Big Name Players To Stay Away From in Fantasy Football 2010

Via: http://www.thecovertwo.com

In fantasy football, you never want to be stuck with a high round draft choice that is performing like a late round draft choice.

It happens every year in fantasy football. You get excited by a big name player so you spend your first, second, or third round draft choice on them and you end up wishing that you took the up and coming star instead.

You've done it before.

Last year, for most drafts, it was LaDainian Tomlinson. He was taken late in the first round and performed like a fifth rounder.

Avoiding these players could be the difference between going to the playoffs and screaming "PLAYOFFS!?!?" like Jim Mora. So, in order to help you I have created a list of players that I am staying away from this fantasy football season.

Randy Moss

I drafted Randy Moss last season and extremely enjoyed his presence on my team. He had five games over 100 receiving yards, 13 touchdowns, and provided a fairly consistent high-level of play.

However, I just don't see it happening in 2010 for Moss. He started to slow down late in the 2009 season. In the last seven games of the season, he only broke 70 yards twice (70,75) and in a couple of games his age started to show.

Moss is headed into his 13th season at 33 years old. He is still going to put up solid numbers in 2010, but at the average draft position that he's being taken, his output isn't going to match the stock that you will put into him.

Rashard Mendenhall

With Willie Colon out for season, Santonio Holmes gone, and Roethlisberger suspended for 6 games, it leaves RB Rashard Mendenhall with little room to succeed. Sure, Mendenhall is progressing, but there is absolutely no threat of a passing game. Hines Ward is a blocking receiver, and Mike Wallace can't succeed with Byron Leftwich at QB.

The Steelers have had little go right for them this off-season and that's why I'm not touching Mendenhall with a 10-foot pole. There is so much depth this year at the running back position that I would just let somebody else take Mendenhall, while I take somebody that can actually produce.

Donovan McNabb

I know he's tempting, but let's look at the facts. He's starting on a new team that is hurting at the wide receiver position. The best receiver they have is Chris Cooley, and he's coming off of a serious knee injury. Santana Moss is 31 years old, Joey Galloway is 38 years old, Malcolm Kelly has yet to prove himself of anything, and rookie Shay Hodge will get lost in the terrible depth.

Not to mention that his team plays the 8th toughest schedule in the 2010 NFL season. There is better value to be spent at the time McNabb will be drafted. You can always wait on a quarterback such as Eagles current QB Kevin Kolb, Ravens QB Joe Flacco, or even up and coming Detroit Lions QB Matt Stafford.

Tony Gonzalez

Just because he's going to be in the hall-of-fame, doesn't mean you need to honor him by putting him on your fantasy team. NFL.com currently has him ranked above Brent Celek, Owen Daniels, Kellen Winslow, and Visanthe Shiancoe. I would take all four of those TEs over Gonzalez in 2010.

If you're going to go "big name" on tight ends this year, then go after San Francisco 49ers TE Vernon Davis or Green Bay Packers TE Jermichael Finley. Both will be drafted around the same time as Gonzo so you might as well pick one of them up instead.

Kickers

Nothing makes me laugh more on draft day then when somebody goes after a big name kicker, as if they will contribute to your championship run. Now, I'm not going to lie - I had a man-crush on Nate Kaeding last year. He was one of a few players that actually stayed on my roster all year long. I picked him up in the very last round of my fantasy football draft in 2009, and he couldn't have been better.

Please, don't be that guy that picks Stephen Gostkowski over somebody that could actually give you a touchdown. Save kickers until the very last round.

So there you have it. A big name player at every position you can let your friends pick while you laugh at them for not making the playoffs. Please follow my advice and don't fall into the black hole of big name stars.