Sleepers Awake! af2 Upgrades for 2008, Part I
By Paul Celmer
What do monster kicker A.J. Haglund and freak wideout Charles Frederick have in common? Yes, both had outstanding rookie seasons in the AFL. But there is one more thing they have in common: both got their start in the af2.
Too often af2 players are overlooked when fantasy owners sit down to build a team. But Haglund and Frederick are just two examples of dozens of outstanding players that move from the af2 to the AFL each year (and if you had read our column before the start of last season you would have known to take a chance on them during your fantasy draft). The af2 is the AFL's developmental league. The af2 plays on the same field and by nearly the same rules as the AFL. So because of the similarities to the AFL, the af2 is a much better test of skills and durability for rookie players than the outdoor college game, and it is a great place to find up and coming talent.
The secret to dominating your fantasy league is finding uncommon value. Since a total of one out of three AFL players start in the af2 development league, it is important to look for key af2 upgrades as you prepare for your fantasy draft, for here you can find the true, yet highly valuable sleepers. In our article last year on af2 upgrades, we highlighted both Haglund and Frederick, and they both turned out to be outstanding. So for this year, which former af2 standouts will surprise your fellow AFL fantasy owners? Few outside of the af2 know about these guys yet. With nearly 70 af2 players coming into the AFL this year, we will focus only on those that have the most potential to start and produce on your fantasy roster.
We will look at more af2 players next week in part II of this article. But let's start with the best of the best of these hidden af2 gems:
Chris Royal - King of the Sleepers
This DB of the Philadelphia Soul could very well be the steal of your draft. Chris Royal, former Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneer, was the af2 2007 Spalding Rookie of the Year, an award that has recently gone to the likes of current AFL stars Brett Dietz and Charles Frederick.
Royal dominated the defensive specialist stats. He tied for the league lead in interceptions with 14, was second in pass breakups with 43, and came in third in tackles with 117. Royal also tied for the lead in interception return TDs. And he will get plenty of opportunity playing on the championship-hungry Philadelphia Soul. This guy will be a starter. Take Royal in Round 5 or 6 as your Defensive Specialist and you will not be sorry.
Ryan Vena
Named 2007 af2 Schutt Offensive Player of the Year, Quarterback Ryan Vena had a fantastic season with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers, leading them to a 14-2 regular season record and the East Division title. Vena played all 16 games and was 347 for 519, with 92 TDs and only nine interceptions. Also, Vena led the league in passing efficiency (124.2 rating) and finished third in total offensive yards with 4,397. He also had 16 rushing touchdowns. Vena has also been in the AFL before, with two seasons with the Columbus Destroyers. Vena is not starting for the Dragons, but he is backing up veteran Aaron Garcia. But given that Garcia has had trouble staying healthy for the last two seasons, Vena might get his chance. Vena can get it done on the air or the ground and should definitely be drafted in the late rounds if you picked up Garcia early as your No. 1 QB.
David Davis
Like A. J. Haglund in 2007, David Davis was named af2's Kicker of the Year. Last season, his fourth with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers, Davis converted 115-of-124 extra points for a success rate of 92.7 percent. Davis also made seven of his 12 field goal attempts. He has some big shoes to fill as a member of the L.A. Avengers with the departure of Remy Hamilton. I doubt he will be quite as good as Haglund was last year, but Davis is a good bet and a great late round fantasy draft pick.
Antwone Savage
This wide receiver formerly of the Spokane Shock was named to the All af2 First Team of the National Conference. While playing in only 14 games, Savage was second in the af2 in TDs with 41, one of which was a return TD. Savage had 110 catches for 1482 yards, for an average of 105 yards a game. With these solid numbers there is a good chance Savage will have an immediate impact in the AFL. Although recently cut by the Chicago Rush, Savage should get interest from other AFL squads and may be worth drafting as your No. 5 or No. 6 wide receiver or picking up on waivers.
Paul Celmer, aka The Philosopher of Arena Football is a member of the Arena Football League Writers Association and a founding member of Arena Football Online. Contact Paul at pcelmer@arenafootballonline.com
|
