Player Spotlight: Brandon Marshall (1 Viewer)

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: Brandon Marshall, WR, Denver Broncos

Player Page Link: Brandon Marshall 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 ProjectionsThe 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 playerProjections should include (at a minimum):

For QBs: Attempts, Completions, 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 TDsNow 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.

Marshall is a great talent. However his QB situation took a big hit. Orton is not close to Cutler in the arm strength and gunslinger aspects. However he is smart and Marshall is better than Royal still.

80 Receptions

1040 yards

6 touchdowns

1 Arrest

Marshall seems to only have off the field problems during the offseason, when he doesn't have anything else to do. In season his slate is clean as far as I know so if he's not dinged for his recent episodes I don't see any issues hitting him this season.

Orton's no Cutler, but Denver's defense is still awful and they will have to throw more than they'd like to win. His upside's a little lower with Orton under center, but Marshall will still get his. I'm assuming he's still a Bronco come opening day and if that's the case at his current rate along side guys like Braylon, Vincent Jackson, Housh, among others and behind guys like TO and Colston I'm buying.

I love these player spotlights and the wealth of opinions that come with them. Whenever any of my players come up for discussion I love getting a feel for the perceived value players have. Plus the variety of projections and speculation that come with each.

But as a Marshall dynasty owner - I was a little disappointed to see his name added to the spotlights so early.

I think it is pretty much near impossible to project or guess what Marshall is going to do this season.

We can all agree that Marshall is a special player -he is as gifted and talented of a WR as there is in the game. He has Randy Moss's big play ability, Boldin's run after the catch, and Fitzgeralds body control and size. He plays hurt, and so far as I can tell - when he is in the game he is not a distraction.

However nobody can guess what he is going to do this year. Will he hold out, will he force a trade, will he do something stupid? Will Denver cave and award him with a big contract, will they dump him, will they let him sit?

Can Orton get him the ball? How will Denver's offense be this year? Will they have a running game with Moreno? Will their defense keep them in games (no way) - so when they fall behind will Marshall be part of the desperation sling it offense?

I personally have no idea. I could come up with a ton of projections - each prefaced with an "IF.....".

Whatever happens - there will either be a bunch of happy Marshall owners who got him at a steal of a price, or a bunch of upset owners that wasted a pick on him. Whatever happens is any-one's guess.....

Pluses for this year (versus '08):

- McDaniels was quite the passing game architect in NE, could be good news for the play calling in Denver

- O-Line should continue to get better

- Another year under his belt, as good as he is, he's still a young, developing WR

Minuses for this year (versus '08):

- Exit Cutler, enter Orton

- Knowshon Moreno, Buckhaulter, and Lamont Jordan - The DEN backfield goes from Peyton Hillis to these three, which gives McDaniels a lot to work with if he decides he wants to grind it out.

On the whole, the minuses pretty strongly outweigh the pluses. I think Marshall will show flashes of brilliance, but the passing O just won't enable him to put up elite numbers. He'll be very good, but I see his ceiling in the WR 8-10 range, with a likely finish around WR15:

84 catches, 1100 yards, 7 TDs

jesseasi said:

We can all agree that Marshall is a special player -he is as gifted and talented of a WR as there is in the game. He has Randy Moss's big play ability, Boldin's run after the catch, and Fitzgeralds body control and size. He plays hurt, and so far as I can tell - when he is in the game he is not a distraction.

Click to expand...

I disagree with this part. Marshall is talented, but I'm starting to wonder if he's a special talent or simply a good talent who benefited from a special situation. I don't think he has Moss' big play ability or Fitz's body control and he seems to have a problem with drops though that could be because of his arm injury last off season.I really think both Cutler and Marshall may have already peaked. they are going to miss each other and perhaps as importantly miss Mike Shanahan. Marshall is talented but 2 of the big reasons he was as productive as he was were Cutler and Shanny. With them gone, I could easily see Marshall becoming a bit of an underachiever ala Braylon Edwards last season.Add to that his off field woes and his uncertain playing situation and I'm staying away. Far away.I'll say: 70 catches, 1,000 yards and 7 Td's. Assuming 16 games.In dynasty leagues, I'd sell now. Yes his value is down from what you could have gotten last year, but I think its about to go down even further.I initially thought people were overreacting to the Denver mess, now, I'm not so sure they were.

can't argue with that logic

don't mean to interrupt the spitting contest but getting back to the overall topic, he has too many question marks for me as well. and yes he is a loser. but remember this is an NFL WR we're talking about, it's almost a prerequisite nowdays I just don't see top numbers coming from a guy with a lesser QB, new coaching, questionable health and all.

Could we get some predictions in here?

predictions

75 catches

950 yards

5 td's

So is he going to show up for TC or what?

I dont know why, but I'm a little bullish on this guy. I have no reason for this because everything we know looks iffy. New coach, worse QB, rookie RB, recovering from hip surgery, constantly in trouble, doesnt want to be in denver, etc etc.....

80-1100-9