By Joe Osborne
That was quick. With the NFL season at its halfway point, I thought it would be a good idea to take a look at the best and worst of fantasy football so far. Below I have compiled three teams – All-Stars, All-Bust and All-Surprise. Keep in mind that selections are based on standard fantasy scoring rules, not point per catch leagues, and I chose not to include kickers and defense/special teams as those positions are pretty much a crap shoot from week to week and are based on lots of luck.
All-Star Team
QB: Philip Rivers – The San Diego QB has been fantasy’s top player so far, leading the NFL in both passing yards (2,944) and touchdowns (19). What’s really impressive about Rivers’ production is that he’s racked up the high numbers by throwing to generally unknowns while top receivers Malcolm Floyd and Vincent Jackson have missed time.
Runner-up – Aaron Rodgers isn’t too far behind.
The endzone has become a very familiar place for Arian Foster through the season's first half.
RB: Arian Foster – Most casual fans probably didn’t even know who this guy was before the season started, but now he leads the league in rushing yards (864) and touchdowns (9). Foster has fared well in the passing game as well, racking up 315 yards and one score.
Runner-up – Adrian Peterson is the clear cut second best fantasy back, thanks to scoring one or more times in all but two games.
WR: Hakeem Nicks – This could have gone too a handful of receivers, but Nicks is truly the best of the best after posting 653 yards and a league lead tying nine touchdowns. Nicks might not have as many yards as some of the other top receivers, but he’s become the definition of a big game receiver, scoring two or more touchdowns in three games this season.
Runner-up – Terrell Owens (see below)
TE: Antonio Gates – No other tight-end is even close to Gates so far this season. Gates is fifth in the league in receiving yards (663) and is tied for the league lead with nine TD’s. Assuming he returns the the Chargers line-up after the bye week, being fully healed from several foot injuries, he should break his own record for touchdowns in a season by a tight end (13).
Runner-up – There’s no one else even close, so why bother.
All-Bust Team
QB: Matt Schaub – Last season, Schaub established himself as an elite level QB by putting up huge numbers. His success was expected to carry over to this season, but that hasn’t been the case. So far this fantasy season, Schaub is ESPN’s 15th ranked QB. In his eight games played, he’s only thrown for 10 touchdowns, including two games with zero touchdown passes, and has also posted three games with under 200 passing yards. This doesn’t get it done for a guy who was picked as high as he was.
Runner-up – Tom Brady has hardly been a top ten QB this season, with players like Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco, Eli Manning and Kyle Orton putting up better numbers. He’s not exactly a bust, but he’s not rewarding owners who drafted him high.
RB: Deangelo Williams – He was a top 25 pick in most drafts this year and has been a huge disappointment. In the six games he’s played this season, he’s only scored once and doesn’t have one 100 yard game. Williams has only put up double digit fantasy points in one game this season. That’s horrible for a guy who started the season as the top running back on a lot of fantasy teams this year.
Runner-up – Shonn Greene was supposed to be the man in New York this year, but LT has taken over as the Jets top back. Greene has only managed one touchdown and one 100 yard rushing game this season.
WR: Larry Fitzgerald – One year removed from being one of fantasy’s best receivers, Fitzgerald’s stock has dipped big-time. What the hell happened? Kurt Warner’s retirement doesn’t help, but in fantasy, unless you’re injured, no excuse is a good excuse. His four touchdowns isn’t horrible, but the fact that he’s currently 22nd overall in receiving yards and only has one 100 yard receiving game has made him a huge dissapointment.
Runner-up – Marques Colston only has two touchdowns and has recorded 70 or less receiving yards six times in the nine games he’s played this season.
TE: Brent Celek – Celek was supposed to be a key part of the Eagles new look offense after breaking out last season, but has taken a major step back this year. He’s ranked well outside the top 10 tight ends this season, hasn’t gone for over 50 yards in a game and the most receptions he’s had in a game has been four. That’s pretty bad.
Runner-up – Not too many candidates here, but it looks like this is the year that Tony Gonzales starts to fall off.
All-Suprise Team
QB: Ryan Fitzpatrick – Fitzpatrick took over as the Bills starting QB in week three and has become one of fantasy’s top QB’s in that span. In only six games, he’s thrown for 13 touchdowns including putting up four on the Ravens. You might not know who this guy is, but he’s out-playing some of the best QB’s in the league. If he’s somehow available in your league, pick him up immediately.
Runner-up – Josh Freeman has become a borderline top 10 QB and is ranked only slightly behind Tom Brady in QB rankings.
RB: Peyton Hillis – This guy has more fantasy points than Chris Johnson, Ray Rice, MJD, Frank Gore… The list goes on. Hillis wasn’t even drafted in a lot of leagues! With seven TD’s and three 100-plus yard rushing games, he’s easily the breakout player of the first half.
Runner-up – LaDainian Tomlinson is relevant again! He’s actually the 10th best fantasy running back this season and has out played many of the backs that were drafted before him.
Owens is reminding everyone why he's one of the best receivers in NFL history.
WR: Terrell Owens – T.O. was pretty much written off going into the season, mainly due to the fact that his production has dipped over the past few seasons and because he’s an asshole. Either way, he’s fantasy’s second best receiver this season. After a slow start, he’s gone on to score six touchdowns in five games, including three 100-plus yard receiving games in that span.
Runner-up – Brandon Lloyd of the Broncos is a very close second. In eight games played he has five 100-plus yard receiving games.
TE: Jacob Tamme – Not really too many surprise or break-out players at the tight end position this year. Tamme has only started two games this season, but he scored in both games and had double digit fantasy point in each. With Dallas Clark out for the season, Tamme should be one of the second half’s best tight ends. If he’s available in your league, pick him up right away.
Runner-up – In a year that hasn’t been strong for tight ends, no one else really stands out.
That’s it. At this point of the season, we have to remember not to judge players on reputation alone, but on what they have done lately. It’ll be interesting to watch the second half unfold and see what players emerge as stars and busts, and if the above mentioned players will play good enough, or bad enough to earn the label of star, bust or surprise by seasons end.
Joe Osborne is a sports and entertainment enthusiast who resides in Halifax, NS. To read more articles like this, visit WhatUpSports.com, or you can contact Joe at osbornejt@hotmail.com.
