I asked this question in the Dez Bryant thread, but have not gotten an answer yet, so I thought I would put it out in its own thread since it also affects Gordon.
Can anyone think of a WR that was added to an NFL organization after week one of the NFL season that had a fantasy significant season afterwards? The player might have been acquired by trade or FA signing (as long as that signing was not off of that team's practice squad).
My hypothesis is that WR is the worst position for plug and play, that the learning curve of a new offense as well as no prior experience with a given QB's timing makes it very difficult for a WR to contribute to his new team mid season, and so far I cannot find anything to refute that.
If you can think of anything, please help.
Of the wide receivers that rank in the all time Top 250 in receiving yards, here were the ones that I found that played for more than one team in the same season. I listed the results on the new team and the number of games played. I have no idea how many games the newly acquired WR was available to play (ie, if the player was inactive for 3 weeks before playing or if the player was active for 6 games but only played in 3 games). I am not sure I caught all of them, but I would say I got most of them.
Jerry Rice (42) - OAK to SEA - 25-362-3 in 11 game
Randy Moss (33) - NEP to MIN - 13-174-2 in 4 games
Randy Moss (33) - MIN to TEN - 6-80-0 in 8 games
James Lofton (37) - RAMS to PHI 13-167-0 in 9 games
Henry Ellard (37) - WAS to NEP - 5-86-0 in 5 games
Charlie Joiner (25) - HOU to CIN - 8-133-0 in 6 games
Derrick Mason (37) - NYJ to HOU - 6-55-0 in 7 games
Andre Rison (29) - JAX to GBP - 13-135-1 in 5 games
Wes Welker (23) - SDC to MIA - in 14 games (used as a returner)
Wes Chandler (25) - NOS to SDC - 52-857-5 in 12 games
Eddie Kennison (28) - DEN to KCC - 16-322-0 in 5 games
Haven Moses (26) - BUF to DEN - 15-224-5 in 8 games
Chris Chambers (29) - MIA to SDC - 35-555-4 in 10 games
Chris Chambers (31) - SDC to KCC - 36-608-4 in 11 games
Reggie Rucker (24) - DAL to NYG - 1-9-0 in 4 games
Reggie Rucker (24) - NYG to NEP - 2-24-0 in 5 games
John Gilliam (32) - CHI to NOS - 11-133-1 in 10 games
JT Smith (23) - WAS to KCC 0-0-0 in 6 games
Deion Branch (33) - SEA to NEP - 48-706-5 in 11 games
Brett Perriman (32) - KCC to MIA - 19-309-1 in 8 games
Carlos Carson (31) - KCC to PHI - 1-12-0 in 6 games
Ronnie Harmon (33) - TEN to CHI - 2-8-0 in 1 game
Sonny Randle (33) - SFO to DAL - 1-12-0 in 6 games
Brandon Lloyd (30) - DEN to STL - 51-683-5 in 11 games
Roy Williams (27) - DET to DAL - 19-198-1 in 10 games
Gail Cogdill (31) - DET to BAL - 0-0-0 in 5 games
Danny Abramowicz (28) - NOS to SFO - 35-442-1 in 12 games
Antonio Bryant (23) - DAL to CLE - 42-546-4 in 10 games
Braylon Edwards (26) - CLE to NYJ - 35-541-4 in 12 games
Braylon Edwards (29) - SEA to NYJ - 10-125-0 in 3 games
Not sure what the barometer is for "having a fantasy impact" but there were a few guys that would at least have been on the fantasy radar.