Articles

Overall Fantasy Impact: Average

Offensive Outlook: The Raiders are an extremely hard team to gauge entering the 2008 season.

So many newcomers are playing key roles on the offensive side of the ball that it’s hard to say who will be the productive fantasy players and who will be forgotten men.

One certainty is that the JaMarcus Russell era is beginning, and that’s cause for excitement for fantasy players hoping he’s the next dynamic quarterback to come down the pike. Throw in first-round running back Darren McFadden, and you can see why the Raiders will be fun to watch in ‘08.

QUARTERBACKS: The Raiders let Russell sit for most of his rookie season after he signed late. He got a chance to start the season finale and threw for 224 yards and a TD. That’s all you have to go on right now, so watch the preseason carefully. Russell likely will take his lumps this season, but his electric talent will shine through at times. He’s strictly fantasy back-up material to start the season, although he might be useful later in the season when he starts to get comfortable. Continue Reading »

Still a couple of months away from most league’s drafts, I wanted to take a minute and add some fantasy to this off season. There were a lot of big name players involved in trade demands / rumors that did not happen. Without consideration for salary cap or any other factors, here are seven trades I wished had happened to liven up the fantasy landscape. Continue Reading »

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 »

Overall Fantasy Impact: Average

Offensive Outlook: The Chiefs are a bit of an odd case.

They’re coming off a year in which they finished 31st of 32 NFL teams in offensive yards and points, and yet they have two bona fide fantasy stars in Larry Johnson and Tony Gonzalez, and a legitimate up-and-comer in Dwayne Bowe.

Johnson’s season-ending injury in Week 6 obviously hurt them last year, and a full season of health should do wonders for the team’s offensive numbers.

But can this trio of standouts overcome a less-than-impressive quarterback situation and a very green offensive line? 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 »

Overall Fantasy Impact: Average

Offensive Outlook: The Broncos had little trouble moving the ball last year, but scoring points was another matter entirely. Despite finishing 11th in the league in yards, they were only 21st in the league in points.

Denver is trying to rectify this problem this year by adding a trio of veteran receivers who had flamed out elsewhere. But big question marks still abound:

Can Selvin Young carry the load at running back?

Will Jay Cutler’s diabetes diagnosis be a problem?

And will off-the-field nonsense derail the promising career of Brandon Marshall? Continue Reading »

Overall Fantasy Impact: Below Average

Offensive Outlook: The idea in the offseason in Tennessee seemed to be to surround Vince Young with some talented skill-position guys in the hopes that it would ignite the talent that seemed dormant last season.

Three draft picks in the first four rounds plus a smattering of free agents added a lot of quantity, but whether those additions provide quality is questionable.

Young is still lacking in the kind of top-flight receiver that a quarterback needs to get to the next level.

As such, this playoff team from a year ago might once again have to do it with an opportunistic defense and a buttoned-down offense that does not play to its star’s prodigious talents. Continue Reading »

Overall Fantasy Impact: Average

Offensive Outlook: With an overpowering running attack and a quarterback who minimized mistakes, the Jaguars offense kicked into another gear last season, finishing 7th in yards and 6th in points. The offseason changes were minimal, with a change at back-up quarterback and a slight shuffling of the deck at receiver the only significant moves.

The problem with the Jags for fantasy purposes is that they don’t have any offensive superstars carrying the whole load. The receiving corps is completly up for grabs, and their top two running backs split the load, keeping their value down. As a result, it’s hard to get overexcited about any individual Jaguar despite the good team numbers. Continue Reading »

Overall Fantasy Impact: Above Average

Offensive Outlook: The Colts are the gold standard for consistent offensive production in the NFL. Year in and year out, you can’t go wrong with taking the Colts main offensive producers high in your fantasy draft. They weathered the departure of Edgerrin James two years ago, and they survived a fragment of a season last year from Marvin Harrison. 2007 Indy numbers: 5th in the league in offensive yardage, 3rd in scoring, without breaking a sweat.

That’s because Peyton Manning is the constant, running an offense that doesn’t change much but still confounds opposing defenses. They’re also practically slump-proof, which means that you shouldn’t be nervous about taking several Colts on draft day if you have the chance.

QUARTERBACK: If someone told you before the season that your fantasy quarterback was going to throw for 4,100 yards and 30 TDs, chances are you’d take it sight unseen. Well, those are the average numbers for Manning’s 10-year career. Others may have big seasons here and there, but with Manning, you have no worries. Tom Brady will likely go before him in most drafts this year, but don’t be surprised if Manning brings in numbers similar to or better than his New England counterpart. And he never gets hurt, so don’t bother with a handcuff pick of Jim Sorgi. 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 »