| Year |
Team |
Gms |
Plays |
Targets |
Catch |
Catch
Yards |
YPC |
Catch
TDs |
Rush
# |
Rush
Yards |
Rush
TDs |
100 Yard
Gms |
1 TD
Gms |
| 2003 |
DEN |
16 |
87 |
79 |
37 |
628 |
17.0 |
2 |
|
|
|
2 |
2 |
| 2004 |
DEN |
16 |
109 |
106 |
54 |
1084 |
20.1 |
7 |
|
|
|
1 |
7 |
| 2005 |
DEN |
16 |
97 |
92 |
42 |
770 |
18.3 |
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
1 |
| |
AVG |
16 |
98 |
92 |
44 |
827 |
18.7 |
3 |
|
|
|
1 |
3 |
| Age: 26 Years Played: 4 Height: 6'3" Weight: 200 |
|
Background: Lelie, an honor roll student, lettered two years each in football, basketball and track at Radford High School in Honolulu, earning all-state and all-district in football, all-district in basketball and an all-league selection in track.
Lelie finished his career at the University of Hawaii as the school’s leader in receiving yards (3,341), touchdowns (32) and receptions (194) while averaging a gaudy 17.2 yards per catch. He was selected as first team All-Western Athletic Conference as a junior in 2001, his last season as a collegian, breaking the WAC single season records for touchdowns (19) and receiving yards (1,713) while tying the WAC record for 200 yard receiving games in a season with three. He also ranked first in the conference and second in the nation in yards per game (142.8 avg.).
The Broncos, desperately searching for a vertical threat to play opposite of veteran Rod Smith, took Lelie in the first round (19th overall) of the 2002 Draft and despite only starting once, he played in all 16 games of his rookie year, compiling 35 catches for 525 yards and two touchdowns while rushing four times for 40 yards (10.0 avg.). The former (U of H) Warrior established himself immediately as the advertised vertical threat, leading the Broncos in yards per catch with a 15.0 average while his 35 receptions were the most by a Denver rookie since Terrell Davis in 1995 (49 catches).
Lelie’s second year appeared as if he was stuck in neutral, his numbers being almost identical to the prior season, 37 catches for 628 yards and two touchdowns with a slightly higher yards per catch (17.0).
The mythical third year for wide receivers was kind to the 6-3, 200 pound speedster as he led the NFL in yards per reception with a 20.1 avg., the highest franchise total in 17 years and fifth best all-time, while starting all 16 contests for the Broncos in 2004. He eclipsed the 1000 yard receiving mark for the first time in his career (1,084) on 54 receptions and all seven of his touchdowns went for 30 yards or longer (38, 37, 40, 35, 31, 39 and 33), leading the NFL in that statistic.
The fifth year wide out failed to sustain the positive momentum of ’04 in 2005, seeing his numbers recede in all three categories to 42 grabs for 770 yards and a Keyshawn-like one touchdown, frustrating and befuddling fantasy owners who thought they had caught a rising star after his impressive 2004 campaign.
What’s new for 2006: Like Plummer and the rest of the Denver offense, the return of Assistant Head Coach Mike Heimerdinger to the Broncos coaching staff will energize the Broncos passing game, particularly on the receivers, a position that Heimerdinger has specialized in over his lengthy career. Rod Smith turns 36 years old in 2006 and the burden of carrying this pass offense should shift to the able, young legs of Lelie, provided he can demonstrate the consistency necessary to take on the responsibility.
The necessary elements are in place for the former Hawaii star to become a standout scorer this season, approaching 10+ scores and 1,200 yards.
| 2005 |
2004 |
2003 |
| Wk |
Opp |
Tar |
C# |
CYD |
CTD |
| 1 |
@MIA |
14 |
2 |
17 |
|
| 2 |
SD |
10 |
6 |
62 |
|
| 3 |
KC |
3 |
1 |
16 |
|
| 4 |
@JAX |
4 |
1 |
13 |
|
| 5 |
WAS |
7 |
1 |
5 |
1 |
| 6 |
NE |
4 |
3 |
81 |
|
| 7 |
@NYG |
6 |
5 |
64 |
|
| 8 |
PHI |
6 |
3 |
81 |
|
| 10 |
@OAK |
4 |
3 |
76 |
|
| 11 |
NYJ |
6 |
4 |
81 |
|
| 12 |
@DAL |
4 |
|
|
|
| 13 |
@KC |
5 |
2 |
63 |
|
| 14 |
BAL |
3 |
2 |
42 |
|
| 15 |
@BUF |
4 |
1 |
40 |
|
| 16 |
OAK |
7 |
6 |
110 |
|
| 17 |
@SD |
5 |
2 |
19 |
|
|
| Wk |
Opp |
Tar |
C# |
CYD |
CTD |
| 1 |
KC |
5 |
4 |
88 |
|
| 2 |
@JAX |
7 |
3 |
53 |
|
| 3 |
SD |
9 |
4 |
67 |
1 |
| 4 |
@TB |
7 |
1 |
3 |
|
| 5 |
CAR |
5 |
2 |
52 |
1 |
| 6 |
@OAK |
3 |
2 |
45 |
1 |
| 7 |
@CIN |
11 |
6 |
82 |
|
| 8 |
ATL |
12 |
6 |
94 |
1 |
| 9 |
HOU |
7 |
4 |
81 |
1 |
| 11 |
@NO |
6 |
3 |
79 |
1 |
| 12 |
OAK |
4 |
4 |
80 |
|
| 13 |
@SD |
9 |
4 |
105 |
|
| 14 |
MIA |
4 |
2 |
60 |
|
| 15 |
@KC |
8 |
3 |
37 |
|
| 16 |
@TEN |
3 |
3 |
88 |
|
| 17 |
IND |
6 |
3 |
70 |
1 |
|
| Wk |
Opp |
Tar |
C# |
CYD |
CTD |
| 1 |
@CIN |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
| 2 |
@SD |
3 |
2 |
45 |
|
| 3 |
OAK |
3 |
3 |
108 |
1 |
| 4 |
DET |
7 |
4 |
76 |
1 |
| 5 |
@KC |
9 |
3 |
36 |
|
| 6 |
PIT |
3 |
1 |
5 |
|
| 7 |
@MIN |
8 |
3 |
43 |
|
| 8 |
@BAL |
9 |
3 |
28 |
|
| 9 |
NE |
7 |
3 |
22 |
|
| 11 |
SD |
4 |
2 |
57 |
|
| 12 |
CHI |
5 |
1 |
2 |
|
| 13 |
@OAK |
|
|
|
|
| 14 |
KC |
4 |
1 |
7 |
|
| 15 |
CLE |
6 |
4 |
71 |
|
| 16 |
@IND |
5 |
5 |
115 |
|
| 17 |
@GB |
4 |
2 |
13 |
|
|
Recent Priority News
| 08/17/09
|
| CBSSports.com reports the Kansas City Chiefs have signed free-agent WR Ashley Lelie. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Lelie is expected to practice Monday, Aug. 17. |
Huddle Up: The Chiefs cut Jeff Webb to make room for Lelie, who had a nice 2004 with Denver and has four touchdown catches since.
|
| 12/21/08
|
| The Associated Press reports the Oakland Raiders have placed WR Ashley Lelie (calf) on season-ending Injured Reserve. |
Huddle Up: Once again Lelie has had his season end with an NFL team without playing up to his full potential. He has always been widely considered a receiver with tons of upside but it is becoming clear that his opportunities may be getting short in light of his continued struggles to stay healthy on the field.
|
| 10/17/08
|
| ANG Newspapers reports Oakland Raiders head coach Tom Cable would not rule out WR Ashley Lelie as a starting option for the team. |
Huddle Up: Javon Walker and Ronald Curry have done little to warrant holding onto their jobs, so it wouldn't be at all surprising if the new coach did a little reshuffling if only to assert himself as the new sheriff in town. From a fantasy perspective, however, the Raiders passing game hasn't shown it has much to offer regardless of who's in the mix.
|
| 10/13/08
|
| ANG Newspapers reports Oakland Raiders WR Ashley Lelie did not finish the team's Week 6 game with an unspecified injury. |
Huddle Up: The way the Raiders played on Sunday you'd think much of the team failed to finish the game. Lelie is such a bit player in Oakland's afterthought of a passing game that this news barely moves the needle on the fantasy meter.
|
| 09/06/08
|
| ANG Newspapers reports Oakland Raiders head coach Lane Kiffin has been impressed with how quickly WR Ashley Lelie has picked up the team's offense. He sounded like he would be more comfortable having Lelie suit up for the game than WRs Todd Watkins or Chaz Schilens. |
Huddle Up: While it would be shocking if Lelie was drafted in any fantasy league, this could provide some sleeper activity in week one at least, though at this point it is unlikely.
|
| 09/02/08
|
| The Oakland Tribune reports that the Raiders have agreed to terms on a one-year contract with WR Ashley Lelie. Lelie's acquisition comes as the Raiders begin preparation for Denver, giving Oakland two receivers - Javon Walker and Lelie - with knowledge of how Denver operates. HC Lane Kiffin has preferred to carry five receivers, so either Todd Watkins or Chaz Schilens could be the odd man out. |
Huddle Up: And the fantasy world lets out a collective, yaaaaaaaaawwwwn.
|
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