Is Randy Moss finished as a fantasy starter? (1 Viewer)

[Scooby1974]

This is a legit topic of discussion in my opinion. Moss was a late first/early second-round pick in most leagues. Assuming he doesn't catch a pass tonight he will be on pace for 36 receptions this season which is fewer than even his worst seasons in Oakland. In addition to the three-game stretch stat I posted earlier here are some more stats to look at:

He has had only four targets the past two weeks (again assuming no receptions or targets in the final six minutes tonight).

He has been held under 60 yards receiving in every game this season and hasn't topped 75 yards receiving in his last 11 dating back to last season.

This isn't a one-game sample. There are some disturbing stats dating back to last season and the fact is the majority of this season Moss has not been heavily involved in the New England passing game. He now ranks fourth on the team in receptions and he ranks outside the Top 50 in the league in receptions. All of that seems to make this a very legitimate topic of discussion in my opinion, especially since the season is now at the quarter pole.

Things could certainly change but I do think it's legit to talk about whether Moss has begun to fade from a fantasy perspective. How many other Top 5-10 WRs heading into this season are on pace for 36 receptions and have caught only four passes in 75% of their team's games so far this season?

It's the contract issue and this will come out during the offseason. Moss is a beast and everyone knows it.

This is playing out like the "North Dallas Forty" movie. "When I call it a game, you call it a business! When I call it a business, you call it a game!"

It's a business with a disgruntled employee. Someone will make him less gruntled.

You'd think Brady would get him the ball more, it isn't Robert Kraft throwing the ball, is it? Brady certainly benefits by having Moss in NE, yet he isn't exactly helping Randy make a case for a new contract. It makes me wonder what kind of "politics" are going on in the locker room/coaches office/owner's suite with respect to Moss's future in NE. At this point, I just don't see him as a Patriot next year, and maybe the NE brass is trying to make it a point that they can win without Moss...who does seem to be rather popular in NE.

just the beginning of a conspiracy theory...

 

[David Yudkin]

Part of the issue is that the Pats have gone from 37 passing attempts per game last year to 30 a game this year. Some of that has been the defense giving up long drives and some of it is having a few kickoff and defensive returns for TDs. You can't pass when you don't have the ball.

 

[RobMexico]

Quarterbacks go through a set of reads to find the best option. I'd imagine if this is the case, Brady is making smart decisions and not "forcing" it to a covered Moss. I don't think Brady's snaps the ball and thinks "I should give it to Moss, he'll want it with the contract issues and all".

These guys want to move the ball forward. Sure they will scheme to get their stars the ball, but when the other team schemes to remove the star from the game, then it doesn't always work out. Some stars will continue to get theres no matter what because the QB doesn't have many options. Brady is fortunate to have many options. I do worry about his production, but I'm confident Moss will finish the year a top 15 WR, but sadly will not fulfil draft expectations.

 

[Clifford]

Moss got open A LOT against coverage and simply didn't get a chance. I would think Moss would be the first option on at least some plays. I don't subscribe to any conspiracy theories but it's not like Moss didn't get open multiple times that game.

 

[CaptainHook]

yea it was funny when they showed the replays and talked about how good the coverage was when all I saw was him getting separation every play

 

[packersfan]

Quarterbacks go through a set of reads to find the best option.

Moss wasn't anywhere near Brady's first read last night with the exception of the faked spike play. That's what was so surprising. And as others have said, it's not like he was being heavily defended. He was open a lot. The long pass play to Hernandez that was called back could've been a bomb TD to Moss. He had a step on Davis on the play and was open downfield but Brady never looked at him.

 

[jurb26]

Quarterbacks go through a set of reads to find the best option.

Moss wasn't anywhere near Brady's first read last night with the exception of the faked spike play. That's what was so surprising. And as others have said, it's not like he was being heavily defended. He was open a lot. The long pass play to Hernandez that was called back could've been a bomb TD to Moss. He had a step on Davis on the play and was open downfield but Brady never looked at him.

I agree with this partially. Mia was clearly making Moss a priority in the game though. They placed their best cover guy on him all game long and they also gave that best cover guy help over the top about 90% of the time. Moss managed to get open at times anyway, as he always does. What was concerning about the game, as a Moss owner, is that it just didn't seem like Brady ever looked to him regardless of what was going on. It was like they (NE/Brady) just decided prior to the game that he was going to be a decoy and that was that. From a pure football standpoint I guess it wasn't all that bad a decision. I mean other guys were open because of the attention paid to Moss. Still, how do you not throw the ball to Randy Moss at least a few times a half? I'm becoming concerned. It's impossible to put up strong fantasy numbers when you're not even a part of the offensive game plan. That's what it seemed like last night. That Moss wasn't even part of NE's offensive plan other than a decoy.

 

[packersfan]

Quarterbacks go through a set of reads to find the best option.

Moss wasn't anywhere near Brady's first read last night with the exception of the faked spike play. That's what was so surprising. And as others have said, it's not like he was being heavily defended. He was open a lot. The long pass play to Hernandez that was called back could've been a bomb TD to Moss. He had a step on Davis on the play and was open downfield but Brady never looked at him.

I agree with this partially. Mia was clearly making Moss a priority in the game though. They placed their best cover guy on him all game long and they also gave that best cover guy help over the top about 90% of the time.

That's no different than what Moss sees on a regular basis. He's constantly being double teamed. Like you posted, though, the difference was he clearly wasn't part of the game plan last night. Based on his post-game comment and how Brady ignored him the entire game with one exception it seems pretty obvious the Patriots went into the game deciding they weren't going to throw the ball to Moss. The question now is how many other games will they adopt the same approach?

 

[CaptainHook]

also the one play they threw to him sort of looked like a borderline improv play that those two designed for fun

 

[jurb26]

also the one play they threw to him sort of looked like a borderline improv play that those two designed for fun

Seemed kind of silly to me. I mean Brady clearly gave Moss an not so discrete signal (the face mask grab) alerting Davis that something was up. You would think they could come up with something less alarming than that.

 

[Hipple Long Ware & Peete]

Moss has only 7 fewer fantasy points at this point than he did last year. And he came back to finish as the #2 WR on the season in 2009.

Think it's about time to amend that sig buddy...

 

[Fantaholic]

Wikipedia - Definition: Buy Low

Buy Low

 

[Ministry of Pain]

In the games I've watched Randy hasn't shown any fire and seems to be taking plays off again. In the MNF game thread someone posted that he's slacking and telegraphing run plays. While he hasn't done it all night i've seen some and that's enough.He's only got a few (maybe 2) years of elite production left IMO. And Kraft is stonewalling him on a new contract pending the new CBA. He started complaining about it weeks ago and if he goes public you know it's really bothering him.No amount of production from Brady can make up for a lack of a good contract and Brady knows it so the pouting will continue. Unless something is done at the upper levels of the Pats this is the Moss we're gonna see this year.When he has a new contract in hand we'll see the real (motivated) Moss.

 

[ang12]

Per Bill Simmons twitter

Sorry that last tweet was supposed to be a DM. Rumors swirling about a Pats-Minny trade for Randy Moss.

 

[David Yudkin]

Per Bill Simmons twitter

Sorry that last tweet was supposed to be a DM. Rumors swirling about a Pats-Minny trade for Randy Moss.

I suggested this weeks ago when Rice was banged up, Harvin has his health issues, and Moss was gripping about his contract. It mostly got a few laughs but not much serious consideration from people. At this point, I wonder what the Pats would even be thinking about getting for him if this has any legs at all.

 

[Choke]

Per Bill Simmons twitter

Sorry that last tweet was supposed to be a DM. Rumors swirling about a Pats-Minny trade for Randy Moss.

woooooooooooooooooooooo!

 

[ponchsox]

If this trade ever happened, who will gain more value? Hernandez or Tate?

 

[Choke]

Hernandez

wooooooooooooooooooooo!

 

[CalBear]

Moss' future has been obvious for a long time. He does not have the mental fortitude to completely change his game the way Jerry Rice did in his second career. Once Moss is no longer able to physically dominate everyone on the field, he will not be able to remain relevant.

That being said, he's still fast and tall and has generally good hands (despite the drop last night). But his career is going to tail off faster than TO's, and way faster than Rice's.

TO was productive through age 35; Rice was productive through age 40. Moss is 33. Do the math.

 

[ponchsox]

Several sources are now on this story:

Yes, vikes and pats have been working on trade that sends randy moss to vikes and r very clode but can't be done ... http://tmi.me/1ZOLV

Jay Glazer

 

[CowboysHomer]

Here's a fun question:

Would you drop Steve Smith CAR for Tate?

PPR league, have Austin, Floyd, Holmes, and Bess at wideout right now. I'm skeptical that between injuries, Clausen, and Moore Smith will do anything of note this year.