2011 Fantasy Football Over-Drafted Team

Every day the prospects for a full, uninterrupted professional football season are looking more and more promising. The number of fantasy drafts that have already taken place have increased to the point that it is already possible to evaluate the ADP (average draft position) results.

Being aware of the perceived values of fantasy players by analyzing ADP is an excellent way to identify bargains and busts heading into your fantasy draft. Here’s a full starting lineup of fantasy players who might be getting drafted a little too early so far in 2011. ADP numbers courtesy of our friends over at MyFantasyLeague.com.

QUARTERBACK-

Sam Bradford ADP 86 (QB#12)- The fact that Sam Bradford is being selected in the eighth round isn’t a concern. The fact that he is being selected as the 12th quarterback is what’s alarming. That means in a standard 12 team league that Bradford is being selected as an every week starter, while more proven fantasy producers like Eli Manning, Joe Flacco and Jay Cutler are relegated to back-up duty.

Bradford had an excellent rookie season and put up some of the finest numbers we’ve seen from a first year signal-caller since Peyton Manning. But during the season’s final five weeks, leading to  the crucial fantasy playoffs, Bradford produced only one touchdown pass and threw six interceptions. The Rams also still have one of the worst receiving corps in the NFL.

RUNNING BACKS-

Peyton Hillis ADP 29 (RB#13)- Peyton Hillis was one of the biggest fantasy surprises in years. Taking advantage of a pre-season injury to Montario Hardesty, he burst onto the scene by bowling over would be defenders, making beautiful catches, and reaching the end-zone 13 times in Cleveland’s first 12 games. But the heavy workload that Hillis received caught up to him after that and his yards per carry numbers tailed off and he failed to hit pay dirt again.

Now the Browns are switching to a West Coast Offense, and are expected to reduce the amount of punishment that Hillis receives by decreasing his touches and working Hardesty into the backfield. At this time it seems risky to rely on Hillis to be anything more than an RB2, and he certainly should not be selected ahead of Michael Turner (ADP 30).

Jahvid Best ADP 35 (RB#16)- Like Peyton Hillis, Jahvid Best was an early fantasy favorite for his impressive five touchdown performance during Detroit’s first two games. But a turf toe injury would hobble Best for the remainder of 2010 and he wouldn’t score another touchdown for a long 14 weeks.

To further reduce Best’s value, the Lions just spent a 2nd round draft pick on Mikel LeShoure, who will almost certainly be the club’s preferred short yardage and goal line runner. Best may be relegated to a time share situation that sees him get 10-15 touches a game and act as Detroit’s primary receiving threat out of the backfield. That’s not the kind of role you want in the third round of your fantasy draft.

WIDE RECEIVERS-

Dwayne Bowe ADP 28 (WR#10)- Based on his phenomenal 2010 numbers, Dwayne Bowe certainly doesn’t appear to be a fantasy player to avoid. He led all receivers with 16 touchdowns and had an amazing seven week stretch with 36 grabs for 733 yards and 13 scores.

But expecting Bowe to come anywhere near that kind of production again might be too risky. The Chiefs will now play a much more difficult first place schedule, and lost Offensive Coordinator Charlie Weis to Florida. They also spent a first round draft pick on Johnathan Baldwin and will hope his presence further opens up the offense so they rely on Bowe less than they did last season. While Bowe as the tenth receiver isn’t a bad selection, fantasy owners might be better off letting someone else make that call.

Brandon Marshall ADP 40 (WR#15) Brandon Marshall has proven that he has elite talent. He had three consecutive 100 catch season in Denver. But his first season with the Dolphins was a flop. Across the board, Marshall had his worst career numbers since becoming a starter and the Dolphins still have done nothing to improve their quarterback situation. To make matters worse,  there will be a total revamp of the rushing game as the duo of Rickey Williams and Ronnie Brown are not expected to return to South Beach.

Marshall is said to be working very hard in the off-season to regain his speed, but it’s hard to envision elite fantasy numbers coming from any wide-out in the Dolphins offensive scheme as long as Chad Henne remains the starting quarterback. Choosing Marshall in the fourth round of your fantasy football draft seems way too risky when players like Marques Colston, Wes Welker, or Jeremy Maclin can be had later on.

TIGHT END-

Jermichael Finley ADP 46 (TE#2) There’s no questioning that Jermichael Finley is a great tight end and fantasy producer. He was on pace for 84 catches and 1200 yards last year before his season was cut short by a severe knee injury. It should be noted that 2010 was the second consecutive season in which Finley missed multiple games with a knee injury, and there will undoubtedly be questions about his readiness for 2011 and the likelihood of multiple knee injuries hampering him in the future.

The Packers offense clearly did just fine without an elite tight end, so it’s also possible that Finley could be expected to spend a little more time blocking to help revive the ailing Green Bay running game. To draft Finley in the fourth round ahead of elite tight ends like Jason Witten, Vernon Davis and Dallas Clark seems like madness.

KICKER-

David Akers ADP 202 (PK#3) We all know never to draft a kicker until the last round or two of any fantasy football draft. Since many leagues have many different roster limits, it’s hard to say that the 202nd pick is a bad spot for a kicker who has been as consistent as Akers to be selected.

What we do know is that Andy Reed  just spent a fourth round draft pick on Nebraska kicker Alex Henery, who just happens to be the NCAA’s all time most accurate kicker. Teams like the Eagles don’t spend a relatively high draft pick for a position like place kicker unless the intend it to pay immediate dividends. There’s a really good chance that David Akers has kicked his last field goal for Philadelphia.

DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS-

New England Patriots ADP 156 (DST#4) Drafting a DST is another position that is hard to place a good or bad ADP value on. The Patriots defense was ranked only 25th in the NFL last season overall. Only the hapless Texans and Redskins gave up more passing yards than the New England secondary. Though the Pats did lead the league in interceptions, standard scoring leagues would be hurt by all those yards surrendered.  They were a modest 14th in sacks, but did nothing to improve their pass rush in the 2011 draft. Expect teams to continue to put up plenty of yards against the Patriots.

Jody Smith is a 21 year fantasy football veteran. Follow him on twitter @JodySmith_

The 2011 Over-Drafted Fantasy Team Gridiron Experts Gridiron Experts - Where Fantasy Football Champions Are Born

Ultimate Sam Bradford Rookie 2010 Highlights

Another gem from Gridiron Experts newest talent: Hancho. Spread the love on Facebook, we are all missing football these days

Ultimate Sam Bradford Rookie 2010 Highlights Gridiron Experts Gridiron Experts - Where Fantasy Football Champions Are Born

Best and Worst Fantasy Rookies of 2010

Each year Fantasy owners gamble on the unpredictable nature of a NFL rookie. Some are drafted high, while others are sleepers lower on your fantasy draft board. Regardless of their future in the NFL, the eyes of  greedy “what have you done for me lately” fantasy owners are ranking them on production. Here is are the Best and Worst Fantasy Rookies of 2010:

The Best
1. Sam Bradford, QB, St. Louis Rams
The Rams selected Bradford first overall in the draft and absolutely picked correctly. Not only did Bradford win the Rookie of the Year award, but he led the Rams to seven wins (one in 2009) and nearly made the playoffs. Bradford threw up some good fantasy numbers, throwing for 3512 yards, 18 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. Bradford ended up with 180 total points (according to ESPN’s Fantasy Football).
2. Mike Williams, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Williams was suppose to be second or third wide receiver on the depth chart going into the season, however, the fourth-round pick and Rookie of the Year runner-up outshined second-round pick Arrelious Benn. Williams had a great rookie year, gathering up double digits fantasy points in nine of sixteen games. He had 65 receptions, 964 yards and 11 touchdowns. Williams end up with 151 total points (according to ESPN’s Fantasy Football).
3. Jahvid Best, RB, Detroit Lions
The Lions’ running back came out on fire, putting up huge numbers the first two weeks. However injuries got the best of him and his numbers fell to average throughout the season. Best had 563 rushing yards with 4 touchdowns to go along with 487 yard receiving yards and 2 touchdowns. Best ended up with 127 total points (according to ESPN’s Fantasy Football).
4. LeGarrette Blount, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers rolled the dice on Blount, claiming him off waivers in early September, and the gamble paid off. Blount was one of the biggest surprises during the 2010 fantasy season. He ran up 1007 yards on 201 attempts with 6 touchdowns. He managed four 100 yard games and he did not even get a carry until Week 3. Blount end up with 126 total points (according to ESPN’s Fantasy Football).
5. Ryan Mathews, RB, San Diego Chargers
Taking the starting spot away from Darren Sproles, Mathews managed a good rookie year. He showed that he can put up great fantasy numbers by ending the season with a 3 touchdown game against the Broncos. Mathews had 157 carries for 675 yards and 7 touchdowns in 12 games. Mathews end up with 107 total points (according to ESPN’s Fantasy Football).
Honorable Mentions
Rob Gronkowski, TE, New England Patriots
(546 yards, 10 TDs)(ESPN Points – 107)
Dez Bryant, WR, Dallas Cowboys
(561 yards, 6 TDs, 2 punt returns TDS in 12 games)(ESPN Points – 98)
Tim Tebow, QB, Denver Broncos
(654 yards, 5 TDs, 3 INTs; 227 rushing yards, 6 rush TDs in 9 games)(ESPN Points – 95)
Chris Ivory, RB, New Orleans Saints
(716 yards, 5 TDs in 12 games)(ESPN Points – 91)
Aaron Hernandez, TE, New England Patriots
(563 yards, 6 TDs)(ESPN Points – 89)

The Worst

1. C.J. Spiller, RB, Buffalo Bills
With the ninth overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills selected the one of biggest bust in the 2010 fantasy season and he was the biggest bust amongst rookies. Spiller rushed for only 283 yards with zero rushing touchdowns and 5 fumbles in fourteen games (one start). His only touchdown was a receiving touchdown which came in Week 3 against the Patriots. Spiller ended up with 41 total points (according to ESPN’s Fantasy Football). Detroit’s Javhid Best put up 40 points in Week 2 alone.
2. Demaryius Thomas, WR, Denver Broncos
The twenty-second overall pick was a major disappoint in Denver. He was supposed to be the top receiver, taking the spot after Brandon Marshall was traded to Miami. Thomas had rough season playing only in ten games (starting two) with 283 receiving yards, 2 touchdown and 2 fumbles. Thomas ended up with 32 total points
3. Jimmy Clausen, QB, Carolina Panthers
Some experts were big on Clausen coming to the NFL, but when he was put in, he did not impress anybody one bit. Clausen threw for 1558 yards, 3 touchdowns and 9 interceptions in 13 games (10 starts). Clausen ended up with 50 total points.
4. Arrelious Benn, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Benn was supposed to be the lead dog in Tampa Bay, but the second-rounder flopped. He only put up 379 yards and 2 touchdowns and was outdone by fellow rookie teammate Mike Williams. Benn ended up with 46 total points.
5. Colt McCoy, QB, Cleveland Browns
McCoy found his way into 8 games after taking over the starting spot because of injuries. He threw for 1576 yards, 6 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. McCoy ended up with 83 total points .

Best and Worst Fantasy Rookies of 2010 Gridiron Experts Gridiron Experts - Where Fantasy Football Champions Are Born

Since the draft era of Peyton Manning there has yet to be one quarterback that has been labeled with as much promise. Enter Sam Bradford; Bradford was pegged by many experts as “the best” quarterback prospect they had seen since the aforementioned drafts. Experts like Mike Mayock, Charlie Casserly, and other prominent figures within the NFL community chimed in on how talented they thought he would be calling him one of the most complete QB’s they had seen in years. Coming into this draft I was also a believer; his mechanics, arm strength, release, and most importantly, his decision-making ability placed him steps above the competition in my mind.

The draft however was quite some time ago, it is now week 12 and Sam Bradford has so far thrown for 2,158 yards with 14 TD’s and 9 INT’s (79.0 RTG). These numbers aren’t eye-popping although if you analyze his play in depth you get a better picture of how he is performing. What’s interesting about his play is the way the Rams are using him, Bradford is the NFL’s sixth ranked in passing attempts. Rather than easing their rookie into the game, they are throwing him to the wolves in an attempt to gain early experience, which I believe is working. Bradford had a challenging start to the season tossing 7 TD’s and 8 INT’s in the first 6 weeks of action. Since then however he has thrown for 6 TD’s with 1 INT and has acquired an average QB rating of 95.3.

It’s impressive to watch Bradford on field, his footwork, poise and most importantly his blossoming leadership abilities are all on display each and every Sunday. Bradford has been producing even in the absence of a stellar season from Steven Jackson, who only has 3 TD’s so far. The receiving core in St. Louis is depleted to say the least, I do not mean to besmirch the names of Danny Amendola, Danario Alexander, and Laurent Robinson because they are a talented group, but in all honesty they are not on par with even some of the NFL’s mediocre WR cores. So for Bradford to be performing as he is should be quite impressive to most.

The former Sooner is getting it done at the Pro Level and seems to gain confidence with each start. He is not yet a Peyton or a Brady and it may take him a while if never to get to that level, as those individuals were surrounded by a mass of talent and who knows what the future holds for this young man. He is although an extremely talented game manager with one of the brightest upsides in the NFL. Putting yourself in the shoes of an NFL General Manager there are very few other QB’s I would prefer to lead ones team into the future although the obvious arguments can be made for Ryan, Flacco, Sanchez and Stafford. Bradford may not be on the direct path to stardom just yet, but he is definitely scratching at it’s surface and is likely to make himself a household name in the next few seasons.

QUICK FACTS: First Overall QB Selection Rookie Stats (since ’98)

*Although many of these QB’s did not start 16 games, it is worth noting that Bradford is on pace to have a better rookie season than any first overall rookie QB since Peyton Manning*

1998 – Peyton Manning: 3,739 Yards, 26 TD’s, 28 INT’s

1999 – Tim Couch: 2,447 Yards, 15 TD’s, 13 INT’s

2001 – Michael Vick: 785 Yards, 2 TD’s, 3 INT’s, 289 Rushing Yards, 1 TD (8 Games)

2002 – David Carr: 2,592 Yards, 9 TD’s, 20 INT’s

2003 – Carson Palmer: 2,897 Yards, 18 TD’s, 18 INT’s (2^nd season DNP rookie year)

2004 – Eli Manning: 1043 Yards, 6 TD’s, 9 INT’s (9 Games)

2005 – Alex Smith: 875 Yards, 1 TD, 11 INT’s (9 Games)

2007 – JaMarcus Russell: 373 Yards, 2 TD’s, 4 INT’s (4 Games)

2009 – Matthew Stafford: 2,267 Yards, 13 TD’s, 20 INT’s (10 Games)

2010 – Sam Bradford: 2,158 yards, 14 TD’s, 9 INT’s (10 Games so far)

Is Sam Bradford on the Path to Stardom? Gridiron Experts Gridiron Experts - Where Fantasy Football Champions Are Born

So you’ve had some injuries and need some last second help to fill out a winning roster this week? We’ve got the solution for you. We have a list of some players who can help you win this week, and maybe even contribute in the future.

These sleepers are ranked in 3 tiers. The first tier is the more obvious “must have” guys; maybe spot starter this week due to an injury. Tier 2 digs a little deeper by ranking guys who could have a favorable matchup or are due for a big game. Tier 3 is for only the deepest leagues; rosters that are desperate for a  warm body, or a young prospect with future value for dynasty/keeper leagues.

Tier 1-

WR Demaryius Thomas (DEN)- The impressive rookie got his first playing time of 2010 last week and delivered in a big way, 8 catches for 97 yards and a touchdown. Thomas should become the Broncos undisputed #1 wide receiver, and has a good chance for some great numbers this week. The Colts come to Mile High to play the Broncos, and this could lead to some nice passing numbers as the Broncos either play catch up, or struggle to keep up with the potent Indy offense.

RB Mike Tolbert (SD)- It’s looking like Ryan Mathews will be out this week, at a minimum. High ankle sprains are dangerous injuries, and often take several weeks to recover from. Tolbert filled in admirably last week after Mathews got injured, and has been a force so far in short yardage situations. He should get feature back carries, and be guaranteed to get all the goal line work for the Chargers against a poor Seattle defense.

TE Aaron Hernandez (NE)- Hernandez went off last week, catching 6 passes for 101 yards. He has shown very impressive speed for his position thus far, and is a candidate to take some of the slack in the Patriots passing game, with Wes Welker hurting. Though the Patriots also have fellow rookie Rob Gronkowski, they will use two tight end sets often, and Hernandez seems to have the higher upside of the two. Excellent matchup this week versus a putrid Buffalo Bills team.

Tier 2-

QB Sam Bradford (STL)- Though rookie QB’s aren’t typically sleepers, Bradford has looked capable so far for the Rams. He has 3 scoring passes so far in the season, and is playing is second home game. This time the Washington Redskins and their 29th ranked pass defense make for an intriguing matchup for owners struggling at quarterback. (Kevin Kolb owners?)

WR Lee Evans (BUF)- Exit Trent Edwards, enter Ryan Fitzpatrick. It’s almost impossible to think that Fitzpatrick won’t be able to do a better job throwing the ball downfield that Edwards has so far in 2010.  Evans has been an empty uniform so far, even putting up a big goose egg last week. The Bills play the Patriots this week, and are likely to get blown out. However the Patriots are ranked 26^th against the pass this year, and got torched by a mediocre Mark Sanchez for three scores last week. There’s a chance that Evans cans sneak past the secondary, maybe in garbage time, and get a TD bomb.

RB Laurence Maroney (DEN)- With Knowshon Moreno’s surprisingly being ruled out, the opportunity for Maroney to contribute some decent numbers is there for the taking. Assuming he himself is healthy, Maroney could get the start for he Broncos. Though not an ideal game, against the Colts, it’s possible Denver will try to keep the ball out of Manning hands by attempting to utilize the run game (like Houston did in week 1). Its become clear that Correll Buckhalter and his sub 3.0 yards per carry isn’t the answer. Josh McDaniels is familiar with Maroney’s skill set, in particular as being an effective (albeit fumble prone) short yardage back, and traded for him for a reason. Maybe Maroney starts to pay off  this week.

QB Bruce Gradkowski (OAK)- More temporary signal caller help is available this week. The Raiders have benched Jason Campbell, a strong armed classic passer, for Gradkowski, who is all heart and intangibles, the anti-Raider. What Gradkowski seems to bring, though, is winning. He has done really well when give the chance, and plays a fairly weak Cardinals secondary this week. He’ll do everything he can to claim the starters job from this point forward.

Tier 3-

TE Martellus Bennett (DAL) Jason Witten is a little injured, so Bennett could see an increase in playing time over the coming weeks. He was able to haul in 7 passes in week 2 alone; an impressive number for any tight end, much less a back up. With the way the Cowboys have struggled to run the ball, look for them to continue to air it out, and for Bennett to see some time in two tight end sets, and perhaps spelling Witten on a few more snaps per game.

RB Chris Ivory (NOS)- With Reggie Bush’s latest injury, Pierre Thomas now becomes a full time back. But the Saint’s always give two, and sometimes three backs carries. Ivory is now healthy, and should see his first action of 2010. He looked very good in the pre season, and could relieve Thomas of short yardage duties, maybe punching in a 1 yard run.

RB Keiland Williams (WAS)- With the release of Larry Johnson, this rookie from LSU now has been promoted to the back up back behind an unimpressive Clinton Portis. Recall that Portis missed most of last year after a brutal concussion, so it isn’t too far fetched to see Williams playing a significant role for the Redskins. Head Coach Mike Shannahan is said to be impressed with Williams skills and ability to pass block. An unheralded rookie runner playing a big role for Mike Shannahan…sound familiar?

WR Earl Bennett (CHI)- The once forgotten Bennett appears to have beaten out Devin Aromashadu for the Bears third receiver job. Bennet got 6 targets last week, and turned them into 5 catches. Teams that pass the ball as often as Mike Martz coached teams do can easily provide useable fantasy numbers for three or more receivers.

Week 3 NFL Fantasy Sleepers Gridiron Experts Gridiron Experts - Where Fantasy Football Champions Are Born

As the NFL Preseason finally looks closer to being over, the predictions can now be made. Over the next week or so, the Gridiron Experts team will make some predictions to the season, here is Christopher Gabel’s thoughts on this years Fantasy Rookie class

3 Rookies to take under consideration

Dez Bryant – This guy’s career is already off to one peculiar start, even for a receiver. He missed his entire senior season in Stillwater, a GM asked him if his mother was a hooker, he signed before every other first round pick only to raise a stink about the tamest hazing ritual we’ve ever heard, and as a result things are supposed to be tense between him and Roy Williams. Still, he was one of the more talented players in the draft, and any discussion of him being a “head case” seemed completely manufactured by uptight, overly-conservative NFL suits. It’s almost certain he’ll be under-estimated in fantasy drafts.

Jahvid Best – Fallen under the radar a tad due to Spiller going to Buffalo, but Best is arguably the better back and the Lions will actually be less reliant on him than the Bills on Spiller. Since CJ Spiller isn’t Jones-Drew or Chris Johnson, I’m not a huge fan of the hand he’s been dealt.

Ryan Matthews – Because someone taller then 5’6 has to occasionally carry the ball.

3 Rookies to Avoid

Golden Tate – Donuts are about as conducive to NFL success as proper grammar is to the drug trade. Not that I’m dismissing his entire career as a result of that but…actually, that’s exactly what I’m doing.

Anyone the Broncos drafted in the first round – That would be Tebow and someone named Demaryius Thomas.

Sam Bradford – Sorry, but I don’t like the frailty, the situation in St. Louis, I wasn’t terribly impressed with what he showed in Norman and nothing has really changed since his junior year. He’s basically the default starter in 2010 for St. Louis, with no seasoned vet to show him the ropes or teach him any tricks of the trade…In short, I need just one legitimate reason to believe his career will go differently than David Carr’s. Sadly for Sam Bradford, I’m struggling to think of one.

NFL 2010 Predictions: 3 Rookies to Draft and Avoid Gridiron Experts Gridiron Experts - Where Fantasy Football Champions Are Born

The St.Louis Rams got their future at quarterback signed on Friday night. Sam Bradford has agreed to a six-year, $78 million contract that reportedly has $50 million guaranteed according to multiple reports. The deal has a max value of $86 million.

Last year, the Detroit Lions gave No. 1 overall pick Matthew Stafford a six-year deal that included $41.7 million in guaranteed money….Can anyone say “Lockout”. The rookie contacts are a major problem in the NFL and inflation is not the excuse.

Bradford threw for 4,721 yards and 50 TDs with just eight interceptions. The newest Ram also beat out fellow 2010 draft picks Colt McCoy and Tim Tebow to win the Heisman Trophy.

Sam Bradford Signs For $78 Million, 50 In The Bank. Gridiron Experts Gridiron Experts - Where Fantasy Football Champions Are Born

NFC West Fantasy Football Stock Market
This series of articles focuses on how the new breed of talent from the NFL draft plans to affect overall fantasy football player value. Continuing with our stock market report, Gridiron Experts takes a look at the NFC West.
Previous Articles: NFC EAST | AFC EAST | NFC SOUTH | AFC SOUTH

*NFC West: Finally Gridiron Experts can talk shop, as the last two divisions were heavy on Defense.  Each team may not have added instant on the field play-makers, but the sleeper factor is definitely there. Teams like the 49er’s seemed quiet with their crop of players, but the talent they did add help the fantasy players you’re holding.

St.Louis Rams

Mardy Gilyard WR 5″11 187 lbs.

The Rams may have set in stone their future by selecting Sam Bradford first overall,  but the fantasy football water cooler chat starts with a little guy named Mardy Gilyard. Personally, there were two wide receiver sleepers I had an eye on, and they both ended up in this division.

Gilyard has blazing speed and will step into kick and punt returning duties immediately.  With back to back 11 touchdown seasons at the university of Cincinnati, the Rams need to figure out a way to use this deadly after-the-catch weapon in their offense ASAP. My guess is we could see a learning curve type season for Gilyard, where simple plays like wide receiver screens will be put into action just until he can run pro style routes. Gilyard had a shaking senior bowl, which may have dropped his draft value, but the Rams have high hopes for this little guy.

Opportunity: WR2
Stock Value: High – If you’re fantasy league counts individual players for KR/PR yards than circle this guy now. With a lack of depth for the Rams at WR, Gilyard should head into camp as the 3 WR with open competition across the board.

Sam Bradford QB 6″4 236 lbs

I’ll admit I have tendency to dismiss rookie QB’s in fantasy articles without giving them a chance. And while I’m sure Bradford could become a Matt Ryan, he is more likely to be a Matthew Stafford. Both are excellent QB’s but are on totally different types of teams. The Rams are re-building, so much so that they might want to play this year up in Canada (ouch). Bradford may not start week 1 and with a team of youngsters around him the only guy to look at is Steven Jackson. On a side note, you have to admire Steven Jackson for not demanding a trade-off this ship wreck, his attitude should help this team grow.

Bradford will have a prototypical NFL rookie season, he should be one of the last QB’s selected in your fantasy league, unless in the event of a keeper league.

Seattle Seahawks

Golden Tate WR 5″10 200 lbs

Late 2nd round digging came up golden. Tate is my other fantasy sleeper, and I’m amazed he went so late. 60th overall in this years draft blew my mind, as this guy has all the tools to be a first round grade. Tate has outstanding hands and excellent speed, despite his 40 time. I believe, there is straight away speed, and then there is game speed, Tate is the kind of player that people overlook with a stopwatch and then kick themselves for passing on.

While my enthusiastic nature may be hyping him up too fast, speed plus excellent hands should translate into success. Although I did read something where Tate had made a highlight reel catch in mini-camp only to have Hasselbeck admit he ran the totally wrong route.

Never the less watch for this Seahawk early, as the team is lacking receiver talent and could introduce him early.

Opportunity: WR2
Stock Value: Medium  to Very High

Arizona Cardinals

Andre Roberts WR 5″10 195 lbs.

Senior Bowl sensation, impressing scouts with his ability to sink his hips and change directions on his breaks. Sounds great, only Larry Fitzgerald Steve Breaston, and Early Doucet make for tough on field talent, so most likely Roberts and his speed will take over the return duties with maybe adding some slot situational work. Unless he shows something really special at camp, I’d peg him as a good talented addition with little fantasy value

Opportunity: WR3
Stock Value: Low- Medium

San Fransisco 49er’s

Size Speaks Volume

We had mentioned in draft articles prior, that the 49ers added size and strength to instantly become a  headache for defense line coaches. T Anthony Davis & G Mike Iupati need to be signed immediately, as their presence on the offensive line could give not only Frank Gore’s fantasy value a boost but Glen Coffee’s as well.

The 49er’s should be able to test the NFC with a smash-mouth running game that Coach Mike Singletary can hang his hat on. The 49ers are building a old-school type smash and grab team. Toughness is Singletary’s middle name and I expect a new looking 49er’s team…so do the fans.

NFC West Fantasy Football Stock Market Gridiron Experts Gridiron Experts - Where Fantasy Football Champions Are Born

St. Louis Rams Select Sam Bradford 1st overall

Smart pick, this team has a lot of holes but none bigger than the quarterback position. Bradford has the skills to be a star but will have an uphill battle in St.Louis. Bradford shows excellent accuracy with his throws, but will need more zip on intermediate and downfield routes. Time will make this kid the star.

Check out our profile article on Sam Bradford

Fantasy Value: None in his first year

St. Louis Rams Select Sam Bradford 1st overall Gridiron Experts Gridiron Experts - Where Fantasy Football Champions Are Born