FANTASYBOYZ TIGHT END RANKINGS

By FANTASYBOYZ Editor in Chief Corey Bugenhagen

Your 2012 Draft is upon you and you have been tirelessly looking at your QB, RB, and WR lists.  Looking for the sleeper that will put you over the edges.  Well don't forget about Tight Ends folks.  the Tight End position has been revolutionized in the past 4 to 5 seasons, and it was all culminated in the huge breakout seasons for Rob Gronkowksi and Jimmy Graham.  The two studs performed at the level of a high 1st round running back and then some.  The Tight End pool is very deep in 2012 with talent so go get that sleeper!!

FANTASYBOYZ RUNNING BACK RANKINGS

By FANTASYBOYZ Editor in Chief Corey Bugenhagen

Long gone are the days where loading up on Running Backs is the way to win your fantasy championship year in and year out.  With that being said you must obtain as much RB talent as possible.  With so many 2 back committees out there the key to it all will be to find the backs with the least competition for carries.  There are still backs that will get the majority.  You need to feel your draft out and not let runs on players dictate your picks.  Get the best talent round in and round out.

Below is our rankings as of today:

NFL Draft....Fantasy Implications....

By Fantasy Boyz Editor in Chief Corey Bugenhagen

Colts got their man

Andrew Luck                      QB          Colts

What else is there to say here?  Luck is a once in a generation talent and a must add in all dynasty leagues.  We feel he will have low end starter value right away

Robert Griffin III              QB          Redskins

RGIII generated as much, if not more, buzz than Luck himself.  He has landed in a great spot to produce immediately.  He should flourish in Shannahan’s offense.  Another dynasty must and low end starter for 2012

Trent Richardson              RB           Browns

Richardson will be the top rookie fantasy producer in 2012 without a doubt.  He is a player to target in the early rounds of the draft.

Matt Kalil                          OT          Vikings 

Great pick by the Vikings, and will help AP on his road to recovery

Justin Blackmon               WR         Jaguars

Love the player hate the situation.  Blaine Gabbert and Chad Henne at QB are going to kill his value.

Morris Claiborne              DB          Cowboys

Will have great value in IDP leagues.  Look for 4+ INTs in 2012     

Mark Barron                       S              Buccaneers

Stepping into a young upstart Defense.  We like Barron to produce decent tackle and INT totals in 2012

Ryan Tannehill                  QB          Dolphins             

Not a fan of this selection at all.  Was unproven at the college level and is a major project in the pros.  He could one day be a solid player but not anytime soon

Luke Kuechly                    ILB          Panthers             

Will be a tackling machine right out of the gate.  A solid mid round IDP selection

Stephon Gilmore               DB          Bills       

Gilmore will start right out of the gate and is in a great situation with the additions of Mario Williams, and Mark Anderson rushing opposing passers

Dontari Poe                        DT           Chiefs  

Didn’t dominate at a lower level conference.  We don’t see this workout warrior accumulating enough stats to make a difference in IDPs

Fletcher Cox                      DT           Eagles  

Cox on the other hand we love.  He is disruptive and will contribute right away

Michael Floyd                   WR         Cardinals             

Great talent and should see his share of Balls in 2012.   Late round selection material

Michael Brockers             DT           Rams    

Brockers is in a similar situation as Cox.  Probably late round draft material

Bruce Irvin                          OLB        Seahawks

HAAATED this pick and don’t have much hope for contributions next season

Quinton Coples                    DE           Jets                       

Great talent but no heart.  Doesn’t fit Jet’s scheme either.  Rex Ryan however tends to get the most out of his defensive players.  Ten sacks is not out of the question

Dre Kirkpatrick                  DB          Bengals               

Vicious hitter from the corner position.  Won’t add too many INTs however

Melvin Ingram                  DE           Chargers

We see ten plus sacks in Ingram’s future.  We loved this pick from a fantasy perspective as well as a football one             

Shea McClellin                 OLB        Bears    

He has a high motor is a oldest most annoying draft nick saying out there but it holds true for McClellin.  He reminds us of Justin Smith of the 49ers

Kendall Wright                 WR         Titans   

Will produce #s around 600 yards and 4 TDs.  Late round player in most leagues

Chandler Jones                 DE           Patriots               

The Patriots are always reloading in the draft.  Jones will enter a nice rotation in New England and should have 5+ stats

Brandon Weeden               QB          Browns

Will start immediately but doesn’t have any receiving corp to speak of.  Backup material

Riley Reiff                           OT          Lions     

Will help keep Stafford off his back in the pocket

David DeCastro                 OG         Steelers              

Perfect choice for the Steelers power running game.  Will open up lanes for whoever is carrying the rock in DA BURGH

Dont'a Hightower             ILB          Patriots               

In IDPs that give major points for tackles Hightower will be a solid high to mid round pick

Whitney Mercilus             DE           Texans 

Will step right into the spot vacated by the loss of Mario Williams.  He may not be the same player but similar production is not out of the question

Kevin Zeitler                      OG         Bengals               

Another Guard in the first round how boring……

Nick Perry                           DE           Packers               

Perry on one side and Matthews on the other could be dangerous.  Another guy with double digit sack possibilities

Harrison Smith                    S              Vikings 

Not expecting much out of Smith fantasy wise in 2012

A.j. Jenkins                        WR         49ers    

Enters into a crowded WR situation in San Fran.  Good player but wont contribute much right away

Doug Martin                      RB           Buccaneers        

Somewhat puzzled by this pick.  Blount is the starter and Martin will probably get around 10 carries a game

David Wilson                     RB           Giants  

Wilson is in a much better situation than Martin.  With Jacobs gone and Bradshaw with constant foot problems Wilson has the possibility of getting major touches for the Champs.

MLB CHEATSHEET..........STARTERS

By Fantasy Boyz Editor in Chief Corey Bugenhagen                   

Verlander will do it again in 2012

Today the Fantasy Boyz are focusing on starting pitching.  In many leagues the pitching position is neglected.  The Fantasy Boyz want to make sure that our readers don't make this same mistake.  We feel the best rosters are ones that are well rounded.  While most leagues do favor hitting overall a team that forgets to add quality arms is not one that will succeed.  The Starters are much like Outfielders in the sense that there is so much quality out there.  Our rankings slate how we will pick in our upcoming drafts. 

The top ten is easy lead by Justin Verlander, Clayton Kershaw and Roy Halladay but you make your money in the middle rounds.  Guys like Tommy Hanson, Josh Johnson, and Adam Wainwright will carry your pitching categories and won't cost you a top 2 selection.  Yes we know Johnson and Wainwright are coming off major injury.  Well the Fantasy Boyz are risk takers and we aren't afraid to add talent to our roster.  We hope you follow suit

Sleepers:
Ian Kennedy - Possibility of putting up Cy Young #s

Derek Holland - High Velocity and will get more innings with the loss of CJ Wilson

Andy Pettitte  - Mark our words Pettitte will be an important member of the Yankees rotation in 2012

Steer Clear:
Ubaldo Jimenez - Hasn't been the same since first half of 2010

Michael Pineda - Will he be able to handle the Bronx pressure?  Let someone else find out

Jordan Zimmerman - We want production before we add him to our team

MLB CHEAT SHEET.......SECOND BASE

By FANTASY BOYZ Editor in Chief Corey Bugenhagen              

Cano is a top 5 option

When looking at your lineups after your yearly draft may owners scratch their head with what they are going to do at Second Base.  There is not a long line of guys that you plug into your lineup and not worry if they will produce or not.  Outside of Robinson Cano and Dustin Pedroia there are questions surrounding almost every option.  Brandon Phillips is mad about his contract.  Ian Kinsler has had ankle problems, which he has supposedly had fixed with some kind of blood platelet injection.  Rickie Weeks has had ankle problems of his own.  The list of questions goes on and on, which is why we feel the value of Cano and Pedroia is so high is this years draft.  Sure they will not produce like the big time sluggers at first base, third base or outfield but those positions are much deeper in talent.  We have no issue with Cano going in the top 5 or Pedroia in the top 10.  For example if you are to grab Cano at 2 or 3 and then come back around with Teixeira in round two you are much better off than with a combo of Adrian Gonzales and Rickie Weeks or Dan Uggla.  Again that is just my opinion and you know what they same about those.   The fact does remain though that getting a Second Baseman that will contribute consistent numbers in 2012 is not an easy task.

MLB CHEAT SHEET.... FIRST BASE

Prince and Miguel in Motown......WOW

By Fantasy Boyz Editor in Chief Corey Bugenhagen

As we get closer and closer to our favorite time of the year in Spring training we are going to focus today on the first base position.  First base is general one of your lynch pin offensive potitions on any championship fantasy baseball roster. We feel this years crop is 10 deep with legit MASHERS.  After that there is a definite drop off.  In that 10 there is also a clear top 5 of Albert Pujols, Miguel Cabrera, Adrian Gonzalez, Prince Fielder and Joey Votto.  Those guys are super studs that will most certainly be gone mid way through your second round.  Our second 5 of Paul Konerko, Mike Napoli, Mark Teixera, Eric Hosmer, and Carlos Santana contains some old dogs and a couple young guns.  Father time will catch up to Konerko someday but we don't think it will be this year.  Mike Napoli is an interesting option, coming off an amazing season and having dual position eligibility.  Teixera will continue to put up HRs, and RBIs in that powerful Yankee lineup.  We absolutely love Eric Hosmer this season, and think he will only build on his fantastic rookie season.  To round out the top 10 we bring you Carlos Santana.  Carlos moving to first base is the best thing that could have happened to the young slugger.  We love his increase power late in the season, with 12 bombs over his final 2 months.  Sky is the limit for the sweet swinging Santana.

Our advice is to get one of the above mentioned top 10.  Waiting on this position and trying to go the sleeper rout is a risky proposition in our opinion.  Let the other guys pin their hopes on the likes of Mark Reynolds, Ryan Howard, or Lance Berkman.