Don't forget about Hines Ward during your drafts. (1 Viewer)

[gadkins]

Seems like no talk about Hines this year. I read where the Steelers will be opening up the offense this year. Seems like good value to me. This thread just got me thinking. http://forums.footballguys.com/forum/index...howtopic=337382 That's all.

 

[tcusick420]

I think Ward will have a descent year but from what I hear out of Pittsburgh is Holmes looks goog and they'll be trying to get him the ball more. I think some of Wards targets will go to Holmes. I'd perdict similar numbers to last year but I think his best years are behind him. I'm not sold on Big Ben really either.

 

[gadkins]

I think Ward will have a descent year but from what I hear out of Pittsburgh is Holmes looks goog and they'll be trying to get him the ball more. I think some of Wards targets will go to Holmes. I'd perdict similar numbers to last year but I think his best years are behind him. I'm not sold on Big Ben really either.

That's exactly why I think he is way undervalued this year. Everyone seems to be giving Holmes hype while leaving Ward ignored. Hines is only 31. It's not like he is washed up.

 

[Shiggy Shaol]

Hines = Bruce = Branch.

I'd enjoy all 3 of them on my team. Branch isn't getting overlooked as much as Ward and Bruce but he was valued much higher at last year's drafts.

 

[Hellfire Snail]

A possible strategy with guys like Ward/Holmes and Branch/Hackett might be to draft Ward or Branch in the middle rounds as your WR3, then follow that up with Holmes and Hackett in the next few rounds as your WR 4. Some are debating whether or not Ward and Branch will be overtaken this year, either by sheer lack of productivity or injury, so it's a good way to ensure you have the number one wideout on a good passing offense as your WR3.

That said, I think Ward is being forgotten about this year. He had some nice grabs against Philly the other night and should have scored a TD if Ben hadn't thrown behind him. As some you can get considerably late, he's a very safe, steady receiver to hold down your last WR slot.

 

[menobrown]

I think Ward will have a descent year but from what I hear out of Pittsburgh is Holmes looks goog and they'll be trying to get him the ball more. I think some of Wards targets will go to Holmes. I'd perdict similar numbers to last year but I think his best years are behind him. I'm not sold on Big Ben really either.

[/quote

I think Holmes helps Ward. Ward is a possession receiver and his stats were never better than those times when Plaxico played at a high level and drew double coverage on the deep routes which Holmes should be able to do as well. Wards the #1 target in the passing game in the red zone and he's good value in any scoring format but in a PPR format I think he's golden. I honestly think both Holmes and Wards will exceed 1,000 yards and Holmes will outperform Ward in yardage but Hines will beat him in TD's and receptions.

 

[Buck Bradcanon]

As some you can get considerably late, he's a very safe, steady receiver to hold down your last WR slot.

WR18 by last ADP i checked. he's a WR1 type to Rb Stud theory disciples.. Not your "last WR"

 

[GroveDiesel]

IMO, it was pretty clear to me by the end of last season that Ward had lost a step. At the same time, Holmes really came on. I think Ward will officially be the #2 stat wise for the Steelers and start his career decline. He was underrated for a very long time in fantasy football and was always a great bargain, but I think that his value has finally taken a hit as age has started to catch up to him.

 

[gadkins]

IMO, it was pretty clear to me by the end of last season that Ward had lost a step. At the same time, Holmes really came on. I think Ward will officially be the #2 stat wise for the Steelers and start his career decline. He was underrated for a very long time in fantasy football and was always a great bargain, but I think that his value has finally taken a hit as age has started to catch up to him.

If my memory serves me right he was battling hamstring injuries all year long.

 

[maxwell1295]

I think the key point to consider is not how Ward does vs. Holmes, but how he does vs. the any other potential WR3 out there. If Pittspburgh puts the ball up as much as I think they will and Roth looks as good as he has in the pre-season, Hines Ward could be a steal. I also think that the closer they get to the red zone, the more likely Roth will look towards Ward. Holmes is going to have a great year, but the trust factor with Roth and Ward is hard to overlook...

 

[Godsbrother]

I think the key point to consider is not how Ward does vs. Holmes, but how he does vs. the any other potential WR3 out there. If Pittspburgh puts the ball up as much as I think they will and Roth looks as good as he has in the pre-season, Hines Ward could be a steal. I also think that the closer they get to the red zone, the more likely Roth will look towards Ward. Holmes is going to have a great year, but the trust factor with Roth and Ward is hard to overlook...

Ward is Ben's favorite target and has the most reliable hands. He'll get plenty of targets this season and I bet he leads the team in receptions.

 

[Warpig]

I compare all this talk of Holmes taking receptions away from Ward to all the talk of Wayne taking receptions from Harrison. And people seem to be chuckling at that thought.

Ward is still the go-to-guy. Sure Holmes will make some big plays. But when Ben needs a first down or needs to know who he can count on to be in the right place at the right time...I'm sure it's Ward.

 

[BigRed]

Ward is a better NFL player than FF player. IMO he will be lucky to crack 1000 yds and 8 TDs if that with no upside and potential to slide back down more than a little. Who knows maybe the new coach opening it up etc will generate bigger #s but I doubt it.

 

[GroveDiesel]

I think the key point to consider is not how Ward does vs. Holmes, but how he does vs. the any other potential WR3 out there. If Pittspburgh puts the ball up as much as I think they will and Roth looks as good as he has in the pre-season, Hines Ward could be a steal. I also think that the closer they get to the red zone, the more likely Roth will look towards Ward. Holmes is going to have a great year, but the trust factor with Roth and Ward is hard to overlook...

His ADP is more in the low #2 WR though. And honestly, I wouldn't mind having him there at all. But he offers very little upside to his current projections and ADP in my opinion. In fact, his ADP is considerably higher than Holmes's right now and frankly I'd rather have Holmes than Ward. Other people may simply draft differently though. With my #2 and #3 WRs I'm usually looking for someone that I think either represents great value at their ADP or someone that I think has a large potential ceiling. Ward does not present either of those.

 

[Fantaholic]

Hines = Bruce = Branch. I'd enjoy all 3 of them on my team. Branch isn't getting overlooked as much as Ward and Bruce but he was valued much higher at last year's drafts.

Took the words right out of my mouth. Not so much with Branch, but Bruce and Ward will go way below where they should. In fact if you know your league members well enough, you can end up with 2 stud RB's a top tier QB, WR and TE along with Ward & Bruce as your 2 and 3 WR's. Not a bad start.

 

[AhrnCityPahnder]

6) That whole Steelers organization has bad juju hanging over them for pulling the rug out from Russ Grimm. The Football Gods have to be pissed. Tomlin has limited experience and unlike a guy like Mangini, doesn't have the background in his coaching tree or history to indicate he's going to be the same kind of success. I knew there was just bad karma hanging over the Steelers when Jerry Jones interviewed several minority candidates under the Rooney Rule and he was told that was not good enough. When you get to a point where someone basically tells you who you should hire instead of talking about winning ballgames, something is very very wrong. The writing was on the wall that the Rooney Rule is a busted concept and is eventually going to sink a franchise for the long haul. Too bad it will probably be the Steelers. Tomlin was, in my estimation, a hire based on perception and politics, not about winning. He simply does not have enough coaching history under him to indicate otherwise. I wouldn't touch one Steeler this year for FF purposes, that team has crossed the Football Gods and I think they are jinxed this season. Cowher was smart to get out.

The mystery has been solved. GG=BGP

 

[shadyridr]

Ward is one of the most targetted WRs in the red zone in the NFL.

 

[Shiggy Shaol]

6) That whole Steelers organization has bad juju hanging over them for pulling the rug out from Russ Grimm. The Football Gods have to be pissed. Tomlin has limited experience and unlike a guy like Mangini, doesn't have the background in his coaching tree or history to indicate he's going to be the same kind of success. I knew there was just bad karma hanging over the Steelers when Jerry Jones interviewed several minority candidates under the Rooney Rule and he was told that was not good enough. When you get to a point where someone basically tells you who you should hire instead of talking about winning ballgames, something is very very wrong. The writing was on the wall that the Rooney Rule is a busted concept and is eventually going to sink a franchise for the long haul. Too bad it will probably be the Steelers. Tomlin was, in my estimation, a hire based on perception and politics, not about winning. He simply does not have enough coaching history under him to indicate otherwise. I wouldn't touch one Steeler this year for FF purposes, that team has crossed the Football Gods and I think they are jinxed this season. Cowher was smart to get out.

The mystery has been solved. GG=BGP

I was thinking he was Gregg Easterbrook.

 

[Fantaholic]

As Pittsburgh Tribune-Review staffer Scott Brown noted on Tuesday, early indications this summer point to new OC Bruce Arians featuring the WRs in Pittsburgh's offense this fall. Hines Ward said the reason for the more prominent role this season is because Arians is well aware of what he has in them. Before becoming the team's coordinator, Arians coached the Steelers' WRs for three seasons. "He knows what potential he has in his receivers," Ward said. "I think he's starting to put guys in position to go out there and make positive plays. That's why you're seeing Nate [Washington] get the ball, Santonio [Holmes], Heath [Miller], the running backs on screens. We can be an explosive team. ..." The Steelers have been one during the preseason. Six of Ben Roethlisberger's completions Sunday night went for at least 20 yards, and in four preseason games, Holmes, Washington, Miller, Cedrick Wilson and Walter Young have all made at least one catch that has exceeded 30 yards. "I think some of the things that we're doing, explosion plays," HC Mike Tomlin said, "getting yards in big chunks."

Thought this was interesting, sorry if it's old news. Big Ben could be a very nice late rounder, relatively speaking.