Every year in fantasy football, there are always players who are selected far higher than they should be. There are outliers in production and we're here to help you identify them. Don't be the idiot who falls for one year of stellar production or lets the media hype them into selecting a guy who could torpedo your season, not to mention your chance for bragging rights.
- Le'Veon Bell, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Last year, Bell was a quality waiver wire addition. Knowing the Steelers had little to no backfield options, I picked him up and stashed him as he recovered from an early season ankle injury. Despite missing the first 3 games of the season, he produced 1,259 yards from scrimmage and 8 TDs. However, the Steelers made a move this offseason that is sure to cut into his production, adding LaGarette Blount. Blount is a short yardage specialist, a player who produced 7 TDs last season on 134 less touches. Bell may still prove to be a decent late round selection, but anyone expecting the same production as last season is in for a letdown.
- Riley Cooper, WR, Philadelphia Eagles
Cooper is the classic example of a player who pads his stats with a few big games and vanishes for the rest of the season. If you're just scrolling through statistics, you see a player with 835 yards and 8 TDs and figure that DeSean Jackson's departure will open the door for an even bigger season. Wrong. Jeremy Maclin will be coming back from a season long absence and will be the focal point of the WR corps. The Eagles are also a lock to take a young up and comer in May's draft. My hunch is that Chip Kelly was comfortable discarding Jackson because of this year's bumper crop of receiving talent. And, oh by the way, 398 of his 835 yards and 6 of the 8 TDs came in 3 games. Not a player you can turn to on a weekly basis.
- Eric Decker, WR, New York Jets
Traditionally, #2 WRs from a pass happy offense have struggled when they relocate. Look at Greg Jennings' numbers after departing Green Bay for Minnesota. Or Mike Wallace's struggles as the #1 receiver after cashing in with the Dolphins. Decker is not the type of player who commands double teams or has surefire tactics to get open. He benefited greatly from the attention drawn by the twin Thomas towers of Demaryius and Julius (no relation). Seattle completely eliminated him in Denver's Super Bowl defeat and now that he will draw the opponent's top cover corner every week, it's hard to see him putting up numbers consistently. Add in the fact that Michael Vick, or more likely, Geno Smith will be tasked to deliver him the ball and Decker is a regression candidate waiting to happen.
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