Player Spotlight: Nate Burleson (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: Nate Burleson, WR, Seattle Seahawks

Player Page Link: Nate Burleson 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.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

He had 9 TD on only 50 receptions last year...posted only 690+ yds too. I think there is a tendency to gravitate to this guy because of his TD total and also Branch being injured coupled with DJ Hackett being gone. I think there are real problems in Seattle and i think there will be a lot of points simply spread out. There is nothing across from him that will draw away either a top DB or double coverage. Seattle has a rookie TE in Carlson, and old vet in Bobby Engram, a WR no one has ever heard of outside the Shark Pool in Ben Obamanu, they have gone from Shaun Alexander in his prime to Julius Jones and TJ Duckett...things don't look that good in Seattle.

50/700/5 TD

 

[cacksman]

He had 9 TD on only 50 receptions last year...posted only 690+ yds too. I think there is a tendency to gravitate to this guy because of his TD total and also Branch being injured coupled with DJ Hackett being gone. I think there are real problems in Seattle and i think there will be a lot of points simply spread out. There is nothing across from him that will draw away either a top DB or double coverage. Seattle has a rookie TE in Carlson, and old vet in Bobby Engram, a WR no one has ever heard of outside the Shark Pool in Ben Obamanu, they have gone from Shaun Alexander in his prime to Julius Jones and TJ Duckett...things don't look that good in Seattle.50/700/5 TD

There is so much wrong with this post, where do I start?Alexander wasnt in his prime last year, he was a shell of his former self and Jones, Morris, and Duckett are an upgrade. The offense should almost certainly be better next year even when Hasselbeck had a great year and Engram put up great #s. Hackett barely played last year, same with Branch.The starters will be Engram and Burleson and all reports are that Hass is becoming much more comfortable with Burleson. There is no way he only gets 50 receptions this year like you say. Thats what he had last year and he will have a much bigger opportunity to succeed. He is also a top 3 returner in the league so if you get points for return yardage, he is money.75/1000/8 TD

 

[Buffaloes]

He had 9 TD on only 50 receptions last year...posted only 690+ yds too. I think there is a tendency to gravitate to this guy because of his TD total and also Branch being injured coupled with DJ Hackett being gone. I think there are real problems in Seattle and i think there will be a lot of points simply spread out. There is nothing across from him that will draw away either a top DB or double coverage. Seattle has a rookie TE in Carlson, and old vet in Bobby Engram, a WR no one has ever heard of outside the Shark Pool in Ben Obamanu, they have gone from Shaun Alexander in his prime to Julius Jones and TJ Duckett...things don't look that good in Seattle.50/700/5 TD

There is so much wrong with this post, where do I start?Alexander wasnt in his prime last year, he was a shell of his former self and Jones, Morris, and Duckett are an upgrade. The offense should almost certainly be better next year even when Hasselbeck had a great year and Engram put up great #s. Hackett barely played last year, same with Branch.The starters will be Engram and Burleson and all reports are that Hass is becoming much more comfortable with Burleson. There is no way he only gets 50 receptions this year like you say. Thats what he had last year and he will have a much bigger opportunity to succeed. He is also a top 3 returner in the league so if you get points for return yardage, he is money.75/1000/8 TD

 

[southeastjerome]

I don't expect much in terms of game to game consistency for Burleson. He's a big play threat who will go 2-20-0 one week and 5-120-2 the next. He's a nice matchups guy this season in my opinion. Being the likely starter at split end with a very good offensive coach and with a very good QB do a lot to raise his floor. For me this makes him the perfect WR3 that can be drafted as a WR4. He's a guy that I could see myself feeling very comfortable to start against weak to mediocre secondaries. PPR league folks might want to take note of the fact that Burleson has only 2 games over his NFL career in which he caught more than 6 passes. Also, being the split end in the Seahawks offense means that he likely will not see the same targets as the team's flanker, Bobby Engram.

68-980-9

 

[rzrback77]

Nate Burleson has some positives coming into 08. He has a solid QB in Hasselbeck. The main targets recently in Seattle are missing. Branch is injured, Hackett is gone, and Engram is holding out and may miss some of the preseason workouts. And if you look at the playoffs last year, Burleson was a key factor. He averaged 8 targets per playoff game with 17 catches for 216 yards and 2 TDs.

Many think that Seattle will be down, but I don't believe it. I think that they will be the favorites in their division and will likely pass as much as ever even though it seems that their studs are missing. His ADP is only the low side as well, currently WR 39 and 105 overall. I think that he can provide significant value to his owners in 08.

Nate Burleson 110 targets 70 catches 966 yards 13.8 ypc 8 TDs

 

[LBH]

Hasselbeck is a good enough QB to make average WRs productive. Burleson will have a better oppurtunity this year without Hackett around and Branch starting on PUP. I think hes primed for a career season.

80 1250 10

also watching the Obamanu/C.Taylor battle closely.

 

[Iwannabeacowboybaby!]

The fact is Seattle is a quality passing team, so whoever the starters are, they going to be top 35 Wr's and the better one of the two top 20 at worst. When they had Darrell Jackson, he was a little more talented than Burleson and Engram so he produced better numbers even though he had the dropsies.

Nate Burleson showed he had some talent his 2nd year in Minnesota. If the guy is in the right situation, he can produce enough to make him a solid pick. I like Burleson as a pretty decent Wr3. I wouldn't feel strong if he was my NO. 2 guy heading into the season unless you're in a 16 team league or something like that.

70 receptions for 850 yards and 8 td's

 

[Routilla]

Great value for the 40th+ WR off the board.

 

[BigRed]

Alexander wasnt in his prime last year, he was a shell of his former self and Jones, Morris, and Duckett are an upgrade.

True, although that isn't saying much.

The offense should almost certainly be better next year even when Hasselbeck had a great year and Engram put up great #s. Hackett barely played last year, same with Branch.

Hass likely had a career year IMO and Branch didn't "barely play" - he started/played 11 games and notched about 50 catches.

The starters will be Engram and Burleson and all reports are that Hass is becoming much more comfortable with Burleson.

But most reports I see/hear have Engram as Hass' fav target by far.

he will have a much bigger opportunity to succeed.

Likely true - I'm doutful though, and suspect Engram is the better play.

 

[Jon_Moore]

I just can't not love a guy that had 11 TDs last season. If he continues returning kicks, he'll likely find the endzone a few times via that. 9 TDs receiving shows he can get it done in the passing game as well, Hasselback looks his way when it matters. The running game is unproven, but he has an outstanding QB to get him the ball. Engram is coming off a 1,000 yard season, so defenses won't focus completely on Burleson. With Branch out, and Engram aging to the tune of 35 years old, Burleson is in a great spot to become the primary target for Hasselback.

68 Receptions

911 Yards

7 TDs