Risers and Fallers: NFC West (1 Viewer)

[Jason Wood]

One of the goals of the blog is to give non subscribers a taste of what subscribers have access to, but in a more simplified manner (aka a teaser).

Last night I highlighted Dodds' Projection Tweaks article and today gave some personal risers and fallers in the two West divisions (AFC West and NFC West).

Here are my NFC West risers and fallers...

http://blog.footballguys.com/2007/08/28/fa...llers-nfc-west/

Continuing on…I thought it might be helpful to give you a few quick hitting comments on which players are rising and falling in MY (i.e., different than Dodds’) projections this preseason.

Up next, the NFC West:

RISING

* Matt Hasselbeck, SEA (Rank: QB11) — Shoulder looks healthy

* Shaun Alexander, SEA (Rank: RB12) — Still not in my top 10, but looks healthy

* Brian Leonard, STL (Rank: RB51) — Catching passes, Scoring TDs = compelling handcuff

* D.J. Hackett, SEA (Rank: WR37) — I wasn’t quickly sold on him, but have slowly become a believer

* Taylor Jacobs, SF (Rank: WR89) — Named WR3 in San Fran

* Marcus Pollard, SEA (Rank: TE17) — Fountain of youth + Holmgren’s praise = decent late round TE2

FALLING

* Torry Holt, STL (Rank: WR7) — Was ranked WR2 but slow recovery of knee = concern

* Nate Burleson, SEA (Rank: WR71) — Probably last man on Earth who believed he could start this year

* Ashley Lelie, SF (Rank: WR108) — Taylor Jacobs now WR3 in SF, Lelie could be waived

* Leonard Pope, ARI (Rank: TE40) — Having trouble holding off Troy Bienemann, ’nuff said

*** Note: As you might gather, my expectations for the Cardinals offense have changed very little this preseason, whereas my expectations for the Seahawks have improved incrementally due largely evidence that Hass and Alexander are healthy

Let’s hear your thoughts…where do you agree? Where do you disagree and why?

Love to get your thoughts...which NFC West players are rising in your rankings? Which are falling?

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Definitely agree on Hasselbeck. Last year's low numbers were due to health. I too expect a rebound.

I'm not so sure about Alexander. He looks decidedly slower and the blocking ahead of him is nowhere near what it once was.

 

[Jason Wood]

Definitely agree on Hasselbeck. Last year's low numbers were due to health. I too expect a rebound.I'm not so sure about Alexander. He looks decidedly slower and the blocking ahead of him is nowhere near what it once was.

I don't disagree re: Alexander. Remember, he's consensus top-8, I have him RB12, up from RB15-16.

 

[Shiggy Shaol]

I think some guys are starting to come around more on Arnaz Battle. It's probably a combination of a few things:

- not being able to fully trust Darrell Jackson due to his injury history and the fact that he's a newcomer in SF.

- the fact that beyond DJax and Vernon Davis, there's not much real receiving talent there.

- as much as people try to ignore Battle, he's still lingers and provides some reliability. I see him as another Amani Toomer and we should remember that Toomer threw up 5 solid seasons in his prime (with 2002 being a great season: 82 catches, 1343 yards, 8 TD)

Battle is a very solid late round grab, in my opinion.

 

[vichawkfan]

I think some guys are starting to come around more on Arnaz Battle. It's probably a combination of a few things:- not being able to fully trust Darrell Jackson due to his injury history and the fact that he's a newcomer in SF.- the fact that beyond DJax and Vernon Davis, there's not much real receiving talent there.- as much as people try to ignore Battle, he's still lingers and provides some reliability. I see him as another Amani Toomer and we should remember that Toomer threw up 5 solid seasons in his prime (with 2002 being a great season: 82 catches, 1343 yards, 8 TD)Battle is a very solid late round grab, in my opinion.

I don't trust the SF offence yet. Norv Turner will be missed.

 

[EBF]

I think some guys are starting to come around more on Arnaz Battle. It's probably a combination of a few things:- not being able to fully trust Darrell Jackson due to his injury history and the fact that he's a newcomer in SF.- the fact that beyond DJax and Vernon Davis, there's not much real receiving talent there.- as much as people try to ignore Battle, he's still lingers and provides some reliability. I see him as another Amani Toomer and we should remember that Toomer threw up 5 solid seasons in his prime (with 2002 being a great season: 82 catches, 1343 yards, 8 TD)Battle is a very solid late round grab, in my opinion.

Battle is a decent player, but comparing him to Toomer seems like a stretch. Toomer in his prime had much more speed and was a bigger downfield threat.I think Battle is a lot closer to David Givens. He won't wow you in any one area, but he's a solid starter that will pick up some catches and move the chains. That said, I don't expect him to exceed 900 receiving yards. Jackson is the top receiver. Davis and Gore will vulture a lot of targets. There probably won't be enough left to make Arnaz more than a WR4 for redraft purposes. You could do worse in survivor or best ball, but don't expect him to break out. It's unlikely.

 

[Shiggy Shaol]

To be clear, I wasn't predicting a bust-out season for Battle along the lines of the numbers I threw out for Toomer in 2002. It was more a comparison of their situations, with Plax:Toomer resembling DJax:Battle.

I guess I am higher on Arnaz than most guys. It could be the Domer in me. He's still young, he's a solid player and I think he has room to grow in this offense as Alex Smith grows. It also could be due to the doubt I have for Jackson to live up to expectations there.

 

[Despyzer]

Norv Turner will be missed.

The thing that really impresses me about Norv is not only how RBs and QBs have a history of improving under his tutelage, but that they sustain that level after he leaves. Whatever he teaches them seems to stick with them.

 

[Family Matters]

One of the goals of the blog is to give non subscribers a taste of what subscribers have access to, but in a more simplified manner (aka a teaser).

Last night I highlighted Dodds' Projection Tweaks article and today gave some personal risers and fallers in the two West divisions (AFC West and NFC West).

Here are my NFC West risers and fallers...

http://blog.footballguys.com/2007/08/28/fa...llers-nfc-west/

Continuing on…I thought it might be helpful to give you a few quick hitting comments on which players are rising and falling in MY (i.e., different than Dodds’) projections this preseason.

Up next, the NFC West:

RISING

* Matt Hasselbeck, SEA (Rank: QB11) — Shoulder looks healthy

* Shaun Alexander, SEA (Rank: RB12) — Still not in my top 10, but looks healthy

* Brian Leonard, STL (Rank: RB51) — Catching passes, Scoring TDs = compelling handcuff

* D.J. Hackett, SEA (Rank: WR37) — I wasn’t quickly sold on him, but have slowly become a believer

* Taylor Jacobs, SF (Rank: WR89) — Named WR3 in San Fran

* Marcus Pollard, SEA (Rank: TE17) — Fountain of youth + Holmgren’s praise = decent late round TE2

FALLING

* Torry Holt, STL (Rank: WR7) — Was ranked WR2 but slow recovery of knee = concern

* Nate Burleson, SEA (Rank: WR71) — Probably last man on Earth who believed he could start this year

* Ashley Lelie, SF (Rank: WR108) — Taylor Jacobs now WR3 in SF, Lelie could be waived

* Leonard Pope, ARI (Rank: TE40) — Having trouble holding off Troy Bienemann, ’nuff said

*** Note: As you might gather, my expectations for the Cardinals offense have changed very little this preseason, whereas my expectations for the Seahawks have improved incrementally due largely evidence that Hass and Alexander are healthy

Let’s hear your thoughts…where do you agree? Where do you disagree and why?

Love to get your thoughts...which NFC West players are rising in your rankings? Which are falling?

Again I agree with your post but with some comments. Can Lelie fall any farther or harder? Leonard and Jacobs are 2 big risers.

 

[JaxBill]

In general, I think people are underestimating the Seahawks as a team and I think Hasselbeck is terrific value.

 

[Shiggy Shaol]

Wood, if Holt is "falling" (albeit about 3-4 draft slots among WR as of now), then can't we put Isaac Bruce on the rising list? I'm targeting him in all my drafts. He's another "un-sexy" pick that could REALLY pay off this year.

Bruce and Battle - I'd like them as backup WRs for my drafts.

 

[chidoy]

I was hoping that more SF guys would be on the list. Like Smith or VD. Preseason hasn't shown much, I know, but do you think that the loss of Turner is really gonna show this season?

 

[Eights]

In general, I think people are underestimating the Seahawks as a team and I think Hasselbeck is terrific value.

Yes they are, Hasselbeck is huge value this year and Pollard is going to put up the numbers in this system, Holmgren has been looking for a stud at TE and they have found one solid guy in Pollard, great late round value here too.