My Dudes (2011 NFL Edition)

Every sports fan has “Their Dudes”. These are YOUR players. Maybe it’s for fantasy purposes, maybe it’s just solely as a fan. For instance, Eric Piatkowski was “My Dude” in the NBA2K2 video game. Justin Upton has been “My Dude” for fantasy baseball for several years now. Last year in fantasy football, Jermichael Finley was “My Dude”.

For our purposes here, “My Dudes” are guys that are going to be on many, if not all of my fantasy football teams. They are players that I am expecting to have excellent seasons. I may reach for them in drafts. I may irrationally ignore news and advice that aren’t positive. These are my dudes, at least for this season. So if the ship goes down, I’m goin down too.

QB

• SAM BRADFORD (STL) - Yeah, me and everybody else in the world, right? There’s just a lot to like here. The Rams have invested heavily in their offensive line. Josh McDaniels has brought his pass-happy system to town. The Rams play their games in a dome while facing an easier-than-average schedule due to being in the NFC West. Steven Jackson provides a rushing threat that keeps defenses honest. The Rams might not have a bunch of elite receiving targets, but they’ve got a lot of options. Expect Bradford to spread the ball around and pile up yards and attempts. I’m not expecting a top-5 QB season, but I feel he’s mosdef a top-10 QB with realistic top-7 upside.
• BEN ROETHLISBERGER (PIT) - His offensive line is still a mess. But he’s made a Michael Vick-like improvement in his game since his off-field debacle last summer. He seems to be not only in a better place mentally, but also physically in better condition. Now that the Steelers are getting him some receiving targets to go along with the dominant running game, the sky is the limit. A rise in pass attempts coupled with a decrease in sacks and INT’s can only mean good things for Big Ben.
• MATT RYAN (ATL) - These are “My Dudes” not sleepers. Remember that. Ryan has so many positives going for him entering 2011. He has 11 dome games on the schedule. The Falcons re-signed their free agents on the offensive line. Julio Jones was brought in at an enormous price to provide a legitimate deep threat across from Roddy White. Harry Douglas is finally healthy and looks ready to thrive in the slot receiver role. Add all that to the slow decline of Michael Turner and you’ve got Ryan throwing more passes to better weapons. We like that. We like that a lot.
• MATTHEW STAFFORD (DET) - Thank you Captain Obvious! Is Stafford going to get hurt again? Probably. But it’s been bloody obvious this preseason that Stafford is the Real McCoy. If he stays healthy, he could put up elite QB1 numbers. I’m willing to risk it. Again, he’s another of these QB’s with at least 10 games indoors. If he’s stays healthy, Calvin Johnson could be the #1 WR in the land this season.

RB

• RAY RICE (BAL) - He just seems ready to take the next step. The change from Willis McGahee to Ricky Williams seems like it’s going to give Rice some more looks at the goal line. The addition of Lee Evans as a deep threat should open up the offense a bit and give Rice a bit more breathing room. Not to mention that Rice could very well lead the Ravens in receptions. This could be a career season for Rice.
• MIKE TOLBERT (SD) - Is this a knock on Ryan Matthews? A bit. But Tolbert is going to catch the passes and score the TD’s. At the end of the season your going to look at his stats and say “Damn Gina, when did Tolbert do all of this?” If Matthews were to get injured (again) Tolbert could be an absolute monster.
• BRANDON JACOBS (NYG) - Last year Ahmad Bradshaw was “My Dude”. But between Bradshaw’s fumbling problems and nagging injuries, Jacobs got most of the work he’d lost back. Now we have a 50/50 timeshare for the Giants. Jacobs has looked phenomenal in the preseason, much like he did at the end of last season. I could mosdef see 1,000 yards and 10+ TD’s here. Gotta like that.
• JAVON RINGER & JAMIE HARPER (TEN) - And I write this knowing that Chris Johnson is probably going to be signed and delivered by Opening Day. What has history told us about players that holdout and then try to play too quickly? They get hurt. And even when they come back, they tend to have nagging injuries. The Titans are going to run the ball, with or without Chris Johnson. I feel like there’s going to be some value here.
• ALEX GREEN (GB) - So Ryan Grant hasn’t looked that great. They’ve got James Starks. Except for Starks has pretty much never stayed healthy for an entire season since before college. John Kuhn is not really an every-down RB. That leaves rookie Alex Green who’s looked good in training camp and preseason action.
• ISSAC REDMAN (PIT) - People always talk about the “Curse of 370”. Rashard Mendenhall had over 400 carries last season. There’s definite breakdown potential there. Redman hasn’t been a dynamic RB but if Mendenhall were to go down, Redman would get the majority of the work. And the Steelers are never just going to stop running the ball.
• KENDALL HUNTER (SF) - Do you trust Frank Gore to stay healthy? Neither do I. Antonio Dixon hasn’t looked good at all this preseason while Hunter has looked great. Despite his contract extension, Gore is just the 49ers RB for this season and maybe next. If Hunter were to start and look good, that might be it for Gore in San Fran, contract extension or not. Dynasty leagues take note.
• WILLIS MCGAHEE (DEN) - McGahee has almost a perfect storm for fantasy around him. He’s going to get the goal line work. He’s got a coach that believes in running the ball, who brought McGahee in to do just that. He’s behind a young, injury-prone back who has never played up to his potential. Not to mention he was the selection of the previous regime. Don’t be surprised if McGahee starts at least a few games for the Broncos.
• FELIX JONES (DAL) - Jones has been “My Dude” every year since he entered the league. And he’s disappointed me every year. But now he has the Dallas backfield all to himself. He’s back at his correct playing weight. And he’s stayed healthy throughout the preseason. I don’t need the world, just solid RB2 numbers. If not, Jones is dead to me and will never again be a “Dude” of mine.

WR

• PERCY HARVIN (MIN) - Let’s hope that he really has the concussion thing figured out. Donovan McNabb knows how to get the ball to his best receiver. That would be Harvin, and by a landslide at that. Harvin will be used in a variety of ways and could accumulate massive all-around yardage totals. Think what Santana Moss did last season with McNabb, but with some real after-the-catch ability.
• LARRY FITZGERALD (ARI) - Did people not pay attention to what he did with ZERO help from his QB’s last season? And don’t think that Kevin Kolb just won’t lock onto Larry, INT’s be damned. We’re talking at least 100 catches here, with all the good stuff that goes along with it. Not to mention if Beanie Wells is ineffective (as usual) the Cardinals will be forced to pass, pass and then pass some more.
• DANNY AMENDOLA (STL) - Pay attention, this is the Wes Welker-clone we’ve all been waiting for. Amendola is incredibly similar to Welker and will be used in a similar fashion by Josh McDaniels. Amendola will be the featured receiver for the Rams, even when he is playing out of the slot. Why this guy slides so far in drafts is beyond me.
• BRANDON MARSHALL (MIA) - The cat is kind of out of the bag on Marshall now. He is over his hip injury from last season. He’s gotten treatment for a personality disorder and seems to be in a much better place. He’s developed a better chemistry with Chad Henne. The TD’s might not be there, but it sure looks like Marshall will rejoin the 100 catch club. And he’s being drafted as a WR2. Awesome.
• ROBERT MEACHEM (NO) - Here’s another guy we just keep waiting on. But it seems like it’s finally time. Marques Colston is really suffering from the affects of his multiple knee surgeries. Lance Moore is a nice player, but he’s not a featured WR. Meachem has that kind of talent. And he’s got the QB who can get him the ball in the right place at the right time. Can Meachem stay healthy and put it all together? I don’t know. But the upside is worth it.

TE

• JERMICHAEL FINLEY (GB) - Here we go again. Again. Do I really need to explain? Finley is the #1 guy for Aaron Rodgers when healthy. If he plays 16 games, I don’t see any scenario where he’s not a top-2 TE. Will he stay healthy? Doubtful. But that’s why he’s “My Dude”. It’s like fantasy football crack.
• JARED COOK (TEN) - We’ve got Finley Jr. right here. Cook is an extremely talented TE who is finally going to get the chance to be featured in the offense. Matt Hasselbeck has always leaned on his TE and that shouldn’t change now. Kenny Britt may start off the season on a snap count, making Cook the #1 target in the Titans passing game.
• ROB GRONKOWSKI & AARON HERNANDEZ (NE) - I’ve given up on trying to figure out which is better. There is going to be some inconsistency from week-to-week while trying to pick the better option. But when the dust settles at the end of the season, I would expect both to be among the top-12 TE’s. Gronkowski should be the better bet for TD’s while Hernandez should catch more passes.
• GREG OLSEN (CAR) - Olsen finally gets to go to a team that is willing to utilize his talents. He’s not much of a blocker. But he’s an extremely athletic TE who is a good route runner. I fully expect him to have a career year and quite possibly finish as the #1 target in the Panthers passing game over Steve Smith 1.0. Don’t let the presence of Jeremy Shockey scare you.
• VERNON DAVIS (SF) - Now THIS is Alex Smith’s “Dude”. He’s all they got over in San Fran. Well pretty much anyway. Crabtree is once again recovering from a foot injury. Braylon Edwards is facing a possible suspension, not to mention his career long battles with inconsistency and the drops. Davis should be heavily targeted and has a legit shot to be the #1 TE in fantasy this season.

So there you have it. These are “My Dudes” for the entire season, for better or worse. Will I acquire some new “Dudes” (that’s what she said) during the season? Absolutely. Will some of these guys burn me (also what she said)? Of course. But the beauty of fantasy football is that you can build your team however you like. It’s your team, do what makes you happy. Me? I like drafting “My Dudes”.

I’m not even going to go there and make a joke about “dudes” and Twitter. Follow along if ya like.