NFL Fantasy Football preview: Who you need to avoid

Well the final weekend of Fantasy Football drafts is upon us! Many of you out there may have your rosters filled and have already began trading however for those of you that have yet began the scramble for Rodgers and Foster I am going to bring you the final word on Quarterbacks and Wide Receivers to avoid...

Quarterbacks

Michael Vick Vick has the potential and weapons around him to have a huge season, something that led him to be the number one fantasy pick last year. However if last season is anything to go by we have learnt that Vick’s aggressive style leaves him too easily susceptible to injury. Verdict: Vick could bring you big points week in week out however due to his risks I would take him behind QB’s like Schaub, E Manning and Romo.

Mark Sanchez/Tim Tebow The obvious conundrum here is who gets the starting job? It looks like going into week one that Sanchez has the jersey so in those deeper leagues if you really get low down enough and still don’t have a QB then Sanchez would be your choice out of New York. However if you get into the situation that either of these QB’s take your starting role you had better have some good Rb’s and WR’s to back them up as I predict them sharing snaps throughout the season with Tebow eventually taking the starting job around weeks 6/7. Verdict: Avoid, avoid and avoid.

Phillip Rivers Rivers is coming out of his worse season since 2007 and for me the only way is down. His numbers stack up like this…last season he threw for less yards than 2010 with less TD’s. There were only with three other QB’s throwing more interceptions (20) than him (Freeman, Jackson and Grossman) with a QB rating of only 88.7 down from 101.9 in 2012. Verdict: Rivers has played every game since winning the starting job in San Diego so there is little threat of getting injured however with his recent history I would also say that there is little threat of him picking up the 20+ points you would like to see from your QB week in week out.

Running Backs

Maurice Jones-Drew There is no doubt about it MJD is a beast and personally would take him happily as my no.1 RB every season however this year is slightly different. MJD is still holding out on a new contract and with only a week until season begins I would be concerned that unless a deal is done soon he could be a risk. Verdict: If a deal is done soon get him early if no deal is done before you draft I wouldn’t take MJD before the late picks in round 2.

Jamaal Charles I don’t so much think that Charles will be a bust but more so that you need to be careful when you pick him. He had an amazing 2010 season and unfortunately missed all of 2011 with his ACL injury so the question is how will he bounce back? Verdict: Personally I would place him above the likes of Demarco Murray, Matt Forte and Marshawn Lynch so if it feels right and you missed out one of the elite RB’s in the first round or just need a great secondary I would pick up Charles.

Frank Gore Sure he is a unit you don’t have to be a genius to pick that up but that statistics don’t lie year on year Gore has had less runs per game and with the arrival Brandon Jacobs, a stereotypical goal line back, I would expect Gore’s numbers to take another hit this year. Verdict: Don’t rely on Gore as your No.1 RB this year he is a solid No.2 or flex option but for me I wouldn’t expect Gore to go until the second/third round.

Wide Receivers

Andre Johnson I can already feel the heat for last years overall number one wide receiver pick but come on look at his health! The Texans report he has still been limited in training and with a week to go until the regular season begins Texan fans should be concerned. Verdict: Johnson can still be a no.1 wide out when fit the question is do you take that gamble with your early picks…

Victor Cruz/Hakeem Nicks As a Giants fan it pains me to bring both of our wide receivers into this category but for the good of the cause this is why…Nicks is coming off an injury that plagued him for the majority of last season and although the Giants declare him fit for week 1 his general fitness will remain a concern for fantasy players all season. Victor Cruz was without doubt the offense surprise of 2011 he caught an incredible 9 TD’s for 1,536 yards in his first season which is an incredible achievement. This year teams will be on to him, he was the surprise package last season with teams distracted by laying double coverage on Nicks and the G-Mens other offensive weapons, this year teams will be watching him. Verdict: If I had to go with one of these guys I would go with Nicks he is proven NFL WR, I would keep Cruz as solid flex option.

Santonio Holmes Two words Sanchez Tebow. Verdict: Leave him on the waivers.

image: © Jeffrey Beall

Tom Ellison

@tomellison7more stories from Tom Ellison

An NFL fan for a season makes an NFL for life. Luckily for me my first real season as an NFL fan was the 2008 season in which my team (New York Giants) picked up a great Super Bowl win against the New England Patriots, sounds familiar doesn't it... Like most NFL fans I am an avid fantasy player, which will often play a part in some of my pieces sometimes causing confusion between reality and fantasy. Ultimately I aim to give you a great insight into tips for the weekends games, fantasy predictions and player low downs. Here's to another great NFL season.