Fantasy Spotlight: Same Faces, New Places

By: James Zembriski

As the start of mandatory mini camps throughout the NFL near and OTAs end, teams are getting well acquainted with their offseason acquisitions. With key players on new teams, fantasy values rise and fall. Here is a look at some popular fantasy players and how their new team will affect their performance on the upcoming 2013 season.

Carson Palmer, QB                                                                                                                               

2012 Team: Oakland Raiders

2013 Team: Arizona Cardinals

Despite the Raider’s last season 4-12 record, Palmer still threw for over 4,000 yards and 22 touchdowns. With Palmer going to the desert via trade, he finds himself with a much more talented receiving corp. starring Larry Fitzgerald. Not to mention one of the great offensive minds in the NFL in new head coach Bruce Arians. However, Palmer will have zero help with the running game, unproven talent behind Fitzgerald and is with his fourth head coach in four years.

Fantasy Impact: Fall

Alex Smith, QB

2012 Team: San Francisco 49ers

2013 Team: Kansas City Chiefs

Smith was picked up in an offseason trade to replace Matt Cassel as the new starting quarterback. While being able to hand the ball off to one of the most explosive running backs in Jamaal Charles, he also has wide receiver Dwayne Bowe and tight end Anthony Fasano to throw too. Known for his recent ball security, Smith will not being to protect the ball as much as he did with the 49ers and there was a reason why the Chiefs held the number one pick.

Fantasy Impact: Fall

Reggie Bush, RB

2012 Team: Miami Dolphins

2013 Team: Detroit Lions

While in Miami, Bush enjoyed his best season as a pro recording over 2,000 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns over two seasons. Bush will have less rushing yards but will play a massive role in the passing game that threw more than anyone else last season. Expect Bush to see 80-plus catches next year to open up the field more for Calvin Johnson and Matthew Stafford.

Fantasy Impact: Rise

Steven Jackson, RB

2012 Team: St. Louis Rams

2013 Team: Atlanta Falcons

Jackson was on some bad football teams during his time in St. Louis, being the only bright spot. Now he finds himself on the defending NFC south division champs with high expectations once again.

Last season marked Jackson’s eighth straight 1,000 rushing yard season and has missed only two games in the past four seasons. There was also talk about lining Jackson up a receiver, which gives him even more value. While there was a lot of talk about Jackson losing a step, look for him to light it up playing for a championship caliber team.

Fantasy Impact: Rise

Greg Jennings, WR

2012 Team: Green Bay Packers

2013 Team: Minnesota Vikings

When you go from a top three quarterback in Aaron Rodgers to a very mediocre passing attack led by Christian Ponder, your chance for a better season is low. Do not look for Jennings to break that belief. Jennings finished last year career lows in receptions and yards while having injury problems.

Fantasy Impact: Fall

Anquan Boldin, WR

2012 Team: Baltimore Ravens

2013 Team: San Francisco 49ers

In one of the most surprising moves this offseason, the 49ers were able to pick up Boldin in a trade. Boldin served as Joe Flacco’s most reliable target last season but only caught four touchdowns. Before the Crabtree injury, Boldin would have much lesser impact but he now serves as their number one receiver so look for him to have a bigger impact than expected early on.

Fantasy Impact: Rise

Percy Harvin, WR

2012 Team: Minnesota Vikings

2013 Team: Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks headlined their impressive offseason with the acquisition of wide receiver Percy Harvin. Despite playing only nine games, he was still one of the biggest playmakers in the NFL. He brings another weapon to an already stacked offense that features Marshawn Lynch and Russell Wilson. Look for Harvin to be a major factor in his new offense and second year QB.

Fantasy Impact: Rise

Mike Wallace, WR

2012 Team: Pittsburgh Steelers

2013 Team: Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins were another team to have another impressive offseason led by coveted wide receiver Wallace. Known for his speed and deep threat ability, he joins a receiving corp. that does not feature much talent to help second year QB Ryan Tannehill. He will get his deep balls but do not expect him to put up the numbers he did with Big Ben.

Fantasy Impact: Fall

Tampa Bay Buccaneers, DST

With the addition of cornerback Darrelle Revis and safety Dashon Goldson, the Bucs have vastly improved on their defense that ranked dead last in the NFL last season.While they play in a division with three of the most potent offenses in the NFL, look for this group to hold its ground and be a solid number two defense on your team.

Fantasy Impact: Rise

Other Free Agents To Have Big Fantasy Impact: WR Wes Welker, Denver Broncos; WR Danny Amendola, New England Patriots; WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, Indianapolis Colts; RB Shonn Greene, Tennessee Titans; RB Chris Ivory, New York Jets; RB Rashard Mendenhall, Arizona Cardinals; TE Dustin Keller, Miami Dolphins; TE Jared Cook, St. Louis Rams