Old Name, Stale Game

From a fantasy perspective, one of the biggest mistakes owners can make is to draft someone purely on name recognition. It is a ploy I see people who are relatively new to fantasy football try in drafts. Guys who draft these types of players high are the ones who always ask annoying questions during a game, who can't name more than 5 current starting QB's, who root for whatever team is hot and who like the Cowboys because they are "America's Team."

I can think of several such players who, while they have serious name-recognition, should not be drafted in the top 10 rounds:

1. Warren Sapp. Yeah, he's jolly and think's he's a badass as a member of Raider nation, but shit, this guy isn't even one of the top 5 defensive players on his team (Kirk Morrison, Derrick Burgess, Stuart Schweigert, Tommy Kelly and Fabian Washington are better fantasy picks).

2. Brett Favre. This one is well documented, and I almost feel guilty putting this on my list because I like him so much. But he, and the Pack, are on their last leg. Here's hoping he and Greg Jennings hook up (football wise, that is) many times this year, as I drafted Jennings with my last pick.

3. Jamal Lewis. I'm taking a chance on this one, as he may have a good year after all. I just get the gut feeling that his best days are way behind him. Plus, Mike Anderson is breathing down his neck and is a WAY more solid back. Don't be surprised if Lewis, injured or not, is the backup by year end to Anderson.

4. Steve McNair. Here's hoping he proves me wrong and shows how incredibly inept and stupid the TN Titans really are. Still, he isn't a top 15 QB in my book, and is way injury prone. I hope he wins NFL Comeback Player of this year this year, though.

5. Keyshawn Johnson. He's old and has a QB who is more of a game-manager than a big play fantasy QB. He has to share the field with Steve Smith and (crazy as this sounds) I think Keary Colbert might be a fantasy sleeper.