Fantasy Football 2012: 15 Best Fantasy NFLers Under 25

The impact of young players in the NFL was strong in 2011.

Von Miller led the Denver Broncos defense into the playoffs as a 22-year-old rookie.

Aldon Smith, a 22-year-old rookie, and 23-year-old NaVorro Bowman were important pieces for the 49ers on the defensive front in their run to the NFC Championship Game.

Meanwhile, young impact players on the offensive side climbed to the elite level of fantasy football contributors.

Looking at just the skill players that are used in fantasy football (QB, WR, RB and TE), I’ve narrowed the list to the 15 best fantasy NFLers under 25.  Nine of the 15 players listed played in the 2011 NFL playoffs.

Some of these players, like Cam Newton and LeSean McCoy, have already cemented themselves as fantasy football studs. Others, like Tim Tebow and DeMarco Murray, have just shown flashes of brilliance in their short careers.

The players have been grouped by position.

*All the players included are under the age of 25 as of the date of this article’s publication. Only current NFLers were included (so nobody in the 2012 draft class).

Cam Newton, QB

Birth Date: May 11, 1989 (Age 22)

Cam Newton brought life to a Carolina Panthers team that had been struggling. While the Panthers still finished third in the NFC South with a record of 6-10, there is reason for hope and excitement with Cam Newton at the helm.

Newton also paid off savvy fantasy owners who snagged him as a rookie in last year’s fantasy draft. He was the 117th player taken on average in ESPN leagues.

He set the rookie record for passing yards with 4,051 and set the NFL record for rushing TDs by a QB with 14.

Newton had a special year, and he did it with limited preparation due to a shortened offseason. He should be able to put up similar numbers in his second season and will hopefully reduce his 2011 INT total of 17.

Matthew Stafford, QB

Birth Date: Feb. 7, 1988 (Age 24)

In 2011, Stafford became one of just four QBs in NFL history to throw for 5,000 yards in a season. Stafford threw for 5,038 yards and 41 TDs.

He’s also a big reason the Detroit Lions reached the playoffs for the first time since 1999.

Stafford and Calvin Johnson (26) are one of the best young QB/WR combos in the league, and they will look to continue Detroit’s resurgence in the coming seasons.

Stafford has good offensive weapons around him, and the Lions will hopefully get back a healthy Jahvid Best (23) for 2012 to add to the mix.

However, the key is Calvin Johnson. As long as Megatron is around, Stafford will be a quality fantasy football QB.

Andy Dalton, QB

Birth Date: October 29, 1987 (Age 24)

It’s rare for a rookie QB to lead his team to the playoffs, but Andy Dalton did just that, and he did it as more than just a “game manager.”

Dalton attempted over 500 passes in 2011, completing 300 of them for 3,398 yards. His season was overshadowed a bit by fellow rookie QB Cam Newton, but Dalton had one of the best rookie campaigns by a QB in the last decade.

Dalton did falter a bit in the Bengals’ playoff game against the Texans, throwing three picks. But it’s probably nothing to be concerned about—at least for fantasy purposes.

His regular season TD-INT ratio was very good for a rookie and respectable for an NFL starter (20 TDs to 14 INTs). 

Tim Tebow, QB

Birth Date: Aug. 14, 1987 (Age 24)

Balancing hype and reality can be a tough task when evaluating Tim Tebow. For the Denver Broncos, much of Tebow’s value comes from his highly-touted “intangibles.”

But the fact in fantasy is that he was the 30th overall scorer while only starting 11 games at QB for the Broncos.

Much like Cam Newton, Tebow’s rushing stats are the key to his value at the quarterback position. Tebow rushed for 660 yards on 5.4 yards per carry in 2011.

He also rushed for six TDs, more than RBs Steven Jackson, Chris Johnson and Willis McGahee had in 2011, all of whom were 1,000-yard rushers.

If he starts all 16 games for the Broncos next year, Tebow could near 1,000 yards on the ground and challenge Cam Newton for the QB lead in rushing TDs.

For more on Tim Tebow, see my article “Is Tim Tebow More Valuable to the Denver Broncos or Your Fantasy Team?”

LeSean McCoy, RB

Birth Date: July 12, 1988 (Age 23)

As I said in my 2012 fantasy mock draft, where I have him going No. 1 overall, LeSean McCoy is a stud.

He was the No. 2 scoring fantasy back in 2011 behind Ray Rice, while scoring an impressive 20 total TDs.

One stat that jumps out from 2011 is McCoy’s NFL-best 84 rushes resulting in first downs. McCoy moves the chains, and the Eagles have enough weapons that he is able to break longer runs on third downs as well. 

I like McCoy’s chances of being the No. 1 fantasy RB in 2012.

Ryan Mathews, RB

Birth Date: Oct. 10, 1987 (Age 24)

Mathews had a solid second season with the Chargers, breaking the 1,000-yard mark and finishing 10th overall in rushing yards.

He was the No. 9 scoring fantasy back of 2011 while rushing for six TDs.

Mathews wasn't a game-breaker in 2011, though; his longest run of the season was only 39 yards.

An off-year from Chargers QB Philip Rivers may have hurt Mathews a bit. If Rivers can return to form in 2012, more lanes could open up for Mathews in the rushing game.

DeMarco Murray. RB

Birth Date: Feb. 12, 1988 (age 24)

DeMarco Murray was an overnight fantasy sensation after a 253-yard rushing performance in his first NFL start in Week 7.

Murray took advantage of the opportunity to start with Felix Jones on the shelf and had three games of over 130 yards rushing in a four-game span.

Murray averaged an impressive 5.5 yards per carry before suffering a season-ending ankle injury in Week 14.

Fellow Cowboys RB Felix Jones is also 24, but it looks as if Murray is more suited for 25-plus carries a game as the Cowboys' lead back.

Hakeem Nicks, WR

Birth Date: Jan. 14, 1988 (Age 24)

Hakeem Nicks showed his knack for making big plays late in the regular season and in the postseason for the Giants this year, helping them win the Super Bowl.

Nicks averaged over 111 yards and a TD per game in the postseason, proving that he can handle the pressure of being a top WR on a playoff team.

Victor Cruz and Mario Manningham line up at WR for the Giants as well, but Eli Manning is accomplished at spreading the ball around.

And whether Nicks is the WR1a or WR1b next year, he’ll put up top-10 fantasy numbers for a WR.

Percy Harvin, WR

Birth Date: May 28, 1988 (Age 23)

Despite inconsistency at the QB position for the Vikings in 2011, Harvin was still the No. 8 scoring WR in fantasy. 

In his third year out of Florida, Harvin set career highs in receptions (87) and receiving yards (967).

Harvin also added value in the rushing game in 2011, going for career highs in rush yards (345) and rush TDs (two).

Harvin is fast developing as one of the top overall offensive threats in the league. With better play from Vikings QBs, Harvin has top-five WR potential.

A.J. Green, WR

Birth Date: July 31, 1988 (Age 23)

Green stepped into the No. 1 receiver’s role with Cincinnati and excelled in his rookie season.

Developing chemistry with fellow rookie Andy Dalton was key for Green in 2011. They came together fairly well and were instrumental in leading the team to the postseason.

However, they’ll have to further develop their connection in the offseason/preseason if Green is to make the jump to elite receiver in 2012.

Green was targeted 116 times in 2011, resulting in 65 catches for 1,057 yards. So, only 56 percent of the time that Green was targeted did the play result in a completion.

For comparison, Wes Welker had a reception on 70 percent of targets.

Dez Bryant, WR

Birth Date: Nov. 4, 1988 (Age 23)

Bryant is the most electric of the Cowboys receivers and most likely to make a run at 1,000 yards in 2012.

Staying healthy will be key for the third-year receiver in 2012, as he has yet to play in all 16 games in a season.

Dez led the Dallas Cowboys receivers in targets in 2011 with 103. Laurent Robinson was second with 83.

I’m betting that this is the year the young star breaks out as the clear No. 1 WR for the Dallas Cowboys.

Julio Jones, WR

Birth Date: Feb. 3, 1989 (Age 23)

Jones is currently Atlanta’s No. 2 receiver behind Roddy White (White: 181 targets, Jones: 96 targets).

A shift to an even more prominent role seems likely, though.

Jones gained 417 yards after the catch on 54 receptions. Roddy White had fewer yards after the catch (364) on 46 more receptions.

This translates to an average of 7.44 yards after the catch for Jones and just 3.64 for White.

Jones is the up-and-comer, and while he may not get the targets that White will get in 2012, he will likely pass him up in receiving yards.

Rob Gronkowski, TE

Birth Date: May 14, 1989 (Age 22)

Gronkowski’s breakout season with the Pats in 2011 has many fantasy owners thinking he’s a first-round pick in 2012, including me.

Gronkowski gave his owners a distinct advantage at the TE position in 2011 by dwarfing the TE competition with 18 total TDs. 

Gronk had 46 more fantasy points than second-place TE Jimmy Graham and 106 more than third-place TE (and teammate) Aaron Hernandez.

He may not replicate the monster TD total of 2011, but Tom Brady will keep throwing him footballs and we will see plenty more Gronk spikes in 2012.

Aaron Hernandez, TE

Birth Date: Nov. 6, 1989 (Age 22)

Hernandez is a bit overlooked in a Patriots offense that is led by Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski and Wes Welker. He was quietly the third most productive fantasy TE in 2011.

Hernandez racked up 910 yards receiving and seven TDs in 2011. He caught six TDs in his rookie season of 2010.

The Patriots will continue to use Hernandez in a variety of ways, as they can capitalize on having him and Gronk on the field at the same time. Hernandez even took some snaps at RB in the postseason for Bill Belicheck and the Pats.

Hernandez is a less likely candidate for a monster season like Gronk’s 2011, but top-five TE production from this young star will be there.  

Jermichael Finley, TE

Birth Date: March 26, 1987 (Age 24)

This 24-year-old TE had a breakout year in which he was finally able to play in all 16 team games for the Packers.

He was the fifth highest-scoring fantasy TE while catching eight TDs in 2011.

Inconsistency was an issue for Finley, though. Three of his TDs came in Week 3 while he had two games with only one reception and one game with zero.

If he stays with the Packers, Finley will continue to contend with Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson and the rest of the Packers receivers for targets.

In that scenario, 1,000 yards and double-digit TDs does not seem likely. However, Finley is a top-five talent at TE.

Hopefully, consistency will come with age and more experience.