Aaron Rodgers or Tom Brady? Arian Foster or LeSean McCoy?
While many people face the challenging decisions with money, their jobs or what career to pursue, others are faced with whom to pick first overall in their fantasy football draft.
Rough life, huh?
Fantasy football has become a fan phenomenon with three million new participants this year alone, bringing the total to around 30 million.
This year, more than any other, could be the most exciting for fantasy football owners.
New star players coming into the league can make an instant impact alongside the veterans in the NFL, which will create a chaotic draft day for most. However, follow these few tips and suggestions during your draft, you’ll be able to keep your composure and select a productive, winning team.
From the hyped players to the sleepers, these are players to watch during your draft this season.
Get them while they’re hot
There are going to be certain players that fantasy owners just cannot pass up if they’re available. While the league settings may play a factor into the decision of who to draft, these suggestions will be based around a wide range of normal settings.
For starters, there is a group I like to call the “super seven.” No matter when you are drafting, if any of them are available, draft them. These players will put up relatively similar points by the end of the year: Arian Foster, Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, LeSean McCoy, Drew Brees, Cameron Newton and Ray Rice.
Some may argue, “What about Calvin Johnson? What about Chris Johnson? What about Maurice Jones-Drew?”
Calvin Johnson has put up huge numbers the last few years — especially last year — but there is also the “Madden Curse.” The past doesn’t lie when it comes to the videogame’s cover athletes suffering injuries, but it’s a risk worth taking if you’re willing to accept the consequences.
Chris Johnson is undisputedly one of the top five running backs to draft, but he’s not someone to take very early due to his unpredictability last season. I expect a big season with the more balanced offense with the Tennessee Titans, but nothing like the other three running backs.
Jones-Drew still has yet to sign his tender or work out a contract deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars, and trade rumors continue to swirl. Neither are good signs for his fantasy stock and owners alike, as taking him in the first or second round is too large of a risk if his transition to another team doesn’t happen well.
Sleepers
Sleeper picks are considered players that are commonly overlooked because: many owners forgot the player was traded, the player is a rookie or he is just a no-name player. However, sleeper picks are something to research deeply on and that can make or break a fantasy football season.
Some sleeper picks to watch out for this season are Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III, Kendall Wright, Pierre Garcon, Demaryius Thomas, Jacob Tamme, Brandon Lloyd and Ronnie Brown.
Griffin and Luck are known sleepers, but both are quickly making their way up many fantasy rankings with their stellar preseason play. Both quarterbacks should be selected within the first five rounds.
For wide receivers, Wright from the Titans is a risky pick that could pay off. With his speed and quickness as a wide receiver, Wright could be a great option with fellow wideout Kenny Britt for the time being.
Thomas and Tamme should have career seasons with the mastermind Peyton Manning at the helm in Denver, and Brady should help turn Lloyd in New England into the Randy Moss of 2007 and 2009.
For the San Diego Chargers, Ryan Mathews is predicted to be out at least the first two weeks of the season, thus turning over the reigns to Ronnie Brown. After Mathews returns, Brown will still split carries and be the target of many screen plays the Chargers love to run.
Outside of those, if you want to dig a little deeper, players such as Robert Meachem from San Diego, Eric Decker from Denver, Jake Locker from Tennessee and Coby Fleener from Indianapolis should all put up decent numbers in fantasy.
Fantasy football drafts are now underway and you are on the clock.
Reach the columnist at msterrel@asu.edu