Ask the Experts

ASK THE EXPERTS appears weekly with answers to a new question being posted Thursday morning. How the guest experts responded when we asked them:

Who will be 2009's breakout fantasy star?

LOUIS TRANQUILLI

Having watched the Bears work this preseason on offense two things are clear. Devin Hester is not overly involved in the passing game yet and Greg Olsen is the first look Jay Cutler makes when dropping back. Olsen has lined up wide and close to the tackle, from each spot he's run a deep post pattern and Cutler has hit him in stride. He's the Bears' No. 1 target, and will be a huge addition to Fantasy teams in 2009.

Tranquilli is the founder and the primary "brains" (if you stretch it) of BFDFANTASYfootball.com. BFD is about delivering the information players want, not fluff, just opinions that matter to fantasy football players. Lou has worked with NFL players and gives a unique perspective because of it. We'll be giving MORE teams away in 2009 to BFD subscribers!

RICK HAWES

I like Ray Rice a lot in Baltimore, but my No. 1 choice is Felix Jones, who could be a monster if he can just stay healthy. Based on his flashes last year and performance in training camp this year, head coach Wade Phillips has already labeled him a Pro Bowl caliber talent. Back in 2007, Julius Jones received 187 touches in a timeshare with Marion Barber, and I expect close to the same amount from Felix the Cat this season. The major difference being the Arkansas product has legitimate 4.3 speed, and is a threat to take the rock to the house every time he touches it. When push comes to shove, I have Jones projected at 181 touches (155 carries, 26 receptions) for 1,073 yards (806 rush, 267 receive) and eight total scores. And given his explosiveness, I wouldn’t be surprised if FJ scores double-digit touchdowns, which ain’t too shabby considering his ADP is 70 (6.01) as the 31st running back off the board in 12-team leagues.

Hawes is the Managing Editor of NFL content at Fanball.com. Fanball.com and OwnersEdge.com offer league management software, daily play fantasy games, Live Advice, up-to-date news, free and premium content, player rankings, custom projections and cheat sheets, in-depth IDP analysis, Fantasy Buffet Radio Show, NFL Draft Kit, Fanball Blog Network, daily newsletter, a vast array of fantasy football tools, including Draft Analyzer software and five magazines featuring the Pro Football Draft Preview, as well as four Fantasy Football publications. For more information send e-mail to rhawes@fanball.com.

DAVID DOREY

The player in the best situation for a breakout season is the rookie running back in Arizona – Chris “Beanie” Wells. There is no argument that he should manage to score double-digit touchdowns and could easily have over 1000 rushing yards as well. Of course the question is more about if he can remain healthy. Adrian Peterson carried the same baggage into fantasy drafts a couple of years ago and Wells is perhaps an even bigger question mark. But for my money he will play and will be successful.

Dorey is the co-founder and Senior NFL Analyst at The Huddle since 1997. He has produced award winning rankings and has projected the fantasy stats for every game over the last 13 years. David produces the bulk of The Huddle rankings and his “Predictions and Projections” breaks down every single NFL game every week through the Super Bowl. You can find more about David at TheHuddle.com.

SAM HENDRICKS

Breakout player of 2009 will be Chris Henry WR CIN. Carson Palmers return should help all the Bengal WRs and Henry seems to have straightened out his off-the-field issues. His past two years have been failures, but 2009 could be the year he breaks out and surpasses his 2006 performance. Through 3 games this preseason, he has all (3) of the CIN TD receptions. Look for 60 catches/750 yards and 6 TDs and a Top 25 WR finish.

Sam Hendricks is the author of Fantasy Football Guidebook, Fantasy Football Tips and Fantasy Football Almanac 2009, all available at his website, www.ffguidebook.com, at all major bookstores, and at www.amazon.com. He is a 19-year fantasy football veteran who regularly participates in the World Championship of Fantasy Football (WCOFF), National Fantasy Football Championship (NFFC) and finished 7th overall in the 2008 Fantasy Football Players Championship (FFPC).

IAN ALLAN

I’ll go with Aaron Rodgers. I’m aware that he threw 28 TDs last year (and ran for 4), but he’s generally being slotted well behind Drew Brees, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. As well as he’s played in the preseason, and with a host of nice weapons to work with, I think he might outproduce some of those quarterbacks this year. I think Rodgers is going to be very, very good. If you’re looking for more of an up-and-comer type, then I will go with Joe Flacco of the Ravens. I believe he’ll throw a lot more often and effectively this season.

Allan is the senior writer for Fantasy Football Index. He’s been in that role since 1987, generating most of the player rankings and analysis for that publication. His work can be seen in Fantasy Football Index magazine, and also at the company’s website, www.fantasyindex.com.

COLIN DARLINGTON

Tim Hightower. With Edgerrin James in Seattle and a rookie RB nursing an injury as his only competition, Hightower should add to his 10 touchdowns and 34 receptions out of the backfield as a rookie (backup running back) in 2008. Beanie Wells will take some carries away from Hightower, but I still expect 1,300 total yards, 50 receptions and 12 TDs from Hightower, making him a great pick in the middle rounds of your draft.

Darlington is the owner of MyStartEmSitEm.com and has been an owner, commissioner and consultant in Fantasy Football since 1992. MyStartEmSitEm.com provides weekly advice based on your league, your scoring system, with custom emails about your team, preseason cheat sheets, draft day assistance and much more.

PRETZEL MAY

I am going to go out on a limb with this one because the degree to which this star can break out depends entirely on the arm of Kyle Orton. Eddie Royal seems poised to make a huge jump this season. Brandon Marshall is determined to ruin his career in Denver, (or he wants to change careers and become a punter) and with Marshall out of the way, that leaves Eddie Royal as the guy with the target on his head. Add the fact that he is an absolute burner with great hands who has already proven that he will produce when he is given the ball and you have the potential for a huge fantasy season.

The May brothers have more than 16 years of combined fantasy football experience and are the co-founders of FantasyDraftMaster.com. The cornerstone of FDM is the UberRank which is a revolutionary approach to the traditional fantasy football cheat sheet. FantasyDraftMaster.com also offers insightful and humorous commentary on football happenings as well as recommendations on waiver wire pickups, line up submissions and weekly pick em' pools. For more info, visit www.fantasydraftmaster.com or email us at info@fantasydraftmaster.com.

MIKE NAZAREK

While my premium subscribers get my very best pick for this question, I can tell you I'm very impressed with Cardinals rookie RB Beanie Wells. He made a few cuts that RB Tim Hightower just can't make in scoring twice against the Packers last week. I think he's a great No. 3 fantasy RB with high upside, although his injury history is a concern.

Nazarek is the CEO of Fantasy Football Mastermind Inc. His company offers an online rookie draft kit, preseason draft guide, customizable cheat sheets, fantasy auction & regular drafting programs, weekly in-season fantasy newsletters, injury reports and free NFL news (updated daily) at its web site. He has been playing fantasy football since 1988 and is the reigning four-peat champion of the SI.com Experts Fantasy League, a nationally published writer in several fantasy magazines and a columnist for SI.com. For more info go to www.ffmastermind.com. Nazarek can be reached at 702-568-7118 or miken@ffmastermind.com.

JEFFREY KAMYS

This may be more of a sleeper than a breakout guy, but how about Hakeem Nicks of the Giants. The Giants are obviously pretty thin at wide reciever with Plaxico gone, and Nicks could be the guy to step into that starting spot and have a very strong fantasy year.

Kamys is president of Dr. Stats Fantasy Sports. His company, via the web, offers player news, injury reports, cheat sheets, projections, weekly matchups, statistics, and a customized team tracker. Dr. Stats Fantasy Sports also e-mails preseason newsletters and reports throughout the season. For more info visit www.docstats.com or send email to webmaster@docstats.com.

SCOTT ENDSLEY

Maurice Jones-Drew.....okay, okay perhaps a top 5 RB isn't exactly a long shot pick but don't be surprised if MJD puts up numbers that rival or exceeds AP!

Endsley is co-owner and a senior fantasy football consultant for FantasyDraftEdge.com offering customizable fantasy football cheat sheets and professional VIP advice all season long. For more info, go to www.fantasydraftedge.com.

ANDY RICHARDSON

Three guys spring to mind. The first is Matt Ryan, who was just a mediocre fantasy quarterback last year -- I think he'll step up his game this year. The other two are running backs who will suddenly be in larger roles than they were a year ago: Ray Rice and Leon Washington. I believe Rice will be the guy in Baltimore -- I'm not even conceding Willis McGahee the goal-line carries until it happens in an actual game. And Washington should be a very busy man in both the running and passing game for the Jets this year; he's being drafted way too late.

Richardson has been a columnist and contributor to the Fantasy Football Index magazine and web site for the past eight years. His responsibilities include team defense and IDP projections, as well as various site features. He has run the magazine's annual draft and auction leagues since their inception. His A DAY OF FOOTBALL wrap-up column appears Mondays during the NFL season.

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