AFC Fantasy Football Player Impact List

Among every NFL team there tends to be some player that every fantasy owner would like to have on their team.  In this article we are going to explore one player from each team who could potentially make an impact in the 2010 fantasy season.  This list includes players who may benefit from added touches, players that ended the 2009 season with a bang, had impact players join their team, or their teams have a need for someone to step up.  Each player’s name will be followed with a short description of why they were chosen for this list.  This article will concentrate on one player from every AFC team.  An article listing each of the NFC teams will soon follow.

New England – Julien Edelman, WR – Edelman gets a big uptick in his draft rankings if Wes Welker is out for any extended period of time.  Edelman filled in admirably for Welker in the playoffs and some reports have Welker missing the first 6-8 weeks of the season.

Buffalo – C.J. Spiller, RB – The Bills wasted no time getting their draft card with Spiller on the board at #9 overall.  Spiller may not get the majority of the carries early on, but there is a reason the Bills took him ahead of other needs.  Look for Spiller to make an impact at some point this season.

Miami – Chad Henne, QB – Without a big threat wide receiver last season Henne was able to do a half decent job.  Now with Brandon Marshall as his top target look for the Dolphins to open up the passing game, especially if Ronnie Brown is not fully healthy.

New York Jets – LaDainian Tomlinson, RB – Tomlinson was the consensus number one overall pick in fantasy drafts for many years.  Now as his production has draft off he is the #2 man behind starter Shonn Greene.  Even in this role Tomlinson should get opportunities to score.  After all he did have 12 TDs last year.

Baltimore – Joe Flacco, QB – Flacco had a productive fantasy season last year with over 3,600 yards and 21 TDs.  One would only expect these numbers to improve with new play making target Anquan Boldin in town.

Pittsburgh – Mike Wallace, WR – Wallace has been thrust into a starting role for the Steelers with the trade of Holmes to the Jets.  Wallace finished last season with 39 receptions for 756 yards and 6 TDs and something tells me the 79 catches that Holmes made last year are not going to all be going towards Hines Ward.

Cincinnati – Jermaine Greshem, TE – Greshem was the first tight to come off the board in Aprils draft.  The Bengals have always lacked a solid TE threat for Carson Palmer to throw to and Greshem will should benefit from the ability of the other Bengal receivers to stretch the field.

Cleveland – Montario Hardesty, RB – Hardesty may only be a rookie, but something tells me that Jerome Harrison is going to have to give up some carries to another fellow running back.  That running back should be Hardesty.

Indianapolis – Donald Brown, RB – Brown is in an Indianapolis offense that tends to throw first, but the Colts running backs are effective coming out of the backfield on passing downs.  Although Addai is the starter Brown will also get opportunities, especially if Addai were to go down due to injury.

Tennessee – Kenny Britt, WR – Britt was the Titans top receiver last season and was good as a BYE week fill in.  After a large commitment to the run last season the Titans may want to expand their offense beyond one player.

Houston – Ben Tate, RB – The rookie out of Auburn has a decent shot to start for the Texans, although Steve Slaton and Arien Foster will also get opportunities.  Tate just seems to be the more likely candidate to win the job considering the ups and downs of the Texans running backs last season.

Jacksonville – Mike Thomas, WR – Thomas was a rookie for the Jags last season and managed to haul in 48 catches for 453 yards as the teams #3 receiver.  With Torry Holt now gone someone needs to step into the #2 role and assume some of the receptions that went Holt’s way.

Denver – Demaryius Thomas, WR – Thomas comes into a Denver offense that is going to need to find someone to make up for the production lost from the loss of Brandon Marshall.  Although Thomas is a rookie he may be the only receiver on the Broncos roster that has the skill sets to become the #1 WR.

Oakland – Michael Bush, RB – Bush is going to be battling Darren McFadden for touches in training camp.  With Justin Fargas out of the picture both Bush and McFadden are going to have to step up their games, but it looks as if the Raiders staff may prefer Bush.  Only time will tell how the touches pan out.

San Diego – Ryan Mathews, RB- Mathews has already been crowned the starter by many people and seems to be going no later than the 4^th round in many mock drafts.  Expect Mathews to win the starting job and if he can re-establish the old Chargers running game then he should be off of fantasy boards much earlier than the 4^th round.

Kansas City – Dexter McCluster, RB – There are reports that have the Chiefs considering using McCluster as a slot receiver, as a return man, and as a third down back.  Although McCluster may be small in stature, expect him to get on the field.

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