Decent Fantasy Football Options

A couple of years ago Bill Simmons and Grantland held the Fantasy Island competition. One's submission had to list players who wouldn't be highly sought after in fantasy football drafts and poetic reasons why you would want them on their team. Well, Grantland proceeded to select, out of all the submissions including one from your's truly, the worst ten people they possibly could have picked. These people then drafted fantasy football teams and then had to write blog posts each week about their teams, players, etc. The winner of this competition would receive a one-year contract to write about fantasy football for Grantland. This competition was so successful that it ended before the bye weeks began that season. In honor at this failed attempt, I'm going to resurrect, in my own way, the concept of the submission to a failed concept. Below is a list of players that I would want on my fantasy team this year if the value matches up to the draft round or dollar amount for auction leagues.

Quarterbacks:

Drew Brees (Saints): I was going to say any NFC South quarterback, but Josh McCown doesn't strike confidence in anyone but Lovie Smith and Cam Newton has absolutely no one to throw to. Matt Ryan would be another decent choice, but Roddy White tends to get hurt and Julio Jones has been talking too much. So out of the four NFC South quarterbacks I'd take Brees. New Orleans' offense is spectacular and he has some good young wideouts to throw to, plus Jimmy Graham. Plus New Orleans has the best defense (more exact - best secondary) in the division which is a big reason I'd pick Brees over Ryan. Brees knows his window is closing and he wants another ring. This could be his best year yet.

Phillip Rivers (Chargers): This could very well be the first time ever that someone has recommended Phillip Rivers as a viable, dependable starter for fantasy football. If not, it hasn't happened very often. Rivers typically drives fantasy owners crazy with his erratic play. With Mike McCoy (and not Norv Turner) running the show and with the weapons that he has I fully expect Rivers to build on his success from last year. If I can't get Brees, I'd take Rivers. I can't believe I just said that.

Teddy Bridgewater (Vikings): Hear me out on this one. Yes, he's behind Matt Cassell at the moment. But do you really think Mike Zimmer thinks he can win with Matt Cassell? Scott Pioli thought that once and it cost him his job. A lot of people think that whoever wins the job in Minnesota will simply hand off to Peterson. Not going to happen. Peterson is getting older and needs to be used more wisely. The Vikings also have some pretty good receivers and an above average tight end. Bridgewater might not start right away, but he'll start sooner or later this season. Keep an eye on him. He could surprise.

Running Backs:

Matt Forte (Bears): I wrote in a previous post how LeSean McCoy is the best all around back in football. But I never draft high enough to get him. So I'd happily take Forte. He runs, he catches, and Marc Trestman's offense is designed to score points.

Giovani Bernard (Bengals): He's clearly atop the depth chart in Cincinnati. A.J. Green gets all the fantasy football attention, but the Bengals will bring a more balanced offensive attack this year. I don't normally trust second year running back - but that's mostly if they have a lot of success as a rookie. Bernard had an ok year last year, so he should be just fine in 2014.

Toby Gerhart (Jaguars): He put up pretty good numbers in college and he's sat behind Adrian Peterson his entire career. He made some flashes as a backup and now gets a chance to start. Sounds a little bit like some guy who played behind LaDainian Tomlinson and then had a few very successful seasons for the Falcons. Not saying Gerhart will be the next Michael Turner, but he has a shot.

Wide Receivers:

Golden Tate (Lions): Megatron gets all of the attention, but there's a reason the Lions signed Tate. They haven't had a reliable #2 receiver ever. Stafford is going to have to find other players to throw to when Johnson gets double or triple covered. Even with Reggie Bush catching passes out of the backfield, Tate should see his fair share of throws. He probably won't reach 1,000 yards receiving, but he could approach double digit touchdowns. He's worth a mid to late round pick in fantasy drafts.

Hakeem Nicks (Colts): He's greatly upgraded at quarterback (I've never believed in Eli Manning) and he just needs to stay healthy. If he can, he'll become the Colts' #1 receiver. If he does that he'll greatly reward his fantasy owners. He's a high risk/high reward kind of guy.

Jordan Matthews (Eagles): Yeah, he's a rookie but he plays for Chip Kelly. He'll get plenty of opportunities even as a #3 receiver. I also don't have faith that Jeremy Maclin can stay healthy for a full season. Mathews is another potential double digit touchdown guy...that is if LeSean McCoy doesn't steal everyones' scoring opportunities.

Tight Ends:

Jordan Reed (Washington): DeSean Jackson will receive a lot of attention and RGIII won't always be able to wait until he gets open downfield. Reed will be a great second option down the middle of the field. Pierre Garcon and Andre Roberts will get some catches, but Reed could, and should, be second on the team with catches. I also don't think RGIII will run as much this year as he tries to prove he's a pocket passer.

Dennis Pitta (Ravens): I don't really trust Joe Flacco but you never know which Joe will show. If it's good Joe, then he can light up that stat sheet. If it's bad Joe, he can still find his receivers some of the time. Pitta also had a chance to shine this year since Gary Kubiak loves incorporating tight ends into the passing game. I wouldn't worry too much about Owen Daniels taking too many catches away from Pitta at this stage of his career.

Tyler Eifert (Bengals): Yeah, Jermaine Gresham is the starter but Eifert still saw a decent amount of playing time as a rookie. Gresham also always disappoints his fantasy owners (trust me, first hand experience here).Eifert has the skills to supplant Gresham as the year goes on and Andy Dalton will need a reliable target when Green is covered too tightly. Eifert is worth a late round selection - just don't rely too much on him at the beginning of the season.

Defense: Pick the highest rated one when you think it's appropriate. Preferably late. Let other people waste early draft picks on defense.

Kicker: Pick one last or you will be made fun of relentlessly for the entire season. It doesn't matter which one you pick, you will change kickers - maybe more than once.

Do not take this as you need most or all of these players. These are just players that I happen to like for this upcoming season and I think could help your fantasy football team. There are certainly better options out there than the players on this list. These are (mostly) supplemental guys - not guys you want to rely on week in and week out. Also, if anyone from Grantland happens to ever read this: You didn't pick me for your failed Fantasy Island competition, but I still get to write about fantasy football! I just don't get paid and I probably have a really small audience. So take that!