2012 Fantasy Football Studs
Stud: A NFL player who has proved himself to be a top scoring player at his position. These players should be started each week regardless of match-up and should only be benched during bye weeks and significant injuries. From our Fantasy Football Dictionary
Our writers have classified the following players as studs for 2012. We will be updating this list throughout the pre-season.
| Name | Pos | Team | Age | Yrs Exp. |
Pos. Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dwayne Bowe  |
WR | KC | 28 | 5 | WR - #15 |
| Bowe is by far one of the best receivers in the game. Last year he pulled down 81 receptions for 1,159 yards with 5 touchdowns, despite playing without starting quarterback Matt Cassel the final 7 games of the season. If you've reached the point in your draft when it's time to select a receiver and Bowe is available, don't hesitate to draft him. We believe the C... Read More | |||||
| Victor Cruz |
WR | NYG | 26 | 2 | WR - #9 |
| The biggest fantasy surprise of 2011 was Victor Cruz (feel free to nod). An undrafted free agent, Cruz came out of nowhere to finish third in the NFL in receiving yards(1,536), while ranking among the top 10 in receptions (82) and TD receptions (9). The noted salsa dancer proved to have all the skills needed to make big plays, racking up five scores of at least 68 ... Read More | |||||
| Larry Fitzgerald | WR | ARI | 29 | 8 | WR - #5 |
| Despite the inconsistency at the quarterback situation in Arizona, Larry Fitzgerald recorded his fifth consecutive season of at least 80 receptions and 1,000 yards last year. Fitzgerald is the model of consistency at the wide receiver position in fantasy football. If Kevin Kolb can stay healthy and rookie Michael Floyd is productive, Fitzgerald will put up monster ... Read More | |||||
| A.J. Green | WR | CIN | 24 | 1 | WR - #3 |
| As good as A.J. Green was in his rookie season, he possesses the talent to be even better going forward. Green has been working out with fellow stud receivers Calvin Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald this off-season, and will look to build on an impressive rookie season with Andy Dalton. The young star would benefit from the emergence of a second reliable wide receiver... Read More | |||||
| Greg Jennings |
WR | MIN | 29 | 6 | WR - #14 |
| It was clear that Green Bay wasn't quite the same after Greg Jennings was injured in Week 14. He is their clear-cut No. 1 WR and his reliable production is an asset to any fantasy squad. Excluding the Week 14 game he was injured in, Jennings scored in nine of his 12 games. Considering the Packers have to be the favorite to lead the league in scoring again, there's ... Read More | |||||
| Calvin Johnson | WR | DET | 27 | 5 | WR - #1 |
| There are few sure things in this world, but Calvin Johnson is close to being one of them. Expectations are high and they should be. Now that Megatron has a reliable quarterback to feed him the ball, there's no stopping him. Johnson began 2011 with nine touchdowns in the first five weeks and finished the year with career highs across the board. Now if Matthew Staff... Read More | |||||
| Julio Jones | WR | ATL | 24 | 1 | WR - #2 |
| Julio Jones, Atlanta's highly touted first round pick, displayed a propensity for breaking big plays during his rookie season and is poised for a breakout sophomore campaign. With Pro Bowl wideout Roddy White drawing away defensive attention, the Alabama product will have plenty of opportunities to burn opposing defenses with his blazing speed this season. Jones wi... Read More | |||||
| Brandon Marshall | WR | CHI | 29 | 6 | WR - #6 |
| Brandon Marshall is a stud receiver. Chicago fans have been waiting quite some time to see a receiver like this come to town. Marshall was at his best when he caught balls from Cutler in Denver. The other positive thing for Marshall and Cutler is the other talent at wide out. Jeffery, Hester and Bennett will provide plently of options in passing schemes. Do not let... Read More | |||||
| Hakeem Nicks | WR | NYG | 25 | 3 | WR - #8 |
| Nicks is a stud receiver and would have gone into the season as a top-5 option if not a for a broken foot suffered during OTAs. He has vowed to be ready for the start of the season, but that remains to be seen. Good news is he's already walking on his own and without a limp. Considering he has a history of healing fast, there is reason for optimism. Some fantasy o... Read More | |||||
| Mike Wallace |
WR | MIA | 26 | 3 | WR - #13 |
| Wallace is expected to play on his restricted tender in 2012. He set a career-high with 72 catches last season but regressed in the final seven games (25 catches for 325 yards and two touchdowns). Wallace should be ultra motivated in a contract year and his top end speed makes him one of the most dynamic WR after the catch (averaged an eye popping 19 YPC over his b... Read More | |||||
| Wes Welker |
WR | DEN | 32 | 8 | WR - #22 |
| Plain and Simple, Wes Welker is a stud fantasy receiver. In PPR leagues, Welker is a top 5 fantasy WR and in non PPR leagues he is top 12. The 2011 campaign, stellar, catching 122 receptions and setting career highs in yards (1569) and TDs (9). As long as he is catching passes from Tom Brady, you can expect him to put up similar numbers. Draft as a top WR and don'... Read More | |||||
| Roddy White | WR | ATL | 31 | 7 | WR - #7 |
| One of the top receivers in fantasy football, Roddy White has been a model of consistency over the last five years, recording at least 80 receptions and 1,000 yards over that stretch. With second-year wideout Julio Jones poised for a breakout season, White's numbers could drop slightly, but he remains a stud at the wide receiver position worthy of being one of the ... Read More | |||||
