Josh Freeman is my biggest QB sleeper in 2012.

We’re always on the look out for fantasy football sleepers, especially before the fantasy draft. I watch the NFL player news headlines daily, so I can keep a bead on who’s rising and falling through the ranks. Let’s get one thing straight, sleepers are not sure bets, but they’re bets worth making. This is how I personally define a fantasy football sleeper.

So breaking into the “you won’t believe” realm here’s my current “hottest” sleepers for 2012.

Josh Freeman | QB | Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Finding a 4500 yard, 32+ TD QB in the draft is a tall order, after the first four big names are off the board. So every year I try to lock in at least 2 quarterbacks that I know can be picked up later in the draft, but still will post top 10 numbers and have a chance to land in the top 5. This year my number 1 sleeper QB to try and steal late is Josh Freeman, here’s why.

• Mike Williams (WR) is in his magical 3rd year. Plus he was a stud his rookie season (11 TD), the same year Josh threw for 25 TD w / 6 INT. Forget last years sophomore slump!
• Vincent Jackson (WR) is in town, nuff said.
• Upgrades on the offensive line, especially Carl Nicks, considered by many as the best tackle in the NFL.
• And finally, their lack of defense, period. I’m thinking Tampa knows its easier to score, than to stop other teams from scoring, especially when you look at the high scoring teams in their division such as the Saints and fast rising Panthers.

I’ve seen some websites downplay Tampa this year, including the fantasy value of both Freeman and Jackson. Which I love because if this type of bashing continues to drive down his stock, I’ll be able to pick him fairly late in the fantasy draft.

Robert Meachem | WR | San Diego Chargers

Meachem is leaving my home team, but hell I don’t blame him. He’s now getting paid #1 WR money, plus he moves to the 1st or 2nd option in the passing game. But I’m sure you’re wondering who the heck he is. And if he’s so damn good, why didn’t the Saints feature him more. Well here’s what’s up with Meachem and why I see him as a big sleeper.

• Robert Meachem was, in many people opinions, under utilized in New Orleans. When he was given a chance (Colston injuries) the man shined and posted some good stats in an offense that likes to spread the wealth.
• Norv Turner likes to go deep, considerably more than Sean Peyton. And in my honest opinion, Phillip Rivers has a better deep ball than Drew Brees. Both of these factors bode well for Meachem, who’s projects to be the vertical threat in San Diego.

Stevan Ridley | RB | New England Patriots

Many fantasy football guru’s void RBBC AKA Platoons. However, today’s NFL running backs are often times part of a committee approach. Finding the “best” committee back has to be part of your strategy, especially in deeper leagues. Ridley’s yards-per-carry average last year was 5.07. And something that turns me on A LOT is how much he was utilized during the final three games of the regular season, which is usually a sign of things to come. Ridley is currently the “biggest” play maker in the backfield, which makes 16 to 20 carries per game very obtainable as well as red zone duties. I’m putting the tag of sleeper on Ridley because I feel he may drop a little further than most committee backs, when in fact he should be the first committee back taken in the 2012 fantasy football draft.

This is how I feel this morning trying to write about fantasy football after six weeks. I feel like in many ways, we have more questions now than we did in week one. But, this is the life of prognosticating- in reality, an impossible endeavor with plenty of pitfalls. One question I received last week, for example: Jordy Nelson or Marques Colston? I had a strong feeling about Colston and recommended the Saint and was correct: by one point. (Keep in mind, however, apart from a 93 yard catch and run where the defense fell over or asleep or both, Nelson had one catch for 11 yards.) At any rate, the point here is simply to interpret the rankings accordingly. These are my best guess. Anyone who ranks a player and tells you differently is selling something… probably swampland. If you’re curious, I wrote extensively about my method for establishing my ranks in a previous top-75.

With a lot of top fantasy options sidelined due to byes, this week’s rankings are harder (and perhaps more important) than ever. Many marginal decisions will affect your results and so I have attempted to include, whenever possible, as much statistical or logical backup for my rankings as I can provide. Want more or have a question? You can always tweet me: @petethegreekff.

MY MISSION STATEMENT
(or, to read more about how I detest mission statements, click here.
What frustrates me above all else are so-called fantasy advice columns that fit into one of two categories:
1) They refuse to stray from conventional wisdom, often until it’s weeks too late to save or help your season or
2) They only offer rankings commentary on the “big-name” guys that everyone knows to play anyway. Gee, Adrian Peterson will have a bounce back week and I shouldn’t bench him for Danny Woodhead? Thanks!

Each week I will examine what I consider to be the most pressing issues facing fantasy owners. I will try to focus only on issues that you may actually be concerned with, namely: marginal flex players, tough matchup decisions, and above all else, how to assimilate new information from the previous week. This is a column of the people, by the people, for the people (thanks, Abe). And as long as I’m offering oaths, I promise to always tackle the difficult questions as I see them, not be chained by conventional wisdom, and not allow traditional or draft-position bias to affect my weekly rankings.

1. Darren McFadden
2. Matt Forte
3. Calvin Johnson
4. Ray Rice
5. Arian Foster
6. Adrian Peterson
7. Michael Turner
8. Chris Johnson
9. Earnest Graham
10. Greg Jennings
11. Rashard Mendenhall
12. Beanie Wells
13. Maurice Jones-Drew
14. Mike Wallace
15. Darren Sproles

The Big Boys
McFadden finally finds his way to the number one spot. I expect Carson Palmer to have the same effect on McFadden’s fantasy value as he will on the rest of the Oakland Raiders: absolutely none. I don’t see him as much of an upgrade from Jason Campbell. At best, he may develop a “favorite receiver” whose targets (and thus value) may increase slightly. That’s it. I stubbornly refuse to put Mendenhall in my top-10… yet. He had one nice week and has an absolutely cake matchup against the little league Cardina… I mean Arizona. Everything screams that he’ll have a monster week… which is exactly why I’m ranking him as if he won’t. If there’s anything that has been consistent about Mendenhall this year it has been his ability to disappoint. Take, for example, his 18 carries for 37 yards against Indianapolis in week 3. So, I’ve put Earnest Graham in his place instead. The Bears are notorious for giving away short underneath stuff, and if Blount doesn’t play (which again I doubt he will), Graham will get a ton of touches. Sproles in the top-15? Well, on a bye week, looking around, who do I like above him? Ryan Matthews possibly should be up there, but with injury questions and not the best matchup, I don’t mind doing it this way:

16. Ryan Matthews
17. Marques Colston
18. Steven Jackson
19. Willis McGahee
20. Steve Smith
21. Jimmy Graham
22. Roddy White
23. Jackie Battle
24. Jason Witten
25. Daniel Thomas
26. Miles Austin
27. Dez Bryant
28. Larry Fitzgerald
29. Jermichael Finley
30. Dwayne Bowe

Tight Ends, Cont.
I like Colston to keep it going with another strong week, but really Jimmy Graham may be the top target in New Orleans. Just as Jason Witten may be the no. 1 receiving option in Dallas. Witten has scored in double digits in four out of five weeks and even though St. Louis is giving up less than 3 fantasy points/game against tight ends I suspect 1) that is primarily because they give up points to everyone else and 2) that will change this week. Jermichael Finley had 6 catches for 128 yards and a score in his last game against Minnesota… albeit back in 2009. Still, I like him to have a good week in divisional play. Seeing some of the above names in the top-30 is a bit scary- Daniel Thomas for example- but reminds us that we often have to get creative during the bye week. While my rankings reflect I like Austin slightly better than Bryant, I’d start both in all leagues.

31. Jahvid Best
32. Shonn Greene
33. Pierre Garcon
34. Vincent Jackson
35. Owen Daniels
36. DeMarco Murray
37. Brandon Marshall
38. Tony Gonzalez
39. Anquan Boldin
40. Jordy Nelson
41. Brandon Lloyd
42. Brandon Pettigrew
43. James Starks
44. Ryan Torain
45. Santonio Holmes
46. Santana Moss
47. Eric Decker
48. Reggie Wayne
49. Mark Ingram
50. Marshawn Lynch

Maybes
What to do with Jahvid Best? I really think he should be higher than this, but with as many other weapons as Detroit has, it’s hard to put him in the top-30 consistently, even on a bye week. Shonn Greene has received 42 carries the past two weeks. 42. It’s also the meaning of life, some might say. Tony Gonzalez has been held out of the endzone two weeks in a row, but I think he’ll get back to his scoring ways this week against a Lions team giving up almost 8/game to opposing tight ends. Ryan Torain? Why not. I have to rank one Redskins running back, at least, though I’d prefer not to. And with John Beck taking over for Rex Grossman, I would expect a lot of handing the ball off. Jordy Nelson turnes one to two catches into fantasy glory each week. I just have the sensation it’s going to stop at some point, but this week is not that “some point.”

51. Mike Tolbert
52. Johnathan Stewart
53. Sidney Rice
54. Nate Washington
55. Greg Olsen
56. Mike Tolbert
57. Julio Jones
58. Peyton Hillis
59. Greg Little
60. LaDanian Tomlinson
61. Percy Harvin
62. Monterio Hardesty
63. Mike Williams
64. Darrius Heyward-Bey
65. Ryan Grant
66. Hines Ward
67. Tashard Choice
68. Plaxico Burress
69. Kevin Walter
70. Pierre Thomas
71. Dustin Keller
72. James Jones
73. Mike Thomas
74. Tim Hightower
75. Doug Baldwin

A Strange Finish
More questions, again. Even if Peyton Hillis plays, we have no idea what his usage or impact will be, which of course also impacts Monterio Hardesty. In fantasy- avoid uncertainty as much as possible. Meanwhile, I’d love to put Julio Jones much higher in a bye week but I simply don’t know if he will play or how limited he may be if he does. Christian Ponder’s installation can’t possibly hurt Percy Harvin, and may be just what he needs. Same logic for Carson Palmer and Darrius Heyward-Bey. Though I’d prefer to stay away from any Oakland receivers until we see more, you may not have a better choice. I think the two biggest upside plays of this bottom group are Greg Little and Doug Baldwin. Both could have a nice week and Baldwin is coming off two strong performances in a row. No, I have no idea what to make of Tim Hightower, and he finds his way on this list more because of potential than actual value. Again, if you have better options, use them. I keep waiting for Mike Williams to bounce back, but even in a week when Josh Freeman blew up, Williams was hardly involved. Greg Olsen, meanwhile, still had five catches in a week where Cam Newton looked human again. Olsen remains the Panthers second best receiver behind Steve Smith, and Carolina will throw the ball.

Best of luck! I look forward to your tweets.

_PDK

After a strong Week-One performance against the Saints, Aaron Rodgers is our No. 1 fantasy quarterback this week.

Your usual fantasy guru Ray Tannock is taking a break from the rankings this week, so I am here to give you the lowdown on what’s going to go down in Week Two. We had a lot of surprises at quarterback in Week One. The biggest one, obviously, being Cam Newton’s breakout performance against the Cardinals. Things should settle down this weekend, but we could have a surprise or two that pop up out of nowhere.

Before I start, I would like to congratulate Ray for coming in first place in Fantasy Football Crystal Ball’s Week One Accuracy Score for Quarterbacks last week. Way to go RAY!!!!!!!

Below are my quarterback rankings going into Week Two.

TOP FIVE WEEK-TWO MATCHUPS (MUST START)

1. Aaron Rogers (GB) @ CAR: Is there any reason to not put Rodgers at No. 1 this week? I know Tom Brady had that huge game against Miami, but my money is on Rodgers to lead the charge against a Carolina Defense that gave up 309 yards and two scores against Kevin Kolb.

2. Tom Brady (NE) vs. SD: Putting Brady any lower than No. 2 would be ridiculous. The guy simply doesn’t stop at putting up big games. Hell, he even made Deion Branch look like a stud Monday night. The Chargers Defense will come back down to Earth after facing Donovan McNabb in Week One.

3. Michael Vick (PHI) @ ATL: Vick didn’t throw for very many yards (187) against the Rams, but his two passing touchdowns and 98 rushing yards made up for it. Vick showed he still has plenty left in the legs. He will need that in, what figures to be, a very emotional game against his old team the Falcons in their house.

4. Matthew Stafford (DET) vs. KC: Stafford had a huge Week One, throwing for three touchdowns against the Bucs. Kansas City didn’t have an answer for Ryan Fitzpatrick. And after losing Eric Berry to a torn ACL, Stafford should have his way with the Chiefs’ secondary.

5. Philip Rivers (SD) @ NE: The Chargers’ receivers were held in check by the Vikings, but Rivers still had a huge fantasy day, using both Mike Tolbert and Ryan Mathews in the passing game. If Chad Henne can look like a Pro Bowler against the Patriots D, Rivers should have a field day in Foxboro.

Kevin Kolb had an excellent regular-season debut.

Despite throwing for two scores in Week One against the Bengals, Colt McCoy is better off on your bench.

BEST OF THE REST:

THE BOTTOM FEEDERS:

I wish everyone the best of luck this week. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to post below.

So without further ado, here is Week One’s top 50 players:
Standard Scoring: 4 points per passing TD, 6 points per rushing and receiving and PPR.

A player with a “U” symbol next to him signifies updated information.

Well here it is, the long awaited 2011 Quarterback Rankings brought to you by yours truly.

The votes are in and the final rankings have been updated and applied for everyone out there.

Also be sure to bone up on our other rankings:

WR rankings – RB rankings – TE rankings – IDP – Kickers – Team Defense

What I have done is separated this particular piece into three sections: The Top 10, The Middle Tier and High risk/High Reward, with a little something extra at the end.

Not mentioned in this ranking are Rex Grossman (Washington) and Vince Young (Philadelphia) who are slated as primary backups.

Be sure to stop by and also look at our Top 8 Bounce-Back Players for 2011 when you’re done here.

The Top 10:

1. Aaron Rodgers – GB: Rodgers plays in the most explosive offense in the NFL, and there is little reason to doubt another repeat performance of his stellar 2010 campaign that saw him pass for 3,922 yards with 28 TDs, 11 INT and a completion rate of 65.7%. The real point to notice here is the Packers will have a better O-line in 2011 and they also get Jermichael Finley back.U: The Packers have also retained James Jones, and plan on getting Jordy Nelson more involved in the passing game, which makes this team even deadlier than 2010…if you can imagine that. Rodgers is set to have a better season in 2011 than he did in 2010, and should remain my number 1 QB for the duration.

2. Tom Brady – NE: Brady moves into the number two spot as one of the best fantasy quarterbacks to come into this season. He has a new weapon in OchoCinco, and he is coming off of a career 2010 season which he’ll only build upon.

3. Drew Brees – NO: Brees is another QB who is among the elite, but concerns about having too many cooks in the kitchen—some of which with health issues— raises a tiny red flag. But for Standard leaguers, Brees might be better than originally anticipated with some new red-zone weapons at his disposal.

4. Matt Ryan – ATL: Saturday’s preseason game was confirmation that the Falcons are not only going pass-happy this season, but also plan to utilize the shotgun more which will bode well for Ryan and the Falcons. Ryan could wind up the leading passer in 2011 if all goes well.

5.Tony Romo – DAl: Final rankings are all about reality—especially in the Top 10—and the reality is, Romo has been on fire and is ready to reclaim his place as a fantasy QB elite. Remember, Romo had three straight seasons as a Top 9 fantasy QB before last year’s injury.

6. Phillip Rivers – SD: It’s hard to leave Rivers out of the Top 5, but it’ll be pulling straws in comparison at the end of the year. if you miss out on the first five, Rivers is just as good, and could potentially be better.

7. Michael Vick – PHI: Vick has had a nice preseason, but he also showed he has significant trouble against the 3-4 defenses (he faces 9 teams who run that defense this season) and he hasn’t played a full 16 since 2006. He’s still dangerous as hell, but this is as high as he should be ranked considering who’s ahead of him and his given risk factors.

8. Matt Schaub – HOU: The Texans will put more emphasis on the ground game this year which will hurt Schaub just a little bit, but I have a feeling they will be playing from behind in a lot of contests this year which will keep his numbers right where they should be every year.

9. Peyton Manning – IND:Sorry but he falls. Things are too risky, but keep in mind that these rankings reflect draft rankings more than projections. Manning should be fine once he does play.

10. Ben Roethlisberger – PIT: Big Ben should have a monster year with Pittsburgh going more vertical in 2011.

The Middle Tier:

11. Matthew Stafford – DETStafford has been on fire this preseason and has shown why—if he remains healthy—you should view him as a borderline elite fantasy quarterback.Stafford has completed 24 of 31 pass attempts (77.4% completion rate), and has thrown for 356 yards, five TDs and zero touchdowns, but he will also have a new three-wide set to play around with, and if he remains healthy, this guy is going to live up to all the hype. The health concerns keeps him out of the Top 10.

12. Joe Flacco – BAL: If Flacco goes as the number 12 quarterback in fantasy football draft, he will be the greatest value pick for a QB 1 have seen in years. Expect big things from Flacco this season.

13. Josh Freeman – TB: U - Freeman looks like a new quarterback and has been playing extremely well given he is a very slow work in progress player. He is not QB1 material just yet, but he is a solid member consideration for your roster this year.

14. Eli Manning – NYG: Manning is a great source for fantasy points, but he is also a huge turnover liability which nullifies those point totals. He has been having a horrid preseason, and still shows he throws off the back foot, which is where all the bad throws come from.

15. Sam Bradford – STL – U: Despite no change in Bradford’s ranking, it is noteworthy to mention that the addition of MSW greatly improves his overall projected fantasy value. Bradford is expected to make for a fine QB2 pick.

16. Jay Cutler – CHI: I don’t believe the Bears have elite talent at WR, and I don’t believe Cutler is mature enough to rise to the Top 10 level. He’s a safe QB 2, nothing more.

17. Matt Cassel – KC: Cassel should have another solid fantasy season, but needs to show fantasy owners his available weapons are quality producers before ranking any higher.

18. Kyle Orton – DEN: Orton should be the starter this season, but John Fox is far more conservative than McDaniels ever was. Expect a run first approach this season which will dip into Orton’s value. U: Orton is the starter, but his value may drop a bit in a run first approach expected to be deployed by coach Fox.

19. Jason Campbell – OAK: Has plenty of receivers with huge upside, but whether or not they step up is left to be seen. He will have sleeper candidate Jacoby Fordat his disposal for a full season this year, which should help.

20. David Garrard – JAC: He’s a good quarterback in a bad offense.

21. Ryan Fitzpatrick – BUF: Fitzpatrick rises to 21, but don’t necessarily view him as a low-ball option.Remember, this is a guy who threw for 3,000 yards and 23 TDs to only 13 INTs in 2010, and he accomplished that while SPLITTING TIME with Trent Edwards.

High Risk or High Reward?

22. Donovan McNabb – MIN:I cover the Vikings exclusively in other capacities, and I have given this a lot of thought.The consensus is, McNabb isn’t going to be that great, but I believe raising up to 22nd is just about right, and he could be a great waiver wire addition to someone later in the season, or even a savvy late-round draft selection for those who wan to to roll the dice. You could do a whole lot worse, trust me.

23. Matt Hasselbeck – TEN: Hasselbeck—previously un-ranked—now cracks the list at 23 taking the place of Browns QB Colt McCoy. While Hasselbeck’s presence will be immediately felt, it is important to remember that Jake Locker WILL get his chance. Whether it is this season or next, however, is yet to be seen.

24. Mark Sanchez – NYJ: Sanchez isn’t required to throw the ball much, and is set to lose Braylon Edwards, but that’s not even the real problem. Last year the Jets, and Sanchez, struggled heavily in drop-back passing because of the fact that Sanchez holds the ball way too long, rather than going through his progressions. His 3,291 yards and 17 touchdowns may cause some people to argue this point, but his 13 Interceptions are a better gauge of what’s to come in 2011 with a receiving corp. that will have fewer veterans, and a greater emphasis on the running game. Like I said, it’s still early, so something could happen to show a different possibility, but for now, Sanchez stays put. Remember, the Jets are a defensive team first and can win with or without him. Sanchez has looked horrible this preseason, ad should be left on the waiver wire as far as I am concerned.

25. Kevin Kolb – ARI: Kolb finally lands in the desert and cracks the list at 25, but that doesn’t mean he is devalued, only that it will take time for Kolb to learn the offense and prove to fantasy owners he is worthy of something higher than a possible mid to late round selection.Kolb has some exciting weapons to play with, though, in Fitzgerald and newly acquired TE Todd Heap which could raise his value by opening day.

26. Chad Henne – MIA: Henne is waiver wire material anyway, so i don’t think anyone is even going to notice his drop from 21 to 26.

27. Colt McCoy – CLE: Goodbye Tarvaris Jackson and hello Colt McCoy (again)! I am really turned by this guy and he is looking more and more as if he could be the real deal this season.The problem with McCoy will be what he does against the better defenses of the league, which is the fantasy concern. McCoy should wind up being a late season WW trend pick by my estimation.

Who’s Left?

The remaining balance of available quarterbacks do not rank high enough to be placed on this list, but do deserve a quick viewpoint for all of you fantasy owners out there.

The Redskins will go with the unproven John Beck who is getting an unwavered show of support from coach Shanahan. But Washington offers little weapons for the youngster, and there is too little amount of information for fantasy owners to trust him even in a Dynasty setting.

The 49ers will initially go with the reeling Alex Smith who is in a now-or-never mode. The 49ers will introduce the West Coast offense this year which could breath life into Smith’s career temporarily, but with rookie Colin Kaepernick breathing down his neck, and given Smith’s track record, I can’t seem him lasting a full 16 games. At this point he hold little value, but Kaepernick is an obvious choice for Dynasty leaguers.

The Panthers, Vikings and Bengals all offer rookie quarterback considerations for fantasy owners. But out of three offered—Cam Newton, Andy Dalton and Christian Ponder—only Ponder and Dalton offer limited value.

I don’t see Newton becoming the next “big thing” as many feel he will become, and would say that he ranks last among the 2011 rookie QB class.

Andy Dalton will get the nod as the opening day starter in Cincy, but the Bengals have all sorts of offensive issue right now, killing Dalton’s initial projected value for the 2011 season, while Christian Ponder will likely sit for a year or so behind McNabb, unless McNabb falls flat on his face.

I like Ponder over Dalton myself for all of you in Keeper and Dynasty leagues.

If you have a specific question please feel free to leave it below for me, and I will answer it. Also, be sure to check back regularly as these rankings will go through a few more changes before the season opens in September.

http://fantasyknuckleheads.com/2011-fantasy-football-sleeper-jacoby-ford/

Today, I want to look at 5 undervalued fantasy football tight ends that are sure to overlooked in most drafts, affording fantasy football owners more bang for their buck than perhaps they will expect.

Jared Cook – Tennessee Titans – Week 6 Bye

I recently did a write-up on Jared Cook’s sleeper value, but I have to reassert the potential Cook brings to the table in the 2011 fantasy football season.

The 6’5, 248 pounder is expected to lead the team in receptions says The Nashville Tennessean, and Matt Hasselbeck continues to be impressed by Cook’s athleticism.

Keep in mind that reports out of camp are saying that Cook is also being split out at WR which will help his fantasy value, potentially raise him to near TE 1 status, and could also change his listing to a dual qualifier by opening day.

Fred Davis – Washington Redskins – Week 5 Bye

I want you all to keep something in mind on draft day regarding the tight end situation in Washington: Chris Cooley’s knee is not 100 percent, and despite the possibility of starting on opening day, the guarantee of Cooley lasting a full 16 are not so great.

Inevitably, that knee is going to cause problems and begin swelling sooner than many think—that’s what happens when you opt out of surgery—and that only means opportunities for Davis to fill-in yet again.

He was a trendy waiver wire grab in 2010, and I think he could be undervalued headed into this season.

Ta boot, Davis has been turning heads in camp, and some speculate he could see some time as a starter regardless of whether or not Cooley is there or not.

You could make a case to draft him very late if you have an open seat.

Kellen Winslow – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Week 8 Bye

Winslow has been having the best camp of his career, and looks better than ever says multiple sources for several weeks now.

The Tampa Bay Bucs, however, look surprisingly good including QB Josh Freeman – ranked 13th in my QB Rankings which bodes well for a guy who will undoubtedly be the primary red zone target in this offense.

The thing is many people are gun shy over Winslow considering a few down years, and the concern of age and injury which could push him so far down, you would be getting gold for pennies on the dollar.

Anthony Fasano – Miami Dolphins – Week 5 Bye

Fasano is not the fastest guy on any given field, but in terms of value, and being undervalued, Fasano is a prime candidate.

Fasano was one of the most consistent tight ends last season, just without sparkling numbers—something that should change slightly this year.

Nearly every single week Fasano was catching at least 3 to 4 balls for 30 plus yards and he finished the season with 39 catches for 528 yards and 4 touchdowns.

The Dolphins want to expand his role particularly in the red zone if possible, and considering how forgettable Fasano is to many, he becomes a terribly undervalued TE that you can easily get for next to nothing.

Fasano could be good for 45 catches, 670 yards and five to six TDs, which would be stellar numbers for a late-round flyer at TE.

Ben Watson – Cleveland Browns – Week 5 Bye

Last year Ben Watson put up career numbers in Cleveland catching 68 balls for 763 yards but only registered 3 TDs, and has been dealing with a slight concussion which could scare fantasy owners away from him altogether.

That’s good news for those of you looking for a quality TE 2 that you can potentially find late in your draft, allowing you to focus on other portions of your roster.

Colt McCoy looks to be the real deal, and the Browns’ running game isn’t going to be very effective this season, leaving Watson the prime candidate to field red zone throws for scores which will increase his value, despite being ranked so low in most eyes.

A solid TE 2 that will be lingering around in the latter portions of your draft.

After falling to pick 1.10, Gore was the first pick in our first expert league of the Summer.

Even though the NFL season has been going strong for weeks now, Fantasy Knuckleheads’ official start to the fantasy season began with our first expert draft of the 2011 season; KFFL NFL Experts League. This wasn’t your run-of-the-mill draft either. We’re talking about some of the top dogs in not only fantasy football, but guys who cover the NFL on a daily basis. Here is a list of the participants:

RotoExperts.com
FootballGuys.com
FOXSports.com
FFToday.com
RotoWire.com
RTSports.com
KFFL.com
BrunoBoys.net
FantasyGuru.com
CBSSports.com
Gridiron-Guru.com
FantasyKnuckleheads.com

Below is how the draft went down and a quick synopsis on each of Knuckleheads’ picks, round-by-round.
PPR, 4 points per passing TD, 6 points per rushing/receiving TD.
1QB, 2RB, 3WR, 1TE, 1Flex/RB/WR/TE, 1DEF, 1K

Round One
#1 BrunoBoys.net – Arian Foster RB, HOU
#2 RotoWire.com – Adrian Peterson RB, MIN
#3 CBSSports.com – Chris Johnson RB, TEN
#4 FOXSports.com – Jamaal Charles RB, KAN
#5 FootballGuys.com – Ray Rice RB, BAL
#6 RotoExperts.com – LeSean McCoy RB, PHI
#7 FantasyGuru.com – Andre Johnson WR, HOU
#8 RTSports.com – Darren McFadden RB, OAK
#9 FFToday.com – Roddy White WR, ATL
#10 FantasyKnuckleheads.com – Frank Gore RB, SFO
#11 Gridiron-Guru.com – Calvin Johnson WR, DET
#12 KFFL.com – Maurice Jones-Drew RB, JAC

In a PPR league, I was hoping one of the last pass-catching running backs would be left, so I decided to take Gore instead of quarterback or receiver. A healthy Frank Gore will produce big numbers under a new coaching staff.

Round 2
#1 KFFL.com – Larry Fitzgerald WR, ARI
#2 Gridiron-Guru.com – Peyton Hillis RB, CLE
#3 FantasyKnuckleheads.com – Hakeem Nicks WR, NYG
#4 FFToday.com – Rashard Mendenhall RB, PIT
#5 RTSports.com – Greg Jennings WR, GNB
#6 FantasyGuru.com – Matt Forte RB, CHI
#7 RotoExperts.com – Reggie Wayne WR, IND
#8 FootballGuys.com – Aaron Rodgers QB, GNB
#9 FOXSports.com – Michael Turner RB, ATL
#10 CBSSports.com – Brandon Marshall WR, MIA
#11 RotoWire.com – Drew Brees QB, NOR
#12 BrunoBoys.net – Steven Jackson RB, STL

Going with the strategy of taking a top player in each position in the first 4-5 rounds, Hakeem Nicks was the best available receiver left on our board. With Steve Smith’s recovery from microfracture surgery expected to take months, Nicks will easily top last year’s stats in terms of receptions (79) and yardage (1052).

Round 3
#1 BrunoBoys.net – Miles Austin WR, DAL
#2 RotoWire.com – Jahvid Best RB, DET
#3 CBSSports.com – Mike Wallace WR, PIT
#4 FOXSports.com – Vincent Jackson WR, SDG
#5 FootballGuys.com – Ahmad Bradshaw RB, NYG
#6 RotoExperts.com – Felix Jones RB, DAL
#7 FantasyGuru.com – Michael Vick QB, PHI
#8 RTSports.com – Mike Williams WR, TAM
#9 FFToday.com – Antonio Gates TE, SDG
#10 FantasyKnuckleheads.com – Wes Welker WR, NWE
#11 Gridiron-Guru.com – Knowshon Moreno RB, DEN
#12 KFFL.com – Dwayne Bowe WR, KAN

Welker is only a year removed from 123 catches in 2009. Hell, he still had 86 last year when the team was going through Randy Moss withdrawals and added in Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. If Chad Ochocinco can squeeze out another strong year, Welker should at least hit 100 receptions again.

Round 4
#1 KFFL.com – Shonn Greene RB, NYJ
#2 Gridiron-Guru.com – Tom Brady QB, NWE
#3 FantasyKnuckleheads.com – Peyton Manning QB, IND
#4 FFToday.com – LeGarrette Blount RB, TAM
#5 RTSports.com – DeAngelo Williams RB, CAR
#6 FantasyGuru.com – Ryan Mathews RB, SDG
#7 RotoExperts.com – Tony Romo QB, DAL
#8 FootballGuys.com – Mark Ingram RB, NOR
#9 FOXSports.com – Jason Witten TE, DAL
#10 CBSSports.com – Dez Bryant WR, DAL
#11 RotoWire.com – Dallas Clark TE, IND
#12 BrunoBoys.net – Jeremy Maclin WR, PHI

Peyton Manning is coming off neck surgery and it’s still unknown if he will be ready by Week One. This is the main reason why he likely slid all the way to the fourth round. Even so, I simply don’t see him missing any of the regular season. While he is getting bumped down by guys like Aaron Rodgers, Philip Rivers, and Michael Vick, Manning will hold his own and put up disgustingly huge numbers if he’s ready by Week One. If so, 30+ touchdown passes here I come!!!!! He still has plenty of time to prepare.

Fred Jackson should get 250+ touches this year.

Round 5
#1 BrunoBoys.net – Philip Rivers QB, SDG
#2 RotoWire.com – Marques Colston WR, NOR
#3 CBSSports.com – Cedric Benson RB, CIN
#4 FOXSports.com – Steve Johnson WR, BUF
#5 FootballGuys.com – DeSean Jackson WR, PHI
#6 RotoExperts.com – Santonio Holmes WR, NYJ
#7 FantasyGuru.com – Jermichael Finley TE, GNB
#8 RTSports.com – Brandon Lloyd WR, DEN
#9 FFToday.com – Matt Schaub QB, HOU
#10 FantasyKnuckleheads.com – Fred Jackson RB, BUF
#11 Gridiron-Guru.com – Ryan Torain RB, WAS
#12 KFFL.com – Percy Harvin WR, MIN

Jackson had a down year in 2010 after achieving 1000 rushing yards in 2009. But this year will be a different story. He no longer has to compete with Marshawn Lynch. And with CJ Spiller still having fumble issues and pass-protecting problems in practice, Jackson will touch the ball 250+ times this season.

Round 6
#1 KFFL.com – Chris Wells RB, ARI
#2 Gridiron-Guru.com – Vernon Davis TE, SFO
#3 FantasyKnuckleheads.com – Greg Olsen TE, CAR
#4 FFToday.com – Kenny Britt WR, TEN
#5 RTSports.com – Matt Ryan QB, ATL
#6 FantasyGuru.com – Daniel Thomas RB, MIA
#7 RotoExperts.com – Ryan Grant RB, GNB
#8 FootballGuys.com – Austin Collie WR, IND
#9 FOXSports.com – Sidney Rice WR, SEA
#10 CBSSports.com – BenJarvus Green-Ellis RB, NWE
#11 RotoWire.com – Marshawn Lynch RB, SEA
#12 BrunoBoys.net – Jonathan Stewart RB, CAR

Out of all the picks, this is the one I regret……but just a little bit. Playing in OC Mike Martz’s offense killed Olsen’s value in Chicago. And he’ll have some growing pains as he gets adjusted to playing in a new system and a new quarterback. What I am banking on is Carolina OC Rob Chudzinski making Olsen a big part of the offense. Chud was the tight ends coach in San Diego and was a big part of making some dude named Antonio Gates a stud.

Round 7
#1 BrunoBoys.net – Anquan Boldin WR, BAL
#2 RotoWire.com – Chad Ochocinco WR, NWE
#3 CBSSports.com – Ben Roethlisberger QB, PIT
#4 FOXSports.com – Eli Manning QB, NYG
#5 FootballGuys.com – Jimmy Graham TE, NOR
#6 RotoExperts.com – Mike Thomas WR, JAC
#7 FantasyGuru.com – Pierre Garcon WR, IND
#8 RTSports.com – Brandon Jacobs RB, NYG
#9 FFToday.com – Mario Manningham WR, NYG
#10 FantasyKnuckleheads.com – Jordy Nelson WR, GNB
#11 Gridiron-Guru.com – Ryan Williams RB, ARI
#12 KFFL.com – Matthew Stafford QB, DET

After putting up a huge game in the Super Bowl, and also suffering a burst bursa sac in his left knee, Nelson figures to see a lot more time on the field this year. James Jones coming back does hurt some, but we doubt he has fixed his inconsistencies. And Donald Driver is close to being done completely. Nelson has sleeper written all over him. He’s the team’s most talented receiver outside of Greg Jennings.

Round 8
#1 KFFL.com – Owen Daniels TE, HOU
#2 Gridiron-Guru.com – Roy Williams WR, CHI
#3 FantasyKnuckleheads.com – Joseph Addai RB, IND
#4 FFToday.com – Danny Amendola WR, STL
#5 RTSports.com – Mike Tolbert RB, SDG
#6 FantasyGuru.com – Steve Smith WR, CAR
#7 RotoExperts.com – Kellen Winslow TE, TAM
#8 FootballGuys.com – A.J. Green WR, CIN
#9 FOXSports.com – C.J. Spiller RB, BUF
#10 CBSSports.com – Santana Moss WR, WAS
#11 RotoWire.com – Reggie Bush RB, MIA
#12 BrunoBoys.net – Davone Bess WR, MIA

Another guy who slid farther than I had anticipated, Addai re-signed with the Colts and will start Week One. Donald Brown showed me nothing last year that would make me believe he can unseat Addai for the starting job. Rookie Delone Carter could make some noise, but the starting job is clearly Addai’s to lose. And as my No. 3 running back, THAT’S GOLD JERRY GOLD!!!

Robert Meachem could finally have the breakout season the Saints have been waiting for.

Round 9
#1 BrunoBoys.net – Darren Sproles RB, NOR
#2 RotoWire.com – Braylon Edwards WR, SFO
#3 CBSSports.com – Tim Hightower RB, WAS
#4 FOXSports.com – Julio Jones WR, ATL
#5 FootballGuys.com – Jacoby Ford WR, OAK
#6 RotoExperts.com – Greg Little WR, CLE
#7 FantasyGuru.com – Josh Freeman QB, TAM
#8 RTSports.com – Deion Branch WR, NWE
#9 FFToday.com – Rashad Jennings RB, JAC
#10 FantasyKnuckleheads.com – Robert Meachem WR, NOR
#11 Gridiron-Guru.com – Malcom Floyd WR, SDG
#12 KFFL.com – Johnny Knox WR, CHI

I initially ragged on Kurt for making a homer pick, but you can’t disagree that this could be Meachem’s year. Finally over injuries, Meachem is showing why the Saints drafted him in the first round back in 2007. With Marques Colston still sidelined with problematic knees, Meachem could end up being Drew Brees’ go-to guy. His upside is off the charts right now.

Round 10
#1 KFFL.com – Jay Cutler QB, CHI
#2 Gridiron-Guru.com – Sam Bradford QB, STL
#3 FantasyKnuckleheads.com – Roy Helu RB, WAS
#4 FFToday.com – Michael Bush RB, OAK
#5 RTSports.com – Mike Sims-Walker WR, STL
#6 FantasyGuru.com – Lance Moore WR, NOR
#7 RotoExperts.com – Matt Cassel QB, KAN
#8 FootballGuys.com – Marcedes Lewis TE, JAC
#9 FOXSports.com – Kevin Kolb QB, ARI
#10 CBSSports.com – Rob Gronkowski TE, NWE
#11 RotoWire.com – Hines Ward WR, PIT
#12 BrunoBoys.net – Brandon Pettigrew TE, DET

Hate the Redskins, but I love me some Roy Helu. Ryan Torain can’t stay healthy and Tim Hightower is going to fumble his way into Mike Shanahan’s doghouse. I’m trying to temper my expectations because he’s a rookie, but I can’t see Helu not landing the starting job in-season.

Round 11
#1 BrunoBoys.net – James Starks RB, GNB
#2 RotoWire.com – Mike Williams WR, SEA
#3 CBSSports.com – Joe Flacco QB, BAL
#4 FOXSports.com – Pierre Thomas RB, NOR
#5 FootballGuys.com – Plaxico Burress WR, NYJ
#6 RotoExperts.com – Danny Woodhead RB, NWE
#7 FantasyGuru.com – Willis McGahee RB, DEN
#8 RTSports.com – Kyle Orton QB, DEN
#9 FFToday.com – James Jones WR, GNB
#10 FantasyKnuckleheads.com – Jared Cook TE, TEN
#11 Gridiron-Guru.com – Green Bay Packers Def/ST, GNB
#12 KFFL.com – Michael Crabtree WR, SFO

Now we start getting into the players that are looking good in camp, but haven’t popped up on anyone else’s radar. With Matt Hasselbeck in town, Cook could be in for a solid season. Reports say that the coaches are lining him out as a wide receiver in practice, so we could see him push for a career year in 2011.

Round 12
#1 KFFL.com – LaDainian Tomlinson RB, NYJ
#2 Gridiron-Guru.com – Donald Driver WR, GNB
#3 FantasyKnuckleheads.com – Philadelphia Eagles Def/ST, PHI
#4 FFToday.com – Ryan Fitzpatrick QB, BUF
#5 RTSports.com – Tony Gonzalez TE, ATL
#6 FantasyGuru.com – Dustin Keller TE, NYJ
#7 RotoExperts.com – New York Jets Def/ST, NYJ
#8 FootballGuys.com – Shane Vereen RB, NWE
#9 FOXSports.com – Zach Miller TE, SEA
#10 CBSSports.com – Pittsburgh Steelers Def/ST, PIT
#11 RotoWire.com – Mark Sanchez QB, NYJ
#12 BrunoBoys.net – Chris Cooley TE, WAS

My homer pick of the draft. The Eagles Defense still has to gel with all the new faces, plus a new defensive coordinator, but they should slowly start raining down some terror against opposing offenses. I still worry about the pass rush and the linebackers, but that secondary is just too sick to pass up. If they end up flopping, I’ll be eating some crow in the winter.

For at least one week, I'm hoping Matt Hasselbeck shines as much as his bald noggin does on a sunny day.

Round 13
#1 BrunoBoys.net – Donovan McNabb QB, MIN
#2 RotoWire.com – Justin Forsett RB, SEA
#3 CBSSports.com – Jerome Simpson WR, CIN
#4 FOXSports.com – Delone Carter RB, IND
#5 FootballGuys.com – New England Patriots Def/ST, NWE
#6 RotoExperts.com – Tony Moeaki TE, KAN
#7 FantasyGuru.com – Jordan Shipley WR, CIN
#8 RTSports.com – Chicago Bears Def/ST, CHI
#9 FFToday.com – Aaron Hernandez TE, NWE
#10 FantasyKnuckleheads.com – Matt Hasselbeck QB, TEN
#11 Gridiron-Guru.com – Danario Alexander WR, STL
#12 KFFL.com – New York Giants Def/ST, NYG

I don’t expect Hasselbeck to find fantasy glory behind a questionable offensive line, but I only need him to pick up the slack during Peyton’s bye week (11). Luckily, he’s playing Atlanta in the dome, so weather won’t be an issue.

Round 14
#1 KFFL.com – Steve Breaston WR, KAN
#2 Gridiron-Guru.com – Leonard Hankerson WR, WAS
#3 FantasyKnuckleheads.com – Torrey Smith WR, BAL
#4 FFToday.com – Baltimore Ravens Def/ST, BAL
#5 RTSports.com – Brent Celek TE, PHI
#6 FantasyGuru.com – Jerome Harrison RB, DET
#7 RotoExperts.com – Ronnie Brown RB, PHI
#8 FootballGuys.com – DeMarco Murray RB, DAL
#9 FOXSports.com – Lee Evans WR, BUF
#10 CBSSports.com – Javon Ringer RB, TEN
#11 RotoWire.com – Early Doucet WR, ARI
#12 BrunoBoys.net – Dallas Cowboys Def/ST, DAL

Another upside/depth pick, Smith has been looking really good in practice, yeah maybe I put too much stock in training camps, and he looks to be the starter alongside Anquan Boldin. Nice bye-week filler who could make a flex appearance.

Round 15
#1 BrunoBoys.net – Stephen Gostkowski K, NWE
#2 RotoWire.com – Detroit Lions Def/ST, DET
#3 CBSSports.com – Brandon Jackson RB, CLE
#4 FOXSports.com – New Orleans Saints Def/ST, NOR
#5 FootballGuys.com – Nate Kaeding K, SDG
#6 RotoExperts.com – Emmanuel Sanders WR, PIT
#7 FantasyGuru.com – Kansas City Chiefs Def/ST, KAN
#8 RTSports.com – Jabar Gaffney WR, WAS
#9 FFToday.com – Jason Snelling RB, ATL
#10 FantasyKnuckleheads.com – Todd Heap TE, ARI
#11 Gridiron-Guru.com – Titus Young WR, DET
#12 KFFL.com – Rob Bironas K, TEN

I never take three tight ends. Sometimes, I don’t even take two. But I was so worried about my Olsen pick, that I picked up Cook and prayed. This league allows a tight end as a flex position, so Heap will help during the bye weeks. And playing with Kevin Kolb, who likes to throw to tight ends, Heap might have a little bit of TE2 value left.

Round 16
#1 KFFL.com – Lonyae Miller RB, DAL
#2 Gridiron-Guru.com – Mason Crosby K, GNB
#3 FantasyKnuckleheads.com – Garrett Hartley K, NOR
#4 FFToday.com – Alex Henery K, PHI
#5 RTSports.com – Matt Bryant K, ATL
#6 FantasyGuru.com – Sebastian Janikowski K, OAK
#7 RotoExperts.com – Josh Brown K, STL
#8 FootballGuys.com – Donnie Avery WR, STL
#9 FOXSports.com – Neil Rackers K, HOU
#10 CBSSports.com – David Buehler K, DAL
#11 RotoWire.com – Adam Vinatieri K, IND
#12 BrunoBoys.net – Jacoby Jones WR, HOU

A kicker is a kicker, but at least I got one that ranked fairly high. And since Kurt is a Saints fan, nothing wrong with appeasing the boss with guys from his own team.