Can Larry Fitzgerald rebound after a disappointing 2014 season?
Some players played with high expectations last season and failed to deliver a decent fantasy haul. Others entered with the same level of expectations but barely saw the field due to one reason or another, thus letting their value go by the wayside.
But many of those men who weren’t up to scratch in 2014 will have the chance to come back stronger this year. Here is a list of the top-five bounce-back candidates for 2015.
5) Larry Fitzgerald – WR – Arizona Cardinals (15 games, 784 receiving yards, 2 TD in 2014)
Larry Fitzgerald has been one of the best wide receivers over the last 11 years. But 2014 was a down year for him, featuring his lowest number of receptions, targets and receiving yards since his rookie season.
Yes, you could blame a decline in his game at the age of 31. He’s not quite as sharp and explosive as he was five years ago. However, he is still a quality receiver who can get open and provide a big red zone target that many quarterbacks would love to have. The real reason for his lackluster 15 games was not so much Fitzgerald as it was a dire quarterback situation. Arizona’s quarterback problems not only affected the wide receiver’s game, but was one of the main reasons that Arizona was eliminated from the playoffs.
First, starting QB Carson Palmer went down twice with an injury and missed several games. Palmer was replaced by Drew Stanton, but in December Stanton also suffered a season-ending injury. Then, in came third-string signal caller Ryan Lindley. Fitzgerald’s two best fantasy performances – the games with his only touchdowns – both occurred with Palmer under center. If the former No. 1 overall pick can remain healthy throughout the entire 2015 season, then Fitzgerald’s production should increase, even at an advanced age.
4) Jimmy Graham – TE – Seattle Seahawks (15 games, 889 receiving yards, 10 TD)
As a consensus first- or second-round pick, many Jimmy Graham drafters had felt confident about their tight end position heading into September, with him coming off a campaign where he finished with 1,215 yards and averaged a touchdown per game. Not only did he project as the best TE, but Graham was also seen as one of fantasy’s best pass catchers.
But what should have been a worry-free selection quickly became a source of frustration for owners. Graham far too infrequently showed flashes of his old fantasy form. The nail in the coffin was in Week 13 when the Saints scored 35 points to beat Pittsburgh without targeting Graham. To put that into perspective, it was only the second time he wasn’t targeted since the first half of his rookie year. The other time was in 2013 against the Patriots, but he did miss some snaps after limping off the field at one point.
The former basketball player headed west in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks this offseason and a different setting could help give him a new lease on his playing career. Seattle’s dynamic offense has long been crying out for a legitimate tight end, and quarterback Russell Wilson has had one of the league’s highest passer ratings over the past three years. Graham should be entering a fantasy-friendly situation.
3) Calvin Johnson – WR – Detroit Lions (13 games, 1,077 receiving yards, 8 TD)
It may be surprising to see Calvin Johnson on this list. But when he is considered one of the league’s top receivers, then there’s plenty of room for him to improve since he didn’t even perform like the best receiver on his team last year. That distinction went to Golden Tate who had more yards, receptions and targets than his superstar teammate.
Perhaps the addition of the ex-Seahawk last offseason was the reason why Johnson didn’t fare so well in 2014, or maybe it was due to a slight decline in play from Matthew Stafford. Regardless, defenses now will be focusing more on Tate, which could open things up for Megatron and help him accumulate top-notch point totals.
2) Nick Foles – QB – St Louis Rams (8 games, 2,163 passing yards, 13 TD, 10 INT)
Nick Foles is one of the most intriguing quarterbacks in the NFL at the moment after being dealt by the Philadelphia Eagles this offseason. Foles was exceptional in 2013 but failed to repeat those numbers before suffering a season-ending clavicle injury last year. Despite a couple of good games, Foles finished with as many touchdowns as turnovers (13), which prevented him from being anything but a disappointment.
But now that he’s a Ram, Foles will have the chance to claw back to his form from 18 months ago. He’ll be playing under the guidance of former quarterbacks coach Frank Cignetti, who should provide an offensive game plan catered to the needs of their new signal caller. Foles will also have a strong running game to take the pressure off him with Todd Gurley entering the fold in St Louis. The opportunity for vast improvement is there and it is up to Foles to take it.
1) Adrian Peterson – RB – Minnesota Vikings (1 game, 75 rushing yards, 0 TD)
And finally, the top bounce-back candidate on our list is none other than Minnesota’s star running back Adrian Peterson. It really is a simple selection, and he should be the front-runner, pun intended, for the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year award due to the low floor that his 2014 suspension gave him. Peterson should easily surpass his 2014 total of 75 rushing yards, which netted his fantasy owners just seven points last season.
He will also be part of an unpredictable offense that will be able to pass the ball, with second-year starter Teddy Bridgewater, almost as well as they can run it. As a result, Peterson could find himself with extra running lanes, and that should have fantasy players salivating at the mere thought of this prospect.
Tom Woods is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Tom, check out his archive and follow him @RealTomWoods.
