Surprise players

[Marc]

This goes out to virtually any fantasy players out there. Football, basketball, hockey, you name it. Who was your top fantasy player this year? Any surprises?

[iFroggy]

Well... I was telling people that I like Lamar Smith (Dolphins RB) and getting laughed at, but he is doing great!

[lmanchur.]

Nobokov Evengei (sp?) of the San Jose Sharks for hockey!!

[BW]

There are many players that are unexpected and some expected to do great this year.

Lamar Smith is one of the better FF backs this year, he is putting those teams that had "weak rb's" at the beginning of the year, on top of everyone else.

Ahman Green had a bad start to the year but he is really shining through now, and depending on your scoring system he can average up to 20 points a game.

Mike Anderson has been the surprise player of the year. He came out of nowhere, and in FF he wasn't on FA lists until Terrell Davis got hurt, and then Olandis Gary was lost for the year. Mike came in and is really doing great! (I'm watching the game now, and he just scored his 3rd rushing TD, of the game.)

Daunte Culpepper, in dynasty leagues he was drafted high, but in re-draft's he is usually one of the lowest QB's taken...he has been a nice surprise for everyone, except, Vikes fans (in most cases).

Rich Gannon, while expected to be decent, no one could have seen this coming. He is, in most cases (depending on your scoring system), the number 1 trough 3 QB. Everyone around him is also doing well, and Tim Brown is having a teriffic year, which goes hand in hand with Rich.
BW

[Peck]

In hockey I would have to say Burke since when he signed with the coyotes he was wasn't expected to do good but look at him now!!!!! He was the best goalie in the NHL a few days ago!!!

[JasonPB]

Peck... yeah, I gotta agree on that one! Who would have thought Burke would be playing as well as he has?? Once the Coyotes get their ownership house in order, Khabibulin should be back.. then what do they do with Burke?

Another huge surprise to me would have to be Tie Domi... the guys got as many goals as Sundin for crying out loud!

How about any basketball surprises?

[Marc]

Anyone play fantasy basketball? How about Paul Pierce of the Boston Celtics? That guy is playing great and no one thought he would be this good.

[JasonPB]

Marc... well I have to disagree with you on the Pierce comment that 'no one thought he would be this good'. If it weren't for some guy named Vince Carter, Pierce would not only have won the rookie of the year two years ago, but he would have been the instant new superstar. Don't forget how unbelievable this guy was at Kansas. He's got game, and his numbers this year are huge, no doubt.. I just don't think as surprising as some of the others.

If you're talking of basketball surprises, who would have thought the 76ers would be playing this well?? Not to mention Iverson playing a more 'complete' game!

[Marc]

Good points, and the Sixers would be my surprise team, if I had to pick one. What about surprise players, then?

[JasonPB]

Before he got injured, I would have said Danny Fortson for sure! He was pulling down over 15 rebounds a game! Now's he out possibly for the year which is a shame because he was headed for quite the season.

Other surprises would have to include Jamison (to some degree), Antonio Davis, and Jermaine O'Neal. All solid players, but no one would have thought they'd be doing THIS well!

[H. Tiemann Jr.]

A very good surprise player this year has to be Albert Pujols from the Cardinals. I seen this kid in a few games this year, and he is awesome.

However, I couldn't get him on my fantasy baseball teams :(

[Wedge231]

I only play fantasy baseball. :(

[Brandon]

Luis Gonzalez has been a nice surprise. He's always been solid, but now with his newfound power, he's a force in fantasy baseball. Thank god I have him on my team. To think I tried to trade him before it all started.

[Wedge231]

Also Rick Reed was a surprise, as was Cliff Floyd, the Twins pitchers, Wade Miller, and especially Omar Daal. He is a big surprise this year so far.

[Marc]

How about Ichiro? I doubt anyone expected him to do this good with the hitting streak and all.

[Brandon]

Personally, I didn't think he'd have a hard time adjusting at all. But the consesus was that he was going to suffer a drop off.

You know, John Burkett has been a nice little surprise, being the hard luck pitcher on the Braves staff. He's helped a few team ERA's out there this season.

[Wedge231]

We forgot about Cordova. He's doing well also.

[H. Tiemann Jr.]

Originally posted by mjames
How about Ichiro? I doubt anyone expected him to do this good with the hitting streak and all.

Along with Pujols, Iwould have to agree with Marc about Ichiro.

This guy has down a lot in his rookie season so far.

AL Rookie of the Year

[Ross]

While I did not think Ichiro would have 100 hits by now, I picked him up on my Small World team in late March, before the season with full intentions of him being an All-Star and knowing that he was a batting champ virtually every year he was in Japan.

[Brandon]

Steve Karsay has to be a surprise now. Great in a setup, now he's got a chance to close again. He'll be a good pickup if you can.

[NickHammy]

That's true, and Bob Wickmans stats will go down too b/c of that trade.

[Brandon]

Yeah I know, I have both Wickman and Rocker in a lot of leagues, this could get a little ugly then. I couldn't find Karsay in a bunch of those leagues too.

[H. Tiemann Jr.]

Originally posted by SC Brandon
Steve Karsay has to be a surprise now. Great in a setup, now he's got a chance to close again. He'll be a good pickup if you can.

Being on vacation the last few weeks, I was unable to pick up a bunch of good players...Karsay included :(