JOE ARPASI - Geek Staff

* Who would have guessed back in August that Freddie Barnes would be the #1 fantasy player of the 2009 season? Barnes’ rise to the top of the fantasy football world was a surprise to most, but once he emerged in conference play he never looked back. The run he put together this year was second to none.

* Injuries and suspensions killed fantasy owners this year. 4 of the top 15 QBs, 7 of the top 20 RBs, 4 of the top 25 WRs, and 2 of the top 3 TEs from our preseason Big Board all lost significant time this season. 2009 had a rash of injuries and suspensions to high profile players that have been unmatched in recent history.

* The Waiver Wire became a fantasy owner’s best friend in ’09. As players continued to fall by the wayside over the course of the season, new players emerged as the season unfolded. If it were not for emerging players that were off the radar of fantasy owners back on draft day, the injury losses may have been too great to rebound from.

* Case Keenum was the top QB on the season, but some of the guys right behind him might surprise you. 5 of the top 6 QBs this season were running QBs: (Keenum), Webb, LeFevour, Kaepernick, Jerrod Johnson, and Dasher.

* Most of the Elite level RBs that topped fantasy owners’ draft boards fell miserably short on expectations. Only Jacquizz Rodgers and Toby Gerhart lived up to fantasy expectations. But several fresh faces broke out in 2009 for fantasy owners to covet when 2010 draft season rolls around: Donald Buckram – UTEP, Ryan Williams – Virginia Tech, Robert Turbin – Utah State, Lance Dunbar – North Texas, and Dion Lewis – Pittsburgh.

* In 2008 there was an abundance of Elite level TE talent. Those stud TEs showed many owners that having an Elite TE can be the difference between a good team and a championship team. Well that lesson was learned once again in 2009, but it was due to the lack of talent at TE. With the exception of players like Dennis Pitta and Jason Harmon, there were no other consistent scoring TEs from week-to-week. Most TEs were “boom or bust” and almost impossible to predict which you could expect. The one trend that emerged throughout the season is that high profile TEs would have better production in the more difficult match-ups. When the opposing defense would take away the primary passing options on the outside, the TE would be used more on the inside.

“RAISING_CANES” - CFG Forum Poster

Although there are not a lot of under the radar studs in waiting anymore in college fantasy football, there is no way on God’s green earth that I’m saying a word about potential game breakers or even sleepers for next year so this is all about busts and all fantasy performers.  In my mind the biggest busts this year are:

QB’s
1. Juice Williams - Colossal bust for those unfortunates who spent a high draft pick on him
2. Zac Robinson - Guy was over rated, really is not a good QB, and lost the only reason he ever put up big stats (Dez Bryant)
3. Terrelle Pryor - Sophomore slump combined with ridiculous expectations after setting the bar high early
4. Jevan Snead - Again, some had lofty expectations based on last years erroneous numbers    
5. Trevor Vittatoe - I thought this guy would have a monster year (40 TD’s instead of 17)!  Instead, Buckram stole the show.
6. Tim Hiller - Big drop off in his numbers from last year to this.

QB busts due to injury:  Sam Bradford and Robert Griffin 

RB’s
1. Andre Anderson - Went from “Andre 2000”, and the concensus preseason #1, to “Andre 1000” with single digit TD’s.
2. Bryce Beall - The top rated RB in many keeper leagues did not have the coming out party expected after a strong ‘08.
3. MiQuale Lewis - Sure, most predicted a drop off from his 2000 all purpose yards and 22 TD’s in ‘08, but not this dramatic of a drop off.
4. Charles Scott - Thought to be a solid bet as the undisputed starter in a pretty good situation, but numbers nose dived.
5. DuJuan Harris - I personally felt this guy was going to go off this year, but Southward is the future.
6. Victor Anderson - Another guy that I was very high on that didn’t do much.
7. Jeremy Avery - Some people actually thought he was going to be Ian Johnson II simply because of the system WRONG.

RB busts due to injury, suspension and stupidity:  LaGarrette Blount, James Starks, Eugene Jarvis, Matt Asiata, Jewel Hampton and Jake Sharp

WR’s
1. TY Hilton - Yes, injuries slowed him down, but I thought this guy was going to be SICK (had him top tier).
2. Arrrelious Benn - See Juice Williams, see untapped potential, see stock drop, see Ron Zook.
3. Aldrick Robinson - Not as big a season as projected in the June Jones attack.
4. DeAndre Brown - Didn’t fully recover from the injury (damn summer basketball re-aggravation) , but look out next year.
5. Julio Jones - Stud player in an unfriendly fantasy environment at his position (along with breaking in a rookie QB).
6. Jerrel Jernigan - Rough year all around for Troy starting right off the bat with the shocking loss to BG.

WR busts due to injury suspension ans stupidity: Bryant, Gresham and Jacobson

QB’s - Jerrod Johnson and Dwight Dasher were both pleasant surprises for me.  Ryan Mallett had a good year and could blow up next year in that system (too bad it’s the SEC and not the Big East though).  Ditto for Gabbert at Mizzou.  Have to mention Ricky Dobbs with 23 rushing TD’s!  Andrew Luck had a nice year to build on and even Jonathon Crompton was serviceable.  

RB’s - Brynn Harvey was a draft day bargain for me in the 18th round of a 14 team keeper league (4 keepers each).  Have to mention Daniel Thomas as I know myself, Todd and Joe were all high on him and he did not disappoint.  Obviously Gerhart is a machine, Buckram came out of nowhere and Quiz was Quiz.  Matthews was great until the injury.  LaMichael James took over a year earlier than most thought, Steele turned around a slow start and finished strong, Spann was a force for NIU, and Spiller looked like the best player in college football at times (quite a few times).

WR’s - What can I say about Freddie Barnes and Golden Tate.  Unbelievable!  I have to say that I thought Danario Alexander was done (I was a big supporter of him previously then traded him and the guy I traded him to didn’t keep him, the rest is history).  Salas had a pretty good year for himself, Randall Cobb is a big time play maker with a bright future as is Broyles, and Eric Page was this year’s freshman impact WR (just like you predicted, right).

OK, I slipped in a few names, but on to the awards ceremony:

MVP - Case Keenum - No surprise here, but I have to mention Joe Webb who the Geek correctly exposed as a top option in the preseason when many other pundits were either afraid to or weren’t as smart!

Best Fantasy RB - Toby Gerhart - Has to be; although, I do have to mention Quiz and this years Breakout Performer Donald Buckram.

Best WR’s - Barnes and Tate.

KEVIN MOUNT - Geek Contributor

Who Surprised:
 
WR’s
* Danario Alexander - What a beast he was. Finally lived up to they hype, too bad it took 4 years.
* Freddie Barnes- Was not highly rated coming into the year, pulled off one of the best fantasy years in recent memory.
* Donovan Varner- A virtual unknown who turned in a nice fantasy season.
 
RB’s
* Dion Lewis- Burst onto the scene and never let up.
* Keith Toston- Made people say “Kendall who”
* Ryan Williams- Broke out of the pack after Evans went down.
* Delone Carter- Quietly had a 1000 yard season.
* Donald Buckram- What else can I say?
 
QB’s
* Jerrod Johnson- Went from talks of losing his job to being a fantasy monster.
* Russell Wilson- Had a remarkable 35 touchdowns, not bad for an ACC QB.
* Riley Skinner- Another ACC surprise, very steady.
 
Who Stunk:
 
WR’s
* AJ Green- Injuries and poor QB play hurt him big time.
* Detron Lewis- Way too inconsistent.
 
RB’s
* Chris Brown- Nothing like his 2008 season.
* Jake Sharp- Virtually non existent in the Kansas offense.
* Charles Scott- What a mess. Huge disappointment.
* Miquale Lewis- Knew the numbers would decline, but not as much as they did.
* Michael Smith- A ghost in the Hogs O.
 
QB’s
* Taylor Potts- Went from being a top 3 QB to a fringe starter. What a fall.
* Zac Robinson- A complete scrub. The loss of Dez really hurt.
* Juice Williams- I don’t even know what happened here.

“CASE KEENUM” - CFG Forum Poster

The “Where’d you go ?” list to the guys who were high preseason picks, then disappeared
* 
Taylor Potts - great start, but fizzled quick 

* Juice Williams - No great start, just all fizzle

* Zac Robinson - Nowhere near the lofty projections
* 
Bryce Beall - talk about a sophmore slump.Gamebreaking speed last year and we saw none of it this year
* 
Andre Anderson - Wow. No explanation needed for this clown
* 
DeAndre Brown - C-USA dud
* 
Brandon Banks - Is he still enrolled at Kansas State?

Honorable mention due to injury or suspension-

* Sam Bradford - Ouch

* Kendall Hunter - Looked harmless, but…

* LeGarrette Blount - Nice suckerpunch to the fantasy world

* Dez Bryant - Thanks Prime Time. You cost us greatness

The “Didn’t see that one coming” award for the guys who overachieved:

* Ryan Matthews- Shoulda been a Heisman contender if not for the late injury

* Danario Alexander-Who needs Jeremy Maclin. This kid is the real deal

* James Cleveland-The one UH WR not on the radar. Turned out to be a stud
* 
Donald Buckram-Great schedule, and he took advantage of it

* Ryan Williams-If not for a preseason injury, we might not have gotten to see RW’s skills.Glad we did

* Mark Ingram-Remember when Bama split carries in 2008?  Not this year
* Jerrod Johnson- Gotta love those dual threats in spread offenses.

* Dwight Dasher-Mini Jerrod Johnson

Fantasy MVP
Honorable mention-

* Colin Kaepernick- So tough on the ground.If his arm catches up to his feet, he’ll be off the charts

* Jacquizz Rodgers- Came with the hype and fulfilled with his skills. Great pass catcher and stud

* Dezmon Briscoe- Reesing hit a dry spell and it hurt Dezmon for a few weeks. But lets not overlook the great season. As good of a WR as there is in college ball

* 3rd - Freddie Barnes- He did the things that we thought Dez Bryant was going to do this year. He got on a run mid to late part of the season where he was the best player in all of fantasy

* 2nd - Toby Gerhardt- WOW. TD machine. I love harbaugh for just letting this guy be a stud. Just line up and give it to Toby.

* MVP -.....who else.. CASE KEENUM…- Numbers were great..again. He did alot of his work strictly playing just the first half of games. If the schedule were even slightly competative, he would have broke all records.I want to rub the genie bottle and make a wish. I wish for Case to come back next year with a loaded team, full of weapons. Stud WR’s, 2 great RB’s. Good O-Line. He would win the Heismann. C’mon Case, lets play BCS buster next year!!!