Booms and Busts
While I'm sure most of you have already drafted your teams for the season, the following lists are the players who I think you should look out for this season...for both good reasons and bad. Who knows...maybe some of them will be available to you as free agents; maybe for some you'll have to work out a trade. Either way, I'm gonna start you off with some "projections" of a sort here:
Booms
1. Drew Bledsoe, QB DAL: Coach Parcells has given him all the weapons he needs to succeed. Touchdown passes and yardage galore with T.O., Terry Glenn and Jason Witten as potential targets. The dual backfield of Julius Jones and Marion Barber will keep defenses honest.
2. Kurt Warner, QB ARI: Everyone's knocking his health and his offensive line. The O-line will jell sooner rather than later and with Edge, Fitzgerald and Boldin, he's puttin gup big numbers again. Leinart is a solid handcuff just to make sure.
3. Aaron Brooks, QB OAK: He's got the arm strength and he's got the targets. He's got the solid back in Lamont Jordan. If he can keep his bad decisions to a minimum, he can excel in the AFC.
4. Jon Kitna, QB DET: Laugh if you want, but I think the Mike Martz offense is going to be great for Kitna. Martz will open things up and as long as Kevin Jones remains a decent player,he'll keep the defenses honest. Kitna's accuracy is in question, but if he throws the ball 30 to 40 times a game he should still put up solid stats.
5. Edgerrin James, RB ARI: Goes from Peyton and Co. to Warner and Co. While the O-line is not the same, I think Fitzgerald and Boldin will spread out the defense enough to allow James some solid running room.
6. Fred Taylor, RB JAC: Fragile Fred rides again. With Greg Jones being lost for the year, there's no one else to take away carries from Taylor. Sure LaBrandon Toefield will spell him once in a while, but he's not good enough to start pulling away the goal line carries. If he stays healthy, he's gonna be huge.
7. Frank Gore, RB SF: No more Kevan Barlow means the former Hurricane gets the job to himself this year. It's not the greatest team in front of him, but 4.8 yards per carry is nothing to thumb your nose at.
8. Ronnie Brown, RB MIA: As long as Culpepper stays healthy, Brown is going to be a monster this year. He's got all the skills to become a premier back in the NFL and I think will put up some killer numbers --rushing and receiving!
9. Derrick Mason, WR BAL: Already in most people's top 25 for wideouts. With Air McNair leading the charge in Baltimore these days, look for Mason's numbers to increase even more.
10. Donte Stallworth, WR PHI: Out of lowly New Orleans, he's goin gto end up the go to guy for McNabb this year. Once the two hook up early and often, Reggie Brown will be an afterthought.
11. Matt Jones, WR JAC: a sleeper pick here for me. He's just an amazing athlete and with the departure of Jimmy Smith, the team needs a new #1. He'll get the catches, he'll get the rushes on the gimmicks and reverses, and he'll get an increase in TD's this year.
12. Troy Williamson, WR MIN: With Koren Robonson gone and Marcus Robinson's best years behind him, look for the second year wideout to be Brad Johnson's favorite target this year.
13. Ben Watson, TE NE: With Deion Branch turning into the next T.O, who else are they going to throw to? Reche Caldwell? He's going to be a huge red zone target.
14. Randy McMichael, TE MIA: All the talk surrounds Culpepper's knee and the year Chris Chambers is supposed to have. McMichael is a great pass catching tight end who, as long as Culpepper is healthy, should put up some great numbers this year.
15. Kellen Winslow, Jr., TE CLE: A lost season last year due to stupidity means he's got a lot to prove this year. He needs to develop a better rapport with Charlie Frye, but he could get some nice red zone looks this year.
Busts
1. Matt Hasselbeck, QB SEA: Everyone rates this guy in the top 5, but I have my reservations. Darrell Jackson is a question mark, Jerramy Stevens is lost for 6 weeks. It's gonna be run run run...all year long.
2. Marc Bulger, QB STL: Another one people are high on, but I'm not so sure. Steven Jackson's role increases and the only reliable wideout is Torry Holt. Isaac Bruce is too old these days and Kevin Curtis is like a poor man's Ed McCaffrey. A more conventional offense puts him down the list in my eyes.
3. Brett Favre, QB GB: I only wished that the Packers could have won the Super Bowl last year so that he would retire. I think he's fantastic, but his time has passed. I only hope he can ride into the sunset with some dignity.
4. Clinton Portis, RB WAS: A bum shoulder and T.J. Duckett in town to steal goal line carries now? He would barely make my top 10, let alone everyone else's top 5.
5. Julius Jones, RB DAL: A solid back who I would normally be high on, but after watching his injuries each year and Marion Barber in there stealing carries, I don't think he'll put up the great numbers of which he is capable.
6. Corey Dillon, RB NE: Just a guy on the decline if you ask me. I see Laurence Maroney being the featured back sometime around week 5 or 6.
7. Chris Brown, RB TEN: Another fragile guy who is looking over his shoulder. Travis Henry is still around and lookin gover both their shoulders' is LenDale White. I don't see him staying healthy and I don't see him keepin ghis job all year.
8. Hines Ward, WR PIT: Too many consider him a WR1 when he's really not much more than a WR2. He's got hamstring problems, Big Ben is down again and he's really the only option the Steelers have. I think I'd rather take a shot on the Steelers' other wideout, Cedrick Wilson.
9. Donald Driver, WR GB: Before even thinking about questioning his inclusion here, you should go back 6 places and read about Favre. This might not be such a fun year for Green Bay's #1 wideout.
10. Joey Galloway, WR TB: Am I the only one who thinks this guy overachieved last year? I just don't see the same results this year...not even close.
11. Andre Johnson, WR HOU: There's just no backfield in Houston anymore. Wali Lundy? Ron Dayne? C'mon now. Double team city here for Andre who, without Domanick Davis, will not get a chance to redeem himself this season.
12. Keenan McCardell, WR SD: A shaky Philip Rivers, LT2, and the best pass catching tight end in Gates? We know where the ball is going this year and unfortunately it's not McCardell's way.
13. Vernon Davis, TE SF: Hype, hype and more hype. Doesn't anyone remember that Alex Smith is the one throwing the ball? You're headed for disappointment if you think he's going to be any better than you average run of the mill tight end. Now put him with a better QB and maybe I'll sing a different tune.
14. Jerramy Stevens, TE SEA: All set to be a red zone target for the Seahawks, and now you won't see him until week 6 or 7 at the earliest. Surgery on the left knee again (had it done in April) doesn't bode well for even a strong midseason comeback.
15. Neil Rackers, K ARI: C'mon...one good year and he's the #2 kicker by most experts' opinions? With Edge in the backfield joining the rest of the high flying offense, look for more TD's and less field goals. Rackers fantasy value will fall back to mediocrity this year.
Booms
1. Drew Bledsoe, QB DAL: Coach Parcells has given him all the weapons he needs to succeed. Touchdown passes and yardage galore with T.O., Terry Glenn and Jason Witten as potential targets. The dual backfield of Julius Jones and Marion Barber will keep defenses honest.
2. Kurt Warner, QB ARI: Everyone's knocking his health and his offensive line. The O-line will jell sooner rather than later and with Edge, Fitzgerald and Boldin, he's puttin gup big numbers again. Leinart is a solid handcuff just to make sure.
3. Aaron Brooks, QB OAK: He's got the arm strength and he's got the targets. He's got the solid back in Lamont Jordan. If he can keep his bad decisions to a minimum, he can excel in the AFC.
4. Jon Kitna, QB DET: Laugh if you want, but I think the Mike Martz offense is going to be great for Kitna. Martz will open things up and as long as Kevin Jones remains a decent player,he'll keep the defenses honest. Kitna's accuracy is in question, but if he throws the ball 30 to 40 times a game he should still put up solid stats.
5. Edgerrin James, RB ARI: Goes from Peyton and Co. to Warner and Co. While the O-line is not the same, I think Fitzgerald and Boldin will spread out the defense enough to allow James some solid running room.
6. Fred Taylor, RB JAC: Fragile Fred rides again. With Greg Jones being lost for the year, there's no one else to take away carries from Taylor. Sure LaBrandon Toefield will spell him once in a while, but he's not good enough to start pulling away the goal line carries. If he stays healthy, he's gonna be huge.
7. Frank Gore, RB SF: No more Kevan Barlow means the former Hurricane gets the job to himself this year. It's not the greatest team in front of him, but 4.8 yards per carry is nothing to thumb your nose at.
8. Ronnie Brown, RB MIA: As long as Culpepper stays healthy, Brown is going to be a monster this year. He's got all the skills to become a premier back in the NFL and I think will put up some killer numbers --rushing and receiving!
9. Derrick Mason, WR BAL: Already in most people's top 25 for wideouts. With Air McNair leading the charge in Baltimore these days, look for Mason's numbers to increase even more.
10. Donte Stallworth, WR PHI: Out of lowly New Orleans, he's goin gto end up the go to guy for McNabb this year. Once the two hook up early and often, Reggie Brown will be an afterthought.
11. Matt Jones, WR JAC: a sleeper pick here for me. He's just an amazing athlete and with the departure of Jimmy Smith, the team needs a new #1. He'll get the catches, he'll get the rushes on the gimmicks and reverses, and he'll get an increase in TD's this year.
12. Troy Williamson, WR MIN: With Koren Robonson gone and Marcus Robinson's best years behind him, look for the second year wideout to be Brad Johnson's favorite target this year.
13. Ben Watson, TE NE: With Deion Branch turning into the next T.O, who else are they going to throw to? Reche Caldwell? He's going to be a huge red zone target.
14. Randy McMichael, TE MIA: All the talk surrounds Culpepper's knee and the year Chris Chambers is supposed to have. McMichael is a great pass catching tight end who, as long as Culpepper is healthy, should put up some great numbers this year.
15. Kellen Winslow, Jr., TE CLE: A lost season last year due to stupidity means he's got a lot to prove this year. He needs to develop a better rapport with Charlie Frye, but he could get some nice red zone looks this year.
Busts
1. Matt Hasselbeck, QB SEA: Everyone rates this guy in the top 5, but I have my reservations. Darrell Jackson is a question mark, Jerramy Stevens is lost for 6 weeks. It's gonna be run run run...all year long.
2. Marc Bulger, QB STL: Another one people are high on, but I'm not so sure. Steven Jackson's role increases and the only reliable wideout is Torry Holt. Isaac Bruce is too old these days and Kevin Curtis is like a poor man's Ed McCaffrey. A more conventional offense puts him down the list in my eyes.
3. Brett Favre, QB GB: I only wished that the Packers could have won the Super Bowl last year so that he would retire. I think he's fantastic, but his time has passed. I only hope he can ride into the sunset with some dignity.
4. Clinton Portis, RB WAS: A bum shoulder and T.J. Duckett in town to steal goal line carries now? He would barely make my top 10, let alone everyone else's top 5.
5. Julius Jones, RB DAL: A solid back who I would normally be high on, but after watching his injuries each year and Marion Barber in there stealing carries, I don't think he'll put up the great numbers of which he is capable.
6. Corey Dillon, RB NE: Just a guy on the decline if you ask me. I see Laurence Maroney being the featured back sometime around week 5 or 6.
7. Chris Brown, RB TEN: Another fragile guy who is looking over his shoulder. Travis Henry is still around and lookin gover both their shoulders' is LenDale White. I don't see him staying healthy and I don't see him keepin ghis job all year.
8. Hines Ward, WR PIT: Too many consider him a WR1 when he's really not much more than a WR2. He's got hamstring problems, Big Ben is down again and he's really the only option the Steelers have. I think I'd rather take a shot on the Steelers' other wideout, Cedrick Wilson.
9. Donald Driver, WR GB: Before even thinking about questioning his inclusion here, you should go back 6 places and read about Favre. This might not be such a fun year for Green Bay's #1 wideout.
10. Joey Galloway, WR TB: Am I the only one who thinks this guy overachieved last year? I just don't see the same results this year...not even close.
11. Andre Johnson, WR HOU: There's just no backfield in Houston anymore. Wali Lundy? Ron Dayne? C'mon now. Double team city here for Andre who, without Domanick Davis, will not get a chance to redeem himself this season.
12. Keenan McCardell, WR SD: A shaky Philip Rivers, LT2, and the best pass catching tight end in Gates? We know where the ball is going this year and unfortunately it's not McCardell's way.
13. Vernon Davis, TE SF: Hype, hype and more hype. Doesn't anyone remember that Alex Smith is the one throwing the ball? You're headed for disappointment if you think he's going to be any better than you average run of the mill tight end. Now put him with a better QB and maybe I'll sing a different tune.
14. Jerramy Stevens, TE SEA: All set to be a red zone target for the Seahawks, and now you won't see him until week 6 or 7 at the earliest. Surgery on the left knee again (had it done in April) doesn't bode well for even a strong midseason comeback.
15. Neil Rackers, K ARI: C'mon...one good year and he's the #2 kicker by most experts' opinions? With Edge in the backfield joining the rest of the high flying offense, look for more TD's and less field goals. Rackers fantasy value will fall back to mediocrity this year.
posted by Howard Bender at
3:48 PM
1 Comments:
Wow. Brooks as a boom and Hasslebeck as a bust. Aaron Brooks is one of the worst quarterbacks to hold down a starting position in my lifetime. Poor decision making, poor accuracy... Picking him as a Boom on the premise that he can overcome his accurace problems would be like picking Fred Taylor on the premise that he won't get injured this year.
Oh wait...
By
Anonymous, at 4:51 PM
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