It seems like just yesterday that fantasy football owners were stressing over their championship game, scrambling to decide what lineup to settle on. While they spent hours studying numbers to find the right combination, countless others sat in a dark room wondering where it all went wrong for them this year.
It usually starts at running back. You decided you wanted to get your hands on Peyton Manning early and wait for a running back. It seemed to work early but then Manning couldn't throw a football straight five yards in front of him and your running back situation was a disgrace. It was a down year but there is a way to avoid it again, don't take a quarterback early.
Focus on the running back position, add some depth then look at who will be the figurative signal caller for your fantasy team. Take a look at these quarterbacks set to take a step forward in 2015 and who knows, maybe one of them helps lead you to the promise land.
Ryan Tannehill, Miami Dolphins
Tannehill is the hot name when looking for quarterbacks to deliver a breakout season. Another year under offensive coordinator Bill Lazor paired with Tannehill's own progression on a yearly basis is reason enough for optimism. But the Dolphins deserve credit for surrounding him with more talent, adding Jordan Cameron, Greg Jennings and Kenny Stills.
Cameron needs to show he can stay healthy but will provide an excellent weapon that can stretch the field and represent a big body for Tannehill to target. He will be paired with slot weapon Jarvis Landry who sizzled as a rookie but was overshadowed nationally by some of the higher profile receivers. Pair that with a deep threat like Stills who can be an upgrade over Mike Wallace. But Miami wasn't done yet, they drafted DeVante Parker to make this receiving core even more loaded.
Everything is in place for Tannehill to blossom into a Top-10 fantasy quarterback, now he just needs the offensive line to hold up and allow him time to throw. While everyone is reaching for quarterbacks like Aaron Rodgers and Andrew Luck, you should be more than happy to go running back early and wait to get Tannehill.
Teddy Bridgewater, Minnesota Vikings
We all know how much the "Draft Twitter" community loved Bridgewater during last year's draft process. He was widely regarded as a top-three prospect worthy of the 1st overall pick, but he fell to the Vikings at 32. After a Matt Cassel injury, Bridgewater took the reigns of the starting job and never let go. There were plenty of impressive moments but little support around him.
Minnesota hit a home run with the hire of Norv Turner last year, but the Vikings' offensive line was a train wreck last season. There were injuries along the way including to guard Brandon Fusco, who should be cleared for training camp. Even if you look past the offensive line, Bridgewater saw little help from the running game or his targets in the passing game.
That will change this season – Adrian Peterson will return to the backfield and with it comes eight stacked in the box focused on stopping one of the best backs the game has ever seen. His presence also opens up the play action and sets up Bridgewater to continue to execute on one of his best attributes, throwing on the run. At wide receiver, Bridgewater's favorite target late in the season, Charles Johnson, should continue to improve and the addition of Wallace will add a deep threat.
The biggest reason for Bridgewater's rise in fantasy stock will simply be the result of him improving and adjusting to the NFL. He had an outstanding end to his rookie season and with more time spent in the offseason training with teammates and working with the coaching staff, expect a nice jump forward in 2015.
Sam Bradford, Philadelphia Eagles
Oh all the years I used to say "This is the that Bradford stays healthy, takes a big step forward and is an excellent fantasy option." Then he would show some positive signs at the beginning of the preseason then suffer a knee injury a week later and be ruled out for the season. I stayed away from it last year but now that Bradford is with Chip Kelly, I'm grabbing a Bradford lottery ticket again.
There are obvious concerns over his durability, they will never go away. But if Bradford can stay healthy, he enters an intriguing fantasy situation. Kelly is an offensive mastermind and while his offense is more college-like than anything else we see across the NFL and numerous connections to Marcus Mariota were made, Kelly fits quarterbacks into his offense. He did it with Nick Foles and Mark Sanchez, so yes he can help Bradford.
Bradford will have plenty of help around him – Jordan Matthews was another impressive rookie receiver last year and pairs well with 2015 first round pick Nelson Agholor. Two young targets on the outside paired with a two-headed running attack of DeMarco Murray and Ryan Mathews give Bradford all the help he needs to have a productive season. Just please stay healthy Bradford, that's all anyone asks for.
Derek Carr, Oakland Raiders
Everyone stand up for just a moment and give the Raiders' front office a round of applause for giving their young quarterback some help. After throwing passes to James Jones and Rod Streater for most of the season, Carr now has real weapons to work with.
The offensive line is still a testing point, there are some impressive cogs like Rodney Hudson and Gabe Jackson, but the right side could stand to improve. Back to the optimism, the additions of Amari Cooper, Michael Crabtree and Clive Walford each provide their own skill to this offense.
Crabtree is in Oakland to prove himself and should start immediately, though he will need to prove the explosion isn't completely lost since his torn Achilles. Cooper is the go-to weapon for this offense, an outstanding route runner with nice hands and the ability to pick up some yards after catch. He will be the No.1 WR out of the gate and should earn Carr's trust early. Meanwhile, Walford can serve in a Dwayne Allen-type role in the Raiders' offense and serve as a red zone target for Carr.
No one should expect Carr to be a fantasy starter, he is still young and right now only projects as a very good backup or bye week fill-in. But he will make significant steps forward in 2015 and could be a useful asset if an injury rolls around or you don't like your starting quarterback's matchup.