Ask The Maverick !
by Fantasy Maverick
27/1/2010
Got a Fantasy dilemma? Can't decide what to do? Your toubles are over as the doctor is in session...fire your questions at the Maverick and we will publish the most needy patients...
CJ2K
Nathan Coates: With Chris Johnson breaking 2500 total yards this past season,
do you think he will surpass Drew Brees and/or Peyton Manning as the number one
fantasy player? P.S. Love the site
Maverick:
The simple answer to the Chris Johnson question is this: Absolutely yes. Johnson put up the kind of numbers this year that won individual owners championships single-handedly. I certainly lost one final to a Chris Johnson-driven team, and I know of tons of other owners who could say the same.
Not only did CJ rack up elite rushing and receiving yardage, he started chipping in touchdowns from inside the red zone too, leaving LenDale White's sizeable derriere planted firmly on the bench even in occasional goal line situations. CJ goes into next season with a young quarterback in place (Vince Young) who actually helped his game get better in the second half of the '09 season, so it might be that we could expect even more from Titans' go-to back when September rolls around again.
Let me say this though I wouldn't have too much issue with anyone who argues that Adrian Peterson would be their preferred choice. Either would be a fine choice at the top of fantasy drafts, but for my money, CJ is the back with the bigger upside just for 2010, especially with some doubt as to the identity of the Vikings' offense with Brett Favre's will-he/won't-he retirement hanging over Minnesota.
Your question suggests that Brees and Manning are CJ's rivals for number one status in fantasy leagues, and I'd have to disagree with you there (although admittedly, different league scoring systems might influence that). For me, an early top 10 list heading into the average 2010 re-draft league looks something like this:
Chris Johnson
Adrian Peterson
Maurice-Jones Drew
Ray Rice
Michael Turner
Larry Fitzgerald
Frank Gore
Andre Johnson
Drew Brees
Reggie Wayne
This list leaves out lots of big fantasy names Randy Moss, Manning, Miles Austin, Steven Jackson, Jonathan Stewart and is super-early, but few pundits are arguing about the identity (if not the order) of the top four players right now.
Running backs still win championships because of their sheer potential to touch the ball and score so much, and CJ, AP, Mojo and, uh, R-squared, are the big four, and no denying. Keep an eye on the likes of Stewart, Rashard Mendenhall, Shonn Greene Knowshon Moreno, and Jamaal Charles for big jumps up this board, and if big-ticket rookies like CJ Spiller or Jonathan Dwyer end up in the right spot like San Diego, say, or Houston they could contend too.
But when all is said and done Nathan, CJ coming off one of the single greatest combined rushing/receiving years of all-time is the Daddy.
Need some help with your team?
Ask The Maverick !
It's your turn to ask the Mighty Maverick:
|
