FANTASY FOOTBALL ARTICLES

Quarterback - The Ravens pass attack was unusually bad last year and the retirement of Steve McNair set off a three-way competition for starting quarterback (at least in theory). Kyle Boller has far more veteran experience but mostly only at proving he is not a long-term choice. Troy Smith doesn't have the experience but has more poise and makes fewer mistakes than Boller. And then there is the rookie Joe Flacco who is considered the future of the franchise. But the Ravens do not want to throw him into the fire too early. That may end up happening anyway and training camp will be central to making that decision.

Running Backs - The Ravens added Willis McGahee last year and said their goodbye to Jamal Lewis but the results were almost identical. In fact McGahee had two less touchdowns than Lewis did in 2006. What was even worse was that the coaching staff felt that McGahee wasn't capable of being an every down back and there were questions about his conditioning. That all led the Ravens to draft Ray Rice with their second round pick. McGahee has already skipped some voluntary camps this year and now Rice has been impressive enough to merit more than mere relief work. McGahee remains the primary back to be sure, but Rice has the chance in the preseason to gain more playing time and even up to being a true tandem backfield. Rice is a definite one to watch in August. He is small at 5'8" but he's both quick and powerful.

Wide Receivers - The Ravens are in a rebuilding year and elected to start out with quarterback and running back. They made no moves in the free agency market for any of the ball-handling position and left the wide receivers as is from last year. That means Derrick Mason remains the lone certain starter but he is on the down-side of the career and can only make the possession catches. There will be a competition for the #2 between Mark Clayton and Demetrius Williams with the taller Williams most likely to win the starting spot since OC Cam Cameron prefers larger wideouts (Williams is 6'2" while Clayton is only 5'10"). This unit hasn't been much for fantasy value other than Mason starting out 2007 with an obscene amount of catches but even he cooled down. The new offense won't be hitting on all cylinders to start with so training camp is important, especially if the starting quarterback ends up to be Joe Flacco.

Tight Ends - Todd Heap missed most of last season thanks to a torn hamstring and many have forgotten just how good he has been. The rankings for tight end went into the toilet but have been top five in yards and scores in seasons where Heap has remained healthy. And just as exciting is that OC Cam Cameron brings in a very tight-end friendly offense that should be tailor-made to keep Heap top five again this season. Heap has to stay healthy and that may mean not as much visible work in the preseason.

Training Camp Fantasy Angle - There is definite fantasy news that will come out of training camp though likely it won't be huge. Joe Flacco is worth a watch especially in keeper leagues and Ray Rice is the most interesting since he could have some production this year. If he shows up really well in preseason games, then it is likely he will be getting increased playing time during the season and that will come at the expense of McGahee. Heap should have a big year but he'll almost certainly not be seen too much in preseason games to keep him healthy. Watch Rice.

Quarterback - Carson Palmer comes off another fine season and seemed to have a down 2006 mainly because so many other quarterbacks had career best seasons. His touchdown totals are slightly declining and that could happen again this year since the Bengals want to establish the run better than they did last year. T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chad Johnson both return and even Johnson says he will not be a distraction and will play out his contract (for at least one more year). Even Chris Henry is rumored to return but the Bengals would be fine without him since they used the NFL draft to load up on wideouts. Training camp is important for Palmer to get some chemistry going with Jerome Simpson and Andre Caldwell if only for future seasons.

Running Backs - This will be an interesting year for the running backs though it may not show up so much in training camp. Rudi Johnson returns from his first injury-marred season and even Chris Perry has regained his health. The intention is that the duo reprise 2005 when they combined for a formidable backfield with Johnson rushing and Perry mainly receiving. But given the injury history of the two - particularly Perry - it is likely that the two will not get much work in preseason games and scrimmages if only to keep them healthy. That'll likely make Kenny Watson look like he is going to be a bigger factor than he will (unless Perry and/or Johnson are injured again).

Wide Receivers - After much ado in the offseason, the Bengals report to camp with both T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chad Johnson as starters. Johnson has elected to honor his contract (which has four years left) if for no other reason than he had no choice other than sitting home unemployed. Training camp is very important because the Bengals could find themselves at odds with Johnson again next year and Houshmandzadeh is slated to become a free agent that Cincinnati is not certain they can afford to re-sign. That may or may not have come to bear in Johnson's decision to remain, but at the least the Bengals need to see what they have with Jerome Simpson (2.15) and Andre Caldwell (3.34). This has big fantasy implications if only for dynasty league because one or both of those rookies could become a starter as early as next year and having Carson Palmer as a quarterback is a very good thing. Training camp is worth watching here to see those two rookies.

Tight Ends - The Bengals brought in Ben Utecht from Indianapolis with the intention of making more use of his receiving skills. But there are only so many balls in Cincy and the Bengals have never made much use of the position. Even if Utecht ends up with the best tight end numbers from a Bengal in the last decade, that still does not mean he will have fantasy relevance. The Bengals pulled the ultra-rare 32-32 by being the worst in both tight end yards and scores last year.

Training Camp Fantasy Angle - The Bengals are going to be reticent to expose Rudi Johnson or Chris Perry to injury so the rushing game will largely be kept under wraps in preseason games. The main part of the camp to watch is just how well Andre Caldwell and Jerome Simpson are coming along. Both should see extensive work in games and camp.

Quarterback - There is no quarterback controversy per se in Cleveland and Derrick Anderson remains the starter with Brady "I'll be right over here" Quinn on the sideline. This will be Anderson's first camp as the starter and he knows the pressure is on him to produce again this year. That should mean he'll be getting more work and game time than most starting quarterbacks would. But short of him looking suddenly horrible or getting injured, camp is not going to change anything. Though Quinn should be getting plenty of playing time in preseason games and if he looks really sharp, it will push Anderson even harder.

Running Backs - This should be a very boring camp for Jamal Lewis. He is the starter - no question - and he has to remain healthy because the Browns only have Jason Wright and Jerome Harrison waiting in the wings. Expect a low-key camp for Lewis who will not play in preseason games more than a cameo.

Wide Receivers - This should be more interesting than last year. Braylon Edwards has already broken out and has nothing to prove so camp is just a minor tune-up for him but Donte Stallworth replaces Joe Jurevicius and he needs to get on the same page as Anderson if only during camp and scrimmages. The passing game was outstanding last year and that was without a credible #2 wideout. Stallworth could make some waves here if he can remain healthy. With Jurevicius likely on PUP to start the season, there will be a competition for the slot receiver as well with Josh Cribbs and Travis Wilson. Last year that only accounted for one score and less than 200 yards all year so the winner is hardly due for much fantasy value.

Training Camp Fantasy Angle - It will be nice to see Brady Quinn in preseason games and that could have an impact on how safe Anderson's job is but it will likely take outright stumbling for many weeks before the Browns would opt to switch to Quinn. Nothing to follow there in camp. Donte Stallworth can buy himself some good will by showing up in preseason games but there is not a lot on this offense to watch in camps. Just Stallworth mostly.

Quarterback - There is not a lot to work on for Ben Roethlisberger who returns to the same set of receivers and may have an even better rushing game this year. There are plans in training camp to get Roethlisberger to release the ball faster since he was sacked 47 times last year but that won't show up much in camp. Big Ben comes off a very solid season and only needs to refresh before the season starts. Roethlisberger was 3rd in the NFL last year with 34 passing scores but the rushing game was horrible at scoring in 2007. The Steelers drafted line-buster Rashard Mendenhall so Big Ben will likely score less this year.

Running Backs - This could be one of the most interesting units to watch in the NFL this summer. The Steelers installed a new offense last year and Parker rushed for 1316 yards on 321 carries. That was #4 in rushing yards and #3 in rushing attempts. But Parker only scored twice last year. That led the Steelers to draft Rashard Mendenhall for at least the short yardage and goal line carries. Parker remains the starter - he has rushed for more than 1200 yards in each of the last three seasons - but Mendenhall will also be involved. Training camp and preseason games should help give a clue as to whether Mendenhall remains purely relief and goal line duty or if he may have a bigger role. Parker is returning from a broken leg but has nothing to prove - he should stick to staying healthy and let Mendenhall get more work.

Wide Receivers - Hines Ward returns from a season of nagging injuries but he remains the starter and possession receiver. Santonio Holmes has his breakout last year with eight scores and 942 yards so the only opening left is the slot which likely will be manned by Nate Washington again this season. But the Steelers made a play for the future by drafting Limas Sweed and his 6'4" height could become a factor in the endzone and middle of the field if only in future seasons. Sweed is a replacement for Plaxico Burress that has taken years to happen. Sweed is worth watching in dynasty leagues but 2008 is not likely to hold much fantasy value. What will be ideal is if Sweed can show an ability to go over the middle and take the ball away from defenders and hold onto it when hit. Sweed should get a lot of work in the preseason.

Training Camp Fantasy Angle - The Steelers have an interesting camp to follow even if it will be mostly to see what 2009 might bring. Rashard Mendenhall has a chance to get more playing time if he can show up big in camp and preseason games though Parker will hold the primary role no matter what. Limas Sweed will be interesting to watch and while there may not be a lot of room for him this year, Sweed can work his way onto the field and become a factor in the endzone if the Steelers elect to take advantage of his height. If he runs a few fade routes in preseason games, consider it a positive sign.

COMMENTS (page 1 of 1)

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JT

Posted Aug 23, 2008 4:14pm EDT

As for Quinn/Anderson... I think we may see the same situation as we did in San Diego. If Anderson has another good year and doesn't have a sophomore jinx, he may be on another team next year and Cleveland will walk away with a decent pick.

Obviously if he's a bust this year, Quinn will get the nod at some point but I don't see Anderson being pulled unless he's have a below average season.

Of course the North shall be ruled by the Steelers. ;)

Super Pickle

Posted Jul 23, 2008 12:11am EDT

Quinn is making way too much money too sit . Hell be the starter by week 9.

loaf

Posted Jul 22, 2008 4:07pm EDT

"There is no quarterback controversy per se in Cleveland and Derrick Anderson remains the starter with Brady "I'll be right over here" Quinn on the sideline."

Classic

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