1. Who will be this season's biggest breakout player?
I'm going with Ryan Mathews. Chargers coach Norv Turner likes to utilize a featured back - runners in his offense have led the league in touches six times between 1991 and 2007. Mathews looks like the next in that line of backs that includes Emmitt Smith, Ricky Williams and LaDainian Tomlinson to thrive in Turner's attack. As long as he avoid the trainer's room, I can see Mathews finishing in the top five in fantasy points at his position. While some fantasy owners will grab him in the late stages of Round 1, I think he could actually fall into the second round in some leagues. In that scenario, he could turn into a terrific draft bargain.
2. Who will be the biggest fantasy bust?
This one's pretty easy - it's Michael Turner. I know, he's coming off his third solid fantasy season since 2008. The problem with this veteran runner is that he's recorded 300-plus carries three times in the last four years and is now at the dreaded age of 30. That's around the time when countless other runners before him have seen their numbers take a nosedive. When you also consider report that the Falcons will throw the football more often under new offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter and well, it's not tough to predict a serious decline in production from the Burner. If you do draft him, it shouldn't be as more than a mid-tier No. 2 fantasy runner.
3. Biggest fantasy impact with new team?
How can it be anyone but Peyton Manning? Not only does his return to the gridiron make the quarterback position that much deeper in fantasy land, but his presence under center is certain to improve the value of several other players in the Broncos offense. That list includes the likes of Demaryius Thoomas, Eric Decker and Jacob Tamme (to name a few). While there is some cause for concern due to the fact that he's 36 and coming off multiple neck surgeries, I still have faith that he's good enough to post 4,000-plus passing yards and 30 total touchdowns. If he lasts past the fifth or sixth round in your fantasy draft, Manning could be a steal.
4. Comeback fantasy player of the year?
I debated about putting Manning in this spot, but since it's fantasy related I'll go with Chris Johnson. One of the biggest disappointments in fantasy football in 2011, CJ2K endured the NFL lockout and a contractal holdout before getting back on the gridiron. With those two situations now resolved and a normal offseason and preseason ahead, I'd be shocked if Johnson didn't re-emerge into one of the top backs in the league from a statistical perspective. I have him ranked sixth at the position behind Arian Foster, Ray Rice, LeSean McCoy, Maurice Jones-Drew and Mathews, so look for him to come off the board somwhere in the second round in 2012.
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5. Fantasy rookie of the year?
If you've been watching NFL Fantasy LIVE or folloiwng NFL.com Fantasy, you know that I'm all on board with Trent Richardson. Arguably the best running back to come out of the collegiate ranks since Adrian Peterson in 2007, Richardson is in line for a true featured role in the offense of coach Pat Shurmur. That could mean a season with around 300 carries, 1,500 scrimmage yards and eight to 10 touchdowns will be well within reach. Drafting a rookie runner too soon can be a risk, but I wouldn't let this future stud pass me in the second or third round of a seasonal fantasy draft. Robert Griffin III is second on my list of the top fantasy rookies.
