2012 NFL Fantasy Football Training Camp Blog: 5 Guys on My Radar

Posted by Howard Bender on 08/29/2012 | 0 Comments

Tags: fantasy football, fantasy football drafts, sleepers, Doug Martin, Jacob Tamme, Robert Meachem, Brandon Lloyd, Greg Zuerlein, fantasy radar

With so many drafts taking place over the course of the next six days, including three for me, I thought I’d take a little breather from the baseball writing and share with you a few names that I’ll be looking to go after in my fantasy football drafts this year.  With any luck, you’ve been doing your research and have a number of players on your watch list, so while I’m probably not going to “out” some big sleepers here -- because, let’s face it….with the number of sites and magazines out there these days, there’s no such thing as a true sleeper anymore – I might throw out a few names that may have you scratching your head wondering where I dug them up.  I’ll be turning this piece into a series right up until draft day, so the closer to the regular season you draft, the deeper a look you’ll get inside my head.

5 Guys on My Radar

Doug Martin, RB  TB – He was an explosive back at Boise State and brings a fire to a Tampa offense in dire need of such a spark.  It took almost no time for the 5’9” 219 lb lightning rod to supplant Legarrette Blount for the starting job and head coach Greg Schiano has quickly become a huge fan.  As a coach who loves the ground game, Martin should be a major feature this season and it doesn’t hurt that he’s also a solid pass-catcher and a fantastic pass-clocker as well.  He’s the total package and will be well worth your attention on draft day. 

Brandon Lloyd, WR  NE –  So much has been made of the Patriots passing game with Wes Welker and the dynamic duo of tight ends that no one gave much thought to the fact that they lacked a true deep threat.  Obviously there wasn’t a huge need for one but as defenses start keying in on the tight ends Tom Brady is going to want to expose the cornerbacks and/or safeties pinching in.  That’s going to leave a lot of ground for Lloyd to roam free on.  He’s got great hands, great speed, is a solid route runner and now finally has a quarterback with not just a gun for an arm but with tremendous accuracy.  Welker might be the guy to own in a PPR league still, but Lloyd is going to see some monster targets and should find the endzone often.

Robert Meachem, WR  SD --  After years of being buried amongst a slew of options in New Orleans, Meachem finally gets the chance to shine as a featured target in San Diego.  Even as a third or fourth target in Drew Brees’ offense, Meachem managed to post a minimum of 620 yards and no fewer than five touchdowns in each of the last three seasons.  He’s got the size and speed to dominate, so if he’s prepared himself properly for the limelight, he is going to excel.  He and Philip Rivers have clicked repeatedly in practices thus far and the rapport seems to be building strong.  He’s the deep threat to Malcom Floyd’s possession-receiver characteristics, so when you see Rivers gun it downfield, you can expect that it’s Meachem’s number he’s calling.

Jacob Tamme, TE  DEN –  In 2010 when Dallas Clark got hurt in Indianapolis and Peyton Manning lost one of his favorite targets, it was Tamme who stepped up and became that sure-handed tight end that the quarterback need to trust.  He posted 631 yards with four touchdowns and often became a first-look for Peyton in the red zone.  Now that the two of them are reunited in Denver and Peyton is working his way back from multiple neck surgeries, he’s going to need that sure-handed tight end on which to rely once again.  The two of them already have a solid rapport, so it’s just going to be a matter of them bringing it into the games.  Doesn’t seem like it’s going to be a problem.

Greg Zuerlein, K  STL --  What?  A kicker?  You’re damn right, a kicker!  Yes, for the most part, the position tends to be a throwaway in fantasy drafts, but if you’re going to have to have one, you may as well have the best.  ‘Greg the Leg’ is what they’re calling him in St. Louis and the nickname couldn’t be more accurate.  He’s been booming kicks in both practice and exhibition games and should get ample opportunities as the Rams young offense will likely sputter more than it succeeds.  At least half the games inside a dome dismisses the notion of weather factors which never hurts either.

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Howard Bender has been covering fantasy sports for over ten years on a variety of web sites including his own, The Fantasy Baseball Buzz.  You can follow him on Twitter at @rotobuzzguy or email him at rotobuzzguy@gmail.com.