Ten Early Questions For Next Years Fantasy Season
By: Carlo Rivieccio
With the 2012 Fantasy season having closed a few weeks ago, and the NFL playoffs underway, I’d like to take a moment and pose some of the questions that every team owner needs to start asking themselves,
1) Is Michael Crabtree a #1 reciever
2012 was the breakout year from Mr. Crabtree, rewarding a lot of fantasy owners who picked him up late with some pretty good results. Hauling in 1,105 yards (14th among WR) on 85 catches (11th) and 9 TD’s (10th). Even better his numbers didn’t spike when Kaepernick showed up, getting 595 yards and 5 TD’s on 66 targets. You’ll notice that’s all in and around half of his stats in almost half of the games. However he’s way too inconsistent to be a true number 1 Fantasy wideout. He had 7 games with under 70 yards and no touchdowns (though only 2 with Kaepernick). That’s too many games under 7 points.
He’s the number 1 receiver in San Francisco but can not be the number 1 on your team. Draft him as a solid number 2 WR.
2) Has Golden Tate made the leap from “who” to a # 2
Golden Tate didn’t quite have a breakout year, but did have a respectable 7 TD’s in 15 games. But he also had 688 yards on 45 catches. His opposite receiver, Sidney Rice also had 7 TD’s but with 50 catches and 748 yards. Additionally, Tate only had 1 – 100 yard game, in week 17 against the Rams. He did grab 6 catches for 103 yards and a score against Atlanta in the Divisional round of the Playoffs but only after posting 4 catches for 35yards against the Redskins (!) in the wild card round.
Even if he leaps Sidney Rice as the first option in Seattle, passing at all might be the 4th option after Lynch Left, Lynch Right, Lynch Middle and Wilson Run. He is at best a Flex option. Let someone else grab him early.
3) Can we finally stop wasting high picks on Michael Turner?
The Burner no more. While some will say the 800 yards is an aberration and he had 1,300 yards in 2011, I must heed to the advice of Sage Steve Caronia and say “WATCH THE GAMES.” Ten touchdowns are nice, but you can’t rely on those. Mike Tolbert had 7 and you ain’t drafting him.
Short Answer, Yes. Long Answer. Absolutely.
4) If Dustin Keller leaves and Mark Sanchez starts, will any offensive Jet be worth having?
It would depend on how the off season goes. Do they draft another receiver who can’t catch? Do they get a good running back? Do they tell Mark Sanchez that he may as well stop worrying and just have fun since everyone hates him?
Maybe Their Kicker. Nope.
5) Can Alex Smith have real value outside of San Francisco?
He was a number one pick after all. And once he got a coach who knew how to handle Quarterbacks (which also coincided with the team being great) he became a competent game-managing QB. Accurate and protective of the ball, if you were in a league which rewards accuracy, he was a good person to have. A lot of things will have to break right though, for his success to continue. Mostly, teams that need to trade for a quarterback are often not very good, and doubtful that he gets an HC that can be the Quarterback Whisperer that Harbaugh was.
If you are feeling lucky, take him late as your second QB. Otherwise, sit out.
6) Have we seen the last of Andre Johnson being Andre Johnson?
If you look at the numbers, 1,598 yards (2nd) on 112 catches (4th) with 164 targets (5th), things look good. But as as Alicia Silverstone said “It’s a full on Monet.” Up close those numbers get really skewed. 753 of those yards, 74 of those targets and 54 of those catches came in just 5 games (two overtime games and two against the Colts and one against the Lions). He also only grabbed 4 touchdowns. He also had 5 games where he was held to under 60 yards. The young Andre Johnson, the Andre Johnson who hit beat the snot out of Cortland Finnegan would never be a non factor in 5 games.
The yards may have been there but there was a lot of smoke and mirrors. He’s no longer a #1 stud WR, and may slip further during next season.
7) Will Greg Jennings, if healthy, have the same value if he’s not a Packer
He succeeded with Favre. He Succeeded with Rodgers. But if there’s one thing his injury proved, it’s that Green Bay doesn’t need him.
If he leaves Green Bay, his value will be tied to his QB. If he winds up trying to catch knuckleballs from Tim Tebow in Jacksonville, forget it, but if he catches on in New England…
8) Can Gronkowski be trusted?
Two breaks. One Arm. Bad luck. He missed time last year due to injury and was not himself in the Super Bowl. He missed significant time this year. You know what, who cares. You take him. You take 10 games of him and be happy because those 10 will be better than all 16 from most other guys.
Maybe you take Jimmy Graham first, but a one armed Gronk is still better than a three armed Pettigrew.
9) Will RGIII be next years’ Adrian Peterson, or next years’ “every other guy who wrecked his knee and didn’t come back and have his greatest season ever”
RGIII may not even play a full season, if he can play at all. But let’s say he’s ready week 1 next season. You already know he’s probably missing one or two games just from usual wear and tear on mobile QB’s bodies. But his mobility may not be what it was. And if he’s hobbled, will Kirk Cousins still be there, ready? And if he’s hobbled does that wreck the passing game?
We have 8 months to wait and see, but If I were a betting man, I doubt he can emulate Peterson.
10) If he’s starting, do You want to be the guy owns Michael Vick?
I’m calling it – Vick goes to Kansas City to be with Andy Reid. So in other words.
No. No. No. No. No. No.
To contact Carlo or any other AFRSports columnist, please E-Mail: Contact@AFRSports.com
Comments
Get With The AFR Program!
