The D-Team: Players to Avoid in 2009 Fantasy Football Draft
August 18th, 2009
It's the fourth round of the draft and you pick next. You look down at the tiered player rankings you've been working on for the last three weeks. All the top players highlighted with flourescent yellow pen are long gone, so you look to your 2nd tier (orange highlighted) players and that one player catches your eye, a player you feel uneasy about this season. You're not sure why, but for some reason, this guy gives you a bad feeling. You peruse your cheat sheet one more time, hoping you'll spot someone, anyone else. But no one stands out, so you pick "that" player anyway, ignoring your gut feeling, you quietly say his name and it's official. It's a decision you will regret for the rest of the Fantasy Football season.
Call me crazy but there are certain players, perennial first rounders included, who give me the heeby-jeebies during the draft. Seasons ago, I would ignore my inklings and simply draft the highest rated players. But over the years, I have learned to listen to my inner voice and make draft picks that give me the best chance at winning while giving my team the kind of strength and depth that it takes to win in Fantasy Football.
This season is no different than any other. Going into the draft, I already have a sheet of players who I will avoid at all costs and I rarely defer from this list. Some are players who burned me in seasons prior, others are guys I don't have faith in enough to draft. Whether it be their talent level or the team they play for, I refuse to have them on my team. Here are a few who I am weary of this season:
Eli Manning QB (NYG) - Don't be too enamored by the Manning name, particularly when it comes to little brother Eli. He's just not as good as he's made out to be. Plus, the loss of Plaxico will be a big blow to his offense's success. Eli panics, gets flustered easily and makes bad decisions in the pocket. At the very best, he should only be drafted in the later-middle rounds and should only be used as a bye week filler and/or an injury backup.
Thomas Jones RB (NYJ) - I know he went off last season, leading the AFC in rushing but he's old, slow and boring (scored only 2 rushing TD's in 2008). Plus, there are a couple of decent players behind him on the depth chart, Leon Washington and rookie Shonn Greene. Though I don't believe Leon can be an every down back in the NFL, he is great at spelling the starter and catching defenses on their heels. Shonn Greene will someday be a star RB in the league. Rex Ryan and the rest of the Jets organization know this and their systematic phasing out of Thomas Jones will begin this season.
DeAngelo Williams RB (CAR) - Williams is still a great RB who had a mind blowing season last year. With that in mind, I expect him to be a first round top-10 pick. But I find it hard to believe he will come anywhere near his 2008 stats. Plus he plays in a bonafide RB by committee backfield and I don't like spending a first round pick on a guy who gets 65% of the carries.
Marion Barber RB (DAL) - Marion the Barbarian started to show signs of wear and tear last season. All those years of banging heads with defenders seems to have slowed Barber down a bit and he's been dealing with more injuries ever since getting the bulk of the carries in Big-D. Felix Jones looked sharp last season (before getting injured) and even Tashard Choice was able to produce behind the Cowboy's stellar offensive line. Don't buy too high with this RB.
Antonio Bryant WR (TB) - The consummate contract year player will show his true colors this season. Everywhere he goes, Bryant finds a way to frustrate Coaches and alienate himself. Now that the Buccaneers have awarded Bryant with a new contract, let the drama begin. Add to that the fact that the Bucs have yet to decide who their starting QB will be this season (McCown or Leftwich?) and this is a recipe for disaster. Don't be surprised if Antonio throws a jersey in the face of his new Coach, Raheem (don't call me Radio) Morris.
Braylon Edwards WR (CLE) - Is it just me or is Braylon losing his mind? The guy's was one of the most productive WR's in the NFL two short years ago. Some feel last year was an anomaly and that he will return to form in 2009 - I am not one of these people. Last I heard, he was slipping on the Brown's depth chart, so the coaches are clearly not happy with him. Though I'm not saying he will be relegated to a 3rd WR role in Cleveland, I believe his best days are behind him and that the organization is getting sick of his antics, not to mention his dropped passes. Maybe that explains why the Browns drafted Brian Robiskie and why Joshua Cribbs is getting more reps at WR.
Please don't take me wrong. It's not like I own a crystal ball or a time machine that influences my picks and by no means have I been 100% correct with my Players to Avoid Lists in the past. This list is purely based on my past experience and gut feelings. Regardless of whether you agree with my positions or not, compiling a list of players who you feel it should be avoided, for whatever reasons, can be almost as helpful as a list of the best players to draft.
~ The Fool |
