MANKATO — Last week I gave you some sleepers that might help your team in the mid-to-late rounds of your fantasy draft. This week I’ll look at the other side of the coin.
I don’t want to label them busts because they may actually end up having OK fantasy seasons, but they’re definitely overvalued. If you drop them down you cheat sheets to where they belong, you’ll never get a chance to acquire them because some less-learned owner will take them before you.
Here we go.
Brandon Lloyd, WR, New England: At 31 he still has some talent but the reality is that he’s the Patriots’ No. 4 receiving option behind Wes Welker, Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. He’ll put up decent numbers but no where near what people are expecting.
Kenny Britt, WR, Tennessee: Britt is nursing some injuries and there’s a very good chance he’ll be suspended for about three games. Throw in the fact that Jake Locker will probably be the starting quarterback for the Titans and you end up with a wide receiver with just so-so fantasy value.
Sidney Rice, WR, Seattle: If Rice is still even on you cheat sheet you should get him off. He hasn’t been relevant since his pre-injury days with the Vikings and now he has another new quarterback throwing to him. If Rice was that good would the Seahawks have brought in a 40-year-old Terrell Owens?
Anquan Boldin, WR, Baltimore: Boldin’s fantasy numbers have been dropping steadily each of the last four years. Torrey Smith is now the primary receiver and running back Ray Rice is a big part of the passing game. Just remember he’s not nearly the Anquan Boldin of old.
Santonio Holmes, WR, N.Y. Jets: Like Sidney Rice, this is just a great guy to stay away from completely. The running game is struggling, the quarterback situation is mediocre or worse and there’s no other receiver to draw coverage away from Holmes. The fact that he’s been hurt all preseason doesn’t enhance his value. Let somebody else take him.
Justin Blackmon, WR, Jacksonville: There’s no question Blackmon has the physical talent to be an elite NFL receiver but it’s probably not going to happen this year or maybe ever with quarterback Blaine Gabbert running the show. Just because A.J. Green and Julio Jones had great rookie seasons a year ago doesn’t mean Blackmon is in line for more of the same. He might be serviceable in the second half of the year but probably not before.
Robert Griffin III, QB, Washington: Griffin has all the talent in the world and he will eventually be a fantasy stud but not this year. The Cam Newton’s of the world only come around once a decade. He’s fine as a back-up fantasy QB but don’t even think about drafting him as a starter.
Roy Helu, RB, Washington: Even though this guy has dropped to third on the depth chart people are still drafting him as a RB2 or RB3. That’s way to high, especially for a Mike Shanahan running back. I would take both Tim Hightower and Evan Royster ahead of Hulu but I’d prefer not to have any of them.
Trent Richardson, RB, Cleveland: First of all he’s banged up and second of all he plays for Cleveland. The Browns don’t have the weapons around Richardson to keep pressure off him. Plus, they’ll be playing from behind most of the season. If he’s your RB4 you’re OK but anything higher is a huge gamble.
Vernon Davis, TE, San Francisco: Davis was the 11th-best tight end in fantasy football last year but he keeps getting drafted like the third or fourth best. In 2011 he had only six touchdowns and less than 800 yards. The additions of Mario Manningham and Randy Moss make Davis’ stock drop even lower.
Kellen Winslow, TE, Seattle: Again, if he is on your cheat sheet get him off. He’s never had more than five scores in a season and Matt Flynn does not improve his chances of getting better.
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