With the NFL season starting Thursday and fantasy football owners looking for the best value as they draft players for 2013, one way to think about who to draft is through production and some players that could rack up touchdowns in 2013 including names like Roddy White, Calvin Johnson, Jordy Nelson, Tavon Austin as well as Ryan Broyles, but only if he is healthy.
The wide receiver position can be tough to predict at times because so many factors can play into production, most notable a team's running game or lack thereof, the quarterback play and the offensive line consistency, but some sure things are out there, namely Calvin Johnson, Brandon Marshall and Roddy White, while players like Jordy Nelson and Tavon Austin as well as Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks could have big seasons.
The big question for Broyles will be if he is healthy and while he is CLEARLY not in the class of these other receivers like Johnson and White, his size and the team he plays for could mean he gets some chances but only IF he can stay on the field. Broyles is coming back from serious ACL surgery and while he said earlier in the offseason that he would be ready for Week 1, it looks like he will be on the bench to start. Broyles made 22 catches for 310 yards and two touchdowns last season before getting hurt, playing in 10 games as a rookie.
The Lions have added Reggie Bush to the offense and with Calvin Johnson getting most of the attention from cornerbacks, Broyles could at least get some chances, but only if he can stay on the field. Broyles could end up a sleeper if healthy, while Tavon Austin looks ready to be like Percy Harvin for the Rams and based on just his speed he could be one of the best fantasy playmakers in 2013.
The Rams and head coach Jeff Fisher are expected to use Austin in various sets and very often with quarterback Sam Bradford and after losing Danny Amendola to the Patriots, it could be Austin who benefits the most from his absence. Austin was the primary target for Bradford in the preseason and he also showed some flash while returning punts and he could be the type of player the Rams have lacked in recent seasons.
Jordy Nelson is another player with injury concerns that go along with hsi production, but boy has he been productive the past two seasons, making 22 catches over the last two years with Aaron Rodgers, but after coming back from knee surgery, some owners have been cautious. James Jones and Randall Cobb look to be the primary options for Aaron Rodgers this season, but if Nelson is healthy he could put up some solid production from the slot position and he has shown a nose for getting into the end zone, always important for fantasy owners.
Nelson missed the preseason and by all accounts he appears ready for Week 1, but since he is coming off the procedure, head coach Mike McCarthy may be cautious with how much he uses him. The team is playing the 49ers are will also be trying to establish more of a running game with backs James Starks and rookie Eddie Lacy along with Jonathan Franklin. Rodgers looked sharp in the preseason and with the offensive line in flux, the wideouts will have to be quick out of their coverage breaks this season. All of these players could be solid touchdown scorers this season if things go a certain way in fantasy.
