biggest fantasy surprises and busts
Written By: Nick Coppola
Every fantasy football fan knows the frustration and disappointment experienced each year after spending a high round draft pick on a guy that turns out to be a bust. Even more frustrating are the players that fly under the radar during the draft and that one guy in the league picks him up off the waiver wire and he turns out to be a crucial aspect of their line up. Here is a list of the BIGGEST busts and BIGGEST surprises of the 2013 fantasy football season.
Surprises
1. Phillip Rivers QB San Diego Chargers
Rivers was undrafted in many standard formats this year, mainly because of the horror he put his owners through the last two years. A hot waiver-wire pickup, Rivers was able to help many owners that wasted a draft pick on a quarterback such as RGIII or Colin Kaepernick. He currently is ranked sixth among fantasy QBs and should continue to be a fantasy starter heading into the last couple weeks before the playoffs.
Rivers was undrafted in many standard formats this year, mainly because of the horror he put his owners through the last two years. A hot waiver-wire pickup, Rivers was able to help many owners that wasted a draft pick on a quarterback such as RGIII or Colin Kaepernick. He currently is ranked sixth among fantasy QBs and should continue to be a fantasy starter heading into the last couple weeks before the playoffs.
2. Antonio Brown WR Pittsburgh Steelers
Many thought Brown would see a dip in production this year due to the loss of speedster Mike Wallace, which means he has to face the number one corner from opposing teams each week. Also, the Steelers are starting a rookie at halfback for the first time in a while. Instead, Brown has been torching opponents, averaging 13 fantasy points per week and producing numbers like a WR2 throughout. He has easily become the favorite target of Big Ben and will continue to produce this year.
Many thought Brown would see a dip in production this year due to the loss of speedster Mike Wallace, which means he has to face the number one corner from opposing teams each week. Also, the Steelers are starting a rookie at halfback for the first time in a while. Instead, Brown has been torching opponents, averaging 13 fantasy points per week and producing numbers like a WR2 throughout. He has easily become the favorite target of Big Ben and will continue to produce this year.
3. DeSean Jackson WR Philadelphia Eagles
After last season, Jackson was almost written off as a fantasy starter. Those who gambled on him this year and drafted him in the sixth or later look like geniuses through the first 11 weeks of the season. He excelled with Vick under center at the beginning of the season and continued his hot streak with Foles as the signal caller. Jackson is locked in as a WR1 for the remainder of the year no matter who is the starting QB for the Eagles.
After last season, Jackson was almost written off as a fantasy starter. Those who gambled on him this year and drafted him in the sixth or later look like geniuses through the first 11 weeks of the season. He excelled with Vick under center at the beginning of the season and continued his hot streak with Foles as the signal caller. Jackson is locked in as a WR1 for the remainder of the year no matter who is the starting QB for the Eagles.
4. Knowshon Moreno RB Denver Broncos
Nobody predicted Moreno producing in fantasy like he has so far this year. Heck, he was barely even drafted in the deepest leagues. With the Broncos drafting Monte Ball in the second round of the NFL draft, many thought
he would handle the Broncos’ workload out of the backfield for this season. Surprisingly, Moreno was named the starter week 1 and he has done nothing to lose this role going forward. Moreno is particularly valuable in PPR leagues because of his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield.
Nobody predicted Moreno producing in fantasy like he has so far this year. Heck, he was barely even drafted in the deepest leagues. With the Broncos drafting Monte Ball in the second round of the NFL draft, many thought
he would handle the Broncos’ workload out of the backfield for this season. Surprisingly, Moreno was named the starter week 1 and he has done nothing to lose this role going forward. Moreno is particularly valuable in PPR leagues because of his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield.
5. Julius Thomas TE Denver Broncos
Thomas, much like Moreno, came out of nowhere this season. He was not drafted on virtually any fantasy draft teams this year. Not many people even knew his name until he was named the starting TE minutes before the opening week kickoff for the Broncos. Those who were lucky enough to have top waiver claims and snatched him are reaping the benefits as he is ranked in top three fantasy TEs on the season
Thomas, much like Moreno, came out of nowhere this season. He was not drafted on virtually any fantasy draft teams this year. Not many people even knew his name until he was named the starting TE minutes before the opening week kickoff for the Broncos. Those who were lucky enough to have top waiver claims and snatched him are reaping the benefits as he is ranked in top three fantasy TEs on the season
Busts
1. Trent Richardson RB Indianapolis Colts
Richardson was a top 5 pick in many of this year’s fantasy drafts. He was the workhorse on a team that didn’t have much going for them so the draft appeal was there. After being traded from Cleveland to Indianapolis, Richardson has fell completely off the fantasy radar. He’s averaging a paltry three yards a carry on the year and continues to lose touches to backup Donald Brown every week. Richardson is nothing more than a bench stash for the remainder of the year in the hopes he breaks out for the fantasy playoffs.
Richardson was a top 5 pick in many of this year’s fantasy drafts. He was the workhorse on a team that didn’t have much going for them so the draft appeal was there. After being traded from Cleveland to Indianapolis, Richardson has fell completely off the fantasy radar. He’s averaging a paltry three yards a carry on the year and continues to lose touches to backup Donald Brown every week. Richardson is nothing more than a bench stash for the remainder of the year in the hopes he breaks out for the fantasy playoffs.
2. Ray Rice RB Baltimore Ravens
Coming into this season, Rice was one of the most consistent fantasy RBs. Handling almost all carries and catching balls out of the backfield made Rice an intriguing pick in the first round of fantasy drafts. As of week 11, Rice has only one rushing touchdown and has topped the century mark only one time this season. He continues to struggle and has been losing more and more carries to backup Bernard Pierce each week. Leave Rice on your bench unless he has a good match up in the future.
Coming into this season, Rice was one of the most consistent fantasy RBs. Handling almost all carries and catching balls out of the backfield made Rice an intriguing pick in the first round of fantasy drafts. As of week 11, Rice has only one rushing touchdown and has topped the century mark only one time this season. He continues to struggle and has been losing more and more carries to backup Bernard Pierce each week. Leave Rice on your bench unless he has a good match up in the future.
3. CJ Spiller RB Buffalo Bills
Spiller was one of the RBs that had the most upside heading into this year’s fantasy drafts. Finally getting more touches then Fred Jackson at the end of last season, he seemed primed to have a breakout year. Not so fast. After injuring his ankle early in the year, Spiller was forced into a timeshare again, with Jackson creating a huge headache for Spiller's owners. Spiller has only had one strong performance this season--in week 9--and will continue to split touches with Jackson through the remainder of the season.
Spiller was one of the RBs that had the most upside heading into this year’s fantasy drafts. Finally getting more touches then Fred Jackson at the end of last season, he seemed primed to have a breakout year. Not so fast. After injuring his ankle early in the year, Spiller was forced into a timeshare again, with Jackson creating a huge headache for Spiller's owners. Spiller has only had one strong performance this season--in week 9--and will continue to split touches with Jackson through the remainder of the season.
4. Matt Ryan QB Atlanta Falcons
Ryan was poised to have a breakout year for his fantasy owners with the plethora of talented receivers on his team and the addition of a workhorse, Steven Jackson. But with Roddy White and Jackson being plagued all
year by injury and the season-ender to Julio Jones, Ryan is only left with Tony Gonzalez, who is double covered almost over play. Ryan has really struggled without his receiving corps and has only thrown three touchdowns compared to 10 interceptions over the last four weeks. He is not a fantasy starter going forward.
Ryan was poised to have a breakout year for his fantasy owners with the plethora of talented receivers on his team and the addition of a workhorse, Steven Jackson. But with Roddy White and Jackson being plagued all
year by injury and the season-ender to Julio Jones, Ryan is only left with Tony Gonzalez, who is double covered almost over play. Ryan has really struggled without his receiving corps and has only thrown three touchdowns compared to 10 interceptions over the last four weeks. He is not a fantasy starter going forward.
5. Robert Griffin III QB Washington Redskins
RGIII worked hard all off-season to be ready for the season opener. Maybe he should have thought about that one and came back from ACL surgery when he was 100 percent ready. Griffin put up respectable numbers the
first two weeks, but has been lost pretty much since then. He was highly valuable last year because of his ability to scramble and pick up yards on the ground. This season, he has zero rushing scores and has yet to top over 50 yards rushing on the season. Better days are ahead for this young star, but not this season.
RGIII worked hard all off-season to be ready for the season opener. Maybe he should have thought about that one and came back from ACL surgery when he was 100 percent ready. Griffin put up respectable numbers the
first two weeks, but has been lost pretty much since then. He was highly valuable last year because of his ability to scramble and pick up yards on the ground. This season, he has zero rushing scores and has yet to top over 50 yards rushing on the season. Better days are ahead for this young star, but not this season.