Fantasy Darlings (1 Viewer)

[THE UNDERCOVER BROTHA]

Well, Sidney was considered a MAJOR sleeper by most guys here on FBG and other sites.

Most loved his upside and his complete skillset. But he has battled injuries and seems to be progressing at a slow rate.

Add in the mix Percy Harvin and you have to wonder where does the past Fantasy Darling stand now?

Berrian seems to have one starting spot locked up.

Harvin seems more like a slot guy but i thought the same of Eddie Royal.

Where does Sidney stand. He was looking like a great Red Zone option last year when he did play.

Whats you guys take on MR. Sidney Rice now??

 

[TheFanatic]

I think the guy has a ton of potential, but he needs to stay on the field...He either fades away or he is one of the guys everyone is trying to grab off the WW during the season after he tears it up some game....

 

[Birdie048]

I admit to have been a S Rice fan prior to the draft.... but Harvin really smothered some of his heat with his arrival in Minn. Sage was a nice upgrade at QB (although I like T Jackson too, Sage is a better passer). ADP will make the Def respect him giving the WR a chance at single coverage.

I would have wanted to take Rice in my 12 Team 3 player Keeper league around late 6th round (equiv to 9th round). Now he would be lucky for me to target him in the 13-14 round.

Consider him on his last leg of value in Minn.

Such potential..... wasted.

 

[loose circuits]

I think the guy has a ton of potential, but he needs to stay on the field...He either fades away or he is one of the guys everyone is trying to grab off the WW during the season after he tears it up some game....

that is about where I stand.The potential is certainly there and from what I am hearing Harvin will likely start out in the slot...not to mention the character concerns that could pop up. Rice definitely has some sleeper potential, many wrote off VJax when the Chargers drafted Bust Davis

 

[Jeff Tefertiller]

Great topic, UCB. I tend to give Rice the benefit of the doubt just because he is still so young. He is a buy for me if cheap from an owner that has given up.

 

[Couch Potato]

I've had him on rosters for a couple of years and expected more in 2008 than what I got, while Bobby Wade of all people sucked up reception after reception.

Adding Berrian, then not really involving Rice in the receiving plan very much in his 2nd year, and now picking a WR in the 1st round this year, suggest the Vikings' expectations for Rice are lower than we as fantasy leaguers had originally hoped.

It might not be time to give up on him completely yet, but I think any idea of him becoming more than a fantasy backup are probably overly optimistic.

 

[Sigmund Bloom]

I expect a Mark Bradley like trajectory:

1) Early promise for a WR that was supposed to be pretty raw and went in the 2nd on potential more than production

2) Injury strikes and limits playing time and early development

3) Team starts to move on and young talented WR gets lost in the shuffle

4) Finally original team cuts bait and young talented WR makes good on shot with team #2

Rice was hurt last year, never seemed to get over his knee injury. He'll just be turning 23 right before the season starts, it's wayyyy too early to give up on a player with his type of ability - but still the odds are against him blowing up in Minnesota. This is most definitely a buy low moment for Rice.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

When Rice came out of college I was ridiculed on these boards for not being on his bandwagon. I could plainly see that he racked up the majority of his gawdy numbers against lesser teams on the schedule which was a big red flag to me vs Dwayne Bowe in the same draft who was throwing it down against better teams.

My take now though would be more in line with JT and that is he is very young still and might not work in MN but perhaps some other places. If Favre were to be signed in MN...I will say that Favre has a way of bringing out the very best in a lot of his role player WRs, i.e. he ain't afraid to rip that leather down the field to unproven WRs, his atitude has always been just get the ball there and the WRs will take care of it. Marino was similar but Favre is even better at it IMHO.

 

[THE UNDERCOVER BROTHA]

im still holding Rice in a few leagues but have lowered my expectations from a maybe WR3/4 to just a wait and see approach now. He is too valuable to flat out cut. Could be traded but his value has taken a dip now.

I do believe he is suited as a nice compliment for what the Vikings could do. Berrian on one side/Rice on the other/Harvin in the slot/AP in the backfield.

So i still think he has a place there but thus far he hasnt done much with his opportunity.

 

[THE UNDERCOVER BROTHA]

More Case Studys to come soon. (want to give each topic some time)

Future Subjects

C.Palmer

V.Young

J.Russell

L.White

J.Addai

C.Chambers

Mark Clayton

R.Meachum

V.Davis

all are guys that have been in the league 3 years and was once very highly thought of for dynasty.

 

[bigern1000]

Wonder if it's too soon for a change of scenery impact (aka ABryant) when performance finally catches up with potential. Just not sure if he's every going to flourish in Minn beyond that of a WR4-5 type...

 

[cstu]

More Case Studys to come soon. (want to give each topic some time)

Future Subjects

[b

R.Meachum

all are guys that have been in the league 3 years and was once very highly thought of for dynasty.

Meachem has only been in the league 2 years - this is his third. I think it's still up in the air whether he'll make it as an NFL WR but this is a make or break year for him. The Saints will likely won't sign Lance Moore as a UFA next year so there should be a starting spot open (Henderson is a career #3 IMO) for him in 2010 if he can prove himself.

 

[munchkin]

The coaching situation in Minnesota is a mess. Who is going to be the QB next year, Rosenfels, Jackson, Favre or another flavor of the month? Childress' game plans are inconsistent and he doesn't seem to know how to get the most out of his players. Maybe if he was the OC and didn't have to worry about the structure of the team as a whole he would be more effective.

Of course Rice needs to stay healthy. It's hard for a coach to build trust in a guy if he can't stay on the field and work his way into the offense. Hopefully we'll have some kind of an idea how this is playing out once training camp commences. The sand is about through the hourglass for Childress and the first team reps are going to go to those who shine early.

 

[Banger]

I've had him on rosters for a couple of years and expected more in 2008 than what I got, while Bobby Wade of all people sucked up reception after reception. Adding Berrian, then not really involving Rice in the receiving plan very much in his 2nd year, and now picking a WR in the 1st round this year, suggest the Vikings' expectations for Rice are lower than we as fantasy leaguers had originally hoped. It might not be time to give up on him completely yet, but I think any idea of him becoming more than a fantasy backup are probably overly optimistic.

I was in the same boat last year and tucked him on a few rosters late hoping for some upside. Yes he was banged up a bit but even when he came back he had little impact. I know he's still young and raw but during his 2nd year you'd like to see steps in a positive direction. Then the draft rolls around and they take a solid WR in the 1st which is a HUGE red flag IMO.I still think he'll be a jump ball target in the red zone but being on the field between the 20's seems like it may be an issue.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

He's such a stiff that he should be in the bathtub money shot in a Cialis commercial.

He's going to be the 5th option in the offense behind Berrian, Shiancoe, Harvin, and Chet Taylor.

He's Marcus Robinson Jr.

 

[zdaddy]

More Case Studys to come soon. (want to give each topic some time)

Future Subjects

C.Palmer

V.Young

J.Russell

L.White

J.Addai

C.Chambers

Mark Clayton

R.Meachum

V.Davis

all are guys that have been in the league 3 years and was once very highly thought of for dynasty.

Chambers?

 

[Hoss_Cartwright]

I admit to have been a S Rice fan prior to the draft.... but Harvin really smothered some of his heat with his arrival in Minn. Sage was a nice upgrade at QB (although I like T Jackson too, Sage is a better passer). ADP will make the Def respect him giving the WR a chance at single coverage. I would have wanted to take Rice in my 12 Team 3 player Keeper league around late 6th round (equiv to 9th round). Now he would be lucky for me to target him in the 13-14 round. Consider him on his last leg of value in Minn. Such potential..... wasted.

2011=FA, he's a buy low for sure.He's definitely being overlooked this year. To ignore him this year because of nagging injuries last year is a big mistake. Yes, Harvin will have an impact, but maybe a positive one. It gives MN more balance, but does reduce the number of targets to go around considering they are a run first team.

 

[TheFanatic]

He's such a stiff that he should be in the bathtub money shot in a Cialis commercial.He's going to be the 5th option in the offense behind Berrian, Shiancoe, Harvin, and Chet Taylor.He's Marcus Robinson Jr.

Seriously Andy, tell us how you feel about the guy. Do you think he has a shot to rebound or what?

 

[MAC_32]

I don't want to cut him, but he may be crunched out come August. I really hope he shows me something before cut day, whether that something is effectiveness as a #2 or continued health issues I don't care, so long as it pushes me one direction or the other and leaves me feeling confident about that decision.

 

[munchkin]

He's such a stiff that he should be in the bathtub money shot in a Cialis commercial.

He's going to be the 5th option in the offense behind Berrian, Shiancoe, Harvin, and Chet Taylor.

He's Marcus Robinson Jr.

Dude is a screaming mental and physical risk himself. Maybe if he shows up to camp he will be an option. Dehydration, come on, the cat can't even get out of the starting blocks. Good thing Childress is monitoring this guys behavior.

 

[lyon812]

I've had him on rosters for a couple of years and expected more in 2008 than what I got, while Bobby Wade of all people sucked up reception after reception. Adding Berrian, then not really involving Rice in the receiving plan very much in his 2nd year, and now picking a WR in the 1st round this year, suggest the Vikings' expectations for Rice are lower than we as fantasy leaguers had originally hoped. It might not be time to give up on him completely yet, but I think any idea of him becoming more than a fantasy backup are probably overly optimistic.

I was in the same boat last year and tucked him on a few rosters late hoping for some upside. Yes he was banged up a bit but even when he came back he had little impact. I know he's still young and raw but during his 2nd year you'd like to see steps in a positive direction. Then the draft rolls around and they take a solid WR in the 1st which is a HUGE red flag IMO.I still think he'll be a jump ball target in the red zone but being on the field between the 20's seems like it may be an issue.

Agreed. After the Super Bowl I would have considered him a good buy low for this year, but the addition of Harvin and their rumored pursuit of Houshmandzadeh indicates to me that the Vikings don't have faith in his becoming a stud soon. I don't know how much to blame on the PCL sprain, but Harvin starting opposite Berrian seems a likely scenario; and if not, I think that Harvin'll knock on the door sooner rather than later. I think Rice will do better than 2008, but if you figure Berrian remains the same and Harvin gets Wade targets--or if Harvin and Rice split Wade targets--there just won't be enough balls to go around in Minnesota to make Rice useful.