2010 Fantasy Football Preview: Five Bold Predictions

Let's face it, if owners want to win fantasy championships, they're forced to make some rather eyebrow-raising selections on draft day.

In many cases, those picks often come in the later rounds and are often referred to as "fliers": guys that may or may not be on your roster once Week 1 rolls around.

I'm not here to give you a list of fliers as there are plenty of guys you could gamble on in the later rounds. From WR Mike Williams (TB) to TE Zach Miller (OAK), there are plenty of upside picks in fantasyland for the 2010-2011 season. 

The following five predictions are unlike any advice that you'll find elsewhere—this is straight from the Norof draft guide, and you can't find that valuable piece of literature anywhere online. With all that being said, let's delve right into it...

Prediction No. 1: Aaron Rodgers will be this year's highest scoring fantasy player.

Don't misinterpret what I'm saying here—Rodgers is by no means the number one fantasy pick this season (Adrian Peterson parking only in that spot for me). However, if owners find themselves picking outside the top four slots, Rodgers is a legitimate candidate for your selection.

After really blossoming last season and at the helm of a potent Packers' offense, Rodgers' fantasy outlook this season is limitless. With weapons JerMichael Finley & Greg Jennings at his disposal, Green Bay's quarterback should have no problem establishing himself as this year's fantasy MVP. 

Prediction No. 2: Matt Forte will be a RB1 by Week Six.

After his sensational rookie campaign in '08, many owners were ready to declare the speedster from Tulane fantasy football's most influential newcomer.

After a '09 season that saw many waste a first round pick on the former fantasy flame, Forte was a complete burnout, leaving his owners cursing his name all season long.

The good news here is for the other owners, as this means that he'll come at a supreme discount in 2010.

Despite the Bears adding veteran Chester Taylor to the backfield, Forte has looked downright explosive this preseason, greatly resembling his '08 form.

With the Bears looking to revamp the offense under new coordinator Mike Martz, Forte is looking like a very rewarding pick for those willing to roll the dice. 

Prediction No. 3: Rashard Mendenhall will take a step back in 2010.

Before Fast Willie went down last season, many were wondering why the Steelers had taken Mendenhall in the first round of the '08 draft if he wasn't going to be the man in the backfield.

Once Parker got hurt, all of the questions quickly subsided and even his doubters were thoroughly impressed.

Now in 2010, expectations should be vastly tempered for the young running back. While it would be foolish to doubt his ability, I have a couple of issues with the Steelers team that are out of his control.

With Big Ben slated to miss the first four games and the offensive line looking less than inspired thus far during the preseason, opposing defenses will key in on Mendenhall early and often to shut down the running game.

I can't recommend him as anything higher than a top-tier RB2. 

Prediction No. 4: DeSean Jackson will finish outside the Top 15 at WR.

Jackson is the textbook definition of a boom-or-bust fantasy player, and this year all signs are pointing to bust.

New QB Kevin Kolb has looked absolutely miserable this preseason and it's become clear that the chemistry shared between he and Jackson is not anywhere close to the previous one between McNabb & the speedy wideout.

Not only does Kolb prefer to spread the ball around to his receivers, his favorite red-zone target already appears to be road roommate TE Brent Celek.

With the Eagles focusing less on the deep ball this season and maintaining more of a spread, balanced attack, Jackson could disappoint a lot of owners this season who may have selected him as high as the third round. 

Prediction No. 5: Arian Foster will score more than 10 touchdowns.

After two seasons of Steve Slaton and his fumble-itis, the Texans knew that they had to make a change at RB.

After selecting Ben Tate out of Auburn in the second round, the team thought they'd finally found the big bruiser that they were looking for in the back field. 

Much to the chagrin of the team and even some owners who had early drafts, Tate went down in a preseason game and never got up (he's now stashed on IR) and will have to wait until 2011 to make a splash.

Enter undrafted RB Arian Foster out of Wyoming who has really made the most of his opportunity.

After watching this kid a little in '09 and a lot this preseason, I have no idea why any team didn't gamble on him in the latter rounds as he looks like an absolute stud. I have no qualms about drafting Foster as an immediate RB2 with huge upside. 

Have you got a prediction of your own? Disagree with one of mine? Leave a comment in the section below.