The fantasy football season is coming to a close and for teams that didn't make the playoffs, it's time to look to next season and in 2014, there are a number of players that owners should target if they are in keeper leagues, as players like Randall Cobb, Julio Jones, Doug Martin and others that were injured could be very valuable next year and owners would be wise to snag them.
Certain leagues have different rules about keepers, but if they are standard leagues with keeper rules, Cobb, Martin and Jones are three names to take a hard look at, as they were expecting to be top 10 players this season and they have the potential to be that next year. The Green Bay Packers missed Cobb dearly in their offense, but with Aaron Rodgers out for the back stretch, there was no guarantee he would put up numbers and after getting injured back in October, Cobb was placed on the IR with the designation to return. There is a chance that he could come back over the final two games for the Packers, but fantasy wise that's irrelevant for this season.
Either way, Cobb came in as an electric player this year with scoring ability and he should be considered a top 20 pick next season as long as he is healthy. If someone dropped him earlier, try to scoop him up for some bench stashing, as he is a valuable weapon in the receiving game and on special teams. Cobb was leading the Packers when he was injured and he had 29 catches for 378 yards this season with two touchdowns and he had two great games to start the year, combining for 16 catches for over 220 yards and two scores before getting hurt a few weeks later against Baltimore. Cobb suffered a fractured fibula and while Jarrett Boykin was solid in his place, Cobb will be great coming back next season.
Julio Jones is one of the most dynamic receivers in the league and after dealing with a foot issue, he was shut down for the season after having surgery and while that was tough for the Falcons, fantasy owners should look to him as a smart keeper. There's no way the Falcons will be as bad next season as they were this year and that bodes well for Jones, as does a full offseason for himself and Roddy White to get healthy. White was banged up all season and that hurt Jones while he was healthy, as teams could double team him knowing White was hurt by a bum ankle.
On top of that, the injuries to the two wide receivers has made Harry Douglas emerge and while he may take a few receptions from Jones next season, he also will take attention from opposing DBs. Like Cobb, Jones was leading the team with 41 catches for 580 yards and two touchdowns and now that he is out for the season, he has the chance to have a big bounce back year and keeping him could be a great move for fantasy owners.
Doug Martin is another top 10 player to look at, as he was shut down for the season with a shoulder injury and that came after he had nearly 500 yards rushing. Martin wasn't having as big a year as he did last season, but a long layoff and another offseason under his belt could mean a huge 2014.
