Tag: Fantasy football draft strategy (Page 19 of 20)

      Fantasy Football Impact Rookies

      August 25, 2008 /

      In the realm of fantasy football, using early picks on rookies is usually a dicey proposition. It’s not often that a rookie comes into the league and is able to quickly establish fantasy relevance, though a few players do break through every season. Typically, a few running backs make an immediate impact, as that is the easiest position to transition to from college. In 2007, Adrian Peterson and Marshawn Lynch were drafted for the sole purpose of taking over their team’s running game, and they both went on to have successful seasons. Even an undrafted rookie like Ryan Grant can have an impact if he finds the right situation. (I was lucky enough to snatch him off the waiver wire before he went on his 10-game train ride to fantasy stardom. I went on to win the title in that league despite disappointing performances from two of my keepers – Shaun Alexander and Marvin Harrison.)

      Last year’s wide receiver crop was a bit thinner. Dwayne Bowe was the top rookie, finishing in the top 20 in most scoring formats. This was an upset considering all the fantasy owners that were drooling over Calvin Johnson’s intangibles before the season started. James Jones and Anthony Gonzalez flirted with fantasy relevance, but otherwise rookie wideouts didn’t make much of an impact in 2007. But every year, it seems like there’s one or two that become starter-worthy. (Who can forget Marques Colston’s 2006 campagin?)

      So let’s take a look at this year’s top fantasy rookies and see who’s likely to make an impact.

      RUNNING BACKS

      1. Jonathan Stewart, Panthers (pictured)
      Stewart is a power back and that’s the Panthers’ style. DeAngelo Williams has been something of a disappointment, so if Stewart runs well during the rest of the preseason, it’s not inconceivable that he could earn a starting role. However, durability is a concern with Stewart, so it is more likely that the Panthers will split carries to keep him fresh and injury-free.

      2. Darren McFadden, Raiders
      Due to his combination of strength and speed, some compare the #4 overall pick to Adrian Peterson. McFadden joins Justin Fargas and Michael Bush in the Raider backfield. Fargas had something of a breakout season in 2007 and Bush is running very well in camp, but McFadden will still get his touches. The team has said they’d like to use McFadden like the Saints used Reggie Bush in his rookie season. Oakland won’t want to wear him out, so this looks like a RBBC for the time being.

      3. Matt Forte, Bears
      The Bears drafted Forte in the second round to shore up a struggling running game. Cedric Benson was a bust, but the offensive line has been suspect for a couple of years now, so there’s no telling just how much Forte will help Chicago’s ground game. He has looked solid in the preseason, and should be a solid RB3 in most fantasy leagues.

      4. Kevin Smith, Lions
      Smith is one of the more promising rookies simply because the Lions don’t have any other good options at tailback. Tatum Bell and Brian Calhoun haven’t made their mark, so it’s Smith’s job to lose. He has had durability and character issues during his career, so there is some question as to whether or not he can hold up to the wear-and-tear of a 16-game season. Still, given the lack of competition, he’s an intriguing middle-round fantasy pick.

      5. Chris Johnson, Titans
      The diminutive speedster seems to be earning a bigger and bigger role as the preseason wears on. LenDale White will get most of the work between the tackles (and, presumably, around the goal line), but Johnson will see a lot of work in the passing game and as a change-of-pace back.

      6. Ray Rice, Ravens (pictured)
      With Willis McGahee coming off of knee surgery, and Rice impressing in camp, there’s a real possibility that the rookie starts at tailback in Week 1. There are rumblings that the team is none too happy with McGahee’s (lack of a) work ethic, so Rice’s value is enhanced in keeper or dynasty leagues.

      7. Rashard Mendenhall, Steelers
      The Steelers raised some eyebrows (including Willie Parker’s) when they drafted Mendenhall in the first round. For now, they see him as a complement to “Fast” Willie, but he should eventually turn into an every-down back. The writing is on the wall for Parker; it’s just a matter of time before Mendenhall takes over as the Steelers’ feature back.

      8. Steve Slaton, Texans
      Ahman Green is hurt. Big surprise. Chris Brown is hurt. Big surprise. Somebody has to carry the ball in Houston and Slaton is second in line after Chris Taylor. Slaton has better speed, but Taylor is a little more physical. If Green and Brown continue to miss time, we might be looking at a Taylor/Slaton RBBC in Houston.

      9. Felix Jones, Cowboys
      Jones is the “lightning” to Marion Barber’s “thunder,” but this isn’t a timeshare. Barber is the main back, and Jones will be used to spell him and to add some punch out of the backfield in the passing game. Barber owners should definitely target Jones as a handcuff in the late-middle rounds.

      WIDE RECEIVERS

      1. Eddie Royal, Broncos (pictured)
      Having already earned the starting spot opposite Brandon Marshall, Royal seems poised to be the top receiver in this year’s rookie class. He’s fast and quick, but he’ll struggle against the more physical corners. He should be able to post solid WR3/WR4 numbers if he and Jay Cutler can find a groove.

      2. Josh Morgan, 49ers
      Morgan was just a sixth round pick, but the lack of talent in the San Francisco WR corps has him slated as a starter to begin the season. He’s had a great preseason and should produce in Mike Martz’ pass-happy offense.

      3. DeSean Jackson, Eagles
      With Kevin Curtis sidelined, the door is open for Jackson to start opposite Reggie Brown. He’s smallish, but has excellent speed and can make defenders miss in the open field. Keep an eye on this WR2 battle as camp progresses, because the winner will have value in deeper leagues.

      4. Donnie Avery, Rams
      Avery is expected to be the Rams’ third receiver and will see most of his time in the slot. He is fast, shifty and agile, but he’s undersized. He’s a possession receiver with speed, and only Drew Bennett stands between Avery and a starting job.

      5. James Hardy, Bills
      Hardy is battling a bad hammy in the preseason, which is stunting his development. If all goes to plan, he’s going to be the starter opposite Lee Evans, but if he can’t get healthy by the start of the season, he’s a late-round flier at best.

      6. Jordy Nelson, Packers
      Nelson looks like the prototypical West Coast Offense wideout. He’s big, strong and is a good route runner. He projects to be fourth on the depth chart behind Greg Jennings, Donald Driver and James Jones, but keep an eye on Jones’ recent knee injury. Nelson stands to benefit if any of those three go down.

      7. Devin Thomas, Redskins
      Thomas has had a rough preseason thus far. Coming off an injury, he had a couple of drops in his preseason debut. If he gets his act together, he could overtake Antwaan Randle El as the Redskins’ WR2, but right now it’s not looking too good.

      8. Early Doucet, Cardinals
      Doucet is just returning from a hamstring injury, so he’s behind and probably won’t be able to win the WR3 job before the season starts. That said, with Anquan Boldin in a consistently bad mood, Doucet could be pressed into action if the Cards decide to move Q.

      9. Limas Sweed, Steelers
      Sweed is big, strong and fluid, but has yet to pass Nate Washington on the depth chart. With Santonio Holmes and Hines Ward also ahead of him, the Steelers are in no rush to press the rookie into duty before he’s ready.

      TIGHT ENDS

      1. Dustin Keller, Jets (pictured)
      Chris Baker is the Jets’ starting TE, but Keller has been used as a slot receiver and red zone threat during the preseason. Brett Favre loves throwing to his TE, so Keller could make for a capable TE2 as the season progresses.

      2. John Carlson, Seahawks
      Seattle drafted Carlson in the second round for a reason, and Mike Holmgren recently said that Carlson is the player that they thought he was. He hasn’t been running much with the first team, but he’s a guy to keep your eye on in deeper leagues.

      QUARTERBACKS

      1. Matt Ryan, QB, Falcons
      Ryan has been named the starter in Atlanta, which means he’s on the fantasy radar, especially in leagues that start two QBs. He has played pretty well in the preseason and has a few offensive weapons to utilize, so a decent season isn’t out of the question. It’s tough to get excited about a rookie QB, however.

      2. Joe Flacco, QB, Ravens
      Flacco is in the midst of a three-way QB battle with Troy Smith and Kyle Boller. His numbers look pretty good, but he’s done most of his damage against the opponents’ scrubs.

      3. Chad Henne, QB, Dolphins
      The Fins didn’t bring Chad Pennington in to ride the bench, so Henne will be holding the clipboard for the time being. If Miami gets knocked out of the playoff race early, they could turn to the rookie to get him some experience.

      Fantasy Football, NFL

      Fantasy Football Update: 8/21

      August 21, 2008 /

      This is an addendum to the Fantasy Football Preview published on Bullz-Eye.com.

      The tough thing about publishing fantasy football rankings in early August is that the game is fluid and things are continually changing as injuries occur, depth charts are modified and camp battles won. In an effort to keep our readers on top of things, here are several players that are rising or falling as the training camps progress.

      RISING

      Chris Johnson, RB, Titans
      Johnson says that he wants to be rookie of the year, so the kid has high aspirations. He’s slated right now to the “lightning” to LenDale White’s “thunder,” but White has never been one of Jeff Fisher’s favorites, so the team might just give Johnson as big of a role as he can handle. I doubt he takes over the job, but it sure looks like a RBBC is forming in Nashville.

      Chris Perry, RB, Bengals
      Perry has been having a strong preseason and, given Rudi Johnson’s lingering injury problems, he has been tentatively given the starting job. This could be a motivational tactic aimed towards Rudi, and Perry has had injury issues of his own throughout his career, but right now he looks like a nice gamble in the late-middle rounds.

      Larry Johnson, RB, Chiefs
      LJ has looked good thus far and seems to be back on track. The big question is if Brodie Croyle is capable of keeping opposing secondaries honest. With his foot looking like it’s completely healed, Johnson has become a solid pick in the early second round.

      Phillip Rivers, QB, Chargers
      Rivers reportedly looks terrific in camp and has improved his strength and reaction time. Now that Antonio Gates is back in action, Rivers has all of his weapons in place.

      Ray Rice, RB, Ravens
      Willis McGahee has a sore knee and his (lack of a) work ethic has him on the outs with the team. Rice has been a nice surprise in camp and could work his way into the starting role if the team decided to part ways with McGahee (or if he can’t go because of the knee). At the very least, he’s a must-handcuff for McGahee owners.

      Wes Welker, WR, Patriots
      That mysterious ailment that kept Welker out of practice turned out to be a groin injury. He says he’s 100%, so there’s no reason to think that he won’t be able to finish in the top 15 in PPR leagues. He’s a nice pick in the fourth round.

      Ted Ginn, WR, Dolphins
      Chad Pennington gives the team a bona fide NFL QB (though the team hasn’t given him the job yet), so look for Ginn and WR2 Derek Hagan to do a little better than we might have expected before the trade. Ginn is a second-year WR with a lot of talent, so he’s a breakout candidate and is an interesting pick once the rounds hit double digits.

      Ricky Williams, RB, Dolphins
      Williams has looked so good thus far that there were actually rumors that the team was thinking about moving the oft-injured Ronnie Brown before the season. The coaching staff has squashed that rumor, but it does look like Williams has earned a bigger than average role for a backup RB, and should be one of the first backups selected on draft day. He might even begin the season as a starter.

      Michael Turner, RB, Falcons
      “The Burner” has looked great in the preseason and some folks are thinking that maybe the Falcons’ running game won’t be that bad. The fact that Atlanta is likely to be playing from behind a majority of the time is still a concern, but Turner looks like he’s ready for prime time. I’d be happy to take him in the fourth round.

      Nate Burleson, WR, Seahawks
      Somebody has to catch passes in Seattle, and right now Burleson is the best the Seahawks have. He’s been a fantasy tease for a few years now, but he’s an interesting pick in the late-middle rounds.

      Jonathan Stewart, RB, Panthers
      Stewart appears to be healthy and will get an opportunity to run with the first team in the Panthers’ next preseason game. The team is clearly down on DeAngelo Williams, so if Stewart can get his power game going, he may be the main back early in the season.

      Antonio Gates, TE, Chargers
      Gates has finally been cleared to return to practice, so he should be good to go for week 1. This news solidifies his standing in that top tier of TEs along with Jason Witten, Tony Gonzalez and Kellen Winslow.

      Steve Slaton, RB, Texans
      The feature back job in Houston is up for grabs, and Slaton has been the most impressive thus far in camp. Ahman Green is hurt and Chris Brown will probably assume the #1 role until he gets injured. Slaton is probably too small for full time duty in the NFL, but he could turn into a decent spot starter, which isn’t bad for a guy available late in fantasy drafts.

      FALLING

      Bobby Engram, WR, Seahawks
      Engram has a shoulder injury that is going to keep him out until at least week 5. He has gone from a savvy pick in the 8th round, to a savvy pick in the 11th or 12th. Remember, he’s 35, so there’s no guarantee that he is going to heal quickly.

      Peyton Manning, QB, Colts
      Manning still is sidelined with a knee injury and the team is saying that they hope to have him back for the season opener. I wouldn’t get too worried about Peyton, but I wouldn’t take him in the second round either. Tony Romo and Drew Brees are safer bets right now at QB.

      Rudi Johnson, RB, Bengals
      Johnson has been battling a sore hamstring. As a result, he has lost his starting job and has gone from an interesting mid-round pick to a late round flier.

      Matt Hasselbeck, QB, Seahawks
      He lost Bobby Engram to injury and now he has a sore back. Hass is still worth a pick in the 8th or 9th, but I’d much rather have Jay Cutler or Donovan McNabb.

      Ronnie Brown, RB, Dolphins
      Brown is recovering from knee surgery and now has an injured thumb. To make matters worse, Ricky Williams is looking good, so it seems like Brown could open the season as a backup. That makes his fourth-round ADP look ridiculous.

      Willis McGahee, RB, Ravens
      Head coach John Harbaugh says that McGahee is the starter when he’s ready to go, but the rumblings from Baltimore paint a bleaker picture. They say that McGahee’s poor work ethic has him in the doghouse and Ray Rice keeps vying for the starting job. I’d still grab McGahee in the fourth, but only after guys like Brandon Jacobs, Earnest Graham and Thomas Jones are off the board.

      Chad Johnson, WR, Bengals
      It’s all about the dislocated shoulder. The team says he’ll be fine, but they also indicated that the injury was a big part of the decision to re-sign Chris Henry. Johnson should be okay, but I don’t think I’d draft him before Plaxico Burress, Wes Welker or Anquan Boldin until we know he’s good to go.

      Kevin Curtis, WR, Eagles
      Curtis is going to miss about half the season with a sports hernia injury. Obviously, his stock should take a huge hit, and he isn’t worth anything but a late-round flier with the thinking that he might be back to help during the late-season push.

      Ahman Green, RB, Texans
      I thought this was a horrible contract when the Texans first signed Green and now it looks even worse. Green is hurt again and he might just get cut if he can’t get it together. Stay away, stay far away.

      Fantasy Football, NFL, Rumors & Gossip

      Fantasy Football’s Breakout Candidates

      August 18, 2008 /

      It’s an election year, and while we’re all being inundated with political commercials from both sides of the aisle, we should be looking at a different kind of candidate – the fantasy football breakout candidate.

      What makes a good breakout candidate? In short, the player must have two things: increased opportunity and developing talent. Typically, breakout players are young. The simple fact is that the older a player is, the less likely he is to break out. Last season, at 27, Earnest Graham racked up 1,222 yards and 10 TD after Carnell Williams went down with a season-ending injury. It was Graham’s fourth season, and in his previous three, he had carried the ball a total of 52 times. Justin Fargas (also 27) took over the starting spot in Oakland and finished with 1,197 yards and four TD. In his second season, LenDale White posted 1,224 yards and scored seven times for the Titans.

      In the realm of wideouts, Roddy White had a prototypical breakout season in his third year, going from 30-506-0 the previous season to 83-1202-6 last year. Braylon Edwards had a solid second season (61-884-6), but few predicted the numbers he would post in his third season (80-1289-16).

      Greg Jennings broke out in his sophomore season (53-920-12), which wasn’t a huge surprise since he had such a solid rookie campaign (45-632-3). Brandon Marshall also made a big jump in his second season (102-1325-7) after Javon Walker missed half the season with a knee injury. Santonio Holmes is yet another example of a second-year breakout WR (52-942-8).

      At quarterback, Tony Romo (4211 yards, 36 TD) and Derek Anderson (3787 yards, 29 TD) both had breakout seasons in 2007. To a somewhat lesser extent, Jay Cutler (3497 yards, 20 TD) and David Garrard (2509 yards, 18 TD) did too.

      At tight end, Donald Lee (48-575-6), Dallas Clark (58-616-11), Owen Daniels (63-768-3) and Tony Scheffler (49-549-5) all had breakout seasons in 2007. Lee and Clark were in their fifth season, while Daniels and Scheffler were in their second.

      But enough about last season, you’re probably wondering who is going to break out in 2008. If I could answer that question with any degree of certainty, I wouldn’t be writing for a living; I’d be a professional fantasy football player.

      But I do have a few guys in mind that fit the profile. I’ll list the top 10 in order of the likeliness that they’ll break out, from the most likely to the least likely. I’ll also include a sentence or two about some other players bubbling under the surface.

      1. Calvin Johnson, Lions
      2nd-year WR
      For most rookie wideouts, a 48-catch, 756-yard, 4-TD season would be stellar, but there were higher expectations for the #2 overall pick in the 2007 draft. He’s a physical beast and he was playing in Mike Martz’s high-octane offense. Johnson struggled with a bad back for much of last season; it was so bad that he needed to take Vicodin to manage the pain. Martz is gone, but Johnson will benefit from a year of seasoning (and staying healthy), so he should be able to break the 1000-yard mark in 2008.

      2. Jay Cutler, Broncos
      3rd-year QB
      Cutler actually had a breakout season in 2007 (3497 yards, 20 TD), but he struggled with weight and strength loss stemming from undiagnosed Type 1 diabetes. Now that it’s under control and his strength is back, Cutler could be primed for the rare double-breakout season. He doesn’t have an easy schedule, but it projects to be easier than last year, so he should be able to post better numbers in 2008.

      3. Michael Turner, Falcons
      5th-year RB
      After four seasons playing in LaDainian Tomlinson’s shadow, Turner takes his gaudy 5.5 career ypc average to Atlanta. He runs hard, so he should make the most of the carries he gets. The main concern is that Atlanta is likely to be trailing most of the time, so just how many touches will he get? Warrick Dunn and Jerious Norwood combined for 330 carries last season, so assuming Norwood gets 100 – he got 102 last season – it would leave 230 for Turner. Assuming a 4.0-4.5 ypc, he’s looking at 920-1,035 yards. Assume 5-8 TD and a few catches, and you have RB2/RB3-type numbers.

      4. Vernon Davis, 49ers
      3rd-year TE
      Davis is a physical specimen yet he’s been a little injury-prone during his first two seasons. Davis’ lack of production thus far in his career can be attributed, at least in part, to San Francisco’s struggling offense. Mike Martz is now in town as the team’s new OC, and while his offense isn’t known to feature the tight end, he’s never had one with Davis’ skills. Throw in the lack of talent that the 49ers have at wide receiver and Martz would be a fool not to utilize Davis as much as possible in the passing game.

      5. Selvin Young, Broncos
      2nd-year RB
      Young had a pretty good rookie season (960 total yards, 1 TD) but now that Travis Henry is gone, he figures to play an even more prominent role in 2008. His biggest competition, rookie Ryan Torain, will miss most of the season, so Young should enter the year as Denver’s starter. The Broncos always seem to have an effective running game, so if Young can stay healthy and break the 200-carry barrier, he should post RB2/RB3 numbers with some considerable upside. Don’t overspend on draft day, however, as this is Skeletor’s team and he’s well known for pulling surprises at running back.

      6. Aaron Rodgers, Packers
      4th-year QB
      The table is set for the young quarterback. He plays in one of the most potent offenses in the league, he has a good running game (spearheaded by Ryan Grant) to lean on, he has a nice group of receivers (Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, James Jones and Donald Lee) to throw to, and he will be protected by a solid offensive line. The biggest hurdle is that he’ll have to deal with the fact that he’s being asked to fill Brett Favre’s shoes. If he handles the pressure, he could post the same numbers Favre did in 2007 (4157 yards, 28 TD). If he caves, he could be in for a rough season.

      7. Ted Ginn, Dolphins
      2nd-year WR
      Over the last seven games of 2007, Ginn went for 26-267-1. Had he performed that way for an entire 16-games season, his numbers would have been 59-610-2, which would be pretty good stats for a rookie wide receiver. He’s the Dolphins’ top option in the passing game and with Chad Pennington in town, so given the normal second-year WR jump along with improved QB play, it’s reasonable to assume a 25% increase in his numbers. That means Ginn might be in line for something like a 74-762-4 season. Not bad for a guy who can still be had once the rounds reach double-digits.

      8. Zach Miller, Raiders
      2nd-year TE
      Miller caught at least three passes in 10 of 16 games, totaling 38-389-3. Part of maturing as a player is being able to limit or eliminate the number of bad games you play. Let’s say Miller is able to carry those 10 good games throughout an entire season. Then he would post 61-622-5, numbers that would have been good enough to be the #8 TE last season. He has played well in the preseason and JaMarcus Russell has looked to him often. Miller is an interesting option for those fantasy owners who load up on RBs, WRs and QBs in the early rounds and want to play tight end by committee.

      9. Devin Hester, Bears
      2nd-year WR (3rd-year player)
      The Bears are really hurting at WR, so they plan to use Hester early and often. He is listed atop their depth chart, and someone has to catch passes from Rex Grossman and/or Neck Beard, so Hester is a nice option as a cheap WR4 or WR5 with some upside. He’s even more valuable in leagues that count punt or kick return TDs for the individual player. Word is that he’s been working with Michael Irvin on his route running and the other “little things” that go into being a wide receiver in the NFL. Don’t expect a miracle, but Hester is dangerous when he gets the ball in space, it’s just a matter of the Bears being able to create those opportunities early and often.

      10. Matt Schaub, Texans
      5th-year QB
      An inability to stay healthy was the only problem with Schaub’s 2007. In the nine games where he attempted at least 18 passes, Schaub racked up 2,184 yards and nine TD. That projects to 3,882 yards and 16 TD over a full season. It’s safe to assume another four or five scores since he’s had a year as Houston’s starter, and with those numbers Schaub is looking like a top 15 QB if he can stay healthy and keep his interceptions to a minimum.

      Here are several other (less-likely) breakout candidates…

      2nd-year WRs/TEs

      Robert Meachem, Saints
      David Patten is still in the way, but Meachem’s solid preseason has him in line to be the Saints’ WR3. If Patten, Marques Colston, Jeremy Shockey or Reggie Bush were to go down, Meachem stands to benefit the most in the New Orleans passing game.

      Sidney Rice, Vikings
      Rice showed flashes in his rookie season, scoring big fantasy points in four games. The problem was the other twelve games. Rice has great talent, but his current upside is limited by his sketchy QB play and the arrival of Bernard Berrian.

      Steve Smith, Giants
      Smith missed much of 2007 due to injury, but returned to post 3.4 catches for 36 yards in the team’s final five games (including four playoff games). Over the course of a 16-game season, that projects to 54 catches for 576 yards. He should get some of Jeremy Shockey’s looks too.

      Jacoby Jones, Texans
      Jones is a dynamic player who probably isn’t ready to usurp Kevin Walter as the Texans’ WR2. Owen Daniels is Houston’s true #2 threat, so Jones is probably relegated to #4-type targets.

      Kevin Boss, Giants
      Boss will be asked to pick up the receiving slack now that Jeremy Shockey as left town. He had some good games down the stretch, so there is potential for decent TE2 season.

      3rd-year WRs

      Derek Hagan, Dolphins
      Hagan improved his numbers in his second season and now he has made enough big plays in camp to pass Earnest Wilford as the Dolphins’ WR2. With Chad Pennington in town, Hagan is suddenly on the fantasy radar in bigger leagues.

      Chad Jackson, Patriots
      Jackson is in his third year, which makes him an interesting option, but he hasn’t played well in the preseason, so it is unlikely that he’ll see many snaps behind Randy Moss, Wes Welker and Jabar Gaffney.

      Ben Obomanu, Seahawks
      Seattle is hurting at WR, so this is Obomanu’s chance to make an impact. He’s fighting with Courtney Taylor to start opposite Nate Burleson, and in Seattle’s West Coast Offense, that usually means production.

      Jason Avant, Eagles
      Even with Reggie Brown ailing, Avant may not see many snaps due to the impressive play of rookie speedster DeSean Jackson.

      Vets with a shot

      Patrick Crayton, Cowboys
      Crayton is entering his fifth season and it’s probably make-it-or-break-it time for him in Dallas. Jerry Jones has made no secret that he’d like to upgrade the starting WR opposite Terrell Owens, and Crayton simply isn’t productive enough to draw any attention away from TO or Jason Witten. Still, he posted 50-697-7 last season, so if he can improve on those numbers, he’ll become a viable WR3.

      Vincent Jackson, Chargers
      Talent isn’t an issue with Jackson. He posted an average of 6-100-0.7 in the playoffs (when Antonio Gates was hurting), but the Chargers simply don’t have enough balls to go around when everyone’s healthy. Chambers and/or Gates need to miss time for Jackson to be starter-worthy, or the team has to rework its offense to feature Jackson more.

      D.J. Hackett, Panthers
      Hackett is rotating with Muhsin Muhammad as the Panthers’ WR2, and Moose is reportedly looking very good. It’s going to be tough for Hackett to post relevant fantasy numbers if he isn’t getting WR2-type snaps. If he ends up starting and can stay healthy, the sky is the limit.

      Justin Gage, Titans
      Gage can make the tough catch in traffic, so he’s a valuable asset to Vince Young and the Titans. He’s worth rostering in deep PPR leagues, and conceivably could develop into a Bobby Engram-type player.

      Jabar Gaffney, Patriots
      Gaffney is slated to start opposite Randy Moss, but the Pats would really like Chad Jackson to win the job. Even if he does start, with Wes Welker in the slot and Ben Watson at TE, Gaffney has to feed on table scraps.

      QBs with expectations

      Jason Campbell, Redskins
      The third-year QB will be running another new offense with HC Jim Zorn now in town. Zorn runs a version of the West Coast Offense, so it’s up to Campbell to catch on quickly. If he does, his numbers should rise.

      Matt Leinart, Cardinals
      Leinart is slated to start, but he has struggled in his first two seasons, so there is no guarantee that he’ll ever catch on. He’s in a great situation throwing to two terrific WRs, but sometimes it just doesn’t happen.

      JaMarcus Russell, Raiders
      The second-year QB is, for all intents and purposes, entering his rookie season. He has a strong arm and good physical tools, so it’s just a matter of how bad his growing pains will be. He could finish the season as a decent QB2.

      Fantasy Football, NFL

      Chad Johnson strains shoulder in preseason loss

      August 18, 2008 /

      Chad Johnson strained his left shoulder Sunday night against the Detroit Lions in the Bengals second preseason game. He was hurt on a pass from Carson Palmer that was intercepted by Lions cornerback Brian Kelly. From NFL.com:

      Johnson landed awkwardly on his left side after cornerback Brian Kelly intercepted a pass thrown his way on Cincinnati’s first series. Johnson rolled on the field in pain for several seconds, then went to the locker room for an examination. He did not return.

      Coach Lewis thinks that’ll be fine for the regular season. Is it just me, or is it looking like it’s going to be a tough season in general for Ocho Cinco? Let’s put it this way, I’m not drafting him in any fantasy leagues. Let’s just hope that doesn’t come back to haunt me.

      Fantasy Football, NFL

      Antonio Gates still feeling the pain

      August 12, 2008 /

      All-Pro tight end and fantasy stud Antonio Gates is coming off toe surgery, and he’s not recovering as quickly as he’d like.

      Before the rest of the team practiced in the afternoon, Gates ran routes in the morning – taking off and stopping and catching passes and appearing to be close to his All-Pro form.

      “It looks better than it feels,” Gates said later. “ . . . It’s not as comfortable as it looks. I got through it. The pain is tolerable.”

      Gates is still feeling a high level of discomfort in his left big toe. And even though he’s been told by the medical staff that setbacks and stalling is normal, he is extremely frustrated with his level of improvement.

      “It’s about the same as it was last week,” he said. “My whole thing is I want to see progress, and I want to see it fast.”

      He went as far as to say if the Chargers had a game that counted this week, he “would dress and try to play.” He still believes he will play in the Sept. 7 season opener.

      But he reiterated his earlier vow not to return before he is entirely ready.

      Gates is still a top 4 TE (Witten, Winslow and Gonzo are the other three) but right now, he has the most question marks surrounding him. Will he be ready for the opener? Will his toe heal completely at some point in the season? Is this something that is going to bother or limit his production?

      I love Gates and I’m an advocate of having a weapon at the TE spot, but if I’m drafting right now, I’d rather have Chris Cooley in the 7th (or Todd Heap/Vernon Davis in the 8th/9th) than Gates in the 4th/5th.

      Fantasy Football, NFL

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