Players most likely to score from long distance once they have the ball with space.
Below you'll find a handy listing of players with huge potential for breaking the big play.
The below ranking is not a formal Cheat Sheet. But, in some ways, it's just as valuable.
Offensive scheme and/or open field ability (speed, moves, acceleration) limit some player's quick-strike status. Also, keep in mind this analysis is based on potential. As Doug Flutie says, "potential can be dangerous and overrated in sports." This analysis assumes a player has the football in his hands and is in a situation to make something happen.
Next to each player, you'll find his Quick Strike Rating (QSR). The QSR is part judgement and part Measurement (arm strength, 40-speed, etc.). The QSR is only relative within a position. It should not be used to compare players of different positions.
If your league doesn't reward for long distance scores, it's still a good idea to become very familiar with everyone below. If you're looking for a player with breakout potential, the ability to score from long distance never hurts.
An example of how important Quick Strike can be...
Back in 2002, Clinton Portis had a huge breakout seasons. Yet, he was selected late in many drafts that year. Looking at his physical skills, the wise owner grabbed Portis in the mid-rounds in 2002 and won big. While Portis was a hit-or-miss pick before the 2002 season, his upside was outstanding and it was reflected in his Quick Strike Rating.
In 2009, Chris Johnson was a huge value pick during the draft and his Quick Strike Rating refelected his upside.
Chances are this year's top breakout player is high on a list below.
If you're struggling with a 'who should I draft' or 'who should I pickup' decision this season, consult this list. Everything else being equal -- Go for the Play Maker!
| QB1 | Vick, Michael | PHI | 682 |
| QB2 | Rodgers, Aaron | GB | 630 |
| QB3 | Roethlisberger, Ben | PIT | 627 |
| QB4 | Rivers, Philip | SD | 607 |
| QB5 | Brady, Tom | NE | 545 |
| QB6 | Young, Vince | PHI | 484 |
| QB7 | Brees, Drew | NO | 477 |
| QB8 | Romo, Tony | DAL | 426 |
| QB9 | Schaub, Matt | HOU | 426 |
| QB10 | Stafford, Matthew | DET | 426 |
| QB11 | Cutler, Jay | CHI | 422 |
| QB12 | Manning, Peyton | IND | 422 |
| QB13 | Newton, Cam | CAR | 419 |
| QB14 | Tebow, Tim | DEN | 409 |
| QB15 | Manning, Eli | NYG | 375 |
| QB16 | Flacco, Joe | BAL | 341 |
| QB17 | Locker, Jake | TEN | 330 |
| QB18 | Freeman, Josh | TB | 323 |
| QB19 | Gabbert, Blaine | JAX | 323 |
| QB20 | Bradford, Sam | STL | 306 |
| QB21 | Kaepernick, Colin | SF | 306 |
| QB22 | McNabb, Donovan | MIN | 296 |
| QB23 | Stanzi, Ricky | KC | 272 |
| QB24 | Dalton, Andy | CIN | 272 |
| QB25 | Campbell, Jason | OAK | 238 |
| QB26 | Sanchez, Mark | NYJ | 238 |
| QB27 | Ryan, Matt | ATL | 235 |
| QB28 | Garrard, David | | 235 |
| QB29 | Smith, Alex | SF | 231 |
| QB30 | Hasselbeck, Matt | TEN | 231 |
| QB31 | Henne, Chad | MIA | 231 |
| QB32 | Jackson, Tarvaris | SEA | 225 |
| QB33 | Fitzpatrick, Ryan | BUF | 225 |
| QB34 | Orton, Kyle | KC | 218 |
| QB35 | Kolb, Kevin | ARI | 211 |
| QB36 | McCoy, Colt | CLE | 208 |
| QB37 | Grossman, Rex | WAS | 204 |
| QB38 | Ponder, Christian | MIN | 197 |
| QB39 | Cassel, Matt | KC | 197 |
| QB40 | Gradkowski, Bruce | CIN | 180 |
| QB41 | Moore, Matt | MIA | 173 |
| QB42 | Whitehurst, Charlie | SEA | 167 |
| QB43 | Collins, Kerry | IND | 153 |
| QB44 | Beck, John | WAS | 136 |
| RB1 | Charles, Jamaal | KC | 585 |
| RB2 | Johnson, Chris | TEN | 562 |
| RB3 | Peterson, Adrian | MIN | 515 |
| RB4 | Best, Jahvid | DET | 491 |
| RB5 | Foster, Arian | HOU | 468 |
| RB6 | McFadden, Darren | OAK | 468 |
| RB7 | McCoy, LeSean | PHI | 449 |
| RB8 | Jones, Felix | DAL | 440 |
| RB9 | Rice, Ray | BAL | 430 |
| RB10 | Forte, Matt | CHI | 421 |
| RB11 | Blount, LeGarrette | TB | 421 |
| RB12 | Murray, DeMarco | DAL | 421 |
| RB13 | Ringer, Javon | TEN | 416 |
| RB14 | McCluster, Dexter | KC | 412 |
| RB15 | Jones-Drew, Maurice | JAX | 398 |
| RB16 | Scott, Bernard | CIN | 398 |
| RB17 | Sproles, Darren | NO | 398 |
| RB18 | Washington, Leon | SEA | 398 |
| RB19 | Spiller, C.J. | BUF | 384 |
| RB20 | Mathews, Ryan | SD | 384 |
| RB21 | Williams, DeAngelo | CAR | 384 |
| RB22 | Moreno, Knowshon | DEN | 384 |
| RB23 | Bush, Reggie | MIA | 384 |
| RB24 | Stephens-Howling, LaRod | ARI | 379 |
| RB25 | Stewart, Jonathan | CAR | 379 |
| RB26 | Torain, Ryan | | 379 |
| RB27 | Vereen, Shane | NE | 374 |
| RB28 | Helu, Roy | WAS | 374 |
| RB29 | Bradshaw, Ahmad | NYG | 374 |
| RB30 | Karim, Deji | JAX | 374 |
| RB31 | Forsett, Justin | SEA | 374 |
| RB32 | Gore, Frank | SF | 374 |
| RB33 | Hillis, Peyton | CLE | 374 |
| RB34 | Rodgers, Jacquizz | ATL | 351 |
| RB35 | Jacobs, Brandon | NYG | 341 |
| RB36 | Williams, Ricky | BAL | 337 |
| RB37 | Mendenhall, Rashard | PIT | 327 |
| RB38 | Thomas, Daniel | MIA | 327 |
| RB39 | Greene, Shonn | NYJ | 327 |
| RB40 | Woodhead, Danny | NE | 327 |
| RB41 | Ingram, Mark | NO | 327 |
| RB42 | Todman, Jordan | MIN | 327 |
| RB43 | Jackson, Steven | STL | 318 |
| RB44 | McKnight, Joe | NYJ | 318 |
| RB45 | Starks, James | GB | 304 |
| RB46 | Norwood, Jerious | STL | 304 |
| RB47 | Brown, Donald | IND | 299 |
| RB48 | Grant, Ryan | GB | 295 |
| RB49 | Lynch, Marshawn | SEA | 290 |
| RB50 | Harrison, Jerome | DET | 281 |
| RB51 | Tate, Ben | HOU | 281 |
| RB52 | Gerhart, Toby | MIN | 281 |
| RB53 | Hunter, Kendall | SF | 281 |
| RB54 | Bush, Michael | OAK | 281 |
| RB55 | Wells, Beanie | ARI | 281 |
| RB56 | Hightower, Tim | WAS | 281 |
| RB57 | Addai, Joseph | IND | 281 |
| RB58 | Snelling, Jason | ATL | 271 |
| RB59 | Leonard, Brian | CIN | 271 |
| RB60 | Thomas, Pierre | NO | 271 |
| RB61 | Green-Ellis, BenJarvus | NE | 262 |
| RB62 | Tolbert, Mike | SD | 262 |
| RB63 | Turner, Michael | ATL | 262 |
| RB64 | Hardesty, Montario | CLE | 257 |
| RB65 | McGahee, Willis | DEN | 252 |
| RB66 | Choice, Tashard | BUF | 248 |
| RB67 | Tomlinson, LaDainian | NYJ | 248 |
| RB68 | Dixon, Anthony | SF | 234 |
| RB69 | Jackson, Fred | BUF | 229 |
| RB70 | Benson, Cedric | CIN | 224 |
| RB71 | Carter, Delone | IND | 220 |
| RB72 | Williams, Carnell | STL | 215 |
| RB73 | Morris, Maurice | DET | 215 |
| RB74 | Brown, Ronnie | PHI | 215 |
| RB75 | Ware, Danny | NYG | 210 |
| RB76 | Jones, Greg | JAX | 201 |
| RB77 | Barber, Marion | CHI | 196 |
| RB78 | Dwyer, Jonathan | PIT | 192 |
| RB79 | Graham, Earnest | TB | 177 |
| RB80 | Taylor, Chester | ARI | 163 |
| RB81 | Hilliard, Lex | MIA | 163 |
| RB82 | Moore, Mewelde | PIT | 154 |
| RB83 | McClain, Le'Ron | KC | 154 |
| RB84 | Powell, Bilal | NYJ | 140 |
| RB85 | Green, Alex | GB | 140 |
| RB86 | Redman, Isaac | PIT | 140 |
| RB87 | Lewis, Dion | PHI | 140 |
| RB88 | Evans, Darren | | 140 |
| RB89 | Harper, Jamie | TEN | 140 |
| RB90 | Ward, Derrick | HOU | 140 |
| RB91 | White, Johnny | BUF | 140 |
| RB92 | Ridley, Stevan | NE | 140 |
| RB93 | Goodson, Mike | CAR | 131 |
| RB94 | Jones, Thomas | KC | 131 |
| RB95 | Reece, Marcel | OAK | 121 |
| RB96 | Ball, Lance | DEN | 112 |
| RB97 | Kuhn, John | GB | 93 |
| RB98 | Hester, Jacob | SD | 93 |
| RB99 | Lumpkin, Kregg | TB | 60 |
| RB100 | Smith, Alfonso | ARI | 23 |
| WR1 | Jackson, DeSean | PHI | 738 |
| WR2 | Wallace, Mike | PIT | 701 |
| WR3 | Britt, Kenny | TEN | 554 |
| WR4 | Johnson, Calvin | DET | 539 |
| WR5 | Jackson, Vincent | SD | 539 |
| WR6 | Johnson, Andre | HOU | 535 |
| WR7 | Lloyd, Brandon | STL | 524 |
| WR8 | Jones, Julio | ATL | 517 |
| WR9 | Bowe, Dwayne | KC | 487 |
| WR10 | Ford, Jacoby | OAK | 483 |
| WR11 | Green, A.J. | CIN | 480 |
| WR12 | Armstrong, Anthony | WAS | 480 |
| WR13 | Floyd, Malcom | SD | 480 |
| WR14 | Smith, Torrey | BAL | 461 |
| WR15 | Jennings, Greg | GB | 458 |
| WR16 | Knox, Johnny | CHI | 443 |
| WR17 | Decker, Eric | DEN | 439 |
| WR18 | Nicks, Hakeem | NYG | 432 |
| WR19 | Austin, Miles | DAL | 406 |
| WR20 | Hill, Jason | | 395 |
| WR21 | Meachem, Robert | NO | 395 |
| WR22 | Edwards, Braylon | | 387 |
| WR23 | Rice, Sidney | SEA | 387 |
| WR24 | Bryant, Dez | DAL | 384 |
| WR25 | Smith, Steve L | CAR | 376 |
| WR26 | Williams, Mike | TB | 373 |
| WR27 | Holmes, Santonio | NYJ | 365 |
| WR28 | Fitzgerald, Larry | ARI | 358 |
| WR29 | Garcon, Pierre | IND | 347 |
| WR30 | Murphy, Louis | OAK | 347 |
| WR31 | Manningham, Mario | NYG | 343 |
| WR32 | Sanders, Emmanuel | PIT | 339 |
| WR33 | Young, Titus | DET | 339 |
| WR34 | Evans, Lee | BAL | 336 |
| WR35 | Johnson, Steve | BUF | 336 |
| WR36 | Heyward-Bey, Darrius | OAK | 336 |
| WR37 | Cobb, Randall | GB | 332 |
| WR38 | Benn, Arrelious | TB | 325 |
| WR39 | White, Roddy | ATL | 325 |
| WR40 | Briscoe, Dez | TB | 321 |
| WR41 | Wayne, Reggie | IND | 317 |
| WR42 | Harvin, Percy | MIN | 317 |
| WR43 | Little, Greg | CLE | 313 |
| WR44 | Simpson, Jerome | CIN | 310 |
| WR45 | Owens, Terrell | | 306 |
| WR46 | Maclin, Jeremy | PHI | 302 |
| WR47 | Washington, Nate | TEN | 302 |
| WR48 | Crayton, Patrick | SD | 295 |
| WR49 | Mason, Derrick | | 291 |
| WR50 | Henderson, Devery | NO | 288 |
| WR51 | Breaston, Steve | KC | 284 |
| WR52 | Marshall, Brandon | MIA | 284 |
| WR53 | Shorts, Cecil | JAX | 277 |
| WR54 | Colston, Marques | NO | 277 |
| WR55 | Williams, Roy | CHI | 273 |
| WR56 | Morgan, Josh | SF | 273 |
| WR57 | Hartline, Brian | MIA | 265 |
| WR58 | Ochocinco, Chad | NE | 265 |
| WR59 | Jones, James | GB | 265 |
| WR60 | Sims-Walker, Mike | JAX | 254 |
| WR61 | Cruz, Victor | NYG | 251 |
| WR62 | Burress, Plaxico | NYJ | 251 |
| WR63 | Douglas, Harry | ATL | 251 |
| WR64 | Massaquoi, Mohamed | CLE | 247 |
| WR65 | Crabtree, Michael | SF | 247 |
| WR66 | Moore, Denarius | OAK | 240 |
| WR67 | Brown, Vincent | SD | 240 |
| WR68 | Moss, Santana | WAS | 232 |
| WR69 | Hester, Devin | CHI | 232 |
| WR70 | Boldin, Anquan | BAL | 232 |
| WR71 | Branch, Deion | NE | 229 |
| WR72 | Clayton, Mark | STL | 217 |
| WR73 | Nelson, Jordy | GB | 214 |
| WR74 | LaFell, Brandon | CAR | 206 |
| WR75 | Bennett, Earl | CHI | 206 |
| WR76 | Parrish, Roscoe | BUF | 203 |
| WR77 | Naanee, Legedu | CAR | 199 |
| WR78 | Avant, Jason | PHI | 195 |
| WR79 | Jones, Jacoby | HOU | 195 |
| WR80 | Gaffney, Jabar | WAS | 192 |
| WR81 | Cotchery, Jerricho | PIT | 184 |
| WR82 | Thomas, Mike | JAX | 180 |
| WR83 | Williams, Mike X | SEA | 173 |
| WR84 | Shipley, Jordan | CIN | 173 |
| WR85 | Doucet, Early | ARI | 169 |
| WR86 | Burleson, Nate | DET | 169 |
| WR87 | Caldwell, Andre | CIN | 166 |
| WR88 | Smith, Steve | PHI | 166 |
| WR89 | Ward, Hines | PIT | 158 |
| WR90 | Roberts, Andre | ARI | 158 |
| WR91 | Royal, Eddie | DEN | 158 |
| WR92 | Walter, Kevin | HOU | 151 |
| WR93 | Jenkins, Michael | MIN | 144 |
| WR94 | Bess, Davone | MIA | 140 |
| WR95 | Hixon, Domenik | NYG | 140 |
| WR96 | Brown, Antonio | PIT | 140 |
| WR97 | Robiskie, Brian | JAX | 140 |
| WR98 | Berrian, Bernard | | 140 |
| WR99 | Welker, Wes | NE | 140 |
| WR100 | Driver, Donald | GB | 140 |
| WR101 | Weems, Eric | ATL | 129 |
| WR102 | Nelson, David | BUF | 129 |
| WR103 | Moore, Lance | NO | 118 |
| WR104 | Gibson, Brandon | STL | 118 |
| WR105 | Collie, Austin | IND | 114 |
| WR106 | Smith, Brad | BUF | 110 |
| WR107 | Urban, Jerheme | KC | 110 |
| WR108 | Ogletree, Kevin | DAL | 59 |
| WR109 | Amendola, Danny | STL | 55 |
| WR110 | Jones, Donald | BUF | 36 |
| TE1 | Davis, Vernon | SF | 705 |
| TE2 | Gates, Antonio | SD | 674 |
| TE3 | Finley, Jermichael | GB | 644 |
| TE4 | Graham, Jimmy | NO | 506 |
| TE5 | Moore, Evan | CLE | 460 |
| TE6 | Daniels, Owen | HOU | 460 |
| TE7 | Hernandez, Aaron | NE | 460 |
| TE8 | Cook, Jared | TEN | 398 |
| TE9 | Davis, Fred | WAS | 398 |
| TE10 | Kendricks, Lance | STL | 383 |
| TE11 | Boss, Kevin | OAK | 383 |
| TE12 | Gresham, Jermaine | CIN | 383 |
| TE13 | Thomas, Julius | DEN | 383 |
| TE14 | Rudolph, Kyle | MIN | 383 |
| TE15 | Cooley, Chris | WAS | 383 |
| TE16 | Clark, Dallas | IND | 383 |
| TE17 | Miller, Zach | SEA | 383 |
| TE18 | Celek, Brent | PHI | 383 |
| TE19 | Lewis, Marcedes | JAX | 383 |
| TE20 | Keller, Dustin | NYJ | 383 |
| TE21 | Dickson, Ed | BAL | 368 |
| TE22 | Dreessen, Joel | HOU | 337 |
| TE23 | Scheffler, Tony | DET | 306 |
| TE24 | Winslow, Kellen | TB | 306 |
| TE25 | Olsen, Greg | CAR | 306 |
| TE26 | Witten, Jason | DAL | 306 |
| TE27 | Stocker, Luke | TB | 306 |
| TE28 | Pettigrew, Brandon | DET | 306 |
| TE29 | Heap, Todd | ARI | 306 |
| TE30 | Pitta, Dennis | BAL | 276 |
| TE31 | Gronkowski, Rob | NE | 276 |
| TE32 | Miller, Heath | PIT | 276 |
| TE33 | Gonzalez, Tony | ATL | 230 |
| TE34 | Watson, Ben | CLE | 230 |
| TE35 | Shockey, Jeremy | CAR | 230 |
| TE36 | Davis, Kellen | CHI | 199 |
| TE37 | Miller, Zachary | JAX | 153 |
| TE38 | Fasano, Anthony | MIA | 153 |
| TE39 | Shiancoe, Visanthe | MIN | 153 |
| TE40 | Fells, Daniel | DEN | 92 |
| TE41 | Thomas, Dave | NO | 92 |
| TE42 | Beckum, Travis | NYG | 46 |
| TE43 | Pope, Leonard | KC | 46 |