Archive for the 'Player Outlook' Category

What do Jay Fiedler, Brian Griese, Todd Collins, and Quincy Carter all have in common?

Well, other than the fact that many people don’t know who these former starting quarterbacks are, they all have shared the same impossible task of trying to replace a Hall of Fame quarterback. Respectively, Dan Marino, John Elway, Jim Kelly, and Troy Aikman were simply irreplaceable, and their successors learned that the hard way as they bumbled along into becoming permanent backups, journeymen, and in one case, a league washout.

Now, former Cal standout and 2005 first round pick Aaron Rodgers faces the same challenge in Green Bay. Rodgers will be taking over for Brett Favre, a definite Hall of Fame quarterback, and a local favorite in Wisconsin. Continue Reading »

Ocho Cinco has been in the news so much this off-season you would think he was K-Fed’s ex. He loves the spotlight, he loves himself, he loves winning, and he loves that every person with an interest in the game is on their edge of their seat, wondering, “will he or won’t he?” He loves it.

One thing he does not love is losing over and over again in spite of his unquestioned work ethic and ability to make plays.

Did he dread the possibility of another losing campaign so much that he would have sat out the year, as he threatened? In a word, no.

As much as he loathes losing, he loves making money, and he wouldn’t be doing that anywhere else but on the field in Cincinnati. Also, considering the parity that exists in the NFL, who’s to say that they can’t get it done in Bengaltown this year? The potential is undoubtedly still there, especially on offense. Continue Reading »

Steve Smith will likely be one of the top wide receivers taken in fantasy drafts this year. The question is whether you should be that guy.

His talent is immense, his production eye popping at times.

Smith has finished each of the last three years with more than 1,000 yards. He averaged 76 yards receiving and the better part of a touchdown per game over that span, making him one of the top fantasy producers at wide receiver.

In 2005 he posted more than 1,500 yards and 12TD’s. That was the year that many moved him to the top of their draft boards.

Those who did in 2007 began the season with great promise. In the first two games of the season, Smith racked up 271 yards receiving and 4 touchdowns. Those who drafted Smith were fantasizing about league championship trophies.

The fantasy turned to grim reality beginning in week three when Smith put up a whopping 10 yards without a TD.

The difference? Quarterback Jake Delhomme went down with injury during week 2 and didn’t play again last season. Delhomme and Smith have enjoyed a unique chemistry that highlights Smith’s skills and makes him virtually impossible to cover - Superman in shoulder pads. Remove Delhomme from the equation and it’s like putting Kryptonite in Smith’s hip pocket - he becomes very ordinary. Continue Reading »

There were high hopes for WR Bryant Johnson as a first round draft choice to the Arizona Cardinals out of Penn State in 2003.

Several unproductive years later, after being stuck behind star receivers Larry Fitzgerald and fellow 2003 draft choice Anquan Boldin, Johnson is finally getting his chance to be a number one wide receiver in the NFL.

Johnson signed his first free agent contract this off-season with the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers have been lacking a solid number one ever since Terrell Owens left after the 2003 season, ironically the same year as Johnson was drafted to the Cardinals.

Johnson has shown flashes of talent, which the 49ers have seen in their division matchups, which undoubtedly led to the free agent signing.

However, Johnson has been plagued with inconsistency, as sometimes he’s had a tendency to drop balls and his route-running remains a little sub-par. Johnson will certainly get the opportunity with the 49ers to show he has what it takes to be a star, with aging Isaac Bruce and underachieving Arnaz Battle as the only real competition he has on the depth chart. Continue Reading »

Philip Rivers has had two decent years now playing the role of the stereotypical “pretty good QB with a great supporting cast.” He certainly hasn’t played poorly. He’s a proven winner, and he has gained a lot of respect from his team and from fans for gutting out the AFC championship game on a torn ACL.

His recovery seems to be going quickly, and he is expected to be fully ready for the season. There are those who predict a breakout year for the 5 year pro, or at least an increase in production—a natural progression, if you will.

Here’s what I expect: about 20 TDs and 2,300 yards, just like he did last year and the year before that.

He still has Chris Chambers and Vincent Jackson on the outside (an OK tandem), and Antonio Gates causing matchup problems for any defense.

Rivers problem is that the Chargers don’t need him to be great. They need serviceable and, in Rivers, that’s exactly what they get. Continue Reading »

Warrick Dunn has made a career out of defying the odds.

Dunn has been a smallish scat-back said to lack the power to run between the tackles or be more than simply a situational player. However, after eleven seasons and over 10,000 rushing yards, Dunn has proven to be one of the more dynamic, and most respected players in the league. He’s had a long career and was very productive for the Tampa Bay Bucs early in his career, and for the Atlanta Falcons for the past six seasons.

In that time, he’s eclipsed the 1,000 yard mark five times, amassed over 4,000 yards receiving, and scored 62 touchdowns on the ground and through the air. He’s also been a pillar for his community, a charitable trait that dates all the way back to his days at Florida State, where he is still loved even today.

All that being said, Dunn is now 33 years old, and after being cut by the Atlanta Falcons following a down year where he averaged only 3.2 yards on 227 carries, he is returning to his Florida roots once again as a Tampa Bay Buc.

The question is, can Dunn still be effective? Continue Reading »

When it comes to the first and second rounds of fantasy drafts in 2008 - every fantasy owner is asking the same question.

“Can Tom Brady and Randy Moss repeat their performance from 2008?

The short answer is no.

The long answer is also no. It’s just, well… longer.

For starters, both players set records. All-time single season records. In case that is not self explanatory - this is a difficult thing to do - and virtually impossible to repeat in successive years.

Randy Moss covered nearly 1,500 yards in ’07 - and hauled in an unbelievable 23 TD’s. He was 4th in overall scoring - and the only receiver in the top 14 fantasy scorers.

Tom Brady had one of the greatest seasons ever for a QB. Less than 200 yards shy of 5,000 yards. 50 touchdowns - plus two more that he ran in. His 2007 was so impressive, that if he had never played another game before that, and never played a game after - he would still have to get Hall of Fame consideration. Continue Reading »

A resounding YES would rhyme with the title, and flow quite well, but it would be wrong.

The question is when, not if, to draft Wes Welker. There is every reason to believe that he can continue to rack up huge numbers in the New England offensive juggernaut.

If they played with a chip on their shoulder last year because of the “cheater” label, how will they play this year after breaking all those records only to come up short in the big game?

If your league counts receptions for scoring purposes, Welker is a no-brainer. He led the league along with TJ Houshmandzadeh with 112 receptions, amassing well over 1,000 yards.

Continue Reading »

Every year, owners enter fantasy drafts with a pocketful of “sleepers” - players with relatively minimal value, but who they feel will emerge as points leaders in the upcoming season.

For the last 8 years, one of those names has been WR Jerry Porter. For the last 3, WR Troy Williamson’s name made the list as well. And for all those seasons combined, neither player has produced much more than disappointment.

Porter’s best year was 2004 - 2 yards shy of 1,000 yards, 64 receptions, and 9 TD’s. It was one year removed from playing on the same field with Tim Brown and Jerry Rice. Brown was gone and Rice was even further away from the WR he once was - and the team was looking to Porter to be the superstar they believed he could be. And perhaps more importantly - Rich Gannon was the quarterback.

2005 was a decent year for Porter - though his numbers slipped a bit. It was the year Randy Moss arrived - and Kerry Collins was given the offense. It was also the beginning of the Raiders slide into NFL oblivion.

Continue Reading »

For years, Kevin Jones has been the Lions running back that one owner in your league would take a chance on, and for years, that owner has lived autumns of bitterness and regret.

That thousand-yard rookie season came with only 6 TDs - “but the touchdowns would come,” we thought. They didn’t, and the yardage dropped off, too.

Now, the injury-prone Jones is gone, released by the team that drafted him in the first round just four years ago. Enter Tatum Bell and his tantalizing speed.

He has always felt himself capable of being a number one guy, but he was barely used by offensive coordinator Mike Martz and his pass-happy schemes, even with Jones not healthy. Now that Martz has been replaced by new coaching blood that is dedicated to a successful running attack and a balanced offense, has the time finally come for Tatum? Continue Reading »