Everyone knows the feeling of drafting a stud on draft day only to see him flop throughout the fantasy football season. Just about every fantasy owner has one of these guys on their roster during the season and often times it's that single player that can bring you from being a contender to a pretender. Instead of letting these BUSTS slip through the cracks, we decided to create a team of LEAST VALUABLE PLAYERS. Taking on this task of identifying those fantasy football players that established themselves as risky draft picks heading into 2009 is Ryan Hallam, creator of Fighting Chance Fantasy.
So, join Ryan as he takes us through the 2008 FANTASY FOOTBALL LEAST VALUABLE PLAYER (LVP) AWARDS. As always if you have any questions for him, email rhallam@brunoboys.net for all of your off-season fantasy advice.
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QUARTERBACK LVP
Brett Favre (New York Jets) - He was brought in to take the Jets to the Super Bowl and after beating the New York Patriots and Tennessee Titans back to back on the road it looked like that was exactly where they were headed. But with just two touchdowns against nine interceptions over the last five games, Favre may have single handedly taken the Jets out of the playoff race, as well as your fantasy team. He is a low end QB2 if he decides to return in 2009.
Hallam's Take: Is he the reason it seems that all experienced head coaching candidates are running away from the Jets? It is too soon to tell if #4 will be returning next season, you know he isn't happy unless he draws this thing out until April (or August like last year!). I think I speak for the majority when I say "Hey Brett, just go away already!" His arm was shot, and he was turning the ball over like it was going out of style. If he returns, I would stay away without some personnel changes in New York.
Honorable Mention
Ben Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers) - I know he was banged up all season long and he was running for his life a lot, but 15 fewer touchdowns than in '07 can't be explained away.
Marc Bulger (St. Louis Rams) - What the hell happened here? Two years ago, Pro Bowl caliber, last season injured most of the year. '08? A nightmare. Is it over for Bulger? It might be.
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RUNNING BACK LVP
Joseph Addai (Indianapolis Colts) - The entire Colts offense started out in neutral to begin 2008, and by the time that the offense started to get healthy, Addai got injured. He broke 100 yards only once this season, scored just five rushing touchdowns and missed four games due to injury. Even when he was in the lineup, Dominic Rhodes was stealing carries from him. Consider this year a train wreck for those who took him in the first round after he scored 15 touchdowns in 2007.
Hallam's Take: A man crush of mine coming into the season, but Addai started staying out late with the boys, drinking too much, and even forgot my birthday! I think I am breaking up with him! Seriously though, his draft stock will fall going into 2009, but I think that he can return to his form next season. Peyton Manning and half of the offensive line were banged up to start the season which partly explains his struggles. I'm not sure he was ever 100% in 2008, and if things all break right he should have a bounce back season next year. He's never been a huge yardage guy, but he knows how to find the end zone and is a better than average receiver out of the backfield.
Honorable Mention
Larry Johnson (Kansas City Chiefs) - Funny what happens when he doesn't have a Pro Bowl offensive line in front of him. He needs Dick Vermeil to tell him to take the diapers off again to motivate him apparently.
Frank Gore (San Francisco 49ers) - Always banged up and barely broke 1,000 yards. Looks to have his value take a bump up with the permanent hire of Mike Singletary who wants to run the ball non stop.
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WIDE RECEIVER LVP
Chad Johnson (Cincinnati Bengals) - By far the worst season of Johnson's career, he only broke the 50 yard barrier three times, scored just four times, and wasn't able to run his mouth all year long. Johnson has officially been passed by T.J. Houshmandzadeh as the best receiver in Cincinnati. If Carson Palmer is able to return healthy in 2009, Johnson's value should be higher than it was this season, but his time as an elite option appears to be over.
Hallam's Take: The whole season started out bad for Chad when he wasn't able to have "Ocho Cinco" on the back of his jersey. Next his franchise quarterback went down and Johnson and the Bengals never recovered. As I said above, he is no longer even a top ten receiver, and I think many fantasy players will even doubt if he is worth owning. I think he still has a few more better than average years, but I can see his career following the same path as Torry Holt. One year, it just doesn't come back.
Honorable Mention
Braylon Edwards (Cleveland Browns) - The team fell apart and Edwards was a big reason why. It seemed with the inconsistent QB play that he lost interest. Did anyone drop more passes?
Plaxico Burress (New York Giants) - Three words. What a DOPE!!!! Is his career over? Only time will tell.
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TIGHT END LVP
Jeremy Shockey (New Orleans Saints) - After wearing out his welcome in New York, Shockey seemed to land in a perfect situation in New Orleans, but it didn't go according to plan with the Saints. He had his second fewest catches of his career, and his worst year by yardage. Worst of all, Shockey fought with quarterback Drew Brees at times during the year and failed to score a touchdown.
Hallam's Take: Perhaps one of the biggest jerks in all of football, now Shockey isn't even putting up good numbers to offset his horrible attitude. The guy has always dropped way too many passes when it counted for my liking, his only saving grace was the lack of depth at the tight end position. With Billy Miller emerging during Shockey's injury, is he even the best tight end on his team? Shockey's value has definitely taken a hit that it might not come back from.
Honorable Mention
Kellen Winslow (Cleveland Browns) - Another tumultuous season for Winslow filled with injuries, suspensions, and a few great games. He broke 100 yards once, and two of his three TDs were in one game.
Chris Cooley (Washington Redskins) - Great catches and yardage numbers, but only one score. That was a huge let down for his fantasy owners. He will do better if Jason Campbell progresses.
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KICKER LVP
Adam Vinatieri (Indianapolis Colts) - Vinatieri has an incredible reputation as one of the most clutch kickers in the NFL. But if you honestly take a look at the numbers, he really isn't one of the better fantasy kickers. In 2008 he connected on only 20 field goals in 16 games and he missed five times, twice within 40 yards.
Hallam's Take: The difference from the top kicker to the tenth or fifteenth isn't really a big one in my opinion and I almost always use my last draft pick on the kicker. With that being said, unless you have the last few picks in the draft, I would try to find a better option than Vinatieri. His name is worth more than his play.
Honorable Mention
Neil Rackers (Arizona Cardinals) - Was never able to get close to his 40 FGs from a few years ago. He only missed three times, but he failed to even reach 30 makes.
Shaun Suisham (Washington Redskins) - Not only did he only make 26 field goals, but he missed a whopping TEN times. Horrible season for Suisham.
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TEAM DEFENSE LVP
San Diego Chargers D/ST - Even when they lost Shawne Merriman to injury early in the season you couldn't have figured it was going to go this bad. Not only were the Chargers the second worst defense against the pass, but they only forced 24 turnovers in 16 games. Merriman had averaged about 14 sacks just by himself over the past two years and it was obvious that he was missed as San Diego as a team only managed 28 sacks the entire year. They averaged allowing just over 21 points a game which isn't horrible fantasy wise, but they were clearly a huge disappointment in 2008.
Hallam's Take: The Chargers have some defensive play makers in Merriman, Shawn Phillips, and Antonio Cromartie. However, it is questionable what kind of fantasy defense they will be next season. If Merriman can come back healthy he should improve their sack and turnover numbers, as he always has been great at forcing turnovers as well. They also play in a division with the Kansas City Chiefs and Oakland Raiders so they should at worst be a mid level fantasy defense, worthy of playing when your main team is on bye.
Honorable Mention
Buffalo Bills D/ST -They allowed over 20 points a game and only forced 22 turnovers in 16 games. The Bills have been better than this in the past.
New England Patriots D/ST - This can be attributed more to injury than anything else. They found a new stud in Jerod Mayo but 2008 was a tough season for the Pats defense.
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DIVISIONAL ROUND RANKINGS
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
Kickers
Team Defense
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Also Read: 2008 Fantasy Football MVP Awards (Position by Position)
Also Read: 2008 Fantasy Football LVP Awards (Position by Position)
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