Hey everyone, I’ve got a 2012 sleeper for ya. He’s now on the Patriots where one of his former offensive coordinators in Josh McDaniels resides. The last time this sleeper was matched up with McDaniels for a full season for the Broncos, he had a career year: 77 receptions, 1,448 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. Now keep in mind that back in 2010 when he put those numbers up, it was a guy by the name of Kyle Orton throwing to him. Now that he’s a Pat and has Brady, there’s no telling what damage this guy is gonna do in 2012! And so the 2012 fantasy football season started for Brandon Lloyd and thousands of crazed fantasy football players looking to gain that special edge in the draft. Here was a guy with what looked like a can’t miss setup. All the pieces were aligned for a campaign on par with 2010 or perhaps better and given his ADP floated anywhere from the 4th to possibly even the 6th round, there was plenty of reason for excitement. But then the 2012 season actually hit and…well, I don’t know what happened. Though his reception total pace after tonight’s 7 catch, 89 yard, 1 touchdown performance isn’t bad – approximately 70 – he’s only chasing 800 yards and about 5 TDs on the year.  Danny Amendola is just a tad off his reception and yardage pace and has only played in 8 games and not all of them did Danny finish. So really, try and look for excuses and you won’t find any. There haven’t really been injuries hampering him nor has he been iced from the game plan. There have been plenty of games I’ve seen where Brady throws it and Lloyd is either not ready for it or just can’t hang onto it. You have to wonder if his hands felt just like two balloons at times out there because nothing ever seemed to connect. Coming into the night, Lloyd had been outscored by such ‘steady’ WR3s like Nate Washington, Brandon Gibson, and Justin Blackmon in 0.5 PPR leagues.  I have to assume Lloyd was on many benches tonight or in the starting lineups of ghost teams playing for the consolation prize because this sleeper is still at 86% and 92% owned in yahoo/ESPN leagues the aforementioned Gibson is owned in 13% of both leagues. Moving forward, if you actually started him in a league this week and he propelled you to the next round, I want pictures because I don’t believe you. Secondly, you should really not expect this the rest of the way. So for anyone who started Lloyd in a playoff game on purpose where there was something on the line other than 7th place, well first off I wanna see pictures. Secondly, don’t press your luck. However, I’ll send off to all those owners who’s season has most likely been dashed by this sleeper as on draft day they caught a fleeting glimpse of out of the corner of their eye. But now they turn to look and it’s gone. They can’t put their finger on it now, the championship’s gone, the dream is gone. I strongly encourage you to read that as if Shatner sang it but I’ll leave your imagination up to you. Needless to say, Lloyd left many of his owners comfortably numb this year and there’s no reason to get excited about him for 2013. In other news for 2012 fantasy football about the Monday Night Football game…
Aaron Hernandez – Who needs Gronk, right? WE DO, screamed the thousands who lost him a few weeks ago. Aaron has been hitting his stride over the last two weeks following up an 8 catch, 97 yard performance against the Dolphins with two touchdowns on 8 receptions and 58 yards against the Texans tonight. It’s been a rough year owning Hurtnandez. Hopefully he made it up to you tonight.
Andre Johnson – Went for 8 receptions and 95 yards. Yeah, but did he score a touchdown? Of course not, random reader I’ve made up to prove my point, he only 3 touchdowns on the year. Meanwhile, Donte’ Stallworth walked in off the street for a week 14 MNF game and Brady threw a 63 yard one to him. He’s been like a mini-Calvin Johnson out there which is to say, very frustrating for owners in non-PPR leagues. I wonder how many people drafted both and named their team Johnson & Johnson? The Baby No More Tears slogan just wouldn’t fit, I’m afraid.
Wes Welker – The PPR dreamboat finished the night with 9 targets but only 3 catches as he looked more like Brandon Pettigrew out there with plenty of catchable dropped passes on the night. Finished the night with 52 yards and a ‘It’s not the Superbowl yet, catch the f’ing ball’ text from Gisele.
Matt Schaub – Great matchup and fell behind 21-0 early. Time for another 500 yard passing game, right? Wrong: 19/32 for 232 yards and an interception as Matt gave any of his owners who started him tonight a Blow Schaub.
Stevan Ridley – Had some tough sledding to start the game against a stout defense. At one point, it looked like a lost night with 8 carries for only 22 yards but he found the running a bit easier in the 4th against a beleaguered defensive front, rounding out the night with a score and 72 yards. Meanwhile, Shane Vereen had 40 on 5 carries. Oh and that peskyBrandon Boldenis back with 2 carries for 11 yards. Oh and Stevan fumbled. Why are you hyperventilating and cowering in the corner covering your ears, Ridley owners?
Tom Brady – The beautiful butt-chinned one could do no wrong on the night: 21/35 for 296 yards and 4 TDs. Might’ve had a shot for a 5th touchdown if Danny Woodhead had not fumbled into the endzone where Lloyd recovered it for a touchdown. Seriously, how are those scored? I’m looking at the box score right now and see 5 TDs and 42 points. We need Haley Joel Osment out here for the 6th Touchdown. I see endzone. But back to Brady: you decided to take a QB early and if you made the playoffs he’s the main reason you’re still reading about fantasy football this morning. Either that or you just really have a problem that we are never going to help you with around here.
Arian Foster – Another week, another touchdown bailout. Yes, I get it, he’s the focal point of the offense so his chances of scoring a touchdown are much higher for him than others would be but that doesn’t change the fact that the peripherals – 15 carries for 46 yards – are not as appealing as a #1 pick’s should be. His 39 yards on 4 receptions did help his end line tonight but he now owns a 3.8 YPC for 2012. He’s also on pace to rush the ball 366 times and for 40 receptions. I’m gonna give you a comparison and why I’m avoiding him in 2013 and then exit stage left before you start flinging produce: Chris Johnson.
