2012 Fantasy Football Studs
Stud: A NFL player who has proved himself to be a top scoring player at his position. These players should be started each week regardless of match-up and should only be benched during bye weeks and significant injuries. From our Fantasy Football Dictionary
Our writers have classified the following players as studs for 2012. We will be updating this list throughout the pre-season.
| Name | Pos | Team | Age | Yrs Exp. |
Pos. Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Forte | RB | CHI | 27 | 4 | RB - #12 |
| Forte is now signed to a four-year deal - about $8 million per year. Forte will be a top ten running back this season. Look for Forte to once again lead the Chicago offensive attack and post solid fantasy numbers. I would project over 1,000 rushing yards, 500 reciving yards from 50 plus receptions and 8-10 combined TDs. Forte will be spelled by Michael Bush and ma... Read More | |||||
| Arian Foster | RB | HOU | 26 | 3 | RB - #1 |
| Despite playing in just 13 games, Foster ran for more than 1,200 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2011. At age 26 there is no reason to believe Foster is going to slow down any time soon. The only worry we have at this point in the season is the Texans' loss of right guard Mike Brisiel and right tackle Eric Winston. We don't expect a completely new right side of the offe... Read More | |||||
| Steven Jackson | RB | ATL | 29 | 8 | RB - #19 |
| Steven Jackson has rushed for more than 1,000 yards in every year going back to 2005. The Rams' record over that span is a horrendous 29-83. He's never played for a winner -- in fact, he's been a member of some of the worst teams of this millennium. But that hasn't stopped Jackson from putting up stud rushing totals season after season. 2012 should be no different.... Read More | |||||
| Chris Johnson | RB | TEN | 27 | 4 | RB - #25 |
| Two years removed from his record setting 2009 season (2006 yards rushing with 16 total TDs), CJ2K was one of the bigger busts of the 2011 season as he finished with just 4 TDs while averaging only 65 YPG. He posted the fastest time at the combine (4.24 in 2008), but the rigors of the NFL appear to have sapped some his playmaking ability (offseason conditioning has... Read More | |||||
| Maurice Jones-Drew | RB | JAX | 28 | 6 | RB - #8 |
| STUD STUD STUD, that's all MJD is - not that it matters much if his contract issue lingers and lingers.Last season (despite playing in one of the worst offenses in the NFL), MJD was able to set career highs in rushing yards (1,606) while scoring 11 total TDs and catching 43 passes for 374 yards -- making him even more dangerous in PPR leagues. MJD is a top 12 fanta... Read More | |||||
| Ryan Mathews | RB | SD | 25 | 2 | RB - #9 |
| Update 8/26/12
Some reports put Mathews back on the field in Week 3 of the regular season. I am holding off a bit here until we see how he progresses after the surgery to repair his collarbone. I've seen professional cyclists right back on the bike and racing within a few weeks of such an injury, but we are talking a premiere NFL running back who will be ta... Read More | |||||
| LeSean McCoy | RB | PHI | 24 | 3 | RB - #3 |
| Now that's what you call a franchise fantasy running back. The Eagles fed McCoy plenty and the all-purpose threat delivered, generating 100 yards or scoring a touchdown in 15 straight games. Though some offseason talked hinted at lightening his workload, McCoy receptions were actually down last season. The offensive line is suspect, but McCoy is a top 3 option in e... Read More | |||||
| Darren McFadden | RB | OAK | 25 | 4 | RB - #6 |
| Run DMC averaged more than 100 rushing yards per game and was having a career year before a Lisfranc sprain cut his 2011 short. Injuries have plagued him throughout his brief NFL career, but he's had plenty of time to recover from this one and should be back to full speed in time for training camp. He'll be the focus of Oakland's offense and will have the chance to... Read More | |||||
| Ray Rice | RB | BAL | 26 | 4 | RB - #2 |
| Remember the guessing game as to which elite running back to draft first last season. AP? CJ2K? Charles? The correct answer clearly was Mr. Rice. He returned to his prolific 2010 production levels while tacking on a career-high 15 touchdowns and received a fat new contract as reward. Now the debate is Rice, Foster or McCoy. Opinions may vary, but nobody will mock a... Read More | |||||
