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Every year fantasy owners search high and low for player rankings.  We love to rank players!   We scour through anything we can get our hands on to determine where we should rank and draft players.   Then we count on these rankings to guide us to fantasy glory.  But what do we do when the rankings are wrong?  I’ll tell you what we do.  We use last years rankings to find players who are going to be undervalued on draft day.

For one reason or another these players failed to meet fantasy expectations last year.  Injuries, suspensions, difficult schedules or just a lack of consistent play contributed to their overall disappointing seasons.   Now…I don’t have a crystal ball, but what I do have is time…maybe too much time.  So what I did was take last years fantasy rankings from 25 expert sources to compile a list of players that failed to live up to the lofty expectations that were set for them.   I then used this years ADP (average draft position) from over 1000 mock drafts to figure out just how much value these guys lost from last year.  The ADP is based on a 12 team standard league format.   This list is made up of players who could potentially provide great value considering where there being drafted.  Keeping these potential comeback candidates in mind could prove very helpful on draft day.

*Quarterbacks

1)Tom Brady – NE – QB

2008 expert rank  #1 QB – 2009 ADP 19.0 – 2nd round.

Tom terrific is just two years removed from the greatest fantasy season ever for a quarterback. An injury to his knee wiped out his entire 2008 season. The Patriots are loaded and Brady should battle for the #1 fantasy spot again this year. His ADP indicates that he can be had in the middle of the second round. This is great value for a player with Brady’s track record.

2) Tony Romo – DAL – QB
2008 expert rank  #3 QB – 2009 ADP 57.2 – 5th round

Romo came into 2008 with big expectations.  He didn’t live up to his lofty ranking and one can argue that it wasn’t completely his fault. He missed three games with a broken pinkie and had Terrell Owens barking at him all year.  Half of Romo’s picks were passes directed at Owens.  All of these factors contributed to last years problems. With T.O. gone Romo has a chance to rebound and return to his elite form that came with his 2008 preseason rank. I feel Romo could provide solid and consistent value for a 5th round pick.

3) Carson Palmer – CIN – QB
2008 expert rank  #5 QB – 2009 ADP 86.1 – 8th round

Palmer played in only four games last season because of an elbow injury to his throwing arm. The injury is still obviously a major concern and contributes to his low ranking. Palmer was once considered an elite fantasy quarterback but his ADP suggest that he has dropped to QB2 status. I’m not saying he returns to his elite playing days…but snatching him up in the 8th round could prove to be a steal.

4) Ben Roethlisberger – PIT – QB
2008 expert rank  #6 QB – 2009 ADP 96.9 – late 8th round

How does the Superbowl winning quarterback…who is a year removed from a 32 touchdown pass season warrant an 8th round grade?  Could it be the 46 sacks he took?   Maybe it was the fact they played one of the hardest schedules in NFL history…Who knows?   What I do know is that Big Ben is undervalued in 2009.  For a late 8th round pick Roethlisberger will provide some fantasy owner with a safe consistent option week in and week out.

5) Matt Hasselbeck – SEA – QB
2008 expert rank #8 QB – 2009 ADP 105.9 – 9th round

2008 was a complete disaster for the Seahawks. They were picked to win the NFC west but injuries ravaged the team. Hasselbeck only played in seven games because of bulging disks in his back and returns this year with question marks surrounding his durability. If he can stay healthy he could provide consistent production. I would be willing to take a shot at Hass in the 9th or 10th round as my QB2.

*Runningbacks

6) LaDainian Tomlinson – SDC – RB
2008 expert rank #1 RB – 2009 ADP 9.1 – 1st round

The consensus #1 overall pick has fallen into fantasy purgatory.  Does LDT fall off the face of the earth the same way Shaun Alexander did?  Are there too many miles on his legs?  Or does he bounce back to elite status at age 30?  I’m going with something in the middle.  Tomlinson has battled various injuries over the last two years and will share carries with Darren Sproles.  With that being said he should see the goal line carries and continue to be a favorite target for Philip Rivers (league high 77 targets for RB’s in 08).  1500 total yards and double digit touchdowns can be expected.  It doesn’t make him elite but it does make him safe as a late 1st rounder.

7) Joseph Addai – IND – RB
2008 expert rank #5 RB – 2009 ADP 48.5 – late 4th early 5th round

Addai takes the biggest hit of anyone on this list. He’s a year removed form being considered a top 5 can’t miss draft pick.  Addai battled through injuries and the Colts played the second hardest schedule of anyone in the NFL last year. Add in the Colts using a first round pick to draft running back Donald Brown and it explains Addais current ADP.  His ADP does indicate that he could be a steal for someone to draft in the late 4th early 5th round.  Addai could very well prove to be a very productive RB2 this year.

8) Larry Johnson – KAN – RB
2008 expert rank #8 RB – 2009 ADP 56.2 – 5th round

LJ was all over the fantasy map last year.  He was suspended by both the Chiefs and the league  for his late night antics at clubs.  When he did play he received a sporadic work load week in and week out.  LJ doesn’t have the supporting cast as Addai… but like Addai he could prove to be undervalued on draft day.  With a new head coach and quarter back…LJ could see consistent touches that make him a weekly running back option.

9) Willie Parker – PIT – RB
2008 expert rank #20 RB – 2009 ADP 53.0 – 5th round

Fast Willie fits in with Addai and Larry Johnson as a back who could be undervalued on draft day.  Like I said for Roethlisberger…the Steelers played the hardest schedule in football last year.  I think the running game suffered because of this and will be more consistent this year.  The Steelers have good depth at running back with second year man Rashard Mendenhall…and fantasy owners will be scared off because of this.  But getting Parker in the late 5th round could prove to be a wise move.

*Wide Receivers

10) Terrell Owens – BUF – WR
2008 expert rank #3 WR – 2009 ADP 31.2 – mid. 3rd round

Owens was ranked as the #3 wide out heading into last year.  He didn’t play bad, but he did fail to meet those expectations.  He did however provide countless quotes throughout the year for our entertainment.  T.O. moved to Buffalo in the off season and has a track record of doing very well in his first year with his new teams.  If  T.O. can go against everything he stands for and just play ball then he will be undervalued come draft day.

11) Braylon Edwards – CLE – WR
2008 expert rank #4 WR – 2009 ADP 42.3 – 4th round

Edwards is a year removed from 16 touchdown grabs and elite wide reciever status.  Then he developed a bad case of the dropsicals.  Edwards led the league in drops and agitated fantasy owners week in and week out.  I’m not saying he’ll have 16TD’s… but 10 is a real possibility.  Now… if you can draft a potential elite, 10 TD wide out in the 4th round…that’s great value.

12) Torry Holt – JAC – WR
2008 expert rank #10 WR – 2009 ADP 81.1 – 7th round

Holt went into 08 as the 10 ranked wide reciever.  The biggest reason he failed to live up to those lofty expectations was the fact he played for the Rams.  Holt signed with the Jags this off season in hopes to find a glimpse of his former self.  I think he could.  I don’t think he finishes near the top 10 for his position…but a potential WR2 in the 7th round is great value.

***What this shows is that you could potentialy use this list to draft the core of your entire team from players that were considered elite as early as last year.  I’m not saying you should…I’m just sayin you could.  If you ask me it doesn’t look half bad.

• QB1- Tom Brady *2nd round
  
• RB1 – LaDainian Tomlinson *1st round
  
• RB2 – Joseph Addai  /Larry Johnson *5th round
• WR1- Terrell Owens *3rd round
• WR2- Braylon Edwards *4th round

Ben Roethlisberger, Braylon Edwards, Carson Palmer, Joseph Addai, LaDainian Tomlinson, Larry Johnson, Matt Hasselbeck, Terrell Owens, Tom Brady, Tony Romo, Torry Holt, Willie Parker