Second Year NFL Player’s With High Return Value

A rookie in the NFL is sometimes just shown the ropes. They may have the talent but the coaching staff believes too much of a burden on the rookie could hurt the team and progression of a player in his rookie season. It may be hard to believe but not all coaches want instant success by crazy statistics. Just helping the team out with a third down catch and not dropping the football might be what he is looking for. Impactful small plays such as blocking down field, and running the proper routes is something the coaches can see that growth is being made. Year two more opportunities present themselves and depending on the length of that player’s first contract, market value is going to want to be assessed. Grooming has been done and those player’s will now get a chance to flourish even more. I’ve profiled some players that are in their second season that should be of fantasy significance from statistics they put up last season. Qualifying factors can just be a better supporting cast, an expanded role, or just signs that they’re ready for a boost from your bench to potential fantasy starter. Quarterbacks Ryan Tannehill Miami is looking for Tannehill to scale forward a bit and show an added dimension. He showed flashes last season that he is capable of doing it. Were those flashes a result of timely called plays by the offensive coordinator, or Tannehill’s innate ability to read defenses? Most of the rookies shined last year and Tannehill was not one that disappointed. Miami did not add wide receiver weapons in Mike Wallace and Brandon Gibson to not test Tannehill’s arm. Brady is aging in New England, and Tannehill may be the quarterback to take over the division of the AFC East. Running Backs Vick Ballard The Colts just recently traded away Delone Carter, and many are not sure what the health of Ahmad Bradshaw will be. For now Ballard will be given the chance to be the Colts full time back. I think he will garner a double digit carry type of output in the Colts offense. Indianapolis does not shy away from trying to score, and needs to with their defense being sporadic. If Ballard can showcase that he is the number one back, the touchdowns he will get will make him a solid RB3. He’ll have to fight off Donald Brown and Bradshaw though. Bryce Brown Brown put on a nice multiple week span for owners that were a little nervous without LeSean McCoy. As of now that’s all Brown’s value is. He is a high insurance handcuff for a first round draft pick in McCoy. Though in Chip Kelly’s high octane offense he may dot the fantasy top twenty five running backs a handful of times even as Philadelphia’s second running back. Ronnie Hillman Denver has a bit of a mess at running back, and will likely have one of those dreaded back fields from a fantasy perspective. Hillman is the guy the Broncos want to have the role, but he did not prove a year ago that he can handle full time duties. Montee Ball was brought in and will be the back the Broncos go to in short yardage situations. Hillman though might have a CJ Spiller type of value. Spiller also had some short comings early with Buffalo before supplanting Fred Jackson. Keep an eye on Hillman’s yards per carry, as he does possess great open field speed. Lamar Miller Miami decided to let Reggie Bush walk away and test out Miller’s worth. They’re all in on Miller and the rest of the NFL may soon figure that out as well. Durability may be a question with Miller. Look for Miami to protect Miller by off setting his carries with Daniel Thomas who has been a disappointment thus far. Miller is one of the few backs in the NFL that will have a solid ratio of carries higher than his backup running back. Daryl Richardson If backfields tell the story over time, than St. Louis management likely made the right move by letting Steven Jackson sign with the Falcons. Over the last ten years the Rams have had Marshall Faulk and Steven Jackson as their running backs. Truth be told it was amazing how long Jackson lasted their with the high amount of carries and the way he carries the football. It’s Richardson’s backfield now and fantasy owners have to be impressed with the 4.8 yards per carry he had a year ago. David Wilson Crushing news to the Giants fans and organization is that of Andre Brown being out for the season with a broken leg. Wilson must now be a factor down back instead of just a home run threat. The Giants will find someone either on their roster or on waivers to fill the cushion carries role. Wilson has to be thrilled about his current opportunity as well as fantasy owners. While the rise of impact may be great on Wilson early, keep on eye and see how he handles the role in November and December when he surpasses 200/220 carries. Wide Receivers Justin Blackmon Herman Edwards preaches on air at ESPN for athletes to stay out of trouble. I’m sure Justin Blackmon was at the rookie symposium when he was warned of the lures outside of the football field, and how to act. The symposium didn’t matter as Blackmon had a DUI issue and will miss four games to start the season. No one can tell what is going on in a player’s head. His repeat issues have to be a cause for concern, but if he is able to sidestep those issues he showed last year that he can be a force. Ryan Broyles Detroit has never shied away from testing the arm of Matthew Stafford and won’t in 2013 either. Broyles will fill the slot receiver role and should get well over 60 catches in the Lions potent attack. If he can steal a few of Calvin Johnson’s touchdowns his value goes up even more. Chris Givens Many are down on St. Louis as they’re expecting their pattern of wins/losses to revert back to a major loss season in 2013. They’ve been back and forth on the pattern since the 2009 season. They’re an infused team with youth so the fine line of winning or losing will be a small margin. Givens impressed last season and is ahead of second round draft pick Brian Quick in terms of overall value. Reuben Randle Randle did a fine job as a rookie when injuries presented themselves. The Giants are going to continue to air out the football, and as long as you’re a top three wide receiver in the Giants offense you’re fantasy worthy. Randle is that and we know Hakeem Nicks injury-history. Victor Cruz’s foot issue in preseason that is carrying into the regular season boosts Randle’s value as well. Michael Floyd Throughout the first part of the 2012 season it looked like Floyd was lost, and losing ground quickly in his first year with the Cardinals. He shook off that notion and finished the season strong with a stable of quarterbacks that were down right putrid. Carson Palmer will adjust all of the Cardinals receivers statistics in an upward direction in 2013.

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