Tate rushed 9 times for 55 yards against the Chargers
Arian Foster owners will remain frustrated with their first round pick for yet another week, as head coach Gary Kubiak has revealed that he plans to use Foster and second-stringer Ben Tate to split carries this weekend against the Tennessee Titans.
Foster, who’s suffering from a right calf strain, rushed for 57 yards on 18 carries against the Chargers this past Monday, while also hauling in 8 receptions for 33 yards. Tate made the best of his 9 carries, racking up 55 yards, with 2 receptions for 7 yards. Foster averaged just 3.2 yards per attempt, while Tate averaged a much more impressive 6.1.
These numbers were still enough to score Foster 8 fantasy points for week 1, but fantasy owners were disappointed that he couldn’t penetrate the end zone. Foster was given just 1 carry inside the opponent’s 10-yard line and fell a yard short of the end zone.
Foster is one of the best goal line backs in the league and should be able to find the end zone this week at home against the visiting Titans.
Foster has acknowledged that he still doesn’t feel 100% healthy and it may be a couple weeks before he does. However, if Tate continues to be so efficient, Kubiak may choose to play out this “two-headed monster” for as long as it’s successful.
A healthy Michael Vick will thrive under Chip Kelly
The football season is finally here. Teams have been drafted and everyone has a good idea about who the top 10-12 quarterbacks are.
But even fantasy teams with Rodgers, Brees, Brady and Manning need to think about a second quarterback for their bye week. A few top 12 quarterbacks also could turn into busts, so it’s always good to have an insurance policy for a bye week, injury or a bad match-up.
Quarterbacks:
Michael Vick
Michael Vick probably has the most upside of any quarterback not in the top 12. Chip Kelly’s fast paced offense could prove to minimize the punishment Vick receives on the field and keep him healthy for an entire season. With Vick’s rushing ability, he’s always a threat to get some easy points on the ground and his team has a fairly favorable schedule as well.
Jay Cutler
Jay Cutler is a household name, but is not respected in the fantasy football community. Cutler has been putting up pedestrian numbers for the last few seasons, but he’s been held down by one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL.
The Bears signed former Saints Left Tackle, Jermon Bushrod to protect Cutler’s blind side, which should increase Cutlers productivity quite a bit and keep him off of his back. Combine an upgraded left tackle along with the new offensive-minded head coach, Marc Trestman and Cutler could put up top 10 fantasy numbers this year. If you aren’t 100% sold on your starting quarterback, Cutler could prove to be a nice security blanket.
Carson Palmer
Carson Palmer played for arguably the worst team in the last decade (Oakland Raiders) with no receivers worth mentioning and still managed to throw for more than 4,000 yards and 22 touchdowns. This year he will be throwing the ball to Larry Fitzgerald and will be working under new head coach, Bruce Arians.
Arians is a very well respected offensive mind around the NFL and Palmer is intent on extending his playing career. Palmer should not be a starter for any fantasy team early in the season, but if your quarterback is on a bye or has an unfavorable match-up, Palmer could be a nice filler.
A healthy Michael Vick will thrive under Chip Kelly
The football season is finally here. Teams have been drafted and everyone has a good idea about who the top 10-12 quarterbacks are.
But even fantasy teams with Rodgers, Brees, Brady and Manning need to think about a second quarterback for their bye week. A few top 12 quarterbacks also could turn into busts, so it’s always good to have an insurance policy for a bye week, injury or a bad match-up.
Quarterbacks:
Michael Vick
Michael Vick probably has the most upside of any quarterback not in the top 12. Chip Kelly’s fast paced offense could prove to minimize the punishment Vick receives on the field and keep him healthy for an entire season. With Vick’s rushing ability, he’s always a threat to get some easy points on the ground and his team has a fairly favorable schedule as well.
Jay Cutler
Jay Cutler is a household name, but is not respected in the fantasy football community. Cutler has been putting up pedestrian numbers for the last few seasons, but he’s been held down by one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL.
The Bears signed former Saints Left Tackle, Jermon Bushrod to protect Cutler’s blind side, which should increase Cutlers productivity quite a bit and keep him off of his back. Combine an upgraded left tackle along with the new offensive-minded head coach, Marc Trestman and Cutler could put up top 10 fantasy numbers this year. If you aren’t 100% sold on your starting quarterback, Cutler could prove to be a nice security blanket.
Carson Palmer
Carson Palmer played for arguably the worst team in the last decade (Oakland Raiders) with no receivers worth mentioning and still managed to throw for more than 4,000 yards and 22 touchdowns. This year he will be throwing the ball to Larry Fitzgerald and will be working under new head coach, Bruce Arians.
Arians is a very well respected offensive mind around the NFL and Palmer is intent on extending his playing career. Palmer should not be a starter for any fantasy team early in the season, but if your quarterback is on a bye or has an unfavorable match-up, Palmer could be a nice filler.
Lacy should help every aspect of the Packers offense
Rookie running backs have the ability to make or break fantasy teams. The running back position is the most important position on a fantasy team. Since many teams have gone to a dual running back system, finding two or three backs who can produce solid numbers is vital.
Being able to pick which rookie running backs are going to have the best season can bring your team a championship. This season there are three rookie running backs that should be on every fantasy owners’ radar.
Le’Veon Bell- Pittsburgh Steelers rookie running back Le’Veon Bell was drafted 48th overall. The former Michigan State Spartan could not have been drafted to a better team. The Steelers are infamous for their pounding running game. While he has been injured for a majority of the offseason, it did not stop the Steelers from naming him their starting running back in the preseason.
Bell is recovering from a foot injury and has been ruled out for Week 1. Coach Tomlin says he will not play against the Titans due to lack of practice time, not his injury. Bell is the 24th ranked running back in this year’s fantasy draft and the top ranked rookie running back. When he returns to the starting lineup he will be given every opportunity to be a fantasy power horse.
Eddie Lacy– Green Bay’s Eddie Lacy is the second best rookie running back in this year’s fantasy draft and the 26th running back overall. Of the top three running backs, Lacy is the only week 1 starter. While reports of him getting overweight in the offseason were concerning at first, it appears that it will only help in, especially in goal line situations.
The Packers’ offense is known for their deadly air attack, which means defenses will have to plan for the pass which should give Lacy plenty of opportunities to pick up yards when he’s handed the ball.
Giovani Bernard– Cincinnati Bengals’ Giovani Bernard currently splits time with BenJarvus Green-Ellis, but is taking a majority of the goal line snaps. Throughout the preseason Bernard had three rushing touchdowns, all near the goal line. He is currently listed as the second running back on the depth chart, but it is expected that he will split carries with Green-Ellis, and in the near future will take over the starting role.
Bernard is the 28th ranked running back in this year’s draft and the third ranked rookie. He will get the overwhelming majority of goal line opportunities giving him significant fantasy value.
Lacy should help every aspect of the Packers offense
Rookie running backs have the ability to make or break fantasy teams. The running back position is the most important position on a fantasy team. Since many teams have gone to a dual running back system, finding two or three backs who can produce solid numbers is vital.
Being able to pick which rookie running backs are going to have the best season can bring your team a championship. This season there are three rookie running backs that should be on every fantasy owners’ radar.
Le’Veon Bell- Pittsburgh Steelers rookie running back Le’Veon Bell was drafted 48th overall. The former Michigan State Spartan could not have been drafted to a better team. The Steelers are infamous for their pounding running game. While he has been injured for a majority of the offseason, it did not stop the Steelers from naming him their starting running back in the preseason.
Bell is recovering from a foot injury and has been ruled out for Week 1. Coach Tomlin says he will not play against the Titans due to lack of practice time, not his injury. Bell is the 24th ranked running back in this year’s fantasy draft and the top ranked rookie running back. When he returns to the starting lineup he will be given every opportunity to be a fantasy power horse.
Eddie Lacy– Green Bay’s Eddie Lacy is the second best rookie running back in this year’s fantasy draft and the 26th running back overall. Of the top three running backs, Lacy is the only week 1 starter. While reports of him getting overweight in the offseason were concerning at first, it appears that it will only help in, especially in goal line situations.
The Packers’ offense is known for their deadly air attack, which means defenses will have to plan for the pass which should give Lacy plenty of opportunities to pick up yards when he’s handed the ball.
Giovani Bernard– Cincinnati Bengals’ Giovani Bernard currently splits time with BenJarvus Green-Ellis, but is taking a majority of the goal line snaps. Throughout the preseason Bernard had three rushing touchdowns, all near the goal line. He is currently listed as the second running back on the depth chart, but it is expected that he will split carries with Green-Ellis, and in the near future will take over the starting role.
Bernard is the 28th ranked running back in this year’s draft and the third ranked rookie. He will get the overwhelming majority of goal line opportunities giving him significant fantasy value.
The key to winning in fantasy football is drafting well after the first four rounds. After round 4, fantasy football championships are won by finding players who greatly exceed expectations. Both Alfred Morris and Russell Wilson greatly exceeded expectations during the 2012 season. Below are 3 players who are undervalued and could have big years for your team.
DeAndre Hopkins, Houston (ADP – 126)
Currently being drafted as the 45th ranked fantasy wide receiver on average, DeAndre Hopkins is a highly touted rookie for the Houston Texans. A first round pick, Hopkins will line up next to Andre Johnson as the Texans’ No. 2 wideout.
Although Houston is a run-first team, Matt Schaub may finally have someone else to spread the ball around to with the addition of Hopkins. With unbelievable talent, Hopkins looks poised to outplay his draft-day value.
Eddie Lacy, Green Bay (ADP – 62)
Another highly touted rookie from the 2013 draft class is Eddie Lacy. He’s is in the perfect situation to succeed with the Packers this season.
After DuJuan Harris was placed on IR last week and the Packers cut Alex Green, Lacy now has the Packers’ backfield all to himself. Looking to put an emphasis back on the running game, the Packers should provide Lacy a heavy workload along with goal line work.
Currently being drafted as the 24th running back on average, Lacy should easily crack the top-20 and has top-15 potential at the position.
TY Hilton, Indianapolis (ADP – 79)
TY Hilton showed incredible growth as the Colts’ No. 2 wide receiver at the end of last year, and it looks as though his success should continue. His chemistry with quarterback, Andrew Luck, is only improving and his skill set fits very well with offensive coordinator, Pep Hamilton’s, west coast offense.
Hilton has had a very impressive preseason and could breakout as one of the NFL’s premier deep threats.
There are many ways to work cheat sheets during a fantasy draft.
However, the easiest way is to sit down with a list of players beforehand and rank the players according to what players you really want in this year’s draft. This does not ensure that you will get the player you want, but it can help you stay on track when the draft gets a little wild.
A couple thoughts about the 2013 Draft:
The quarterback position is VERY deep this season, so unless you really want Brees or Rodgers, your quarterback can wait.
Load up on high quality running backs. If you are in a PPR league, make sure they can catch the ball.
Wide receivers are the deepest position and tight ends are the most shallow.
If you don’t get one of the top five tight ends, don’t worry about drafting one until after the 10th round.
For a breakdown of the players listed, use the links below.
Building depth at wide receiver during your fantasy draft is a critical component in getting off to a fast start. Here’s a list of four players with true breakout potential, who you could potentially score very late in your fantasy draft.
T.Y. Hilton, IND, (ADP: 73): As last year’s 21st ranked wide receiver, Hilton recorded 861 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns. He showcased his 4.34 speed and great catching ability as he made huge plays throughout the season.
With 5 plays for over 40 yards, Hilton is a “highlight-reel” player who can rack up points for your team very quickly. Though the Colts are looking to run a more “West Coast” style offense and throw the deep ball a little less, Hilton should still be able to get it done. He will be “feast or famine” kind of player from week-to-week, but is still worth the 7th round pick for his talent and upside.
Josh Gordon, CLE, (ADP: 98): In Gordon’s rookie season in 2012, he racked 50 catches for 805 yards and 5 touchdowns. At 6’4”, 225 pounds, with good hands and speed, Gordon is made to be a deep threat.
As Brandon Weeden’s clear-cut number one option in Cleveland, he should be able to score some serious points. Though he has a 2 game suspension to serve to start the season, it shouldn’t hurt his value too much. You’ll likely plan to have your number one and two receivers in your lineup at the beginning of the season anyway, so having him on your bench for two games shouldn’t be a huge issue.
Chris Givens, STL, (ADP: 105): Givens saw limited action for the Rams during his rookie season in 2012, but was still able to show off many of his talents. Although he wasn’t a starter for about a quarter of the team’s games, he made his presence known by racking up 5 receptions for more than 40 yards.
Givens showed that he has big play ability, and as a starter, he should get more opportunities like this. With last year’s starter Brandon Gibson out of the picture, a better O-line for Sam Bradford and slot receiver Tavon Austin joining the team, there should be enough team improvements to help Gibson shine. He’s a sneaky-but-good option as your third or fourth receiver.
Michael Floyd, ARI, (ADP: 110): Though the 6’3” speedster did not put up incredible numbers during his rookie season with the Cardinals (562 yards and 2 touchdowns) it’s important to realize that this year’s offense should look a lot different. A change at quarterback will bring in Carson Palmer, who was on pace for around 4,200 yards last season.
With Bruce Arians running the offense, there will plenty of yards to go around in 2013 and Floyd will be one of the beneficiaries. It will also help that he will be lining up across from Larry Fitzgerald who always draws a crowd.
There are too many good quarterbacks to burn an early draft pick.
Having a top tier quarterback on your roster provides a comfort level unmatched by any other position in fantasy football. However, drafting one of the top quarterbacks this season will likely mean that you will have to sacrifice one of your top 3 picks to secure the best of the best.
But with the emergence of so many high-scoring fantasy quarterbacks last year, the position is now considered one of the deepest in fantasy football and is providing owners with solid options further down the draft board. This begs the question: Has the price of owning a top quarterback become too steep?
Due to the depth of quality options this year, the quarterback position has lost much of its value. The difference between the top quarterback and a mid-level option is no longer what it used to be. Because of this fact, it’s no longer wise to give up an arm and a leg in the first few rounds for a quarterback.
Another big reason to wait on drafting your quarterback this year is the lack of depth at the running back position. Because you will need to wind up using a top 3 pick if you want Brees, Rodgers, or Manning, you are missing out on filling your second running back position, assuming you drafted a running back in round 1. This position is very thin this year and should not be left for later rounds.
In one scenario, you may get Drew Brees in Round 2 or 3, but might be stuck with the likes of Lamar Miller as your running back– a very risky player to be starting. However, waiting on a quarterback with huge potential such as Matthew Stafford (ADP – 43) or Tony Romo (ADP – 63) will allow you to grab valuable #2 running backs like Maurice Jones-Drew or Chris Johnson.
Overall, there are many options when drafting the quarterback position this season, but the general rule of thumb is to wait on a quarterback. The earliest you should take a Brees or Brady should be round 4 – and if they are gone, so be it.
Let your competition gobble up the quarterbacks while they worry about filling out the rest of their team’s roster. In the mean time, stack your roster with top rate receivers and running backs and worry about the quarterback position a little later in the draft.
Expectations are too high for Mike Wallace in Miami
Anyone who has played fantasy football before has been burned by a draft day “bust.”
There are always players who seem to fall off the face of the earth and make owners cringe when look back on draft day.
Here are three players to avoid if you don’t want any major “busts” on your roster this year.
Greg Jennings, Minnesota (ADP – 95)
Newly acquired Vikings wide receiver Greg Jennings has been slowly sliding down fantasy draft boards during the past few weeks. Jennings has been so busy bad mouthing Aaron Rodgers that he forgot to bring his “A-game” to Minnesota’s training camp.
Jennings is about the only viable fantasy receiver on the team, but we still have know idea how compatible he will be with the shaky Christian Ponder at quarterback.
While being drafted as a starter, Jennings should not be relied on as a starting fantasy wide receiver this year. Minnesota will run, run, and then run some more and Jennings just isn’t the player he once was two or three years ago.
Mike Wallace, Miami (ADP – 75)
Fantasy owners drafting Mike Wallace as a wide receiver #2 this season may be in for a rough year. A feast or famine player who relies solely on the deep ball, Wallace has been very inconsistent during the past two seasons.
In his past 24 games, Wallace has only two 100 yard games and that was with Big Ben throwing him the ball. While Dolphins’ second year quarterback Ryan Tannenhill should improve, there are likely to be growing pains between the young QB and his new star receiver.
Buyer beware when reaching for this former fantasy stud.
Darren McFadden, Oakland (ADP – 39)
Seemingly everyone knows about the injury problems surrounding Raiders running back, Darren McFadden. But each year, McFadden is highly sought after in hopes that this will be the year he breaks out.
More than likely, this just isn’t going to happen. Heading into his sixth year as a pro, McFadden still hasn’t come close to playing a full 16 game schedule. And even when he did play last year, McFadden looked sluggish and a shell of his former Razorback self.
McFadden can no longer should be counted on as a top-20 fantasy running back and anyone who drafts him as such is sure to have a season long headache. Go for cheaper options with more upside at the position with players like Eddie Lacy, Lamar Miller and David Wilson.
Touring the Capitol 