Fantasy Football 2011: 10 Stats from 2010 That Might Make You Draft Differently

The 2011 NFL season is almost upon us, and that means your fantasy football draft is even closer. No matter how much research you do, there will be some stats you’ll miss out on.

Whether it’s injured players who were about to put up career years like Austin Collie, or running backs who were secretly good when they got a chance like Brandon Jacobs.

There are surely some we all miss in our research, and some that would have made us think twice during the draft.

There are some truly unique and, in some cases jaw-dropping, stats from 2010, and here’s a look at 10 of the best.

Use them wisely. 

Jamaal Charles Yards Per Carry

A search for anyone in NFL history who rushed the ball more than 200 times in a season with a yards per carry average of over six comes back with four players.

Jamaal Charles is one of them. The other three?

Barry Sanders, O.J. Simpson and Jim Brown. Yikes. 

Among those guys, Charles is the youngest by two years, has the second highest YPC average (only .02 yards behind Barry Sanders) and carried the ball the least.

That last fact might lead you to believe that his season was slightly less spectacular than the other three guys', but it also means he will be nice and fresh.

All three of those Hall of Famers suffered a decrease in stats the next season, but Charles' "freshness" speaks to a possible increase in numbers. 

He's already been spectacular with Thomas Jones as the starter. What's different this year besides the fact that Jones is one year older?

Watch out. 

Mike Wallace Yards Per Catch

Last year, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallace pulled in 60 catches at an average of 20.95 yards per catch. 

It was an amazing season that only eight other players in NFL history have mimicked, and Wallace is tied with Steve Watson to be the youngest player to accomplish the feat. 

Still though, of all the players on this list, no one returned to an average of 20 YPC the next season.

Some players stayed near 60 catches, but lowered their YPC. Some players, such as Jerry Rice, turned themselves into more complete receivers, upping their catches and lowering their YPC.

ESPN has Wallace more in this group, projecting him to pull in 68 passes at an average of about 19.4 YPC.

That would essentially put Wallace into uncharted territory, however, and while I like 68 catches as a prediction, his YPC should fall to somewhere around 16 or 17, likely putting his touchdowns below double digits. 

That's a change that would likely only drop Wallace down a few spots.    

Sam Bradford's Rookie Season

For his opening NFL act, Sam Bradford put together quite the impressive season.

The St. Louis Rams' quarterback threw for 3,512 yards, 18 touchdowns and a QB rating of 76.5.

Among rookies, the QB rating is 12th best (minimum 300 attempts), the touchdowns are tied for eighth best and the yards are third best in history. The only two QBs to throw for more yards in their rookie year?

Peyton Manning and Jim Kelly. That's not bad company.

Oh, and he also set a record for completions as a rookie. The Rams should be letting this guy loose again in 2011, and if you didn't consider Bradford a starter before, now is probably a good time to start doing so.   

Austin Collie's Half Season

In essentially eight games last year, Austin Collie racked up 58 catches, 649 yards and eight touchdowns.

Project that over a full season, and that's 116 catches, 1,298 yards and 16 touchdowns.

I know I'll be monitoring Collie's health over the next month, and if all reports are positive, I'm bumping him very far up my draft board.

Arian Foster's Historic Year

Arian Foster broke out in a big way in 2010, rushing for 1,616 yards and racking up 604 receiving yards.

A little quick math and that comes out to 2,220 yards from scrimmage to go along with his 18 touchdowns.

The only other guys to put together that kind of a season are Edgerrin James, Eric Dickerson, Ahman Green, Terrell Davis, LaDainian Tomlinson, O.J. Simpson and Priest Holmes. Only Davis fell off the next year.

So, while you write Foster off because you think he'll lose a ton of touches or because he might be a one-hit wonder, look at the company he's in. These aren't a bunch of Domanick Davises or Rudi Johnsons.

Add in the fact that only James and Dickerson accomplished the feat at a younger age, and I wouldn't be afraid to nab Foster at No. 1. 

Second-Year Receivers the New Trend?

All too often, you hear to draft third-year receivers, because they are more likely to break out. 

There may be some evidence that is beginning to change, however.

In 2010, Danny Amendola, Hakeem Nicks, Percy Harvin and Jeremy Maclin all topped 70 catches. Mike Thomas, Mike Wallace and Austin Collie all had breakout years, as well.

As for the junior receivers?

Only Steve Johnson and Davone Bess topped 70 receptions, while guys like Eddie Royal and Mike Sims-Walker had disappointing years.

This season, second-year guys such as Mike Williams and Dez Bryant should have big years, while Jordan Shipley and Anthony Armstrong could also break out.  

Brandon Jacobs' Quiet Season

In 2010, Brandon Jacobs, mostly as a backup, ran the ball 147 times for 823 yards. That's an average of 5.6 yards per carry.

Since he is so often used in short-yardage situations, this surprised me. 

In fact, over his career, Jacobs averages 4.6 yards per carry. Take out Jacobs' inexplicable 2009 collapse, and he's averaged about 4.9 yards per carry. 

That's Adrian Peterson territory. 

Now, don't think I'm comparing Jacobs to Adrian Peterson, because I'm not. You can't just forget about a year like that.

But, what do you think is more of the norm for Jacobs? Three seasons of 202, 219 and 147 carries with YPC averages of five, five and 5.6 respectively?

Or one season following a contract extension in which he carried the ball 224 times for an average of 3.7 yards?

Jacobs has now taken a contract hit, claiming it isn't about the money anymore. It's crazy, but he might be growing up.

Throw in the fact that Ahmad Bradshaw is a bit of an injury risk and also the fact that Jacobs will poach goal-line carries, and you have yourself an interesting sleeper who can be had somewhere around the ninth round in 12-team leagues.   

Cedric Benson's 2010 Eerily Similar to Edgerrin James' 2006

Did you know that Cedric Benson is almost 29?

It seems like he was just coming out of Texas, but here he is, nearing the end of the typical running back lifespan. 

At 28, Benson was anything but exciting. He carried the ball 311 times for 1,111 yards and seven touchdowns. 

Those numbers look a lot like Edgerrin James' numbers in his first year with Arizona, when he was also 28 years old.

Edge ran the ball 337 for 1,159 yards and six touchdowns.

James and Benson's yards per carry average were 3.44 and 3.46 respectively, good for ninth and tenth worst in history for backs with at least 300 carries.

Now, these guys are pretty much the definition of boring, but even James, who had a lot more mileage on his legs, went on to have one more good season with the Cardinals (1,222 yards and seven TDs).

It's not fun to own Benson, but he'll most likely hit 300 carries, and he has essentially no competition.

The Bengals offense is largely untested and unproven, and it will be hard to watch at times, but my guess is that Benson slides pretty far in most drafts, and if that starts to happen, I'd snatch him up.  

Brandon Lloyd's Breakout Year

So, uh, where exactly did Brandon Lloyd come from? 

In seven seasons prior to 2010, Lloyd averaged 23 catches and 339 yards. In 2010, he pulled down 77 catches and 1,448 yards, to go along with 11 touchdowns.

A season of at least 75 catches and a YPC average of over 18 has occurred seven times, and here's the list:

Steve Smith (Car), Jerry Rice twice, Randy Moss, Brandon Lloyd, Torry Holt and Roy Green. 

Who doesn't belong?

It might be true that Lloyd benefited from Brandon Marshall's departure, but now that pass-happy Josh McDaniels is gone, expectations for Lloyd should be tempered.