Fantasy Football: Five Guys To Avoid In 2009

It seems every year in preparing for my fantasy football drafts, I run across what I like to call fantasy football lepers.

These are guys that, come draft day, I’m going to avoid at all costs, letting some other schmuck in my league get stuck with the head ache for the season. And, today, Bruno Boys Nation, I want to share five of my fantasy football lepers for 2009 with you. Perhaps in doing so, I can help you avoid some pain.

WR Dwayne Bowe (Kansas City Chiefs)—Placing Bowe on this list does pain me some. When it comes to fantasy football, one of the main things I want from my guys is consistency, and Bowe indeed had that in 2008.

In compiling his 1,022 receiving yards and seven touchdowns, Bowe finished with less than seven fantasy points in just three games out of the 16-game season. So, why am I turning my back on him in 2009, especially since the Chiefs went out and got a real quarterback in Matt Cassel to throw him the ball?

Plain and simple, it has to do with the departure of Tony Gonzalez.

When you’re a wide receiver, life is always made easier when you have a future Hall of Famer roaming the middle of the field, keeping secondaries honest.

With Gonzalez gone, defenses are going to throw everything but the kitchen sink at Bowe, and it’s going to be a lot harder to be consistent when you’re dealing with double teams.

RB Reggie Bush (New Orleans Saints)—A superb receiving running back on the best passing offense in the NFL—what’s not to like?

How about Bush’s measly 3.7 yards per carry average for his career, or the fact that Bush has missed 10 games over the last two seasons?

Yes, Bush can make the highlight reel play, but unless you’re in a league that awards points for a player’s appearances on SportsCenter, there are better options than Bush, especially since at least one owner will overvalue the Saints’ back based on name alone.

TE Vernon Davis (San Francisco 49ers)—Yes, he may be an impressive physical specimen, but so far, his size and athleticism has not translated into a successful football career.

In fact, the best year the former first rounder has amassed in his three years in the league was a 509-yard and four TD campaign in 2007. With many other young tight ends (John Carlson, Greg Owens, Owen Daniels, etc.) coming into their own, it’s time to stop being blinded by Davis’ physique.

QB Marc Bulger (St. Louis Rams)—I’m not going to lie. Following a disappointing 2007 season, I thought Bulger was set for a bounce back 2008.

I was wrong.

Finishing 27th among all fantasy quarterbacks with just 117 fantasy points, Bulger looked old and out of sorts at multiple times last season.

Once a top 10 fantasy option at his position, Bulger hardly warrants backup consideration moving forward. Not only will he be throwing to inexperienced receivers in the form of Donnie Avery, Keenan Burton, and Laurent Robinson, but also the Rams’ offense is no longer the pass happy attack it was earlier in Bulger’s career. 

WR Antonio Bryant (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)—Bryant was an excellent story last season.

After underachieving throughout his career and bouncing around from team to team, Bryant returned to the NFL, following a year off in 2007.

To the delight of Bucs fans and fantasy owners nationwide, he went registered 1,248 receiving yards and seven TD, good for eighth best among fantasy wide receivers.

Sadly, the good times will come to a crashing halt in 2009, and, unfortunately, it won’t be Bryant’s fault.

The wide out will see a decline in production thanks to a bad quarterback situation.

Neither Jeff Garcia nor Brian Griese are Peyton Manning, but both quarterbacks are preferred over the combo of Byron Leftwich and Luke McCown.

*THIS ARTICLE WRITTEN BY BRUNO BOYS WHOOLEY. FOR MORE FANTASY FOOTBALL INSIGHT AND ADVICE, CLICK THE LINK BELOW!*

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