NFL Fantasy Football Quarterbacks: 2009 Mark Sanchez Preview

Mark Sanchez – Quarterback -USC Trojans (Pac 10)

Height: 6′3″

Weight: 225lbs

Best 40 Time: 4.74s

Projected 40 Time: 4.85

Projected Bench:14 Times @ 225lbs

I can’t see Mark Sanchez staying another year at USC, eventhough he’d probably elevate his draft stock and possibly be the Number 1 Quarterback going into the 2010 draft.
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NFL Fantasy Football Tight End: 2009 Chase Coffman Preview

Chase Coffman – Tight End – Mizzou Tigers (Big 12)

Height: 6′6″

Weight: 252lbs

Best 40 Time: 4.76s

Projected 40 Time: 4.79

Projected Bench:18 Times @ 225lbs

Chase Coffman of the Mizzou Tigers is an incredible TE, and will prove to be fairly useful at the next level.
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NFL Fantasy Football Tight End: 2009 Jermaine Gresham Preview

Jermaine  Gresham – Tight End – Oklahoma Sooners (Big 12)

Height: 6′6″

Weight: 262lbs

Best 40 Time: 4.67s

Projected 40 Time: 4.75

Projected Bench: 20 Times @ 225lbs

Gresham has put up gaudy stats during his time with the OU Sooners.

His 2007 year yielded 37 catches for about 500 yards, and 11 TDs.
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NFL Rookie Wide Receivers’ Keeper Prospects: Part 2

There are always a few later round selections that put up solid numbers because while they may not have the elite talent, they do have the opportunity. Some of these guys have the elite talent, but there are other issues such as size or character that made them drop.

The Guys With Enough Opportunity to Warrant Keeper Consideration in Very Deep Leagues

Josh Morgan – San Francisco 49ers
40 Yard Dash Time: 4.46
Vertical Jump: 39″
Height: 6′0″
Weight: 220lbs
Drafted 6^th Round, 174^th Overall Pick
Receiving Yards: 214 & 2TDs

Josh Morgan has all the talent  in the world with the rare combination of speed, and size.  He spent his college career overshadowed by Eddie Royal at Virginia Tech, and inconsistant QB play made it difficult to evaluate either of these players. His draft day  stock dropped massively due to character and work ethic issues, but he seems to be adjusting okay to the NFL life style.

He’s currently sitting pretty as WR2 in Mike Martz’s 49ers offense.  This could mean big things for the young Morgan if he can  keep his head on straight.  With Isaac Bruce taking up the WR1, he’ll be splitting time with Bryant Johnson for most of this season.  However, with Bruce’s age getting way up there it wouldn’t be out of the picture to see him and Bryant Johnson start next year atop the depth chart.

Morgan’s worth a flyer next year in very deep leagues, and definitely worth a second look a couple years down the round when he, or if he, commits to football.

Chaz Schilens – Oakland Raiders
40 Yard Dash Time: 4.38 (on campus)
Vertical Jump: 43″ (on campus)
Height: 6′4″
Weight: 225
Drafted 7^th Round, 226 Overall Pick
Receiving Yards: <200

With a name like Chaz he has to make  this list.  He’s currently the WR2 on Oaklands Depth Chart but isn’t seeing WR numbers, but the opportunity is there.  He’s big, fast, and athletic however he seems to lack consistancy in route running and catching with his hands.  Great Measurables type guy, but needs a lot of work as a football player. He doesn’t quite seem to have the instincts yet, but was a nice late round flier.

Projects to the Drew Bennett, if he can really stay focused on improving. He should keep improving this year, and is a solid red zone target with his leaping ability.  Keep an eye out.

James Hardy – Buffalo Bills
40 Yard Dash Time: 4.47
Bench Press: 18
Vertical Jump 37″
Drafted 2^nd Round, 41^st Overall Pick
Height: 6′6″
Weight: 220lbs
Receiving Yards: 87 & 2 TDs

My God Mr. Hardy, would you please just develop. Hardy’s fast, tall, strong, and can jump.  He played at Indiana so there wasn’t the requisite hype, but Buffalo made a solid choice. James Hardy is currently occupying a starting wide-out role once the Bills get into the redzone, which is good news.

His  adjustments on the lob to the back corner  have been pretty terrible though. He’s got about a foot when you include his jumping ability, on some of these DBs but he’s failing to come down with the lob more often than not.

Hardy should add some weight, and with a couple years under his belt should be a damn good WR.  I have hardy as one of my top recievers out of this years class, 5 years from now.  Actually, I have him as number 1. Obviously, if he fails to add bulk and develop his route running he’s going to be a bust, but otherwise he’s got all the talent in the world and would make a great WR2 compliment to Lee Evans.

Obviously there are some other WR out there with opportunity to make an impact, and after the 2009 rosters are set it’ll be easier to see who’s going to get the chance to make an immediate impact. However, these three guys have already taken on Major roles in their teams passing attacks and while they aren’t as hyped as Royal, Avery and Jackson, they do possess very solid talent.  If they can keep their head on their shoulders, and adjust to the NFL lifestyle — they’ll be great. They all have boatloads of talent, and they can succeed in the NFL.

Part 1

Part III

NFL Rookie Wide Receivers’ Keeper Prospects, Part 1

The 2008 Class of Wide Receivers featured an incredibly deep talent pool with a great mixture of size, speed, and  hands. Unfortunately for fantasy players, no single receiver seemed to put everything together well enough to warrant a first round selection.  There were however 10 Wide Receivers selected in the 2nd Round.

The Keeper class of 2008 Rookie Wide Receivers breaks down into a few categories.  There’s the players who’ve started to put it together, the players with talent, and the players with opportunity and then there’s the rest.

The Guys Who Have Put It Together:

Eddie Royal – Denver Broncos
40 Yard Dash Time: 4.39
Vertical Jump: 36″
Height: 5′10″
Weight: 180lbs
Bench Press: 24 Times
Drafted 2^nd round, 42^nd overall
Receiving yards: 650 & 4 TDs

Playing Time: Check — Offensive Scheme: Check — Talent: Check

Eddie Royal has been tremendous playing opposite Brandon Marshall in Denver this year.  Coming into the NFL, Royal was compared to Steve Smith quite a bit. He’s incredibly fast, and unbelievably strong for his size. In addition to his 650 and 4TDs, he’s put together a very good return season: averaging over 12YPR on Punts, and a staggering 30YPR on limited KR duty.

Royal Projects fairly well, but doesn’t really have the frame to add more bulk, or more speed so short of opportunity he’s going to have issues getting better. However, on track for 1000 Yards and 6 or 7 TDs sits pretty damn well for a WR. He’ll have some issues if there isn’t a Brandon Marshall on the other side of the field, and probably lacks the ability to be a Number 1 but there’s been plenty of Number 2 Wide Recievers who’ve put up great numbers.

Donnie Avery – St. Louis Rams
40 Yard Dash Time: 4.40 on injured ankle (also clocked at 4.2)
Height: 5′11″
Weight: 186lbs
Bench Press: 16
Drafted 2^nd Round, 33^rd Overall Pick
Receiving Yards: 485 Yards, 2 Tds

Playing Time: Check — Offensive Scheme: Check — Talent: Check

Like Royal, Avery has the ability to be a solid return specialist and a solid number 2 guy.  Avery doesn’t possess the strength of Royal, but has blazing speed.  If the Rams can find some pass blocking, Avery should be a home run threat on every play. Normally I shy away from smallish receivers that rely on speed, but Avery has super awareness, and can find the soft spot in the zone in addition to just running by everyone.  He’s got solid hands, and looks sharp running routes.

DeSean Jackson – Philadelphia Eagles
40 Yard Dash Time: 4.35
Height 6′
Weight: 178
Drafted 2^nd Round, 49^th Overall
Receiving Yards: 650 & 1 TD

Playing Time: Check(ish) — Offensive Scheme: Check — Talent: Check

Yet another tiny reciever that’s blazing quick, and at the very least will remain a tremendous returner.  Jackson was amazing at Cal, but his long lanky frame is devoid of muscle.  Jackson had the opportunity earlier in the year filling in for an injured Kevin Curtis.  Since Curtis’ return he hasn’t been throwing up those 100 yard games, but he’s still putting up a solid 60 yards.

Jackson was one of the top Wide Reciever prospects coming into the draft, and also draws comparisons to  Steve Smith and Santana Moss.  He’s probably got the best combination of Agility and Speed in the class, but unlike Avery and  Royal lacks the upper body strength.

These are three guys who shouldn’t have issues with the Three Year WR integration period.  They’ll probably follow up their stellar rookie campaigns with similiar years in 2009. All three of them will however warrant more defensive game planning, and in turn more press coverage in the next few years.  With Royal’s and Avery’s strength, they should adjust well.  Jackson is in the air, he has the moves to avoid press coverage and get a release, but the more physical corners will give him some troubles.

Part II

Part III