in the Regular Season. Decker will make you a very solid #2 Wide Receiver.
Wide Receivers To Stay Away From:
1. Mario Manningham-San Francisco 49ers- He finished the year big for the Giants last season, but don't always fall for the hype. The 49ers already have Moss, Crabtree, and Davis which makes Manningham the fourth option. He will not see enough targets to justify picking him before your fourth WR.
2. Vincent Jackson- Tampa Bay Bucs- Jackson was very inconsistent last season in San Diego, and that was Phillip Rivers throwing the ball. Josh Freeman is not Rivers!
3.Torrey Smith-Baltimore Ravens- Smith has a lot of stock going in to this season, but I expect to see Boldin get more targets. I expect to see Smith have right around the same stats as last season. Don't get me wrong, 850 yards and 7 TD'S isn't bad, but he is a 6th or 7th round pick at best.
Top 5 Tight Ends:
1. Jimmy Graham- New Orleans Saints- I expect to see Graham get more targets that Gronkowski in a crowded NE Receiving core. This is the only reason for the order of the top 2.
2. Rob Gronkowski- New England Patriots- Gronkowski will have a great season, but he will not match the monster year from 2011. He has so much competition with the addition of Lloyd, Gonzalez, and Fells. He will also have a healthy Aaron Hernandez to share targets with, and this makes Graham the Top Tight End.
3. Jason Witten- Dallas Cowboys-This high powered Cowboys offense will result in big numbers for Witten. He had over 900 yards in 2011, but only saw the Endzone 5 times. I suspect you will see a jump in TD's in 2012.
4. Aaron Hernandez- New England Patriots- Hernandez makes two Tight Ends in the Top 5 for New England. He is healthy, and has Tom Brady throwing the ball.
5. Antonio Gates- San Diego Chargers- If you have faith in Gates staying healthy, then he is the #3 at this position. I don't have that faith!
Tight End Sleepers:
1. Fred Davis-Washington Redskins- I expect Davis to be a top target for rookie QB RG3. They are not loaded at WR, and the running game is unpredictable.
2. Jacob Tamme- Denver Broncos- Tamme and Manning have a history, and it includes a pretty good season for Tamme in 2010. Tamme caught 67 passes for 631 yards in only 10 games.
3. Lance Kendricks- St. Louis Rams- Kendricks is a big athletic Tight End with a top of upside. You can expect him to see many targets in this new Jeff Fisher offense.
Tight Ends To Stay Away From:
1. Coby Fleener- Indianapolis Colts- Fleener is getting a lot of hype due to his connection with Andrew Luck. The two Stanford teammate's only connected 34 times in 2011, but he did see the Endzone 10 times. He is just a toss up in my book, and I don't think he is worthy of the risk.
2. Mercedes Lewis- Jacksonville Jaguars- Two words, Blaine Gabbert!
3.Dallas Clark-Tampa Bay Bucs- I think Clark has seen his best days, and now he has no Peyton Manning. He will struggle in this Bucs offense with Freeman running the show.
Its Finally Football Season and that means Fantasy Football!!! I have a new Blog in which I will bring the latest predictions and updates for Fantasy Football. I will also bring you my division and conference predictions in both NCAA & NFL Football. I will bring you one Free Handicapping Prediction per week as requested by everyone who followed my Blog last year. I also bring the lowest priced Prediction Package in Handicapping at $4.99 per package. This package buys you 3 picks per week all season long. That's a total of $9.98 for both Pro & College Football. That is 6 picks per week for under $10. That being said I am going to kick it off with my 2012 Fantasy Football Predictions at QB/RB. I will give my Top 5 Picks at each position, 3 sleepers, and 3 players to stay away from. "Here We Go"!
Quarterbacks:
1. Aaron Rodgers-GB- Plenty of mouths to feed and great mobility to make things happen. No Brainer!
2. Tom Brady-NE- Tons of targets with a healthy Hernandez and the edition of Brandon Lloyd.
3. Drew Brees- NO- It does not matter who is coaching Brees has tons of weapons!
4. Eli Manning- NYG- The top Manning in Football has proved his worth, and I think he will have a huge year.
5. Cam Newton-Carolina- He is guaranteed to get first crack inside the 10 which equals great rushing TD potential.
QB Sleepers:
1. Vince Young- Buffalo Bills- He does not start yet but Fitzpatrick has serious confidence issues. I believe Vince Young will be the starter by week 5 and never look back. You will be able to snag Young in final rounds or even Free Agency. He will make you a great 3rd option at QB.
2.Robert Griffith III- Washington Redskins- He is miles ahead of Cam Newton coming in as he has a great arm. He looks to pass first, but if he gets behind the Defense it's over. He will probably go in 3rd to 4th rounds in most drafts. I think his preseason rankings at #8 QB on most boards is a little high. He does not have a Steve Smith to throw the ball to like Newton did either.
3. Carson Palmer- Oakland Raiders- He has had a full year to work with the team and develop some chemistry. The new spread offense will give him lots of targets, and Heyward-Bey is quickly becoming the stud receiver they hoped for. McFadden healthy in the backfield makes the defense stay honest, but healthy is the key word. Palmer will hang around till 5th or 6th rounds in most drafts.
Quarterbacks To Stay Away From:
1. Ryan Fitzpatrick- Buffalo Bills- The reason I have Vince Young in my sleepers.
2. Michael Vick- Philadelphia Eagles- Injuries have riddled Michael Vick and makes him a huge risk if drafted as a #1. Pass on Vick and load up at WR, RB, and TE. Draft Boards should see Stafford, Ryan, P. Manning, and RG3 go before Vick.
3. Matt Shaub- He has serious injury issues and so does his weapons. You don't want to be stuck with Shaub as your #1 if a situation like last year takes place. If you get the chance to take him as a #2 or even #3 it will be worth your while.
Running Backs:
1. Arian Foster-Houston- He is still the man at this position. I would look for him to put up over a 1,000 yards on the ground, and 500 more through the air. He will probably throw in 15-20 Touchdowns for good measure.
2. LeSean McCoy- Philadelphia Eagles- McCoy will pick up where he left off and be an absolute stud for Fantasy Owners. I would expect around the same stat line as Foster above.
3.Ray Rice- Baltimore Ravens-Rice has stepped up and proved he belongs in this class. The added pass catching displayed last year makes him the easy #3 RB.
4.Maurice Jones Drew- Jacksonville Jaguars- MJD will remain the only bright spot on a terrible Jacksonville team. It seems every year I say he is going to slow way down, but it never happens. I guess I just have to accept the guy is pretty damn good.
5.Chris Johnson- Tennessee Titans- Forget about last season because CJ2K will redeem himself this season. He may not put up 2000 yards, but he will be huge in 2012. You may even be able to pull him out of the 4th or 5th round.
Running Back Sleepers:
1. Michael Bush- Chicago Bears- You can expect Michael Bush to see the ball a ton in Goal Line situations resulting in numerous trips to the Endzone. Matt Forte running in the backfield with him will set him up for success no doubt. This is a very solid #2 RB!
2.Donald Brown- Indianapolis Colts- With a Rookie QB like Andrew Luck running the show, and Joseph Addai out of the picture, you can look for Donald Brown to have a great year on a rebuilding Colts team. The Front Office has already made it clear he will get that shot.
3. Benjarvis Green Ellis- Cincinnati Bengals- The Law Firm didn't do much last year with the Patriots, but he will be the horse in Cincy. You can forget about Bernard Scott taking away carries, BGE will be a solid #2.
Running Backs To Stay Away From:
1.Jamal Charles-K.C Chiefs- Charles comes off a brutal injury, and forced to share carries with Peyton Hillis. Enough Said!
2. Adrian Peterson-Minnesota Vikings- Just like Jamal Charles he is coming off a brutal injury. He insists that he will be ready for the opener, but don't be ridiculous. Toby Gerhart will get the early season action and Peterson will be a huge question mark. Stay Away!
3. Fred Jackson- Buffalo Bills- Jackson is by no means a young man, and you can expect C.J Spiller to see the ball a lot more this season. I would actually hold off and take Spiller as your #3 RB. This will pay off big for Fantasy Owners.
