2008 Fantasy Football All-Stud Team

2008 Fantasy Football All-Stud Team

How can we have the All-Stud Team already?  The 2008 Fantasy Football Regular Season is in the books folks.  In the NFL, they base performance and stats on the regular season, right?  Why shouldn’t we do that?

Half of the owners in fantasy leagues are done for the year, so are the players on their rosters.  Let’s have a look at the studs from the 2008 fantasy regular season…

Scoring is based on:

Passing TD’s= 4 points
Passing Yards: 20 yards =1 point
Rushing/Receiving TD’s=6 points
Rushing/Receiving Yards: 10 yards= 1 point
Receptions= 1/2 point
Two point Conversions=2 points

*Stats and points are taken up to Week 13, the end of the regular season for most fantasy football leagues.

*Average Draft Position is data from 3404 drafts between September 1, 2008 and September 6, 2008 @ Fantasy Football Calculator.

QUARTERBACKS

QB:  Drew Brees, Saints
ADP: 3.01
Fantasy Points: 277

In the preseason, Brees crept up into our top three in the Fantasy Re-Draft QB Rankings.  This was kind of a tough one as it went against the grain and bumped Peyton Manning out of the top three.  Whodathunk that it was being undershot by two positions?

It is really remarkable how Brees performed with a banged up offense that saw him spread it out to 14 different receivers.  His chase in breaking Dan Marino’s single season yardage record is to the delight of his fantasy owners.

Jabbertastic Game: Brees lit up the Green Bay Packers in Prime Time for Four TD’s and 323 yards in Week 12, setting the table for many a fantasy playoff clinching.

QB: Kurt Warner, Cardinals
ADP: 11.07
Fantasy Points: 261

What year is this?  Warner was just a placeholder until Matt Leinart would reclaim the starting QB job in Arizona for many fantasy football owners.  “Hey, I have Tom Brady on a bye week in week four…maybe Warner will still be starting by then, I can take him as a backup…”

How many laughs would we have got in the preseason saying that Kurt Warner would be one of the top fantasy QB’s at the end of 2008…and have two of his receivers at the top of the WR list…and have the Cardinals clinching the NFC West early?  Crazy stuff.  Way to go Kurt.

Jabbertastic Game: Many people said, “It’s just the Dolphins…” when Kurt burned Miami for three TD’s and 361 yards in week two.  Tom Brady owners that drafted him as a backup rejoice!

QB: Aaron Rodgers, Packers
ADP: 11.01
Fantasy Points: 256

Aaron Rodgers may have fallen into the same roll as Warner above.  Drafted as a backup in fantasy leagues, then taking owners to the fantasy playoffs.  Although the Packers are not fairing as well as Warner’s team in real life, Rodgers has established himself as a Fantasy Football Stud QB going into 2009.

For owners that draft a little early, there was a HUGE question mark over the Green Bay QB position.  You may have heard about it.  Some owners in Dynasty and Keeper leagues were lucky enough to already have Rodgers sitting around.  Some people, shame on them, used him as trade bait.  

Given that there seems to be a bit of a “changing of the guard” in fantasy football with younger guys moving up the later, Rodgers should be a prime target next season.

Jabbertastic Game: In week 13, just when you need your guys playing at the top of their game, Rodgers throws three TD’s and a two pointer on 298 yards against the Panthers.  He also added another 26 yards on the ground.

RUNNING BACKS

RB: Matt Forte, Bears
ADP: 6.10
Fantasy Points: 219

In the Fantasy Calculator Average Draft Position data for Running Backs drafted, there were 27 RB’s taken before Matt Forte.  That wasn’t so much on Forte.  The Bears rush offense had not been impressing anyone.  Forte was a rookie out of Tulane going into that unimpressive rush offense.  Wooo were some fantasy owners in for a treat!

Forte’s worst fantasy game he got 85 total yards.  It’s been a couple years since you were able to use the word “consistency” when talking about a Bears fantasy RB.  His performances in weeks 12 and 13 could have very well have been enough to have taken his owners into the playoffs.  It will be interesting to see how his stock goes next season.  Will people shake the fact he is on the Bears and draft him according to this years performance?

Jabbertastic Game:  Week 12 against the Rams, Forte put up 132 yards rushing and two TD’s.  He had two receptions for another 14 yards.

RB: Thomas Jones, Jets
ADP: 3.11
Fantasy Points: 214

Speaking of the Bears rushing game, the last consistent rusher they had was Thomas Jones.  He had two good seasons before being traded away to what seemed would be his fantasy graveyard in New York.  Wasn’t so much the yards…those were on par with Chicago.  But he only got one rushing TD in 2007.

An improved offensive line and new QB changed things for Jones in 2008.  After average play through the bye week in week five, Jones blew up to fantasy studness the rest of the regular fantasy season.  Eight straight weeks of double digit fantasy points.  In 2009 Jones will be going into his 10th season following up his best season to date.

Jabbertastic Game: Like Matt Forte, Jones slapped around the Rams.  In Week 10 he put up 149 yards and three TD’s.

RB: Michael Turner, Falcons
ADP: 4.07
Fantasy Points: 200

Michael Turner’s departure from San Diego was one of the most anticipated moves in fantasy football circles for the past few years.  On limited work backing up LaDainian Tomlinson while on the Chargers, Turner had shown explosive previews of what he could do.  Regardless of the fact that he would land on the pitiful Falcons, owners were licking their chops.

The Falcons getting Turner soured some fantasy owners, influencing them to go a “safer” route in drafts.  For those owners that dared to take Turner, they were treated to a Top 3 fantasy performance on the regular season.  Starting in week one when he blew up against the Lions you likely heard cries of both pain and joy at the sports bar.

Jabbertastic Game: During a Week 12 matchup against the Panthers, Turner exploded for FOUR TD’s on 117 yards.

RB: Adrian Peterson, Vikings
ADP: 1.02
Fantasy Points: 198

In 2008 Adrian Peterson is one of those rare fantasy football Running Backs that performed somewhat close to as expected.  While some people licked their chops thinking how Peterson could capitalize on what he did in his rookie campaign in 2007, they were treated to a feast of points that L.T owners missed out on.

Not the greatest, hence his falling fourth here, but if you look at who was drafted around him owners that took Peterson dodged a bullet.  He fell off for a couple games early in the season but then busted out for three straight games in weeks 7-10.

Jabbertastic Game: In Week 10 against the Packers, Peterson rushed for 192 yards and a TD.  He added another 33 yards on three receptions.

WIDE RECEIVERS

WR: Anquan Boldin, Cardinals
ADP: 4.01
Fantasy Points: 202

Prior to the 2008 season there was a little concern that there would be a holdout in Arizona.  Although talk of not being happy, Anquan Boldin showed up to play.  Did he ever.  With one of our stud QB’s throwing him the ball, and often, Boldin sits atop the WR list…and that is with missing two games.

Boldin was not the glamorous choice on draft day.  The Big names like Randy Moss, Reggie Wayne, and Terrell Owens were going off the board early while Boldin fell to an average of the fourth round.  Part way through the season Boldin got his face busted up and missed a couple of games.  Despite this, in games he played he did not put up a game that was not double digits until week 13.

Jabbertastic Game: Week two against the Dolphins Boldin caught six passes for 140 yards and THREE TD’s!

WR: Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals
ADP: 2.07
Fantasy Points: 194

One of the other more sought after names on draft day was Larry Fitzgerald.  We always hear the question as to if there is enough balls to go around to keep so many guys happy.  Either Kurt Warner has a bigger bag of balls then most QB’s or it is possible…if you don’t have a RB to keep happy too.

At the end of the fantasy regular season Fitz trailed his teammate by about a fantasy TD and 20 yards.  Like Boldin, Fitz has only one week under double digit scoring up to week 13.  Amazing to think you could have started two guys at the same position from the same team and possibly rode them to the Championship game.  Rare.

Jabbertastic Game: Fitz put his biggest numbers up on Week 13 with two TD’s and 65 yards on five receptions.

WR: Greg Jennings, Packers
ADP: 5.02
Fantasy Points: 182

Some owners took a pass on Greg Jennings when his name came up on draft day.  It was a confusing offseason with Favregate and the unknown of what would be with Aaron Rodgers.  Depending on when owners had their drafts the picture became more clear, in his favor or not.

As you may have noticed at the top of the page up there, Aaron Rodgers had a Jabbertastic fantasy season. On the receiving end, literally, was Greg Jennings.  It appears that a new era has started in Green Bay.  Rodgers has appointed Jennings his favorite target and it is already showing fantasy relevance.

Jabbertastic Game: In week four Jennings hit the Bucs for two TD’s and 109 yards on six receptions.

WR: Andre Johnson, Texans
ADP: 2.07
Fantasy Points: 181

The past few years Andre Johnson has been one of those WR’s that we wanted to do so well but there were always bumps in the road, be it injuries himself, David Carr, or an injured Matt Schaub. That did not stop fantasy owners this season, taking him on average in the mid second round.

Johnson finally delivers on a season.  No missed games himself and the transition to Sage Rosenfels in Schaub’s time out did not hurt too bad.  After a slow start Johnson never looked back after week five.  We knew he was a stud, it was just a matter of putting a whole season together.

Jabbertastic Game: In Week Six against the Dolphins Johnson put up 178 yards and a TD on 10 receptions.

TIGHT ENDS

TE: Tony Gonzalez, Chiefs
ADP: 6.02
Fantasy Points: 190

Another time when we can ask what year it is.  There are a couple reasons that this name was not supposed to be here.  First, the QB situation in KC…second, Gonzo is supposed to be getting too old.  Nobody told him apparently.

As you may notice there is only a 12 point difference between Tony and the top WR at the end of week 13.  On average, Gonzalez was the sixth TE taken this year, even though he was second for TE’s in 2007 by only about four points.  Given the drop off in talent at TE that is pretty bad.  It’s apparent that many owners had sent him out to pasture.  Those that didn’t were in for a surprising treat.

Jabbertastic Game: In Week 10 against the Chargers, Gonzo takes in 10 receptions for 113 yards an two TD’s.

TE: Jason Witten, Cowboys
ADP: 4.07
Fantasy Points: 147

In 2008 Jason Witten was hands down the TE to have going into the draft.  Sure Terrell Owens is the flashy target for Tony Romo but Witten is the guy when Romo needs help.  He was the top TE in 2007 and even bigger things were expected for 2008.

After a strong start Witten went down with injury midseason.  From weeks 8-12 feelings for Witten had went from smitten to sour with a lot of owners.  He had been a high draft pick in the middle of the fourth round and it was painful to watch the points stop coming in.  He ended the season right though after getting healthy and is certain to be the top guy again in 2009.

Jabbertastic Game: Remember a couple lines ago when I said he ended the season right?  In Week 13 he put up 115 yards and a TD on nine receptions against the Seahawks.