Fantasy football preview 2011
BY Staff Reports
Sunday, August 28, 2011
8/28/11 at 5:28 AM
The lockout is over and preseason football is in full swing, which means it's time for the annual Fantasy World fantasy football preview.
Tulsa World fantasy football gurus Matt Doyle, Jason Collington and James Royal offer insight into which players you should draft at each position, which players will be sleepers and busts, and which players with Oklahoma ties are worth picking up.
But it doesn't end here. Check out Fantasy World, the Tulsa World's fantasy football blog, all season long at tulsaworld.com/fantasyworld We'll be offering advice on winning strategies, which players to pick up, who to avoid, which injuries to worry about, who to start, who to bench and more.
Watch tulsaworld.com/fantasyworld through the rest of the preseason, too, for updated analysis as your draft approaches. We'll be your source for fantasy football advice, from before the draft to the day your league crowns a champion.
Quarterbacks
It's the most important position on the field in real football. But with variation in scoring rules from league to league, quarterback is not always viewed as the most important position in fantasy football.
Still, just like the real game played every weekend, a good quarterback can take you a long way in your fantasy league.
While some fantasy experts say it's heresy to draft a quarterback early in the first round, the truth is that four signal-callers are worth grabbing before the middle of the second round.
Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees should fill the air with touchdowns and big-yardage days, while Michael Vick will try to duplicate his freewheeling ways in the air and on the ground again this season. Tom Brady is still Tom Brady, which means plenty of TDs and few INTs.
After that, there is a dropoff. Peyton Manning's neck injury and uncertain status for the start of the season is concerning. Matt Schaub, Philip Rivers, Matt Ryan and Tony Romo have the ability to crack the upper echelon of fantasy quarterbacks, but each are plagued with the occasional inconsistent streak that can cripple your fantasy team.
- Matt Doyle, World Sports Writer
The top 20
1. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay
2. Drew Brees, New Orleans
3. Michael Vick, Philadelphia
4. Tom Brady, New England
5. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis
6. Matt Schaub, Houston
7. Philip Rivers, San Diego
8. Matt Ryan, Atlanta
9. Tony Romo, Dallas
10. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh
11. Josh Freeman, Tampa Bay
12. Eli Manning, New York Giants
13. Joe Flacco, Baltimore
14. Sam Bradford, St. Louis
15. Kevin Kolb, Arizona
16. Jay Cutler, Chicago
17. Mark Sanchez, New York Jets
18. Matt Cassel, Kansas City
19. Matt Stafford, Detroit
20. Colt McCoy, Cleveland
Running backs
There are never enough good running backs for fantasy football leagues, a fact that's even more true in these days of the backfield by committee. It's arguably the most important position in fantasy football.
Adrian Peterson and Arian Foster are at the top of the list, and you can't go wrong with either guy. Peterson gets the edge because he's had a longer run of success, but Foster helped a lot of fantasy owners win titles last season.
Right now, Chris Johnson is the biggest risk in fantasy football. He's sliding down draft charts because it looks like his holdout will last into the regular season. Otherwise, he'd be No. 3 in these rankings. Drafting him could pay off in the long run, but you'll need to be prepared to go several weeks without him. If you take Johnson, be sure to snag another couple of quality backs before they're all off the board.
- James Royal, World Staff Writer
The top 20
1. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota
2. Arian Foster, Houston
3. Jamaal Charles, Kansas City
4. Ray Rice, Baltimore
5. Chris Johnson, Tennessee
6. Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville
7. Rashard Mendenhall, Pittsburgh
8. Michael Turner, Atlanta
9. LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia
10. Darren McFadden, Oakland
11. Shonn Greene, New York Jets
12. Matt Forte, Chicago
13. Frank Gore, San Francisco
14. Peyton Hillis, Cleveland
15. Felix Jones, Dallas
16. Steven Jackson, St. Louis
17. Ryan Grant, Green Bay
18. Ahmad Bradshaw, New York Giants
19. LeGarrette Blount, Tampa Bay
20. DeAngelo Williams, Carolina
Wide receivers
This is where the scarcity is this season. There are 12 legit No. 1 wide receivers and then a bunch of guys who have questions in terms of QBs and targets.
The first nine have advantages there, and Calvin Johnson proved he can produce no matter who is throwing the ball. Laugh about Santana Moss at 10, but he is someone who gets a lot of targets, and his coach's offenses have always gone through one receiver.
Jeremy Maclin would be a lot higher on this list if he didn't have that health scare, causing him to miss a ton of the preseason. Big fan of him. Sorry, but every time I see Dez Bryant, I think overrated.
With Peyton Manning needing to knock off some rust for the first half, Reggie Wayne drops. But don't forget him. He's a great player, but he's a wheel that will fall off if Manning isn't Manning.
- Jason Collington, World Web Editor
The top 20
1. Andre Johnson, Houston
2. Roddy White, Atlanta
3. Hakeem Nicks, N.Y. Giants
4. Calvin Johnson, Detroit
5. Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona
6. Vincent Jackson, San Diego
7. Miles Austin, Dallas
8. Greg Jennings, Green Bay
9. Mike Wallace, Pittsburgh
10. Santana Moss, Washington
11. Percy Harvin, Minnesota
12. Dwayne Bowe, Kansas CIty
13. DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia
14. Brandon Lloyd, Denver
15. Mike Williams, Tampa Bay
16. Jeremy Maclin, Philadelphia
17. Santonio Holmes, N.Y. Jets
18. Marques Colston, New Orleans
19. Dez Bryant, Dallas
20. Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis
Tight ends
To some, it's just one roster spot on the lineup you have to fill each week.
If you cannot draft one of the top four tight ends listed below, you'll probably be better served rotating guys through that position all season and hope that third or fourth running back or receiver can produce a big day for your team.
Many NFL teams do not utilize the tight end position in the passing game enough. Those teams that do receive quality production. However, it's buyer beware with the top four guys.
Antonio Gates is perennially injured. Jermichael Finley (knee) and Dallas Clark (wrist) are returning from season-ending injuries a year ago. Jason Witten has avoided the injury bug, but he has Tony Romo as his QB.
- Matt Doyle
The top 10
1. Antonio Gates, San Diego
2. Jermichael Finley, Green Bay
3. Dallas Clark, Indianapolis
4. Jason Witten, Dallas
5. Vernon Davis, San Francisco
6. Owen Daniels, Houston
7. Marcedes Lewis, Jacksonville
8. Kellen Winslow, Tampa Bay
9. Brandon Pettigrew, Detroit
10. Greg Olsen, Carolina
Kickers
Repeat after me: Do not, under any circumstance, select a kicker until the last three rounds of your draft.
Do not be tempted by "that guy" (you know who they are, the one in every league who feels they are the smartest guy in the room) who invests a middle-round pick on a kicker.
Do not feel compelled to do the same. That extra running back or receiver you pick in that round is likely to accumulate the same number of points (or more) each week as "that guy's" kicker.
New England's Stephen Gostkowski missed the second half of last season with a torn quadriceps, but he should put up big numbers with the potent Patriots attack. San Diego's Nate Kaeding also missed time late last season with injuries.
Once Gostkowski and Kaeding are off the draft board, there is not much difference in the next 10-12 kickers. Look for guys who are accurate and are on teams likely to put plenty of points on the board. Keep this name in mind: Philadelphia's Alex Henery. The rookie from Nebraska has a booming leg and gives the Philly dream team another weapon at its disposal.
- Matt Doyle
The top 10
1. Stephen Gostkowski, New England
2. Nate Kaeding, San Diego
3. Josh Brown, St. Louis
4. Mason Crosby, Green Bay
5. Neil Rackers, Houston
6. Garrett Hartley, New Orleans
7. Alex Henery, Philadelphia
8. Sebastian Janikowski, Oakland
9. Adam Vinatieri, Indianapolis
10. Matt Bryant, Atlanta
Defenses
Like kickers, don't draft a defense before the last three rounds. It's not worth it. Defenses in most leagues just don't have a chance to put up very many points.
That said, if you feel compelled to draft a defense earlier than that, the best options are Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Green Bay and the New York Jets. If you have to take a defense early, go with one of those four.
- James Royal
The top 10
1. Pittsburgh
2. Green Bay
3. New York Jets
4. Philadelphia
5. Baltimore
6. Chicago
7. New Orleans
8. New England
9. New York Giants
10. San Diego
Sleepers
Players who'll last too long in drafts:
Jordy Nelson, Green Bay WR
Daniel Thomas, Miami RB
- Matt Doyle
Sam Bradford, St. Louis QB
Colt McCoy, Cleveland QB
- James Royal
Tim Hightower, Washington RB
Greg Little, Cleveland WR
- Jason Collington
Busts
Players who won't come through for you as expected:
Peyton Hillis, Cleveland RB
Eli Manning, Giants QB
- Matt Doyle
Michael Vick, Philadelphia QB
Brandon Lloyd, Denver WR
- James Royal
Mark Ingram, New Orleans RB
Kevin Kolb, Arizona QB
- Jason Collington
Original Print Headline: Fantasy football preview 2011
Oklahomans with fantasy value
Sorry, but this is a pretty good offense. Put all the Oklahomans together on a list, and you have every major position covered plus a good lineup if someone calls "trips right."
Peterson is as good as they get at running back, but Jones could be within orbit if he can play a whole season (I think he will). You have a slot guy, a sly one and a deep threat with Wes Welker, Bryant and Robert Meachem for Bradford to throw to. A two tight-end set with Brandon Pettigrew and Jeremy Shockey is better than most NFL teams have.
Kendall Hunter is waiting his turn in San Francisco and doing all he can to impress during the preseason. Brown is someone who cannot only take the pressure but also can kick it from anywhere.
- Jason Collington
The top 10
1. Adrian Peterson, Vikings RB
2. Sam Bradford, Rams QB
3. Felix Jones, Cowboys RB
4. Wes Welker, Patriots WR
5. Dez Bryant, Cowboys WR
6. Brandon Pettigrew, Lions TE
7. Kendall Hunter, 49ers RB
8. Robert Meachem, Saints WR
9. Jeremy Shockey, Panthers TE
10. Josh Brown, Rams K
Associated Images:
Former OU standout Adrian Peterson is one of the top players in most fantasy drafts. JIM MONE/AP Photo
Rodgers
Pittsburgh safety Troy Polamalu tries to tackle Atlanta receiver Julio Jones during Saturday's game. Polamalu is one of the leaders on Pittsburgh's defense, a top choice in this year's fantasy draft. KEITH SRAKOCIC/ Associated Press
San Diego's Antonio Gates is a popular top choice at tight end in fantasy drafts each season. DENIS POROY/Associated Press
Rams quarterback Sam Bradford could have some good fantasy value. PAUL CONNORS/Associated Press file
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