5 “Under the Radar” Studs To Draft

Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers

 

Favre (left) has passed to torch to Rodgers, and he's done well with it thus far. (Photo courtesy of The Cheese Heads @ blogspot)

Rodgers is quickly proving to be the medicine for Packers’ fan’s going through Favre withdrawal. Many expected Rodgers to be decent, but he was much more than that in his first full season as a starter in 2008. Throwing for over 4,000 yards and 28 touchdowns, Rodgers also threw only 13 picks, a number that matched Favre’s career LOW in interceptions. Rodgers has great targets in Greg Jennings (the next superstar WR), Donald Driver (reliable No. 2), and Ryan Grant in the backfield. Rodgers may not have the need to pass as often this year with an improved Green Bay defense, but he’ll still be just as efficient (if not more so) and will put up similar TD numbers.

 

Tony Gonzalez, TE, Falcons

 

Gonzo will be the same beast he was in KC, but with a better QB. (Photo courtesy of nflgoddess.com)

No off-season acquisition, not even Housh to Seattle or Haynesworth to Washington, will have the impact that Tony Gonzalez to the Falcons will have. In 2008, Gonzo managed over 1,000 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns and had nearly 100 receptions. Did I mention that was all while playing for a team that used a combination of Tyler Thigpen and Brodie Croyle at quarterback? Now Gonzalez is with the Falcons, a team chock full of play makers and a young dynamo at QB. If you’re in a keeper league, Gonzalez’s age may be a bit of a concern (he’s 33). But in one year leagues, you can’t do much better at the tight end position than this guy. He’s always been a top 5 TE, and his move to the ATL only increases his stock.

 

Steve Slaton, RB, Texans

 

Slaton could be a top 5 RB by year's end, or higher. (Photo courtesy of Sports Illustrated)

Take a look back at the 2008 draft, and tell me which rookie RB led the league in rushing. Forte? Nope. McFadden? Not even close. Chris Johnson? Good guess, but you’d be wrong. It was Steve Slaton, the kid from West Virginia who, in the early summer of ‘08, was looking like he’d be third on the depth chart behind Ahman Green and Chris Brown. However, an early season injury to Green opened the door for Slaton, and all he did was rush for nearly 1,300 yards and 9 touchdowns. The stat line doesn’t end there for Slaton. He’s also a receiving threat, catching 50 balls for 377 yards. Now as the featured back going into the season, Slaton is sure to be a key part of an offense featuring Andre Johnson at WR. Look for Slaton to close in on 1,700 yards and possibly 14-16 touchdowns. Don’t be scared to grab him in the first round.

 

Dwayne Bowe, WR, Chiefs

 

Bowe will benefit from a new QB and the departure of Tony Gonzalez. (Photo courtesy of fanhouse.com)

It’s not often I say that Matt Cassel improves someone’s fantasy projections (in fact, this will probably be the only time). However, such is the case with Chiefs’ WR Dwayne Bowe. Last year, catching from the same QB carousel that Tony Gonzalez dealt with, Bowe managed 86 catches and over 1,000 yards receiving. Todd Haley comes to KC as the new coach, and we all know what he did running the Cardinal’s offense last year. Bowe has enough capable receivers around him to where he’s not forced to carry the workload, but he can expect to be the main target. Combine that with Cassel’s impressive stint as a starter for the Patriots last year, and you have perhaps the perfect storm. Bowe is worthy of being the first WR you take in the draft.

 

Jason Witten, TE, Cowboys

 

Sign him up: Witten is ready to be your dynasty TE superstar. (Photo courtesy of tristarproductions.com)

If the team chemistry in Dallas doesn’t improve with the departure of Terrell Owens, one thing’s for sure: Witten’s production is bound to increase big time. Last year, Antonio Gates was the only TE in the league targeted more times than Witten. Now with the largely disappointing Roy Williams as the only other recognizable receiving threat, expect the man crush Tony Romo has on his tight end to grow. Witten’s got great hands and is just as reliable in the red zone as anyone else in the league. It wouldn’t hurt to snatch him up even as early as late 3^rd round.

5 Players To Avoid On Draft Day

LaDanian Tomlinson, RB, Chargers

 

Is LT's career as a fantasy must-have over?

Okay, don’t get me wrong. I like LT. He’s been as dominant a fantasy RB as we’ve ever seen. But looking at the numbers across the board (we tend to do that), LT is just SOOOO 2006. In fact, Tomlinson had more rushing touchdowns in ‘06 than he has the past two seasons combined. Now 30 years old, injuries not withstanding, LT has more to prove this year than ever before, at least in terms of fantasy. A younger (and speedier) Darren Sproles saw an increase in his workload last season with injuries to LT, and we expect to see Sproles play an even bigger role in this year’s offense. Combine that with the strong passing game of Rivers and talented receivers, LT will have even fewer opportunities to make an impact. If he’s still dangling in the late second- early third rounds, don’t hesitate to grab him. But he’s not a first round talent anymore. Let someone else in your league deal with the week-to-week frustrations of wondering if LT will play or not that Sunday.

 

Eli Manning, QB, NY Giants

 

Eli- the wrong Manning to have. (picture courtesy of Silent Archimedes)

Nobody in the Giants organization needed Plaxico Burress to remain on the team more than his QB Eli Manning. He was Eli’s crutch for a big stretch of last season (and all of seasons before), and without that big target, Manning flounders. Once Burress was gone last season (Nov. 30 was his last game), Manning failed to throw 200 yards in their last 4 games, and only threw 2 touchdowns during that time. He’ll go into the 2009 season with Steve Smith as his #1 wideout (no, not THAT Steve Smith). There are some talented rookie receivers on the squad, but the bulk of offense for the Giants will come from running back Brandon Jacobs. Passing will be an after thought for Manning this year. He should be a first-string QB in only the deepest of leagues. More so, he’s a serviceable bye week fill-in.

 

Joseph Addai, RB, Colts

 

Addai is no longer the lead Colt. (Photo courtesy of Sporting News)

Owners of Addai last year were sorely disappointed in their high expectations of the Colts feature back. Nagging injuries killed production, and Addai ended with only 5 touchdowns and 544 yards. His yards per carry average trended down for the second straight year, causing further concern for fantasy owners. Then, if the stats in injuries weren’t enough, the decision to draft U of Connecticut RB Donald Brown in the first round helped to hammer the nail in the “Addai as the main guy” coffin. Addai may still get some goal line carries, but this team is destined for a dual RB backfield, with the new guy getting the bigger chunk of work. Leave Addai on the board for someone else to be disappointed by.

 

Torry Holt, WR, Jaguars

 

Torry Holt's best days are behind him. (photo courtesy of Rock The Wrist Band @ blogspot)

Remember the glory days of “the greatest show on turf”? Well, that was back when Holt was young and played on carpet with a gunslinger for a QB. Those days are long gone, as Holt now finds himself in sunny Jacksonville, running routes for David Garrard. A quick glance at Garrard’s numbers would cause you to think that the Jags are now running a pass-happy offense. Reality is, however, that with an offensive line that is completely healthy and Maurice Jones-Drew finally being relied on as the featured back, the passing game won’t resonate as it did (or had to) last year. Holt is still likely the featured receiver for the Jags, simply because there’s not much else to choose from. But questions about his durability and how many opportunities he gets will surround him. Don’t grab him earlier than the 6^th round, and when you do, don’t expect too much.

 

__________, RB, Patriots

 

It's no coincidence Maroney rhymes with phony. (Photo courtesy of projo.com)

If you’ve owned a RB from the New England Patriots at any point in the past 3 years, let’s now take a moment of silence for all the wasted roster spots…..

 

Feel better? Good. Now heed this advice: the only Patriots NOT worth drafting are those in the backfield. Sure, you can get Laurence Maroney at a bargain, b ut why risk it? Obviously the Pats don’t have faith in him since they brought in Fred Taylor to help out. Throw Sammy Morris and Kevin Faulk in the mix, and it’s a true fantasy football roulette: you can take a gamble on any of the guys, but chances are you’ll lose. Why risk it?