This is the first weekend since the beginning of September that there is no real NFL game on TV. While many Fantasy Football players gave up and moved on to baseball once the playoffs began, there are still some diehards that want to enjoy every second of football season, even if they are just playing in a playoff league with 100 strangers. Well, I don’t know of a Pro Bowl Fantasy league (if you do, let me know!), but that doesn’t mean that you still can’t turn in for this weekend’s “All Star” game and watch with a Fantasy eye.
While some players feign injury or family issues in order to avoid having to play, others do head to Hawaii and let fans enjoy one last game of football before the Super Bowl and the ultimate end of football season. As a savvy Fantasy Football owner, you can watch the game with an eye on your roster. Especially if you’re in a keeper league, you might be able to make some keeper decisions. If you’re just planning ahead for next year, remember it’s never to early to scout for your team. Here are some players to keep an eye on, just to see what they can do.
Brandon Marshall is the man. Photo Credit: RotoExperts
AFC
Ben Roethlisberger, QB
In the last nine games of the season, Roethlisberger didn’t have a game where he threw for more than two touchdowns. In fact, in those nine games (including a playoff game, but also including one where he did not play), he only threw for 10 touchdowns, compared to nine interceptions. Compare that to the first seven games, where Roethlisberger threw 12 touchdowns to six interceptions. Was it a mid-season and beyond slump? Was it the troublesome ankle (and a whole host of other injuries Roethlisberger always seems to suffer and play through)? Unclear, but it will be interesting to see how he looks in the Pro Bowl. Watch for his mobility and how he throws the ball. When he was playing on the high ankle sprain, you could tell he was trying to avoid throwing off that foot. Is he going to throw at will or not?
Andy Dalton, QB
When Roethlisberger sits, rookie Dalton might head in the game. While he did appear calm in any game situation, his numbers also suffered toward the end of the season. In his last nine games (including a playoff game), he threw eight touchdowns and nine interceptions. Compared to the first seven games, where he threw 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions, Dalton had a four-game stretch in the last half of the season where he didn’t even break 200 passing yards. While a slow start was expected, the second half of the season was a disappointment. How will Dalton perform with not just AJ Green to throw to, but also Mike Wallace and other elite receivers? Did Green make Dalton look good? Will we be able to tell from this game? We’ll see.
Philip Rivers, QB
Unlike Roethlisberger and Dalton, Rivers ended the season well. The beginning of his season caused many analysts to wonder if he was hiding an injury – that’s how terrible he looked. However, he did turn it around and finish the season with 27 touchdowns to 20 interceptions. However, 20 of those 27 touchdowns came in the last nine games. If Rivers comes out in the Pro Bowl and fires away – accurately – Fantasy owners can be assured that it was just a beginning of the season slump.
Maurice Jones-Drew, RB
Toward the end of the season, Jones-Drew looked like he was tired. I know, it’s hard to criticize the leading rusher in the league, but when you’re the only offense on your team, it has to wear on you. Granted, his numbers didn’t show any signs of strain. He ended the season with three 100-plus rushing yard games. He also ended the year with the most rushing attempts (343, which is 10 more than Ray Rice) and the most rushing yards (1,606, nearly 100 more than Arian Foster). However, he was nursing a sore ankle and was rumored to have slept in a hyperbaric chamber before games to help the healing process. Just make sure that Jones-Drew still has that burst, although for Fantasy purposes, you’re hanging on to him if you can.
Vincent Jackson, WR
Replacing Wes Welker on the Pro Bowl roster, Jackson will likely use any opportunity he gets in the Pro Bowl to show other teams what he can be capable of. A free agent heading into next season, it is questionable if he will remain in San Diego. He did have nine touchdowns on the season, but he was wildly inconsistent as well. The Chargers need a consistent, capable receiver, and while Jackson managed to avoid off-field issues, he didn’t do a spectacular job of showing he could be the top receiver consistently on the field. At 29, Jackson is likely looking for a long-term deal, and San Diego may not be willing to bite. Watch his performance at the Pro Bowl to see if he plays like the receiver he is capable of or if he starts running lazy routes again.
NFC
Cam Newton, QB
Undrafted in many leagues, Newton became this year’s Michael Vick. He could run, he could throw and he could find the end zone. He finished his rookie year with 14 rushing touchdowns (only seven less than the total of passing touchdowns he had and more than ALL running backs except for LeSean McCoy). Will he have success next year or will he fall victim to the dreaded sophomore slump? Only time will tell, but it will be interesting to watch him if he gets any amount of playing time in the Pro Bowl. Surrounded by top talent, will Newton scramble as much? Will he try to find Calvin Johnson? Will his playing style change?
Matt Forte, RB
Despite ending the season on the I.R., Forte says he is ready to play in the Pro Bowl. This may be a case of showing off for him, so watch Forte carefully. He’s waiting for a contract from the Bears, and the Bears are likely waiting to see how well he plays after suffering a knee injury, which cost him (and the Bears) the end of the regular season. Even before the injury, Forte wasn’t finding the end zone. He was on track to end the year as a Top Five running back in terms of total yards, but when it came to Fantasy points, he only had four touchdowns on the year. Just shy of 1,500 total yards, Forte should be a solid back next year. Pay attention to how he plays in the Pro Bowl and also what the Bears do offensively.
Marshawn Lynch, RB
Who would have guessed Lynch would score a touchdown in 11 straight games, including matches against San Francisco, Baltimore and Cincinnati? After putting up 737 rushing yards, six rushing touchdowns, 145 receiving yards and four fumbles in 2010, his 2011 figures are certainly unexpected. He had 1,204 rushing yards, 12 rushing touchdowns, 212 receiving yards, one receiving touchdown and only one fumble (that wasn’t recovered). At only 25, this was his career-best season. While there will be debate on where to draft him next year, watch to see how he compares to LeSean McCoy and Forte in the Pro Bowl.
Steve Smith, WR
Revitalized by Cam Newton, Smith, despite being 32 years old, put together a season close to his 2008 figures. With 79 receptions (one more than in 2008), 1,394 receiving yards (27 fewer than 2008) and seven touchdowns (one more than in 2008), he finished in the Top 10 in terms of yards by a wide receiver. At the beginning of the season, no one expected that. Coming off a 554-yard, two touchdown season in 2010, Smith was a late-round desperation draft pick. He rewarded owners, but was he that good because he was the best receiver in Carolina? It will be interesting to see how Smith looks compared to Larry Fitzgerald, Greg Jennings and Roddy White.
Greg Jennings, WR
Drafted as a top receiver, Jennings may be seen as a disappointment when Fantasy owners look at the end of the season. He injured his knee and missed the last three games, but even before that, he was losing receptions to Jordy Nelson. In the six games after the bye week, Jennings didn’t crack 100 yards. He did have four touchdowns in that span, as Aaron Rodgers looked for him in the red zone. However, he dealt with a rib injury in the divisional round of the playoffs as well. He should be fine heading into next year, but it would be nice to see some solid catches from him in the Pro Bowl.
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