2010 Do Not Draft List

Here it is folks, the antithesis of the Sleeper List, the dreaded Do Not Draft List.  These players should be avoided at all costs in your fantasy leagues in 2010.  Whether it be injury, lack of surrounding talent, or age, these players figure to take a major step backward in 2010.  Lets take a look:

Philip Rivers – QB – SD – Rivers put up impressive numbers in 2009, but he figures to regress in 2010 due to the holdouts of WR Vincent Jackson and LT Marcus McNeil.  All signs point to Jackson either being traded or holding out the entire season.  Without these two offensive cornerstones, Rivers could find himself in for a long season.  He’s too risky to pick in the first 6 rounds of drafts at this point.

Carson Palmer – QB – CIN – Palmer just has not had the same arm strength since injuring his elbow two seasons ago, and by all accounts this preseason, there’s little reason to believe he will regain it in 2010.  Despite being in a solid all-around offense, Palmer will actually hurt the production of his receivers, and we get the feeling that the Bengals have been forced to turn into a run-first team to hide Palmer’s lack of arm strength.  While he should still be a solid QB2 in fantasy, make sure you don’t have to start him very often.   

Larry Fitzgerald – WR – ARI – The significant downgrade from Kurt Warner to Matt Leinart also affects superstar WR Larry Fitzgerald.  While Fitz will still put up reasonable numbers in 2010, don’t expect him to justify his draft status, likely as one of the top-5 WR’s taken.  Just make sure you let someone else make the mistake of taking him that high. 

Donald Driver – WR – GB – Unfortunately 2010 could be the beginning of the end for one of the decade’s most underrated WR’s.  Driver, 35, is coming off dual knee surgeries, with two younger players breathing down his neck in James Jones and Jordy Nelson.  Reports this offseason have been overwhelmingly negative, and we are staying away from Driver in our fantasy drafts. 

Roy Williams – WR – DAL – It’s debatable that Williams should even appear on this list due to the fact that he was done last season, yet he still remains a starter for the Cowboys entering the season, so he was added to the list.  Williams has no chance to hold off Dez Bryant for the starting WR job long-term, and he arguably should be released by Dallas if Jerry Jones can swallow his pride and admit the mistake of trading for him two seasons ago.

Braylon Edwards, Santonio Holmes, Jerricho Cotchery – WR – NYJ – Inconsistent figures to be the key word when it comes to the Jets talented WR trio.  Not because of their own faults, but rather the fact that the Jets will again be a run first team and figure to not let Mark Sanchez beat himself by throwing too much.  There just simply are not enough targets to go around to keep all three of them every-week starters in fantasy leagues.  All are WR3/4’s heading into the season. 

Greg Olsen – TE – CHI – This season’s ultimate Do Not Draft candidate, Olsen will fall completely off the fantasy radar in Mike Martz TE-unfriendly offense.  Rumors have even surfaced recently that the Bears have been playing up Olsen’s perceived role in the offense as a way to raise his trade value.  A trade during the season is the only thing that can save Olsen’s value, which is unfortunate as he seemed to finally turn the corner in ’09.

Owen Daniels – TE – HOU – Daniels experienced a major setback in his recovery from a torn ACL when he suffered a stress fracture of his kneecap this offseason.  Daniels will admittedly not be 100% to start the season, with Coach Gary Kubiak saying he will be eased to the offense to start the season.  While it’s possible he could salvage his season if he gets healthier in the second half, he’s not going to be on any of our fantasy teams.