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2012 Fantasy Football: Top 10 Bounce Back Candidates

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Chris Johnson Ten | RB

Last season was a nightmare for Chris Johnson as his contract dispute hampered him for much of the beginning of the season and as the season progressed became less of a focal point of the offense. CJ2K did not show the burst and 4.3 speed that has made him a dynamic and elusive back that is capable of hitting the homerun on any play. With the succession to the QB throne soon to be Jake Locker’s, it’s fully expected that a strong running game and balanced attack will be present to aid the young QB this season at some point. CJ is primed for a bounce back season as he takes aim to prove last season was an aberration and bring the Titans back into viable contention in the AFC South.

Michael Vick Phi | QB

Michael Vick is the most dynamic and versatile player in fantasy football. His mobility in the pocket makes him a potential highlight reel to put up RB type numbers but also a huge fantasy risk. Andy Reid has a team in the Eagles that are capable of making a legitimate playoff run. Vick’s health is a certain priority so expect Vick to think pass first to keep his body healthy for the long season ahead. With the continued emergence of LeSean McCoy as an elite RB and with DeSean Jackson back in the fold Vick has many weapons to spread the ball around in an Eagles offense that seems likely to breakout in a big way this season.

Miles Austin Dal | WR

The Cowboys soft spoken and often overlooked wide out had a very mediocre and injury plagued campaign last year. Along with Jason Witten he is one of Tony Romo’s favorite targets and often is able to beat CBs deep at least twice a game for big time plays. With added pressure of another missed opportunity at the post-season in Big D it seems like if the Cowboys plan to open up the offense under Coach Garrett. Expect Miles Austin will receive less double coverage with the emergence of Dez Bryant opposite him as well.

DeSean Jackson Phi | WR

Getting paid never felt so good for this tumultuous Eagles wide receiver. In a heated and largely publicized contract dispute for much of last season, DeSean drew criticism for being disinterested and lost in an Eagles offense that failed to live up to high expectations. Jackson has been a workout warrior since re-signing with Philly and building back chemistry with Michael Vick. As Philly’s most dangerous offensive weapon at the WR position, there is no doubt that DeSean will be more productive this season. It is possible that he may lose red zone looks to LeSean McCoy, but fully expect a bounce back effort nonetheless as he looks to revitalize the Eagles offense and hook up with Vick often as they prepare to reach lofty preseason goals.

Randy Moss SF | WR

What a difference a year makes. Last season Randy Moss was enjoying an early retirement from football after burning out towards the end of the trading carousel in 2010 that found him an invisible part of the Patriots, Vikings and Titans offense. To think that Randy Moss would be interested in anything other than a run at a championship is foolishness. Teamed up with Alex Smith, who showed dramatic improvement last season, and alongside a premier Tight End in Vernon Davis, matched with a staunch run-attack in a weak division, Moss will have plenty of opportunities for fantasy success. The key will be to keep Moss healthy and for Smith to keep attacking downfield. The offense tends to be more ball controlled but with a burner like Moss it is tough to not see him take flight in San Fran this season.

LeGarrett Blount TB | RB

This workhorse was not as big a disappointment as some might have expected given his team was a complete disaster on the field in 2011. Blount returns from a season in which he completely disappeared in some weeks when Tampa Bay fell behind early and had to play catch up. The real bounce back potential lies in his ability to hang on to the football as at times he has had a history of fumbling. If he is able to remedy that then he should be set up for more goal line carries. Having a playmaker like Vincent Jackson should take more defenses off the line of scrimmage and open up more holes for him. This season appears to be promising if Tampa Bay can improve its offense efficiency and Josh Freeman takes strides in returning to his 2010 form.

Jamaal Charles KC | RB

Charles is an absolute game breaker. That is exactly what Jamaal Charles adds to the Kansas City Chiefs, his ability to break a game open with his electrifying speed and vision. Charles suffered an injury last season, much to the chagrin of fantasy owners. Fully expect that he will come back stronger from that injury. As the main tailback in a ball controlled offense with rather weak competition within the division, he should be primed to return to the production he is capable of in 2012.

Brandon Lloyd NE | WR

Brandon Lloyd was an absolute fantasy stud with Denver Broncos when Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels worked with him. Now reunited with the New England Patriots, expect that return to relevance with Tom Brady at the helm in New England as the #2 primary target to Wes Welker in an explosive offense. Brandon Lloyd was somewhat hampered by a beat up Rams team and injured QB Sam Bradford last season. Lloyd is capable of putting up huge numbers on any night and with Tom Brady as QB it only takes a tiny bit of separation for Lloyd to get the necessary targets and have a bounce back type season.

Brandon Marshall Chi | WR

Sometimes a change of surroundings is all it takes. Brandon Marshall will be re-united with Jay Cutler from his days in Denver as Chicago takes aim at the NFC North. The division is rather weak defensively and with Cutler’s gun-slinging mentality and Marshall’s speed and height should set up nicely for a break season for him in the windy city. Marshall is a fantasy owner’s dream in the red zone and when motivated can be very productive in the passing game. Expect results similar to those as he had in Denver with considerable more targets and TDs in 2012.

Chad Ochocinco Mia | WR

Rounding out the list is a wide receiver that is better known for his celebrations and boisterous attitude than his performance of late. Chad Ochocinco has dropped the act and appears from early indications in training camp to be back to his form of a few years ago with the Bengals. Miami does not have an established quarterback but Chad can be a reliable safety valve and target for an unproven QB and is destined to improve on his abysmal campaign in New England season. Motivation to return to elite status among WRs is one of the reasons Chad Ochocinco should be considered on the list of 2012 bounce back candidates this season.

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2012 Fantasy Football: NFL Deep Sleepers

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It’s hard to win a fantasy league without making a few great late picks during the draft. Every year there are several players that get picked near the end of the draft and end up having huge fantasy value. Our experts give you a list of deep sleepers that you you may want to take a gamble on in the late rounds of your 2012 fantasy football draft.

Tim Tebow NYJ | QB

Tebow is the ultimate gamble this year, but I think it could pay off. Each website that runs fantasy football is a little different when it comes to position eligibility, but the potential for Tebow to get running back eligibility is very real for 2012. If that is the case and he ends up taking over the starting quarterback job at some point he could be a fantasy stud. There are a lot of question marks here, but he is going to go so late in most drafts I still consider him a low risk high reward player.

Austin Collie IND | WR

Collie didn’t have that great of a year last year, but with the arrival of Andrew Luck things are certainly looking up for the Colts offense. With Dallas Clark and Garcon both off the team, there should be more targets for Collie. The Colts will more than likely try to keep a lot of the routes fairly short for their rookie quarterback, and this should work perfectly for Collie who is more of a possession type receiver. I think he could be a great guy to target in PPR leagues, and I think he could even have value in standard leagues as well.

Alshon Jeffery CHI | WR

The Bears have had a lot of problems trying to find wide receivers that they can count on, that’s why they went out and got Brandon Marshall and drafted Jeffery in the second round. Jeffery might not start the year as the #2 guy for the Bears, but they drafted him for a reason and he will spend plenty of time on the field. We expect Marshall to get a lot of attention from the opposing defenses, so this should open things up for the rest of the Bears receivers.

Jermaine Gresham CIN | TE

The Bengals former first round pick is entering his third year in the league, and we are expecting big things. The Bengals offense was pretty solid last year, and as this young group gains experience they should only continue to get better. Gresham has breakout year written all over him, and I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he ends up being a top 5 tight end this year.

Jared Cook TEN | TE

Cook is a talented tight end, and if he can carry how he finished last year into 2012 he could be in line for a monster season. The tight end position is fairly deep this year, but if you miss out on the top guys I like the idea of waiting and trying to get Cook in the later rounds. The Titans have a lot of weapons on offense that are going to require the attention of opposing defenses, and that should make it pretty easy for Cook to get open.

Greg Little CLE | WR

All things considered for Little last year, he had an amazing rookie year. He played on one of the worst offenses in the league, and he was still able to grab 61 balls for over 700 yards. We expect the Browns to struggle again on the offensive side of the ball in 2012, but Little could be one of their bright spots. Little is a very talented young receiver that is worth a look in the later rounds, and we see no reason why he can’t improve on his numbers from a year ago.

Brandon LaFell CAR | WR

The Panthers have been searching for a solid number two receiver for years, and I think they have finally found him. LaFell is entering his 3rd year in the league, and we see no reason why his numbers will not continue to be on the rise. Even if Steve Smith stays healthy for the entire year I think LaFell could have a lot of big games, and potentially even flirt with over 1,000 receiving yards.

Titus Young DET | WR

The Lions offense was able to stay healthy for the most part last year, and they impressed a lot of people with how many points they were able to put on the board. Young is going to be a big part of that offense this year, and with Megatron getting so much attention Young should have no problem getting open. Burleson is still with the Lions, but we think Young should have no problem surpassing him this year as the second best receiver on that team.

Shane Vereen NE | RB

A lot of people forget that Vereen was drafted in front of Ridley in last years draft, and in our opinion has a bigger upside. It’s really hard to trust any of the New England running backs, but Vereen is going to go so late in drafts it makes him a low risk gamble. With Green-Ellis out of town this is going to open the door for guys like Vereen to get more carries, but only time will tell how the carries will be disrupted in New England.

Isaiah Pead STL | RB

Pead put up huge numbers in his last year with Cincinnati, and with an aging overworked Steven Jackson in front of him he could get a chance to show us what he can do. The Rams drafted Pead to eventually take over for Jackson, so they have faith in this young man to be able to handle the load. Even though he needs an injury from Jackson to have a lot of value, I still think he is well worth a roll of the dice as a late round gamble.

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2012 Fantasy Football Draft: Top 10 Fantasy Quarterbacks (QB)

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After finishing last season with 45 passing TDs and only six interceptions, it should not be a surprise to see Aaron Rodgers as our top-ranked fantasy quarterback heading into the 2012 season. Rounding out our top three are a couple more familiar names with Tom Brady and Drew Brees. There is a slight drop after those three, but all players on this list are solid QB1 options.

1. Aaron Rodgers GB | QB

Rodgers continues to impress every year, and we still have him as our clear cut number one quarterback. His TD to INT ratio was off the charts, and one thing that people tend to forget is how much he helps your fantasy team with his legs. He was 4th among quarterbacks in rushing yards, and he had 3 rushing TDs. Rodgers is one of those quarterbacks that just makes the game look easy, and we expect another monster year from him again in 2012.

2. Tom Brady NE | QB

In previous years Brady has proven that he can be an amazing quarterback with limited weapons around him, now he has numerous weapons which makes him even scarier. He still has the two amazing TEs and Welker, and the Pats added Brandon Lloyd into the mix who could be in line for a decent season. The Patriots during the Brady era have never had a hard time putting points on the board, and I don’t expect it to be a problem for them this year either.

3. Drew Brees NO | QB

Brees has an historic year in 2011 throwing for almost 5,500 yards, but his contract issues and losing his head coach was just enough for use to move him to our 3rd quarterback this year. The Brees/Graham chemistry was amazing last year, and at times these two looked absolutely unstoppable. Pay close attention to the contract talks this preseason, but as long as he gets signed he should have no issues being a top fantasy quarterback.

4. Cam Newton CAR | QB

All I have to say about the rookie year that Newton had is “WOW”. Not only did he have one of the best rookie seasons of all time, he also rewrote the book on how we think of rookie quarterbacks in fantasy. Newton impressed with his arm, but the real story was what he did with his legs. He rushed for over 700 yards and found the endzone 14 times as a runner. I expect him to throw a decent amount of INTs and show his inexperience, but because of what he can do with his legs he has to be in our top 5.

5. Matthew Stafford DET | QB

We all knew that Stafford had an upside and could be in line for a big 2011, but I don’t think many people would have guessed he would throw for over 5,000 yards. The Lions offense was great last year, and with LeShoure coming back and Titus Young getting better and better they should be in line for another big year. Stafford has had injury concerns in the past, but after playing all 16 games last year he has put some of those concerns to rest.

6. Michael Vick PHI | QB

Vick missed 3 games last year and barely cracked the top 20 in passing yards among quarterbacks, but the rushing yards were still there. He was third in rushing behind Newton and Tebow with 589 rushing yards, averaging 45 yards per game. If Vick can stay healthy he still has the potential to be an elite fantasy quarterback, and I think he is well worth a gamble this year. However, if you do draft Vick I would make sure to get a solid plan B incase he goes down with an injury.

7. Eli Manning NYG | QB

It took a major neck injury to Peyton and nearly a 5,000 yard passing season, but Eli has finally surpassed his brother in our rankings. Eli had an amazing year last year (mainly at the expense of the Giants rushing game), but I expect the Giants to throw a lot this year as well. Cruz has proven to be a top target for Eli, and if Nicks can stay healthy look for the Giants to have close to another 5,000 passing yards again in 2012.

8. Philip Rivers SD | QB

Even though Rivers had a solid season last year, we were still expecting more. He only had 27 TDs and he threw 20 INTs, which were both worse than 2010. The Chargers offense took a bit hit losing Jackson, and when you look at who Rivers has at WR it could certainly be better. Even with all that being said Rivers is still an amazing quarterback, and even with mediocre receivers I think he could easily throw over 4,500 yards.

9. Tony Romo DAL | QB

Romo was able to play all 16 games last year, and he had another solid year. He is never going to be a top 3 fantasy quarterback, but Romo has proven that if he can stay healthy he can put up solid numbers. The Cowboys have one of the most talented receiver corps in the league, so as long as everyone can stay healthy there should be plenty of touchdowns to go around.

10. Peyton Manning DEN | QB

Drafting Peyton this year is scary and it could end up backfiring, but we are still talking about Peyton Manning. He is in a new home with the Broncos and they are going to ask him to do what he did for the Colts, which is turn a very mediocre offense into something special. Since Peyton does come with big risks I highly suggest drafting another solid quarterback just in case, but I think he still has what it takes to be an elite fantasy quarterback.

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2012 Fantasy Football: Under the Radar Rookies

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Here is a look at some rookies that have a decent chance to emerge as fantasy football contributors at some point in the 2012 NFL season. Too often owners will overdraft players selected in the first round then forget about rookies taken a little bit later that might have fallen into a better situations. Every year we have found a few diamonds in the rough and below is a list of some of the players to keep an eye on this preseason and training camp as we think these guys have some upside this season.

Coby Fleener IND | TE

The Colts loved the fact that the top TE in this year’s draft fell to them in the second round. One really nice fact is that Fleener was the favorite target of their new young QB Andrew Luck at Stanford. One must think that Fleener will once again be one of his favorite targets this season and therefore he should have some fantasy value. We like him as a deeper league grab as he does have the upside and should get plenty of run as the starting Tight End for the Colts this season.

Alshon Jeffery CHI | WR

Jeffery is going to a great situation and if he does start we love his upside. Since Marshall is reuniting with Cutler whoever is the number two for the Bears figures to see single coverage all year long. There is a good chance that Jeffery will win that job. Last season in college Jeffery certainly had a down year but his 88 catches and over 1500 receiving yards his sophomore season does prove he can be that deep threat opposite Marshall. He is a last round flier that could certainly pan out this season.

David Wilson NYG | RB

The defending champions took Wilson with the last pick in the first round. At Virginia Tech Wilson was a beast rushing for over 1700 yards junior year before entering the draft but he is going to a tough situation with the G-Men. He is a very similar back to Bradshaw and at best I think he will be splitting carries this season. Unless we hear otherwise this training camp and preseason we say to stay away from Wilson unless he is one of your last picks.

Vick Ballard IND | RB

Ballard was taken with the 170th overall pick but there is a legit chance he could win a starting job for the Colts at some point this season. At Mississippi State Ballard rushed for roughly 1200 yards and since Addai has left for the Patriots the starting job is up for grabs. We are not saying Ballard is a lock to start but he is someone to keep an eye on and he is someone that you can get with your last pick that has upside.

Ronnie Hillman DEN | RB

Hillman is slowly becoming our DeMarco Murray of 2012 – we love him and are not in love with the incumbent starter on the team he was drafted. McGahee is getting older and older and the 5’9’’ Hillman is type of player Manning will love. He has great speed and great hands making him a perfect back for Mr. Manning. Calling it now Hillman will be a ppr stud and a great player to take later in your draft.

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2012 Fantasy Football: Impact Rookies

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With the NFL Draft behind us, it’s time to take a look at which rookies have the most potential to make an impact on your 2012 fantasy football team. Last year bucked the trend as Cam Newton, AJ Green, Roy Helu, and DeMarco Murray all had very relevant fantasy seasons with the biggest surprise being Newton. This article will go over the household names and whether or not we believe they will have value.

Robert Griffin III WAS | QB

RG3 is one of the most hyped fantasy rookie QBs that we have seen in a while. Some of that is due to the success of Cam Newton last year but there is some weight to people being so high on Griffin. We saw thru Tebow and Newton how having a QB that will get 50-75 yards rushing a game can yield huge returns even if they don’t throw for a ton. Griffin should get plenty of yards with his legs but the main reason for the success of Newton and Tebow last year were their rushing TDs – it is such a huge bonus when your QB finds pay dirt with his legs. Heading into this season we do like Griffin and figure he is a nice upside QB2 in 10 team leagues and is certainly someone to target in dynasty leagues.

Andrew Luck IND | QB

The number one overall pick has all the tools to be a great quarterback and we figure he will become one eventually. For this season however, we like him only as a QB2 and a few rounds after when we would take RG3. Luck is more of a pocket passer (however, don’t under estimate his running ability as it does reminds us of Aaron Rodgers) and he has all the pressure on him in the world as Indy will look at him as the reason Manning is no longer in town. We do like the fact that the Colts drafted his favorite target/tight end from Stanford but that is not enough to give us the confidence he will completely exceed all expectation his rookie season.

Trent Richardson CLE | RB

The Browns moved up one spot in the draft to ensure they could land Richardson. Many scouts are comparing his abilities to Peterson when AP first came into the league. Now, we don’t necessary see that just yet but the Browns are already committing to Richardson – stating he will be the every down back and starter coming into training camp this year. With these reports out there, people will start to want to take Richardson as high as the first round but we caution all owners. Remember Ryan Matthews a few years back, the same reports did come out about him and he did start however, he ended up splitting carries the entire season. Richardson is still a solid pick due to the fact that one must believe he will get the bulk of carries but as of now we are thinking right around pick 30 is the right spot to draft this young back.

Justin Blackmon JAC | WR

Out of the all the wideouts in the this year’s class Blackmon has the biggest upside long term. He is a big wideout with great hands and reminds us a great deal of AJ Green (who had a sick rookie campaign). Blackmon does have two hindering factors against him. One being his QB situation – lets just say we don’t have the biggest faith in Blaine Gabbert and two he might see double coverages. Sure the Jags signed Robinson in the off season but there is still a chance that Blackmon see the majority of double coverage. With all that said he is a sick receiver who should yield attention later in standard drafts and even more attention in dynasty drafts.

Michael Floyd ARZ | WR

Floyd might be the most NFL ready wideout in this rookie class. Floyd caught 100 balls his last season for the Fighting Irish and has only been in NFL style offenses his entire college career. He has amazing hands, big frame, making him a perfect red zone target. Furthermore, he went to a team that he will never see any type of double coverage. Larry Fitzgerald will be the player the defense is concerned about so Floyd could excel due to that fact. He really reminds us of Boldin and we believe that is why the Cards drafted him, hoping to catch lighting in a bottle again. We never like taking rookie wideouts too high in drafts but Floyd is a high end WR3 in our opinion in all standard 10 team leagues.

Doug Martin TB | RB

All last season the Bucs would get down by a little and sit there starter (Blount) for the rest of the game since they felt his hands were too much of a liability.  So when they took Martin in this year’s draft one must think that he is going to be that guy that goes into the game when Blount is riding the bench. With that said Martin is an explosive back that had over 1500 all purpose yards his senior year at Boise State. So there is a good chance the bigger Blount turns into the short yardage goal line back while Martin takes over the majority of the carries.

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