Fantasy Football's Seven Most Overrated Players

Here is my list of the seven footballers that are drafted a lot higher than they should be.

Laurence Maroney

Ranked 26th according to ESPN's fantasy rankings

Ranked 20th according to Yahoo's fantasy rankings

Ranked 48th according to me

His main problem is that Bill Belichick gets a little peculiar around the goal line. Belichick loves using play action around the goal line and divides the goal-line carries too much.

Last year, Heath Evans had three goal-line touchdowns, and Sammy Morris had three goal-line touchdowns in the six games he played in before he got injured for the season. Maroney didn’t even score a touchdown until Week 11.

I expect Morris to have a big role in the running game this year, considering before he got hurt last year, he seemed to have solidified himself as a key contributor. 

With LaMont Jordan, Sammy Morris, Kevin Faulk, and Heath Evans all stealing carries, and with Belichick's constant play-action calling around the goal line, I would try to avoid taking Maroney as high as he usually is being taken.

Willie Parker

Ranked 17th according to ESPN's fantasy rankings

Ranked 30th according to Yahoo's fantasy rankings

Ranked 56th according to me

Not only did the Steelers lose Pro Bowl guard Alan Faneca to free agency, but Parker only had two touchdowns last year and was the 23rd-ranked running back last year in total fantasy points.

With rookie first-round pick Rashard Mendenhall stealing carries (especially most of the goal-line carries), he is often taken way too high.

Frank Gore

Ranked Seventh according to ESPN's fantasy rankings

Ranked Eighth according to Yahoo's fantasy rankings

Ranked 17th according to me

Besides the 49er's quarterback uncertainties, and the fact that Gore only had six touchdowns last year, I don’t trust Mike Martz as an offensive coordinator.

The last two years with Martz as the Lion’s offensive coordinator, the Lions have finished last in the NFL in rushing attempts.

Even though Martz claims that he is going to heavily incorporate Gore in the offense, he claimed the same thing last year with Detroit’s running backs and the results were the same.

Reggie Bush

Ranked 31st according to ESPN's fantasy rankings

Ranked 36th according to Yahoo's fantasy rankings

Ranked 55th according to me

Bush carried a heavy workload last year while Deuce McAlister was injured; however, he only averaged 3.7 YPC and totaled 998 yards and six touchdowns.

With Deuce McAlister back from injury, and Pierre Thomas pushing for playing time, I expect his numbers to only drop.

Roddy White

Ranked 58th according to ESPN's fantasy rankings

Ranked 59th according to Yahoo's fantasy rankings

Ranked 70th according to me

He had a big jump from 506 yards in 2006 to 1,202 yards in 2007. However, I think he is often drafted too high, considering he’s only had one good year, had only six touchdowns last year, and is going to be playing alongside a rookie quarterback.

Tony Gonzalez

Ranked 56th according to ESPN's fantasy rankings

Ranked 60th according to Yahoo's fantasy rankings

Ranked 68th according to me

Besides the fact that Gonzalez hasn't had more than five touchdowns in a season since 2004, he doesn't have good chemistry with Brodie Croyle.

In the five games Croyle played, Gonzalez only averaged 50.2 yards. However, in the 10 games Damon Huard played, Gonzales averaged 89.2 yards.

Considering Gonzales hasn't had a great fantasy season in a few years, and he lacks chemistry with Croyle, I wouldn't draft Gonzalez as high as he is often taken.

Chad Johnson

Ranked 36th according to ESPN's fantasy rankings

Ranked 34th according to Yahoo's fantasy rankings

Ranked 37th according to me

(Even though these rankings are similar to mine, he is generally getting drafted higher in most drafts.)

Besides the fact that Johnson is out for the rest of preseason and isn’t guaranteed to play in the opener, Johnson isn’t a very consistent fantasy player.

Johnson gets a lot of receiving yards, but he only scored a touchdown in four games last season. He had three touchdowns in one game, two TDs in two games, and one TD in another game.

Therefore, I wouldn't draft him as high as he often is because I don’t want a player who is only going to help me in a few games.