Fantasy News
With poll five we're coming swinging for Santana Moss. We've been way lower across the board on Redskins versus your average website or magazine rankings and we're tossing up Santana Moss (the #31 WR in average draft rankings – MFL data) to the wolves - against Mohammed Massaquoi [#48], Jabar Gaffney (#53 - Gaffney spikes to # 44 if you look at only 12-team average draft data) and Tampa Bay rookie Mike Williams (#61).
It's your poll vote and we are willing to concede we may be wrong on Santana Moss. He's off a 70-catch, 900-yard season and the team has added Donovan McNabb at quarterback. Maybe it's our dynasty approach (Moss is 31) - perhaps Moss will deliver a career-like season like the one he had in 2005, his first-year as a Redskin, when he threw down a stoutly 84-1,483-9 TDs (good enough to be the #3 overall WR that year, his only season as a Pro Bowl receiver). That said, we're coming for Moss with Mohammed Massaquoi, Jabar Gaffney and Mike Williams, ones we think can match or pass Moss' productions rounds later (Moss is a late 7th-rounder on average here in July versus Massaquoi who has an 11th round price tag on average, the highest of the three). Moss is now entering 10th NFL season, four as a Jet and six as a Redskin. Moss is proof-positive of the 3rd-year WR season teeing off as Moss connected for 74-1105-10 TDs in his third year (from 30-433-4 TDs in his 2nd season). Since 2005, Moss has averaged 66-868-5 TDs per season.
First up, Mohammed Massaquoi. Don't get us wrong, Massaquoi has his negatives - like Jake Delhomme on the other side of this connection. However, we like Massaquoi's game. Massaquoi didn't have stellar QB play last year with Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson either but had a solid rookie showing. Massaquoi is built and plays like a #1 WR (listed at 6-2, 207 lbs) and delivered 18.4 yards each time he caught the ball for the Browns last season (34 receptions). For receivers with 30+ receptions, Massaquoi was 3rd-best in the NFL last year with an 18.4 yards-per-catch average behind Mike Wallace and DeSean Jackson.
Like Moss and Massaquoi, Jabar Gaffney has a good shot to be its team #1 WR. Denver added WRs Demaryius Thomas (a far more superior talent of course) and Eric Decker in the draft but Gaffney is a lock to start. Thomas broke his foot in February and is still gaining form (he didn't run at the Combine) but he should be the other starter with Eddie Royal out of the slot as Denver fills the void left by trading Brandon Marshall. With Marshall suspended by the team in week 17, Gaffney threw down a crazy 14-catch, 213-yard game to close out the season. That was on the heels of a 7-69-2 TD game in week 16. Gaffney isn't a #1 WR but the 29-year old (and former 2.01 pick of the 2002 NFL Draft) is their most NFL-ready WR heading into week one. When HC Josh McDaniels got on board with the Broncos last year he quickly inked Gaffney to a surprisingly high 4-year, $10M deal in Feb 2009 (McDaniels coached Gaffney for three years at New England as his offensive coordinator). Gaffney responded with a career-best 54-catch, 730-yard season last year in his first year with the Broncos, career highs for Gaffney.
Lastly, we're going curveball with Tampa Bay rookie WR Mike Williams. We know he's a 4th-round rookie wide receiver but we think Williams can compete in this match. According to his average draft position, Williams is a big-time long shot. In magazine rankings, Williams averages as the #81 WR prospect for this season (compared to #26 for Santana Moss, #39 for Massaquoi and #51 for Gaffney). Williams highest ranking is #68/69 in two magazines but in many he's not even listed (or they stop after 80 WRs). We're on board with Williams and have him slotted ahead of fellow 2010 draft pick Arrelious Benn in our dynasty rankings (Benn was taken with the 7th pick of the 2nd round by Tampa and his current ADP is #45). Williams comes with "off-the-field" questions marks (which is why he fell to the 4th round) but he is an impressive athlete with a great combination of size, speed, and athleticism. Williams was a full-time starter for just one year (2007), but started 22 games over the course of four years at Syracuse. Between the conclusion of the 2007 season and the beginning of the 2009 season, Williams caught a TD pass in 10-straight games.
Vote in the official Dynasty Rogues Speed Bump Challenge: http://dynastyrogues.com/headline/?id=218
Speed Bump 1 - Best vs Grant vs Thomas
Speed Bump 2 - 2009 AFC Breakout WR Battle
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Posted by KEVIN WEAKLAND | Jul. 30 at 01:43 PM
My thoughts on Moss is that he's always been the kind of WR that just caught the long ball. He's never been the kind of WR that put up alot of numbers. Fantasywise I suppose its all where you draft him but in my book he's a replacement for a bye week