Hines Ward is a nice sleeper (1 Viewer)

[Thumper]

There is no doubt that Hines Ward has some questions around him this year, but if Ward can stay healthy I don't think a top 15 finish is out of the question.

Ward is only 32 years old (T.O. is 34 + Randy Moss is 31 only one year younger) and is healthy unlike last year. A banged up H.Ward in 2007 still scored 7 times in 13 games and had 732 yds on 71 rec.

If you project those numbers out a banged up Ward would have had 87 rec, 900 yds and 8 td's. Is it that much of a reach to suggest that if Ward is healthy he could put up 1,000 yds 90 catches and 10 td's?

Ward sill has at least one year of top notch performance left in him if he can stay healthy.

 

[David Yudkin]

There is no doubt that Hines Ward has some questions around him this year, but if Ward can stay healthy I don't think a top 15 finish is out of the question.Ward is only 32 years old (T.O. is 34 + Randy Moss is 31 only one year younger) and is healthy unlike last year. A banged up H.Ward in 2007 still scored 7 times in 13 games and had 732 yds on 71 rec. If you project those numbers out a banged up Ward would have had 87 rec, 900 yds and 8 td's. Is it that much of a reach to suggest that if Ward is healthy he could put up 1,000 yds 90 catches and 10 td's?Ward sill has at least one year of top notch performance left in him if he can stay healthy.

Maybe . . . but the way I see it, no.Receiving yards down each year for 5 years.Games played lower each of the past 3 years.YPR lowest of his career and trending downward.Yards per game mostly down the past 5-6 years.TD scored down the past couple of years.Holmes on the upswing. Sweed added to the mix. Miller as a TD vulture. Mendenhall added to beef up running game.I'm not seeing where Ward is on the upswing . . .

 

[Skanker]

I vote no.

He is on the decline.

 

[menobrown]

There is no doubt that Hines Ward has some questions around him this year, but if Ward can stay healthy I don't think a top 15 finish is out of the question.Ward is only 32 years old (T.O. is 34 + Randy Moss is 31 only one year younger) and is healthy unlike last year. A banged up H.Ward in 2007 still scored 7 times in 13 games and had 732 yds on 71 rec. If you project those numbers out a banged up Ward would have had 87 rec, 900 yds and 8 td's. Is it that much of a reach to suggest that if Ward is healthy he could put up 1,000 yds 90 catches and 10 td's?Ward sill has at least one year of top notch performance left in him if he can stay healthy.

Maybe . . . but the way I see it, no.Receiving yards down each year for 5 years.Games played lower each of the past 3 years.YPR lowest of his career and trending downward.Yards per game mostly down the past 5-6 years.TD scored down the past couple of years.Holmes on the upswing. Sweed added to the mix. Miller as a TD vulture. Mendenhall added to beef up running game.I'm not seeing where Ward is on the upswing . . .

The only negative I see on Hines is that his physical style of play looks like it caught up with him and he's been missing time which is really the underlying reason for almost every point you brought up. It's no small issue either so I don't mean to dismiss it as just one little thing but missing games is going to bring his overall totals down.Receiving yards down each year for 5 years.- Simply a product of missed games. His yards per game increased in 2005 from the 2004 season. His yards per game increased again in the 2006 season from the 2005 season. They regressed slightly last year but he played more than half the year with an injury and I don't know how much of an impact that had on him.Games played lower each of the past 3 years.- This is the one issue with him you brought that is concerning. On one hand you know if he can play he will and you appreciate that about him but it's hard to not to see him as being pretty beat up. He has only missed 7 games in his career but all of those have come in the last 3 years so it has been an issue the past few season.YPR lowest of his career and trending downward.- It was the lowest of his career but I would not say it was trending that way and as I mentioned before he played most of the year with an injury which might have something to do with his YPC taking such a big drop. I won't say it's not possible that he's simply slowing down but I think it's to early to say it's a trend. Yards per game mostly down the past 5-6 years.- This is not really true. As I pointed out before his 2005 and 2006 seasons saw an increase in yards per game from his 2004 season. TD scored down the past couple of years.- Not sure I agree with this. I'd say his TD's have been up and down but it's not something that has been trending or consistently going downwards.

 

[Fiddles]

not sure that hes a sleeper per se but he is great value this year

 

[Captain Spaulding]

Hines Ward has been a sleeper/value pick every year he's played in the NFL. I think he has either equalled or overperformed his ranking in fantasy charts every year. Has he ever been overvalued?

 

[mcd]

He's on the decline, but I think he could hit those numbers if he stays healthy all season. He really only played in 12 games last season as he was injured early on in week 3. In a ppr league he ended up #23 in the 13 games he started, throw out the game he got hurt in early & he jumps up to the 15th spot for points per game average. He had 10+ points in 10 of the 12 games he played in completely. As a comparison, Colston only hit 10+ in 11 of his 16 starts.

I also think the passing game may have to dump off a bunch as the o-line may not give Ben the time to be airing it out to Holmes every series. Question is does that benefit Ward or Heath Miller? From everything I have read, Sweed has been pretty much a non-factor so far. I like Ward in the 18-22 spot, but wouldn't be surprised if, remaining healthy, he moves up a few. He's going too late in most drafts.

 

[David Yudkin]

Hines Ward has been a sleeper/value pick every year he's played in the NFL. I think he has either equalled or overperformed his ranking in fantasy charts every year. Has he ever been overvalued?

ADP from MFL . . .2007 ADP 18, Rank 312006 ADP 11, Rank 222005 ADP 11, Rank 102004 ADP 6, Rank 282003 ADP 6, Rank 62002 ADP 33, Rank 32001 ADP 77, Rank 28

 

[Binky The Doormat]

I'm not down with the value view. He is going early-mid 6th rd along with a host of guys with a whole lot more upside and/or less risk (not everyone but a healthy selection).

54. 5.06 Young, Selvin DEN RB 59.21 35 110 38

55. 5.07 Cotchery, Jerricho NYJ WR 59.23 27 105 39

56. 5.08 Anderson, Derek CLE QB 59.56 15 191 36

57. 5.09 Stewart, Jonathan CAR RB 63.16 3 111 37

58. 5.10 Gonzalez, Tony KCC TE 64.67 7 152 40

59. 5.11 Evans, Lee BUF WR 65.72 14 109 40

60. 5.12 Bowe, Dwayne KCC WR 66.13 41 136 39

61. 6.01 Brown, Ronnie MIA RB 66.57 21 158 37

62. 6.02 Ward, Hines PIT WR 67.11 19 195 38

63. 6.03 Forte, Matt CHI RB 67.61 12 121 38

64. 6.04 Coles, Laveranues NYJ WR 68.05 13 208 41

65. 6.05 Cutler, Jay DEN QB 68.65 25 106 37

66. 6.06 White, Roddy ATL WR 68.83 17 122 41

67. 6.07 Smith, Kevin DET RB 68.97 38 121 37

68. 6.08 Clark, Dallas IND TE 69.00 22 162 40

69. 6.09 Hasselbeck, Matt SEA QB 69.72 23 132 36

70. 6.10 White, LenDale TEN RB 70.38 20 188 37

71. 6.11 Cooley, Chris WAS TE 71.26 33 140 38

72. 6.12 Chambers, Chris SDC WR 71.36 21 141 39

 

[Funky_K]

I got Hines at 9.10 (WR #4) last night... 10 team PPR league.

No way to pass that one up!

 

[Insomniac]

Ward is only 32 years old (T.O. is 34 + Randy Moss is 31 only one year younger) and is healthy unlike last year. A banged up H.Ward in 2007 still scored 7 times in 13 games and had 732 yds on 71 rec.

T.O. and Moss are in a different category than Ward. That's not meant as a knock on Ward.It wouldn't shock me if he had a 1000 yard 8-10 TD season. It wouldn't shock me if his performance fell off a cliff. Seems a reasonable/mild optimistic expectation is something like ~70 rec, 800-900 yards with 7 TDs. In 3 Receiver leagues that's a starter for someone but the Steelers fanboy or casual player who isn't familar with the young WRs will take him a couple of rounds ahead of where he's a fair value.

 

[Captain Spaulding]

Hines Ward has been a sleeper/value pick every year he's played in the NFL. I think he has either equalled or overperformed his ranking in fantasy charts every year. Has he ever been overvalued?

ADP from MFL . . .2007 ADP 18, Rank 312006 ADP 11, Rank 222005 ADP 11, Rank 102004 ADP 6, Rank 282003 ADP 6, Rank 62002 ADP 33, Rank 32001 ADP 77, Rank 28

Thanks for the info. I was just going off of my recollection..so the correct analysis is "most" years Hines is a sleeper/undervalued but recent trends of the last 2 years is showing that he was overvalued and underperformed in fantasy production. I'd take him as a #3 WR on my roster at the highest. I want my #1 and #2 WR's both to be on of the top 20 WR's if that can happen. Being a top 20 WR does not look likely at all for Hines.

 

[Godsbrother]

Holmes on the upswing. Sweed added to the mix. Miller as a TD vulture. Mendenhall added to beef up running game.

So far Sweed has shown little in camp and in preseason. He'll get another opportunity to show his stuff tomorrow night but he appears to have a ways to go before overtaking Nate Washington as the #3.I suppose the Steeler will bring in Sweed occassionally in the red zone but Ben's favorite targets inside the 10 are Ward and his TEs (Miller & Spaeth).

 

[David Yudkin]

Holmes on the upswing. Sweed added to the mix. Miller as a TD vulture. Mendenhall added to beef up running game.

So far Sweed has shown little in camp and in preseason. He'll get another opportunity to show his stuff tomorrow night but he appears to have a ways to go before overtaking Nate Washington as the #3.I suppose the Steeler will bring in Sweed occassionally in the red zone but Ben's favorite targets inside the 10 are Ward and his TEs (Miller & Spaeth).

I'm thinking the Steel Curtain will have more than 7 rushing TD from their running backs this year, so I think that also will impact Ward.

 

[Tanner9919]

Santonio Holmes entering his third season will impact Ward the most, IMO.

Holmes is the WR who will finish in the top 15, not Ward..

Ward will get his numbers, but nothing fancy..

Holmes should top 1050 yards,double digit TD's and catch 80+ balls..

I doubt Ward catches more than 65-70 balls this season..

 

[jcuadrado]

bump.....Ward is looking pretty good so far. Looks like the red zone threat...and Ben still likes throwing the vet the rock.

 

[Bl Deep]

There is no doubt that Hines Ward has some questions around him this year, but if Ward can stay healthy I don't think a top 15 finish is out of the question.Ward is only 32 years old (T.O. is 34 + Randy Moss is 31 only one year younger) and is healthy unlike last year. A banged up H.Ward in 2007 still scored 7 times in 13 games and had 732 yds on 71 rec. If you project those numbers out a banged up Ward would have had 87 rec, 900 yds and 8 td's. Is it that much of a reach to suggest that if Ward is healthy he could put up 1,000 yds 90 catches and 10 td's?Ward sill has at least one year of top notch performance left in him if he can stay healthy.

Maybe . . . but the way I see it, no.Receiving yards down each year for 5 years.Games played lower each of the past 3 years.YPR lowest of his career and trending downward.Yards per game mostly down the past 5-6 years.TD scored down the past couple of years.Holmes on the upswing. Sweed added to the mix. Miller as a TD vulture. Mendenhall added to beef up running game.I'm not seeing where Ward is on the upswing . . .

Because you are blinded by looking at things on paper vs reality. Roeth is targetting Ward clearly above anyone else...Mendenhall isn't a factor, Holmes hasn't done much and Sweed is non existant.... Passing game appears to be geared around Ward...

 

[Fiddles]

bump.....Ward is looking pretty good so far. Looks like the red zone threat...and Ben still likes throwing the vet the rock.

ward is as dependable as they come. nothing new here

 

[Fiddles]

There is no doubt that Hines Ward has some questions around him this year, but if Ward can stay healthy I don't think a top 15 finish is out of the question.

Ward is only 32 years old (T.O. is 34 + Randy Moss is 31 only one year younger) and is healthy unlike last year. A banged up H.Ward in 2007 still scored 7 times in 13 games and had 732 yds on 71 rec.

If you project those numbers out a banged up Ward would have had 87 rec, 900 yds and 8 td's. Is it that much of a reach to suggest that if Ward is healthy he could put up 1,000 yds 90 catches and 10 td's?

Ward sill has at least one year of top notch performance left in him if he can stay healthy.

Maybe . . . but the way I see it, no.Receiving yards down each year for 5 years.

Games played lower each of the past 3 years.

YPR lowest of his career and trending downward.

Yards per game mostly down the past 5-6 years.

TD scored down the past couple of years.

Holmes on the upswing. Sweed added to the mix. Miller as a TD vulture. Mendenhall added to beef up running game.

I'm not seeing where Ward is on the upswing . . .

Because you are blinded by looking at things on paper vs reality. Roeth is targetting Ward clearly above anyone else...Mendenhall isn't a factor, Holmes hasn't done much and Sweed is non existant....

Passing game appears to be geared around Ward...

he also posted that before the season started----------------

Now playing: Hey Rosetta! - Handshake the Gangster

via FoxyTunes

 

[teamroc]

There is no doubt that Hines Ward has some questions around him this year, but if Ward can stay healthy I don't think a top 15 finish is out of the question.Ward is only 32 years old (T.O. is 34 + Randy Moss is 31 only one year younger) and is healthy unlike last year. A banged up H.Ward in 2007 still scored 7 times in 13 games and had 732 yds on 71 rec. If you project those numbers out a banged up Ward would have had 87 rec, 900 yds and 8 td's. Is it that much of a reach to suggest that if Ward is healthy he could put up 1,000 yds 90 catches and 10 td's?Ward sill has at least one year of top notch performance left in him if he can stay healthy.

Maybe . . . but the way I see it, no.Receiving yards down each year for 5 years.Games played lower each of the past 3 years.YPR lowest of his career and trending downward.Yards per game mostly down the past 5-6 years.TD scored down the past couple of years.Holmes on the upswing. Sweed added to the mix. Miller as a TD vulture. Mendenhall added to beef up running game.I'm not seeing where Ward is on the upswing . . .

Because you are blinded by looking at things on paper vs reality. Roeth is targetting Ward clearly above anyone else...Mendenhall isn't a factor, Holmes hasn't done much and Sweed is non existant.... Passing game appears to be geared around Ward...

I do agree that people assume rookies will pan out. 50% of them are more or less utter busts. So to assume X rookie will take away production, is a little iffy. Even if he's good, he still might not take away production. Then the other 50% when he's a bust, he again won't hurt production of Ward. Same with Parker. Mendenhall might not cut it in the NFL. That's a real possibility. I know his amazing BMI means he'll be a HOF RB, but RBs still run close to a 50% bust rate. But almost everyone around here, assumes rookies will pan out and make an impact. They factor in rookies when projecting players. Very dicey. I generally take optimistic rookie projections, and cut them in half. Then go from there.

 

[teamroc]

There is no doubt that Hines Ward has some questions around him this year, but if Ward can stay healthy I don't think a top 15 finish is out of the question.Ward is only 32 years old (T.O. is 34 + Randy Moss is 31 only one year younger) and is healthy unlike last year. A banged up H.Ward in 2007 still scored 7 times in 13 games and had 732 yds on 71 rec. If you project those numbers out a banged up Ward would have had 87 rec, 900 yds and 8 td's. Is it that much of a reach to suggest that if Ward is healthy he could put up 1,000 yds 90 catches and 10 td's?Ward sill has at least one year of top notch performance left in him if he can stay healthy.

Maybe . . . but the way I see it, no.Receiving yards down each year for 5 years.Games played lower each of the past 3 years.YPR lowest of his career and trending downward.Yards per game mostly down the past 5-6 years.TD scored down the past couple of years.Holmes on the upswing. Sweed added to the mix. Miller as a TD vulture. Mendenhall added to beef up running game.I'm not seeing where Ward is on the upswing . . .

Because you are blinded by looking at things on paper vs reality. Roeth is targetting Ward clearly above anyone else...Mendenhall isn't a factor, Holmes hasn't done much and Sweed is non existant.... Passing game appears to be geared around Ward...

he also posted that before the season started

I think that was the point. Hey look, you were wrong, Ward is doing great.

 

[Hemi-Colon]

Hines Ward hasnt been a sleeper since his rookie year.