Category — Fantasy Football Tips

With the dogfighting allegations and more recently his indictment, Michael Vick is being dropped down on owners’ draft boards.

Don’t let him drop off yours.

Speaking from a statistical standpoint, if Vick avoids injury you can expect him to put up great numbers. While they may not be consistent, they will make him a decent starting quarterback and a strong number two on your team’s depth chart.

Last season he managed to finish fourth among all quarterbacks in fantasy points. The season before he finished 10th and before that 12th. Assuming your league has 12 teams, Vick would have been a worthy starter each of those seasons.

Now, moving on from the numbers game, you’re probably asking, What about his suspension?

Some players who break out are passed over each year. Maybe it’s because owners aren’t informed that the player just received the starting spot or maybe they anticipate the player to be average. Whatever the reason, you can look like a fantasy god if you find the right pick at the right time.

Below is a top 10 of the players I believe are currently undervalued by most fantasy publications/owners for one reason or another.

10. Donovan McNabb — McNabb is one of the most dominant fantasy quarterbacks when he’s healthy. But everyone is bracing for him to experience yet another injury. Good news for you because if he isn’t he’ll put up 250+ yards and 2 touchdowns every game he suits up in 2007.

Can someone please explain to me how it is that Larry Johnson is being passed over in fantasy drafts in favor of the likes of Joseph Addai, Frank Gore, and others? How is it that a running back who finished number two overall in fantasy points each of the past two seasons is being ignored by the number two fantasy pick in most drafts and sometimes the number three pick?

Let’s take a look at the three primary arguments against drafting Johnson:

Entering the NFL being compared to the great Gale Sayers, Reggie Bush had a lot to live up to last season. And while he may not have been another Sayers, he did add a threatening aspect to the offense.

Despite being drafted as a running back, it’s difficult to categorize Bush. He can line up at wide receiver, in the backfield, or returning punts; but the best part is, he’s a threat to score on any given play in each of those roles.

Be it catching the football (he did that 88 times last season to rank 10th in the league) or carrying it out of the backfield (he scored 5 touchdowns on the ground in the Saints final five games of the season, despite carrying only 46 times), Bush is a player who can fill any role his team needs him to and do so effectively.

But does that make him worthy of your first round pick? Let’s dig a little deeper to find out.

If you’re a frequent reader of my blog, you’ll have noticed the updated-daily portion of this site’s sidebar. Aptly titled, the Mock Draft I am participating in is with some fellow bloggers, all of whom have a strong interest — and knowledge — regarding fantasy football.

Already, the first nine picks have come and gone with 7 running backs and 2 quarterbacks off the board. Ordinarily, you might not see 2 quarterbacks drafted within the first 9 picks of a draft, but this particular league (set up by The Hazean) awards six points for each passing touchdown. And given the nature of quarterbacks like Carson Palmer and Peyton Manning, six points per touchdown adds up very fast.

All this leaves me with the 10th pick.

Several big-name running backs exchanged jerseys this offseason and all will be starters with their new squad. But which are poised to break out? And just as importantly, which should be avoided?

Oakland’s starting running back last season, LaMont Jordan, can look forward to resuming that role for the team’s first four games of the regular season.

Dominic Rhodes was expected to be the team’s starter for 2007, given his natural fit in the team’s new blocking scheme. Unfortunately, the Raiders revealed today that he has been suspended without pay for Oakland’s first four games of the season for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.

Three notable quarterbacks have found themselves wearing different uniforms for the first time in years. Through trades, these quarterbacks have been shown the door by their teams.

While one wanted to say goodbye (Trent Green), another had his starting role eliminated and he’ll be starting back at square one, fighting for a starting spot with his new team (David Carr, featured in picture). But the latter’s departure opened the door for a third quarterback, Matt Schaub, who will, for the first time, be in a starting role that is his to lose.

Two of those players have been given a starting spot; the third has the potential to start at some point in the season, whether or not injury befalls the starter.

The question to ask at this point is, which, if any, do you I draft? Where do they fall among other starters?

With those two questions in mind, let’s see which of the three you should draft and which you should pass on.

When you walk into your fantasy football draft you should have a few things with you. The first is a notebook or something else to mark what — not the “who,” you should be more concerned with positions being drafted — others are drafting (I’m hoping to release a sweet tool that makes that easy; I use one, but I’m going to make it available to you soon).

You should also have handy a list of players, ranked — what you’re reading — and a sharpie to cross off those who are drafted.

Below is a list of who I believe the top 20 quarterbacks will be

No NFL rookie entered the draft in 2007 with more hype than Calvin Johnson. His uncanny combination of size and speed makes him a constant threat and someone who can stretch the field. He’s another Randy Moss or Terrell Owens — without the baggage.

And he was drafted by the Detroit Lions, a team with an improving offense that should make use of Johnson’s skills. Playing opposite Roy Williams should allow Johnson some room to work because both players are dangerous if left open.

He also has the added advantage of playing with a veteran quarterback, Jon Kitna. Kitna isn’t new to playing with talented, young receivers. Remember, in Cincinnati he threw passes to both Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh, not to mention players who went “bust” like Peter Warrick.

But how much can Johnson really produce from a fantasy perspective?