5 Fantasy Players Worth Betting on

These NFL players are immortal locks to dominate in 2012.

They'll keep you near the top of the regular season standings of your fantasy league and will be the reasons why you're playing for the championship in December. 

We're not talking about "great" fantasy players; this list is reserved for the elite of the elite in fake football. 

These guys imposed their supremacy last year and are in situations conducive to similar success in 2012. 

Arian Foster

Arian Foster exploded onto the scene from relatively obscurity in 2010 when he went from undrafted afterthought to NFL rushing leader. 

The former Tennessee Volunteer racked up over 2,200 all-purpose yards with a whopping 18 total touchdowns en route to an All-Pro selection no one saw coming. 

After battling a hamstring injury at the beginning the 2011 season, Foster still managed 1,224 yards on the ground, 617 yards receiving and 12 total touchdowns. 

In two playoff games, the punishing yet elusive runner totalled a ridiculous 285 rushing yards with three touchdowns.

Houston did part ways with stud right tackle Eric Winston, but their zone-blocking scheme is as sound as any, and with three offensive linemen being selected in the 2012 draft, the team has even more depth up front. 

Fully healthy, Foster's in another position to top 2,000 yards from scrimmage and score plenty of touchdowns for you this season. 

Fantasy god. 

Calvin Johnson

Calvin Johnson, aptly named "Megatron" for his 6'5'', 236-pound monstrous frame, is the No. 1 fantasy wide receiver entering 2012 by a wide margin. 

His 2011 was absolutely nuts. 

He caught 96 passes for 1,681 yards with 16 receiving touchdowns, which brought wide grins to his owners last year. 

His 12-catch, 211-yard, two-touchdown masterpiece against the New Orleans Saints in the playoffs was downright evil, and though the Lions lost, he ended the year reminding us of his dominant tendencies.

Johnson was targeted 158 times last season, and there's no reason to think he won't garner a similar number in 2012. 

At 26, he's entering the prime of his career, and he's got a gun-slinging quarterback with whom he's formulated a cerebral rapport. 

As the most physically jaw-dropping receiver in the league, playing as the go-to target on the Lions' high-powered offense, Megatron will single-handedly win you a handful of fantasy showdowns this season. 

Aaron Rodgers

Yes, Drew Brees had more yards and touchdowns than Aaron Rodgers last season, but the Green Bay Packers quarterback had fewer interceptions and played in one less game. 

Still, a 45-touchdown, six-interception, 4,643-yard season isn't too shabby. 

Certainly, in fantasy football, pure numbers are all that matter, so you're probably wondering why Brees didn't get the nod here. 

Well, first, Rodgers has his full arsenal of weapons back for what should be an even more explosive 2012 campaign. Brees does not. 

Robert Meachem is now a member of the San Diego Chargers. 

Secondly, Rodgers will have the luxury of having his head coach on the sideline, an offensive guru. Brees will not. 

Yes, Brees will dice through secondaries and score major fantasy points in 2012, but I'm betting on Rodgers to have the better season. 

Ray Rice

Ray Rice led the NFL with 2,068 all-purpose yards in 2011 and was the unequivocal heartbeat of the Baltimore Ravens' offense. 

The short, agile and extremely gritty runner averaged 4.7 yards per carry, caught 76 passes for 704 yards and scored 15 total touchdowns. 

He got his wish when the Ravens offered him a five-year contract in mid-July, and he's poised for another wildly productive year. 

Though Ben Grubbs is now a member of the New Orleans Saints, the Ravens drafted two talented offensive linemen in an attempt to regain continuity when the regular season begins. 

Rice's role in the offense hasn't changed a bit, and he'll get the amount of carries needed to stay near the top of the league in yards from scrimmage. 

Tom Brady

How in the world do you bet against Tom Brady, in the real game or in fantasy football?

He's so good, so efficient, so destructive to opposing defenses that his 2009 season with 4,398 yards, 28 touchdowns and 13 interceptions was considered a "down" year. 

His defense was shaky in 2011, but his offense was as productive as ever. 

Well, besides that ridiculous 2007 unit. 

All his weapons are back, and the Patriots' front office intelligently added deep threat Brandon Lloyd to the mix. 

Lloyd out wide, Wes Welker in the slot and Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez running down the seam. 

Who's stopping New England?