FLOF's first ever pre-season rankings
Having just spent some time setting everyone's franchising values, I couldn't help but start ranking teams based on their potential franchised players. For this purpose, I looked only at offense (minus kickers) because its hard to tell who is really going to get franchised, particularly on defense, so I kept to the positions that typically get the most attention in franchising.
For each team, I looked at their QBs, RBs, and WRs and thought about how happy or un-happy I would be going into a season with those people as my potential starters. Based on this very scientific approach, here are my rankings and thoughts:
1) Bill's Team -- It would be hard to upgrade from Shaun Alexander, Carson Palmer, and Larry Fitzgerald in my view. The second WR slot might be filled by long-time Bill Hines Ward who isn't terrible for a 2nd fantasy WR in my view. Bill's got some depth at QB with Vince Young and Damon Huard and WR with a number of maybe decent type guys. Shaun Alexander will be the key to this season for Bill. Last year Shaun broke and so did Bill. At this time Bill doesn't have a RB on the roster other then Shaun I'd love to start week 1. [A]
2) CAPO -- Drew Brees figures to be the key to this offense, but if things break right CAPO could seriously challenge Bill for the top spot. TO was a head case last year and yet still put up decent numbers. Does change of coach give TO and Dallas another honeymoon year? Does Travis Henry become the next consistent back in Denver? Deion Branch and Derrick Mason have another year to get on the same page with their QB in a new setting. None of these bets seem too far fetched. I figure the WR picture will be the most important to CAPO unless Shanahan gets antsy. [A]
3) Flannel leads the group of teams that might have a small issue entering the draft. I can't argue with Peyton or a two-headed RB team of stud second year players in Addai and Maroney who will be full-time starters now. Its the WRs I worry about in Export. Santana Moss has good potential but I'm not sure who gets that number 2 spot and I'm not convinced that Washington can't screw up Moss' fantasy value. [A-]
4) The Rednecks might have and even better QB/RB situation then the Flannel with Tom Brady and Larry Johnson as potential starters. Heck, I'd be happy with Marc Bulger leading my team and he's Brady's back-up. But Rednecks have worse WR problems from where I'm standing. Maybe I'm biased, but when Plaxico Burress is arguably your #1 WR I'm unhappy. [A-]
5) Hamburglers were the best team in FLOF for most of last season, but then Trent Green went into the tank and Rex Grossman was just too inconsistent. If Rex matures a lot and the Chicago offense gets going, Hamburglers should be fine, but I'm not sure about Trent in Miami as a back-up to that. However, with LDT and the best WR combo in the Right Division (Javon Walker and Reggie Wayne) Hamburglers have the potential to rise above this spot. [A-]
6) Beavers head up the third group of teams with lots of questions but lots of potential who all reside in the Left Division. The big question/potential for Beavers is D McNabb's health. If he comes back fine, he's been one of the two best QBs in FLOF for years. If he doesn't Beavers have some fodder behind him in Culter and Kitna. The RB situation includes a lot of ifs. IF McAllister can have another solid year before Reggie Bush takes away touches or IF Norwood or DeAngelo Williams get to be full-time starters and respond. Steve Smith is probably the most dependable item on this offense, but that second WR spot would worry me. Antonio Gates has had his moments, but... [B+]
7) Drow have to be happy with Steven Jackson and Torry Holt. But the depth behind those two is iffy. The second WR spot relies on Terry Glenn or maybe Bernard Berrian or Donte' Stallworth? Then there's the QB problem. Matt Hasselbeck did not do real well last year and he lost his most dependable target in the off-season. And Michael Vick might be wearing a bright orange colored uniform before the season starts. [B+]
8) Lots of could-be's on the Brawler roster. J.P. Losman could break out, Byron Leftwich could get it together, Brian Westbrook could continue his historically decent performances, Rudi Johnson could get back to form, Marques Colston could avoid a sophomore slump, Roy Williams could fulfill his potential with a good receiver opposite him, finally. Lots of could-be's tend to add up to some wills and some will nots. [B+]
9) Just a shade below his franchise class mate sits Old No. 7. If only he could start more WRs. Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, and Anquan Boldin make for one of the better 3 WR groupings in FLOF. But youth reigns at RB and QB with a group of young RBs led by Reggie Bush who may still get limited touches in New Orleans and Jake Delhomme getting chased by Matt Leinart at the QB position. The future could be bright, but next season might be a learning curve. [B]
10) The Ramjets begin my list of teams with real serious problems. Perhaps the Ramjets biggest problem is the competition. Every other team in their division looks loaded on paper. They have to hope that their competitions implodes some in addition to wondering... if Eli finally starts playing like a Manning, when Portis figures out why Washington DC is not Denver, when half of his running backs sign with NFL teams, if the move to San Fran will hurt Darrel Jackson, why his second best WR (Antonio Bryant) is still a free agent too, or really why the NFL hates him? [C]
11) Most teams have at least one player out of their 4 main offensive starters I'd feel really good about. Except the Mimes. The WR corp just isn't good: Laverneous Coles? Greg Jennings? I'd not be happy about that group. Rivers came on at the end of the season for San Deigo, but his WRs still are nothing exciting and he's got a new offensive coordinator. Frank Gore had a good 2006, but can he do it again? The good news is that there is young talent in that RB/QB slot and they are bound to mature and get better. This team could jump if everything breaks for them. But mediocre seasons from Rivers or Gore could sink this team. [D]
12) Lightning have perhaps the deepest talent at WR in FLOF. Which is good because I'm not sure I'd franchise any one else on their offense. Marvin Harrison is their rock, Randy Moss and Andre Johnson are both super-talented but lately hurt by effort or circumstances, and Lee Evans has young talent. But... Their best QB is "retired." Pennington's going to play ok two seasons in a row? Jamal Lewis is the only guy who looks like a lock for an NFL starting RB. Tatum might start some early on, but probably nothing more then inconsistent spot duty over the season. Rumors are un-true that Lightning have lobbied the rules committee to allow WRs to start as RBs and QBs. [D]
For each team, I looked at their QBs, RBs, and WRs and thought about how happy or un-happy I would be going into a season with those people as my potential starters. Based on this very scientific approach, here are my rankings and thoughts:
1) Bill's Team -- It would be hard to upgrade from Shaun Alexander, Carson Palmer, and Larry Fitzgerald in my view. The second WR slot might be filled by long-time Bill Hines Ward who isn't terrible for a 2nd fantasy WR in my view. Bill's got some depth at QB with Vince Young and Damon Huard and WR with a number of maybe decent type guys. Shaun Alexander will be the key to this season for Bill. Last year Shaun broke and so did Bill. At this time Bill doesn't have a RB on the roster other then Shaun I'd love to start week 1. [A]
2) CAPO -- Drew Brees figures to be the key to this offense, but if things break right CAPO could seriously challenge Bill for the top spot. TO was a head case last year and yet still put up decent numbers. Does change of coach give TO and Dallas another honeymoon year? Does Travis Henry become the next consistent back in Denver? Deion Branch and Derrick Mason have another year to get on the same page with their QB in a new setting. None of these bets seem too far fetched. I figure the WR picture will be the most important to CAPO unless Shanahan gets antsy. [A]
3) Flannel leads the group of teams that might have a small issue entering the draft. I can't argue with Peyton or a two-headed RB team of stud second year players in Addai and Maroney who will be full-time starters now. Its the WRs I worry about in Export. Santana Moss has good potential but I'm not sure who gets that number 2 spot and I'm not convinced that Washington can't screw up Moss' fantasy value. [A-]
4) The Rednecks might have and even better QB/RB situation then the Flannel with Tom Brady and Larry Johnson as potential starters. Heck, I'd be happy with Marc Bulger leading my team and he's Brady's back-up. But Rednecks have worse WR problems from where I'm standing. Maybe I'm biased, but when Plaxico Burress is arguably your #1 WR I'm unhappy. [A-]
5) Hamburglers were the best team in FLOF for most of last season, but then Trent Green went into the tank and Rex Grossman was just too inconsistent. If Rex matures a lot and the Chicago offense gets going, Hamburglers should be fine, but I'm not sure about Trent in Miami as a back-up to that. However, with LDT and the best WR combo in the Right Division (Javon Walker and Reggie Wayne) Hamburglers have the potential to rise above this spot. [A-]
6) Beavers head up the third group of teams with lots of questions but lots of potential who all reside in the Left Division. The big question/potential for Beavers is D McNabb's health. If he comes back fine, he's been one of the two best QBs in FLOF for years. If he doesn't Beavers have some fodder behind him in Culter and Kitna. The RB situation includes a lot of ifs. IF McAllister can have another solid year before Reggie Bush takes away touches or IF Norwood or DeAngelo Williams get to be full-time starters and respond. Steve Smith is probably the most dependable item on this offense, but that second WR spot would worry me. Antonio Gates has had his moments, but... [B+]
7) Drow have to be happy with Steven Jackson and Torry Holt. But the depth behind those two is iffy. The second WR spot relies on Terry Glenn or maybe Bernard Berrian or Donte' Stallworth? Then there's the QB problem. Matt Hasselbeck did not do real well last year and he lost his most dependable target in the off-season. And Michael Vick might be wearing a bright orange colored uniform before the season starts. [B+]
8) Lots of could-be's on the Brawler roster. J.P. Losman could break out, Byron Leftwich could get it together, Brian Westbrook could continue his historically decent performances, Rudi Johnson could get back to form, Marques Colston could avoid a sophomore slump, Roy Williams could fulfill his potential with a good receiver opposite him, finally. Lots of could-be's tend to add up to some wills and some will nots. [B+]
9) Just a shade below his franchise class mate sits Old No. 7. If only he could start more WRs. Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, and Anquan Boldin make for one of the better 3 WR groupings in FLOF. But youth reigns at RB and QB with a group of young RBs led by Reggie Bush who may still get limited touches in New Orleans and Jake Delhomme getting chased by Matt Leinart at the QB position. The future could be bright, but next season might be a learning curve. [B]
10) The Ramjets begin my list of teams with real serious problems. Perhaps the Ramjets biggest problem is the competition. Every other team in their division looks loaded on paper. They have to hope that their competitions implodes some in addition to wondering... if Eli finally starts playing like a Manning, when Portis figures out why Washington DC is not Denver, when half of his running backs sign with NFL teams, if the move to San Fran will hurt Darrel Jackson, why his second best WR (Antonio Bryant) is still a free agent too, or really why the NFL hates him? [C]
11) Most teams have at least one player out of their 4 main offensive starters I'd feel really good about. Except the Mimes. The WR corp just isn't good: Laverneous Coles? Greg Jennings? I'd not be happy about that group. Rivers came on at the end of the season for San Deigo, but his WRs still are nothing exciting and he's got a new offensive coordinator. Frank Gore had a good 2006, but can he do it again? The good news is that there is young talent in that RB/QB slot and they are bound to mature and get better. This team could jump if everything breaks for them. But mediocre seasons from Rivers or Gore could sink this team. [D]
12) Lightning have perhaps the deepest talent at WR in FLOF. Which is good because I'm not sure I'd franchise any one else on their offense. Marvin Harrison is their rock, Randy Moss and Andre Johnson are both super-talented but lately hurt by effort or circumstances, and Lee Evans has young talent. But... Their best QB is "retired." Pennington's going to play ok two seasons in a row? Jamal Lewis is the only guy who looks like a lock for an NFL starting RB. Tatum might start some early on, but probably nothing more then inconsistent spot duty over the season. Rumors are un-true that Lightning have lobbied the rules committee to allow WRs to start as RBs and QBs. [D]
Labels: 2007
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home