Each season there are players who comeback with strong seasons after spending a year or two on the Fantasy brink. I call these the Fantasy Comeback Player of the Year candidates. In order to be a candidate for this most coveted of awards, a player must have been a Fantasy disappointment in 2009 and a Fantasy stud at some point prior to last season.
Had this blog been around a year ago, my Fantasy Comeback Player of the Year for 2009 would have been Brett Favre. In his one season with the Jets in 2008, Favre threw for 3472 yards with 22 touchdowns and 22 interceptions after posting outstanding Fantasy numbers (4155 yards, 28 TDS with only 15 INTS) in his last season with Green Bay in 2007. He bounced back last season in Minnesota with 4202 yards, 33 TDS and a career low 7 INTS as a starter.
Now that you have a working idea of what the criteria is for Fantasy Comeback Player of the Year, here is my list of candidates, in no particular order, for the 2010 Fantasy Football season:
Michael Turner, RB, Atlanta Falcons – After rushing for nearly 1700 yards in 2008, the Burner started just 11 games and rushed for just 871 yards in 2009. His touchdown production went from 17 in 2008 to 10 in 2009 as well. Turner was #2 in a lot of Fantasy RB and overall rankings in 2009, so failing to reach 1000 yards was not what his owners bargained for last season. Most, if not all, of Turner’s issues last season were injury related – both with him and the Falcons offensive line. If healthy, look for Turner’s Fantasy production to approach ’08 levels once again in 2010.
Matt Forte, RB, Chicago Bears – Forte burst onto the scene in 2008 as rookie with over 1200 yards rushing and 63 receptions for another 477 yards. Although he played and started all 16 games in 2009, Forte was hampered by nagging injuries all season long. He clearly lacked the explosiveness last season that made him a Fantasy stats stuffer in 2008. An 89 yard run against the Raiders in the Bears 2nd preseason game is a great sign that the extra gear is back for 2010.
Carson Palmer, QB, Cincinnati Bengals – Heading into the 2008 season, Palmer was coming off back-to-back 4000 yard passing seasons and looked like a sure bet to be atop the Fantasy QB Rankings for years to come. Palmer has struggled with inconsistency and injury the past two seasons, but with Terrell Owens and Antonio Bryant now on board, he once again has a talented and deep group at receiver. If Palmer is to regain his status as an elite QB, 2010 has to be the year he begins that ascension.
Jay Cutler, QB, Chicago Bears – Cutler’s first season in Chicago certainly had its ups and downs. He actually threw more touchdowns (27) in 2009 than he did (25) in 2008, but he also threw a whopping 26 interceptions and had nearly 900 less yards last season. With new offensive coordinator Mike Martz now calling the plays, Cutler is likely to have plenty of opportunity to get those 900 yards back in 2010. And while his receivers may not be household names, they are a young and talented group with plenty of upside.
Clinton Portis, RB, Washington Redskins – Portis failed to rush for at least 1200 yards for just the 2nd time in 8 seasons last year. As was the case the first time he failed to reach 1200 yards in 2006, injuries forced him to miss roughly half the season. So far in the preseason, he appears healthy and is distancing himself from fellow former Fantasy stud running backs, Larry Johnson and Willie Parker. Look for Portis to once again find himself north of 1000 yards in 2010.
Terrell Owens, WR, Cincinnati Bengals – For some reason, most people wanted to blame T.O.’s struggles in Buffalo on him losing a step or two. The fact of the matter is, T.O. still possesses incredible athleticism and is in amazing shape for a 36 year old. His biggest problem in Buffalo was the JV-caliber offense surrounding him, not his advancing age. Is he the player he was in Dallas, Philly or San Fran? No. But with a legit NFL QB now tossing him the ball, he still has enough in the tank to be a very effective Fantasy WR.
Ronnie Brown, RB, Miami Dolphins – Brown is single-handedly responsible for the popularity of the “wildcat” offense at the pro-level after gutting the Patriots defense for 4 touchdowns and 113 yards rushing back in 2008. His Fantasy value skyrocketed after that record-setting day in which he also threw for a touchdown. As has been the case for his entire career, Brown found himself losing a significant portion of his season to injury in 2009. So far, Brown seems fully recovered from his latest setback and ready to resume duties as the Dolphins starting RB.
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Here it is: the final installment of my 2010 Fantasy Football Rankings. In this final edition, I will rank the top 25 Fantasy Quarterbacks for 2010. Strategies for drafting a Fantasy QB vary greatly from GM to GM in H2H Fantasy Football. Some prefer stacking their team with running backs, and won’t even consider a quarterback until at least the 3rd round. Others jump on the top available QB in round 1 if picking outside of the top 5.
The Other 2010 Fantasy Football Rankings: |Overall| |RB| |WR| |TE| |DST| |K|
Whatever your strategy in selecting a Fantasy QB, securing one who ranks in the top 10 is likely a must if you plan on winning. With the proliferation of sophisticated passing offenses, the list of big-number quarterbacks is growing but the drop-off can be drastic once you move beyond that group. Ten guys threw for more than 4000 yards in 2009, but beyond that group only two eclipsed 3750 yards. And the drop becomes even more pronounced after that.
I have no problem with taking care of the running game early in a Fantasy Draft - just make sure to keep an eye on the available quarterbacks as the rounds move on.
2010 Top 25 Fantasy Quarterback Rankings:
1. Aaron Rodgers – Green Bay Packers: This is a change from my overall player rankings where I had Drew Brees ranked ahead of Rodgers. I have no real reasoning for the change other than a “gut feeling” telling me Rodgers has an even better season than he did last year.
2. Drew Brees – New Orleans: He may have dropped to #2 in my 2010 Fantasy QB Rankings, but I wouldn’t lose any sleep with him as my signal-caller this season.
3. Peyton Manning – Indianapolis Colts: For years he was the undisputed #1 Fantasy QB. In a lot of ways, I would feel better having him as my quarterback over Rodgers or Brees. Why? Because you know he will start all 16 games as he’s done his entire career.
4. Tom Brady – New England Patriots: Just when you think the weapons around Brady may be suspect, Welker makes a miraculous recovery, Julian Edelman emerges and rookie TE Aaron Hernandez looks like the 2nd coming of Tony Gonzalez early on.
5. Tony Romo – Dallas Cowboys: Romo had a career high in passing yards in 2009 while throwing a career low 9 interceptions.
6. Matt Schaub – Houston Texans: Quick who led the league in passing yards last season? Yes, it was Schaub. He should continue to shine with the best receiver in the game to throw to.
7. Phillip River – San Diego Chargers: His best receiver is suspended for the first three games of 2010, but that isn’t such a big deal. What is a big deal, however, is said receiver’s apparent intention to sit out the entire year if a new deal cannot be reached on his contract.
8. Jay Cutler – Chicago Bears: Cutler is a bit of a wildcard this high, but I’m guessing he looks more like the gunslinger we saw in Denver now that Mike Martz is calling the plays.
9. Joe Flacco – Baltimore Ravens: Like Cutler, this is another roll-of-the-dice having Flacco grace the 2010 Fantasy Quarterback Rankings so soon. I happen to love the kid’s upside with new stud receiver Anquan Boldin in town.
10. Brett Favre – Minnesota Vikings: You didn’t really think old Brett wouldn’t make the top 10? But let me go on record – I don’t think Favre is nearly as good this year as he was in 2009.
11. Kevin Kolb – Philadelphia Eagles: Was spectacular at times in relief of Donovan McNabb, but can he do it over the course of 16 games? Having a nice core of young receivers led by DeSean Jackson should help.
12. Eli Manning – New York Giants: I have never been much of a fan of Peyton’s little bro when it comes to Fantasy, but he did throw for 4000 yards last season and might have the deepest group of wide outs in the league.
13. Donovan McNabb – Washington Redskins: Doesn’t have the weapons he had in Philly, but he will still get it done in the passing game.
14. Carson Palmer – Cincinnati Bengals: Seems like forever ago that this guy was a top 5 Fantasy QB, but he’s only 30 and has a potentially potent group of receivers in 2010.
15. Matt Ryan – Atlanta Falcons: Look for Ryan to bounce back in his third season after a bit of s sophomore slump.
16. Ben Roethlisberger – Pittsburgh Steelers: Obviously, missing the first 4 to 6 weeks of the season is an issue but Big Ben could be a bargain in the latter portion of the middle rounds.
17. Chad Henne – Miami Dolphins: In Brandon Marshall, Henne now has a legit #1 WR to go with a talented group of young receivers. Don’t be surprised to see him work his way up the Fantasy QB Rankings this season.
18. Matthew Stafford – Detroit Lions: Stafford has all the tools, and now the weapons to be a good Fantasy option at QB.
19. Kyle Orton – Denver Broncos: The Broncos didn’t do Orton any favors by trading away his best receiver and best tight end, but he proved he could be effective without much in Chicago.
20. Alex Smith – San Francisco 49ers: If ever there was a year for the former #1 overall pick to breakout, this would be it. He has a re-tooled offensive line and studs at RB, WR and TE.
21. Mark Sanchez – New York Jets: The Jets didn’t ask Sanchez to do a lot as a rookie, but the offense should open up some in his 2nd year. Having a LT as the 3rd down back should help too.
22. Matt Leinart – Arizona Cardinals: All eyes will be on Leinart as he replaces one of the best passers in recent years.
23. Vince Young – Tennessee Titans: Young has proven he can be a winner at QB, unfortunately, that doesn’t necessarily translate into outstanding Fantasy value at the position.
24. Matt Hasselbeck – Seattle Seahawks: I have been waiting on this guy to return to his Pro Bowl form for two seasons now. If his line can keep him upright, he has the passing skills to be a top Fantasy QB.
25. Matt Cassel – New England: Was he just a system guy in New England? We should begin to get a clear answer on that in 2010.
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I’m headed down the home stretch of my 2010 Fantasy Football Player Rankings. Thus far, I’ve ranked the kickers, defense/special teams, tight ends, wide receivers and now it’s time for the running backs.
Check out the other rankings: |Overall| |K| |DST| |TE| |WR|
In the world of H2H Fantasy Football, running backs are the nuts and bolts of the team. Quality runners are at a premium in most Fantasy Drafts, so choosing wisely is critical. If you find yourself scouring the waiver wire for running backs with any frequency, you will more than likely be looking up at the competition in your league.
Here are my Top 50 Fantasy Running Back Rankings for 2010:
1. Chris Johnson – Tennessee Titans: Johnson became just the sixth runner in NFL history to eclipse 2,000 yards in a season last year. He was nothing short of incredible in 2009, and expecting a repeat performance in 2010 would be ridiculous. But there is no reason to believe another rushing title and 10 plus touchdown season won’t be in the offering.
2. Adrian Peterson – Minnesota Vikings: Some have expressed concern about Peterson’s drop in production towards the end of last season. I’m not buying it – this guy is a stud and will be at or near the top of the 2010 Fantasy Running Back Rankings.
3. Ray Rice – Baltimore Ravens: Rice had a breakout year in his 2nd season and should be just as good or better in 2010.
4. Maurice Jones-Drew – Jacksonville Jaguars: Continues to produce despite playing on a bad team.
5. Frank Gore – San Francisco 49ers: Has an improving team around him, which should mean an even better Frank Gore in 2010.
6. Michael Turner – Atlanta Falcons: Injuries robbed Turner of any chance to repeat his 2008 performance last season. If healthy, he should return to his 2008 form this season though.
7. Steven Jackson – St. Louis Rams: Jackson was able to start 15 games last season after injuries marred his previous two seasons. As a result, he rushed for over 1400 yards but managed just 4 touchdowns. If healthy, expect S-Jax to once again put up some nice numbers.
8. Rashard Mendenhall – Pittsburgh Steelers: Came back strong in 2009 after a shoulder injury ended his rookie season prematurely in 2008. He will have RB position pretty much to himself with Willie Parker now gone.
9. DeAngelo Williams – Carolina Panthers: Despite injuries and sharing carries, Williams still went over 1000 yards for the 2nd straight season last year.
10. Shonn Greene – New York Jets: The addition of LT has no doubt hurt his Fantasy value, but he will get plenty of opportunity in the Jets run-heavy offense.
11. Cedric Benson – Cincinnati Bengals: Benson avoided suspension for his latest off the field incident, so he should have a chance to match last season’s production.
12. Ryan Grant – Green Bay Packers: Still no competition has emerged to take carries away from Grant, so he remains a very good Fantasy RB option.
13. Jamaal Charles – Kansas City Chiefs: Appeared to be a sure bet to be in the top 10 Fantasy RB Rankings after a great finish to 2009, but the acquisition of Thomas Jones drops his value a bit.
14. Ryan Mathews – San Diego Chargers: Mathews has been working his way into the top 10 in a lot of Fantasy RB Rankings. Although I’m high on the rookie, I can’t put him in the top 10 just yet.
15. LeSean McCoy – Philadelphia Eagles: Did a solid job backing up the injury prone Brian Westbrook – now can he carry the load as the main guy for a full season?
16. Beanie Wells – Arizona Cardinals: Wells should get more opportunities in his 2nd season as he distances himself from the less talented Tim Hightower.
17. Knowshon Moreno – Denver Broncos: A tweaked hamstring early in training camp has validated some of the injury concerns with Moreno, but he should be back before start of the regular season.
18. Pierre Thomas – New Orleans Saints: The departure of Mike Bell should provide Thomas with more opportunities in 2010.
19. Jonathan Stewart – Carolina Panthers: Can he continue to be a top Fantasy running back playing behind DeAngelo Williams? I say yes.
20. Jahvid Best – Detroit Lions: All indications are that Best has already unseeded Kevin Smith as the No. 1 back in Motown.
21. Matt Forte – Chicago Bears: Forte was perhaps the most disappointing Fantasy RB last season, but look for him to have a strong season in 2010.
22. Joseph Addai – Indianapolis Colts: Addai’s rushing stats weren’t overwhelming last season, but he does find the end zone and is a great receiver out of the backfield.
23. Ronnie Brown – Miami Dolphins: Injuries and the presence of Ricky Williams keep him from ranking higher.
24. Clinton Portis – Washington Redskins: Portis has emerged as the top guy among the Redskins “big 3” running backs.
25. Arian Foster – Houston Texans: Foster gets a big push in the 2010 Fantasy RB Rankings thanks to rookie Ben Tate’s ankle injury.
26. Brandon Jacobs – New York Giants: Many feel teammate Ahmad Bradshaw will get the nod at RB this season, but my guess is – Jacobs plays just as much and still gets the goal line work.
27. Marion Barber – Dallas Cowboys: See Brandon Jacobs except replace Ahmad Bradshaw’s name with Felix Jones and Jacobs’ name with Barber.
28. Ahmad Bradshaw – New York Giants: Bradshaw was actually better than Jacobs last season, but those goal line carries give Jacobs the nod in the rankings.
29. Cadillac Williams – Tampa Bay Bucs: The “Caddy” looked like his old self in the first preseason game. Let’s just hope he can avoid the injury bug this season.
30. Felix Jones – Dallas Cowboys: See Ahmad Bradshaw expect replace Bradshaw’s name with Jones and Jacobs’ name with Barber.
31. C.J. Spiller – Buffalo Bills: The first RB taken in this year’s draft gets a Fantasy boost with the injury to Fred Jackson, but Marshawn Lynch is still there.
32. Justin Forsett – Seattle Seahawks: Forsett could be a Fantasy sleeper in 2010 with Julius Jones falling out of favor, and the newly acquired Leon Washington fresh off a broken leg.
33. Michael Bush – Oakland Raiders: Bush showed more promise than the disappointing Darren McFadden in 2009.
34. Darren McFadden – Oakland Raiders: Will this be the year that McFadden finally makes a Fantasy impact?
35. Jerome Harrison – Cleveland Browns: Harrison should get the starting nod in Cleveland, but talented rookie Montario Hardesty will likely see his share of the RB duties.
36. Reggie Bush – New Orleans Saints: Bush should see a few more carriers in 2010 with Mike Bell gone, but Pierre Thomas is still the top dog in the Saints backfield.
37. Thomas Jones – Kansas City Chiefs: Jones certainly won’t be the stud he was in New York, but will likely get enough work in KC to have plenty of value.
38. Ricky Williams – Miami Dolphins: With starter Ronnie Brown’s injury history, it’s likely Williams will have plenty of opportunity in 2010.
39. Laurence Maroney – New England Patriots: At times, Maroney looks as if he’s on the verge of joining the elite Fantasy running backs, but he never quite seals the deal.
40. Montario Hardesty – Cleveland Browns: The rookie will likely push incumbent Jerome Harrison for the starting spot.
41. Steve Slaton – Houston Texans: Will Slaton get the chance to work his way out of the doghouse now that talented rookie Ben Tate has been lost for the season?
42. Chester Taylor – Chicago Bears: Taylor could end up playing a lot more than anticipated if Matt Forte cannot return to his rookie form.
43. LaDainian Tomlinson – New York Jets: Starter Shonn Greene is not a strong receiver, so LT should be the 3rd down back in NY.
44. Tim Hightower – Arizona Cardinals: Hightower will likely see his role reduced in 2010 with the emergence of Beanie Wells, but will likely still handle the 3rd down duties.
45. Marshawn Lynch – Buffalo Bills: Hard to believe this guy was a top 10 back in most pre-season Fantasy Football Rankings just 2 short seasons ago.
46. Donald Brown – Indianapolis Colts: Injuries held back production in 2009. In the meantime, Joseph Addai took full advantage.
47. Willis McGahee – Baltimore Ravens: At times, he looked like the Willis McGahee of old last season.
48. Larry Johnson – Washington Redskins: Waiting in the wings in DC if Portis stumbles or gets hurt.
49. Fred Jackson – Buffalo Bills: Pre-season injury pushes him down the 2010 Fantasy Running Back Rankings.
50. Brian Westbrook – San Francisco 49ers: Something tells me the Niners find a way to work their new acquisition into the lineup.
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Other Fantasy Rankings: |Overall| |TE| |DST| |K| RB and QB coming soon!
Wide receivers are the most plentiful group in H2H Fantasy Football. As a result, they can often be the most neglected – with many Fantasy GMs figuring they can find bargains later in Fantasy Drafts. This line of thinking – while true to an extent – can often lead to many owners having a poor performing group of receivers in comparison to the rest of their league.
Here’s the top 50 Fantasy Wide Receivers as I see them:
1. Andre Johnson – Houston Texans: Johnson’s numbers over the past couple of seasons have been nothing short of incredible. In the past two seasons, he has 216 catches for over 3100 yards. As a matter of fact, he has over 100 catches in each the past 3 seasons in which he has played all 16 games.
2. Randy Moss – New England Patriots: 47 touchdown catches in three seasons as a Patriot about says it all. Moss is likely to be targeted even more in 2010 with Wes Welker working his way back from knee surgery.
3. Reggie Wayne – Indianapolis Colts: Has had at least 75 catches and over 1000 yards in each of his past 6 seasons.
4. Larry Fitzgerald – Arizona Cardinals: Fitzgerald is the best pure receiver in the NFL, but uncertainty about the new Cardinal QB drops him a bit in the 2010 Fantasy Wide Receiver Rankings. He’s just too good to rank outside of the top 5 Fantasy Receivers though – regardless of who’s throwing the football.
5. Roddy White – Atlanta Falcons: Roddy has silenced all doubters who questioned his staying power amongst the elite receivers with three straight 80 plus catch seasons.
6. Miles Austin – Dallas Cowboys: Miles Austin burst onto the scene in 2009 with 81 catches for 1320 yards and 11 touchdowns – after recording just 18 catches in the 3 seasons prior. He has a penchant for the big play as evidenced by his 16.3 yards per catch average.
7. Calvin Johnson – Detroit Lions: Johnson has the most upside of any wide out on this list, and should begin to realize some of that immense potential with a maturing Matt Stafford at quarterback.
8. Brandon Marshall – Miami Dolphins: Off-season hip surgery was a concern, but reports say Marshall is 100% headed into the season. With that being the case, look for another stellar season from him.
9. DeSean Jackson – Philadelphia Eagles: I’m a little hesitant about listing Jackson this high in my 2010 Fantasy WR Rankings, but his upside is hard to ignore.
10. Marques Colston – New Orleans Saints: Colston’s Fantasy value is somewhat limited by the spread the wealth offense that is the Saints passing game, but he is the best WR on a team that loves to throw it.
11. Greg Jennings – Green Bay Packers: Touchdowns have dropped the past two seasons since a career high 12 in 2007. He ranks this high because his potential as a top Fantasy WR in this offense is just too great to resist.
12. Anquan Boldin – Baltimore Ravens: I expect to see the Ravens open up the offense a bit more now that 3rd year QB Joe Flacco has the full confidence of his teammates and coaches. Boldin should fully reap the benefits of Baltimore’s more open attack.
13. Steve Smith – New York Giants: It was no surprise that Steve Smith was the top Fantasy WR for awhile last season. The surprise was he was playing for the Giants and not the Panthers.
14. Sidney Rice – Minnesota Vikings: Rice could be a top 10 Fantasy receiver with Brett Favre behind center. Without Favre, however, Rice may struggle to remain in the top 20.
15. Michael Crabtree – San Francisco 49ers: Showed what he could do with limited preparation and reps last season – should see a breakout season with a full training camp under his belt.
16. Steve Smith – Carolina Panthers: A broken arm and uncertainty at QB hurt Carolina’s version of Steve Smith, but he should still put up some solid numbers once healthy.
17. Wes Welker – New England Patriots: Heard a report that Welker was making Saints DBs look silly in scrimmages between the two teams – looks like his miraculous recovery continues.
18. Hines Ward – Pittsburgh Steelers: Logic says Ward is due for a significant drop-off given his age and Big Ben’s suspension. For what it’s worth, I’m not so sure I’m buying it.
19. Dwayne Bowe – Kansas City Chiefs: No player is probably looking more forward to the 2010 NFL season than Bowe. After a suspension last season and ill-advised comments in the off-season, he should be ready to silence a few mouths with his play.
20. Mike Sims-Walker – Jacksonville Jaguars: Big physical receiver who could move up the Fantasy WR Rankings if the Jags can figure out a way to involve him more in the offense.
21. Chad Ochocinco – Cincinnati Bengals: I had him higher prior to T.O. signing with the Bengals, but he should still manage some very good numbers in this offense.
22. Hakeem Nicks – New York Giants: Had a very nice rookie campaign in 2009 with 47 catches for 790 yards and 6 touchdowns. Should see more balls come his way in his 2nd season.
23. Percy Harvin – Minnesota Vikings: Wonder if Harvin’s latest bout of migraines has anything to do with another season of Brett Favre’s Diva Act? The good news is Harvin won’t be affected as much by a Favre retirement as teammate Sidney Rice, but he will be affected, and not in a good way.
24. Santana Moss – Washington Redskins: Moss should definitely benefit from the addition of QB Donovan McNabb. A healthy Chris Cooley should also allow him a bit more room to operate as well.
25. Jeremy Maclin – Philadelphia Eagles: Maclin quietly had a very solid rookie season in 2009. A lot of attention will be focused on the explosive DeSean Jackson, so expect Maclin to take advantage of some favorable matchups.
26. Pierre Garcon – Indianapolis Colts: Garcon was a beast down the stretch and in the playoffs. With Anthony Gonzalez returning from injury, the competition for catches in the Colts offense is a bit of a concern.
27. Robert Meachem – New Orleans Saints: Meachem averaged an impressive touchdown every 5 receptions last season. He might be sneaking up on Colston as Brees’ top target.
28. Mike Wallace – Pittsburgh Steelers: Wallace is this season’s Fantasy sleeper of choice at WR. With Santonio Holmes now in New York and Hines Ward approaching 35, he could move quickly up the 2010 Fantasy Wide Receiver Rankings.
29. Donald Driver – Green Bay Packers: Driver continues to produce at a high level, and should continue to get his fair share of looks in Green Bay’s air-friendly offense.
30. T.J. Houshmandzadeh – Seattle Seahawks: Touchdown production hasn’t been there the last two seasons, but the Houshman will still grab his share of passes.
31. Malcolm Floyd – San Diego Chargers: With Vincent Jackson looking more and more likely to miss a significant portion of the 2010 season, someone has to step up and shoulder the load at WR.
32. Steve Breaston – Arizona Cardinals: No Anquan Boldin and more defensive attention on Fitzgerald might make Breaston a bargain in most H2H Fantasy Football leagues.
33. Terrell Owens – Cincinnati Bengals: If the Hall of Fame Game was any indication, Carson Palmer will be looking T.O.’s way often this season.
34. Johnny Knox – Chicago Bears: Knox is another potential H2H Fantasy sleeper in Mike Martz’s receiver friendly scheme.
35. Kenny Britt – Tennessee Titans: In a better passing offense, Britt would be ranked much higher.
36. Lee Evans – Buffalo Bills: No T.O. should mean more opportunity, but will a Bills QB actually step up and deliver the ball consistently?
37. Dez Bryant – Dallas Cowboys: Rookie had the potential to be in the top 20 to 25 Fantasy receivers if not for the ankle injury.
38. Devin Hester – Chicago Bears: Hester continued his improvement as a receiver last year, and figures to get more opportunity in Mike Martz’s offense.
39. Derrick Mason – Baltimore Ravens: Mason will no doubt lose some value with the arrival of Anquan Boldin, but could still have a solid season in a more open Ravens offense.
40. Santonio Holmes – New York Jets: Four-game suspension keeps Holmes out of the top 30.
41. Vincent Jackson – San Diego Chargers: Jackson’s situation in San Diego is reaching critical mass. He would easily be a top 10 Fantasy receiver if not for the suspension and holdout.
42. Chris Chambers – Kansas City Chiefs: Could be a nice pickup late in the draft in KC’s improving offense.
43. Devin Aromashodu – Chicago Bears: Another guy getting a lot of sleeper buzz.
44. Braylon Edwards – New York Jets: The guy just seems too talented not to eventually move back up the Fantasy wide receiver rankings.
45. Nate Burleson – Detroit Lions: Should be a nice complement to Calvin Johnson in the Motor City.
46. Austin Collie – Indianapolis Colts: Had a very nice rookie season with 60 catches. How will things shakeout between Collie, Garcon and Gonzalez for the 2nd WR position?
47. Eddie Royal – Denver Broncos: Royal could see a serious rebound as a Fantasy WR with Brandon Marshall now in Miami.
48. Roy Williams – Dallas Cowboys: Williams’ stats could benefit greatly if Dez Bryant’s progress is significantly hindered by his early season injury.
49. Mario Manningham – New York Giants: Emerged as an effective 3rd and sometimes 2nd receiver in the Giants more wide-open attack in 2009.
50. Jerricho Cotchery – New York Jets: Hard to believe I have a third Jet in my 2010 Fantasy Wide Receiver Rankings, but Cotchery has proven himself a solid Fantasy option over the years.
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There was a time – not so long ago – when there was just a small level of distinction between tight ends and field goal kickers in Fantasy NFL Drafts. In my early years as a Fantasy participant, tight ends were often taken in the last couple of rounds just ahead of those “glorified soccer players.”
However, that has changed drastically with the emergence of the hybrid WR/TE types and the popularity of PPR formats. I’ve even seen some 2010 Fantasy Rankings with a tight end or two in the top 30 overall player rankings. That would put a tight end in the 3rd round of a Fantasy draft!
While I’m in full agreement with the increased importance of tight ends in most Fantasy formats, I cannot for the life of me justify a 3rd round pick on one. With that being said here are my 2010 Fantasy Tight End Rankings (1-20):
1. Dallas Clark – Indianapolis Colts: Clark has come to personify the new hybrid type tight end I mentioned earlier. He has the quickness and speed to blow by linebackers, and is too big for defensive backs. You will find him lined up inside, outside or in the slot for the Colts, and Peyton Manning has found him – wherever he is – with increased frequency over the past few years.
2. Antonio Gates – San Diego Chargers: All Gates has done in his 7 seasons is catch about 70 passes for around 900 yards and 8 plus touchdowns on average. With Vincent Jackson’s status still unclear, expect QB Philip Rivers to find him early and often in 2010.
3. Vernon Davis – San Francisco 49ers: The super-talented Davis finally broke through last season and had a monster year. He led all tight ends in 2009 with 13 touchdown receptions. Don’t expect 13 touchdowns in 2010, but 70 plus catches and 8 plus touchdowns is a reasonable expectation.
4. Jason Witten – Dallas Cowboys: Tony Romo’s BFF has averaged 90 receptions for over 1000 yards the past 3 seasons. The only knock on Witten as a Fantasy tight end has been his relative lack of touchdowns with just 13 over that same three year span.
5. Jermichael Finley – Green Bay Packers: Finley lands in the top 5 based on potential, and a finish to the season that saw him grab 38 receptions for 416 yards and 8 touchdowns in 7 games. Playing in the pass-happy Packers offense with Aaron Rodgers as your quarterback doesn’t hurt either.
6. Brent Celek – Philadelphia Eagles: Celek had 76 catches for 971 yards and 8 tds in his 3rd season. A young QB and youth at the WR position are both favorable indicators for an emerging Fantasy tight end.
7. Tony Gonzalez – Atlanta Falcons: Despite his advanced NFL age, the only real reason for a slight dip in Gonzalez’s Fantasy value is the emergence of the guys above him on this list – not a decline in his game.
8. Kellen Winslow – Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Unless rookie wide out Arrelious Benn can step up and produce beyond his years, Winslow will be the Bucs only real weapon in the passing game.
9. Chris Cooley – Washington Redskins: Cooley should benefit greatly from new coach Mike Shanahan’s tight end friendly system. And oh by the way, he’ll also be playing with the most talented quarterback to ever throw him a pass in Donovan McNabb.
10. Owen Daniels – Houston Texans: Daniels was lighting up the league before suffering a season ending knee injury in game 8. There is always concern after returning from such a severe injury, but Daniels should still manage TE1 production in 2010.
11. Zach Miller – Oakland Raiders: Those screams of joy you heard on the last night of the NFL Draft were coming from Miller when hearing the news the Raiders had traded for Jason Campbell. Miller somehow managed to put up some very solid H2H Fantasy numbers in 2009 with the likes of JaMarcus Russell, Bruce Gradkowski and Charlie Frye throwing him the ball.
12. Visanthe Shiancoe – Minnesota Vikings: Think this guy isn’t monitoring closely the “will he/won’t he” drama now involving Brett Favre? Sidney Rice benefited the most from Favre being the starter in Minnesota last season, but Shiancoe wasn’t far behind. If Brett returns, Shiancoe is top 10 tight end material, if not, he could slip out of the top 15.
13. John Carlson – Seattle Seahawks: Many were expecting a huge season from Carlson in 2009. He and QB Matt Hasselbeck seemed to be in rhythm prior to Hasselbeck being injured, but they struggled to regain that chemistry when Hasselbeck returned. New coach Pete Carroll doesn’t mind using his tight ends in the passing game, so expect Carlson’s Fantasy numbers to be on the rise.
14. Heath Miller – Pittsburgh Steelers: Miller is coming off a career year in 2009. The Steelers don’t exactly have an abundance of talent at wide receiver, so Miller should be targeted often in 2010 – with or without Big Ben in the lineup.
15. Greg Olsen – Chicago Bears: Olsen has a career best season in catches (60), yards (612) and tds (8) in 2009 with the gun-slinging Jay Cutler as his QB – only to have the tight end hating Mike Martz takeover the offense in 2010. If Martz can somehow find a way to consistently involve the talented tight end in his offense, it could be a big season for Olsen.
16. Jeremy Shockey – New Orleans Saints: Is this the year Shockey finally lives up to his huge potential in this wide-open Saints offense? It’s only been 2 seasons in N.O. for the Shockster, but it seems like we’ve been waiting forever for him to bust through in this pass-first offense.
17. Dustin Keller – New York Jets: Has all the potential in the world, but the offensive philosophy doesn’t allow him to showcase it. If the purse strings are loosened a bit on 2nd year QB Mark Sanchez, Keller has a chance to be a huge sleeper among Fantasy tight ends.
18. Kevin Boss – New York Giants: While Boss has certainly had his moments the past couple of seasons, he is just not targeted enough to warrant anything more than situational starts.
19. Benjamin Watson – Cleveland Browns: Was an afterthought most of the time in New England, but stands to benefit in a Cleveland offense lacking in quality receivers.
20. Jermaine Gresham – Cincinnati Bengals: The rookie out of Oklahoma could find a lot of room to operate with Ochocinco and T.O. drawing all the attention. He has all the physical skills to be an elite tight end, but how quickly does he realize all that potential?
Other 2010 Fantasy Player Rankings: |Kickers| |Def/ST|
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I’m back from the yearly family vacation and ready to re-commence with my 2010 Fantasy Player Rankings. I started off the H2H Fantasy Rankings last week with the top 15 Kickers, and will now resume – after 7 days of fun in the sun - with my top 20 Fantasy Defensive/Special Teams list.
Check out my 2010 Fantasy Kicker Rankings here.
Fantasy vets know the importance of picking a solid DST during the draft. Making the right choice gives you a leg up on most of the competition, while the wrong choice could have you endlessly searching the waiver wire for weekly plug-ins.
So here it is: the 2010 Fantasy Defensive/Special Teams Rankings.
1. New York Jets – This unit was already very good, but got even better for 2010 with the additions of Antonio Cromartie and Jason Taylor. Cromartie should combine with All-pro corner Darrelle Revis to form one the of the more formidable cornerback duos in the NFL. Taylor should help improve some relatively modest sack numbers from 2009.
2. Minnesota Vikings – The Vikings led the NFL in sacks with 48 and were nearly impossible to run on last season. They added depth, talent and experience to a secondary that managed only 11 interceptions in 2009 with the addition of CB Lito Shepard. WR Percy Harvin also gives Minnesota one of the more dangerous return games in the league.
3. Green Bay Packers – This group of ball hawkers led the NFL in interceptions with thirty last season. They have a knack for making the big play, and that trend should continue in 2010.
4. Baltimore Ravens – The Ravens would have challenged for the top spot if not for injuries. All-everything free safety Ed Reed is on the PUP list and could possibly miss a few games at the beginning of the season. The secondary suffered another setback when cornerback Domonique Foxworth was lost for the season with a knee injury early in training camp. Rookie linebacker Sergio Kindle also seems likely to miss significant time with a fractured skull. Despite all the injuries, this unit should still be one of the better defenses in the league.
5. Philadelphia Eagles – The Eagles were adept at both creating turnovers with 25 interceptions and sacks with 44 in 2009. The names may not be as recognizable as in years past, but this group continues to be one of the top Fantasy defenses around. New acquisition Ernie Sims should fit right in with this aggressive unit. DeSean Jackson adds an explosive element to the return game as well.
6. Pittsburgh Steelers – One of the more prolific Fantasy defenses over the past several years, the Steelers had a bit of a slip in production last season. Expect a bounce back with a healthy Troy Polamalu in 2010.
7. Dallas Cowboys – The Cowboys have an extremely talented front seven that will produce more than enough sacks. The problem last season was an inconsistent secondary that only produced 11 interceptions. Any improvement from the secondary could send this group to the top of the 2010 Fantasy Defensive Rankings.
8. San Francisco 49ers - The Niners emerged as a defensive force to be reckoned with in 2009. They have an excellent core of linebackers and a solid secondary. They recorded 44 sacks and 18 interceptions last season while allowing only 17.6 points a game. There is no reason to believe they cannot better those numbers in 2010. New Niner Ted Ginn Jr. should also greatly improve the return game.
9. New Orleans Saints – The surprise defense of 2009, the Saints seemed to create turnovers on demand last year. They doubled the next closest defensive unit with 8 touchdowns in 2009. Matching all those eye-popping numbers in 2010 seems highly unlikely, but adding defensive end Alex Brown should make them better this year.
10. Chicago Bears - The traditionally stout Bears defense was anything but in 2009. Enter Julius Peppers and a healthy Brian Urlacher, and we should see huge improvement in 2010. Rookie safety Major Wright could provide immediate help to the secondary, and we can’t forget about record-setting return man Devin Hester.
11. New York Giants – Like the Bears, the 2009 edition of the Giants defense was uncharacteristically bad. The usually sack happy G-men had only 32 last season to go along with a paltry 13 interceptions. The Giants should be much better in the secondary with the additions of safeties Antrel Rolle and Deon Grant. Veteran LB Keith Bulluck comes in from Tennessee to help shore up a run defense that was shredded at times last year.
12. San Diego Chargers - The Charges defense was one of the more disappointing Fantasy units in 2009. The start to 2010 wasn’t very promising either with the trade of talented cornerback Antonio Cromartie to the New York Jets, but a healthy Shawn Merriman is a step in the right direction. Darren Sproles makes the Chargers DST even more attractive.
13. New England Patriots – The Patriots have seen a lot of very good players leave the fold over the past couple of years, but Bill Belichick always seems to field a solid defense regardless of personnel.
14. Tennessee Titans – This group gave up a lot of yardage and points last season, but still made their fair share of big plays. Despite some key losses, there are still plenty of playmakers here. If any type of pass rush can be generated in 2010, the Titans D can once again join the Fantasy elite.
15. Cincinnati Bengals – Cincy’s defense was a nice surprise last season. They may not be worthy of being drafted in most H2H Fantasy leagues, but they remain a very nice matchup option to monitor closely on the waiver wire.
16. Miami Dolphins – The Dolphins could be a Fantasy defense on the rise in 2010. They lose a little ability to rush the passer with the loss of Joey Porter, but gain more solid all-around LB play with the addition of Karlos Dansby. Keep this unit on the Fantasy sleeper watch list.
17. Indianapolis Colts – It’s clear that this defense can play on an elite level with safety Bob Sanders in the lineup. The problem is he has been unable to remain in the lineup with any consistency, and that seems to be the case again to begin 2010. With Sanders’ status still uncertain, this defense is likely not draft worthy in most standard H2H Fantasy Football leagues.
18. Arizona Cardinals – The Cardinals lost three of its best defensive players in LB Karlos Dansby, S Antrel Rolle and CB Bryan McFadden. They were able to offset a couple of those losses with the additions LB Joey Porter and S Kerry Rhodes however.
19. Atlanta Falcons – The Falcons were actually a decent matchup play in 2009 -coming up with a number of big plays during the season. Newcomer Dunta Robinson should provide much needed help in the secondary. The Falcons also have some incoming rookies who have a chance to help immediately.
20. Oakland Raiders – On paper, this Raiders defense should be much improved in 2010. A strong draft, advantageous trades, and smart free agent signings and re-signings have Raider Nation excited about the Silver and Black for the first time in years. I wouldn’t gamble a draft pick on this unit, but would definitely have them on the waiver watch list.
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In all of pro sports, is there a more thankless job than NFL kicker? Or one with more highs and lows, ups and downs…you get the picture. If kickers are underappreciated by teammates, coaches, fans, the media, etc – then they are nothing more than an afterthought to most Fantasy Owners. 
I’ve witnessed several drafts where an owner completely forgot to select a kicker – only to proclaim, “It’s all good, I’ll pick one up on the waiver wire.” Such is the lot of Fantasy Kickers – mostly ignored, and often not thought about until they miss a few kicks.
I’m not going to attempt to overstate the importance kickers in H2H Fantasy or any other Fantasy format. Truth is, you could probably get by without drafting a kicker and just picking one up on the waiver wire. But why chance it? Go ahead and use that 15th or 16th round pick on one of the following Top Fantasy Kickers.
1. Nate Kaeding – San Diego Chargers: Kaeding connected on 32 of 35 field goal attempts in 2009. The conditions in his home stadium are ideal and the offense should give him plenty of opportunities.
2. David Akers – Philadelphia Eagles: Akers made 32 of 37 kicks in 2009, and is 19 for 23 from 40-49 the past 2 seasons.
3. Rob Bironas – Tennessee Titans: The strong-legged Bironas has been one of the more consistent kickers around over the last 3 seasons, and the Titans afford him plenty of opportunities by struggling to put it in the end zone from close range.
4. Stephen Gostkowski – New England Patriots: Gostkowski has made 85% of his career field goal attempts. Tom Brady and company should provide him plenty of opportunities in 2010.
5. Ryan Longwell – Minnesota Vikings: Longwell was incredibly accurate in 2009 – missing just 2 tries in 28 attempts. He went 10 of 11 from 40 plus, including 2-2 from 50 or better. The fact that he kicks in a dome for a potent offense doesn’t hurt either.
6. Garrett Hartley – New Orleans Saints: Hartley makes it onto the 2010 Fantasy Kicker Rankings for one reason: potential. He wasn’t even the starting field goal kicker for most of 2009, but came on strong when it mattered most. Now that he’s firmly entrenched as the Saints kicker, it’s almost a sure bet he will rank high in 2010.
7. Mason Crosby – Green Bay Packers: Despite being one of the more inaccurate kickers in this group, Crosby finished in the top 5 of Fantasy points for his position. Opportunities are the reason he will once again be at the top of the Fantasy Football Kicker Rankings.
8. Lawrence Tynes – New York Giants: Tynes hit on 84% of his kicks last season – having one of his best seasons to date. He will remain a very good Fantasy option in 2010.
9. Robbie Gould – Chicago Bears: Expect Gould’s scoring opportunities to go up this season with Mike Martz now running the offense.
10. Matt Prater – Denver Broncos: Prater made 30 of 35 field goals last season. He has a strong leg and kicks at the distance friendly Invesco Field at Mile High, so expect at least a couple of 50 plus kicks in 2010.
11. Ryan Succop – Kansas City Chiefs: Succop had a very strong rookie season last year – making 86% of his kicks. Look for him to have an even stronger 2nd season as the Chiefs offense provides him more chances.
12. Jeff Reed – Pittsburgh Steelers: Reed came back with a strong season last year. Inconsistency has been a concern, but he is one of the best kickers in the league when on.
13. Jay Feely – Arizona Cardinals: Coming off a great season with the Jets, kicking conditions should certainly be better in Arizona than New Jersey come November.
14. Sebastian Janikowski – Oakland Raiders: Hit on a career high 89.6% of his attempts last season including an amazing 6 of 8 from 50 plus. Any type of improvement in the Raiders offense could make for a standout season.
15. Dan Carpenter – Miami Dolphins: Carpenter came on strong last season, and looks to break into the top 10 Fantasy Kicker Rankings in 2010.
Look for the rest of my 2010 Fantasy Rankings by position over the next few weeks. In the meantime, check out my 2010 Overall Player Rankings here on YouBeenBlinded.com
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The Utah Jazz kept themselves amongst the top handful of teams in the West by trading for Al Jefferson. After their All-Star free agent forward Carlos Boozer signed with the Chicago Bulls
, it looked as if the Jazz were headed to mediocrity. Fortunately for Utah, Minnesota was looking to cut costs and give more minutes to young PF/C Kevin Love.
The deal looks even better when you consider Utah didn’t have to give up much – two future first round picks and little used center Kosta Koufos. Those first round picks are likely to be low as the Jazz should be a playoff team over the next few years.
In Deron Williams, Jefferson will play with easily the best point guard he’s ever teamed with. Jefferson may actually end up being an upgrade to the smaller, older and less physically gifted Boozer in the long run – especially on the defensive end.
In 2008-2009, Jefferson was having a monster season averaging 23 points, 11 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks while shooting nearly 50% from the field. A devastating knee injury ended that season prematurely, and put into doubt the career of a promising young big man. Jefferson bounced back to play 76 games in 2009-2010 – putting up 17 points and 9 rebounds while shooting nearly 50% from the field once again.
Now almost 18 months removed from reconstructive knee surgery, Jefferson is poised to return to the H2H Fantasy elite. Playing alongside Williams in Utah’s motion offense, Big Al should find his scoring opportunities much easier than in Minnesota where he was the focal – often seeing relentless double teams. Sweet shooting big man Mehmet Okur should also provide Jefferson with plenty of space down low by drawing out the opposing team’s other big.
Expect to see Jefferson’s Fantasy value back to pre-injury levels as he once again joins the 20/10 club in 2010-2011.
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Hedo's prayers were answered when he was traded out of Toronto.
The Phoenix Suns have acquired two players, in two separate trades who figure to fit nicely into their up-tempo style. Hedo Turkoglu had his prayers answered when the Suns rescued him from Toronto by shipping Leandro Barbosa and Dwayne Jones to the Raptors. The Suns also picked up former Hawks restricted free agent Josh Childress via sign-and-trade. Childress returns to the NBA after spending two seasons playing overseas in Greece.
Hedo Turkoglu: The centerpiece of the Phoenix/Toronto trade, Turkoglu is hoping to wash away the memories of a disastrous season north of the border. Hedo never got on track in Toronto, and injuries and run-ins with coaches ultimately sealed his fate. Luckily, Amar’e Stoudemire made his way to New York and the Suns were in need of frontcourt help. In Phoenix, Turkoglu should see his H2H Fantasy value rise near 2008-2009 levels. His ball-handling and ability to create for himself and others is a perfect complement to the Nash-led offensive attack in the desert. Look for Turkoglu to be a solid No. 2 forward for the 2010-2011 NBA season.
Josh Childress: Childress returns to the NBA in a tailored made offense for his talents. The athletic swingman will bring energy and the ability to fill the lane on fast breaks to his new team. While J-Chill is a great fit in Phoenix, his Fantasy value will be limited by the presence of Turkoglu and Grant Hill. If the Suns look to manage Hill’s minutes in the regular season, Childress could be a solid reserve in most H2H Fantasy Basketball leagues.
Leandro Barbosa: The former Sixth Man of the Year is coming off an injury plagued season in 2009-2010. Barbosa played in just 44 games last season and had his first single-digit scoring average in 5 years. He has a career scoring average of 12.6 points, and has hit 40% of his 3 point shots. Expect Barbosa to have a huge Fantasy comeback this season in Toronto. If Jarrett Jack or Jose Calderon are traded, as rumored, Barbosa could very well be a No.2 guard.
Dwayne Jones: No Fantasy value here – move along now.
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It seems that Terrell Owens has taken to drafting off the LeBron James vapor trail. With just a couple weeks until the start of training camp, the mercurial wide receiver finds himself still without a job (unless you count bad reality TV as work).
T.O., making his case to become a Patriot in 2010 on WJMN radio in Boston, said he is “like LeBron” in that he is willing to sacrifice money and numbers in order to fit onto a championship roster. After the self-love fest that was The Decision, I can say with certainty that LeBron and T.O. are definitely sporting matching egos. Beyond that though, I’m not quite sure the comparison is all that accurate – even with the missing jewelry (championship rings).
In my opinion, a more accurate comparison would have been to LeBron’s former teammate – none other than The Big Unemployed – Shaquille O’Neal. Like Shaq, T.O. has found free agency to be a bit of a tough sell thus far. LeBron, on the other hand, was the most highly sought after free agent ever to hit the market.
Furthermore, LeBron is arguably the best player in his league while T.O. wouldn’t even come close to being the best player on his own team in New England. If LeBron is facing a reduced role in South Beach then T.O. would be facing a role overhaul in Beantown.
With Randy Moss still clearly one of the best receivers in the NFL, Wes Welker ahead of schedule in his recovery from knee surgery, and an emerging Julian Edelman, Owens could easily find himself the 3rd option as a Patriot.
If T.O. and Shaq are to find themselves playing on championship caliber teams next season, they will have to accept not just a backseat, but possibly a ride in the trunk.
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