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Other Andrew Garda rankings (show / hide)
overall redraft rankings by Andrew Garda
submitted 6 days ago
| Rank | Player | Team | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adrian Peterson | MIN | show |
[Jun 6th] Andrew Garda says: It should come as no surprise to anyone that Peterson is my top overall player for 2013. Last year Peterson topped 2,000 yards and all the while wasn't quite 100%. He is going into this season which begs the question—just how good is a fully healthy Peterson? Of course while the 2,000 yards was nice, I expect that number to come down as the Vikings don't want to have Peterson be the only offensive weapon. They expect more out of Christian Ponder and newly acquired Greg Jennings. If Ponder can improve enough, Peterson will see less carries (though the ones he gets might be more effective as he won't face stacked fronts).
On the other hand, if Ponder implodes, Peterson could be called upon to carry the team again. In which case, his stats could rocket up. Whether ponder improves or not, Peterson is still going to have a huge season—even if he misses on a second 2,000 yard season. As he has seen no ill effects from the surgery, I also expect him to be playing for a long time to come.
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| 2 | Arian Foster | HOU | show |
[Jun 6th] Andrew Garda says: A few people are going to worry about Arian Foster's calf strain, but I'm not one of them as he'll be ready for camp, as well as Week 1. Foster has been over 1,000 yards the last three years and in two of those he has run for more than 1,400 yards. He can catch the ball too, which will only add to his success. Last season saw the offense focus on Foster for most of the season and it worked. I expect more of the same in 2013 and beyond.
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| 3 | Doug Martin | TB | show |
[Jun 6th] Andrew Garda says: Martin's 1,926 yards and 11 touchdowns were huge for a rookie and this offense is going to find ways to continue getting him the ball this year. With Josh Freeman at times struggling with consistency, Martin had to carry the team for large stretches of games and he was more than up to the task. It'd be nice if the passing offense was a little sharper, as Martin would be even more dynamic if the defensive fronts weren't stacked, but his ability was more than able to overcome that problem and will only get more natural for him with more experience. Martin has a great combination of speed, vision and strength - all of which the Bucs will ride for as long as they can.
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| 4 | Calvin Johnson | DET | show |
[Jun 6th] Andrew Garda says: Even if Calvin Johnson falls short of matching the 1,964 yards he got in 2012, he's still going to be getting more targets than anyone else in this offense and can produce with them. If only the team can find a way to get his touchdowns back up, Johnson could be the best fantasy receiver to ever play the game. I expect his touchdowns to pick back up and top the paltry five he had last year. That's great news for those willing to go wide receiver at the top of the draft.
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| 5 | Ray Rice | BAL | show |
[Jun 6th] Andrew Garda says: Ray Rice does everything, and does it all well. There may not be a more complete back in the league. Over the past four seasons he has run for over 1,000 yards every year with a combined 1,600+ yards in rushing and receiving together. He's reasonably consistent with touchdowns, but for his owners, it's more about the total yardage. Bernard Pierce proved to be a great backup last season but I'm not worried he will steal much, if anything from Rice. in fact, keeping Rice fresh just means you have a more productive back for your fantasy playoffs.
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| 6 | Trent Richardson | CLE | show |
[Jun 6th] Andrew Garda says: Don't let reports of Trent Richardson's leg injury worry you—he'll be ready for camp and the Browns are just being cautious. Wise, since he's a very important figure in the hopes of a successful season. T-Rich is really toughand played through a ton of injuries in 2012—it's going to be hard to get him off the field. Richardson did everything last season—ran the ball well, caught the ball, blocked on passing downs and played through pain. I'm not a huge fan of new head coach Rob Chudzinski, but he knows how to get the ball moving on the ground. That will spell success for the second year running back.
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| 7 | Marshawn Lynch | SEA | show |
[Jun 6th] Andrew Garda says: Marshawn Lynch has to be happy to see Percy Harvin show up in town as he will be seeing a lot less stacked fronts this coming season. Lynch is a beast to take down and a real nightmare for anyone trying to contain him and it's worse when he gets a head of speed up. If the defense can't bunch the line, he'll have the chance to do it. Lynch was dinged up last season and had some ball control issues as well and on top of that has a pending DUI case against him. If he's guilty, he could be suspended for two games. We'll monitor this closely and if he isn't convicted, he is well worth the top ten pick. Long term he does have some guys behind him now who will push him for carries but for 2013 he's the man in the backfield.
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| 8 | LeSean McCoy | PHI | show |
[Jun 6th] Andrew Garda says: Chip Kelly's offense is a perfect fit for McCoy and even though we know that it won't be the exact same offense Kelly ran in Oregon, the high speed plays and rapid pace will play to McCoy's strengths. He'll also get more carries (as well as plenty of catches) than he ever did with Andy Reid in town because Kelly actually likes to use running backs. McCoy is a tremendous athlete who has the speed and vision to make defenses look silly and should do that regularly in 2013.
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| 9 | Aaron Rodgers | GB | show |
[Jun 6th] Andrew Garda says: There's a lot to like about Rodgers, even if he gets sacked a ton. While Rodgers won't put up as many yards as Matt Stafford or Drew Brees, he'll usually score more touchdowns and make less mistakes. Rodgers is tough as nails and won't miss time, so you can wait on a second quarterbackand instead fill up other positions with value. The Packers just keep adding weapons to the offense and while Greg Jennings has left, he leaves behind a terrific trio of Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb and James Jones. Hopefully the offensive line pulls itself together and the running backs they just drafted are good enough to keep the defense from teeing off on Rodgers, but regardless, Rodgers will continue to put up big numbers no matter how hot it gets in the pocket.
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| 10 | A.J. Green | CIN | show |
[Jun 8th] Andrew Garda says: Andy Dalton isn't a great quarterback, but his best weapon—Green—is a tremendous athlete who will always make him look good. There aren't a ton of options aside from Green when it comes to Cincy's offense, so expect Green to get a ton of targets, which will turn into a ton of fantasy points. That's going to stay the same whether it's Dalton or another quarterback down the road.
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| 11 | Jamaal Charles | KC | show |
[Jun 8th] Andrew Garda says: Jamaal Charles hasn't just performed—he's performed on some terrible teams. He's healthy and on a team which might not be awful so he could have as good a season as he's ever had before. He should be able to succeed and while new head coach Andy Reid wasn't exactly a fantasy RB's best friend in Philly, but he also doesn't have the type of QB he had there. He'll use Charles early and often to help keep Alex Smith safe.
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| 12 | Alfred Morris | WAS | show |
[Jun 8th] Andrew Garda says: After stealing the job in the preseason, Morris went on a tear and ended up with the third most carries in the NFL (335), the second most touchdowns (13) and the second most yards (1,613)- right behind Adrian Peterson. On top of that the majority of his yards, like Peterson, came after contact. He's one tough guy to take down. While we don't have any real history to go on for Morris, so far he has looked outstanding and just like it's best to dump a guy before he tanks, it's best to jump on a guy on his way up, even if a little early. Sure, Morris is young and historically unproven - but he's definitely on his way up.
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| 13 | Brandon Marshall | CHI | show |
[Jun 8th] Andrew Garda says: In 2012, Marshall returned to being Jay Cutler's favorite target. Some days it seemed as if he was the only target. Head coach Marc Trestman's speedy offense should allow the Bears to take advantage of defenses being unable to shift the right coverage to Marshall, which will expose them to some big gains and lots of fantasy points.
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| 14 | Julio Jones | ATL | show |
[Jun 8th] Andrew Garda says: While we can continue to debate the price paid for Jones, he's had two tremendous years and is only just getting started. With Steven Jackson replacing a burned out Michael Turner in the backfield, the offense will be even more potent and it's going to be very hard for defenses to focus just on the passing offense which is going to free up Jones. I expect career highs again from Jones this season.
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| 15 | C.J. Spiller | BUF | show |
[Jun 8th] Andrew Garda says: C.J. Spiller is all set to fully take over the lead running back role in Buffalo. With the struggles of Ryan Fitzpatrick, teams knew Spiller was coming and still couldn't stop him.
New head coach Doug Marrone is another college coach who wants a speedy, uptempo offense, and that fits Spiller really well. Expect a ton of receiving yards again in addition to lots between the tackles.
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| 16 | Drew Brees | NO | show |
[Jun 8th] Andrew Garda says: Drew Brees throws the ball more often and for more yards than almost any other quarterback and he's almost never hurt. That consistency and output make him a solid choice early in fantasy drafts. Brees has thrown for over 4,000 yards seven straight season and more than 5,000 yards three times. During the last two years, he has thrown 89 touchdowns against just 33 interceptions. The Saints have a lot they want to prove after a poor season, and Brees will lead the way. So expect another year of the same old, same old.
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| 17 | Matt Forte | CHI | show |
[Jun 8th] Andrew Garda says: Matt Forte could be set to have a huge season, as new head coach Marc Trestman's uptempo offense seems tailor-made for all of Forte's skills. Whether running the ball or catching it, Forte should be able to take advantage of a defense on its' heels because of the speed of the offense. The Bears hope they have addressed the offensive line as well, so Forte should be able to find plenty of holes to run through as well. A new offense can be a bit unpredictable, but Forte should be a big part of making this one productive.
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| 18 | Dez Bryant | DAL | show |
[Jun 8th] Andrew Garda says: Dez Bryant had a breakthrough season in 2012, though not without a few bumps along the way. Both the occasionaly bone headed moment and the occasionally inconsistent play of quarterback Tony Romo sometimes brought Bryant's impact down to earth but for the most part Bryant started to really come into his own. If Bryant can be a little more focused and avoid doing things like running bad routes, he could be the top wide receiver in the league.
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| 19 | Jimmy Graham | NO | show |
[Jun 9th] Andrew Garda says: Graham was banged up in 2012, but still nearly broke 1,000 yards and is poised to have a ridiculous campaign in 2013. Considering how much Drew Brees trusts him, I see no reason why the young tight end won't top 1,000 yards and double digit touchdowns. The key to his season will be health and so far expectations are and should be that he'll be fine this season. With Rob Gronkowski dealing with back AND arm issues, if you want the top tight end in fantasy, Graham will be your guy.
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| 20 | Maurice Jones-Drew | JAX | show |
[Jun 9th] Andrew Garda says: Maurice Jones-Drew has been the one constant bright spot for the Jacksonville Jaguars since he showed up, although last year was hampered by a trip to injured-reserve list.
This is a contract year for Jones-Drew and if he wants even a decent payday, he's likely to have to stay healthy and show he can still carry a heavy load.
While he isn't the primary running back for a fantasy team he once was, he will be a very good second running back and has the upside to put up stud numbers off and on throughout the season if he can just stay healthy.
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| 21 | Demaryius Thomas | DEN | show |
[Jun 9th] Andrew Garda says: After a healthy 16 games and the arrival of Peyton Manning, Thomas is a star in the making. The arrival of Wes Welker shouldn't do anything to dim this star either and should make Thomas' life easier as he attracts attention away from Thomas (and Eric Decker). It's a great sign that Thomas and the others worked out with Manning early on, and it makes me confident that he can produce even better numbers in 2013.
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| 22 | Andre Johnson | HOU | show |
[Jun 9th] Andrew Garda says: For a while last season, the Texans seemed to have forgotten they had one of the best wide receivers in the game on their team. It eventually evened out. Johnson got his targets and ended up the sixth most productive fantasy wide receiver in many leagues. Johnson has to contend with Arian Foster, who the Texans began to lean on more last year, as well as Matt Schaub's general inconsistency. Still, Johnson is one of the best and he'll get his. The biggest issue owners have to worry about is his lack of touchdowns over the past two years. Hopefully that will change a bit but as long as Foster is a beast in the red zone, AJ will always be a bit short.
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| 23 | Vincent Jackson | TB | show |
[Jun 10th] Andrew Garda says: Vincent Jackson's first year in Tampa was definitely a good one. Jackson kept the Bucs' offense moving (sometimes despite his quarterback) and he's not going anywhere anytime soon. His speed and reliable hands stood out from the crowd of mediocrity at the wide receiver position in Tampa and also helped Mike Williams find the form which made him such a successful rookie. There is no way that Jackson's second year with the Bucs is less successful than his first.
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| 24 | Larry Fitzgerald | ARI | show |
[Jun 10th] Andrew Garda says: Larry Fitzgerald missed the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in five years. The amazing thing isn't that he had a low total—it's that he continually had very good seasons despite atrocious play from the quarterback position for the last few years. You can say a lot of negatives about new quarterback Carson Palmer, but he can definitely find Fitzgerald. If some of the other receivers can step up a little or the run game can be effective, Fitzgerald might have an even better than average (for him) season.
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| 25 | Chris Johnson | TEN | show |
[Jun 10th] Andrew Garda says: Chris Johnson he's been a top 20 running back every year he's been in the league. That said, he hasn't put up much in the way of touchdowns, which certainly keeps him out of the argument for being one of the fantasy elites. The Titans tried to improve the offensive line this off-season, but it might come down to whether Jake Locker can develop as a quarterback. Johnson can only bust off so many long touchdown runs. A more effective Jake Locker will get Johnson closer to the end zone and that would only help his touchdown totals.
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| 26 | Victor Cruz | NYG | show |
[Jun 10th] Andrew Garda says: Cruz proved last season that 2011 was no fluke, and while his numbers went down it's clear he wasn't just taking advantage of attention going to Hakeem Nicks (in part because last year there was no Hakeem Nicks for several games). I had been hesitant to anoint Cruz much of last offseason until I read this excellent piece by SmartFootball.com's Chris Brown over at Grantland. After that I'm a believer and believe Cruz will only continue to get better this season. He should top 1,000 yards and double-digit touchdowns, making him a very solid primary wide receiver for a fantasy team.
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| 27 | David Wilson | NYG | show |
[Jun 10th] Andrew Garda says: It wasn't a great rookie season for David Wilson, as he fumbled a lot and ended up benched almost immediately to start the year. Wilson stayed in Coughlin's doghouse until injuries to Andre Brown and Ahmad Bradshaw pushed him into action. At that point we saw the ability which made him a first-round pick. With his size, speed and strength, Wilson should be very successful in this offense if he can hang onto the ball. He will split carries with Andre Brown, but Brown's got injury issues and ultimately this is Wilson's job to lose.
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| 28 | Rob Gronkowski | NE | show |
[Jun 10th] Andrew Garda says: Gronk's offseason has required four trips into surgery for his broken arm, as well as back surgery to be done sometime in June. When healthy, Gronkowski is a beast. Fast, strong, athletic and tough, he's one of Tom Brady's favorite and most productive targets. The question is whether or not Gronkowski will be back early in the season—perhaps even for the first game. If that's the case we're about at super-value level. If you're concerned the injuries will linger though, then this is about where the upside starts to be worth the risk.
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| 29 | Roddy White | ATL | show |
[Jun 10th] Andrew Garda says: Roddy White keeps saying he's going to take a backseat to Julio Jones and that his numbers will come down. Yet, he's had back-to-back seasons where he topped 1,200 yards total and six seasons in a row, he's caught over 1,000 yards. Matt Ryan can throw the ball to either Jones or White and defenses really can't do much about it. At some point White will slip a bit, though it's clear he still has the desire and ability to be a great receiver.
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| 30 | Cam Newton | CAR | show |
[Jun 10th] Andrew Garda says: People downplay what Cam Newton has done (I've been one of them at times), but it's really worth noting. Towards the end of last year, Newton found his stride, compiling 11 touchdowns against just 2 INTs in the last 7 games. He also had four rushing touchdowns in that time. That's pretty effective. The team is working to make the offense quicker and more uptempo. In order to do this, they are simplifying things, especially terminology. I was never a fan of Rob Chudzinski's offense (sorry Browns fans), and Newton had a lot of improvement when Mike Shula was his quarterback coach last season. Now that Shula is his coordinator, I expect Newton to be more consistent in his productivity and have his best year yet.
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| 31 | DeMarco Murray | DAL | show |
[Jun 10th] Andrew Garda says: Two years of being banged up might be making fantasy owners a bit wary of DeMarco Murray. Last season saw his yards per carry drop more than a yard and his fumbles increase as well. Neither is an encouraging sign, but both things can be corrected. A healthy Murray would be the bell cow back for the Cowboys now that Felix Jones is gone. If he's healthy, Murray isn't going to have much of a fight for carries. Murray may miss a couple of games and be banged up, but he also will be very effective. The injury woes and drop in yards per carry are what keeps him out of the top two rounds, but if you are careful, he has great upside.
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| 32 | Percy Harvin | SEA | show |
[Jun 10th] Andrew Garda says: Harvin was unhappy in Minnesota, so they finally gave him what he wanted — a ticket elsewhere. The Vikes got peace of mind while the Seahawks gained a talented, but somewhat volatile player who is deadly with the ball in his hands. Russell Wilson managed to make Golden Tate and Sidney Rice dangerous receivers, so it's exciting to think about what he can accomplish with a guy like Harvin. Harvin was hurt last season, but the injury issues shouldn't carry over. Really, the only thing which can stop Harvin is Harvin.
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| 33 | Hakeem Nicks | NYG | show |
[Jun 10th] Andrew Garda says: Health is an issue again for Hakeem Nicks, and right as he enters his free-agency year. Speaking of which, he has skipped OTAs, which he swears has nothing to do with his contract situation. I am actually completely fine with him skipping OTAs. As banged up as he was last year, more rest will only help. If Nicks can stay healthy I have no doubt the numbers will come. All things being equal, he's a worthwhile pick in the middle of the third round and well worth the calculated risk.
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| 34 | Jordy Nelson | GB | show |
[Jun 10th] Andrew Garda says: If Jordy Nelson isn't banged up at the end of 2012, he easily has his second year in a row of more than 1,000 yards and more than likely, a dozen touchdowns. As it stands, some might overlook him because he was hurt (and as I see Randall Cobb above him in NonPPR, some definitely are), which makes him a a potentially huge value for owners who wait. Nelson is the primary receiver for a team which never saw a down it didn't want to throw. When you have a quarterback like Aaron Rodgers who loves to throw the ball, you let him do his thing. This creates a perfect opportunity for Nelson to bounce back from a disappointing season and get back to the 1,200 yards and 15 touchdowns he had in 2011. I love Randall Cobb, but the hype train is a bit out of control. That said, it could mean Jordy Nelson is yours for the taking.
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| 35 | Tom Brady | NE | show |
[Jun 10th] Andrew Garda says: Every once in a while I hear someone say that Tom Brady is slowing down. Well, if two 4,000-yard seasons in a row and three consecutive 30-plus touchdown seasons is slowing down, I'd like to know what speeding up looks like. Losing Wes Welker hurts, but Danny Amendola could prove to be a younger, better version of Welker. He just needs to stay healthy. Speaking of health, Brady has to be concerned that both his tight ends are banged up, with Gronkowski needing back surgery during June. All this might make the start of Brady's season a bit shaky, but in the end, he has always made the receivers around him better than they made him.
Owners shouldn't worry much about it, and Brady will carry more than one team to the fantasy championship.
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| 36 | Steven Jackson | ATL | show |
[Jun 10th] Andrew Garda says: I used to call Steven Jackson injury prone, but in the last four years he's only missed two games. Meanwhile, all he does is accumulate yards and in his nine-year career he's topped 1,000 of them eight times. That's amazing when you consider that in 2007 and 2008, he missed eight games and still managed to top the 1,000 yard mark. Even more impressive is that he did this in the face of a stunning lack of weapons around him. Now Jackson heads to Atlanta where he will never again face a stacked front due to the presence of Roddy White, Julio Jones and Tony Gonzalez.
It's quite possible that Jackson might see one of his best seasons in some time—maybe ever. Jackson struggles to score touchdowns, but that should change as the Falcons won't struggle to reach the red zone.
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| 37 | Marques Colston | NO | show |
[Jun 10th] Andrew Garda says: Despite some seasons where he was banged up, Marques Colston has had 1,000 yards six of the last seven seasons, including the last four in a row. Clearly one of quarterback Drew Brees' favorite targets Coltson is also his most reliable and has caught 63 percent of the balls thrown his way. Last season, Colston had the second highest yardage and touchdown totals of his career. Brees and the Saints offense should look much better this year with head coach Sean Payton back full time.
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| 38 | Stevan Ridley | NE | show |
[Jun 10th] Andrew Garda says: In 2013, the offense will lean pretty heavily on Ridley, especially if Gronkowski is out for the start of the season. He could see a lot of work in the red zone. Ridley went over 1,200 yards for the first time in 2012. He's looking at similar production in 2013 as the Pats will likely run just as often as they did last season. If he can stay healthy (he ended up with a concussion during the AFC Championship game) and withstand the wear and tear of a full season, he could have a very big year. He added bulk in the offseason and showed up to the team's conditioning program having added quite a bit of muscle. Ridley was already a tough guy to bring down, and now he's even more of a load. The question is, did he add muscle and mass while sacrificing speed and agility?
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| 39 | Reggie Bush | DET | show |
[Jun 10th] Andrew Garda says:
Bush gives them a legitimate two way threat—he can run the ball (as evidenced by the 900-plus yards both seasons in Miami) as well as catch it out of the backfield.
With no real receiving threats outside of Calvin Johnson, the Lions are desperate for someone else who might be able to take advantage of all the attention Johnson gets. Add to that the need for a solid running back (I like Mikel Leshoure but he wasn't reliable last season), and you can see Bush getting a ton of work in 2013.
Bush will not get the full load of carries, but he will be on the field a lot as he lines up wide or in the slot.
So there will be a lot of opportunity for points.
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| 40 | Jason Witten | DAL | show |
[Jun 10th] Andrew Garda says: Jason Witten has had more than 1,000 yards in four of his last six seasons. While Dez Bryant and Miles Austin are important factors in the offense, when Tony Romo needs a big play, he looks for his big tight end. If there is a soft spot to his game, it's touchdowns. While Romo will use Witten to move the chains when it counts, he will also look elsewhere most of the time when he needs a touchdown. More than anything else, that keeps Witten from really being in the conversation for elite status as a fantasy tight end.
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| 41 | Peyton Manning | DEN | show |
[Jun 10th] Andrew Garda says: Peyton Manning had the second highest yardage and touchdown totals of his career in 2012, and it could actually get even better in 2013 now that Wes Welker has arrived.
Along with Welker, the Broncos added more offensive-line help and rookie Montee Ball to round out the ground game (and protect the team from another Willis McGahee injury).
The Broncos are likely to use a lot of three-wide receiver sets and keep the huddles to a minimum. This will make it tougher for defenses to key on any one receiver, much less Manning himself.
Fantasy owners may still feel hesitant about him due to the neck issues, but they shouldn't. It's easy to see he is far past that concern.
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| 42 | Darren McFadden | OAK | show |
[Jun 10th] Andrew Garda says: Darren McFadden is so talented it's ridiculous. Unfortunately, he's also so injury-prone that it's ridiculous. Having missed 23 games in his five years in the league, McFadden is totally unreliable as a primary fantasy running back even though he has the ability to hold that role on your team. Last season was especially brutal as he missed four or more games for the second year in a row and saw his yards per carry fall all the way to a lackluster 3.3. That actually makes the 707 yards he ran even more surprising. Combined with his receiving yards, he fell just short of a 1,000 yards combined.
Be very, very careful with McFadden. His upside tempts fantasy owners to go earlier on him than he warrants due to his constant injuries.
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| 43 | Reggie Wayne | IND | show |
[Jun 10th] Andrew Garda says: Reggie Wayne had just a little more gas left in the tank than people expected, didn't he? Emerging as Andrew Luck's best and—by far—favorite target in 2012, there's not much chance that changes this season. T.Y. Hilton should continue to play well, as should tight ends Dwayne Allen and Coby Fleener, but ultimately there isn't much competition for Wayne. He's the veteran Luck trusts to get the job done. Wayne will get you yards, no doubt about it, but what he won't get you is touchdowns. In his 12-year career he has only scored 10 or more touchdowns three times, and that doesn't seem poised to change as Luck seems to spread his touchdowns around.
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| 44 | Dwayne Bowe | KC | show |
[Jun 10th] Andrew Garda says: After way too many years with Matt Cassel as quarterback, Dwayne Bowe's life just got much easier. While Alex Smith isn't Joe Montana (even the aging Joe Montana the Chiefs got way back when), he's a solid player who has turned the corner over the last two years and can deliver the ball to a player of Bowe's quality. Bowe is now going to have a competent quarterback throwing him the ball—and is out of excuses for why he's not reaching his potential. You can bet that Smith and new head coach Andy Reid are looking for ways to get the ball into Bowe's hands. Bowe finally seems to have stopped being his own worst enemy and is in an offense which is geared to get him the ball. He should have a great year in Kansas City.
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| 45 | Frank Gore | SF | show |
[Jun 10th] Andrew Garda says: Frank Gore just completed the second of two straight 1,200-yard seasons right as he hits the age of 30. Did you get a shiver down your spine? Most folks worry that the moment a running back hits 30, the wheels come off and the car catches fire. You can certainly be concerned because we've seen it happen before and it tends to happen rapidly—there is no gradual decline. There is a certain school of thought that it's better to bail on a player a year too early than it is to hang on one year too long, but to me, Gore is a guy with gas left in the tank. His yards per carry have stayed over the 4.0 mark (with last year hitting 4.7) and he still catches the ball well. Admittedly, Gore's production could take a hit with the rotation of LaMichael James, Kendall Hunter and Anthony Dixon. But I feel that the chances of that are minimal. As long as he's healthy, you can expect the 49ers to keep riding Gore as long as they can.
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| 46 | Randall Cobb | GB | show |
[Jun 10th] Andrew Garda says: Cobb is an insanely talented athlete who, in just his second season, emerged as a player the Packers had to have on the field for virtually every snap. On the downside, Cobb is a little bit over-hyped right now and will be very difficult to get at a good value. Amassing more than 1,000 total yards, Cobb proved he could get the job done and will likely be regarded as the No. 2 receiver in Green Bay, just behind Jordy Nelson. The Packers got the ball into Cobb's hands in a variety of ways, including direct snaps, reverses, short passes and deep throws. They'll do that all season long again in 2013.
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| 47 | Matthew Stafford | DET | show |
[Jun 10th] Andrew Garda says: Let's start here: I fully expect Matt Stafford's yardage totals to go down in 2013. Which still leaves him as one of the most prolific passers in the NFL and a pretty darn good fantasy quarterback. The fact is that with the improvement on the defensive side of the ball, as well as the addition of Reggie Bush and what I hope to be a much more effective ground game, Stafford isn't going to have to throw the ball as much. That said, he's going to top 4,000 yards again this season. Where Stafford can really improve is increasing his touchdown totals and decreasing his interceptions. A healthy Ryan Broyles and Nate Burleson should help clear things out for Calvin Johnson and help Stafford find the end zone more frequently. If he can cut down on the mistakes and keep the offense moving, he should be a good starting fantasy quarterback with upside.
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| 48 | Wes Welker | DEN | show |
[Jun 10th] Andrew Garda says: Feeling unappreciated by the New England Patriots, Wes Welker took his talents to the Mile High City, moving from one tremendous quarterback to another. Peyton Manning had two 1,000 yard receivers last season in Eric Decker and Demaryius Thomas, and he throws the ball a lot. He'll find a reliable target in Welker (Super Bowl gaffes notwithstanding), and while Wes won't see the number of targets he did with Brady and the Patriots (over a hundred every year with the team and nearly 200 each of the last two seasons), he will see a significant amount.
Welker will work out of the slot, and should find a lot of room to cause chaos as he has two very good receivers to draw coverage. Teams will have to pick their poison when it comes to Welker, Thomas and Decker, and there is no good choice in that bunch.
Expect a bit of a regression in his numbers versus the last two years, but overall Welker is poised to have yet another great fantasy season.
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| 49 | Ryan Mathews | SD | show |
[Jun 10th] Andrew Garda says: So far, Ryan Mathews has been disappointing to both Chargers fans and fantasy owners as he can never stay healthy. On rare occasions where he is healthy, Mathews can be a beast. He has the speed to break off a big play and the strength to run for the tough yards. In 2011, despite missing two games, he ended up the seventh best running back in standard fantasy leagues. Unfortunately, he missed bunch of games his other two years. Further, Mathews isn't all that great in pass protection, which keeps him off the field on third down far too often.
Last year the missed games, low yards per carry and yardage total were compounded by scoring one touchdown. That's absolutely going to go back up and I have no doubt that new head coach Mike McCoy will give the offense a solid base using the run.
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| 50 | Darren Sproles | NO | show |
[Jun 10th] Andrew Garda says: Darren Sproles may not get a ton of carries, but he gets touches—which he turns into lots and lots of yards.
Sproles is the reason we have combined yardage in fantasy leagues—a multifaceted tool who can run the ball well and catch it out of the backfield.
It doesn't matter how he gets the yards, just as long as he gets them.
He won't reach the heights he did in 2011, where he gained 607 yards on the ground and 710 receiving yards to go along with nine total touchdowns—an unlikely scenario with Mark Ingram and Pierre Thomas at the Saints' disposal.
He will get a ton of receiving yards though, and that makes him more than worth it at this point on the list. You can kick him up a little if you get individual yards for punt returns While he didn't do it a ton in 2012, he's still a factor on special teams and it helps his overall fantasy points in those leagues.
Sproles is a vital part of this high-powered offense, and his speed and ability after the catch should keep him high on a lot of fantasy football lists.
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| 51 | Vernon Davis | SF | show |
[Jun 10th] Andrew Garda says: Davis gets a bump up with the injury to Michael Crabtree. Last season saw an offense which, at times, seemed to forget the athletic tight end existed. Expect that to change this year—and I would have said that even if Crabtree was on the field because the Niners realized how effective Davis could be during the playoffs. With Crabtree out, they need Davis, and I expect to see his numbers bounce back to the 800 to 1,000-yard levels they were at in previous seasons.
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| 52 | Matt Ryan | ATL | show |
[Jun 10th] Andrew Garda says: With career highs in total yards, touchdowns and passing attempts, Matt Ryan finally took advantage of having Julio Jones, Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez at his disposal. He gets Gonzalez for one more year, and a more functional running game with the arrival of Steven Jackson. Ryan has been in the top 10 fantasy quarterbacks for the last three years and that trend should continue. While not among the "elite" fantasy quarterbacks, he is consistently among the best and is an excellent starter for any fantasy team.
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| 53 | Mike Wallace | MIA | show |
[Jun 10th] Andrew Garda says: Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland pushed all his chips into the table this year to get his team the weapons they need to contend in the AFC East—and the AFC in general. Wallace is the crown jewel, as he was the big-play threat quarterback Ryan Tannehill lacked in 2012. Like everyone else on the Pittsburgh roster in 2012, Wallace had injury issues. He didn't look fantastic even when healthy, but should bounce back this season. As long as Tannehill takes a step forward, Wallace will be a solid producer for his owners.
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| 54 | Andrew Luck | IND | show |
[Jun 10th] Andrew Garda says: I have to admit, as good as I thought Luck was coming out of Stanford, I didn't expect the year he had in 2012. He's only going to get better too. As long as Reggie Wayne can eek out another good year and T.Y. Hilton doesn't regress, Luck should have plenty of weapons and another successful season. He has shown a strong arm, very good mobility and a high football IQ—all things which make me feel confident that fantasy owners can skip out on some of the early quarterbacks players will go after and grab Luck as a very good starter.
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| 55 | Antonio Brown | PIT | show |
[Jun 10th] Andrew Garda says: Brown suddenly finds himself in charge after having a player across from him who can pull coverage. Brown has Emmanuel Sanders though, who can stretch the field and might be the guy who can get Brown some room to move. Brown will see plenty of targets and should be able to take advantage of them. While he might not put up numbers like Mike Wallace, Brown is a good player to have in your No. 2 slot
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| 56 | Torrey Smith | BAL | show |
[Jun 10th] Andrew Garda says: Smith is going from having a good veteran to pull coverage away from him (with the departure of Anquan Boldin), to being the top guy in the wide receiver corps. How he handles that will have a tremendous impact on his fantasy value. There is legitimate concern for owners as he was inconsistent during the course of last season, though his overall numbers ended up looking good. Smith has the speed to stretch the field and quarterback Joe Flacco has the arm to take advantage of it—but both need to produce on a less streaky basis to reach their potential. Smith is a marginal No. 1 fantasy wide receiver, but a very solid No. 2.
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| 57 | Russell Wilson | SEA | show |
[Jun 10th] Andrew Garda says: Wilson is a mobile quarterback who can throw from the pocket as effectively as he runs the option. While his height and frame aren't big enough to eliminate durability concerns, Wilson is smart enough to get out of the way of big hits. He also gained a tremendous weapon when the Seahawks traded for Percy Harvin to pair with Sidney Rice. You have to like his upside, and while we don't really have a history to lean on, Wilson sure looked the part of a fantasy stud in 2012.
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| 58 | Greg Jennings | MIN | show |
[Jun 10th] Andrew Garda says: Jennings had a rough year in 2012, losing a ton of time due to injury and his top spot in the offense to a bunch of youngsters. Still wanting to be a No. 1 receiver (and get paid like it), he signed onto the Packers' hated rivals, the Minnesota Vikings. While his best days are clearly behind him and he remains an injury risk, Jennings provides a more consistent vertical threat than Jerome Simpson did last season. Of course, the question remains as to whether or not quarterback Christian Ponder can take advantage of a true vertical threat. If he can—and Jennings stays off the trainer's table—Jennings' value outstrips where you can draft him.
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| 59 | Colin Kaepernick | SF | show |
[Jun 10th] Andrew Garda says: When Kaepernick stepped in for an injured Alex Smith, few realized how different the offense would function or how far the team would go. A year later and Kaepernick is the undisputed starter and primed for another great season. Kaepernick showed he can throw from the pocket just as effectively as he runs the read-option. Also, his build and willingness to get out of bounds makes him less of an injury risk than some of the other option quarterbacks. His value took a hit when Michael Crabtree went down with an injury recently, but he still has plenty of weapons to lean on.
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| 60 | Eric Decker | DEN | show |
[Jun 10th] Andrew Garda says: Decker had a huge 2012 as both he and Demaryius Thomas broke the 1,000-yard mark and Decker led the team with 13 touchdowns. Despite this, the team brought in Wes Welker, a move which will likely impact Decker's numbers negatively. On the other hand, Welker might open things up underneath for both Decker and Thomas and make them more effective overall. While his total numbers might come down, Decker will still be a very productive fantasy player.
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