10 Bold Predictions To Solidify Your 2011 Fantasy Football Draft Strategy

Judging from mock drafts and a lot of the drafts that readers at GodHatesLosers have shown me, this year is anything but predictable. We have first rounds where more than seven quarterbacks are taken, we have about 10 running backs that we can expect to be great (along with a a very muddled middle) and about 100 wide receivers that could become fantasy starters.

With so much going on in the NFL, pinning down the fantasy team you want can be a challenge. So, let's pull out our crystal balls and try to sort through some of the noise. Here are my 10 bold predictions about the 2011 Fantasy Football season.

Sam Bradford Eclipses Big Ben, Matt Ryan and More To Become Top 10 Quarterback

Alright.. This might not be super bold, he is the 14th drafted quarterback in most leagues and had a great rookie year last year. The key for him is to avoid any type of sophomore slump and capitalize on all of the offseason changes of the Rams.

He has a new coach, better receivers and the much-needed respect from the St. Louis fan base and the NFC West. Expect Bradford to bust through the stats that he made last year and end up performing with numbers around Matt Ryan and Ben Roethlisberger.

Felix Jones Manages To Stays Healthy and Puts Up a Top 7 RB Season

Have you seen this guy this preseason? Analysts talk about preseason players playing in "regular season form." No one is doing this more than Felix Jones. 10 carries in two preseason games, 79 yards. He is running people over, dashing to the outside and looking faster than he has ever looked.

Sure he won't keep a 7.9 average throughout the season, but being the true No. 1 back in Dallas and staying healthy throughout the year, you can expect to see him getting 20 carries a game and flirting with 1,400 yards.

The Detroit Lions Terrorize Opponents (especially the Bears), End as Top 5 DEF

Ndamukong Suh, Corey Williams, Kyle Vanden Bosch, Nick Fairley, Justin Durant, Stephen Tulloch, Eric Wright. When you have a team with this many popular names, you know that something is going right.

Interceptions come from the pass rush, and we are looking at a group of pass rushers similar to what we saw a few years ago in Tennessee. Expect plenty of turnovers and sacks from this group as they battle the Steelers, Packers and Giants for defensive dominance in 2011.

Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham Each Finish the Year with over 1,000 Yards

They flirted with it last year. Manningham was just 56 yards and 1 TD short of this goal. But without Steve Smith and Kevin hanging around, you will see their reception number go out. Lots of people are predicting that this will be Hakeem Nicks' year, but don't scoff at what Manningham will be able to pull off.

With the offensive line and pass happy offense that the Giants have had in the past, seeing a combined 2000-plus yards and 24-plus TDs from this pair is not a distant stretch of the imagination.

Vick Runs for Half as Many Touchdowns and Throws Twice as Many Interceptions

We all know that Vick tossed three picks in his last preseason game. Because defenses are learning how to play against him. I recently highlighted a stat on this blog that no quarterback has ever run for more than eight TDs one year and come back for more than five the next season.

This statistic includes Mike Vick who ran for eight scores in 2002 and managed just one (though he did only play five games) the next year. Add the fact that he has only had one complete season in the eight that he has played and you see limited production.

Tony Romo Puts Up Massive Fantasy Stats as 3 Receivers Eclipse 1,000 Yards

Yeah, this is the second Cowboys prediction that I have. I'm a fan, whatever. They say to write about what you know. And I know fantasizing that my team isn't terrible. But I still feel that this is doable. Between the three quarterbacks that played for the Cowboys last season, the team had 4,200 passing yards. That number would put Romo in the Top 5 performers. Add 25-30 touchdowns and what he can do with his legs and he sees the Top 5 for sure.

Now the bolder prediction. Miles Austin and Jason Witten both had over 1,000 yards last season. Bryant would have been close without going down with an injury. And the majority of these yards came from backup quarterback Jon Kitna. The Cowboys running game looks to be good with Felix Jones and the biggest concern lies in their defense. If the offensive line can hold off the rush, Witten and Austin could see similar numbers and Dez Bryant could rise as a truly elite receiver.

Mike Tolbert Again Ends the Season with More Fantasy Points Than Ryan Mathews

Sproles is out. And Mathews is the "running back of the future." The Chargers want him to be their No. 1 guy, but he is not there yet. They will try to get him most of the carries, much like they did at the beginning of last season, but soon enough they will know that Mathews is not running or blocking like they need him to.

In 2010, Tolbert had more carries, catches, yards and scores than Mathews, and despite the efforts of everyone on the Chargers, he will once again be their leading rusher.

Wes Welker Returns to Household Name Status with Patriots' Addition of Ochocinco

In 2009, Welker got hurt. Despite missing two games, he managed a ridiculous 1,348 yards on 123 receptions. His injury and lack of a No. 1 WR in 2010 held him to 86 receptions and 848 yards. But with the acquisition of Chad Ochocinco, the heat is once again off Welker allowing him to do what he does best.

Welker is between the 15-20th drafted wide receiver in the draft. And being able to take him in the fourth or fifth round as a No. 2 WR will completely make your team.

15 Tight Ends Finish the Year with over 60 Receptions

Last year, eight tight ends finished with 60 or more receptions. You can expect that number to double in 2011. Tight end this season is the deepest position in fantasy football. There are over 20 guys that could post Top 10 seasons. With plenty of young quarterbacks in the league this year, and with teams remaining pass-heavy, tight ends are going to be one of the most important players on the field.

Expect high stats from tight end, and don't worry if you don't grab one of the five elite guys, there will be plenty of talent remaining on the waiver wire once the draft is complete.

A Scary Amount of Running Backs and Wide Receivers Return from the Fantasy Dead

This season you'll see a lot of names toward the top of weekly rankings that will make you think it's 2006. Expect players like Joseph Addai, Cedric Benson and DeAngelo Williams to return from fantasy obscurity and post respectable numbers. Wide receiver names that will once again be welcome additions to your starting lineup are Plaxico Burress, Steve Smith, Mike Sims-Walker and Roy Williams. The young guys will still stay to the top, but expect some forgotten names to go back to the numbers that we would have expected years ago.