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by: James Brady
Training camps are getting ready to go full-force and so are
we at FFLPros.com. As usual, there are a lot of questions surrounding the coming
season. Here are few that popped into my head and probably other fantasy
football owners. The answers to these questions could (most-likely) change through the
pre-season, but here's my best guess right now to these these burning (OK, not really) issues in fantasy football.
1. What's up with Priest Holmes?
Priest seems to be coming back from the hip injury, but he could play
hardball with the Chiefs about more money. The KC ownership is in a real
bind, but if Holmes is healthy, they will pony up the money for the guy that has
gone for 3170 yards (29 touchdowns) in the last two years. Look for
Holmes to possibly lose a few carries to rookie Larry Johnson during the season to keep
him healthy down the stretch.
2. Can Kordell Stewart be considered a fantasy sleeper with
the Bears?
This guy is a real enigma throwing just 48 touchdowns in his last five
seasons. He was never a real fantasy stud, but
his ability to score on the ground is a real bonus to performance-league owners. Having Marty
Booker
at wide receiver will help the cause, but there isn't much else available as a
downfield target. Even with all this going for him,
Kordell should be no better than middle of the road.
3. Will the Arizona Cardinals score any offensive
touchdowns this year?
This is a real toss-up. Jeff Blake was brought in to play
quarterback, but the Cardinals management let David Boston slip away. That
leaves Blake with a cast of no-names to catch the ball downfield. The
addition of Emmitt Smith was a nice publicity move, but Marcel Shipp has to be
pissed after signing a big contract and accumulating over 1200 yards total
offense last season. I can't see more than 24 offensive TD's all year for Arizona.
4. What's the deal with Tim Couch and Kelly Holcomb?
Butch Davis has played this one close to the vest, but lately he has
softened on his stance and has said Couch would have to lose the starting job.
The Browns offense should be decent this year, so it might not be a bad idea to
handcuff these two together for the season. Either one should garner
decent fantasy points.
5. Is Michael Vick the super-stud everyone thinks he is?
Don't get carried away just yet people. Vick will be dynamic and he
will leave a highlight reel for the year, but he also needs to use both sides
of the field when throwing the ball. The addition of Peerless Price is
fascinating and should help the rest of the mediocre corps
downfield. Vick will be better, but it could be an up-and-down season
with very solid numbers ta the end.
6. Why is everyone so high on the Seahawks this year?
Every year the fantasy football website community feeds a hot team down
our throats every year, this time its the Seahawks. Maybe Seattle will be
good or even great, but there have been too many ups and downs in recent history to think that
the 'Hawks will all of a sudden turn into the new Old Rams. Matt Hasslebeck has shown some signs of life
but he still only threw 15 touchdowns last year.
Shaun Alexander and Maurice Morris make a solid tandem at running back so the ingredients
are there, but lets wait and see how the pre-season shakes out first.
Don't load up just yet on the Seahawks.
7. Can the St. Louis Rams return to the high-flyers they once
were?
There is a better chance of the Rams returning to glory, than there is of
Jake Plummer being a Pro Bowler. Healthy is the key word in St. Louis
right now. Kurt Warner is determined to return to form, Marshall Faulk
seems to be healthy and the receivers are all back now that Torry Holt signed a
new deal. They may not be the Rams of old, but they'll still be pretty
good.
8. Is Ricky Williams really the Superman of fantasy football?
I find it difficult to believe that Williams can improve on his 1853 yards
and 16 touchdowns, but it's possible. Williams could end up with 400
carries this year and the addition of Brian Griese (when he eventually starts) could help
keep the defense a little more honest at the line. If Williams becomes a
bigger part of the receiving game, 20-23 touchdowns is not out of the question.
9. Come on, Jake Plummer in Denver, you're kidding, right?
Jake "The Fake" Plummer ended up in Arizona thanks to a great
performance in the Rose Bowl years ago. He's never amounted to much of
anything in the fantasy football world or even the world of the NFL. How can anyone in their right mind
think this guy is the answer for the Broncos? I feel for Rod Smith and Ed
McCaffrey owners this year, it could be a long season.
10. What's the word on Stephen Davis in Carolina?
Early indications are that Davis is physically ready to go and that the
Panthers are going to ride this horse until they can't ride him anymore.
Leading into last season, Davis had run for 4155 yards and 33 touchdowns.
The TD numbers have decreased every year since getting 17 scores in 1999.
The Panthers are going to be a run first team this year with no real threat at
QB. Davis shouldn't be at the top of your draft list, but when it comes
time for your second or third back, remember his name.
11. Who will start at RB for the Buccaneers this year?
The plan is for Michael Pittman to return as the featured back after nearly
1200 yard total offense last season. the problem though, was scoring only one
touchdown and a paltry 3.5 yards per carry. Pittman's leagl troubles are
well known, and that's why the Bucs front office got Thomas Jones from the
Cardinals. Mike Alstott is still the man at the goal line, but Jones could
sneak into the starting backfield before it's all said and done.
12. How will the Cowboys offense react under the Tuna?
Don't expect much to change from being 31st in the NFL in scoring last year
with only 13.6 point per game being scored by the Cowboys. Dallas only had
21 offensive scores all year long and the prospects are much better this year
with two unproven QB's and Troy Hambrick as the starting RB. Look for lots
of changes as we get closer to the start of the season.
13. What happens in Tennessee if Eddie George gets hurt?
George continues to run himself out there every year starting 112 straight
games dating back to his rookie season with the Houston Oliers. The signs
of wear-and-tear are there though as the average per carry hit just 3.4 yards
per rush. What is surprising though is that the former Buckeye still rang up 14
touchdowns (12 rushing, 2 receiving) despite slowing down. If George goes
down, the next in line is John Simon. Our thought's exactly, the Titans
are screwed.
14. Can Brett Favre do it again for another year?
He'll do it again, but it may not be the best out there for fantasy owners.
No one can doubt his toughness, but the numbers have started to dwindle.
Favre's yardage (3658) dropped to his lowest total since ) and the
TD's fell off to 27 after 32 the year before. The Packer's receivers were
in limbo most of the year, so another season with the same core group will help.
This could be his swansong, so don't put anything past this guy. Look for
a return to nearly 3900 yards passing and 27 or more TD's this year.
15. Which rookies might be worth grabbing this year?
Ah, the age old fantasy football question surfaces again. Rookies
are usually over-rated coming into an NFL season. Ashlie Lelie was thought
to be a great matchup opposite Rod Smith, but where did he go last year,
nowhere. There are three guys that intrigue me this year and they are Charlie
Rogers (DET), Andre Johnson (HOU) and Larry Johnson (KC). Each of the
receivers is hooked up with an equally young quarterback which could produce
some nice chemistry. Six touchdowns for each guys might not be out of the
question. Johnson could be a goal line type of back, making him a nice
vulture pick with Holmes still nursing a tender hip.
16. Will the Raiders repeat their offensive juggernaut this
year?
After averaging just under 3700 yard passing in the last three
seasons, Rich Gannon went off the charts last year with 4689 yards passing and
26 touchdowns. I think the old man in Silver and Black will get the job
done again. His yardage may have skyrocketed, but the touchdown totals
have remained consistent with 28, 27 and 26 in the last three years. The
emergence of Jerry Porter makes for a nasty threesome with Tim Brown and the
ageless Jerry Rice. Look for more big numbers from the Raiders.
17. Which Edgerrin James will we see this year?
I like the James of a couple years ago to reappear this season. His
knee injury was a nasty one and you just don't come back the next season and
play at a high level. I think Edge could easily go for 1200 and 16
touchdowns this season.
18. Is Patrick Ramsey the answer for the Redskins at QB?
Sorry, but the answer to this one is that we'll have to wait and see.
The Redskins have been confusing at best with Steve Spurrier running the show in
a very haphazard manner. We would like to think that Ramsey will be given
every opportunity to get the job done, but he could just as easily get benched
three weeks into the season. Hang on when selecting Redskins this year.
19. How long until Carson Palmers starts for the Bengals?
There is no way Jon Kitna starts every game this year, especially if the
Bengals get off to another lousy start. I think Palmer takes the reins for
the Bungels in Week 7 after Cincy has it's bye week.
20. Who is going to get the majority of carries for the
Steelers?
Can you smell the Running-Back-By-Committee? Jerome Bettis isn't
the full-time answer for the Steelers anymore, so expect to see tons of Amos
Zereoue this season in thefield. Sorry guys, no more riding "The
Bus" for double-digit scores anymore.
If you have any questions of your own, submit them to
FFLPros and we'll get back to
you as soon as we can. If they are good enough, we'll even add them to our
next version of 20 questions.
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