Projections (9/02/03)

Passing Stats

Rush Stats

Receiving Stats

Fantasy

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Quarterbacks
Starter - Patrick Ramsey
Backups - Rob Johnson, Gibran Hamdan, Brad Banks

Starting Quarterback: Patrick Ramsey has been anointed the starter by Captain Hook (otherwise known as Steve Spurrier). As a rookie last year he had both good (268 passing yards, 2 touchdowns in Tennessee) and bad (4 interceptions against the Saints) moments as is expected from young quarterbacks in complex offensive attacks. The team has upgraded the talent around him with a better cast of players in the offensive line and at receiver. With the Redskins lining up Rod Gardner, Laveranues Coles and rookie Taylor Jacobs at receiver, the potential to put up big fantasy numbers is there. However, don't forget that Ramsey is a young quarterback with a coach who has little patience for mistakes. He had better click early on or he may spend time on the sideline watching Rob Johnson play in his place. Footballguys.com has him as a decent backup passer for 2003.

Backup Quarterback(s): When the Lord was giving out gifts, he blessed Rob Johnson with heart, he blessed him with athletic ability and he blessed him with arm strength. However he forget to give him the gift of intelligence and as a result, Johnson is often a train wreck on the football field, turning up field with ball in hand instead of running out of bounds only to be decapitated by a charging linebacker. He gets sacked more than any other quarterback I can remember and has trouble reading defenses quick enough to know where to go with the ball. He is intriguing because of his athletic ability, and he has had some passing success when he could stay healthy in the NFL. However Ramsey will really have to fall flat for him to get a chance in 2003. Keep an eye on the situation but don't bother drafting Johnson at this time.

Update - 8/28: Ramsey had a quality performance in his last preseason game (despite suffering a bruised knuckle the week before).

Running Backs
Starter - Trung Canidate
Backups - Ladell Betts, Chad Morton, Kenny Watson
Fullback - Bryan Johnson

Starting Running Back: Canidate made his name in 2001, when the former first round pick ran for six touchdowns and a 5.7 average on seventy-eight carries. One of the fastest players in the league, Canidate is also a talented receiver. The potential is there for Canidate to put up gaudy numbers, but he is one of four talented running backs on a team coached by a man who loves passing. At 5-11, 205, Canidate hasn't shown the muscle to be an every-down back for a full season. He has had injury concerns in the past, and has lost three fumbles in ninety-eight career carries. Canidate is one of the more intriguing players of 2003: Will his question marks hold him back from becoming a star in DC? Spurrier will likely have Canidate on a short leash, so expect a lot of inconsistency from him this season. Still, it's hard not to get excited about the potential of a guy who has had a 195-yard game as a starter, and a 145-yard game as a backup for St. Louis.

Backup Running Back(s): Betts came on strong the end of last season, rushing for 214 yards the last two weeks of the season. Built much more solidly than Canidate, the 5-10, 221 pound Betts admitted to being much more confident and comfortable in year two under Steve Spurrier. While Canidate has the inside track, don't be surprised to see Betts or Watson earn playing time this year, depending on how they look in camp. Watson had a pair of 110 yard games last season, and impressed the Redskins by rushing for 4.6 ypc and being the best receiving running back on the team. However, Watson may have a difficult time making the team because Spurrier won't want to keep four halfbacks and Chad Morton will certainly be on the team. Morton is the fantastic kick returner signed from the Jets, and will compete for a third down role. A workout warrior, Morton keeps himself in terrific shape, and his ability to run the draw and catch the ball makes him a good candidate for third down playing time.

Fullback(s): Johnson a strong all-around fullback, and has played well enough that Steve Spurrier hasn't found the need to go out and buy a new fullback! Johnson's caught the ball well in years past, but expect his role with Washington this year to be mostly as a blocker, and special teams ace.

Update - 8/28: Canidate has won the starting job, and the team is said to be shopping either Betts or Watson (the Saints are rumored to be interested). The reason Washington is interested in dealing one of the backs is the excellent showing by Sultan McCullough.

Wide Receivers
Starters - Laveranues Coles, Rod Gardner
Backups - Taylor Jacobs, Darnerian McCants, Cliff Russell

Starting Receiver(s): No team was as aggressive in upgrading its receiving corps as the Redskins this offseason, and that included signing Laveranues Coles away from the New York Jets. Coles was Steve Spurrier's top choice to fill in the starting receiver position opposite promising 3rd year receiver Rod Gardner. Coles, who has turned himself into one of the best route runners in the game, will fit perfectly into his Fun N' Gun offense. There may be an adjustment period for Coles as he gets used to a new offense, QB and coaching staff, but we believe Coles will make an excellent fantasy receiver over the course of the season.

Rod Gardner, the lone offensive bright spot in Spurrier's first year in Washington, will now get to face some single coverage thanks to Coles. Whether Gardner asserts himself as the go-to receiver or not remains to be seen, but in any event he should be capable of a top 20 finish if he stays healthy. Gardner showed excellent hands last year, and his eight touchdown receptions are a testament to his ability to use his size against smaller cornerbacks.

Backup Receiver(s): While Charlie Rogers and Andre Johnson are getting more hype, Taylor Jacobs may ultimately be the most productive receiver of the class of 2003. Jacobs is in the ideal situation in Washington, as he rejoins his college coach in the same offensive system he worked with at Florida. Spurrier is a fan of spread formations, and if Jacobs secures the third receiver slot as expected, he could contribute right away. Darnerian McCants returns to battle with Cliff Russell for the fourth receiver position.

Update - 8/28: The Redskins receiving corps has been an area of strength during the preseason, with newly acquired Laveranues Coles averaging almost 30 yards per catch thus far. Taylor Jacobs and Cliff Russell have played well enough to secure the WR3 and WR4 positions, respectively. Should Spurrier decide to keep only five receivers, either Darnerien McCants or Patrick Johnson will most likely be waived. McCants has only caught one ball in preseason action, so he may be the likely victim.

Tight Ends
Starter - Zeron Flemister
Backup(s) - Leonard Stephens, Robert Royals
The tight end position is an afterthought when it comes to the fun & gun offense. If starter Flemister is going to be worthy of a fantasy roster he will need to more than triple is 2002 output (10 grabs). Both Stephens and Royals may see the field as well so it's not likely that a Washington tight end will get drafted in any of your leagues this season. If Flemister is hot through the preseason he may be worthy of being a free agent acquisition.

Update - 8/28: Stephens has been cut, and it looks like Royals has pulled even with Flemister. However, neither will be much of a fantasy TE this season.

Place Kicker
John Hall: If the fun and gun takes off like coach Spurrier thinks it will, John Hall will be a big time scorer this year. How much faith do you have in Spurrier's system is the question. They added plenty of talent in the offseason, but are still leaning on second year QB Patrick Ramsey. Hall may represent great value as a very late draft pick, or even an early free agent acquisition for your fantasy roster.

Offensive Line
C-Larry Moore; G-Dave Fiore; G-Randy Thomas; T-Chris Samuels; T-Jon Jansen
The Redskins have improved the talent on the line significantly this offseason They added Derrick Dockery who is a huge rookie guard from Texas as well as free-agent guards Fiore and Thomas, both of whom will certainly start. Samuels and Jansen are two of the better tackles on one team in the NFL. They are young and athletic and should backbone this core for years to come. If these guys can learn to play with one another right away, watch out for the Redskins on offense. This has the making of a tremendous line.