Below, four of these players, who also happen to be hospital and healthcare executives, share their top picks (and one big disappointment) for the current season.
Mike Browder, Executive Vice President and CFO of RegionalCare Hospital Partners (Brentwood, Tenn.): This one’s easy for me — Eagles [running back] LeSean McCoy. I wouldn’t have bet on this happening successfully, but it looks like Chip Kelly’s transitioning of the Eagles from a pass-first offense to a run-first, fast-paced offense just might work. They’ve apparently significantly upgraded the [offensive] line, and the pace of the offense is helping the running game a lot. I think McCoy will ‘blow up’ this year, and I’d rather have him than [Vikings running back] Adrian Peterson.
Oh, and one more reason I’m sure he’ll have a fabulous season — he’s not on my fantasy team!
Joe Fifer, CEO of Healthcare Financial Management Association (Westchester, Ill.): It’s been a few years since I have played fantasy football, so my research consists of ESPN radio anecdotes and banter. That being said, I always liked the benefit of a solid quarterback. A good QB puts up big numbers almost every week with a pass-happy league.
There are so many injuries in the NFL, and I like a QB that stays healthy for all or most of the season. That eliminates the flashy, mobile guys like RGIII or even Colin Kaepernick. I like Peyton Manning in Denver for a great year and think Drew Brees is always a solid pick. For a bit of a sleeper (although maybe not too much of a sleeper based on his last two years) is the Lions’ Matt Stafford, who has perhaps the best receiver in Megatron and a new weapon with running back Reggie Bush catching the ball out of the backfield. Yeah, a bit of a homer pick, but what the heck, fantasy football is about cheering for the guys you want to win, isn’t it?
Jaime Parent, Vice President of IT Operations and Associate CIO of Rush University Medical Center (Chicago): Hands down, Adrian Peterson will be the best fantasy player in 2013. On any given week, some players will shine and get all of the headlines. But week in and week out, AP is in his prime, and he is in the perfect offense to grind out yards on the ground and in the air. And no fullback will get the ball on the one-yard line — AP will pick up those points as well.
[However] Chris Johnson [running back for the Titans] will be a real heartbreaker. He has gone from a hole-buster to a tap dancer who seems to tiptoe sideways rather than breaking one downfield.
Nathan Tudor, CEO of Beauregard Memorial Hospital (DeRidder, La.): I am going with Drew Brees because I think he is going to put up some big numbers. Plus, I like him as a person. And living in Louisiana, you’d better pull for the Saints!
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