Deion Branch - Huge value in 2006? (1 Viewer)

[cstu]

Branch finally stayed healthy for a season in 2005 and ended up as the #22 WR, despite being on a team that loves to spread the ball around. With the losses of Givens, Andre Davis and Troy Brown another year older, the Patriots are very thin at WR with Branch being by far the best WR they have.

While the Patriots may draft a WR early, he probably won't be able to contribute much right away. The Patriots signed Caldwell away from the Chargers, but he hasn't been the same since his ACL injury. Most people are expecting a big year from Ben Watson, myself included, but he won't be able to completely make up for the loss of Givens and Davis.

I think Branch is easily a top 20 WR given his situation this year and will be a huge value if he slips past the WR20 in drafts. He's definitely not a sexy pick, but his downside is very low and he does get a lot of targets. I can see him having a breakout season with 1200 yards and close to 10 TD's.

 

[Imedos]

I still think they spread the ball around.

You don't need great wrs in a spread O if you have a qb as savy and accurate as Brady.

I think it's very possible he ends up with 1200 yards as he will have his chances, but doubtful on the 10tds.

 

[David Yudkin]

Davis had all of 9 receptions and Dwight had 19. They will not be missed. Givens' production is what has to be accounted for, and it's not inconceivable that Reche Caldwell could garner a decent chunk of it if he stays healthy (admittedly a big if).

The Pats are clearly not done adding WR depth. Scuttlebutt has them re-signing David Patten should (once?) the Redskins release him June 1st. The Pats are still looking at other options and were in the running for Peerless Price before Buffalo lost their minds and way overpaid for him the other day. I would not rule out N.E. drafting a WR either.

IMO, Branch will get a slight uptick in targets but not enough to push him into the Top 10. The beneficiaries in Foxboro could likely be Caldwell, Ben Watson, and more passes to RB out of the backfield (Faulk had about 30 receptions playing in half the season last year). Watson could get the red zone looks that Givens used to get.

 

[Wade]

I think it'll be closer to 1100/6; I expect many of the receptions and TDs will go to the TEs...also, Brady has a couple RBs who are fair receivers.

 

[Cunning Linguist]

This is what I said last year. I took him as my WR#2 and was disappointed.

 

[cstu]

This is what I said last year. I took him as my WR#2 and was disappointed.

He gave you #2 numbers and probably out-performed where you drafted him. My view is that Branch is Brady's go-to receiver and his targets should only go up with the lack of receiving options for the Patriots. It will still be a spread offense but Branch could hit the 100 catch mark this year.

 

[Sopranos]

Problem with Branch is he is shut down when he is double teamed. He even said so when it happened. Had too many games where he had less than 60+ yards. I see him as a 3rd WR at best.

 

[cstu]

Problem with Branch is he is shut down when he is double teamed. He even said so when it happened. Had too many games where he had less than 60+ yards. I see him as a 3rd WR at best.

Most WR's get shut down when they are double-teamed. Reggie Wayne had 6 games under 60 yards - the same as Branch (didn't include week 17 for either) and both had nearly identical 2005 seasons.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

I think Branch is easily a top 20 WR given his situation this year and will be a huge value if he slips past the WR20 in drafts.

Agreed. He was more or less a top 20 WR last year, and I don't see why things would be any worse for him this year.

He's definitely not a sexy pick, but his downside is very low and he does get a lot of targets. I can see him having a breakout season with 1200 yards and close to 10 TD's.

Those numbers are very optimistic IMO, especially the TD number.I would be very comfortable drafting Branch as a WR3, expecting to get WR2 production. I'd be okay with him as my WR2 if I sluffed the position and was solid elsewhere. I would not want to take him as my WR2 needing for him to perform like WR1 to make my team competitive.

 

[MLBrandow]

I have been high on Branch the last two seasons.

I think I will be more reserved this season. The Patriots receivers don't even have real names... they are just WR1, WR2, WR3, WR4, WR5, etc...

The coaches don't care who gets the ball, and they've instilled that into the receivers.

I would bet you before last season, most fantasy footballers couldn't even tell you the difference between David Givens, David Patten and Deion Branch.

 

[cstu]

I think Branch is easily a top 20 WR given his situation this year and will be a huge value if he slips past the WR20 in drafts.

Agreed. He was more or less a top 20 WR last year, and I don't see why things would be any worse for him this year.

He's definitely not a sexy pick, but his downside is very low and he does get a lot of targets. I can see him having a breakout season with 1200 yards and close to 10 TD's.

Those numbers are very optimistic IMO, especially the TD number.I would be very comfortable drafting Branch as a WR3, expecting to get WR2 production. I'd be okay with him as my WR2 if I sluffed the position and was solid elsewhere. I would not want to take him as my WR2 needing for him to perform like WR1 to make my team competitive.

If you think he'll be a top 20 WR, why would you not want him at your #2, especially if you can get him closer to a #3 around WR25? It has nothing to do with sluffing the position - when you can get value (which I belive Branch is) you go for it. Getting a WR of Branch's caliber in the 7th round is fantastic.

 

[Wade]

Reggie Wayne had 6 games under 60 yards - the same as Branch (didn't include week 17 for either) and both had nearly identical 2005 seasons.

Don't forget that Wayne stopped playing after losing to the Chargers in week 15, which means he missed that juicy stat padding game against the Cardinals in week 17.

 

[David Yudkin]

I think Branch is easily a top 20 WR given his situation this year and will be a huge value if he slips past the WR20 in drafts. 

Agreed. He was more or less a top 20 WR last year, and I don't see why things would be any worse for him this year.

He's definitely not a sexy pick, but his downside is very low and he does get a lot of targets.  I can see him having a breakout season with 1200 yards and close to 10 TD's.

Those numbers are very optimistic IMO, especially the TD number.I would be very comfortable drafting Branch as a WR3, expecting to get WR2 production. I'd be okay with him as my WR2 if I sluffed the position and was solid elsewhere. I would not want to take him as my WR2 needing for him to perform like WR1 to make my team competitive.

If you think he'll be a top 20 WR, why would you not want him at your #2, especially if you can get him closer to a #3 around WR25? It has nothing to do with sluffing the position - when you can get value (which I belive Branch is) you go for it. Getting a WR of Branch's caliber in the 7th round is fantastic.

Braanch just went as the #20 WR off the board in a draft I recently completed.

 

[Boston]

Problem with Branch is he is shut down when he is double teamed. He even said so when it happened. Had too many games where he had less than 60+ yards. I see him as a 3rd WR at best.

This is the biggest problem Branch faces. As of now there really isn't a WR on the Pats roster who can take pressure off of him. The Pats will still add to their WR corps so that could change. If it doesn't than defenses will focus early and often on Branch (as they should). The problem for Branch is he isn't physically strong enough to beat double teams. The guy is a big time talent, has good speed, good hands and runs fantastic routes. Yet, he's not a big guy and can be manhandled. Watson will take some heat off of him but adding another quality WR or two would go a long ways towards Branch reaching his full potential. He's by far their top receiving threat but the combo of the Pats spreading the ball around and a lack of a #2 (and maybe even #3) WR make his fantasy situation a little dicey on a week to week basis.

 

[Maroney=Speed]

I agree with the posters that said he will not be a huge value. The guy is a good player and may see a few more targets this season, but to be a HUGE value he would have to put up 90+ and 10 TDs. I don't see that happening.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

I think Branch is easily a top 20 WR given his situation this year and will be a huge value if he slips past the WR20 in drafts. 

Agreed. He was more or less a top 20 WR last year, and I don't see why things would be any worse for him this year.

He's definitely not a sexy pick, but his downside is very low and he does get a lot of targets.  I can see him having a breakout season with 1200 yards and close to 10 TD's.

Those numbers are very optimistic IMO, especially the TD number.I would be very comfortable drafting Branch as a WR3, expecting to get WR2 production. I'd be okay with him as my WR2 if I sluffed the position and was solid elsewhere. I would not want to take him as my WR2 needing for him to perform like WR1 to make my team competitive.

If you think he'll be a top 20 WR, why would you not want him at your #2, especially if you can get him closer to a #3 around WR25? It has nothing to do with sluffing the position - when you can get value (which I belive Branch is) you go for it. Getting a WR of Branch's caliber in the 7th round is fantastic.

I think he'll be a top 20 WR, but his upside is more limited than other guys whose stats might project out the same. If I draft Branch, I'm real confident that I'm getting a marginal WR2. With luck, maybe he'll be an above-average WR2. But that's about it. I have a preference for drafting WRs with higher ceilings.

 

[AnonymousBob]

I'm a fan of his and have defended him in a few threads but I'm not so sure he'll be a good value. I expect him to finish in the top twenty but I expect he'll get drafted in the top twenty as well. If he falls he's mine but it's more likely I'll end up with a guy like Rod Smith if I want value.

 

[Buckeyedawgs]

Brady has shown at times he loves to lock in on Branch. (super bowl MVP comes forefront) Problem is NE is a master mind at changeing game plans from week to week or even quarter to quarter. Branch can be a WR 1 one week and a not worthy of a starter the next. I compare him to Steve Smith potentional but with twice the amount of dud weeks. I see him as a bottom line WR-2 with upside without Givens. He will award you some weeks and dissapoint you some weeks as he always has done. I moved him up my cheat sheets some from previous years but won't over pay to draft him like I will some of other receivers.