When compiling my rankings, I took several things into account but one thing that can’t be overlooked is the age and long term potential of a player. When building your dynasty team, it is just as important to look at your quarterback’s potential for years ahead as well as their immediate potential and find a balance between the two. For instance, Peyton Manning has the immediate potential to be the top fantasy scoring passer this year but you might not get muck more than a couple years out of the veteran. Compare that to up and comer Russell Wilson that could post similar numbers but with this being his second year you could have your franchise quarterback locked up for the next 10-12 years. You also need to observe the back up situation for aging quarterbacks and what type offense the back up will be stepping into. With this being said, there are very different opinions on how to rank dynasty players, especially quarterbacks, so lets take a look at my top 60 for 2013 and feel free to comment on players you feel should be lower or higher and why.

Welp, it finally happened.  After years of ‘James Jones, 20xx fantasy football sleeper’ posts and much gnashing of teeth, the fantasy football world was introduced to a top twenty wide receiver finish from James in 2012.  But much like Mickey Rourke’s career rebound we all have to ask ourselves ‘will it last’?  You see, it’s just downright hard to trust a player who scored 37% of his fantasy points in a PPR league off of touchdowns to repeat that feat in the following year, especially when they’re a wide receiver.  But let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves.  We have some evaluation to do before we kick this breakout season to the curb and call it dead.  So let’s see what happened in 2012 for James Jones and see what, if any, of it can translate to 2013 fantasy football…

Weeks 1-4: 16 rec, 23 targets, 191 receiving yards, 3 touchdowns, 45.1 total points – This was the start of a nice little touchdown run by James Jones that rolled into weeks 5 and 6 after scoring 2 touchdowns on New Orleans to round out the first four weeks.  Of course, his 4 catch 81 yard and 1 score performance against the 49ers to start the year was also nice but I’m sure anyone who owned him during this stretch didn’t know when to start him.  He followed up his great game against SF with negative yardage and 2 catches against an equally intimidating Bears defense.  In this 4 game span, 39.9% of his fantasy points were scored via touchdown.

Weeks 5-9: 20 rec, 33 targets, 210 receiving yards, 4 touchdowns, 55 total points – This was a great stretch of the season for Jones during these 4 weeks as he scored a minimum of 8 points in all 4 games and had the previously mentioned multi-touchdown streak from weeks 4 thru 6.  To no one’s surprise, a huge assist to Jones’ emergence is Greg Jennings going down with injury in week 4 to start this string of success.  During this span, 43.5% of Jones’ fantasy relevance hinges on two weeks that had a combined 4 touchdowns.

Weeks 10-13: 8 rec, 13 targets, 134 receiving yards, 2 touchdowns, 29.4 total points – The injury imp got to Jones in week 11 vs Detroit which cut short his week then and he didn’t play in week 12 so we’re really looking at 2 1/2 games of production here.  Again, the percentage of touchdowns as fantasy points is high for James in this string as well, accounting for 40.8% of his points.

Weeks 14-17: 20 rec, 29 targets, 249 receiving yards, 5 touchdowns, 64.9 total points – Clearly, Jones ended the season well posting his biggest 4 week fantasy output on the year.  Even with his no-show against the Lions, Jones averaged 16.225 fantasy points per game in this stretch which – if done over a full season – would’ve put him as a low-end WR1 for total points.  Again, touchdowns were the big thing here as James scored a whopping 46.2% of his fantasy points off of his 5 touchdowns.

Conclusion: I’m surprised to say this but I’m actually torn here and before you scoff, let’s look over the positives (the touchdowns) that I called negatives and see if we can put a positive spin on them.  It’s not like we haven’t seen a wide receiver score a lot of touchdowns for Green Bay in the past seemingly out of nowhere.  We only have to go back to 2011 and Jordy Nelson’s fine 15 touchdown season to prove that.  So James averaging almost a touchdown a game isn’t a crazy thing in and of itself, especially when you consider the talent at QB for the Packers.  Also factor in that Greg Jennings is now a Viking in 2013, there is room for optimism concerning Jones to provide decent value in 2013 even without any improvement on his part.  I think the only thing that’ll keep me from drafting Jones this year will be how many fantasy schmucks who draft him in 2013 because of his 2012 numbers.  Touchdowns, much like your girlfriend during that special time of the month, are fickle.  If you don’t believe me, just ask owners of Johnson and Johnson.  No not the company, Calvin and Andre as they combined for 9 touchdowns on the year.  All this to say, I think Jones can repeat most of his numbers in 2013 but I wouldn’t bet that he comes close to the touchdowns even if it was with your money.  There’s good value here in 2013 if it falls to you, I just have big doubts it will.

Projections: 68 rec, 850 rec yards, 0 rushing yards, 8 total touchdowns

From a fantasy perspective, this year’s draft doesn’t have anyone who is likely to match Luke Kuechly’s LB1 output in 2012. In fact, we’ll be lucky to see something like Vontaze Burfict’s LB24 finish. The top talent is probably at Defensive Tackle, and while the big boys are vital to a team’s defensive success, they don’t tend to have much of an impact in IDP leagues that don’t require their presence.

But that doesn’t mean we won’t have any impact rookies this year, it just may take some time to figure out who they are. Here is a look at each position and how relevant the rookies will be in 2013 IDP leagues.

Defensive Tackle

Arguably the most loaded position in the draft, these mammoths are rarely rosterable in IDP leagues unless it is mandatory to start a DT. Even then, rookie D-Tackles struggle to stay on the field for three downs, and most play limited snaps. My favorite DT in the draft was Sheldon Richardson, but he’ll likely line up as a 3-4 DE for the Jets, so that leaves Star Lotuleli, Sharrif Floyd, Sylvester Williams, and Jordan Hill as the most relevant names.

Of that group I like Star’s talent the most, and his ability to get tackles will likely make him the most consistent producer over his career. In terms of situation, Floyd has a dream landing spot in Minnesota. He will take over between Jared Allen and Kevin Williams, a slot that Pat Williams patrolled for years that included about 50 tackles and 2 sacks per year, as well as one very eventful cruise on Lake Minnetonka. Williams and Hill have also found good spots in Denver and Seattle respectively, but I’ll need to see production before I deem either of them rosterable in 2013.

Defensive End

The D-End position became an interesting one after the draft. My top pre-draft DT (Richardson) and OLB (Dion Jordan) both got picked by teams who will likely use them at DE, and many of the top DE prospects joined already solid pass-rushing units, turning this year’s crop into a potential big play gold mine.

Dion Jordan – Miami clearly knew what they wanted, passing up other needs at LT and CB to take Jordan at #3 overall. He’ll line up opposite Cameron Wake, and while I’m not sure if he profiles best in the 4-3 scheme, he will certainly see a lot of one-on-one sack opportunities. There are rumors of Jordan getting some time at LB as well, which will only increase his value, but for now he should be the first rookie DL off the board. I like him as a high-upside DL3 at this point, but I could easily take him as my other starter opposite a reliable DL1 depending on preseason reports.

Ezekiel Ansah – The Ansah/JPP comparisons are as common as Amanda Bynes/Lindsay Lohan comparisons at this point, but that doesn’t make them any less accurate. I had originally pegged Ansah as a dynasty league stash for 2013, but his Motor City landing spot is very intriguing. Unlike Jordan, I’m not comfortable starting him Week 1, but I’ll look to get this physical freak on as many rosters as possible this year.

Sheldon Richardson – I was ready to take him early in DT-required leagues, but I can only assume the Jets will use him at 3-4 DE, as his frame does not profile as a nose tackle. Richardson is extremely athletic, but a DE classification definitely hurts his value. This is a situation to monitor, however, because if the Jets play more 4-3, then Richardson jumps to the top of my DT rankings among rookies.

Datone Jones – I wasn’t very high on Jones pre-draft, and thought his IDP value would be heavily reliant on the situation he landed in. A 3-4 scheme doesn’t sound ideal, but lining up opposite Clay Matthews will certainly help. Many are assuming that Jones steps right into the Cullen Jenkins role from 2010, but I’ll let another owner take him this year until I see some actual production.

Outside of the Round 1 guys, the biggest names for 2013 will be Margus Hunt, Tank Carradine and Damontre Moore. Hunt should see a starting role immediately opposite Michael Johnson in Cincinnati, making him a late round target in 2013 drafts. Carradine and Moore joined stacked pass-rushing units with the Niners and Giants, so that will lead to lots of big play opportunities if they earn some playing time. Sleepers at DE include Quanterus Smith, Devin Taylor and Malliciah Goodman.

Linebacker

This year’s crop of LBs isn’t as flashy as years past, both in the middle and on the outside, but the draft was kind to a few of these guys, and we should see solid production from the start.

Arthur Brown – My favorite LB pre-draft landed the dream job of replacing Ray Lewis. He may not have the dance moves, the persona, or the excessive eye-black, but Brown should produce from Day 1 in the revamped Baltimore defense. Expect him to be the first rookie IDP off the board come draft time, and he should finish the year near the top 20 LBs.

Manti Te’o – Obviously one of the more controversial players in the draft, Te’o landed in a great spot for IDP value. The big issue with Te’o, other than the abundance of fake women in Southern California, is talent. He looked like a top 10 pick at times last year, but disappeared completely in the BCS Championship game, and his high interception total masks a relative weakness in coverage. I doubt he ends up on any of my teams this year, and I would avoid in dynasty unless you have a glaring weakness at LB.

Jarvis Jones – I don’t know who was happier after the draft, Jones or Dick LeBeau. This is a perfect match of player/team, talent/situation, and skill-set/coaching scheme. Stepping into the James Harrison role, Jones won’t get a ton of tackles (60 solo/15 assists sounds about right), but he should be a force in big play leagues right off the bat.

Alec Ogletree/Barkevious Mingo – The Rams already have James Laurinaitis at MLB, and Cleveland had Jabaal Sheard slated for OLB, making these guys somewhat redundant at first glance. Ogletree should slide over to WLB and has a chance to play three downs, but his value would have been much higher in the middle. It would make sense for the Browns to trade Sheard at this point, but if they don’t, Mingo may not be guaranteed playing time opposite Paul Kruger. Ogletree is worth a late round pick this year, but I would pass on Mingo entirely.

Bjoern Werner – Previously a top DE prospect, Werner loses any and all value as an OLB. He should not be on the IDP draft radar in 2013, even in big-play leagues.

Kiko Alonso – This is a guy who will end up on a few of my teams this year. In the Bills hybrid scheme, Alonso will compete with Nigel Bradham for snaps in the middle. I expect him to take over for three downs by the end of 2013, so he’s worth a late pick in redraft leagues and he becomes a nice dynasty stash.

The best of the rest include Sio Moore, Khaseem Greene, Jon Bostic and Kevin Minter. Moore’s value will depend where exactly he lines up, as the Oakland LB corps (and their roster as a whole) is in a state of flux, but he has a high ceiling in 2013. Greene and Bostic become the replacements to Brian Urlacher and eventually Lance Briggs in Chicago. I like Greene’s talent more, but Bostic should put up better IDP numbers overall, starting in 2013. Minter’s situation got a lot more interesting given Daryl Washington’s recent legal issues. We’ve seen how productive Washington can be in the Arizona defense, so while I don’t love Minter’s talent, he’s in a great situation for IDP production. Sleepers at LB include Nico Johnson, Gerald Hodges and Zaviar Gooden.

Cornerback

In standard leagues, safeties will take up the majority of the DB roster spots, but rookie CBs do provide interesting buy-low opportunities. Quarterbacks pick on rookie corners relentlessly, often very successfully. That’s good news for IDPers, especially those in CB-required leagues, as the chance to rack up tackles, deflections and interceptions is higher for rookies than for established shut-down corners.

Dee Milliner, Xavier Rhodes and Desmond Trufant should all see a ton of playing time in 2013 and have the most immediate value of this crop of rookie corners. In dynasty leagues, two names to watch are Jonathan Banks and DJ Hayden, with Banks in a crowded secondary and Hayden coming off a scary heart surgery. Neither figures to have a big impact in 2013, but they could be relevant in 2014 and beyond.

Safety

There are certainly some big hitters in this year’s safety class. I have a feeling that the new stadium in Miami will be funded primarily from fines paid by these rookies. This position is deep in 2013, and also has a few sleepers who will be heard from for years to come.

Kenny Vaccaro – Watching Vaccaro play here in Austin last year, I always thought he cared more about laying a big hit than actually making a tackle. So he should fit right in with the rest of the Saints’ secondary. It’s unclear at this point if Vaccaro will be playing alongside Roman Harper or replacing him, but either way he will have a ton of opportunities to rack up IDP stats and he should be the first rookie DB off the board.

Eric Reid – Reid must be a happy camper, stepping into a starting role in a San Francisco defense that is one of the best in the league. From a fantasy perspective, his tackles may be limited by the talent around him, but that should also give him more big play opportunities.

Matt Elam – Much like Arthur Brown, Elam becomes an immediate starter in a defense that routinely cranks out IDP studs. I value him very similar to Vaccaro, but his price tag should be a little lower on draft day, meaning he’ll likely be on a few of my teams.

Johnathan Cyprien – Considering his landing spot, Cyprien might be the safest rookie safety in 2013. The Jacksonville defense (and offense for that matter) is a mess, so Cyprien will be on the field a lot, and should get plenty of tackle opportunities against the run. I don’t like his talent as much as Vaccaro, Elam or Reid, but his situation could easily put him in DB1 territory from Day One.

Tyrann Mathieu – The biggest name at this position, the Honey Badger moves to an interesting spot in Arizona. He should start at FS for the Cards, and more interestingly, take over the return duties from Patrick Peterson. There is a huge floor/ceiling gap here, but I would have no problem taking a late flier on Mathieu as my DB3 this year.

The rest of the safeties are a mixed bag. TJ McDonald will start right away for the Rams, but it’s unclear if playing time will translate into stats for him. DJ Swearinger and Shamarko Thomas will back up the dynamic but oft-injured Ed Reed and Troy Polamalu, but both will be great options if and when they get playing time. Sleepers at safety are JJ Wilcox, Shawn Williams, and Bacarri Rambo.

- A term for a QB whose fantasy impact is strictly about his running ability.  We’re not talking RGIII here, we’re talking Jake Locker, Tim Tebow and Terrelle Pryor.  You know, guys that you’d never want on your favorite football team but would draft for fantasy football.

- A wide receiver who does everything right.  He runs great routes, has great speed and is explosive in the open field but just can’t seem to catch the damn ball.

- When you have the far superior team and the team who starts Mark Sanchez and the 4th running back option from the Saints beats you while SeaBass scores 20 fantasy points.  You know what week I’m talking about.  It’s embarrassing.

- When a random player goes off one week only to fall back into fantasy obscurity the next week.  I can’t think of one because their moment in the sun was so brief but you know who I’m talking about.

- Elite QBs who win a Super Bowl and get drafted too high in fantasy football the next year because of it.  You know who I’m talking about.  Eli Manning and Joe Flacco, I’m looking at you.

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Aaron Hernandez – Well at least the New England Patriots resigned Michael Hoomanawanui, right?  After hearing the news that Rob Gronkowski was going to have a 4th surgery and was having issues fighting off infection in his left forearm, the Pats were dealt another downer at the Tight End position when it was announced A-Hern was going to need a 4 month recovery time on his surgically repaired shoulder.  In fact, there’s fears that Hernandez might start the year on the PUP list.  No, not that PUP list!  Though that would be cute.  Because we’re now this off-topic, I might as well give you an obligatory dog dressed up to play football picture while we’re at it.  Just think if the Dog Pound really were the Dog Pound in Cleveland?  Michael Vick would be shaking in his cleats.  And with his third sack of the game, Labradoodle Jenkins does a dance over Vick, symbolically raising his hind leg over his head as the crowd goes wild.  The ‘Whizzzzzz’ chant can be heard from the fans who’re wearing the ‘Urin-Nation’ shirts.  Ok, now back to reality.  This could be big news.  Or it could not.  Wow, I really covered my bases there.  The point being is everything is speculation right now but when August rolls around, we’re gonna know a lot more about how his rehab is going and how long he should be expected out.  I think the key to this that many may miss is the Pats swept in last year when Jake Ballard was waived by the Giants.  New York’s idea behind waiving him was putting him back on via the PUP list himself as he healed from microfracture knee surgery and a torn ACL for the entire 2012 season.  Overall, if you’re drafting now, I’d Aaron the side of caution with Hernandez.

LeGarrette Blount – Traded to the Pats for Jeffrey Demps and a 7th round pick.  To put it Blount-ly, this move means very little for LeGarrette unless the Pats need a little punch in their lineup for the day.

Justin Blackmon – Has been suspended for 4 games by the NFL.  At this point, I have no idea for what.  Maybe another DUI?  Maybe for rooting for Tebow to come to Jacksonville?  The world may never know…or probably will after I’ve posted this and don’t have time to edit it before you comment and tell me what I missed while I slept for 3 minutes.

Tim Tebow – Released by the Jets.  Clearly with Ivory on board they were no longer in need of another running back.  *Intern whispers into ear*  Hrm, so I guess he was a quarterback…I thought you had to complete at least 50% of your passes to be called a QB.  *Intern whispers again*  Ah, that’s why they released him because he can’t.  What would would I do without you, intern?  *Another whisper* Oh, I’m sure you have a name but we don’t use names around here for interns for the same reasons we don’t name our future meat products on the farm.  Poor Beefy McSteakington…you were delicious.

4.01 Matt Barkley QB Philadelphia Eagles: Barkley finds himself going number one overall like we all predicted last year! Seriously though hard to believe that arguably the number one pick last year could now fall this far. Maybe teams are afraid of the USC quarterback curse? Maybe he just didn’t perform but what ever it is it might be a steal here by the Eagles but still a very confusing pick in my opinion. What does this mean for fantasy? We now have Vick, Foles, Dixon and Barkley as the quarterback depth chart for the Eagles. Without knowing what type of offense Chip Kelly will run it’s hard to predict who has the best opportunity to suceeed. I would like to belive the Vick and Dixon are the number one and two options with Foles and Barkley rostered as trade bait but it’s just too hard to say at this point. Barkley should be avoided in re-draft and added in deep dynasty leagues.

4.04 Ace Sanders WR Jacksonville Jaguars: With Justin Blackmon and Cecil Shorts locking down the one and two spot for the Jaguars, Jacksonville drafts a receiver in this spot that could be best described as Tavon Austin “lite”. Sanders isn’t as fast but he is very explosive laterally making him a threat in the open field. There a concerns with his size at 5’7″ 170 but if he can stay healthy, he will be a contributor in the return game and in the slot. Lets hope Gabbert can finally become the quarterback he was drafted to be. What does this mean for fantasy? Not that much really as Sanders should be avoided in most formats as he will be the 3rd or 4th option on a team that struggles to pass the ball efficiently.

4.05 Josh Boyce WR New England Patriots: Patriots make another pick of receiver here to try to rebuild lack of skill at the position. Boyce is interesting because he is an athletic freak posting top numbers at the combine but lacks physicality due to his size and isn’t the best pass catcher. What does this mean for fantasy? Boyce is pretty much restricted to playing the slot but because of this I like him as a sleeper for 2013. With Welker departing for Denver the starting job at slot is still very much in the air, if Boyce lands the starting job he could be a good add in most formats.

4.13 Ryan Nassib QB New York Giants: Many had high hopes of Nassib going in the first round to Buffalo but this turned out to be just a bunch of smokescreens by the Bills. Nassib is considered a developmental quarterback and gets a chance to learn from one of the best passing teams in the NFC East. What does this mean for fantasy? With Eli as the starter it’s hard to imagine Nassib finds himself in any fantasy relevant role in the near future.

4.15 Tyler Wilson QB Oakland Raiders: With the failure of the Carson Palmer experiment the Raiders are looking for their next franchise quarterback. Signing Flynn was necessary but drafting Wilson was smart. I have no doubts that Flynn could be beat out for the starting job two years straight by a rookie with the last name Wilson. What does this mean for fantasy football? Quarterback is super deep but Wilson could be an add in two quarterback formats and dynasty leagues.

4.18 Landry Jones QB Pittsburgh Steelers: So even after an atrocious showing by all back up quarterback backs in Pittsburgh last year and Roethlisberger’s on going injury concerns, the Steelers decided to wait until the fourth round to draft a quarterback. This was a big mistake in my opinion, as Landry Jones is far from an immediate back up and even further from being a starter. Not only that but Pittsburgh really lacks the offensive weapons to be confident in Jones moving forward though. What does this mean for fantasy? Landry Jones will probably get an opportunity but I don’t think this warrants a roster spot for any fantasy teams.

4.28 Johnathan Franklin RB Green Bay Packers: Everyone knows the Packers have struggled to find a legitimate number one running back for the last few years and by double dipping at the position this year they have given themselves a great chance. I have serious concerns with Lacy’s health and effectiveness and if that is the case then Franklin is more than capable to step up and shoulder the bulk of carries. What does this mean for fantasy? I think that Franklin can be a steal and that Green Bay is the perfect spot for him. My only concern is that we see the dreaded running back by committee which kills both of their value.

4.31 Quinton Patton WR San Francisco 49ers: Excellent pick here for the 49ers giving them a very talented and versatile receiver. Patton can play in almost any offensive scheme and has solid fundamentals giving him a good shot at being an immediate contributor. There are some concerns with his athleticism and size but nothing that should keep him off the field. What does this mean for fantasy? Patton has the skill to be effective but the limited pass attempts by Kaepernick worries me and I’m not sure there will be enough targets for Patton to be a legitimate fantasy starter.

4.34 Marcus Lattimore RB San Francisco 49ers: San Francisco hits again here on this pick with who was no doubt the number one running back before his gruesome knee injury. This is a great landing spot for Lattimore as he will not be asked to be an immediate contributor and can learn from one of the best in Frank Gore. What does this mean for fantasy? Lattimore should most definitely be an add for dynasty leagues but people should temper their expectations in re-draft for the 2013 season.

5.02 Denard Robinson WR Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jaguars drafted a quarterback to replace Gabbert! No actually not, they add to their set of play makers at wide receiver by drafting Robinson who will be transitioning from quarterback to wide receiver. What dose this mean for fantasy? Not too much, although Robinson is an extremely gifted athlete there is huge learning curve when stepping up and becoming an NFL receiver so I see a lot of special teams in his future. He should be avoided until he can prove us otherwise.

5.07 Stefan Taylor RB Arizona Cardinals: After signing Mendenhall, the Cardinals look to add depth at running back. Stefan Taylor is not an exciting runner but he is fundamentally sound and would have no problem stepping up in the case of a Mendenhall injury. What does this mean for fantasy? I would try to avoid Taylor as he was only effective behind a very impressive Stanford offensive line and as we know the Cardinals line, even with the addition of offensive guard Jonathan Cooper, is terrible to say the least. Taylor lacks the ability to make plays happen on his own and should be avoided in almost all formats.

5.11 Kenny Stills WR New Orleans Saints: The Saints continue to add weapons with the addition of Kenny Stills in the 5th round. Stills isn’t the most exciting receiver but can get down field and could provide the deep threat the Saints have been looking for if Joe Morgan can’t step up in 2013. What does this mean for fantasy? The Saints have too many options to consider Stills as possible fantasy starter in the near future but if he solidifies a spot in the offense and finds a connection with Drew Brees he could be very dangerous moving forward. Keep Stills on your fantasy radar.

5.18 Joseph Randle RB Dallas Cowboys: In a very Jerry Jones like fashion, the Cowboys waited until the majority of the better running backs were selected to draft a very big need. As we know Demarco Murray has had his share of injuries and the Cowboys struggled mightily in 2012 with an ineffective Felix Jones and Phillip Tanner. Randle is fairly talented although his poor combine and wiry build is cause for concern, but I have no doubts he can solidify himself as the number two behind Murray in 2013. What does this mean for fantasy? Basically if you own Murray be sure to draft Randle as an obvious handcuff.

5.27 Zac Stacy RB St. Louis Rams: This is a great pick for the Rams. With the departure of Steven Jackson, this backfield is up for grabs and I’m not sure Pead or Richardson can win the starting job for the Rams. Stacy is a Ray Rice type that can grind out tough yards. What does this mean for fantasy? Keep an eye on the Rams backfield in the off season and if Stacy comes at the right price in drafts he could end up being the Alfred Morris of 2013.

5.31 Mike Gillislee RB Miami Dolphins: With the departure of Reggie Bush the Dolphins add some depth to the running back position. Gillislee is extremely talented and has huge upside but lacks the fundamentals to be an every down back. He struggles with reading blocks and has ball security problems which could keep him off the field for the majority of 2013. What does this mean for fantasy? Because of his talent Mike Gillislee is someone to keep an eye on for next year. I’m not sold that Lamar Miller is the answer the Dolphins are looking for long term. He could be an asset if he overtakes Miller as the lead back.

2.02 Justin Hunter WR Tennessee Titans: With the off the field issues of Kenny Britt, Nate Washington unable to elevate to the next level and the loss of tight end Jared Cook, the Titans added a great wide receiver early in the draft. It seems as though the Titans are set at making Jake Locker their future quarterback and by adding Kendall Wright last year and Justin Hunter this year they give him two young athletic playmakers. Hunter was one of the tallest and best built wide receivers in the draft and has the athletic ability to be a true number one that the Titans offense desperately needs. Hunter does have some flaws and the lack of fundamentals including an alarming amount of drop balls brings into question his ability to start right away. What does this mean for fantasy? Justin Hunter that should be added in all dynasty formats but I would monitor the receiver situation in terms of Britt and Washington before adding Hunter in any re-draft leagues.

2.03 Zach Ertz TE Philadelphia Eagles: Even after signing tight end James Casey from the Texans, the Eagles go ahead and take a very surprising pick here taking the Stanford tight end Zach Ertz. To me he was one of the many players that was over hyped in this draft but by Chip Kelly and the Eagles taking him this early I was obviously mistaken. What does this mean for fantasy? Even with the excitement of Chip Kelly’s offense we need to keep in mind that the Eagles are carrying three other capable tight ends on their roster as well as trying to fix a terrible offensive line and a questionable quaterback situation. With the depth at tight end this year Ertz should be regarded as a waiver wire pick up in re-draft leagues and a speculative add in dynasty.

2.05 Giovani Bernard RB Cincinnati Bengals: I wrote about this in the Pre-Draft Running Back Rankings post that the Bengals would be the absolute perfect spot for Bernard. With the ineffectiveness of BenJarvus Green-Ellis as an every down back and Peerman’s lack of ability in pass protection and inside running, Bernard offers them a more dynamic option that is a threat in the running game and catching passes out of the backfield. What does this mean for fantasy? With Bernard landing in Cincinnati he becomes not only the number one rookie option in dynasty but should also be a target early in re-draft formats as well.

2.07 Geno Smith QB New York Jets: I was shocked the Jets didn’t take Geno in the first round and was even more surprised that they were able to draft him here early in the second round. To me Geno is the top quarterback in the draft but with the circus act that is known as the New York Jets he has a lot to overcome before he can be a successful starter in the NFL. What does this mean for fantasy? This is not a favorable landing spot for the young quarterback in terms of fantasy value. With big question marks at the quarterback position and Mark Sanchez still due a lot of money it might not be until half way into the regular season that we get to see Geno in action. The Jets also lack the necessary offensive weapons to be effective in a very tough AFC East conference. Geno Smith may be added in two quarterback formats or in dynasty formats as someone to hold on to and hope for the best.

2.09 Robert Woods WR Buffalo Bills: The Bills follow up their first round pick of EJ Manuel with another offensive player and a really good one at that. Woods might be the best receiver in this class joining Stevie Johnson in what is slowly becoming a very explosive Bills offense. There are concerns with Wood’s ankles and if they will hold up through a grueling NFL season but if Woods can stay healthy he will be an immediate contributor and can free up space for Stevie Johnson who has desperately needed a number two opposite of him. What does this mean for fantasy? Woods is now part of a new and forming offense and much like the Colts last year, TY Hilton, Woods could be an immediate impact fantasy player for 2013. He is a receiver to target for both dynasty and re-draft formats as long as you can get him at a decent value.

2.15 Gavin Escobar TE Dallas Cowboys: The Cowboys with yet another confusing pick, I like Escobar but if they wanted a tight end why not draft Eifert in the first round when they had the opportunity? Escobar is a great athlete and has decent yards after the catch ability but lacks the necessary blocking skills to be an every down work horse like current Cowboys tight end Jason Witten. Escobar will most likely be used in certain passing downs only splitting out wide and trying to create mismatches with linebackers. What does this mean for fantasy? I can’t envision Escobar seeing a lot of work during the season with a healthy Jason Witten but if for some reason the veteran struggles to stay health Escobar will be worth a roster spot in all formats.

2.16 Le’Veon Bell RB Pittsburgh Steelers: The Steelers surprise everyone here and confirm what I’ve been saying for awhile now. They decide to pass up Alabama running back Eddie Lacy and decide to go with Michigan State’s Le’Veon Bell. Running back was an obvious need for the Steelers as they rotated several backs in 2012 that struggled with consistency and all had problems with ball security. Bell provides the Steelers with the power run game they love and should thrive in an always impressive offense. There are some concerns with the stability of the offensive line but they should be able to address these issues before the start of the 2013 season. What does this mean for fantasy? With little competition for the starting job Bell should be a high volume back and has the ability to be one of the top rookie performers next year. Bell should be targeted early in dynasty and re-draft formats.

2.23 Vance McDonald TE San Francisco 49ers: With the departure of Delanie Walker to Tennessee the 49ers had to select a tight end to give them depth at the position and allow for effective two tight end sets. McDonald is a very talented tight end but I don’t see him being a huge contributor in 2013 barring any set back from Vernon Davis but it will be interesting to see how he is used moving forward. What does this mean for fantasy? Due to the depth at tight end McDonald shouldn’t be on anyone’s fantasy radar for re-draft leagues but could be worth an add in deep dynasty leagues.

2.26 Montee Ball RB Denver Broncos: It is well known fact coach John Fox loves his running backs and with Willis McGahee approaching his retirement time and Moreno’s health in question it really only leaves the Bronco’s with the unproven Ronnie Hillman who’s inability to understand the importance of pass blocking for Peyton Manning landed him a spot on the bench. Ball provides the balance that Denver is looking for in pass protection and his ability to run between the tackles. He should be a day one starter depending one the health and effectiveness of the other backs. What does this mean for fantasy? Ball is not he most exciting or flashy back but he does have the skill to be an immediate starter and if anyone questions his ability to be effective just take a look at what the previously ineffective Knowshon Moreno did in the last few weeks of the 2012 season. Ball should be an immediate add in all formats.

2.27 Aaron Dobson WR New England Patriots: With multiple failed experiments at wide receiver the Patriots had to take at least one in the draft. Dobson is an interesting selection, mostly because he was projected to go much later in the draft but I’m not going to question the evaluation process by Belichick and the Patriots. What does this mean for fantasy? Aaron Dobson could be the outside receiver the Patriots desperately need but with a crowded group of receivers including Danny Amendola, Dobson could get forgotten about rather quickly. He is a player to monitor but not one to add a this time considering the circumstances.

2.29 Eddie Lacy RB Green Bay Packers: The Packers find themselves drafting who was arguably the best running back in the draft. Green Bay has struggled to find a decent option at running back ever since Ryan Grant had a decent year in 2009. They did have an emergence of Dujan Harris at the end of the season after a Cedric Benson injury and a complete failure with Alex Green, but it’s hard to believe that with this pick the Packers feel that Harris is their long term solution. My thought is that Lacy is going to struggle to stay healthy during the season and will most likely spend most of his time on the sidelines. What does this mean for fantasy? In my opinion Lacy needs to be avoided, his ADP will be severely inflated and I would rather take a chance in the later rounds on Dujan Harris or Johnathan Franklin.

2.30 Christine Michael RB Seattle Seahawks: The Seahawks surprise everyone here and take the running back that was drawing comparisons to their current workhorse running back Marshawn Lynch. Micheal is a physical runner and although he has had his share of injury history and off the field issues he might be the most talented running back in the draft and a steal here for the Seahawks who building an extremely impressive roster. What does this mean for fantasy? Micheal now becomes the number one handcuff for Marshawn Lynch and because of his history of back problems needs to be drafted by anyone who owns or plans to own Lynch.

3.01 Travis Kelce TE Kansas City Chiefs: Surprised to see Travis Kelce fall this far, he is an extremely athletic and physical tight end that is a great addition to the Chiefs. He has some off the field issues but if Andy Reid can keep him in check there is no doubt he can be the starter in Kansas City over Anthony Fasano and Tony Moeaki’s inability to stay healthy. What does this mean for fantasy? With Andy Reid’s love of using tight ends and Alex Smith’s history of relying on them Kelce has the opportunity to be a big contributor and although tight end is fairly deep this year he is someone to keep an eye on.

3.11 Mike Glennon QB Tampa Bay Buccaneers: We saw some of the best and worst from Josh Freeman in 2012 and I think that this draft pick shows that the Buccaneers are looking for someone that can take them to the next level. Glennon is far from a finished product but if Freeman continues to struggle when it counts we could see Glennon get a chance to win the starting job. What does this mean for fantasy? Not much to get excited about here for 2013 as Glennon is currently about as effective as Ryan Lindley, but give it a few years of development with Tampa’s talented group of receivers and we could be looking at a similar player to Matt Ryan. He is worth a stash in dynasty leagues or an add if Freeman struggles to the point he is replaced.

3.12 Terrance Williams WR Dallas Cowboys: Strange selection by Dallas here but what else is new, doesn’t surprise one bit. Terrance Williams is a deep threat receiver that should be successful but I don’t really see where he fits in on the Cowboy’s crowded roster. What does this mean for fantasy? Williams is a talented receiver but with this landing spot he should be avoided in 2013 until we get a better idea of his role moving forward.

3.14 Keenan Allen WR San Diego Chargers: The Chargers get a steal here due to Allen’s poor 40 time, injury history and rumors that he had past issues of failed drug tests. Keenan Allen is an underrated receiver that was victim of poor quarterback play in college and unfortunately landing right on a team with the same problem. Phillip River’s finds his favorite target and locks in and has issues spreading the ball around. One thing that is in Allen’s favor is the Denario Alexander and Vincent Brown both have a history of injuries that could give him a chance to step up and be a contributor. If Allen somehow becomes River’s new favorite target we could be looking at a very impressive rookie season for him. What does this mean for fantasy? Barring an injury to any of the other Chargers receivers Allen is going to be limited in some capacity but should be added in dynasty formats and considered late in deeper re-draft formats.

3.16 Marquise Goodwin WR Buffalo Bills: The Bills continue on their mission of adding play makers to their new an improved offense. Goodwin was a college track star that had the second fastest forty at the combine. The speedster isn’t a developed receiver but can be a threat in the slot and in the return game taking some pressure of CJ Spiller and adding another element to the offense. What does this mean for fantasy football? Goodwin is an athlete but should be avoided in most leagues as he only adds the threat in the return game and limited snaps in the slot. He has a long way to go before he can be considered as a starter most formats.

3.17 Markus Wheaton WR Pittsburgh Steelers:This was a great pick for the Steelers who desperately need a play maker and vertical threat now that Mike Wallace is with the Dolphins. It’s a little funny that Wheaton ended up here of all places as he was drawing comparisons to Wallace during his pre draft evaluation. He doesn’t have the break away speed but he does have very good hands and is an impressive route runner. He is also a competitor and his strength is that he goes up to complete for every ball thrown his way. Ben Roethlisberger should be pretty excited to have a receiver like Wheaton on the team. What does this mean for fantasy? With the situation the Steelers are in and lack of any talent at the position, Markus Wheaton should be an immediate add and should be valued highly in all drafts. Expect Wheaton to be an immediate impact player for the Steelers and for your fantasy football teams.

3.23 Jordan Reed TE Washington Redskins: Great pick here for the Redskins, Jordan Reed may not be the prototypical physical blocking tight end but he does closely resemble Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez. With some off season issues with Fred Davis and questions as to if he is fully recovered or not it is exciting to think that a dynamic player like Reed could be starting for the Redskins in 2013. With RGIII at quarterback, barring any setbacks I have no doubts that Reed can be one of the most effective receiving tight ends of all the rookies. What does this mean for fantasy? I feel that much like Aaron Hernandez sometimes it is worth the reach to get a player that is so different from all the others at the position. Reed should be targeted in both dynasty and late in re-draft formats. 

3.30 Steadman Bailey WR St. Louis Rams: Not sure what the Rams obsession is with West Virginia wide receivers as this is the second they took in this draft but I really don’t blame them because Bailey is extremely talented. He is NFL ready in terms of fundamentals but may have some issues with creating separation against physical NFL cornerbacks. I am a little confused by the selection though because with this addition the Rams have a seriously crowded group of wide receivers. What does this mean for fantasy? I was hoping for a better landing spot for Bailey and I think because of the current receivers Quick and Givens, Bailey will be used in a fairly limited role in 2013. He is worth an add late in dynasty league drafts but should be avoided in redraft formats until we can get a better understanding of the Rams plans for their wide receivers. 

3.34 Knile Davis Kansas RB City Chiefs: Considering the options left on the board this was a very confusing pick by the Kansas City Chiefs. Yes Knile Davis is extremely athletic, posting the best combined NFL combine score, but he lacks the fundamentals or natural ability to be a great NFL running back. I have serious doubts the Davis sees much time barring an injury or set back to to Jamaal Charles. So what does this mean for fantasy? Many will say that this hurts Jamal Charle’s value but I don’t think that’s the case. At the very best Davis is a solid handcuff for all Jamaal Charles owners moving forward.

1.08 Tavon Austin St. Louis Rams: The Rams wanted Austin pretty bad and worked out a trade with Buffalo to move into the number 8 spot to get him. I couldn’t be happier for Austin landing with the Rams and actually wrote about it being the best landing spot for him in my Pre-Draft Wide Receiver Rankings. Austin is known for his explosive play making ability but there are also concerns about his size and durability. He will be joining a young group of receivers with the Rams which now includes second year receivers Chris Givens and Brian Quick. What does this mean for fantasy football? Although Tavon Austin is an exciting player to watch my concern is that he will be used mostly in return game and will have trouble competing for targets between the other receivers and tight end Jared Cook. Austin has plenty of upside but should be avoided in the early rounds of re-draft and dynasty league drafts.

1.16 EJ Manuel Buffalo Bills: One of the more shocking picks of the draft, the Bills get their choice of any quarterback and they decide to go with one that many considered to be a second or third round pick. With Kolb signed, I thought for sure that Buffalo would address other needs but it looks like Kevin might not be the answer for the long term or possibly even the short term. I wrote about Manuel in my Pre-Draft Quarterback Rankings post and said that it wouldn’t be impossible if we saw him drafted higher than we thought. With him performing at a high level at the Senior Bowl, Combine and the FSU Pro-Day, Manuel did everything he could to boost his draft stock and can best be described as the quarterback with the highest ceiling. Even with the high potential and athletic ability, I do have some concerns with Manuel mostly because of his lack of developed fundamentals due to running a simplistic offense at FSU during his years there. What does this mean for fantasy football? It seems the Bills could be looking to go the route of a read option type offense and if they add talent in the later rounds of the draft at wide receiver and build the offense around Manuel to play to his strengths he could have an immediate impact, in a very explosive offense. That said, I want to see how the quarterback competition plays out before saying Manuel is a lock to start in most formats with such a deep quarterback pool for 2013.

1.21 Tyler Eifert Cincinnati Bengals: Wow so you like Jermaine Gresham as your tight end for 2013? The Bengals, who I thought had more important needs than tight end took a pick here that was a bit of a surprise. I really can’t blame them for this pick, though. Dalton desperately needs another solid big target and as seen in the 2012 season at Notre Dame, Eifert is a versatile tight end that can line up nearly anywhere and is excellent in the open field. The pick here looked to be based mostly on value to a team that didn’t have any particularly glaring first round needs. What does this mean for fantasy football? Although Eifert is a great player, this wasn’t a particularly good landing spot for him. With AJ Green, Jermaine Gresham, Andrew Hawkins and an emerging Mohamed Sanu, Eifert will most likely struggle to find the needed targets to make him a legitimate number one tight end option, especially with the depth of talent at the position this year. If anything, this should help to improve the production of Dalton and should free up some space for AJ Green.

1.27 DeAndre Hopkins Houston Texans: Really not a surprising pick here and was actually one of the few picks I guessed right in the mess of what was my attempt at an NFL mock draft. I wrote about the Texans needing a wide receiver threat opposite of Andre Johnson and Hopkins is an excellent choice. He doesn’t have amazing athletic ability or flashy play making ability but he is a polished route runner and is one of the few ‘ready to start now’ wide receivers in this years draft. With a major injury to Devire Posey at the end of last year and Kevin Walter being their only other option, this was a smart pick and I would guess Hopkins will be starting week 1 for the Texans. What does this mean for fantasy football? As of right now this is my favorite player to make a fantasy impact in 2013 because he has the skill but I do have some concerns about Kubiak’s play calling. Believing he will open up the playbook and allow Schaub to throw down field is a reach to say the least.

1.29 Cordarrelle Patterson Minnesota Vikings:  The Vikings ended their impressive first round draft by taking a player they hope to replace the now Seahawk Percy Harvin. Patterson is the prototype wide receiver and has a tremendous ceiling but there are concerns with his fundamentals and there are questions as to if he has the ability to become an immediate starter. There is no doubting Patterson’s ability in the open field but when you match that with a questionable quarterback like Ponder who struggled mightily in 2012 there is reason to worry; this is far from the best landing spot for Patterson, in my opinion. What does this mean for fantasy football? I think Patterson will be used mostly in the return game and my hope is the Vikings don’t expect him to be able to line up immediately across form Greg Jennings to be an every down number two receiver. If the Vikings find ways to creatively get Patterson involved like they did with Harvin on screen passes and reverses we could see a very productive year for him but if not it’s going to be a long season full of drops. I think Patterson’s weaknesses can be corrected over time but be advised when drafting this particular receiver you are taking a tremendous risk but a the same time could be rewarded in a big way.

Consider the age of the players: In your standard redraft league an aging player is low risk due to the short duration (16 weeks) he is on your team. In dynasty formats players that are older hold less value due to the risk of retirement or injury, the few ways that you can lose a player for good.

Consider the position: In redraft, running backs are heavily favored as the top position during draft time, in dynasty a team owner needs to consider the positions like wide receiver or quarterback where players have substantially longer careers than a punishing position like running back.

Consider your trades: Trading in dynasty can be a lot more productive and entertaining considering that you have the entire year to negotiate using off season rumors to your advantage to build the best roster you can. Trading can be a little more difficult at times though because owners who have stuck with a player since their rookie year may have some sentimental attachment to these players making it nearly impossible to negotiate a trade.

Pay attention during the offseason: Following free agent moves can help you determine a players rise or fall in value, for instance Steven Jackson moving to Atlanta boots his value quite a bit as compared to if he stayed on the Rams, or Percy Harvin catching passes from Russell Wilson instead of Christian Ponder. Following the NFL draft is another way to stay ahead of the competition, knowing the skill level and the landing spots of the upcoming stars or busts in the league gives you a huge advantage entering into the next season.

Stay Committed: Dynasty formats unlike redraft formats require a lot of attention so an owner really needs to join knowing the time requirements and the work it takes to stay competitive in their league. The great thing about dynasty format is that even the last place teams have something to work toward even if it means completely rebuilding for the future seasons.

Mock Draft Often: This sounds cray to be drafting this far in advance but by participating in multiple start up or rookie mock drafts you can get a feel of where players are going and the best way to build the perfect team.

If all this looks appealing to you and something you would like to try I encourage you to take the leap of faith for the 2013 season and give a dynasty format league a chance.

Chris Ivory - Signed his tender offer with the Saints after a weekend full of rumors regarding signing with the Jets and trade rumors still circulating regarding the Saints 4th string running back.  This is a running back that is a must own if he’s a starter but in that shizz show backfield, he’s now just a must monitor.  Ugh, the Saints are like that dude at the party who keeps all the hot chicks strung along all night, leaving the rest of us to fight over the one that has the most teeth.  Though I’m sure PETA will have this site shut down for saying it, I really do hope some team poaches Ivory from the Gulf Coast.

Darrelle Revis – The rumors surrounding Ivory have a direct correlation to Revis’ move to the Bucs, so long as twitter isn’t lying.  And why would it, twitter never lies.  Isn’t that right, Lennay Kekua?  Revis goes to Tampa Bay for a slew of picks pending physical.  This might drop late in the evening and I might miss my chance to write about Chris if he goes to the Jets for one of those aforementioned picks.  If you reeaaaallly wanna read about him right now, I’ll give you my Chris Ivory sleeper post from 2012 to assuage your needs.  Consider yourself assuaged!

In other news, the NFL schedule came out last Thursday night and people got all hot and bothered.  Now I do think there’s some merit to reviewing these types of things.  There are perennial losers and perennial winners. But no one had the Denver Broncos defense ranked particularly high last year and they finished as the 3rd best fantasy defense according to yahoo.  The reality is, you can have all the talent in the world on the defensive side but the coach is what makes the parts work.  The Detroit Lions should be better on defense.  They’re not.  They’re undisciplined and that stems directly from a head coach who gets into altercations over getting slapped on the back too hard.  The reality is, we don’t know what we’re going to get defensively in 2013 even from the Chicago Bears who’ve had a head coach change over the off-season.  So for those of you who like to hang your hats on ‘he’s got a great playoff schedule’, it’s a little early to make that call and it’s also a bit of bull to pretend we know what a team in April will look like defensively in December.  Sorry, not a road I’m gonna follow you down, folks.  With that, get back to work.  It’s Monday and you’re already slacking.  Not a good sign.

We started the draft off with Eddie Lacy at 1.01, which wasn’t surprising but not a pick I would personally make. Many consider Lacy to be the “safe” pick in the draft and are hoping to get another version of Trent Richardson but I just don’t think that’s the case. In my opinion, Lacy is a very risky pick regardless of landing spot. Next player of the board was not surprising at all and is an excellent prospect. Giovani Bernard shows consistency and I really think he can be an every down back if he lands on the right team. Third player off the board has been the talk of the draft community, Tavon Austin. Many would disagree with taking a wide receiver this early but with Austin I think it is justified. Not only is Austin an outstanding prospect but he will most likely be playing in a slot type role where he’ll require very little transition and he will be an immediate contributor. The fourth pick was a little surprising but I can understand the reasoning. With the popular stud wide receiver having a the prototypical size of guys like Dez Bryant, Brandon Marshall and AJ Green this is a shot in the dark that Hunter – who has a similar build – could develop into one of these guys. I have my questions though as he has shown durability issues and has had trouble developing at the college level. With the fifth pick I was excited to see my number one running back available and took Jonathan Franklin. Franklin needs to hit a good landing spot but if he does we could see a similar rookie debut that we saw from Doug Martin in 2012. The sixth pick went with the most athletic offensive player, Cordarrelle Patterson.  Not a bad pick as Patterson has a tremendous ceiling but an equal floor, a player that will be over-drafted in many rookie drafts. The seventh pick was a bit surprising as Marcus Lattimore, who is recovering from a serious knee injury, was drafted in the first round. I think this was a little early considering it might be over a year before we get to see anything from Lattimore. My only guess is that the success of Adrian Peterson in 2012 has made fantasy owners fearless to ACL-type injuries and although I agree sports medicine has advanced, lets not lose sight of the fact that this is his second severe knee injury in his college career. At eight went one of my favorite wide receivers and could be a steal in many rookie drafts because his stock is falling with a nagging knee injury and poor 40 time. Allen has the skills to be an elite NFL receiver and if he comes at value like this, he is a must add. The ninth pick was a bit of a shock because he was my second round target but Christine Michael at 1.09 was a great reach. This running back that may have an injury history and off the field issues, but may be the most complete back and may have the highest ceiling of all the running backs in this class. This could be a pick that pays off big for the drafter. The tenth pick, DeAndre Hopkins, was probably the most complete wide receiver in the draft and should end up on a team with an opportunity to be an immediate contributor. The eleventh pick wasn’t one that I personally would make but again don’t blame the drafter, especially with the emergence of game changing tight ends. Tyler Eifert in the first round could be a chance to land the next Jimmy Graham or Rob Gronkowski. The last pick in the first round was a bit of a reach as wide receiver Da’Rick Rogers who has great ability but had so many off the field issues in college there are serious questions as to is potential at the NFL level; talented but a very risky move.

Overall this was an interesting experience but it just goes to show there are many different views in this very level class. My advice is do the research and look to target players that really stand out to you personally. Good luck in your 2013 fantasy football drafts and looking forward to a much anticipated NFL Draft to kick of the 2013 season!

First off, the above image?  One of my favorites from the fantasy football season in 2012.  Wanna see it in gif action?  Well here is your Vick Ballard impersonation of a flying Wallenda.  You’re welcome.  So what’s there to like about a guy whose last name makes you think of frizzy 80′s hair and bic lighters getting waved in the air as you sing to ‘Heaven Isn’t Too Far Away’ you ask?  Well, that’s why we’re here of course and I’m not going to give you the goods right after a pic and one paragraph.  Nay, you’re gonna have stick around for a bit to find out.  So follow me as we break down Vick’s rookie year to see what we should come to expect from him for 2013 fantasy football…

Weeks 1-4: 46 yards, 22 touches, 2 targets, 0 touchdowns, 5.1 total points – Yeah, there’s really not much to talk about here of course.  His high in touches in the first 4 weeks of the season came in week 5 against the Packers with a whopping 7 which was a third of his overall touches during that span.  During this time, Donald Brown got lead back treatment and averaged a little under 16 touches per game and made it seem like we probably wouldn’t be talking about Vick at all for 2012.

Weeks 4-8: 314 yards, 63 touches, 11 targets, 1 touchdown, 40.9 total points – Halfway through the week, the fantasy sports world was told Donald Brown got hurt on the last play of the Packers game and had torn knee cartilage and would miss the game vs the Jets.  The Jets had a very porous rush defense for most of 2012 so the rush was on to pick up Vick for the week.  To say the results coupled with the touches – 42 total yards on 10 touches and 0 TDs – was underwhelming would be an understatement.  Of course, he went on to score about 10 a game over the next three and is also where he scored that touchdown above.

Weeks 9-13: 241 yards, 56 touches, 8 targets, 1 touchdown, 33.1 total points – During this stretch, we got to learn just how little the coaching staff seemed to trust Ballard in and around the redzone and also marked the return of Donald Brown.  Not a great combo for fantasy purposes but all things considered, he still tallied flex-worthy stats.  This would be the last stretch of games that Vick would have to contend with touches from Brown as he would go on the IR for the final 4 games of the year.

Weeks 14-17: 365 yards, 87 touches, 6 targets, 1 touchdown, 44 total points – Now as I previously mentioned, Donald Brown was out so Ballard had a chance to show his mettle during this stretch.  Well, at least he had a shot outside of the redzone.  Even when Brown went out, the Colts refused to let him get the ball at goal to go.  After Brown’s injury, the Colts signed Mewelde Moore for what seemed like running back depth.  Instead, we got to watch in horror as the Colts drove the ball down the field on Houston in week 15 as Moore got most of the snaps on the third drive of the game.  Vick already had 23 rushing yards on 5 carries by this drive but for some reason, Moore got to run the show.  He promptly fumbled on the 1 and the Colts lost the game.  Meanwhile, Ballard ended with 105 rushing yards on 18 carries.  At the time, Vick was only the second running back to rush for over 100 yards against the Texans on the season.  After that loss, the Colts went on to win their remaining games and Vick touched the ball 49 times during that span.  Coincidence?  I think not.

Conclusion: I like Vick.  I like him for the price he’s most likely going to go at.  He’s never going to win many 40 yard dashes against other defenses but he’s built well and fights for yardage.  It’s the little things that can turn a 1 yard loss into a 2 yard gain and he never stops his legs from churning.  Whether he’s running backwards or forwards, he’s always pushing the ball the right direction.  In fact, some of my favorite runs are watching three guys pile on while Vick Ballard is running backwards for extra yardage.  Overall, I don’t think we have a superstar on our hands but if he can get lead back touches in 2013, he’s going to be mighty valuable, especially if Andrew Luck improves on his own impressive rookie year and some of his 5 rushing touchdowns goes to the RB this time around.  Needless to say, I’m going to be singing a power Ballard for Vick for 2013 Fantasy Football anywhere and everywhere I can.

Projections: 1025 rushing yards, 30 receptions, 270 receiving yards, 7 total touchdowns

With the Jets declaring Goodson the starter, it looks like Bilal Powell will be the back-up to start the season.  Bilal had a solid yet unspectacular season as the backup to Shonn Greene last year and it looks like he’ll get a chance to reprise being blah-tastic in 2013.  Of course, it’s the New York Jest we’re talking about here – that was not a typo – and no one had a great season so don’t hold that against him or Goodson when draft day rolls around.  In fact, this could very well be a breakout year for a career back up of backups.  You see, Goodson has but 160 carries in his 4 year NFL career so we don’t know how well he’ll hold up to 15-18 touches a game at 6 foot, 210 pounds.  What we DO know, is that Mike Goodson is an elusive back and could be the answer for a Jets offensive that needs explosiveness at the skill positions badly.  Right now, I wouldn’t go gaga for Goodson, lady or not, but I will definitely have him penciled in as a later target amongst running backs this season.  View him as a flex type thing who could turn into a Sex Type Thing for you.  In other 2013 fantasy football news…

Brady Quinn - Took over the back-up position in Seattle vacated by Matt Flynn from an earlier trade to the Raiders as he and Colt McCoy plan to compete for worst QB backup in the NFC West.  Hopefully neither team gets to find out who ‘wins’ that in 2013.

Emmanuel Sanders - Signed an offer sheet on a one year, $2.5 mill deal with the Pats on Wednesday as the Pats also resigned Julian Edelman.  I told you I liked Sanders year with my Emmanuel Sanders Fantasy Sleeper post.  That doesn’t change this season if he signs with the Pats or with the Steelers, especially with Wallace no longer in Pittsburgh.  What can I say, I’m set in my ways.  Now get your elbows off the table!

Richard Sherman - Quoted by The Vancouver Sun that “about half the league takes [Adderall] and the league has to allow it.”  He clarified in a statement on Thursday that not half but many were on it.  When questioned further, he started fixing his jacket buttons and then said ‘ooooh look, a squirrel!’ and left.

Rashad Jennings – Signed with the Raiders to back up forever injured Limp DMC.  BTW, don’t know if you’ve been keeping up with the news but Darren has said he’s excited for the 2013 season to start.  That’s never been a problem, Darren, it’s that you don’t finish them!

1. Tyler Eifert Notre Dame: At 6’5”, 250 and an outstanding combine finishing in the top of every category at the position, is the prototype Tight End. If anyone has the ability to be a top Tight End, it his going to be Eifert. He isn’t a great blocker, which limits his every down ability, but can be used in multiple ways either in the slot and even split out wide. Don’t be fooled by Eifert’s numbers; he averaged about 55 receptions a year and only had 11 touchdowns in three years, but that’s more of a function of offensive production at Notre Dame and less a product of his ability. My dream team for Eifert would be the Cleveland Browns. Even with the signing of Kellen Davis and the potential contributor Jordan Cameron and poor Quarterback play from Brandon Weeden, Cleveland is potentially a great fit for a young athletic Tight End like Eifert for Norv Turner and Rob Chudzinski to work with.

2. Gavin Escobar San Diego State University: One of my favorite Tight Ends in the draft is Escobar…ok maybe it’s the infamous last name or the fact that I got to personally watch his pro day and meet him but this guy is impressive. He may not have wowed anyone at the combine with 4.8 forty yard dash but he has solid hands is an excellent route runner and competes for every ball thrown his way.  Escobar’s weakness is he lacks serious yard after the catch ability. While he’s not going to be the down field playmaker that racks up yards he has the potential to be an every down tight end that could accumulate a high volume of receptions and could be a great red zone target. My dream team for Escobar would be the Atlanta Falcons. With Tony Gonzalez reaching the end of his amazing career, adding Escobar would be a smart move. I see similar aspects in their game and it would be amazing to get some coaching and learn the position from one of the all time greats.

3. Jordan Reed Florida: At 6’2”, 236 Reed is one of the smaller but more exciting prospects in this class. I hate to make the comparison because they came from the same school but it’s hard not to think Aaron Hernandez when watching him play. Reed’s blocking and fundamentals need serious work but there is no denying his upside. In the multiple ways he can be lined up, he would be an absolute nightmare for any linebacker trying to keep up with him and he is big enough to overpower safeties and cornerbacks in space. I think Reed might be risky in Fantasy Football but if he’s on your team he could be one of those rare players that could be in your lineup every week. My dream team for Reed would be the Seattle Seahawks . The Seahawks desperately need a dynamic player at Tight End and with Harvin now added as a receiver, this could be an absolute deadly combination for Russell Wilson.

4. Travis Kelce Cincinnati: When it comes to Tight Ends, Kelce is a really safe pick and is built like your prototypical Tight End at 6’5” 260. He didn’t wow anyone at the combine posting average numbers, but he does have amazing fundamentals and is a playmaker with the ball in his hands. He is drawing comparisons to Rob Gronkowski which I think is a stretch but on film he is impressive, I’m just not sure that it will translate all that well to the NFL. Kelce also has had several off the field issues, which you hate to see from a young prospect so that will be an interesting situation to monitor. My dream team for Kelce would be the San Diego Chargers who desperately need someone to step in and be the play maker on offense that Antonio Gates used to be. With Kelce’s blocking skills, he would also be an asset to the offensive line that had it’s share of struggles in 2012.

5. Zach Ertz Standford: This big physical Tight End is drawing comparisons to Jason Witten. Not that I don’t agree as there are similarities in their game – tough receiver that’s not afraid to take hits in traffic and a fairly polished route runner and blocker – but unlike the veteran he has a lot to learn before being a significant impact player in the NFL. Many will look at his impressive stat lines in 2012 but I would attribute that mostly to a very effective Stanford offense and less to his abilities as a player. Ertz will have to work hard but could be someone we are talking about a few years down the road and might be the one tight end in this class that I wouldn’t classify as an immediate contributor. My dream team for Ertz would be the Green Bay Packers. With the departure of Tom Crabtree and the ineffectiveness of Finley, the Packers would do well to add him and having Aaron Rogers as your Quarterback could help to hide some of the things Ertz does poorly and of course with the lack of a running game, he could be a great red zone target.

Well what can I say, kids not all of these rookie reviews are gonna be exciting.  However, when you go 8th overall in the 2012 draft the bar gets set high, even if you’re stuck with two wide receivers who average 6’0″ and 195 pounds apiece as your primary targets.  I’m not gonna lie, this following piece might be dryer than your grandma’s box…of homemade prunes!  See, I gotcha leaning there didn’t I?  You and I are just going to have to struggle through this one together.  So let’s take a journey back through Tannehill’s 2012 rookie season and see if it can aide us  in seeing what his 2013 fantasy football season will look like…

Weeks 1-4: 1059 total yards, 56% completion rate, 7 total turnovers, 3 total touchdowns, 53.14 fantasy points – Never like to see a 3:7 touchdown to turnover ratio but the yardage pace would’ve put him at over 4K passing yards on the season, which is encouraging.  Highlight of this 4-game stretch was the 431 yard passing game in Arizona that got the fantasy world aflutter.  Unfortunately, the pace of the other three games – 205 passing yards a game average – were more in line with his end season totals.  Considering 3 of his first 4 games were against teams that gave up very few fantasy points to opposing QBs on the year – Cardinals finished 2nd, Jets finished 6th and the Texans finished 13th against but were much better at the start of the year – it’s hard to say anything bad about this start to his rookie year.

Weeks 5-9: 727 total yards, 63% completion rate, 0 total turnovers, 3 total touchdowns, 41.74 fantasy points – Yet another tough slate of games as 2 of the 4 teams faced (aforementioned Jets, Bengals finished 5th) ranked high in terms of fantasy points against for opposing QBs.  During this stretch, Tannehill got injured against the Jets, only completing 2 of 5 passes so the drop in numbers aren’t 100% on him with his best yardage game coming the following week against the Colts with 290.  Yeah, I know we’re struggling to find the funny in all of this so I’ll give you a topic and you run with it: Mark Sanchez.

Weeks 10-13: 855 total yards, 55% completion rate, 7 total turnovers, 3 total touchdowns, 47.68 fantasy points – Decidedly a rookie showing he’s a rookie during this stretch.  Faced teams that were beatable through the air – Titans, Bills and Patriots all finished near the bottom in giving up fantasy points to opposing QBs – and returned very little given the setup.  During this stretch he also saw some of his worst yards per completion stats which is a good lead in to talk a bit more about his wide receiving group.  Davone Bess is a possession receiver.  Brian Hartline is a possession receiver.  Anthony Fasano is a former mafia member who is under witness protection as a tight end who forgot to change his name.  Keep all these things in mind when looking over Ryan’s stats.

Weeks 14-17: 864 total yards, 59% completion rate, 3 total turnovers, 5 total touchdowns, 65.3 fantasy points – Easily his best stretch, Tannehill’s lowest FPPG output was 11.2 against the Patriots.  According to yahoo, he was the 14th best QB over the last 4 weeks.  Think that doesn’t mean much?  Andrew Luck was the 16th best QB over that stretch.  Josh Freeman was the 19th best.  These guys finished 9th and 13th, respectively, in our top 20 quarterbacks for 2012 fantasy football season review.  Plus, I’m reviewing a guy that had a 12:13 TD to INT ratio so I’ve gotta give myself some reason to get excited.

Conclusion: Tannehill needed help coming into this off-season and Miami delivered.  Nothing wrong with Hartline or Bess, but neither are top wide receiver material and the Dolphins needed someone who could stretch the field.  The fact that Hartline had over 1,000 yards receiving says more about Tannehill than it does about Hartline, in my opinion, and Wallace should prove that this year.  Tannehill finished with a 6.81 yards per attempt average on the year, which isn’t necessarily bad for fantasy players – Stafford finished with a 6.83 – but he also only attempted 1 more pass than Christian Ponder for the season with 484, good for 20th best.  It was clear that the Dolphins kept the training wheels on Ryan for most of the season and even his best stretch wasn’t all that inspiring.  Overall, with the signing of both Mike Wallace and Dustin Keller, Tannehill becomes intriguing in my mind.  His 211 rushing yards finished 10th best among quarterbacks on the season, something that many probably don’t think about when considering his career in college (he had 306 rushing yards at Texas A&M in 2011).  Seeing as he was the 4th best rookie QB in 2012, he’s going to fly under the radar for 2013 fantasy drafts most likely.  At this point, if I’m picking up a backup QB in a 1QB league, Tannehill is my target and he’s definitely on my team in 2QB leagues.  This will probably be the last time Tannehill will go cheaply in drafts.  Enjoy it.

Projections: 3888 passing yards, 25 touchdown passes, 15 interceptions, 258 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown

Matt Flynn - Well, there’s a reason the Raiders traded Carson.  That reason is Terrell Pryor, of course.  I keed.  I think.  In reality, there’s no guarantee that Flynn is the starting QB in Oakland this year.  If you feel bad for the guy, look at how much money he’s making for 87 career completions and for holding a clipboard.  See?  You kinda hate him now.

Jason Hanson – Retired after playing for 21 years.  He could’ve stopped after 1997′s smash hit ‘MMM Bop’ but he stayed for the fans.  Class act.

Colt McCoy - Signed with the 49ers to back up Colin Kaepernick.  Looks like Harbaugh wanted an even bigger challenge than turning Alex Smith into a competent quarterback.

Matt Barkley - After working out for the Bills on Monday, he’s rumored to be holding a private workout for the Cardinals on Saturday.  If we see smoke billowing from the combine, we’ll know who will back up Palmer in 2013.

In general news, the NFL unveiled plans to show locker room footage on the jumbotrons at games.  Chris Culliver better hope they don’t catch him checking out Harbaugh when he’s ranting.  He’s cute when he’s angry.

1. Geno Smith West Virginia: Geno has been the most talked about prospect and is clearly ahead of the rest of the pack in terms of his draft stock. There are questions surrounding his light build and ability to read defenses and run an effective offense at the professional level but with his athletic ability and amazing accuracy he truly has tremendous upside. He may have skipped the Pro Bowl but did post great numbers at the combine and had an incredibly successful Pro Day. My dream team for Geno would be the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jaguars are still in shock from the implosion that was Blaine Gabbert. If they can move past this disappointment and draft a QB high again, they could be getting a player to step in with some really amazing playmakers on offense. Between Shorts, Blackmon, Marcedes Lewis and Maurice Jones Drew they could finally start competing in the AFC South.

2. EJ Manuel Florida State: I know, I know this looks crazy and although I agree Manuel has a lot of things to work on in terms of fundamentals I think he has tremendous upside and if thrown into the right offense could have immediate Fantasy Football potential. He lacks the development of a quality pocket passer but with his athletic ability he is perfectly capable of running a modified read option which is becoming the popular offensive scheme for NFL teams. Please take the next sentence with caution and this is by no means a player comparison but at 6’ 5” 237 and a 4.65 forty he has the physical presence of Cam Newton and durability should not be a factor like it will be with many other quarterbacks in this class. Does EJ have a low floor? He sure does but he also has a very high ceiling. My dream team for EJ would be the Philadelphia Eagles. Chip Kelly’s offense may look complicated but it would actually work to Manuel’s strengths with quick short throws that don’t require a lot of scrambling or going through multiple reads. No doubt he would be a successful asset to a very dangerous offense that is the Eagles.

3. Ryan Nassib Syracuse: Nassib’s value also relies on his experience in a read option type offense and with this becoming the new fad of the NFL, no doubt he could be an effective Fantasy Football asset on the right team. He performed well at the Senior Bowl showing his sound fundamentals and incredible velocity and accuracy with his intermediate throws in practice but then in live play had a terrible showing with a fumble and interception showing that he has consistency problems. The weakness in Nassib’s game is clearly when he needs to stretch the field and make long throws. He also had a decent Pro Day completing 69 of 75 passes missing mostly the longer throws. My dream team for Nassib would be the Buffalo Bills. The Bills will need to add a wide receiver in the draft to allow Steve Johnson to move into the slot but if Spiller is let loose as many think he will, any quarterback in this offense could end up with a very successful season.

4. Matt Barkley USC:  Amazing how drastically things can change in a year. After passing on the 2012 NFL Draft, Barkley was regarded as the clear number one quarterback prospect in college football. This quickly took a turn for the worse during his quest for a National Championship. Matt Barkley and the USC Trojans finished 7-6 including a 21-7 Sun Bowl loss to Georgia Tech. Luckily for Barkley he still had a respectable season and due to the lack of depth in this year’s draft he still remains one of the top overall prospects at quarterback. The major concerns that surround Barkley is his size at 6’ 2” and lack of arm strength. There are also many questioning that his success was a direct result of the talent he has had around him during his time at USC. What Barkley lacks in physical ability he has in fundamentals and football smarts. He is truly a student of the game and will need to be in an effective, complex system to stand out in the NFL. My dream team for Barkley would be the Denver Broncos. Peyton Manning - although extremely impressive last year - doesn’t have many seasons left and with a questionable depth chart, Barkley could be a great addition into an explosive offense that rarely requires the quarterback to make long throws, not to mention learning the game from one of the best.

5. Zac Dysert Miami Ohio: At 6’3 235, Dysert looks like an NFL quarterback with great arm strength to go with it. He can easily execute all the throws that are required of an NFL starter.  His overall throwing mechanics as seen in the Senior Bowl and his Pro Day are relatively sound and he rarely slips into poor form as to what would be considered “rookie mistakes”.  His physical talent really lies mostly in his arm as he is far from a scrambling Quarterback and is a terrific pocket passer. He is regarded as one of the only pocket passers that deals well with pressure and is rarely flustered making the same throws he would even without pressure. He still progressed through his reads, and doesn’t make a ton of mistakes by forcing the football. With all that said, he is far from the perfect prospect.  He still needs a lot of work with his footwork and he has physical limitations that could hold him back. My dream team for Dysert would be the Pittsburgh Steelers. Former Ohio of Miami Quarterback Ben Rothlisberger has taken quite a beating as a Steeler and unfortunately they will need to start looking to the future. Dysert could be a great value pick and could be the next franchise quarterback the Steelers need.  As long as they work on adding some offensive weapons, no doubt he could have value within a few years in Pittsburgh.

6. Tyler Wilson Arkansas: Wilson might be the safest pick in the draft but has limited upside. He is well balanced, confident and has excellent fundamentals. He has been somewhat forgotten as of late with a mediocre Senior Bowl and average Pro Day where he completed 77 of 84 throws to receivers without any defense on the field. He has the talent to be a starting NFL Quarterback but is going to need a great supporting cast to be successful. Wilson would most likely end up on a team that needs a quarterback to just do enough not to lose the game or could serve as a very good back up. My dream team for Wilson would be the New Orleans Saints. With Chase Daniels departing the Saints are in need of a reliable back up and Wilson would be more than capable to fill this role.

7. Mike Glennon North Carolina State: At 6’ 7” 225, he towers over all other quarterbacks. He has a huge arm and is surprisingly athletic for his build. Of all the prospects in this quarterback class, Glennon probably has the most intangibles physically as a passer but with that said he is a very raw talent. His weight is probably the most concerning, even though he is over 4 inches taller than most of the other prospects almost all of them outweigh him. The other thing that is concerning is that when he gets pressured, his throws become erratic almost as if he goes into panic mode. I like Glennon as a long-term prospect but he has a lot of work to do before he can be declared an NFL starter. My dream team for Mike Glennon would be the San Diego Chargers where he could learn under a similar player also from NC State, Phillip Rivers.

Tony Romo – Signed a 6 year, $108 million dollar deal with his Cowboys and Donovan McNabb was displeased.  Given that the one playoff win Romo had was against him, I’m assuming that’s what had him so angry.  Word on the street was McNabb got so upset, he tried to throw his coffee cup at a camera man’s face but ended up hitting him in the foot.

Fred Davis – Resigned with the Redskins after visiting the Jets.  Fred has all the talent in the world but has been a headcase for most of his career.  Let’s hope if anything would scare a player into getting right with the world, it’s the prospect of Mark Sanchez throwing the ball to you.  Honestly, Fred Davis is a talent to keep your eye on this season if he can come back healthy.

What a difference a year and an injury can make.  A year after plenty of hype surrounding his rookie year as a draft day sleeper, Cobb was again touted in 2012 as the great draft day diamond in the wee round rough.  And not unlike his rookie year, Cobb had a big week 1 game silencing naysayers about the sleeper hype.  But a funny thing happened that changed the course of his 2012 season compared to 2011.  Namely, injuries.  Injuries that made the Green Bay receiving crew do a bit of a 180 from what fantasy owners have come to expect from the land of the Cheeseheads.  You see, Greg Jennings lived up to his Spice Girl nickname Old Spice by playing hurt most of the season, freeing up some targets for other Green Bay receivers.  And while we’re on the topic of Old Spice, if you have a youtube account I strongly encourage you to subscribe to their channel.  No company I know of in recent memory has matched the WTF’ery of old Skittles commercials quite like these guys.  BTW, that last link is not really an original Skittles commercial.  BTW part deux, it’s really not safe for work.  BTW part trois, if Marshawn Lynch sees it, he may never eat Skittles again.   But enough about ‘tasting the rainbow’, we’re here to talk about Randall Cobb and what we should come to expect from him for 2013 fantasy football…

Before I rudely interrupted myself with a link to a Skittle facial – and here’s another hint to not open that link at work or maybe ever – I was talking about how Greg Jennings’ injury really opened the door for Cobb to assert himself in 2012 as a target for Aaron Rodgers.  Well to be fair, it was an odd year in general for the Packers wide receiver attack as Jordy Nelson also had an inconsistent year brought on in part by injuries.  Overall, it was a shot for Randall Cobb to shine and he ran with it.  No really, he was not only great in the passing game with 80 receptions for 954 yards and 8 touchdowns but he also contributed 132 rushing yards on 10 carries.  When you factor in this type of diversity on the field and add kick/punt return duties, a guy like Cobb is going to have the opportunity not only to score big but also provide consistency, especially in PPR leagues.  Since we’ve already gone over Greg Jennings now a Viking, the time is nigh for Randall to shine.

Overall, Cobb has been favorably compared to Percy Harvin and the idea behind that is very reasonable.  Both are great in the slot and do most of their damage in open space with the ball rather than as downfield threats.  Throw in they’re both slightly small for their respective positions but very capable running the ball out of the backfield, you could almost call Randall a clone.  However, as you can tell from the previous Harvin link, I’m going to like Cobb more this year.  Well with that, thanks for lending me your ear and let Randall getcha popcorn ready cuz 2013 is gonna be fresh off the Cobb.  Wow, that was really corny.  I’m a-maize-d the editor let it through.

Projections: 98 receptions, 1205 receiving yards, 84 rushing yards, 10 total touchdowns

1. Tavon Austin West Virginia: 29 of 32 teams were present at West Virginia’s Pro Day and while the majority were there to observe Quarterback Geno Smith, many were there to see one of the most dynamic receivers in the draft. Austin is electrifying on film to say the least and he backed it up with one of the most impressive combines of any receiver clocking a blazing 4.34 forty yard dash. He is drawing comparisons to play makers like Percy Harvin and Randall Cobb and we all know if he lives up to those expectations he could be a major asset to Fantasy Football owners. The one downside to Austin would be his size at 5’ 8” 175, his natural position is the slot and durability could be a huge concern. Will all that said his upside makes him worth the risk as the number one receiver to own in fantasy football. My dream team for Austin would be the St. Louis Rams. With Gibson departing to Miami and Amendola departing to New England, the Rams are fairly thin at the position and are lacking a true slot receiver. Austin would thrive in this system.

2. DeAndre Hopkins Clemson: One of the most polished route runners in the draft, Hopkins is just an all around great football player. He isn’t going to wow you with his combine numbers or flashy moves but he is a quick learner with the all around skills should be an immediate contributor. He is a decent blocker and is well built at 6’ 1” 215 so durability shouldn’t be an issue. When watching him on film it is clear to see that he is physical and has a passion to play the game, his work ethic and lack of off the field issues should translate well at the NFL level. My dream team for Hopkins would be the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings would be smart not to go after a replacement for Harvin and reach for Tavon Austin. Will the signing of Greg Jennings the Vikings need another solid route runner with great hands to help Ponder gain his confidence and Hopkins is that guy. He would do extremely well as a WR2 in Minnesota.

3. Keenan Allen California: One of the most underrated receivers in the draft is Keenan Allen, mostly due to poor quarterback play at Cal. At 6’ 3” 212 Allen is you prototypical WR1 and is surprisingly quick and athletic in the open field. The downside to Allen is he has not been able to progress as a solid route runner in the Cal offense and had limited production with a less than average QB throwing to him. On top of that he also drops quite a few catchable balls but with his large catch radius this should improve over time. My dream team for Allen would be the Baltimore Ravens. With Boldin departing to San Francisco to play for the other Harbaugh, the Ravens lack a legitimate WR2 opposite of Torrey Smith. He would be a great fit and could step in to an already impressive offense.

4. Cordarrelle Patterson Tennessee: Patterson is physically the most outstanding prospect in this draft. At 6’3 205 lbs while running a 4.42 forty yard dash, he looks like someone used the “create a player” feature in Madden, he is a physical specimen. On top of all this he is an absolute nightmare in the open field and pretty much has unlimited upside in terms of his potential. On the flip side he has an equal floor due to several flaws in his game. Patterson can be best described as a raw talent and it shows in his route running, catching and limited ability to block effectively. No doubt Patterson has the ceiling of Julio Jones but he also has the floor of Darius Heyward Bey but it is going to depend on his work ethic to meet his expected potential. My dream team for Patterson would be the Pittsburgh Steelers. With the departure of Mike Wallace he provides the much needed deep threat and playmaking ability that the Steeler’s offense needs. With Ben Roethlisberger being able to extend plays while scrambling Patterson would be an excellent addition to their depleted group of receivers.

5. Justin Hunter Tennessee: At 6’4″ and 200 lbs, Hunter has the size to be a great NFL receiver and with his long strides he runs the deep route as well as anyone in the draft. He also has a large catch radius as we have seen with the top receivers in the NFL – Calvin Johnson, Green, Marshall, and Bryant – which is an important aspect to being a great receiver. There is some downside to Hunter though, as he recently had a traumatic ACL injury in 2011 and many question whether he has fully recovered. He also has blocking and route running issues like his Tennessee teammate Patterson. My dream team for Hunter would be the Carolina Panthers who desperately need a big bodied possession receiver opposite of Steve Smith. It is pretty obvious that Brandon Lafell is not the answer.

6. Quinton Patton Louisiana Tech: Patton was an absolute monster in 2012 racking up 104 catches for Louisiana Tech including a 21 catch, 233 yard and 4 TD performance against Texas A&M (68 Points in a PPR) At 6’ 0” 205 he is fairly average in terms of size but he makes up for it with his excellent fundamentals and route running skills. He could be considered the most versatile receiver in the draft due to his ability to line up in the slot or on the outside. He didn’t have a great combine with an average 40 yard dash and vertical but he did excel in the shuttle run at 4.01 which shows just how quick he is. My dream team for Patton would be the Kansas City Chiefs. With Andy Reid taking over for the Chiefs and Alex Smith now the quarterback adding a sure handed versatile receiver like Patton would be great for their offense.

7. Robert Woods USC:  Woods is another great all around receiver in terms of fundamentals.  He is an incredibly precise route runner, one of the best in the class and is very aware of the steps and timing of his routes. He was also very efficient in the red zone and could be an immediate WR2 on many teams. Wood’s downside is he has been plagued by ankle issues and might lack the physicality to create separation from NFL defensive backs. My dream team for Woods would be the Buffalo Bills. The Bills desperately need a wide receiver to play on the outside to allow Stevie Johnson to move to his natural position in the slot. Having Woods in Buffalo, depending on how they address the quarterback issue, could pay off and add another weapon to an increasingly dangerous offense.

8. Da’Rick Rogers Tennessee Tech: Former Tennessee wide receiver Da’Rick Rogers is flying somewhat under the radar mostly due to his misconduct, off the field issues and his affiliation with a smaller school. Rogers is a great prospect overall with very few weaknesses and could end up being a very successful NFL receiver if he can stay out of trouble and focused on the game. This is a big if though and Rogers carries considerable risk. My dream team for Rogers would be the Houston Texans. The Texans need a solid threat opposite of Andre Johnson who would be an excellent mentor for Da’Rick and could be very productive as long as Kubiak wakes up and realizes he needs to open up the playbook.

9. Terrance Williams Baylor: It’s pretty amazing to see the talent that Baylor is producing, last year Robert Griffin and Kendall Wright, and this year brings us Terrance Williams. Williams, with a 19 YPC average in 2012, was Baylor’s deep threat target. Williams’ ability to catch the long ball could help his cause but ultimately he is undersized and not exceptionally fast. He will need to work extremely hard on his route running and physicality to allow him to get open at the next level. My dream team for Williams would be the New Orleans Saints. The Saints desperately need a player who can stretch the field and present a deep threat. Joe Morgan has shown promise but adding Williams wouldn’t be a bad idea; anything that gives Drew Brees more weapons is good for Fantasy Football.

10. Stedman Bailey West Virginia: Bailey doesn’t have the explosiveness of teammate Tavon Austin but he is much more polished football player, which is easily seen in his numbers as he racked up 114 receptions for 1622 yards and 25 TDs in 2012. Bailey is as sure handed as they come and he was one of the main reasons Geno Smith completed over 70 percent of his passes last season. He is extremely talented at bringing in difficult catches and he rarely drops the ball when crossing over the middle and he is fearless. Bailey has had no major injuries and has a great work ethic and excellent mind for the game as well. My dream team for Bailey would be the New England Patriots. The Patriots rarely draft a wide receiver but when they do they look for value in the later rounds. Bailey is such an all around great talent that I could see the Patriots taking a chance on him and he would be a great fit to a completely re-built group of receivers. It also never hurts to have Tom Brady throwing to you.

11. Mark Harrison Rutgers: At 6’3″, 235 lbs, Mark Harrison is another prototype NFL Wide Receiver but isn’t getting nearly the attention that he should. Harrison was plagued in 2012 with poor quarterback play and was part of a very run heavy offense so numbers alone do not show his potential. There are some questions surrounding his work ethic and his ability to quickly grasp NFL offenses but overall he is a great prospect and could be a late round steal. My dream team for Harrison would be the Cleveland Browns who have their deep threat in Josh Gordon but are missing their large target to be a solid possession receiver for Brandon Weeden. Mark Harrison would do well in what is looking like a soon to be highly effective Browns offense.

12. Markus Wheaton Oregon State: Wheaton is an exciting player to watch. He has that deep threat label and has the uncanny ability to get open, even though his routes are somewhat sloppy and unpolished at times. He is drawing comparisons to Steve Smith and Mike Wallace but he is going to have to prove his speed and acceleration to see if it translates to the NFL because there are serious doubts that he will have the ability to create separation against NFL defensive backs. Markus Wheaton plays with high intensity which I am sure teams like to see on tape, always fighting for yards and always contests for the ball. Wheaton does lack the size and there could be some durability issues in the future. My dream team for Wheaton would be the Carolina Panthers where he could grow as true number one and be mentored by one of the best in Steve Smith who doesn’t have many seasons left.

Here are my thoughts on the moves made so far and how they will affect IDP leagues in 2013:

DL

Cliff Avril – Becomes the “Leo” for Seattle which should suit him well as he’s been a Lion for the last 5 years. The Seahawks have come out looking prettaaay, prettay good so far this offseason, and the Avril signing only furthers that point. By lining up opposite Michael Bennett and Bruce Irvin (and eventually Chris Clemons), Avril will easily match his 2012 production and is a good bet to improve on it.

Michael Bennett – Goes to Seattle as well because that’s what all the cool kids are doing. The DE-rotation will be interesting from an IDP perspective as Bennett, Avril and Irvin could all be starters for most teams. I put Bennett a shade below Avril for now, but depending on how the rotation shakes out that could change.

Desmond Bryant – Joins the Browns and could become the rare fantasy relevant 3-4 DE. I knew he would be punished by Goodell after taking the most amazing mug shot ever, but banishment to Cleveland? That’s extreme even for this commissioner. Then again he’s coming from Oakland, so is that an upgrade or a downgrade? I need to check my Worst NFL City Power Rankings.

Still Out There – John Abraham, Osi Umenyiora (likely to sign with Atlanta on Monday), Dwight Freeney

LB

Elvis Dumervil – Upgrades to a DSL connection and will lineup opposite Terrell Suggs in Baltimore. The position change will hurt his value a bit, but with teams unable to double-team both Dumervil and Suggs, an increase in sacks is possible. This kills the sleeper value for Courtney Upshaw, who was slated to start at OLB before the signing. I like Dumervil in big play leagues, but in standard leagues I would not rely on him as a starter.

Dannell Ellerbe – Takes his talents from the Super Bowl champs to South Beach, where he will take over for Karlos Dansby in the middle. Miami has cranked out startable LBs in IDP leagues since the days of Zach Thomas, so Ellerbe should be high in the rankings for 2013. This also opens up a Ray Lewis-sized hole in the middle of Baltimore’s defense, so consider Josh Bynes an IDP sleeper unless the Ravens bring in one of the remaining free agents or a high draft pick.

Philip Wheeler – Will be joining Ellerbe in the city where the heat is on, replacing the departed Kevin Burnett. Wheeler was a fringe IDP starter in Oakland last year, but the move to Miami figures to hurt his value a bit. I wouldn’t take him as anything higher than my LB3.

Kevin Burnett – Heard me talking about him, and wants you to know that he’ll be replacing Wheeler as well. Burnett has been extremely consistent over the years and the change of scenery shouldn’t affect his production too much. We may see an increase in his numbers without Dansby around to hoard all the tackles, but I’m hesitant to be too high on anyone in Oakland until we see how the snaps play out. Kevin is not a stud, but not bad to have around, which is incidentally how my fiancée feels about me.

Paul Kruger – Rides a hot stretch to end 2012 into a huge deal with the Browns. The only way he could become fantasy-relevant is if he gains DE-eligibility, which does not figure to happen in Cleveland. The presence of Kruger does give a boost to Jabaal Sheard’s value, but otherwise the Kruger contract appears to be a Nightmare on 105^th Street for Cleveland.

Jasper Brinkley – Moves from the Vikings to Arizona, where he will get a shot at starting opposite Daryl Washington. Right now it appears that he will compete with Lorenzo Alexander for the starting job, so this is definitely a battle to monitor during training camp. It should also be noted that Brinkley has one of my favorite names in the league.

Connor Barwin – Jumps from Houston to the Chip Kelly Experience in Philly. His value should remain similar to 2012, which is not saying a whole lot, but this move looks to have a larger effect on the value of Trent Cole. Cole has little experience as a 3-4 OLB, so he appears to be an obvious trade candidate to a 4-3 scheme where he would retain his value.

Still Out There – Karlos Dansby, Nick Barnett, James Harrison, Brian Urlacher

DB

Bernard Pollard –  Moves to Nashville where his role will not change much. He should still be drafted as a DB1 and will likely rack up more tackles thanks to a downgrade in the front seven he’ll be playing behind. Pollard staying in the AFC has other fantasy implications as well, as no Patriot skill player can feel truly safe when he’s around. Age and injury concerns are the only worries for an otherwise solid IDP contributor.

LaRon Landry – Goes to the Colts, where he will likely be a DB1 if he can stay healthy. The defense in Indy is largely young and inexperienced, which will give Landry even more tackle opportunities than he had for the Jets. There are safer options to take as your first DB given his injury history, but I can see Landry being the top DB in 2013 if he plays all 16.

George Wilson – Looked like he would be the new SS for the Titans after being cut by the Bills, but the Pollard signing moves him to FS. I’m a little confused by Buffalo’s strategy, as they just gave Leodis McKelvin a nice new contract, yet couldn’t afford to keep Wilson. But with their GM’s other recent activities I guess we shouldn’t put anything past them, including taking Manti Te’o at #8 out of solidarity. Regardless, Wilson has a DB2 ceiling, but may lose a lot of opportunities thanks to Pollard’s presence.

Yeremiah Bell – Will replace Adrian Wilson as the starting SS in Arizona. Bell and Wilson have each been IDP stalwarts at their positions over the last decade, but Bell’s health has been better as of late. I can easily see myself drafting a high-risk/high-reward DB2 like Janoris Jenkins and backing him up with Bell. He is the model of consistency when it comes to tackles, and allows me to use the requisite “Yeremiah was a Bullfrog” team name, so it’s a win-win.

Glover Quin – Joins in on the safety-roulette, moving from Houston to Detroit. Quin doesn’t wow me, but he stays healthy and makes tackles, so he is rosterable in standard leagues. In big-play leagues I would steer clear, as despite his first name, Quin doesn’t make many catches (5 interceptions in 63 career games).

Jerraud Powers – Has been an afterthought in IDP leagues, but after an injury-shortened 2012 season, he moves to Arizona where he will be lined up across from Patrick Peterson. Opposing QBs tend to avoid Peterson at all costs, so that should give Powers increased opportunities for tackles, deflections and picks.

Dashon Goldson – Moves to New Orleans and teams with Mark Barron to form quite the safety tandem in the Crescent City. In San Fran, Goldson often lost out on tackles due to the beasts in that front-seven, so it will be interesting to see how he does when he’s forced to make a play. His production should increase but if you’re drafting him as a starting DB, you’re getting Fool’s Gold, son.

Ed Reed – Does the unthinkable and chooses a uniform other than Baltimore’s. Maybe he’s sick of wearing purple, though I would think Reed is comfortable enough with himself that something like that wouldn’t bother him. Reed is largely a non-factor in IDP leagues, outside of big-play leagues and leagues that include interception return yards. If the Texans let him freelance like he could with the Ravens, then he’ll have a couple of big games, but I’m not comfortable having him on my roster.

Still Out There – Antoine Winfield, DeAngelo Hall, Charles Woodson

So without further ado, I need to add some ado.  This was a 12 team snake draft that was made possible and sponsored by Hostess.  Hrm, that’s not right…but now I could really go for a Suzie Q.  No, it was held by MyFantasyLeague.com with real people and by real people I mean ‘non-mock robots’.  I can’t say for sure if one of them was a Kardashian or a Hilton so on that term for real people, your guess is as good as mine.  But in either case, I’m happy with this team in a 12 team draft and it’s good to see where value might lie in upcoming drafts because of it.  So, the first thing I’m gonna throw under the microscope is my penis team and see what’s good/bad/ugly/disease-ridden.  The thing I like the most would have to be my QB in Drew Brees from the third round.  Now, Brees going to me in the 3rd of a 12 team says a lot about how to view quarterbacks in 2013 fantasy drafts.  While I wasn’t the first guy to take a QB – surprisingly RG3 was the first off the board at 3.01 followed by Rodgers at 3.04 – it was a round where 6 total went.  However, Brees was one of the few set it and forget it guys from that cluster and is the main reason why I didn’t draft a backup QB.  No reason to when the man you draft has two straight 5,000+ yard, 40+ touchdown seasons under his belt, not to mention has only missed one game in the last 8 seasons.  Now what I did find interesting was how the first round shook out.  Of the first 12 picks, only Calvin Johnson broke the RB trend at 1.07 and of those RBs, there were some picks that made me worry about draft day inflation.  I took Jamaal Charles at 1.06 right after someone took Spiller with the 1.05 pick.  Now I’m not here to say CJ isn’t awesome but the fact remains Fred Jackson is still a part of that offense.  Couple that with Marshawn Lynch going at 1.08 – criminally low in my opinion – and it makes me wonder if some of these RBs are gonna get hyped above what their respective values should be for 2013.  Ok, enough about others, let’s talk about me again.  I like Vick Ballard for 2013 and he’s looking to be a decent value pick if his 5th round going rate holds.  In terms of TE, the usual suspects went high – Gronk at 2.01 and Graham at 2.04 – and I rolled with Greg Olsen because…well, because the top two were off the board and I didn’t care.  I was pleasantly surprised to not see any faith in Pitta as he went at 9.11.  Now, if you’ve ever read anything I’ve ever said, you’ll know I’m not a huge Ravens passing game fan but Pitta in the 9th is some crazy good value.  Now with Bolden a 49er, Pitta should get even more opportunities.  Outside of that, getting Pead at 11.06 is criminal and shouldn’t have happened but there are a lot of Daryl Richardson believers out there, including the team that took him at 8.10.  Count me out on that.  On my bench, my favorite picks were Golden Tate and Bilal Powell.  Though it’s not clear if Bilal will be the starter or not, he was extremely serviceable in stints last year and if he gets an expanded role, a low end RB2 type year isn’t out of the question.  Golden Tate is me believing in his last 11 games, including the playoffs where he was on a 16 game pace for 61 receptions, 923 yards and 7 touchdowns.  Or as I like to think of it, Torrey Smith without the associated price tag.  Yes, I still hold to that even with the Percy Harvin trade.

Overall, I’m happy with this way too early mock.  Probably cuz it’s way to early to be unhappy about it but also because there’s plenty of upside potential.  I feel it has a nice blend of young up and comers and stable production and feel I’d be comfortable to draft this team even in July or August.  But not September…no never September.

Short answer: it won’t do much in theory.  There, told you it would be short.  Good night folks!  But to analyze this a bit further, we need to look at the intents of the rule and how it SHOULD be applied, based on the verbiage. From all accounts, this rule affects open field play. So for those of you worried that a running back on the goal line is supposed to run in standing straight as a board are mistaken. Short yardage plays are fair game where everyone is trying to get as close to the ground as possible. The rule is based on some simple physical principles. The defensive player in the open field is trying to react to the running back. They are not charging him if it’s an open field tackle, they’re waiting for said running back to make a move so they can react. So if the running back goes out of their way not only to make contact but does so by leading with the crown of their helmet, THAT’s when they get the penalty.  So a defensive player backing up and on the balls of their feet waiting for the RBs move can no longer get the crown of said running back’s helmet in his helmet or chest as a way for the running back to make a play.  Doesn’t mean the RB can’t run at him.  Doesn’t mean the RB can’t create contact in open field.  It simply means the contact can’t be with the intent of spearing into a defender with your helmet.  Cool?  Ok, cool.

Now of course, I fully relent that if the officiating crew doesn’t apply the rule as it’s stated, we are going to have a problem.  A running back who seeks contact like Marshawn Lynch might get villianized by the officiating crew more often than he should.  I’m not saying there aren’t flaws to the rule or the idea but I can only speak to the intent and the wording of what I’ve seen so far and what there is doesn’t speak to the concept of deflating the fantay value of Running Backs for 2013.  Though one video of Adrian Peterson that is circulating being called a penalty does bother me, I’m not going to fully buy into the worry surrounding the subject at this time.  Alright, we now leave you to get back to your regularly scheduled Fantasy Football Off-Season.

1. Johnathan Franklin UCLA: Don’t ask me about the spelling of his name in fact I think I call him Justin Franklin more than I do Johnathan Franklin. Even with the weird first name Franklin is one of the most complete Running Backs in the draft. In my Senior Bowl article I was pretty convinced that he had great fundamentals but lacked the athletic ability to be a standout. Franklin proved me wrong by posting outstanding numbers in the combine in the 40 and shuttle drills earning my top “pre draft” ranking. My dream team for him would be the Green Bay Packers. Some view the Packers as a death with for Fantasy Running Backs but we have to remember they have yet to have someone talented enough to prove that to be wrong; even Cedric Benson was a quality option up until he was injured. I would think with his skill set Franklin would be very successful in the Packers Zone Blocking Scheme.

2. Giovanni Bernard UNC: Bernard has made a lot of noise in the off-season and is regarded as one of the best Rookie Running Back prospects in the draft. He didn’t have the any record setting seasons but has been extremely consistent posting nearly identical numbers in back to back seasons with the Tar Heels. I think Bernard can have an immediate impact on any team that he lands with and is drawing comparisons to Ray Rice and Maurice Jones-Drew. Those are some impressive names but I have a hard time finding anything to argue that. My dream team for him would be the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals had failed experiments with heavy power back BenJarvus Green-Ellis and speedster Peerman but Bernard gives the Bengals what they desperately need, a balanced and dynamic Running Back.

3. Joseph Randle Oklahoma State: Randle has quietly put together an excellent college career but has been overshadowed by players like Justin Blackmon and Brandon Weeden. With over 2,800 yards and 38 TDs in two seasons his production shows just how explosive he is, with a career average of over 5 yards a carry. The main concern with Randle is that he runs very high and will be susceptible to injuries if he doesn’t alter his run style. With that said I have no doubt he can continue his production even on the NFL level.  My Dream Team would be the Arizona Cardinals. This ranking is under the assumption that the Cardinals restructure the many concerns with the offensive line but if any Running Back can overcome these it will be Joseph Randle especially in Bruce Arian’s offense.

4. Eddie Lacy Alabama: We all know Lacy as the power runner and Heisman candidate that carried his team to a national championship this past year, but we need to look a little closer than that when analyzing Lacy’s NFL potential. So far this off-season Lacy has skipped the Senior Bowl, Combine and now scouts might not even get to see him before the draft. The speculation is that Lacy doesn’t want a possibly questionable 40 times to affect his draft stock. I believe that is a bit of a reach and has mostly to do with a nagging hamstring injury but it is reason for concern. The expectation for Lacy is that he will emerge as a carbon copy of Trent Richardson, if he lands in the right spot I think that is possible but not likely. My dream team for Lacy would be the Pittsburgh Steelers. Lacy is built for a run heavy offense and would have no problem overtaking any potential starter in that backfield. With Lacy with the Steelers we would also get the added value of Alabama Running Back VS Alabama Running Back when they square off against the Browns twice a year.

5. Montee Ball Wisconsin: Ball is the Running Back in the draft that doesn’t have a ton of upside but his fundamentals are so solid that in the right scheme he could be a major contributor. There are a lot of concerns about the wear and tear that he might have sustained in college from taking a staggering 925 carries but Ball has shown that he is very durable and should have no problems at the NFL level. His surprising 4.62 at the combine also shows that he has the speed that so many people doubted. My dream team for Ball would be the St. Louis Rams. With Steven Jackson departing to Atlanta, the Rams are missing a power between the tackle running back with developed pass protection skills. There are still a lot of questions marks surrounding Daryl Richardson and Isaiah Pead so adding Ball to the mix would be very interesting.

6. Andre Ellington Clemson: Ellington is electrifying to say the least and he is extremely fast and agile. The only concern with Ellington is his size and inability to run between the tackles. He will only be successful if he can learn to adapt his run style and understand that NFL defenders are much quicker than defenders at the college level. Ellington’s strength is catching passes in space and because of this he could be an absolute impact player especially in PPR formats. My dream team for Ellington would be the Dallas Cowboys who need depth at the position and could use a dynamic play maker like Ellington as a change of pace back for Demarco Murray.

7. Le’Veon Bell Michigan State: At first look I thought I had made a mistake and was watching a fullback but realized that this player ran better than any fullback I’d seen. This fullback was actually Michigan State’s mammoth Running Back Le’veon Bell who is listed at an unbelievable 6’2” 244 lbs. Bell was the every down back for the Spartans and racked up almost 1,800 yards and 12 TDs.  With an impressive combine showing equal measure of strength, speed and quickness, he has proven to be a coveted prospect in this year’s draft. My dream team for Bell would be the Denver Broncos. With Willis McGahee aging and Ronnie Hillman having issues in pass protection, he would have no problem stepping in as a major asset to a very impressive Bronco’s offense, just imagine what Bell could do while defenses are trying to figure out what Peyton Manning and the Bronco’s now Elite passing system with the addition of Wes Welker.

 8. Marcus Lattimore South Carolina: Lattimore would easily be in my top three if not for a gruesome season ending knee injury that if you saw the picture probably still haunts you to this day. I like his chances to recover especially with a consult from the miracle worker Dr. Andrews but lets remember that this is his second serious knee injury. He has the ability to be a top NFL Running Back if fully recovered but if he is rushed back - which I think he will - we could be see another season ending or career ending injury at the early stages of his career. My dream team for Lattimore would be the Tennessee Titans where he could contribute in a complementary role with Chris Johnson until he is ready to take the full workload. 

9. Stefan Taylor Stanford: Taylor has limited upside due to his lack of athletic ability but if he lands on the right team, his fundamentals are excellent and his vision is so good he could take on a partial role and become the coveted touchdown “vulture”, making him an asset in standard scoring leagues. My dream team for Taylor would be the New York Jets only because it would give him the most opportunity to make an immediate impact. Shonn Greene was recently released but actually put together some decent numbers the past few seasons, fantasy-wise. Although Taylor isn’t an especially explosive player, much like Greene  he should have no problem outproducing Shonn, especially if the touchdown opportunities are given to him.

10. Christine Michael Texas A&M: The extremely athletic and talented Christine Micheal blew everyone away at the combine with his impressive bench press and 40 time.  Not only that but his speed and athleticism are just as apparent on the football field. He could arguably be placed in the top 5 if not for questions about his pass blocking ability and injury history. If he stays healthy he could be an immediate contributor in the NFL. My dream team for Michael would be the Jacksonville Jaguars. With Maurice Jones Drew dealing with his own injuries and many questioning how much time he has left in the NFL, Christine Michael would be a formidable back up and would be ready to take the lead back role if Jones missed time in 2013.

11. Zac Stacy Vanderbilt: One of the most underrated backs in the draft is Stacy, mostly due to his size at 5’9″ 208 lbs. What he lacks in size he makes up for in well rounded fundamentals and athleticism. He is not the most flashy runner or powerful but Stacy always has the ability to grind out those needed yards and has what it takes to be an every down Running Back in the NFL. He could be a late round steal in the draft for many teams that need a productive between the tackles runner. My dream team for Stacy would be the Oakland Raiders who have their speed back in McFadden but lack a tough inside runner like Stacy. You might argue that Marcel Reece is that guy but unfortunately his skill set is needed at full back and was only a temporary solution. I wouldn’t be shocked if Zac Stacy emerges as the Alfred Morris of 2013.

12. Mike Gillislee Florida: Here is a very interesting player, every time I watch him I want to scream at how awful he is at carrying the football and how poor his general fundamentals are, but then he breaks that huge 60 yard run and I forget it all. I am hoping this will be the same for NFL scouts because I believe that these bad habits can be broken if he lands on the right team. We saw what fumbling problems for a rookie can do as we witnessed David Wilson spend the majority of 2012 seated comfortably on the bench. My dream team for Gillislee would be the Washington Redskins where he could be an addition as a much needed change of pace back for Alfred Morris. I know being drafted to the Redskins is like being drafted to Shanahan Running Back prison but I believe he would be extremely valuable in this offense if they needed to change schemes for teams keying in on the read option which was so effective in 2012. Morris’ inability to be involved in the passing game is slightly concerning and Gillislee could contribute in this aspect.

Projections: 83 receptions, 1079 receiving yards, 6 total touchdowns

But of course, Jennings signing on Friday wasn’t the only highlight over the weekend.  Let’s take a look at the Free Agent moves over the last few days and how they might impact the 2013 fantasy football season…

Dustin Keller - I said last Thursday that he had signed with Miami.  Then woke up that morning to find out it wasn’t true and that the talks hadn’t led to any fruition on Wednesday.  So I deleted it from the post.  Then on Friday they agreed on a deal.  And what I said on Thursday was much funnier so I give up.  However, I will say Keller carries decent TE sleeper potential for deeper leagues this season.

Brandon Gibson - Seriously, who didn’t sign with the Dolphins last week?  Gibson joins the Dolphins, presumably to play 3rd/4th fiddle in that passing offense behind Hartline, Wallace and possibly Keller or Bess.  No word on who’ll be playing the stand up bass.  Probably not a huge fantasy impact here but if injuries occur, he’ll be a player of interest.

Mike Goodson – The Jets signed the speedster to a 3 year contract that was still less than what the Titans paid to get Shonn Greene as a backup.  On that front, they are already better in 2013.  Overall, Goodson has good speed but outside of that, I don’t know if he’s an every down back.  If I had money in this game, I’d say they’re still going to keep searching for other running back pieces even though I’d love to anoint Bilal Powell the starter.

Brandon Myers - Signed with the Giants on Saturday and is no longer the catch receptacle in the Carson Palmer check down show.  Value-wise, he probably moves a bit sideways in PPR leagues.  Less meaningless targets but more red zone opportunities.  If you wanna know what that means, just ask a Martellus Bennett owner from last year.  Tell them Sky sent ya, they’ll understand.  BTW, I said ‘catch receptacle’.  That’s gonna be a Razzball word for the impending Razzball Football Glossary.  I’m trying to get your whistle wet with anticipation, hope it worked!

Brandon Lloyd - Waived by the Patriots after an up and down season that produced 74 catches, 911 yards and at least 50 balls dove for that didn’t need his diving prowess attached to them.

Roy Helu - Released by the Redskins.  Given Alfred Morris’ 11 receptions last year, this one is a bit surprising to me and I’ll be interested to see where he lands.  Twitter lies, I tell ya!  Heard the rumor on Saturday and I’m not referring to the Bruce Willis’ daughter who has – how can I put this delicately – the worst parts of both parents.  Ever wondered what Bruce would look like if he had Demi Moore’s eyes?  Seriously, this is worse those ‘what would their baby look like’ photoshop mashups they do on tv…

Elvis Dumervil - I haven’t been covering defensive moves because we have our IDP man Kevin Kumpf who’ll be all over it like hair on top of a Hobbit’s foot but seriously, a fax machine?  Really?  I tried texting Dumervil’s agent about it but his rotary phone didn’t have the capability of handling it.

Projections: 1144 rushing yards, 40 receptions, 328 receiving yards, 14 total touchdowns

Needless to say, I’m all in.  But of course, SJax wasn’t the only news on Thursday.  So let’s take a quick look at the third day of free agency to see what else happened for 2013 fantasy football…

Matt Cassel - Was waived by KC and then immediately picked up by the Vikings.  Hrm, I thought I said I had more news than Steven Jackson…guess I was wrong.  With Ponder’s 6.08 yards per passing attempt and Cassel’s 6.48, it’s clear Minnesota is trying to corner the limp arm market.  Next stop, trade for Gabbert and his 5.98.  I’m assuming this move is supposed to motivate Christian.  Guess he better add .4 yards to every pass attempt to keep up then!

Wes Welker - Wes heads West.  Welker goes to the Broncos where he’ll play slot along side Eric Decker and Demaryius Thomas and have Peyton Manning throwing to him.  In other words, the Raiders/Chargers/Chiefs secondary just curled up in the fetal position simultaneously.  The winner: Peyton owners.  The loser: anyone hoping to draft Welker or Decker with WR1 upside for the year.  But more

Danny Amendola - Heads East and by replacing Welker on the Pats, I’m officially suggesting to ABC a spin-off series with ‘White Swap’.  For the serious side of things, ‘dola was on pace for over 90 receptions and 4 or 5 touchdowns last season despite the injury bug cutting his season short.  That on a team that was 23rd in the league in total yards a game last year.  New England was first.  Put that in your sippy cup and swirl it around for a bit.

Donnie Avery - Signed with the Chiefs where he’ll be free to drop Alex Smith passes and not Andrew Luck passes.  The biggest news about this signing comes in two flavors.  One, it means T.Y. Hilton’s stock was already high and should go higher and two, it means the Jonathan Baldwin might never become as good as his brothers Alec and Stephen.  What, you don’t think Stephen was good?  Have you NOT seen Bio-Dome?

Anthony Fasano - Because meh signings come in bunches, the Chiefs also signed Fasano.  If I were to guess at his use, he’s most likely being brought in for his blocking abilities.  At least that’s what I’m telling myself as I look at writing a Tony Moeaki sleeper post.

Shonn Greene - Signed on as a backup to Chris Johnson for the Titans.  The Jets showed Shonn the door at the end of the season.  Since he didn’t know what to do with an opening, he hesitated and fell forward a yard and had to be dragged out the rest of the way.

Laurent Robinson - Cut by the Jaguars.  This move says a lot more about the burgeoning talent in Jacksonville – Shorts, Blackmon and to an extent Shipley – than it necessarily says about Robinson.  Or maybe it says a lot more about his concussion symptoms than it does about the Jaguars.  All I know is I started him on 11/8 last year in multiple PPR leagues and you can’t take that away from me!  But for serious, could still be relevant if he lands in the right place which we’ve learned is not on his head.

Rashard Mendenhall - So the Cardinals cut oft-injured Beanie Wells only to turn around and sign a not so sure he’s really healthy enough to play Mendenall to a one year deal?  Pretty Rashard’ed if you ask me.