Fantasy Football Info For Serious Players
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Survivor I - Teumessian Fox Commentary NOTE: this draft was completed on 7/24
Positives - Comments from FBG.com: Shaun Alexander has 70 touchdowns and 6892 total yards in four seasons as a starter for the Seahawks (including career bests of 1696 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns in 2004). Alexander excels in the open field making timely cuts breaking off long runs once he hits the secondary with his gliding style. Alexander also shines at the goal line, and the Seahawks have proven they will feed him the ball once inside the 5-yard line. Alexander has cemented himself among the fantasy elite running backs. Negatives - Comments from FBG.com: After Alexander missed out on the rushing title by 1 yard in 2004, a post game interview that revealed Alexander's anger has lead to speculation that Alexander may have seen his last carry as a Seahawk. The Seahawks went into the off-season with 16 free agents on their roster including quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, left tackle Walter Jones, and Alexander. Both Jones and Hasselbeck were signed to long-term deals and Alexander was retained with the franchise tag. Although Alexander recently signed a one-year contract, it's unclear whether there will be any lingering effects from a contentious offseason. Alexander sometimes dances behind the line of scrimmage instead of churning forward for extra yardage. Also, Alexander saw the field less last season on third down as evidenced by his significant decline in receptions (23, down from 59 and 42 the previous two seasons). Draft Strategy - n/a
Positives - Comments from FBG.com: Chad Johnson has everything teams look for in a wide receiver: blazing speed, good size, excellent leaping ability, terrific body control, fantastic hands, and a competitive spirit. He also runs very good patterns and shows a natural ability to adjust to the ball in the air. He won the “Best Hands” competition at the Pro Bowl Skills Challenge. He has the quickness and extra burst to get separation from defenders; the concentration to make the spectacular catch; the size and strength to beat the jam at the line of scrimmage, and to outmuscle defenders for the ball. He has also shown the ability to take a big hit and to pop right back up and go back to the huddle. Most importantly, Chad Johnson makes plays. He has been extremely productive for the Bengals, with three straight 1,000-yard seasons to his credit and enough big plays to become a regular star in highlight films. Johnson also has a strong work ethic and a constant desire to improve. Negatives - Comments from FBG.com: Johnson is not a great runner after the catch. Despite his strength, he does not break tackles as a ball carrier. And despite his ability to make the spectacular catch, he will sometimes drop the easy one. He dropped several catchable balls in the first game of the season against the Browns last year, and dropped a ball against the Broncos the following week. He can also sulk if things don’t go his way. Finally, Johnson is a talker who not only motivates himself and his teammates, but sometimes motivates the opposing team with his chatter. Draft Strategy - n/a
Positives - Comments from FBG.com: In 2004 Walker emerged as one of the game’s premiere wide receivers catching 89 passes for 1,382 yards and 12 touchdowns. Walker was the poster boy for the fabled “third year WR rule”. Walker scored a TD from 30 yards or longer in six different games while topping the century mark in five games. In other words he’s a game breaker. He can hurt a defense with his strength and ability to get off the line quickly on slant routes. Or he can devastate a defense with his speed and jumping ability down field where he frequently wins jump balls against smaller defenders. Walker has the size, speed and hands to remain among the elite fantasy receivers for the next several seasons (or at least as long as Favre continues playing). Negatives - Comments from FBG.com: Earlier in his career Walker’s hands were sporadic, and he seemed to be a little lost at times with his route running. Thankfully, those problems are mostly in the rear view mirror. Walker’s biggest negative has little to do with his performance on the field. Walker had a contentious holdout threat that was recently resolved when he reported on time, but QB Brett Favre had some very pointed comments about Walker prior to that. Hopefully, there will be no animosity there but it should be noted nonetheless. Draft Strategy - n/a
Positives - Comments from FBG.com: The last year or two have seen a Renaissance of the tight end position, and Jason Witten has done his part to further the cause. Last season, Witten finished 2nd among tight ends with 87 receptions and 980 yards. At 6’5”, 261 pounds, Witten is not only one of the better receiving tight ends, but he’s also an excellent blocker. In the red zone (60% of his receptions went for touchdowns) he emerged as the Cowboys most reliable receiving option. Negatives - Comments from FBG.com: Witten doesn’t possess the athleticism of Tony Gonzalez or Antonio Gates, so you’re not going to see him make too many people miss in the open field or break off too many 50+ yard receptions. He is also adjusting to his 3rd starting quarterback in as many years, which shouldn’t be a problem given his talents, but it’s worth noting. Draft Strategy - n/a
Positives - Comments from FBG.com: Coles' 261 receptions the past three years rank sixth in the NFL. Coming out of Florida State, Coles was known for his amazing speed (he ran a 4.16 in the 40-yard dash on the historically fast FSU track) and playmaking ability. However, during his career with the Jets he proved to be a very tough WR, capable of making clutch catches in traffic and showing terrific hands. Coles had a great rapport with Chad Pennington during their one season together, averaging 6.4 receptions and 93 receiving yards per game for their thirteen contests in 2002. Pennington and Coles have a great relationship off the field as well, as Pennington publicly lobbied for Coles and offered to return two million dollars to the Jets if it would help bring Coles back. He set an NFL record in 2002-2003; by catching at least five passes in nineteen straight games. Negatives - Comments from FBG.com: Coles saw his receiving yards and yards per reception plummet in 2004. While that might be the product of some terrible QB play, the Redskins traded Coles in part due to a lingering toe injury. Coles has had an arthritic toe for the past two years, and does not want to undergo surgery which could end his career if unsuccessful. He lacked the acceleration that differentiated him in the past, and if he's damaged goods he's not going to bring much value on draft day. Draft Strategy - n/a
Positives - Comments from FBG.com: New offensive coordinator Ron Turner doesn't believe Thomas Jones fits his new scheme. Cedric Benson does. Benson gives the Bears a workhorse back they can feature in their new commitment to the power running game. He is a very strong runner between the tackles and is tough to bring down with first contact. Benson has a vast combination of strength, power, and balance. He has established himself as a durable back and should excel in this offense. He will thrive in controlling games carrying the load late in games and in the inclement weather. Benson should be a monster near the goal line. Negatives - Comments from FBG.com: The Bears offense was the worst in the league last year, and they ranked 25th in rushing. Things won't be easy for Benson, especially right out of the gate. He will have a determined Thomas Jones looking over his shoulder all season, and the Bears will keep Jones involved, especially in passing situations. Benson was durable in college, but he carried an enormous load. With so many miles already, is he an injury risk at the pro level? Benson is not the best blocker, and needs work in the passing game. Draft Strategy - n/a
Positives - Comments from FBG.com: The Baltimore Ravens were once again one of the better defenses in the NFL in 2004, but they continue to fall short of the loftier expectations given to the team since they won Super Bowl XXXV. However, they still were ranked sixth in the NFL last year in total defense. The Ravens promoted Rex Ryan, the defensive line coach since 1999, to Defensive Coordinator this offseason. Ryan comes from a famous football family, his father being the legendary Buddy Ryan and his twin brother Rob the defensive coordinator for the Raiders. Ryan follows Mike Nolan, who became the San Francisco 49ers head coach. There is plenty of speculation that the team will revert back to a 4-3 defensive alignment, especially after the loss of LB Edgerton Hartwell. Ryan has even commented that the '46' defense, which his dad made famous, is not out of the question. As always, LB Ray Lewis leads the defense, but he's joined by several other Pro Bowl caliber performers including CB Chris McAlister, CB Samari Rolle, LB Terrell Suggs and DT Kelly Gregg. Negatives - n/a Draft Strategy - n/a
Positives - Comments from FBG.com: Over the last four years Aaron Brooks is among the top QBs in passing touchdowns (3rd), passing yards (4th), and fantasy points (3rd). Brooks is still just twenty-nine years old, and there's no reason to think he's reached his peak fantasy potential. With the development of Donte' Stallworth and Devery Henderson, Brooks will have two speedy receivers to complement four-time Pro Bower Joe Horn. Brooks is extremely durable, and has started sixty-nine straight games for New Orleans. He's one of the most talented quarterbacks in the NFL, and Brooks is a consistent fantasy producer. He's thrown for 225 yards or a touchdown in forty-six of his last forty-eight games. Mike Sheppard was Brooks QB coach the past three seasons, and will replace Mike McCarthy as the offensive coordinator in 2005. This should certainly promote continuity, and he's vowed to simplify the offense that's often confused the Saints players. Negatives - Comments from FBG.com: Brooks is never hailed as one of the elite QBs, and many feel he lacks the tools necessary to be an effective West Coast Offense quarterback. He completed just 57% of his passes last year, which ranked 21st best out of the top twenty-four fantasy QBs last year. The Saints have placed an emphasis on becoming a power running football team, which might limit the number of passes Brooks throws. Brooks was a compiler last year, ranking third in pass attempts but eighth in fantasy points. In the first twelve games (when the Saints went 4-8), Brooks averaged 36.5 pass attempts per contest; during the Saints perfect finish, he only was asked to throw 25 times per contest. The Saints may try and limit Brooks' attempts and focus on rushing more to win games in 2005. Draft Strategy - n/a
Positives - Comments from FBG.com: With the departures of Cedrick Wilson and Curtis Conway, Brandon Lloyd is assured of being one of the team's starting receivers. For a 23 year old guy only playing his 3rd season, that is a lot of responsibility. Lloyd managed six touchdowns from only 43 receptions last year. He has a reputation for acrobatic catches. Combine that with his self confidence and solid route running, and he is primed for a big season. Negatives - Comments from FBG.com: Too flashy for his own good, Brandon Lloyd has come under criticism from his own team mates for running his mouth and his flamboyancy rubs some the wrong way. Not the biggest guy, Lloyd missed three games last season with various niggling injuries (a groin strain, a hip pointer, and a foot injury). He lacks top end speed and doesn’t do much with the ball in his hands. Plagued by inconsistency he has yet to register a 100 yard game and only once caught more than five balls in a game. Draft Strategy - n/a
Positives - Comments from FBG.com: Kevin Faulk has come up with many key plays for the Patriots over their recent years as the NFL's most dominant team, whether it was via running, catching, or returning the football. Faulk had a career high 4.7 YPC average last year and contributed to the resurgence of the Patriots' rushing game. Faulk has averaged almost three receptions per game over the past few seasons and has produced decent numbers as a change of pace, third-down, and long-yardage running back. Negatives - Comments from FBG.com: After six years in the league, it's clear that Kevin Faulk will not become a featured back. At 5'8", 202 lbs., Faulk has not shown that he can fill the role as a full-time starter even when the Patriots tried to give him the chance. With Dillon on board, Faulk's opportunities for a steady workload are limited, and even with an injury to Dillon, Cedric Cobbs would probably get the core of the carries. Faulk missed five games last season due to personal reasons, and his on-field performance suffered because of it. Draft Strategy - n/a
Positives - Comments from FBG.com: New OC, Carl Smith, has vowed to "throw the ball downfield" this season. Leftwich reported to the team this season months before the start of workouts so he could work with Smith on the new system. Leftwich first two seasons as a starter have been nearly identical season, finishing just shy of 3000 passing yards, with 15 TDs, ranking 17th and 18th in QB fantasy points, respectively. Should the Jaguars become more dynamic in their offensive attack, and take more shots downfield, expect that Leftwich's number will automatically improve. Negatives - Comments from FBG.com: In the past, the Jaguars employed a power running, "let the defense win the game" philosophy, where Leftwich wasn't asked to go out and win the game. Because of this, Leftwich hasn't put up the numbers needed to start for your fantasy team. Although new OC Smith has been vocal about the vertical game, he has also made a commitment to running the ball, perhaps even more than in prior seasons. Leftwich has all of the skills needed to put up strong numbers, but he has to be allowed to go out and take some chances. The Jaguars should be a winning NFL team long before Leftwich is a winning fantasy QB. With RB Fred Taylor will be out until the middle of the summer overcoming complications from an offseason MCL surgery; the Jaguars need to proved they can maintain their effectiveness without Taylor. Draft Strategy - n/a
Positives - Comments from FBG.com: HC John Fox did a characteristically brilliant coaching job, holding the team together after a horrific start snakebitten by injuries to key players. The reigning NFC Super Bowl reps closed out 2004 with a historic 6-2 finish after a brutal 1-7 start, narrowly missing a playoff berth (would have been an NFL first). Carolina was middle-of-the-pack statistically in the NFC... ninth in total defense (336.4 YPG), seventh against the run (119 YPG), eighth against the pass (217.4 YPG) and seventh in scoring defense (21.2 PPG). The Panthers tied for first in the NFL in turnovers (35) and were first in INTs (24). Sacks suffered a drop from top ten in the NFL in '03 (40) to bottom ten in '04 (34). Drafting SS/OLB Thomas Davis (1.14) ahead of WLB Derrick Johnson was one of the more intriguing story arcs of the '05 first round. As intriguing will be what position the Georgia All-American junior plays (a difference maker wherever he lines up)... and who emerges as the better pro. The rare Uhrlacher-like college safety to NFL LB conversion could maximize his strength of attacking the LOS, best positioning him for success. As of press time, we can report that Davis lined up at SS for the first mini-camp... he has stated a preference to play there (also that he would be happy to play wherever the coaches want him to), and the team acknowledged that he he has a comfort zone there. The important point is he has the rare talent and physical gifts to emerge as a star at SS or OLB. Negatives - n/a Draft Strategy - n/a
Positives - Comments from FBG.com: Taylor has decent speed and tremendous elusiveness. He has excellent field vision as a runner, and will find the hole and squirm through it. Taylor doesn’t have great size, but he is deceptively powerful and has good balance, so he can be effective running inside as well as outside. Taylor is also a very good receiver out of the backfield. Although he is not used frequently in goal line situations, he does have leaping ability to jump over the pile. Negatives - Comments from FBG.com: Taylor doesn’t have great size, and although he has excellent quickness, he is not a true speed-burner. He is effective as a change-of-pace back, but may not be able to take the pounding as a featured RB for an extended period. Draft Strategy - n/a
Positives - Comments from FBG.com: Rex Grossman has a strong arm and usually does a good job of hitting his receivers. He has a bigger target in receiver Muhsin Muhammad to work with, and a bruising runner in Cedric Benson. The Bears have made strides in improving their offensive line, and they have added to the speed of players surrounding Grossman. There won't be any quarterback controversy in Chicago, as coach Lovie Smith has made it clear that Grossman is entrenched as his starter. The complicated offense from 2004 is being scrapped in favor of a simplified run oriented scheme, and that should help everyone on this young offense. Negatives - Comments from FBG.com: Grossman suffered a fractured ankle in a preseason game and will be lost for a minimum of 3-4 months. That puts his timetable for a return sometime around late November at best. Considering he wasn't a prime player to begin with, Grossman is just about undraftable in any league that doesn't involve keepers. He is expected to be placed on IR at some point, which would end his season. Draft Strategy - n/a
Positives - Comments from FBG.com: Pollard may be the best all around tight end the Lions have ever had? He will be a welcome addition as a blocker, and can still stretch the field as a receiver. With the attention Roy Williams and Charles Rogers should garner on the outside, the inside guys (Mike Williams and Pollard) should benefit. The Lions are tweaking their offense to get the tight end more involved. Pollard has always been an excellent red zone threat, an area the Lions have struggled. He has caught more than 40 balls in three of his last four seasons. Negatives - Comments from FBG.com: There is little similarity between Peyton Manning and Joey Harrington/Jeff Garcia. Keep a close eye on what the Lions do at right tackle. If they fill the position with a youngster, Pollard will be needed to stay in and block, similar to what happened to Jeremy Shockey in NY last season. Pollard will have an impact as a receiver, particularly in the red zone, but it just may take a few games. Draft Strategy - n/a
Positives - Comments from FBG.com: The Broncos think they have a gem in Darius Watts. He's quick and separates from defenders well. He's showing the capability to develop into an explosive playmaker with a fair amount of polish for a soon-to-be second year wide receiver. Watts appears to be the long-term answer for the Broncos when Rod Smith either retires or moves on. Negatives - Comments from FBG.com: Watts hasn't proven he can be a strong receiver in the NFL yet. He's shown flashes of his potential, but he's not even a starter yet, much less a viable fantasy receiver. He's also been known as a "body catcher" meaning he doesn't catch the ball with his hands often cradling it or letting hit him in the numbers first. Smith has shown no signs of letting up and Lelie not likely to be going anywhere anytime soon. Moreover, Jerry Rice has recently moved ahead of Watts on the depth chart; so unless Watts can improve his consistency, he may see little action as the fourth WR on the Broncos' depth chart. Draft Strategy - n/a
Positives - Comments from FBG.com: One man’s loss is another mans gain. Third round draft choice Brett Conway missed three field goals in a 1997 preseason game and several days later pulled a thigh muscle. Undrafted Ryan Longwell stepped in, won the job, and the rest is history. Over his career, he’s scored an average of 120.4 points per year. Among veteran kickers, that puts him in the company of Vanderjagt and Elam. Longwell has been above 80% on field goals every year but one, including 88.5% and 85.7% the last two years. The Packers have also been scoring lots of touchdowns, keeping him busy on extra points in recent years (48, 51, 44, & 45). Longwell is heading into the final year of his contract year in 2005. Negatives - Comments from FBG.com: He is not immune from a bad year. In 2001 he had a year long slump, hitting only 64.5% on field goals. Draft Strategy - n/a
Positives - Comments from FBG.com: Betts has acquitted himself well as the Redskins’ backup tailback for the last three seasons. In limited action, Betts has averaged a solid 4.0 yards per carry and 10.2 yards per reception. Most impressively, he ran for 118 yards in the 2004 season finale starting in place of Clinton Portis. Betts is a compact runner with good size (5’10”, 222 pounds) who has a propensity to hit the hole at full speed. As a former sprinter, he’s got a second gear in the open field. Negatives - Comments from FBG.com: Betts isn’t particularly instinctive, and he’s not going to make defenders miss too often. He also has limited experience in short yardage and goal line situations, so it’s unclear whether he could excel in that role. Draft Strategy - n/a
Positives - Comments from FBG.com: Former first round pick Bryant Johnson is going to get a lot of opportunities this year as the Cardinals will frequently line up three wide receiver sets. Due to the talents of Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald, the Cardinals will be hoping for mismatches in the opposing line up. Arizona has a quarterback experienced at working three receiver sets in Kurt Warner, and the steadily developing Johnson is primed for a good season. He has good hands and isn’t afraid to go over the middle. He has improved his route running, and his imposing size will make him a difficult opponent to handle. Negatives - Comments from FBG.com: For a player with the skills of Johnson, he would normally be primed to make a big impact in his third season in the NFL; however he may be starved of opportunities this year. His development hasn’t been as quick as Boldin or Fitzgerald, and that has resulted in less ball going his way. He is the least disciplined route runner of the three young receivers and has good, but not great hands. If he is to have any chance of success this season he will require top notch production from the quarterback position (something that was lacking last season and something Kurt Warner may not be able to achieve either). Draft Strategy - n/a
Positives - Comments from FBG.com: Rackers was known for his length strength coming out of college, and finally made full use of it last year. His 23 touchbacks on kickoffs led the NFL, and he connected on five field goals of 50+ yards. Three of those were in one game, and his shoes from that day now reside in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton. Neil spent the 2004 off-season in Arizona, working out with team mates, focused on being a team player. It appears to have paid off. Negatives - Comments from FBG.com: Rackers’ field goal percentages his first two years with Cincinnati were 57.1% and 60.7%. Both ranked dead last in the NFL. He’s fortunate, because not many teams would give a kicker a third chance after those results. Since then he’s climbed to the middle of the pack with 83.3%, 75.0%, and 75.9% averages. He missed three extra points while with the Bengals, but none since joining the Cardinals. Overall, his accuracy has improved from horrible to acceptable. Draft Strategy - n/a
Positives - Comments from FBG.com: Cedrick Wilson came over to the Steelers from the 49ers in free agency. 2004 was Wilson's most productive season as a pro as he caught 47 passes for 641 yards and 3 touchdowns in a dismal 49ers offense. He is a multi-talented player, having returned kicks and punts as well as playing WR, and he may continue in this role for the Steelers. Wilson is expected to compete with Antwaan Randle-El for the starting WR spot opposite Hines Ward. If he wins the job, his growth will continue and he will likely post numbers that are substantially improved over those of his 2004 campaign. Negatives - Comments from FBG.com: Wilson's stat line from 2004 looks almost identical to Antwaan Randle-El's, as do his measurements. His game is also very similar to Randle-El's as both are smallish, speedy receivers with good hands. This is not normally a negative, but in Wilson's case it is because the Steelers already have Randle-El on their roster, and he has several years of experience in the Steelers offensive system. Wilson is slated to compete with Randle-El for the Steelers WR2 spot, but it is likely that he will wind up in Randle-El's old position as the WR3 slot receiver unless he performs considerably better than Randle-El in training camp, which is improbable given their similar build, speed, and skill set. Draft Strategy - n/a
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