Some of you have probably already drafted but here is a list of guys I like for the 2009-2010 Fantasy Football year. For those of you who have drafted you may want to look to see if you can trade for one of these guys:
QB:
Aaron Rodgers: Rodgers is heading into his second year as the starter for Green Bay. All the talk about Brett Favre is behind him after his great 2008 season. In 2008 Rodger’s had 32 touchdowns (28 passing and 4 rushing) with 4,038 yard passing, 207 rushing yards and just 13 interceptions. I consider this a great year for a guy who just started his first 16 game season. So what makes Rodgers get on my list in 2009? Of the first 6 games of the season Green Bay only has to play one playoff team from last year the Vikings. Generally offenses start a little slower but playing Cincinnati, St Louis, Detroit and Cleveland in the first 6 weeks will help any quarterback gain chemistry with his team. Having Jennings and Driver back give him a great possession receiver and an awesome down the field threat who has great after the catch yards. Ryan Grant seems to be coming along and will help keep the defenses honest. I also have high hopes for the Green Bay defense and new 3-4 scheme, which should increase turnovers and give the offense good field position.
Matt Hasselbeck: Hasselbeck is coming off a tough 2008 were he suffered from a number of injuries. Seattle always has a quit team being up away from everyone else in the Northwest. Hasselbeck has an average draft pick of 104 which means he is going in the 8th round in a 12 team league. Hasselbeck could be one of the top 5 quarterback in 2009 and getting him in the 8th round makes him a great value. Playing in the NFC West gives him one of the easiest schedules in the league. He has a great possession receiver and end zone target with TJ Houshmendzadeh. Nate Burleson is back from his injury and will help spread the defense and having Deon Branch, as your third receiver isn’t bad either. He also has Jon Carlson, one of the better receiving tight ends in the league. Now Jim Mora the new coach isn’t going to be as pass happy as Mike Holmgren but setting up a good rushing game only helps the passing game.
RB: Steve Slaton: If Slaton comes to you in the second round you’re going to want to jump on him. Houston has created an explosive offensive team. Slaton has the ability to bust open long runs and has the hands to catch the ball. He has bulked up in the off-season and I don’t think that Chris Brown is going to come in and steal his red zone touches. The AFC South gets to play the NFC West this year, which gives him some nice match ups. He averaged 103 total yards a game last year and .62 touchdowns a game. I can’t see why his yard production would go down and I think he will see more pay dirt this year.
Ray Rice: Rice has an average draft pick of 55 which means he is going in the forth round. This is a nice spot to pick up your second running back. Baltimore is a run first team and that’s what you want with your running back. Le’Ron McClain has moved back to fullback and Rice will be splitting carries with Willis McGahee. Rice is more versatile than McGahee and is a threat in the passing game. Baltimore first 10 games are against some of the worst rushing defenses of the year last year. I lick my chops when my running back gets to play Kansas City, Cleveland and Cincinnati twice and also the Denver Donkeys in the beginning of the season.
WR: Anquan Boldin: I’m going to be bold with my prediction that Boldin will score more fantasy points than Fitzgerald this year. Boldin averaged 86.5 yards a game last year and .916 touchdowns per game. Fitzgerald averaged 89.4 yards a game and .75 touchdowns per game. Fitzgerald average draft pick is 8th and Boldin’s is 25th. I’m waiting two rounds and getting Boldin. They both seemed to have big days on the same game last year and that trend may continue this year. The draft is all about getting the guy with the most value in the spot you pick. I think Boldin at 25 and he will have more value than Fitzgerald come the end of the year.
TJ Houshmandzadeh: He has a very tricky name to spell and pronounce if you’re reading it the first time. Housh is a great possession receiver for those of you in points per reception league and is a big target in the end zone. When he had a healthy quarterback throwing him the ball in 2007 he averaged 7 receptions for 71.4 yards and .75 touchdowns a game. A lot fantasy football is having the guys on your team that score 6’s. Housh is a player who can compete against Wes Welker for receptions and rival Andre Johnson for touchdowns. Both Welker and Johnson have are being taken before Housh in the draft.
Look back later this week for notes on tight ends, kickers and defensive teams.
Live, love fantasy football
Devin Pope
