The All-Value Team represents fantasy football players we sure wish we knew were going to ball outta control during draft time in August. Right now, the following players have outshined their draft position so tremendously, that if you look up at your league standings you'll likely see a lot these players mixed in with consistent fantasy stalwarts. There's a lot of football left, but it seems now that many of these guys are on pace to be MVP's for your league and in contention for Pro Bowls in the real NFL. Either way, they represent the value that wins leagues and puts racks on racks on racks in your hand.
Quarterback
- Real Leadership in D.C
Robert Griffin III, Washington Redskins: RGIII, or Sir Robert III of Paydirt (that's mine by the way) would probably be drafted ahead of where Cam Newton was back before the season began, and its quite possible that he will greatly outperform Cam's magical 2011 season. Asking him, he would probably focus on doing better than 6-10 (2011 Panthers record) because he is as team-oriented as advertised coming out of Baylor. What we didn't expect from RGIII is his ability to produce Pro Bowl-caliber passing and rushing statistics and oh yeah, did we mention he's completing 70% of his passes? That's simply unheard of; coming in and completing 60% in your first year is typically considered great. Robert Griffin III is the second quarterback since 1970 (besides Michael Vick) to rush for a buck thirty and score two touchdowns in a game. Sir Robert has already had two 300-yard passing games this year, which in context, Vick hadn't thrown for 300 yards twice until his 52nd game. RGIII is on pace to rush for 1,011 yards and 16 TDs as well. I wouldn't expect the 16 TDs as teams continue to get more tape on him (See Cam 2012) but 3,000 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing with the potential for 30 combined touchdowns is attainable. All this from a guy typically picked in the seventh or eight rounds at the earliest is the definition of value.
Honorable Mentions: Matt Ryan, Falcons; Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers
Running Back
- Ridley: Believe It or Not
Stevan Ridley, New England Patriots: A precarious position many fantasy owners were in, when by the fifth or sixth rounds of this year's fantasy drafts, if they hadn't at least drafted two running backs by that point. If like many, you opted for guys like Peyton Hillis, James Starks, Beanie Wells and Toby Gerhart or heck, even Donald Brown because you were wary of the New England backfield situation. Those players you picked probably have "bust" screaming at you when you look at your roster today. But if you somehow lucked out and scooped up Stevan Ridley, you probably are entertaining trade offers for guys that would have been unthinkable in August. Mr. Ridley's believe-it-or-not campaign has weathered Belichick's machinations on running back carries, a 100-yard outburst from off-the-radar Brandon Bolden, and New England's general apathy toward running the ball anyway. Ridley has been a running threat not seen in Foxboro since Corey Dillon, to the tune of 524 yards rushing (5th in the NFL) along with 4 TDs in six games. Ridley has pounded opponents into submission his first year as a starter and is projected for 315 carries, which delights his fantasy owners. The last Patriots back to get 300 carries was Dillon with 345 in 2004. If Ridley, who is probably less talented than Dillon was, can earn goalline carries away from competitors, he may become even more valuable.
Honorable Mentions: Alfred Morris, Redskins; C.J Spiller, Bills
Wide Receiver
- Reggie Wayne? Has Luck On His Side
Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis Colts: Reggie Wayne was supposed to be a solid WR2, probably a WR if Andrew Luck progressed according to schedule; he was routinely thought of as a 6th round fantasy pick at best, with smarty pant owners (like myself) typically valuing guys like Torrey Smith, Pierre Garcon (ironic) , Darius Heyward-Bey, and hell, even Titus Young over the former U standout who is pretty near HOF consideration. What folly. Turns out 2011 Reggie Wayne had some really mediocre quarterbacks throwing him the ball. All Wayne has done is lead the entire league in targets (70), with 41 catches (4th) and 593 yards (3rd). It has definitely been a rebirth and he is part of an offense who may be just scratching the surface of their potential, as Andrew Luck, has shown the same trademark accuracy and decision-making he did while at Stanford. Wayne will continue to get plenty of looks his way as defenses still have to account for some speedy guys (Donnie Avery, T.Y Hilton) on the other side.
Honorable Mention: James Jones, Packers
Tight End
- Tony, Tony, Tony: Still "Feels Good" at 36
Tony Gonzalez, Atlanta Falcons: Tony G. is typically an undervalued commodity at the position anyway, but let this be a lesson to all of us tight end lovers in August. In one of my standard leagues there is a Top 50 ranking of all fantasy position players and not a single tight end is on the list. You have to go all the way to #59, to find the first TE and its not Gronkowski or Jimmy Graham (guys drafted as early as the second round) it's Tony Gonzalez the 86-year old wunderkind from the Falcons. So far, defenses have attention focused on Threat #1 and Threat #2 (Jones and White) that Gonzalez has found room and is on pace for well over 100 catches. He still knows how to get open and I distinctly remembering looking at him in the eight in one draft and thinking, well Olsen, Gresham, and Cook will all be there later....right.
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