Fantasy Football: Beware the Stars of 2011 in 2012

Across the nation really big and incredibly athletic individuals are reporting to a yearly ritual they call training camp. They'll study playbooks, play jokes on rookies, hopefully stay out of trouble, and in the end they will be ready for something that much of the nation has been looking forward to since early February--the 2012-13 NFL season!

With the NFL season comes fantasy football. Training camp typically kicks of a couple weeks of intense preparation for the draft. This year there are going to be a number of guys drafted pretty early due to their '11 performance. As great an idea as it may seem to grab the previous season's superstars early, success on one season does not always mean success in the next.

The following are five guys that you'll be tempted to draft early in ‘12, but should wait till the middle to late rounds. If your buddy happens to pick them up don't worry; you can get them off the waiver wire after he gets mad and drops them.

Victor Cruz, WR, New York Giants: Cruz cam out of nowhere last season; this year he will not be a surprise. Expect teams to double down on him more often than they do Hakeem Nicks. Should Nicks get hurt look for him to get triple teamed because the rest of the Giant wide receivers are a bit inexperienced. Add on Tom Coughlin trying to establish the run and Cruz is worth a mid/late round pick at best.

A.J. Green, WR, Cincinnati Bengals: Green had a solid season with 1057 yards, but look for the dreaded sophomore curse in '12. Teams will know what he can do now and will be ready for him. He's going to have to learn how to further develop his game, a process that often comes with setbacks in production. With a questionable running game, teams will look to take the take Green out of the game and force the Bengals to run. Consider him a late round pick at best.

Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints: When you have a record setting season like Brees did in '11 there are only two things he can do in '12-- set the record again or suffer a fall from grace. With all the drama surrounding the team, the trouble with his contract, and the question that still remains regarding who the Saints head coach is going to be for six games don't look for Brees to shine. He'll be good, because he is who he is, but don't bet the farm on him or take him with a first or second round pick.

Marshawn Lynch, RB, Seattle Seahawks: Lynch came out of nowhere in '11 and probably helped a few fantasy owners win their league championships. Those same owners will want to draft him early in '12—let them. Lynch is going to face more defensive fronts stacked to stop him.

He'll need Tarvaris Jackson or Matt Flynn to get a passing game going to take some of the pressure off him. Don't expect that to happen. He could also be facing a suspension after his latest run in with the law. Consider him a No 2 running back at best, but a bye-week replacement is more likely.

Tony Romo, QB, Dallas Cowboys: Romo has been a statistical success since becoming the starter in Dallas, but look for those days to come to an end in '12. The team simply has too many question marks. Can the offensive line give him the protection he needs? Can Dez Bryant stay out of trouble and continue to develop his game? Will Demarco Murray give the ‘Boys the running game they've missed since losing Emmitt Smith? Can Miles Austin stay healthy? Will the team pick up another wide receiver (since Bryant and Austin are all they really have)?

There are simply too many holes. Treat Romo like Brees and let someone else take him. You will not be sorry.