Since fantasy football doesn't have a equivalent to baseball's roto format, where you accrue stats all season without regard to when the player does it, consistency matters. Looking at someone's overall numbers for the 2007 season heading into the 2008 season can be misleading if a player completely blew up two or three times and stunk the rest of the way (ahem, Kevin Curtis). A solid foundation to your fantasy team is nab at least a few consistent studs. Here are a few of the best examples:
Peyton Manning, QB, Colts
Assuming his injury is all healed by opening day, there is no one more consistent season-to-season or week-to-week in the NFL. His seasonal stats have looked very similar for nearly a decade. He threw for 250-plus yards in 11 games in '07, while tossing multiple TDs in nine times. The supporting cast and system in which he plays (and pretty much runs) breed success ... don't expect anything to change this year. Tom Brady and Tony Romo are hot names this year, so it means you can get Manning cheaper than usual.
Matt Hasselbeck, QB, Seahawks
Only threw for less than 185 yards twice last season, and one of those games was the last week of the season when he was pulled early to rest. He also only went without a TD pass once, peppering in ten multiple TD pass games.
David Garrard, QB, Jags
It's nice to have a QB that doesn't take points off the board for you. Garrard didn't start throwing picks until Week 13, and he ended with only three. You could mention the fact that he threw three interceptions in his last four games as a drawback heading into this season, but he also added the TD pass to his arsenal -- throwing nine TDs in those four games. He was consistently efficient throughout the season, and only went without a TD pass once ... when he left a game injured.
LaDanian Tomlinson, RB, Chargers
Yeah, he's good at everything ... pretty much every week. We know that.
Willis McGahee, RB, Ravens
He hit paydirt a single time in eight different games of the 15 he played and went for over 75 yards nine times. There isn't a single game in there that really skews his line -- his best game was a 138 yard/1 TD performance -- so if anything he underachieved while being consistently good.
Marshawn Lynch, RB, Bills
He went nuts only once last season -- 153 yards rushing to go with a rushing and passing TD in week nine -- but was steady. He never saw the end-zone more than once in a game, but found it seven of his 13 games. The lowest rushing output was 61 yards.
Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Cards
Fitz only caught three passes for 20 yards in week one last year. After that, though, he was the model of consistency ... never putting up less than eight fantasy points but scoring more than 15 seven times. You do get the occasional blow-up as well, illustrated by the nine catch, 156 yard, two TD gem in week 12.
Torry Holt, WR, Rams
He's tumbled down the rankings because there are sexier picks at WR now. Why bother with picking a guy that's had 1,150-plus yards for the past eight years? Throwing out his rookie year, his career lows would be 81 catches, 1,188 yards, and six TDs. He's still not too old to return to the 1,300, 10-TD plateau.
Reggie Wayne, WR, Colts
The Colts offense is good. Wayne is Manning's top weapon. Do the math.
Brandon Marshall, WR, Broncos
Sure, he's gonna miss three games due to suspension (see, he's even consistent at getting arrested). You know what his worst game was last year in terms of fantasy points? Six catches for 67 yards. At a position as fickle as wide receiver in fantasyland, that's some sick reliability. Also, there should be more huge games on the way, because he and young QB Jay Cutler really developed a rapport towards the end of the season. Marshall went over ten catches and 100 yards in three of his last four games.
