In baseball, contract years translate into big numbers more often than other sports – especially in the steroid era – because it’s an individual-based game even though it’s a team sport. Just ask Kenny Powers. Football is the ultimate team game with less emphasis on the individual, but ALL professional athletes have money on their minds so we have to have some of these footballers on our fantasy radars.
Contract quarterbacks and running backs are most in control of their own destiny because of how often the ball is in their hands. We emphasize having awareness for running backs, because they have the most urgency to get the big payday NOW since they have the shortest NFL careers. RBs know that when they approach the age of 30, teams will be scared to pay them top dollars, so their time is now.
Contract players seem to give a little something extra, whether it’s taking more initiative in the offseason, playing hurt, padding their stats when possible, or all of the above. Don’t overvalue a player because he’s in a contract year, but don’t forget either. It could also be used as a deciding factor when you’re torn between two guys. |
