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 capsules, click here.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
2008 Fantasy Ratings:
Rushing: 7th.
Passing: 21st.
Overall: 16th.
Here is yet another reason why running out in June and purchasing a fantasy football magazine is a waste of money: Nobody in their right mind could project the No. 1 pick in the draft until the Brett Favre saga ended.
No, Favre wasn't a candidate to be the top pick in the fantasy draft. But Adrian Peterson sure was. In fact, he'd have been a lock if Favre had signed with the Vikings.
Alas, he didn't.
Peterson was the third-best back in the fantasy game last season after having been the No. 2 pick in most drafts. The guy almost unanimously chosen first last year - LaDainian Tomlinson - is no longer a serious candidate to go No. 1, so it makes sense to consider vaulting Peterson into that spot.
It would have been a no-brainer had Favre joined the team.
Nobody is friendlier to backs than Favre. He made Ahman Green and Ryan Grant stars in Green Bay, and single-handedly elevated Thomas Jones from disappointment to fantasy hotshot last season with the Jets.
Look what happened to Grant in his first year without Favre. Yes, you can expect the same for Jones this year.
At the same time, you could have expected Peterson to post his best numbers with Favre keeping defenses honest with his unique spread-the-field ability. And being that Peterson already was pretty darn good without Favre, the sky would have been the limit had old warhorse decided to give it one more go (with the Vikings).
But with Favre in retirement ... well, duh. You take Tom Brady first.
Projected 2009 Overall Fantasy Rating: 7th.
Most likely Viking to be better than expected (2008 position ranking in parentheses): QB Sage Rosenfels (not among Top 25 quarterbacks).
Most likely Viking to disappoint (2008 position ranking in parentheses): WR Percy Harvin (rookie).
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