Cornerback

1. Morris Claiborne, LSU (5-11, 188): The best corner in the draft. Is a better prospect at this point than former Tiger Patrick Peterson. Claiborne has great foot quickness and is fluid in turning his hips to run. He entered LSU as a wide receiver before switching sides of the ball. Claiborne projects as an above average kick returner at the next level.  Prediction: Top-5

2. Stephon Gilmore, South Carolina (6-0, 190): Gilmore enjoyed an extremely productive career with the Gamecocks. He is a cerebral player who shows a good understanding of the game. Plays the ball well in the air, using his height to get good position. Gilmore does give up a number of underneath passes and might be best suited in a zone coverage scheme.  Prediction: 1^st  Round

3. Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama (6-2, 185): Kirkpatrick excels playing both the run and pass. A physical corner that plays well around the line and is likely best suited for zone coverage. Durability was an issue at Alabama. Solid work ethic and has made huge strides in football intelligence since first arriving on campus. Prediction: 1^st  Round

4. Janoris Jenkins, North Alabama (5-10, 193): The question with Jenkins is not about his ability, but about character. He started his career at Florida, but was arrested twice in drug related cases in a three-month span and kicked off the team. Recently, his agent fired him as a client, sending a red flag to NFL teams. On the field, he is the draft’s best cover corner. The question is who takes the chance on him. Prediction: Late 1^st, Early 2^nd Round

5. Chase Minnifield, Virginia (5-10, 183): An underrated player who plays well in man coverage. Has a good understanding of the game and used film study to his advantage at Virginia. His father was a Pro Bowl corner for the Browns. Needs to bulk up, especially in his lower half. Minnifield is at his best when covering the slot.   Prediction: 2^nd Round

Best of the rest: Josh Robinson (UCF), Jayron Hosley (Virginia Tech), Dwight Bentley (Louisiana-Lafayette), Brandon Boykin (Georgia), Alonzo Dennard (Nebraska).

 

Safety

1. Mark Barron, Alabama (6-1, 213): The lone first rounder among this group, Barron was a stalwart for the Crimson Tide. Good size for a strong safety, with above average speed. Missed the Combine following surgery sports hernia surgery, although it will not affect training camp. Very good at diagnosing a play. Good in run supports. Prediction: 1^st  Round

2. Harrison Smith, Notre Dame (6-2, 213): Had a subpar senior season, but showed his skills at the Senior Bowl and Combine. Extremely good in run support and plays the ball well in the air. Will hold his own against tight ends but will struggle against quick receivers. Will need to improve his fluidity at the next level.   Prediction: 2^nd Round

3. Markelle Martin, Oklahoma State ( 6-1, 207): Started his career with academic problems, but was the team’s academic award winner following this past season. His growth in the classroom was mirrored by his growth on the field. He reads play action well and is not afraid to stick his nose in to help in run support. Does not possess great speed and will need to take good angles to succeed in the NFL.   Prediction: 2^nd or 3^rd Round

4. Brandon Taylor, LSU (5-11, 202): Was the team Tigers captain and organized defensive backs in film study. Will be a favorite of secondary coaches. Taylor plays fast, but does not have great quickness. Seems to enjoy contact, but can get caught taking bad angles. Room to improve, but seems receptive to coaching. Has the mental makeup necessary to play at the next level.   Prediction: 3^rd or 4^th  Round

5. Antonio Allen, South Carolina (6-1, 201): Good size for the position and has above average speed. His best attribute is his ability to read the quarterback’s eye and react quickly. Played a hybrid of safety and linebacker at South Carolina, so he is very adept in run support. Is a bit stiff and does not always protect his half of the field.   Prediction: 3^rd or 4^th  Round

Best of the rest: Phillip Thomas (Syracuse), Trent Robinson (Michigan), Charles Mitchell (Mississippi State), Robert Blanton (Notre Dame), George Iloka (Boise State).

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Inside Linebackers

1. Luke Kuechly, Boston College (6-3, 242): Kuechly departs Boston College as the most productive linebacker in school history. He had an amazing 532 tackles in three years thanks in large part to his elite instincts. Does not get fooled by play action. Translates well to the NFL. Does not have elite speed, but is certainly better than average. Prediction: Top-15 Pick

2. Dont’a Hightower, Alabama (6-2, 265): Hightower is bigger and taller than the average prospect, but still has good speed. He’s a hard worker and was a vocal leader for the 2011 FBS champions. Good awareness and has the size to take on blockers and disengage. Scout say he jumps off the tape. Has battled knee issues, including ACL and MCL surgery in 2009. Prediction: 1^st Round

3. Mychal Kendricks, California (5-11, 239): Kendricks is short for the position, and might have problems diagnosing plays in the NFL. Overcomes height issues by playing with extremely good leverage.  Possibly the best cover linebacker in the draft. Prediction: 2^nd Round

4. Vontaze Burfict, Arizona State (6-2, 248): Burfict is a classic risk-reward prospect. He has just about everything you look for in a MLB, including an elite motor and stellar tackling ability. But he’s a bit of a loose cannon, getting flagged for 17 personal fouls in 25 games for the Sun Devils. Was benched in 2010 for arguing with an opponent. Will need a structured environment to reach his true potential. Prediction: 2^nd or 3^rd Round

5. Bobby Wagner, Utah State (6-0, 241): Small school prospect with a lot of upside. Extremely productive career in the WAC, he started all four years. Really turned some heads at the Senior Bowl, and followed that up with a solid Combine. Will struggle in phone booth situations, but is above average when working in space.   Prediction: 3^rd or 4^th Round

Best of the rest: James-Michael Johnson (Nevada), Emmanuel Acho (Texas), Audie Cole (NC State), Shawn Loiseau (Merrimack), Ryan Baker (LSU)

 

Outside Linebackers

1. Lavonte David, Nebraska (6-1, 233): David turned some heads at the Combine following an outstanding 2011 season. He set the Cornhuskers single-season school record for tackles, racking up 152 of them. A bit undersized, he will fit in best in a Tampa 2 style defense, where his speed can be utilized. Prediction: Late 1^st, Early 2^nd

2. Zach Brown, UNC (6-1, 244): Brown does not have ideal height, but he’s got good size and brings elite speed to the position. He set an UNC track and field record, running the 60-meter dash in 6.27 seconds. Needs to improve on his read-and-react skills. A better athlete than football player at this point, but there is plenty of room to grow. Prediction: Late 1^st, Early 2^nd

3. Ronnell Lewis, Oklahoma (6-2, 253): One of the better pass rushers among the OLB candidates. Followed a solid season for the Sooners with a good showing at the Combine. Has the ability to play inside as well as outside. Had academic issues and was forced to miss Oklahoma’s bowl game against Iowa. Health is an issue.   Prediction: 2^nd Round

4. Shea McClellin, Boise State (6-3, 260): Solid production for the Broncos and rated as one of the hardest workers in the draft. Has above-average field awareness, and is quick to diagnose plays. Solid tackler who is better against the run than the pass. Will fit best as a 4-3 OLB.  Prediction: 2^nd or 3^rd Round

5. Nigel Bradham, Florida State (6-2, 241): Productive career at Florida State, Bradham has the build of a prototypical Will Linebacker. Good speed and a hard worker, especially in the weight room. Struggles to disengage from blockers, especially against bigger lineman. Has a bad habit of settling for arm tackles instead of driving into the ball carrier. Prediction: 3^rd or 4^th Round

Best of the rest: Sean Spence (Miami), Demario Davis (Arkansas State), Bruce Irvin (West Virginia), Keenan Robinson (Texas), Kyle Wilber (Wake Forest)

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Defensive End

1. Melvin Ingram, South Carolina (6-2, 264): One of the most versatile defensive lineman in the draft, Ingram could play in both the 3-4 as an OLB or speed DE, as well as play the traditional 4-3 defensive end. Ingram has pro-ready hand technique and frequently gets his man off balance.    Prediction: Top-15

2. Quinton Coples, UNC (6-6, 284): Has ideal height and size, and ran well at the combine. His pass rush skills might be the best among the position, and was extremely productive in his Tar Heels career. Coples actually dominated more as a DT in 2010, and could still play there on passing downs. His struggles against the run drop him down to second on this list. If he can improve in recognition and angles to the backfield, could be the best DE to come out of this draft.   Prediction: Top-15

3. Courtney Upshaw, Alabama (6-2, 272): Upshaw is shorter and heavier than the average DE prospect, and might be better suited playing in the 3-4. Plays the run well, and is above average rushing the passer. Did not miss a game in college due to injury. Scouts will love his nasty streak.      Prediction: 1^st Round

4. Chandler Jones, Syracuse (6-5, 247): Jones needs to add weight, but he has tremendous upside. Extremely athletic and fast, he has the frame to get as big as 275 pounds. Injuries cost him five games last season, but with a good training staff and strength coach, he could become a great player.     Prediction: Late 1^st, Early 2^nd

5. Whitney Mercilus, Illinois (6-4, 261): A physically imposing player who is quick at the snap. Plays well within his gap against the run and shows a natural ability to get to the quarterback. Played in both the 4-3 and 3-4 fronts at Illinois, but will likely not translate to an OLB in the pros.    Prediction: Late 1^st, Early 2^nd

Best of the rest: Andre Branch (Clemson), Nick Perry (USC), Vinny Curry (Marshall), Jared Crick (Nebraska), Tyrone Crawford (Boise State)

 

Defensive Tackle

1. Dontari Poe, Memphis (6-3, 346): Finding a true nose tackle is extremely difficult, but Poe certainly fits the bill. Poe has great size and strength, and surprisingly plays bigger than his frame would suggest. Memphis coaches called him the hardest worker on the team, and he did extremely well in his Combine interviews, showing teams his passion for the game.    Prediction: Top-15

2. Fletcher Cox, Mississippi State (6-4, 298): Sealed the 2^nd spot on this list with an excellent Combine performance. Has elite quickness and speed for the position. Shows a good motor but still must improve his use of leverage. Cox has good upside and will only improve under pro coaches.    Prediction: 1^st Round

3. Michael Brockers, LSU (6-5, 322): Arguably the best run-stuffer among this year’s class, he clogged up the middle on a regular basis for the Tigers. Still has room to improve as a pass rusher. The LSU coaching staff raved about his work ethic and passion for the game.     Prediction: 1^st Round

4. Jerel Worthy, Michigan State (6-2, 309): He was extremely productive at MSU during his three-year playing career. Worthy is not an overly imposing DT, and can get washed out while rushing the passer. He will fit in extremely well in a two-gap system where he can use his quickness to get to the running back.     Prediction: Late 1^st, Early 2^nd

5. Devon Still, Penn State (6-5, 303): Still was very productive for the Nittany Lions, and has the physical tools to be a potential Pro Bowler. The problem is, Still can also look like a reserve because of his inconsistent motor. There were a number of off the field issues. In 2008, had a teammate pull a knife on him and police found marijuana in his apartment in 2009 (was not charged).      Prediction: Late 1^st, Early 2^nd

Best of the rest: Kendall Reyes (UConn), Alameda Ta’amu (Washington), Brandon Thompson (Clemson), Mike Daniels (Iowa), Mike Martin (Michigan)

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It shouldn’t surprise any of us. In a game as violent as football, injuries are bound to happen. Top-5 pick Jamaal Charles is out for season. Miles Austin is out until October 16th. Let’s not even get started on Peyton Manning. Much like their professional counterparts, fantasy owners need to find ways to fill the void left by their injured players. Included in this week’s rankings, I’ll list some guys that could step in for your injured star this week.

Quarterbacks

Could Impress: Cam Newton. Last week I told you to wait and see how the rookie would fair against the usually strong Packers defense. Well, the returns are in, and apparently Newton is a legitimate fantasy quarterback. Look beyond the four turnovers or his team’s two losses. Newton is the #2 player in all of fantasy football. I did not think I’d ever type that sentence, but it’s true. He’s a rookie, and will make mistakes, but ride the wave while it’s high.

Could Disappoint: Eli Manning. Philadelphia has one of the best secondaries in the game, and Manning has thrown 16 interceptions against the Eagles in the last 14 games. With his receiving corps dinged up, Manning will press to make plays. That’s never a good thing.

Keep an eye on: Jason Campbell. With his best three receivers down, Campbell put up 323 yards and two scores against the Bills last week. He has a touch matchup with the Jets this week, but has weak defenses the four following weeks. Keep him stashed on your bench and reap the rewards if a spot start is needed.

Injury Replacement: Kevin Kolb. The Cardinals have to be happy with the early returns on Kolb thus far. He’s averaging 275 yards and two scores a game. Seattle’s defense doesn’t scare anyone. If you need a spot start this week, Kolb could be your guy.

 

QB Rankings

1. Tom Brady, NE (@ Buffalo)

2. Philip Rivers, SD (vs. Kansas City)

3. Drew Brees, NO (vs. Houston)

4. Aaron Rodgers, GB (vs. Chicago)

5. Matthew Stafford, DET (@ Minnesota)

6. Matt Schaub, HOU (@ New Orleans)

7. Michael Vick, PHI (vs. New York Giants)

8. Ryan Fitzpatrick, BUF (vs. New England)

9. Ben Roethlisberger, PIT (@ Indianapolis)

10. Cam Newton, CAR (vs. Jacksonville)

11. Josh Freeman, TB (vs. Atlanta)

12. Matt Ryan, ATL (@ Tampa Bay)

13. Tony Romo, DAL (vs. Washington)

14. Rex Grossman, WAS (@ Dallas)

15. Kevin Kolb, AZ (@ Seattle)

16. Joe Flacco, BAL (@ St. Louis)

17. Sam Bradford, STL (vs. Baltimore)

18. Jay Cutler, CHI (vs. Green Bay)

19. Eli Manning, NYG (@ Philadelphia)

20. Matt Hasselbeck, TEN (vs. Denver)

21. Kyle Orton, DEN (@ Tennessee)

22. Mark Sanchez, NYJ (@ Oakland)

23. Colt McCoy, CLE (vs. Miami)

24. Kerry Collins, IND (vs. Pittsburgh)

25. Blaine Gabbert, JAX (@ Carolina)

 

Running Backs

Could Impress: Ben Tate. Despite the return of Arian Foster, it was Tate who carried the bulk of the load against Miami last week. Foster’s hamstring injury flared up again last week and the Texans are likely to air on the side of caution. Tate has two straight games over 100 yards rushing, and should be a key part of the game plan against the Saints.

Could Disappoint: DeAngelo Williams. It’s not surprising that the rise of Cam Newton has coincided with the fall of DeAngelo Williams. In two games, he’s gotten just six fantasy points, and an abysmal 17 carries. Jonathan Stewart is a better fit for the pass-happy offense. At this point, Williams should be sitting on your bench.

Keep an eye on: Dexter McCluster. Thomas Jones is better suited to pick up the tough carries in KC, but McCluster has a skill set closer to Jamaal Charles. Expect the Chiefs to line up McCluster in many different spots (the backfield, slot, out wide). In a PPR league, he’s a great flex fit.

Injury Replacement: James Starks. Ryan Grant might be the starter, but Starks is the top rusher in Green Bay’s backfield. Coach Mike McCarthy said this week that the team needs to commit to the run.

 

RB Rankings

1. Adrian Peterson, MIN (vs. Detroit)

2. Ray Rice, BAL (@ St. Louis)

3. LeSean McCoy, PHI (vs. New York Giants)

4. Maurice Jones-Drew, JAX (@ Carolina)

5. Rashard Mendenhall, PIT (@ Indianapolis)

6. Frank Gore, SF (@ Cincinnati)

7. Chris Johnson, TEN (vs. Denver)

8. Darren McFadden, OAK (vs. New York Jets)

9. Matt Forte, CHI (vs. Green Bay)

10. Michael Turner, ATL (@ Tampa Bay)

11. Beanie Wells, AZ (@ Seattle)

12. Peyton Hillis, CLE (vs. Miami)

13. Ben Tate, HOU (@ New Orleans)

14. Ahmad Bradshaw, NYG (@ Philadelphia)

15. Jahvid Best, DET (@ Minnesota)

16. LeGarrette Blount, TB (vs. Atlanta)

17. Fred Jackson, BUF (vs. New England)

18. Ryan Mathews, SD (vs. Kansas City)

19. Tim Hightower, WAS (@ Dallas)

20. Steven Jackson, STL (vs. Baltimore)

21. James Starks, GB (@ Chicago)

22. Cedric Benson, CIN (vs. San Francisco)

23. Shonn Greene, NYJ (@ Oakland)

24. BenJarvus Green-Ellis, NE (@ Buffalo)

25. Daniel Thomas, MIA (@ Cleveland)

26. Mike Tolbert, SD (vs. Kansas City)

27. DeAngelo Williams, CAR (vs. Jacksonville)

28. Willis McGahee, DEN (@ Tennessee)

29. Thomas Jones, KC (@ San Diego)

30. Felix Jones, DAL (vs. Washington)

31. Mark Ingram, NO (vs. Houston)

32. Dexter McCluster, KC (@ San Diego)

33. Jonathan Stewart, CAR (vs. Jacksonville)

34. Pierre Thomas, NO (vs. Houston)

35. Brandon Jacobs, NYG (@ Philadelphia)

36. Reggie Bush, MIA (@ Cleveland)

37. Marshawn Lynch, SEA (vs. Arizona)

38. Danny Woodhead, NE (@ Buffalo)

39. Joseph Addai, IND (vs. Pittsburgh)

40. Ryan Grant, GB (@ Chicago)

41. Roy Helu, WAS (@ Dallas)

42. C.J. Spiller, BUF (vs. New England)

43. Knowshon Moreno, DEN (@ Tennessee)

44. Delone Carter, IND (vs. Pittsburgh)

45. Michael Bush, OAK (vs. New York Jets)

46. Cadillac Williams, STL (vs. Baltimore)

47. DeMarco Murray, DAL (vs. Washington)

48. LaDainian Tomlinson, NYJ (@ Oakland)

49. Montario Hardesty, CLE (vs. Miami)

50. Arian Foster, HOU (@ New Orleans)

 

Wide Receivers

Could Impress: Dwayne Bowe. With Charles out, Bowe is the last dangerous option left on Kansas City’s offense. The Chiefs will do everything possible to get Bowe the ball, as evidenced by his team high eight targets last week. KC will likely be playing from behind against the Chargers, meaning Matt Cassel and the offense will be forced to pass. Expect good things from Bowe.

Could Disappoint: Julio Jones. Matt Ryan is looking his way, but Jones gave Matty Ice little to work with against. Julio was targeted eight times, catching just two balls for 29 yards. At times, the rookie looked overmatched against the physical Philadelphia corners. Tampa Bay is 12th in the league in point allowed to wide receivers (just 19 a game), and Ronde Barber could give him fits.

Keep an eye on: Eric Decker. Brandon Lloyd could miss another week and we saw what Decker did filling in for Lloyd last week (5 catches, 113 yards, 2 TD). Even if Lloyd is able to go, the former Gopher has been making plays in the return game. He certainly should be owned in all fantasy leagues.

Injury Replacement: David Nelson. New England’s secondary has been torched the first two weeks, and the Bills’ pass game has been clicking. Nelson was targeted 13 times last week, catching 10 of those balls. He’s a quality option if you need a quick replacement for Brandon Lloyd or Miles Austin.

 

WR Rankings

1. Andre Johnson, HOU (@ New Orleans)

2. Vincent Jackson, SD (vs. Kansas City)

3. Mike Wallace, PIT (@ Indianapolis)

4. Calvin Johnson, DET (@ Minnesota)

5. Larry Fitzgerald, AZ (@ Seattle)

6. Kenny Britt, TEN (vs. Denver)

7. Greg Jennings, GB (@ Chicago)

8. Roddy White, ATL (@ Tampa Bay)

9. Dez Bryant, DAL (vs. Washington)

10. Brandon Marshall, MIA (@ Cleveland)

11. Steve Smith, CAR (vs. Jacksonville)

12. Stevie Johnson, BUF (vs. New England)

13. Hakeem Nicks, NYG (@ Philadelphia)

14. DeSean Jackson, PHI (vs. New York Giants)

15. Wes Welker, NE (@ Buffalo)

16. Jeremy Maclin, PHI (vs. New York Giants)

17. Reggie Wayne, IND (vs. Pittsburgh)

18. Santana Moss, WAS (@ Dallas)

19. Mike Williams, TB (vs. Atlanta)

20. Santonio Holmes, NYJ (@ Oakland)

21. Dwayne Bowe, KC (@ San Diego)

22. Percy Harvin, MIN (vs. .Detroit)

23. Anquan Boldin, BAL (@ St. Louis)

24. Deion Branch, NE (@ Buffalo)

25. Jordy Nelson, GB (@ Chicago)

26. Mike Thomas, JAX (@ Carolina)

27. Devery Henderson, NO (vs. Houston)

28. A.J. Green, CIN (vs. San Francisco)

29. Robert Meachem, NO (vs. Houston)

30. Nate Burleson, DET (@ Minnesota)

31. Julio Jones, ATL (@ Tampa Bay)

32. Brandon Lloyd, DEN (@ Tennessee)

33. Malcom Floyd, SD (vs. Kansas City)

34. Eric Decker, DEN (@ Tennessee)

35. Johnny Knox, CHI (vs. Green Bay)

36. Mario Manningham, NYG (@ Philadelphia)

37. David Nelson, BUF (vs. New England)

38. Plaxico Burress, NYJ (@ Oakland)

39. Chad Ochocinco, NE (@ Buffalo)

40. Mike Sims-Walker, STL (vs. Baltimore)

41. Denarius Moore, OAK (vs. New York Jets)

42. Davone Bess, MIA (@ Cleveland)

43. Hines Ward, PIT (@ Indianapolis)

44. Lance Moore, NO (vs. Houston)

45. Jerome Simpson, CIN (vs. San Francisco)

46. Mohamed Massaquoi, CLE (vs. Miami)

47. Nate Washington, TEN (vs. Denver)

48. Austin Collie, IND (vs. Pittsburgh)

49. Jabar Gaffney, WAS (@ Dallas)

50. James Jones, GB (@ Chicago)

 

Tight Ends

Could Impress: Rob Gronkowski. The Gronk was splitting time with Aaron Hernandez the last two weeks, but still was able to put up 10 catches, 172 yards and 3 TDs. Buffalo was the league’s worst team at defending tight ends last year, and the Gronk’s competition for catches, Hernandez, will likely be out for Sunday’s game.

Could Disappoint: Brandon Pettigrew. While the Lions offense is firing with a healthy Matthew Stafford, his propensity to fire deep is cutting into Pettigrew’s numbers. The Oklahoma State product has just five catches in the first two games, and put up a big goose egg last week.

Keep an eye on: Marcedes Lewis. Surprisingly, one of the top tight ends last year is on a number of waiver wires. Clearly his two catches in two games have a lot to do with that. Still, with the Jags inserting Blaine Gabbert at quarterback, expect Lewis’ numbers to rise. He could be a nice waiver wire pickup.

Injury Replacement: Evan Moore. He splits time with Benjamin Watson, but it’s Moore who gets the looks around the goal line. He’s scored in the first two weeks, and if you need someone to spot start, take a chance on his red zone upside.

 

TE Rankings

1. Jason Witten, DAL (vs. Washington)

2. Rob Gronkowski, NE (@ Buffalo)

3. Jermichael Finley, GB (@ Chicago)

4. Antonio Gates, SD (vs. Kansas City)

5. Vernon Davis, SF (@ Cincinnati)

6. Jimmy Graham, NO (vs. Houston)

7. Dallas Clark, IND (vs. Pittsburgh)

8. Fred Davis, WAS (@ Dallas)

9. Owen Daniels, HOU (@ New Orleans)

10. Kellen Winslow, TB (vs. Atlanta)

11. Dustin Keller, NYJ (@ Oakland)

12. Tony Gonzalez, ATL (vs. Tampa Bay)

13. Scott Chandler, BUF (vs. New England)

14. Greg Olsen, CAR (vs. Jacksonville)

15. Brandon Pettigrew, DET (@ Minnesota)

16. Jermaine Gresham, CIN (vs. San Francisco)

17. Evan Moore, CLE (vs. Miami)

18. Marcedes Lewis, JAX (@ Carolina)

19. Brent Celek, PHI (vs. New York Giants)

20. Ed Dickson, BAL (@ St. Louis)

21. Benjamin Watson, CLE (vs. Miami)

22. Jeremy Shockey, CAR (vs. Jacksonville)

23. Tony Scheffler, DET (@ Miami)

24. Jared Cook, TEN (vs. Denver)

25. Zach Miller, SEA (vs. Arizona)

 

Defense/Special Teams

Could Impress: Arizona Cardinals. Just keep this as a point of reference for the rest of the season: If a fantasy defense is playing Seattle, it’s a good bet they’ll have a good day.

Could Disappoint: Atlanta Falcons. The Dirty Bird Defense has been surprisingly porous the first two weeks, ranking in the bottom of the league in both pass and run defense. The Tampa Bay offense was really clicking in the second half against Minnesota, and always plays well against the NFC South. This could be a rough day for the Falcons.

Keep an eye on: Cincinnati Bengals. Cincy has good matchups three of the next four weeks, and has forced three turnovers in the first two games. They’re nothing more than a matchup play, but it’s worth keeping an eye on this young Bengals’ defense.

 

D/ST Rankings

1. Pittsburgh Steelers (@ Indianapolis)

2. Baltimore Ravens (@ St. Louis)

3. New York Jets (@ Oakland)

4. San Diego Chargers (vs. Kansas City)

5. Philadelphia Eagles (vs. New York Giants)

6. Detroit Lions (@ Minnesota)

7. Green Bay Packers (@ Chicago)

8. Atlanta Falcons (@ Tampa Bay)

9. Arizona Cardinals (@ Seattle)

10. Tennessee Titans (vs. Denver)

11. San Francisco 49ers (@ Cincinnati)

12. Chicago Bears (vs. Green Bay)

13. New England Patriots (@ Buffalo)

14. Washington Redskins (@ Dallas)

15. New Orleans (vs. Houston)

16. Cleveland Browns (vs. Miami)

17. Dallas Cowboys (vs. Washington)

18. Miami Dolphins (@ Cleveland)

19. Houston Texans (@ New Orleans)

20. New York Giants (@ Philadelphia)

21. Oakland Raiders (vs. New York Jets)

22. St. Louis Rams (vs. Baltimore)

23. Carolina Panthers (vs. Jacksonville)

24. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. Atlanta)

25. Cincinnati Bengals (vs. San Francisco)

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If we learned one thing about the NFL in week one: the lockout certainly did not slow down the offensive numbers.  A ridiculous 14 quarterbacks had more than 300 yards, four of which went over 400. 13 receivers topped 100 yards, including seven double-digit touchdown performances. Needless to say, fantasy teams weren’t suffering. Now it’s time to build on that success and dominate week two of the fantasy season.

Quarterbacks

Could Impress: Matthew Stafford. I think so much of Stafford’s upside that he makes this list for the second straight week. KC’s defense made Ryan Fitzpatrick look like an elite quarterback. Stafford should be feasting on the defense all day. This could be a historically big week.

Could Disappoint: Cam Newton. All the credit in the world goes to Cam for his stellar week one performance, but he will not be following it up against the Packers defense this week. Green Bay will apply a ton of pressure, and Newton will look like the rookie he is. Don’t drink the Kool-Aid just yet.

Keep an eye on: Rex Grossman. Yes, that is the sound of your own laughter stops ringing in your ear. But hear me out. Grossman looked good last week, and he’s going against a Cardinals offense that made Cam Newton look like the second-coming of Peyton Manning. He’ll become Bad Rex again, but I think he’s got at least one more week until that happens.

 

QB Rankings

1. Aaron Rodgers, GB (@ Carolina)

2. Tom Brady, NE (vs. San Diego)

3. Michael Vick, PHI (@ Atlanta)

4. Drew Brees, NO (vs. Chicago)

5. Philip Rivers, SD (@ New England)

6. Matthew Stafford, DET (vs. Kansas City)

7. Matt Schaub, HOU (@ Miami)

8. Tony Romo, DAL (@ San Francisco)

9. Ben Roethlisberger, PIT (vs. Seattle)

10. Josh Freeman, TB (@ Minnesota)

11. Eli Manning, NYG (vs. St. Louis)

12. Joe Flacco, BAL (@ Tennessee)

13. Jay Cutler, CHI (@ New Orleans)

14. Matt Ryan, ATL (vs. Philadelphia)

15. Rex Grossman, WAS (vs. Arizona)

16. Ryan Fitzpatrick, BUF (vs. Oakland)

17. Kevin Kolb, AZ (@ Washington)

18. Sam Bradford, STL (@ New York Giants)

19. Mark Sanchez, NYJ (vs. Jacksonville)

20. Kyle Orton, DEN (vs. Cincinnati)

21. Chad Henne, MIA (vs. Houston)

22. Kerry Collins, IND (vs. Cleveland)

23. Cam Newton, CAR (vs. Green Bay)

24. Matt Cassel, KC (@ Detroit)

25. Colt McCoy, CLE (@ Indianapolis)

 

Running Backs

Could Impress: Tim Hightower. Hightower proved in week one that he has the confidence of Mike Shanahan, getting 25 carries and three catches for just under 100 yards and a touchdown. Fantasy owners have to love the work he’s getting in the offense and he should get into the end zone against Arizona.

Could Disappoint: Mike Tolbert. The converted fullback’s three touchdowns were impressive against the Vikings, but an argument can be made that Ryan Mathews was actually more effective. Mathews got the same number of carries, rushing for ten more yards. He also racked up 73 yards on just three catches. With the number of weapons at Philip Rivers’ disposal, it is unlikely Tolbert will match his big week.

Keep an eye on: Cadillac Williams. Steven Jackson is likely out this week (if he does play, he’ll be limited), and Williams did a nice job filling in last week. More importantly, he got involved in the running game (19 carries, 91 yards) and the passing game (5 catches, 49 yards). He looks like a strong flex play this week.

 

RB Rankings

1. Ray Rice, BAL (@ Tennessee)

2. Adrian Peterson, MIN (vs. Tampa Bay)

3. LeSean McCoy, PHI (@ Atlanta)

4. Darren McFadden, OAK (@ Buffalo)

5. Matt Forte, CHI (@ New Orleans)

6. Rashard Mendenhall, PIT (vs. Seattle)

7. Peyton Hillis, CLE (@ Indianapolis)

8. Jamaal Charles, KC (@ Detroit)

9. Michael Turner, ATL (vs. Philadelphia)

10. Chris Johnson, TEN (vs. Baltimore)

11. Ahmad Bradshaw, NYG (vs. St. Louis)

12. Maurice Jones-Drew, JAX (@ New York Jets)

13. Arian Foster, HOU (@ Miami)

14. Tim Hightower, WAS (vs. Arizona)

15. Frank Gore, SF (vs. Dallas)

16. Felix Jones, DAL (@ San Francisco)

17. DeAngelo Williams, CAR (vs. Green Bay)

18. Mike Tolbert, SD (@ New England)

19. Beanie Wells, AZ (@ Washington)

20. Cedric Benson, CIN (@ Denver)

21. Shonn Greene, NYJ (vs. Jacksonville)

22. BenJarvus Green-Ellis, NE (vs. San Diego)

23. James Starks, GB (vs. Carolina)

24. LeGarrette Blount, TB (@ Minnesota)

25. Fred Jackson, BUF (vs. Oakland)

26. Jahvid Best, DET (vs. Kansas City)

27. Reggie Bush, MIA (vs. Houston)

28. Mark Ingram, NO (vs. Chicago)

29. Cadillac Williams, STL (@ New York Giants)

30. Joseph Addai, IND (vs. Cleveland)

31. Ryan Mathews, SD (@ New England)

32. Ben Tate, HOU (@ Miami)

33. Ryan Grant, GB (@ Carolina)

34. Willis McGahee, DEN (vs. Cincinnati)

35. Marshawn Lynch, SEA (@ Pittsburgh)

36. Pierre Thomas, NO (vs. Chicago)

37. Jonathan Stewart, CAR (vs. Green Bay)

38. Darren Sproles, NO (vs. Chicago)

39. Brandon Jacobs, NYG (vs. St. Louis)

40. Danny Woodhead, NE (vs. San Diego)

41. Michael Bush, OAK (@ Buffalo)

42. Knowshon Moreno, DEN (vs. Cincinnati)

43. C.J. Spiller, BUF (vs. Oakland)

44. LaDainian Tomlinson, NYJ (vs. Jacksonville)

45. Ricky Williams, BAL (@ Tennessee)

46. Deji Karim, JAX (@ New York Jets)

47. Delone Carter, IND (vs. Cleveland)

48. Jerome Harrison, DET (vs. Kansas City)

49. Daniel Thomas, MIA (vs. Houston)

50. Jerious Norwood, STL (@ New York Giants)

 

 

Wide Receivers

Could Impress: Reggie Wayne. Yes, the Colts are in trouble. Yes, Kerry Collins does a terrible Peyton Manning impression. But in the week 1 loss, Wayne was thrown the ball 11 times, catching seven for 106 yards and a score. Even if this is a lost season, the Colts will try to give this soon-to-be free agent his touches. Feel confident that Wayne will get his.

Could Disappoint: Mike Thomas. As if losing his starting quarterback was not bad enough, Thomas has to match up with Darrelle Revis this week. Thomas caught eight balls against Tennessee, but averaged just seven yards per catch. He could be in for a rough week.

Keep an eye on: Jordy Nelson. The Packers showcased Nelson’s unique combination of size and speed early and often against the Saints. Jordy’s 6 catches for 77 yards and a score were good for fantasy owners, but here’s the telling stat: Nelson had just as many targets as Jennings (both had a team-high eight). If he’s locked down the number two spot, he’ll see a nice boost in his fantasy production.

 

WR Rankings

1. Calvin Johnson, DET (vs. Kansas City)

2. Andre Johnson, HOU (@ Miami)

3. Roddy White, ATL (vs. Philadelphia)

4. Greg Jennings, GB (@ Carolina)

5. Mike Wallace, PIT (vs. Seattle)

6. DeSean Jackson, PHI (@ Atlanta)

7. Larry Fitzgerald, AZ (@ Washington)

8. Hakeem Nicks, NYG (vs. St. Louis)

9. Miles Austin, DAL (@ San Francisco)

10. Vincent Jackson, SD (@ New England)

11. Reggie Wayne, IND (vs. Cleveland)

12. Brandon Marshall, MIA (vs. Houston)

13. Steve Johnson, BUF (vs. Oakland)

14. Mike Williams, TB (@ Minnesota)

15. Dez Bryan, DAL (@ San Francisco)

16. Wes Welker, NE (vs. San Diego)

17. Santonio Holmes, NYJ (vs. Jacksonville)

18. Kenny Britt, TEN (vs. Baltimore)

19. Steve Smith, CAR (vs. Green Bay)

20. Anquan Boldin, BAL (@ Tennessee)

21. Mario Manningham, NYG (vs. St. Louis)

22. Santana Moss, WAS (vs. Arizona)

23. Percy Harvin, MIN (vs. Tampa Bay)

24. Brandon Lloyd, DEN (vs. Cincinnati)

25. Dwayne Bowe, KC (@ Detroit)

26. Jeremy Maclin, PHI (@ Atlanta)

27. Jordy Nelson, GB (@ Carolina)

28. Robert Meachem, NO (vs. Chicago)

29. Julio Jones, ATL (vs. Philadelphia)

30. Plaxico Burress, NYJ (vs. Jacksonville)

31. Mike Thomas, JAX (@ New York Jets)

32. Hines Ward, PIT (vs. Seattle)

33. A.J. Green, CIN (@ Denver)

34. Malcom Floyd, SD (@ New England)

35. Mike Sims-Walker, STL (@ New York Giants)

36. Johnny Knox, CHI (@ New Orleans)

37. Deion Branch, NE (vs. San Diego)

38. Nate Burleson, DET (vs. Kansas City)

39. Chad Ochocinco, NE (vs. San Diego)

40. Lee Evans, BAL (@ Tennessee)

41. Braylon Edwards, SF (vs. Dallas)

42. Sidney Rice, SEA (@ Pittsburgh)

43. Lance Moore, NO (vs. Chicago)

44. Pierre Garcon, IND (vs. Cleveland)

45. Mohamed Massaquoi, CLE (@ Indianapolis)

46. Devery Henderson, NO (vs. Chicago)

47. Davone Bess, MIA (vs. Houston)

48. Mike Williams, SEA (@ Pittsburgh)

49. Austin Collie, IND (vs. Cleveland)

50. Brandon Gibson, STL (@ New York Giants)

 

Tight Ends

Could Impress: Aaron Hernandez. Tom Brady looked Hernandez’s way 10 times, with the tight end snagging seven balls for over 100 yards. The Patriots might not have a prototypical deep threat, but Hernandez is as close as it gets. Week 1 showed that he and Gronkowski can co-exist. Fantasy owners can feel comfortable playing both.

Could Disappoint: Chris Cooley. Backup Fred Davis got double the looks and five times the yards. Cooley owners should be concerned.

Keep an eye on: Scott Chandler.  Well, who saw that coming? Chandler exploded in week one, catching five balls for 63 yards and two scores. Starting TE David Nelson also had four catches in the game. Keep an eye on Buffalo splits up the time between the two tight ends. Chandler’s big week could be an aberration, but it’s worth keeping an eye on.

 

TE Rankings

1. Antonio Gates, SD (@ New England)

2. Jason Witten, DAL (@ San Francisco)

3. Jermichael Finley, GB (@ Carolina)

4. Jimmy Graham, NO (vs. Chicago)

5. Vernon Davis, SF (vs. Dallas)

6. Aaron Hernandez, NE (vs. San Diego)

7. Owen Daniels, HOU (@ Miami)

8. Kellen Winslow, TB (@ Minnesota)

9. Dallas Clark, IND (vs. Cleveland)

10. Brandon Pettigrew, DET (vs. Kansas City)

11. Greg Olsen, CAR (vs. Green Bay)

12. Rob Gronkowski, NE (vs. San Diego)

13. Tony Gonzalez, ATL (vs. Philadelphia)

14. Marcedes Lewis, JAX (@ New York Jets)

15. Dustin Keller, NYJ (vs. Jacksonville)

16. Fred Davis, WAS (vs. Arizona)

17. Jermaine Gresham, CIN (@ Denver)

18. Zach Miller, SEA (@ Pittsburgh)

19. Ed Dickson, BAL (@ Tennessee)

20. Lance Hendricks, STL (@ New York Giants)

21. Scott Chandler, BUF (vs. Oakland)

22. Chris Cooley, WAS (vs. Arizona)

23. Evan Moore, CLE (@ Indianapolis)

24. Benjamin Watson, CLE (@ Indianapolis)

25. Tony Scheffler, DET (vs. Kansas City)

 

Defense/Special Teams

Could Impress: Detroit. Kansas City’s offense has yet to look comfortable, as evidenced by the putrid 213 yards put up against Buffalo. That’s 2/5ths as many yards as Tom Brady. Ouch. Detroit looked solid against Tampa bay and could have another big week.

Could Disappoint: San Diego. The Chargers have a tough matchup with the Patriots, and the special teams struggled against Minnesota. You might want to consider sitting the Chargers this week.

Keep an eye on: San Francisco. The 49ers had the most fantasy points in week one, and Dallas’ offense didn’t exactly light it up against the Jets. If the special teams can continue to make big plays, the Niners could be a top-15 fantasy defense.

 

D/ST Rankings

1. New York Jets (vs. Jacksonville)

2. Green Bay Packers (@ Carolina)

3. Pittsburgh (vs. Seattle)

4. Baltimore Ravens (@ Tennessee)

5. Detroit Lions (vs. Kansas City)

6. Dallas Cowboys (@ San Francisco)

7. Philadelphia Eagles (@ Atlanta)

8. Chicago Bears (@ New Orleans)

9. Houston Texans (@ Miami)

10. New Orleans Saints (vs. Chicago)

11. Atlanta Falcons (vs. Philadelphia)

12. New England Patriots (vs. San Diego)

13. San Francisco 49ers (vs. Dallas)

14. Buffalo Bills (vs. Oakland)

15. New York Giants (vs. St. Louis)

16. Washington Redskins (vs. Arizona)

17. Oakland Raiders (@ Buffalo)

18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@ Minnesota)

19. St. Louis Rams (@ New York Giants)

20. San Diego Chargers (@ New England)

21. Cleveland Browns (@ Indianapolis)

22. Denver Broncos (vs. Cincinnati)

23. Kansas City (@ Detroit)

24. Arizona Cardinals (@ Washington)

25. Cincinnati Bengals (vs. Denver)

Posted under Uncategorized

 

We endured an offseason consisting of men in suits walking in and out of buildings. We endured a three-month stretch when the work “lockout” might as well have been preceded by a four-letter word. But courtrooms, politics, and league lawyers are now a thing of the past. Because ladies and gentleman, we’re finally here! The start of the NFL season is here!

 

Quarterbacks

Could Impress: Call it a hunch, but I expect a big week out of Matthew Stafford. The Buccaneers defense is young at a number of positions, and the Lions clicked on all cylinders in the preseason. Stafford’s been itching to get back in a meaningful game, he’ll make the most of his opportunities.

Could Disappoint: Two of Joe Flacco’s worst performance s last year came against the Steelers. In fact, Flacco has struggled mightily against teams in the AFC North. Look for better options under center on Sunday.

Keep an eye on: Matt Hasselbeck chose Tennessee because he liked the system and thought they had the weapons to win. He struggled through injuries the past two seasons, but he’s a cerebral QB and could bounce back this season.

 

QB Rankings

1. Aaron Rodgers, GB (vs. New Orleans)

2. Michael Vick, PHI (@ St. Louis)

3. Philip Rivers, SD (vs. Minnesota)

4. Tom Brady, NE (@ Miami)

5. Josh Freeman, TB (vs. Detroit)

6. Drew Brees, NO (@ Green Bay)

7. Matt Schaub, HOU (vs. Indianapolis)

8. Eli Manning, NYG (@ Washington)

9. Tony Romo, DAL (@ New York Jets)

10. Matt Ryan, ATL (@ Chicago)

11. Matthew Stafford, DET (@ Tampa Bay)

12. Kevin Kolb, AZ (vs. Carolina)

13. Kyle Orton, DEN (vs. Oakland)

14. Sam Bradford, STL (vs. Philadelphia)

15. Jay Cutler, CHI (vs. Atlanta)

16. Joe Flacco, BAL (vs. Pittsburgh)

17. Matt Cassel, KC (vs. Buffalo)

18. Ryan Fitzpatrick, BUF (@ Kansas City)

19. Matt Hasselbeck, TEN (at Jacksonville)

20. Mark Sanchez, NYJ (vs. Dallas)

21. Rex Grossman, WAS (vs. New York Giants)

22. Colt McCoy, CLE (vs. Cincinnati)

23. Chad Henne, MIA (vs. New England)

24. Tavaris Jackson, SEA (@ San Francisco)

25. Kerry Collins, IND (@ Houston)

 

Running Backs

Could Impress: Felix Jones. We’ve seen glimpses of what Jones can do when he’s healthy. The Jets will test Jones and the Dallas offense, but if he is up to the task, we could be talking about a top-10 rusher this year.

Could Disappoint: Arian Foster. Foster is battling a hamstring injury, and with news that Peyton Manning will likely not play for Indy, there’s a real chance the coaches give Foster the week off and lean on Ben Tate and Derrick Ward. Definitely check your lineup before Sunday morning.

Keep an eye on: The New England backfield. Against a lesser opponent in Miami, the Patriots should be running the ball plenty in the second half. Fantasy owners should get a good idea of how Bill Belicheck plans on splitting carries between BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Danny Woodhead and Stevan Ridley.

 

RB Rankings

1. Adrian Peterson, MIN (@ San Diego)

2. Jamaal Charles, KC (vs. Buffalo)

3. Frank Gore, SF (vs. Seattle)

4. Maurice Jones-Drew, JAX (vs. Tennessee)

5. Darren McFadden, OAK (@ Denver)

6. Peyton Hillis, CLE (vs. Cincinnati)

7. Ahmad Bradshaw, NYG (@ Washington)

8. LeSean McCoy, PHI (@ St. Louis)

9. Chris Johnson, TEN (@ Jacksonville)

10. Felix Jones, DAL (@ New York Jets)

11. Steven Jackson, STL (vs. Philadelphia)

12. Arian Foster, HOU (vs. Indianapolis)

13. Knowshon Moreno, DEN (vs. Oakland)

14. Matt Forte, CHI (vs. Atlanta)

15. Michael Turner, ATL (@ Chicago)

16. Rashard Mendenhall, PIT (@ Baltimore)

17. Ray Rice, BAL (vs. Pittsburgh)

18. Tim Hightower, WAS (vs. New York Giants)

19. DeAngelo Williams, CAR (@ Arizona)

20. Shonn Green, NYJ (vs. Dallas)

21. LeGarrette Blount, TB (vs. Detroit)

22. Jahvid Best, DET (@ Tampa Bay)

23. Pierre Thomas, NO (@ Green Bay)

24. Reggie Bush, MIA (vs. New England)

25. Beanie Wells, AZ (vs. Carolina)

26. Ryan Grant, GB (vs. New Orleans)

27. BenJarvus Green-Ellis, NE (@ Miami)

28. Ryan Mathews, SD (vs. Minnesota)

29. Marshawn Lynch, SEA (@ San Francisco)

30. Cedric Benson, CIN (@ Cleveland)

31. Fred Jackson, BUF (@ Kansas City)

32. Jonathan Stewart, CAR (@ Arizona)

33. Brandon Jacobs, NYG (@ Washington)

34. Joseph Addai, IND (@ Houston)

35. Danny Woodhead, NE (@ Miami)

36. LaDainian Tomlinson, NYJ (vs. Dallas)

37. Thomas Jones, KC (vs. Buffalo)

38. Michael Bush, OAK (@ Denver)

39. Mike Tolbert, SD (vs. Minnesota)

40. James Starks, GB (vs. New Orleans)

41. Willis McGahee, DEN (vs. Oakland)

42. C.J. Spiller, BUF (@ Kansas City)

43. Mark Ingram, NO (@ Green Bay)

44. Justin Forsett, SEA (@ San Francisco)

45. Cadillac Williams, STL (vs. Philadelphia)

46. Tashard Choice, DAL (@ New York Jets)

47. Darren Sproles, NO (@ Green Bay)

48. Ricky Williams, BAL (vs. Pittsburgh)

49. Jonathan Stewart, CAR (@ Arizona)

50. Ronnie Brown, PHI (@ St. Louis)

 

 

Wide Receivers

Could Impress: Chad Ochocinco. It’s been a rough preseason for Chad, who is struggling to find his rhythm with Tom Brady. But both Brady and #85 are gamers, and I expect him to have a surprisingly good game on Monday.

Could Disappoint: Reggie Wayne. It’s been a long time since Wayne had to catch balls from a quarterback other than Peyton Manning. Much of the Colts offense was predicated on the timing between the receivers and Manning. With Kerry Collins or Curtis Painter likely under center on Sunday, expect a dip in Wayne’s numbers.

Keep an eye on: Mike Thomas. A midseason change at quarterback is tough enough, but throwing a new starter just a few days before the season begins? That’s cold. Thomas and the Jags receivers could talk awhile to warm up. Meanwhile, you might want to look for other options.

WR Rankings

1. Andre Johnson, HOU (vs. Indianapolis)

2. Calvin Johnson, DET (@ Tampa Bay)

3. Roddy White, ATL (@ Chicago)

4. Greg Jennings, GB (vs. New Orleans)

5. Hakeem Nicks, NYG (@ Washington)

6. Larry Fitzgerald, AZ (vs. Carolina)

7. Vincent Jackson, SD (vs. Minnesota)

8. Mike Wallace, PIT (@ Baltimore)

9. DeSean Jackson, PHI (@ St. Louis)

10. Dwayne Bowe, KC (vs. Buffalo)

11. Brandon Lloyd, DEN (vs. Oakland)

12. Marques Colston, NO (vs. Green Bay)

13. Anquan Boldin, BAL (vs. Pittsburgh)

14. Steve Johnson, BUF (@ Kansas City)

15. Kenny Britt, TEN (@ Jacksonville)

16. Percy Harvin, MIN (@ San Diego)

17. Wes Welker, NE (@ Miami)

18. Santonio Holmes, NYJ (vs. Dallas)

19. Miles Austin, DAL (@ New York Jets)

20. Brandon Marshall, MIA (vs. New England)

21. Reggie Wayne, IND (@ Houston)

22. Santana Moss, WAS (vs. New York Giants)

23. Mike Williams, TB (vs. Detroit)

24. Mario Manningham, NYG (@ Washington)

25. Dez Bryant, DAL (@ New York Jets)

26. Hines Ward, PIT (@ Baltimore)

27. Sidney Rice, SEA (@ San Francisco)

28. Chad Ochocinco, NE (@ Miami)

29. Roy Williams, CHI (vs. Atlanta)

30. Mike Thomas, JAX (vs. Tennessee)

31. Deion Branch, NE (@ Miami)

32. Eddie Royal, DEN (vs. Oakland)

33. Steve Smith, CAR (@ Arizona)

34. Derrick Mason, NYJ (vs. Dallas)

35. Lee Evans, BAL (vs. Pittsburgh)

36. Lance Moore, NO (@ Green Bay)

37. Braylon Edwards, SF (vs. Seattle)

38. Mike Sims-Walker, STL (vs. Philadelphia)

39. AJ Green, CIN (@ Cleveland)

40. Plaxico Burress, NYJ (vs. Dallas)

41. Pierre Garcon, IND (at Houston)

42. Julio Jones, ATL (@ Chicago)

43. James Jones, GB (vs. New Orleans)

44. Greg Little, CLE (vs. Cincinnati)

45. Johnny Knox, CHI (vs. Atlanta)

46. Jeremy Maclin, PHI (@ St. Louis)

47. Davone Bess, MIA (vs. New England)

48. Nate Washington, TEN (@ Jacksonville)

49. Mike Williams, SEA (@ San Francisco)

50. Michael Crabtree, SF (vs. Seattle)

 

Tight Ends

Could Impress: Jermichael Finley. He’s extremely hungry after watching his team win the Super Bowl on the sideline. Finley is an extremely rare combination of size, speed and skill, and should be a favorite mismatch target for Rodgers against the Saints.

Could Disappoint: Zach Miller. Seattle would be smart to work Miller into the offense, but with Tavaris Jackson and a shoddy offensive line battling the likes of Patrick Willis, it could be tough.

Keep an eye on: Lance Kendricks. Will the extremely good preseason translate to the regular season? If so, the Ram could be a  top-10 fantasy tight end.

 

TE Rankings

1. Antonio Gates, SD (vs. Minnesota)

2. Jermichael Finley, GB (vs. New Orleans)

3. Jason Witten, DAL (@ New York Jets)

4. Vernon Davis, SF (vs. Seattle)

5. Owen Daniels, HOU (vs. Indianapolis)

6. Dallas Clark, IND (@ Houston)

7. Rob Gronkowski, NE (@ Miami)

8. Tony Gonzalez, ATL (@Chicago)

9. Marcedes Lewis, JAX (vs. Tennessee)

10. Kellen Winslow, TB (vs. Detroit)

11. Jimmy Graham, NO (@ Green Bay)

12. Brandon Pettigrew, DET (@ Tampa Bay)

13. Dustin Keller, NYJ (vs. Dallas)

14. Aaron Hernandez, NE (@ Miami)

15. Lance Kendricks, STL (vs. Philadelphia

16. Zach Miller, SEA (@ San Francisco)

17. Todd Heap, AZ (vs. Carolina)

18. Greg Olsen, CAR (@ Arizona)

19. Brent Celek, PHI (@ St. Louis)

20. Ben Watson, CLE (vs. Cincinnati)

21. Jared Cook, TEN (@ Jacksonville)

22. Visanthe Shiancoe, MIN (@ San Diego)

23. Jermaine Gresham, CIN (@ Cleveland)

24. Heath Miller, PIT (@ Balitmore)

25. Travis Beckum, NYG (@ Washington)

 

Defense/Special Teams

Could Impress: San Diego. The Charger added some nice pieces in the offseason and get a favorable matchup in week one.

Could Disappoint: Chicago. The Falcons offense is loaded, and the Bears don’t have the benefit of cold weather helping slow down Matt Ryan. The drama with Lance Briggs wanting out of Chitown certainly isn’t helping.

Keep an eye on: Detroit. It’s a young defense that figures to get better, but the Lions get a nice test against a good Tampa Bay offense to open the season.

 

D/ST Rankings

1. Pittsburgh (@ Baltimore)

2. San Diego (vs. Minnesota)

3. New England (@ Miami)

4. New York Jets (vs. Dallas)

5. Green Bay (vs. New Orleans)

6. San Francisco (vs. Seattle)

7. New York Giants (@ Washington)

8. Chicago (vs. Atlanta)

9. Atlanta (@ Chicago)

10. Dallas (@ New York Jets)

11. Philadelphia (@ St. Louis)

12. Detroit (@ Tampa Bay)

13. Tampa Bay (vs. Detroit)

14. Kansas City (vs. Buffalo)

15. Cleveland (vs. Cincinnati)

16. Oakland (@ Denver)

17. Arizona (vs. Carolina)

18. New Orleans (@ Green Bay)

19. Houston (vs. Indianapolis)

20. Seattle (@ San Francisco)

21. Tennesse (@ Jacksonville)

22. Washington (vs. New York Giants)

23. Miami (vs. New England)

24. St. Louis (vs. Philadelphia)

25. Carolina (@ Arizona)

 

You can follow Stephen on Twitter @stephen_wqow

Posted under Uncategorized

With the NFL season finally getting underway, we can finally turn our attention from the courtrooms and onto the field, where it belongs. In the coming weeks, we will rank the fantasy studs, duds and sleepers for each division. Today, the NFC North gets some time under the microscope.

 

Fantasy Studs

 

Quarterback: Aaron Rodgers, GB (2010: 3922 yards, 28 TD, 11 INT, 356 rushing yards, 4 TD)

This is the biggest no-brainer of the studs group. In the past two seasons, Rodgers has elevated his game to another level. From a fantasy perspective, Rodgers was the model of consistency. He’s played in all but one game in the past two seasons, and put up at least one touchdown in all but one game last season (the injury-shortened week 14 against Detroit). If Rodgers is on your fantasy team, good luck getting rid of a 17-week grin.

 

Running Back: Adrian Peterson, MIN (2010: 1298 rushing yards, 12 TD, 36 receptions, 341 yards, TD)

Peterson has been a top-3 pick in almost every draft in the past three years, and that streak will likely continue this year. His rushing numbers have dropped each of the past three seasons, but Peterson has compensated by becoming a weapon in the passing game. With rookie Christian Ponder, second-year man Joe Webb, or a free agent to be named later under center for the Vikings this year, I think fantasy owners can feel comfortable in assuming Peterson will get plenty of work this year.

 

Wide Receiver: Greg Jennings, GB (2010: 76 receptions, 1265 yards, 12 TD)

It took a while for Jennings to get going in 2010, putting up over 75 yards just once in the first five weeks. But from there, everything just seemed to go right. He scored double-digit fantasy points eight times, and fell below eight points just once in the final 11 weeks. Jennings is the best pass catcher on one of the best passing teams in the league.

 

Wide Receiver: Calvin Johnson, DET (2010: 77 receptions, 1120, 12 TD)

Despite a carousel at QB, Johnson remained a top-flight pass option for the Lions. But that shouldn’t surprise any fantasy owner; he’s been doing this his entire career. Now the scary thought comes with what Johnson can do with a healthy quarterback all season (See Matthew Stafford below). Honestly, that thought should keep NFL secondaries awake at night.

 

Tight End: Jermichael Finley, GB (2010: 21 receptions, 301 yards, TD)

Finley makes this list based on potential for next season. In his first four games, Finley averaged five catches and 75 yards a game. More impressive, his role in the offense will likely expand even more this next season. Of course, fantasy owners will (and should) be apprehensive to spend a high pick on Finley based on his injury past. But if you roll the dice and win, you’re going to win big.

 

Defense/ST: Green Bay (2010: 166 fantasy points)

Green Bay was the second –highest scoring defense last year. The team forced at least one turnover in all but two games, and forced two or more in an astounding nine games. Need I say more?

 

 

Fantasy Duds

Quarterback: Jay Cutler, CHI (2010: 3274 yards, 23 TD, 16 INT, 232 rushing yards, TD)

Cutler is just as frustrating as a fantasy player as he is to watch on the field. He has all the talent in the world, but to own Cutler is to ride the rollercoaster with him. When Jay is good, he’s very good (four weeks scoring over 20 points). But when he’s bad, he’s very bad (four weeks under seven points and a big fat -3 points in week 4). 16 quarterbacks scored more fantasy points than Cutler, including – pause for irony – Kyle Orton. Cutler is a fantasy backup. If you expect more from him, don’t expect much from your team.

 

Running Back: Jahvid Best, DET (2010: 563 rushing yards, 4 TD, 58 receptions, 487 yards, 2 TD)

If Best can remain healthy, he will quickly move off this list. But in a fantasy-rich running back division, Best is the worst. His 127 fantasy points are impressive for a rookie, but it becomes way less impressive when you consider he scored more than half of the points in three games. In fact, after week two, he scored just one touchdown the rest of the year.

 

Wide Receiver: Donald Driver, GB (2010: 51 receptions, 565 yards, 4 TD)

Name the top two fantasy receivers for Green Bay last season. You’ve got Jennings, sure. But number two is?  James Jones, and the race wasn’t all that close. Driver was a fantasy stud for years, but injury and a lost step cost him in 2010. He’ll be a solid option as a reserve, but he can no longer be counted on as a fantasy starter.

 

Wide Receiver: Devin Hester, CHI (2010: 40 receptions, 475 yards, 4 TD)

Oh sure, Hester is a return dynamo. Possibly the best there ever was. But as a fantasy receiver, he deserves a spot on this list. In a pass-happy offense that revolved around speedy receivers, Hester could only crack the 50-yard plateau twice. Even a gimpy Donald Driver has better fantasy numbers.

 

Tight End: Visanthe Shiancoe, MIN (2010: 47 receptions, 530 yards, 2 TD)

Shiancoe lived off of Brett Favre in 2009, and died off of him in 2010. After topping 75 yards in each of the first two weeks, he didn’t sniff it again the rest of the season. In fact, he caught more than 4 catches just once after week two. He’s on the wrong side of his career, has a shaky QB situation, and is going to play in a run-happy offensive system. Don’t expect much more than the numbers above in 2011.

 

Defense/ST: Minnesota (108 fantasy points)

The Vikings defense was drafted in the top-10 in almost all fantasy drafts last year, but scored just one more point than the Browns when all was said and done. With a number of free agent questions, and one huge hole fill (DT Pat Williams), the expectations should be much lower this year.

 

 

Fantasy Sleepers

 

Quarterback: Matthew Stafford, DET (2010: 535 yards, 6 TD, INT, 11 rushing yards, TD)

The pieces are around him (Johnson, Best, Brandon Pettigrew, and Nate Burleson) and he’s got the talent. But can Stafford stay healthy? He’s played just 13 games in two seasons, but it’s way too early to write him off yet. Let me say this: if you draft Stafford as a backup and he gets hurt, is your team really hurt? But if you draft Stafford and he puts up the above numbers over an entire season, don’t you look like a genius? Roll the dice.

 

Running Back: Ryan Grant, GB (2010: 8 rushes, 45 yards)

Remember Grant, the steady running option that kept opposing defenses honest? The guy who rushed for more than 1200 yards in consecutive season before getting hurt this past season. The guy that missed just one game in his first three seasons? Hopefully you do (and your buddies don’t), because drafting Grant is going to be cheap with a big payoff. (Writers Note: Yes, James Starks belongs here too)

 

Wide Receiver: Nate Burleson, DET (2010: 55 receptions, 625 yards, 6 TD)

Burleson has been under the radar the past two seasons, putting up good numbers for Seattle in 2009 and Detroit in 2010. Burleson is an ideal option across from Megatron. He’s a guy who can hit a slant and take it to the house, and quietly puts up good numbers. If Stafford has the season I believe he will, Burleson becomes even more valuable.

 

Wide Receiver: Earl Bennett, CHI (2010: 46 receptions, 561 yards, 3 TD)

Finding a good sleeper option is like predicting the stock market. You look for trends, look to buy low, and hope the payoff is high. The Bears were impressed at what they saw from Bennett in the postseason, and has reportedly been an offseason workhorse. Will that translate to the playing field this year? Maybe, but we know the Bears will throw the ball, and someone’s got to catch them.

 

Tight End: Kyle Rudolph, MIN (Rookie out of Notre Dame)

I’ll leave the gossip to TMZ, but I think it is telling that Rudolph and Ponder have worked out together all offseason, and Ponder has crashed at Rudolph’s place during the offseason. If Ponder does take over as the starter, he’ll need a safety net, and that will be Rudolph. Even if it’s not Ponder under center, expect the Vikings to try to stretch the middle of the field with the big TE and keep the safeties out of the box.

 

Defense/ST: Detroit (120 fantasy points)

They boast one of the best front-fours in the league, will be great against the run, and will attack the quarterback. There are a number of question marks in the secondary, but this is a defense on its way up.

Posted under Uncategorized

1. Cleveland: Kyrie Irving, PG, Duke

The Cavaliers’ front office is sending out smoke screens that they are unsure who will be the pick, but I believe they’re locked into Irving. He’s a pure point guard who has drawn some comparisons to Chris Paul. He has excellent basketball IQ and is a floor general. In a draft lacking elite talent, Irving stands out.

 

2. Minnesota: Derrick Williams, F, Arizona

The Timberwolves are looking to move this pick in exchange for a solid veteran. The latest rumors include Washington’s Javelle McGee and the #6 pick for the #2 pick. Another floating around is the Lakers trading Pau Gasol for Kevin Love and the #2 pick. Neither trade looks very likely. With the Timberwolves willingness to move the pick, expect a few more offers to roll in. If the team decides to keep the pick, look for Minnesota to take Williams and try to trade Michael Beasley or Anthony Randolph to bolster the backcourt.

 

3.  Utah: Brandon Knight, PF, Kentucky

The Jazz are in an interesting position, owning a pair of lottery picks. The team brought in Knight, Kemba Walker, and Enes Kanter within the last week. All are in play at pick number three, but the real question is what direction the team wants to go. Ideally, Williams would fall to them. If that doesn’t happen, the question is what would make the most sense: drafting Kanter when team already has Al Jefferson, Derrick Favors and Paul Millsap, or nabbing a point guard to compete with Devin Harris. In the end, I think they’ll go for Knight.

 

4.  Cleveland: Enes Kanter, C, Kentucky

Talk about things falling into place. This is the best case scenario for the Cavaliers, who add a pair of building blocks to the lineup. In five years, we might look back and say Kanter was the best player to come out of this draft; his upside is that high. But word is the Cavaliers are not sold yet on Kanter, and could pick either Jonas Valanciunas or Jan Vesely. But based on the roster, Kanter should be the pick.

 

5. Toronto: Jonas Valanciunas, C, Lithuania

Bryan Colangelo is notorious for scouting and ultimately drafting foreign born players, and that reputation is reinforced on draft night. Walker will also be in the discussion, but scouts are raving about the upside of Valanciunas. A physical bruiser will pair well with last year’s pick Ed Davis and add some depth in the front court.  The one drawback (and it could be a big one) is Valanciunas’ buyout number from his current team. Would Colangelo draft a guy who might not come for a few years? We’ll have to see.

 

6. Washington: Jan Vesely, F, Czech Republic

Washington likes its front court, and has locked up the point guard position with the selection of John Wall last year. The Wizards are looking for an upgrade at SG and SF, and Vesely would fit in well. He has great size (6’11”), but can step out and hit a three. He’s got a non-stop motor and is just as good working off the ball. He’d make a lot of sense for a Wizards team that is looking to add talent.

 

7.  Sacramento: Kemba Walker, PG, Connecticut

This is an ideal situation for the Kings, who are looking to move Tyreke Evans to the 2-guard. Walker will be a stabilizing force for a young team filled with talented, but troubled players.  He’ll contribute from day one, and should fit in well within the offense.

 

8.  Detroit: Bismack Biyombo, PF, Congo

This is my surprise pick of the lottery. Biyombo is being compared to Ben Wallace, a guy who anchored Detroit’s defense in its heyday. Biyombo will provide instant defense, rebounding and shot-blocking and will pair well with Greg Monroe.

 

9.  Charlotte: Marcus Morris, PF, Kansas

The Bobcats are in desperate need of some size in the front court, and Michael Jordan has vowed to no longer take big risks and add pieces that can help the team now. Morris was a star at Kansas, and has a very complete game for a man of his size. He may never be a superstar, but he’ll be a solid player for a decade.

 

10.  Milwaukee: Alec Burks, SG, Colorado

I think this pick comes down to a pair of players: Burks and Klay Thompson. Burks is a better slasher, while Thompson is a better shooter. Looking for a boost off the bench, Burks will provide instant offense and makes more sense for a team that should make a charge for the playoffs next year.

 

11.  Golden State: Klay Thompson, SG, Washington State

All indications are that the Warriors are serious about unloaded talented guard Monta Ellis. If that really is the case, Thompson would make a lot of sense. If the team decides Ellis and Stephen Curry can coexist, look for the team to add a big man.

 

12.  Utah: Kawhi Leonard, SF, San Diego State

Utah adds the point guard early in the round, then look to fill a position of need. Leonard has a good chance of going in the top-10, but if he falls, his descend stops here. With Andrei Kirilenko likely out the door, Leonard would fill a need, and would continue to add athleticism to a team that is starting to look like a good track squad.

 

13. Phoenix: Tristan Thompson, PF, Texas

The Suns would like to improve their defense and get younger in the process. Thompson helps in both areas, while adding the type of athletic game that Steve Nash seems to feed off of.

 

14. Houston: Nikola Vucevic, C, USC

In a desperate attempt to add size, I think the Rockets could get caught reaching for Vucevic. Standing at legitimate 7-feet, he is an instant upgrade over Chuck Hayes, who manned the middle last season despite his diminutive size (6’7”). Some scouts are very high on Vucevic’s upside, it’ll be interesting to see if some of those scouts hail from Houston.

 

15.  Indiana: Jimmer Fredette, PG, BYU

Fredette is getting buzz as high as pick #7, and I don’t think he falls past Indiana. Fredette will add shooting off the bench immediately, and could develop into a solid point guard given some time to get accostomed to the speed of the NBA.

 

16.  Philadelphia: Chris Singleton, F, FSU

Singelton might not be on the board this long, given his great combination of strength and athleticism. With the rumors of Andre Iguadola for Monta Ellis trade, this pick would end up making sense. If the team sours on that deal, they could add Markieff Morris instead.

 

17. New York: Marshon Brooks, SG, Providence

New York would love to add Fredette, so much so there is talk they’d like to move up as far as #8. If that fails, scouts say the Knicks are very high on Brooks, whose ability to score and distribute the ball would be welcomed to New York’s backcourt.

 

18. Washington: Jordan Hamilton, G/F, Texas

At #5 the Wizards added a big man with range to the mix, at #18 they go with a slasher who will add instant offense. Hamilton is a solid shooter, and would fit in well with John Wall.

 

19.  Charlotte: Markieff Moriss, PF, Kansas

Would adding the Morris twins to the same team make for good publicity? Yes, and maybe that’s not a bad idea for a Bobcats team whose popularity is waning. But it would also fit a need for Charlotte’s depleted front court. If you can double-dip and win, shouldn’t you?

 

20.  Minnesota: Donatas Motiejunas, C, Lithuania

The Timberwolves spend a lot of money on international scouting, and there has to be a reason for that. Montiejunas has great size, is aggressive in the post, and has a reasonable buyout.

 

21.  Portland: Kenneth Faried, PF, Morehead State

Word is, the Trailblazers are enamored with Faried. He has a non-stop motor and is relentless on the boards. With the futures of Marcus Camby and Greg Oden up in the air, Faried makes a lot of sense.

 

22.  Denver: Tobias Harris, PF, Tennessee

A bit of a ‘tweener, Harris adds versatility and a very high basketball IQ. His game won’t wow anyone, but he can contribute in a lot of ways. All teams need a gritty guy like Harris who just gets things done.

 

23.  Houston: Josh Selby, PG, Kansas

Point guard is a huge need for the Rockets, and Selby is a solid option. He has the potential to develop into an above-average player with proper coaching.  The Rockets will also take a hard look at Michigan’s Darius Morris.

 

24. Oklahoma City: Kyle Singler, SF, Duke

Sometimes it’s just as much about the fit as it is the player. Singler would be a great backup to Kevin Durant, adding scoring, length and some rebounding. Some scouts might consider Singler a bit of a reach, so keep an eye on Nikola Mirotic, a player with similar skill sets.

 

25. Boston: Jon Leuer, PF, Wisconsin

It was telling that the Celtics brought in a number of tall shooters to their first private workouts. Word is, Leuer perfrormed very well against the likes of JaJuan Johnson. Leuer can shoot, has a decent post game, and doesn’t back down defensively.

 

26. Dallas: Nikola Mirotic, PF, Serbia

The small forward could go as high as #20, but Dallas seems to make a lot of sense. Mirotic will likely have to stay overseas for a few years because of a massive buyout, but you’d have to think the defending champs have time to wait.

 

27. New Jersey: Reggie Jackson, PG, Boston College

Word is, the Nets have made a promise to the BC point guard. Deron Williams needs a better backup and possibly a replacement in a few years. Jackson is an above-average scorer who could play next to Williams in certain situations.

 

28. Chicago: Tyler Honeycutt, G/F, UCLA

Chicago owns two of the last three picks in the draft. The team is young, and does not necessarily need to add more youth to the team. Miami and the Lakers are rumored to be looking to buy their way into the first round (for aroudn $3-million), and Chicago is a likely target. Look for the Bulls to look to add a slashing scorer with at least one of the picks. Honey cutt adds a lot of versatility to a team in need of backcourt help.

 

29.  San Antonio: Jeremy Tyler, C, Tokyo

No one is better at finding under the radar international talent than the Spurs – see: Tony Parker, Manu Ginobli. Jeremy Tyler is an American-born player who has been playing in Japan. He’s still raw, but has start potential.

 

30. Chicago: Davis Bertrans, SF, Latvia

If the Bulls do keep both picks, it would make sense to stash a player overseas for a few years. Bertrans is raw, but very gifted with a silky smooth shot, and could be on the roster in two or three years.  If they draft for this season, keep an eye on Hofstra’s Charles Jenkins and Duke’s Nolan Smith.

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It seems to happen every season. You finish your draft, look down at your roster, maybe compare it to the other guys in your league, and smile smugly: you’re going to win this year. Fast-forward 10 weeks, and all of the sudden you’re last in your league, scraping the waiver wire scrap heap in search of a starting pitcher who gives up less than four runs a game. Or maybe you’re the lucky one, who’s waited and found the hidden gems like Alexi Ogando and Matt Joyce and are cruising in first place.

Either way, another unpredictable fantasy season brings with it another edition of Surprises and Disappointments.

2011 Early Fantasy Surprises

C Alex Avila, Tigers: .288 BA, 22 runs, 9 home runs, 32 RBI, 2 steals

Jonathon Lucroy finishes a close second, but he did not open the season with the Brewers. Avila has been a staple in the Tigers’ lineup, even working as a DH when he’s off as a catcher. A solid batting average, good power numbers and average draft position in the 26^th round make Avila a steal.

 

1B Gaby Sanchez, Marlins: .310 BA, 32 runs, 10 home runs, 38 RBI, .515 slugging percentage

Sanchez has more than made up for the lack of production by Hanley Ramirez (see below). Hitting fourth in the lineup, Sanchez has provided both average and power-hitting for the upstart Marlins.

 

2B Darwin Barney, Cubs: .304 BA, 30 runs, 1 home run, 25 RBI, 3 steals

Barney was not the opening day starter for Chicago, and therefore got no love in drafts. But this rookie has provided some pop to the Cubs lineup, providing a good bat and speed from the 2 spot. At a weak offensive position, there’s no reason he should be on waivers in any league.

 

3B Jhonny Peralta, Tigers: .313 BA, 25 runs, 8 home runs, 32 RBI

In the past few seasons, Peralta has been solid, but not great as a fantasy player. But this season, he’s come out showing patience at the plate, and the numbers have followed. His .313 batting average is a full 20 points higher than his career high, likely because he has more protection in the Tigers lineup. He is also eligible at shortstop.

 

SS Elvis Andrus, Rangers: .284 BA, 38 runs, 3 home runs, 27 RBI, 19 steals

Andrus has been known through his young career as a solid defensive shortstop with some nice speed on the base paths. This year, his offensive numbers are meeting his huge potential in the field. Working out of the 2 spot, with the protection of guys like Nelson Cruz and Josh Hamilton, Andrus is seeing plenty of good pitches.

 

OF Matt Joyce, Rays: .338 BA, 37 runs, 10 home runs, 34 RBI, 4 steals

Joyce entered the season not on many fantasy rosters, but he’s been one of a few bright spots for Tampa Bay.  A career .243 hitter, he’s seeing the baseball well in the Trop, sitting second in the American League in batting average. Fantasy owners be advised: his fantasy stock might not go any higher.

 

OF Lance Berkman, Cardinals: .329 BA, 37 runs, 14 home runs, 43 RBI

A player on last year’s disappointment list makes a big splash in 2011. Last year the problem was Berkman’s health, but the problems this year are all on the opposition’s side. The Big Puma is reminding people of his 2004 self, hitting for power and average and adding to an already potent St. Louis lineup.

 

SP Alexi Ogando, Rangers: 7-0, 60 K, 2.10 ERA, 0.90 WHIP

I struggled whether this spot should go to Michael Pineda from Seattle, but in the end Ogando’s numbers are too much to overlook. His ERA and WHIP put him 4^th among all fantasy pitchers. In 10 of his 12 starts to date, Alexi has given up 2 or less earned runs and has 6 or more innings in every game.

 

RP Craig Kimbrel, Braves: 18 saves, 47 K, 3.19 ERA, 1.29 WHIP

Hype has followed Kimbrel through much of his career, but entering the season, he was thought to be sharing closing duties with Johnny Venters. Well, that didn’t last long. Kimbrel has been the guy from day one, and has produced, sitting second in all of baseball in saves. On a side note, Venters did not lose much in the deal, finishing second on my list of surprise relievers, and likely earning himself an all-star nod as a set-up man.

 

2011 Early Fantasy Disappointments

C Joe Mauer, Twins: .235 BA, 2 runs, 4 RBI, 9 games played

In many ways, Mauer’s season is a microcosm of the 2011Twins. Having all the talent in the world doesn’t do a fantasy owner much good if he’s constantly on the disabled list. Mauer was drafted in the 2^nd or 3^rd round, but has left fantasy owners in the dust.

 

1B Adam Dunn, White Sox: .176 BA, 17 runs, 5 home runs, 23 RBI

Oy, oy, oy. Dunn has struggled mightily to adjust to AL pitching, despite hitting in a potent lineup. Dunn has never hit for average, but it’s troubling that 10 weeks into the season, his power numbers put him behind guys like Jason Giambi and Lyle Overbay.

 

2B Gordon Beckham, White Sox: .239 BA, 29 runs, 6 home runs, 21 RBI

Beckham is starting to show signs of light, but it might be too late for fantasy owners that drafted him in the first 10 rounds. His low batting average continues to hurt teams, but it’s made worse because when he’s not hitting, he’s striking out (49 Ks in 197 AB).

 

3B Casey McGehee, Brewers: .231, 19 runs, 4 home runs, 24 RBI

Last year’s early surprise ends up on the disappointment list this year. McGehee ranks 32^nd among fantasy third baseman, which is unfortunate for a guy who has hit for power in average the last two seasons. He was averaged a draft spot of 94 overall, but the production has not matched the lofty draft expectations.

 

SS Hanley Ramirez, Marlins: .210, 30 runs, 4 home runs, 17 RBI, 11 steals

Drafted in the top three in almost every draft, Ramirez just hasn’t looked right all season, most recently landing on the DL. Even before his injury, Ramirez was struggling at the dish, and has provided little for fantasy owners who were expecting a cornerstone for their team.

 

OF Carl Crawford, Red Sox: .247 BA, 31 runs, 6 home runs, 30 RBI, 8 steals

Along with that big contract came big expectations for a guy hitting in a loaded Boston lineup. Crawford’s struggles and subsequent drop in the batting order were well documented in the Boston media, but Crawford looks like he might finally be turning the corner. Still, for a guy drafted early in the first round, he hasn’t paid dividends yet.

 

OF Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners: .256, 30 runs, 0 home runs, 20 RBI, 14 steals

Ichiro has never been a power hitter, but you could always count on him to put up an elite batting average. In his career he’s never hit lower than .303, but at 37, we might be seeing the decline of a guy who’s been one of the best hitters in baseball.

 

SP Ubaldo Jimenez, Rockies: 1-6, 60 K, 4.73 ERA, 1.31 WHIP

After his scorching start last season, fantasy owners drafted him in the 4^th round with thoughts that he would be the cornerstone of their pitching staff. Instead, they’ve gotten a guy who’s been downright average, if not below average.

 

RP Joakim Soria, Royals: 7 saves, 20 K, 5.33 ERA, 1.37 WHIP

I’ll file this one under the ‘Don’t pay for closers’ speech. Soria’s been one of the best for years, but he’s struggled with his command (career high is 19 walks, has 10 this season), blowing five saves already this season. He lost his job briefly, and the chain won’t be long if he struggles again.

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The 2011 NFL Draft is in the books and like most years, there were no shortage of moments that evoked a “Did that really just happen?” As many who follow the draft know, you can have your facts, figures, and statistics ready, but in the end, it’s really a crapshoot.

This year’s draft was one of the most unique in a long time. The draft started with one set of rules, ended with another, and the NFL labor situation cast a shadow over the whole ordeal. With NFL teams not allowed to trade players, there was a more desperate vibe, more reaches than in recent memories, and an air of unknown. Does Arizona have a gentleman’s agreement with Philadelphia to land Kevin Kolb once trading resumes? If not, you have to question the Cardinals not taking a chance on a quarterback. Something tells me we will better be able to break down this draft in three or four months.

I really believe it takes at least two years to fully appreciate and rate a draft. Getting B.J. Raji and Clay Matthews in the same draft class looks a whole lot different now than it did in 2008. Same goes on the flipside – passing on Reggie Bush for Mario Williams no longer looks like one of the biggest draft mistakes as it did when the news was first announced. Still, this is a business of rapid reaction, so here are my initial thoughts on this weekend’s NFC North selections.

 Green Bay Packers : B+

RD	PK (OVR)	Name	Position	School
1	32 (32)	Derek Sherrod	OT	Miss. State
2	32 (64)	Randall Cobb	WR	Kentucky
3	32 (96)	Alex Green	RB	Hawaii
4	34 (131)	Davon House	CB	New Mexico St
5	10 (141)	D.J. Williams	TE	Arkansas
6	14 (179)	Caleb Schlauderaff	OG	Utah
6	21 (186)	D.J. Smith	OLB	Appalachian St.
6	32 (297)	Ricky Elmore	OLB/DE	Arizona
7	15 (218)	Ryan Taylor	TE	North Carolina
7	30 (233)	Lawrence Guy	DT	Arizona St.

 

Just like we’ve come to expect, GM Ted Thompson was patient, calculated, and successful. He stood pat at 32 when his phone was blowing up with teams looking to trade up for a QB, and walked away with a future replacement for Chad Clifton. In the last two drafts, Thompson has nabbed two young, talented tackles who will likely be protecting Aaron Rodgers for the next 10 years. For that fact alone, this draft was a success.

The theme for Green Bay has always been selecting the best player available. Randall Cobb earned a late first round grade from the Packers staff, and could be a steal when we look back at this draft five years down the road. Cobb will provide an instant live to the return game, and adds options to the offense (he can line up in the slot, as a RB, or even a wildcat QB). Green averaged 8.2 yards a carry for Hawaii, and is the scat back the Packers have been missing the last few season.

Thompson has had a run of recent success with late round picks, and the hope is that this group will show some of the same returns as the team got in 2010 from C.J. Wilson, Andrew Quarless and James Starks last year. D.J. Williams was a steal in the 5^th rounds, as was fellow TE Ryan Taylor in the 7^th. Taylor adds versatility as an h-back as well. Ricky Elmore has a chance to develop into a pass-rusher, and D.J. Smith could make an impact in a year or two.

Best Pick:  Sherrod. He was slated to go in the 20s, and fell to the Packers at 32. He will get a chance to learn for a year or two under Chad Clifton, and will be a starter for a long time.

Questionable Move: I like a lot of what Green Bay did over the three day stretch, but I wonder if addressing the pass rush should have been a higher priority. Cobb was one of my favorite picks, but he’s a luxury for an already potent offense. This was one of the richest DE/OLB drafts in recent memory, and Green Bay didn’t get in on the action until the 6^th round. Still, Thompson has been successful in the late rounds, so we’ll see what kind of production the team gets from Smith and Elmore this year.

Minnesota Vikings: C

RD	PK (OVR)	Name	Position	School
1	12 (12)	Christian Ponder	QB	Florida St.
2	11 (43)	Kyle Rudolph	TE	Notre Dame
4	9 (106)	Christian Ballard	DT	Iowa
5	8 (139)	Brandon Burton	CB	Utah
6	3 (168)	Demarcus Love	OT	Arkansas
6	5 (170)	Mistral Raymond	S	South Florida
6	7(172)	Brandon Fusco	C	Slippery Rock
6	35 (200)	Ross Homan	OLB	Ohio State
7	12 (215)	De’Aundre Reed	DE	Arizona
7	33 (236)	Stephen Burton	WR	West Texas A&M

 

This draft will ultimately be graded on how Christian Ponder does as the starting quarterback. Simply put: The Vikings got nervous and flinched. Minnesota could have traded down into the 20s and still got Ponder, plus a second rounder this year, or a first rounder next year. Instead, the Vikings worried that a run on quarterbacks were coming, and made sure they got in on the action. Hindsight might be 20/20, but you have to also question why Minnesota had Ponder as the guy as opposed to an Andy Dalton or Colin Kaepernick? Ponder is extremely smart and a cerebral player who is the most ready to play now. But he really struggled to stay healthy at Florida State, and his arm strength could be exposed at places like Chicago and Green Bay. Minnesota clearly likes the upside of Ponder, but I think they handled the first round poorly.

That being said, Minnesota did a nice job with their next few picks. Ponder already has weapons like Adrian Peterson, Sidney Rice and Percy Harvin. Getting the top tight end on the board, Kyle Rudolph, makes this offense even more potent and should help in both the passing and running game. Christian Ballard fills a need at defensive tackle, and could have been a late first round pick if not for a marijuana arrest during his senior year. Burton and Love were strong picks and should see the field this next year. The sleeper of this draft class will likely be Brandon Fusco, who could be the starting center by the end of the year.

Best Pick: Fusco. It was an off the radar pick, but he’s got the physical tools to develop into an excellent player. He needs some coaching and practice time against better competition, but Fusco is an instant upgrade of John Sullivan.

Questionable Move:   Ponder. The draft is not a time to get impatient, but that’s what Minnesota did. Now it’s up to the coaching staff to make sure Ponder has everything he needs to succeed immediately.

Chicago Bears: B

RD	PK (OVR)	Name	Position	School
1	29 (29)	Gabe Carimi	OT	Wisconsin
2	21 (53)	Stephen Paea	DT	Oregon State
3	29 (93)	Chris Conte	S	California
5	29 (160)	Nathan Enderle	QB	Idaho
6	30 (195)	J.T. Thomas	OLB	West Virginia

 

While the Packers and Lions had successful drafts because they took the best players available, Chicago walked away from the draft a winner because it filled its biggest needs. Gabe Carimi was a no-brainer when he fell to 29. The Bears even tried to trade up with Baltimore to pick Carimi at 26, but in classic ‘phone tag’ fashion, miscommunication led to the Bears not informing the league office that they signed off on the trade. The blunder didn’t end up costing the Bears or Ravens, who both got their guy. Carimi gives Chicago a much-needed boost in talent on the offensive line, and he’s ready to move into the starting lineup immediately.

Chicago filled another big need in the second round picking up Paea with the 53^rd pick. I had Paea going at the beginning of the second round, so he’s also a good value at this spot. With the team’s release of Tommie Harris, getting Paea was a best case scenario. He’s incredibly strong (set an NFL Combine record with 49 repetitions of 225 pounds) and will win over his teammates thanks to his excellent motor.

The final three picks do not wow me, but Chris Conte and J.T. Thomas should contribute on special teams. Conte will likely get a shot to start in training camp, and will have a good shot if Daniel Manning is not resigned. Nathan Enderle is a developmental project, but has a lot of enviable physical tools. The quarterback position is solid right now with Jay Cutler and Caleb Hanie, so Enderle won’t be rushed onto the field.

Best Pick: Carimi. Chicago needed an upgrade in both its run and pass blocking, and they got the best tackle left in Carimi. Like the Wisconsin offensive linemen that have come before him, Carimi is a mauler who projects best as a right tackle. He should be a regular contributor for the next decade.

Questionable Move: Waiting until 6^th round to pick a linebacker. Chicago currently has a hole on at OLB, where Pisa Tinoisamoa, Nick Roach, and Brian Uwoh all set to hit free agency. Clearly the Bears think they’ll be able to sign at least one of them back next year, but it would have made sense to hedge their bet.

Detroit Lions: A-

RD	PK (OVR)	Name	Position	School
1	13 (13)	Nick Fairley	DT	Auburn
2	12 (44)	Titus Young	WR	Boise St.
2	25 (57)	Mikel Leshoure	RB	Illinois
5	26 (157)	Douglas Hogue	OLB	Syracuse
7	6 (209)	Johnny Culbreath	OT	South Carolina St.

 

After years of being the laughingstock of the draft weekend, Detroit has come up with three of the best drafts in recent memory. The team is no longer forcing the issue, and picking its spots to make impact moves. After picking up Ndamukung Suh last year, defensive tackle certainly was no longer a position of need. But when Fairley fell to Detroit at 13, the team made the smart move in pairing their superstar with another potential superstar. Call it a luxury pick if you wish, but the Lions now have the scariest defensive tackle combo in the league, and their NFC North brethren are shaking in their boots.

Getting Titus Young in the second round might pay off even bigger dividends for Detroit. Young is the speedy slot receiver the team has been missing since they drafted Calvin Johnson. Young will force defenses to stop shading its coverage to Megatron’s side, and will make the league’s most physically talented player even more dangerous.

The Lions traded up to select Mikel Leshoure in the second round. The team traded up in 2010 to select Jahvid Best, a move that paid off immediately. Leshoure is a thumper, who will provide to the thunder to Best’s lightning. He also adds extra insurance in case Best continues to battle with injuries. The running back position is now set for the next five years. Hogue will challenge for a starting job in training camp, while Culbreath projects to be a developmental prospect, though he does possess good size.

Best Pick: Fairley. He adds instant talent to an already solid defensive line. The rich got even richer.

Questionable Move: Passing on need positions. The Lions biggest offseason needs were linebacker and cornerback, but only one pick (Hogue) addressed either need. With a number of their top cornerbacks set to hit free agency, the Lions need a lot of help in the secondary. If the team cannot resign Chris Houston, this could be an egregious error.

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