Top 10 Returners
When looking for top fantasy returners, the most important thing to try and figure out is which returner will get the most attempts (that's based on 1 point for every 10 yards returned and 6 points for a touchdown). Try looking for returnmen on bad teams with bad defenses that give up a lot points, allowing them the most opportunities to score you some fantasy points. Here is a list of return men in no specific order.
Last season the Eagles had one of the best return games in the NFL, behind the kick returning of Quintin Demps (1314 yards and 1 touchdown) and rookie punt returner DeSean Jackson (440 yards and 1 touchdown). If that wasn't enough the Eagles acquired Ellis Hobbs (1281 kick return yards and 1 touchdown) and drafted speedster Jeremy Maclin (who will likely be used some on kick returns). No matter which guy gets the job, they will likely be very effective. Follow the battles through training camp and pick the one who wins.
The Bills are in a similar boat as the Eagles, with plenty of dangerous options in the return game. Roscoe Parrish, who is used almost exclusively on punt returns, has led the league in punt return average over the past 2 years and has scored a punt return for touchdown each of the last 3 years. Last season rookie Leodis McKelvin took over the kick return duties from former pro bowler Terrence McGee. McGee had been one of the best in the league in the 4 years before McKelvin took over. McGee has scored 5 touchdowns during that 4 year span. McKelvin didn't disappoint last year, racking up 52 attempts for 1468 yards and 1 touchdown.
RB Rock Cartwright, ---
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Cartwright has been super consistent over the past 3 seasons, never having less then 51 kick return attempts or 1307 yards. He is definitely capable of the big return, having at least 1 run over 80 yards in each of the past 3 seasons -- including a 100 yard return for a touchdown in 2006. He is barely used on offense and thus very fresh whenever a return is needed. If you want the safe pick, Cartwright is it.
RB Clifton Smith, ---
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Clifton Smith had a pretty good rookie season and he didn't start that until the end of October. Smith only played in 9 games, but still made the pro bowl as a return man. He was top 5 in both punt and kick return average, he was the only player in the NFL to score on both a punt and kick return; again all this in only 9 games, imagine what he could do playing a full 16 games.
RB Darren Sproles, ---
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Over his first 3 seasons in the NFL Darren Sproles has been one of most electric and consistent returners in the game. He started out as a much better kick returner, but since his rookie season he has improved and has now become a threat in both the kick and punt return games, scoring a punt return for touchdown in 2007 to go along his kick return touchdowns in 2007 and 2008. While he has started to be used more often on offense, the Chargers will still use him on special teams because he is such a threat each time he touches the ball.
RB Leon Washington, ---
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Since taking over as the key return man for the Jets, Washington has been a very dangerous weapon for New York in the return game. Over his 2 seasons as the return man, Washington put up 1474 total return yards to go along with 3 touchdowns in year 1 and followed that up with 1534 total yards and 1 touchdown. While Washington is now used more often on offense, the Jets will continue to use Washington on special teams because he is so dangerous.
WR Josh Cribbs, ---
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Cribbs has combined the big play with consistency over his 4 years in the NFL. Over his first 4 seasons in the NFL, Cribbs has never had less than 1050 total return yards and returned at least one kick for a touchdown every season. Cribbs took a step backwards in 2008 after his pro bowl season (2212 total return yards and 3 return touchdowns), but slipped to more human-like numbers (1338 total return yards and 1 touchdown). Look for Cribbs to settle somewhere in between his 2007 and 2008 numbers.
