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 the most overrated player in fantasy drafts next season?

LOUIS TRANQUILLI

Cedric Benson. He still doesn't catch passes, only 17 in 2009, and while he did manage to gain 1,200-plus yards this season it was on a 4.2 YPC average. Nothing special here at all, word from Marvin Lewis is already out that Cincinnati will remain a run-first team. That will push Cedric's value up and into the overvalued realm.

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.

JEFFREY KAMYS

No question it is going to be Chris Johnson, but in reality, he deserves to be the No. 1 pick. But we are always more weary of speed players, 1 ankle injury and they are human all of a sudden.

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.

SAM HENDRICKS

Thomas Jones will be the most overrated player in 2010. Granted, he finished in the top 10 in 2009, but many will forget that the Wahoo gained more carries only because of Leon Washington’s season ending week 7 injury. If you look at the game film, Jones role diminished in the FF playoffs as the Jets kept feeding rookie Shonn Greene more carries. Thomas turns 32 before the 2010 season starts and his 332+ carries (more this weekend) this year will take their toll.

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).

PRETZEL MAY

I think if he is playing Brett Favre will be way overrated as people will be looking at this year and expect a duplicate which is sure not to happen. After statistically the best year of his career, Favre is sure to return to his previous form of far too many interceptions which will make them hand AD the rock more often taking away from Favre’s production. Decreased production and more interceptions means a very mediocre year. Similar things can be said about Chris Johnson. Duplicating this year will be near impossible especially if VY is at the helm. There will be more running plays from the QB position. It would be difficult to believe that Johnson’s TD number will be that high next year as well. Many of the goal line carries will go to LenDale White to save Johnson's legs and you can’t count on Johnson breaking off fifteen 40+ yarders again next year. Those would be my top 2 picks.

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.

SCOTT PIANOWSKI

I see Shonn Greene and Beanie Wells as probable overdrafts because it's human nature to over-extrapolate any hot No. 2 running back. Wells has more raw ability than Tim Hightower but the Cardinals love Hightower's pass blocking and that could keep this time share open. Greene is definitely the most exciting Jets back, but Thomas Jones continues to age gracefully and there's a chance Leon Washington might be healthy in August, just to mess everything up.

Pianowski has been playing fantasy football for 15 years and writing about it for 12. He joined Yahoo! Sports in 2008 and has been blogging 24/7 on RotoArcade.com ever since.

CORY BONINI

I think it has to be Chris Johnson. Owners will fall in love with him - and rightfully so - but at what cost? I use the word cost, because in auction formats I can see Johnson going for an arm and a leg. In standard drafts, though, he is a No. 1 overall pick in all formats. He should make a fine selection, as long as fantasy owners keep their expectations of Johnson reasonable. Even though he is young, historically speaking, backs rarely perform at a similar level in their follow-up year after such a big season. Otherwise, I have to include Miles Austin as an honorable mention. It's not that he cannot replicate last year's statistical output over the course of a full season, I would rather see him do it again than invest a second-round pick in him like some owners will.

KFFL.com offers fantasy football, fantasy baseball and fantasy NASCAR content. We have captured well more than a dozen expert league championships. Founded in 1996, KFFL offers award-winning daily news feeds, preseason draft guides, player rankings, sleepers, busts, weekly newsletters and more. KFFL is completely free! For more information, visit www.kffl.com.

ANDY RICHARDSON

For now I'm going to say both Carolina running backs. Since John Fox will be back in Carolina for one more season, the committee between Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams will continue, with the result being that both will be capable of great numbers if the other gets hurt, but merely good numbers if health continues. Either Williams will be drafted too high based on being the starter, or Stewart will be drafted too high based on the way he finished the year -- when Williams was hurt.

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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