Bookmark me!

NotOnlyThatButSports.com

Ranking the Fantasy Football Keepers for 2014

Image description

 

I can’t believe how fast the last 17 weeks have gone by. Somehow another NFL season is in the books as well as another season of fantasy football. Regardless how you fared this season, get ahead of the game and take a look at the top keepers heading into the 2014 season. If you aren’t too confident in your keepers start looking to make a trade and snatch some of these guys up while you may be able to. 



25. Rob Gronkowski


Of course Gronk is only this low because of the injuries. He has missed 14 games in the past two seasons and now barring any setbacks he will be ready for Week 1 next season but will be coming off of knee surgery to repair a torn ACL and MCL. Of course the upside to keeping him is that when he is healthy and on the turf he is a force unlike anyone at his position in the entire NFL. But who knows just how possible that is anymore.



24. Marshawn Lynch


This guy has been straight up steady the past three years. With just 97 yards against the Rams in Week 17 he was able to surpass 1200 rushing yards for the third consecutive year. Not to forget he has had rushing touchdown totals of 12, 11, and 12 these last three years. While he may not catch a ton of passes he has added four touchdown receptions in that span as well. We all know Lynch is a beast, a monster, a grown man, or whatever you want to call him. But there is only so many hits a running back has in them. Next season will be his eighth and he will have topped 300 carries for the second straight year and topped 285 for the third straight year. I’m not confident in him getting injured next season like I was about Arian Foster this season, but it needs to be factored in; thus dropping him to 24th.



23. Andrew Luck


I’m not sure what to make of this kid. Is he good? Is he lucky? Has he compiled most of his stats in garbage time? Will it matter? Next season their schedule can’t possibly get any easier. Don’t get me wrong they do have some great wins but they basically all came at a weird time for the other team. Pair that with six freebies against the likes of the Jags, Titans and Texans I don’t see how things get much better next year. But that isn’t a bad thing. If Luck can continue to have things break his way he should be able to throw for another 4,000 yards with 20+ TDS, under 10 INTS and over 300 rushing yards with a couple of rushing scores to boot. My main argument against keeping Luck is that the QB position is so deep with all the nonsense rules/refs. You could get a guy like Romo in the draft and have nothing to worry about.



22. Antonio Brown


And the award for the quietest fantasy stud of 2013 goes to… Antonio Brown has really make a giant leap forward this season. By keeping him, you may feel like you are a bit behind the eight ball compared to some of the other names out there but you should be more than happy with the selection. Brown is the clear cut #1 option in the Steelers receiving corps. He has caught no fewer than five balls in a game this year. He set the Steelers franchise record for receiving yards this year with 1,499. He has also topped the 100 catch marker and finished just two catches shy of Hines Ward’s franchise record for receptions in a season. Oh by the way he is also a threat to score on special teams and could have an even better stat line next year against what should be an easier schedule.



21. Nick Foles


Nick Foles has taken the step forward in his sophomore season. In his rookie affair he was responsible for 11 turnovers and just six touchdowns. Meanwhile this year he was responsible for 30 touchdowns and just two turnovers. Of course with a tougher schedule next year he should come back down to Earth a little bit but that Chip Kelly offense is getting more efficient with every week that passes. Foles has succeeded this year despite Kelly going through the entire offseason with Vick as his #1. Next year that offense should be a fine tuned supercar. As long as he can continue to take care of the ball he could be a top 5 fantasy player. The only thing dropping him down the list a bit is the fact that the QB position is so loaded in most fantasy leagues.



20. Arian Foster


After having 956 carries and 1,115 total touches the past three seasons, he was due to break down this year. With that kind of workload I can’t promise he will bounce back from injury next season but he is certainly worth the risk. In his eight games played this year he had a higher average yards per carry in any season since 2010. With the Texans having locked up the #1 draft pick their schedule should be rather easy, especially given the fact that that division might be on the same level as the NBA’s Atlantic division. He is a true competitor and while I wouldn’t have wanted him on my fantasy team this season, he may carry a ton of value into next season.


 

19. Larry Fitzgerald


This is simply a play on the Cardinals seemingly getting better with every week that passes. The only problem is that Carson Palmer may have played well enough to make Arizona pass on a quarterback in the upcoming draft. While his touchdown total really carried his fantasy production this year, the offense should get better with another offseason having passed. He is still a top tier athlete at his position despite the growing number of freak receivers. At the very least you should get 16 games out of him since he hasn’t missed a game since back in 2007 and has only missed four games in his 10 year career. Larry Fitz is certainly a risk worth taking.



18. DeSean Jackson


This is going to be a common theme amongst Eagles players but that offense is only going to get better. The more reps they get the better they become. With a full offseason with Foles as the clear cut #1 QB in this system the value of everyone on that offense should rise and DeSean is one of three major proponents of said offense.



17. Josh Gordon


I had a bit of trouble ranking Gordon. On one hand he is just 22 years old and in only his second season. He racked up 87 catches and 1,646 yards receiving yards this season. He did that with the likes of Brian Hoyer, Brandon Weeden and Jason Campbell tossing him the rock. Next year the Browns should be taking a QB in the draft giving him someone legit to throw to him. However, on the other hand nearly half of that came in a four week stretch against four of the worst passing defenses and if you watched those games you know that they came on mostly weird plays that saw numerous defenders fall down or make piss poor attempts at tackling him. A lot of his 2013 campaign feels flukey but at the same time he might have a legit threat throwing him the ball next season. Proceed with caution when considering him as a keeper but if you have no better options he is certainly worthwhile.



16. Cam Newton


The decision whether or not to keep Cam Newton could certainly be multi-dimensional if you have other worthy options. In theory he should be facing a much more difficult schedule next season but his offense should become better in the offseason since the defense has more than proven its ability to shine. This offseason for the Panthers should be mostly about shoring up that offense and the weapons that surround Cam. You could end up with nearly 4,000 yards passing with 20+ touchdowns and roughly 10 INTS to go with 500+ yards rushing and 5+ rushing touchdowns. He may take a beating but he is a mammoth of a man. He can take just about any hit and should stay healthy for the entire season. This decision basically comes down to who else you have acquired against whatever you feel the difference is between Cam and that offense getting better and his schedule getting more difficult. He is certainly keeper-worthy but once again the QB position is loaded.



15. Aaron Rodgers


There is a reason Rodgers has been a perennial top pick in every fantasy draft. He is a threat to throw for 5,000 yards with 40+ touchdowns every season on top of a couple hundred rushing yards and a couple rushing scores. That team still feels like its a bit behind the eight ball as long as head coach Mike McCarthy still has that job but ARo is still a top tier quarterback in this league. He should bounce back nicely next season, I just hope the moustache does as well.



14. Matt Forte


While Forte has had another good season, he feels like he is a bit hit or miss. While I would love to have him on my team, I don’t know how much confidence I would have in him on a week to week basis. He should be good for 1,200+ yards rushing and far more than receptions than your average running back will catch but he can be inconsistent and his lack of blocking prowess can eat at his playing time. He had just nine rushing touchdowns this season and six of those came before the Bears bye week in week eight. Since then he has posted some pretty nice fantasy numbers but hasn’t been able to find paydirt often enough and that’s where fantasy matchups are won. I know I sound a bit down on him but I’m not, I have him at #14 for a reason. With a full season under head coach Mark Trestman’s belt and with Alshon Jeffery really blowing up, the field should be wide open for him next season.



13. Alshon Jeffery


What a stud this guy is. AP3 and I knew it was only a matter of time when we watched him closely at South Carolina and after a bit of a disappointing rookie campaign Alshon really burst onto the scene this year. With 1,421 receiving yards he finished just 87 yards behind the year old franchise record of 1,508 set by Brandon Marshall. This guy might have the best hands in the NFL. He has turned heads with amazing catches that seem to somehow outdo the one from the week prior every game. With Brandon Marshall to help him learn as well as spread the field this kid is only getting better. Oh and by the way, this was just his second NFL season and he is still only 23 years old.



12. Brandon Marshall


Damn straight I have three Bears in a row. Is it just me or does it feel like Marshall has been a Bear forever? Somehow this is only his second season with the club. Last year he set the franchise record for receiving yards. This year he may have lost some of his touches to Alshon Jeffery’s emergence but he ultimately helps him. Marshall is the clear cut favorite target of starting QB Jay Cutler so the fact that Alshon is becoming a force on the opposite side only opens things up for him. If Jay and the offensive line can hold their own this Bears offense could set some records with Brandon Marshall being the poster child.



11. Demaryius Thomas


Sure it took two missed games by Calvin Johnson but this is the guy that led my fantasy league in points by wide receivers this season. With all the weapons on that team the field is spread out for him to make plays in the open field. As long as Peyton Manning can continue playing at such a high level this 26 year old is only going to get better. 100 catches for 1500 yards and a dozen touchdowns is what you should be expecting out of him, if he has a mediocre season next year.



10. Jimmy Graham


This was a tale of two seasons for Jimmy Graham this year. In the first five weeks he accumulated 37 catches for 593 yards and 6 touchdowns. Then he got blanked by Aqib Talib and the Patriots before injuring his foot. He just wasn’t himself after that. Don’t get me wrong he still ended up recording 49 catches for 622 yards and 10 touchdowns after that week against the Patriots. However he only eclipsed the 100 yard marker twice after that. His injured foot really held him back. Teams were able to cover him basically until the Saints got into the redzone. But with Rob Gronkowski’s injury filled past, keeping Graham could provide you with the biggest advantage in every matchup you play in next year. He could end up setting all kinds of records next year as long as he can stay healthy.



9. Dez Bryant


Eventually this guy is going to grow up and take the league by storm. Fortunately there is still time for this 25 year old specimen. His maturity kept him from being up there with the best wide-outs in the NFL. After all that infamous game against Calvin Johnson, Dez was only able to surpass 100 yards receiving once, against Green Bay in Week 15. But being such a freak athlete he was able to keep fantasy teams afloat by finding the endzone 13 times including once in each of the final five weeks. The Cowboys have a lot to prove next year after losing three straight Week 17 matchups with the playoffs on the line. Romo and Dez need to get on the same page early and often next season. Don’t miss out on a potentially monster 2014 season out of Dez.



8. AJ Green


I don’t feel like I heard a whole lot out of AJ Green this year. Despite having a bit of a quiet year he still posted career highs in receptions (98) and receiving yards (1,426) as well as matching his career best with 11 touchdowns. The biggest problem he has faced is the guy throwing him the ball isn’t that good at his job. While that likely won’t change this offseason how can you complain about 100 catches 1,500 yards and double digit touchdowns? And that’s if he doesn’t take the next step forward and putting his name right up there with Calvin Johnson. At just 25 years old and heading into just his fourth season, he is certainly capable of doing just that.



7. Drew Brees


Any list of the best players in the NFL of course has to include Brees. The past three seasons he has thrown for over 5,100 yards and has accounted for at least 42 touchdowns. This year he did it with his favorite target, Jimmy Graham, being banged up for most of the season. He will be turning 35 in just a couple of weeks but he has not showed any signs of slowing down. While they did manage to get into the playoffs this year, they still have some things to prove next year, assuming they don’t win the Super Bowl. Too many people are on the “The Saints are too different on the road” bandwagon. They will be playing to shake that reputation next season and will be playing to win one more Super Bowl before Brees has to call it a career.



6. Peyton Manning


This may seem a little low for the guy who just set the NFL records for passing yards and touchdowns in a season. It may also seem low for one of the best quarterbacks the league has ever seen, especially since he has at least four legit threats to get the ball to. However he is outside the top 5 for two reasons. First of all the quarterback position is loaded. Sure you can’t just pick up anyone and expect them to lead your fantasy league in points, but you can find plenty of good options. Second Peyton is about to turn 38 years old. Of course he hasn’t showed any signs of aging and the rules nowadays really benefit him but there are only so many hits you can take, especially being an older immobile quarterback. Of course you are keeping him unless you have a couple of these next guys already on your roster, but know that there is some serious risk in riding Peyton Manning another season.



5. Julio Jones


Don’t forget Julio. He suffered a season ending knee injury in Week 5, so you may forget just how good this guy is. He reminds me of Larry Fitzgerald in his prime. He is an athletic freak with a great set of hands. Since the injury happened so early in the season he should be 100% come the start of next season. Before his injury he proved how good he is. He was well on his way to a career season before it was ended early. Despite playing in just five games this year he was able to catch 41 balls for 580 yards. Also with the Falcons being garbage this year, they should in theory have an easy schedule next year. Julio should be able to bounce back with a career season. He should be up around 100 catches for 1,500 yards and a dozen touchdowns. Don’t sleep on this guy.



4. Jamaal Charles


Despite resting Week 17 Charles was able to lead all running backs in fantasy points in my league this year, mostly because he is such a dual threat. He nearly rushed for 1,300 yards and ran for 12 touchdowns. But where he really separated himself was in the passing game where he caught 70 balls for nearly 700 yards and seven more touchdowns. The one thing dropping below these next three guys is that Chiefs had a rather easy schedule and they were really a new team, meaning there wasn’t any way to prepare for them early in the season. Next year they should have a more difficult schedule and there is an entire season's worth of game film to use to prep for this team.



3. LeSean McCoy


What a season Shady had himself this year. He led the league in rushing and surpassed 2100 total yards finding paydirt 11 times. This Eagles team is getting better with every week that goes by. Maybe there will be enough game film next year to combat this Chip Kelly offense. But that offense is constantly developing and will have a full offseason to gameplan for Nick Foles to be the starting quarterback instead of Michael Vick, like they thought coming into this season. Shady could be in for an even bigger 2014 season but falls to #3 because A. the next two guys are really good and B. because nobody has won the rushing title in consecutive seasons since Tomlinson did it in 2006 and 2007.



2. Adrian Peterson


ADP didn’t exactly meet his expectations for 2013 but those were rather lofty goals since he was going up against defenses that were stacking the box with eight or more guys ever play. Despite that Peterson was able to rush for nearly 1,300 yards in 14 games. With a more difficult season and no threat of a passing game he was sort of doomed from the start. But next season, the Vikings should be able to sure up their quarterback position and they will have a new coach in town and they will be playing a last place teams schedule. As long as they make some good moves in the offseason Peterson could actually have a chance to meet his goals for 2013 in 2014.  



1. Calvin Johnson


There may not be a player with more impact on the game than Megatron. Maybe his best trick has been convincing everyone that Matthew Stafford is a legitimate NFL quarterback. In the two games Calvin Johnson missed this season the Lions looked lost on offense. In Week 5 they got blown out by the rival Packers 22-9. They didn’t find the endzone until garbage time and tallied just 286 total yards of offense, and that number would be much lower if not for the aforementioned garbage time. Then in Week 17 the Lions lost to the Vikings 14-13 while accumulating just 245 yards of total offense. Despite missing two games Johnson was able to catch 84 balls for nearly 1,500 yards and had seven more touchdowns than he did when he nearly hit the 2,000 yard marker in 2012. Not to forget the fact that he had such a great season despite the fact that he may have been playing with a partially torn PCL since October. If you put this guy on Tom Brady’s team he might have had 3,000 yards receiving. If the Lions didn’t choke away their shot at winning the NFC North, Calvin Johnson would have to be up for MVP honors. Megatron is the biggest freak in the game and might be your 2014 MVP despite still having Matthew Stafford throwing him the ball. Word is he will have minor knee surgery in this offseason and everything I am hearing about it is that it is going to make him even better than before.



mlz

Wednesday, January 1, 2014



You may also enjoy... 

NFL Home Page  

Please help us out click the ads tell a friend and/or click through our Amazon banner before you buy something. Mission Statement

Bookmark and Share