FANTASY FOOTBALL PRE-SEASON FEATURES

After setting a record with his ten catch, 217 yard opening performance against the Lions, Boldin never exceeded 123 yards again but maintained very impressive numbers for a rookie on a bad team. Not even the first rookie receiver taken by his own team, Boldin showed true talent in all facets of the game. In his favor, he received more passes (168) than all but Moss and Holt. His 101 catches also ranks third in the league last season for receivers. Encouraging was that he improved as the season continued; catching six scores in the final nine games with four 100 yard performances. This season Boldin has been moved from split end to flanker by head coach Denny Green which in theory should provide him with less double teams but after a 101 catch year, the secondary will need a very good reason before the safety doesn’t always cheat to his side. Boldin is established on a team that obviously uses his talent. His limitation will be a newcomer quarterback in McCown and more talent around him to reduce his volume of 2003. He could start slower with the change in position as well. The Cardinals offense is bound to improve from last season and Boldin should manage to at least maintain his fine numbers from last year.

Update 8/12/04: With Boldin on the sideline for at least 8 weeks, probably up to 12 weeks and possibly longer, Fitzgerald now gets to earn all that money. The best receiver in the NFL draft has the best opportunity to excel as a rookie receiver now. This could turn into Boldin II but installing a new offense that suddenly no longer has its' best receiver and running back is not likely a recipe for a big year. He could move higher if he wows in training camp but realize the risk is present here.

Booker fell well short of his pace from 2001-2002 when he had around 100 catches each season and 100 yards. Thank Kordell Stewart for much of that. Booker had developed into a nice possession receiver for the Bears but suffered through the horrific inefficiency of the passing game last season and missed all or part of four games with a sprained ankle. This season brings in a new offense more dedicated to moving the ball through the air with head coach Lovie Smith (STL) and offensive coordinator Terry Shea (KC) designing a new and more open offense. That will directly benefit Booker who is in the prime of his career. With the David Terrell experiment finally called a bust, the newcomer Justin Gage will only help matters in the passing game. Look for Booker to return to his 1100 yard standard with a good chance for even more. Rex Grossman may take time to hit his stride as a starting quarterback, but when he does it will be Booker who benefits the most. It is a new game in Chicago and Booker will fall too far in drafts with 2003 fresh on people’s minds.

08/22/04 - Booker was traded to the Dolphins which definitely could use his talents. Problem is that no QB in Miami looks any good and the rushing game so far has been, almost literally, nonexistent. Booker leaves a #1 role to assume a #2 role with Chris Chambers.

After breaking out in 2001, Boston did less in the last two seasons combined. The Chargers brought him on board to fill the #1 receiver slot and paid big bucks for the privilege. Boston rewarded their confidence by being suspended for disciplinary reasons, suffering from a bruised heel, and twice injuring his neck. In the middle of all those he had two monster games of 139 and 181 yards with two scores in each. The other 14 weeks were about on par with the expectations of an average #3 slot receiver. The Chargers cut him loose and the Dolphins were in the market to look like they were actually working on the offense. In return, Boston’s first chance with the quarterbacks was missed due to a calf injury and his first mini-camp had him showing up too heavy and being winded too easily. With 5% body fat, Boston has to lose muscle mass instead of fat. He’s basically a fanatic body-builder that wears a helmet on Sundays. Boston has shown tremendous talent before and he has (or at least could have) all the physical attributes of a proto-typical stud receiver but has spent the last two years being either injured or getting in his own way. After five seasons in the league, his problem is not maturity or experience, it’s being David Boston.

Update: Boston gets the bump up with the Miami rushing game at low tide now that Ricky Williams has left. What he does with the opportunity will be as interesting as it is unpredictable.

Update: Boston gets thrown out of the rankings thanks to a torn patella. His injury streak continues and yet he does provide you with some comfort when you watch football and drink beer because unlike him, you are not "over-working out" your body.

Brown has been on a decline since 1999 and last season he was demoted to a #3 receiver during those too few games that Jerry Porter was healthy enough to play. The Raider offense imploded last year and sucked out what little fantasy value he might have had. After week three, he never gained more than 50 yards in a game and his sole value was in leagues that awarded reception points since his catches were never very far downfield and he did little with them once they were caught. Brown will still figure into this season, but his role will even less than 2003 and his apparent plan is to continue to decline each season until the point he is doing nothing and the team forgets to stop paying him. Even if Brown is considered above Porter on the depth charts, don’t take the bait.

Update 8/4/04: Brown was cut today by the Oakland Raiders.

Update 8/12/04: Brown signed with the Buccaneers, but the idea he will roll back the years is misguided. Not really worth bothering with for your team. Just like before actually.

Burleson was taken with the 3.3 pick in the draft by the Vikings in 2003. He came out of Nevada and while he was wildly productive in college, his stock fell due to being considered as having only an average 40 time (4.54). He gained 1629 yards and 12 touchdowns in his senior season. In 2004, Burleson played in every game for the Vikings and ended with 455 yards and two scores. Burleson never rose above use in multiple receiver sets but his use almost every game indicates his future potential. He’s not really suited for the slot due to his speed but has great hands and is favored by the Viking’s coaches as a player worth developing. This season should see similar use. Marcus Robinson will be manning the #2 position and Kelly Campbell will share time with Nate as the #3. Burleson may see Keenan Howry in the rotation this season as well. He has upside for the future, but is still likely at least a year away from becoming a fantasy factor.

Update 8/12/04: Burleson has looked good in camp and has a chance of taking the #2 spot away from Marcus Robinson.

08/26/04 - HC Mike Tice has been impressed by the second-year player and has stated the he will be the #2 regardless of the health of Marcus Robinson.

Burress fell dramatically from his break-out third season in 2002 when he had 1325 yards and seven scores. Last year he only managed 860 yards and was highly inconsistent the entire season. He was on an odd pace last season of playing well only in exactly every other game but spent the last month with less than 50 yards in each of his four games though he scored three of his four touchdowns against Oakland and San Diego (not a shocker if you recall). Burress provides a huge target at 6’5”, but had many drops last season and rarely caught even half his passes. He had four match-ups where he only had a single catch in the game. Burress is now refusing to come to Pittsburgh until he has a new contract but team officials say that is not going to happen. Burress has been fined though his contract stipulates he is not required to show up until training camp opens July 30 th. In his place, Lee Mays is getting much more work this spring at the split end position. Coming off a bad year, Burress has chosen an odd time to take a stand.

Update: Burress has reported to camp, spoken with HC Bill Cowher and all has apparently been forgiven. He has no new contract but will play out his final year and has been told his role is not changing.

Calico assumes the #3 receiver role with the loss of Justin McCareins and has impressed the coaches in early returns of mini-camps. He only gained 297 yards as a rookie and missed time later in the season with a knee sprain. He scored with his first two catches in the NFL and turned in two games with 92 yards receiving as a sign of potential but fell into some disfavor due to dropped passes and the emergence of McCareins last year. Calico was drafted with the 2.28 pick in the 2003 draft as the seventh receiver taken and he has timed as fast as any other top receiver in that class – including Charles Rogers and Bethel Johnson. He had a 4.3/40 at the 2003 NFL Combine. That speed combined with a 6’4” height is almost freakish it is so rare. He was considered a gifted athlete but somewhat raw when he left Middle Tennessee State. During the off-season, Calico has shown more strength and has been dedicated to the Titans’ conditioning program. One of the knocks on his in 2003 was that he started to tire at the end of the season and he’s working hard to maintain his focus for the entirety of 2004. He is a potential sleeper type but could need an additional year to start to realize his potential.

08/27/04 - Calico wrapped up camp with coaches enthusiastic that he will replicate the rapid development that Justin McCareins had last season.

08/31/04 - Calico went down awkwardly when pulled down from behind by S Roy Williams tonight. He has at least two sprained knees and will receive an MRI on Monday.

Clayton does not possess great speed and only clocked a 4.6 at the combine. What he brings to Tampa Bay is a 6’3“ frame to help out with the possession catches that disappeared along with Keyshawn Johnson’s team spirit. Clayton will be eased into the possession role primarily but has a challenge to learn Gruden’s complicated scheme. He’ll start as a flanker behind Keenan McCardell and the Buccaneers are quite excited at picking who they considered to be equal with any receivers in the deep draft. While his 40-time is not jaw-dropping, he is considered to be explosive and able to set up the secondary well and scored ten touchdowns for LSU last season. The Buccaneers have good depth now with McCardell, Galloway, Jurevicius and Lee, a luxury they did not have last year. Clayton will be given every opportunity to succeed and though it may take a year or more, he will be a solid starter for the Bucs for many seasons to come He will likely start early at flanker with McCardell moved to the slot and with McCardell holding out and Jurevicius still not 100%, Clayton could see a lot of action this season.

Update: Clayton signed early and is in camp, which neither can be said for Keenan McCardell. Clayton has impressed so far.