Fantasy Football Info For Serious Players
|
|
Login / Signup |
|
| Introduction • QB • RB • WR • TE | |||||||||||||||||||
|
Deep Sleeper WRs
Mike Brown - Okay, let’s try this again. I was all over him last year in several leagues, and he didn’t quite pan out as I had hoped. He did have a mid-season resurgence, only to be knocked back by injury and ineffectiveness from the entire offense. Still, I can’t just overlook a #1 wide receiver with this kind of talent this late in the draft. David Dodds - OK, the 49ers are going to be horrible. We all know that. But aren't bad teams forced to throw the ball to catch up? Brandon Lloyd is the clear #1 WR on this team of no-stars. Rashaun Woods, the highly touted rookie drafted last season, has shown nothing and likely will be a role player at best. In Lloyd, the 49ers likely have a player that is a rising star in this league. Known for his acrobatic catches, he clearly is someone that will likely be on Primetime a few times this season. Now if he can just improve his concentration and consistently make the routine play as well, then he may become an outstanding football player. Despite his inconsistent play, he still managed 5 games where he was targeted 10 or more times. This could be the year he breaks out. Clayton Gray - Of course Lloyd struggled last season, but rare is the WR that excels in his first year as a starter. That said, the entire 49ers offense will not be a powerful unit, so don't expect Lloyd to put up top tier fantasy WR numbers. He should improve though, so it is a bit baffling to see him drafted as WR53 when he finished as WR47 last season. Will Grant - Just missed the top 150, but still a bargain at this price. Finished in the Top 50 WRS despite missing three games. Caught a pass in all 13 games he played in, 11 games with two or more receptions, including seven games with four or more. Cedrick Wilson (Best WR for SF in 2004) has moved to Pittsburgh, so Lloyd is the clear #1. Having a Rookie QB is a slight concern, but should still make selecting Lloyd in the 11th round a good value pick. Andy Hicks - With the departure of Curtis Conway and Cedrick Wilson and last years first rounder Rashaun Woods struggling, Brandon Lloyd is the clear No.1 Wide Receiver in San Francisco. At his current draft slot many are expecting him to regress from last season. In his 3rd year, Lloyd finally has the opportunity to explode onto the fantasy radar. Get him this year at incredible value. Maurile Tremblay - Lloyd has been inconsistent so far in his career, but he has flashed some big-play potential, and appears to be 49ers’ primary receiver heading into the 2005 season. A 1,000-yard season wouldn’t be a stretch. How many other twelfth- or thirteenth-rounders can you say that about? Jason Wood - I don’t expect Lloyd to be a world beater this season, but SOMEONE has to catch passes from the 49ers quarterback (whoever that may be). In a generally dismal season where he only played 13 games, Lloyd finished 47th last season, so why he would fall further is beyond me. I project Lloyd to be the 49ers top receiver, and finish solidly among the top 40 at his position; not great, but value at his current ADP. "Bagger" - Despite an injury plagued season in 2004, Lloyd cracked the top 50 in wide receiver fantasy production. Coming into his third full season in the NFL in 2005, Lloyd should exceed his 2004 production, as he will be the “go-to” receiver in the San Francisco offense. Lloyd dropping in fantasy drafts is a classic example of drafters discounting production of all players on a poor offense. 800 yards and 7 TDs will not be a stretch for Lloyd in 2005, giving him strong upside for the price you can draft him at. "Couch Potato" - It's probably not fair to even include Lloyd as a sleeper, but since he didn't make the top 150 ADP list of excluded players he technically qualifies. Lloyd is the WR1 on a team that will be playing from behind and having to pass all year. Garbage stats or not, they all count. He was 43-565-6 in his 2nd season, and gone from last year's team are Cedrick Wilson and Curtis Conway who combined for 85-1,044-6. The WR2 this year, whoever it turns out to be, will have never started a game for the 49ers. I like the coaching staff now in place in SF, including HC Nolan and Receivers Coach Jerry Sullivan. Lloyd is a decent bet for 1,000 yards and 8 TDs. "Unlucky" - After failing to live up to some hype last year, Lloyd has fallen off the radar. Somebody has to catch the ball in SF, and the rest of the WRs are horrible. Lloyd will start all season if healthy, after missing 3 games last year. I expect a nice gain in receptions and yards, although I’m not expecting any more TDs. He’s the #41 WR on my board, and a nice value pick.
Cathy Fazio - It is amazing to me how low Amani Toomer is being drafted. Granted Eli Manning will still exhibit growing pains in his second season. And the Giants added Plaxico Burress to replace Ike Hilliard and Jeremy Shockey is looking healthy at this point and should get more looks. But Toomer has been an extremely consistent receiver over the last six seasons and is a steal at this point in the draft. Will Grant - Worst receiving stats in seven years helps keep his ADP low, but Eli Manning is a better QB this year than last. With Hilliard gone, Toomer is still a solid option at WR for the team. Burress will be the downfield guy, but Toomer will see action as well. Even if he only has two or three TDS for the year, his receiving yards will be enough to make him great value near the end of the 13th round. Andy Hicks - Was last year a fluke for Amani Toomer or the shape of things to come? At his current draft slot it’s worth finding out. Ultra consistent before last year with 5 consecutive 1000 yard seasons and even a top 10 finish in 2002. It is not inconceivable that Toomer once again becomes a fantasy starter. Toomer is suited to being the complementary receiver and the Giants offense should be much improved. Draft him as your 5th receiver and you’ll have definite value. Maurile Tremblay - Toomer has had over 1,000 yards receiving in five out of the past six seasons. Most people figure that Plaxico Burress will be the Giants’ leading receiver this year, but Toomer has generally had the more productive career of the two, and could have another 1,000-yard season if QB Eli Manning continues to improve. Mark Wimer - Last season, between a nagging hamstring injury and a struggling rookie QB, Toomer failed to cross 800 yards receiving and didn’t catch a TD. This year, complementary threat Plaxico Burress replaces Ike Hilliard, which should open up some room for Toomer to operate in opposing secondaries. He had a string of 5 1000+ receiving yard seasons prior to 2004 – if Manning has grown into a bona-fide NFL starter, he should get back to that level of production in 2005. David Yudkin - Amani Toomer ranked in the Top 20 four times and ranked in the Top 30 five consecutive seasons. Even with a single TD reception this year, he will improve upon the shutout he pitched in the TD category in 2004. Toomer ranked 53rd with 0 TDs, missing a game, and a rookie QB inserted at mid-season. Expect Manning to improve, Plaxico Burress to open up some space, and Toomer rank as a viable fantasy WR3. "Bloom" - Last year was Toomer’s worst since 1998. Expect a rebound in 2005, close to his typical 70/1050/6ish year. The Giants’ QB play will be improved and stable with a one-year-wiser Eli Manning at the helm. Plaxico Burress will draw more attention from opposing defenses than anyone that has played opposite Toomer over his entire career – the #2 CB will be covering Toomer now. Toomer turns 31 this season, so he’s not at the point yet to suggest an extreme drop-off in his skills. Even if he just improves slightly on his numbers last year, he will outperform his current draft position. "Fullback Fro" - I know he is not a deep sleeper but according to ADP, he is being drafted so late that he is in deep sleeper territory. Is Plaxico Burress really going to score more fantasy points than Toomer? I don’t see it. Amani was slowed a little by injuries last year but he is still a leader on this team. He is slipping so far in drafts this year that he is becoming tremendous value. The valuable experience that Manning has gained over the last year and the confidence that he will gain going into the season as the clear-cut starter will only help Toomer as his go-to-guy. "Tick" - Toomer has been a top-20 WR four times in his career, including 2002 and 2003, when he finished 6th and 17th respectively. He fell off the map last season amid the mess at QB for the Giants. I don't expect him to get back to his top-20 form with Plaxico Burress in town, but Burress has shown immaturity and a tendency to get injured. Toomer and Burress are roughly equally talented, and it wouldn't surprise me to see Toomer finish the season ranked higher than Burress, who's currently going 82nd overall (WR29). The problem with the Giants is Eli Manning, who was Leaf-esque last season. Add an offseason as the clear #1 to the experience he gained last season, though, and the passing game should improve. "Unlucky" - Amani Toomer is a sleeper? He’s not in the top 150 of average drafts, so he qualifies. His zero TDs last year probably helps, as he suffered his worst year in the last 6. Coughlin running the show won’t make Toomer a star, but he should be able to bounce back from last year’s disappointing season. He’s the #42 WR on my board right now, with upside to finish higher if he gets back over 1000 yds and 5 TDs.
Cathy Fazio - While only playing in six games last year, Terry Glenn still made 24 receptions for 400 yards. If Glenn remains healthy he is a great complement to Keyshawn Johnson in the Cowboys’ offense. And as an added bonus he finds himself reunited with his former teammate Drew Bledsoe. Aaron Rudnicki - Glenn got off to a great start in 2004 before suffering an injury. When healthy, he’s almost always been a very productive player. This year, he’ll be reunited with Drew Bledsoe who still throws a beautiful deep ball that should play perfectly to Glenn’s strength (i.e., speed). At 31 years old, Glenn isn’t quite over the hill yet and he should see plenty of favorable matchups with the emergence of players like Julius Jones and Jason Witten drawing most of the defensive attention. He remains a considerable injury risk, but if healthy he will have little trouble outperforming this ADP. Jason Wood - In six games played last year, Glenn managed 24 receptions for 400 yards and two touchdowns. Project that over a full season and you have 64 catches for 1,067 yards and five touchdowns. While Glenn’s oft-injured history warrants consideration, he’s only a season removed from a 27th place fantasy finish and is reunited with Drew Bledsoe this year in Big D. He’ll outperform his ADP by quite a bit if healthy, and if he’s not, you can cut bait quickly and grab someone off waivers. David Yudkin - In his first full season in Dallas, Glenn ranked 27th. In his three healthy seasons in New England with Drew Bledsoe, Glenn ranked in the Top 25 each season. A healthy Glenn could again rank in the Top 30, and getting WR3 production from a player not even in the Top 60 would be a great value. Glenn could be a great bye week fill-in or even start if needed. "BostonFred" - Glenn started out hot last year, putting up 394 yards and 2 TDs in his first five games before getting injured against his former team. Reuniting with his first NFL quarterback Drew Bledsoe this season, Glenn could put up solid numbers with Keyshawn and Jason Witten drawing coverage. Credit goes to FBG poster Duffman for pointing him out as a sleeper. "Couch Potato" - Guys who will be 31 and entering their 10th year don't make very sexy sleeper picks, I'll admit. Then again, Muhsin Muhammad turned 31 last year, was entering his 9th season, wasn't in the preseason top-50 WRs, and he didn't turn out too badly. So, let's find 'em wherever we can. I think Glenn is seriously undervalued. He's reunited with his old QB, Bledsoe. He's WR1B to Keyshawn's 1A, and Key is being taken 18 WR spots higher. Glenn's current value is down due to a season-ending foot injury from which he is now fully recovered. Always a health concern but he’s always productive when on the field. His career numbers, averaged out for 16 games, give you 70-1,012-5. Again, that's not an upside, that's an average, which ain't bad for an ADP of WR64. "diesel7982" - Last season, in only 5 starts, Terry Glenn produced 394 yards and 2 TDs. Over a full season, that prorates to 1250 yards and 6 TDs. While that is not the most accurate way of predicting performance, it is important to note at what a high rate Glenn was producing before his injury. This year, Glenn will get to reunite with Drew Bledsoe, whom he played several seasons with in New England, and who showed last year he still knows how to throw a deep ball. He certainly should be drafted among the top 50 WRs.
Mike Brown - Even if he doesn’t come close to matching Plaxico Burress’ totals (not likely), he could still provide enough in limited duty to be worth owning. Most people assume he’s too small and can’t take the physical beating of being an every-down receiver, but he’s only one inch shorter and two pounds heavier than teammate Hines Ward. Randle-El can start in this league, and with his skills, who knows how good he can be if given the opportunity? Cecil Lammey - ‘Twaan is a playmaker every time he touches the ball. We saw a glimpse of what he could do last year when he filled in for an injured Plaxico Burress. He had a great game against the Giants and provided Big Ben with a reliable target. He has since given up on his dreams of playing QB in the NFL and is concentrating totally on being the best WR that he can be. He is very shifty and elusive thus making him great after the catch. The Steelers brought in Cedric Wilson to compete with ‘Twaan, but I feel that Randle-El will win the starting job opposite Hines Ward and put up decent numbers. Marc Levin - While he can not replace Plaxico Burress’s size, Randle El might be able to fill his big play role. From the slot the last three years, Randle-El was an exciting playmaker who displayed solid hands and often came through in the clutch. Whether or not he is named the WR2 starter, he is sure to see a significant uptick in his weekly production. Also, he and Hines Ward are practicing all three WR positions to confuse defenses – another good sign that he will be extensively used. Plus, he occasionally provides rushing and passing statistics. If, as is expected, Randle-El sees his year-end targets rise from the 60 range to the 80-90 range, he should be good for nearly 1,000 yards and at least 5 TDs, as a low-end prediction. David Yudkin - On a team with very few passing attempts AND Plaxico Burress, Randle El ranked as the #48 WR. With Burress gone, a slightly less conservative game plan, and a more experienced Ben Roethlisberger leading the team, Burress should improve on his performance from last season. "BassNBrew" - El previously has been stuck behind Ward and Burress, two of the more talented WRs in the NFL, for the last three years. With Burress leaving town, Randel El will finally get his opportunity to demonstrate that he’s a starting caliber NFL WR. Last year he posted numbers of 43-601-3, good for a 48th WR ranking. This year I expect numbers from Randel El equivalent to WRs selected several rounds before him in most fantasy drafts. "nittanylion" - With the departure of Plaxico Burress, Randle El has a golden opportunity to fill a void. While Hines Ward remains the #1 WR option, Randle El gained valuable experience last year, during Plax's absence, and provides the speed dimension to the offense, along with a nice set of hands. The Steelers running game has the horses to keep defenses honest, and even in a 3 WR set, with the newly acquired Cedrick Wilson on the field, Antwaan will likely have the best '1 on 1' matchup in coverage. Without Burress, the Steelers may have to broaden their playbook somewhat to stay ahead of opposing Defensive Coordinators. A former option QB, and return man, Randle El is a 'triple threat' option, adept at both running and throwing, who could provide owners with surprise 'bonus stats' on any given week. Big jumps in production this year, across the board. "Unlucky" - Randle El will be fighting for the #2 spot, which may be a bit of a rotation this year. His YPC jumped to 14.0 last year, as he became a bit more of a downfield threat. While undersized, he has great quickness and elusiveness. Pittsburgh would be wise to get him the ball in a variety of ways and let him make plays. He’s the #49 WR on my board right now.
David Dodds - As things stand right now, Samie looks to be the starting WR opposite of Eddie Kennison for the 2005 season. Over the last three years, the Chiefs have averaged 4,170 yards passing and 27 passing TDs per season. So although Samie may be inexperienced, he has one of the best opportunities in the NFL this season. He did manage 84 yards and a TD last year in one game against Denver. Clayton Gray - Parker has fallen into an ideal situation with the release of Johnnie Morton. Yet he is generally lasting until the 20th round (which means he isn't being taken at all in some leagues). To be able to draft a starting WR from an offense as potent that late is the absolute definition of value. Ron White - With Johnnie Morton gone, Samie Parker will get a shot at the starting job opposite Eddie Kennison. The Chiefs are very pleased with Parker so far through camp so he has a chance to produce in this high flying, very productive offense. If they don’t bring anyone else in, Parker could have a much better than expected season! "Couch Potato" - Fantasy Football Law #1 is that Production equals Opportunity plus Talent plus Team (POTT). Parker is in an exceptional situation for a guy with an ADP of WR73. He is in a prolific offense that passed for more than 4,600 yards last year. He has the best TE in the game (Gonzo) and an aging vet WR (Kennison) to attract a lot of the defensive attention. He is taking over the starting role from Morton (who was cut), who managed nearly 800 yards in 13 games last year despite, truthfully, no longer being a very good WR at age 34. Does Parker have the talent? Based on the last few games of 2004 he got to play in, and early reports this year, I think he does. Parker will start. Opportunity. Talent. Team. Grab this kid; you'll be happy you did. He'll produce. He could end up WR1 on this team in 2005. "Fullback Fro" - Parker really came on at the end of the season last year after coming back from injury and has been impressing since (so much so that the Chiefs cut Johnny Morton and promoted Parker to be the guy to start opposite Eddie Kennison this year). In an explosive passing attack such as Kansas City, having the WR#2 can really help your team especially how late you can grab him. "LHUCKS" - Currently slated as the #2 in KC, if Samie can hold onto the job he’ll have top 20 upside based on opportunity alone. The risk/reward is too tasty to pass up in the later rounds of your draft as the KC offense has been a passing game powerhouse for years now.
Mike Brown - Yup, I must’ve taken my crazy pills again this morning. Crazy as it sounds, I actually expected Boston to be phenomenal last year. If not for that injury, we’d be talking about the renaissance season he enjoyed in Miami. As it stands, you can probably get him near the last round of your draft. And at that point, it’s all about upside. David Yudkin - He’s great when he plays--to the tune of 8.9 fantasy ppg over his career. Over a full season, that would project to 142 fantasy points and would rank him in the Top 25. At the point in the draft where you would be looking for deep sleepers, you should be targeting players that could make an impact as viable fantasy starters. Boston has already ranked as a Top 20 WR three times and is still just 27. He’s worth the minimal risk in the mid rounds. "LHUCKS" - For the last couple of years Boston has been on everyone’s deep sleeper list but he’s slid even further this year to the point where you can grab him at the end of your draft. There’s a ton of risk with this pick, but his upside has been proven and that is hard to find in the final rounds of most drafts. "SammyJankis" - Boston has a reputation as an injury-prone jerk and make no mistake, he’s earned it. However he’s also a former Pro-Bowler that is only 26 years old. Boston is noticeably slimmer than the incredible bulk that has showed up in the spring the last two years. He is saying all the right things in the media. Boston signed an incentive laden contract this spring that will force him to put up big numbers to earn a big check. With Chambers to draw the double coverage on the other side, Boston could produce a nice fantasy season. "Tick" - People hate Boston because he's let down so many FF owners in the past. However, this is still a guy who had a 1600 yard season in 2001, and who finished as WR19 while playing only 14 games in San Diego two years ago before missing last season due to injury. He has competition for catches in Miami in Chambers, Booker, and McMichael, and the QB situation looks bad there. But since you can get him in the 13th round or later, Boston is certainly worth a flier.
Mike Brown - While others fawn over Troy Williamson, and the rest of the owners assume Marcus Robinson will line up opposite Nate Burleson, Travis Taylor is quietly having the best off-season of any of them. He’s been solid in minicamp practice, and is still very much in the running for a starting spot. The #2 WR on Minnesota will have tremendous value, and if Taylor can win it, you’d be getting him extremely cheap. Colin Dowling - I’m probably alone in this thinking, but I don’t believe that the scouts had it wrong when Taylor came out of college. And I don’t believe that in the time since he was the #10 selection overall until now Taylor has forgotten how to be a good receiver. In short, the answer is “yes.” I am predicting Travis Taylor will emerge as the WR2 in Minnesota’s potent passing attack, which means he’ll be of great value to the savvy drafter. "EBF" - Much was expected from Travis Taylor when he was chosen 10th overall in the 2000 NFL draft. Unfortunately for the Ravens, little was received. Taylor only topped 800 yards once in his four years with Baltimore. He deserves some of the blame for his lack of success thus far, but he's never been in a position to succeed. Things are quite a bit different in Minnesota, where Daunte Culpepper has the deep arm and the overall skills to take advantage of Taylor's ability. The Vikings have a few talented guys at WR, but they don't have a clear cut #1. If Taylor can somehow earn that job then he could be a huge surprise. "LHUCKS" - Williamson is the most over hyped rookie in ’05 and Robinson hasn’t been able to stay injury-free for the better part of his career. Additionally, Taylor has received the praise of the Minnesota coaching staff in early workouts. There are a lot of passing yards go around in Minnesota. "nittanylion" - Talk about a new lease on life! Entering FA this year, Taylor made it quite clear he wanted to play for the Vikings, and there he landed, even with a fine group of WRs on the market, and the Vikes with all the money in the world to spend. Taylor never lived up to expectations in Baltimore, but with below average QB play, an offense built around the run and the TE, and a stellar defense, not to mention one of the worst groups of complementary WR ever assembled. The 2005 Vikings should change all that across the board. While he's not a WR #1, Taylor has all the skills to be a top complementary threat, certainly a #2 - routes, grit, and a second gear. After several years working, by default, against #1 CB's, and against some top-caliber competition in practice, Taylor should thrive in a role where he's not the first option, and without limited competition (I see Robinson as more of a role player, and rookie WRs making an impact is far more the exception than the rule), has a great opportunity to win that job outright. Add an All pro level QB into the equation, and a defense, that while developing, still has a ways to go, and it wouldn't be hard to see Taylor approach or exceed the career highs he set in 2002 of 61/869/6.
Colin Dowling - How is Marty Booker not going in the first dozen rounds of 12 team leagues? Best I can tell, he’s a pass catching machine who is in a passing offense that should be much improved in 2005. Consider that he was traded late in the offseason last year and still caught 50 balls from AJ Feeley. Considering that the quarterback situation, the run game, the downfield offense, and the offensive line should be better in Miami this year, Booker could easily get to 70 catches this season. Marc Levin - Why David Boston has a higher ADP than Marty Booker is beyond me. Booker has great hands, he is a tough receiver who is always willing to go over the middle, and his short distance route running is phenomenal. This is the perfect guy to complement Chris Chambers’ speed downfield. If Frerotte is at the helm instead of Feeley, Booker could be a good late pick up – especially if you get points per reception. Given the poor play of Miami’s QBs in 2004, it is not surprising that Booker managed to convert only 50 catches from the 101 times he was targeted. If he sees over 100 targets from Frerotte, I envision a higher catch percentage, and certainly more than only 1 TD. I am willing to gamble that Booker will exceed his current WR63 slot (not even a WR5) and will justify a WR4 spot on your team. Aaron Rudnicki - While in Chicago, Booker established himself as one of the best possession WRs in the league. Since becoming a starter in the 2000 season, he’s finished no lower than the #65 ranked fantasy WR and only missed a handful of games during that time period. He was traded just before the 2004 season began and never really got comfortable in Miami. The Dolphins plan to open up the passing game this year under new offensive coordinator Scott Linehan and Booker should see his numbers improve considerably as a result. David Yudkin - Even with no one else as an offensive threat AT ALL in Miami last year, Booker ranked as the #56 wide receiver. Add in a new coach, a new system, a RB upgrade, the return of David Boston, potentially a new QB, and an overall infusion of life in the offense and Booker should be a WR worth rostering as a spot starter, bye week fill-in, or for overall WR depth.
Will Grant - Bryant had over 800 yards receiving and 4 TDS last season! He had seven or more receptions in three of his last six games. Bryant had 31 receptions, 415 yards and 4 TDS over the last six games as well. Rookie WR may steal some thunder, but will draw the defensive attention away from Bryant as well. Jason Wood - Antonio Bryant, despite being traded part way through the 2004 season, finished 37th among fantasy receivers. By most accounts he has an excellent shot at starting opposite Braylon Edwards in Cleveland this year, so the opportunity is there. With Kellen Winslow hurt, the Browns need more than Edwards to provide production in the passing game. Bryant, although enigmatic, has undeniable talent (he won the Biletnikoff Award in college) and absolutely deserves higher consideration than he’s currently being afforded. "Bloom" - Bryant quietly finished 2004 with a second half that projects out to 72/954/8 over a full season in first stint as a Brown. Antonio practices with the first team offense, along with Dennis Northcutt, and Northcutt is best suited as a slot receiver, so you have to like Bryant’s shot at remaining a starter even if Braylon Edwards wins a job in training camp. If Bryant can continue his pace from the 2nd half of last season, he should be right around WR25 – great potential for a player out of the top 150. "Jurb26" - Honestly, why is no one paying any attention to this guy? Here we have a former 1st round pick who was the best WR in college and a highly touted NFL talent. A guy who entered the NFL as a Cowboy and as a rookie put up number of: 44/733/6. He makes a few mistakes and ends up in Bill’s doghouse and is never really given a chance to shine. Last year while switching teams (from Dal to Clev) he still manages over 800 yds and 4 TDs in 15 games. All the attention seems to be on Braylon Edwards and that is understandable given his high draft status. The problem is, Bryant and not Edwards is the best WR on the Clev Browns right now and Bryant can be had SEVERAL rounds later than the rookie.
Marc Levin - Though Keenan McCardell stepped into the WR1 role in 2004, and TE Gates and RB Tomlinson command a ton of the team’s receiving numbers, do not overlook Caldwell. The team has had high hopes for him for the last two years, only to see them dashed by injury. His 2004 start looked very promising as he had 281 yards and 3 TDs in his first four games. He suffered his second season-ending injury in game 6. Also, if you place weight in these things, he is in the final year of his contract. As of this writing, he was still recovering from last year’s knee injury, but he was very close. This is a guy worth taking a chance on at WR4/5. Aaron Rudnicki - Caldwell finally emerged as the type of playmaker the Chargers expected when they drafted him in the 2nd round a few years ago. He only got to play in 6 games before tearing his ACL, but on a points per game basis, Caldwell was the #29 ranked WR last year. So far, his recovery appears to be on track and he should compete with Eric Parker for a starting spot. He’s a talented player with good size and if he’s able to recover most of his speed, he should be able to win the job and put up good numbers while defenses focus most of their attention on Tomlinson and Gates. Mark Wimer - Drew Brees had a breakout season last year, and Reche Caldwell looked like he was going to be a big part of it until he tore the ACL in his knee midway through the season. With complementary threat Keenan McCardell in the lineup, Caldwell could be in for a strong season if he can beat out Eric Parker for the #2 job during training camp. Keep an eye on how he progresses during his return from ACL surgery this pre-season. "Tick" - Caldwell has disappointed in his career so far, but last season showed that he may have broken through. In starting the first six games, he put up over 300 yards and 3 TDs. That's only 26 points behind WR50 despite missing ten games. Eric Parker was an adequate replacement, but certainly didn't do anything to push Caldwell out of his starting position. At the worst, this is an open competition for the WR2 spot to start the season. At the best, Caldwell comes back from his ACL injury and takes the job as the main WR weapon in San Diego.
"Bloom" - There’s no clear cut #1 or #2 WR in San Francisco right now. Battle has been lining up in the “Z” slot in the west coast offense in practice, the feature slot in the WCO. Battle could easily end up being the #1 target for the Niners, a team that will be playing from behind a lot, in a division with some weak defenses. We’ve seen how well college QBs can adapt to the WR position given time, and Battle has had two years to learn – he could be primed for a breakout year. "Fullback Fro" - It looks like right now, Battle has won the WR#2 job in San Francisco. While it might not seem like much, it is very likely that SF will be down in many games this year and Battle being an athletic, shifty, and explosive WR may get in the endzone half a dozen times. You can grab him in later rounds and you might have found yourself good bye-week filler or even a #3 starter. "LHUCKS" - Currently slotted as a starter in SF, Battle has drawn high praise from the SF coaching staff. Somebody has to catch the balls in SF and Battle is going undrafted more often than not. With Hamilton out for the year and with the coaching staff souring on Woods, the opportunity will not be lacking.
David Dodds - DUI idiot Koren Robinson is now homeless. Bobby Engram, the forgotten veteran WR in Seattle is expected to start opposite of Darrell Jackson due to this vacancy. Engram has averaged nearly 600 yards the last three seasons as Seattle's WR#3. With Darrell Jackson likely receiving all the attention in the passing game, Engram could quietly be in for his best year in Seattle yet. He is someone you can get in the last rounds of your fantasy draft. Ron White - It’s early but if Engram can win the #2 role across from Jackson in this offense, the potential is there for a huge season. With K. Robinson, and Rice gone, that’s a lot of passes for someone. Jurevicius is older and beat up, and is better suited for limited duty which he will likely get as the #3 slot receiver. Pathon was brought in but has been a disappointment so far. Holmgren has been very pleased with Engram’s camp, and his ankle is finally healed. He averaged over 60 receptions in 2002 and 2003. He could be one of 2005’s best bargains! "LHUCKS" - Recent news has put Engram as the current starter opposite Darrell Jackson which shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise given his tenure with the team. Holmgren’s #2 has pulled in some decent fantasy stats in the past, both in Green Bay and Seattle so it wouldn’t be surprising for Engram to reel in 80 balls if he can hold onto the #2 spot.
"diesel7982" - It took Galloway a few weeks to get off the injury reports after returning from a nasty groin injury, but once he was fully healthy, Galloway produced at a rate of 61 yards and .8 TDs per game last year. Galloway is always an injury risk, but when healthy, he’ll be the #2 WR in an offense that will be among the league leaders in passing yards. He has chance to be a top 25 producer if he can stay off the injury report, which would make him quite a sleeper considering he’s not being drafted in the top 50 WRs. "Fullback Fro" - Hampered by an injury in the beginning of the 2004 season, Galloway really didn’t start coming into his own until mid season. He really hit full stride late in the season scoring 5 TDs in Tampa’s last five games. According to Antsports’ ADP, Galloway is not even being drafted in the top 150 players. Galloway remains the clear-cut starter opposite Clayton in the offense and could give you very good return for your cheap investment. "LHUCKS" - When Galloway came back from injury last season, he put up very credible numbers. The days of top 10 numbers may be gone for Joey, but if he can stay healthy for a large portion of the season he will definitely justify his late round selection in drafts.
Mark Wimer - Clayton was drafted to team with #1 WR Derrick Mason. While he is a rookie, Clayton has little competition for playing time in Baltimore, and the team is intending to feature QB Kyle Boller in the offense more this year. If Boller responds positively to the pressure of leading the Ravens’ offense, Clayton could easily grab 60 balls for ~800 yards and 4-5 TDs. "Bloom" - Clayton should be going higher than any other rookie WR in redraft leagues. He was the most polished WR in the draft, and his path to a starting spot is clear. Although the conservative Baltimore passing offense only provides for modest stats, Clayton’s excellent YAC ability will allow him to go off despite a limited amount of receptions. Clayton moved in with Kyle Boller to create chemistry – meaning they could be on the same page from day one. Clayton will make an instant impact and should at worst be a quality bye week/injury fill-in WR in start 3 WR leagues.
"BassNBrew" - Curtis finished his 2nd year with a 32-434-2 performance. Given the propensity of St. Louis to air it out, their third WR is always a very viable sleeper. Gifted with great speed, I’m projecting Curtis to improve to 50-700-5 this year with a huge upside if either Bruce or Holt misses time this year. "EBF" - Everyone knows about Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce. After next season, everyone might know about Kevin Curtis. Possessing 4.35 40 speed and soft hands, Curtis has looked the part of a potential star at times in his brief career. If you include playoff games, he had 334 receiving yards over the course of his last three games last season. He won't pass Bruce or Holt on the depth chart, but he should be firmly entrenched as the #3 WR on a pass-happy Rams team. He should be a top 50 fantasy WR in that role and he has the potential to be an elite scorer if he somehow earns a starting spot.
Mike Brown - Perhaps no one benefited from Koren Robinson’s issues than Jurevicius. I hate to say it, but Jurevicius is almost a carbon copy of Ed McCaffrey. He’s tall, lanky, has great hands, underrated speed, he’s an ex-Giant that most fans wanted to re-sign at the time….hmm, there’s one other thing about him that reminds me of Eddy Mac but I can’t quite put my finger on what it is. I’ll have to get back to you on it. "BassNBrew" - Jurevicius brings a unique talent to the Seattle WR corps; he can actually catch a ball. With the ‘Hawks recently cutting Robinson, there’s a huge opportunity for playing time that I expect Jurevicius to seize. At 6’5”, he’ll make a great red zone target for Hasselbeck. Once he makes a few key catches, I would expect Hasselbeck to begin to lock onto Jurevicius very frequently.
Colin Dowling - It’s easy to forget that Warrick had a good season in 2003 before missing last year to injury. But the truth is that Warrick is better suited to the slot/WR3 position and return duty then being the every-down WR2. Considering that TJ Houshmandzadeh likely will start at the number 2, this is actually a good thing for Warrick. While his injury may be lingering a bit, if he’s healthy enough to play he’s going to be a fine selection in the late rounds of many drafts. "Jurb26" - Another WR who simply seems to be getting forgotten in the fantasy world is Peter Warrick. This time it’s because of an injury and limited playing time last year though. How soon we forget the marvelous strides that Warrick made in his 3rd and 4th year as a Bengal though. Warrick put up seasons of and 53/606/6 and a 79/819/7 one the 2 years before last. All the attention seems to have fallen on TJ Houshmandzadeh now though. I think it would be a good idea to not forget about Peter Warrick, especially when it gets very late in your drafts.
"EBF" - A second round pick last year, Watts finished third in the NFL in preseason receiving yards and showed exciting speed and quickness. He's been drawing rave reviews in Denver and may eventually become the team's top target. The trouble with Watts is that there appears to be limited opportunity in the short term. Rod Smith and Ashley Lelie each finished with over 1,000 receiving yards last year. Nevertheless, Watts is worth a late pick because he has the ability to excel if given more targets. Smith is getting old and Lelie is unproven as a #1. Watts may get his chance sooner than most expect. "SammyJankis" - Tall, lanky, fast receiver with big-time talent out of Marshall. Randy Moss? Nope, Darius Watts. Some may think comparing Watts to Moss is a stretch, but from the moment that Watts blew past Champ Bailey to make a big catch on the first play of last year’s training camp, its been evident that Watts is going to be a good one. Broncos receivers coach Steve Watson said, "He's got the kind of talent where he can be as good in this league as there is.” Watts’ playing time suffered after he made a couple of key drops last year, but has been spent the offseason in Denver working on his game. Watts will start the year as the #3 in Denver (ahead of Jerry Rice), but should see lots of playing time and could explode if opportunity presents itself.
"EBF" - If you looked at Jacksonville's depth chart last season then you might have noticed that Reggie Williams was the team's #2 WR. If you watched any of their games last season then you might have noticed that Reggie Williams was invisible. He stunk as a rookie, averaging less than 10 yards per catch and only hauling in one touchdown. That said there's still some reason for optimism. Rookie WRs are known for struggling. Recent top ten pick Plaxico Burress had a similarly-putrid rookie season and eventually posted multiple 1,000 yard receiving years. Williams was considered a solid first round talent and a future #1 WR entering the league. His rookie year didn't reflect his lofty pre-draft status, but he still has a chance to emerge and prove himself. "SammyJankis" - The oldest axiom in fantasy football is that rookie wide receivers rarely produce. But there’s one almost as old: most owners tend to have short memories. A year ago, Reggie Williams was being mentioned in the same breath as Larry Fitzgerald and Roy Williams. Now he’s being drafted behind the likes of Antwaan Randle El, Justin McCareins and Brandon Lloyd? Williams had a forgettable rookie campaign, posting only 268 yards with one touchdown, while being outplayed by the likes of Troy Edwards and Earnest Wilford. But guys like Torry Holt, Eric Moulds and Chad Johnson all went on to become top receivers after forgettable rookie campaigns. Williams has been the talk of mini-camp dropping 10 pounds and thriving in the Jaguars new down-the-field offense. Receivers often make a quantum leap in their second year. If Williams is still on the board after 150 picks, he’s got as much upside as anyone.
David Dodds - He is expected to be the #1 WR for the Browns. Last year was cut short with turf toe injuries, but when he played he showed promising skills. He is adept at the long ball and recorded a 99 yard reception last season. At age 26 and in his 4th year as a pro, this could be his breakout year. He is being drafted in the last rounds of most fantasy drafts if at all. Admittedly, Trent Dilfer at QB scares no one, but somebody has to catch the ball for the Browns. The loss of Kellen Winslow should ensure Davis gets considerable targets if he can stay healthy.
"BostonFred" - Gardner hasn't been released or traded anywhere as of this writing, but is almost certain to leave Gibbs' old school max protect offense. Almost any offense would be an improvement, even Spurrier's, where Gardner had a 1000 yard season just two years ago. Why the dropoff? Gardner's effort has been inconsistent, but no more so than the Redskins teams he's played on. With recent rumors that Carolina is interested in him, Gardner's stock could rise rapidly heading into the draft.
"Couch Potato" - Let's go with a real reach here. The ADP list I am looking at goes as low as WR88, and Jacobs isn't even on it. However, consider that last year's starters and their 141 catches are either gone (Coles) or soon to be gone (Gardner). Santana Moss and David Patten have been brought in, but there is recent talk of the Redskins starting Jacobs and making Patten the WR3. Also, Washington doesn't throw to the TEs or the RBs as much as a lot of teams do, giving a greater share to the WRs. Jacobs has ability; he was drafted in the 2nd round in 2003. He may now have a lot of opportunity to produce, and QB Patrick Ramsey has no previous experience with the new guys. Third-year Jacobs could come out of nowhere to really surprise.
"Couch Potato" - Jenkins was part of that prolific 1st round rookie crop of the draft of 2004, and while a lot of those rookie WRs made a big splash, Jenkins is one who did not. The Falcons were content to bring him along slowly and let him watch and learn. He was a star at Ohio St. and will be a very good NFL WR. Will his career take off this year? With underachieving Peerless Price and Dez White the competition for a starting role, I can't see Jenkins sitting again this year. Michael Vick needs a WR he can begin to really connect with, and Jenkins should be that guy. At an ADP of WR72, I can see him enter the top 50 WRs or better.
Jason Wood - While it’s true the Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald all but assure Bryant Johnson won’t be a full-time starter anytime soon, to ignore him completely (he’s not among the top 80 receivers drafted according to current ADP) is myopic. Johnson was himself a 1st round draft choice and caught 49 receptions last year. One injury to Boldin or Fitzgerald, and Johnson becomes a major target in Dennis Green’s prolific offensive system. That’s worth a top 80 WR position, easily.
"Fullback Fro" - Moore had two 2 TDs games in 2004. He was especially effective near the goal lie as a redzone weapon. Look for this to continue in Moore’s sophomore campaign as he firmly entrenches himself as the #3WR in Baltimore’s upgraded passing attack.
"Fullback Fro" - Morgan came to Dallas in a trade for disgruntled WR Antonio Bryant. This move is important for one reason. Parcells will give this guy a chance to succeed as one of his guys. Currently you have two old guys starting in Dallas in Keyshawn Johnson and Terry Glenn, both of which have had injury problems last year. With good reports out of minicamp, Morgan may get a chance to for some significant playing time this year.
Mark Wimer - David Patten is expected to be the starter across from Santana Moss. With Patrick Ramsey under center rather than the fading Mark Brunell, Patten has a legitimate shot to make some fantasy noise – 800/4 is well within the realm of possibility, with a 1,000+ yard season not impossible, depending on how well Patten jells with his new team-mates in Washington.
David Dodds - I will be the first person to say I don't think Todd Pinkston is a very good football player. But the facts are hard to dispute: He is the starter opposite Terrell Owens. Freddie Mitchell has moved on. This Eagles' offense is one of the more potent offences in the game. Owens wants more money and could hold out. So even if Todd Pinkston isn't going to be the next big thing at WR, he has some value. But according to his ADP, he isn't even being drafted in many leagues.
"Tick" - He's the #1 receiver on his team. Yes, he finished as WR50 last season. But this will be Vick's second season in the WCO, and if Price can just return to his form from two years ago when he finished as WR31 with Doug Johnson and Vick throwing to him, he'd be a great bargain considering you can get him after the 150th pick. I don't think Price will ever get back to his 2002 form with Buffalo (WR7), and I don't like his long-term prospects all that much with the two first round WRs taken by Atlanta in the past two years, but this season, Price will be at worst a capable fill-in with the potential to be a solid WR3 or more for your team.
"diesel7982" - While most are quick to anoint Antwaan Randle-El as the replacement for Plaxico Burress in the Steelers’ offense, Cedric Wilson was brought in by the Steelers for a reason. When healthy last year, he showed the ability to be a legitimate #2 WR in the NFL, although the SF offense limited his production. While Randle-El has been a solid WR for the Steelers, he is also their top KR and PR. It remains to be seen whether or not their coaching staff will want to expose him to that big of a workload, but the logical guess is that he will remain the #3 WR, while Wilson plays with Ward in 2 WR sets. The Pittsburgh passing offense is very WR-centric, with Verron Haynes being the top non-WR producer with only 142 yards. This bodes well for whoever is the #2 and there is a reasonable chance that will be Wilson, who is currently being drafted around WR 90.
"EBF" - Rashaun Woods was virtually invisible as a rookie and has apparently been a disappointment in offseason practices. Despite that, he remains a prime sleeper candidate. The San Francisco 49ers probably have the worst WRs in the league. Woods may be low on the depth chart at the moment, but if he begins to show the skills that made him a first round pick in 2004 and a star in college then he will quickly rise up the depth chart. Opportunity is a key ingredient for success and Woods has a realistic chance of becoming San Francisco's top target in the passing game.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Forums |
News | Login
/ Signup | Contact
Us |