Gridiron Experts

Fantasy Football Rankings – Post NFL Draft-DC

Stock Rising 

Maurice Jones-Drew – After losing veteran Fred Taylor to the Patriots in free agency, the power running game in Jacksonville looked bleak. The O-line was in shambles, putting even more pressure on April’s NFL draft class, but the Jags struck gold drafting two offensive linemen on day one (Eugene Monroe & Eben Britton), both of whom were steals. Teamed up with seasoned veteran Tra Thomas who was signed in free agency, the Jaguars have rebuilt their offensive unit. This new line will create time in the passing game and holes in the running game, making Jones-Drew our first must have fantasy player of 2009. We’re not saying Jones-Drew is a top 5 pick, but I wouldn’t be pissed off getting him in the bottom of the first round.
Sleeper: RB Rashad Jennings – A late round steal by the Jags that could help the running game by picking up those tough short yards. Jennings will not get the same amount of carries as Fred Taylor did, but at 6’1″, 230 lbs, he will definitely help move the chains.
Matt Forte – The Bears were ranked 21st in passing yards per game in ’08, and Forte still ran for 1238 yards and 8 TD’s. With the threat of Cutler burning DB’s that aren’t respecting the pass, the Bears should have a more balanced attack, keeping Forte high on many draft boards this season.

Roy Williams (DAL) – Receiver Roy Williams couldn’t learn on the fly with his new team last season, after being traded in week 7 from the Lions to the Cowboys. Williams killed fantasy owners, mainly due to wasting two weeks being on a bye (one with each team). Williams never looked comfortable in Dallas, almost frustrated at times by his surrounding players. The trade made no sense at the time, but now with T.O. out of the picture and a full training camp with Tony Romo, Roy Williams’ stock as a Cowboy should skyrocket.

Donovan McNabb - Unless McNabb creates problems with his contact negotiations he is in for a huge fantasy season. Andy Reid shocked everyone with the selection of Jeremy Maclin from Missouri in the first round. A gift from the sky the way we see it, as Maclin was a top ten pick, and will be used early and often despite the notion of needing time to learn the West Coast offense. DeSean Jackson is proof that rookies can crack the line-up, as his presence last year was a lifesaver for McNabb. Aside from Maclin, the Eagles also added a Westbrook-type running back in LeSean (Shady) McCoy from Pittsburgh, and also may have found a late round steal in TE Cornelius Ingram. McCoy should help allow the Eagles to continue to use RB’s in the passing game when Brain Westbrook is banged up or needs a breather on the sideline. The Eagles also had their offensive line rebuilt, giving McNabb more time to fire the ball. He will never be above fantasy quarterbacks like Brady, Brees, or Manning, but McNabb should move up most boards as a solid tier 2.
Sleeper: RB Shady McCoy – Westbrook owners need to handcuff themselves with this rookie as Westbrook is going to be 30 years old this year.

Tony Gonzalez – I know he’s no spring chicken, but Gonzalez has been a very reliable target playing on a terrible team for far too long. The Falcons should make Gonzalez a valuable fantasy tight end option. Quick trivia question: which of these Tight Ends had the best fantasy season in 08: Gates, Witten, Cooley, Dallas Clark, or Gonzalez? Give up…Tony Gonzalez hands down, gaining over a thousand yards and 10 TD’s.

Rookie RB’s Knowshon Moreno & Beanie Wells - Both of these talented backs should be high picks come fantasy football season. Moreno will be more of a yardage guy that could see the ball on a regular basis, while Beanie Wells will no doubt be a goal line monster, after the Cardinals burn the section of the play book that involved throwing the ball in tight around the goal line.

Stock Falling

Jay Cutler – The Orton/Cutler trade reminds me of that old movie “Trading Places” starring Eddie Murphy and Dan Ackroyd. The premise of the movie was that a bum off the street, given the right surroundings and opportunities, could thrive and become a success. Cutler is no doubt being stripped of his spoiled life, being sent to a team that will no doubt love him, but who are without any real receiving threats. Devin Hester will get better and better every year, but Brandon Marshall, Eddie Royal, and Tony Scheffler make a quarterback’s job way easier. Cutler will do great as far as getting the team into the playoffs, but he is no longer going to be a fantasy stud.

Joseph Addai - With new running back Donald Brown being drafted in the first round, Addai’s carries could be cut in half this season. Addai had his worst season as a Colt in ’08 with nagging injuries, hurting his fantasy numbers drastically.

LaDainian Tomlinson – As much as fantasy owners want LT to bounce back and be their number one running back again, I wouldn’t hold your breath. Darren Sproles signed a large deal to make the Chargers running game a more balanced attack, and with years of carries taking a toll on LT, his fantasy value is becoming a high risk.

Eli Manning – The Giants did their best trying to replace Plaxico Burress by drafting 1st rounder Hakeem Nicks from UNC, but a rookie can’t replace Plax’s presence. Before his troubled ’08 season, Burress racked up 3,227 yards and 29 touchdowns in 3 years as a Giant, not to mention catching the touchdown on that amazing drive in the Super Bowl. You can pretend like this team will find targets that will replace him…but you’d be fooling yourself. The fact of the matter is, no Plax equals no Eli fantasy star.

Wait & See

Braylon Edwards – The Browns can’t seem to trade Edwards, making him a huge fantasy question mark. By using two high draft picks on wide receivers, it’s clear his days are numbered in Cleveland, but the problem now is with the draft behind us the return value on Edwards might not be anything that the Browns can use this year. Meaning they might just keep him and hope there are takers like the Roy Williams trade last year. As for fantasy value, Edwards has very little while wearing the color brown.

Anquan Boldin - The Cardinals freed up some salary cap money recently, but a new deal with Boldin has yet to be done. This ongoing contract headache, even with a trip to the Super Bowl, is just plain insulting to the talented receiver. Is it still about money? Or have the bridges been burned?

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