Fantasy fan mail – FOXSports.com
Updated Aug 31, 2011 2:53 PM ET
You asked, we answered. Today we debut our fantasy mailbag, a piece that’s hopefully a staple segment during the season contingent on, you know, getting enough emails to build a piece around. Enjoy:
Rich, Provo, Utah: Who can be a late-round WR steal?
Unlike quarterbacks and rushers, dependable receivers can be attained in the later rounds of fantasy drafts. For point-per-reception leagues, Danny Amendola is a no. 1 wideout that’s slipping behind third-option receivers like Hines Ward, Steve Breaston and Jordy Nelson. Amendola’s 85 receptions last season were eighth-most among receivers. Not only has Amendola impressed in training camp, but the presence of new offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels’ pass-happy offense bodes well for the Rams receiver’s fantasy prospects.
While Antonio Brown has been receiving rave reviews for his preseason performance, it’s another Steeler that deserves your attention. A third-round draft pick in 2010, Emmanuel Sanders came on strong in the second half last season, bursting onto the scene with seven receptions for 78 yards against the Jets in mid-December. Foot surgery has sidelined Sanders for most of training camp, but he’s set to play in Pittsburgh’s final preseason game. He won’t be a factor in the early going, but with the rising age of Ward, Sanders could be a fantasy factor sooner than expected.
Other late-round steals: Austin Collie (ADP: 125.9), Josh Cribbs (150.6) and Andre Roberts (undrafted).
Shawn, San Antonio: Chances that (Arian) Foster is a dud? And (what will) F. Jones do this year?
Confession: I spent an inordinate amount of time studying and scrutinizing this emailer’s address, looking for any evidence or indication that “Shawn from San Antonio” was wrestling superstar Shawn Michaels, who hails from the River City. Alas, I deduced this was not the case since A) I doubt Shawn Michaels knows how to operate a computer and B) if he did pen this message, he would sign it, “The Heartbreak Kid.”
Anyway, this email was sent before Foster tweaked his hamstring against San Francisco. Foster, Houston trainers and head coach Gary Kubiak remain confident that last season’s league-leading rusher will be ready to roll in Week 1. And for those questioning his durability, Foster played the entire 2010 campaign with a torn meniscus. Pretty sure the man can handle a slight hammy issue.
Injury aside, I’m not sure where the almost-universal contempt for Foster is deriving from. Not only did the Texan back account for 1,616 yards and 16 touchdowns on the ground, but also added 66 receptions for 604 yards in the passing game. A healthy Ben Tate may siphon a portion of Foster’s 327 carries from last season, but Houston is not employing a carry-by-committee system in their backfield. Expect another solid year from Foster.
As for Jones, he’s now the unquestioned starter in the Dallas backfield with little worry concerning Tashard Choice or DeMarco Murray burglarizing touches. The former Razorback has used this elevated platform to prove his worth, rushing for 99 yards on 15 carries and adding four catches in three games in August.
My concern with Jones: the preseason praise on the running back, as well as the rest of the Cowboy offense, has been deafening. To quote Lt. Aldo Raine, “We hear a story too good to be true, it ain’t.” Throw in the ambiguity surrounding the Dallas o-line and Jones is far from sure-thing. Jones could end the season as an elite back, but don’t drink the Kool-Aid just yet.
Mike, Flint, MI: Besides Megatron, buying any Lions for fantasy?
Love me some Brandon Pettigrew, who was third among tight ends last season with 71 receptions. There’s some worry that Tony Scheffler could cut into his output, but that’s mostly unfounded speculation. If Matthew Stafford can stay on the field, it’s realistic Pettigrew could finish as a top-five fantasy producer at his position. Considering his ADP is 91.6 (10th among tight ends), Pettigrew is a bargain.
Speaking of Stafford, still deem the Lions QB a stay-away as a fantasy starter. Not only does his medical past pose as a red flag, but Stafford hasn’t merited his fantasy worth in his abbreviated appearances in the NFL. Functional signal callers like Sam Bradford and Matt Cassel, both of whom are going behind Stafford in FOXSports.com drafts, would be safer bets for your fantasy team. Stafford is a worthwhile gamble as a backup or sleeper thanks to his upside, but avoid a scenario where you are banking on his production on a weekly basis.
In PPR leagues, Jahvid Best has the potential to creep into the second-tier of backs behind the likes of Jamaal Charles, Adrian Peterson, Foster, etc. Although his 3.3 yards per carry is disconcerting from last season, he has no discernable competition. Titus Young is a nice player but doesn’t possess a ton of fantasy value to begin the season.
In a related note, though I’m not crazy about Calvin Johnson’s “Megatron” nickname, it’s refreshing to see a departure from the “combining the first letter of the first name with the first syllable of the last name” epidemic. We still have a ways to go before generating classics like “Night Train,” “Sweetness,” and “Crazy Legs,” but it’s a step in the right direction.
Sam, outside Seattle: McCoy or Rice, no PPR?
Without a doubt, Rice. With the exodus of Willis McGahee, Baltimore lacks an adequate second-stringer (sorry, not buying a 34-year-old Ricky Williams), which should equate to an increased workload for Rice. On the other end of that spectrum is McCoy, as Philadelphia has respectable replacements in Ronnie Brown and Dion Lewis. Andy Reid has stated he wants to allot more carries to McCoy this season, yet the play of Brown and Lewis may impede this endeavor.
Sticking with the Eagles, their offensive line has been atrocious this season. If the Philly front continues its’ porous play, the ground game could come to a screeching halt. Worse, a shaky line jeopardizes the health of Michael Vick, whose game is already prone to injury. And if Vick goes down, the Vince Young Experience takes command. Gulp.
One upshot to the offensive line’s woes: Vick has been forced to quickly rid himself of the ball in the pocket, correlating to seven receptions for McCoy in Game 3 of the preseason. If this trend continues, it’s feasible for McCoy to haul in over 70 passes this season, making him a tour de force in PPR leagues.
Jessie, Columbus, Georgia: Why don’t you like Josh Freeman? He’s easily one of the best 10 quarterbacks and has good players around him on offense.
I assume Jessie is referring to the ten predictions for fantasy football piece where I contended that Freeman would have a good, but not great, fantasy season. A few emails alluded to this assertion, so perhaps I should clarify. In my vernacular, a “great” fantasy season applied to just four quarterbacks last season: Vick, Tom Brady, Phillip Rivers, Aaron Rodgers. If your league counts completions, a case can be made for Drew Brees and Peyton Manning.
Notice I didn’t list Matt Schaub, Matt Ryan, Freeman, Eli Manning or Ben Roethlisberger (although Big Ben’s output for just 12 games was impressive). All the above are very-good quarterbacks and will win their fair share of games for fantasy owners, but they don’t deserve inclusion into the upper echelon of fantasy field generals. Could Freeman eventually find himself in the top level? Certainly, but insertion in this second class isn’t a bad consolation prize.
If anything, I think this argument speaks volumes to a bigger dilemma in our society, and that’s our infatuation with hyperbole. For whatever reason, we hastily and inattentively anoint public figures as the “the greatest” without letting circumstances play themselves out. This was evident this past spring when Scottie Pippen deemed LeBron James better than Michael Jordan, despite LeBron’s absence of a title compared to his Airness’ six rings.
This sentiment applies to Freeman’s current forecast. Subtract the Buccaneers’ blasting of Seattle in Week 16 and the young gun has a modest 20 touchdowns in 2010. Let’s pump the breaks for bestowing select status on Freeman.
Ben, Iowa City, Iowa: Beastmode.
Roughly half of my inbox is filled with messages containing two words or less. Most of these concise posts are indecipherable (simply reading, “Go” or “Do”), some are brief inquiries (“MJD’s projection?) and a chosen few are funny (i.e. “Your mom”).
In Ben’s case, I’m inferring that “Beastmode” is in reference to our fantasy team’s diligent work the past few weeks. If that’s the case, word up Ben.
In the off chance he’s seeking advice on Marshawn Lynch, I recommend dodging all Seahawks as long as Tarvaris Jackson is behind center. If/when Charlie Whitehurst takes the reins, Lynch could be a sleeper pick as a no. 2 running back or a solid flex player.
Joe, Belleville, Illinois: Which player in the preseason will be successful come Week 1?
The word’s out on Julio Jones, but Eric Decker is another greenhorn who’s looked good this preseason. Although he had a quiet rookie season thanks to a foot injury, Decker has a chance to dethrone Eddie Royal for the starting spot across from Brandon Lloyd. Colt McCoy will be a valuable backup or even starter in deeper/two-QB formats, although the loss of stalwart guard Eric Steinbach is troubling. Count me on the bandwagon for Lance Kendricks. And although I hate – repeat, hate – to be enthusiastic over a Mike Shanahan running back, Tim Hightower looks like a possible 1,000-yard back.
While these players all have a high ceiling for 2011, none deserve a starting spot in your lineup come Week 1, maybe save for Kendricks. Wait to see their implementation in their respective teams’ lineups before inserting them into yours.
Have a question you want featured in the next mailbag? Send your inquiries to the email link near the top of the article.