Sleeper Alert

It’s no secret that Brandon Marshall remains one of my top underrated grabs heading into 2012, and you can read a whole lot more about this on our Upside Board feature, where he ranks No. 7 overall. Why is Marshall so valuable heading into 2012? Isn’t he too risky to invest in? As I highlight on the Upside Board, everything is really driven by Average Draft Positions (ADPs), and Marshall hovers around that 3.08-4.02 range, which is a steal.

The Concerns vs. ADP

Our DraftCalc.com Dynasty Rankings have Marshall slotted No. 6 for all fantasy wide receivers, and this has created quite a controversy on our fantasy football forums, mainly because doubters out there aren’t buying into the thought of Marshall staying out of trouble. While this is a valid concern, again, everything boils down to ADP, and at 3rd- to 4th-round value, Marshall can even miss 2-3 games and earn that 3.08-4.02 type value. And if he doesn’t miss time, he extremely outperforms that draft slot. Am I predicting him to miss 2-3 games? No, I am not. Know that; I’m merely pointing out that the concerns are already factored into our ranking.

As for his off-the-field troubles, some good news hit news wires yesterday, as that New York City police will not be charging Marshall for his role in March’s nightclub brawl. Is Marshall capable of getting in some trouble down the road? Absolutely. Is he also capable of being a top 2-3 overall fantasy wide receiver in 2012? The answer to that question is also absolutely. Anytime you can say that about a player that can be snagged in the 4th-round of upcoming fantasy football drafts, you’re looking at a recipe for winning a league!

Want More On Marshall?

View our Upside Board, where I breakdown this topic in even more detail, and speak to the fact that he is now reunited with his old quarterback.