Fantasy Football: 3 Players Slated For Improvement in 2014

Fantasy Football doom. It can happen to the best of your fantasy football choices. A player can have an amazing season one year, then the next season, not a darn thing goes right for him. If you drafted one of these players last year for your fantasy football team, you were surely regretting your choice by mid season. Here is a look at three NFL players who we should see some improvement from in 2014, perhaps convincing you to give them another chance on your fantasy football team.

1. Robert Griffin III, Quarterback, Washington Redskins

RGIII is a classic example of a player who fell victim to the dreaded “sophomore slump” in 2013. After claiming “Rookie of the Year” in 2012, finishing as the fifth-ranked fantasy quarterback, Griffin fell several notches last season ending the year ranked 18th. His touchdowns were down and interceptions up from his rookie season. The Redskins managed only three wins all season, and that’s probably about how many weeks Griffin was effective on your fantasy team.

2014 should breath some life back into RGIII, as his knee injury from 2012 is long behind him. Also long behind is controversial coach Mike Shanahan, who really never appeared to be on the same page as his young quarterback. Jay Gruden is now heading the team in Washington, and the addition of powerful wide receiver DeSean Jackson paired up with Pierre Garcon certainly doesn’t hurt RGIII’s outlook.

Jordan Reed and Alfred Morris, who wants to be involved more in the passing game, add to RGIII’s targets. Look for RGIII’s stats to improve in 2014, as well as his fantasy numbers. If all plays out well, RGIII should fall back into a top 10 fantasy quarterback in 2014, which would deem him worthy of QB1 potential.

2. Arian Foster, Running Back, Houston Texans

Another disappointing player from last season, who we should see some improvement in 2014 is Foster. Yes, those who drafted him as a first-round pick in fantasy drafts last year got a raw deal due to Foster’s chronic back problems, which ended his season prematurely. Though, reports indicate that Foster is healing and feeling great.

With a new head coach in Bill O’Brien, the Texans will be looking to put their nightmare two-win 2013 season behind them. While still focusing on the run, Foster no longer has Ben Tate, who signed on with the Cleveland Browns.  I wouldn’t expect Foster to put up the numbers he had in 2012 with 1,424 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns, but he should make a solid RB2 most weeks. Remember, he is also a fabulous pass-catcher.

Mock drafts show Foster being selected late in the second round, which places him about the ninth or 10th among running backs to be chosen. If you draft accordingly, Foster, barring further injury, shouldn’t disappoint.

3. Mike Wallace, Wide Receiver, Miami Dolphins

Something went severely wrong with the pricey Wallace experiment in Miami last year.  Wallace ranked 25th in fantasy points among his fellow wide receivers. Ryan Tannehill struggled to get Wallace the ball, especially near the end zone, which led to the receiver compiling just five touchdown catches.

So why should we expect improvement out of Wallace in 2014? The Dolphins have made big strides in improving the offense with running back Knowshon Moreno coming to the rescue of the Dolphins’ floundering run game. Tannehill, because of additions in the Dolphins’ offensive line, should be able to complete more passes to Wallace, one the quickest receivers in the NFL.

This doesn’t mean you should run out and draft Wallace as an WR1, but he should improve from the mediocre WR3 he was last year. Plus, because of his lack of consistency in 2013, Wallace will likely be overlooked until late rounds in 2014, so he could be a bargain if you pick him up as a third or fourth receiver option.

Fantasy Football Statistics are provided by eDraft.com

Photo: Kirby Lee, USA Today