Fantasy Football 2012: Aaron Hernandez and More Stars to Target

The 2012 NFL season is just over a week away, but many leagues have yet to conduct their fantasy drafts.

If you have a draft coming up in the next few days, you will want to make sure you land at least one or two of these big name stars. These guys are projected to have monster seasons and should be at or near the top of points scored for their position.

While you most likely won’t be able to nab all of them—and it would be a ridiculous league if you could—you are almost assured a playoff spot if you get your hands on at least two.

Let’s take a look at these fantasy studs.

QB – Cam Newton

Newton was one of the leading quarterbacks in the league last year, and he was a rookie. Imagine what he’s going to do with more offensive weapons, more time under coach Ron Rivera and a better knowledge of how the league works.

This dual-threat QB is going to pound TDs in on the ground, throw bombs through the air and make defenses pay all season long.

Fortunately, he’s not projected to go until the late first, or early second round, so make sure you pick him up at the proper place. Definitely trade back for Newton if you have an early first-round pick and aren’t sure what to do with it.

RB – Arian Foster

Foster is consistently one of the top running backs in football and for good reason. He’s an elite rusher and he’s constantly given 20 or more touches a game via the air and ground to do his damage.

There is no other RB in the league who should go ahead of him in 2012, and you must select the Houston Texans star if you have a crack at him.

WR – Julio Jones

The second-year receiver is going to be the primary weapon for the Atlanta Falcons offense.

He had a solid 2011 campaign and was one of the most targeted players in the red zone. If he can build upon that performance and stay healthy, Jones may just be the best receiver in the entire league.

He’s got the speed, size and skill to do it, and he should certainly be getting the targets from QB Matt Ryan.

TE – Aaron Hernandez

According to Greg A. Bedard of the Boston Globe, Hernandez has worked his way up to become Tom Brady’s No. 1 target.

That means that the third-year TE will likely be targeted more than Wes Welker, Rob Gronkowski, Brandon Lloyd and any of the other WRs on the New England Patriots' roster.

Hernandez also occasionally lines up at RB and could be a threat out of the backfield at points this season.

All signs point to this sneaky-elite TE having a massive statistical season.