2012-13 NFL Fantasy Football: 6 Players to Make a Play for

Arian Foster, Ray Rice, and LeSean McCoy are the top three running backs. Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady are going to be studs. Calvin Johnson is in a class of his own at receiver.

By this point in time, fantasy football analysis has reached a consensus on most major topics. In fact, most leagues, including yours, have likely held their drafts already.

That being said, now is no time to sit back and relax. While most post-draft managers eagerly focus on the upcoming Week 1 action, astute owners need to stay active, tweaking their rosters and offering trades to their more passive counterparts. It's essential to acquire those sleepers now before the season starts and your predictions are proven right (making the players you want all the more difficult to acquire)!

Here are six players to target for your team (whether you've had your draft or not), three running backs and three receivers. Though rankings for these six are likely similar across most major fantasy websites, these six players all have the potential to provide outstanding value compared to their current ranking.

Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota Vikings

Consensus Ranking: 12-15th among running backs

Should be ranked: Top 8 running back, Top 4 (weeks 5-16)

Let's get the bad stuff out of the way first. Yes, the picture on this page happened last season. Yes, Peterson hasn't played in a preseason game. Yes, Peterson's still uncertain for Week 1, and won't play much even if he is able to suit up. Forget all that. Here's why you reach for him via draft or trade:

When fully healthy, Adrian Peterson is unquestionably one of the top three or four backs in fantasy. When you draft Adrian Peterson, you draft him not for the first few weeks, but for the last 8-10 weeks of the season when the rust's gone and he's wreaking havoc at full strength. If you're worried about his playing time the first couple weeks of the season, draft Toby Gerhart in the later rounds to ensure  full ownership of the Viking backfield.

After the top three of Foster, Rice and McCoy, running back is extremely weak this year. I'd much rather have 10 games of Peterson at full strength than any of the unproven rookies (Trent Richardson, Doug Martin) or injury-prone backs (Ryan Matthews, DeMarco Murray). Having a healthy Peterson leading your team during the fantasy stretch run and playoffs will be an asset that far exceeds his current draft value.

Fred Jackson, RB, Buffalo Bills

Consensus Ranking: 13-15th among running backs

Should be ranked: Top 8 running back

Extrapolate Jackson's numbers from his nine games last season to a full sixteen (Jackson broke a bone in his left leg during Week 11) and you get this line:

1,630 rushing yards, 697 receiving yards (2,327 total yards), 11 TDs

That's easily a Top 5 fantasy running back, if not Top 3. The hesitancy around Jackson this year is understandable. After Jackson went down last season, backup C.J. Spiller filled in admirably. Concerns remain whether Jackson's performance was an exception rather than the norm.

However, initial reports on Jackson's health are optimistic. He's looked healthy in the preseason, and will get the majority of the carries out of the backfield. At 6'1", 216 pounds, Jackson is also his team's goal-line back. Criminally underrated, Jackson actually led the NFL the last three seasons in forced missed tackles (despite ranking only 14th in touches). Though it might be unreasonable to expect numbers similar to last year, Jackson should still be good for 1,300-1,400 total yards and 8-10TD's. Grab him.

Willis McGahee, RB, Denver Broncos

Consensus Ranking: 20-25th among running backs

Should be ranked: Top 12-15 running back

Last year, Willis McGahee rushed for 1,199 yards and four TD's (good yardage total, ugly TD number). The Broncos' starting quarterback last year, Tim Tebow, accounted for six rushing TD's, poaching most of the goal-line carries. This year's new Bronco quarterback, Peyton Manning, has scored eight rushing TD's TOTAL his last eight seasons; he's not likely to stick his (surgically-repaired) neck out any more this season.

McGahee remains the unquestioned starting running back in Denver, on an offense that no longer relies on Tebow's arm in the passing attack or running ability at the goal-line. With defenses having to respect the Denver passing game more, McGahee will have much more room to run this season.

Furthermore, despite his aerial prowess, Peyton Manning-led offenses have always had productive running backs. Manning's last running back, Joseph Addai, averaged 881 rushing yards and 8.5 rushing TD's from 2007-2010, despite missing four games in 2009). A full-time starter playing in an improved offense, McGahee should easily surpass 1,000 yards and score around 8-10 TD's this year. How's that for a running back ranked by most in the early 20's?

Brandon Marshall, WR, Chicago Bears

Consensus Ranking: Top 8-12 Receiver

Should be ranked: Top 5 Receiver

Montana to Rice. Manning to Harrison. Cutler to Marshall.

Before you scoff, here are Marshall's last two seasons with Jay Cutler as his starting quarterback:

102 catches, 1,325 yards, seven TDs

104 catches, 1,265 yards, six TDs (missed one game, so chalk on another 80-100 yards and possibly a TD)

Last season, Marshall still managed 81 catches for 1,214 yards despite a litany of subpar quarterbacks in Miami. This season, Marshall finds himself reunited with Jay Cutler in Chicago. Both must be ecstatic to be together again. As an owner, you should be too.

Jordy Nelson, WR, Green Bay Packers

Consensus Ranking: Top 12-15 Receiver

Should be Ranked: Top 8 Receiver

Jordy Nelson was absolutely sensational last year, catching 68 balls for 1,263 yards and an astonishing 15 TD's. Nonetheless, the regression police are having a field day with Nelson prior to this season, calling his numbers unsustainable and a pipe dream for overly-optimistic fantasy owners.

Other doubters point to Nelson's final two games last year as outliers that inflated his season totals. Nelson was indeed fantastic those two contests, racking up 15 catches, 277 yards, and five TDs. However, if you take away those two amazing games, Nelson still would have had 986 yards receiving and 10 TDs—numbers that would have exceeded teammate Greg Jenning's totals from last year.

In a nutshell, Nelson is being punished for having big games last year. Don't make that mistake. In a high-powered Packer offense that leans heavily on the pass, Nelson is poised to have another big year.  

Malcom Floyd, WR, San Diego Chargers

Consensus Ranking: 35-40th among receivers

Should be ranked: A receiver with Top 20-25 upside

Flying under most radars, Malcom Floyd is a receiver whose combination of talent and situation should lead to a breakout this season. Though injury-prone the last two years, Floyd had no fewer than 5 catches, 95 yards, or one TD the last 3 games of 2011; what makes those numbers stand out is that Vincent Jackson, San Diego's then-No. 1 receiver, also played in those three games.

Clearly, current Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers has a solid rapport with Floyd. Additionally, with Jackson out of the picture, new signee Robert Meachem struggling this preseason and fellow sleeper Vincent Brown out for at least a month, Floyd has solidified himself as the No. 1 receiver in San Diego this year.

The Chargers are likely to be a pass-heavy team this season, as running back Ryan Matthews is no sure thing health-wise and Mike Tolbert has moved on to Carolina. Take a flier on Floyd and you'll likely be rewarded as he builds upon the 856 yards and 5 TDs he accumulated last season.