NEWS
In a new column here at Fantasy Football Life, we're going to give you 5 weekly bold predictions from the columnists to kind of spice things up. In this installment our columnists throw out some season predictions. Enjoy
Cameron Sparks
1. Antonio Brown will finish with 1400 receiving yards and 8 TDs. I’ll just say it, this kid is special. Special!
2. Justin Blackmon will be a top 15 WR in 2012. Gabbert will be better but that’s not why. Blackmon can bail him out by catching short, mid range and deep passes. Total threat with strength for yards after the catch.
3. Matt Ryan will have 4500 yards and 35 passing TDs in 2012. To me this isn’t even bold.
4. Michael Bush finishes within 20 fantasy points of Matt Forte. Ok, this is pretty bold. But I like Bush and talent normally isn’t suppressed, nor is a nose for the end zone. His TDs will make the gap small.
5. Rob Gronkowski does not finish as a top 3 TE in 2012. Jimmy Graham finishes with 50 more fantasy points than second place. Two for one bonus special time.
6. Ray Rice does not finish as a top 5 back. I know about the Rice love, and this might be a stretch but an improving Joe Flacco while facing more and more passing teams will leave him outside. that and McCoy, Foster, Chris Johnson, Darren McFadden, Ryan Mathews and Marshawn Lynch.
7. Roy Helu finishes with the most fantasy points of the Washington RBs. I know, I know, maybe not a big shocker but somebody had to asnwer the question. It's Helu.
8. Trent Richardson gets 1500 total yards and 10+ TDs. I mean seriously, do you think they want to give the ball to anyone else?
9. Ahmad Bradshaw finishes outside the top 25 running backs. I'm sorry, maybe this is bias but he's awful. Simply awful.
10. FFBLife.com grows on your like-o-meter throughout the season. Simple math. Free App + Site Stuff + Free Digital Magazine = likeable. I mean, who doesn't like free, right?
Kevin Nelson
1. Julio Jones will have at least 15 touchdowns this season: Julio looked unstoppable at the end of last season. He has looked unstoppable this preseason. He will continue to be unstoppable in Atlanta’s new up-tempo passing offense.
2. Jacquizz Rodgers will have 1100+ total yards: Yes, I believe in this new Atlanta offense. Michael Turner is on the complete wrong end of this movement and I think will be phased out into a much more complementary role than featured. Quizz fits everything the Falcons want to do and they have the perfect blueprint with what their division rival Saints do with Darren Sproles.
3. Darren McFadden stays healthy and finishes as the number 1 running back: I am a complete believer in the fact that McFadden can go toe to toe with AP as the most talented back in the NFL. Knowing that the Raiders have entrusted him with the offense and let go his complement in Michael Bush, I think McFadden puts together an epic year and shakes his injury bug.
4. Peyton Hillis finishes with more fantasy points than Jamaal Charles: Peyton Hillis is going to have a very productive year. The Chiefs are going to be a very good running team that splits carries with Hillis most certainly get all of the goal line carries. The problem I have with Charles, especially coming off that knee injury, is being reliant on really long runs. Chris Johnson has had trouble adapting to that same problems once he no longer “surprised” teams with his speed.
5. David Wilson will win the New York Giants starting running back job: He only got two carries week 1 because of a fumble, true. It is also true that the Giants had to see the Ahmad Bradshaw was not very impressive in terms of natural football skills. Wilson needs to learn to hold onto the football, ala Tiki Barber, but as soon as he does he will win this job.
6. Tom Brady break Drew Brees’ single season passing record: Well that was quick! Brady wasn’t very far behind last year and there is no reason to believe he can’t repeat his performance. He and Josh McDaniels set the TD record last time they were together and I think they get the yards record this year. Adding Brandon Lloyd only further improves these chances.
7. Brandon Pettigrew tops 10 TDs: Pettigrew was one of the top red zone targets in the NFL last year and I think he will make good on those opportunities. The Lions will not stop throwing and even if they want to, they won’t throw it to Calvin every time. Big year for Pettigrew.
8. Randall Cobb will have 1000 receiving yards: Think the Colts a few years ago with Brandon Stokely. Cobb has explosive talent and will not face single coverage all year. Between Donald Driver only playing spot duty, Jennings’ concussion issues, and Jordy Nelson drawing a lot more coverage, the opportunity will be there for Cobb and Rodgers to form a great connection.
9. Reggie Wayne returns to the top 15 wide receiver ranks: Andrew luck can slang the rock. Steve Smith saw a huge resurgence just last season with the addition of rookie Cam Newton. Luck can have a similar effect on Wayne. For the first time in Wayne’s career he will be moving all over the field and has looked very good doing so up to this point. If Luck is the quarterback many of us think he is, Reggie Wayne will have a big season as his go to guy.
10. Mike Vick will finish outside the top 12 QBs: In addition to the injury risk, I just don’t think Vick will put up the monster stats we are used to seeing when he’s in. They have a great running back to lean on and they need Vick healthy to win the title. I think Andy Reid plays it a little more conservative this year and between the games missed to injury and lack of huge stats when he is in, at least 12 QBs will finish above him.
Dan Croop
1. Torrey Smith, one of my favorite receivers this season, puts up 1,200 yards and eight touchdowns behind a breakout season from Joe Flacco. The Ravens will air it out more often.
2. Sam Bradford proves his time to shine has arrived. Bradford shows the potential that made him a #1 overall pick and throws for 4,000 yards and 25 touchdowns to a sure-handed receiving corps.
3. Greg Jennings, for the first time since 2007, will fail to record 65 receptions in a season. Jordy Nelson takes another step forward, and sleeper candidate Randall Cobb lives up to the hype as a game-changer.
4. Aaron Hernandez for the shocker. He had the most targets on the team in five games last season. How many did Gronk have? Three. This year, Hernandez shows he can be every bit as dominant as the Gronk.
5. Kyle Rudolph. Who you ask? The freak of an athlete in Minnesota who just happens to be the Vikings’ starting tight end shows that he might be Antonio Gates 2.0. Rudolph catches 55 balls for 700 yards and six touchdowns.
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