Fantasy Stock Rising
Young players with potential such as Shonn Greene, Felix Jones, and Pierre Garcon have seen their values skyrocket since the NFL playoffs began. Throw in offseason player movement, new coaching hires, and role changes, and there are a handful of players at each position already gaining in value since the fantasy season concluded in late December. Let's take a look:
[SIZE=+1]Quarterbacks [/SIZE]
Matt Leinart: The former No. 10 overall pick is reputed to possess slow feet, an even slower release, and mediocre arm strength. On the other hand, he's shown signs of promise in the past, and he's taking over an offense loaded with talent. The groundwork for success is already there, so the onus is on him.
Jay Cutler: Cutler has a lot to work on this offseason, beginning with an attitude adjustment and continuing with cleaning up sloppy mechanics and poor game management. The hiring of Mike Martz, however, is manna from fantasy heaven.
Kevin Kolb / Michael Vick: ESPN's John Clayton and Adam Schefter both expect Donovan McNabb to be traded this offseason. Though the Eagles insist otherwise, it's going to be hard to pass up strong offers. Kolb would take over an offense with two dynamic young receivers and a top-flight tight end. Vick remains likely to land in St. Louis or Buffalo, where he would take over the starting job.
Mark Sanchez: Sanchez bounced back from a three-month slump with an impressive playoff showing, completing 60.3 percent of his passes at 7.9 yards per attempt resulting in a 92.7 passer rating. At the very least, it's a building block for 2010.
Chad Pennington: This is more of a deep Dynasty league special. As we pointed out earlier in the week, Pennington would have to prove he's healthy first and then land in a fantasy heaven like Arizona to have a considerable impact.
[SIZE=+1]Running Backs [/SIZE]
Shonn Greene: Sporting fresh legs, the rookie drastically outplayed Thomas Jones as a breakout star in the playoffs, throwing up 304 yards at 5.6 per carry. GM Mike Tannenbaum was noncommittal on Jones' 2010 return, and the early odds are being set at 50-50.
Felix Jones: Finally get a chance to touch the ball 15+ times, Jones exploded for 178 yards on the Eagles in the playoffs. Since then, the beat writers have unanimously anointed Jones the lead horse while Jerry Jones conceded that Marion Barber's carries will drop in 2010.
Beanie Wells: The Cardinals are expected to lean more on the running game following Kurt Warner's retirement, and Wells will shoulder the bulk of the load. Wells averaged nearly 5.0 yards per carry from Week 7 on, and he'll continue to push Tim Hightower into a niche role with a full offseason in the Ken Whisenhunt's offense.
Pierre Thomas: Regardless of Reggie Bush's fate, Thomas proved during the Saints playoff run that he was the one indispensable member of the New Orleans backfield rotation. He's a lead-pipe lock to return in the feature back role next season.
Brandon Jacobs: How did Jacobs plummet from 83.8 yards per game, 5.0 yards per carry, and 15 touchdowns to 55.7, 3.7, and 6 respectively? It turns out Jacobs injured his knee in the season opener and played through the pain all season. Even if the offensive line isn't what it once was, we can still expect at least a slight bounce-back in 2010.
Fred Jackson / Marshawn Lynch: Rumors are picking up steam that the Bills will attempt to trade Lynch, and San Diego is an ideal landing spot. A trade would obviously boost the stock of both backs, ensuring a steady workload for each as opposed to a value-draining committee attack.
Adrian Peterson: Chester Taylor will be more coveted than expected this offseason due to the weak free agent market. Should Taylor leave for a better opportunity, Peterson's receptions will skyrocket for the second straight season.
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[SIZE=+1]Wide Receivers[/SIZE]
Jacoby Jones: Kevin Walter will hit unrestricted free agency in two weeks, and the Texans have no reason to bring him back after a disappointing season. Coach Gary Kubiak has gone out of his way to endorse playmaker Jones, who could mirror Robert Meachem's breakout from the second-half of 2009.
Devin Aromashodu: Mike Martz is dying to move Devin Hester to the slot, and Earl Bennett will have to hold off Johnny Knox for a starting job. So who does that leave as Jay Cutler's No. 1 receiver in Martz's new offense? Aromashodu, who finished as the No. 11 fantasy receiver over the final five weeks of the season.
Pierre Garcon: As Reggie Wayne struggled through heavy coverage, Garcon stole the show in the playoffs, leading the team with 21 receptions and 251 yards. Even with Anthony Gonzalez returning from a knee injury, Garcon is expected to keep the starting job opposite Wayne in 2010.
Julian Edelman: The Pats may add talent at wide receiver this offseason, but Edelman showed remarkable toughness, solid hands, and Wes Welker-like quickness as the only effective weapon against the Ravens in the playoffs. Welker is an extreme longshot to be ready by Week 1, which makes Edelman the slot receiver.
Early Doucet: Doucet did his best Anquan Boldin impression while leading the Cardinals with 14 receptions to go with 145 yards in two playoff games. There's not a player in the league more likely to get traded than Boldin, and Doucet stands to benefit just as much as Steve Breaston.
Mike Thomas: Following Torry Holt's release, Thomas is the favorite to ascend to the starting job opposite Mike Sims-Walker. Over the final five weeks of the season, Thomas actually led Jaguars receivers in receptions, yards, and fantasy points.
Kevin Ogletree: Cowboys fans have begun taking out their Roy Williams frustrations by beating the drums for Olgetree. Reports out of Dallas have been mixed this offseason, but it's clear that the beat writers, coaches, and even the owner "love" the former undrafted free agent. Look for Ogletree to begin pushing Williams during the 2010 season.
Santonio Holmes: Holmes doesn't have any obvious situational changes that would boost his stock, but he's been one of the most sought-after players in Dynasty leagues since the season ended. With a slight uptick in touchdowns, we'll be talking about Holmes as one of the league's elite receivers.
[SIZE=+1]Tight Ends[/SIZE]
Jermichael Finley: The No. 1 fantasy tight end over the final five weeks of the season, Finley continued his emergence with a dominant six-catch, 159-yard performance in the Packers' lone playoff game. The athletic freak was unguardable late in the year, highlight by the abuse he heaped on Cardinals Pro Bowl safety Adrian Wilson. There's a persuasive argument to be made that Finley holds more value than any tight end in Dynasty leagues.
Tony Scheffler: As we pointed out on the news page earlier today, Scheffler is a top-level talent as a pass-catching tight end. Unfortunately, he spent 2009 stuck in an offense that had no use for his skills. Expect the Broncos to part with Scheffler in a draft-weekend trade, allowing him to flourish in a more suitable offense.
Ben Watson: By all accounts, Watson is expect to escape New England this offseason. Once a Top-10 fantasy tight end, he's seen his role in the passing game decrease the past few seasons due to hands that come and go. A change of scenery would give Watson a second chance while bringing back reliable TE2 status.
Young players with potential such as Shonn Greene, Felix Jones, and Pierre Garcon have seen their values skyrocket since the NFL playoffs began. Throw in offseason player movement, new coaching hires, and role changes, and there are a handful of players at each position already gaining in value since the fantasy season concluded in late December. Let's take a look:
[SIZE=+1]Quarterbacks [/SIZE]
Matt Leinart: The former No. 10 overall pick is reputed to possess slow feet, an even slower release, and mediocre arm strength. On the other hand, he's shown signs of promise in the past, and he's taking over an offense loaded with talent. The groundwork for success is already there, so the onus is on him.
Jay Cutler: Cutler has a lot to work on this offseason, beginning with an attitude adjustment and continuing with cleaning up sloppy mechanics and poor game management. The hiring of Mike Martz, however, is manna from fantasy heaven.
Kevin Kolb / Michael Vick: ESPN's John Clayton and Adam Schefter both expect Donovan McNabb to be traded this offseason. Though the Eagles insist otherwise, it's going to be hard to pass up strong offers. Kolb would take over an offense with two dynamic young receivers and a top-flight tight end. Vick remains likely to land in St. Louis or Buffalo, where he would take over the starting job.
Mark Sanchez: Sanchez bounced back from a three-month slump with an impressive playoff showing, completing 60.3 percent of his passes at 7.9 yards per attempt resulting in a 92.7 passer rating. At the very least, it's a building block for 2010.
Chad Pennington: This is more of a deep Dynasty league special. As we pointed out earlier in the week, Pennington would have to prove he's healthy first and then land in a fantasy heaven like Arizona to have a considerable impact.
[SIZE=+1]Running Backs [/SIZE]
Shonn Greene: Sporting fresh legs, the rookie drastically outplayed Thomas Jones as a breakout star in the playoffs, throwing up 304 yards at 5.6 per carry. GM Mike Tannenbaum was noncommittal on Jones' 2010 return, and the early odds are being set at 50-50.
Felix Jones: Finally get a chance to touch the ball 15+ times, Jones exploded for 178 yards on the Eagles in the playoffs. Since then, the beat writers have unanimously anointed Jones the lead horse while Jerry Jones conceded that Marion Barber's carries will drop in 2010.
Beanie Wells: The Cardinals are expected to lean more on the running game following Kurt Warner's retirement, and Wells will shoulder the bulk of the load. Wells averaged nearly 5.0 yards per carry from Week 7 on, and he'll continue to push Tim Hightower into a niche role with a full offseason in the Ken Whisenhunt's offense.
Pierre Thomas: Regardless of Reggie Bush's fate, Thomas proved during the Saints playoff run that he was the one indispensable member of the New Orleans backfield rotation. He's a lead-pipe lock to return in the feature back role next season.
Brandon Jacobs: How did Jacobs plummet from 83.8 yards per game, 5.0 yards per carry, and 15 touchdowns to 55.7, 3.7, and 6 respectively? It turns out Jacobs injured his knee in the season opener and played through the pain all season. Even if the offensive line isn't what it once was, we can still expect at least a slight bounce-back in 2010.
Fred Jackson / Marshawn Lynch: Rumors are picking up steam that the Bills will attempt to trade Lynch, and San Diego is an ideal landing spot. A trade would obviously boost the stock of both backs, ensuring a steady workload for each as opposed to a value-draining committee attack.
Adrian Peterson: Chester Taylor will be more coveted than expected this offseason due to the weak free agent market. Should Taylor leave for a better opportunity, Peterson's receptions will skyrocket for the second straight season.
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[SIZE=+1]Wide Receivers[/SIZE]
Jacoby Jones: Kevin Walter will hit unrestricted free agency in two weeks, and the Texans have no reason to bring him back after a disappointing season. Coach Gary Kubiak has gone out of his way to endorse playmaker Jones, who could mirror Robert Meachem's breakout from the second-half of 2009.
Devin Aromashodu: Mike Martz is dying to move Devin Hester to the slot, and Earl Bennett will have to hold off Johnny Knox for a starting job. So who does that leave as Jay Cutler's No. 1 receiver in Martz's new offense? Aromashodu, who finished as the No. 11 fantasy receiver over the final five weeks of the season.
Pierre Garcon: As Reggie Wayne struggled through heavy coverage, Garcon stole the show in the playoffs, leading the team with 21 receptions and 251 yards. Even with Anthony Gonzalez returning from a knee injury, Garcon is expected to keep the starting job opposite Wayne in 2010.
Julian Edelman: The Pats may add talent at wide receiver this offseason, but Edelman showed remarkable toughness, solid hands, and Wes Welker-like quickness as the only effective weapon against the Ravens in the playoffs. Welker is an extreme longshot to be ready by Week 1, which makes Edelman the slot receiver.
Early Doucet: Doucet did his best Anquan Boldin impression while leading the Cardinals with 14 receptions to go with 145 yards in two playoff games. There's not a player in the league more likely to get traded than Boldin, and Doucet stands to benefit just as much as Steve Breaston.
Mike Thomas: Following Torry Holt's release, Thomas is the favorite to ascend to the starting job opposite Mike Sims-Walker. Over the final five weeks of the season, Thomas actually led Jaguars receivers in receptions, yards, and fantasy points.
Kevin Ogletree: Cowboys fans have begun taking out their Roy Williams frustrations by beating the drums for Olgetree. Reports out of Dallas have been mixed this offseason, but it's clear that the beat writers, coaches, and even the owner "love" the former undrafted free agent. Look for Ogletree to begin pushing Williams during the 2010 season.
Santonio Holmes: Holmes doesn't have any obvious situational changes that would boost his stock, but he's been one of the most sought-after players in Dynasty leagues since the season ended. With a slight uptick in touchdowns, we'll be talking about Holmes as one of the league's elite receivers.
[SIZE=+1]Tight Ends[/SIZE]
Jermichael Finley: The No. 1 fantasy tight end over the final five weeks of the season, Finley continued his emergence with a dominant six-catch, 159-yard performance in the Packers' lone playoff game. The athletic freak was unguardable late in the year, highlight by the abuse he heaped on Cardinals Pro Bowl safety Adrian Wilson. There's a persuasive argument to be made that Finley holds more value than any tight end in Dynasty leagues.
Tony Scheffler: As we pointed out on the news page earlier today, Scheffler is a top-level talent as a pass-catching tight end. Unfortunately, he spent 2009 stuck in an offense that had no use for his skills. Expect the Broncos to part with Scheffler in a draft-weekend trade, allowing him to flourish in a more suitable offense.
Ben Watson: By all accounts, Watson is expect to escape New England this offseason. Once a Top-10 fantasy tight end, he's seen his role in the passing game decrease the past few seasons due to hands that come and go. A change of scenery would give Watson a second chance while bringing back reliable TE2 status.
