It may only be June but some players are already being evaluated as "breakout candidates" for the 2010 fantasy football year. After taking a quick look around the league, I have gathered up a few players who might fall into that category and more. READ MOREI ended each heading with a '?' because it is almost too early to start judging players. Yet early rankings are already out, and mock drafting has begun! My opinions might change by the end of the summer but why not dust off a few of the perceptions I'm carrying into 2010?
Attractive Investments?
Dwayne Bowe – Bowe falls into the category of guys I have always liked but never seem to roster. This year it looks like the Kansas City offense has better talent to keep defenses honest. Consistent targets should make him a pretty steady producer in 2010. When you apply the discount he'll likely receive on draft day, Bowe becomes a nice value play.
Michael Crabtree – Character aside, Crabtree is one of the most gifted young wideouts in the league. Alex Smith has matured and the ground game should create plenty of play-action opportunities for Crabtree to exploit. Even in a run-orientated offense, I expect Crabtree to show us some razzle and dazzle when the ball is thrown his way.
Steve Smith (Car) – I’m expecting a ton of receptions from the quick-footed Smith in 2010 so PPR leaguers might want to bump him up a few spots. I love receivers with big RAC potential that receive a ton of targets. Not only does Smith provide that, he’s a tough, wily veteran and doesn’t take any plays off.
’09 Dividends Too Tough To Match?
Cedric Benson – I admit I have some bitterness towards this guy (being a Bear fan). I just question his ability to produce under a heavy workload as well as the chances he receives the same kind of touches in 2010. File him under "I'll gladly let him prove me wrong (again)."
Jay Cutler – This one has more to do with expected '09 dividends than the ones his owners actually accrued, however the Cutler is still perceived to be amongst the better quarterbacks to own after the top three to five are gone. Mike Martz has to get the Bears’ young receiving corps to run great routes. Then he has to get a quarterback who lacks confidence in those receivers to throw it through a window to a spot on the field where those receivers should be by the time the ball is there. I’m hoping like crazy they can make it work, but I’m more than a little skeptical.
Greg Olsen – This one is more about the position than the player. More often than not there will be a fantasy owner in every league who feels the offensively gifted Olsen will be successful in a Mike Martz offense. That’s a chance I won’t be taking with plenty of cheaper options this year. The difference between the 5th rated TE and the 12th rated TE will be far less than you'd expect in 2010.
Holding Their Value?
Jerome Harrison – Don’t sell this guy short, but be careful to pay attention to the news coming out of Cleveland during training camp. Harrison was a beast for fantasy owners down the stretch last year but his role in the 2010 Cleveland Browns offense is not cemented.
Steven Jackson – It’s almost a travesty to even have to mention Jackson’s name here. Let’s face it, touchdowns are king and Jackson proved last season that St. Louis can experience droughts at times. I'm seeing a beast of a running back with just as much chance of scoring 15 times as he does scoring 5 times.
DeAngelo Williams – Chances are Williams’ 2009 owners will steer clear of him in 2010. Considering that his backfield companion had more carries in 2009, they won’t be the only one who is skeptical on draft day. I understand dropping him down the board a few slots, but don’t go overboard and forget he is a RB1.
Wild Cards?
Ladanian Tomlinson – A decline in 2009 was not hard to predict but the level of decline was certainly debatable. He heads into 2010 with a reduced role. Will that reduced role keep his legs fresh to make him a great flex play most weeks or will it lead closer to his retirement? At the end of the day, he has name recognition and that will probably prevent him from sliding too far in the minds of your fellow fantasy competitors.
Steve Slaton – I’d have to say this was the biggest bust of the 2009 fantasy football season. He is too talented and too young for the Texans to just give up on him and neither should you. The fumbles need to be solved and his confidence needs to be reparied. I’m reserving judgment on him until at least week 2 of the pre-season.
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