Fantasy Football: AFC's Lockout Winners and Losers

We posed the question to those who write about the 32 NFL teams: Which player’s fantasy value, positively or negatively, is affected the most thanks to the lockout? Read what the AFC writers said before making that draft pick.

See what the NFC writers had to say: NFC Unlocked

BALTIMORE » “I think quarterback Joe Flacco used his time productively. He organized throwing sessions in Arizona and Maryland and has tutored rookie wide receivers Torrey Smith and Tandon Doss on the details of the Ravens’ playbook.”
— Aaron Wilson, Carroll County Times

BUFFALO » “Lee Evans was hurt. Sitting idle all offseason didn’t help wash away the sour taste of last season, nor was he able to get on the same page with QB Ryan Fitzpatrick.”
— Leo Roth, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle

CINCINNATI » “Andy Dalton. The Bengals expect this kid to be their starting quarterback, but the lockout is going to stunt the first-year growth of him and every other rookie. He’s going to get the ball sooner or later, but his preparation time has been hurt.”
— Kevin Goheen, Freelance Writer

CLEVELAND » “There are three or four teams who were hurt most by the lockout. Those teams either had new coaches, new systems or young quarterbacks who needed offseason work with their teammates. The Browns hit the trifecta. They have a new coach, a new offensive system and a young quarterback in Colt McCoy. Instead of getting a solid, consistent offseason of work, McCoy conducted sporadic ‘camps’ with teammates during the lockout. If any one player in the league could be hurt by the lockout, it would be Colt McCoy as he tries to master starting in the NFL while learning a new offense.”
— Pat McManamon, Fox Sports Ohio

DENVER » “That’s easy. Tim Tebow and only Tim Tebow. Learning a new system is always difficult on a young quarterback, and figured to be especially tough for Tebow, who never took a snap under center in Florida’s spread offense before spending most of last season on the Broncos’ bench. All he has to do now is prove to a bunch of coaches he barely knows that he deserves to start over Kyle Orton. And if he gets the nod, he’ll have to prove he deserves to keep the job. His off-the-charts running ability will make him tantalizing on draft day, but any way you slice it, he’s a considerable risk.”
— Jim Armstrong, Denver Post

HOUSTON » “Arian Foster’s numbers could be affected, depending on how his offseason went. Andre Johnson should remain a top fantasy receiver, regardless, but his early numbers could be down to whatever degree QB-WR timing is bothered by the lack of OTAs and minicamp. Johnson didn’t work with Matt Schaub during the summer, but expect the Texans’ QB to find ways to get the ball to the best player on the field. Schaub’s numbers might take the biggest hit, though not just because of the lockout. Presumably with a better defense, the Texans shouldn’t have to come from behind as often and might rely more on their rushing attack. In the last two seasons, only Peyton Manning and Drew Brees have more pass attempts than Schaub.”
— Jerome Solomon, Houston Chronicle

INDIANAPOLIS »  “It would not appear to be a factor with the Colts. Austin Collie is coming off a head injury, Dallas Clark a wrist. Pierre Garçon is inconsistent. Reggie Wayne wants a new contract, is in the final year of this one, and is ticked off the Colts ignored him in the playoff game. Anthony Gonzalez got hurt, too, and is in a contract year. Joseph Addai likely returns to the Colts, but probably on a one-year deal, and he doesn’t get enough touches to put up monster fantasy numbers. The Colts spread everything around so much, it’s difficult to say the lockout will hurt any of these guys.”
— Phil Wilson, Indianapolis Star

JACKSONVILLE » “Blaine Gabbert’s fantasy value will go down due to an abbreviated offseason. Although David Garrard has been exceedingly helpful with the rookie, Gabbert is young — he left Missouri after his junior season — and hasn’t been able to work with Jaguars coaches yet. All they got was a series of meetings on the Friday during the draft during the lockout’s brief recess. Gabbert is the quarterback of the future but will have a tough time cracking the lineup early in the 2011 season.”
— Tania Ganguli, Florida Times-Union

KANSAS CITY » “Jamaal Charles has shown himself to be one of the NFL’s best young rushers, but coaches have spent the past two seasons wondering about the back’s focus. How will he deal with being a star? How will he respond to getting a multi-year contract in 2010? Now, it’s how will he spend his time during the lockout? Charles broke out two seasons ago after an offseason spent in the weight room, determined to pass Larry Johnson on the depth chart. Now that Charles is the man in Kansas City, is the hunger still there? The Chiefs sure hope so, but without coaches to monitor Charles’ workouts and practices, there’s simply no way to know.”
— Kent Babb, Kansas City Star

MIAMI » “Chad Henne’s value increased most during the lockout, simply because it gave the Dolphins less time to acquire, and integrate, another option as their starting quarterback. Still, tread lightly. Henne has yet to prove he can be a valuable option as a fantasy QB.”
— Ethan Skolnick, Palm Beach Post

NEW ENGLAND » “Aaron Hernandez underwent offseason hip surgery, and because of the lockout he hasn’t been able to do his rehab under the watchful eye of the Pats’ medical staff and hasn’t had the time in the film room and the work with Tom Brady that he needs. The Florida product had 34 catches in his first eight NFL games, but then the injury coupled with an apparent difficulty against zone defenses led to a decline in his numbers over the second half of the season (11 grabs in six games).”
— Shalise Manza Young, Boston Globe

N.Y. JETS » “Joe McKnight would have certainly benefited from offseason workouts to find his niche in the offense. After a disappointing rookie season, the versatile running back is out to prove that his 158-yard performance in the regular-season finale against the Bills was not a fluke. The coaches hope to utilize McKnight’s pass-catching skills in 2011, but the team’s crowded backfield that also includes rookie Bilal Powell raises questions about McKnight’s role in his second season.”
— Manish Mehta, New York Daily News

OAKLAND » “The lockout cost quarterback Jason Campbell a chance to solidify the progress he made late last season. He missed out on countless hours at OTAs and minicamps and in classroom work with head coach Hue Jackson and new offensive coordinator Al Saunders.”
— Eric Gilmore, Bay Area NFL Correspondent

PITTSBURGH » “I like the defense, perennially one of the top ones in fantasy football, as a whole to gain from the lockout. The work stoppage wiped out all of the offseason practices, but a veteran defense that played through January last season needed rest much more than it did OTAs.”
— Scott Brown, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

SAN DIEGO » “Probably Antonio Gates, in a positive sense. He has more time to recover from the torn plantar fascia. That has got to be a good thing.”
— Bernie Wilson, Associated Press

TENNESSEE » “The lockout has had an overall adverse effect on the Tennessee Titans from the top on down, starting with new head coach Mike Munchak. With Jeff Fisher's departure in February and Munchak's ascension to the throne, the new head coach assembled his staff just before the lockout was about to hit. The timing meant that the majority of Titans players have had zero time to learn the new offensive or defensive systems or even meet with their position coaches, definitely putting Munchak behind the proverbial eight-ball as he assumes command.”
— Terry McCormick, TitanInsider.com

More Fantasy Football Cheat Sheets and Rankings:
2011 Fantasy Football Rankings: Top 280
2011 Fantasy Football Rankings: Top 240 w/ IDPs
2011 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterbacks
2011 Fantasy Football Rankings: Running Backs
2011 Fantasy Football Rankings: Wide Receivers
2011 Fantasy Football Rankings: Tight Ends
2011 Fantasy Football Rankings: Kickers
2011 Fantasy Football Rankings: Defense/Special Teams