Judge Me By This (Part II)

This is Part 2 of yesterday's column, which asks you to look back here at midseason and judge me by these picks. Today we discuss WRs, TEs, Kickers and Defenses.

WIDE RECEIVERS

 Brown Is Forlorn That People Still Draft Sanders Over Him

Antonio Brown Is A Worthy Late Round Flier

Typically, you don’t want to draft guys who are competing with four other WRs for playing time and targets. Mike Wallace is the clear number one. Hines Ward is 35 years old, and on the decline. Perhaps he’s been too busy dancing with the stars, and driving with the alcohol, but more likely, he’s just old. Jerricho Cotchery is still buried on the depth chart, despite his big name. And Emmanuel “Colonel” Sanders is still sidelined with a foot injury. Some still cling to Sanders as the Steelers sleeper you want because he’s the better talent, but Antonio Brown has the opportunity now, so I’m taking him in the deep rounds and leaving Sanders alone. Brown was already hot in the preseason, but truly broke out on Saturday with four catches for 137 yards and two TDs. Big Ben is at the top of his game, and Brown is worth the your last non-kicker/defense pick.

Don’t Quit on Kenny Britt

Alternative headers include “Kenny Britt Is The Sh#t” or “Holy crap! They Killed Kenny…’s Self-Esteem by Underestimating Him.” Kenny Britt was a top 25 WR last year even after missing 6 games. If you pro-rate his production from 10 games to 16 games, he’d be a top 3 WR. It was just announced that he will not face any discipline from the NFL. Matt Hasselbeck is no Tom Brady, but he’s probably an upgrade from the QB mess in Tennessee last year. Britt may be slightly less than 100% at first with the hamstring injury, but as the 26th receiver off the board, Britt could be a real steal.

You Will Get A Migraine If You Don’t Draft Percy Harvin

I still have some faith in the Big Mac, Donovan McNabb. Without Sidney Rice (or any other serviceable option to speak of), Harvin is going to be a target monster. He says his migraines are a thing of the past. Harvin is unstoppable in an open field and the Vikings will find tons of ways to get him the ball. His ADP is 24th among WRs. He will surpass that.

Denarius Moore Is Worth Your Last Round Pick

Moore is a worthy late round flier. I’ve written about this sleeeeper before. I won’t guarantee that he’ll knock your socks off. But he sure could, so c’mon what have you got to lose. Grab Moore in the 14th round.

I’m Drinking the Amendola Cola

Danny Amendola was tied for the most redzone targets in the league last year. You know I have love for the potential in the Rams passing attack with an improving young Sam Bradford, and more importantly, the arrival of Josh McDaniels. A PPR machine, Amendola hauled in 85 passes last year. He could easily get to 100 this year, with 1000 yards and 10 TDs to boot. He’s this year’s Brandon Lloyd. Along the same lines, I have high hopes for Brandon Gibson and Mike Sims-Walker as sleepers because of the potential here. (Donnie Avery and Danario Alexander are falling out of favor.) Amendola is being drafted as the 41st WR. He’s better than that.

Jacoby Ford Will Be A Solid WR3

We’ve discussed Ford before, but his speed and big plays make for an attractive pick as the 43rd WR off the board. Unlike other WR situations, this pecking order is clear: Ford is listed as the #1 WR on the Raiders. This is a perfect storm of talent and opportunity, and yet he’s currently going after both Niners WRs. You may draft Ford to ride your bench until the bye weeks, but he may be your starting flex sooner than later.

 Meachem Poses For His New Album Cover

Robert Meachem Will End The Year Better Than The 53rd Best WR

With Colston’s knee problems and Drew Brees’ inability to be imperfect, there is a golden opportunity for Meachem and/or Lance Moore to step up this year. I’m not sure which I like more, but given that you have to get Moore 2 rounds earlier, I’m going with Meachem as the better value play here. Meachem has looked good in the preseason, and Moore is sidelined with an injury until week one probably. You never know when Meachem will get another 50 yard TD, but this could be the year that he steps up and merits consistent starts on your team.

Drafting Plaxico Burress Is Shooting Yourself In The Foot

Tee hee hee. Plax is listed as the starting WR next to Santonio Holmes (who I love by the way), but the Jets have Derrick Mason and Dustin Keller to feed too, and they sure like to run the ball. I could be totally wrong on this one, but Plax will disappoint you if you take him as the 29th best WR – his current ADP. I can see 8 or 9 TDs for the big redzone threat, but not 1000 yards.

TIGHT ENDS

Jared Cook and Greg Olsen Will Outperform Tony Gonzalez

Okay, I’m already nervous about writing that. But suffice it to say, I’m high on Cook and Olsen, and down on Gonzalez. Gonzalez is 35 years old, and over the past four years, he has seen his receptions, yards, and average yards per catch all decline every year. That is not a good trend. With Julio Jones on the scene, Matt Ryan won’t force the ball to Old Gonzo as much. And I’ve written about my intense love affair for Olsen and Cook before. Especially considering they can be your last non-kicker or defense pick on draft day, that’s a value you can feel good about.

KICKERS AND DEFENSES

Only One Or Two Of The Top 5 Defenses and Kickers Will Remain In The Top 5 By Year’s End

Perhaps the same can be said about RBs in all likelihood, but the point is that there is no point to drafting a Kicker or Defense until the last round. If you could accurately predict the performances of either position, the difference would barely be enough to make drafting one earlier worthwhile. But more importantly, you cannot accurately predict who will be on top. Last year, Sebastian Janikowski was fantasyland’s leading scorer. Needless to say, he was not drafted as such. We’ll talk more about this with stats later, but again, just don’t draft a Kicker or Defense until the last rounds, please.