You spend so much time preparing for your draft; studying player’s past perfomanaces, checking out possible sleepers, breakout candidates, and up and coming rookies. Yet your season can be lost with just a couple of draft picks that fail to meet your expectations. Here are some potential busts that you should consider avoiding if possible…
1. Reggie Bush-RB- Dolphins- Whenever his name comes up, not long after, the word ‘injury’ undoubtedly follows. Although last year was an anomaly for Bush, he did manage to miss 20 games over the 2010 and 2009 seasons. He rushed for 1086 yards and 6 TDs last season but can you sleep at night without wondering if or when another injury could impede his season? Is his 6 TD’s worth that kind of worry?
#22 Reggie Bush is a tackle away from yet another injury. RB Daniel Thomas will take more carries away from Bush as well. Photo: Marc Serota/Getty Images
2. Rashard Mendenhall-RB-Steelers- My rule of thumb when it comes to running backs coming off of ACL or MCL or any major injury is “let the buyer beware.” Mendenhall is such a back. He tore his right ACL in week 17 and more than likely will begin the season on the PUP list. He wasn’t having a great season before his injury and without knowing how viable a RB he’ll be this year, try to avoid drafting the sexy name, and seek another option instead.
3. Josh Freeman-QB-Buccaneers- Freeman and the next potential bust, Vincent Jackson almost go hand in hand. Mark Sanchez wasn’t the only QB to regress last year. Freeman managed to finish the season with the league’s second most picks, 22 against 16 TDs. Rookie sensation Doug Martin, (one of our Rookie’s to consider this season), will be making up the majority of an already lackluster offense in Tampa Bay; taking some of the pressure off of Freeman. Unfortunately when games get out of hand, he’ll be forced to air it out and that’s when INT’s begin to mount up. Stay clear.
4. Vincent Jackson-WR-Buccaneers- Staying in Tampa Bay, we’re suggesting that V-Jax be avoided if possible as their are danger signs on the outspoken $56 million T.B. pickup in the off season. The offense, as stated above, will be a run heavy one (so says new head coach Greg Schiano), and by leaving the very capable passing prowess of Philip Rivers for a much lower tierd QB in Josh Freeman… well, can you spell bust?
5. Laurent Robinson-WR-Jaguars- In some ways similar to Vincent Jackson, the speedster who exploded for 11 TD’s last year with Dallas, now finds himself on a Jags team with unproven and unimpressive QB Blaine Gabbert istead of a more seasoned Tony Romo. Forget about double-digit touchdowns from Robinson this year. Maurice Jones-Drew and another rookie that we like, Justin Blackmon, will probably make up the major portion of the Jags’ offense although as Gabbert goes, so will the Jags. Avoid or draft with caution.
6. Mark Sanchez-QB-Jets- The ‘Sanchise’ did a 180 last year and like Josh Freeman, Sanchez suffered through a regression leading his team to a pedestrian and under achieving 8-8 finish. With the signing of Tim Terrific, Sanchez, besides losing snaps to the southpaw will find his passes to the endzone limited because of Tebow scampering in on wildcat type of plays. Therefore don’t look for him to put up even ‘Sanchez type of numbers’ like he did in ’09 and ’10. There are other QBs to consider before grabbing this potential and probable bust.
#6 QB Mark Sanchez’ numbers will make him a potentional bust with the addition of Tim Tebow on offense. Photo: nasorb.com
Other potenial busts that you might want to consider leaving on the draft board for someone else are:
Adrian Peterson-RB-Vikings- ACL and MCL tear last Christmas Eve.
Shonn Greene- RB-Jets- Tebow will get short yardage opportunities.
Antonio Gates-TE-Chargers- Foot injuries the last two seasons.
LeGarrette Blount-RB-Buccaneers- Will take a back seat to Doug Martin.
FANTASY FURNACE 
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I love this, Hank! Hey, what do you think of Wallace in Pittsburgh…worth “Fitzgerald” type money? He thinks so…
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Wallace is purely speed. Avoid at all costs.
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This article is from last year Steven…Mike Wallace is now with the Dolphins..
Hope all is going well with you.
-Hank
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Yes and no. I love the guy but if you remember Antonio Brown & not Wallace was Big Ben’s favorite target in the last several games. In fact, Wallace din’t have a 100 yard game after week 7. I would put Fitzgerald at around $22 and Wallace at $19. If I’m in a draft and I had to pick between them I would go with Fitzgerald, cause you know you’ll get your 1,000 yards and 6 TDs almost guaranteed!
Hope this helps…
Glad you enjoyed the post.
-Hank
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The Steelers’ Mike Wallace wants to be paid like a superstar . As good as he is , he comes across like an infantile moron !
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Why do you think he’s a moon?
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Wallace is only three years into his NFL career and he’s demanding Fitzgerald type money . If you were a GM , would you acquiesce to his demands ? Is that succinct enough of answer when I say that Mike Wallace is a moron ?
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Everyone who has a higher opinion of their body of work and thinks they deserve more than they’re worth doesn’t make them out a moron. If there are no consequences for seeking additional renumeration from your employer and yet the possibility exists that you might get what you asked for, then I’m not sure Wallace or any employee for that matter would be anything ecept a bit greedy…and aren’t most of us Alan? And even more so those in professional sports?
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Yes it does , Wallace is making an a#s of himself by berating the coaches as well as the front office for not treating him right because he feel he’s being disrespected .
He is holding out while fellow teammate and fellow wide receiver Antonio Brown having honored his contract gets paid . There’s right way to do things and then there’s the wrong way . Steelers are a class organization and Wallace should begin to realize that rather being an #ss ! There’s a reason why the likes Joey Porter , Santonio Holmes , and Plaxico Burress were shown the door . Let Wallace and lame a#s agent …. Bus Cook carry on being buffoons and Mike Wallace could one day meet the same fate .
tophatal …………
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I hear what you’re saying. Let me ask you two questions. 1. Why do you suppose, Wallace seems to be following in the same footsteps as Porter, Holmes, and Burress? Seems to be a trend going on in Pittsburgh; don’t you think? 2. Is it just Wallace, or the organization that creates an atmosphere for all of these malcontents?
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The Steelers as an organization have never put up with that sort of n bullcrap to begin with ! It’s the reason why they’ve been so successful and it’s a reason why they much like the Patriots are the franchises that everyone else is adjudged against when you see that continuity of success .
Bus Cook (Wallace’s agent) is giving the player some lame a#s advice . While he’s playing the fool his fellow teammate and wide receiver Antonio Brown just got himself a $40 million payday .
If you’re interested I’ve dropped something on this as well as about the impending sale of the Cleveland Browns .
NFL piece
http://tophatal.wordpress.com/2012/07/28/news-around-the-world-of-sports-nfl/
MLB piece
http://tophatal.wordpress.com/2012/07/27/say-it-isnt-so/
As and when you’re ready let me know what you think ?
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Wallace is a bone-head ! That’s why .
And no it’s not the organization . If were that then they would not have attained the success that they have during their existence .
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If at all interested let me know what you think ?
http://tophatal.wordpress.com/2012/07/27/say-it-isnt-so/ A piece on baseball .
NFL piece below .
http://tophatal.wordpress.com/2012/07/28/news-around-the-world-of-sports-nfl/
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Will do.
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Well, except for Jackson, I wouldn’t draft any of these guys especially Sanchez and Freeman. I would probably add Hernandez, P.Manning, and anybody on the Jets offense.
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