Although it seems like it was just the other day that the 49ers were choking away the Superbowl, here we are with another season upon us. More importantly (at least for some), it’s the start of a new fantasy football season. In short, it is the chance to get in arguments with your friends, ignore your family on Sundays (and Monday night), have your production at work by exactly half and all around blow tens to hundreds of hours over a prize pool of $500.00. What a time to be alive.
In any event here are my thoughts for the 2013 season.
QUARTERBACK
If I have one piece of advice surrounding the Quarterback position it is this; Don’t believe the Hype. Although the talent pool might be deeper, there are still only three premiere quarterbacks in fantasy football today and their names are Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady. After you should be aware that there is significant drop to the next tier of quarterbacks and after that an even steeper drop in terms of both production and reliability. And while I am not saying that Colin Kapernick or Cam Newton will not put up numbers, but in taking them know that they, like most mobile quarterbacks will be prone to injury, bad decision making and tremendous inconsistency.
TIER 1
Brew Brees
Aaron Rodgers
TIER 2
Tom Brady
TIER 3
Matt Ryan
Tony Romo
Peyton Manning
TIER 4
Joe Flacco
Jay Cutler
TIER 5
RG3
Colin Kapernick
Cam Newton
Sleeper: Andrew Luck Bust: Colin Capernick
RUNNING BACK
Although there is a lot of talent at the running back position, unless you have the first pick in your draft and land Adrian Peterson, your expectations in terms of the #2 through #7 picks at running back should not be all that different. As I always advocate, running back is the diciest position in fantasy football and you should be wary putting a lot of stock into the position for three very good reasons 1) injury 2) inconsistency year-to-year 3) the dreaded (but increasingly popular) running back by committee. As such always remember that when it comes to fantasy football running backs, like they say in 1L, Caveat Emptor pal. But on the flipside, what that means is that your flyers should consist of some handy handcuffs of some of the more injury prone backs like C.J. Spiller, Arian Foster, DeMarco Murray and Maurice Jones-Drew.
TIER 1
Adrian Peterson
TIER 2
Marshawn Lynch
Ray Rice
LeSean McCoy
TIER 3
Arian Foster
C.J. Spiller
Doug Martin
TIER 4
Steven Ridley
Trent Richardson
Jamal Charles
TIER 5
Alfred Morris
MJD
Matt Forte
TIER 6
Darren McFadden
Sleeper: Justin Forsett, DeMarco Murray, Lance Dunbar Bust: Frank Gore, Montee Ball
WIDE RECIEVER
Given my propensity to favour the air, naturally it is here where I would be telling you to spend your mid-round draft picks or, in the case of an auction draft, your hard earned fantasy dollars. While the talent pool is deep, like quarterback, there is a significant drop off after the top 3 to 4 guys. However, unlike quarterback, if you are smart and draft/spend well even late, you can still get very decent talent for your squad.
TIER 1
Calvin Johnson
TIER 2
Dez Bryant
Julio Jones
A.J. Green
TIER 3
Roddy White
Andre Johnson
Vincent Jackson
Tier 4
Larry Fitzgerald
Reggie Wayne
Mike Wallace
Danny Amendola
Marques Colston
Tier 5
Wes Welker
Demarius Thomas
Tier 6
James Jones
Randall Cobb
Jordy Nelson
TIER 7
Victor Cruz
Brandon Marshall
Hakeem Nicks
Antonio Brown
Pierre Garcon
Sleeper: DeSean Jackson, Stevie Johnson, Torrey Smith, Greg Jennings, Percy Harvin, Terrance Williams
Bust: Eric Decker, Cecil Shorts
TIGHT END
The best kept secret about this year is the following; tight-end is the make or break position for your league. Almost every league in fantasy has a spot dedicated year-in, year-out dedicated to the tight-end spot. Usually people do not pay much mind to filling spot, and figure that there is a ton of talent at the position and almost anyone will do. These people could not be more wrong. Just like quarterback, you only get one tight end in most leagues, and as such a solid TE can be all the difference given that a super-solid tight-end like Jimmy Graham will get almost double the production out of the roster spot then a solid tight-end like Owen Daniels. As such heed my advice and snatch up a good TE while you can because this year, perhaps more than in recent memory they are rare.
TIER 1
Jimmy Graham
TIER 2
Jason Whitten
Tony Gonzalez
TIER 3
Rob Gronkowski (due to injury)
TIER 4
Vernon Davis
TIER 5
Kyle Rudolph
TIER 6
Owen Daniels
Jermichael Finley
Greg Olsen
Sleeper: Health Miller, Jordan Cameron, Heath Miller, Jared Cook Bust: Fred Davis, Martellus Bennett
