Fantasy Stars of 2012

Top Five Fantasy Players of 2012

Tom Brady: ‘The rich get richer’.  After throwing 39 touchdowns (17 to uber-stud/meathead Rob Gronkowski), Bill Belichick brought back offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.  McDaniels was the coordinator behind 2007’s record setting offense.  To go along with McDaniels, Brandon Lloyd enters the fray as someone who can stretch the field and provide another option to go with Wes Welker, Aaron Hernandez, and Gronkowski.  Jabar Gaffney and Donte’ Stallworth will compete with Brady favorite - Deion Branch - for the final wide receiver spots. 

New England should be fine going with a running back committee of Ridley/Vereen/Woodhead, throwing in Olympic sprinter/Florida Gator Jeff Demps to spice things up.  While some of Brady’s options – namely, Welker and Gronkowski – may see a dip in production, expect Brady to be the fantasy leader by season’s end.

Aaron Rodgers: 2011’s fantasy point’s leader, Rodgers returns to the Gold and Green healthy and with the same cast as last season.  For leagues that take away points for interceptions, Rodgers six picks to 45 touchdowns last season, was pure gravy.  Cedric Benson should be a healthy upgrade over Ryan Grant, but it’s the trio of Jordy Nelson, Greg Jennings, and Jermichael Finley that continue to terrorize defensive coordinators in their sleep.

The Packers 35 points per game led the NFL, and with a relatively easy schedule (they match up with the NFC West and AFC South), expect Rodgers’ ascension into the hearts of Cheese Heads to continue.

Drew Brees: A testament to the level of play and the way the game has changed, Brees slides in as the No.3 ranked player, but could easily be chosen first.  Often overlooked after Brady and Rodgers, as well as the turmoil that has surrounded the Saints, Brees’ 5,476 passing yards last season was an NFL record.  New Orleans remains a balanced attack, however.

The Saints ranked sixth in rush yards per game (133), behind teams like the Broncos, Panthers, and Eagles, which sported running quarterbacks.  Robert Meachem’s departure allows Brees favorite, Lance Moore, to step into a more consistent role.  The diminutive thunder bug, Darren Sproles, returns as the all around threat that accumulated a league leading 2,696 all-purpose yards last season.  Athletic freak Jimmy Graham enters just his third season.

Arian Foster: When Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson both went down last season, Houston switched identities, going from a pass happy offense to a ground and pound defensive team.  Leading the way rushing, despite missing three games, were Foster and his 1,841 combined rushing and receiving yards.  Some may point to the emergence of Ben Tate as a red-flag. 

Keep in mind that outside of Johnson (who hasn’t played in a full season since 2009) the Texans lack skilled receivers.  Schaub also hasn’t been a staple of good health, and has consistently looked average as a starting quarterback.  Entering his fourth year in the league (third as a starter), Foster is in line for an elite-level year as the premier running back.

Matthew Stafford: Stafford somehow fell under the radar in 2011 despite throwing for 41 touchdowns and more than 5,000 yards.  Detroit failed to produce much of a running attack last year, and with Jahvid Best likely on the PUP list, and oft-injured Kevin Smith penciled in as the starter, expect Stafford to air the pigskin out a lot.  Stafford’s 663 pass attempts last season are third on the all-time single season record list.  With all of those attempts coming, someone has to catch them for Detroit to succeed.

Enter “Megatron”.  Finishing first among receivers and 11^th overall in fantasy points, Calvin Johnson’s 6’5 frame provides the ultimate security blanket.  Detroit also plays inside comfy confines of a dome. 

Sleeper

Matt Ryan: The 10^th ranked fantasy player from 2011 remains under the radar this season, and it’s somewhat easy to recognize why.  The Falcons, expected to take a step forward, went 10-6.  Ryan, anticipated to compete as a top tier quarterback, produced similar numbers to the previous season. 

With Roddy White and Julio Jones poised to become one of the top receiving tandem in the league, Tony Gonzalez still as one of the top tight ends in the league, and Harry Douglas and Jacquizz Rodgers expected to take on bigger roles this season, the Falcons may have one of the leagues sneaky best offenses.  Perhaps Ryan’s performance in Atlanta’s playoff game against the Giants has him ranked as the 11^th best fantasy quarterback.  Consider “Matty Ice” to be a great value pick.