The Fantasy Football Geek Blog

If you’re in a keeper league and your team is out of the playoffs (but your league still allows you to make roster moves), it’s time to start thinking about next year. Unlike re-draft leagues, you can’t sit back and forget that your fantasy team even exists at this point…because there is always next year, so you need to be prepared. Similar to my concept of a Post-draft Draft that I explained before the season began, I figured I’d draft up a list of players that are poised to break-out (or at least make some kind of fantasy impact) next season, and could be picked up now in preparation…

Quarterbacks

Kellen Clemens (QB-NYJ): Of the quarterbacks on this list, Clemens has had the most experience and hasn’t performed all that badly. Even though his team is 3-9, Clemens has kept the team close in a few of the losses and his defense can be blamed for a few others. Clemens should only get better next season with a year of experience under his belt and better chemistry with the skill players.

JaMarcus Russell (QB-OAK): With the least experience of all the quarterbacks on this list so far, Russell could also have the most potential. In his first real experience, Russell played fairly well, going 4-of-7 for 56 yards, but throwing 0 TD and 0 INT. Depending on your league’s rules, you may be able to watch Russell play a few more games before making an ultimate decision, but Russell has a chance to be a pretty solid quarterback in the NFL. If you don’t scoop him up now, make sure to keep an eye on him in next season’s draft.

Brodie Croyle (QB-KC): In his first season with NFL experience, Broyle certainly hasn’t WOW’d anyone with his stats (614 passing yards, 2 TD, 2 INT in 5 games), but you have to figure that with a full offseason taking snaps with the first team offense, Croyle will be a better QB next season. He’s not likely to be your starting quarterback going into next season, but he could be worth a late round flyer if you’re a KC fan, or you just have a hunch.

Running Backs

Leon Washington (RB-NYJ): I forgot about Leon, partially because he was most likely on a roster in your league already. If he’s not on a team though, grab him right away. Thomas Jones did not prove to be the running back the Jets thought they were getting and Leon has proven to be a much more dynamic running back. Even if he does not become the feature back in the offense next year, I expect him to get a lot more carries than he did this season and should put up some decent fantasy numbers.

Chris Henry (RB-TEN): In limited action this year, Henry proved to be a fairly productive running back. In weeks 7 and 8 combined, he turned 15 carries into 105 yards and two touchdowns. If given the chance, I have a feeling that he could put up some really solid fantasy stats…but he’ll have to pass LenDale White and Chris Brown on the depth chart to get that chance.

Michael Bush (RB-OAK): While a stretch at this point, as he won’t see a snap this season after being placed on the PUP list…Bush had the potential of a first rounder in last years draft, but fell to the fourth round after a broken leg. If given the chance next year, Bush could prove that he is back to full health and can be a solid running back in the NFL.

Kenny Irons (RB-CIN): As with Bush, Irons is a complete gamble at this point. Irons was great at Auburn, but he has been on the IR all season long with a knee injury. Considering that he is currently fourth on the Bengals depth chart at running back anyways, he might not have any value next season, but keep an eye on the team and see what starts to happen in the preseason (or if one of the other RBs leave via trade or something) and see if the league’s front office takes a liking to Irons.

Wide Receivers

Sidney Rice (WR-MIN): While James Jones (below) may have the better stats, I think Rice, a second round pick out of South Carolina, has a chance to be something pretty special next season. He has 365 receiving yards and four touchdowns (two in the past two games) to this point in the season and should improve those stats a bit in the final few games. It’s almost a guarentee that the team gets better play out of the quarterback position next year (could it get any worse?), so Rice should flourish as the teams top receiver. Besides, have you seen the catches this guy can make, or his versatility?

James Jones (WR-GB): Jones, the third round pick out of San Jose State, couldn’t have picked a better time to join the Green Bay Packers. Brett Favre is seeing a resurgence in his career and he has spread the wealth among all his receivers. As a rookie, Jones has racked up an impressive 633 receiving yards and two touchdowns and has seen time on a couple of my fantasy rosters (he’s on my keeper league team for sure) throughout the season. Besides Rice, I see Jones having the most potential of all the receivers on this list next year, as Donald Driver will just get older and the young’uns (Greg Jennings and Jones) take over the receiving game in Green Bay.

Anthony Gonzalez (WR-IND): Unlike many of the receivers on this list, Gonzo (the Indy variety) was given some great opportunities this season, as superstar Marvin Harrison has been struggling through injury troubles all year long. Gonzalez has taken this chance and run with it, racking up 334 receiving yards and posting some big games, primarily in weeks 5 and 12. Next year, expect Peyton to be more comfortable with Gonzalez, and with a healthy Marvin Harrison, this offense should come out rolling.

Demetrius Williams (WR-BAL): Next year will be Williams’ third year in the NFL, and if the Ravens can put a half-way decent quarteback on the field, he has a chance to be pretty good. He has 290 receiving yards this year, but most of those came in the first half of the season before he suffered an ankle injury. If the Ravens decide that Boller is their quarterback of the future, Williams’ value could take a hit, but otherwise, he becomes a decent sleeper in next years fantasy draft.

Ted Ginn Jr. (WR-MIA): With Ohio State, Ginn was an important part of their National Champtionship run. While early in his first NFL season though, it didn’t appear that he was going to make much of an impact. His luck changed dramatically though after starting receiver Chris Chambers was traded to the Chargers late in the season. In his past three games, Ginn has caught 10 passes for 106 yards, while returning kickoffs and some punts as well. Next year, with a season’s worth of experience under his belt and more chemistry with new quarterback John Beck, expect Ginn to be a receiver you frequently consider sticking in your WR3 or flex spot.

Sinorice Moss (WR-NYG): Amani Toomer isn’t getting any younger and the team would be foolish not to start giving the younger receivers on the team some more game time experience to see what they have for next year. Moss is a burner out of Miami and next year he hits that big third year for receivers. If Eli can step up his game next year, Moss could be a player to watch out for.

Craig Davis (WR-SD): As the 30th pick in this years NFL draft, Davis was expected to make a big impact on the Chargers passing game. However, due to Philip Rivers’ struggles, and the team’s continued focus on LaDainian Tomlinson as the majority of the offense, Davis hasn’t had a good chance to succeed. He has one touchdown this year, but has been very inconsistent in the passing game. If Rivers can step up next year, Davis has some sleeper potential, especially if he can move past Vincent Jackson on the depth chart in the off season.

Jacoby Jones (WR-HOU): Jones was given a great opportunity to step up in his rookie season when teammate Andre Johnson went down early in the year, but immediately Jones was also injured. After returning, he never seemed to live up to his third round draft pick potential. Next year, if he’s healthy though, he should be able to move up the Texans depth chart and put up some fantasy relevant stats.

Brad Smith (WR-NYG): Although Smith was a quarterback at Missouri, he has converted fairly well into a wide receiver at the NFL level. This season he has 253 receiving yards and two touchdowns in limited action. Next season will be that magical third year for this receiver, and if he can get in good with Clemens, he could be worthy of a WR3 or backup WR position next season.

Dwayne Jarrett (WR-CAR): Jarrett has been a pretty big disappointment this year, as he was expected to make some time of impact on the Panthers offense this season. To date, the USC standout has 73 receiving yards, although he can’t be completely blamed as his team’s quarterback position has been a revolving door all year long. Expect Jarrett to get more comfortable next season and if the Panthers can get a "real" starting QB next year (not Carr or Testeverde), he has a chance to be a decent recevier.

Steve Smith (WR-NYG): Another disappointing receiver out of USC this season, Steve Smith (part deux) can blame most of his lack of success on injury troubles. Smith was a great player in college and I expect him to work really hard to develop chemistry with Eli Manning in the off season. Keep an eye on Smith in the remainder of the season to see if he displays any signs of his potential now that he should be returning from injury this week.