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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.
I`m often asked leading to August how I feel about certain players. And while I`m guilty of it every preseason, sometimes to a fault, there are players I`ll develop man-crushes on and will specifically target in drafts.
Some blew up in my face last season (see QB Matt Schaub and WR Robert Meachem), while others panned out (thank you to QB Jay Cutler, RB Pierre Thomas and WR Eddie Royal).
Who gets the nod in 2009? Players I`m specifically targeting include:
QB Drew Brees, NO
I normally hold off on this position until the middle rounds, but here`s my exception. In a perfect world, I`m drafting within the first five picks of Round 1 because this ensures I`ll have a shot at Brees either late in Round 2 or at the turn of Round 3. Brees is in the prime of his career and averaging 4,636 yards and 26 TDs the last three seasons while throwing it an amazing 1,841 times in the same span. He`s an elite signal caller in charge of one of the league`s best aerial attacks with a fantastic supporting cast.
QB Donovan McNabb, PHI
If I miss on Brees, I`m holding off until the middle rounds and McNabb is at the top of my wish list. McNabb, who recently had his contract restructured, is coming off an injury-free season where he threw for 3,916 yards and 23 TDs. Additionally, the Eagles reloaded on offense during the draft with the selections of RB LeSean McCoy and WR Jeremy Maclin. You can count on the Eagles to throw often and that means bottom line production.
QB Matt Schaub, HOU
I`m dipping back into the well with Schaub, who was on pace for a 4,000-yard season before missing time with injuries. If he can stay healthy for a full 16 games, Schaub`s potential to explode exists due to his supporting cast, specifically RB Steve Slaton, WR Andre Johnson, WR Kevin Walter and TE Owen Daniels. He`s been available in Rounds 8-10 in every mock draft I`ve done so far and there`s unbelievable upside if he`s paired with Brees or McNabb.
QB Carson Palmer, CIN
Say hello to this year`s best QB value if current draft trends hold. In two industry expert drafts I`ve participated in, I was floored to see Palmer available in Round 10. Granted, his 2008 season was ruined due to an elbow injury, but he`s healthy and the Bengals are a pass-happy team. The team also replaced WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh with a viable option in Laveranues Coles. Prior to last season`s injury, Palmer averaged 3,725 yards passing and 26 TDs in four seasons making him an elite option. Round 10? Wow.
RB LaDainian Tomlinson, SD
Tomlinson struggled with toe and groin injuries last season en route to career-lows in rushing attempts (292) and yards (1,110). He also scored his second-lowest rushing TDs of his career with 11 and turns 30 on June 23. So why list him here? Because he represents solid value where he`s currently drafted (sixth to eighth overall) and I`m not passing him over if I`m in those spots, which is the determining factor. Obviously, I won`t take Tomlinson over Matt Forte, Adrian Peterson, Michael Turner or Maurice Jones-Drew, but in the sixth, seventh or eighth spot, pull the trigger. San Diego`s offense is prolific and he`ll have chances to produce.
RB Pierre Thomas, NO
The window of opportunity to get Thomas is either late in Round 2 or in Round 3. The third-year pro added 10 pounds of muscle this offseason and reportedly tips the scale at 220 pounds. He averaged 4.8 yards per carry last season and exploded in Weeks 11-16 with 677 total yards (475 rushing) and nine total scores. It`s forever wise to get a piece of a prolific offense and Thomas is a strong bet to break out in 2008. I`m not too concerned about Reggie Bush, who returns from his third knee operation in the last two seasons. Thomas should open the season as the clear starter.
RB Kevin Smith, DET
Forget that the Lions redefined mediocrity in 2008, note that Smith averaged 19.3 carries and 76.8 yards while scoring four times the last eight games of the season. If I miss out on Thomas, my fallback plan is Smith and you`ll hear zero complaints if I secure both.
RB Shonn Greene, NYJ
When the time arrives to address my fourth RB, which I typically do before Round 10, Greene is firmly entrenched on my radar. At 5-foot-11 and 227 pounds, Greene is a powerful runner and could see extensive action this season given the contract issues surrounding Thomas Jones and Leon Washington. Additionally, Jones will be on the wrong side of 30 when the season starts.
WR Randy Moss, NE
If you want Moss, like I do this season, you`ll have to pull the trigger in Round 2. Still, it appears current drafters prefer Larry Fitzgerald, Andre Johnson and Calvin Johnson over Moss, meaning you could draft the season`s biggest rebound candidate based on the return of QB Tom Brady at a bargain.
WR Anthony Gonzalez, IND
Gonzalez is primed to explode this season now that he`s in the starting lineup alongside Reggie Wayne. Gonzalez displayed flashes in 2008 to be a dependable possession receiver and also an occasional deep threat. More importantly, the third-year pro has QB Peyton Manning`s trust, which is always a good thing in a prolific passing offense.
WR Laveranues Coles, CIN
Like his QB, Carson Palmer, I`m stunned to see Coles drafted in Rounds 8-10. Playing with Palmer offers Coles an opportunity to be on the receiving end of an elite signal caller. If you can get Coles as a No. 3, the upside for him to produce as a No. 2 is high considering Cincinnati`s propensity to pass with a healthy Palmer.
TE Greg Olsen, CHI
The Bears` acquisition of QB Jay Cutler will make Olsen an elite option this season. Cutler threw often to his TEs while with the Denver Broncos and made former teammate Tony Scheffler a star. Unfortunately, I already know if I want Olsen, who caught 54 passes for 574 yards and five scores last season, I`ll have to pull the trigger in Round 7 at the earliest.
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.
I`m often asked leading to August how I feel about certain players. And while I`m guilty of it every preseason, sometimes to a fault, there are players I`ll develop man-crushes on and will specifically target in drafts.
Some blew up in my face last season (see QB Matt Schaub and WR Robert Meachem), while others panned out (thank you to QB Jay Cutler, RB Pierre Thomas and WR Eddie Royal).
Who gets the nod in 2009? Players I`m specifically targeting include:
QB Drew Brees, NO
I normally hold off on this position until the middle rounds, but here`s my exception. In a perfect world, I`m drafting within the first five picks of Round 1 because this ensures I`ll have a shot at Brees either late in Round 2 or at the turn of Round 3. Brees is in the prime of his career and averaging 4,636 yards and 26 TDs the last three seasons while throwing it an amazing 1,841 times in the same span. He`s an elite signal caller in charge of one of the league`s best aerial attacks with a fantastic supporting cast.
QB Donovan McNabb, PHI
If I miss on Brees, I`m holding off until the middle rounds and McNabb is at the top of my wish list. McNabb, who recently had his contract restructured, is coming off an injury-free season where he threw for 3,916 yards and 23 TDs. Additionally, the Eagles reloaded on offense during the draft with the selections of RB LeSean McCoy and WR Jeremy Maclin. You can count on the Eagles to throw often and that means bottom line production.
QB Matt Schaub, HOU
I`m dipping back into the well with Schaub, who was on pace for a 4,000-yard season before missing time with injuries. If he can stay healthy for a full 16 games, Schaub`s potential to explode exists due to his supporting cast, specifically RB Steve Slaton, WR Andre Johnson, WR Kevin Walter and TE Owen Daniels. He`s been available in Rounds 8-10 in every mock draft I`ve done so far and there`s unbelievable upside if he`s paired with Brees or McNabb.
QB Carson Palmer, CIN
Say hello to this year`s best QB value if current draft trends hold. In two industry expert drafts I`ve participated in, I was floored to see Palmer available in Round 10. Granted, his 2008 season was ruined due to an elbow injury, but he`s healthy and the Bengals are a pass-happy team. The team also replaced WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh with a viable option in Laveranues Coles. Prior to last season`s injury, Palmer averaged 3,725 yards passing and 26 TDs in four seasons making him an elite option. Round 10? Wow.
RB LaDainian Tomlinson, SD
Tomlinson struggled with toe and groin injuries last season en route to career-lows in rushing attempts (292) and yards (1,110). He also scored his second-lowest rushing TDs of his career with 11 and turns 30 on June 23. So why list him here? Because he represents solid value where he`s currently drafted (sixth to eighth overall) and I`m not passing him over if I`m in those spots, which is the determining factor. Obviously, I won`t take Tomlinson over Matt Forte, Adrian Peterson, Michael Turner or Maurice Jones-Drew, but in the sixth, seventh or eighth spot, pull the trigger. San Diego`s offense is prolific and he`ll have chances to produce.
RB Pierre Thomas, NO
The window of opportunity to get Thomas is either late in Round 2 or in Round 3. The third-year pro added 10 pounds of muscle this offseason and reportedly tips the scale at 220 pounds. He averaged 4.8 yards per carry last season and exploded in Weeks 11-16 with 677 total yards (475 rushing) and nine total scores. It`s forever wise to get a piece of a prolific offense and Thomas is a strong bet to break out in 2008. I`m not too concerned about Reggie Bush, who returns from his third knee operation in the last two seasons. Thomas should open the season as the clear starter.
RB Kevin Smith, DET
Forget that the Lions redefined mediocrity in 2008, note that Smith averaged 19.3 carries and 76.8 yards while scoring four times the last eight games of the season. If I miss out on Thomas, my fallback plan is Smith and you`ll hear zero complaints if I secure both.
RB Shonn Greene, NYJ
When the time arrives to address my fourth RB, which I typically do before Round 10, Greene is firmly entrenched on my radar. At 5-foot-11 and 227 pounds, Greene is a powerful runner and could see extensive action this season given the contract issues surrounding Thomas Jones and Leon Washington. Additionally, Jones will be on the wrong side of 30 when the season starts.
WR Randy Moss, NE
If you want Moss, like I do this season, you`ll have to pull the trigger in Round 2. Still, it appears current drafters prefer Larry Fitzgerald, Andre Johnson and Calvin Johnson over Moss, meaning you could draft the season`s biggest rebound candidate based on the return of QB Tom Brady at a bargain.
WR Anthony Gonzalez, IND
Gonzalez is primed to explode this season now that he`s in the starting lineup alongside Reggie Wayne. Gonzalez displayed flashes in 2008 to be a dependable possession receiver and also an occasional deep threat. More importantly, the third-year pro has QB Peyton Manning`s trust, which is always a good thing in a prolific passing offense.
WR Laveranues Coles, CIN
Like his QB, Carson Palmer, I`m stunned to see Coles drafted in Rounds 8-10. Playing with Palmer offers Coles an opportunity to be on the receiving end of an elite signal caller. If you can get Coles as a No. 3, the upside for him to produce as a No. 2 is high considering Cincinnati`s propensity to pass with a healthy Palmer.
TE Greg Olsen, CHI
The Bears` acquisition of QB Jay Cutler will make Olsen an elite option this season. Cutler threw often to his TEs while with the Denver Broncos and made former teammate Tony Scheffler a star. Unfortunately, I already know if I want Olsen, who caught 54 passes for 574 yards and five scores last season, I`ll have to pull the trigger in Round 7 at the earliest.
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.
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