Sparky’s Lunchbox: Sun Devil Fans’ Guide to Fake Football
We hate overreaching for former Sun Devils in our fantasy football drafts. With this handy guide, we may not need to.
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As is the case every year, there are several ASU alums worth drafting onto your fake football team in 2008. Their exact worthiness varies depending on league scoring rules, but here’s about where you can expect to see some prominent Devils go in your fantasy draft.
Baltimore Ravens tight end Todd Heap will probably be the top Sun Devil to go in most fantasy drafts. He played in only six games last year due to injury, but when healthy, he’s one of the best tight ends in the NFL. And new Ravens offensive coordinator Cam Cameron has brought his tight end-friendly offensive system to Baltimore. Heap should go in the seventh or eighth round of most drafts.
Speaking of tight ends, the Oakland Raiders’ Zach Miller is poised to make a big jump forward in 2008, his second pro season. Last year he was solid, posting 44 catches and three touchdowns, and developed a nice rapport with rookie quarterback JaMarcus Russell late in the season. Miller could be a steal in the 15th round of a fantasy draft.
Denver Broncos running back Ryan Torain will miss at least the first month of the season with an elbow injury. But don’t let that fool you into thinking he should go undrafted. There’s a good chance he’ll return in October. When he does, he’ll immediately pick up carries along with starter Selvin Young. Remember, the Broncos have routinely turned lesser-known tailbacks into fantasy stars, and Torain could be next. Don’t leave him on the waiver wire; grab him in one of the last two rounds, and wait for the potential steal of the draft to produce in the second half of the season.
A couple of wide receivers could rep the maroon and gold in deep leagues. Derek Hagan hasn’t done much in his first two years as a pro, but could enter the season as a starter for the Miami Dolphins. Shaun McDonald led the Detroit Lions in catches last season, but he’s still only the team’s third receiver. He figures to see his stats decline this year without offensive coordinator Mike Martz, now in San Francisco.
Oakland quarterback Andrew Walter could be the Raiders’ backup this season. For those of you who for some reason want to handcuff Russell, Walter may be your guy.
Those are your marching orders, Sun Devil fans. Now, go out out there and win a banner or something.
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Todd Heap was in my freshman year UNI 101 class way back in 1998. Good dude, but I’ve “owned” him a few times before and it didn’t work out.
Now that I plan to avoid him this year, I’m sure he’ll do well.
Man, I’d love my team to be Z-Mill-ionaires this year.
He’d be the first player I’ve had on my team that I watched in both high school and college. Plus, I’d love to get his touchdowns, if only to syphon off AK47′s JaMarcus Russel points.
WAR Z-MIL!
GO DEVILS!
I will be perfectly happy Tobias, to watch JaMarcus and The Truth hook up for many, many touchdowns this year.