Player Spotlight: Hines Ward, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers Options

[Jason Wood]

2009 Player Spotlight Series

One of Footballguys best assets is our message board community. The Shark Pool is, in our view, the best place on the internet to discuss, debate and analyze all things fantasy football. In what's become an annual tradition, the Player Spotlight series is a key part of the preseason efforts. As many of you know, we consider the Player Spotlight threads the permanent record for analyzing the fantasy prospects of the player in question. Last year, we published more than 120 offensive spotlights covering the vast majority of expected skill position starters. This year will be no different.

Each week we will post a list of players to be discussed. Those threads will remain open for the entire preseason, and should be a central point to discussion expectations for the player in question. Importantly, analysis done in the first week of posting will be part of the permanent record in two ways. 1) At the end of the week, we will tally the projections into a consensus. 2) We will select a number of pull quotes from forum contributors who make a compelling statement or observation. Both the projections and pull quotes will be part of a published article on the main website.

Thread Topic: Hines Ward, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

Player Page Link: Hines Ward Player Page

Each article will include:

• Detailed viewpoint from a Footballguys staff member
• Highlighted member commentary from the message board threads
• FBG Projections
• Consensus Member Projections

The Rules

In order for this thread to provide maximum value, we ask that you follow a few simple guidelines:

• Focus commentary on the player in question, and your expectations for said player
• Back up your expectations in whatever manner you deem appropriate; avoid posts that simply say "I hate him" or "He's the best"
• To be included in the final synopsis and consensus outlook, you MUST provide projections for the player

Projections should include (at a minimum):

• For QBs: Passing Yards, Passing TDs, Ints, Rush Yards, Rush TDs
• For RBs: Rushes, Rushing Yards, Rush TDs, Receptions, Receiving Yards, Receiving TDs
• For WRs & TEs: Receptions, Receiving Yards, Receiving TDs

Now let's get on with the conversation! We look forward to your contributions and let me offer a personal thanks in anticipation of the great debate and analysis.

[Banger]

The Rodney Dangerfield of WR's. I guess he didn't get the memo two years ago that this was Santonio's offense from here on out. As often happens with veteran wr's they are put out to pasture by the FF community several years before their NFL coaches do. He's still got great hands, he's still captain clutch and he'll still be leaned on in the redzone. Injuries always have to be a factor and you'll probably be able to get him a good bit cheaper than the final stats he'll put up. Last year he finished as WR15 with 81-1043-7 and he may drop off a bit from there but not that much. He's boring and doesn't have a lot of upside but he's a nice insurance policy you can get relatively cheap and shoot for a big upside guy later in your draft.

77-975-7

[mlball77]

More of the same, here. Ward should have another solid season. I don't see Holmes emerging as the clear #1 WR in Pitt, so I believe Ward postes the following:

Recs: 75
Yds: 900
TDs: 7

This post has been edited by mlball77: Jun 1 2009, 02:33 PM

[Jason Wood]

Ward seems to have fallen through the cracks here, so let's dig him back up.

Ward is 33 years old and, like many veteran receivers, is approaching a point in his career where even his most ardent supporters have to wonder when thinsg will slow down. While that's certainly an understandable risk, the fact remains that Hines enjoyed a bounce back year in 2008.

*** 81 receptions (his most since 2003)
*** 1,042 yards (his most since 2003)
*** 12.9 yards per reception (his best since 2006, and 0.7 yards better than his career mark)
*** 7 TDs (matching his 2007 showing)
*** 147 fantasy points (most since 2005)
*** WR15 ranking (most since 2005)

But what's remarkable about Ward is his consistency. Underlying his year end tallies, his target numbers show the importance of his steady presence in the lineup:

*** 2004 -- 105 targets in 16 games
*** 2005 -- 115 targets in 15 games
*** 2006 -- 126 targets in 14 games
*** 2007 -- 113 targets in 13 games
*** 2008 -- 126 targets in 16 games

With Santonio Holmes' heroic showing in the Super Bowl, a lot of people expect Holmes to make the natural transition into the Steelers WR1 much in the same way Torry Holt eventually overtook Isaac Bruce in St. Louis. Although that's certainly not out of the realm of possibility, it's also important to remember that we KNOW Ward is an all-around, proven weapon. Holmes needs to do it for a longer stretch than a few playoff games before I would completely dismiss Ward's role as the WR1.

At his current ADP (WR27), Ward represents insanely good value. He was WR15 last year and hasn't finished outside of the top 25 on a PPG basis since 2004.

*** 75 receptions
*** 960 yards
*** 7 TDs

[rzrback77]

Hines Ward is a football player. He is a great teammate, an outstanding wide receiver, a ferocious blocker that improves your team in almost every way. To me, he is a great example of the Pittsburgh Steelers. He just works harder than most and gets every bit of production out of his abilities. He will not let you down.

He has been fairly consistent since 2001, his 4th NFL season. He has finished top ten three times, and top 30 in seven of those eight seasons, falling to WR31 in 07 when he missed three games. He has has between 69 and 112 catches each year, even finishing top ten in that season with only 69 catches. His targets over the past five years have ranged from 105 to 126. He is even a reliable TD producer with 72 for his career and 6, 7, and 7 the last three years.

I like his chances to outperform his current ADP of WR27 and 72 overall. I see more of the same from last season in 09 for Hines Ward.

Hines Ward 120 targets 78 catches 65.0% 975 yards 12.5 ypc and 6 TDs

[JohnnyU]

Hines Ward is a football player. He is a great teammate, an outstanding wide receiver, a ferocious blocker that improves your team in almost every way. To me, he is a great example of the Pittsburgh Steelers. He just works harder than most and gets every bit of production out of his abilities. He will not let you down.

He has been fairly consistent since 2001, his 4th NFL season. He has finished top ten three times, and top 30 in seven of those eight seasons, falling to WR31 in 07 when he missed three games. He has has between 69 and 112 catches each year, even finishing top ten in that season with only 69 catches. His targets over the past five years have ranged from 105 to 126. He is even a reliable TD producer with 72 for his career and 6, 7, and 7 the last three years.

I like his chances to outperform his current ADP of WR27 and 72 overall. I see more of the same from last season in 09 for Hines Ward.

Hines Ward 120 targets 78 catches 65.0% 975 yards 12.5 ypc and 6 TDs

I still hate dislike him.

This post has been edited by JohnnyU: Jun 25 2009, 07:54 AM

[rzrback77]

Hines Ward is a football player. He is a great teammate, an outstanding wide receiver, a ferocious blocker that improves your team in almost every way. To me, he is a great example of the Pittsburgh Steelers. He just works harder than most and gets every bit of production out of his abilities. He will not let you down.

He has been fairly consistent since 2001, his 4th NFL season. He has finished top ten three times, and top 30 in seven of those eight seasons, falling to WR31 in 07 when he missed three games. He has has between 69 and 112 catches each year, even finishing top ten in that season with only 69 catches. His targets over the past five years have ranged from 105 to 126. He is even a reliable TD producer with 72 for his career and 6, 7, and 7 the last three years.

I like his chances to outperform his current ADP of WR27 and 72 overall. I see more of the same from last season in 09 for Hines Ward.

Hines Ward 120 targets 78 catches 65.0% 975 yards 12.5 ypc and 6 TDs

I still hate dislike him.

I am sure that you have lots of folks that feel the same way

[JohnnyU]

Hines Ward is a football player. He is a great teammate, an outstanding wide receiver, a ferocious blocker that improves your team in almost every way. To me, he is a great example of the Pittsburgh Steelers. He just works harder than most and gets every bit of production out of his abilities. He will not let you down.

He has been fairly consistent since 2001, his 4th NFL season. He has finished top ten three times, and top 30 in seven of those eight seasons, falling to WR31 in 07 when he missed three games. He has has between 69 and 112 catches each year, even finishing top ten in that season with only 69 catches. His targets over the past five years have ranged from 105 to 126. He is even a reliable TD producer with 72 for his career and 6, 7, and 7 the last three years.

I like his chances to outperform his current ADP of WR27 and 72 overall. I see more of the same from last season in 09 for Hines Ward.

Hines Ward 120 targets 78 catches 65.0% 975 yards 12.5 ypc and 6 TDs

I still hate dislike him.

I am sure that you have lots of folks that feel the same way

I'm sure most of us do, including yourself, but most of my colleagues don't consider me a dirty player at my job.

This post has been edited by JohnnyU: Jun 25 2009, 01:00 PM

[tdmills]

Hines Ward is a football player. He is a great teammate, an outstanding wide receiver, a ferocious blocker that improves your team in almost every way. To me, he is a great example of the Pittsburgh Steelers. He just works harder than most and gets every bit of production out of his abilities. He will not let you down.

He has been fairly consistent since 2001, his 4th NFL season. He has finished top ten three times, and top 30 in seven of those eight seasons, falling to WR31 in 07 when he missed three games. He has has between 69 and 112 catches each year, even finishing top ten in that season with only 69 catches. His targets over the past five years have ranged from 105 to 126. He is even a reliable TD producer with 72 for his career and 6, 7, and 7 the last three years.

I like his chances to outperform his current ADP of WR27 and 72 overall. I see more of the same from last season in 09 for Hines Ward.

Hines Ward 120 targets 78 catches 65.0% 975 yards 12.5 ypc and 6 TDs

I still hate dislike him.

I am sure that you have lots of folks that feel the same way

I'm sure most of us do, including yourself, but most of my colleagues don't consider me a dirty player at my job.

Sorry Keith Rivers...