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WRs under the microscope
by Herbie Teope, Steve Aldersley and Larry Bloemker on June 26 2008
Sponsored by: Time Warner Cable & Metro Sports
Stay on top of NFL player analysis, rankings and feature articles with Fantasy Huddle, brought to you by Time Warner Cable & Metro Sports. Content republished with permission from original publishing company.
Fantasy Huddle editor Herbie Teope and staff writers Steve Aldersley and Larry Bloemker converge to discuss selected receivers and their 2008 draft value.
Brandon Marshall, DEN
2007 stats: 102 catches for 1,325 yards and seven touchdowns -- five carries for 57 yards.
Aldersley:
Marshall, who led the league with 170 targets, is clearly the main receiver in Denver`s passing game. His worst yardage output came in Week 4 with three catches for 23 yards, but he finished strong with three 100-yard games in the last four weeks of the season. Obviously, regular targets increase a receiver`s potential to produce.
To provide help, the Broncos signed veteran receivers Darrell Jackson and Keary Colbert and drafted Eddie Royal in April`s NFL Draft. While the presence of Jackson may slightly reduce Marshall`s targets, Marshall likely sees more single coverage.
Third-year quarterback Jay Cutler should continue to improve and the Broncos did nothing to improve the running game after releasing Travis Henry. There could be more passing in Denver this year.
Despite Marshall`s talent, he has maturity issues. He suffered a severe arm injury in March after falling into a TV set while wrestling with his brother. He`s on schedule to be ready for the July training camp, however. Marshall also has an upcoming DUI trial resulting from an arrest last October.
I have Marshall ranked ninth in my wide receiver rankings and feel that he`ll do well as the focus of the passing game. If he can boost his touchdown total from seven to double digits, he could finish in the top-5 and represents good value at the start of Round 4.
Bloemker:
Marshall`s stock is on the rise now that he`s the clear No. 1 target for emerging quarterback Jay Cutler. He might be more attractive if not for an arm injury that suffered tendon and nerve damage. However, he participated in recent OTAs and should be fine for training camp.
Marshall is a big target at 6-4 and 230 pounds. He has good speed for his size, but he`s certainly not a burner. He`s also very good at using his body to get position on defensive backs making him a solid red zone option.
A year`s experience as a fulltime starter only helps Marshall and the passing game will be better with Cutler treating the Type 1 diabetes that unknowingly plagued him last year.
Marshall is currently drafted near the top of Round 4, which means he`s being taken as an elite WR2. There`s every reason to believe that Marshall should prove to be worth that price and there`s a chance he produces better numbers.
If your league favors TDs, bump Marshall up your draft board. His size and red zone prowess makes him a great threat.
Teope:
If I`m drinking the Jay Cutler Kool-Aid this season, then you know I`m high on Marshall, who I ranked No. 9 in my receiver rankings.
While it`s hard to knock a 102-catch season, I`d like to see improvement with the all-important touchdowns. Still, as much as Marshall is targeted, scores should increase to the double-digit realm putting him among the elite.
Denver has a hole at the No. 2 spot opposite Marshall leading coach Mike Shanahan to address the position through free agency with the signings of Darrell Jackson and Keary Colbert. Both are coming off disappointing 2007 campaigns, but there is upside with Jackson, a nine-year pro with three 1,000-yard seasons to his credit.
If Jackson or Colbert emerges and combined with reliable veteran Brandon Stokley and tight end Tony Scheffler, Marshall should find himself in single coverage on numerous occasions. This is a mismatch Shanahan and Cutler will enjoy exploiting.
His Round 4 ADP represents extraordinary value because he`s capable of No. 1 production. You have a realistic opportunity to pair Marshall with another top 10 receiver, and that`s a coup.
Roddy White, ATL
2007 stats: 83 catches for 1,202 yards and six touchdowns.
Aldersley: White`s performance surprised me last year and he finished as a top 15 producer in most scoring formats. White`s achievement was impressive when you consider that Joey Harrington, Chris Redman, and Byron Leftwich shared the duties at quarterback.
The Falcons brought in offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey, so the team will be adjusting to a new system this year.
Chris Redman played well in five 2007 games throwing for 10 TDs, but the question is whether he holds the job, or could rookie Matt Ryan take over at some point during the season.
My feeling is that Ryan starts by Week 3, which doesn`t help the offense as rookie quarterbacks tend to struggle with inconsistent play.
The Falcons signed running back Michael Turner in free agency and he`s a significant upgrade to the running game. Mularkey`s offense tends to favor the run, so White could see fewer targets this year. It also wouldn`t surprise to see more running if Ryan is under center.
White is talented, but the coaching changes and uncertainty at quarterback make me cautious. I have White ranked just outside the top 20. His current ADP in Round 6 is about right.
Bloemker:
Whenever you look at a wide receiver, look at all the components of the passing game. In Atlanta`s long and painful 2007 season, White emerged as the leading target in the passing game. Now the primary question is will Atlanta have enough solid quarterback play for White to improve on last season`s numbers.
At this point, there`s no way to know who`s starting at quarterback. If it`s Chris Redman, then there`s always the chance that rookie Matt Ryan steps in at some point and the learning curve starts all over again. With tight end Alge Crumpler gone, the Falcons are also looking for another target in the passing game.
White is drafted in Round 5, which makes him a low-tier WR2 or a top-tier WR3. It`s always nice to have a team`s true No. 1 receiver as your WR3, but the situation affecting White`s value is out of his control.
If you draft him, you`re gambling that the Falcons receive quality quarterback play to make White effective.
Teope:
His stellar 2007 performance is magnified when you consider the Atlanta quarterback carousel featuring Joey Harrington, Byron Leftwich and Chris Redman.
Amazingly, White finds himself in the same situation a year later as Atlanta`s has no clear starter at quarterback. Harrington, Redman, D.J. Shockley and rookie Matt Ryan enter training camp to battle for the starting job.
Should Ryan emerge, it`s difficult to imagine consistency with Atlanta`s offense. One could argue this was the case last season, but a different coaching staff with run-oriented roots resides in Atlanta.
Coach Mike Smith and offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey likely incorporate an offense designed to take pressure off the passing game. It`s reasonable to expect running backs Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood to be heavily involved.
White`s upside is he`s the team`s undisputed top receiver and the team will play from behind in numerous games this season. The downside includes too many questions surrounding Atlanta`s quarterback situation and an offense potentially dependent on the run.
I`ll allow someone else to take that chance.
Fantasy Huddle editor Herbie Teope and staff writers Steve Aldersley and Larry Bloemker converge to discuss selected receivers and their 2008 draft value.
Brandon Marshall, DEN
2007 stats: 102 catches for 1,325 yards and seven touchdowns -- five carries for 57 yards.
Aldersley:
Marshall, who led the league with 170 targets, is clearly the main receiver in Denver`s passing game. His worst yardage output came in Week 4 with three catches for 23 yards, but he finished strong with three 100-yard games in the last four weeks of the season. Obviously, regular targets increase a receiver`s potential to produce.
To provide help, the Broncos signed veteran receivers Darrell Jackson and Keary Colbert and drafted Eddie Royal in April`s NFL Draft. While the presence of Jackson may slightly reduce Marshall`s targets, Marshall likely sees more single coverage.
Third-year quarterback Jay Cutler should continue to improve and the Broncos did nothing to improve the running game after releasing Travis Henry. There could be more passing in Denver this year.
Despite Marshall`s talent, he has maturity issues. He suffered a severe arm injury in March after falling into a TV set while wrestling with his brother. He`s on schedule to be ready for the July training camp, however. Marshall also has an upcoming DUI trial resulting from an arrest last October.
I have Marshall ranked ninth in my wide receiver rankings and feel that he`ll do well as the focus of the passing game. If he can boost his touchdown total from seven to double digits, he could finish in the top-5 and represents good value at the start of Round 4.
Bloemker:
Marshall`s stock is on the rise now that he`s the clear No. 1 target for emerging quarterback Jay Cutler. He might be more attractive if not for an arm injury that suffered tendon and nerve damage. However, he participated in recent OTAs and should be fine for training camp.
Marshall is a big target at 6-4 and 230 pounds. He has good speed for his size, but he`s certainly not a burner. He`s also very good at using his body to get position on defensive backs making him a solid red zone option.
A year`s experience as a fulltime starter only helps Marshall and the passing game will be better with Cutler treating the Type 1 diabetes that unknowingly plagued him last year.
Marshall is currently drafted near the top of Round 4, which means he`s being taken as an elite WR2. There`s every reason to believe that Marshall should prove to be worth that price and there`s a chance he produces better numbers.
If your league favors TDs, bump Marshall up your draft board. His size and red zone prowess makes him a great threat.
Teope:
If I`m drinking the Jay Cutler Kool-Aid this season, then you know I`m high on Marshall, who I ranked No. 9 in my receiver rankings.
While it`s hard to knock a 102-catch season, I`d like to see improvement with the all-important touchdowns. Still, as much as Marshall is targeted, scores should increase to the double-digit realm putting him among the elite.
Denver has a hole at the No. 2 spot opposite Marshall leading coach Mike Shanahan to address the position through free agency with the signings of Darrell Jackson and Keary Colbert. Both are coming off disappointing 2007 campaigns, but there is upside with Jackson, a nine-year pro with three 1,000-yard seasons to his credit.
If Jackson or Colbert emerges and combined with reliable veteran Brandon Stokley and tight end Tony Scheffler, Marshall should find himself in single coverage on numerous occasions. This is a mismatch Shanahan and Cutler will enjoy exploiting.
His Round 4 ADP represents extraordinary value because he`s capable of No. 1 production. You have a realistic opportunity to pair Marshall with another top 10 receiver, and that`s a coup.
Roddy White, ATL
2007 stats: 83 catches for 1,202 yards and six touchdowns.
Aldersley: White`s performance surprised me last year and he finished as a top 15 producer in most scoring formats. White`s achievement was impressive when you consider that Joey Harrington, Chris Redman, and Byron Leftwich shared the duties at quarterback.
The Falcons brought in offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey, so the team will be adjusting to a new system this year.
Chris Redman played well in five 2007 games throwing for 10 TDs, but the question is whether he holds the job, or could rookie Matt Ryan take over at some point during the season.
My feeling is that Ryan starts by Week 3, which doesn`t help the offense as rookie quarterbacks tend to struggle with inconsistent play.
The Falcons signed running back Michael Turner in free agency and he`s a significant upgrade to the running game. Mularkey`s offense tends to favor the run, so White could see fewer targets this year. It also wouldn`t surprise to see more running if Ryan is under center.
White is talented, but the coaching changes and uncertainty at quarterback make me cautious. I have White ranked just outside the top 20. His current ADP in Round 6 is about right.
Bloemker:
Whenever you look at a wide receiver, look at all the components of the passing game. In Atlanta`s long and painful 2007 season, White emerged as the leading target in the passing game. Now the primary question is will Atlanta have enough solid quarterback play for White to improve on last season`s numbers.
At this point, there`s no way to know who`s starting at quarterback. If it`s Chris Redman, then there`s always the chance that rookie Matt Ryan steps in at some point and the learning curve starts all over again. With tight end Alge Crumpler gone, the Falcons are also looking for another target in the passing game.
White is drafted in Round 5, which makes him a low-tier WR2 or a top-tier WR3. It`s always nice to have a team`s true No. 1 receiver as your WR3, but the situation affecting White`s value is out of his control.
If you draft him, you`re gambling that the Falcons receive quality quarterback play to make White effective.
Teope:
His stellar 2007 performance is magnified when you consider the Atlanta quarterback carousel featuring Joey Harrington, Byron Leftwich and Chris Redman.
Amazingly, White finds himself in the same situation a year later as Atlanta`s has no clear starter at quarterback. Harrington, Redman, D.J. Shockley and rookie Matt Ryan enter training camp to battle for the starting job.
Should Ryan emerge, it`s difficult to imagine consistency with Atlanta`s offense. One could argue this was the case last season, but a different coaching staff with run-oriented roots resides in Atlanta.
Coach Mike Smith and offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey likely incorporate an offense designed to take pressure off the passing game. It`s reasonable to expect running backs Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood to be heavily involved.
White`s upside is he`s the team`s undisputed top receiver and the team will play from behind in numerous games this season. The downside includes too many questions surrounding Atlanta`s quarterback situation and an offense potentially dependent on the run.
I`ll allow someone else to take that chance.
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