5.
Derrick Ward - NY Giants to Tampa Bay: Tampa Bay sure was busy this off season adding Ward,
Byron Leftwich and
Kellen Winslow to their offense. While serving as
Brandon Jacobs backup last season in New York, Ward was still able to rush for over 1,000 yards and haul in 41 receptions. Those are pretty impressive numbers for a #2 RB. Ward's projections are diluted a bit since he will share carries this season with
Earnest Graham, but Ward should be the starter from day 1. If your draft strategy relies on drafting a RB, and then selecting WRs or a QB, Ward can fit in nicely as your #2 RB in the 4th/5th rounds
4.
Terrell Owens - Dallas to Buffalo: Owens is a physical specimen. There is no doubt about that fact. However, I can't get really excited about a 35 year old receiver leaving a top 10 passing team (8th most passing attempts) with
Tony Romo to a top 10 rushing team (9th most rushing attempts) with
Trent Edwards. He does have
Lee Evans opposite him which should prevent many double teams, and Buffalo does have a relatively good schedule vs. pass defenses this year. Owens will be a pretty good #2 WR on most teams this year with a top end stat line of 75 receptions, 1,200 yards, and 8-10 TDs. If you can draft Owens as your #3 WR, you will be in an even better situation.
3.
TJ Houshmandzadeh - Cincinnati to Seattle: Seattle might have been one of the worst injury riddled offenses last season with
Matt Hasselbeck,
Nate Burleson,
Deion Branch, and
Bobby Engram all missing time. Houshmandzadeh also lost his starting QB for much of last season, but was still able to reel in 92 receptions for 904 yards, and 4 TDs. The 4 TDs were a big disappointment for Houshmandzadeh owners after he caught 12 TDs the previous year. He should rebound with at least 8-10 TDs this season as he becomes Hasselbeck's #1 WR in a pass friendly West Coast offense. It also won't hurt to swap 4 games vs. Pittsburgh and Baltimore for 4 games vs. St Louis and San Francisco.
2.
Tony Gonzalez - Kansas City to Atlanta: I know of one Kansas City fan whose heart broke when she heard Gonzalez had been traded to Atlanta, and I am sure it was a wide spread thought among their fan base. Gonzalez has been one of the most consistent TEs over the years (averaged 82 receptions, 995 yards, 7 TDs over the past 10 years) and provides a great option for 2nd year QB
Matt Ryan. Gonzalez has admitted to struggling with the Atlanta playbook during camp, but I expect him to be ready for the season come September 13th. Look for this future Hall of Famer to finish as a top 5 TE once again this season.
1.
Jay Cutler - Denver to Chicago: In what was one of the biggest trades in recent memory, Chicago finally landed the franchise QB they have been wanting for decades. Cutler won't be slinging the ball as often as last year (616 attempts), but the Chicago offense isn't nearly as conservative as you would think (14th most passing attempts last year, 55% of plays). Cutler won't have quite the weapons he had in Denver, but
Matt Forte,
Greg Olsen,
Devin Hester and
Earl Bennett should provide enough support for Cutler. Will Cutler finish in the top 5 QB rankings like last year? Probably not, but I still see him as a low end #1 QB who you can wait on until the middle rounds of your draft to select.
5. Derrick Ward - NY Giants to Tampa Bay: Tampa Bay sure was busy this off season adding Ward, Byron Leftwich and Kellen Winslow to their offense. While serving as Brandon Jacobs backup last season in New York, Ward was still able to rush for over 1,000 yards and haul in 41 receptions. Those are pretty impressive numbers for a #2 RB. Ward's projections are diluted a bit since he will share carries this season with Earnest Graham, but Ward should be the starter from day 1. If your draft strategy relies on drafting a RB, and then selecting WRs or a QB, Ward can fit in nicely as your #2 RB in the 4th/5th rounds
4. Terrell Owens - Dallas to Buffalo: Owens is a physical specimen. There is no doubt about that fact. However, I can't get really excited about a 35 year old receiver leaving a top 10 passing team (8th most passing attempts) with Tony Romo to a top 10 rushing team (9th most rushing attempts) with Trent Edwards. He does have Lee Evans opposite him which should prevent many double teams, and Buffalo does have a relatively good schedule vs. pass defenses this year. Owens will be a pretty good #2 WR on most teams this year with a top end stat line of 75 receptions, 1,200 yards, and 8-10 TDs. If you can draft Owens as your #3 WR, you will be in an even better situation.
3. TJ Houshmandzadeh - Cincinnati to Seattle: Seattle might have been one of the worst injury riddled offenses last season with Matt Hasselbeck, Nate Burleson, Deion Branch, and Bobby Engram all missing time. Houshmandzadeh also lost his starting QB for much of last season, but was still able to reel in 92 receptions for 904 yards, and 4 TDs. The 4 TDs were a big disappointment for Houshmandzadeh owners after he caught 12 TDs the previous year. He should rebound with at least 8-10 TDs this season as he becomes Hasselbeck's #1 WR in a pass friendly West Coast offense. It also won't hurt to swap 4 games vs. Pittsburgh and Baltimore for 4 games vs. St Louis and San Francisco.
2. Tony Gonzalez - Kansas City to Atlanta: I know of one Kansas City fan whose heart broke when she heard Gonzalez had been traded to Atlanta, and I am sure it was a wide spread thought among their fan base. Gonzalez has been one of the most consistent TEs over the years (averaged 82 receptions, 995 yards, 7 TDs over the past 10 years) and provides a great option for 2nd year QB Matt Ryan. Gonzalez has admitted to struggling with the Atlanta playbook during camp, but I expect him to be ready for the season come September 13th. Look for this future Hall of Famer to finish as a top 5 TE once again this season.
1. Jay Cutler - Denver to Chicago: In what was one of the biggest trades in recent memory, Chicago finally landed the franchise QB they have been wanting for decades. Cutler won't be slinging the ball as often as last year (616 attempts), but the Chicago offense isn't nearly as conservative as you would think (14th most passing attempts last year, 55% of plays). Cutler won't have quite the weapons he had in Denver, but Matt Forte, Greg Olsen, Devin Hester and Earl Bennett should provide enough support for Cutler. Will Cutler finish in the top 5 QB rankings like last year? Probably not, but I still see him as a low end #1 QB who you can wait on until the middle rounds of your draft to select.
Great stuff, Steve - keep it coming!
ReplyDelete