TUESDAY (FOOTBALL) TALK
[Thursday Edition]
What's up Mock?
Okay, we'll call this my first rant of 2009, but what is up with all of these NFL mock drafts. Like everyone else, I am certainly interested in knowing who's going to be drafted and where this year's prospects will land, but I also know everyday things keep changing.
I can't imagine anyone's mock draft remaining the same from today to draft day and actually I think I would be more interested at this point in seeing how many times everyone's mock draft will change.
With the current storylines floating around the NFL, it seems it would be very difficult to speculate what any NFL team is going to do come draft day. Certainly its easy enough to identify team's current needs, but until some of these hot stories cool and we actually get closer to the draft, it all seems a guessing game to me.
I've seen some sites pick Matthew Stafford as the overall number one and some others have linebacker Aaron Curry. There is even a few projecting offensive tackle Jason Smith as the overall number one, but until draft day it seems this is all a crap shoot and we shouldn't get too caught up in all the mocking.
I'm just wondering with all the Cutler trade talks seeming to quiet down some, how will that change this years class of strong arms? Will prospects like Stafford, Freeman, or Sanchez fall or rise as a result? Your guess is as good as mine (probably better).
Fantasy Watch....
We may still have lots of time to consider who will be most relevant come fantasy draft time, but it's never too early to starting watching certain players and how their current situations could change impacting their upcoming season. Such a change could be taking place in San Diego. We all the controversy put to rest with surrounding the re-signing of running back LaDanian Tomlinson, fantasy owners will now have to wonder what to make of back up Darren Sproles. Head coach Norv Turner has already made it public the teams intent to give LT more work in 2009, so what does that mean for Sproles?Most likely not much more than what owners saw from him on 2008. A healthy LT may only mean the team will be more focused on the ground game, giving Sproles a fair share of the running game load. Despite picking up a few extra touches per game the Chargers back-up runner is not likely to see a heavy load of work at any time this coming season making him nothing more that a deep RB3 or once again a great insurance policy for LT owners.
We may still have lots of time to consider who will be most relevant come fantasy draft time, but it's never too early to starting watching certain players and how their current situations could change impacting their upcoming season. Such a change could be taking place in San Diego. We all the controversy put to rest with surrounding the re-signing of running back LaDanian Tomlinson, fantasy owners will now have to wonder what to make of back up Darren Sproles. Head coach Norv Turner has already made it public the teams intent to give LT more work in 2009, so what does that mean for Sproles?Most likely not much more than what owners saw from him on 2008. A healthy LT may only mean the team will be more focused on the ground game, giving Sproles a fair share of the running game load. Despite picking up a few extra touches per game the Chargers back-up runner is not likely to see a heavy load of work at any time this coming season making him nothing more that a deep RB3 or once again a great insurance policy for LT owners.
(Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
Last season was probably not the kind of year that wide receiver Marques Colston had hope to have following his breakout campaign in 2007. Colston started only six games in 2008 and was slowed up much by injuries limiting his receiving totals to just 47 receptions and 760-yards. With his new side-kick Lance Moore emerging as a big time pass catcher, a healthy Colston in 2009 can only mean a big season for fantasy owners. Owners will want to watch how Moore and Colston gel together with Brees in the mini-camps. Last season Colston was likely hyped up to be a top-10, owners should not be fooled by his 2008 numbers. He's still the big-man on campus and should be a big play in 2009.
Kansas City has seen a lot of change thus far in the offseason, with quarterback Matt Cassel and wide receiver Bobby Engram joining the team, the offense has the look of being productive in 2009. With their talented group assembled on the field, Cassel, Gonzalez, and Bowe, a forgotten name in the mix could be wide receiver Mark Bradley. New head coach Todd Haley has said he has much confidence in Bradley as the team's other receiver, opposite Bowe. Since his draft day into the league Bradley has remained pretty much irrelevant finishing with just 30 catches in 2008 (career best. With a capable quarterback in a shot-gun heavy system the 5th year receiver and former Oklahoma Sooner could flourish into a 60-70 catch wideout. Owners will want to keep an eye on this kid through the mini-camps and into summer, if he hangs onto the starting gig he could wind up being a possible mid-to-late round steal in fantasy drafts.
Kansas City has seen a lot of change thus far in the offseason, with quarterback Matt Cassel and wide receiver Bobby Engram joining the team, the offense has the look of being productive in 2009. With their talented group assembled on the field, Cassel, Gonzalez, and Bowe, a forgotten name in the mix could be wide receiver Mark Bradley. New head coach Todd Haley has said he has much confidence in Bradley as the team's other receiver, opposite Bowe. Since his draft day into the league Bradley has remained pretty much irrelevant finishing with just 30 catches in 2008 (career best. With a capable quarterback in a shot-gun heavy system the 5th year receiver and former Oklahoma Sooner could flourish into a 60-70 catch wideout. Owners will want to keep an eye on this kid through the mini-camps and into summer, if he hangs onto the starting gig he could wind up being a possible mid-to-late round steal in fantasy drafts.
(Photo by Robert Beck/SI)
Check back every Wednesday for more football at "The Watercooler!"
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