Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

- Written By Cory Steger
- Edited By Marc Caviglia

It’s no secret that fantasy football championships can potentially be won with the right value pick or two in the middle to late rounds of your draft. However they can just as easily be lost by squandering early or middle round picks on players who fail to deliver results that match pre-draft expectations. Guys who fall into this category are commonly referred to as busts or overvalued players. Overvalued players tend to be those whose name recognition, preseason hype and/or past fantasy glory (think Randy Moss, Ryan Mathews, Brett Favre) lead owners to draft them too early, while the majority of busts are players whose situations have changed so much (e.g., new quarterback, new team, new coaching staff/scheme, upgrade or downgrade of players around them) that they’ll have a hard time living up to expected production. Others have significant injury histories to the extent that the risk far outweighs the reward.

Now it’s time to take a look at our Fantasy Football Bust Tight Ends for the 2011 season. You don’t have to avoid every guy on this list come Draft Day, just go into your draft with your eyes wide open.

**BEAT THE BRUNO BOYS** 

Written by: Jimbo Jones
Edited by: Marc Caviglia

One of the strategies for putting together a competitive fantasy football roster is finding players who under produced last season, yet have the potential to return to fantasy relevance in 2011. While the early-round comeback player could make a big impact on your team, be sure to consider players in the middle to later rounds that you can add at good value. Some comeback or bounce back candidates missed significant time due to injury, while others were healthy, but their situations either limited playing time or opportunities.

Here are six players that fantasy football owners hope to see come back in a big (or at least reasonable) way this season. Only you can decide which guys you’ll forgive and draft again in 2011 and those you’ll cross off your Draft Day cheat sheet.

**BEAT THE BRUNO BOYS** 

- Written By Ryan Boser
- Edited By Allie Fontana

It’s no secret that fantasy football championships can potentially be won with the right value pick or two in the middle to late rounds of your draft. However they can just as easily be lost by squandering early or middle round picks on players who fail to deliver results that match pre-draft expectations. Guys who fall into this category are commonly referred to as busts or overvalued players. Overvalued players tend to be those whose name recognition, preseason hype and/or past fantasy glory (think Randy Moss, Ryan Mathews, Brett Favre) lead owners to draft them too early, while the majority of busts are players whose situations have changed so much (e.g., new quarterback, new team, new coaching staff/scheme, upgrade or downgrade of players around them) that they’ll have a hard time living up to expected production. Others have significant injury histories to the extent that the risk far outweighs the reward.

Now it’s time to take a look at our Fantasy Football Bust Wide Receivers for the 2011 season. You don’t have to avoid every guy on this list come Draft Day, just go into your draft with your eyes wide open.

Looking for a free, and easy place to join a fantasy football league? If so, try out Fleaflicker.com for all your league management needs.

Dwayne Bowe, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
2010 Stats: 72 receptions, 1,162 receiving yards, 15 total touchdowns

Bowe was a man among schoolboys during his incredible seven-game fantasy frenzy midway through the 2010 season. The scoring spree produced 49 catches, 732 yards and a mind-bending 13 touchdowns. To put it in perspective, Bowe’s seven-week production alone—148 fantasy points—would have put him one spot ahead of Arizona’s Larry Fitzgerald, who finished with 147 points (No. 14 overall) in standard scoring for the season.. Unfortunately, his unexpected, unsustainable run of dominance was bookended by four- and five-game blocks of nothingness. In those other nine games, Bowe totaled just 23 catches for 429 yards and two scores. His roller coaster season was punctuated by a zero-target disaster against the Baltimore Ravens in the playoffs.

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- Written By Rich Arleo
- Edited By Marc Caviglia

It’s no secret that fantasy football championships can potentially be won with the right value pick or two in the middle to late rounds of your draft. However they can just as easily be lost by squandering early or middle round picks on players who fail to deliver results that match pre-draft expectations. Guys who fall into this category are commonly referred to as busts or overvalued players. Overvalued players tend to be those whose name recognition, preseason hype and/or past fantasy glory (think Randy Moss, Ryan Mathews, Brett Favre) lead owners to draft them too early, while the majority of busts are players whose situations have changed so much (e.g., new quarterback, new team, new coaching staff/scheme, upgrade or downgrade of players around them) that they’ll have a hard time living up to expected production. Others have significant injury histories to the extent that the risk far outweighs the reward.

Now it’s time to take a look at our Fantasy Football Bust Running Backs for the 2011 season. You don’t have to avoid every guy on this list come Draft Day, just go into your draft with your eyes wide open.

Looking for a free, and easy place to join a fantasy football league? If so, try out Fleaflicker.com for all your league management needs.

Peyton Hillis, RB, Cleveland Browns
2010 Stats: 270 carries, 1,177 rushing yards, 61 receptions, 477 receiving yards, 11 total touchdowns

Hillis was featured on our deep sleeper list in 2010 after rookie Montario Hardesty went down with a torn ACL, and that came to fruition in a big way. Hillis took the NFL, and fantasy football owners, by storm. He punched in 13 touchdowns over Cleveland’s first 11 games and went from just another guy to a household name by season’s end. On the year, Hillis ran for 1,177 yards and he was a valuable receiver, as he added 61 receptions for 477 yards.  Many think his big season means there is a lot to like entering 2011, however they couldn’t be more wrong.

Hillis failed to find pay dirt over the Browns’ final five games and he struggled mightily against AFC North opponents the second time through the schedule.  Hillis torched division opponents for 287 rushing yards, 93 receiving yards and two touchdowns in his first meeting, however managed just 107 rushing yards and 31 receiving yards the second shot.

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- Written By Lane Rizzardini
- Edited By Marc Caviglia

It’s no secret that fantasy football championships can potentially be won with the right value pick or two in the middle to late rounds of your draft. However they can just as easily be lost by squandering early or middle round picks on players who fail to deliver results that match pre-draft expectations. Guys who fall into this category are commonly referred to as busts or overvalued players. Overvalued players tend to be those whose name recognition, preseason hype and/or past fantasy glory (think Randy Moss, Ryan Mathews, Brett Favre) lead owners to draft them too early, while the majority of busts are players whose situations have changed so much (e.g., new quarterback, new team, new coaching staff/scheme, upgrade or downgrade of players around them) that they’ll have a hard time living up to expected production. Others have significant injury histories to the extent that the risk far outweighs the reward.

Now it’s time to take a look at our Fantasy Football Bust Quarterbacks for the 2011 season. You don’t have to avoid every guy on this list come Draft Day, just go into your draft with your eyes wide open.

Looking for a free, and easy place to join a fantasy football league? If so, try out Fleaflicker.com for all your league management needs.

Matt Cassel, QB, Kansas City Chiefs
2010 Stats: 3,116 passing yards, 58.2 completion percentage, 27 total touchdowns, 7 interceptions

In a matter of four months, Cassel went from being undrafted in the majority of fantasy football leagues to finishing No. 12 in total fantasy points among quarterbacks in standard scoring formats. His season was highlighted by an eight game stretch in which he posted 19 touchdown passes against just one interception. Things don’t figure to go as well for the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback this year though. Cassel and the Chiefs were privileged enough to have a schedule chalk-full of soft secondaries that he was able to pick on, as six of the eight teams he faced during that hot streak ranked in the bottom 10 in passing yards allowed.

Further hurting Cassel’s fantasy value is the loss of offensive coordinator Charlie Weis, whose pass-heavy, creative offense was a boon for Cassel. Once it was announced that Weis was leaving for the same job at the University of Florida, the Chiefs’ offense tanked hard. Cassel threw five picks in his last two games (including playoffs) of the season and the offense could mange just 17 points during that span. With head coach Todd Haley expected to move toward a run heavy offense the chances of Cassel repeating his breakout season are slim to none. Even with the Chiefs adding pass catching options this offseason fantasy football owners should limit their expectations of Cassel. If you are hoping for a repeat of 2010 it’s likely not going to happen. If you draft Cassel, make sure it’s as your QB2 and a bench replacement for an upper echelon QB1.
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- Written by Brad Berreman
- Edited by Marc Caviglia

Everybody knows who the top 10 or even 15 players are at each fantasy relevant position and that why it’s a no-brainer to target guys who consistently produce monster fantasy football numbers such as Aaron Rodgers, Adrian Peterson, Andre Johnson, and Antonio Gates. Often times what separates a good fantasy team from a great one is the owner who finds value in the second half of his or her fantasy draft. These later-round difference makers are referred to as fantasy football sleepers or undervalued players.

Sleepers are typically lesser known players or those with one or two NFL seasons under their belts, while undervalued players tend to be overlooked veterans, or guys who let down fantasy owners for one reason or another the previous season. Sometimes a player’s situation gives owners pause and his draft position takes a hit. Whether a player is a true sleeper or simply undervalued, he must meet the following criteria: (1) he’s likely to outperform his preseason ranking and projections; (2) he’ll deliver a much higher return on your investment (i.e., draft pick or auction price); and (3) he isn’t a rookie (except for a kicker).

Now that you know how we determine who made the cut, check out our 2011 Fantasy Football Sleeper Team Defense.

Detroit Lions D/ST
2010 Stats: 23.1 points per game, 343.6 yards per game, 44 sacks, 14 interceptions, 16 forced fumbles

Last year’s No.2 overall pick Ndamukong Suh made an instant impact on the Lions’ defense, as he had 10 of the team’s 44 sacks. This marked the first time since 1999 that Detroit has recorded over 40 sacks in a season.  While Suh spent his Sunday’s putting pressure on the quarterback, the rest of the defense did a good job of forcing turnovers. The Lions had two or more takeaways in a game eight times last season, and they scored a defensive touchdown in three of those contests.  Most importantly, the defense matured throughout the year and showed promise at the end. They forced seven turnovers and recorded 12 sacks during a 4-0 stretch to end the season.

This year’s Round 1 selection, Nick Fairley, should further bolster the interior of the defensive line and safety Louis Delmas (62 tackles) is a rising star. The Lions also addressed one of their biggest weaknesses when they signed linebacker’s Stephen Tulloch and Justin Durant. Tulloch’s 159 tackles in 2010 ranked No. 2 in the NFL and he immediately makes the defense better. Health is always a concern for Durant, however he’s averaged over five tackles per game during his career. The additions of Eric Wright and Eric Coleman add depth to the secondary as well.  The Lions allowed 25 or more points seven times last season, however they added some missing pieces to the puzzle and are primed to be a top 10 fantasy defense in 2011.
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- Written by James Burulcich
- Edited by Marc Caviglia

Everybody knows who the top 10 or even 15 players are at each fantasy relevant position and that why it’s a no-brainer to target guys who consistently produce monster fantasy football numbers such as Aaron Rodgers, Adrian Peterson, Andre Johnson, and Antonio Gates. Often times what separates a good fantasy team from a great one is the owner who finds value in the second half of his or her fantasy draft. These later-round difference makers are referred to as fantasy football sleepers or undervalued players.

Sleepers are typically lesser known players or those with one or two NFL seasons under their belts, while undervalued players tend to be overlooked veterans, or guys who let down fantasy owners for one reason or another the previous season. Sometimes a player’s situation gives owners pause and his draft position takes a hit. Whether a player is a true sleeper or simply undervalued, he must meet the following criteria: (1) he’s likely to outperform his preseason ranking and projections; (2) he’ll deliver a much higher return on your investment (i.e., draft pick or auction price); and (3) he isn’t a rookie (except for a kicker).

Now that you know how we determine who made the cut, check out our 2011 Fantasy Football Sleeper Kickers.

Jason Hanson, K, Detroit Lions
2010 Stats: 12-of-14 Field Goals Made, 19-of-19 Extra Points Made

At 41, Hanson is currently the oldest active player in the NFL and entering his 20th season with the Lions. His 1,890 career points currently rank No. 7 all-time in points scored and all he needs is 73 points to move all the way up to No. 3 on the list. Before a sprained MCL caused Hanson to miss Detroit’s final eight games last year, the veteran kicker had converted on 12-of-14 field goal attempts and all 19 extra points. Plus, he continued to show off a powerful right leg, having nailed three of four kicks from outside of 50 yards.

At 41, Hanson is currently the oldest active player in the NFL and entering his 20th season with the Lions. His 1,890 career points currently rank No. 7 all-time in points scored and all he needs is 73 points to move all the way up to No. 3 on the list. Before a sprained MCL caused Hanson to miss Detroit’s final eight games last year, the veteran kicker had converted on 12 of 14 field goal attempts and all 19 extra points. Plus, he continued to show off a powerful right leg, having nailed three of four kicks from outside of 50 yards.

Hanson is fully recovered from his MCL injury and for the first time since the Barry Sanders days there is a lot to like in Detroit.  The Lions have some of the best playmakers in all of football in Matthew Stafford, Jahvid Best and Calvin Johnson, and if everything goes as planned should have no problem putting points on the board. Another bonus for those who have an eye on Hanson is that the Lions play 11 games indoors this year, which means no weather impacting his kicking outcome. Hanson is only owned in 7 percent of 12-team leagues on Fleaflicker.com, however he has a good chance to finish as a top 10 fantasy football kicker in 2011.
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- Written by Cory Steger
- Edited by Marc Caviglia

Everybody knows who the top 10 or even 15 players are at each fantasy relevant position and that why it’s a no-brainer to target guys who consistently produce monster fantasy football numbers such as Aaron Rodgers, Adrian Peterson, Andre Johnson, and Antonio Gates. Often times what separates a good fantasy team from a great one is the owner who finds value in the second half of his or her fantasy draft. These later-round difference makers are referred to as fantasy football sleepers or undervalued players.

Sleepers are typically lesser known players or those with one or two NFL seasons under their belts, while undervalued players tend to be overlooked veterans, or guys who let down fantasy owners for one reason or another the previous season. Sometimes a player’s situation gives owners pause and his draft position takes a hit. Whether a player is a true sleeper or simply undervalued, he must meet the following criteria: (1) he’s likely to outperform his preseason ranking and projections; (2) he’ll deliver a much higher return on your investment (i.e., draft pick or auction price); and (3) he isn’t a rookie.

Now that you know how we determine who made the cut, check out our 2011 Fantasy Football Sleeper Tight Ends.

Looking for a free, and easy place to join a fantasy football league? If so, try out Fleaflicker.com for all your league management needs.

Jared Cook, TE, Tennessee Titans
2010 Stats: 29 receptions, 369 receiving yards, 1 total touchdown

It’s not hard to see why Tennessee Titans tight end Jared Cook is one of the hottest young players at the tight end position. He has all of the physical tools to be a productive player in the NFL.  At 6’ 5’’, 248 pounds, Cook has the size of a tight end, but the hands and speed (sub 4.5 forty) of a wide receiver. After being limited to backup duties early in his career, Cook was handed the keys to the car at the end of the 2010 season and he showed fantasy owners a glimpse of the future. Over the Titans final three games, Cook hauled in 15 receptions for 196 receiving yards and a touchdown.

Tennessee opted to let regular tight end Bo Scaife walk this offseason and this opens up the door for Cook to breakout as the Titans’ starting tight end.  Already one to target before NFL free agency, Cook’s fantasy value got a boost when veteran signal caller Matt Hasselbeck signed with Tennessee to lead their offense in 2011. While Hasselbeck is just a stopgap before the Jake Locker era begins in Nashville, he does have a rich history of finding tight ends in the red zone. Remarkably, Cook is owned in just 15 percent of Flea Flicker leagues and he should be targeted toward the end of your draft in 12-team leagues. Don’t be surprised if he flirts with the team lead in receptions while working his way into your weekly lineup.
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- Written by Ryan Boser
- Edited by Allie Fontana

Everybody knows who the top 10 or even 15 players are at each fantasy relevant position and that why it’s a no-brainer to target guys who consistently produce monster fantasy football numbers such as Aaron Rodgers, Adrian Peterson, Andre Johnson, and Antonio Gates. Often times what separates a good fantasy team from a great one is the owner who finds value in the second half of his or her fantasy draft. These later-round difference makers are referred to as fantasy football sleepers or undervalued players.

Sleepers are typically lesser known players or those with one or two NFL seasons under their belts, while undervalued players tend to be overlooked veterans, or guys who let down fantasy owners for one reason or another the previous season. Sometimes a player’s situation gives owners pause and his draft position takes a hit. Whether a player is a true sleeper or simply undervalued, he must meet the following criteria: (1) he’s likely to outperform his preseason ranking and projections; (2) he’ll deliver a much higher return on your investment (i.e., draft pick or auction price); and (3) he isn’t a rookie.

Now that you know how we determine who made the cut, check out our 2011 Fantasy Football Sleeper Wide Receivers.

Looking for a free, and easy place to join a fantasy football league? If so, try out Fleaflicker.com for all your league management needs.

Jordy Nelson, WR, Green Bay Packers
2010 Stats: 45 receptions, 582 receiving yards, 2 total touchdowns

Jordy Nelson’s popularity as a rising fantasy star took off last season thanks to his sizzling three-game playoff performance in which he amassed 21 catches, 286 yards and two scores. That breakout was punctuated by a Super Bowl performance in which he was targeted a ridiculous 15 times, corralling nine balls for 140 yards and a touchdown.

This offseason, Nelson joined New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham as two of fantasy football’s worst kept sleeper secrets. That is until the Packers re-resigned fellow wide receiver James Jones, who was expected to leave the team through free agency. The move opened up a chunk of seats on the Nelson bandwagon and has somewhat lessened his sleeper appeal heading into 2011. However a closer look reveals that it shouldn’t have a significant impact on Nelson’s opportunities. Why? Jones has plateaued in Green Bay’s offense. He should be viewed as insurance for the aging Donald Driver, who fell off a cliff last season. Randall Cobb is a rookie slot receiver who poses no threat to Nelson’s playing time.

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- Written By Rich Arleo
- Edited By Marc Caviglia

Everybody knows who the top 10 or even 15 players are at each fantasy relevant position and that why it’s a no-brainer to target guys who consistently produce monster fantasy football numbers such as Aaron Rodgers, Adrian Peterson, Andre Johnson, and Antonio Gates. Often times what separates a good fantasy team from a great one is the owner who finds value in the second half of his or her fantasy draft. These later-round difference makers are referred to as fantasy football sleepers or undervalued players.

Sleepers are typically lesser known players or those with one or two NFL seasons under their belts, while undervalued players tend to be overlooked veterans, or guys who let down fantasy owners for one reason or another the previous season. Sometimes a player’s situation gives owners pause and his draft position takes a hit. Whether a player is a true sleeper or simply undervalued, he must meet the following criteria: (1) he’s likely to outperform his preseason ranking and projections; (2) he’ll deliver a much higher return on your investment (i.e., draft pick or auction price); and (3) he isn’t a rookie.

Now that you know how we determine who made the cut, check out our 2011 Fantasy Football Sleeper Running Backs.

Looking for a free, and easy place to join a fantasy football league? If so, try out Fleaflicker.com for all your league management needs.

Beanie Wells, RB, Arizona Cardinals
2010 Stats: 116 carries, 397 rushing yards, 5 receptions, 74 receiving yards, 2 total touchdowns

There wasn’t much to like about Wells’ 2010 season. Fantasy football owners were drinking the preseason kool-aid and investing a late second or early third round pick on Beanie as their high end RB2.  397 rushing yards, two touchdowns and a series of knee injuries later and Wells’ owners were pounding their head in disappointment by mid season.
After the Cardinals amassed the lowest amount of rushing yards in the league in 2010 with just 1,388 yards, they drafted Ryan Williams out of Virginia Tech with their pick at No. 38 overall in the 2011 draft. With the addition of Williams and Tim Hightower also in the mix, it looked like Wells had stiff competition to be fantasy relevant again, however in a matter of weeks the Cardinals traded Hightower to the Washington Redskins and declared Beanie their starter entering the season.

Despite a rough showing last year, there is a lot to like when breaking down Wells’ talents. Two years removed from being the Cardinals’ top draft pick, the talented running back averaged 4.5 yards per carry as a rookie in 2009 and broke off runs of 15 yards or more in 11 different games. Plus, he combines good game speed with enough size and power to break tackles and if healthy, Beanie should posts stats more in line with his rookie season than what we saw last year.

The addition of signal caller Kevin Kolb and tight end Todd Heap help shore up the offense in Arizona and is an encouraging sign for those targeting Wells as their RB3. Consider Beanie great draft day value if you pull the trigger in the middle rounds of your upcoming draft.

Looking for a free, and easy place to join a fantasy football league? If so, try out Fleaflicker.com for all your league management needs.
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