OK everybody; it is almost time for the greatest time in the world. It is almost fantasy football season. Hooray. The last few months have been interesting and exciting with all of the offseason moves. Today, I took the time to go through some fantasy football rankings to bring a list of overrated/underrated players at each position.
Quarterback
Overrated- Robert Griffin III
Underrated- Jay Cutler
Ok, I think highly of RG3, but many lists have him within the top 15 as a quarterback. That is too high for a rookie quarterback, and the Redskins have struggled with their offense over the last few seasons. They have added some weapons for him, so the offense should be better than last season. He could even end the season within the top fifteen. It is questionable to take a rookie that high.
On the other hand, Jay Cutler should have a really good season. He might approach the top five quarterbacks for stats with the weapons the team has added for him. Bringing in Brandon Marshal is a huge upgrade at wide receiver. Matt Forte is amazing, and adding Michael Bush will help take some pressure off of Forte in the running game. Oh, and with the addition of Marshal, the other wide receivers will get better. I expect Earl Bennett, Johnny Knox, and Devin Hester could have career years. Alshon Jeffrey is a sleeper for this team too. He is a big target, and could be a big threat in the red zone.
Running back
Overrated- Ryan Matthews
Underrated- Darren McFadden
Ryan Matthews has had injury issues, so to be considered one of the top five running backs is bit presumptuous. He averaged 10 points per game last season.
Darren McFadden has injury concerns as well, but he is only being listed as a top 15 running backs with some within around the top 20 range. He averaged over 16 points per game in the six games he played. If he stays healthy, he can be the best in the league. It is wishful, but a second round pick could be a steal.
Wide Receiver
Overrated- Wes Welker
Underrated- Brandon Lloyd
Brandon Lloyd is a big time threat added to the offense. Tom Brady will love having a deep threat like Lloyd. With him added to the offense, this will mean less targets for Welker. Welker should still be a top 15 guy, but so will Lloyd. Welker is targeted in the top 5; Lloyd is rated around the twenty range.
Tight End
Overrated- Tony Gonzalez
Underrated- Jacob Tamme
Gonzalez is not overrated on talent, but have to deal with the abilities of the others on the offense. I see big things happening with Julio Jones and Roddy White. It is just a lack of targets that will limit Gonzalez.
Tamme is easy, Peyton Manning. If Manning is going to have a big year, Tamme will be a top target for Manning, moving him into the top 5 to 10 range for tight ends.
Defense/ Special teams
Overrated- Steelers
Underrated- Rams
Pittsburgh does not have an elite returner, and the defense is aging. Pass rush will be elite, and the run defense will be great, but the secondary is questionable. I don’t know if they are top 5 scoring fantasy scoring defense.
Rams on the other hand are rated outside the top 20 right now, but could be a serviceable defense this year. Cortland Finnegan is a huge addition, and Brockers was a talented defensive tackle they got in the draft. Jeff Fisher is a great defensive mind. They could be in the top 15 range at seasons end.
Kickers
Overrated- David Akers
Underrated- Nate Kaeding
Akers is projected in the 14th round, and there is not a kicker worth taken prior to the last round of a draft.
Kaeding before last season was considered a top 3 kicker in the NFL, now he is projected in the top 15. I get the injury, but the offense is talented, and will easily be a top 5 guy when it is all said and done.
What is wrong with everyone?!
Go look at how receivers not named Moss or Welker have done during McDaniels first run with the Pats. See 1,000 yards anywhere? Also, while Lloyd’s QBs were bad in SF, Marc Brunell following comeback player of the year, Jason Campbell and Kyle Orton are about as average as you can get. Not bad. AVERAGE. Now go look at Brand Lloyd’s numbers for the nine years that weren’t 2010. It is horrific. Also, how does having bad QBs justify consistently being the 3-5 most productive pass catcher on your own team? Other players were managing to do something. Guys like Cedric Wilson, Eric Johnson and the corpse of Curtis Conway(!) were better than him.