GarageGabs

Thought the midpoint of the NFL season would be a nice time to take a look at fantasy flops & surpises:

 

Fantasy Flops:

 

Tom Brady- Ok, so Brady isn’t exactly a flop.  However, his loss due to injury has had a huge impact on the fantasy landscape.  Anytime you take away a guy who threw 50 TD’s the previous season there will be fantasy ramifications.  The obvious impact is some unlucky owner losing a franchise QB (and probable 1st round pick) for an entire season.  Owners who spent high draft picks on Randy Moss have been heavily impacted as well.  Moss went from 23 TD’s last season to just 4 at the halfway point this year.  Other Patriots had their stock drop as well, just not as drastic.

 

Speaking of Patriots, how about Laurence Maroney.  Maroney spent most of last season as a fantasy frustration only to turn it own in the fantasy playoffs to the tune of 260 yards & 2 TD’s.  He was also very productive in last years playoffs, prompting many owners to rank him in the top 10 of fantasy backs coming into this season.  End result?  Maroney carried the ball all of 28 times this season for 98 yards before being lost to injury.  The Maroney impact has been huge, opening up the Patriots backfield to a roll the dice rotation of Sammy Morris, Kevin Faulk, Lamont Jordan, and Benjarvus Green-Ellis.  Uggh.

 

Braylon Edwards- Everybodies boy wonder at WR coming into this season.  Edwards and the high flying Browns offense appeared to have busted through last year.  Edwards put up monster numbers, 1289 receiving yards and 16 TD’s.  This year, Edwards has had a bad case of the drops and has posted just 457 yards and 3 TD’s.  He’s been coming on of late, was dinged up early, and has had to deal with some QB issues as Derek Anderson has struggled to repeat last seasons success as well.  Add Kellen Winslow Jr. to the list of under achieving Browns as well.  Winslow appeared to be a top 3 TE coming into this year.  He’s failed to hit the mark due to a variety of reasons, including problems with upper management, injury, (swollen teste anyone?) and an inconsistent Browns offense.

 

 

Fred Taylor- Fragile Fred went off last year, 1202 rush yards & 5 TD while sharing carries with Maurice Jones-Drew.  He’s been virtually invisible this season with only 278 rush yards and zero trips to the end-zone.  Taylor is probably available on most waiver wires as I type.

 

Darren McFadden- McFadden was a trendy pick to be this year’s Adrian Peterson.  Hasn’t exactly panned out that way.  Toe injuries have limited McFadden to just 67 carries this year, although he’s been productive at 5.1 yards per.  He teased owners in week 2 with 164 rush yards & a TD but just can’t seem to stay on the field long enough to show us what talent he might have.  He’s not a total bust yet, but is obviously running out of time.  It doesn’t help matters that Oakland appears anemic on offense, has an insane owner, a terrible young QB, and Fargas and Bush stealing carries.

 

 

 

Marques Colston- A savior for many teams in his rookie year who then proved it to be no fluke last season, Colston has done NADA this season.  Again, he’s been plagued by injury, but even when on the field he hasn’t produced.  Owners were probably expecting a bit more than 5 catches for 82 yards.

 

Bengals- Can I just lump them all together?  Carson Palmer injured.  Chad “Ocho Cinco” non-existant for most of the season.  No running game to speak of.  T.J. Houshmanzadeh has been hit or miss despite accumulating a fair amount of receptions.  People counting on productive Bengals have been screwed.

 

Cowboys- This one has only hit recently due to the Romo injury.  The Cowboy offense has been offensive under the leadership of Brad Johnson.  Felix Jones provided a huge boost to owners early in the year, but has since been lost to injury.  Marion Barber III was strong early, but a huge zero without Johnson.  Terrell Owens has yet to post a 100 yard game this season.  Now the injury bug seems to have hit Jason Witten also.  Keep in mind, Dallas enjoys a week 10 bye and expects to have Romo & Felix Jones back afterwards…..the offense should take a turn upward upon their return.  It’s also important to note that the Dallas Defense (A highly rated defense this year) has performed WELL below expectations.  That doesn’t appear to be getting any better, although Terrence Newman is expected to return to practice soon as well.

 

Ryan Grant-  Grant was what we like to call “gangbusters” in the 2nd half of last season, rushing for 956 yards and 8 TD’s in just 7 starts at a 5.1 ypc clip.  He came into this season dinged up and in the midst of a QB change.  In a word, his production is DOWN.  It’s not for lack of trying.  Grant has put up 550 yards and 1 TD (3.1ypc) on 157 carries.  He had 188 carries last year.  He has begun to come on of late, if in nothing but carries alone (84 attempts in last 3 games).  Probably too early to call him a fluke, but the guy was touted a STUD back this season and just hasn’t produced.  It doesn’t help that he doesn’t seem to be as involved in the passing game with Aaron Rodgers at QB (just 4 receptions).  Grant is a powerful back who might get stronger as the season progresses, and there is no doubt that running the football becomes paramount as the weather gets cooler.  Barring injury, I like his ypc and TD to be better in the 2nd half than they were in the first, but probably no where close to last season’s 2nd half. 

 

Larry Johnson- I’m not going to go into great detail on Johnson’s numbers, we all know the guy has been a stud in the past.  His current problems are a mile long, including suspensions, weak O-line, and terrible QB play.  Consider him a long shot to put up LJ’ type production in the 2nd half.

 

Marc Bulger/Torry Holt- Holt, at one time one of the top 2-3 WR’s in the league has fallen a few notches.  The writing has been on the wall for the past couple of seasons as his yards per catch have began to fall, but the guy has always managed to produce.  He’s been a dud this season with just 347 yards and 2 TD.  Bulger just can’t catch a break.  Benched by his own coach, going through coaching changes, an inadequate O-Line, injuries to Steven Jackson, and an inexperienced receiving corps have all managed to contribute to his lack of production.  He’s no longer a top tier QB, but is still worth a matchup start from time to time.

 

 

Julius Jones- Ok, it’s a long shot to call Jones a bust, but he was to be the feature back in the Seattle offense.  Jones teased for a couple of weeks with some impressive performances but has since fell into his more comforting time share role in an offense that lacks any type of continuity.  Go ahead and put Matt Hasselbeck on this list as well.  The Seahawks just plain blow.

 

Willie Parker, Joseph Addai, Willis McGahee- Injuries & timeshares have taken their tole on all 3 backs.  Parker & Addai seem primed to retake their starting roles, but McGahee looks to be trapped in a 3 headed monster in the backfield.  Addai wasn’t producing even when he was healthy, but as Peyton Manning continues to hit stride look for Addai to improve.

 

**Honorable Mentions**

Dallas Clark, Antonio Gates, Edge James, Santonio Holmes, Plaxico Burress

 

Fantasy Surprises

 Kurt Warner- Maybe not SO surprising, but at least impressive.  The fact that Warner has been able to stay healthy (he’s 36 and less mobile than my kitchen table) is one thing, but he’s also leading one of the more explosive offenses in the NFL…..to the tune of 2431 passing yards, 16 TD, and 6 INT.  Is it 1999 again?

 

Aaron Rodgers- No one really knew what to expect from the kid, but he’s definitely shown the ability to sling the football.  Owners that took a chance on him have been rewarded with 1982 passing yards, 13 TD, and just 5 picks.  He’s also showing he can move his feet with 124 rush yards and 3 TD.

 

Tennessee Titans Defense- We knew they were good.  This good?  Maybe.  The Titans are outperforming all defenses taken ahead of them including Pittsburgh, Chicago, San Diego, New England and Dallas.

 

 

Clinton Portis- Again, not really a surprise, but Portis has been the best back in the NFL up to now.  Portis is one of the last remaining true workhorse backs in the league has amassed 995 rush yards & 7 TD’s at 5.0 ypc.  Included in his mastery were 5 consecutive games of at least 125 rushing yards.

 

Kyle Orton- Now out for a couple of weeks.  The 106th pick of the 2005 NFL draft has 10 TD (already a career high) and just 4 picks.  Did I mention he’s a Bears QB?

 

Brett Favre- 15 TD’s is great.  12 INT’s is not.  The guy’s still chuggin along though.  Sure would have liked to have started him in that 6 TD game.

 

Chris Johnson/Matt Forte-There were a lot of hyped rookie backs coming into this year.  McFadden, Kevin Smith, Felix Jones, Rashard Mendenhal, Steve Slaton, Jonathan Stewart, Ray Rice, Tim Hightower etc.  They’ve all shined at one time or another but none brighter than Johnson & Forte.  Johnson has been flat out electric and has proved to be much more than a change of pace back for LenDale White (someone who also bears mentioning with 10 TD’s).  Johnson is a do it all type back, rushing for 715 yards and 5 TD’s while hauling in 24 receptions for 164 yards and a TD as well.  Honestly, I didn’t expect this from the former ECU back.  Figured him to be 3rd on the depth chart while nabbing 5-7 touches per game.  I did expect big things from Forte.  He’s been just as productive as Johnson with 641 rush yards and 2 TD’s along with 30 receptions 228 yards and 2 more TD.  Long term this is a VERY nice class of rookie backs that will likely be making noise for years to come.

 

Rookie WR’s- A really nice list.  DeSean Jackson, Eddie Royal, Donnie Avery….explosive playmakers.  All 3 have shown a tendacy to be a bit inconsistent but are huge playmakers none the less.

 

Roddy White/Michael Turner/Matt Ryan- Perhaps this all starts with Ryan as he’s the only rookie of this Falcons trio.  He hasn’t been amazing, but he’s been tremendously solid for a rookie.  He’s checking in around the middle of the fantasy football pack and has thrown 9 TD’s and 5 picks.  Most importantly he’s developed a rapport with WR Roddie White.  White has turned into a top 5 WR this season…48 catches, 733 yards and 5 TD.  White’s progression began last season, but he was difficult to guage before this season thanks to the presence of a rookie QB.  White is nothing less than a STUD.  Michael Turner is probably the guy making all this possible.  The former Tomlinson backup is thriving as the man in Atlanta.  794 rush yards, 6 TD’s, Four 100 yard games including a 220 yard performance and a 3 TD performance.  Atlanta, which used to begin and end with Mike Vick now has a fantasy trio worthy of starting in most fantasy leagues.

 

 

Santana Moss- Despite a couple of bad games, Moss still put up huge numbers.  44 catches, 644 yards, 5 TD.  I’d take that anyday.

 

**Honorable Mentions**

Jason Campbell, Chad Pennington, Thomas Jones, Darren Sproles, Bernard Berrian

 

Who’d I miss?  I know I didn’t point out all the flops and surprises….feel free to comment and add more.