The two keys to a successful draft in fantasy football are: 1) Selecting players who will perform better than expected; and 2) Staying away from guys who will disappoint. In this 32-team series, I examine both types of players on every NFL team as the clubs prepare to head to training camp. For a listing of all 32 capsultes, click here.
DETROIT LIONS
2008 Fantasy Ratings:
Rushing: 31st.
Passing: 23rd.
Overall: 28th.
Very much under the radar, the Lions did more than just draft Matthew Stafford this off-season. They also built a nice attack around their rookie quarterback.
Check it out: Maurice Morris was added to complement a pretty darn good young back, Kevin Smith; Bryant Johnson was signed and Derrick Williams was drafted to fill in around star wide receiver Calvin Johnson; and quality tight end Brandon Pettigrew was snatched with the club's second first-round pick.
Put that kind of weaponry around a proven quarterback and you'd have the makings of a fantasy starter. But can we put that kind of trust in Stafford?
Training camp will give us a clue. If the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft is a no-doubt starter on Opening Day, he's certainly worthy of a fantasy roster spot. And if the Lions have any kind of success with Stafford on the field in the exhibition season, he could be a real nice sleeper.
The problem is: There's a perception Matt Ryan had a quality season last year (actually, he was rather mediocre), so someone in each league undoubtedly will exhaust a relatively high pick on Stafford. So while it's tempting to say he could be underrated, there's an equal chance he'll be overrated by SOMEONE, and all it takes is one of the latter to ruin your draft strategy.
So do yourself a favor: Prepare to use a midlevel pick on Stafford, and if he's gone, get yourself one of those other Lions. Thanksgiving could be a fun day this year.
Projected 2009 Overall Fantasy Rating: 16th.
Most likely Lions to be better than expected (2008 position ranking in parentheses): RB Kevin Smith (18th among running backs); WR Bryant Johnson (not among Top 40 wide receivers); QB Matthew Stafford (rookie).
Most likely Lion to disappoint (2008 position ranking in parentheses): RB Maurice Morris (not among Top 40 running backs).
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