I drafted Emmanuel Sanders in every fantasy league of relevance I’m playing in. I got him as early as the sixth round, and as late as the ninth. This is how I saw it in the preseason: If Eric Decker can be a number one fantasy receiver in Denver, why can’t Sanders? The talent was there for sure. Sanders is about as different from Decker as can be. Whereas Decker’s presence was felt most in the red zone because of his large size and strength, Sanders is a smaller receiver by NFL standards. His quickness and shifty feet make him a great route runner. The real difference between Sanders and Decker is the former’s ability to take the top off a defense. He can blaze down the field on a streak and score in one play. These great talents, plus the fact that Peyton Manning was throwing him the ball, made him a must draft for my fantasy team.
Over the first six weeks, (five games, due to a bye week) Sanders had 35 grabs for a total of 490 yards. He was averaging seven catches and 98 yards per week. That is awesome…yet Sanders hadn’t found the end zone once. This guy was still out performing his value any place I drafted him in, but I was getting a little worried that Peyton Manning didn’t trust him in the red zone. That was a big reason why Eric Decker got so many points in 2013. Without Sanders getting some touchdowns, I was going to have to temper my number one receiver expectations and be happy with the value I received already.
The next week Mr. Sanders finally snagged a short touchdown pass. I was pumped. With his typical yardage I was poised for a big time day from number 10. He ended up with three catches for 46 yards and a touchdown. That is 10.6 points in standard scoring (13.6 in PPR), which is right around his APG (Average Points per Game). So he finally scores and I’m still getting about ten points per game. That is still really good production for where I drafted him. I should have been elated, but I was expecting so much more. I was ready to be humbled and accept him as a second or third wide receiver on my team.
In week eight on Thursday night, Sanders exploded in my lineup like a grenade in a jewelry store. He went off by snatching nine balls, rolling for 126 total yards and scoring three touchdowns. That’s 30.6 standard scoring, 39.6 in PPR! Those are amazing totals for one week and it was the official launching point of Sanders’ 2014 fantasy football value pick of the year campaign.
Over the last four weeks Sanders has been the number one fantasy receiver I knew he could be. Totaling 29 catches for 453 yards and three touchdowns since his incredible week eight performance. On Sunday against the Dolphins, Manning overthrew him at least twice for sure touchdowns, but he still finished with nine grabs and 128 yards. Sanders is now the fourth highest scoring receiver in fantasy football. He ranks ahead of sure fire first and second round picks like Dez Bryant, Julio Jones, Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery, and that’s not including the 2 big name wide outs (Calvin Johnson and AJ Green) that have missed games due to injury. He is truly outplaying everybody’s expectations…except mine.
In total, Sanders has 76 receptions for 1079 yards and seven touchdowns through 11 games played (that is a good season for a lot of guys). Give him 3.1 points for 31 rushing yards, and 2 points for a two point conversion, and he is just ahead of Jeremy Maclin (fifth) in total wide receiver points. All while sharing fantasy points from Manning with another receiver (you may have heard of) named Demaryius Thomas. Thomas is first amongst receivers in total points and is having a monster fantasy season. He has continued what he was doing last year which is why he was taken in the first round of so many fantasy drafts.
Thomas is Peyton Manning’s main man. There’s no questioning that. He will likely finish first amongst receivers in fantasy football. Though if I had to pick at the draft whether to have Thomas in round one, or Sanders in round eight, I’m taking Sanders 11 times out of ten. Which is why, after 12 weeks, I believe he should be in the discussion for fantasy player of the year. Not because I think he will outscore Thomas or Jordy Nelson, but because he is producing numbers comparable to theirs while being taken in fantasy drafts five to nine rounds later. That is value that can win you the championship of your league. Even if he doesn’t get to be fantasy football player of the year, it can’t be doubted that Emmanuel Sanders is a fantasy football freak.
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