Fantasy Football Mid-Season Report

Fantasy football is all about one thing: the players.

Every year millions of people enjoy playing fantasy sports, and having the right players adds to that enjoyment. Of course, the reverse of that is having bad players, which can detract from one's enjoyment.

Each year players play above their expectations and below their expectations. This season in the CFL has been no different. While there have been some notable busts, there have also been some notable breakouts. Also thrown into the mix are the guys that have played exactly as they were expected to play, guys who were considered first- or second-round picks that have warranted their draft position.

Busts
At Quarterback the biggest disappointments have been Casey Printers, Buck Pierce and Ricky Ray. All players have performed at a high level in the past, and coming into 2010, fantasy owners were relying on them to help them claim a fantasy championship. A lot was expected of Printers with his return to BC. Many thought he'd be able to recapture his 2004 MOP form. Pierce was expected to be the saviour in Winnipeg, and all he's done is pick up where he left off in BC: injured. Ray has just been getting pummeled behind a porous Edmonton O-Line. All three players have been albatrosses that have dragged down their owners.

In the Running Back department, the three most noticeable busts have been DeAndra' Cobb, Fred Reid and Avon Cobourne. All three men have underperformed in 2010. While each has had some decent games, none of them has been a consistent fantasy performer, and that hurts, considering each was thought to be a high-round draft pick for fantasy owners.

The Import Receivers that have displayed very little consistency, and in the process have hurt their fantasy owners, are Geroy Simon and Adarius Bowman. Neither player has put together consistent production. Simon was considered one of the top two or three fantasy Import WRs entering the 2010 season, and his lack of production has hurt his fantasy owners immensely.

As far as Non-Import WRs are concerned, both Ben Cahoon and Paris Jackson have been terribly disappointing. Jackson has been virtually invisible this year, only really making an impact in BC's most recent game against Montreal. Cahoon has been less than stellar in 2010, but this could be an issue of Cahoon being ranked higher based on past performance instead of what was actually expected of the aging former BYU Cougar in 2010.

The list of Kicker busts starts and ends with Sandro DeAngelis. Entering 2010, DeAngelis was the most accurate Kicker in CFL history. He left Calgary to play closer to home in Hamilton, and to say his Tiger-Cat tenure has been a disappointment would be an understatement. DeAngelis was probably the first or second Kicker drafted in most fantasy leagues, and his up-and-down performance all year is proof that you always wait until the last round to draft your Kicker.

Biggest Bust: DeAndra' Cobb

Breakouts
There haven't been very many breakout performances at Quarterback, but one player poised to have a big second half of the season is Steven Jyles. When thrust into action earlier this season, Jyles played extremely well and has good value for fantasy owners going ahead. Jyles may not currently be a breakout, but he will be by the end of the season. It would be wise to get him now, because he might not be around later.

At Running Back, the list starts and ends with Cory Boyd. When I compiled my fantasy rankings for the season, the Argonauts' Running Back slot was listed as "?" because I had no idea who would play that position for the Boatmen. Suffice to say, Boyd has been "The Man" in the Big Smoke. He leads the league in rushing and was an absolute steal for any owner astute enough to grab him.

At Import Receiver, the biggest breakout performer has been S.J. Green. Green burst into 2010 with an amazing one-handed catch in the season opener, and while there have been some quiet weeks, Green has posted a couple of very good games. If he can become more dependable, he could be on his way to superstardom. While not technically a breakout in the truest sense, one player that has been a surprise is Ken-Yon Rambo. We all know what Rambo is capable of. He led the league in receiving in 2008, but last season he suffered a severe knee injury that cost him most of 2009 and the first few games of 2010. Since his return he has been lights out. Both Green and Rambo have rewarded their owners.

There are two Non-Import Receivers who have performed above expectations in 2010. One is Dave Stala, the other is Andre Durie. Stala is on pace for a career year across the board, and Durie has really taken to being in the Slotback position. Both players have been key to their fantasy owners success.

Whenever a rookie comes into any league and performs, it's usually a surprise. Rob Maver, who is the Kicker for the Calgary Stampeders, has turned heads in his first year in the CFL. Paul McCallum, who is hardly a rookie, has also been great for fantasy owners. Even at his advanced age (by professional-athlete standards) he has been as consistent as any other Kicker so far in 2010. Both have been almost automatic and provided great value for fantasy owners who waited to grab a Kicker after the big names were selected.

Biggest Breakout: Cory Boyd

Most Valuable Player
When it comes down to who has been the fantasy MVP for the first half of the season, five names pop up:

1. Cory Boyd
2. Kevin Glenn
3. Arland Bruce
4. Wes Cates
5. Henry Burris

I have already mentioned how great Boyd has been, so I won't bore you with the details again.

Kevin Glenn is putting together one of those seasons that people remember years after they have happened. He has been deadly accurate and seems to have no problem throwing the ball all around the field. Glenn has constantly been among the top fantasy producers each and every week. His value to fantasy owners is almost incalculable.

Glenn's favourite target has been Arland Bruce. Bruce, right now, is the CFL's best Receiver. He leads the league in receiving and has had massive games against Saskatchewan and Winnipeg. Bruce has been everything fantasy owners hoped for when they drafted him.

Last year was considered "The Year of the Running Back" in the CFL. Out of the eight starting Running Backs, only one did not rush for over 1,000 yards: Wes Cates of Saskatchewan. In 2010, he's making sure he won't be the lone man remaining. Cates already has 10 rushing TDs and 631 rushing yards in 2010. He is on pace for 22 total TDs and over 1,600 total yards. He has been a great bargain for fantasy owners and is a legitimate fantasy MVP candidate.

Last, but certainly not least, is Henry Burris. Interceptions aside, Henry Burris has been the best fantasy producer in 2010. He has amassed massive games for fantasy owners and is likely the reason you are leading your league right now. Burris has been phenomenal and is hands down the mid-season fantasy MVP.

Mid-Season MVP: Henry Burris