Last year, we saw Peyton Manning, Jamaal Charles and Andre Johnson come back from serious injury in 2011 and return as elite Fantasy options. The same goes for Reggie Wayne rebounding from a miserable season thanks to the addition of Andrew Luck.
You may be down on some of these guys listed here after they burned you last season. But don't be upset when you pass on them on Draft Day and they return to a high level this year.
Quarterback
Matthew Stafford, Lions
Stafford has Top 5 potential, and he definitely should return this season as a Top 10 Fantasy quarterback. If healthy, there's no way he'll be held to just 20 passing touchdowns like he was in 2012. He has the best receiver in the NFL with Calvin Johnson, who was stopped on the 1-yard line six times last season. Give Stafford those six touchdowns (36 Fantasy points) and he goes from the No. 11 quarterback to No. 8, which is a better assessment of his talent. He should also thrive with the addition of running back Reggie Bush, and the Lions should still rank near the top of passing attempts this season, which helps Stafford accumulate production based on sheer volume alone.
Position rank in 2012: No. 11 quarterback
Expected ADP for this season: 44-54 overall
Eli Manning, Giants
Manning has the chance for a rebound season based on last year being a surprise that he struggled and getting a healthy Hakeem Nicks back. To put in perspective how bad Manning was in 2012 he needed 38 Fantasy points in a meaningless Week 17 game against the Eagles to save his production. Without that game, Manning would have been the No. 22 Fantasy quarterback. He was brutal for most of the year (he had four games with five Fantasy points or less), but we expect him to perform at a higher level. Prior to last year, Manning had consecutive seasons of at least 4,000 passing yards and 30 total touchdowns. It won't take him much to get back to that type of production, and he actually presents great value on Draft Day.
Position rank in 2012: No. 14 quarterback
Expected ADP for this season: 100-108
Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers
It might seem difficult to trust Roethlisberger this season. He lost Mike Wallace as a free agent to the Dolphins and could be without Heath Miller (knee) in the early part of the year. Roethlisberger also has played just one full season in his nine-year career. But Roethlisberger still managed eight games in 13 outings last season with at least 19 Fantasy points, and we're excited for his receiving corps even without Wallace because of the upside for Antonio Brown, Emmanuel Sanders and rookie Markus Wheaton. The Steelers also have to prove they can run the ball with rookie Le'Veon Bell, and Roethlisberger will still be called upon to make plays. He's a high-end backup to target in all leagues.
Position rank in 2012: No. 16 quarterback
Expected ADP for this season: 109-115 overall
Jay Cutler, Bears
This could be the best year of Cutler's career. He has an offensive-minded coach dedicated to the passing game in Marc Trestman, he has an upgraded offensive line and he's surrounded by talent with Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery, Martellus Bennett and Matt Forte. We know Cutler is going to struggle with turnovers and inconsistent play, but the stage is set for a big season based on what the Bears did this offseason to improve his supporting cast. You're not going to draft Cutler as a starting quarterback in any standard leagues, but he should be considered a high-end backup option worth a late-round pick in all formats.
Position rank in 2012: No. 23 quarterback
Expected ADP for this season: 122-131 overall
Michael Vick, Eagles
First, Vick has to win the starting job in a battle with Nick Foles (and possibly rookie Matt Barkley), but we expect Vick under center for Week 1. He then has to prove that he can grasp Chip Kelly's offense and stay healthy, the latter of which has been a huge problem. If he starts 16 games we can still see him posting quality stats, but that's no guarantee since he hasn't finished a full season since 2006. Vick still has plenty of talent in what should be an up-tempo system, and he has quality weapons around him in Jeremy Maclin, DeSean Jackson and LeSean McCoy. Vick is just a No. 2 Fantasy quarterback this year, but he's someone you can target with a late-round pick.
Position rank in 2012: No. 27 quarterback
Expected ADP for this season: 110-117 overall
No comments:
Post a Comment