By Zack Cimini

notjustagame23@gmail.com

In years past, even pondering the thought of a rookie quarterback having fantasy value was preposterous. If you wanted to receive under ten points per fantasy game and watch your live fantasy score updates get dinged -2 three to four times a game; then grabbing a rookie quarterback was your own detriment.

The biggest upside would come in the fantasy playoffs. Rookie quarterbacks are finally starting to show confidence in themselves and so is their team. Carefree play with their teams season hopeless for a playoff run benefits them and fantasy owners.

Cam Newton, Andy Dalton, and even Christian Ponder made you reverse that type of fantasy draft mind state. Not only did they perform better than anyone could of imagined, many weeks they were in the top twelve or higher for fantasy quarterbacks.

Rumblings for second year woes are in doubters minds. The NFL is a fantasy quarterback friendly haven now. Cam Newton is in a new class himself with the stats that he can put up on the ground and rushing touchdowns.

Andy Dalton though is still in a bubble of question. They had one of the easiest schedules last season. Those were the games that Dalton performed better than average. Against higher competition he tailed off and struggled to make the big throws. Surrounding a young quarterback with a security blanket is what the Bengals did with AJ Green.

Green flourished as a rookie as well last year. The pair is going to have a connection for several years to delight fantasy fans. Behind Green though the team is lacking an offensive punch.

With their present roster, the team screams leaders of three and out possessions in the NFL. BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Bernard Scott are names you would expect behind a strong tailback, not weapons of choice for a tandem backfield.

Nonetheless it looks like that will be the backfield the Bengals rely on. For the record, the Bengals did not necessarily have a home run projected threat with Cedric Benson when they signed him as a free agent. He became a pleasant surprise for low value, and that’s the same avenue the Bengals are taking with their new backfield.

Points will likely come through the arm of Andy Dalton. Which will downgrade him a bit as a fantasy quarterback this year. Teams will zero in on his reads and be able to keep much of their attention on AJ Green, as the Bengals have poor depth behind Green. Jordan Shipley, Mohamed Sanu and Armon Binns are going to be the headaches of AJ Green’s nightmares if his season declines in year two.

One player that should benefit will be Jermaine Gresham. The tall athletic target has been a borderline fantasy tight end starter. Deeper leagues he likely was inserted on a weekly basis. 2012 should be the marking of him being inserted into standard leagues. The only other target that Dalton has solid chemistry with is Gresham. As teams pay more attention to Green, Gresham should see many more tosses his way.

In all but one game that Gresham started in last season he had three catches or more. Calculate the expected red zone targets and Gresham should be on your sleeper radar if you decide to wait on snaring a tight end.

By Vidur Malik

notjustagame23@gmail.com

The Carolina Panthers became a talking point in the 2011 season thanks to the play of quarterback

Cam Newton. In his rookie season, Newton put up fantastic numbers and showed the potential to be an elite-level quarterback.

Another important storyline for the Panthers last season was the production they got from wide receiver Steve

Smith. Smith was considered one of the league’s best receivers in the mid- and late-2000’s, but saw his numbers fall significantly in the 2010 season. After catching 46 passes for 554 yards and two touchdowns in 14 games in the 2010 season, Smith caught 79 passes for 1,394 yards and seven touchdowns in 16 games in 2011. He returned to elite status and was fifth in the NFL in receiving yardage. With Newton at quarterback, Smith should be able to continue playing at a high level. The three-year contract extension he signed earlier in the offseason shows he will be a crucial part of the Panthers’ offense for at least the next few years.

Newton

’s arm strength should help Smith remain a big-play threat as he enters his 12^th season. Smith averaged 17.6 yards per catch last season, the second-highest total for his career in that category. Look for Smith to continue making plays over the top of the defense. He can also make plays on short-yardage routes, and his trademark toughness allows him to break tackles and gain extra yards.

Smith is not the only play-making receiver on the Panthers, which should prevent him from seeing too many double-teams. Receiver

Brandon LaFell was the Panthers’ second-leading receiver in terms of yardage with 613 yards and tight end Greg Olsen made a solid contribution with 540 yards and five touchdowns. With these weapons to throw to, Newton should continue putting up top-level numbers, as should Smith.

At

5-foot-9 and 185 lbs., his lack of size might make fantasy owners hesitant about picking him, but Smith has played in at least 14 games in every season of his career, with the exception of his 2004 season, in which he broke his leg and played in only one game. He doesn’t score as many touchdowns as you would like from your No. 1 receiver, but he gets in the end zone enough to get you points and he can complement those scores by putting up high yardage totals. Players like Calvin Johnson and Wes Welker will get the attention and be the first receivers taken in drafts, so Smith should be available for you to select after the bigger-name guys are off the board.

Smith’s remaining years in the league should be very productive. With a quarterback like

Newton who showed great potential in his rookie season and the other players he has around him, Smith is a smart pick for this season.

By Zack Cimini

notjustagame23@gmail.com

Year one for development for rookie Jake Locker fared well. The Titans knew he needed time to learn and adapt to the NFL level. Instead of throwing him into the lineup they positioned him behind veteran Matt Hasselbeck. Allowing for comfort for Locker, knowing that he would not be forced into the lineup, as what happens with many rookies that are playing behind veteran journeyman quarterbacks.

Year two though for the same quarterback tandem is definitely going to be different. Locker in spot duty showcased freestyle unorthodox skills that adds a different dimension to the Titans offense. Whether throwing on the run or utilizing his legs, Locker proved to be a threat with both abilities. Hasselbeck on the other hand is past his prime but may have a solid few years left in him.

The daunting question arises. Begin building now through bumps with Locker, or continue to try and position? Considering the Titans are in a division with the Colts (Andrew Luck), Jaguars (Blaine Gabbert), and the rising but inconsistent Houston Texans, the plan will likely be too start with Hasselbeck once again.

His numbers were never great last season, but he managed to offset a poor season from Chris Johnson and adjust to playing without big play receiver Kenny Britt. Still, Hasselbeck was unable to stay healthy the full year which has been a pattern dating back to his last few seasons with Seattle. Though he battled through the pain and did not miss a start, management is prepared to insert Locker over an eighty percent Hasselbeck.

Offensive weapons at either quarterbacks disposal is a high area of concern. Somehow the Titans were able to use a platoon of widely unknown receivers with big play receiver Kenny Britt sidelined after a knee injury. The receiver that stepped up the most was Nate Washington. Washington had never been a commodity in fantasy leagues but became a sneaky waiver wire reliable addition. Catching seven touchdowns and having a thousand yard season.

With Kenny Britt just undergoing a second knee procedure July 17^th, it will be interesting to see if Britt can be a viable starting receiver. Snaring jump balls and outrunning defenders was Britt’s forte, basically becoming the new Terrell Owens. Statistically based on other athletes that have come off a serious knee injury no matter what sport, you can expect a main decline overall.

For Britt though he can still be a high value touchdown receiver inside the twenty yard line. Especially for the fact that Chris Johnson is not a true red zone threat, and the Titans feed him the ball much more over the way they use to LenDale White in the red zone.

Rookie Kendall Wright will be expected to add a speed element over the top for the Titans offense. He should blend in well. He will have his work cut out for him though learning the offense and likely being a viable part of the offense from the start of the season.

Mentally teams that know there is a likely quarterback change over usually under perform to start the season. Will see if that happens in Tennessee, and which week Locker is inserted.

By Vidur Malik

notjustagame23@gmail.com 

One of the by-products of the Andrew Luck-Robert Griffin III sweepstakes is that it has taken the spotlight away from the other playmakers in the 2012 draft class. Count Oklahoma State receiver Justin Blackmon among the players that would have gotten top billing if not for the two superstar quarterbacks who will go 1-2.

The two-time Biletnikoff Award-winner is projected to be a top-10 pick and considered the best receiver in the draft along with Notre Dame’s Michael Floyd. Many experts have Blackmon going No. 6 to the Rams, but no matter where he goes, he should be an instant contributor and someone you look out for during your fantasy draft.

Both his own talent and the strong production of recent rookie receivers indicate that Blackmon will make an immediate impact. His size allows him to be an effective route runner and turn short plays into big gains, and he certainly came up big in the biggest moments. He caught eight passes for 186 yards and three touchdowns in the Cowboys’ 41-38 win over the Stanford Cardinal in the Fiesta Bowl and caught no fewer than six passes in any game last season.

Just last season, rookie receivers like A.J. Green and Julio Jones　showed that they will probably be among the elite receivers in the NFL very soon. Seven rookies caught more than 40 passes last season, including Redskins running back Roy Helu.

There’s no reason why Blackmon can’t be in that category. If he goes to the Rams, he’ll have a chance to become one of quarterback Sam Bradford’s favorite targets. Brandon Lloyd, the team’s top receiver last year, is now with the Patriots, so there’s an opportunity for Blackmon to show he’s an NFL-caliber receiver.

Even if he doesn’t go to the Rams, he’ll have a chance to contribute to his team. Teams like the Packers have shown that if you have a quarterback who can distribute the ball, there can never be too many weapons on an offense. It’s almost certain that the quarterback on Blackmon’s NFL team won’t be able to do that as well as Aaron Rodgers does, but he won’t need to. As long as Blackmon gets a chance to show his talents on short routes and a few deep throws, he can become a legitimate talent and a consistent fantasy producer. He should be available as your fantasy team’s second or third receiver and even if he isn’t a consistent producer, he could still be a good player for your flex spot. Blackmon’s potential is sky-high and he’s clearly on the short list for best receiver in this year’s draft, so he’s definitely someone you should consider making a part of your team.

By Zack Cimini

notjustagame23@gmail.com

At a point in your career as a superstar you’re able to voice your opinion to the front office with full range of clarity. If not, a superstar disgruntled on a losing team is a recipe for a bad mix. Chemistry clashes via pouting or underperforming. That can be said for many cornerstone athletes over the years. A few that pop up are the veterans in Terrell Owens and Randy Moss.

Franchises have suffered from this. Take the Cincinnati Bengals for example. Chad Ochocinco and Carson Palmer cried their ways out of Cincinnati. Before them it was Corey Dillon high displeasure with the Bengals that finally allowed him to exit to the Patriots.

Some superstar athletes just speak their mind. After Kurt Warner retired and the Cardinals lost free agent receiver Anquan Boldin, the Cardinals offense suffered immensely. Larry Fitzgerald who has likely been the top receiver in the NFL had to suffer through a year with a huge decline in talent around him. His quarterbacks bounced around from the likes of Derek Anderson to rookies in John Skelton and Max Hall. Receivers to thwart the attention off Fitzgerald were Early Doucet and Steve Breaston.

The same theme; surrounded talent that had underperformed or had the inexperience to play at the level Larry Fitzgerald needed them to.

Then came the off-season of 2010. Fitzgerald went through the same type of training he typically does. Partaking in extensive drills with other receivers throughout the league, including past great Cris Carter. Many knew the Cardinals would have to go another route at quarterback, and Fitzgerald was one that wanted it be well known who he favored.

Rumors of quarterbacks such as Marc Bulger and Kyle Orton as possible veteran fill ins circled the rumor mill. Fitzgerald wanted none of that, and began lobbying for Kevin Kolb almost simultaneously. The new rumor was that Fitzgerald was working out and doing pass catching drills with Kolb during the lockout.

When the lockout ended, the Cardinals threw a huge contract at Kolb and he was to be the Cardinals mainstay at quarterback for years to come. If only things were that simple. Kolb struggled tremendously to learn a new system, and looked like a rookie almost all of his starts on the field. Injuries began to plague his season, and John Skelton surprisingly became a much more reliable starter.

Arizona knows that Kolb may have been the wrong answer, as they were hoping to land Peyton Manning and cut Kolb. Manning could not make his decision quick enough, and rather than be like Miami was without a backup plan for Matt Flynn, the Cardinals accepted year two with Kevin Kolb.

Microphones and voice recorders are going to be in the faces of superstar athletes all off-season. Discussions of the NFL Draft is one of many topics reporters are going to ask. When it was asked on who the Cardinals should go after in the first round, Fitzgerald did not shy away. He wants the Cardinals to go after talented Notre Dame prospect, Michael Floyd.

Floyd has shown on the field that he can be a special receiver in the NFL. His label of question has nothing to do with his route running or size. It’s his off the field issues, which have been a constant while at Notre Dame. Run ins with alcohol related issues happened on three occasions. Fitzgerald believes he can be the veteran to lend the proper support structure for a rookie in Floyd. Properly train him with his great work habits and lead him off the field as well.

The main question this time around. As a front office do you listen to Larry Fitzgerald this time? You’ve done the evaluating as a front office and likely have a solid three to four prospects that you’re eyeing on draft day. Receiver is a need but do they feel they need to use a high value pick for another position, and add a receiver in latter rounds?

Draft day is just about a day away, and Fitzgerald just recently voiced his opinion. This time around I believe the Cardinals will go with who they have rated the highest on their draft board. Whether that be Floyd or not.

By Vidur Malik

notjustagame23@gmail.com

The 2011 season was not a good one for the Philadelphia Eagles, to say the least.

For Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson, it was especially tumultuous.

His commitment to the game was questioned late in the season when people accused him of mailing it in during a game against the Seahawks, and he’s now a free agent whose reputation wasn’t great to begin with.

Jackson has been a great talent throughout his NFL career, but it might be time to reconsider his value as a fantasy contributor.

Jackson will be a productive player no matter where he ends up, but he doesn’t have the size or skill set to be a number one receiver. In order for a receiver to have that title, he must be able to catch short, medium and long passes and be durable enough to take a hit and get back up. Jackson is one of the best big-play threats in the game, but he won’t be the first option for Eagles quarterback Michael Vick on a third-and-short in the red zone. The receivers that can do that are the ones you want to lead your fantasy team.

Jackson’s 2011 season, his fourth in the league, saw a drop-off in production as compared to his second and third seasons. Jackson’s receiving total dipped under 1,000 yards after crossing that mark in the two previous seasons, and his yards per catch average of 16.6 was significantly lower than the 22.5 yards per catch mark he had in 2010.

Jackson’s greatest strength is his speed, which he uses to separate himself from defenders, but he also benefits from being part of an offense loaded with weapons. If he is the unquestioned No. 1 guy on a new team, his production could very well drop further.

The No. 1 receiver of today’s NFL is one who is both big and fast. Steve Smith and Wes Welker, two undersized No. 1 receivers, can be seen as exceptions, but both have strengths Jackson doesn’t have. Smith is very strong for his size and can break tackles, and Welker is one of the best route-runners in the game. Jackson isn’t as skilled in these departments, and won’t be a good No. 1 option wherever he ends up.

Jackson will undoubtedly be a valuable contributor and deep threat, but it would be a stretch to call him an elite receiver. As a result, you can wait a bit before drafting him.