This guy is underrated. He is currently 33rd in dynasty and 36th in ppr-redraft (consensus FBG rankings). His year last year was good but not great 61/709/2 and of course many have talked about the 12 drops....but overall a pretty decent rookie wr yr.Here is what I seeBaseline - Rookie season 61/709/2Reasons for improvement - His rookie year was impacted by limited camp due to lockout....so an improvement with a full offseason should be expected - He didnt even play in 2010 so it is safe to say his 2011 output was probably diminished. So after a season getting back into the swing of things it is probably safe to assume his progression would be even more than the normal 1st to 2nd yr progression. - He has had very little overall experience at WR after playing RB and multiple other positions at UNC, prior to moing to WR, so as he learns the details of the position it is fair to assume his learning curve will be steeper than the typical 1st - 2nd yr WR. - Some may disagree but I feel that Weeden (even as a rookie) will be a decent upgrade over McCoy...especially with getting deeper patterns into the mix - He has shown the willingness to work hard...bulking up on his own during the 2010 season and coming into the combine in great shape although a bit misguided shape as he was a little too bulked up for wr. Now with NFL guidence he comes into OTA's in great shape but also shed 11 pounds for a more reasonable wr build, which should add quickness and speed.Some may argue that each one of these things I just outlined,may not be "that" important, but all five in total suggests that a fairly significant jump in Little's numbers should be expected.I think 80/1050/7 are reasonable numbers to expect and that would put him in the 16-22 range in ppr leagues as a 23yr old WR....hardly a #33 dynasty wr or #36 redraft wr.
In the wake of April's draft, the Cleveland Browns have been widely criticized for not making drastic changes to their wide receiving corps. According to most analysts, the Browns' current group of receivers may quite possibly be the worst in the league with no pass-catcher on the roster worthy for the title of No. 1 receiver. However, the Cleveland coaching staff continues to maintain that talent does exists at the position. The team appears confident that a full offseason and another year in head coach Pat Shurmur's West Coast offense will allow the current crop of wideouts to make serious strides toward greatness in 2012. One player who is looking to make a big jump this season is Greg Little, a second-round draft choice of the Browns in 2011. Little had a decent rookie campaign, especially considering he spent the prior year completely away from football due to NCAA-imposed suspension. Little led all Browns receivers with 61 receptions for 709 yards, but also tied for second in the league with 12 drops on the season. In an effort to further enhance his abilities as a wide receiver, Little has undertaken the task of transforming his body to better suit the position. The former running back has reportedly shed 11 pounds and eased up on the weight training that helped create the massive 220-pound frame that Little brought into the league as a rookie. Shurmur has taken notice of the physical change, one that has Little looking like Cleveland's answer at the No. 1 wideout position. “I’ve seen him look a lot quicker, a lot more sudden, and I think to this point he has caught the ball at a much more consistent rate and he just looks like a different guy to me ... To his credit, he has done a really nice job of getting his body into the right kind of shape he needs to be in to be a receiver in this league,” Shurmur recently said, according to the Akron Beacon-Journal. You can count rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden among those who believe that Little has what it takes to become a dominant offensive weapon this season. Weeden even went so far as to compare Little to this year's fifth overall pick, Justin Blackmon. "There are a lot of similarities [between Little and Blackmon]." Weeden told reporters following Wednesday's organized team activities. "They are big body guys, big hands and strong. You can tell when Greg catches it he’s strong with the football and that’s the way that Justin was. "I haven’t really thrown much with Greg, we’ve been in two different groups, but the more I see him, I’ll tell you what, he can play. He can really, really go get it. He’s going to be a fun guy to throw to." If there is anyone qualified to make such a comparison, it is certainly Weeden. Blackmon was his top target at Oklahoma State and the two remain close friends, even off the field. It is not a comparison that should be taken lightly. Blackmon enters the NFL as a highly touted prospect who is expected to become a dominant receiver in the mold of Anquan Boldin. With Weeden at the helm last year, Blackmon produced the sixth-most prolific receiving season in NCAA history, with 1,782 yards and 20 touchdowns on 111 receptions. There are certainly physical similarities between Little and Blackmon. At 6'2", Little stands an inch taller than Blackmon and, with his new slimmed-down frame, weighs in a mere two pounds heavier. Both players bring a sense of physicality to the position with the ability to make things happen after the catch. Few analysts are questioning Blackmon's ability to produce at the pro level, and if Weeden's observations are to be believed, Little could be poised for big things this season as well. If Weeden is able to pair with Little to produce even a fraction of the magic he found with Blackmon at Oklahoma State, Cleveland's passing attack this season could be much more potent than even the brightest optimist currently anticipates. Follow National Football Authority on Twitter: @NFAuthority & @Kris_KnoxFor more NFL coverage follow @NFA_NFL
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