Author: TJ Streett

Overrated- Cedric Benson

Cedric Benson is being taken as the 25th back off the board in fantasy drafts but taking him as a borderline RB2/RB3 is a huge mistake.

Analysis: Cedric Benson fumbled the ball seven times last year, losing five of them- that’s not what you want from a “reliable” fantasy back. Benson also carried the ball 321 times last year yet his longest rush was only twenty-six yards. We also have to consider that in two of the last three years he’s avergaed just 3.5 yards per carry and he’s caught more than twenty balls just once in his career. At this point in his career it does not appear that Cedric Benson is improving in any facet of his game.

Rookie Andy Dalton will not keep that eighth man out of the box like Carson Palmer could and the slow Benson may have even more problems breaking off long runs. The problem with Benson is you do not want him as your RB2 but you’ll waste a pick drafting him early as your RB3. Consider BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Daniel Thomas at this point in your fantasy draft, certainly not Cedric Benson. Also, a back like CJ Spiller offers more upside fifty picks later.

Undervalued- Mario Manningham

With the injured Steve Smith signing with the Eagles, Mario Manningham’s 2011 season looks that much better.

Analysis: Manningham caught sixty balls last year for 944 yards and nine scores. Manningham only officially started in eight games, which makes it that much more impressive. As much as everyone calls the Giants a running team they passed the ball 539 times last year and Manningham was targeted ninety-two times despite sharing time with Steve Smith through week nine. 110 targets is a likely projection for Mannngham in 2011 even though Hakeem Nicks is the stud on the roster. Manningham’s ADP is in the 64-70 range and he’s being selected as the twenty-fifth wide out off the board. Considering Austin Collie is one big hit away from retirement and Anquan Boldin just isn’t the same wide out he was in Arizona, taking Manningham as a low tier WR2/stud WR3 is a smart play at this point in fantasy drafts. Can Steve Johnson be trusted? Will Julio Jones get enough red zone targets? There are a ton of questions with other wide outs around Manningham’s ADP but Manningham is one of only a few that can be trusted this deep into a draft.

Projection: 1,000 yards and eight scores is what to expect from Manningham in 2011.

98 ADP- Matthew Stafford Is A Bargain

After a solid 6 for 7, two touchdown performance in his first preseason game, Matthew Stafford has hit the ground running in 2011. With an ADP of 98 he sure seems like a bargain.

Analysis: We cannot forget that Matthew Stafford in 2010 threw six touchdowns to just one interception in three games. Stafford’s completion percentage was around the sixty percent mark as the young talent continues to develop on the Lions offense. Stafford is being taken as the thirteenth quarterback off the board and that is a bargain. Streaming Stafford with an Eli Manning or a Josh Freeman instead of taking an elite quarterback can be effective this year. Stafford has QB1 potential but due to injuries he hasn’t quite been able to prove himself. We all love Calvin Johnson but we cannot ignore how good Brandon Pettigrew is. Pettigrew is just twenty-six years old and last year was a solid campaign that included 71 receptions for 722 yards. Jahvid Best recorded 58 receptions as a rookie back and has the potential for much more.

The only concern when drafting Stafford will be his health. If he plays every game he will put up QB1 numbers, period. Whatever happens- a Shaun Hill insurance pick seems like the smart thing to do late in a draft.

Jimmy Graham Is Undervalued

Jimmy Graham is being taken as the twelfth tight end off the board in standard ESPN leagues right now.

Analysis: New Orleans’ tight end Jimmy Graham turned it on late last year with five touchdowns in his final eight games. Now, fast forward to this season with Jeremy Shockey in Carolina and you have a tight end with some serious upside. Considering Saint tight ends were targeted 151 times last year and Shockey accounted for fifty-nine of those targets, Graham will be one of the more heavily targeted tight ends in the leagues this year. Greg Olsen is the tenth tight end being taken off the board in ESPN drafts right now and when considering he’s coming off of a 404 yard season with four scores it’s just ridiculous. Olsen may also be in Carolina but with the lack of a relaiable quarterback you have to wonder if he’ll even have a remotely productive season. I’m not saying Graham is a top eight tight end who will reach pay dirt double digit times this year but the amount of targets that will be coming his way with all the weapons on that Saint offense- it sure seems to point to Graham being a legit low tier TE1 heading into the 2011 season.

Shin-Soo Choo Is Available

With Indians’ outfielder Shin-Soo Choo likely to return to the Cleveland lineup early next week, it’s time to snag the slugger up off the waiver wire before it’s too late. All indications are that his left thumb is healing better than expected as his presence is much needed in that Cleveland lineup.

Analysis: Shin-Soo Choo is hitting just .244 on the year and only slugging .353 but his injury may be just what he needs to jump start his season. Choo is widely considered one of the few real five category threats in fantasy baseball and the fact that he is available in over twenty percent of fantasy leagues nationwide is certainly interesting. Choo is a lifetime .290 hitter coming off of three consecutive .300 seasons. He’s also coming off of back to back 20/20 seasons and if he is doing as well as Cleveland manager Manny Acta is suggesting, we should expect Choo’s absolute best.

Projection: If Choo returns early next week as the reports from Cleveland are suggesting than Choo becomes a must pick up in all formats. Assuming Choo plays in 40-45 games you can expect a .280 plus batting average with five homers and five steals.