Player Spotlight: Brandon Myers

Photo: Imagn Images

Setting the Stage

Brandon Myers played his high school football in Prairie City, Iowa. He was 6-foot 4 and weighed 210 pounds as a senior and received only a two-star rating by Rivals. He was the final commit to his home state Iowa Hawkeyes. In high school, he caught 82 passes for 1,237 yards and also rushed for 932 yards, scoring 29 total TDs. He led his basketball team to the 2A state basketball tournament in four consecutive years, including winning it all in 2004 as he scored 31 points and had 18 rebounds in the double-overtime championship game. He completed his basketball career as the 26th player in Iowa high school to score more than 2,000 points, totaling 2,198.

Myers played only special teams as a freshman at Iowa, but won their “Next Man in Award” for special teams play. As a sophomore, he failed to make the depth chart and again only played special teams. He entered his junior year as the second team tight end and caught 21 passes for 208 yards and 5 TDs and won the “Next Man in Award” for offense. As a senior even though he entered the year again as second on the depth chart, he ranked third on the team in receptions, with 34 for 441 yards and tied for the team lead with 4 TD receptions.

An interesting consideration about Myers heading toward the 2009 NFL Draft was whether he was an ascending player that could further develop in the NFL or if his limited production was based on the defenses against Iowa stacking the line of scrimmage to stop their one offensive weapon, Shonn Greene. Most scouts regarded him primarily as an extra blocker, more than a receiving option from the tight end position.

Myers was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the sixth round and was somewhat remarkable, as this one pick was definitely not based on the player’s speed. Overall, he was the 15th tight end taken that year.

Myers again overachieved by not only making the Oakland roster, but playing in 11 games as a rookie. He continued to improve every season, but had only caught 32 passes for 250 yards and no TDs total over his first three seasons. Last summer, he was considered as one of two possibilities to start for the Raiders, but outplayed David Ausberry in preseason workouts and was named the starter heading into the season. Is anyone getting the idea that Brandon Myers is one hard working and focused football player? He caught 15 passes on 15 targets in their first three games and never looked back, totaling 79 catches for 806 yards and 4 TDs. He recently revealed that he played the entire 2012 season with a sprained AC joint in his left shoulder.

His career statistics are provided below. 

Looking Forward to 2013

The New York Giants signed Myers to a one-year $2.25 Million contract, so he will be playing in 2103 for a better free agent offer after this season. The Giants return their top three wide receivers, Hakeem Nicks, Victor Cruz, and Rueben Randle, but Myers will be new to the team replacing Martellus Bennett, who only played one year with them. Given Myers’ track record, there seems little doubt that he will work hard and pick up the offense during the off-season and be well prepared heading into the season.

The running back position for the Giants is also undergoing change as Ahmad Bradshaw has departed and his lead role is expected to be picked up by second-year running back David Wilson. Many are expecting a huge season for Wilson, but he played only sparingly in his rookie season and the team might also use Andre Brown.

Positives

• Eli Manning and the Giants feature a high volume passing offense that averages over 4,000 yards over the past four seasons
• Although it’s a small sample size, Myers has caught 72% of his career targets which is much higher than Jimmy Graham and Rob Gronkowski, with Brees and Brady, respectively at quarterback
• Fairly late ADP as TE14 and 128 overall

Negatives

• Only one productive season in his four-year NFL career
• Probably the fourth best target at New York, behind Cruz, Nicks, and Wilson
• Not a gifted athlete and has to work hard for all his production

Projections

Final Thoughts

Myers is an intriguing player who finished as TE5 in ppr scoring leagues last year and has a current ADP of TE14 and could go even later. He is definitely off the fantasy radar as his spotlight thread has been up for eight days and has yet to have a comment. He has that common-man, “one of us” feel about him with his nondescript high school recruitment, his lack of playing time in college, and even his low draft position can attest. But, his history as a consistent overachiever, for four years at Iowa and especially last season at Oakland in the NFL, makes you wonder what his 2013 season will produce.

Other Viewpoints

Rotoworld player page http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/5413/brandon-myers

New York Giants’ Tight Ends coach Mike Pope said there will be chances for Brandon Myers to get vertical in the passing game. Rotoworld responded that Myers was mostly a safety valve during his breakout campaign in Oakland last year, averaging just 10.2 YPC. "Our passing game does allow the tight end to get more vertically down the field -– flag routes, double seam routes, post routes," Pope said. "And he appears to have the skills to get those balls. He has a little bit of a jet that can accelerate and go get a ball that is a little deeper." We'll believe the plodding Myers can make plays down the field when we see it. For now, he's just a TE2.

Dennis M. Esser on SB Nation http://www.bigblueview.com/2013/5/31/4381836/is-brandon-myers-another-new-york-giants-fantasy-find

As a Giant fan I want Myers to continue to develop as a blocker and as an overall player. As a fantasy football fan I want him to put up similar numbers to what he did last year with the Raiders. And as a realist I suggest you draft Myers as your back up tight end somewhere in the 14th to 16th rounds of standard fantasy drafts as I project him to produce 48 catches for 498 yards and 6 TDs. If everything goes perfectly his high end projections could be 60 receptions with 680 yards and 7 touchdowns. I suggest you wait until the Giants hit it big with a late-round pick to consider drafting a Giants’ tight end as your fantasy starter. (I’m looking at you Adrien Robinson)

Matt Waldman‘s player notes

Myers is another limited talent with overachieving attributes on a team that will make the most of his skills if second-year athletic wunderkind Adrien Robinson doesn’t make a leap. Look for me to elevate Myers if this doesn’t happen.

Jason Woods‘s player notes

Brandon Myers was a pleasant surprise last year as Carson Palmer’s most trusted receiver, but counting on him to do much in New York is foolhardy.