Is this the year Bush finally realizes his potential?
Hello all, I’m Jess Faneuf, a new writer for Weekly Fantasy Sportal. I’m an avid New England Patriots fan who’s been playing fantasy football before the Internet existed, tracking stats from the Monday edition of the USA Today. Clearly, I’ve been playing for a long time and I’m old. In addition to my time on WFS, feel free to check out more articles from me at Fantasy Football Sportal.
It’s time to take a look at some fantasy-relevant players who have impressed so far this preseason. Of course the preseason is kind of like counterfeit money, it only has value to suckers. Still, there are some things to learn from the practice games, and this is what I saw from some players through week two:
Reggie Bush, RB, New Orleans
I know, I know, every year there are Reggie Bush sympathizers that think he’s finally going to live up to his potential, finally earn that USC money, and finally be the big-time fantasy player we all want him to be. I’ve never really been that guy, yet after the first two preseason games I’m finally on the bandwagon.
I don’t think he is a starting RB1 or RB2 on a fantasy team, but as a Flex you could do worse. He’s been running hard, continuing a pattern that started in the playoffs, and has two rushing TDs already in the preseason. Obviously Bush has more value in a PPR league, but I get the feeling that Bush will outplay his draft position in any league this year.
Jahvid Best, RB, Detroit
Opportunity and talent is what you look for when drafting a rookie in fantasy football. While Ryan Matthews has been getting all the love for these reasons, Jahvid Best alsohas a similar situation. Kevin Smith is still healing and Best has looked great on the field early this year. The Detroit offense as a whole will be better than people think, which will only help Best. There is concern about Best’s “Mr. Glass”-like body, having a major knee injury and multiple concussions in college, but if he stays healthy, watch out.
LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, New York Jets
I really want LT to be done. I’m actively pulling for him to fail. That being said, I don’t think he will. The more I watch the Jets, the more I see a split closer to 50/50 between LT and Shonn Greene. Plus, LT is most likely the 3rd down back since Shonn Greene is not known for soft hands.
LT, even if he has lost a step, still scored 12 TDs last year and will be running behind a beast of an o-line this year. Thing is, it looks like LT is motivated this year, as he has looked good on the field, as if he got some of his mojo back. There is the risk that he’ll be a broken down, old man sulking on the sidelines by week 8, but I think getting 15 touches per game will give him enough work to keep him valuable and enough rest to keep him fresh.
Thomas Jones, RB, Kansas City
Why not continue with the old guy theme? The man who LT replaced is now in Kansas City with a far worse offensive line and a talented RB in Jamaal Charles looking to be the clear RB1 on that team, yet without watching one play of Jones this preseason I feel he is going to be a valuable fantasy player. Why? Because everything coming out of Kansans City head coach Todd Haley’s mouth has been about how great Thomas Jones is.
At first I thought all the Jones hype from the Chiefs’ camp was an elaborate ruse to light a fire under Jamaal Charles. Now, I have turned to thinking that Todd Haley is crazy/dumb enough to give Thomas Jones carries to reward his work ethic. What is Jamaal Charles and Kansas City loss can be a savvy fantasy player’s gain.
Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, New York Giants
After a couple of preseason games, the Giants’ Brandon Jacobs has looked like a 55-year old Rodney Hampton. This is not good. The counterpart to Jacobs in the Giants backfield, Ahmad Bradshaw, has outplayed Jacobs in every way. Hopefully Bradshaw’s performance will melt what is left of Tom Coughlin’s dark heart and get the playing time he deserves.
The more Bradshaw is on the field, the better the Giants will be. Even in a split, Bradshaw may have better numbers then Jacobs and definitely has more value in relation to average draft position.
Wes Welker, WR, New England
How this guy is walking right now is beyond me, yet in the second preseason game there was the ol’ patented Wes Welker bubble screen. Welker’s rehab from having every ligament in his body repaired has been faster then anyone thought possible. After the surgery, I thought he was out for a minimum of the first half of the season. Who knew he had superhuman healing powers? He must drink vampire blood. The more this guy plays in the preseason, the more confident you should be in drafting him, and I think he’ll be playing in week one.
Tags: 2010 fantasy football sleepers, 2010 fantasy sleepers, 2010 nfl preseason, best fantasy football sleepers, best fantasy sleepers, fantasy football sleepers, fantasy sleepers, top fantasy football sleepers, top fantasy sleepers
[...] but with the season closing in on us and fantasy drafts coming up every day, its time for our top fantasy sleepers for the 2010 NFL [...]