By: Zach Jacobson
With football season looming just around the corner, I'm here to guide you to players that could, quite frankly, lead you to the playoffs, or at the very least make your bench look nice. I'll be using ESPN's ADP (Average Draft Position) to show where players are normally going, along with how many players of the same position are going before them.
Quarterbacks
Matt Stafford, DET: He's going way too late on almost all fantasy platforms. I get the "privilege" of watching the Lions play every week, and whenever Stafford is healthy he is phenomenal for still being somewhat of a rookie (only played in 13 games in two years). If you extend those 13 games out to a full season, Stafford's projections show almost 3,500 yards and over 23 TDs. That's by far good enough to be a fantasy backup, and gives him enough upside for you to feel safe taking Matthew and his glass shoulder in round 10.
ADP: 116.4 (QB 17)
Running Backs
Ryan Grant, GB: As a Packer's fan I may be a bit biased on this one, but even my rational side tells me to draft Grant in almost all my mock drafts. I keep hearing talk off injury concerns, but last year he suffered his first major football related injury. He did miss his first couple seasons as a pro, but that was the effect of his arm going through multiple champagne glasses and the tendons in his arm being shredded. This chatter of him being in a committee with James Starks is hogwash, Grant is the clear-cut running back in Green Bay. With Aaron Rodgers getting more respect from defensive coordinators as an elite QB, the running game should open up for Ryan Grant.
ADP: 64.8 (RB 27)
Shane Vereen, NE: This isn't so much of a steal, it's more of a, "Hey this guy is available in the last rounds of all drafts and maybe even off the waiver wire" kind of suggestion. In 10 team leagues Vereen isn't even being drafted, so I don't see much risk to picking him up. BenJarvus Green-Ellis doesn't exactly get my motor going, and Danny Woodhead is so small there's no way he gets an extreme amount of carries. I really like Vereen's skill set and think he may be able to be your first RB off the bench late in the season, a spot that is well worth a last round pick.
ADP: 170+ (RB 60)
Wide Receivers
Brandon Marshall: He's being drafted in the 6th and 7th rounds, when really I'd feel comfortable, and maybe slightly uncertain, putting him in my #1 WR spot. He's a low-end #1 for sure, but when Marshall's being drafted like a low-end #2 he's worth a spot on your roster. The source of his fantasy woes last year were the lack of touchdowns (only 3), even though he was targeted 130+ times in 14 games. Touchdowns are impossible to predict, which means his production is almost sure to rise in 2011. Marshall's chemistry with his team and quarterback is only going to improve going into this year, and I can see him finishing as a top 10 WR.
ADP: 63.5 (WR 22)
Who Didn't Crack the List
These are still guys that I really like, they just didn't make it onto the top few sleepers/steals.
Austin Collie: ADP: 73.0 (WR 27)
Anquan Boldin: ADP: 69.8 (WR 24)
Rashad Jennings: ADP: 143.6 (RB 53) Follow Zach on Twitter @Zatchj62
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