Player Spotlight: Marty Booker (1 Viewer)

[Jason Wood]

2008 Player Spotlight Series

One of Footballguys best assets is our message board community. The Shark Pool is, in our view, the best place on the internet to discuss, debate and analyze all things fantasy football. In what's become an annual tradition, the Player Spotlight series is a key part of the preseason efforts. As many of you know, we consider the Player Spotlight threads the permanent record for analyzing the fantasy prospects of the player in question. Last year, we published more than 140 offensive spotlights covering the vast majority of expected skill position starters. This year will be no different.

Each week we will post a list of players to be discussed. Those threads will remain open for the entire preseason, and should be a central point to discussion expectations for the player in question. Importantly, analysis done in the first week of posting will be part of the permanent record in two ways. 1) At the end of the week, we will tally the projections into a consensus. 2) We will select a number of pull quotes from forum contributors who make a compelling statement or observation. Both the projections and pull quotes will be part of a published article on the main website.

Thread Topic: Marty Booker, WR, Chicago Bears

Player Page Link: Marty Booker Player Page

Each article will include:

Detailed viewpoint from a Footballguys staff member
Highlighted member commentary from the message board threads
FBG Projections
Consensus Member ProjectionsThe Rules

In order for this thread to provide maximum value, we ask that you follow a few simple guidelines:

Focus commentary on the player in question, and your expectations for said player
Back up your expectations in whatever manner you deem appropriate; avoid posts that simply say "I hate him" or "He's the best"
To be included in the final synopsis and consensus outlook, you MUST provide projections for the playerProjections should include (at a minimum):

For QBs: Passing Yards, Passing TDs, Ints, Rush Yards, Rush TDs
For RBs: Rushes, Rushing Yards, Rush TDs, Receptions, Receiving Yards, Receiving TDs
For WRs & TEs: Receptions, Receiving Yards, Receiving TDsNow let's get on with the conversation! We look forward to your contributions and let me offer a personal thanks in anticipation of the great debate and analysis.

 

[Iwannabeacowboybaby!]

Marty Booker is back where he belongs, with the Bears. Booker actually had some very solid years with the Bears finishing inside the top 15 at WR twice before heading to Miami. Miami's passing offense was never really any good while he was there but he returns to a Bears' offense which has problems of their own.

I don't think you can be very bullish considering the Bears offense but their defense isn't as good as it has been in the past and they will at least have to attempt to move the ball in the air more. If they do better than people expect, Booker could prove startable in leagues where you start 3 wr's where bye weeks come into play and survivor leagues where you can draft up to 7 wr's.

45 receptions for 650 yards and 4 td's

 

[Nathan R. Jessep]

well said, iwbac

I too think Marty will return to form as he is back in familiar surroundings. If he weren't limited by less-than-stellar QBs, I would be very interested to see what he could do. I think he picks the pace up again in 2008, though obviously with a limited ceiling.

75/880 and 5 TDs

 

[Scooby1974]

well said, iwbac I too think Marty will return to form as he is back in familiar surroundings. If he weren't limited by less-than-stellar QBs, I would be very interested to see what he could do. I think he picks the pace up again in 2008, though obviously with a limited ceiling.75/880 and 5 TDs

What do you call Gross-man? Now he has a rookie RB (vs Thomas Jones) at RB and a Def that isn't quite what it was since he last played for the Bears.All this adds up to playing from behind and the Bears having to rely on Rex's arm to win them games...not a good proposition.I see 60/680 and 4 TD's

 

[Nathan R. Jessep]

well said, iwbac I too think Marty will return to form as he is back in familiar surroundings. If he weren't limited by less-than-stellar QBs, I would be very interested to see what he could do. I think he picks the pace up again in 2008, though obviously with a limited ceiling.75/880 and 5 TDs

What do you call Gross-man? Now he has a rookie RB (vs Thomas Jones) at RB and a Def that isn't quite what it was since he last played for the Bears.All this adds up to playing from behind and the Bears having to rely on Rex's arm to win them games...not a good proposition.I see 60/680 and 4 TD's

yeah, just to be clear, I was in no way saying that Grossman was decent...just wanted to clear that up

 

[Jon_Moore]

Eh.

Chicago has arguably the worst quarterback situation in the NFL. Their running game is comprised of an unproven rookie and a bunch of career backups. The other receivers have done jack squat for their careers. Odds are, the offense will SUCK.

Booker's a savvy vet, with solid route running ability, good hands, and good toughness. He thrived once upon a time in Chicago, but realistically everything is different.

The bears will probably be behind alot due to the horrible offense, and Grossman has the strength to get Booker the ball, so their is something resembling a silver lining.

54 Receptions

605 Yards

4 TDs

 

[Jimmy James]

Before he got to Miami, I counted myself as a Dolphins fan who loved to watch Booker. He had the ability to just get lost back there that I loved to see.

I loved having a guy I loved watching on my favorite team, but it just never quite worked out. I think Marty left his heart in Chicago and it just wasn't the same for him in Miami. I think there were also some hard feelings with Smith moving him in the way he did that should be interesting.

I'm with everybody else who thinks the Chicago QB situation is a mess, but Marty has never had a quality QB. I'm going to guess conservative for stats, but I'm a bit more optimistic than others.

75 catches

800 yards

5 TDs

 

[sholditch]

I'd say about 45 for 520 and 3 Tds. He will start but might not finish the season as the bears look to involve some of their younger receivers. I'd say by the end of the season it will be either Bennett-Bradley or Bennett-Monk at the 1&2 with an outside shot of seeing Bennett-Hester.

 

[Chicago Hooligan]

Booker trips some warnings for me, aside from the facts of his age and his unreliable QB. I dislike WRs who have changed teams in the offseason (unless they have above-and-beyond talent like Moss/Owens/etc.) and I avoid what I call "default" picks -- guys who are predicted to put up numbers basically by process of elimination, i.e. 'who else is going to catch passes there?' Well, I don't know, but I'm not going to gamble that it's Booker.

 

[rzrback77]

Marty Booker is a very low risk (with a slight possibility of high reward) WR for 08. His QB is erratic at best. The offensive line is not what it was, the running game has plenty of question marks. All in all, lots of reasons for folks to dismiss the offensive potential of the Bears. And as such, Booker is ranked very low on the WR lists.

A few reasons for optimism are Booker returns home to the Bears. Even though Grossman is erratic, he has produced at times in the past. The Bears defense is not as strong and the running game is very suspect, so they may have to open it up.

Booker has not had a great year since 2001, but he did have two top 15 seasons back to back in Chicago. His years since have been moderate at best, finishing 33, 40, 43, 56, and 70 last year. But the best news of all is the low risk for a probable starter. His current ADP is WR 68 and 207 overall. If he produces, he is a significant value and if he doesn't, you don't lose much cutting him loose and adding a waiver wire guy.

Marty Booker 110 targets 62 catches 837 yards 13.5 ypc and 4 TDs

 

[joffer]

This guy is underrated right now, in some cases going undrafted. Another example of a vet WR that you can get late and has a real shot at contributing.

58/710/4

 

[tombonneau]

Booker trips some warnings for me, aside from the facts of his age and his unreliable QB. I dislike WRs who have changed teams in the offseason (unless they have above-and-beyond talent like Moss/Owens/etc.) and I avoid what I call "default" picks -- guys who are predicted to put up numbers basically by process of elimination, i.e. 'who else is going to catch passes there?' Well, I don't know, but I'm not going to gamble that it's Booker.

I used to have the same preconceived notion as you re: WRs switching teams, but it seems like recent history (i.e. the last 5 years or so) has been kind to WRs switching teams (and not just the Moss's and TO's).Just OTTOMH, Welker, Javon Walker, Plaxico, Santana Moss, all had productive years their first year with a new team. I'm sure there are others I'm forgetting.My overall point being that while the perception from "awhile back" is to avoid WRs on new teams because they take awhile to learn the system or whatever, that really seems to be changing. I've gotten to the point where I don't even factor it in all that much when assessing a WR.

 

[The Man with the Plan]

Unless Jim Miller's coming back to the Bears too I don't see much from Marty Booker. Bye-week match-up guy and that's about it.

 

[Chicago Hooligan]

Booker trips some warnings for me, aside from the facts of his age and his unreliable QB. I dislike WRs who have changed teams in the offseason (unless they have above-and-beyond talent like Moss/Owens/etc.) and I avoid what I call "default" picks -- guys who are predicted to put up numbers basically by process of elimination, i.e. 'who else is going to catch passes there?' Well, I don't know, but I'm not going to gamble that it's Booker.

I used to have the same preconceived notion as you re: WRs switching teams, but it seems like recent history (i.e. the last 5 years or so) has been kind to WRs switching teams (and not just the Moss's and TO's).Just OTTOMH, Welker, Javon Walker, Plaxico, Santana Moss, all had productive years their first year with a new team. I'm sure there are others I'm forgetting.My overall point being that while the perception from "awhile back" is to avoid WRs on new teams because they take awhile to learn the system or whatever, that really seems to be changing. I've gotten to the point where I don't even factor it in all that much when assessing a WR.

I don't consider the fact that a guy is going to a new team without looking at anything else. All the guys you listed are better than Marty Booker and had better QBs than Grossman/Orton throwing to them.

 

[msommer]

Chicago has arguably the worst quarterback situation in the NFL.

Worse than BAL? Boller, Smith, Flacco?. Doubtful in my book.

Their running game is comprised of an unproven rookie and a bunch of career backups.

Now they have Kevin Jones, so potentially a bit better there

The other receivers have done jack squat for their careers.

Indeed.Their offense will most likely suck as you say. Grossman can get the ball to Hester if Hester can catch it - or Bradley - or Doucet - or Monk.Booker is the veteran that is supposed to keep drives alive on 3rd down. My take is he'll have plenty of opportunity for that.65/675/6 and meh

 

[Brutis]

Hard to predict numbers on Booker, not sure this guy will even start.