Fantasy Football Week 8: Ranking 25 Best Surprises of NFL's First Half Season
It happens every year in fantasy football: players no one paid any attention to burst onto the fantasy scene and catch everyone completely off-guard.
This year is no exception. We've seen many players exceed our expectations for them, guys who have surprised us with their production and the occasional massive game. In some cases, they're delivering on potential we knew was there but hadn't been met yet. In others, they're delivering games we didn't know they were capable of.
We're bringing you 25 of the biggest surprises of the 2010 fantasy football season, breaking down what was surprising and how surprising it was.
25. Antonio Gates, TE, San Diego Chargers
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What He's Done: Up until last week, Gates was the most prolific receiver in the NFL. As it stands, he's second on the list. Why's that surprising? He's a tight end.
Why it's Surprising: We all knew Gates was good, but not this good. He's the top-ranked tight end by over 30 points and he's only three-points worse than the best wideout in the NFL. He's not riding one or two big games, either. He's a lock for 15-20 points a week.
Shock Value: 2/10. We should have known Gates would blow up like this, given the pass-heavy offense and lack of proven receiving options. Still, it's surprising to see a player be that dominant.
24. LeSean McCoy, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
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What He's Done: McCoy has been a big-play specialist in 2010, and blew up in Week 2, going off for 30 points against the Lions.
Why It's Surprising: We knew McCoy was capable of big things. But the back was trapped in Philly's pass-heavy system, where most runners can expect 10 carries and few points. But McCoy has been sensational in Philly, racking up touchdowns and big yardage totals on a regular basis this season.
Shock Value: 3/10. McCoy is here primarily because of his 30-point demolishing of Detroit. However, I don't think anyone predicted that LeSean would have four games with 12 or more points this year in Philly's system.
23. Hakeem Nicks, WR, New York Giants
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What He Did: Nicks has put up three games of 20-or-more points this season, two of which were 25-point explosions. While this doesn't seem impressive, consider that the Giants have two other talented, young wideouts in Steve Smith and Mario Manningham, as well as Nicks.
Why It's Surprising: Nicks was a middling fantasy prospect coming into the season, a guy who was just as likely to break through as bust. It's not that people didn't think Hakeem could rank second amongst wideouts in points scored. Rather, it's more that he did it so quickly that had people talking.
Shock Value: 3.5/10. People were shocked by Nicks' first game, but not because they didn't think he was capable of it before.
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22. Jahvid Best, RB, Detroit Lions
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What He Did: Best set fantasy football ablaze with his early-season play, racking up 55 points in two weeks, including a 40-point demolishing of the Eagles in Week 2.
Why It’s Surprising: Rookies aren't supposed to do those kinds of things. Best was viewed as a promising back in Detroit, but nothing better than a second back. So when he started putting up star-back numbers, people started paying attention.
Shock Value: 3.5/10. Best stunned us in Week 2 but he's cooled-off noticeably since, failing to crack double-digit points since. Plus, we all knew he was explosive. We just didn't think he'd go off like that.
21. Mike Tolbert, RB, San Diego Chargers
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What He Did: Tolbert took over for an injured Ryan Mathews in the Chargers' backfield and never looked back. He went for 21 points in Week 2, 16 points in Week 4, and has scored a touchdown each week since.
Why It's Surprising: Tolbert was third on the running back depth chart, and was barely seen as a goal-line option for the Chargers. Few people even knew who he was before Mathews went down, but they learned pretty quickly.
Shock Value: 4/10. Tolbert stunned people for three weeks. But once Mathews came back, the bruising runner was relegated to vulturing touchdowns from the rookie. Still, for a waiver-wire claim, that's pretty good.
20. Todd Heap, TE, Baltimore Ravens
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What He Did: Heap has risen from fantasy obscurity back into top 10 territory for tight ends, becoming a valued target for quarterback Joe Flacco.
Why It’s Surprising: Heap was presumed dead after last season, when injuries appeared to have sapped his value. The Ravens even went so far as to draft a pair of promising tight ends in Ed Dickson and Dennis Pitta, essentially sealing Heap's fate. But the big man perservered, and after his last two weeks, he's suddenly a valuable commodity again.
Shock Value: 4/10. People knew Heap had the talent, but figured he couldn't stay healthy long enough to capitalize on it.
19. Mike Williams, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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What He Did: Williams has made a significant impact as a rookie wideout, putting up solid WR3 stats, with the potential for WR1 stats in the future.
Why It’s Surprising: He was widely viewed as a headcase and an extremely deep sleeper by many, after sitting out his final year at Syracuse before heading into the NFL draft. But Williams has proven the doubters wrong, establishing himself as the top receiver in Tampa.
Shock Value: 4/10. It wasn't that Williams wasn't talented, more that he was seen as a headcase. If you used a late-round flier on him, you've got to be pleased with what he's done. He's not more than a WR2 most weeks, but for what you probably paid to get him, that's pretty good return on investment.
18. Darren McFadden, RB, Oakland Raiders
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What He Did: McFadden exploded back onto the fantasy scene in 2010, after two injury-shortened seasons turned him into a fantasy pariah. Taking out the two weeks he missed with injury, Run DMC has yet to post less than 12 points in any week this season. He capped his first half with a 43-point destruction of Denver last week.
Why It’s Surprising: McFadden was a high-risk pick, especially since most people assumed it would be Michael Bush who had the breakout season in Oakland's backfield. But now McFadden is the third most prolific scorer among all running backs, and your eighth-round grab of him looks pretty smart.
Shock Value: 4/10. People thought McFadden was a bust, and it turned out all he needed was to get healthy and get JaMarcus Russell out of Oakland. Still, we knew the talent was there for this, so we can't put him too high on the list.
17. Zach Miller, TE, Oakland Raiders
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What He Did: Miller has put up 12-or-more points in four of the last five weeks, which is good enough to put him second on the tight-end points list, behind Antonio "I'm really a wide receiver" Gates.
Why It’s Surprising: Miller was seen as a middle-tier tight end. He'd get you between five-and-nine points a week, but wouldn't do much more than that. However, a combination of injuries and poor play from other tight ends, and the realization that Miller was a fantastic receiver, have resulted in his becoming an incredibly valuable commodity in the fantasy football world.
Shock Value: 4.5/10. We knew this was possible, if the Raiders ever figured out what they had in Miller. But second on the tight end scoring lists? Even the most optimistic Zach Miller owner couldn't predict that.
16. BenJarvus Green-Ellis, RB, New England Patriots
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What He Did: The Law Firm has scored touchdowns in every game since taking over for Laurence Maroney and Fred Taylor as the starting running back in New England.
Why It’s Surprising: Green-Ellis was at least fourth on the Pats' depth chart heading into the season, and there was little hope of him finding playing time. He's still splitting duty with Danny Woodhead, but Green-Ellis is the most talented runner in New England right now.
Shock Value: 5/10. It was surprising to see him get a chance, even though everyone suspected he was the best back in Belichick's stable. Once the yards start coming, Green-Ellis could be a force to be reckoned with, something few would have predicted for him in 2010.
15. Kenny Britt, WR, Tennessee Titans
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What He Did: Britt exploded for 41 points on Sunday, winning games for many fantasy teams all by himself. He's scored a touchdown in five straight contests.
Why It’s Surprising: Britt was seen as a late-round sleeper to most, and his early-season play backed it up. But in Week 3, the big wideout started to find a rhythm, and he exploded in Week 7 against a suddenly-hapless Eagles' secondary.
Shock Value: 5/10. We knew Britt had WR1 potential, but his play early in the year indicated that he wasn't going to get there. How quickly times can change, as he's almost a must-start each week.
14. Ryan Torain, RB, Washington Redskins
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What He Did: Since taking over for the injured Clinton Portis, Torain has put up double-digit fantasy points three times in four games. He's broken 100 yards rushing in each of the last two weeks.
Why It’s Surprising: Torain has had the talent. But he was cut by Denver after a disappointing 2008, didn't play in 2009, and was hidden on Washington's depth chart this year. Once Portis went down, though, we knew he was solid.
Shock Value: 5/10. Torain surprised us somewhat, but it was more because he was an afterthought before Portis went down.
13. Marcedes Lewis, TE, Jacksonville Jaguars
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What He Did: Lewis has been a touchdown machine in 2010, scoring twice in two games, and once in another.
Why It’s Surprising: If you drafted Marcedes Lewis before the season started, people would have made fun of you non-stop. He wasn't on anyone's draft boards and his slow footspeed and shaky hands made him a forgotten man in Jacksonville.
Shock Value: 5/10. Is it surprising that Lewis has so many catches for scores? Yes. But considering his size, it was a logical decision to throw to him there. And they never find him anywhere else on the field, so all he's getting are touchdowns. Still, for an undrafted tight end, that's pretty darned good.
12. Sam Bradford, QB, St. Louis Rams
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What He Did: Bradford has proven to be an excellent option as a backup fantasy quarterback in 2010, scoring double digits in five of his first seven games.
Why It’s Surprising: Rookie quarterbacks seldom hold much fantasy football value, and Bradford wasn't supposed to have any for at least a year.
Shock Value: 5.5/10. We knew that Bradford would be a good quarterback eventually. We just didn't think he'd get there so quickly.
11. Kyle Orton, QB, Denver Broncos
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What He Did: After being saddled with the "game manager" label for most of his career, Orton is finally showing us what he can do, scoring no fewer than 13 points in any of Denver's games, and scoring 20-or-more points in four straight weeks.
Why It’s Surprising: Orton wasn't drafted in most leagues, and he was typically a second quarterback in the leagues he was taken in. Some people (such as myself) have been touting him for several years now, but no one expected this.
Shock Value: 6/10. Orton was never seen as a terribly talented quarterback, but he's proving people wrong and putting up big numbers in Josh McDaniels' pass-heavy system.
10. Josh Freeman, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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What He Did: Freeman has emerged as one of fantasy football's most reliable passers, racking up 12-or-more points in five of his team's six games.
Why It’s Surprising: No one was thinking about Freeman for anything heading into this season. Most saw him as being at least a year away from this point.
Shock Value: 6/10. We knew he could do it, we just didn't know it would happen so soon.
9. Austin Collie, WR, Indianapolis Colts
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What He Did: Collie was one of the NFL's leading fantasy receivers for much of the first half of 2010.
Why It’s Surprising: Because Collie was second or third on the wideout depth chart heading into the season, most notably behind standout receiver Reggie Wayne. But Collie rode a pair of 20-plus point games and solid performances the other four weeks to an incredibly strong start.
Shock Value: 7/10. Raise your hand if you thought Collie would be the most productive receiver in Indianapolis through the first six weeks of the season. Me neither.
8. Michael Vick, QB Philadelphia Eagles
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What He Did: Vick re-ignited his career after Kevin Kolb went down with an injury, reclaiming the title of football's most exciting player.
Why It’s Surprising: Vick hadn't shown the slightest hint of the spark he had before his suspension prior to Kolb's injury. For all intents and purposes, he looked washed up.
Shock Value: 7/10. Anyone who predicted Vick would be a success in the NFL after his previous two seasons is lying. Still, the talent never fully left.
7. LaDanian Tomlinson, RB, New York Jets
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What He Did: Stole Shonn Greene's starting gig, and has been running roughshod over the entire NFL through the first eight weeks of the season. He currently ranks ninth in points among running backs.
Why It’s Surprising: If you watched Tomlinson run the last two or three years in San Diego, you would have sworn he was washed up. But with a good offensive line blocking for him, LT miraculously looks like the same runner he was several years ago.
Shock Value: 7.5/10. For a guy who was a late-round touchdown-vulture pick in most leagues, LT has been one of the best stories in the NFL this season.
6. Steve Johnson, WR, Buffalo Bills
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What He Did: Johnson has become one of the most valuable wideouts in football in the last four weeks, scoring a touchdown in each of his last four contests and blowing up for 21 points last week against the Ravens.
Why It’s Surprising: Johnson hadn't broken 200 career receiving yards in his three seasons before this season. No one was expecting him to do anything in 2010—he wasn't even on the board.
Shock Value: 8/10. Johnson has shocked the fantasy world with his reliable play, and he's not done yet. If you snagged him off waivers, you're in for a pleasant shock.
5. Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB, Buffalo Bills
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What He Did: Since taking Trent Edwards' job, Fitzpatrick has ignited the Bills' offense, and has put up 14 points, 20 points, 20 points and 29 points in the four weeks since.
Why It’s Surprising: If you watched Fitzpatrick overthrow receivers by 10 yards during his tenure with the Bengals, his success in Buffalo is a serious shock.
Shock Value: 8.5/10. Apparently, Fitzpatrick is a late bloomer. He's looked like a backup in most leagues, at the minimum, since taking over for Edwards. For a guy who was regularly mocked prior to the season, that's pretty amazing.
4. Shaun Hill, QB, Detroit Lions
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What He Did: When Lions' starting quarterback Matthew Stafford got hurt, Detroit's offense looked dead. Into the breach stepped Hill, who promptly delivered three 20-point performances in five games before getting hurt in Week 6.
Why It’s Surprising: Hill is a journeyman quarterback, a career backup. He doesn't have a great arm and there was no reason he should have succeeded to such a degree with the Lions.
Shock Value: 8.5/10. I thought Hill would struggle as Detroit's quarterback. Instead, he thrived. Anyone who could have seen that coming is either related to Hill, or a bold-faced liar.
3. Peyton Hillis, RB, Cleveland Browns
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What He Did: Hillis exploded onto the fantasy scene in 2010, putting up double-digit point totals in six of the Browns first seven games. He ran on everything and everyone, blowing holes in opposing defenses.
Why It’s Surprising: Hillis is a converted fullback, and was a throw-in on the trade that sent Brady Quinn to hold a clipboard in Denver. The Browns didn't know what they had, and fantasy owners didn't either.
Shock Value: 9/10. We knew Hillis could be a goal-line back in Cleveland, but no one could have predicted this kind of success for the big man.
2. Brandon Lloyd, WR, Denver Broncos
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What He Did: Lloyd's been nothing short of fantastic for his owners in 2010, putting up the third-most fantasy points among all wideouts in the NFL. He's become Denver's best deep threat.
Why It’s Surprising: Lloyd washed out of two previous gigs in the NFL, and didn't look good in either San Francisco or Washington. But he posted four monster games, and two solid ones in his first six games as a Bronco—making him the best waiver-wire pickup of the season.
Shock Value: 9.5/10. You don't go from NFL also-ran to the class of the league. It just doesn't happen. But Brandon Lloyd managed to pull it off.
1. Arian Foster, RB, Houston Texans
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What He Did: Foster got his sophmore campaign off to a huge start, putting 41 points on the Colts. He has proven to be one of the most reliable and consistent backs in the NFL, putting up more than 30-points twice, more than 20-points three times, and more than 10-points five times in six games.
Why It’s Surprising: People thought Foster could be a valuable RB2 in most formats; absolutely no one saw this kind of a performance coming down the pipe. He's been better than Adrian Peterson, Chris Johnson and Maurice Jones-Drew. He has been the best back in the NFL in 2010.
Shock Value: 10/10. If you'd asked anyone at the start of the season who they thought the best running back in the NFL would be through the first half of the season, no one would have predicted that it would be Foster. And I mean no one. He is without a doubt the biggest surprise of 2010.
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