Thought I would knock this out before my draft tonight. For some reason we are having it before Week 3 of the preseason, you know the week in which they stars play the most and are most prone to injury. Regardless the truth is I hate fantasy football. I love the studying and draft far more than the actual matchups because any nonsense guy could have a huge week and beat you. It can happy every week. You could finish with the most points scored and miss the playoffs. The same can happen in the other fantasy sports but with a much broader scale than 16 games it seems to even out more, and that’s also why you shouldn’t have more than four teams in the playoffs. Regardless I have done my homework and are ready to take on this draft.

Anyone after this and you are facing a severe disadvantage in every weekly matchup. Maybe you can find someone that will either have a huge week or have nothing, but there just isn’t enough consistency at this position in fantasy football. Or maybe it’s that Graham and a healthy Gronk are so far superior to the rest of the field and our hopes are set too high.

11. Jermaine Gresham (Cin)

He tore up his knee as a Sr. at Oklahoma and seems to have lost that incredible playmaking ability he had. This is his last chance to prove he can make it in this league. With AJ Green becoming an even bigger threat with another year under his belt Gresham should see some open field. While the Bengals did spend a first round draft pick on Tyler Eifert and despite the fact that Gresham talked block, the job is still his. They aren’t quitting on him just yet. This should be the best chance to show us what we thought we would see and I think we will see just that.

10. Martellus Bennett

I am a big believer in that Bears offense, provided their offensive line changes worked. Bennett is a freak. He is 6.6 270lbs and runs a 4.68 40 yard dash. Last year he hyperextended his knee and was playing injured for most of the season so his 54/626/5 line should be much improved upon. I am thinking more like 70/800/9.

9. Brandon Myers

You don’t know this guy right? Me neither. Last year he played for Oakland and had the 5th most targets, catches and yards amongst TE’s in the NFL. This year he gets to play with an “elite” quarterback with a very talented offense. He should fit in very nicely, this offense is due for a breakout year and Myers could be part of the reason.

8. Owen Daniels

Believe it or not I am picturing this offense being built around Andre Johnson this year. Arian Foster is due for a major injury given his workload and word is he is already banged up. That means Johnson becomes the target. Schaub is going to be called upon to throw the ball a lot more and Owen Daniels’ owners will happily reap the benefits.

7. Greg Olsen

Olsen set career highs in receptions and receiving yards one year ago, serving as Cam’s #2 receiver besides Steve Smith. The Panthers for whatever reason provided no extra help for Cam this season but his extra year of experience should be help enough to see Olsen set new career highs this year.

6. Jermichael Finley

While taking any of the targets for Aaron Rodgers can be risky, given that he spreads the ball out so well, the loss of Driver and Jennings should help Finley, especially early in the season. The Packers have no real receiving studs, just potential, but that potential is based off of how good Rodgers really is. On most other teams a lot of his best threats may not be that scary. Jordy Nelson might not be a threat as a #1 receiver if it weren’t for Rodgers. Finley however has been around for quite a few years and should be relied upon as a steady set of hands for Rodgers. He should set career highs in catches and probably yards as well as touchdowns this year.

5. Vernon Davis

Davis was not good last year. He caught fewer than two passes per game. However he is an absolute beast. He is a freak athlete for his size and young Kaepernick would be wise to start targeting him more. Coach Harbaugh will look to get him more involved and it will be likely his numbers will return to where they should be.

4. Jason Witten

For some reason, in the past, Tony Romo just hasn’t look his way in the redzone. This year that Cowboy offense looks to be locked and loaded for a big pass game and Witten should find the endzone more often. After playing with that spleen problem last year he is a proven workhorse and will start all 16 games this year, barring something devastating. He will be as consistent as he always has been and his touchdown numbers will be up, resulting in a monster fantasy year.

3. Rob Gronkowski

2. Tony Gonzalez

How can I rank Gonzalez ahead of Gronk? Because that Falcon offense is LOADED and Gronk may actually miss the first six weeks. Gronkowski has shown the ability to be the best fantasy advantage in the game but Gonzalez is prime for another big year and given the talent surrounding him, spreading the field for him, he should see even bigger numbers. Drafting Gronk may result in a tough start to the year but he is that big of an advantage to still list him 3rd.

1. Jimmy Graham

The only guy on the planet on the same level as a healthy Gronkowski. This year he should eclipse 100 catches 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns. For those of you keeping track… that’s 260 fantasy points, minimum.

mlz

Tuesday, August 20, 2013