Full Disclosure: Our highs and lows from 2011

Senior Fantasy Writer

Jan. 3, 2012 12:15 PM ET

Every week in this space we tried to give you a review of our picks from Start ‘Em and Sit ‘Em. It was our way of showing you that we can stick out our chest when we got something right but also that we're not afraid to admit when we got something wrong.

Start of the Week review from 2011
Week	Player	Rank at position
1	Beanie Wells, RB, Cardinals	6
2	Fred Jackson, RB, Bills	2
3	Cam Newton, QB, Panthers	14
4	Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB, Bills	25
5	Matt Ryan, QB, Falcons	25
6	Shonn Greene, RB, Jets	22
7	Tim Tebow, QB, Broncos	5
8	DeMarco Murray, RB, Cowboys	21
9	Beanie Wells, RB, Cardinals	37
10	Chris Johnson, RB, Titans	3
11	Jay Cutler, QB, Bears	4
12	Cedric Benson, RB, Bengals	4
13	BenJarvus Green-Ellis, RB, Patriots	27
14	Roy Helu, RB, Redskins	15
15	Felix Jones, RB, Cowboys	18
16	Michael Vick, QB, Eagles	6

Before we look at Week 17, we wanted to show you a review of the entire 2011 season with all our suggestions for the Start of the Week. The way we measured how a player did for this column was how he finished ranked at his position for that specific scoring period.

With that in mind, we had 11 Start of the Week candidates finish as starting options at their respective positions. We suggested two Top 5 quarterbacks with Tim Tebow (Week 7) and Jay Cutler (Week 11), and we recommended four Top 10 running backs in Beanie Wells (Week 1), Fred Jackson (Week 2), Chris Johnson (No. 3) and Cedric Benson (Week 12).

Our worst stretch of the season was Weeks 3-5 when Cam Newton, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Matt Ryan all had miserable performances, but we were solid at Fantasy playoff time with Roy Helu (Week 14), Felix Jones (Week 15) and Michael Vick (Week 16) all having quality outings. Toby Gerhart would have likely finished as a starting option in Week 17 if he did not leave in the third quarter with a sprained MCL. He finished with six Fantasy points before getting hurt.

We had several positive suggestions in Week 17 with three Top 10 quarterbacks (Eli Manning, Vick and Carson Palmer), two Top 10 running backs (Ahmad Bradshaw and C.J. Spiller) and two Top 10 tight ends (Brent Celek and Brandon Pettigrew). We also told you to sit Brandon Marshall, Santonio Holmes, Cedric Benson, Peyton Hillis and LeGarrette Blount.

We also missed on several calls with starting Tim Tebow, Kahlil Bell and Torrey Smith and sitting BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Brandon Lloyd and Chris Johnson. But we gave you two solid sleepers in Chris Ivory and Ben Tate, who finished the final week of the season as Top 10 running backs.

Editor's note: The Fantasy points are based on a standard-scoring league with six points for all touchdowns.

Full Disclosure from Week 17
Start of the Week
Player	Fantasy Points (projected)	Fantasy Points (actual)	Start percentage	Rank at position
Toby Gerhart, RB, Vikings	12	6	24	No. 33
Recommended starts that made us look good
Player	Fantasy Points (projected)	Fantasy Points (actual)	Start percentage	Rank at position
Eli Manning, QB, Giants	21	32	68	No. 4
Michael Vick, QB, Eagles	22	27	58	No. 7
Carson Palmer, QB, Raiders	20	26	34	No. 8
Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, Giants	13	18	54	No. 4
Malcom Floyd, WR, Chargers	12	18	33	No. 8
C.J. Spiller, RB, Bills	16	16	69	No. 8
Brent Celek, TE, Eagles	13	14	52	No. 5
Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Lions	8	11	47	No. 9
Recommended starts that made us look bad
Player	Fantasy Points (projected)	Fantasy Points (actual)	Start percentage	Rank at position
Kahlil Bell, RB, Bears	12	5	32	No. 41
Torrey Smith, WR, Ravens	11	3	43	No. 57
Tim Tebow, QB, Broncos	20	Minus-1	45	No. 34
Recommended sits that made us look good
Player	Fantasy Points (projected)	Fantasy Points (actual)	Start percentage	Rank at position
Rex Grossman, QB, Redskins	16	14	17	No. 17
Mark Sanchez, QB, Jets	15	14	28	No. 18
Matt Moore, QB, Dolphins	15	7	18	No. 29
Cedric Benson, RB, Bengals	8	6	69	No. 40
Brandon Marshall, WR, Dolphins	7	5	90	No. 44
Mike Williams, WR, Bucs	3	3	42	No. 58
Peyton Hillis, RB, Browns	7	3	33	No. 52
LeGarrette Blount, RB, Bucs	5	2	67	No. 58
Santonio Holmes, WR, Jets	5	0	63	No. 98
Recommended sits that made us look bad
Player	Fantasy Points (projected)	Fantasy Points (actual)	Start percentage	Rank at position
Alex Smith, QB, 49ers	14	20	17	No. 11
BenJarvus Green-Ellis, RB, Patriots	3	19	46	No. 3
Brandon Lloyd, WR, Rams	3	16	58	No. 16
Chris Johnson, RB, Titans	9	10	90	No. 18
Dustin Keller, TE, Jets	4	10	44	No. 11
Sleepers that shined in Week 17
Player	Fantasy Points (projected)	Fantasy Points (actual)	Start percentage	Rank at position
Chris Ivory, RB, Saints	6	18	2	No. 5
Ben Tate, RB, Texans	8	17	20	No. 7
Stevan Ridley, RB, Patriots	7	8	1	No. 22
Kendall Hunter, RB, 49ers	5	8	6	No. 23
Sleepers that struggled in Week 17
Player	Fantasy Points (projected)	Fantasy Points (actual)	Start percentage	Rank at position
Joe Flacco, QB, Ravens	19	11	32	No. 23
Robert Meachem, WR, Saints	6	3	12	No. 61
David Nelson, WR, Bills	5	2	13	No. 69
Pierre Garcon, WR, Colts	6	2	30	No. 70
Ed Dickson, TE, Ravens	8	2	15	No. 26
Heath Miller, TE, Steelers	7	2	15	No. 27

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Cowboys sign rookie J.J. Wilcox
by Jamey Eisenberg | Senior Fantasy Writer

(5:28 pm ET) Cowboys rookie defensive back J.J. Wilcox agreed to a four-year deal Wednesday. ESPN reports the deal is worth roughly $2.8 million with a signing bonus of a little more than $586,000.

Wilcox, the No. 80 overall pick in the draft, is expected to be a major contributor on special teams and has an outside chance to challenge for a starting job at safety as a rookie.

Sam Bradford off to good start
by Jamey Eisenberg | Senior Fantasy Writer

(5:23 pm ET) Rams offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer likes what he sees from quarterback Sam Bradford this offseason.

ESPN reports that Bradford will work with Schottenheimer for a second consecutive season, which is the first time that's happened in his young career.

"The day Sam walked back into the building [this offseason] we started making adjustments," Schottenheimer said. "We are a thousand years ahead of where we were last year."

Titans sign Blidi Wreh-Wilson
by Jamey Eisenberg | Senior Fantasy Writer

(4:53 pm ET) The Titans agreed to terms with rookie cornerback Blidi Wreh-Wilson on Wednesday.

The Tennessean reports that Wreh-Wilson, a third-round pick, reached a four-year deal with salaries of $405,000 in 2013, $495,000 in 2014, $585,000 in 2015 and $675,000 in 2016.

Only first-round pick Chance Warmack has yet to agree to terms.

Reggie Bush could see some punt returns
by Dave Richard | Senior Fantasy Writer

(4:53 pm ET) Lions running back Reggie Bush could add punt return duties to his workload this year. Special-teams coach John Bonamego believes Bush could be a "situational" punt return man.

"Reggie will have a role," Bonamego told the official team website. "Reggie (can return punts) and is willing to do it. That's more situational -- we need one, let's put him back there and let's see if he can make something happen. I had him his first two years in the league in New Orleans and that was the way he was utilized in that role. So, he's back there catching them in practice."

Titans sign Barry Richardson
by Jamey Eisenberg | Senior Fantasy Writer

(4:48 pm ET) The Titans agreed to terms with veteran offensive tackle Barry Richardson on Wednesday.

The Tennessean reports he'll add depth to the offensive line. Richardson started all 16 games for the Rams last season.

How often did Vernon Davis line up as a receiver?
by Dave Richard | Senior Fantasy Writer

(4:47 pm ET) Earlier this week the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat reported that Vernon Davis worked at receiver during the team's recent minicamp, not at the traditional tight end spot he's been accustomed to. So I thought I'd get an idea of just how often Davis lined up off the line of scrimmage last year.

With a huge hat tip to ProFootballFocus.com founder Neil Hornsby we now know that Davis lined up as a tight end, be it in a basic set or as part of a two-tight end formation, on 798 plays. He lined up in the slot or out wide like a receiver 268 plays. And he lined up as a fullback 16 plays. He also sparingly lined up as a tackle, doing so 16 times. Point is that he lined up in a non-traditional spot roughly 25 percent of the time last year. Seeing that bump up to, say, 75 percent of the time this year seems off. But that's small potatoes all things considered -- his being on the field 95-plus percent of the time combined with an expected bump in targets is what Fantasy owners need for him to be an asset. That's why he's still a consensus Top 7 tight end among our Fantasy rankings and could inch his way into the Top 5 before too long.

Latest update on Aaron Hernandez
by Dave Richard | Senior Fantasy Writer

(2:07 pm ET) Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez has not yet been ruled out as a suspect in the homicide investigation involving a semi-pro football player who was "an associate" of his, a source told CBS Boston on Wednesday. Hernandez is also not cooperating with police according to the report.

There is, however, a conflicting report from SI.com that says Hernandez is not believed to be a murder suspect.

Also revealed Wednesday: Hernandez is being sued by a man who claimed Hernandez shot him in the face. The lawsuit, reported by TMZ, was filed on June 13, five days before investigators checked into Hernandez's house in connection with the homicide. The case was originally dismissed because of a paperwork error that has since been rectified.

Report: J.D. Walton's season in doubt
by Dave Richard | Senior Fantasy Writer

(1:50 pm ET) Broncos center J.D. Walton had another surgery on his ankle this week and is now expected to miss the 2013 season, according to the Denver Post. Walton missed much of the 2012 season with a broken ankle. The team had hoped he'd play in the second half of the upcoming year.

Hakeem Nicks noncommittal on future with Giants
by Dave Richard | Senior Fantasy Writer

(1:41 pm ET) Giants receiver Hakeem Nicks said he's happy to be a Giant "right now" but that he does "understand the business side of football." In a Q&A with the New York Post, Nicks talked about a lot of things including his future with the team, hinting that he's not promising a return to the team after this season when his contract runs out. He said he's focused only on the 2013 season.

Nicks also said he did promise coach Tom Coughlin he would attend voluntary OTA workouts but skipped them because he didn't want to open himself up to injury. Nicks broke his foot at OTA workouts last year. The receiver said he did apologize to his coach.

"At the end of the day, there's stuff that's mandatory and there's things that are not mandatory," he said. "From my eyes, anytime you can let your body rest [is good]. Football is a physical sport, and it's a long season, too. Anytime you can let your body rest, I feel like that's always a blessing."

Vincent Jackson backs Josh Freeman
by Jamey Eisenberg | Senior Fantasy Writer

(1:02 pm ET) There was some speculation coming into this season that Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman's job could be in jeopardy, but receiver Vincent Jackson is backing Freeman heading into training camp.

The Tampa Tribune reports that Jackson said Freeman has returned as a far more comfortable and confident quarterback in Year 2 of offensive coordinator Mike Sullivan's system.

More Updates

1	Peyton Manning, DEN, QB
2	Drew Brees, NO, QB
3	Tony Romo, DAL, QB
4	Cam Newton, CAR, QB
5	Tom Brady, NE, QB
6	Aaron Rodgers, GB, QB
7	Robert Griffin III, WAS, QB
8	Russell Wilson, SEA, QB
9	Andrew Luck, IND, QB
10	Michael Vick, PHI, QB
All Rankings

1	Adrian Peterson, MIN, RB
2	C.J. Spiller, BUF, RB
3	Marshawn Lynch, SEA, RB
4	Alfred Morris, WAS, RB
5	Frank Gore, SF, RB
6	Arian Foster, HOU, RB
7	DeMarco Murray, DAL, RB
8	Jamaal Charles, KC, RB
9	Stevan Ridley, NE, RB
10	LeSean McCoy, PHI, RB
All Rankings

1	Calvin Johnson, DET, WR
2	Dez Bryant, DAL, WR
3	Demaryius Thomas, DEN, WR
4	Brandon Marshall, CHI, WR
5	Wes Welker, DEN, WR
6	Eric Decker, DEN, WR
7	Reggie Wayne, IND, WR
8	Steve Smith, CAR, WR
9	Victor Cruz, NYG, WR
10	Marques Colston, NO, WR
All Rankings

1	Rob Gronkowski, NE, TE
2	Antonio Gates, SD, TE
3	Aaron Hernandez, NE, TE
4	Jason Witten, DAL, TE
5	Greg Olsen, CAR, TE
6	Jimmy Graham, NO, TE
7	Tony Gonzalez, ATL, TE
8	Dwayne Allen, IND, TE
9	Kyle Rudolph, MIN, TE
10	Delanie Walker, TEN, TE
All Rankings

1	Matt Prater, DEN, K
2	Stephen Gostkowski, NE, K
3	Shaun Suisham, PIT, K
4	Adam Vinatieri, IND, K
5	Blair Walsh, MIN, K
6	Nick Novak, SD, K
7	Garrett Hartley, NO, K
8	Jason Hanson, DET, K
9	Mason Crosby, GB, K
10	Josh Brown, NYG, K
All Rankings

1	Steelers, DST
2	49ers, DST
3	Broncos, DST
4	Chargers, DST
5	Seahawks, DST
6	Bengals, DST
7	Bills, DST
8	Patriots, DST
9	Texans, DST
10	Packers, DST
All Rankings