Top Fantasy Football Picks: 2010 AFC South Fantasy Football Preview

2010 AFC South Fantasy Football Preview

Here’s my AFC South Fantasy football team preview as of JUNE. Do due diligence to evaluate injuries and such. Take a look and feel free to build your own cheat sheets from this.  Be sure to sign up for my free picks and tips at http://JohnnyNFL.com. Get instant notifications when I post updates to my top fantasy football picks and rankings when you follow me at http://twitter.com/johnnynfl

Houston Texans

WR Andre Johnson—Johnson has emerged as the number one WR in the league. He can be a force to be reckoned with on every down, and has the ability to break it to the end zone whenever he touches the ball.  Everyone knows he is the Texans number one threat, but he still can’t be stopped. Johnson should be the first WR taken in any fantasy draft and if not taken in the first round will be gone early in the second.

QB Matt Schaub—Schaub is one of the top QB’s in the league and will be a valuable asset as a starting fantasy QB.  With the best WR in the league and the pass catching Steve Slaton at RB, Schaub should again excel as a fantasy starting QB.

WR Kevin Walter—As the complement to Johnson, Walter is an effective WR and could present value as a flex player or third WR. Walter may not be as consistent as you would like, but he can put up some good fantasy numbers and is still worthy of a roster spot on your fantasy team.

RB (R)Ben Tate—Tate has a great chance to become the starter and should be a nice flex option with the chance to become a valuable second RB. Much will depend on the performance of Steve Slaton and Arian Foster in the preseason, but I believe Tate will see the majority of touches as the starting RB.

TE (R)Dorin Dickerson—In the event Owen Daniels doesn’t re-sign, Dickerson could be a nice fill in when the matchup is right. Rookie Garrett Graham was drafted higher, but Dickerson has all of the skills needed to be a productive NFL TE.

RB Steve Slaton—Slaton could be a sleeper if he somehow reclaims the starting job. Slaton has the talent to be a quality running back, he just has problems holding onto the ball. If he can pull a Tiki Barber and learn to hold onto the ball, he could be a huge addition to your fantasy squad. Slaton is someone that may warrant taking a chance on as a late round selection.

RB Arian Foste—Foster appears to have potential as an NFL running back, but the presence of Slaton and Tate may hinder his production. Look for Foster late in the draft if Tate or Slaton cannot stay healthy.

Indianapolis Colts

WR Reggie Wayne—Wayne will likely be a top seven WR until he retires. Of course, that will likely be close to the same time QB Peyton Manning walks off as well. The two of them together have a chemistry unlike any other tandem in the league, making Wayne one of the top WR’s in fantasy football and someone you will want on your roster as a starting WR.

TE Dallas Clark—Clark is like having a WR playing TE. He knows how to split the seam and Manning will find him every time. Short or long, Clark can catch the ball all over the field and make the defense pay, and Manning is not shy about throwing the ball his way. Clark is a fantasy TE that can be like having an extra WR and will likely be gone in the earlier rounds of your draft.

RB Joseph Addai—Addai may not get 100 yards rushing very often, but he gets yardage through the air and, very importantly, scores touchdowns. Donald Brown may still take some playing time away from Addai, but as long as he is healthy Addai can be a valuable number two RB for your fantasy football team.

QB Peyton Manning—Manning is one of the most consistent forces in the NFL and fantasy football over the last decade. He has frequently had excellent talent at his disposal along with a stellar offensive line. While the offensive line may not be as good as it once was,  they will still be good enough for Manning to again be one of the best QB’s you can have on your team.

WR Austin Collie—Collie proved as a rookie that he could excel in the NFL, and there’s no reason to believe he will not continue to be productive in 2010. Collie will be a great second WR for your fantasy squad and should be a mid round selection.

WR Pierre Garcon—It really doesn’t matter if Garcon is the second or third WR on the Colts this season, he will still be a good late round pick and can provide value as a third WR or flex player.  The Colts love to throw the ball, and when you have Peyton Manning that is a pretty good game plan. Garcon has a chance to put up numbers that will be comparable to many teams 2nd WR in 2010.

Jacksonville Jaguars

RB Maurice Jones-Drew—Drew may be the single most depended upon player in the entire league. While Garrard is a more than capable QB, the stable of WR’s in Jacksonville is not that great, and TE Marcedes Lewis is getting better but is still not among the elite at his position. Rookie Deji Karim will battle RB Rashad Jennings for playing time behind Drew, but Drew is the one that makes the Jaguars tick and the one that will be looked to to carry the load. Drew is a force on the ground, an excellent receiver, and a beast on the goal line, and should see the ball a lot in 2010. He’ll be a solid first round fantasy pick and would be a great start towards dominating your league.

WR Mike Sims-Walke—Walker excelled as the main target for Garrard last year, and although I still wouldn’t consider him among the league’s elite, he can be a good choice in the later rounds as a second or third WR. Second-year WR Mike Thomas is improving and if he can get better that could open up better opportunities for Sims Walker to be more productive.  Expect a good, but not great, year from Sims-Walker in 2010.

QB David Garrard—It would be nice to see how good Garrard could be if he had a stable of productive WR’s. Until that time, however, Garrard will be nothing more than an occasional fantasy starter .The offensive line is improved and the running game should still be potent, but having Mike Sims-Walker as your best WR is not going to lead to too many MVP like seasons. Garrard can be a valuable backup and reliable part-time fantasy QB, but because of the receiving corps and reliance on the running game is not someone you will be able to count on to be consistently productive throughout the course of the entire season.

TE Marcedes Lewis—Lewis can be a valid choice late in the draft if all of the other top TE’s are gone, but is better off as an occasional starter when the matchup is right. Lewis can have some good games, but like Garrard is just not consistent enough to warrant a weekly starting spot on your fantasy roster.

RB Rashad Jennings—This is a very interesting player, as his true value may not be determined until well into the preseason. Jennings can be a capable backup to Drew, but the drafting of rookie Deji Karim means we will have to wait and see who is going to get playing time when Drew isn’t on the field. Both of these RB’s have a chance to be productive in a part-time role, and could be worth a late fantasy pick if you need RB depth.

RB (R)Deji Karim—see above.

Tennessee Titans

RB Chris Johnson—Johnson will be the undisputed number one fantasy pick this season, and for good reason. No one has the combination of rushing skills, receiving skills, and scoring ability that Johnson possesses. He will remain the focal point of the Titans offense and the only thing that may cause his numbers to come down significantly will be the loss of Kevin Mawae at center. Even without a quality center Johnson will be productive, but if they do find a quality replacement Johnson may again attain numbers close to 2009.

WR Nate Washington—Since Washington is now in his second season with the Titans after coming over from the Steelers, he could become Vince Young’s favorite target in 2010. With defenses having to defend against Chris Johnson, Washington should see his share of opportunities this season. He should be a nice pick toward the later rounds of your fantasy draft to fill your second or third WR or flex position.

WR Kenny Britt—Britt is only in his second season, so his best years are likely ahead of him. He should command a starting role this season, meaning he could become a more consistent player and be worth a spot on your team as a third WR or flex player. Look for Britt in the later rounds as what could become a valuable pick for your team.

QB Vince Young—Young is improving as a passer, and still has the wheels to make him dangerous on the ground as well. Much like Garrard, however, Young is a nice backup to have on your roster but will likely be a tough starting QB to count on for an entire season. While Young still may not be the most consistent QB in the league, he can be a nice play when the matchup is right, and therefore can present a nice option as a backup fantasy QB.