Full Post as Published 5/29/13 on Brunoboys.net and USAToday.com.
By Rich Arleo
Every year, fantasy football owners enter their drafts searching for the next big star. These aren’t the guys taken in the Round 1, but players who are ready to take that next step and become top fantasy football picks for years to come. We like to call them fantasy football breakout players.
Leading up to 2013 fantasy football drafts, we will take a look at different players that are ready to break out this season.
David Wilson, RB New York Giants
After being selected in the Round 1 of the 2012 NFL Draft by the New York Giants, many fantasy football players eyed Wilson as a possible starter for their teams. As a rookie, Wilson saw work immediately in Week 1, but lost a big fumble in the game (a bugaboo of his in college) and was immediately put in Tom Coughlin’s doghouse.
The rookie saw just seven touches in the first four games and gained 10 total yards. In Week 5, he again was given just two carries but he took one of them 40 yards in to the end zone, showing off the talent he clearly has for the first time in the NFL. Wilson ran seven times in a blowout victory the next week before touching the ball just 14 combined times in the next six days.
After shining in another blowout victory—running for 100 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries—Coughlin had a bit more confidence in him as the season wound down. The coach didn’t have much of a choice with Ahmad Bradshaw and Andre Brown both ailing, but the bottom line is that Wilson got his chance and ran with it. He finished the season with 358 yards on only 71 carries (5.0 yards per carry) with five touchdowns.
Now, with Bradshaw gone, Wilson looks to have every chance to step up and be the primary ball carrier in New York. Brown is still on the team and will likely see his fair share of work, however Wilson’s combination of power and speed makes him the more enticing option. Wilson pleased his coaches by being fumble free after Week 1 and he is mentality prepared to continue that hot finish he had last year.
With a full season under his belt, and no true competition, Wilson should be considered a top-20 running back with tons of upside. Fantasy football owners should draft Wilson as a RB2 entering the season and if he breakouts like we think he is capable of, expect even more. He is dynamic enough to be a top-tier RB2 option with the ability to be an top-10 fantasy football running back for years to come. Owners who play in fantasy football dynasty leagues should target him even higher than re-draft leagues.
Rich Arleo 