As a majority of leagues disregard Week 17 on the NFL schedule, we have reached the midway point of the fantasy football campaign. With eight weeks of analysis and appraisal at our collective hands, the FOXSports.com Fantasy team has submitted their nominations for each position’s prime performer. Check below for each expert’s evaluation of the first half of the season:
Ryan Fowler
Quarterback
Best: Cam Newton, Panthers/ Worst: Philip Rivers, Chargers
It took me a few weeks, but I jumped on the Newton bandwagon. It was a little crowded, but the Kool-Aid is oh so good once it hits your lips…In FOXSports.com fantasy football standard scoring leagues, Newton is second in total points with 216 trailing only Aaron Rodgers. That’s right, for all of us who drafted Michael Vick, Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger, the rookie QB is leading them all in fantasy points.
What has happened to Philip Rivers? It’s a question muttered by fantasy owners on a weekly basis. Over his last five games, Rivers has averaged approximately 13.5 fantasy points per game. He’s thrown 11 interceptions and only seven touchdowns this season. He posted 30 touchdowns and only 13 interceptions all of last season…Adding salt to an open wound is the fact Colt McCoy and Josh Freeman have outscored him this fantasy season.
Running Backs
Best: Darren Sproles, Saints/ Fred Jackson, Bills
Now a spark out of the New Orleans backfield, the speedy tailback has kept opposing defenses honest, while Drew Brees showcases the top passing attack in the league. In PPR leagues, he’s fantasy gold averaging nearly seven receptions per game. Sproles is also racking up around 87 total yards per game. Now if my math is correct, and it is, that’s eight fantasy points before the game even begins…According to game data, Jackson’s average draft position was the seventh round. Heck, Ryan Grant was picked ahead of him…The Bills running back trails only Adrian Peterson and LeSean McCoy for most fantasy points among running backs. He’s already eclipsed his touchdown total from 2010 (five) this season with six. Jackson has also racked up 1,074 yards from scrimmage.
Worst: Chris Johnson, Titans/ Rashard Mendenhall, Steelers
I’ve wasted a lot of really good font writing about Chris Johnson this season. His average draft position was between the sixth and seventh pick overall. Eight weeks into the season, he’s averaging slightly more than seven fantasy points per game..I’d trade him and see what you can get back in return. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m taking my Arial, Times New Roman and Snowdrift and going home.
The Steelers running back is lucky he erupted in that game against Jacksonville, otherwise that D could easily be a F. Now, here comes the first-round sticker shock: Mendenhall is averaging 60.1 rushing yards per game or nearly 20 fewer yards than a season ago. Not all the blame can be placed on the shoulders of Mendenhall as the Pittsburgh offensive line has exhibited matador excellence at times allowing defensive lineman full access to the backfield.
Wide Receivers
Best: A.J. Green, Bengals/Steve Smith, Panthers
When fantasy owners were in search of their rookie diamond in the rough, most look towards Julio Jones (myself included), but it’s been Green who has performed brilliantly. He’s now scored in three consecutive games and nearly 74 receiving yards per game. It didn’t take long for fellow rookie, Andy Dalton, to find his top target…The Carolina wide receiver is outperforming his 10th-round average draft position by leading the NFL in receiving. With 918 yards and four touchdowns in the bank, Smith is on pace to obliterate his single season record of 1,563 yards and finish with his best touchdown total since 2006 when he scored eight times…If he reaches the two milestones, he should treat Cam Newton to dinner and apologize to Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams fantasy owners.
Worst: Roddy White, Falcons/Santonio Holmes, Jets
To be fair, White has been dealing with a bad knee most of this season. However, to be fair to fantasy owners – they expected a lot more production from their top drafted receiver. He’s only hauled in 39 passes for 425 yards (60.7 ypg.) with three touchdowns. White is going to need to kick it up a notch if he wants to finish with more than 1,000 receiving yards for the fifth consecutive season…Most of us who bought fantasy stock in Holmes believed Mark Sanchez was about to break out as a NFL quarterback…and here we are in Week 9, all still waiting.
The Jets wide receiver is third on the team in targets trailing Dustin Keller and Plaxico Burress. Midway through the season, Holmes has only 22 receptions for 311 yards. The 44.4 receiving yards he’s posting are 17 off his career average.
Tight End
Best: Fred Davis, Redskins/ Worst: Dallas Clark, Colts
You are witnessing a changing of the guard at the tight end position in Washington. Davis is the Redskins leader in targets (50), receptions (36) and yards (517). He’s averaging five receptions and nearly 74 receiving yards a game. With Chris Cooley on injured reserve, Davis can cement himself as Washington’s tight end of the future. Let’s just hope that slight ankle sprain doesn’t keep him down for too long.
A season ago it was Peyton Manning missing Dallas Clark. Manning turned Jacob Tamme into a fantasy stud overnight. With the script flipped, Clark is missing Manning and Curtis Painter is eye humping Pierre Garcon for 60 minutes on Sundays. With 266 receiving yards and only two touchdowns, Clark is on pace to have his worst fantasy season since 2006.
John Halpin
Quarterback
Best: Aaron Rodgers, Packers/Worst: Philip Rivers, Chargers
Rodgers has been awesome. He’s on pace to throw for 5,400 yards and 46 touchdowns, and is clearly this year's fantasy MVP so far ... Rivers has been surprisingly terrible, with just seven TDs and 11 interceptions through 11 games ... Rookie Cam Newton has been a revelation, with 11 TD passes and seven TD runs vaulting him into the top three QBs in most formats … Matthew Stafford has justified his sleeper status, producing top-five numbers in the first half.
Running Backs
Best: LeSean McCoy, Eagles/Adrian Peterson, Vikings
McCoy barely edges out Peterson in standard formats, with Fred Jackson and Ray Rice on their tails in PPR leagues. With 892 yards from scrimmage and 10 TDs, McCoy is the second coming of Brian Westbrook.
Worst: Chris Johnson, Titans/Rashard Mendenhall, Steelers
Johnson is fantasy’s least valuable player, with just one 100-yard game and one TD after being picked in the middle of most first rounds. Things probably won’t get better – he’s terrible, and so is his offensive line … Mendenhall has almost been Johnson’s equal on the failure front, with his 469 yards from scrimmage being just seven more than Johnson’s. However, he missed one game and has three TDs, so let’s cut him just a little slack.
Wide Receivers
Best: Calvin Johnson, Lions/Wes Welker, Patriots
Megatron’s breakout came as expected; he’s already got 47 receptions for 804 yards and 11 TDs … With 824 receiving yards and six scores, Welker isn’t just a PPR stud anymore … It’s nice to see Carlolina’s Steve Smith back among the fantasy elite. Thanks, Cam Newton!
Worst: Roddy White, Falcons/DeSean Jackson, Eagles
After being drafted as the first or second wideout in many leagues, White has been a bust in standard formats, with just 425 yards and three TDs … Jackson can be a boom-or-bust guy, and with just two TDs so far, he’s closer to the latter … Hakeem Nicks and Larry Fitzgerald were close calls for the second WR slot, as they’ve been more productive than Jackson, but at higher draft slots.
Tight End
Best: Jimmy Graham, Saints/Worst: Dallas Clark, Colts
Graham has easily been fantasy’s best tight end, with 49 catches for 713 yards and five TDs so far. Drew Brees seems to love throwing to Graham, so expect his dominance to continue … New England’s Rob Gronkowski caught five TD passes in his first three games, and has been shut out since … Clark clearly misses Peyton Manning, as he’s gone from 100-catch stud to fantasy benchwarmer … Antonio Gates’ foot injury has led to disappointment for fantasy owners, but let’s see how he does now that he’s back on the field.
Mike Harmon
Quarterback
Best: Cam Newton, Panthers/Worst: Philip Rivers, Chargers
Newton has joined the ranks of the must-start quarterback options for 2011. He’s accounted for at least one touchdown in every game this season, including multiple touchdowns in six of eight contests. The rookie quarterback has excelled despite terrible play from the running game and is tied for third in rushing touchdowns. Newton entered the Panthers’ Week 9 Bye averaging 299.1 passing yards and 40 rushing yards per game.
Rivers’ fumble at the end of the Week 8 game put a huge punctuation mark on his dismal first half. He’s still averaged nearly 300 passing yards per contest through Week 8, but has generated almost twice as many turnovers (14) as touchdowns (seven passing and one rushing).
Running Backs
Best: Fred Jackson, Bills/Worst: Chris Johnson, Titans
Yes, LeSean McCoy has been unstoppable and stands as the lone running back to score in every game. That’s too easy. We need to creep down the list to find Jackson, who many feared would be subject to a timeshare with sophomore C.J. Spiller. Instead, Jackson’s averaged 113.4 total yards per game with six touchdowns. The former Indoor Football League and NFL Europe star is eyeing a huge deal.
I don’t need to elaborate on Johnson’s woes. He’s averaged 43.1 yards per game and a meager 2.82 yards per carry following his lengthy holdout. Mike Munchak talked of Johnson retaining his starting role going forward, but advised that Javon Ringer (19 touches in Week 8) will eat into the workload.
Wide Receivers
Best: Steve Smith, Panthers/Worst: Reggie Wayne, Colts
I gave a nod to his quarterback as my top option for 2011, and I’m applauding the brilliance of Steve Smith here. Smith has already eclipsed his 2010 receiving yardage total by 39.7%. He’s recorded five 100-yard games while hauling down a total of 46 receptions. When healthy, Smith remains one of the most explosive options in the game.
There needed to be a poster boy for the Colts’ woeful season. Enter Wayne, who has not scored nor recorded more than 77 receiving yards in the past seven weeks…I would be remiss if I failed to acknowledge the weak first half produced by Mike Williams of the Buccaneers. He’s actually been worse than Harrison in standard leagues, though he continues to log solid, albeit unspectacular, numbers for owners in PPR leagues. Williams’ 75 receiving yards against the Bears in Week 7 established a new season-high total. Like Wayne, Williams hasn’t scored since Week 1.
Tight End
Best: Jimmy Graham, Saints/Worst: Dallas Clark, Colts
There’s zero debate as to which tight end occupies the top spot. Graham’s arrival prompted the departure of Jeremy Shockey, and the second-year tight end hasn’t looked back. Graham has generated four 100-yard games with five total touchdowns. He’s also caught four or more passes in every game.
Conversely, another Indianapolis players makes the list in the form of Dallas Clark. The former top-3 option currently ranks 23rd among tight ends with 33.3 receiving yards per game. He has caught six passes in two of the past three games, but owners anticipated more consistent yardage efforts. Clark did register 77 receiving yards in Week 8 against Tennessee, but he produced 46 or fewer receiving yards in five consecutive games to start the season.
Joel Beall
Quarterback
Best: Cam Newton, Panthers/Worst: Josh Freeman, Buccaneers
The production from Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady has been better and more consistent on a weekly basis than that of the Carolina QB; alas, both of the former field generals were undoubtedly early selections while Newton fell to the later rounds, if picked at all, in the majority of drafts. On pace for 4,785 passing yards, another 640 on the ground and 36 total touchdowns, Cam’s been the man for his fantasy proprietors.
We tried to warn you before the season, but the Freeman fervor was in full effect. He’s averaging 30 more yards through the air than 2010, but Freeman has an unexceptional seven touchdowns to 10 interceptions, a ratio that’s disconcerting after throwing 25 scores to six picks last season. For a guy who was expected to make “the Leap” this season, Freeman’s status as adequate backup is not what owners had envisioned.
Running Backs
Best: Fred Jackson, Bills/Matt Forte, Bears
Some may attribute Jackson’s stupendous statistical onslaught (721 rushing yards, six touchdowns; 27 receptions, 353 yards) to an extended amount of action and an improved offensive line. Me? I like to think Jackson’s success, as well as Buffalo’s surprising 5-2 start, derives from the uniform alteration to the throwback regalia. Just sayin’…Forte’s only made three forays into the end zone, but his 1,091 yards (672 rushing, 419 receiving) and 38 receptions is quite the harvest from a mid-round pick.
Worst: Chris Johnson, Titans/Peyton Hillis, Browns
As I mentioned earlier this week in the Stock Watch article, let’s have a moment of silence for the death of the Chris Johnson Fantasy Era, 2008-2011…As for Hillis, how hasn’t there been a 30 for 30 on the Madden Curse yet? In his defense, he’s dealing with a battered line, but that sentiment won’t appease owners encumbered with his 211 yards on the season…Dishonorable mention: the Carolina RBs.
Wide Receivers
Best: Wes Welker, Patriots/Steve Smith, Panthers
Hampered by his rehabilitation from knee issues last season, Welker’s inability to illustrate his famed skill of separating from defenders led many experts to downgrade his prospects for the 2011 season. Instead, Welker leads the league with 57 receptions despite the Patriots playing in just seven games thus far….Meanwhile, Carolina’s Smith went in the later rounds of many drafts, and with good reason: the former Pro Bowler had submitted two straight subpar seasons and was saddled with another neophyte quarterback. Yet Newton-to-Smith has been one of the more dynamic duos in the league, hooking up 46 times for 918 yards and four trips to the Promised Land.
Worst: Santonio Holmes, Jets/Chad Ochocinco, Patriots
Remember when the re-signing of Holmes and acquisitions of Plaxico Burress and Derrick Mason marked the advent of the Jets’ transformation into a vaunted aerial assault? Um yeah, me neither. Holmes has posted a few games of note, but his 311 yards and three scores have been a focal point of frustration in the fantasy world…I suppose “frustration” could also be applied to Ochocinco’s output of nine receptions and 136 yards, but I think “comically pathetic” is more apropos. In a related note, much was made of the Bengals’ heist of two early draft picks for Carson Palmer, but how about the Pats surrendering two selections, albeit in the later rounds, for Ochocinco? Think they are regretting that move?
Tight End
Best: Rob Gronkowski, Patriots/Worst: Marcedes Lewis, Jaguars
Yes, I hear your cries of Jimmy Graham, but the New Orleans tight end was targeted as a potential producer in the preseason, while Gronkowski has nearly matched his reception and yardage totals from last year in just seven contests without much August hype. Gronkowski is also more of a red zone threat and his average draft position in FOXSports.com leagues was considerably later than Graham’s selection.
In 16 games last season, Lewis had 58 receptions for 700 yards and 10 touchdowns. In seven outings in 2011, the Jacksonville captain has a scant 15 catches for 174 yards and zero scores. Just spitballin’, but having Blaine Gabbert under center probably isn’t doing Lewis any favors.
