Felix Jones, Andrew Miller, Danica Patrick Among "Rising Sports Stars" For September 2011

According to BAT, “The lockout may have worked to Felix Jones’ advantage – lighter, faster and stronger, the first-year Dallas Cowboys running back has put on quite the pre-season show. Recording 15 carries and 99 yards in the first three pre-season games, Jones has earned the respect of teammates and coaches.”

BAT said their stats show Jones also has become a top fantasy football pick, which may or may not change when the Cowboys play the Miami Dolphins tonight in their final pre-season game and then open the regular season against the Minnesota Vikings.

Second on the list for  tennis pro, John Isner, who won the Winston-Salem Open title as a prelude to playing in the U.S. Open.

BAT said it determines its list each month based on a combination of “media exposure, performance, awards, popularity, engagement, and fan base, among other indicators, for more than 45,000 athletes and celebrities.”

One reason that Specific attention is paid to athletes whose rise or fall in from the previous month has been dramatic.

“These stars represent fresh, high-performing talent for marketers looking to capitalize on the incredible passion that consumers have for their favorite sports stars,” Ryan Steelberg, CEO of Brand Affinity Technologies, said in a statement.

“Many of the pros on this list are underutilized as advertising partners and are poised to deliver strong return via online and social as well as more traditional campaigns,” said Steelberg. “Time and again, we’ve seen brands that move quickly to sign rising talent come out ahead as breakout stars become top performers.”