5 Minute Guide
ONE ONE-SHEET TO RULE THEM ALL
5 BREAKOUT WIDEOUTS
Latch on: They'll catch on quick
• MARKUS WHEATON
Steelers
With Emmanuel Sanders off to Denver, the 79th pick in the 2013 draft will be the No. 2 opposite Antonio Brown. Wheaton's similar in stature to Sanders and should thrive in his place. He showed stat-busting potential in his last year at Oregon State: 91 catches for 1,244 yards and 11 TDs.
• JARRETT BOYKIN
Packers
Undrafted in 2012, Boykin flashed some promise when injuries created opportunities last year; he caught 49 passes for 681 yards and three scores. He could flourish in a full season as the No. 3 receiving option for a healthy Aaron Rodgers.
• BRANDIN COOKS
Saints
Fantasywise, it always makes sense to target a New Orleans target, and the team needs some new blood at receiver after losing Lance Moore in free agency. The Saints didn't draft Cooks out of Oregon State with the No. 20 pick so that he could languish on the sideline.
• DEANDRE HOPKINS
Texans
Andre Johnson is unhappy, leaving a window this preseason for the second-year man out of Clemson to make the splash that many expected in 2013. Hopkins has the speed to stretch the field and, at 6'1" and 218 pounds, enough size to be a weapon in the red zone.
• CODY LATIMER
Broncos
He may not get starter's reps right away, but he's bound to get plenty of work in Denver's aggressive offense. A second-round pick, Latimer had 72 catches for 1,096 yards and nine scores as a junior at Indiana.
5 CATCH-ALL OFFENSES
Pretty much anyone on these teams is worth the investment
BRONCOS
Peyton Manning set single-season TD and yardage records last year; Knowshon Moreno was among the most productive fantasy backs; and the offense scored 37.9 points per game, easily the NFL's best. Montee Ball will replace Moreno; Emmanuel Sanders should slide in fluidly for Eric Decker. Spend heavily here.
PACKERS
Even with Aaron Rodgers missing seven games, Green Bay was eighth in the NFL in points scored. With arguably the best player in the NFL healthy, this O has plenty of fantasy lovin' to spread around to the likes of Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, Jarrett Boykin and Eddie Lacy.
BEARS
Chicago scored the second-most points in the league last year (27.8) and has potentially the best group of skill players with RB Matt Forte lining up alongside WRs Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery. That leaves it all up to Jay Cutler—and despite what you might think, that's a good thing.
SAINTS
To death and taxes, add this: the Saints putting up crazy points. So long as Drew Brees is slinging in New Orleans, this is going to be a potent unit—even without a traditional running game. For at least one more season, fantasy owners should remain bullish on this attack.
EAGLES
Year 1 of the Chip Kelly Experience was a success, with LeSean McCoy and Nick Foles (a midseason switch-up) leading Philly to 27.6 points per game. A healthy Jeremy Maclin will offset the loss of DeSean Jackson, and there'll be valuable players beyond that top tier.
5 INDISPENSABLE INSIDE MEN
Favor the QBs who throw the most often near the goal line
• PEYTON MANNING
Broncos
He attempted 7.9% of his passes last year inside the 10-yard line, leading the league with 52 such tosses, and connected for TDs on 33.6% of his red zone throws.
• AARON RODGERS
Packers
In eight games Rodgers threw 7.6% of his passes inside the 10 and was 29 for 46 with 11 TDs inside the 20. He's long been one of the most efficient red zone passers, and don't forget: He's a threat to run it in, too.
• TONY ROMO
Cowboys
Romo had 36 attempts (7.3%) inside the 10. Given his propensity to throw near the goal line—and his Stickum-handed targets, Dez Bryant and Jason Witten—Romo is almost always a bargain.
• MATT RYAN
Falcons
Yes, 2013 was essentially a lost year for Ryan (7.1% inside the 10), but he'll likely find his old form in '14. Wide receivers Julio Jones and Roddy White, both A-list red zone weapons, are healthy, which makes Ryan a top five fantasy QB.
• BEN ROETHLISBERGER
Steelers
Expect Big Ben (6.7% inside the 10) to throw even more frequently near the goal line thanks to Le'Veon Bell, one of the league's top pass-catching backs.
5 BALANCING ACTS TO BUY IN ON: THE MATRIX
Catches and goal line carries—not every running back gets both
We took our top 20 RBs and ranked them, 1 to 20, by their pass-catching ability and goal line prowess; then we plotted them. The ones in blue—those are the money guys.
[The following text appears within a chart. Please see hardcopy or PDF for actual chart.]
1
ZAC STACY
Rams
MARSHAWN LYNCH
Seahawks
ADRIAN PETERSON
Vikings
EDDIE LACY
Packers
ARIAN FOSTER
Texans
ALFRED MORRIS
Redskins
1
LESEAN MCCOY
Eagles
JAMAAL CHARLES
Chiefs
DOUG MARTIN
Buccaneers
MATT FORTE
Bears
20
Pass-Catching
TOBY GERHART
Jaguars
RYAN MATHEWS
Chargers
RASHAD JENNINGS
Giants
C.J. SPILLER
Bills
Goal Line
20
Goal line
MONTEE BALL
Broncos
ANDRE ELLINGTON
Cardinals
REGGIE BUSH
Lions
DEMARCO MURRAY
Cowboys
LE'VEON BELL
Steelers
GIOVANI BERNARD
Bengals
5 BOUNCE-BACK GUYS
Bums in 2013, ballers in '14
DOUG MARTIN
RB, Buccaneers
Sure, he struggled before a shoulder injury in Week 7. But Tampa retooled its NFL-worst offense in the draft, which should help the Muscle Hamster get back on the productive course he set during a big rookie season. He was a top five pick in 2013 for a reason.
TOM BRADY
QB, Patriots
That Brady was so successful last year, with so many new weapons, is proof that he's still got it, even at 36. His value in 2014 will hinge on the health of Rob Gronkowski, and while that's always a risk, Brady will shoot right back into fantasy prominence if Gronk can play a dozen or so games.
STEVE SMITH
WR, Ravens
The 35-year-old is clearly in the twilight of his career; he caught just four passes of 20-plus yards last year. But now he pairs with Joe Flacco, who, for all his failings as a quarterback, has always thrown a nice deep ball. This seems like a perfect fit for both players.
HAKEEM NICKS
WR, Colts
Nicks is just a few years removed from back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, and yet he had become an afterthought in New York. He should find a happy new home with Andrew Luck in Indianapolis.
C.J. SPILLER
RB, Bills
He has only topped 1,000 rushing yards or four rushing TDs once in his four pro seasons, yet Spiller's talent is undeniable. He may never be an every-down back, but he doesn't have to be if he's getting 15+ touches per game.
PHOTO
PETER G. AIKEN/GETTY IMAGES (HOPKINS)
PHOTO
PETER G. AIKEN/GETTY IMAGES (ROMO)
PHOTO
DAVID E. KLUTHO/SPORTS ILLUSTRATED (BALL)
PHOTO
CHRIS O'MEARA/AP (MARTIN)
PHOTO
SCOTT HALLERAN/GETTY IMAGES (BRADY)
PHOTO
EVAN HABEEB/USA TODAY SPORTS (SMITH)
PHOTO
CHRISTOPHER SZAGOLA/CSM (NICKS)
PHOTO
SETH WENIG/AP (SPILLER)
CHART