Fantasy football - the only male fantasy that we can openly talk about, is in full swing. So here's my top-5 for 2012-2013.
1. Ray Rice (RB, Baltimore Ravens): Stud running backs are scarce in this draft and they don't come any more reliable than Ray Rice. He is young, in his prime, and is on a really good team. While there is some concern about him losing motivation because of his recent long-term contract, I think he is too mature and smart to let that happen. On the field, he is a true workhorse. He is also a good receiver and should easily come close to his production last year - around 2000 yards and 15 TDs combined. He doesn't have a whole lot of competition for carries either. Ravens mostly serve rice with very few sides in that backfield.
2. Arian Foster (RB, Houston Texans): This guy did in 13 games last season (1841 combined yards and 12 TDs) what most top running backs struggled to do in 16. A prolific receiver and a scorer in addition to being a great runner, Foster gives you everything. This vegan hurricane will be sweeping through Houston this fall as usual. Being in the AFC-"Rebuilding" division where the other 3 teams are starting a first or second year QB, Texans will have a successful season that bodes well for Foster. This division may be so easy that Foster will not be required to do a whole lot - especially since he has a capable backup in Ben Tate. This is the only reason he is ranked second and not first in this list.
2. LeSean McCoy (RB, Houston Texans): "Shady" McMcoy was one guy who played like a true dream teamer in that Eagles team last year. While I personally think it's sacrilege to compare him - or anybody else, to Barry Sanders, "Shady" is definitely the only one among today's RBs to come close to creating poetry in motion. He is explosive, shifty and is a TD threat every time he touches the ball. Sharing the backfield with Mike Vick should be a cause for concern when it comes to red-zone touches, but McCoy still scored 20 times last season and his rushing and receiving yardage total of more than 1600 yards wasn't too shabby either. With Vick being a year older and smarter, I would draft LeSean McCoy without any concern.
4. Aaron Rodgers (QB, Green Bay Packers): The NFL is more QB friendly today than it has ever been and this means the top-tier QBs are valued even more than in the past. And of course A-Rod is at the top of the heap. He has been top 2 in fantasy points per game in each of the 4 years he has started for the Packers. There is no indication that his production will come down this year and if the Packers' running game improves even a little bit, A-Rod should be even more lethal. A better division will also push him and you as his fantasy owner will benefit the most from it.
5. Drew Brees (QB, New Orleans Saints): The only thing better than Drew Brees might be an angrier, more motivated Drew Brees. He is angered by bounty-gate and the year-long suspension of his head coach and friend. And he is also motivated to live up to a new 100 million dollar contract that his own front office seemed to doubt if he deserved more than the rest of the world. It would be hard to match his 2011 numbers when he obliterated Dan Marino's record, but I would never put anything past this guy. In Jimmy Graham, the Superdome, and a loaded backfield, he has some amazing sidekicks and it's going to be another offensive juggernaut on display in the Big Easy.
Sleeper
Titus Young (WR, Detroit Lions): Two words - Madden Curse. The Detroit Lions have a lot of things going for them. A great offense, a stud QB, and Calvin Johnson. But Calvin Johnson is also on the cover of Madden 2013 and this means that he is probably going to have an underwhelming season. There is a reason why so many Green Bay Packers fans were voting for Calvin Johnson over their own Aaron Rodgers to be on the Madden cover earlier this year. You may call it superstition, I call it self preservation. Somebody still has to catch those rockets fired by Stafford. That will be Titus Young.
1. Ray Rice (RB, Baltimore Ravens): Stud running backs are scarce in this draft and they don't come any more reliable than Ray Rice. He is young, in his prime, and is on a really good team. While there is some concern about him losing motivation because of his recent long-term contract, I think he is too mature and smart to let that happen. On the field, he is a true workhorse. He is also a good receiver and should easily come close to his production last year - around 2000 yards and 15 TDs combined. He doesn't have a whole lot of competition for carries either. Ravens mostly serve rice with very few sides in that backfield.
2. Arian Foster (RB, Houston Texans): This guy did in 13 games last season (1841 combined yards and 12 TDs) what most top running backs struggled to do in 16. A prolific receiver and a scorer in addition to being a great runner, Foster gives you everything. This vegan hurricane will be sweeping through Houston this fall as usual. Being in the AFC-"Rebuilding" division where the other 3 teams are starting a first or second year QB, Texans will have a successful season that bodes well for Foster. This division may be so easy that Foster will not be required to do a whole lot - especially since he has a capable backup in Ben Tate. This is the only reason he is ranked second and not first in this list.
2. LeSean McCoy (RB, Houston Texans): "Shady" McMcoy was one guy who played like a true dream teamer in that Eagles team last year. While I personally think it's sacrilege to compare him - or anybody else, to Barry Sanders, "Shady" is definitely the only one among today's RBs to come close to creating poetry in motion. He is explosive, shifty and is a TD threat every time he touches the ball. Sharing the backfield with Mike Vick should be a cause for concern when it comes to red-zone touches, but McCoy still scored 20 times last season and his rushing and receiving yardage total of more than 1600 yards wasn't too shabby either. With Vick being a year older and smarter, I would draft LeSean McCoy without any concern.
4. Aaron Rodgers (QB, Green Bay Packers): The NFL is more QB friendly today than it has ever been and this means the top-tier QBs are valued even more than in the past. And of course A-Rod is at the top of the heap. He has been top 2 in fantasy points per game in each of the 4 years he has started for the Packers. There is no indication that his production will come down this year and if the Packers' running game improves even a little bit, A-Rod should be even more lethal. A better division will also push him and you as his fantasy owner will benefit the most from it.
5. Drew Brees (QB, New Orleans Saints): The only thing better than Drew Brees might be an angrier, more motivated Drew Brees. He is angered by bounty-gate and the year-long suspension of his head coach and friend. And he is also motivated to live up to a new 100 million dollar contract that his own front office seemed to doubt if he deserved more than the rest of the world. It would be hard to match his 2011 numbers when he obliterated Dan Marino's record, but I would never put anything past this guy. In Jimmy Graham, the Superdome, and a loaded backfield, he has some amazing sidekicks and it's going to be another offensive juggernaut on display in the Big Easy.
Sleeper
Titus Young (WR, Detroit Lions): Two words - Madden Curse. The Detroit Lions have a lot of things going for them. A great offense, a stud QB, and Calvin Johnson. But Calvin Johnson is also on the cover of Madden 2013 and this means that he is probably going to have an underwhelming season. There is a reason why so many Green Bay Packers fans were voting for Calvin Johnson over their own Aaron Rodgers to be on the Madden cover earlier this year. You may call it superstition, I call it self preservation. Somebody still has to catch those rockets fired by Stafford. That will be Titus Young.
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