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Del Pilar’s Digest: Players whose stock is fallingBy William Del Pilar, ProFootballWeekly.comSep 2, 5:41 pm EDT
Del Pilar's Digest: Players whose stock is fallingEvery season there are players that rise and fall and it's always a disappointment to see some of them fall. We're happy when we grab an undervalued pick but wonder why we missed on those who fall. Most of the time it's merely staying up to date on the latest player news. That's what I'm here for. Let's see what players you need to avoid and what players are being drafted too high and should fall:QUARTERBACKSMatt Cassel(notes), ChiefsCassel' had a bad preseason, struggling with his accuracy and timing. It doesn't help that rookie WR Jonathan Baldwin(notes) (cracked thumb) has not been able to work with him after reportedly getting into a fight with RB Thomas Jones(notes) that caused the injured thumb. Plus, WR Steve Breaston(notes) (knee) and TE Tony Moeaki(notes) (knee), both have been limited as they recover from offseason surgeries. It all means that Cassel has not been able to develop chemistry with his receivers. Adding insult to injury, Cassel landed on his shoulder in the final preseason game, scaring the team but merely knocking the wind out of him. It epitomized the preseason he has had. He won't get into form until midseason.Tarvaris Jackson(notes), SeahawksAt times in life, we're in situations where nothing we do turns out right and when we try harder, it only gets worse. That's the kind of preseason Jackson has had. A bad camp, bad preseason games and yet he's still the starter. Through three preseason games, Jackson had completed 27-of-48 passes (56.3 percent) for 181 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Backup Charlie Whitehurst(notes) has outplayed him, completing 33-of-47 passes (70.2 percent) for 265 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions. Jackson is not draftable, and stay away from the Seahawks' running backs and receivers.RUNNING BACKSRyan Mathews(notes), ChargersMathews' role is the first- and second-down back with Mike Tolbert(notes) coming in for red-zone carries and on passing downs. What's noteworthy is the fact that head coach Norv Turner was once a believer in using a single back but now he is firmly in the tandem camp — and he plans on using that philosophy with his two star rushers. Mathews is no better than a low-end No. 2 fantasy back and he's going too high in drafts. His ADP (average draft position) is No. 34 overall (Round Three in a 12-team league). Owners better hope he can score from outside the 20-yard-line because that's what it looks like it will take.Ahmad Bradshaw(notes), GiantsBradshaw is another player who's going way too high for his timeshare. Many assume a split like last season but that's not the case. The team plans on using Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs(notes) as a one-two punch in 2011 with a similar number of touches for each. Bradshaw's ADP is too high at No. 27 overall (Round Three in a 12-team league).Ryan Grant(notes), PackersGrant had a solid camp but James Starks(notes) had a great camp. Grant has looked average and doesn't seem to have his pre-injury burst but can still get between the tackles and to the outside. Starks looks like he has playmaking potential. Head coach Mike McCarthy will go with the hot hand, whoever is playing better and who matches up better. Grant is not an early mid-round pick and is going slightly too high. If you avoid him, target Starks later in the draft.Daniel Thomas(notes), DolphinsThomas did not have a great preseason. He was dancing too much, wasn't hitting the holes hard and was struggling to pass-block. Originally drafted to be a featured back, Thomas has dropped to backup status, with Reggie Bush(notes) now expected to see most of the touches. The Dolphins have not given up on Thomas but it's no secret they are disappointed and this could lead to Thomas struggling mentally as the season wears on. If a young player believes he's in the doghouse things could get worse before they get better. He's no better than an injury fill-in fantasy back.Justin Forsett(notes), SeahawksForsett might lose third-down touches to Leon Washington(notes). The team wants to get Washington's skills on the field but has said that it will find a role for Forsett. Forsett is still the primary handcuff to Marshawn Lynch(notes) as Washington can't carry the load as a starter. Forsett's value is only to Lynch owners.Donald Brown(notes), ColtsBrown has been a big disappointment and now he has lost the backup job to rookie Delone Carter(notes). He has no upside and this is probably his last season with the Colts. Avoid him on draft day, and if you own Joseph Addai(notes), handcuff him with Carter.Anthony Dixon(notes), 49ersDixon is losing the backup battle to rookie Kendall Hunter(notes) but should keep his role as the goal-line back. He has no value outside the handcuff to Frank Gore(notes). Hunter simply has looked that good, to the point the team will use him to take advantage of his playmaking skills. Avoid Dixon as he might lose the No. 2 job.Steve Slaton(notes), TexansIt's likely Slaton already has been cut from the Texans when you read this. He'll sign somewhere else and keep an eye on where he lands but as long as he's a Texan he's not worth a draft slot. He's behind Arian Foster(notes), Derrick Ward(notes) and Ben Tate(notes) in the pecking order.Chester Taylor(notes), BearsTaylor has nothing left in the tank and will not be with the Bears after this weekend. He'll get picked up but has absolutely no value. Ignore him on draft day.Derrick Ward, TexansWard is being outplayed by Ben Tate and even though he's technically the backup to Arian Foster, I believe Tate eventually will take that job. You have to handcuff Ward, as head coach Gary Kubiak is likely to give the veteran first shot to replace Foster, but I would suggest grabbing Tate as well.Javon Ringer(notes), TitansThere's nothing wrong with Ringer, it's just that Chris Johnson is back. Ringer will drop in drafts but is still the handcuff. He's healing from a hip injury but should be ready for Week One.WIDE RECEIVERSSidney Rice(notes), SeahawksRice is on a team that is struggling to find good QB play. That will affect him directly. Tarvaris Jackson, who came to the team knowing the offense is struggling without showing improvement. His competition, Charlie Whitehurst, has outplayed him but is not in competition for the starter's job. Jackson enters the season starting and not able to get the ball to Rice. The big wideout is not worth an early mid-round pick if the quarterback can't get him the ball. Pass on him.Brandon Lloyd(notes), Broncos Lloyd is having issues with his knee and, though there is not great concern, he's not very big at 6-feet, 194 pounds and durability could be an issue. He's more suited for the slot and I expect Eric Decker(notes) to eventually supplant him by play or injury. This is also a run-first offense. Lloyd wouldn't be on this list if his knee hadn't flared up but combined with his size and the fact that he's getting drafted too early, it tells me to avoid him.Devery Henderson(notes), SaintsThere were rumblings that Henderson could get cut, but he will make the team as the No. 4 receiver. In other words, he won't be in the same starting position as last season and is merely a late-round flier on deep rosters. He has lost a step and the continued growth of Robert Meachem(notes) and Lance Moore(notes) finally has pushed him aside. I wouldn't even think about drafting him, as he's buried on the roster barring inury.Roy Williams, BearsHow bad can it get for a player with the talent Williams had entering the league? His attitude in Detroit ran him off and got him traded to the Cowboys. His attitude and lack of production led Dallas to release him. Now he's having a poor camp despite being given the starter's job. He's playing poorly, not running tight routes and is out of shape. Combined with a solid camp by Johnny Knox(notes), who should be taken as an undervalued sleeper pick, Williams is on borrowed time and should be avoided on draft day.TIGHT ENDSHeath Miller(notes), SteelersThe team will not be using Miller in the passing game this season as much it did in year's past. In fact, with the surprise emergence of WR Antonio Brown(notes) and with WR Emmanuel Sanders(notes) now back practicing, the Steelers have a full receiving corps. Then add in free-agent signee Jerricho Cotchery(notes) and I can see Miller becoming more of a blocker. He still will get a few receptions here and there as QB Ben Roethlisberger(notes) trusts him.Tony Moeaki, ChiefsMoeaki can't stay healthy. He's taking a while to heal from offseason knee surgery and then got hurt in the final preseason game. He hasn't had a chance to work with QB Matt Cassel and that will hurt his early season numbers. He's a No. 2 fantasy tight end but the Chiefs are struggling and there are better options than a tight end that we don't even know will get on the field and be effective early on. Pass on him, as there are better options.
