Here is a quick breakdown of how the NFL Draft has affected the 2009 Fantasy forecast.
Donovan McNabb may be the drafts biggest winner!!
QB - Winners
·Kyle Orton, Broncos - The team showed me something by not drafting a QB, and let’s be serious, Chris Simms is not going to be the starting QB of the Broncos.
·David Garrard Jags – There has been talk since the season ended that Jax would be looking to go a different route at QB in 2009. But through all the trades, free agency, and draft, Garrard remains the starter. Not to mention Jax drafted arguably the best offensive tackle in the draft.
Eli Manning, Giants – I truly believe now that Plax and Shockey are gone Eli can get on with his career and become an elite fantasy QB. This is now Eli’s team and with the additions of Hakeem Nicks, Ramses Barden, and TE Travis Beckum it won’t be long till Eli is possibly pushing his big brother for fantasy supremacy.
Donovan McNabb, Eagles – Are you kidding me??? This team adds quite possibly the best left tackle in the NFL (Peters) and then goes out and drafts an absolute freak playmaker in Jeremy Maclin. This is exactly what was needed to rejuvenate a once fantasy stud!!
With Favre gone, the door was open for him to finally get a chance to start, then the trade for Mark Sanchez.
QB – Losers
·Browns Quarterbacks – Mangini loved Brett Ratliff in NY, now he trades the #5 pick for Ratliff and a bag of chips. Not sure if this spells the end for Quinn and Anderson, but if they keep all three, this could turn into a quarterbacking carousal.
·Kellen Clemens, Jets – Obvious!! Setup to start with the departure of Favre, and then Jets trade up to get Sanchez!
·Tampa Bay QBs - I’m going to tell everyone right now, Josh Freeman will be a bust!!!! Tampa Bay not only has no talent on the current roster, but now they waste their first round draft pick on the next JaMarcus Russell.
Pierre Thomas is setup for success in 09’
RB – Winners
Maurice Jones-Drew, Jax – As I mentioned with Garrard the team invested a very high draft pick in OT Eugene Monroe. This can only help the man that will take over the full time reigns in one of the best fantasy backfields. Dare I say #1 pick??
Ryan Grant, Packers – No hold out this year, and no real competition for the starting job. By not drafting anyone the team has showed me enough confidence in Grant to make him a possible big sleeper for 09.
Cedric Benson, Bengals – Plain and simple he is the man for the Bengals. They don’t have another warm body on the roster to speak of right now. With the return of Carson Palmer and the drafting of OT Andre Smith Benson might finally pan out.
Pierre Thomas, Saints – We all know Bush is the guy in New Orleans, but we all know Reggie’s track record of missing significant time every season. Thomas was absolutely a stud at the end of the 07 and 08 seasons, and with the Saints not acquiring another back this assures Pierre of more success to come.
Thomas Jones (Last years biggest offseason winner, could be this years biggest loser.)
RB – Losers
·Tim Hightower, Cards – He went from being the man, to being squarely in the middle of a RBBC. He should still be productive but limit your expectations.
·Thomas Jones, Jets – In the middle of possibly a very ugly hold-out, the Jets make a big power move in drafting 2008 Doak Walker award winner Shonn Greene. This should alleviate all leverage Jones may have had on the Jets and could possibly the spell the end of the line for Thomas.
Brian Westbrook, Eagles – As I mentioned with McNabb, this offense is evolving and BW is aging. He is still elite, but with drafting of LeSean McCoy they may reduce touches to assure BW a full healthy season. Don’t drop him too far just be aware that’s all.
Anquan Boldin dodge a trade for now making him a big fantasy draft day winner!
WR – Winners
Anquan Boldin – ARI Many people speculated Boldin would be moved during the draft. Teams like Tennessee and Philadelphia were on top of the list. Though we would not have mined seeing Boldin in an Eagles uniform we believe he will best produce in a Cardinals uniform.
Other than Boldin, there are no real big winners, but there are a few # 2-3 WR’s that were impacted positively.There are four teams that lost big time personnel but appear to be complacent with what they have left by not drafting any help. Those teams are:
·Miles Austin/Patrick Crayton/Sam Hurd, Cowboys – They drafted no one that I can see making an immediate impact. By default if things stay the same, oneor two of these guys will be productive in this gun-slinging offense.
·KC Chiefs – Assuming Bobby Engram takes the slot receiver job. The Chiefs will have Mark Bradley and Devard Darling battling it out for #2 job. With new coach Todd Haley and a Pro Bowl caliber QB in Cassel, the #2 could shine in this offense.
New York Jets – With the arrival of Mark Sanchez it shouldn’t be too long before the Jets are lighting up the scoreboard. Everyone knows Jerricho Cotchery is #1, but Chansi Stuckey, Brad Smith, and David Clowney will all have a chance at being #2
St. Louis Rams – The team has a solid QB, an elite RB, and an ever improving O-Line. Somebody on this team has to catch passes, and I think Donnie Avery, Keenan Burton and Laurent Robinson are a better WR corp. than you might think.
The Giants got help in the draft at WR...Too much for Hixon, Moss and Manningham to have any impact.
WR – Losers
New York Giants WR’s – Like I said with Manning they drafted 2 big WR’s and a very good receiving TE. With the likes of Smith, Hixon, Moss, and Manningham the Giants have way too many options for one guy to stand out and shine.
·Josh Morgan, 49ers – With the drafting of Crabtree and with Brandon Jones now in the fold. Josh Morgan can say “see ya” to his #1 WR status good-bye.
Sidney Rice, Vikings – I love the signing of Sage Rosenfels, and if there was a good time for Rice to shine it would be now. However, I have questions about Rice’s durability and quite frankly I question if Rice is in the long term plans of the Vikings. With the drafting of Percy Harvin one things for sure, there aren’t enough balls for Rice to have a break-out season.
Dustin Keller will be the main man in NY.
TE –Winners
·Dustin Keller, NY Jets – Keller’s last eight games last year I think were a sneak peek into the future for this young star. He had 35 rec’s 388 yrds and 1 TD, which translates to very impressive season. Now with the departure of Coles and the drafting of Sanchez the sky is the limit for the second year TE.
Vishante Shiancoe, Vikings - As I mentioned earlier Rosenfels and the Vikings may no longer be AP left and AP right. In fact I think this will be one of the most dynamic offenses in football. Shiancoe was really coming on last year with career highs in all categories, and appears the Vikings have full confidence in this kid by not acquiring anyone this off season.
Scheffler, will see his production fall.
TE – Losers
·Tony Scheffler, Broncos – 4 variables factor into this decision:
There has been a lot of talk about the Broncos moving Scheff
New head coach Josh McDainels doesn’t utilize the TE position in a fantasy football perspective. If Scheff stays in Denver it’s inevitable his numbers will suffer.
Although I like Kyle Orton, he is no Jay Cutler as far as pure passing ability
The drafting of 2nd round pick Richard Quinn
·Todd Heap, Ravens– I think the end is near for this once fantasy star. With the signing of LJ Smith, and the drafting of Davon Drew, it appears the Ravens have lost their patience with the oft-injured TE.
