About Fantasy Football

Torry Holt. I really really like Torry Holt in the 2008 fantasy football season. He may not be the number one receiver at the end of the year, but he will be one of the top 5 or 6.

Holt is a very consistent receiver. He plays hurt, he catches 90-100 balls every season, and will always give you 1000+ yards. His touchdown total slipped last year, but chalk that up to the terrible Rams offense. That won’t happen again this year.
The Rams have too many offensive weapons to repeat their 2007 output.

Holt is the clear cut number one in St. Louis, and Bulger should be healthy come 2008. That will help. Jackson should be healthy too. That may help even more. Look for the entire Rams offense to come out strong this year, and look for Holt to have a career year.

Holt’s value has slipped, and he will be one of the better value picks in the early rounds this year. He should be there in round 3, and may be there in round 4 or later. Draft him as a low end number one receiver, or top end number two and watch him exceed all expectations.

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Chad Johnson could be a decent value in the draft this year, although I consider him a bit of a gamble. There are enough question marks surrounding him that you could potentially pick him up in the third or fourth round of the draft.

He’s not terribly happy with the Bengals, but I can’t see them trading him. He is a game breaker, but is inconsistent from week to week. He always has the potential to put up 200 yards and a couple touchdowns any given week, but will also come out and have one catch for twelve yards. Very frustrating for a fantasy owner.

I like Johnson if he stays with the Bengals. They are a throwing team, he will get his catches, yards and touchdowns. There is some talk of him going to Washington. I don’t know if I like him as much there, and think his production falls off if he goes elsewhere.

He will put up good numbers in 2008, and is too good of a talent to pass on at a point. Where that point is, I’m not real certain. For me, I think it is late in round 3 or some point in round 4. He could slip, and could be a good value there. He will help you win a number of weeks, but will frustrate you others when he lays a goose egg. The potential is always there, just don’t expect the consistency that other top wide receivers bring to the table.

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Marques Colston is primed for a terrific fantasy football season in 2008. He had an awful slow start to 2007, but still finished with some great numbers. I don’t expect him to get off to the same slow start in 2008.

It’s a common train of thought that a wide receiver’s third year in the NFL is their breakout year. If that holds true for Colston, watch out. Not only is he in his third year, but he is in the final year of his contract. Third year wide receiver and a contract year, and he is already one of the best around.

In addition to his personal upside, the Saints are going to come out of the gate with a chip on their shoulder. After their turbulent 2007 season and the early offensive struggles, you can expect them to be ready this year. They went deep into the playoffs in 2006, were favorites to win the NFC in last years preseason polls, and then missed the playoffs. Maybe they had a false sense of security, they won’t this year.

Brees is a great quarterback, they should find some stability with their running back rotation, and Colston is the number one receiver for the team. I expect 100+ receptions, 1500 yards and a dozen or more touchdowns in the 2008 season Big numbers, with solid output each week. Colston is a stud wide receiver, start thinking about drafting him in the third round come draft day.

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Marion Barber is a great option at running back for the 2008 fantasy football season. Keep tabs on what the Cowboys do with their backfield, but I’m expecting Julius Jones to be gone. I also expect the Cowboys to select a RB in the draft. That’s ok, Barber will be the man in Dallas this year, which means good things for his numbers.

Barber runs behind a huge line, those guys are huge, and love to run block. Also, he has a dangerous air attack with TO, Whitten and Romo, making it tough for teams to stack the box. Finally, he’s an ace in the redzone, a regular touchdown machine.

If he winds up as the lone back in Dallas, watch out, he could put up huge numbers. Even if he is sharing carries, I expect him to tote the rock more in 2008 than in 2007. Put him down as a low end number one running back, top tier number two back. Either way, he is an asset to any fantasy team, and will give you a solid outing every week.

Take a look at Barber in the thrid round of the draft, he probably will not be there come round four. He has a lot of upside, especially if the Cowboys go with a single back set, and should be a rock solid anchor for you at running back.

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Smith has been suspended for the first two regular season games for his part in a training camp fight. He is still a number one WR, and will be a huge value pick with his value sliding on draft day. Make sure you have someone solid to fill in for the first two weeks, and feel good about being able to nab a fantasy stud in the 4th or 5th round!

Steve Smith should be a good value pick in the 2008 fantasy football draft. Last year he had an off year, but even in an off year, he racked up 1000 yards and just under 90 receptions.

Hopefully Delhomme stays healthy in 2008. With the addition of Muhsin Muhammad coming back to the Panthers and the prospect of his quarterback being back in the fold, you can expect big things from Smith in the upcoming fantasy football season.
You should be able to pick Smith up in the thrid round this year, and he may even slip further. I would take a long hard look at him if he is there when you pick come round 3.

He will be a number one receiver this year, and always has the potential to be a game breaker. He’s a fantasy stud, and this is the lowest his value has been in some time. Most receivers would be happy with 1000 yards, 87 catches and 7 touchdowns, Smith (and his 2007 owners) most certainly is not.

He will have a big year in 2008, and should be an excellent value on draft day. Don’t overlook him, he should be solid with some huge games that will win a couple weeks for you. Look for him in the thrid round, if he’s there in the fourth, grab him quick!

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Reggie Bush will have a solid 2008 fantasy football season. Mark my words. He’s a guy who may slide some in the draft, you may be able to pick him up in the 4th or 5th round. He’s a good value there. I have him ranked higher, due to a point per reception scoring system.

If you are in a point per reception league, Bush will be a solid #2 fantasy back, and could turn into a #1 if the Saints find their scoring ways again. I see him as a Brian Westbrook type of back, he will get 90 or so receptions, but with less carries. I read a lot of people writing Reggie off after last season, but you have to remember, the Saints were in disarray on offense, and they really were not using him properly.

Look for the Saints to come out gunning again this year. Bush will easily double his touchdown total from 2007, and could end up being the saints #1 receiver.

If you’re in a point per reception league, he’s a solid selection in the 3rd round. If you don’t get points per reception, I would wait until the end of the 4th, early in the 5th to take him.

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Maurice Jones-Drew presents an interesting choice. Where to take him in the 2008 fantasy football draft really depends on your scoring system. I like to play in point per reception leagues, and I have him ranked a bit higher than I would if no points were awarded for receptions.

You can count on Jones-Drew splitting time again with Fred Taylor. You can also count on the Jags using his athleticism as much as possible. They will have some new ways to get the ball into his hands this upcoming season, and of course, they will also pound the ball.

Jones-Drew is a guy who will get you some big games, but I don’t think he will put up the consistent numbers I would like to see out of my #1 running back. I like his upside, and if Taylor gets hurt, Jones-Drew could step in with some huge numbers. I know, if Taylor gets hurt, what are the odds of that? He made it through last season, we’ll see if he can do it again.

I’m really perplexed with Jones-Drew, I have him ranked right around the beginning of the third round, and I like him a lot as a player, but I don’t think he’s a guy I will draft this year. I really see him as a number 2 back, and it would take a certain set of circumstances, one of them being his falling from where I expect him to go, for me to pick him up.

Unless Taylor gets hurt in the preseason, I would leave Jones-Drew alone. I think he will go too early in most drafts, let someone else take the gamble, I don’t think it will pan out.

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T.J. Houshmandzadeh should pick up his 2008 fantasy football season right where his 2007 season ended. He is solid, works hard, plays for a team that will continue to throw and has a good supporting cast.

Houshmandzadeh has improved every year out, and in 2007, grabbed over 100 balls and found the end-zone a dozen times. Keep an eye on Chad Johnson, I expect him to be a Bengal next year, but if there is some movement on that front, it could impact T.J. I would not worry too much, however.

Take Houshmandzadeh as your #1 receiver and be comfortable in your choice. I have a feeling he will go a bit higher than I will want to take him this year, I think he will be a hot pick this year. If he’s around at the end of the second round, early on in the third, you’re doing pretty well.

He should have a solid 2008 season, and if you play in a point per reception league, even better.

He should have over 100 catches again this year, and should put up similar yardage and touchdown numbers as 2007.

E-H, Studs, WR | Comments Off

Larry Fitzgerald is a solid number one option at wide receiver in 2008. He will have some big games, and should put up consistent numbers throughout the fantasy season.
I do have some concerns with Fitzgerald, however, concerning his durability and his quarterback play. I’m not certain the Cardinals really have a quarterback, Matt will probably be the starter, but he has not shown a whole lot to this point. If they get committed to the run heavily, that could hurt Fitzgerald’s production as well. These are my concerns, and the only reasons I don’t have him ranked higher as a wide receiver.
I like Fitzgerald towards the end of the second round for point per reception leagues, a bit lower for non ppr leagues. I’m not really sold on his situation, especially if Leinart is throwing the ball to him, but he has too much talent not to post good numbers.

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Ronnie Brown averaged over 5 yards per carry in his short 2007 season. I have him ranked very high, and I like this guy a lot, especially in point per reception leagues. You could probably wait and pick him up late in the third round or sometime in the fourth.

As the season approaches, his stock could rise or fall a lot depending on what Miami decides to do in the backfield. They have a number of running backs, including Ricky Williams. Also, Brown was hurt in 2007, but is expected to make a full recovery. These are the question marks that will work themselves out as the season approaches, check back in, I will be keeping an eye on his situation and updating this outlook. I do expect Brown to start at this early point in time. He is the best runner they have right now, maybe their only real offensive weapon.

I have some concern he will share carries to an extent, but he did not have more than 23 carries in any one game last year. Brown is a guy I will target in the late 3rd/early 4th rounds this year, not because I think higher of some of the other running backs, but because I think he will slip in the draft. He has the potential to be a number one back, but will at least be a solid number two, with some outstanding games. Depending on where in the draft you can grab him, he should make you pretty happy in 2008.

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