Officially, we play 13 games in the regular season, so if you want to be honest, the real mid-season is around mid-afternoon on Sunday during week six. Since I can’t pump out a bunch of writings in the middle of the day, I decided that seven weeks in seems like a good time for mid-season write ups. Today, we start with the obvious, the All-Robio players.
FIRST-TEAM ALL-ROBIO
QB – DREW BREES, NO | JEFF
As of this writing, Matt Ryan actually has the most points scored, but he has yet to enjoy a bye-week. Brees has and is only about 180 points behind Ryan in points, so he’s officially the top quarterback so far, averaging a solid 362 points per contest. Brees has five total awards since 2006. He has two 1st-teams (2008, 2009) and three 2nd teams (2006, 2011 and 2013).
RB – DAVID JOHNSON, ARI | GRIFF
Without a doubt and no offense to Julio Jones, but Johnson is the clear MVP so far this season. His worst game was 218 in week three. He’s scored over 300 in five games, topping 400 twice. He averages 39 more points per game than the second best back. He’s only 11 points per game behind the league’s top QB.
RB – EZEKIEL ELLIOT, DAL | DON
Right now, Elliot is the clear rookie of the year, as he’s putting up the greatest fantasy numbers by a first year back. He’s third in total points and that’s with a bye-week (the two backs ahead of him have not taken a bye). He’s hit 300+ in four straight games and had 462 fantasy points on the road against the Packers, a defense that was giving up just 1.8 yards per carry.
WR – JULIO JONES, ATL | MATT/BOB
Like I pointed out in Tuesday’s Thoughts, Jones is on pace for a 1,900 yard season. That would break a record held by Calvin Johnson, who had 1,871 yards receiving in 2012. However, let’s not forget, Julio has twice been held under 60 fantasy points in a game this year, as he’s still living large off his 660-point performance.
WR – A.J. GREEN, CIN | RICH C
Right now, Green leads the league with 50 receptions, catching 71% of the balls thrown his way, including a “going into the half” hail mary this past weekend. The only aspect he needs to work on is in the red zone. He has just three scores on the season, which has been a problem for the Bengals all year long.
TE – GREG OLSEN, CAR | ROBIO
Greg Olsen has dominated the tight spot this year, thanks to Rob Gronkowski’s injury. Six games in, he already has 610 yards receiving. At this pace, he would finish with 1,626 yards, crushing Gronk’s tight end record of 1,327. If he’s had one flaw, it’s been getting the ball in the end zone. He’s caught 39 balls on the year, but only two for scores.
PK – ADAM VINATIERI, IND | DON
The Colts kicker has been around since 2000 (with the Patriots back in the day) and has arguably been one of the league’s best kickers, but through 2013, Vhe had just one All-Robio award (a 1st team in 2004). However, he finally got a second in 2014 and is well on his way for a third this season. He’s 18-for-18 in extra points and 18-for-18 in field goals. Best yet, he’s 11-for-11 in field goals over 40 yards, five of which were 50 or longer.
DST – VIKINGS, MIN | ROB M
How good have the Vikings defense been? They have nearly 1,000 more fantasy points than the second best defense, averaging 221.3 points per game. And keep in mind, that’s with a bye-week already being played. They lead the league with nine interceptions and have scored four defensive touchdowns.
SECOND-TEAM ALL-ROBIO
QB – MATT RYAN, ATL | GRIFF/COLBY
Ryan has always been a hot starter and this year has been no exception, as he averaged 406 points per game through the first four weeks. He’s slowed down lately, scoring only 224 in week five and then a season low this past weekend, putting up 198 at home against the Chargers. History tells us he won’t rediscover the magic, as Ryan has never earned a single All-Robio award.
RB – DEMARCO MURRAY. TEN | RICH C
Man, talk about a comeback. Murray was a popular preseason demotion pick, meaning his backup was expected to take over for him by some point this season. Instead, he’s been one of the best backs in football. He’s on pace for 1,872 total yards and 16 touchdowns.
RB – SPENCER WARE, KC | ROBIO
Now we come to our first undrafted non-kicker on the list. I drafted Jamaal Charles with the second overall pick and he just wasn’t ready to come back onto the field. Prior to week one, I picked up Ware from the wire and I’m thankful for making at least one good decision. Ware has already hit career highs in rushes (95) and yards (492), averaging a solid 5.2 yards per carry. He’s also been a solid weapon in the passing game, with 285 receiving yards. The only question moving forward is, what role will Jamaal Charles have if and when he is fully recovered?
WR – MIKE EVANS, TB | COLBY
Did you know that Mike Evans was having a good year? I didn’t. Maybe I didn’t realize it because the Buccaneers offense has been bad all year. It certainly didn’t help that he’s playing on Colby’s team, a team that took seven weeks to earn a win, but here he is. He’s averaging 241.7 points per game, failing to hit 200 only once all year. The difference for him this season has been the scores. Last year he had just two touchdowns, but this year, he’s tied for the league lead with six TD receptions.
WR – T.Y. HILTON, IND | MOLLY
Remember how prior to the season all the talk in Indianapolis surrounded Donte Moncrief and not the guy who has produced three straight 1,000-yard seasons? Well, we won’t forget about Hilton now. The little engine that could is having his best season to date, on pace for 103 receptions, 1,575 yards and about eight scores. Best yet, he’s doing that despite the fact every other receiver on the Colts team has been hurt.
TE – MARTELLUS BENETT, NE | COLBY/GRIFF
The Patriots new Aaron Hernandez has had some solid games so far. He scored 288 in week two, 218 points two weeks later and followed that up with 314 in week five. However, he’s also someone who had a 14-yard game, a 10-yard game and this past weekend, a 5-yard game. With players like Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham healthy, I doubt Bennett holds on to an All-Robio spot.
PK – JASON TUCKER, BAL | RICH B
Despite playing on a struggling offense, where he’s only attempted eight extra points, he is tied for first for most field goals made, having yet to miss one (18-for-18) on the season.
DST – EAGLES, PHI | GRIFF
The Eagles D is third in the league in forced fumbles and have sacked the quarterback 20 times already. The 1,225 passing yards they’ve given up is second only to the Vikings.
THIRD-TEAM ALL-ROBIO
QB – ANDREW LUCK, IND | DON
Luck is averaging 309 fantasy points per game, which is 2,166 on the season, which is obvious the third best this year (and why he’s third-team). Simple, right? Not really that impressed, are you? Well, the Colts quarterback is doing it despite the fact his offensive line is the least efficient in the entire NFL.
RB – MELVIN GORDON, SD | JEFF
Last year, Gordon was a huge bust. He finished his rookie year with only 641 yards (3.5 yards per carry) and no touchdowns. This year, he was a popular sleeper, but with Danny Woodhead in his way, the ceiling was only so high. Yet, when Woodhead tore up his ACL, Gordon stepped up. As the only real option in San Diego, he has produced 636 total yards and a stunning eight scores. Can he continue to be an All-Robio back? He’ll certainly get the touches, but Jeff should be a little concerned about his 3.3 yards per carry.
RB – LESEAN MCCOY, BUF | JEFF
Hey, it’s Jeff again. For a hot minute, it looked like McCoy was going to be a bust, failing to rush for 60 yards in either of his first two games. Then the Bills fired their offensive coordinator and McCoy took off, averaging 352 points per contest over the next month. He’s the real deal, especially since the Bills are dedicated to running the ball. However, I’m a little concerned about the hamstring. I thought it was stupid that they let McCoy play this week and now it appears it only made his injury worse.
WR – ANTONIO BROWN, PIT | ERIC
Only Antonio Brown could be sitting as a 3rd team receiver and have it feel like a disappointment. Brown actually leads the league in targets (78), is second in receptions (48), but his yards are down. In fact, his 12.3 yards per reception is his lowest since 2012.
WR – MARVIN JONES, DET | RICH B
One of the more popular sleepers before the draft, Jones is thriving in his new home in Detroit, on pace for his first ever All-Robio award. Yet, that’s still a long shot. Right now, he’s relying on the big catch. In fact, his 18.9 yards per catch is second only to Julio Jones’s 20.8. He actually only has 33 catches on the season, the same amount as Cole Beasley, who has had a bye-week.
TE – ROB GRONKOWSKI, NE | RICH B
Holy hell, this is how good this guy is. He’s basically played in three games (he missed two and was targeted just three times in weeks 3 and 4) and he’s already the third best tight end in football with 870 total fantasy points. He’s averaging a stunning 282 points per game with Tom Brady at quarterback.
PK – JOSH LAMBO, SD | MOLLY
Lambo was just picked up this past week and it could be a good one if he’s kept all season long, because the Chargers know how to put points up on the board. He’s 17-of-18 in field goals on the season. The only miss was a block. His 21 made extra points are the second most in the league.
DST – CARDINALS, ARI | JEFF
The Cardinals can give up some yards, but they are dominating the turnover department. They lead the league in forced fumbles (10), although they only recover about half. They are tied for first in interceptions and sit tied for fourth in sacks (20).