Staff Writers
This NFL season has been filled with big time injuries and breakout performances. Before the first snap of the season, a slew of players were hyped up and gauged for a monster season. Players like Brandin Cooks, Sammy Watkins and Mike Evans, have performed lower than most NFL wide receivers, let alone have record breaking years. In the running back department, Eddie Lacy, CJ Anderson and Jeremy Hill were as high as first round picks and have performed like waiver wire pick-ups at best. The let downs do not stop there though, even looking to the Tight End position players like Dwayne Allen and Zach Ertz had major hype heading into the season, but have failed to produce much of anything in either real life stats or fantasy points. Finally, in our busts section, we move to the Quarterback position. One of the most consistent players of our generation, Peyton Manning, seems to finally be slowing down, producing extremely low fantasy points across the board. Not only is this passing yardage and touchdown record holder getting up there in age, he has suffered from numerous injuries such as needing neck surgery and surgery for his planters fasciitis. In addition, Ryan Tannehill, poised for a breakout year has been quiet and even started the year 1-3 in the NFL. Overall, the year is only a little more than a quarter done, much more football is left to be played. Only time will tell who takes 2015 by the horns and who can’t get off their feet.
Break-out performances happen every year from so-called nobodies, but the biggest breakout player is Devonta Freeman, running back for the Atlanta Falcons. After rookie running back Tevin Coleman went down, Freeman stepped in and has averaged almost 31 points in his last four games. Another big sleeper from this year would be Gary Barnidge, tight end from the Cleveland Browns. After being a no-show in the first two weeks of the season, Barnidge broke out for 65.8 (ESPN Standard) points in his last four games.
Lastly, at debatably the most important position in fantasy football, the quarterback, a man by the name of Tyrod Taylor has burst onto the scene. Tyrod Taylor is the starting quarterback for the Buffalo Bills, and prior to the season there was optimism about who would be under center in Orchard Park. In the first five games, Taylor scored a whopping 102.5 (ESPN Standard) points. From a backup to QB1, Taylor has made the people who passed up on him in their drafts regret it.
Standouts (For each position) PPG: Busts (For each position) PPG:
QB: Tom Brady QB: Peyton Manning
RB:Devonta Freeman RB: Jeremy Hill
RB: Adrian Peterson RB: Eddie Lacy
WR1:Deandre “NUK” Hopkins WR: Jordan Matthews
WR2:Julio Jones WR: TY Hilton
Flex: Odell Beckham Jr. Flex: Carlos Hyde
TE:Rob Gronkowski TE: Jimmy Graham
D/ST: Broncos D/ST: Texans
K:Stephen Gostkowski K: Adam Vinatieri
