CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> <html lang="en"> <head><script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/bundle-playback.js?v=HxkREWBo" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/wombat.js?v=txqj7nKC" charset="utf-8"></script> <script>window.RufflePlayer=window.RufflePlayer||{};window.RufflePlayer.config={"autoplay":"on","unmuteOverlay":"hidden"};</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/ruffle/ruffle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> __wm.init("https://web.archive.org/web"); __wm.wombat("http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com:80/fantasy/news/20130913/fantasy-football-stats-column-julius-thomas/index.html","20130920214046","https://web.archive.org/","web","/_static/", "1379713246"); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/banner-styles.css?v=S1zqJCYt" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/iconochive.css?v=3PDvdIFv" />  <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <title>Fantasy football Stat Focus: Why Julius Thomas will be a reliable starter - Fantasy Sports - Michael Beller - SI.com</title> <meta name="description" content="Julius Thomas was the unquestioned waiver wire star of Week 1. He generated some buzz late in the preseason, causing many owners to target him in late-drafting leagues, but he was largely unowned heading into the Broncos' drubbing of the defending Super Bowl champion Ravens in Week 1. He's universally owned now, but can his owners expect him to be a reliable, weekly starter? After all, there are a lot of mouths to feed in Denver, and there are only so many yards and touchdowns to go around, even with Peyton Manning at the helm."> <link href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046im_/http://i2.cdn.turner.com/si/dam/assets/130913130629-all22-4-single-image-cut.jpg" rel="image_src"/> <meta name="author" content="Michael Beller"> <meta name="section" content="fantasy"> <meta name="subsection" content="Michael Beller"> <meta name="keywords" content="fantasy football,julius thomas"> <meta name="news_keywords" content="fantasy football, julius thomas"> <meta name="GOOGLEBOT" content="unavailable_after: 13-Sep-2023 00:00:00 EST"/> <meta name="last-published" content="2013-09-13T17:31:47Z"> <link rel="canonical" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/fantasy/news/20130913/fantasy-football-stats-column-julius-thomas/"> <link rel="author" href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/writers/michael_beller/archive/"/> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046cs_/http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/tmpl_asset/static/article/697/css/_lib-min.css"/> <link rel="alternate stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046cs_/http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.element/css/4.1/article_largefont.css" title="LargeFont"> <script type="text/javascript" language="JavaScript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046js_/http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/tmpl_asset/static/article/697/js/_lib-min.js"></script>  <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046js_/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/.element/js/4.2/video/video-bc.js"></script> <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046js_/http://admin.brightcove.com/js/BrightcoveExperiences.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" language="JavaScript">var tii_isTestServer = false;if( location.hostname == "preview2.sportsillustrated.turner.com" || location.hostname == "preview.ref.sportsillustrated.turner.com" || location.hostname == "sipreview.turner.com" ) tii_isTestServer = true;if( tii_isTestServer ) document.write( '<scr'+'ipt type="text/javascript" language="JavaScript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://test-tiads.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/ads/tgx.js"></scr'+'ipt>' ); else document.write( '<scr'+'ipt type="text/javascript" language="JavaScript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://tiads.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/ads/tgx.js"></scr'+'ipt>' );</script> <script type="text/javascript"> var adConfig=new TiiAdConfig('3475.si2'); adConfig.setCmSitename('cm.si2'); adConfig.setRevSciTracking(true); var adFactory = new TiiAdFactory(adConfig, "fantasy"); adFactory.setParam( 'writer', 'michael_beller' ); adFactory.setParam( 'column', 'inside_fantasy_football' ); if( TiiAdsParseQueryString('sct') && ( TiiAdsParseQueryString('sct').indexOf( 'hp_t2' ) > -1) ) { adFactory.setParam( 'mod', 'topstories' ); } </script> <script type="text/javascript" language="JavaScript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046js_/http://s7.addthis.com/js/200/addthis_widget.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046js_/http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.element/ssi/sibar/siBar.min.js" async></script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046cs_/http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.element/ssi/sibar/css/siBar.min.css"> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046cs_/http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.element/font/embedded-fonts.css"/> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046cs_/http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.element/css/4.2/global/refresh/refresh2013.css"/> <link type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046cs_/http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.element/css/4.2/global/refresh/article-refresh2013.css"/> <link href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046cs_/http://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Lato:400,700,900,400italic,700italic" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"> <script type="text/javascript">var _sf_startpt=(new Date()).getTime()</script> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="SI - Top Stories [RSS]" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://rss.cnn.com/rss/si_topstories.rss"/> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="SI - Recent Stories [RSS]" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://rss.cnn.com/rss/si_latest.rss"/> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="SI - Fantasy [RSS]" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://rss.cnn.com/rss/si_fantasy.rss"/> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="SI - Michael Beller [RSS]" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://rss.cnn.com/rss/si_michael_beller.rss"/> <meta name="last-published" content="2013-09-13T17:31:47Z">  <script type="text/javascript">if( ( window.location.pathname ).indexOf( '/more/news/20130514/fortunate-50-' ) === 0 ) { adFactory.setZone( "moresports/fortunate50" ); }</script>  <script type="text/javascript"> var automate_vrq = false; try{ automate_vrq = cnnPage.isHomepage; }catch(e){} var _vrq = _vrq || []; _vrq.push(['id', 188]); _vrq.push(['automate', automate_vrq ]); //automate should be set to true if this is the homepage _vrq.push(['track', function(){}]); (function(d, a){ var s = d.createElement(a), x = d.getElementsByTagName(a)[0]; s.async = true; s.src = 'https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://a.visualrevenue.com/vrs.js'; x.parentNode.insertBefore(s, x); })(document, 'script'); </script>   <script type="text/javascript"> try{ if( cnnPage.isHomepage ){ $(document).ready(function(){ var isRefresh = ($('#sitiT1').length > 0); if( isRefresh && (window.cnnPageInfo_pageType == "section") ) { $('.cnnPage').addClass( BrowserDetect.browser.toLowerCase() + ' ' + BrowserDetect.OS.toLowerCase() ); } jQuery.fn.setVRTitle = function(){ if( isRefresh ){ var title = $(this[0]).find('H1').text(); if ( $(this[0]).find('H1 > A').length > 0 ){ title = $(this[0]).find('H1 > A').text(); } } else { var title = $(this[0]).find('DIV.cnnTitle').text(); if ( $(this[0]).find('DIV.cnnTitle > A').length > 0 ){ title = $(this[0]).find('DIV.cnnTitle > A').text(); } } return title.trim(); }; /* * * Set the zones by adding the Visual Revenue attribute : data-vr-zone * */ try{ var testmode = location.search.indexOf('VRTEST=y') > 0; //$( 'DIV#cnnT1Holder' ).attr('data-vr-zone', 'T1'); //T1 if( isRefresh ){ $( 'DIV#sitiT2' ).attr('data-vr-zone', 'T2'); //T2 } else { $( 'DIV.cnnT2s' ).attr('data-vr-zone', 'T2'); //T2 if( cnnPage.isHomepage ){ $( 'DIV.cnnT2Blogs' ).attr('data-vr-zone', 'Blogs Tab'); //Blogs Tab zone $('DIV.cnnT2Blogs ul li a').attr('data-vr-contentbox', ''); //Blogs Tab content box } } $( 'DIV.cnnBoxWritersRow5' ).attr('data-vr-zone', 'Writers'); //Writers $( $( 'DIV.cnnBoxSiVideo' ).get(1) ).attr('data-vr-zone', 'Video'); //Video $( 'DIV.cnnBoxEM' ).attr('data-vr-zone', 'Extra Mustard'); //Extra Mustard $( 'DIV.cnnBoxTR' ).attr('data-vr-zone', 'Truth & Rumors'); //Truth & Rumors //cnnRow2, cnnCol1 is always SI Photos $( 'DIV.cnnBoxPhotos' ).attr('data-vr-zone', 'SI Photos'); //SI Photos //Generic Boxes var el,title; var generic_boxes = { 'a': 'DIV.cnnRow2 DIV.cnnCol0', 'b': 'DIV.cnnRow3 DIV.cnnCol0', 'c': 'DIV.cnnRow3 DIV.cnnCol1' }; $.each(generic_boxes, function(key, box){ title = $( box ).setVRTitle(); $(box).attr('data-vr-zone', title); //since we are already in the Generic Boxes, go ahead and set the contentbox $(box).find('DIV.cnnBoxDefault DT').attr('data-vr-contentbox', title + ': Featured Link - Image'); //Generic Box Featured Link Image $(box).find('DIV.cnnBoxDefault DD UL LI A').attr('data-vr-contentbox', ''); //Generic Box Link $( $(box).find('DIV.cnnBoxDefault DD UL LI A').get(0) ).attr('data-vr-contentbox', title + ': Featured Link'); //Generic Box Featured Link }); /* for ( box in generic_boxes ){ el = generic_boxes[ box ]; title = $( el ).setVRTitle(); $(el).attr('data-vr-zone', title); //since we are already in the Generic Boxes, go ahead and set the contentbox $(el).find('DIV.cnnBoxDefault DT').attr('data-vr-contentbox', title + ': Featured Link - Image'); //Generic Box Featured Link Image $(el).find('DIV.cnnBoxDefault DD UL LI A').attr('data-vr-contentbox', ''); //Generic Box Link $( $(el).find('DIV.cnnBoxDefault DD UL LI A').get(0) ).attr('data-vr-contentbox', title + ': Featured Link'); //Generic Box Featured Link } */ /* * * Set the content boxes by adding the Visual Revenue attribute : data-vr-contentbox * Since many of the boxes below the fold can change positions and type, * set the content box using the generic classes/ids/elements. Other boxes, * namely the T1, T2, Writers, and Video Box, are fixed on the page and have * specific class names or ids to classify a content box. */ if( isRefresh ){ $('DIV#sitiBreakingNews SPAN').attr('data-vr-contentbox', ''); //Breaking News //$('DIV#cnnT1Holder DIV.cnnT1Pane').attr('data-vr-contentbox', ''); //T1 $('DIV#sitiT1Holder UL LI').each(function(){ var contentbox = 'T1A'; var T1class = $(this).attr('class'); contentbox = T1class.replace(/.*t1_1.*/,'T1A').replace(/.*t1_2.*/,'T1B').replace(/.*t1_3.*/,'T1C').replace(/.*t1_4.*/,'T1D'); //set the zone $( this ).attr('data-vr-zone', contentbox); //set the headline content box /* var nextElAfterTabs = $('#sitiT1').find('t1-thumb-nav').next().get(0) || {}; if( typeof nextElAfterTabs.tagName !== 'undefined' && nextElAfterTabs.tagName == 'A'){ $(nextElAfterTabs).attr('data-vr-contentbox', contentbox); } */ //set the image content box $('DIV.siti-t1-image-container').find('a').attr('data-vr-contentbox', ''); }); $('DIV#sitiT1Holder DIV.t1-bullets').attr('data-vr-contentbox', ''); //T1 Bullets $('DIV#sitiT2 ul li a').attr('data-vr-contentbox', ''); //T2 } else { $('DIV.cnnBreakingNews DIV.cnnBreakingNewsHolder DIV').attr('data-vr-contentbox', ''); //Breaking News //$('DIV#cnnT1Holder DIV.cnnT1Pane').attr('data-vr-contentbox', ''); //T1 $('DIV#cnnT1Holder DIV.cnnT1Pane').each(function(){ var contentbox = 'T1A'; switch( $(this).attr('class') ){ case 'cnnT1Pane t1_1': contentbox = 'T1A'; break; case 'cnnT1Pane t1_2': contentbox = 'T1B'; break; case 'cnnT1Pane t1_3': contentbox = 'T1C'; break; case 'cnnT1Pane t1_4': contentbox = 'T1D'; break; case 'default': break; } //set the zone $( this ).attr('data-vr-zone', contentbox); //set the headline content box var nextElAfterTabs = $(this).find('DIV.cnnT1Tabs').next().get(0) || {}; if( typeof nextElAfterTabs.tagName !== 'undefined' && nextElAfterTabs.tagName == 'A'){ $(nextElAfterTabs).attr('data-vr-contentbox', contentbox); } //set the image content box $('DIV#cnnT1Holder DIV.cnnT1Pane').find('.cnnT1Underlay').find('a').attr('data-vr-contentbox', ''); }); $('DIV#cnnT1Holder DIV.cnnT1Pane DIV.cnnT1Bullets').attr('data-vr-contentbox', ''); //T1 Bullets $('DIV.cnnT2s ul li a').attr('data-vr-contentbox', ''); //T2 } $('DIV.cnnBoxWritersRow5 DIV.cnnBoxWritersFeature').attr('data-vr-contentbox', ''); //Writer Feature $('DIV.cnnBoxWritersRow5 DIV.cnnBoxWritersMain li').attr('data-vr-contentbox', ''); //Writer Generic $('DIV.cnnBoxSiVideo DIV#si-hp-carousel-video-player').attr('data-vr-contentbox', ''); //Featured Video $('DIV.cnnBoxSiVideo DIV.jcarousel-skin-home_video LI.jcarousel-item').attr('data-vr-contentbox', ''); //Video Carousel $('DIV.cnnBoxEM A').attr('data-vr-contentbox', ''); //Extra Mustard $('DIV.cnnBoxTR DT').attr('data-vr-contentbox', 'Truth and Rumors: Featured Link - Image'); //Truth and Rumors Feature $('DIV.cnnBoxTR DD UL LI A').attr('data-vr-contentbox', ''); //Truth and Rumors Link $( $('DIV.cnnBoxTR DD UL LI A').get(0) ).attr('data-vr-contentbox', 'Truth and Rumors: Featured Link'); //Truth and Rumors Feature $('DIV.cnnBoxPhotos A').attr('data-vr-contentbox', ''); //SI Photos $('DIV.cnnBoxDefaultThumbs DIV').attr('data-vr-contentbox', ''); //Generic Box Link }catch(e){ siLog.group('visual revenue'); siLog.error(e); siLog.groupEnd(); } }); } } catch(e){ siLog.error( e.message ); } if (window.cnnPageInfo_pageType == 'section') { $(document).ready(function(){ $('.cnnPage').addClass( BrowserDetect.browser.toLowerCase() + ' ' + BrowserDetect.OS.toLowerCase() ); }); } </script>  <meta name="sailthru.tags" content="fantasy football,julius thomas"> <meta name="sailthru.title" content="Fantasy football Stat Focus: Why Julius Thomas will be a reliable starter"/> <meta name="sailthru.date" content="2013-09-13"/> <meta name="sailthru.author" content=""/> <meta name="sailthru.expire_date" content="2013-09-15"/> <meta name="sailthru.description" content="Julius Thomas was the unquestioned waiver wire star of Week 1. He generated some buzz late in the preseason, causing many owners to target him in late-drafting leagues, but he was largely unowned heading into the Broncos' drubbing of the defending Super Bowl champion Ravens in Week 1."> <meta name="sailthru.image.full" content="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/si/dam/assets/130913130629-all22-4-single-image-cut.jpg"> <meta name="sailthru.image.thumb" content="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/si/dam/assets/130913130629-all22-4-gallery---thumbnail.jpg"> <meta property="og:title" content="Fantasy football Stat Focus: Why Julius Thomas will be a reliable starter | SI.com"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:url" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/fantasy/news/20130913/fantasy-football-stats-column-julius-thomas/"/> <meta property="og:site_name" content="SI.com"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046im_/http://i2.cdn.turner.com/si/dam/assets/130913130629-all22-4-single-image-cut.jpg"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary"> <meta name="twitter:site" content="@sinow"> <meta name="twitter:url" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046im_/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/fantasy/news/20130913/fantasy-football-stats-column-julius-thomas/"> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Fantasy football Stat Focus: Why Julius Thomas will be a reliable starter"> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Julius Thomas was the unquestioned waiver wire star of Week 1. He generated some buzz late in the preseason, causing many owners to target him in late-drafting leagues, but he was largely unowned heading into the Broncos' drubbing of the defending Super Bowl champion Ravens in Week 1. He's universally owned now, but can his owners expect him to be a reliable, weekly starter? After all, there are a lot of mouths to feed in Denver, and there are only so many yards and touchdowns to go around, even with Peyton Manning at the helm."> <meta property="twitter:image" content="http://i2.cdn.turner.com/si/dam/assets/130913130629-all22-4-single-image-cut.jpg"/> <script type="text/javascript" language="JavaScript"> var cnnPageInfo_section = "fantasy"; var cnnPageInfo_pageType = "story"; var cnnPageInfo_branding = "Michael Beller - Inside Fantasy Football"; var cnnPageInfo_date = "2013-09-13T17:33:24Z"; var cnnPageInfo_slug = "fantasy football stats column julius thomas"; var cnnPageInfo_file = "index.html"; var cnnPageInfo_source = "SI"; var cnnPageInfo_url = "https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/fantasy/news/20130913/fantasy-football-stats-column-julius-thomas/"; var cnnPageInfo_socialMediaBtns = "big"; </script> </head> <body onload="cnnPageOnload();" id="cnnArticle" class="cnnArticleFantasy"> <a name="top"></a>  <div id="cnnPageGradient"> <div id="cnnPageBorder"> <div class="cnnPage"> <div id="sitiHeader"> <div class="left-section"> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046cs_/http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.element/css/4.2/global/mkhp/mkhp.css"/> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046cs_/http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.element/css/4.2/global/newsletter/si-newsletter-overlays.css"/> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046js_/http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e/js/4.1/global/lib/plugins/jquery.cookie.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046js_/http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.element/js/4.2/global/si-newsletter-overlays.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046js_/http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.element/js/4.2/global/mkhp-v2.js"></script> <a href="#" id="make_hplnk" class="bookmark-si"></a><span id="mkhp_popup" style="display:none;"></span> <a href="/web/20130920214046/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/" class="si-logo"></a> </div> <div class="siti-search-bar"> <form method="get" action="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/search/" name="cm_search"><input type="text" name="text" class="search-field" placeholder="Search" onfocus="this.placeholder=''" onblur="this.placeholder='Search'"/><input type="image" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046im_/http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.element/img/4.2/global/refresh/search-btn.png" alt="Search" title="Search"/></form> </div> <div class="siti-cm-row"><script>adFactory.getCmAd(134, 44, "left", "tout").write();</script><script>adFactory.getCmAd(147, 44, "middle", "tout").write();</script><script>adFactory.getCmAd(166, 44, "right", "tout").write();</script></div> <div class="siti-banner"> <ul class="section-nav"> <li><a href="/web/20130920214046/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/fantasy/columns_and_blogs/">Columns</a></li><li><a href="/web/20130920214046/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/fantasy/player_news/nfl/">Player News</a></li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://fannation.com/message_boards/">Message Boards</a> </li> <div class="cnnClear"></div> </ul> <div class="section-name"><a href="/web/20130920214046/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/fantasy/">FANTASY</a><div id="fantasy_header_social"><div id="fantasy_header_twitter_follow"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://twitter.com/si_fantasy" class="twitter-follow-button" data-show-count="false"></a><script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046js_/http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" type="text/javascript"></script></div><div id="fantasy_header_fb_like"><iframe src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046if_/http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?app_id=177448572324802&href=si.com%2Ffantasy&send=false&layout=button_count&width=150&show_faces=false&action=like&colorscheme=light&font=arial&height=21" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="border:none; overflow:hidden; width:150px; height:21px;" allowtransparency="true"></iframe></div></div></div> </div> <div class="siti-magazine-cover"><script>adFactory.getCmAd(153, 148, "hpmagheader", "tout").write();</script></div> </div> <div id="sitiSiteNav"> <ul> <li class="nfl" nav="nfl"><a href="/web/20130920214046/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nfl/?eref=sinav"><strong>NFL</strong></a></li> <li class="mmqb" nav="mmqb"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://mmqb.si.com/?eref=sinav"><strong>THE MMQB</strong></a></li> <li class="ncaaf" nav="ncaaf"><a href="/web/20130920214046/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/college-football/?eref=sinav"><strong>NCAAF</strong></a></li> <li class="mlb" nav="mlb"><a href="/web/20130920214046/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/mlb/?eref=sinav"><strong>MLB</strong></a></li> <li class="nba" nav="nba"><a href="/web/20130920214046/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nba/?eref=sinav"><strong>NBA</strong></a></li> <li class="ncaab" nav="ncaab"><a href="/web/20130920214046/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/college-basketball/?eref=sinav"><strong>NCAAB</strong></a></li> <li class="golf" nav="golf"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://www.golf.com/?eref=sinav"><strong>GOLF</strong></a></li> <li class="nhl" nav="nhl"><a href="/web/20130920214046/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nhl/?eref=sinav"><strong>NHL</strong></a></li> <li class="soccer" nav="soccer"><a href="/web/20130920214046/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/?eref=sinav"><strong>SOCCER</strong></a></li> <li class="tennis" nav="tennis"><a href="/web/20130920214046/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/tennis/?eref=sinav"><strong>TENNIS</strong></a></li> <li class="more" nav="more"><a href="/web/20130920214046/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/more/?eref=sinav"><strong>MORE</strong></a></li> <li class="fantasy" nav="fantasy"><a href="/web/20130920214046/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/fantasy/?eref=sinav"><strong>FANTASY</strong></a></li> <li class="photos" nav="photos"><a href="/web/20130920214046/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/?eref=sinav"><strong>PHOTOS</strong></a></li> <li class="video last" nav="video"><a href="/web/20130920214046/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/video/?eref=sinav"><strong>VIDEO</strong></a></li> </ul> </div> <div id="cnnViewerAd"> <div class="cnnHolder"> <script type="text/javascript">adFactory.getMultiAd(new Array("728x90", "101x1")).write();</script> </div> </div> <div class="cnnContentArea"> <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript">var clickExpire = "-1";</script>   <div id="cnnTimeStamp"><div>Posted: Fri September 13, 2013 1:33PM; Updated: Fri September 13, 2013 1:31PM</div></div> <div id="cnnSubBanner"> <div class="cnnLeft"><a href="/web/20130920214046/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/writers/michael_beller/archive/"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046im_/http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.element/img/4.0/global/writer_headshots/new/michael_beller.jpg" height="68" width="75" border="0" alt="Michael Beller" title="Michael Beller"/></a></div> <div class="cnnLine0"><strong>Michael Beller</strong><span>></span>INSIDE FANTASY FOOTBALL</div> <div class="cnnLine1"> <div class="cnnLine1Text"> <a href="/web/20130920214046/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/writers/michael_beller/archive/">More Columns</a><a href="#TB_inline?0=0&height=185&width=800&inlineId=cnnOverlayMailbag_michael_beller" class="thickbox">Email Michael Beller</a> </div>  <style type="text/css"> div.cnnLine1 { height:19px; padding:0!important; } div.cnnLine1Text { float:left; height : 13px; margin-top:5px; } div.cnnLine1 iframe { border:none; overflow:hidden; width:90px; height:20px; display:inline; margin-top:3px; } img.cnnGrayArrow { margin: 0 2px 10px 0!important; } </style>  <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046im_/http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.element/img/4.0/global/arrows/gray_on_white_4x8.gif" class="cnnGrayArrow"/><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://twitter.com/https://twitter.com/MBeller" class="twitter-follow-button" data-show-count="false" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Follow Michael Beller on <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046im_/http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.element/img/4.0/story/twitter_logo.gif" alt="Twitter" title="Twitter"/></a> </div> </div> <div id="cnnOverlayMailbag_michael_beller" style="display:none;"> <div class="cnnOverlayMailbag"> <form action="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://dynamic.si.cnn.com/feedback/siwriters.jsp" name="cnnmailbag" method="post"> <input type="hidden" name="redirect" value="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/email/mailbagthanks.html"/> <input type="hidden" name="mailsubject" value="Mailbag: Michael Beller"/> <dl> <dt>Michael Beller's Mailbag</dt> <dd>Have questions or feedback? E-mail Michael Beller.</dd> </dl> <div class="cnnRow0"><strong>Name</strong><input type="text" name="name"/><strong>Email</strong><input type="text" name="from"/><strong>Hometown</strong><input type="hidden" name="subject1" value="Hometown"/><input type="text" name="response1"/></div> <div class="cnnRow1"><strong>Question</strong><input type="hidden" name="subject2" value="Question"><textarea rows="3" name="response2" wrap="physical"></textarea><input type="image" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046im_/http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.element/img/4.1/global/send.gif" alt="Send" title="Send"/></div> </form> </div> </div> <div id="cnnStoryHeadline"> <div class="cnnStoryHeadline"> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr> <td class="cnnCol0"><h1>Fantasy football Stat Focus: Why Thomas will be a reliable starter</h1></td> </tr> </table> </div> </div> <div id="cnnContentColumns"> <div id="cnnContentColumn">  <div id="cnnStoryHeader"> <div id="fb-root"></div> <script> (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk')); </script> <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript">addthis_options = 'stumbleupon,google,reddit,myspace,favorites,digg,blogger,gmail,friendster,more';addthis_exclude = 'facebook,twitter,yahoomail,email,live,tehnorati,delicious';</script> <style type="text/css"> .ie7 .small-buttons .cnnItem2 { display:none } .ie7 .large-buttons .wdt_button {margin-top:8px;margin-bottom:18px} .ie7 .small-buttons .wdt_button_min {width:108px;} .ie7 .wdt_button_min #share_popup { left:46px; } .ie7 #share_popup li img { margin-top:0; } </style> <div id="cnnShare2"> <script type="text/javascript"> var cnnSocialUrl = 'http%3A%2F%2Fsportsillustrated.cnn.com%2F'; if ( $('link[rel=canonical]').attr('href') !== null ) { cnnSocialUrl = $('link[rel=canonical]').attr('href'); } </script> <div class="large-buttons"> <div class="wdt_button cnnItem01"> <a target="_blank" id="facebook_share" title="facebook" href="#" onclick="facebookSharePopup();"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046im_/http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.element/img/4.1/global/facebook_share_button.png" alt="Facebook Share"/></a> </div> <div class="wdt_button cnnItem0"> <fb:like ref="fb_large" send="false" layout="box_count" width="50" show_faces="false" class="fb_like-large"></fb:like> <noscript> <iframe src="//web.archive.org/web/20130920214046if_/http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Fsportsillustrated.cnn.com&send=false&layout=box_count&width=49&show_faces=false&action=like&colorscheme=light&font=verdana&height=62" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="border:none; overflow:hidden; width:49px; height:62px;" allowtransparency="true"></iframe> </noscript> </div> <div class="wdt_button cnnItem1"> </div> <div class="wdt_button cnnItem2"> <g:plusone size="tall"></g:plusone> </div> <div class="wdt_button cnnItem3"> </div> <div class="wdt_button cnnItem4"> <a href="#" class="cnnShareLink" id="shareBtn"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046im_/http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.1/story/global/addthis.png" alt="Share" title="Share"/></a> <div id="share_popup"> <ul> <li> <a target="_blank" id="tumblr_share" title="Tumblr" href="#"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046im_/http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.element/img/4.1/global/tumblr_share_icon.gif" alt="Tumblr" border="0"/>Tumblr</a> </li> <li> <a target="_blank" id="stumbleupon_share" title="StumbleUpon" href="#"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046im_/http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.element/img/4.1/global/stumbleupon_share_icon.gif" alt="StumbleUpon" border="0"/>StumbleUpon</a> </li> <li> <a target="_blank" id="reddit_share" title="Reddit" href="#"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046im_/http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.element/img/4.1/global/reddit_share_icon.gif" alt="Reddit" border="0"/>Reddit</a> </li> <li> <a target="_blank" id="digg_share" title="Digg" href="#"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046im_/http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.element/img/4.1/global/digg_share_icon.gif" alt="Digg" border="0"/>Digg</a> </li> <li> <a target="_blank" id="delicious_share" title="Del.i.cious" href="#"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046im_/http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.element/img/4.1/global/delicious_share_icon.gif" alt="Delicious" border="0"/>Del.i.cious</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="wdt_button cnnItem5"><a class="bmk_email bk" title="Email to a friend" href="#" onclick="return(ET());" onmouseover="return(ETMouseOver());" onmouseout="return(ETMouseOut());"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046im_/http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.1/story/global/email.png" alt="Email" title="Email"/></a></div> <div class="wdt_button cnnItem6"><a class="bmk_print bk" title="Print this page" href="#" onclick="return(PT());" onmouseover="return(PTMouseOver());" onmouseout="return(PTMouseOut());"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046im_/http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.1/story/global/print.png" alt="Print" title="Print"/></a></div> </div> <div class="small-buttons"> <div class="wdt_button_min cnnItem01"> <a target="_blank" id="facebook_share" title="facebook" href="#" onclick="facebookSharePopup();"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046im_/http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.element/img/4.1/global/facebook_share_button.png" alt="Facebook Share"/></a> </div> <div class="wdt_button_min cnnItem0"> <fb:like ref="fb_small" send="false" layout="button_count" width="110" show_faces="false" class="fb_like-small"></fb:like> <noscript> <iframe src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046if_/http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http%3A%2F%2Fsportsillustrated.cnn.com%2F&layout=button_count&show_faces=false&width=110&action=like&font=verdana&colorscheme=light&height=21" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" style="border:none; overflow:hidden; width:110px; height:21px;" allowtransparency="true" id="cnnShareFB"></iframe> </noscript> </div> <div class="wdt_button_min cnnItem1"> </div> <div class="wdt_button_min cnnItem2"> <g:plusone size="medium"></g:plusone> </div> <div class="wdt_button_min cnnItem3"> </div> <div class="wdt_button_min cnnItem4"> <a href="#" class="cnnShareLink" id="shareBtn2"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046im_/http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.1/story/global/addthis.png" alt="Share" title="Share"/></a> <div id="share_popup"> <ul> <li> <a target="_blank" id="tumblr_share" title="Tumblr" href="#"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046im_/http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.element/img/4.1/global/tumblr_share_icon.gif" alt="Tumblr" border="0"/>Tumblr</a> </li> <li> <a target="_blank" id="stumbleupon_share" title="StumbleUpon" href="#"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046im_/http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.element/img/4.1/global/stumbleupon_share_icon.gif" alt="StumbleUpon" border="0"/>StumbleUpon</a> </li> <li> <a target="_blank" id="reddit_share" title="Reddit" href="#"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046im_/http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.element/img/4.1/global/reddit_share_icon.gif" alt="Reddit" border="0"/>Reddit</a> </li> <li> <a target="_blank" id="digg_share" title="Digg" href="#"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046im_/http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.element/img/4.1/global/digg_share_icon.gif" alt="Digg" border="0"/>Digg</a> </li> <li> <a target="_blank" id="delicious_share" title="Del.i.cious" href="#"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046im_/http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.element/img/4.1/global/delicious_share_icon.gif" alt="Delicious" border="0"/>Del.i.cious</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="wdt_button_min cnnItem5"><a class="bmk_email bk" title="Email to a friend" href="#" onclick="return(ET());" onmouseover="return(ETMouseOver());" onmouseout="return(ETMouseOut());"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046im_/http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.1/story/global/email.png" alt="Email" title="Email"/></a></div> <div class="wdt_button_min cnnItem6"><a class="bmk_print bk" title="Print this page" href="#" onclick="return(PT());" onmouseover="return(PTMouseOver());" onmouseout="return(PTMouseOut());"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046im_/http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/img/4.1/story/global/print.png" alt="Print" title="Print"/></a></div> </div> <script> ua = navigator.userAgent; if (ua.search(/Firefox\/3\.5/i) !== -1) { $('div.wdt_button').css({'margin-bottom' : '18px', 'margin-top' : '8px'}); $('.small-buttons .cnnItem2').css({'display' : 'none'}); $('.small-buttons .wdt_button_min').css({'width' : '108px'}); } </script> </div> </div>  <div id="cnnStoryContent">  <div id="cnnSCFontButtons"> <div id="cnnSCFontMinusBtn" onclick="setActiveStyleSheet2('default'); return false;"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046im_/http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.element/img/4.0/story/textsize_minus_d.gif" alt="Decrease font" title="Decrease font" class="cnnDecreaseFont"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046im_/http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.element/img/4.0/story/textsize_minus_l.gif" alt="Decrease font" title="Decrease font" class="cnnIncreaseFont"></div> <div id="cnnSCFontPlusBtn" onclick="setActiveStyleSheet2('LargeFont'); return false;"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046im_/http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.element/img/4.0/story/textsize_plus_d.gif" alt="Enlarge font" title="Enlarge font" class="cnnIncreaseFont"> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046im_/http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.element/img/4.0/story/textsize_plus_l.gif" alt="Enlarge font" title="Enlarge font" class="cnnDecreaseFont"></div> </div> <script>setActiveStyleSheet( CNN_FONT_COOKIE ? CNN_FONT_COOKIE : null );</script>  <div id="cnnContentPageHolder"> <div class="cnnContentPage">  <div class="cnnDivideContent"><div class="cnnInlineT1Image"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046im_/http://i2.cdn.turner.com/si/dam/assets/130913131624-julius-thomas-1-single-image-cut.jpg" width="655" height="455" border="0" alt="Julius Thomas" title="Julius Thomas"/></div><div class="cnnInlineT1Caption">Julius Thomas caught five passes for 110 yards and two touchdowns against the Ravens in Week 1.</div><div class="cnnInlineT1Credit">Doug Pensinger/Getty Images</div></div>  <p> Julius Thomas was the unquestioned waiver wire star of Week 1. He generated some buzz late in the preseason, causing many owners to target him in late-drafting leagues, but he was largely unowned heading into the Broncos' drubbing of the defending Super Bowl champion Ravens in Week 1. He's universally owned now, but can his owners expect him to be a reliable, weekly starter? After all, there are a lot of mouths to feed in Denver, and there are only so many yards and touchdowns to go around, even with Peyton Manning at the helm. </p>   <p> I believe owners will be able to count on Thomas, because of the way the Broncos use him, as well as his decision-making when running option routes. Thomas had three big plays in the first half against Baltimore -- the two touchdowns and a 44-yard reception. He was lined up exactly the same way on those three plays, standing up a bit wider than the spot where a traditional tight end would be in a three-point stance, but not quite where a slot receiver begins a play. </p>   <p> He didn't have a option on his first touchdown. He simply burned the defense with an out and up on a play where the Broncos were able to take away safety help from linebacker Daryl Smith, who played as if he expected help over the top. His next two catches, though, were both perfectly run option routes, in which he read the defense's leverage, ran the correct route to open space, and made game-changing plays. </p>   <p> Here's the pre-snap alignment on the first big play, a 44-yard catch to set up 1st-and-10 on the Baltimore 23-yard-line: (All images are screen shots of All-22 film.) </p> <div class="cnnDivideContent"><div class="cnnInlineT1Image"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046im_/http://i2.cdn.turner.com/si/dam/assets/130913124606-all22-1-single-image-cut.jpg" width="655" height="387" border="0" alt="All22-1" title="All22-1"/></div></div>   <p> That's Thomas, No. 80, lined up outside the left tackle. Terrell Suggs is directly over him, with linebacker Josh Bynes more likely to draw coverage. Indeed, as the ball is snapped, Suggs blitzes and Bynes drops into coverage. Bynes plays inside and jumps the dig run by Demaryius Thomas. Thomas has an option to either break to the sideline or go up the seam, depending on Bynes' leverage. The tight end properly reads the coverage, and takes exactly with it gives him: the out. He was able to break one tackle, resulting in a huge gain: </p> <div class="cnnDivideContent"><div class="cnnInlineT1Image"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046im_/http://i2.cdn.turner.com/si/dam/assets/130913130229-all22-2-single-image-cut.jpg" width="655" height="406" border="0" alt="All22-2" title="All22-2"/></div></div>   <p> On the next play, Thomas is lined up in the same spot, on the left side of the line, standing up a step or two off the tackle. Bynes is forced to cover Montee Ball, as he immediately comes out of the backfield and runs a route straight at the middle of the defense. That leaves safety Michael Huff to play Thomas one-on-one with a deep safety. Here is the beginning of that play: </p> <div class="cnnDivideContent"><div class="cnnInlineT1Image"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046im_/http://i2.cdn.turner.com/si/dam/assets/130913130508-all22-3-single-image-cut.jpg" width="655" height="373" border="0" alt="All22-3" title="All22-3"/></div></div>   <p> You can see Huff at the top left of the picture, already well outside Thomas. This gives him his first indication this time, it will likely be the seam that's open. When the play begins, Huff stays on Thomas' outside hip. With Bynes occupied by Ball, meaning no one can drop underneath his route, the seam is wide open for Thomas. Here's the play as it develops: </p> <div class="cnnDivideContent"><div class="cnnInlineT1Image"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046im_/http://i2.cdn.turner.com/si/dam/assets/130913130629-all22-4-single-image-cut.jpg" width="655" height="356" border="0" alt="All22-4" title="All22-4"/></div></div><div class="cnnDivideContent"><div class="cnnInlineT1Image"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046im_/http://i2.cdn.turner.com/si/dam/assets/130913130643-all22-5-single-image-cut.jpg" width="655" height="365" border="0" alt="All22-5" title="All22-5"/></div><div class="cnnInlineT1Credit">SI</div></div><div class="cnnDivideContent"><div class="cnnInlineT1Image"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046im_/http://i2.cdn.turner.com/si/dam/assets/130913130659-all22-6-single-image-cut.jpg" width="655" height="355" border="0" alt="All22-6" title="All22-6"/></div></div>   <p> Unfortunately Huff falls out of the picture a bit in the first shot, but you can see his helmet in the top left portion. He remains outside Thomas, giving him the seam. In the next two shots, you can see Thomas has read Huff's leverage perfectly, staying inside and going right up the wide open seam. At this point, it's a layup for Manning. </p>   <p> While Ball and the other receivers had different responsibilities on these two plays, Thomas had the exact same option on both of them. It may look like a different play, but the way the defense played it determined the route Thomas ran. Jason Witten has crafted a Hall of Fame career by mastering the option route. The fact that Thomas seems to have it down by his sixth career game is striking. It also means that despite all the other weapons at Manning's disposal, Thomas will remain a key part of the offense all season. </p>   <p> <strong><u>MORE WEEK 2 FANTASY FOOTBALL CONTENT:</u></strong> </p>   <p> <strong><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/fantasy/news/20130911/fantasy-football-player-projections-week-2/">BELLER: Fantasy football Week 2 player projections</a></strong><span></span> <br/><strong><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/fantasy/news/20130912/fantasy-football-composite-player-rankings-week-2/">STAFF: Week 2 Composite Player Rankings</a></strong><span></span> <br/><strong><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/fantasy/news/20130912/fantasy-football-start-sit-week-2/">GONOS: Week 2 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em</a></strong><span></span> <br/><strong><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/fantasy/news/20130913/fantasy-football-survivor-pool-week-2/">BELLER: Best NFL survivor pool picks for Week 2</a></strong><span></span> <br/><strong><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/fantasy/news/20130910/fantasy-football-waiver-wire-week-2/">FLOOD: Waiver wire -- Julius Thomas, Julian Edelman worth a pickup</a></strong><span></span> <br/><strong><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/fantasy/news/20130909/fantasy-football-risers-sliders/">McQUADE: Risers and Sliders -- Terrelle Pryor, Geno Smith worth stashing</a></strong><span></span> <br/><strong><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/fantasy/news/20130910/fantasy-football-roundtable/">BELLER, FLOOD: Roundtable -- Are David Wilson's owners in trouble?</a></strong><span></span> <br/><strong><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/fantasy/news/20130909/nfl-fantasy-roundup-week-1/">BELLER: Fantasy football Fast Forward -- The NFL is back with a wacky Week 1</a></strong> </p> </div> </div> </div>  <script type="text/javascript"> var cnnOutbrainUrl = 'https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/'; if( $('link[rel=canonical]').attr('href') != null ) cnnOutbrainUrl = $('link[rel=canonical]').attr('href'); document.write( '<div class="OUTBRAIN" data-src="' + cnnOutbrainUrl + '" data-widget-id="AR_1" data-ob-template="si" ></div>' ); </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046js_/http://widgets.outbrain.com/outbrain.js"></script> <a name="comments"></a> <div id="livefyre"></div> <script type="text/javascript"> // Livefyre v3 init code - mstills // begin: mstills - SI-5772 (lazy-load Livefyre after DOM-ready and initialize when it is ready) (function ($) { var siLivefyreCallback = function () { can_url = $('link[rel=canonical]').attr('href'); if (typeof can_url === 'undefined' || !can_url) { can_url = window.location.href; } var collectionMeta = { articleId: can_url, url : can_url }; var streamConfig = { collectionMeta: collectionMeta, signed: false, articleId: collectionMeta.articleId, siteId: '308570', el: 'livefyre' }; var authDelegate = new fyre.conv.SPAuthDelegate({ engage : { app : 'si.auth.fyre.co' } }); fyre.conv.load( { 'network' : 'sportsillustrated.fyre.co', 'authDelegate' : authDelegate }, [ streamConfig ], function () { } ); }; // lazy-load Livefyre scripts and initialize after DOM-ready $(document).ready(function () { // rudimentary callback chain. procedural: first load livefyre_init.js -> then load simpleprofiles.js -> then initialize Livefyre $.getScript('https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://profiles.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/media/cHJvZmlsZXMuc3BvcnRzaWxsdXN0cmF0ZWQuY25uLmNvbQ==/javascripts/simpleprofiles.js', function() { $.getScript('https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://zor.livefyre.com/wjs/v3.0/javascripts/livefyre.js', siLivefyreCallback); }); }); }(jQuery)); // end: mstills - SI-5772 </script>  </div>  <div id="cnnSideColumn"> <div id="cnnTowerAd"><script type="text/javascript">adFactory.getMultiAd(new Array("300x250", "300x600")).write();</script></div> <div class="cnnRightMoreBox"> <div class="cnn_title">More Fantasy</div> <div class="cnn_content"> <ul><li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/fantasy/news/20130920/fantasy-football-survivor-pool-week-3/?eref=sircrc">Best survivor pool picks for Week 3 of NFL season</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/fantasy/news/20130918/fantasy-football-player-projections-week-3/?eref=sircrc">Fantasy football Player Projections -- Week 3</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/fantasy/news/20130919/fantasy-football-composite-player-rankings-week-3/?eref=sircrc">Fantasy Football Composite Player Rankings -- Week 3</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/fantasy/news/20130919/fantasy-football-start-sit-week-3/?eref=sircrc">Fantasy football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em -- Week 3</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="cnnRightMoreBox"> <div class="cnn_title"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/">More from SI.com</a></div> <div class="cnn_content"> <div class="cnn_subtitle" style="border-top: 0px none;">Latest News</div> <ul><li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/college-football/news/20130920/arian-foster-documentary-comments-about-being-paid-at-tennessee/?eref=sircrc">Arian Foster admits he took money at Tennessee</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/main/photos/1309/si-funniest-photos/?eref=sircrc">Look at SI's 100 funniest photos of all time</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://mlb.si.com/2013/09/20/andy-pettitte-retirement-yankees-hall-of-fame/?eref=sircrc">Yanks' Pettitte retiring after season</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="cnn_subtitle_video">SI Videos</div> <div id="taboola-right-rail-organic"></div> <script type="text/javascript"> window._taboola = window._taboola || []; window._taboola.push({mode: "autosized-generated-1r", container: "taboola-right-rail-organic", target_type: "video", placement: "right-rail-organic"}); </script> <div class="cnn_subtitle_video">Videos from the Web</div> <div id="taboola-right-rail-sc"></div> <script type="text/javascript"> window._taboola = window._taboola || []; window._taboola.push({mode: "autosized-generated-1r", container: "taboola-right-rail-sc", target_type: "video", placement: "right-rail-sc"}); </script> <div class="cnn_content"> <div class="cnn_subtitle">SI Writers</div> <ul><li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/mlb/news/20130920/andy-pettitte-retires-yankees/index.html?eref=sircrc"><strong>Tom Verducci:</strong> Pettitte gave everything he had in career that is finally ending</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/mma/news/20130920/jon-jones-mental-game-ufc-165-alexander-gustafsson/index.html?eref=sircrc"><strong>Jeff Wagenheim:</strong> Already dominant physically, Jon Jones seeks mental edge</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/mlb/news/20130920/mike-trout-al-wild-card-alex-rodriguez/index.html?eref=sircrc"><strong>Tom Verducci:</strong> Mike Trout is the game's best young player since Ted Williams</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="cnn_content"> <div class="cnn_subtitle">SI Photos</div> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/main/photos/1309/leading-off-pictures-of-the-week-092013/?eref=sircrc"> <div> <img title="Leading Off: Pictures of the Week" alt="Leading Off: Pictures of the Week" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046im_/http://i2.cdn.turner.com/si/dam/assets/130920113951-thumb-7160-gallery---thumbnail.jpg"></div> <div>Leading Off: Pictures of the Week</div> </a></td><td><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nba/photos/1309/top-100-nba-players-of-2014/?eref=sircrc"> <div> <img title="Top 100 NBA Players of 2014" alt="Top 100 NBA Players of 2014" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046im_/http://i2.cdn.turner.com/si/dam/assets/130919113047-thumb-op5r-142224-mid-gallery---thumbnail.jpg"></div> <div>Top 100 NBA Players of 2014</div> </a></td><td id="cnnAdOpaWideShowP"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/cheerleaders/photos/1309/cheerleader-of-the-week-kayla/?eref=sircrc"> <div> <img title="Cheerleader of the Week" alt="Cheerleader of the Week" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046im_/http://i2.cdn.turner.com/si/dam/assets/130919150219-thumb-01-kayla-texans-bl1t8542-gallery---thumbnail.jpg"></div> <div>Cheerleader of the Week</div> </a></td> </tr></tbody></table> </div> </div> <div id="cnnSponAd"><script type="text/javascript">adFactory.getAd(238, 90).write();</script></div> <div><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046im_/http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/images/misc/blank_pixel.gif" width="300" height="1"/></div> </div> <div id="cnnClearColumns"> </div>  </div> </div>  <div class="cnnBannerFooter"><script type="text/javascript">adFactory.getCmAd(972, 110, "globalfooter", "tout").write();</script></div> <div class="cnnFooterBox"> <div class="cnnHolder"> <div class="cnnRight"> <dl> <dt><a href="/web/20130920214046/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/"><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046im_/http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.element/img/4.1/global/footer_logo.jpg" alt="SI.com" title="SI.com"/></a></dt> <dd> <span>Hot Topics:</span> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://nfl.si.com/2013/09/18/trent-richardson-trade-indianapolis-colts/" title="Trent Richardson" class="cnnFirst">Trent Richardson</a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nba/news/20130918/chris-anderson-clears-name/" title="Chris Andersen">Chris Andersen</a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://mlb.si.com/2013/09/19/five-cuts-billy-hamilton-chris-davis-reds-orioles/" title="Billy Hamilton">Billy Hamilton</a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/mma/news/20130918/ken-norton-dies.ap/" title="Ken Norton">Ken Norton</a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://nfl.si.com/2013/09/18/ryan-clady-injury-denver-broncos/" title="Ryan Clady">Ryan Clady</a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://nba.si.com/2013/09/18/lakers-black-jerseys-pictures-hollywood-nights-kobe-bryant-los-angeles/" title="L.A. Lakers">L.A. Lakers</a> <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/video/si-video/20130918/2013-09-18-clip02.sportsillustrated/" title="Mike Tyson">Mike Tyson</a> </dd> </dl> <div class="cnnClear"></div>  <ul> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/https://subscription.si.com/storefront/subscribe-to-sports-illustrated/link/1002348.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">SUBSCRIBE TO SI</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://www.sportsillustratedeverywhere.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">DIGITAL EDITION</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20130920214046/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/mobile/">SI DIGITAL PRODUCTS</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20130920214046/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/about_us/jobs/">JOBS</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;268294632;78785520;x" onclick="javascript:mkhp.launch_popup('homepage');return false;" id="make_hp">MAKE SI MY HOMEPAGE</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20130920214046/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/sitemap/">SITE MAP</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/https://subscription.si.com/storefront/subscribe-to-sports-illustrated/link/1003862.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">GIVE THE GIFT OF SI</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20130920214046/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/about_us/">ABOUT US</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://simediakit.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">SI MEDIA KITS</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;268294962;78785520;d" onclick="javascript:mkhp.launch_popup('newsletter');return false;" id="make_hp">SI EXTRA NEWSLETTER</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://www.sicovers.com/default.aspx?utm_source=sicom&utm_medium=ftr&utm_campaign=icrefer&xid=siftr" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">SI COVER COLLECTION</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://sicustomerservice.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">SI CUSTOMER SERVICE</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20130920214046/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/magazine/si.books/">SI BOOKS</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20130920214046/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/about_us/feedback/">CONTACT US</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;267565276;78785520;b" onclick="javascript:mkhp.launch_popup('bookmark');return false;" id="make_hp">BOOKMARK SI</a></li> </ul> <div class="cnnClear"></div> <div class="cnnCopyright"> <style> .cnnFooterBox .cnnHolder { overflow:hidden; } .cnnFooterBox .cnnRight DIV.cnnCopyright { line-height:16px;padding-top:2px;text-align:left; } .cnnFooterBox .cnnRight DIV.cnnCopyright IMG { float:left;margin:0 6px 14px 0; } .cnnFooterBox .cnnRight DIV.cnnCopyright IMG#cnnFooterAdOpt { float:none;margin:0 0 0 6px;vertical-align:bottom; } </style> TM & © 2013 Time Inc. A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved. <a href="/web/20130920214046/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/interactive_legal.html" rel="nofollow">Terms</a> under which this service is provided to you. Read our <a href="/web/20130920214046/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/privacy/" rel="nofollow">privacy guidelines</a> and <a href="/web/20130920214046/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/services/ad.choices/">ad choices<img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046im_/http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.element/img/4.1/global/logo_adchoices.gif" id="cnnFooterAdOpt"/></a>. </div> </div> <div class="cnnLeft"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/cover/featured/12099/index.htm?xid=sivcoverhome"><img style="vertical-align:bottom;" title="SI Cover" alt="SI Cover" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046im_/http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/si_online/covers/images/2013/0910_thumb.jpg"></a><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://www.sportsillustratedeverywhere.com/?xid=sivcoverhome"><img style="vertical-align:bottom;" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046im_/http://i.cdn.turner.com/sivault/.element/img/1.0/read_all_articles_96x12.gif" alt="Read All Articles" border="0" width="96" height="12"></a><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://www.sicovers.com/ils.aspx?p=SPR20130909BAMAS&utm_source=sivault&utm_medium=inet&utm_campain=icrefer&xid=sivcoverhome" target="_blank"><img style="vertical-align:bottom;" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046im_/http://i.cdn.turner.com/sivault/.element/img/1.0/buy_cover_reprint.gif" alt="Buy Cover Reprint" border="0" width="96" height="12"></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="cnnSearchFooter"> <div class="cnnCenter"><form method="get" action="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/search/" name="footer_search"><input id="searchInputFooter" type="text" name="text" class="cnnLeft"/><input type="image" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046im_/http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.element/img/4.1/global/search.gif" alt="Search" title="Search" class="cnnRight"/></form></div> </div>  </div> </div> </div>   <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript"> var $pathname = window.location.pathname; var cnn_metadata = { "section": [ "other", "other" ], "content_type": "none", "template_type": "other" }; cnn_metadata.section = [ "writers", "articles" ]; cnn_metadata.column = { name: "inside fantasy football", title: "fantasy football stat focus: why thomas will be a reliable starter", writer: "michael beller" }; cnn_metadata.template_type = 'content'; cnn_metadata.content_type = 'article read'; cnn_metadata.page_headline = "Fantasy football Stat Focus: Why Thomas will be a reliable starter";</script> <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046js_/http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.element/js/4.2/global/jsmd/jsmd.js"></script> <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript">  </script> <img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046im_/http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e/img/4.0/global/pixels/blank_pixel.gif" alt="" id="TargetImageDE" name="TargetImageDE" onload="cnnad_getDEAdHeadCookie(this)" height="1" width="1"> <script language="Javascript" type="text/javascript">siTracking.init();</script>  <script type="text/javascript"> function siQuantcast() { var lb = "Time Inc News Business and Sports,Sports Illustrated"; var lb_ch = (jsmd.get("m:page.section[0]") ? jsmd.get("m:page.section[0]") : ""); lb+=(lb_ch != null && typeof(lb_ch) == "string" && lb_ch.length > 0) ? "." + lb_ch:""; return lb; } _qoptions={ qacct:"p-5dyPa639IrgIw", labels:siQuantcast() }; </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046js_/http://edge.quantserve.com/quant.js"></script> <noscript><img src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046im_/http://pixel.quantserve.com/pixel/p-5dyPa639IrgIw.gif?labels=Time Inc News Business and Sports,Sports Illustrated" style="display: none;" border="0" height="1" width="1" alt="Quantcast"/></noscript> <script src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046js_/http://js.revsci.net/gateway/gw.js?csid=H07710&auto=t" type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript">TiiAdTrackRevSci();</script>  <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046js_/http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.element/js/4.1/global/pagelinks.js"></script> <script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046js_/http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/.e1d/js/4.2/global/refresh/subnav.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> var _sf_sectionName = ''; var _sf_authorName = 'Michael Beller'; if (typeof cnnPageInfo_section != 'undefined') { _sf_sectionName = cnnPageInfo_section; if (_sf_authorName == '' && cnnPageInfo_section.indexOf("/writers") >= 0) { _sf_authorName = cnnPageInfo_section.substring(cnnPageInfo_section.indexOf("/writers/")+9); } } var _sf_pageMetas = document.getElementsByTagName('meta'); for (i=0; i<_sf_pageMetas.length; i++) { if (_sf_pageMetas[i].getAttribute("name") == "sailthru.author") { _sf_authorName = _sf_pageMetas[i].getAttribute("content"); } } var _sf_async_config={}; _sf_async_config.uid = 43887; _sf_async_config.domain = 'sportsillustrated.cnn.com'; _sf_async_config.sections = _sf_sectionName; _sf_async_config.authors = _sf_authorName; _sf_async_config.useCanonical = true; (function(){ function loadChartbeat() { window._sf_endpt=(new Date()).getTime(); var e = document.createElement('script'); e.setAttribute('language', 'javascript'); e.setAttribute('type', 'text/javascript'); e.setAttribute('src', (('https:' == document.location.protocol) ? 'https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/https://a248.e.akamai.net/chartbeat.download.akamai.com/102508/' : 'https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://static.chartbeat.com/') + 'js/chartbeat.js'); document.body.appendChild(e); } var oldonload = window.onload; window.onload = (typeof window.onload != 'function') ? loadChartbeat : function() { oldonload(); loadChartbeat(); }; })(); </script> <script type="text/javascript"> (function() { function loadHorizon() { var s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.async = true; s.src = ('https:' === location.protocol?'https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/https://d1gp8joe0evc8s.cloudfront.net':'https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046/http://cdn.sail-horizon.com')+'/horizon/v1.js'; var x = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; x.parentNode.insertBefore(s, x); } loadHorizon(); var oldOnLoad = window.onload; window.onload = function() { if (typeof oldOnLoad === 'function') { oldOnLoad(); } Sailthru.setup({ domain: 'horizon.sportsillustrated.cnn.com', }); }; })(); </script> <img src="/web/20130920214046im_/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/cookie.crumb" width="1" height="1"> <div id="csiIframe" style="visibility:hidden;height:0px;width:0px;"></div>  <script type="text/javascript"> window._taboola = window._taboola || []; window._taboola.push({article: "auto"}); </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20130920214046js_/http://cdn.taboolasyndication.com/libtrc/sportsillustrated-si/loader.js"></script>  </body> </html>