Out of Nowhere Fantasy Stars

[scottybo 0]

Who do you predict to come out of nowhere to become a fantasy star this year? Last year, three come to mind. They were was Victor Cruz, Antonio Brown, and Jason Pierre-Paul. In one of my dynasty leagues where we just have a rookie/FA draft, I selected both JPP and Antonio Brown. Those two were huge down the stretch for me win my league. I never do well selecting rookies unless i have a top 3 rookie pick so i try to find the next breakout star that is unknown.

 

Who do you think this years stars could be?

[Matt Mueller 146]

This is isn't all inclusive as I'm looking to add players to it:

 

Rookies: Richardson seems like a can't miss prospect. Blackmon will be the first rookie WR taken in most fantasy drafts, but I think he has more of a Denarious Moore type season, than Julio or Green. He's not quite as talented as those guys. Maybe Floyd too depending upon where he lands.

 

Late WRs: Titus Young, Denarious Moore, Meachem, M. Floyd, E. Saunders

Late RBs: Ridley, D. Brown, C. Redman, CJ Spiller, K. Hunter

TE: Gresham, Cook, Keller, Giants new TE....M Bennett I think

QB: Matt Flynn, J. Freeman, Tebow

[Wet Ball Drill 0]

I am watching Alshon Jeffrey close to see where he lands. His stock has taken a beating, but the guy was on par with Julio and AJ in the SEC in 2010, and was a beast last year. He got ejected from the bowl game (where he was the best player on the field and was thoroughly dominating prior to the ejection) and there were some weight concerns, but he is now at his playing weight of 215. If he lands in the right spot - watch out. I am not a South Carolina fan, but I am a close follower of the SEC, and Jeffrey has the goods. Someone is getting a steal.

[scottybo 0]

Being a Giant fan, I could see who ever wins the #3 WR spot behind Nicks and Cruz having a big role. Not a star but serviceable. So far the candidates are Ramses Barden, Jerel Jernigan and Domenix Hixon.

[Matt Mueller 146]

Being a Giant fan, I could see who ever wins the #3 WR spot behind Nicks and Cruz having a big role. Not a star but serviceable. So far the candidates are Ramses Barden, Jerel Jernigan and Domenix Hixon.

 

I kinda think it'll be the te.

[Cara 0]

I still think if Tampa take a RB in this draft, he will be a major sleeper, especially if they draft one in Round Two.

 

As for other sleepers ---

 

Reggie Bush - Can't exactly call him a sleeper, but in PPR Leagues, he will be a stud. This team has nobody to catch the ball. He could end up being a super value on draft day.

 

Torrey Smith - I plan to draft him a lot this season. His potential is limitless and he has taken the #1 spot from Boldin.

 

Raiders WR's - Until it was pointed out to me how well they finished the season, I had overlooked them. I like both Moore and Heyward-Bey. Evidently many people have been sleeping on them.

 

Garcon - For where he ends up being drafted, I suspect he will be called a super value pick at the end of the season. He will be the deep guy and have some nice games.

 

Roy Helu - Haven't heard his name mentioned often, or even seen him in many rankings, but he is a threat every time he touches the ball. Draft a Shannahan RB at your own risk, but if he gets the opportunity.............

 

Fred Davis - More Washington players? Yes. Every rookie QB needs a safety valve. Fred Davis will be that guy for RGIII and I expect him to outperform MANY of the TE's taken above him. He will be a TE1 and possibly a top 6 TE.

 

Brandon LaFell - Will he finally step up this season? He very well could. If the Panthers don't draft a WR, it would seemingly indicate they believe he is ready to be a force.

 

Lance Moore - With no Meachem, I suspect Moore will get more opportunities. The defense is definitely weaker, so the offense may be throwing even more to stay in games.

 

Mike Williams (Tampa) - People are going to be reluctant to draft him now with VJax in town and after he let so many people down last season. He has always been a #2 WR and always will be. This year you can probably get him MUCH cheaper and expect a better player than you saw last season. Should be a value for where he ends up falling.

 

Steve Smith or Danny Amendola - One of these guys will have a great PPR season in St. Louis. Watch the preseason to determine who as they both do the same thing. Whoever wins the 3rd down role will be a very legit WR3 you will get for almost nothing.

 

Sydney Rice - IF he is finally healthy, he could have a great season. People will be reluctant to draft him due to his concussion and injury history. I will even be reluctant to draft him. That said, he will represent great value for where he is selected. If Flynn turns out to the be the real thing, you could get a WR2 for the price of a WR4.

[Matt Mueller 146]

Nice picks Cara. Notice how many of them are WR's? There will def be some break out's there.

 

I'm really high on Moore this year.

 

'Carson Palmer singled out Denarius Moore as one player "I could not be more excited about" for the upcoming season.

"What he did as a rookie, and he missed a handful of games, was amazing," said Palmer. "Not statistically or the numbers, but the big plays that he made in big games. Momentum-changing, game-winning plays." Moore will likely battle late-season breakout star Darrius Heyward-Bey for No. 1 receiver duties in 2012, with Jacoby Ford playing in the slot and on returns'

 

'Carson Palmer reiterated in a Friday interview that he thinks Denarius Moore is "going to be a star" in the NFL.

Palmer also said in early March that Moore was a player he "could not be more excited about" entering the 2012 season. Keep in mind Moore essentially had no offseason in 2011 due to the lockout. He exploded immediately onto the scene in training camp, however, and finished the regular season as the Raiders' leader in receiving touchdowns (five) and yards-per-catch average (18.7).'

 

Don't know anything about Lafell but I figured this was worth sharing too:

 

'According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Panthers "really like" third-year WR Brandon LaFell and believe he's "poised for a breakout."

Some observers have pointed to David Gettis' return from a torn ACL as reason to think Carolina is comfortable at receiver, but LaFell's expanded role might mean more inside the organization. The Panthers have made no attempt to re-sign free agent Legedu Naanee. LaFell, who played behind Naanee for most of last season, flashed big-play ability while leading the team in "catch rate" (64.3 percent) and averaging 17 yards per reception.'

[Matt Mueller 146]

I do wonder abou the Torrey Smith/Boldin thing though. I agree he probably has unseated Boldin as the best WR option but their stats, save on huge game 3 td game for Smith against the hapless Rams, were about the same last year.

 

Boldin: 57-887-3

Smith: 50-842-7

 

 

It was Boldin who had the better playoffs

 

Boldin 10-174-1

Smith: 4-89-1

 

 

Smith has explosiveness and age on his side for sure but if teams focus on limiting him deep, seems to be his bread and butter, I wouldn't be surprised to see the crafty veteran keep pace for another year.

 

More than anything with the Raven's usually conservative game plan and somewhat inconsistent Flacco I just don't know.

 

Sell me on Smith.

[Pavlov 0]

Weslye Saunders will have some value as a ww pickup in week 5 in deeper leagues. Assuming he gets his head on straight, he's a beast and the new OC likes using TEs in the red zone.

[ens189 1]

I kinda think it'll be the te.

 

Bennett does seem to have more athleticism to work with than either Boss or Ballard and might be able to pad the 35-45 balls Eli puts his way with some more YAC.

[stonewall 647]

I still think if Tampa take a RB in this draft, he will be a major sleeper, especially if they draft one in Round Two.

 

As for other sleepers ---

 

Reggie Bush - Can't exactly call him a sleeper, but in PPR Leagues, he will be a stud. This team has nobody to catch the ball. He could end up being a super value on draft day.

 

Torrey Smith - I plan to draft him a lot this season. His potential is limitless and he has taken the #1 spot from Boldin.

 

Raiders WR's - Until it was pointed out to me how well they finished the season, I had overlooked them. I like both Moore and Heyward-Bey. Evidently many people have been sleeping on them.

 

Garcon - For where he ends up being drafted, I suspect he will be called a super value pick at the end of the season. He will be the deep guy and have some nice games.

 

Roy Helu - Haven't heard his name mentioned often, or even seen him in many rankings, but he is a threat every time he touches the ball. Draft a Shannahan RB at your own risk, but if he gets the opportunity.............

 

Fred Davis - More Washington players? Yes. Every rookie QB needs a safety valve. Fred Davis will be that guy for RGIII and I expect him to outperform MANY of the TE's taken above him. He will be a TE1 and possibly a top 6 TE.

 

Brandon LaFell - Will he finally step up this season? He very well could. If the Panthers don't draft a WR, it would seemingly indicate they believe he is ready to be a force.

 

Lance Moore - With no Meachem, I suspect Moore will get more opportunities. The defense is definitely weaker, so the offense may be throwing even more to stay in games.

 

Mike Williams (Tampa) - People are going to be reluctant to draft him now with VJax in town and after he let so many people down last season. He has always been a #2 WR and always will be. This year you can probably get him MUCH cheaper and expect a better player than you saw last season. Should be a value for where he ends up falling.

 

Steve Smith or Danny Amendola - One of these guys will have a great PPR season in St. Louis. Watch the preseason to determine who as they both do the same thing. Whoever wins the 3rd down role will be a very legit WR3 you will get for almost nothing.

 

Sydney Rice - IF he is finally healthy, he could have a great season. People will be reluctant to draft him due to his concussion and injury history. I will even be reluctant to draft him. That said, he will represent great value for where he is selected. If Flynn turns out to the be the real thing, you could get a WR2 for the price of a WR4.

 

Well done and duly noted.

 

 

I would add:

 

-Malcolm Floyd - With VJ outta town, it will be the Floyd-show. He proved last season that he was legit, and will build on that in 2012 being Rivers WR1. Currently the 113th player off the board = VALUE.

 

-Brandon Lloyd - I am sure that his stock will continue to rise, but he will be a major playmaker for Brady as D's strive futilely to cover Gronk and Welker.

 

-Laurent Robinson - Eisenberg has him as #130 off the board. Last year was no fluke. He will be the lone bright spot at WR for the Jags. yes, please.

 

-Kevin Smith - IF the man can stay healthy, he will be a steal at his current ADP (152nd player in redrafts). Best and Leshoure will struggle to stay on the field, and with Staffords passing attack, Smith will get his chance to shine.

 

-Fred Jackson - Have we forgotten what this man did before going down? He was literally unstoppable. I know that many will wait for better value with Spiller....but I am not sold. Spiller is better suited as a 3rd down/pass-catching back, and will not out-shine the veteran Jackson.

 

-Hillis - He is STILL a Beast. Charles is shaky, at best, with his high price on draft day. Hillis is getting drafted in the 85th-90th range, after guys like Gerhart....and he is not done busting heads, as he showed the Ravens on Christmas Eve with 24/112 (4.7 average).

[Doozer 0]

Taiwan Jones, Kendall Hunter, Shane Vereen, CJ Spiller, Titus Young

[DrG 94]

Whomever in Cleveland not named montario at rb

[Woosters 1]

I have seen lots of chatter about the Oakland WR's lately...

 

I am thinking Carson Palmer has a career year!

 

DHB, Moore, Ford, Murphy, T.Jones, McFadden....I bet they draft a top TE or aquire a top free agent TE this week.

[Kent 228]

Hillis.

 

Now gets to run against Denver, Oak, and SD. Jamal on the mend. Hillis might go under the radar.

[ShaneFalco 0]

A few guys from "nowhere"

 

QB: Josh Johnson: been in this league a while, but has always has had quite a bit of potential. Lead NCAAs in passing efficiency under Harbaugh at San Diego, and 49ers haven't exactly shown a ton of confidence in Smith. I wouldn't be shocked if he beats out Kaep and Smith in camp and has a solid year.

 

RB: Mario Fannin: Ran the fastest 40 of all rookies last season, looked really good in camp, and then landed on IR. Whispers that he will have a large role this season in Denver. McGahee is 31 and I would be shocked if he carried the load all season like last year. Moreno has been a bust. Look out if Denver doesn't take a RB early.

 

WR: David Gettis: Looked good as a rookie, then tore his ACL in his second season. Has prototypical size/speed. Cam Newton in progressing, Steve Smith had a career year but is aging and has been injured in the past. LaFell is solid but is more of a possession WR, IMHO. Newton can sling it deep.

 

WR: Golden Tate: Seattle finally has a decent QB in Flynn, and Tate is a post-hype sleeper entering the "magic" 3rd year in the league. Has probably the best hands in the league and improved down the stretch last season. He'll have a starting opportunity this season aside the oft-injured Sidney Rice.

 

TE: Rob Housler: Kolb loves utilizing TEs, and Housler has the speed to be a difference-maker in the middle, which should be open with Fitz roaming the outside. Behind the aging Heap and the blocking specialist King, Housler could perform this year.

 

TE: Martellus Bennett: Always has had a ton of potential, but was stuck behind a future HOF in Dallas and has had immaturity problems. Goes to a team with more discipline/structure than perhaps any in the NFL, along with a widely respected TE coach. Eli can utilize TEs, but hasn't had a consitent option there since Shockey left.