By Dan Cypra, FantasyFanatics.com
FantasyFanatics.com is here to provide you with a breakdown of the latest trades and signings in the NFL, all from a fantasy perspective. Here’s a partial list of the big moves thus far. For each, we’ve included my take (Dan’s Take) and FantasyFanatics.com Football Expert LeafPhan’s (Blake’s Take).
If you want to chime in, Reply to this thread.
1. Asante Samuel to the Eagles
Dan’s Take: Samuel would help shore up an Eagles’ defence that might lose Lito Sheppard. Face it, he’s one of the top-five cornerbacks in the game. It can’t hurt to have him on your team.
Blake’s Take: I was surprised that Samuel didn’t get as much money as Nate Clements was paid the previous year from the 49ers. He is a great cover cornerback but Eagle ‘D’ owners be wary – he is not as good against the run, which could be a problem in the run-oriented NFC East.
2. Jerry Porter to the Jaguars
Dan’s Take: Earnest Wilford is a free agent, so it should be Porter lining up opposite Reggie Williams or Matt Jones in 2008. I don’t see a whole lot of value in Porter, who was outshined by anything and everything in Oakland, but David Garrard has looked better as a quarterback than Daunte Culpepper, Josh McCown, and JaMarcus Russell.
Blake’s Take: I don’t care what the pundits all say, this contract is madness. Porter has never had a 1,000 yard season and became cancerous when he was benched. Maybe Jack Del Rio can work some magic but I fail to see how this is a major upgrade for a team still searching for its next Jimmy Smith.
3. Javon Walker released by the Broncos
Dan’s Take: I could see a number of teams making it rain at Javon Walker. Rotoworld cites Dallas, Washington, Philadelphia, and Tampa Bay. I’d add Tennessee and Minnesota as well. He still needs to prove he’s healthy before you go drafting him early in your league.
Blake’s Take: The disenchanted Walker got his wish when the Broncos released him. A lot of teams are interested and it’s easy to see why. He should be 100 percent healthy and probably will come at a reasonable price compared to Bernard Berrian and Jerry Porter. He’d be a great fit in Dallas alongside Terrell Owens. Tampa Bay and Tennessee could desperately use a player like Walker, but for fantasy purposes, he would probably produce the most in the ‘Big D’.
4. Josh McCown to the Dolphins
Dan’s Take: He’s never played more than 14 games in a season and never tossed more than 11 touchdowns. That’s about all you need to know about his fantasy value. Whether he’ll start remains to be seen. Be very afraid.
Blake’s Take: It’s becoming comical watching the Dolphins deal with their mess at QB. First Daunte Culpepper instead of Drew Brees, then they passed on Brady Quinn for Ted Ginn Jr., while drafting an inept-looking John Beck, and now this? I suspect Bill Parcells isn’t done and that McCown is a failsafe. I believe the club will attempt to acquire Brady Quinn from the Browns around draft-time and correct last year’s mistake. Even if McCown is the starter, his ‘weapons’ are more like BB bullets.
5. Isaac Bruce to the 49ers
Dan’s Take: He’s reunited with Mike Martz. That’s the good news. He’s 35. That’s the bad news. He hasn’t logged more than seven touchdowns in a season since 2000. Darrell Jackson and Isaac Bruce are the top two now in the Bay Area. That makes me even less excited about Alex Smith.
Blake’s Take: I fail to see how signing a clearly over-the-hill wideoutt will solve the club’s gaping need at WR. As well, for a club that seemed clearly committed to a youth movement, their signings of Bruce, Nate Clements and the trade for Darrell Jackson are all confusing – what’s the direction? We saw the regression of quarterback Alex Smith in ’07; Bruce will not stop that.
6. Donte Stallworth to the Browns
Dan’s Take: It’s a bad sign when your quarterback throws 50 touchdowns and you managed to be on the receiving end of just three of them. Stallworth’s injury prone and took a back seat to Jabar Gaffney. That said, his role should increase in Cleveland opposite Braylon Edwards.
Blake’s Take: Stallworth’s agent deserves a medal (on top of his handsome fee) for getting his client this deal, despite being a mild disappointment on the best offense in two decades. I actually like this move for both the club and player. Joe Jurevicius is no spring chicken, and the club wanted to make sure that opposing defenses can’t blanket Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow. As long as Stallworth comes to camp motivated and healthy, this gives the team an even better mix for QB Derek Anderson. I also like the team’s depth – Jurivicius as the team’s third WR makes for an excellent corps.
7. Bernard Berrian to the Vikings
Dan’s Take: You can kiss away some of the fantasy value Berrian had. He’s the newest member of the Vikings. His value depends on the effectiveness of quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, which was decent last year, but still needs to improve. The Vikes also feature the league’s top ground game, which means Berrian may not be relied upon as much.
Blake’s Take: I thought Berrian was tired of playing with lousy QBs? Guess he didn’t watch much film of Tarvaris Jackson, which caused the Vikings to depend way too heavily on Adrian Peterson. The contract is also ridiculous – $42M, $20M guaranteed? Are you serious? The guy was a decent deep threat but doesn’t have the greatest hands nor has he made anyone around him look better. Vikings’ fans will eat Berrian for breakfast if he doesn’t produce Pro Bowl numbers.
8. Lance Briggs re-signs with the Bears
Dan’s Take: Great move for Chicago here, who were on the verge of losing its best offensive and defensive player too free agency. The defence has to improve in 2008. Briggs had a down year last season, but is one of the top players at his position in the NFL.
Blake’s Take: So much for Briggs and the Bears getting a divorce after he was franchised last year, much to his chagrin. Nothing solves that kind of ill will like a huge new contract. It’s a solid move and allows the team to maintain its continuity at its best position – the team should remain a solid run stuffing group thanks to Briggs and Brian Urlacher.
9. Michael Turner signs with Atlanta
Dan’s Take: Jerious Norwood’s breakout season will have to wait. The Falcons signed Michael Turner to a six-year contract. Turner looked pretty poor filling in for LaDainian Tomlinson towards the end of last season, but to his credit, he was injured. He’s averaging a career 5.5 yards per carry. Warrick Dunn seems to be dunzo as a result of this signing.
Blake’s Take: I love this move for Turner. His fantasy value shoots through the moon now – the only question is whether or not he is up to the challenge of being the starter as opposed to the change of pace back-up. I thought Turner showed he could be that kind of back in the playoffs last year against the Colts and Pats. Last I checked, the NFC South doesn’t have those kind of stout run defenses. I will boldface Turner for one of my best value RB picks in mock drafts in August.
10. Alge Crumpler to the Titans
Dan’s Take: OK, so the entire Falcons’ organization besides Roddy White was a major fantasy disappointment last season. Crumpler has got himself out of a bad situation and into a good one in Tennessee. Vince Young is searching for a reliable target on offense. Last season, it was Justin Gage. This season, it’ll be Crumpler. I’ll forecast smooth sailing for Pond Scum’s fantasy value as a safe option for VY.
Blake’s Take: Again, this is a fantasy coup for Crumpler fans/future owners. He thrived with another mobile QB (no comment where he is now); QB Vince Young desperately needed a solid pass-catching TE like Crumpler. As long as Crumpler is 100 percent, this is a steal, especially at for the reported $1 million signing bonus. Compared to some of the silly money that’s been handed out, the Titans pulled off a coup here.
11. Randy Moss re-signs with New Engand
Dan’s Take: Duh! This is the best move for all parties. Moss’ value in both reality and fantasy remains sky high. Routes for Wes Welker will remain open underneath and Tom Brady will be the first quarterback taken in every single draft format, except those that award extra points if your QB’s last name rhymes with “sexy.”
Blake’s Take: Earth-shattering news, isn’t it? I’m 99.9 percent sure the rest of the NFL barely wanted to bother talking to him when free agency opened – not because they weren’t interested, but because they knew he wouldn’t leave such a perfect situation. His agent is no dummy, Moss had a Hall of Fame year with Brady and stands his best chance at being a Hall of Famer by staying there. Nothing really changes fantasy-wise. Brady and Moss are the No. 1 picks at each position.
12. Brett Favre retires
Dan’s Take: I’ll believe it when I see Aaron Rodgers take the first snap in Week 1. In reality, Favre retiring all but kills the fantasy values of Donald Driver and Greg Jennings. Aaron Rodgers has one career touchdown and one career interception in three years in the NFL. He’s unproven and so you should draft accordingly.
Blake’s Take: I’m shocked on this one. Favre looked so reborn last year that I couldn’t even fathom a scenario where he didn’t come back. I’m on board with Dan here. I’ll truly believe this when (a) he turns in his retirement papers, which would automatically disqualify him from playing in 2008 and (b) when Aaron Rodgers suits up as starter on opening day. After three or four years of this game of “will he, won’t he” with Favre, one can’t help but be a skeptic. That being said, if he is done, it’s a huge fantasy hit. Driver and Jennings lose a lot of their luster and Rodgers is no sure thing, although he certainly had a heck of a tutor while he held the clipboard.
13. Javon Walker signs with Oakland
Dan’s Take: I don’t know what the heck the Raiders are thinking. Walker signed a six-year, $55-million contract, which is Randy Moss money. He’s aging, he can’t stay healthy, and he’s not going to be effective in Oakland. It’s hard to say how well quarterback JaMarcus Russell will perform next season. I just don’t see Walker being effective. If Randy Moss can’t be an impact player in Oakland, Javon Walker won’t, either. Stay away at all costs.
Blake’s Take: Just when I thought the height of stupidity had been reached with Berrian’s contract, here comes Al Davis. Let’s get this straight. Davis believes that Javon Walker is worth $55 million, more than $16 million of it guaranteed? Has he lost his mind? I hope fantasy fans aren’t as stupid. His value is already lower than his Green Bay days, and the man couldn’t even make the starting lineup in Denver.
14. Marty Booker to the Bears
Dan’s Take: Hooray. That’s just what the Bears needed. Championship. This is a ridiculous signing. Yes, he’s a veteran, but I’d rather have Muhsin Muhammad. I’d rather try to sign a guy with potential like D.J. Hackett or Brandon Lloyd than a washed up receiver searching for a rebirth on his old team. If Kyle Orton is tossing the ball to you, your fantasy value is toast.
Blake’s Take: Marty Booker goes home. Wow. I’m sure Bears fans are ecstatic over this homecoming. Booker barely registered as a fantasy threat for the last five seasons and now he goes back to a club that barely can beat Cleo Lemon’s numbers at QB. Best of luck to him and hope he likes the cold weather and much less forgiving fans.
15. Tony Richardson to the Jets
Dan’s Take: This is actually a great move for the Jets, who now have one of the top fullbacks in the game on their roster. Richardson blocked for Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor last season. That said, he’s aging, so his effectiveness may soon start to dwindle. It’s a leg up for the Jets’ run game featuring Thomas Jones and Leon Washington.
Blake’s Take: I have shot Thomas Jones way up my RB list already, and the presence of Richardson only enhances that value a tad further. The team has made huge strides to shore up their offensive line (Alan Faneca, Damien Woody) as they become yet another team to follow the NY Giants example to compete with the Pats. Go big up front and run the ball a ton. Richardson has an impressive resume of his own, as the lead blocker for Priest Holmes and Larry Johnson in KC, as well as last year’s top run offence in Minnesota.
16. Brandon Lloyd to the Bears
Dan’s Take: Lloyd has been the poster child of the word “bust.” He hasn’t caught a touchdown pass since 2005. February has more days (28) than he’s had catches in the last two years (25). 50 receptions would be a career high. Oh yeah, and either Rex Grossman or Kyle Orton is getting him the ball. Be very afraid.
Blake’s Take: Pardon me if I don’t run to fix my cheat sheets. That Bears passing game looks like a real juggernaut now, doesn’t it? Lemmie see – they’ve re-signed Rex Grossman over a better Brian Griese, brought back Marty Booker and let a better WR in Bernard Berrian go to a divisional rival (not that he was worth that insane contract) and now sign Lloyd? This signing barely registers a two on the Richter Scale of free agency signings. I also still think they will start Devin Hester, their one true gamebreaker, so one of Booker or Lloyd will be the third WR.
