Tag Archives: Hakeem Nicks

2009 First Round Review: WR

The wide receivers taken in the first round of the NFL Draft last year will go down as one of the best collections of talent in recent memory. With the help of the advanced statistics of ProFootballFocus.com, we will breakdown each of these players for you.

Rd	Sel #	Player	Position	School	Team
1	7	Darrius Heyward-Bey	WR	Maryland	Oakland Raiders
1	10	Michael Crabtree	WR	Texas Tech	San Francisco 49ers
1	19	Jeremy Maclin	WR	Missouri	Philadelphia Eagles
1	22	Percy Harvin	WR	Florida	Minnesota Vikings
1	29	Hakeem Nicks	WR	North Carolina	New York Giants
1	30	Kenny Britt	WR	Rutgers	Tennessee Titans

Darrius Heyward-Bey
9 rec, 124 yards, 1 TD

The first wide receiver selected in the 2009 NFL Draft, Darrius Heyward-Bey struggled as a rookie for the Oakland Raiders. It was shocking that Heyward-Bey was the first receiver taken over Michael Crabtree, even though he was regarded as a first round pick leading up to the draft.

Heyward-Bey started the first 11 games for the Raiders at split end and then a foot injury sidelined him for the final five games of the season. The early end to his season may not have been the worst thing to happen to him; Heyward-Bey struggled with confidence issues, concentration lapses, poor quarterback play, and a historically bad catch percentage (9 receptions on 38 targets, 23.70%).

Heyward-Bey was not a fantasy option in 2009. Although Heyward-Bey was not the first ever receiver to struggle as a rookie, there are reasons to be concerned about his future prospects. The early camp reports this offseason indicate that he has turned a corner with his focus and conditioning, however, Heyward-Bey must improve his hands and route running to be successful.

Michael Crabtree
48 rec, 625 yards, 2 TD

The consensus top wide receiver in the 2009 NFL Draft did not have to wait long to hear his name called on draft day. Michael Crabtree held out for the first five games of the season, and he made his San Fransisco debut in Week 7 against the Houston Texans.

Despite missing all of training camp, Crabtree started every game at split end and quickly became the most targeted 49ers wide receiver. He was targeted almost eight times per game, and had at least three catches in every start. Crabtree only scored two touchdowns in his rookie season, although the cause was the stellar play of tight end Vernon Davis and his record-tying 13 touchdowns.

Crabtree has the makings of a top-flight wide receiver in the NFL. He runs excellent routes and gets open despite not having élite speed. His strong hands were on display often catching errant Alex Smith throws, and he proved to be tough to take down in the open field as evident by his 9 tackles eluded/broken in just 11 games.

Jeremy Maclin
55 rec, 762 yards, 4 TD

Jeremy Maclin was expected to spend his rookie season in a reserve role; however, he was installed into the starting lineup in Week 2 to replace the injured Kevin Curtis. Maclin proved to be an excellent compliment to DeSean Jackson, helping draw away attention on deep routes.

Maclin picked up Andy Reid’s complex west coast offense quickly, and he still has plenty of room to grow after his successful rookie campaign. Maclin had a huge Wild Card performance with 7 receptions 146 yards receiving and a touchdown after there were concerns that he hit a rookie wall late in the season. Maclin only had 2 broken tackles all season and he has an opportunity to become a better weapon if he can create more yardage on shorter patterns.

Maclin was highly coveted during the NFL Draft and he flashed enough big play ability to lead us to believe that he will be a top fantasy wide receiver for many years to come.

Percy Harvin
60 rec, 790 yards, 6 TD

What makes Percy Harvin’s Rookie of the Year season even more impressive is that he was the #3 wide receiver for the Vikings. Harvin worked exclusively from the slot and he was a fantasy contributor from the start scoring a touchdown in his first two games.

Harvin is a flat-out play-maker in all facets of the game. Harvin lead the league in broken tackles and he was a threat to score every time he had the football in his hands. The character concerns that caused Harvin to slide in the draft did not surface, and Harvin was one of the hardest working players on the team.

Harvin erased any doubts about his ability to adapt to the wide receiver at the next level. Harvin will form an impressive tandem with Sidney Rice for the near future, even if Brett Favre only plays one more season. Players like Wes Welker have shown that they can be a productive fantasy option on a strong passing team despite playing from the slot position. It is hard not to root for a player like Harvin that fights for every yard on the football field.

Hakeem Nicks
47 rec, 790 yards, 6 TD

Hakeem Nicks put his big-play ability on display as a rookie and eased any concerns that the Giants had when they missed out on Jeremy Maclin in the draft. Nicks was the other receiver from North Carolina for most of his college career, and his strong junior season propelled him into the first round of the NFL Draft. Nicks missed two games with a foot injury and made up for lost time when he returned with four touchdowns over 50 yards for the season.

Nicks inherited the starting flanker position from Mario Manningham by mid-season and put his strong hands and tough running after the catch ability on display. Nicks led the league in yards after catch per reception, and broke nine tackles along the way.

Nicks is a legitimate #1 wide receiver and he will take that role this season from Steve Smith. Nicks is fearless going over the middle, tough to bring down in the open field, and already has some of the best hands in the league. Nicks will be a mainstay in the top-10 for many years to come.

Kenny Britt
42 rec, 701 yards, 3 TD

The last wide receiver selected in the first round, Kenny Britt went on to lead the Titans in receiving despite not starting until Week 10. The Titans struggled out of the gate with a 0-6 record and a strong commitment to getting Chris Johnson to the 2,000 yard rushing mark. Britt proved to be a more effective player than Justin Gage, and Vince Young relied on him in big moments down the stretch. Britt caught the game-winning touchdown in Week 12 versus Arizona in the final seconds of the game. Britt utilized his big-frame to get open against tough coverage and broke nine tackles in the open field.

Kenny Britt is an interesting player. He was productive at the college level despite concerns about this work ethic and maturity. Those concerns have resurfaced again this off-season, Britt showed up to organized team activities out of shape and unprepared to take the next step as a professional.

Tennessee will remain committed to the ground game for the foreseeable future, so it is hard to envision Britt as a top flight fantasy option. Although Britt makes the most of his few opportunities each game, he may never become a weekly must-start option in his career. Britt remains a top-30 option in redraft and dynasty leagues.

Conclusion

Darrius Heyward-Bey is the lone question mark of the six wide receivers taken in the first round last year. Each of the remaining players could be considered top-30 options in just their second seasons, which is an impressive feat to say the least.

Michael Crabtree and Hakeem Nicks have shown they can be legitimate No. 1 wide receivers for their respective teams, and both have top-10 fantasy upside.

Jeremy Maclin has room to grow as a player. If he continues to refine his route-running and knowledge of the game, Maclin could develop into a Reggie Wayne type of wide receiver for new franchise QB Kevin Kolb.

Percy Harvin will continue to keep opposing defensive coordinators up late at night with his ability to score from anywhere on the field.

Kenny Britt will be a solid professional in the mold of a Mushin Muhammad. Britt will be a top-30 option for most of his career and will have a few top-10 seasons like Muhammad did.

Darrius Heyward-Bey is in danger of becoming the next Troy Williamson. He needs to build on his positive reports this off-season and put his impressive speed to work with new quarterback Jason Campbell.

2009 First Round Wide Receivers by the Numbers:

Catch Percentage
Percy Harvin	69.77
Hakeem Nicks	66.20
Jeremy Maclin	63.95
Kenny Britt	60.00
Michael Crabtree	58.50
Darrius Heyward-Bey	23.70

Missed Tackles Per Game
Percy Harvin	1.47
Michael Crabtree	0.82
Hakeem Nicks	0.64
Kenny Britt	0.56
Jeremy Maclin	0.13
Darrius Heyward-Bey	0.00

Targets Per Game
Michael Crabtree	7.45
Jeremy Maclin	5.73
Percy Harvin	5.73
Hakeem Nicks	5.07
Kenny Britt	4.38
Darrius Heyward-Bey	3.45

Fantasy Points Per/Game	FP/G	% in Top 24
Percy Harvin	11.67	46.67%
Hakeem Nicks	11.57	35.71%
Michael Crabtree	11.14	36.36%
Jeremy Maclin	10.35	40.00%
Kenny Britt	8.13	31.25%
Darrius Heyward-Bey	2.49	0.00%
**11.83 Per Game (WR24)

All Statistics courtesy of ProFootballFocus.com

Twitter Fantasy Football Roundtable: Week 7

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Welcome to the Week 7 edition of the Twitter Fantasy Football Roundtable!

RookieBlitz.com is happy to host some of the best fantasy football minds on the internet to help you dominate your fantasy football leagues this week.

The fantasy football landscape is becoming much clearer, and some of the playoff matchups are taking shape. If you are a contending team, it is time to consider positioning yourself to have the best chance to win your league through trade and being ahead of the curve on your waiver wire.

Pay extra attention to your lineups this week as the Ravens, Broncos, Lions, Jaguars, Seahawks, and Titans are all on their Bye Week.

“They are who we thought they were, and we let them off the hook!”

-Dennis Green, then Head Coach of the Arizona Cardinals

I’ve always wanted an excuse to use that gem of a sound bite from that memorable Monday Night game where the Bears edged out the Cardinals without scoring an offensive touchdown.

Now on to our thoughts for Week 7 in the NFL:

Week 7 Sleepers: Bryan Fontaine, RookieBlitz.com

Sleeper #1: Laurence Maroney, RB, New England Patriots

I was in attendance for the Patriots drubbing of the Titans in Week 6 and I’m not sure what was more shocking: The Patriots scoring 45 points by halftime, the snow falling in October at Foxboro, or that Laurence Maroney looked like the back that the Patriots took in the first round several years ago. It remains to be seen if the Titans did in fact just give up or that the equipment manager forgot to bring the right cleats for the team; but Maroney now vaults into being a viable starting RB in fantasy circles. The snow clearly helped Maroney run more north and south instead of dancing in the backfield. Next up are the hapless Tampa Bay Buccaneers in London, England and they were gashed for 267 yards rushing and 3 touchdowns by the Panthers in Week 6. Sammy Morris is unlikely to play, so expect Maroney to post a similar stat line as he did against the Titans with around 15-20 carries with the Law Firm of BenJarvus Green-Ellis to handle the rest of the carries.

Sleeper #2: Jonathan Stewart, RB, Carolina Panthers

Jonathan Stewart is coming off a huge game against the Buccaneers in which he totaled 110 yards rushing and a TD. After a slow start to the season, the Panthers running game has really gotten on track despite the struggles of Jake Delhomme and Steve Smith. Stewart is still the 2^nd back to DeAngelo Williams but take note that the Bills allowed the Jets to run for 318 yards on 40 carries. This game will play right into the Panthers strength, expect a heavy dose of Williams and Stewart and you can probably expect another 100 yard rushing game a TD this week for Stewart.

Sleeper #3: Hakeem Nicks, WR, New York Giants

Nicks is currently 3^rd on the depth chart for the Giants, but with more performances like he had in Week 6 it will only be a matter of time before Nicks supplants Mario Manningham in the starting lineup. Nicks has caught a TD in three straight games since returning from injury. He has put up most of the production in garbage time but fantasy owners will not be picky about it. The Cardinals have not been able to stop anyone from passing the ball and rank 31^st in the NFL in pass defense. With so many key players out on bye this week, Nicks makes a great case for a long shot option that could pay off huge once again.

Week 7 Busts: Ginny Loveless, www.footballdiehards.com

Bust #1: Chad Henne, QB, Miami Dolphins

If you’re looking for a bye-week filler, you might want to consider looking elsewhere this week. Granted, Chad Henne has done a sufficient job at moving the chains and putting his running backs in position to score, but this week’s contest versus New Orleans will be an uphill battle. While the Saints’ passing defense is moderately generous in giving up passing yardage (an average of 216.6 yards per game), they are very stingy in allowing passing touchdowns (only four on the season). Not to mention, they have generated 11 interceptions. Against New Orleans, quarterbacks score an average of 8.4 fantasy points to game.

Bust #2: Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs, RBs, New York Giants

As a duo, these two backs average 4.5 YPC and run up an average of 147.7 rushing yards per game. This week however, at home against Arizona, they face a difficult contest. The Cardinals allow only 59.6 rushing yards per game (a league-low) while only having allowed two rushing scores all season – and those stats come after facing formidable runners in Frank Gore, Maurice Jones-Drew, Joseph Addai, Steve Slaton and the rejuvenated Julius Jones. Against Arizona, running backs score of average of 12.8 fantasy points per game.

Bust #3: Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston, WRs, Arizona Cardinals

First, let me preface this by stating: I am not advocating that fantasy owners sit these receivers. I am simply noting that conditions this week are not favorable for them to perform at their average level. On the outside, things look good for the Arizona receivers and Kurt Warner this week as they travel to the Meadowlands. Entering this contest, they average 280.2 passing yards per game, with Larry Fitzgerald reaping of those benefits (35/360/5) and Anquan Boldin not far behind (29/306/1). After suffering an ankle sprain last week, Boldin’s status currently up in the air. Steve Breaston, who is arguably the best slot receiver in his conference, will have no problem stepping in if Boldin is a no-go. Regrettably, the Cardinals squad has to face a Giants team who is looking for revenge for last week’s loss and look to put on a good home-show. On top of that, they are currently the NFL’s top-ranked passing defense, allowing 147.3 passing yards per game. Against the Giants, wide receivers score an average of 12.5 fantasy points per game.

Quarterbacks: Greg Dietz, BigTroph.com

Sleeper: Shaun Hill – San Francisco 49ers

Hill has been doing just enough to keep the 49ers competitive the past couple of weeks (besides that nasty loss to Atlanta), but will benefit greatly from the return of Frank Gore this week. Gore is the heart and soul of that offense and when he is on the field distracting defenders, it gives Hill more time to throw and more confidence as a signal caller. Add in the fact that Michael Crabtree will finally be stepping on the field and Hill suddenly becomes a top quarterback to look at if you have one of the many guys on bye this week (Flacco, Orton, and Hasselbeck). Crabtree will probably struggle in his first game, but he will be an added weapon for Hill as he does his best to keep up with Matt Schaub and the Texans.

Bust: Carson Palmer – Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals are a team that absolutely baffles me. Sometimes they’re a smooth running machine on offense and other times they just fade away. Last week, they didn’t score a single point in the second half against Houston and I was left scratching my head as to why Palmer and his offense are so streaky. Times don’t get any easier for them this week as they welcome Chicago into town a week after a tough loss to Atlanta on national television. The Bears have limited opposing quarterbacks to an average rating of 79.6 and have 14 sacks to go along with five interceptions. They shut down Matt Ryan last week and Palmer will struggle just the same.

Running Backs: Jim Day, FFWhiz.com

Sleeper: Larry Johnson – Kansas City Chiefs

Larry Johnson is in no means the stud he used to be, and in fantasy terms, he is just not someone you can count on to start each week, but he is coming off his best effort of the season as he put up 95 total yards against the Redskins. This week he faces a San Diego defense that is a former shadow of itself. They have given up 4 TDs to RBs in their last 3 games. This week I expect Johnson to get close, if not surpass, the 100 yard mark and maybe even toss in a TD. He is the only running back in the league to get every goal line carry for his team.

Bust: Jamal Lewis – Cleveland Browns

One week after going for 117 against Buffalo, Lewis turns around and drops a whopping 21 yards on 11 carries against the Steelers. This week he faces the stingy Packer rush defense which has only allowed 1 TD to opposing RBs. In their last two games the Packers have held Adrian Peterson and Kevin Smith to 55 and 61 yards respectively. Lewis is not even close to that talent so expect Lewis to be shut down all game.

Wide Receivers: Chet Gresham, Razzball.com

Sleeper: Mike Wallace – Pittsburgh Steelers

Without Antoine Winfield the Vikings poor pass defense just got a lot poorer. Add to that the Williams Wall will continue to make it difficult for opposing back to run on the Vikings and you could see a big game out of Big Ben. Then add to that Mike Wallace’s emergence as a deep threat and you have a good chance he’ll get into the endzone on a long pass while also hauling in a few more catches for good measure.

Bust: Steve Smith – Carolina Panthers

The Buffalo Bills just picked off rookie Mark Sanchez 5 times and there is no reason they can’t do some damage to the free wheeling Jake Delhomme. That doesn’t mean Steve Smith can’t get a catch or two, but there is absolutely nobody to really take the heat off of him. If Jake locks onto Smith he will be picked, over and over again.

Tight Ends: Matt Schauf, RapidDraft.com

Sleeper: Dante Rosario – Carolina Panthers

Greg Olsen and Heath Miller face good matchups this week, but each is too regular a fantasy producer at this point to qualify as a sleeper. The Bills’ defense, which Rosario will face, has seen just the 10^th most pass attempts in the league so far but the third most thrown to tight ends. Dustin Keller only caught two passes against Buffalo on Sunday, but he was thrown to a team-high 10 times. Jake Delhomme has only thrown four touchdown passes through five games, but all of those have gone to his tight ends. It can be frustrating to guess whether the score will go to Rosario or Jeff King — each has two so far this season — but Rosario has been the more-targeted player in three of five games. King has yet to be targeted more than three times in a game and was only once targeted even that many times. Rosario’s the play here.

Bust: Zach Miller – Oakland Raiders

The Raiders tight end is clearly the most reliable receiver the team has on the field (would Chaz Schilens be better), but that only gets you so far in Oakland. It would be nice to believe the game against the Eagles was a coming-out party (not that there’s anything wrong with that), but the Raiders now face a Jets defense that has allowed the third-lowest completion rate in the league and the third-fewest touchdown passes. In addition, no opposing tight end has picked up more than 44 yards against the Jets. Miller’s outlook is brighter now than it was a week ago at this time, but try to look elsewhere this Sunday.

Team Defense: Jason Sarney, FantasyPhenoms.com

Sleeper: San Diego Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs

The Chargers are not playing as we all we all thought, and especially on
the defensive side of things. They are the NFL’s 23rd ranked unit overall
and in terms of fantasy production, they are ranked in the bottom five.
No worries though…they have the Chiefs in Week 7. Their offense just
isn’t good at all, they can’t block anyone and the Chargers have too much
overall talent for them to stand a chance on either side of the ball. If
you have one of the six defenses on a bye this week, take a shot on the
Bolts.

Bust: Chicago Bears at Cincinnati Bengals

The Bears Defense hasn’t been their usual selves and with a tough offense
like the Bengals to contend with on the road this is not the week to roll
with them. With the way Cedric Benson is running as well as the potential
of Carson Palmer and Chad Ochocinco, you should look elsewhere for your
defensive points this weekend.

2009 Draft Class – Season Preview

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Finally the preseason is over, roster cuts have been made and the season is less than a week away. RookieBlitz.com takes a second look of its ranked players and highlights the rookies that will help you win your Fantasy Football League in 2009. Watching preseason football can be tedious at times, but it is very important to see how the new rookies will adapt to the speed, pressure, and schemes they are put in. Read on for several players that RookieBlitz.com recommends are on every team this season.

Find the previous RookieBlitz.com Season Previews here: Quarterbacks, Running Backs, Wide Receiver (Part 1 and Part 2), and Tight Ends

Quarterback

Mark Sanchez – NYJ: Sanchez looks the part of a franchise quarterback. He will struggle as a rookie, but he appears to have “it”. Sanchez (NYJ vs. MIA) is a viable starting option for Aaron Rodgers owners during the Packers Week 5 Bye.

Matthew Stafford – DET: The Lions have yet to name their starting QB, and when Stafford gets his chance this season you will want to monitor him on the waiver wire depending on the size of your league. He will run hot and cold much like a Jay Cutler, but get used to saying Stafford to Calvin Johnson.

Running Back

Knowshon Moreno – DEN: Moreno is currently nursing a knee injury that will hamper him the first few weeks of the NFL season. The cream will rise to the top and you can use his injury to your advantage as he falls in drafts or as a trade target from a nervous owner. He could be a key contributor for your team beginning after Week 4, and is still the RookieBlitz.com choice for Rookie of the Year.

Donald Brown – IND: This guy has everything you are looking for in a running back and is already one of the hardest working members of the Colts. Brown could be one of the top keeper players in 2010 with a big season as the lead back in the Colts committee approach with Joseph Addai. Brown will pass Addai at some point in 2009.

Chris “Beanie” Wells – ARI: Unless you take him early, you probably won’t get Wells on your team in 2009. I am higher on Moreno and Brown, but Wells still is a big and fast physical specimen. Only Tim Hightower stands in his way of the starting job. One final word of caution, the Cardinals will still make their hay passing the ball to Fitzgerald and Boldin and there isn’t much history of successful lead backs in Arizona.

LeSean McCoy – PHI: It is hard to believe McCoy’s talent matches the massive hype surrounding him. He was previously compared to Jamaal Charles by RookieBlitz.com, which is not a slight at either player. Should he get an opportunity due to injury to Brian Westbrook, McCoy would be an every week start in the high powered Eagles offense even with his talent shortcomings.

Shonn Greene – NYJ: It is hard to see the hype based on the game film of Shonn Greene so far in preseason action. Leon Washington is finally flashing his all around talent and Thomas Jones still looks like a solid running back. Greene would get a chance with an injury to Jones, but Washington would get a larger share of the carries in that scenario.

James Davis – CLE: Davis has showed big play ability this preseason after he fell in the draft due to a subpar senior season at Clemson. Davis will capitalize on his opportunity and will earn some late season starts as the Browns try to see what they have in him. Don’t go too crazy to get Davis early in your drafts; Cleveland is still in for a long season in 2009.
Mike Goodson – CAR: Goodson is too talented to keep off the field as he has been one of the best stories this preseason. You need to keep an eye on the Jonathan Stewart injury situation. Goodson should be a target on DeAngelo Williams owners as a handcuff, Stewart will be drafted too high to be considered.

Bernard Scott – CIN: One of the stars of Hard Knocks, Scott has the best chance to be this year’s Steve Slaton. He’s already locked down the backup job to Benson and needs to be on one of the last spots on your roster.

Glenn Coffee – SF and Rashad Jennings – JAX: Coffee will be the primary backup to Frank Gore, and Jennings will backup Maurice Jones-Drew.

Wide Receiver

Percy Harvin – MIN: One of the most hyped rookies this preseason, you need to have clarity in you believe in Harvin in 2009. You’ll have to draft him before more established veterans like Derrick Mason, Torry Holt and Donald Driver. Harvin’s talent is undeniable, but you may be better off going with one of the veterans instead.

Hakeem Nicks – NYG: Nicks will supplant Hixon by midseason at the latest. Nicks has been showing his big play ability the last 2 games of the preseason and will force his way into more playing time for the Giants.

Jeremy Maclin – PHI: Maclin is developing nicely and could have more of an early opportunity with the injury concerns surrounding Kevin Curtis. McNabb has already stated he thinks Maclin could start now.

Kenny Britt – TEN: Britt was one of the players this preseason that made me change my outlook for him based on his play. He could develop into a matchup nightmare like a Brandon Marshall. He is likely an early season starter with Nate Washington on the mend.

Darrius Heyward-Bey – OAK: Chaz Schilens will be out for several more weeks, so Heyward-Bey will be the top option for the Raiders by default. He is worth a late round flier based on his upside, but his best case scenario long term is a Bryant Johnson type that flashes ability inconsistently.

Michael Crabtree – SF: Crabtree continues to holdout. He has little redraft value left in 2009; he is worth a last round flier as a player to watch in 2010.

Deon Butler – SEA: Butler is another player that was worth another look this preseason based on his play. He could supplant Deion Branch at some point this season as the starting slot receiver.

Brian Hartline – MIA: Fourth round pick Brian Hartline got some starts this preseason so stay tuned to find out if it was a motivational play to Bess and Camarillo or if he is a deep sleeper good enough to start as a rookie in the NFL.

Sammie Stroughter – TB: Stroughter has proved he shouldn’t have fallen to the 7^th round and has worked himself into a prominent role in the Buccaneers’ offense.

Austin Collie – IND: Collie is too talented to keep off the field. He’ll be in a rotation with Pierre Garcon for the slot receiver position in the high octane Colts offense.

Mohamed Massaquoi and Brian Robiskie – CLE: Neither player stood out this preseason, but are worth monitoring because of the wide open opportunity at wide receiver in Cleveland.

Tight End

Jared Cook – TEN: Cook will play a hybrid WR/TE role in 2009, and will make some big plays out of the slot when matched against slower linebackers. Temper expectations (Remember Vernon Davis), but he could still be in for some big games.

Brandon Pettigrew – DET: Pettigrew will be the second receiving option for the Lions behind Calvin Johnson. He’s not worth getting excited about, but monitor him on the waiver wire. Rookie tight ends tend to struggle so don’t count on him for consistent production.

RookieBlitz.com Certified Fresh Rookies in 2009

The following players are worthy of being on your fantasy football roster in 2009 if at all possible:

QB: Mark Sanchez
RB: Knowshon Moreno, Donald Brown, James Davis, Mike Goodson, Bernard Scott
WR: Percy Harvin, Hakeem Nicks

Donald Brown, Knowshon Moreno, and Percy Harvin will cost you a mid-round selection as the hype around each is considerable. Each is worth the price to acquire them.

Monitor Sanchez, Davis, Goodson, Scott and Nicks as you fill out the end of your roster on draft day. The payoff for each could be huge, and you’ll beat your leaguemates to the punch as they lead your team to the top in 2009.

Stay tuned to RookieBlitz.com thought-out the season as we highlight the key rookie performances from each week and give you the analysis you need to win your fantasy football league!

The Rookie Blitz – Preseason Week #2

Razzball Invitational Draft Results

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On Monday night I participated in the Razzball Invitational Experts Draft with 9 other fantasy football experts. This 10 team league features standard scoring (non-PPR) and lasted 15 Rounds. The draft itself only took just over an hour to complete.

Starting Lineups consist of: QB, RB, RB, WR, WR, WR, TE, K, and DEF

Other than being weak at WR, I was really pleased with my draft and feel that it could be a contender. I stuck to my draft board, and took many value picks throughout the draft.

Here are my results drafting from the #3 Draft Slot with analysis. My personal rankings for each player are listed in parenthesis.

1. (3) Maurice Jones-Drew (RB2) I was ecstatic to land Jones-Drew 3rd overall. I had resigned myself to choosing between Matt Forte and Steven Jackson with Adrian Peterson off the board first overall. I’ve always been a fan of Jones-Drew’s talent and now in 2009 he finally gets his chance as the Jaguars lead back.

2. (18) Tom Brady (QB1) This was a tough choice between Brady and Calvin Johnson. Brady was the 6th best player overall on my draft board and to get him 18th overall was too good to pass up. I don’t expect Brady to eclipse 50 touchdown passes again, but he is head and shoulders above the other quarterbacks available. Don’t discount that giant sized chip on his shoulder now. Had Andre Johnson not gone 17th overall, he would have been the pick here.

3. (23) Ronnie Brown (RB11) All of the elite WR’s were gone at this selection and Brown has too much upside to pass up. This selection set the tone for the rest of my draft, and though I ended up with arguably the best QB, TE and starting RB’s I will be weaker at WR than most. I hope that Brown comes back strong in year 2 since ACL surgery and regain the form he has as the top RB to begin the 2007 season.

4. (38) Jason Witten (TE1) At this point, grabbing the top TE available made more sense that reaching for a middle tier WR. Witten will produce like a WR2, and I can piece together my WR’s later with high upside players.

5. (43) Anthony Gonzalez (WR15) This choice was between Anthony Gonzalez and Ochocinco. Ochocinco is on many comeback lists for 2009, but I don’t trust him or the Cincinnati offense. I am probably higher on Gonzalez than most, and the Colts offense will be dominant again. He is one of the few WR’s outside the top 20 with a chance at the top 10 if things break right.

6. (58) Knowshon Moreno (RB18) Still needing 2 more starting WR’s, I could not pass up Moreno at 58th overall. He should be an excellent bye week replacement and potential trade bait to land a WR during the season. Moreno is the top player overall in my rookie rankings.

7. (63) DeSean Jackson (WR20) I felt Jackson was a steal at this point and is another high upside pick with the potential for 1200 yards and 6 TD’s. McNabb will rely on Jackson as his #1 target at WR. Many other experts were targeting Jackson at this same spot in the draft.

8. (78) Baltimore (DEF1) I normally wait on defenses, but with this scoring system the top defense on my draft board was too good to pass up. Even with the loss of Rex Ryan, the Ravens will create havoc for opposing offenses.

9. (83) Jerricho Cotchery (WR31) I was happy to land Cotchery as my WR3 this late in the draft. He isn’t a flashy pick, but I hope that he consistently puts up solid numbers.

10. (98) Ray Rice (RB22) To get Rice here in the 10th round was a huge bargain. I had Rice rated as my 22nd best RB, and even in a committee in Baltimore he’ll put up starting quality numbers.

11. (103) Ted Ginn Jr. (WR32) I am lukewarm on Ginn, but even a team’s top WR is too hard to pass up in the 11th round. The much hyped Percy Harvin also went in the 11th round, but Ginn is already more polished.

12. (118) Rashard Mendenhall (RB38) This flier may come back to haunt me. I expected to land Josh Morgan at pick 123, so I instead went for the lottery ticket in Mendenhall becoming the featured back in Pittsburgh.

13. (123) Nate Kaeding (K2) I wanted Josh Morgan here but was thwarted by Rotoscoop.com. I had Kaeding as the #2 kicker available

14. (138) David Garrard (QB9) I was surprised Garrard lasted this long in the draft. I hope to only have to use him during Tom Brady’s Week 8 bye.

15. (143) Hakeem Nicks (WR67) I had planned to make this pick Percy Harvin (11th round) if he was still available, but Nicks is the next best rookie WR with the Crabtree holdout. I prefer to take high upside players late in the draft that could hit big and aren’t tough to drop for a hot waiver wire pickup.

Other Articles on the Razzball Invitational:

Razzball, Fantasy Depth Chart, and Big Troph

RookieBlitz.com Rookie Draft Guide

Wide Receivers Tier I – 2009 Season Preview

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Michael Crabtree – 49ers
Player Comparison – Brandon Marshall
Projected 2009 Stats – 60 rec, 794 yards, 6 TD

Crabtree is the top wide receiver prospect from the 2009 Draft regardless of what Al Davis thinks. There have been some rumblings that several teams removed Crabtree from their draft boards for reported “diva” character concerns. If Mike Singletary can put the eccentric Vernon Davis in his place, he’ll have no issues with Michael Crabtree.

Quarterback questions aside, Crabtree has the best pure wide receiver skills out of any other rookie. He runs excellent routes, has phenomenal hands, attacks the ball in mid-air, and turns into a running back with the football in his hands. He is not the physical specimen that Larry Fitzgerald was coming out of Pitt though he is held in the same high regard. Crabtree measured much shorter than expected at the Combine, and has yet to run a 40 yard dash. The game tape does not lie though; expect Crabtree to entrench himself as a top 10 WR in the NFL very soon.

Hakeem Nicks – Giants
Player Comparison – Marques Colston
Projected 2009 Stats – 46 rec, 550 yards, 4 TD

Nicks seemingly came out of no where in 2008, but NFL scouts have known who he is for awhile. Nicks played in a pro-style offense under former NFL head coach Butch Davis at North Carolina. Davis has taught Nicks what he’ll need to know to adapt to the NFL quickly and what it takes to be a professional at the next level. He will not lack any self confidence; reportedly he has already compared himself to Anquan Boldin.

With one of the toughest fantasy schedules this year and the swirling December winds of the Meadowlands, Nicks will still be a key contributor for the Giants. Steve Smith and Domenik Hixon are slated to open as the starting wideouts, but Nicks should have no problems passing the solid but unspectacular Hixon on the depth chart. Nicks already knows the NFL route tree, is fearless over the middle, has catcher’s mitts for hands and like Crabtree has loads of yards after catch potential. Draft Nicks with confidence.

Percy Harvin – Vikings
Player Comparison – Reggie Bush
Projected 2009 Stats – 158 rush yards, 1 TD, 47 rec, 560 yards, 3 TD

The Percy Harvin hype train is in full force already before training camp has even begun. Percy still has a lot of learn about playing wide receiver in the NFL, but he is already what the Bears hope Devin Hester can become as a WR.

Wide Receiver, Wildcat Quarterback, and Kick Returner are just some of the roles planned in 2009 for Harvin by Head Coach Childress. Much like the Saints do for Reggie Bush, the Vikings will give Harvin the ball in space and let him make plays. This will not change if Sage Rosenfels or Brett Farve is the quarterback. One thing is certain that cannot be said for many players in the 2009 Draft class; Harvin will be a threat to score any time he touches the football.

Jeremy Maclin – Eagles
Player Comparison – Ted Ginn Jr.
Projected 2009 Stats – 39 rec, 513 yards, 3 TD

The Miami Dolphins are still trying to determine if Ted Ginn Jr. can ever develop into a true #1 wide receiver three seasons later. Ginn has speed and quickness in spades, but if he cannot develop more toughness then he will never be anything more than a gadget player or decoy. If Andy Reid is not careful, the same fat could await Jeremy Maclin.

Maclin put up monster stats in the Missouri spread offense that made him the runner-up to Crabtree as the Biletnikoff winner in 2008. Maclin has several factors working in his favor: a great QB in McNabb, a pass happy offense under Reid and Marty Mornhinweg, and only the oft-injured Kevin Curtis in his way for a starting job. If Maclin develops, he and DeSean Jackson will keep opposing defensive coordinators up at night.

RookieBlitz.com

Fantasy Football Analysis from Bryan Fontaine