Monday QB: Week 2

17. September 2012  - Published by Dan Clasgens

Every week I’ll address some topics that have my head spinning after Sunday’s action:

Matthew Stafford
Through two weeks of football Lions’ QB Matthew Stafford has thrown for only two interceptions while being picked off four times. The 49ers flustered him much of the game in Week 2, leaving him to finish with 230 yards and touchdown. Last year he had seven touchdowns and two interceptions at this point of the season. He’ll have a chance to get on track in Week 3 as the Titans pay a visit to Ford Field. Continue to ride Stafford as he is due for a turnaround.

Trent Richardson

Nervous owners that invested an early pick on Trent Richardson got some relief on Sunday by Richardson’s breakout performance against the Bengals. The rookie showed no signs of being bothered from minor knee surgery this preseason. His 19 carry for 39 yard effort was quickly forgotten as Richardson exploded for 109 yards on 19 touches, including a 32-yard TD run. He also caught four balls for 36 yards and a score despite being relieved on third downs by Chris Ogbonnaya. Richardson displayed great burst and the ability to break tackles. He’s a solid RB2 option with upside.

Larry Fitzgerald
For the second straight week Larry Fitzgerald disappointed fantasy owners by coming up with just one catch for four yards in the Cardinals’ stunning upset of the Patriots. There’s no questioning Fitzgerald’s talent, but the lack of a quarterback to get the ball to him is starting to catch up in his fantasy production. Following Sunday’s dismal performance Fitzgerald has now been held to 65 yards or less and 0 TD’s in five of his last seven games dating back to 2011.

Wes Welker

Few players disappointed owners in Week 1 more than Patriots’ wide receiver Wes Welker as he finished with just three catches for 14 yards on five targets. That trend changed on Sunday, particularly after starting tight end Aaron Hernandez left with an ankle injury. The veteran wideout was targeted 11 times, pulling in five balls for 95 yards. It was interesting to see that Julian Edelman started over Welker. New England will look to Welker more involved moving forward to help compensate for Hernandez’s absence.

Antonio Brown

Wide receiver Antonio Brown has yet to get 80 yards or a TD in either of the Steelers’ first two games. Owners shouldn’t be too concerned though. Brown has still led the team in targets in each contest and now has been targeted 18 times in two games. He has parlayed 11 of those targets in receptions and has 153 yards through two weeks.  Entering his magical third season, Brown is poised for a monster year and because of the low numbers early on could be a prime buy-low candidate.  Three of Pittsburgh’s next four games are on the road – at OAK, Bye, PHI, at TEN, and at CIN, but against some favorable matchups.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENTS
--Tony Romo, Jamal Charles, Chris Johnson, Darren McFadden, Larry Fitzgerald, Dez Bryant

BIGGEST SURPRISES
--Sam Bradford, Pierre Thomas, Danny Amendola, Donnie Avery, Dante Rosario

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Look Ahead: Arizona Cardinals

15. June 2012  - Published by Dan Clasgens

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Beanie Wells became the first-ever Cardinal RB to surpass 1,000 yards and 10 TD's on the ground in the same season a year ago carrying the ball a career-high 245 times. However, over a third of his rushing yards came in two games. Durability questions have surrounded him since his college days and injuries were a slowing factor in 2011.  Even if he can stay healthy, Wells’ fantasy value is limited as he’s a non-factor as a receiver out of the backfield. He’s mustered only 19 receptions with no receiving touchdowns during his four-year NFL career.

SCHEDULE
The Cardinals schedule is tied for the 8th toughest in the league. I’m not crazy about the way it lies out early on with the Seahawks, at New England, Philadelphia right out of the gate. Drawing the AFC East doesn’t favor their chances, but they don’t have to travel until Week 17 which most fantasy leagues end before. Aside for the Pats matchup, the Cardinals play every other game in a dome (11 total dome games) until Week 9’s trip to Green Bay. The key fantasy playoff matchups in Week 14-16 (@Sea, DET, and CHI) don’t raise cause for concern.

STUD
No wide receiver has been more reliable in fantasy football over the past five years Larry Fitzgerald. He has churned out five 1000-yard seasons without missing a game in that span. Despite the lack of many weapons surrounding and poor quarterback play Fitzgerald still managed 1,411 yards on 80 catches and eight scores a year ago, while posting a career-best 17.6 yards per catch. If more pieces develop for the Cardinals’ offense this year, Fitz should get back to the 90-reception range and double-digit touchdown output we’ve become accustomed to.

DUD
Todd Heap’s
days of being a fantasy producer are over. Injuries limited him to just 11 games last year with only four games started.  He finished his first season as Cardinal with 24 catches for 283 yards and one touchdown. He’s clearly lost a step and no longer the player he once was. The team is high on youngster Rob Housler, who’s been turning heads this offseason and has the skill set to be a factor in the passing game. Avoid Heap like the plague and keep your eyes on Housler, who could prove to be a fantastic late-round stab.

SLEEPER
The team’s 38th overall pick in the 2011 draft, running back Ryan Williams, didn’t play a snap for the Cardinals as a rookie after rupturing his patellar tendon.  He is hopeful to be ready for the start of training camp and if healthy will prove to be a nice compliment to Beanie Wells. The speedy sophomore is smaller than Williams, but is much quicker and capable of making plays out of the backfield. At the very worst, Williams is a nice handcuff option that will tally some stats. If Wells goes down, his fantasy value will skyrocket quickly. Consider him an option in Rounds 10-12 in 12-team formats and slightly higher in PPR leagues.

NEW ADDITION
Despite having numerous needs to address, the Cardinals invested its first-round pick on Notre Dame wide receiver Michael Floyd. He will no doubt help take attention away from Fitzgerald, who has regularly drawn double coverage from opposing defenses. It remains to be seen how quickly he’ll make an impact though. Floyd has great hands and the leaping ability to make plays. With Fitzgerald lining up opposite of him, Floyd will be able to find holes in the defense. Still, his value hinges greatly on the QB situation. He has WR3 potential right out of the gate, but it may require patience on part of his owners.

POSITION BATTLE
The team invested heavily in acquiring Kevin Kolb last offseason and things didn’t turn out well when the former Eagle landed in the desert.  Kolb only started nine games last year due to injuries and the Cardinals were 3-6 in his starts. Strong-armed backup John Skelton outperformed and breathed life into the offense upon lining up under center. Kolb will start training camp atop the depth chart, but the leash is short. His concussion problems make him an even bigger concern.  Through 16 career starts Kolb has passed for 3,669 yards and 19 TD's, but committed 23 turnovers in that span.

BENCH BUILDER
Even though the team added Floyd, fantasy owners shouldn’t write off Early Doucet, particularly if Kevin Kolb maintains his hold on the QB job. The two had some decent chemistry last year and with Floyd likely to need some time to get equipped Doucet is going to get some looks. With holes in the defense the team will likely play from behind in many weeks and that could translate into extra opportunities for Doucet during garbage time. You could do much worse as a WR5 or WR6 in deeper leagues. He’s definitely worth a $1 on auction night.

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Game Balls: Week 17

2. January 2011  - Published by Dan Clasgens

QB Game Ball – Tim Tebow, DEN - 16/36 for 205 PaYd, 2 PaTD, 2 INT; 13 carries, 94 RuYd, RuTD
It wasn’t pretty, but Tebow once again posted monster fantasy numbers leading the Broncos’ offense.  There was no better option for those still needing production in Week 17.

QB Honorable Mention – Ben Roethlisberger, PIT - 15/22 for 280 PaYd, 2 PaTD; 4 carries, 24 RuYd (did damage despite sitting out for a quarter plus of action).


RB Game Ball – Arian Foster, HOU - 31 carries, 180 RuYd, 2 RuTD; 2 receptions, 10 ReYd
Foster locked up the NFL rushing title and perhaps the Fantasy MVP award by going out with a bang as the Texans knocked Jacksonville out of playoff contention. If Gary Kubiak stays in Houston as expected next season, Foster will garner serious consideration for the No. 1 overall pick in any format.

RB Honorable Mention – Ryan Mathews, SD - 26 carries, 120 RuYD, 3 RuTD; 3 receptions, 19 ReYd (many will underrate him next year, but Mathews is just now getting healthy after a nagging ankle. I am not writing him off as a bust just yet).


WR Game Ball – Larry Fitzgerald, ARI - 11 receptions, 125 ReYd, 1 ReTD
A week after having his six-year streak of multiple catch games snapped a week ago, Fitzgerald blew up as the Cardinals try to play catch up for most of the game against the 49ers. Despite quarterback questions Fitzgerald remains a WR1 in fantasy leagues moving forward.

WR Honorable Mention – Jerome Simpson, CIN - 12 receptions, 123 ReYd, 1 ReTD (if it weren’t for a couple of fumbles Simpson could have come in over Fitzgerald. Still, two straight weeks in the good part of this column should be a huge boost of confidence for him heading into next season).


TE Game Ball – Rob Gronkowski, NE - 6 receptions, 102 ReYd, 1 ReTD
Gronkowski continued to be a favorite target in the Patriots’ passing game and benefited from Aaron Hernandez, Wes Welker and Deion Branch all sitting out as the team already had the AFC’s top seed secured before kickoff. He has high upside in the future.

TE Honorable Mention – Vernon Davis, SF - 3 receptions, 96 ReYd, 1 ReTD (he is capable of producing big numbers, but Davis’ inconsistency makes him a bit of a fantasy headache).


GAME-USED SOCK AWARD
Joe Flacco, BAL - 14/19 for 125 PaYd, 0 TD, 1 INT
The Ravens needed to win the game to have a shot to grab the AFC North crown and a first-round bye therefore there was no resting Flacco. His owners are likely wishing the Ravens had though. He had one the most mediocre performances of his short career. It marked his third game of the season without throwing a touchdown pass.

Stinky Sock Honorable Mention – Peyton Hillis, CLE - 6 carries, 13 RuYd; 1 reception, 3 ReYd (a great year ends badly for the Browns’ back as he averaged just 35.7 yards per game on the ground over that span).

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Game Balls: Week 16

27. December 2010  - Published by Dan Clasgens

Get your free football picks againt the spread and live football odds from our friends at Doc's Sports.

QB Game Ball – Aaron Rodgers, GB – 25/37 for 404 PaYd, 4 PaTD’s
A week after sitting out with a concussion, Rodgers returned to the lineup with a bang to reward fantasy owners that were fortunate enough to advance without him in Week 15. He torched the Giants’ D to the tune his best fantasy output of the season.

QB Honorable Mention – Josh Freeman, TB – 21/26 for 237 PaYd, 5 PaTD’s (The Bucs’ signal caller threw as many touchdowns as he did incompletions).


RB Game Ball – Jamal Charles, KC – 13 carries, 77 RuYd; 4 receptions, 40 ReYd, 2 ReTD’s
For the second straight season Charles has provided a nice fantasy playoff push for his owners. He averaged nearly six yards per carry while tallying 117 total yards and finding his way to the end zone twice on Championship Sunday. He is easily a top 10 pick in fantasy leagues in 2011.

RB Honorable Mention – Matt Forte, CHI – 19 carries, 113 RuYd, RuTD; 4 receptions for 56 yards (He had surprising production against stellar Jets’ rush D).


WR Game Ball – Jerome Simpson, CIN – 6 receptions, 124 ReYd, 2 ReTD’s
To say that Simpson had a career day is a gross understatement. The third-year wideout entered the game with exactly three career catches. With that in mind Simpson was not owned in nearly any fantasy leagues, much less in anybody’s lineup.

WR Honorable Mention – Dwayne Bowe, KC – 6 receptions, 153 ReYd, ReTD (Bowe scored his 15th touchdown in a nice bounce back game after a rough few weeks).


TE Game Ball – Kellen Winslow, TB – 7 receptions, 98 ReYd, 2 ReTD’s
Winslow only scored three touchdowns all year, but made two trips to the end zone in Week 16 as the Bucs passing game had its way versus the Seahawks.  His 98-yard output is also his best effort of the season and the seven receptions ties his year’s best mark.

TE Honorable Mention – Rob Gronkowski, NE – 4 receptions, 54 ReYd, 2 ReTD’s (Gronkowski benefited from Hernandez sitting out of the Pats’ tilt in Buffalo).


GAME-USED SOCK AWARD
Larry Fitzgerald, ARZ – 1 reception, 26 ReYd, 0 TD’s
It’s hard to get catches when you don’t get targets. Cardinals’ rookie John Skelton didn’t provide him his first target until after intermission and his first catch didn’t come until after the game’s final two-minute warning. It snapped a 97-game streak of games with multiple receptions that Fitzgerald was working on.

Stinky Sock Honorable Mention – Michael Turner, ATL – 17 carries, 48 RuYD, 1 FL (what a nightmare night Turner had, highlighted by his goalline fumble and pedestrian 2.8 yards per carry).

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Fear Of Failure Fuels Fitzgerald

2. August 2009  - Published by Dan Clasgens

Check out this great read on Larry Fitzgerald:

There's no question God blessed Fitzgerald with incredible physical gifts. And Fitzgerald was fortunate to have a father who could get him a job as a ball boy with the Minnesota Vikings, where he soaked up knowledge from greats like Cris Carter and Randy Moss.

But Fitzgerald is the pre-eminent receiver in the NFL today for one reason: He is driven to be the best wideout the game has ever seen.

"It's not always the case where you see a physically gifted player like he is have the mental fortitude to really want to work to be the best," coach Ken Whisenhunt said. "Some guys are so gifted they can show up and be pretty good players. Not Larry. That's not good enough for him."

Fitzgerald, 25, is uneasy with his newfound celebrity status. If he could, he'd go the entire season without doing an interview. But when you set NFL single-season playoff records for receptions (30), receiving yards (546) and touchdowns (7), and you're on the cover of the Madden 2010 video game, well, the attention is going to come.

COMPLETE ARTICLE (East Valley Tribune)

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GSI Mock Draft: Round Two

29. July 2009  - Published by Dan Clasgens

After a solid first round things started to get interesting in Round Two of the GSI Mock Draft...

RECAPS: Round One

ROUND TWO
13. BROERING - WR L. Fitzgerald (ARI)
14. SIMON - WR R. Moss (NE)
15. DINSMORE - WR A. Johnson (HOU)
16. BRYANT - RB S. Slaton (HOU)
17. WETZEL - RB C. Portis (WAS)
18. SCHMITT - WR R. Wayne (IND)
19. SIMS - WR C. Johnson (DET)
20. MURDICO - RB B. Jacobs (NYG)
21. ANSELMO - WR A. Boldin (ARI)
22. CLASGENS - QB P. Manning (IND)
23. FISCHER - QB T. Brady (NE)
24. HUMBERT - WR G. Jennings (GB)

POSITION BREAKDOWN: WR (7), RB (3), QB (2)

MY PICK: There are three quarterbacks that I consider Tier 1 candidates - Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, and Tom Brady. Brees (who was taken 4th overall) went in the opening round and I was a bit surprised to see Manning and Brady both fall to me with the 22nd overall pick. I was anticipating both of them going sooner and turning to my WR1 here, but I will take a franchise quarterback. Ultimately, Brady has more upside than Manning, but Peyton is the "safer" bet in my eyes. His '08 numbers were a bit disappointing for owners, but too many people disregarded his preseason knee surgery that limited him to just three TD passes in the team's first three contests. I'm not buying into the Harrison departing hurts him theory either. Harrison was a non-factor (no TD's or fewer than 50 yards) in 10 games last season and Manning still averaged 230 yards per game and threw 14 TD's in those outings.

BEST VALUE PICK: Some owners will be a bit gun shy to pull the trigger on Tom Brady, but they shouldn't be. The Patriots were confident enough in his recovery from knee surgery to send backup Matt Cassel to Kansas City. If the veteran signal caller even comes close to sniffing 2007 numbers, he will make the owners that passed him over for a wideout. Outside the top three or four receivers, the difference between No. 5 and No. 12 is marginal. The same can't be said at quarterback.

MOST LIKELY TO DISAPPOINT: Once again it's hard to nit pick some of the top 25 players taken in a fantasy draft, but if I had to pick a guy that could disappoint from this round I go with Steve Slaton. Just by looking at my Cheat Sheet you can see that I am not as high on him as Ron Bryant is as I have ranked as the No. 14 running back at this point. Slaton is solid and has the ability to score on any play. He may not carry a huge workload, but the production is there. However, I likely would have went after a receiver here.  It is a long time before Ron gets to pick again. He could have had a stud quarterback or an elite wideout and instead opted for a running back that most websites don't have in the Top 10. There will be more running backs to choose from in Round Three than there will be QB's and WR's.

FINAL TAKE: A solid round by all. As predicited the run on receivers came and came large. Expect Round Two in your league to be the same way.

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Around The NFL

12. July 2009  - Published by Dan Clasgens

Let's check out some of the latest headlines from around pro football:

DOLPHINS INTERESTED IN VICK? (Florida Sun-Sentinel)
Dolphins owner Stephen Ross is already on record saying he believes that Michael Vick deserves a second chance to play in the NFL and GM Jeff Ireland currently offered "no comment" when recently asked about the speculation that Vick could wind up in Miami. The team could create a role for him in their "Wildcat" offense, but after spending an early pick on West Virginia's Pat White it appears unlikely...MORE

CARDINALS RECEIVING OPTIONS BEST IN LEAGUE (FoxSports.com)
Only one team sported three different 1,000-yard receivers last season, the NFC champion Cardinals. Larry Fitzgerald may be the best receiver on the planet, especially after an other-worldly playoff run. Anquan Boldin (if he's still around) is one of the NFL's best targets over the middle and a guaranteed 1,000-yard contributor annually...MORE

VIKING TRAINER VISITS FAVRE AGAIN (Minneapolis Star-Tribune)
Vikings trainer Eric Sugarman was in Hattiesburg, Miss., on Wednesday to check on the physical condition of quarterback Brett Favre, another indication the veteran NFL quarterback is headed for the Vikings. This is Sugarman's second visit to Favre in Mississippi. The last time he was there in mid-June, Sugarman gave the former Packers star some exercises he could use following arm surgery...MORE 

GRAHAM, BENGALS STILL FAR APART (Cincinnati Enquirer)
With the July 15 deadline to sign Shayne Graham to a long-term deal, it appears as if the team and kicker remain far apart. For being tagged, Graham will earn $2.483 million this season should both parties not reach an agreement by 4 p.m. on Wednesday. Negotiations then can not resume until the end of the regular season...MORE

CRIBBS WON'T PLAY UNDER CURRENT DEAL (NFL.com)
Cleveland wide receiver/kick returner Joshua Cribbs does not plan to play a game for the Browns under the terms of his current contract. But Cribbs, who has four years remaining on a six-year, $6.7 million contract, hopes a deal can be worked out by the start of the regular season, according to a person with knowledge of the situation...MORE

FAMILY LAYS MCNAIR TO REST (The Tennessean)
Saturday, on the University of Southern Mississippi campus, 5,000 people joined Vince Young and other Titans to say goodbye to Steve McNair, the unassuming Mississippi farm boy who made football his life and toughness his legacy. A few rows behind the family sat NFL quarterbacks Brett Favre and Jay Cutler. Jeff Fisher, McNair's coach when he was the Titans' quarterback...MORE

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FantasySportsGirl.com: Cardinals Preview

7. July 2009  - Published by Dan Clasgens
Fantasy Sports Girl Kaila has the Cards camp preview...

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Super Bowl: Final Take

2. February 2009  - Published by Dan Clasgens

WOW! What a game. The Super Bowl once again delivered on its hype as Pittsburgh squeaked past Arizona, 27-23. Here are some of my observations...

*The final five minutes of the game were the best I can remember.

*Santonio Holmes was the right call on MVP - on the final drive alone he had four catches for 74 yards and the amazing touchdown catch.

*Ben Roethlisberger has ice in his veins. The way he eludes pressure in the pocket for a man his size is epic. He now has two titles in his first five years making him the second youngest ever (Tom Brady) to get two titles.

*Larry Fitzgerald continues to amaze. That second TD he has was ridiculous. He just ran past would be tacklers.

*I hope Kurt Warner comes back. If he does Arizona is going to have to be look at as contenders.

*The Cards' defense buckled at the end, but the play of their front seven was great. They just need to add a safety or two to get to the next level.

*Mike Tomlin and Ken Whisenhunt beautifully represent the new breed of NFL coaches. The Rooneys couldn't have gone wrong either way in hiring Bill Cowher's replacement.

*Have you ever seen one play turn a game, much less the Super Bowl, more than James Harrison's 100-yard interception return for a touchdown on the final play of the first half did? At the very least the Cards could have tied it up 10-10 at the half if not take the lead the outright. Instead, the Steelers went into the locker room up ten, 17-7.

*Too many damn penalties. There were legitimate calls, but the refs could have kept their flags in their pockets on several calls. The Cards had 11 penalties for 106 yards alone.

*Six titles is impressive...I hate the Steelers, but I do respect them.

*I am now officially depressed as football is over. We now have seven months until kickoff of the 2009 season.

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2009 Fantasy Football Top 50

25. January 2009  - Published by Dan Clasgens

The 2008 fantasy season in the books and there are plenty of questions that need to be answered, but nonetheless here's the 1st edition of the 2009 GSI Fantasy Football Top 50 rankings:



TOP TEN PICKS
1. ADRIAN PETERSON (MIN) - The winner by default. A-Pete won the rushing title and 16 TD's is hard to beat. He may not be the best overall RB in the NFL, but he remains fantasy football's best. The fact he still has room for improvement is scary.

2. STEVEN JACKSON (STL) - When he played, Jackson was one of the best scorers in fantasy football. In fact he finished the year in the top 3 of fantasy points per game. The problem is he only played in 12 games and was less than 100% in half of those. New Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo says his offensive philosophy is to "to be able to run the football and protect the quarterback." That should spell success for the Rams' franchise back.

3. MATT FORTE (CHI) - Having a top five pick is not what it used to be, but you can't go wrong taking the Bears' newest weapon there. He has the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield and can break big plays. The Bears' offense will continue to focus on giving him opportunities.

4. MAURICE JONES-DREW (JCK) - Fred Taylor's days in Jacksonville appear to be over, leaving the bulk of the duty to MJD. He shined down the stretch with Taylor sidelined and now could have the chance to do so for the length of a season. He not only is rock solid at the goalline, but Jones-Drew also is one of the best receiving backs in the league.

5. CHRIS JOHNSON (TEN) - The rookie was sensational, picking up right where he left off in college at making explosive plays. If it weren't for the touchdown machine Lendale White stealing his chances at the stripe, Johnson would rival A-Pete for the #1 pick.

6. MICHAEL TURNER (ATL) - The best free-agent pickup during last year's off-season won't make it past Round 1 in 2009. He finished second in the league in rushing and put up four mutliple-TD games. Throw in a score in 7 of his last 8 games in '08 and his value is high. I am a bit worried about his 370 carries this year though as he could wear down.

7. LARRY FITZGERALD (ARZ) - Fitz has moved to the top of my list at receiver with his dominating playoff performance. He is as solid as they come and a safe bet to be near the top of the league again next year. Through three playoff games Fitzgerald is up to 419 receiving yards, 23 catches, and five touchdowns. That's following six scores in his last five regular season games. Pretty impressive. Getting quarterback Kurt Warner back could prove key though to him going this high.

8. FRANK GORE (SF) - I am still holding out for Gore to follow up on the 2006 campaign. To do so he's going to need to avoid all the bumps and bruises though. With Mike Singletary back and Mike Martz gone in San Fran, expect Gore to become the center of attention in the 49ers' attack (even more so than before).

9. DEANGELO WILLIAMS (CAR) - Even with Jonathan Stewart lurking, Williams was able to put up some amazing numbers this season in the high-powered Panthers' running attack.  He made 20 trips to the end zone and rushed for 1,518 yards. A repeat performance may be tough, but he's certainly worth top 10 recognition.

10. ANDRE JOHNSON (HOU) - Johnson makes my top 10 and is really 1A on my Cheat Sheet at receiver heading into next season.  It's pretty impressive to think about only six running backs had more yards than Johnson did through the air. That's enough for me to take him in late in the first round.

COMPLETE RANKINGS

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