Realizing Potential
In the ever evolving world of Fantasy Football, responsible owners must constantly look towards the future. In this edition of our Featured Pros series, the future is now. We asked several of our pros to name some perennial “little brother” RBs and WRs who they expect to take center stage in 2012. See who they believe will lose their second fiddles:
Featured Pros:
Mike Tagliere – Tags Fantasy Football
Ken Zalis – Fans Fantasy Football
Q1- Which RB who has traditionally been a second or third option for his team will emerge as a top producer in 2012?
The easy answer(s) to this question would be Minnesota’s Toby Gerhart and Pittsburgh’s Isaac Redman, both talented, bruising runners that have sat behind legit NFL starters in the past. However, I feel that taking over for an injured predecessor is a bit of a cop out, not to mention I’m a risk taker, which is why I’m giving some love to Cincinnati’s Bernard Scott. Scott plays like a scat back, but has the ability to come in and make big plays in the run game with his speed to turn the corner and ability to catch the ball on third downs. The issue for fantasy football owners is that he will lose goal line carries to BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Brian Leonard. With a good training camp, he could force no worse than a 50/50 split of carries with the incumbent Green-Ellis who struggled to produce outside of the goal line in New England during the 2011 season. Look for Scott to help take the pressure off of Andy Dalton with draws, screens and helping in pass protection, ensuring him a solid amount of touches in Jay Gruden’s Bengal offense.
C.J. Spiller entered the 2011 NFL season as the Bills’ No. 2 running back, however, when Freddy Jackson (leg) went down in Week 11, Spiller took over as the full-time starter and produced elite-like running back numbers in Weeks 13-17. In the last three weeks of the season, Spiller scored 4 total touchdowns and averaged 135 total yards per game. Most everyone is expecting Jackson to start in Week 1 of the 2012 NFL season, and there is a great chance he does enter this season as the team’s top running back option. That said, I think Spiller is the guy to own of the two rushers, and I think Spiller will end up being one of the biggest steals of all 2012 fantasy football drafts, as he is going in the 7th- and 8th-rounds. If Spiller doesn’t perform like I expect, well, he still likely earns you that 7th- to 8th-round value, so there is no risk… however, if he lands and explodes like expected, that right there is a recipe for winning a league!
Mike Tagliere – Tags Fantasy Football
As for a player that has been a second or third option, my obvious choice this year would be Ryan Mathews who lost out on a lot of yardage and TD’s to Mike Tolbert although Mathews is the FAR superior talent. Could finish as a top 2 RB this year. My non obvious choice would be for Stevan Ridley. He was playing in a merry go round last year with BJGE, Woodhead, Vereen, etc. With the Law Firm gone, somebody has to fill those 10-12 rushing TDs and Ridley is capable and can rack up more yardage than him, too. 1000 yards and 12 TDs is reachable if he takes on that role.
Ken Zalis – Fans Fantasy Football
I think at RB you have to start with Jacquizz Rodgers in Atlanta. Michael Turner has slowed down each of the last 2 years and although Rodgers will not be a FT starter unless Turner gets hurt. I think 10 touches a game a few catches per game are realistic, with a greater upside. at 5’6″ and 200 pounds he is a bowling ball with feet and reminds me of MJD if given the opportunity. Given the opportunity Rodgers could be a 40 – 50 catch guy at the RB position. I am taking him as my RB 4 with a high upside in 2012. Only in his second year but he will be an after-thought for many fantasy owners, don’t be one of them.
Q2- Which WR who has traditionally been a second or third option for his team will emerge as a top producer in 2012?
It’s terribly hard to project who will produce in fantasy for any pass catcher for the New Orleans Saints, but with Robert Meachem out of the picture, taking over in San Diego, I see Devery Henderson getting back to 2008-2009 form. Henderson is a speedy big play threat that has the ability to hit on a 70 yard touchdown catch at any time. Drew Brees sees Jimmy Graham, Marques Colston and Darren Sproles often, but without Meachem, you have to expect both Lance Moore and Henderson to see an increase in targets, with Henderson being my choice to get back around 800+ yards and having a career high in touchdowns if utilized properly. From 2006-2008, Henderson averaged over 20 yards per catch, and while he saw no more than 32 receptions each of those seasons, he still has the play making ability at 30 years old to challenge as a top receiver for the Saints.
Dez Bryant has been in the news as of late, and that threw a wrench in the growing belief in the receiver as he has been preparing to enter his third NFL season. A wide receiver’s third season is typically his breakout season, however, due to Bryant’s recent off-the-field issues, many people have jumped the gun and already labeled the youngster a bust… well, he is about to unleash top 2-5 fantasy wide receiver numbers in 2012! In recent mock drafts, Dez is in fact getting drafted ahead of Miles Austin, so you won’t exactly steal him away from other owners in upcoming 2012 fantasy football drafts… however, grips of fantasy owners all around are still predicting a letdown campaign in 2012, and this growing group of fantasy owners are forcing Bryant’s ADP down into that 4.02-4.09 range, which is amazing value considering he can finish like a top 10-15 overall fantasy scorer! Take full advantage of his downward-evolving ADP, keep tabs on that ADP so that you can draft against it, and get ready for the 2012 Dez Bryant show!
Mike Tagliere – Tags Fantasy Football
When it comes to WRs that are looked at as second options, Eric Decker is the first that comes to mind. Demaryius Thomas is being drafted as a WR2, with Decker falling into the 24-28 range. I actually believe that Decker will be the more consistent option in fantasy. Another two off the radar as potential top 12 WRs are Robert Meachem and Pierre Garcon. I think that VJax was overpaid as a big deep threat, and if Meachem can stay healthy, he can finish as a very strong WR2 on your fantasy team. I also want to get Pierre Garcon as a stash player or even as my WR3. We saw him outplay Reggie Wayne last year with Painter as the QB, and if RG3 is as good as expected, Garcon could be in for a huge year as the X receiver in Shanahan’s system.
Ken Zalis – Fans Fantasy Football
At WR I am going with another 2nd year guy I think gets a huge opportunity in 2012. Randall Cobb of the Green Bay Packers. First off he gets to play in a high powered passing offense with arguably the best QB in the NFL right now. His 19 yards a catch in 2011 speaks to his big play ability and his 25 catches as a rookie with so many other quality receivers in Green Bay speaks to what the coaching staff thought of him last year. I expect those receptions to at least double in 2012 and for Cobb to win the 3rd WR role this year. He gives you a bonus in the return game as well.
Special thanks to this edition’s content providers and be sure not to overlook these rising stars (or re-rising the case of Henderson) in your own draft
