Player Spotlight: Kevin Walter (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: Kevin Walter, WR, Houston Texans

Player Page Link: Kevin Walter 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.

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I actually have been watching and waiting on Kevin Walter news - quite frankly - I'm glad he's going un-noticed.

#2 WR across from AJ - with a capable QB (as long as he's healthy) and a good running game - I see this as a very good situation to end the season with:

1000 yds and 9 tds

floor - 700 yds and 4 tds

ceiling - 1100 yds and 11 tds

From an AJ owner last year I really started hating this guy by the end of the year. Walters doubled his touchdown totals from 4 to 8 in 2008 and if you just look at the FFL season (weeks 1-16) actually scored more tds than AJ (6). Walters also had 9 red zone targets from weeks 12-16 compared to AJ's 7 a key time in the FFL playoffs. For the FFL season, weeks 1-16, AJ had 26 red zone targets to Walters 24. Walters also had the same number of 3rd down targets as AJ last year - 35.

This team's running game appears to be headed in the right direction where last year their overall rushing tds increased from 9(2007) to 16(2008) and a decrease in passing tds from 24(2007) to 21(2008) with Walters getting 8 of the 21. If we just look at weeks 1-16 Walters had 8 of the 19 passing tds last year with 5 of his 8 tds being in the red zone.

In 2008 probably due to the emergence of AJ it allowed Walters to be in some favorable matchups especially in the red zone. I also believe Walters is hampering Owen's red zone productivity.

Prediction:

Walters - 60 receptions 950 yds - 6 tds

Very similar to last year a slight up tick in yardage w/the possibility of a 1000 yd season in the works w/a drop in td totals. As Houston becomes more successful running the ball and IF CB can punch it in this year when they get down there I think this will have an negative effect on Walters overall tds. I dont know if the defenses will be watching out more for Walters in the red zone this year but if so maybe this year Owen can get more red zone targets. I am optimistic on Houston this year and see them as a team scoring more and gaining more total yards. I believe Walters is a bigger part of the Texans game plan than many realize and it took me last year watching this guy take away catches and tds from AJ before I saw the light. I preferred the Texans passing offense when it was just AJ and Owen

The lack of attention to Walter is REALLY encouraging IMHO. Means that a lot of people think last year was a fluke, which means Walter is going to come cheaply in a LOT of leagues.

Jason Wood said:

The lack of attention to Walter is REALLY encouraging IMHO. Means that a lot of people think last year was a fluke, which means Walter is going to come cheaply in a LOT of leagues.

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I was thrilled to get Walter in the 8th round on my draft tonight. He is my 3rd WR in a 12-team league (behind Jennings and Royal), my RBs are Tomlinson, Grant and McFadden, my TE is Witten, and Palmer is my QB. Those were my first eight picks. I am more than pleased. I think Walter will be a solid number 3.

Feast or famine, and I'm not sure you can figure out when to start or sit him. Starting the season off injured is not going to change that the first few weeks. Very good for best ball format where you have 5 or 6 WRs capable of going off in any one game.

Go DC Yourself said:

Feast or famine, and I'm not sure you can figure out when to start or sit him. Starting the season off injured is not going to change that the first few weeks. Very good for best ball format where you have 5 or 6 WRs capable of going off in any one game.

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Assuming Walter will be healthy (I'm getting a little nervous about his hamstring) he will be a very solid 3rd wr. His high end could be that of a modern day Ed McCaffrey. It is not impossible that he puts up 1,100 with 9td's. His floor is 775 yards with 5 td's.

Louisville Slugger said:

Go DC Yourself said:

Feast or famine, and I'm not sure you can figure out when to start or sit him. Starting the season off injured is not going to change that the first few weeks. Very good for best ball format where you have 5 or 6 WRs capable of going off in any one game.

Click to expand...

Assuming Walter will be healthy (I'm getting a little nervous about his hamstring) he will be a very solid 3rd wr. His high end could be that of a modern day Ed McCaffrey. It is not impossible that he puts up 1,100 with 9td's. His floor is 775 yards with 5 td's.

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I agree with your range, and those are solid WR3 numbers. The problem is that, at least last year, more so than most other WRs, he put up WR1/2 numbers some games, and WR6 numbers in others.