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By John Culligan
Hey Folks! I’m not a core member of the DS Staff. I’m a contributing writer & researcher that is grateful for the opportunity to be allowed to write about one of my passions in life – fantasy football. When I approached them about writing MMMM, they kindly said I could hit this blog. I don’t tow the company line because DS doesn’t have one. They encourage “outside the box” thinking and I can be really “outside.” So if you’re looking for some thoughts that are really my own and an alternative to some already great analysis that is on this site, then you’ve found your guy.
This first week of the NFL caused quite a stir with its under/over performing players and the dreaded plethora of injuries. So here are a few of my crazy ideas: The season’s not over for the New England Patriots, at least not in my opinion. I remember when an injured Drew Bledsoe was replaced by the unknown 2nd year QB, Tom Brady, in ‘01 and everyone was in a panic. It seems to me that the young Brady had a somewhat respectable season that year throwing for 18 TDs and 2,843 yards and that was with just one season in the Patriots system. Now I’m not saying that Matt Cassell is another Brady, but you’ve got to give this guy a chance and not just give up on your FF season. He’s had 3 years in the Pats’ system and he’s learned at the foot of the master. He’s got better targets than Brady had and he didn’t look so bad in relief against the Chiefs. That being said, you want to temper that glimmer of hope I just held out there with watching to see how he does when he goes through the weekly practices and game planning knowing that he’s the “main” man on Sunday. If you had Brady, you’ve got to try to get this guy on your bench and start your # 2 QB for this week while eyeing how Cassell does in his match up against the Jets.
So for the non-Brady owners who have Randy Moss and Wes Welker (taken with high picks) on your fantasy roster. You’re probably thinking with a fearful mind and are not quite so openly despondent as your aforementioned compatriots. Moss has been known to sulk and under-perform when a sub-par QB is unable to get him the ball or completely misses him when he believes he’s wide open. It could happen but I think that Coach Belichick will call on him to step up and be a leader and not a whiner. He’ll be reminded that the team comes first. He may even hang around and get in some extra practice with the “new” guy to cement some rapport for the game. Still, there will probably be some down tick in Moss’ overall FF stats – be prepared.
As for Welker, he was a stud-in-hiding when he was a Dolphin and I can recall watching him put up some pretty decent numbers with very poor QB play in Miami. This is a better system, Moss is a better counterpart and Cassel is probably a better QB than anyone that was throwing the ball for the ’06 Dolphins. I think his stats will take only a small hit.
I’ve never been a big fan of Vince Young. I always thought he had great physical talent and leadership ability in college. Unfortunately, you need more in the pro game and NFL coaches, as a rule, are not known for tutoring or refining fundamentals and technique with young QBs. To be certain, there are a few, but most expect the signal caller to be ready or close to it while they get used to the speed of the game. Vince hasn’t had that tutelage and it’s showing in his frustration. Does he have the emotional stability to play the game? Put him with a Norv Turner, Mike Holmgren or Mike McCarthy and see what might become of him.
Speaking of Holmgren, is he up against it or what? First, of all he’s a lame-duck coach, by his own choice. Second, his QB, Matt Hasselbeck is hurting, both physically and without a lot of key members of the offense. Finally, this could be the year that Arizona steps it up and puts pressure on them in the NFC West. “Mike, if you can hear me brother, it’s going to be a tough year.“
Yeah, that’s right the Cardinals, who don’t always play well on the road looked pretty impressive on the road at Frisco, controlling the clock and actually having more running plays (34 to 30) than passing plays. If that keeps up, the expected stats for Kurt Warner will be little more than average. I’ll be keeping an eye on their home opener against the Dolphins to see if a trend develops. A quick BTW: Tim Hightower was pretty good at taking those short yardage carries away from Edgerrin James. He was successful too, warranting another close eye to see if that continues.
The Colts loss to the QB challenged Bears was a shocker and I feel justified so far in my assessment of Joseph Addai. I’ve been telling everyone, who would listen that I didn’t think him worthy of a top fantasy pick. The cheat sheets I shared had him as a high 2nd round pick based on his stats declining in the second half of ‘06. My reasoning was that a return to health of Marvin Harrison, a growing trust of Anthony Gonzalez by Peyton Manning and the return of Dominic Rhodes would cut deeply into Addai’s opportunities. Really, one game doesn’t prove my point, but it definitely puts one on notice to watch and see.
Matt Forte looks like the real thing. He’s a grinder who can occasionally break loose. Combining him with a healthy Kevin Jones will allow Kyle Orton to play field general, directing the offense with a minimal number of mistakes and let the D/STs put them in position to win. That’s it for now. Just the as the words “meandering mind” in the title suggest, I’ll be doing this little rant as the ideas come to me. I won’t claim to be all encompassing and some weeks I’ll go off once and some weeks more. If you like what you read, keep looking for it. All your feedback will be appreciated.
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John,
Nice article and thanks for sharing but did you really say “kyle orton and field general” in the same sentence?? I just can’t see it.
Yes, I did! Oops! I should have said field manager. Please Kyle, just don’t make mistakes and the Bears can be in every game.
That’s a good thing for Matt Forte.