Where have all the fantasy football heroes gone? In years past, we had studs like Marshall Faulk and LaDanian Tomlinson, players upon whom you could rely week in and week out for top-flight scoring. They were difference-makers. They could win you your weekly matchup all on their own.
Today, it’s a much different story as early-season heroes like Patrick Mahomes, Leonard Fournette and Adam Thielen are coming up short during critical weeks. The game has changed and so should your mentality. It is time to dig deeper and find your fantasy savior in some unlikely places.
Forget about Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady. There was a time when you could have ridden either to your fantasy championship, but those days are over as their coaches continue to take the ball out of their hands and put it into those of the younger and more reliable. You need a quarterback the coach trusts. You need Ryan Tannehill.
Not only has he been one of the most consistent performers recently, but with three 300-yard efforts and just one interception in his past four games, he has been a big reason many borderline teams made their fantasy playoffs. With Week 15 and 16 matchups against Houston and New Orleans, two of the worst secondaries in the NFL, he could be the guy hoisting the fantasy MVP trophy at the end of your season.
There is no denying the running back position has been trash all year. Top-tier picks like Saquon Barkley, Alvin Kamara and Le’Veon Bell have been a disaster. Thankfully, Raheem Mostert has emerged from the mess that has been the 49ers backfield.
He has seemingly ripped the starting job away from Tevin Coleman and Matt Breida with an average of 86.7 rushing yards per game and four touchdowns over his past three games. The Niners’ next two opponents are the Falcons and the Rams, who have been carved up by the run most of the year.
Or how about Bills slot-receiver, Cole Beasley? Dismissed by many in shallow leagues, Beasley has been one of the top fantasy producers in the second half of the season. His touchdown catch Sunday gave him three straight games with a score. His targets are up and he’s becoming a first-look for Josh Allen once inside the red zone.
You can live in the past, start your studs and hope they come back around. But if you don’t surround them with the present-day heroes, an early playoff exit is in your future.
Howard Bender is VP of operations and head of content at FantasyAlarm.com. Follow him on Twitter @rotobuzzguy and catch him on the award-winning “Fantasy Alarm Radio Show” on the SiriusXM fantasy sports channel weekdays at 4 p.m. Go to FantasyAlarm.com for all your fantasy football advice and NFL player rankings.