By Jeff Andriesse
Rotowhine.com Editor
August 7, 2008
When it comes to fantasy football, only 99 percent of it is luck, so you better be prepared to use that final percentage point to your advantage. If you trust your instincts, you will either fail or succeed. If you study your depth charts and cheat sheets for six hours each night for three weeks leading up to your draft, you will either fail or succeed. If you hop around on one leg to the beat of Neil Diamond’s “Cracklin’ Rosie”, you will either fail or succeed, and I’d like to see that. Email me. If you read this article of breakout candidates, you will only succeed. Unless you fail.
ROTOWHINE’S 2008 BREAKOUT CANDIDATES
For the ‘08 breakouts, I’m not saying these guys are all going to be weekly starters, but by including them in this list I’m saying that they at least have the opportunity to be useful bye-week replacements. Some will break out more than others, but in general these are guys to keep an eye on this season and draft after the big names are gone.
Ted Ginn, Jr., WR, Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins are going to find themselves leaning heavily on Ginn, the second-year wideout. He’s more than their top kick returner - he’s their No. 1 wide receiver in an offense that is bereft of them. Miami also won’t be any good and will be throwing quite often. They will find interesting ways to get Ginn the ball as he is one of their only big-play guys. He could be a solid #3 WR.
Jerricho Cotchery, WR, New York Jets
With Brett Favre in the fold, the Jets wide receivers immediately move up the rankings. Cotchery is already a guy who should improve, if only on his two TDs from last year. There’s a chance he’ll be a weekly starter if he can click with Favre, and with Lavernaues Coles still attracting attention on the other side Cotchery could benefit greatly when the Jets air it out.
Ben Utecht, TE, Cincinnati Bengals
When was the last time Cincinnati had a TE that could catch the ball? They have one now in Utecht and should utilize him. Chad Johnson is looking good in the preseason so the Bengals won’t change things up too much. Utecht will still have to pick up the scraps left by Ocho Cinco and Ocho Quatromandzadeh. Utecht could easily take on the role of the team’s TE/third wide receiver, though, so pay attention to how things are going here.
Andre Hall, RB, Denver Broncos
When rookie Ryan Torain fractured his elbow this week, Andre Hall became the clear No. 2 running back in Denver. This means exactly that - a guy with a chance to play pretty often on a good offensive team. Selvin Young is the starter, but Mike Shanahan has never been afraid to mess with our heads or give more time to the guy playing well. Hall could also sneak into a goalline situation.
Steve Smith, WR, New York Giants
While David Tyree is a household name after the Super Bowl, Smith is in fact the guy Eli Manning might indeed develop chemistry with this season. Amani Toomer is getting elderly on us fast and Jeremy Shockey is no longer here to act as a security blanket. Smith is the man in three-wide sets and could even leapfrog Toomer by midseason.
Roddy White, WR, Atlanta Falcons
White already broke out last year, but he could still take another step. A dangerous big-play receiver, he’ll play on a Falcons team that should be trying to catch up often. The QB situation here sucks, but White will be a good bargain because the WRs around him are no threat to vulture much from him. Everyone will have their eyes on Michael Turner this year, but the third-and-long heaves will go to Rowdy Roddy.
Bryant Johnson, WR, San Francisco 49ers
Lining up alongside Isaac Bruce in San Fran is former Cardinal Bryant Johnson. He’s the top fantasy option out of the two and with Mike Martz calling the plays could be a factor as a #3 WR and occasional lineup fix. The opportunity is there - Johnson just needs to step into it and make us fantasy dorks happy.
Keep a watchful eye on these deep sleepers: Ben Obanamu, WR, Seattle; Tim Hightower, RB, Arizona; Brandon Jackson, RB, Green Bay; Robert Meachem, WR, New Orleans; Chad Jackson, WR, New England; Ray Rice, RB, Baltimore; Matt Jones, WR, Jacksonville; Brandon Jones, WR, Tennessee; Billy Volek, QB, San Diego.
Jeff Andriesse is one fantasy dork who, frankly, is never happy. If you have a question or comment or just want to cheer him up, send him an email a jandriesse@rotowhine.com.
