David Kaye, NFL Draft Bible
Our NFL Insider, David Kaye, brings you the latest news from Dolphins camp as he delivers the inside scoop from his visit to Miami.
Most people probably don't know about him but it has become one of the “feel-good� stories of the preseason. Dolphins running back Jesse Chatman is on the comeback trail.
During the 2004 season Jesse Chatman seemed to be slowly carving his way to success as the backup to LaDainian Tomlinson in San Diego. In 15 games, he accumulated 392 rushing yards, three touchdowns, an unheard of 6.0 yards per carry and an increased sense of confidence that told him he could accomplish anything on the football field.
Before the 2005 season began, Chatman suffered a painful toe injury that would sideline him for the entire season. Instead of rehabbing and staying in top football shape, he permitted his weight to balloon to a whopping 270 pounds. At 5-foot-8 and a waist size unfit for an NFL running back, the Chargers released him on July 26, 2005.
After a brief stint with the Dolphins and Saints in 2005, Chatman was unemployed and took the 2006 season off in order to return to proper football shape. By the beginning of this year he had lost a remarkable 50 pounds and was ready to prove to general managers around the league that he could make a substantial impact on their team.
When the Miami Dolphins hired former San Diego offensive coordinator Cam Cameron as head coach in January, Chatman immediately called him for an opportunity. So far- he has looked extremely impressive during the team's first two preseason games, rushing for 107 yards on 14 carries.
''I think he's grown a lot. We know that's a constant battle for us all, but I think he's just grown a lot as a man,'' Cameron said when asked if he's seen any changes in Chatman's personality.
''He was a young guy from Eastern Washington thrown into the NFL and that's a huge leap for a lot of guys. It's a huge leap for everybody, truth enough. He's overcome a lot. I tip my hat to him. He knows he still has a long way to go, but he's just become a lot more mature guy.'' The waiting period for Chatman is quickly closing as he's established himself as the number two back for the Dolphins, ahead of Lorenzo Booker and Patrick Cobbs. Until I spoke to local reporters at Dolphins training camp last Sunday, I did not realize the limited amount of playing time Booker has been receiving. When asked about the current running back situation during Sunday's press conference the first-year head coach said,''Don't read anything in between the lines. I'll tell you this, our best running back will play. We want to be in a position if our starting running back goes down we don't miss a beat.'' With that said, it seems highly likely that journeyman Jesse Chatman will see a considerable amount of carries for the Miami Dolphins this season.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
NFL MUSINGS
By David Narushev, NFL Draft Bible
Expect Leon Washington and Thomas Jones to share more of the load than originally anticipated this season, especially since Jones pre-season injury will likely not have him at full speed by opening day. But even had Jones remained completely healthy, Washington would still have seen fair amount of touches per game. Eric Mangini isn’t the type of coach to overwork or underwork any of his players, instead he waits until the ideal game scenario arises and capitalizes accordingly with the right player in the right situation. Everything is tailored to maximize the strengths of the team, and nobody is asked to do more than they’re capable of. Seems obvious, but not every coach understands his team as well as a Mangini or Belichick (I’m looking at you Herm Edwards).
I’m not ready to go gaga over Vince Young yet. He had a nice rookie season (and was promptly overhyped to the moon), but his throwing mechanics still look like they need some fine tuning. He’s got this nasty habit of haphazardly whipping the ball out of his hand while releasing a pass, often getting a lot of air under it. This could lead to him becoming very interception-prone once the pocket starts to collapse or when throwing off balance, which he does far too often. Young’s arm strength and accuracy remain a question mark, and he certainly won’t be beating teams single-handedly with his legs, NFL defenses catch up to that and will develop schemes to contain him. I just don’t see him as a quarterback who can stand in the pocket and calmly pick a team apart; Young thrives on disorganized, sandlot football. I’m not saying he’ll be a bust or even that he’ll have a sophomore slump, but I see his career plateauing for a while as the league adapts to his game.
Anybody else miss the single bar facemask? I’m too young to remember the days when regular position players used to wear them, but they used to be a fixture on the helmets of the NFL’s scrawniest, goofiest looking kickers and punters until about 8-9 years ago. It was always funny watching them try to make a tackle during a long runback or muffed punt…or better yet, trying to advance the football on a botched field goal attempt. They’d either matador the ball carrier through, or give a halfhearted dive then get trampled by the thundering heard of players converging on them. It would make just about anyone long for their carefree days of intramural soccer in South Africa.
Tired of waiting around for the Arizona Cardinals to become the NFL’s hip new “surprise” team, it seems like all the experts have hitched their wagon to the San Francisco 49ers. Alex Smith doesn’t exactly fill me with confidence and an unreasonably abrasive (though dapper) head coach like Mike Nolan may alienate his team before they even get a taste of success. We may have to look elsewhere for Cinderella this year…Detroit perhaps? Kitna has shown he can be a good quarterback when not asked to do too much. They are deep at wide receiver and running back but still thin on the offensive and defensive lines. However, a quick examination of their schedule shows many of their opponents are even more flawed than they are. Don’t be shocked to see them pull out a nine win season as the Lions offense will just plain overwhelm some teams.
I have a hunch that we may not have seen the last of Bill Parcells on an NFL sideline. Sure he is 66 years old and probably overworked beyond belief, but as long as he can breathe, he can coach. And it’s absolutely unacceptable to him that Bill Belichick is walking around with more Super Bowl rings as a head coach. He has neither time nor patience to rebuild, but should there be a vacancy with a ready made team within the next four years, don’t be surprised to see Parcells jump at the opportunity for one more run at a title.
Though it may seem unrealistic at the moment, it’s my opinion that the Steelers will be Bill Cowher’s team again as soon as he’s ready to return from his mental health sabbatical. It could even occur by the 2009 season should Mike Tomlin fall flat on his face, which I don’t think will happen. It can’t be easy coaching in the Steel City, with the ghosts of Noll and Cowher constantly looking over your shoulder. Unreasonable expectations may doom Tomlin, as it almost doomed Cowher himself. A scenario may arise where if the Steelers brass doesn’t see Tomlin as the guy who can take them to the Super Bowl, and Cowher is entertaining offers from other teams, they might be tempted to go back to the sure thing instead of riding it out with Tomlin.
Be wary of both Jamal Lewis and Shaun Alexander. Alexander will be thirty at the start of the season, which is usually the end of the line for NFL backs. He’s lost a step, and was never that fast to begin with. Not a good sign, especially since he’s running behind an offensive line that is no longer among the NFL’s best. Lewis isn’t quite as old, but his poor yards per carry average the past two seasons may hint at there being too much tread gone from the tires. However, the Browns offensive line has improved on paper, and if they can finally get it together on the field then Lewis can probably squeeze out one more workhorse season.
Expect Leon Washington and Thomas Jones to share more of the load than originally anticipated this season, especially since Jones pre-season injury will likely not have him at full speed by opening day. But even had Jones remained completely healthy, Washington would still have seen fair amount of touches per game. Eric Mangini isn’t the type of coach to overwork or underwork any of his players, instead he waits until the ideal game scenario arises and capitalizes accordingly with the right player in the right situation. Everything is tailored to maximize the strengths of the team, and nobody is asked to do more than they’re capable of. Seems obvious, but not every coach understands his team as well as a Mangini or Belichick (I’m looking at you Herm Edwards).
I’m not ready to go gaga over Vince Young yet. He had a nice rookie season (and was promptly overhyped to the moon), but his throwing mechanics still look like they need some fine tuning. He’s got this nasty habit of haphazardly whipping the ball out of his hand while releasing a pass, often getting a lot of air under it. This could lead to him becoming very interception-prone once the pocket starts to collapse or when throwing off balance, which he does far too often. Young’s arm strength and accuracy remain a question mark, and he certainly won’t be beating teams single-handedly with his legs, NFL defenses catch up to that and will develop schemes to contain him. I just don’t see him as a quarterback who can stand in the pocket and calmly pick a team apart; Young thrives on disorganized, sandlot football. I’m not saying he’ll be a bust or even that he’ll have a sophomore slump, but I see his career plateauing for a while as the league adapts to his game.
Anybody else miss the single bar facemask? I’m too young to remember the days when regular position players used to wear them, but they used to be a fixture on the helmets of the NFL’s scrawniest, goofiest looking kickers and punters until about 8-9 years ago. It was always funny watching them try to make a tackle during a long runback or muffed punt…or better yet, trying to advance the football on a botched field goal attempt. They’d either matador the ball carrier through, or give a halfhearted dive then get trampled by the thundering heard of players converging on them. It would make just about anyone long for their carefree days of intramural soccer in South Africa.
Tired of waiting around for the Arizona Cardinals to become the NFL’s hip new “surprise” team, it seems like all the experts have hitched their wagon to the San Francisco 49ers. Alex Smith doesn’t exactly fill me with confidence and an unreasonably abrasive (though dapper) head coach like Mike Nolan may alienate his team before they even get a taste of success. We may have to look elsewhere for Cinderella this year…Detroit perhaps? Kitna has shown he can be a good quarterback when not asked to do too much. They are deep at wide receiver and running back but still thin on the offensive and defensive lines. However, a quick examination of their schedule shows many of their opponents are even more flawed than they are. Don’t be shocked to see them pull out a nine win season as the Lions offense will just plain overwhelm some teams.
I have a hunch that we may not have seen the last of Bill Parcells on an NFL sideline. Sure he is 66 years old and probably overworked beyond belief, but as long as he can breathe, he can coach. And it’s absolutely unacceptable to him that Bill Belichick is walking around with more Super Bowl rings as a head coach. He has neither time nor patience to rebuild, but should there be a vacancy with a ready made team within the next four years, don’t be surprised to see Parcells jump at the opportunity for one more run at a title.
Though it may seem unrealistic at the moment, it’s my opinion that the Steelers will be Bill Cowher’s team again as soon as he’s ready to return from his mental health sabbatical. It could even occur by the 2009 season should Mike Tomlin fall flat on his face, which I don’t think will happen. It can’t be easy coaching in the Steel City, with the ghosts of Noll and Cowher constantly looking over your shoulder. Unreasonable expectations may doom Tomlin, as it almost doomed Cowher himself. A scenario may arise where if the Steelers brass doesn’t see Tomlin as the guy who can take them to the Super Bowl, and Cowher is entertaining offers from other teams, they might be tempted to go back to the sure thing instead of riding it out with Tomlin.
Be wary of both Jamal Lewis and Shaun Alexander. Alexander will be thirty at the start of the season, which is usually the end of the line for NFL backs. He’s lost a step, and was never that fast to begin with. Not a good sign, especially since he’s running behind an offensive line that is no longer among the NFL’s best. Lewis isn’t quite as old, but his poor yards per carry average the past two seasons may hint at there being too much tread gone from the tires. However, the Browns offensive line has improved on paper, and if they can finally get it together on the field then Lewis can probably squeeze out one more workhorse season.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
THE DAILY DOSE
IN CASE YOU HAVEN'T HEARD
Michael Vick accepted a plea deal Monday in relation to the federal charges pertaining to the dogfighting operation he allegedly ran. "After consulting with his family over the weekend, Michael Vick has asked that I announce today that he has reached an agreement with federal prosecutors regarding charges pending against him," attorney Billy Martin said in a statement posted by ESPN.com. "Mr. Vick has agreed to enter a plea of guilty to those charges and to accept full responsibility for his actions and the mistakes he has made." The terms of the agreement have not been disclosed.
SHOCKLEY OUT FOR SEASON
D.J. Shockley will miss the entire 2007 season after an MRI revealed that he has a torn ACL in his left knee, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He had been competing with Chris Redman for the No. 2 spot on the quarterback depth chart.
BRUNELL TO ATL?
The Atlanta Falcons are believed to be talking to the Washington Redskins about a trade for QB Mark Brunell. Atlanta lost backup D.J. Shockley to season-ending knee injury last Friday. Atlanta's only quarterbacks behind new starter Joey Harrington are Chris Redman, whose last game was with Baltimore in 2003, and Casey Bramlet, who was cut by the Redskins on Aug. 6. Brunell, who turns 37 soon, played for new Falcons HC Bobby Petrino in Jacksonville from 1999-2001, so he's familar with the system.
GREEN GETS STARTING NOD
Head coach Cam Cameron announced on Monday that Trent Green has beaten out Cleo Lemon and will be the Dolphins starting quarterback. "We're at a point where we need to start putting this offense together and the number one thing our offense needs is leadership," Cameron told the Associated Press. "Trent brings that, but I do believe Cleo's time is coming and he's got a lot of room for growth."
JASON CAMPBELL INJURY UPDATE
Yesterday Washington Redskins QB Jason Campbell had an MRI on his injured knee. The MRI showed no serious damage. "Nine times out of 10 when you see that, it's usually something worse. It's usually something torn... It's a day-to-day thing. We'll just see where it's at by the weekend," said Campbell. Campbell's status for Saturday's preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens is still uncertain.
MANGINI SIMMERS QB CONTROVESRY
Eric Mangini gave Chad Pennington a vote of confidence on Sunday, despite the quarterback's struggles in Friday night's preseason game. "I'm very comfortable with [naming Pennington the starter back in February]," Mangini told the Newark Star-Ledger. "I think Chad's had an outstanding camp."
THOMAS JONES INJURY UPDATE
NFL insider Adam Schein is reporting that Jets RB Thomas Jones had an Achilles injury that led to his calf strain. "A source close to Thomas Jones tells me that the original injury he had was an Achilles strain, and as a result of favoring that injury, one week ago in practice, Jones suffered a calf strain," said Schein. "The same source did tell me he will be ready for the New England game in Week One. Achilles strains can linger. So it was an Achilles strain that morphed into a calf strain."
BRANDON JACKSON MOVES AHEAD IN GB
In what was supposed to be a two-man race between RB Brandon Jackson and RB Vernand Morency, but it has turned out to be no race at all. "Right now, Jackson's definitely way ahead because the other guy unfortunately hasn't competed at all," OC Joe Philbin said. "There's really no comparison at this stage." There's little reason to think he won't be No. 1 on the depth chart the rest of training camp. And you'd have to have a lot of faith in the Packers' medical staff to think that anyone but rookie Brandon Jackson will be the starting halfback come opening day.
LENDALE WHITE SAGA CONTINUES
RB LenDale White's injury from the preseason opening game turned out to include a swollen knee along with a sprained ankle, and he did not practice Sunday. "It happened right along with the ankle," he said. "The ankle was so sprained, I couldn't even feel it. Once I started running around on my knee and stuff and trying to get ready to go it just swelled up a little bit. The doctor said it's nothing to be too alarmed about. I should probably be back this week sometime."
STOKLEY LISTED AS STARTER
Broncos wide receiver Brandon Stokley hasn't practiced for more than two weeks due to a sore left thigh, but he is listed as a starter in the team's most recent depth chart. Brandon Marshall, who was once unlisted because of injury, has moved up from the third team to the second team, the team's official web site reports. Javon Walker is locked in at one starting receiver spot.
GAFFNEY SUFFERS SETBACK
Jabar Gaffney came up hobbling after a second-quarter reception on Friday night and was not spotted at practice on Monday morning, according to the Boston Globe.
ROOKIE EARNS PRAISE
Rookie wide receiver Jacoby Jones, who returned a punt 80 yards for a touchdown in the Texans' preseason win over the Cardinals, is pushing Kevin Walter for the starting spot opposite Andre Johnson. "Kevin is our [number] two, but I think No. 12 [Jones} is two and a half," Texans coach Gary Kubiak told the Houston Chronicle.
STRAHAN DECISION TO BY SATURDAY
Giants defensive end Michael Strahan is apparently getting close to making a decision on his retirement. Agent Tony Agnone tells the Newark Star-Ledger that his client is "getting down" to a conclusion. People close to the situation say that Strahan is expected to report to the Giants either late this week or early next week.
JOEY PORTER INJURY UPDATE
LB Joey Porter did some light running during practice in the indoor facility. At one point, Porter, who had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Aug. 7, took off at half speed, high-stepping from sideline to sideline. He's wearing a protective sleeve on his leg but is walking without a limp. HC Cam Cameron said Porter's recovery is on schedule. Porter expects to be ready for the season opener Sept. 9.
DARRELLE REVIS UPDATE
Darrelle Revis donned the pads and participated in practice on Sunday for the first time since ending his holdout late last week. "It was fun," Revis told the Newark Star-Ledger. "It was great coming out here and getting rid of the cobwebs and learning new stuff. The coaches are putting me in different spots. They're trying to challenge me."
JAGUARS UPDATE
Jacksonville Jaguars HC Jack Del Rio said the WR position is wide open for his team. "I think you can see by the way we're playing guys that we're attempting to give everybody a fair shake, a real thorough evaluation," he said. "Not only have we done that in practice throughout the OTAs [organized team activities], throughout the camp but also during the games. In time, we'll make the decisions we need to make and go forward, but that's a work in progress." Jacksonville rotated its receivers with the first-team offense in its last preseason game: Dennis Northcutt, Charles Sharon and Matt Jones on one series, Mike Walker and Reggie Williams on another.
RIVALS MAKE DEAL
The Broncos traded defensive tackle Gerard Warren to the Raiders on Monday, the AP reports. The club received an undisclosed 2008 pick in return.
RAIDERS UPDATE
The acquisition of DT Gerard Warren further clouds the picture at defensive tackle for the Oakland Raiders. Starter Warren Sapp, 34, wants to limit his playing time to about 45 snaps per game this season to stay fresh. Terdell Sands is the other starter, with Tommy Kelly having been moved to left DE. Anttaj Hawthorne is an established backup at tackle, Josh Shaw has been hurt, and the other only option has former DE Tyler Brayton, but he is in danger of getting cut. Warren has less than two weeks to make a case for staying on the roster, and then for playing time.
Michael Vick accepted a plea deal Monday in relation to the federal charges pertaining to the dogfighting operation he allegedly ran. "After consulting with his family over the weekend, Michael Vick has asked that I announce today that he has reached an agreement with federal prosecutors regarding charges pending against him," attorney Billy Martin said in a statement posted by ESPN.com. "Mr. Vick has agreed to enter a plea of guilty to those charges and to accept full responsibility for his actions and the mistakes he has made." The terms of the agreement have not been disclosed.
SHOCKLEY OUT FOR SEASON
D.J. Shockley will miss the entire 2007 season after an MRI revealed that he has a torn ACL in his left knee, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He had been competing with Chris Redman for the No. 2 spot on the quarterback depth chart.
BRUNELL TO ATL?
The Atlanta Falcons are believed to be talking to the Washington Redskins about a trade for QB Mark Brunell. Atlanta lost backup D.J. Shockley to season-ending knee injury last Friday. Atlanta's only quarterbacks behind new starter Joey Harrington are Chris Redman, whose last game was with Baltimore in 2003, and Casey Bramlet, who was cut by the Redskins on Aug. 6. Brunell, who turns 37 soon, played for new Falcons HC Bobby Petrino in Jacksonville from 1999-2001, so he's familar with the system.
GREEN GETS STARTING NOD
Head coach Cam Cameron announced on Monday that Trent Green has beaten out Cleo Lemon and will be the Dolphins starting quarterback. "We're at a point where we need to start putting this offense together and the number one thing our offense needs is leadership," Cameron told the Associated Press. "Trent brings that, but I do believe Cleo's time is coming and he's got a lot of room for growth."
JASON CAMPBELL INJURY UPDATE
Yesterday Washington Redskins QB Jason Campbell had an MRI on his injured knee. The MRI showed no serious damage. "Nine times out of 10 when you see that, it's usually something worse. It's usually something torn... It's a day-to-day thing. We'll just see where it's at by the weekend," said Campbell. Campbell's status for Saturday's preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens is still uncertain.
MANGINI SIMMERS QB CONTROVESRY
Eric Mangini gave Chad Pennington a vote of confidence on Sunday, despite the quarterback's struggles in Friday night's preseason game. "I'm very comfortable with [naming Pennington the starter back in February]," Mangini told the Newark Star-Ledger. "I think Chad's had an outstanding camp."
THOMAS JONES INJURY UPDATE
NFL insider Adam Schein is reporting that Jets RB Thomas Jones had an Achilles injury that led to his calf strain. "A source close to Thomas Jones tells me that the original injury he had was an Achilles strain, and as a result of favoring that injury, one week ago in practice, Jones suffered a calf strain," said Schein. "The same source did tell me he will be ready for the New England game in Week One. Achilles strains can linger. So it was an Achilles strain that morphed into a calf strain."
BRANDON JACKSON MOVES AHEAD IN GB
In what was supposed to be a two-man race between RB Brandon Jackson and RB Vernand Morency, but it has turned out to be no race at all. "Right now, Jackson's definitely way ahead because the other guy unfortunately hasn't competed at all," OC Joe Philbin said. "There's really no comparison at this stage." There's little reason to think he won't be No. 1 on the depth chart the rest of training camp. And you'd have to have a lot of faith in the Packers' medical staff to think that anyone but rookie Brandon Jackson will be the starting halfback come opening day.
LENDALE WHITE SAGA CONTINUES
RB LenDale White's injury from the preseason opening game turned out to include a swollen knee along with a sprained ankle, and he did not practice Sunday. "It happened right along with the ankle," he said. "The ankle was so sprained, I couldn't even feel it. Once I started running around on my knee and stuff and trying to get ready to go it just swelled up a little bit. The doctor said it's nothing to be too alarmed about. I should probably be back this week sometime."
STOKLEY LISTED AS STARTER
Broncos wide receiver Brandon Stokley hasn't practiced for more than two weeks due to a sore left thigh, but he is listed as a starter in the team's most recent depth chart. Brandon Marshall, who was once unlisted because of injury, has moved up from the third team to the second team, the team's official web site reports. Javon Walker is locked in at one starting receiver spot.
GAFFNEY SUFFERS SETBACK
Jabar Gaffney came up hobbling after a second-quarter reception on Friday night and was not spotted at practice on Monday morning, according to the Boston Globe.
ROOKIE EARNS PRAISE
Rookie wide receiver Jacoby Jones, who returned a punt 80 yards for a touchdown in the Texans' preseason win over the Cardinals, is pushing Kevin Walter for the starting spot opposite Andre Johnson. "Kevin is our [number] two, but I think No. 12 [Jones} is two and a half," Texans coach Gary Kubiak told the Houston Chronicle.
STRAHAN DECISION TO BY SATURDAY
Giants defensive end Michael Strahan is apparently getting close to making a decision on his retirement. Agent Tony Agnone tells the Newark Star-Ledger that his client is "getting down" to a conclusion. People close to the situation say that Strahan is expected to report to the Giants either late this week or early next week.
JOEY PORTER INJURY UPDATE
LB Joey Porter did some light running during practice in the indoor facility. At one point, Porter, who had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Aug. 7, took off at half speed, high-stepping from sideline to sideline. He's wearing a protective sleeve on his leg but is walking without a limp. HC Cam Cameron said Porter's recovery is on schedule. Porter expects to be ready for the season opener Sept. 9.
DARRELLE REVIS UPDATE
Darrelle Revis donned the pads and participated in practice on Sunday for the first time since ending his holdout late last week. "It was fun," Revis told the Newark Star-Ledger. "It was great coming out here and getting rid of the cobwebs and learning new stuff. The coaches are putting me in different spots. They're trying to challenge me."
JAGUARS UPDATE
Jacksonville Jaguars HC Jack Del Rio said the WR position is wide open for his team. "I think you can see by the way we're playing guys that we're attempting to give everybody a fair shake, a real thorough evaluation," he said. "Not only have we done that in practice throughout the OTAs [organized team activities], throughout the camp but also during the games. In time, we'll make the decisions we need to make and go forward, but that's a work in progress." Jacksonville rotated its receivers with the first-team offense in its last preseason game: Dennis Northcutt, Charles Sharon and Matt Jones on one series, Mike Walker and Reggie Williams on another.
RIVALS MAKE DEAL
The Broncos traded defensive tackle Gerard Warren to the Raiders on Monday, the AP reports. The club received an undisclosed 2008 pick in return.
RAIDERS UPDATE
The acquisition of DT Gerard Warren further clouds the picture at defensive tackle for the Oakland Raiders. Starter Warren Sapp, 34, wants to limit his playing time to about 45 snaps per game this season to stay fresh. Terdell Sands is the other starter, with Tommy Kelly having been moved to left DE. Anttaj Hawthorne is an established backup at tackle, Josh Shaw has been hurt, and the other only option has former DE Tyler Brayton, but he is in danger of getting cut. Warren has less than two weeks to make a case for staying on the roster, and then for playing time.
Monday, August 20, 2007
CRUCIAL FF DECISIONS
By Ralph Mancini, NFL Draft Bible
Decisions, decisions, decisions- is the name of the game in fantasy football drafts. Trying to determine which running back is most worthy of the dreaded third overall pick will undoubtedly be the source of many restless nights for several drafters this summer.
I’ve recently been burdened with the third pick in one of my money leagues, which holds its draft in two weeks.
With LaDanian Tomlinson and Steven Jackson off the board, there are a myriad of options to choose from.
Looking at your own rankings cheatsheet in this type of situation serves of little to no use. Overall rankings don’t tell you all you need to know about all of the possible pitfalls that lie ahead when picking player A or B.
After a couple of days of careful deliberation, I’ve narrowed down my choices to Larry Johnson, Frank Gore and Joseph Addai.
In addition to the fact that all three of them are under 30-years-old, each one of them authored dominating performances in 2006.
Who could forget Addai’s 171-yard, four TD masterpiece versus the Eagles?
I certainly can’t since I was the one who traded him for Thomas Jones only a week before and lost out on a win and 35 points…but I digress.
By the same token, all three come with major question marks, which in my eyes, put them all on equal footing.
In the case of Larry Johnson, I don’t see his recently resolved holdout being a negative for the 6’1, 228-pound bruiser.
If anything, two weeks of rest from the physical grind of training camp will probably do him some good in light of his 416 rushing attempts last season.
What really worries me about the former Nittany Lion is the team around him.
The coaching staff seems dead set on going with neophyte Brodie Croyle at quarterback, who thus far hasn’t looked all that sharp, throwing ill-advised interceptions in the preseason.
Add to that, the lack of a proven downfield threat at receiver, the retirement of future Hall of Fame guard Will Shields and the loss of left tackle Damion McIntosh to a knee injury and you can see what I’m driving at.
If things don’t get better in a hurry, Johnson won’t find too many cracks or crevices to squeeze through and with a treacherous early schedule including Chicago, the run-stuffing Minnesota Vikings, San Diego and Jacksonville, that’s a problem.
On the plus side, however, Johnson is one of the strongest backs in the league who has avoided major injury, despite absorbing constant punishment with his hard charging, full contact style of running.
Frank Gore isn’t as big as Johnson, but he makes up for that with his exceptional elusiveness.
His 5.4 yards-per-carry last year was tops among lead backs and with an already formidable offensive line only getting stronger with the presence of stud rookie Joe Staley, Gore could be looking at even more daylight in the coming months.
The 49ers should also see improvements from their skill position players, as heady quarterback Alex Smith has another year under his belt and Darrell Jackson gives them the proven receiver they’ve lacked since the departure of Terrell Owens.
So where’s the downside? It all boils down to injuries.
Along with tearing up ACL’s in both knees during his collegiate years, the 5’9, 215-pound dynamo has also endured multiple shoulder surgeries. Did I mention that he’s currently recovering from a broken hand?
Colts running back Joseph Addai is the youngest and least accomplished of the trio, but don’t use that against him when deciding where to rank the former LSU product.
Addai is a more than capable feature back even though he split time with Dominic Rhodes last season.
While only averaging 16 touches per game, Addai still ran for 1,081 yards with 325 additional yards receiving.
The departure of Rhodes to the Raiders means that the 24-year old will be the main man in the Colts backfield, which should translate into about at least 22 to 24 touches per contest. A 1,800-yard season in the high octane Indianapolis offense may be in the offing for the speedy Addai.
What we don’t know is exactly how much Addai will be used since coach Tony Dungy has always stated his preference for employing some sort of time share which may see Addai and backup DeDe Dorsey moving towards a 75/25 split.
Addai has also had his share of injury woes including knee troubles in college, which saw him undergo cartilage removal during his sophomore year.
Presented with all the aforementioned facts, I almost went with Larry Johnson due to his sturdy frame and relatively injury-free past.
Unfortunately for LJ, success in football is achieved collectively. One man alone does not turn the Rich Kotite Jets into the Bill Walsh 49ers.
Without a representative supporting cast around him, Johnson may see a dip in his production.
On the other side of the spectrum, Addai has an excellent group of athletes surrounding him- maybe too good.
The considerable amount of talent on the Colts may prevent the explosive runner from achieving the numbers expected from a number three overall pick.
That leaves me with Gore. The upside here is tremendous considering he put up over 2,000 combined yards, while missing parts of games and going through his personal fumbling travails during the early portion of 2006.
Coach Mike Nolan has already said that Gore will see an up-tick in carries this year, which leads me to proclaim him as my third pick- injuries and all.
Decisions, decisions, decisions- is the name of the game in fantasy football drafts. Trying to determine which running back is most worthy of the dreaded third overall pick will undoubtedly be the source of many restless nights for several drafters this summer.
I’ve recently been burdened with the third pick in one of my money leagues, which holds its draft in two weeks.
With LaDanian Tomlinson and Steven Jackson off the board, there are a myriad of options to choose from.
Looking at your own rankings cheatsheet in this type of situation serves of little to no use. Overall rankings don’t tell you all you need to know about all of the possible pitfalls that lie ahead when picking player A or B.
After a couple of days of careful deliberation, I’ve narrowed down my choices to Larry Johnson, Frank Gore and Joseph Addai.
In addition to the fact that all three of them are under 30-years-old, each one of them authored dominating performances in 2006.
Who could forget Addai’s 171-yard, four TD masterpiece versus the Eagles?
I certainly can’t since I was the one who traded him for Thomas Jones only a week before and lost out on a win and 35 points…but I digress.
By the same token, all three come with major question marks, which in my eyes, put them all on equal footing.
In the case of Larry Johnson, I don’t see his recently resolved holdout being a negative for the 6’1, 228-pound bruiser.
If anything, two weeks of rest from the physical grind of training camp will probably do him some good in light of his 416 rushing attempts last season.
What really worries me about the former Nittany Lion is the team around him.
The coaching staff seems dead set on going with neophyte Brodie Croyle at quarterback, who thus far hasn’t looked all that sharp, throwing ill-advised interceptions in the preseason.
Add to that, the lack of a proven downfield threat at receiver, the retirement of future Hall of Fame guard Will Shields and the loss of left tackle Damion McIntosh to a knee injury and you can see what I’m driving at.
If things don’t get better in a hurry, Johnson won’t find too many cracks or crevices to squeeze through and with a treacherous early schedule including Chicago, the run-stuffing Minnesota Vikings, San Diego and Jacksonville, that’s a problem.
On the plus side, however, Johnson is one of the strongest backs in the league who has avoided major injury, despite absorbing constant punishment with his hard charging, full contact style of running.
Frank Gore isn’t as big as Johnson, but he makes up for that with his exceptional elusiveness.
His 5.4 yards-per-carry last year was tops among lead backs and with an already formidable offensive line only getting stronger with the presence of stud rookie Joe Staley, Gore could be looking at even more daylight in the coming months.
The 49ers should also see improvements from their skill position players, as heady quarterback Alex Smith has another year under his belt and Darrell Jackson gives them the proven receiver they’ve lacked since the departure of Terrell Owens.
So where’s the downside? It all boils down to injuries.
Along with tearing up ACL’s in both knees during his collegiate years, the 5’9, 215-pound dynamo has also endured multiple shoulder surgeries. Did I mention that he’s currently recovering from a broken hand?
Colts running back Joseph Addai is the youngest and least accomplished of the trio, but don’t use that against him when deciding where to rank the former LSU product.
Addai is a more than capable feature back even though he split time with Dominic Rhodes last season.
While only averaging 16 touches per game, Addai still ran for 1,081 yards with 325 additional yards receiving.
The departure of Rhodes to the Raiders means that the 24-year old will be the main man in the Colts backfield, which should translate into about at least 22 to 24 touches per contest. A 1,800-yard season in the high octane Indianapolis offense may be in the offing for the speedy Addai.
What we don’t know is exactly how much Addai will be used since coach Tony Dungy has always stated his preference for employing some sort of time share which may see Addai and backup DeDe Dorsey moving towards a 75/25 split.
Addai has also had his share of injury woes including knee troubles in college, which saw him undergo cartilage removal during his sophomore year.
Presented with all the aforementioned facts, I almost went with Larry Johnson due to his sturdy frame and relatively injury-free past.
Unfortunately for LJ, success in football is achieved collectively. One man alone does not turn the Rich Kotite Jets into the Bill Walsh 49ers.
Without a representative supporting cast around him, Johnson may see a dip in his production.
On the other side of the spectrum, Addai has an excellent group of athletes surrounding him- maybe too good.
The considerable amount of talent on the Colts may prevent the explosive runner from achieving the numbers expected from a number three overall pick.
That leaves me with Gore. The upside here is tremendous considering he put up over 2,000 combined yards, while missing parts of games and going through his personal fumbling travails during the early portion of 2006.
Coach Mike Nolan has already said that Gore will see an up-tick in carries this year, which leads me to proclaim him as my third pick- injuries and all.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
SUNDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK
Preseason Edition: Vol. 3
Rick Serritella
Don’t count out Brady Quinn just yet for that starting quarterback job in Cleveland. The rookie stated his case Saturday night, completing 13-of-20 passes for 155 yards, while tossing two touchdowns. He may be behind in terms of reps, but Quinn proved why he is already the best quarterback on the team.
There seems to be disagreement in Kansas City between GM Carl Peterson and head coach Herm Edwards. Peterson believes Damon Huard gives the team the best chance to win as starting quarterback. Edwards and offensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham want to throw second-year man Brodie Croyle into the fire and let him rip. A situation like this occurs every season and the outcome can dictate the success of your season. If Croyle plays well the rest of preseason, it looks to be his job.
The Tim Couch experiment didn’t last very long in Jacksonville, three weeks to be exact. The Jaguars had brought the former number one overall pick (’99-Cleveland) into camp for a look, but obviously weren’t too impressed. Look for Couch to resurface next season with the startup All-American Football League.
Denver suffered a major blow in their 31-20 loss to Dallas on Saturday, as both Travis Henry and Mike Bell left the game due to injury. Henry suffered a sprain left knee and is expected to have an MRI Sunday. Bell re-aggravated a hip injury. Head coach Mike Shanahan sounded confident Henry would be ready for the start of the season in his post-game press conference, but in the meantime be sure to have Cecil Sapp on your fantasy radar.
One has to wonder what in the world head coach Cam Cameron is thinking down in Miami. The decision to let Ronnie Brown test out his kick return skills during the preseason is a move that could have turned fatal. Risking your starting running back on special teams is dangerous. The two words that first come to mind are Jason Sehorn. What’s even more mind-boggling is that Cameron is considering using Brown on kick returns during the season.
Flying under the radar in San Diego is wide receiver Vincent Jackson. Many fantasy owners are aware of his bust-out potential, but what they fail to realize is that Jackson could very well be a top-ten fantasy producing wide out- a definite mid-round steal for your fantasy draft this season.
James Jones has emerged as the Packers number three wide out and with Greg Jennings having trouble staying healthy, the third round pick out of San Jose Sate could make some noise this season. In deeper leagues, James could have some value as a reserve.
Another player we will continue to monitor is Marques Hagans of the Rams. The second-year quarterback turned wide out has looked impressive thus far in camp. He continues to lead the pack as the number three/slot receiver in St. Louis.
TEN GUYS WE LIKE…
• Jay Cutler – Should sneak into the top ten fantasy quarterbacks when the season is all said and done.
• Joey Harrington – Could put up some surprising numbers with talented offense around him.
• Daunte Culpepper – Worth a flier if he’s available with your final pick.
• Brandon Jacobs – Will step into fantasy stud status this season.
• Tatum Bell – Could explode in Mike Martz’s offense as long as he learns not to put the ball on the ground.
• Warrick Dunn – Downgraded due to injury by most fantasy owners, you can nab Dunn as a bargain during the middle of your draft. He’s still good for 1,000 yards.
• Tony Hunt – Great value in touchdown and dynasty leagues. Look for the rookie to see the majority of goal line touches for Philly.
• Ronald Curry – Will learn how to find the end zone this season.
• Wes Welker – Could see a lot of touchdowns in that slot role.
• Owen Daniels – Will improve upon the five touchdowns of a year ago in an offense that plans on using the tight end in an extensive role.
TEN GUYS WE DON'T LIKE…
• Donovan McNabb – The ultimate risk/reward player. A stud when healthy but knees just not what they used to be.
• Brodie Croyle – The kid has a laser, but his inexperience will cost him.
• Jason Campbell – The bruised left knee Campbell suffered in preseason didn’t help his draft status any.
• Clinton Portis – Look for carries to decrease significantly with the emergence of Ladell Betts as a bona-fide runner.
• Laurence Maroney – Seems to be too much question surrounding the rehabbed shoulder and that kind of uncertainty doesn’t warrant the high round price tag that Maroney commands.
• Chris Henry – The Titans first round pick has bust written all over him. Look for Chris Brown to be the man in Tennessee.
• Matt Jones – Streaky and injury-prone, two things you should avoid in fantasy football.
• Samie Parker – Was given every opportunity to seize the starting job while Dwayne Bowe held out and failed to capitalize.
• Greg Olsen – Will show flashes of brilliance but will be hard to get consistency on a weekly basis with the presence of Desmond Clark.
• L.J. Smith – Dealing with an array of injuries, better options available.
To check the complete Sunday Morning Quarterback archive be dure to visit The NFL Draft Bible website.
For additional information on the above topics or information on the All-American Football League, you can email Rick Serritella at ric@nfldraftbible.com
Rick Serritella
Don’t count out Brady Quinn just yet for that starting quarterback job in Cleveland. The rookie stated his case Saturday night, completing 13-of-20 passes for 155 yards, while tossing two touchdowns. He may be behind in terms of reps, but Quinn proved why he is already the best quarterback on the team.
There seems to be disagreement in Kansas City between GM Carl Peterson and head coach Herm Edwards. Peterson believes Damon Huard gives the team the best chance to win as starting quarterback. Edwards and offensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham want to throw second-year man Brodie Croyle into the fire and let him rip. A situation like this occurs every season and the outcome can dictate the success of your season. If Croyle plays well the rest of preseason, it looks to be his job.
The Tim Couch experiment didn’t last very long in Jacksonville, three weeks to be exact. The Jaguars had brought the former number one overall pick (’99-Cleveland) into camp for a look, but obviously weren’t too impressed. Look for Couch to resurface next season with the startup All-American Football League.
Denver suffered a major blow in their 31-20 loss to Dallas on Saturday, as both Travis Henry and Mike Bell left the game due to injury. Henry suffered a sprain left knee and is expected to have an MRI Sunday. Bell re-aggravated a hip injury. Head coach Mike Shanahan sounded confident Henry would be ready for the start of the season in his post-game press conference, but in the meantime be sure to have Cecil Sapp on your fantasy radar.
One has to wonder what in the world head coach Cam Cameron is thinking down in Miami. The decision to let Ronnie Brown test out his kick return skills during the preseason is a move that could have turned fatal. Risking your starting running back on special teams is dangerous. The two words that first come to mind are Jason Sehorn. What’s even more mind-boggling is that Cameron is considering using Brown on kick returns during the season.
Flying under the radar in San Diego is wide receiver Vincent Jackson. Many fantasy owners are aware of his bust-out potential, but what they fail to realize is that Jackson could very well be a top-ten fantasy producing wide out- a definite mid-round steal for your fantasy draft this season.
James Jones has emerged as the Packers number three wide out and with Greg Jennings having trouble staying healthy, the third round pick out of San Jose Sate could make some noise this season. In deeper leagues, James could have some value as a reserve.
Another player we will continue to monitor is Marques Hagans of the Rams. The second-year quarterback turned wide out has looked impressive thus far in camp. He continues to lead the pack as the number three/slot receiver in St. Louis.
TEN GUYS WE LIKE…
• Jay Cutler – Should sneak into the top ten fantasy quarterbacks when the season is all said and done.
• Joey Harrington – Could put up some surprising numbers with talented offense around him.
• Daunte Culpepper – Worth a flier if he’s available with your final pick.
• Brandon Jacobs – Will step into fantasy stud status this season.
• Tatum Bell – Could explode in Mike Martz’s offense as long as he learns not to put the ball on the ground.
• Warrick Dunn – Downgraded due to injury by most fantasy owners, you can nab Dunn as a bargain during the middle of your draft. He’s still good for 1,000 yards.
• Tony Hunt – Great value in touchdown and dynasty leagues. Look for the rookie to see the majority of goal line touches for Philly.
• Ronald Curry – Will learn how to find the end zone this season.
• Wes Welker – Could see a lot of touchdowns in that slot role.
• Owen Daniels – Will improve upon the five touchdowns of a year ago in an offense that plans on using the tight end in an extensive role.
TEN GUYS WE DON'T LIKE…
• Donovan McNabb – The ultimate risk/reward player. A stud when healthy but knees just not what they used to be.
• Brodie Croyle – The kid has a laser, but his inexperience will cost him.
• Jason Campbell – The bruised left knee Campbell suffered in preseason didn’t help his draft status any.
• Clinton Portis – Look for carries to decrease significantly with the emergence of Ladell Betts as a bona-fide runner.
• Laurence Maroney – Seems to be too much question surrounding the rehabbed shoulder and that kind of uncertainty doesn’t warrant the high round price tag that Maroney commands.
• Chris Henry – The Titans first round pick has bust written all over him. Look for Chris Brown to be the man in Tennessee.
• Matt Jones – Streaky and injury-prone, two things you should avoid in fantasy football.
• Samie Parker – Was given every opportunity to seize the starting job while Dwayne Bowe held out and failed to capitalize.
• Greg Olsen – Will show flashes of brilliance but will be hard to get consistency on a weekly basis with the presence of Desmond Clark.
• L.J. Smith – Dealing with an array of injuries, better options available.
To check the complete Sunday Morning Quarterback archive be dure to visit The NFL Draft Bible website.
For additional information on the above topics or information on the All-American Football League, you can email Rick Serritella at ric@nfldraftbible.com
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
THE PHIL ELETTO TOP 100
These rankings are for basic scoring formats. Tight end’s have been ranked as wide receivers, so figure a 5% bump in value if your league mandates a tight end.
1 LaDanian Tomlinson: Don’t expect last year, but if you have any doubt, I want to be in your league
2 Steven Jackson: Pure monster, the coaching staff knows it and the system exploits it
3 Shaun Alexander: Let them worry about last year and his 30 years of age, we were talking about him last year like we talk about Tomlinson this year
4 Larry Johnson: For my money, this is a much better soap-opera than the Vick case--at least it’s all football related
5 Travis Henry: Too many things have to go wrong for him to not earn this. They say Moss needed a change of scenery?
6 Frank Gore: Opposite of Alexander--how quickly we forget his injury plagued past. I just want less risk in this slot. The later he lasts, the better I like him.
7 Reggie Bush: Too many weapons to be higher, but too much talent to go lower. Yardage/points per game makes him 5 overall
8 Willis McGahee: I am absolutely drooling over his upside this year
9 Joseph Addai: Flip-flop with Henry if Tarik Glenn plays, which does not seem likely
10 Peyton Manning: Money in the bank, but I have a hard time taking him before the RB's in front of him (and a few behind, if on the clock)
11 Laurence Maroney: A younger, stronger Westbrook. How much of the good Westbrook vs the bad is the question
12 Steve Smith: Will get you points in every game he is in, which is any time he can walk
13 Brian Westbrook: Injury waiting to happen, but an all-category monster when on the field. Points per catch or yardage leagues bump him up 5 spots
14 Rudy Johnson: Quietly does his thing year after year to little or no fanfare
15 Willie Parker: Love him in yardage leagues. Barlow and Davenport may snag a few more short touchdowns than Parker owners can handle
16 Clinton Portis: Expect a repeat of last year, except for his alter-ego's
17 Chad Johnson: This is the year he puts it all together
18 Carson Palmer: Rather have him here than pay the price for Peyton
19 Edgerrin James: Last year’s expectations come to fruition this year
20 Tory Holt: All is happy as can be in Ram-land. He should mirror last year’s numbers
21 Terrell Owens: Do you feel lucky? Better upside than any receiver but Smith and Ocho Cinco but with more risk, so I wuss out on this one
22 Marvin Harrison: I need to see the slowdown year before worrying about making him my #1 WR.He is like that security blanket from childhood.
23 Reggie Wayne: More upside than Harrison, but I won’t bet against Marvin
24 Cedric Benson: All alone, but is that a good thing, and is the entire Bears offense jekyll or hyde? Last of the clear cut starters, so take note of the rise in volatility and question marks from here on out, but he could be this year’s Frank Gore
25 Larry Fitzgerald: Sick talent + being surrounded by very good talent at the skill positions = no brainer
26 Roy Williams: The decision between him and Fitzgerald is like the decision between a brunette with a perfect body vs. a blonde with…
27 Brandon Jacobs: LaMont Jordan with more upside
28 Drew Brees: Having Bush puts him ahead of Brady (get your mind out of the gutter!)
29 Marques Colston: I so badly want to put him higher, but can’t tell you to do so, to the chagrin of our own Dr. Bill Chackes
30 Javon Walker: This offense will break records (figuratively) or hearts. Although the former is an exaggeration, that is my bet
31 Carnell Williams: He is another guy that has the talent and could surprise if your looking for upside. With all the noise about the quarterback situation, he may slip
32 Maurice Jones-Drew: This guy can get it done, likely earning more than this slot
33 Ronnie Brown: Trent Green staying healthy improves Brown's standing considerably
34 Andre Johnson: Expect a repeat of last year. Ever use him in Madden? He is a monster!
35 Duece McAllister: The quietest 10 Touchdowns, 1,000 yards of '06
36 Tom Brady: It’s not hard to imagine a 5-10% increase last year’s numbers, but you will have to pay for it. I pass
37 Thomas Jones: Still don’t understand why he came so cheap. Helps you more in yardage leagues than touchdown leagues
38 Jamal Lewis: Few go to Cleveland looking for the Fountain of Youth, but he has a year or two left
39 Ahman Green: New team, new system, can put up numbers when healthy
40 Anquan Boldin: He never hurts you unless he is hurt himself
41 DeAngelo Williams: Has all the ability in the world, and it sure is fun to watch him exploit the room Smith opens up
42 Lamont Jordan: zzzzz. Do we hear sleeper? There is no "sleeper" per se anymore so look at him as unexpected/cheap sources of points.
43 Chester Taylor: Loved him until Adrian Peterson got drafted
44 Antonio Gates: As much fun as you can have owning a tight end
45 Randy Moss: I am pumped if I can get him here
46 Marshawn Lynch: $75 million invested in the offensive line, and not a ton of attention on him because of the expectation of "running back by committee." C'mon, are you scared of 100 year old Anthony Thomas?
47 Fred Taylor: Where once you couldn’t keep him ON the field, now we can’t get him off of it
48 Marion Barber: Was a Bill Parcells favorite, if he couldn't wrestle job from Jones then he won’t start now. It will take Wade Phillips half the season to figure out what Parcells ultimately did--Julius Jones cannot handle a starting gig
49 Marc Bulger: Bruises as easily as a peach, but can be as lethal as QBs 10-15 spots higher
50 Hines Ward: Been up and down last few years, but with a stabilized offense expect the "up"
51 Adrian Peterson: Are we all getting too excited given the $$ they paid Taylor and Peterson’s injury history? I smell a two-headed running back
52 Calvin Johnson: Rookies back to back. Selecting a rookie WR this early is unprecedented but warranted. Swing for the fences, look at the guys below, maybe one of the guys below slips to your next pick--you are set.
53 Donovan McNabb: 75% as of 8/1, that’s not a ringing endorsement, but it’s too early to go jumping off any bridges.
54 Kevin Jones: He's the type of guy that will bust out when everyone least expects it. You can get him here, zero downside other than that chronic foot, and Tatum Bell getting a fire under his…
55 TJ Houshmandzadeh: Best name since Tshimanga Biakabutuka and he’s a great receiver who will only benefit from Chris Henry's stupidity
56 Donald Driver: I want any WR that is Brett Favre's favorite target
57 Lee Evans: Would not be surprised if he finishes the season up to 20 spots higher, but I am not a J.P. Losman fan at all
58 Santana Moss: Not feeling the Redskins offense, but someone will put up #3 WR numbers and he has the best chance at them
59 Jon Kitna: Liked him last year, LOVE him this year
60 Plaxico Burress: So tired of this story--million dollar skills, ten cent head. As a number two, he could disappoint, as a #3 you will be thrilled.
61 Deion Branch: Got the number one gig and this offense should be a pleasant surprise
62 Brandon Jackson: Morency starting will only last a 1/4 of the season, and their O line is no prize
63 Laveranues Coles: Going to get a million balls thrown his way
64 Chris Chambers: Whenever his quarterback can get him the ball, he has exploded
65 Braylon Edwards: see Chris Chambers, only the quarterback situation is not nearly as optimistic
66 Vincent Jackson: Red zone monster
67 Reggie Brown: Ton of talent, it is a shame his value is tied to Donovan McNabb's health
68 Jay Cutler: Like Travis Henry, too many things need to go wrong for him to fail. No sure thing but they will not be looking insert Patrick Ramsey unless its an emergency
69 Joey Galloway: He keeps on going, but I don’t want to be left holding the pieces when his production dries up
70 Mark Clayton: Has to love the arrival of Willis McGahee, which will give him a fighting chance to run free
71 Tatum Bell: Martz loves him, but the evil genius is no friend to running backs
*At this point there is a considerable drop off in talent other than quarterbacks, Defenses/Individual defensive players/Kickers. If you don’t have a quarterback or have to play a TE, you have waited long enough. If you have any means of moving 2 picks for 1 to move up, do so.
72 Jerious Norwood: He will get his chance to start out of the gate, but any Falcon will have to come cheap for me
73 Todd Heap: Owners never complain or rejoice, but he is a tight end, what do you expect?
74 Ladell Betts: Clinton Portis always gives the backup a game or two of value
75 Matt Hasselbeck: Why is he falling so far?
76 Tony Gonzalez: Chiefs wide receivers scare nobody, so the passing game is his to rule
77 Darrell Jackson: Hardly the missing piece, but brings valuable experience and talent, just has to stay out of the trainer’s room
78 Matt Leinart: Let’s not go nuts, but this season he should be a pleasure to own
79 Vince Young: Betting on a sophomore slump
80 Muhsin Muhammad: He is getting the majority of the balls regardless, but a successful QB means high scoring offense. If not you have too many low scoring games
81 LenDale White: His value is the opposite of his scale readings, meaning weight up, fortunes down
82 Phillip Rivers: Poor man’s Drew Brees with more mobility
83 Kevin Curtis: Perfect fit with plenty of upside as Brown has had trouble staying healthy
84 DeShaun Foster: Starting and talented but "fragile" must be Italian
85 Devery Henderson: Departure of Joe Horn allows his skills to shine and be the forgotten man alongside Marques Colston, Reggie Bush and company
86 Donte Stallworth: A polished version of Devery Henderson, but the WR glut hurts more than Tom Brady helps. Always seems to be nicked up
87 Chris Brown: Another "good if on the field but…" and may lose job if LenDale White learns to lay off the White Castle
88 Jerricho Cotchery: Flew under the radar everywhere but New York, can he do it again?
89 Vernand Morency: Will get the numbers at the end of the season, but if you owned him you will wonder when those points came
90 D.J. Hackett: Another great value pick. Years ago they would label him a sleeper
91 Kellen Winslow, Jr.: Tight end rule. Always had the talent, I think he will start to show it this year
92 Greg Jennings: Great chemistry with Favre and little depth after him
93 Santonio Holmes: He has had time to marinate in the offense and Pittsburgh passing game will surprise
94 Bernard Berrian: Speed to burn but how many points will the Bears score? If you haven't guessed it, I’m down on the Bears offense across the board
95 Troy Williamson: At this point would you prefer to have some retread veteran or a guy with an extra helping of upside. I will take the upside hold the onions (and hopefully the dropsies)
96 Ben Roethlisberger: Got a really solid feeling on him this year, he should be cheap as well
97 Chris Cooley: Love his versatility and his prominence in the offense, but how good will it be?
98 Terry Glenn: HE doesn’t have all that much upside per se, but unpredictability of Owens OR coverage he draws--either way Owens helps him.
99 Brett Favre: Captain obvious comment of the board--If upright he will be slinging. Running game is no given and neither is the defense.
100 Leon Washington: A much younger version of Warrick Dunn which means lots of yards, some BIG plays, limited touchdowns
1 LaDanian Tomlinson: Don’t expect last year, but if you have any doubt, I want to be in your league
2 Steven Jackson: Pure monster, the coaching staff knows it and the system exploits it
3 Shaun Alexander: Let them worry about last year and his 30 years of age, we were talking about him last year like we talk about Tomlinson this year
4 Larry Johnson: For my money, this is a much better soap-opera than the Vick case--at least it’s all football related
5 Travis Henry: Too many things have to go wrong for him to not earn this. They say Moss needed a change of scenery?
6 Frank Gore: Opposite of Alexander--how quickly we forget his injury plagued past. I just want less risk in this slot. The later he lasts, the better I like him.
7 Reggie Bush: Too many weapons to be higher, but too much talent to go lower. Yardage/points per game makes him 5 overall
8 Willis McGahee: I am absolutely drooling over his upside this year
9 Joseph Addai: Flip-flop with Henry if Tarik Glenn plays, which does not seem likely
10 Peyton Manning: Money in the bank, but I have a hard time taking him before the RB's in front of him (and a few behind, if on the clock)
11 Laurence Maroney: A younger, stronger Westbrook. How much of the good Westbrook vs the bad is the question
12 Steve Smith: Will get you points in every game he is in, which is any time he can walk
13 Brian Westbrook: Injury waiting to happen, but an all-category monster when on the field. Points per catch or yardage leagues bump him up 5 spots
14 Rudy Johnson: Quietly does his thing year after year to little or no fanfare
15 Willie Parker: Love him in yardage leagues. Barlow and Davenport may snag a few more short touchdowns than Parker owners can handle
16 Clinton Portis: Expect a repeat of last year, except for his alter-ego's
17 Chad Johnson: This is the year he puts it all together
18 Carson Palmer: Rather have him here than pay the price for Peyton
19 Edgerrin James: Last year’s expectations come to fruition this year
20 Tory Holt: All is happy as can be in Ram-land. He should mirror last year’s numbers
21 Terrell Owens: Do you feel lucky? Better upside than any receiver but Smith and Ocho Cinco but with more risk, so I wuss out on this one
22 Marvin Harrison: I need to see the slowdown year before worrying about making him my #1 WR.He is like that security blanket from childhood.
23 Reggie Wayne: More upside than Harrison, but I won’t bet against Marvin
24 Cedric Benson: All alone, but is that a good thing, and is the entire Bears offense jekyll or hyde? Last of the clear cut starters, so take note of the rise in volatility and question marks from here on out, but he could be this year’s Frank Gore
25 Larry Fitzgerald: Sick talent + being surrounded by very good talent at the skill positions = no brainer
26 Roy Williams: The decision between him and Fitzgerald is like the decision between a brunette with a perfect body vs. a blonde with…
27 Brandon Jacobs: LaMont Jordan with more upside
28 Drew Brees: Having Bush puts him ahead of Brady (get your mind out of the gutter!)
29 Marques Colston: I so badly want to put him higher, but can’t tell you to do so, to the chagrin of our own Dr. Bill Chackes
30 Javon Walker: This offense will break records (figuratively) or hearts. Although the former is an exaggeration, that is my bet
31 Carnell Williams: He is another guy that has the talent and could surprise if your looking for upside. With all the noise about the quarterback situation, he may slip
32 Maurice Jones-Drew: This guy can get it done, likely earning more than this slot
33 Ronnie Brown: Trent Green staying healthy improves Brown's standing considerably
34 Andre Johnson: Expect a repeat of last year. Ever use him in Madden? He is a monster!
35 Duece McAllister: The quietest 10 Touchdowns, 1,000 yards of '06
36 Tom Brady: It’s not hard to imagine a 5-10% increase last year’s numbers, but you will have to pay for it. I pass
37 Thomas Jones: Still don’t understand why he came so cheap. Helps you more in yardage leagues than touchdown leagues
38 Jamal Lewis: Few go to Cleveland looking for the Fountain of Youth, but he has a year or two left
39 Ahman Green: New team, new system, can put up numbers when healthy
40 Anquan Boldin: He never hurts you unless he is hurt himself
41 DeAngelo Williams: Has all the ability in the world, and it sure is fun to watch him exploit the room Smith opens up
42 Lamont Jordan: zzzzz. Do we hear sleeper? There is no "sleeper" per se anymore so look at him as unexpected/cheap sources of points.
43 Chester Taylor: Loved him until Adrian Peterson got drafted
44 Antonio Gates: As much fun as you can have owning a tight end
45 Randy Moss: I am pumped if I can get him here
46 Marshawn Lynch: $75 million invested in the offensive line, and not a ton of attention on him because of the expectation of "running back by committee." C'mon, are you scared of 100 year old Anthony Thomas?
47 Fred Taylor: Where once you couldn’t keep him ON the field, now we can’t get him off of it
48 Marion Barber: Was a Bill Parcells favorite, if he couldn't wrestle job from Jones then he won’t start now. It will take Wade Phillips half the season to figure out what Parcells ultimately did--Julius Jones cannot handle a starting gig
49 Marc Bulger: Bruises as easily as a peach, but can be as lethal as QBs 10-15 spots higher
50 Hines Ward: Been up and down last few years, but with a stabilized offense expect the "up"
51 Adrian Peterson: Are we all getting too excited given the $$ they paid Taylor and Peterson’s injury history? I smell a two-headed running back
52 Calvin Johnson: Rookies back to back. Selecting a rookie WR this early is unprecedented but warranted. Swing for the fences, look at the guys below, maybe one of the guys below slips to your next pick--you are set.
53 Donovan McNabb: 75% as of 8/1, that’s not a ringing endorsement, but it’s too early to go jumping off any bridges.
54 Kevin Jones: He's the type of guy that will bust out when everyone least expects it. You can get him here, zero downside other than that chronic foot, and Tatum Bell getting a fire under his…
55 TJ Houshmandzadeh: Best name since Tshimanga Biakabutuka and he’s a great receiver who will only benefit from Chris Henry's stupidity
56 Donald Driver: I want any WR that is Brett Favre's favorite target
57 Lee Evans: Would not be surprised if he finishes the season up to 20 spots higher, but I am not a J.P. Losman fan at all
58 Santana Moss: Not feeling the Redskins offense, but someone will put up #3 WR numbers and he has the best chance at them
59 Jon Kitna: Liked him last year, LOVE him this year
60 Plaxico Burress: So tired of this story--million dollar skills, ten cent head. As a number two, he could disappoint, as a #3 you will be thrilled.
61 Deion Branch: Got the number one gig and this offense should be a pleasant surprise
62 Brandon Jackson: Morency starting will only last a 1/4 of the season, and their O line is no prize
63 Laveranues Coles: Going to get a million balls thrown his way
64 Chris Chambers: Whenever his quarterback can get him the ball, he has exploded
65 Braylon Edwards: see Chris Chambers, only the quarterback situation is not nearly as optimistic
66 Vincent Jackson: Red zone monster
67 Reggie Brown: Ton of talent, it is a shame his value is tied to Donovan McNabb's health
68 Jay Cutler: Like Travis Henry, too many things need to go wrong for him to fail. No sure thing but they will not be looking insert Patrick Ramsey unless its an emergency
69 Joey Galloway: He keeps on going, but I don’t want to be left holding the pieces when his production dries up
70 Mark Clayton: Has to love the arrival of Willis McGahee, which will give him a fighting chance to run free
71 Tatum Bell: Martz loves him, but the evil genius is no friend to running backs
*At this point there is a considerable drop off in talent other than quarterbacks, Defenses/Individual defensive players/Kickers. If you don’t have a quarterback or have to play a TE, you have waited long enough. If you have any means of moving 2 picks for 1 to move up, do so.
72 Jerious Norwood: He will get his chance to start out of the gate, but any Falcon will have to come cheap for me
73 Todd Heap: Owners never complain or rejoice, but he is a tight end, what do you expect?
74 Ladell Betts: Clinton Portis always gives the backup a game or two of value
75 Matt Hasselbeck: Why is he falling so far?
76 Tony Gonzalez: Chiefs wide receivers scare nobody, so the passing game is his to rule
77 Darrell Jackson: Hardly the missing piece, but brings valuable experience and talent, just has to stay out of the trainer’s room
78 Matt Leinart: Let’s not go nuts, but this season he should be a pleasure to own
79 Vince Young: Betting on a sophomore slump
80 Muhsin Muhammad: He is getting the majority of the balls regardless, but a successful QB means high scoring offense. If not you have too many low scoring games
81 LenDale White: His value is the opposite of his scale readings, meaning weight up, fortunes down
82 Phillip Rivers: Poor man’s Drew Brees with more mobility
83 Kevin Curtis: Perfect fit with plenty of upside as Brown has had trouble staying healthy
84 DeShaun Foster: Starting and talented but "fragile" must be Italian
85 Devery Henderson: Departure of Joe Horn allows his skills to shine and be the forgotten man alongside Marques Colston, Reggie Bush and company
86 Donte Stallworth: A polished version of Devery Henderson, but the WR glut hurts more than Tom Brady helps. Always seems to be nicked up
87 Chris Brown: Another "good if on the field but…" and may lose job if LenDale White learns to lay off the White Castle
88 Jerricho Cotchery: Flew under the radar everywhere but New York, can he do it again?
89 Vernand Morency: Will get the numbers at the end of the season, but if you owned him you will wonder when those points came
90 D.J. Hackett: Another great value pick. Years ago they would label him a sleeper
91 Kellen Winslow, Jr.: Tight end rule. Always had the talent, I think he will start to show it this year
92 Greg Jennings: Great chemistry with Favre and little depth after him
93 Santonio Holmes: He has had time to marinate in the offense and Pittsburgh passing game will surprise
94 Bernard Berrian: Speed to burn but how many points will the Bears score? If you haven't guessed it, I’m down on the Bears offense across the board
95 Troy Williamson: At this point would you prefer to have some retread veteran or a guy with an extra helping of upside. I will take the upside hold the onions (and hopefully the dropsies)
96 Ben Roethlisberger: Got a really solid feeling on him this year, he should be cheap as well
97 Chris Cooley: Love his versatility and his prominence in the offense, but how good will it be?
98 Terry Glenn: HE doesn’t have all that much upside per se, but unpredictability of Owens OR coverage he draws--either way Owens helps him.
99 Brett Favre: Captain obvious comment of the board--If upright he will be slinging. Running game is no given and neither is the defense.
100 Leon Washington: A much younger version of Warrick Dunn which means lots of yards, some BIG plays, limited touchdowns
Monday, August 13, 2007
QUARTERBACKS IN THE WINGS
By The Fantasy Trader, NFL Draft Bible
Have you ever tried to explain Fantasy Football to someone who has never played? Well, we draft real players and form a team that competes each week. Fantasy Football is like being a real owner. If this were true, then why does the fantasy quarterback get the shaft?
Just about the entire first round will be running backs. Part of the reason for this is that there is so much depth at the quarterback position. Tony Romo, Vince Young, Jeff Garcia, David Garrard and Jay Cutler started the season as backups, but got the full-time gig and made serious contributions. So much is made of the backup running back, but let’s see who might breakout in the backup quarterback role.
David Carr, Carolina Panthers-- Has there ever been a better example of losing your job and it being considered a good career move? Carr picked himself up off the ground 41 times last year. Despite the lack of protection he still managed to complete 68.3% of his passes and is only 28 years old. Now he’s in Carolina backing up Jake Delhomme, who struggled last year and will have a short leash to start 07. Carr has more mobility than Delhomme and arguably as good an arm. The one thing he never had was Delhomme’s surrounding talent.
Gus Frerotte, St. Louis Rams-- It seems that Frerotte always finds his way behind center. Marc Bulger played all sixteen games last year for the first time in his career and was limited to eight games in 2005. Frerotte made the most with his surrounding talent in Miami. If you have a disposable roster spot, Bulger owners might want to consider drafting Frerotte as an insurance policy. At the very least, he is worth a waiver pick as a viable fantasy option should Bulger go down.
Brady Quinn, Cleveland Browns-- After missing nearly two weeks of training camp, it appears Quinn has no shot at starting the season as the Browns quarterback. Charlie Frye and Derek Anderson will compete for the starting job. Last season, the two combined to throw just 15 TDs and 25 INTs. Quinn has learned under Charlie Weis and has the mobility and arm strength to make an immediate impact. The Browns are preaching patience, but so were the Titans and Cardinals last season. Chances are he starts before mid-season.
Damon Huard, Kansas City Chiefs-- He will probably be the week one starter for the Chiefs, but that doesn’t mean he will get drafted in your league. The fact that there is a quarterback debate between Huard and rookie Brody Croyle is mind-boggling. In ten games last season, Huard threw 11 TDs and just 1 INT. Assuming Larry Johnson returns, he also makes every passing game a little bit better. With a weak offensive line, veteran leadership is a must.
Kellen Clemens, New York Jets-- The Jets should just call this guy Pennington number two. His game is eerily similar, as he possesses the same frame and has shown acute accuracy. Clemens seems to also possess a stronger arm of the two. Pennington did play sixteen games last season, but only played in twenty-three during the three prior seasons. Clemens was explosive at Oregon where he threw 41 TDs over his last two seasons. The Jets have veteran wide receivers, which will help with his transition should the opportunity present itself.
The name has changed to protect the innocent. The Fantasy Trader will give you the inside access into league developments to help keep you ahead of your fantasy competition.
Email him at: fantasytrader@nfldraftbible.com
Have you ever tried to explain Fantasy Football to someone who has never played? Well, we draft real players and form a team that competes each week. Fantasy Football is like being a real owner. If this were true, then why does the fantasy quarterback get the shaft?
Just about the entire first round will be running backs. Part of the reason for this is that there is so much depth at the quarterback position. Tony Romo, Vince Young, Jeff Garcia, David Garrard and Jay Cutler started the season as backups, but got the full-time gig and made serious contributions. So much is made of the backup running back, but let’s see who might breakout in the backup quarterback role.
David Carr, Carolina Panthers-- Has there ever been a better example of losing your job and it being considered a good career move? Carr picked himself up off the ground 41 times last year. Despite the lack of protection he still managed to complete 68.3% of his passes and is only 28 years old. Now he’s in Carolina backing up Jake Delhomme, who struggled last year and will have a short leash to start 07. Carr has more mobility than Delhomme and arguably as good an arm. The one thing he never had was Delhomme’s surrounding talent.
Gus Frerotte, St. Louis Rams-- It seems that Frerotte always finds his way behind center. Marc Bulger played all sixteen games last year for the first time in his career and was limited to eight games in 2005. Frerotte made the most with his surrounding talent in Miami. If you have a disposable roster spot, Bulger owners might want to consider drafting Frerotte as an insurance policy. At the very least, he is worth a waiver pick as a viable fantasy option should Bulger go down.
Brady Quinn, Cleveland Browns-- After missing nearly two weeks of training camp, it appears Quinn has no shot at starting the season as the Browns quarterback. Charlie Frye and Derek Anderson will compete for the starting job. Last season, the two combined to throw just 15 TDs and 25 INTs. Quinn has learned under Charlie Weis and has the mobility and arm strength to make an immediate impact. The Browns are preaching patience, but so were the Titans and Cardinals last season. Chances are he starts before mid-season.
Damon Huard, Kansas City Chiefs-- He will probably be the week one starter for the Chiefs, but that doesn’t mean he will get drafted in your league. The fact that there is a quarterback debate between Huard and rookie Brody Croyle is mind-boggling. In ten games last season, Huard threw 11 TDs and just 1 INT. Assuming Larry Johnson returns, he also makes every passing game a little bit better. With a weak offensive line, veteran leadership is a must.
Kellen Clemens, New York Jets-- The Jets should just call this guy Pennington number two. His game is eerily similar, as he possesses the same frame and has shown acute accuracy. Clemens seems to also possess a stronger arm of the two. Pennington did play sixteen games last season, but only played in twenty-three during the three prior seasons. Clemens was explosive at Oregon where he threw 41 TDs over his last two seasons. The Jets have veteran wide receivers, which will help with his transition should the opportunity present itself.
The name has changed to protect the innocent. The Fantasy Trader will give you the inside access into league developments to help keep you ahead of your fantasy competition.
Email him at: fantasytrader@nfldraftbible.com
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