Here are some QBs/RBs/WRs & TEs putting up serious preseason numbers. Let’s take a look and see if they have a chance to translate some of that preseason production into fantasy worth in regular season play.
Quarterbacks
Matt Hasselbeck, Seattle Seahawks – Through two games, Hasselbeck leads all QBs with a 111.9 passer rating. He has completed 67.9% of his passes (19 of 28 ) for 198 yards and 2 TDs. The key to his success is staying healthy. Now that two of his starting offensive lineman have been injured, I would move Hasselbeck down from a low-end QB1 to a high-end QB2 as he’s likely to take more hits with his make-shift line. It’s nice to see him getting into a rhythm though.
Tarvaris Jackson, Minnesota Vikings – T-Jack responded to the challenge of Brett Favre’s arrival with a perfect 158.3 passer rating, completing 80% of his passes (12 of 15) for 202 yards and 2 TDs. Unfortunately for Jackson, the Vikings are likely showcasing him so they can try to trade him. With Favre, T-Jack, Sage Rosenfels, and John David Booty on the roster, something has to give. The Vikes won’t carry four QBs this year. Depending on where he ends up, he could have some fantasy value, but I wouldn’t waste a roster spot with him.
A.J. Feeley, Philadelphia Eagles – Feeley leads all QBs with 347 preseason passing yards. He has completed 34 of 44 passes (77.3%) with 1 TD and a 106.9 passer rating. The showing is nice, but he is unlikely to unseat Kevin Kolb for the backup role.
Ryan Fitzpatrick, Buffalo Bills – Fitzpatrick has been unconscious completing 72.1% of his passes (31 of 43) for 316 yards. He’s sixth in the preseason standings with a 90.8 passer rating. He had a good preseason last year as well, and we saw what he did when Carson Palmer went down…little. He has a little better weapons with the Bills, but don’t expect much from him if Trent Edwards gets hurt.
Brodie Croyle, Kansas City Chiefs – It’s unlikely Croyle can unseat newcomer Matt Cassel. That would almost be an admission that the old regime was right. Still, if Croyle continues to push Cassel with his 60.7 completion percentage (17 of 28 ) and 80.4 passer rating (8th best), fans could start calling for Cassel’s head if he struggles out of the gate.
Running Backs
Glen Coffee, San Francisco 49ers – Coffee leads all RBs with 196 preseason rushing yards. He is averaging 6.5 yards per carry (ypc). He also has two receptions for 8 yard, but has failed to score a TD. The Rookie out of Alabama is doing all the right things to serve as Frank Gore’s primary backup. If Gore goes down, Coffee’s value skyrockets. He is a great late round value as a Gore handcuff or trade bait.
Tyrell Sutton, Green Bay Packers – Sutton has 140 yards on 27 carries (5.2 ypc) with a TD. It’s could earn him a gig on a practice squad somewhere or the UFL.
Michael Turner, Atlanta Falcons – The preseason means little, but it’s nice to know the Burner is picking up where he left off with 128 yards on 13 carries (9.8 ypc) with a pair of TDs. He is clearly a top four pick, with a bump in non-PPR leagues.
James Davis, Cleveland Browns – James has been shooting up fantasy draft boards with an amazing preseason. He has looked great in practices and showed a glimpse of his big play potential with a 81 yard TD run against the lowly Detroit Lions en route to a 12 carry, 116 yard game. Through two preseasons games the Clemson Rookie has 121 yards on 14 carries (8.6 ypc) and 3 receptions. He has plenty of competition in Jamal Lewis and Jerome Harrison, but let’s face it. The Browns are bad. They are going to be bad. It’s only a matter of time before they start planning for the future, and Jamal Lewis isn’t the future. Harrison is better suited for the change of pace role, meaning Davis could get the bulk of the carries.
Kory Sheets, San Francisco 49ers – Sheets has 102 yards on 22 carries (4.6 ypc), but only has a shot of making the team because of Thomas Clayton’s knee injury. He has no fantasy value.
Mike Bell, New Orleans Saints – Bell is an interesting option. I obviously wouldn’t carry him on my roster as long as Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas were healthy, but he could be productive if one of them went down with an injury. He has 100 yards on 10 carries (10.0 ypc) this preseason with a 46 yard TD.
Ryan Grant, Green Bay Packers – Again, I know it’s only the preseason, but it’s nice to see Ryan Grant find the end zone. He has scored twice while running for 71 yards on 16 carries (4.4 ypc). He has added a couple of receptions. If he can score more than the 4 TDs he had last year, he’ll be one of the best RB2s.
Ahmad Bradshaw, New York Giants – Bradshaw appears poised to pick up Derrick Ward’s slack with 89 preseason yards on 11 carries (8.1 ypc) with 4 catches for 16 yards. He has the burst to break one, and the soft hands to catch the ball out of the backfield.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Jonathan Stupar, Buffalo Bills – Stupar leads the NFL with 15 preseason receptions for 155 yards and a TD. He’s third on the Bills’ Tight End depth chart so don’t get any thoughts of fantasy worth.
Jared Cook, Tennessee Titans – Now Cook is a TE with some fantasy value. The Rookie out of South Carolina has 12 catches for 120 yards in the preseason. With Tennessee’s limited options in the passing game, Cook could become one of their more reliable targets. He’s worth taking as a TE2.
Chris Henry, Cincinnati Bengals – As long as he can stay out of Roger Goodell’s office, Henry has a chance to really break out this year. He has 11 catches for 155 yards and 2 TDs. Now that he seems to have put his troubles behind him, he could put up huge numbers in a full season. He is going in the later rounds of fantasy drafts, and could end up putting up WR2 or WR3 numbers.
Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City Chiefs – For all the talk of Bowe not fitting into the Chiefs’ system or being at odds with Todd Haley, he has looked good in the preseason games with 8 catches for 107 yards and a TD. If you moved him down in your WR rankings, you may want to move him back up.
Troy Williamson, Jacksonville Jaguars – The former #1 bust leads the NFL with 221 preseason receiving yards on 7 caches. He caught a pair of deep balls for the bulk of the yardage. It’s great to see him make some plays, but I wouldn’t trust him to continue to produce. His hands have long been a question mark.
Chad Ochocinco, Cincinnati Bengals – Ocho has 142 yards on 5 catches. He even added an Extra Point. More importantly he has kept relatively quiet. If he can avoid being a distraction, he should be a real nice WR2 this year.
David Clowney, New York Jets – Clowney is hoping to be the next third year WR to break out. He has five receptions for 135 yards and 2 TDs this preseason. He is fighting with Chansi Stuckey to start opposite Jerricho Cotchery.
Justin Harper, Baltimore Ravens – Harper has been productive in the preseason games with 6 catches for 119 yards, but has dropped too many passes in practice. For a team with a limited passing game, dropping passes is a good way to be buried on the depth chart.
Laurent Robinson, St. Louis Rams – Laurent has taken advantage of Donnie Avery’s foot injury by catching 7 passes for 117 yards. He is going to start for the Rams so he’s worth grabbing in deep leagues, but he likely won’t be a viable fantasy option this year.
Robert Meachem, New Orleans Saints – Meachem has been a sleeper candidate the past two years now. He has 5 catches for 106 yards, including a 64-yard TD. If he can get on the field, he has a great chance to be productive in that offense. Draft him as a fantasy reserve and hope for the best.
Legedu Naanee, San Diego Chargers – This list is littered with third-year WRs. Legedu has 5 catches for 84 yards and 2 TDs. He is buried as the Chargers #4 WR behind Vincent Jackson, Chris Chambers, and Malcom Floyd. It’s also an offense that throws heavily to TE Antonio Gates and RBs LT and Darren Sproles. Don’t expect much from a fantasy perspective from Naanee this year.
