PSILOCYBIN
Footballguy
Will he be at least a second tier TE this year?
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Vernon Davis TE (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter PSILOCYBIN
- Start date
SwampDawg
Footballguy
I think he'll actually be closer to the bottom of the first tier TE's then he will be to a 2nd tier. He started 8 games last year, had 20 catches and 3 TD's averaging over 13 yards a catch. A couple of those games were his first ones back from the broken leg and he really didn't do much. I see him in the 700 yard 6 to 7 TD range assuming he stays healthy all season.
KellysHeroes
Footballguy
I like VD... but a lot of people do to.. hes usually taken after Heap; I've seen him drafted over Shockey, Witten, Cooley, which I can not do... he could have a great season but thats too high on an 2nd yr TE for me.
derek19
Footballguy
KellysHeroes
Footballguy
He is way beyond Watson hype....
LHUCKS
Footballguy
Because he is way beyond Waston's talent and opportunity.
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Jayrod
Footballguy
No. Watson hype last year was pretty ridiculous.I just kept remembering that he played for the Pats and nobody in that offense can be elite except Brady because they spread it around too much.Now VD plays for a team with Gore and...........DJax? That's it. He will be a viable option all season and leaned upon in the passing game. He was a first round pick last year and the only reason he didn't have a decent year last year was the injury. If healthy, he should at least come close to the hype this year.
ceo3west
Footballguy
Not a chance. Davis was a top 10 draft pick for a reason. He's a STUD, and within the next few years will unseat gates IMO.Shhhh...Delanie Walker.I can see another Daniel Graham/Ben Watson type of scenario.
If Watson was a little more natural receiver, he would have had a huge year. There are at least a few times he got open downfield and Brady tried to guide him to a spot with the throw, only for Watson to clumsily mal-adjust to the ball, or take a stutter step and break stride throwing off the timing. Watson still has the talent to be a tremendous threat in the passing game, and he's 2nd to only Davis after the catch among TEs, but I was disappointed that he didn't step up as much as we thought he could (and even with that, he was still a startable TE in most leagues). Davis has a similar profile, with an even higher upside - and more production in his past, so he's definitely more of a natural in the passing game. He's far and away the most dangerous TE after the catch, and the team will definitely feature him in the passing game. #2 fantasy TE is within his reach this year if he's catching the ball smoothly with his hands instead jabbing at it like he was at times last year.
steelcityman
Footballguy
I think he can challenge for #2 spot in the TE ranks come end of season. Obviously he needs to stay healthy, and A Smith needs to continue to improve.
Jason Wood
Zoo York
Horrible last year? He had 5 for 37 and a TD in his first NFL game, and then lost the better part of 9 games to injury. If you pro rate his production while in the starting lineup, you get:Including Week One: 51 receptions, 677 yards, 8 TDsExcluding Week One: 45 receptions, 694 yards, 6.4 TDsAny way you slice it, the guy made plays when he was healthy. When you compare his per game productivity against the current NFL greats at his position, and then you consider he'll almost assuredly be the 49ers most targeted receiver, I don't see how this guy falls short of top-10 numbers minimum.
Sabertooth
Footballguy
Bust. Avoid him. Workout warrior. I am not kidding.
duaneok66
Footballguy
he was on the field plenty and in the games I saw he was almost invisible . . .
and those prorated numbers are as a rookie, at one of the toughest positions for rookies to adjust to the pro game. All reports out of SF are that Vernon seems extremely focused and has been wowing observers at minicamp, so don't say you weren't warned if he moves to the head of the "TEs not named Gates" class. He's also got the right stuff to threaten Gates stranglehold on #1 TE long term. Davis isn't just tough to bring down after the catch, he freaking looks to dish out punishment like a power RB. As a TE, he'll often have 50+ pounds on any DB trying to tackle him, not to mention the mental edge that looking to be the punisher instead of the punishee gives a receiver after catch - he has rare upside, and should be a major commodity in any leagues that emphasize the TE for a long time.
Davis would probably be the first to admit that his rookie year was a disappointment, and he did disappear for stretches - but that should just underscore how good he actually can be. The guy was struggling and awkward, and he put up pro-rated numbers that were good enough to start in most fantasy leagues. Imagine what he's going to do once he's healthy and comfortable.
Jason Wood
Zoo York
The great thing about fantasy football is its about the stats. In 10 games played (several of which he left due to injury), he logged:
10 games
20 receptions
265 yards
3 TDs
44.5 fantasy points
4.45 PPGCompare that to the rookie fantasy PPG of other luminescent tight ends:
Chris Cooley -- 4.2125 PPG
Antonio Gates -- 3.3933 PPG
Dallas Clark -- 3.6363 PPG
Jason Witten -- 2.7133 PPG
L.J. Smith -- 2.5333 PPG
Alge Crumpler -- 3.1875 PPG
Todd Heap -- 2.4182 PPG
Tony Gonzalez -- 3.0500 PPGOnly Jeremy Shockey had a better rookie fantasy showing when healthy among current elite tight ends. Davis is, by no means, a workout warrior nor did he have a terrible rookie season unless you want to hold his injury against him.
5Rings
Lurker
VD might not be the 2nd coming, but he was 17th overall on a ppg basis as a rookie.Not bad considering the rankings of these TEs their rookie year.Ben Coates 39Algae Crumpler 18Bubba Franks 22Antonio Gates 18Tony Gonzales 19Shannon Sharpe 33Jeremy Shockey 3Jason Witten 23
duaneok66
Footballguy
now you are bringing up comparison which leads into other factors coming into play . . .for example, Heap played behind Sharpe his rookie year, compare Sharpe to Eric Johnson . . .
I saw half the 49er games last year, and catching a ball in the flat for 6 yards is not good . . . (especially when its 3rd and 11) . . . I saw plays like that often last year . . .
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Davis led the ACC in receiving yards (including WRs) and led Maryland in receptions in 2005. That doesn't sound like a workout warrior to me. Can you expound a bit on your comment? What have you seen (or not seen) that has led you to this conclusion?
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5Rings
Lurker
Blame Norv Turner for the 6 yard pattern, not VD. Hey, at least he didn't drop it, which as a homer was my only complaint about his play last year. I don't think any TE in the league has his physical abilities....go back to the Ram game and watch him run through and by the entire back 7. I'm high on only 2 Niners this year for fantasy--VD and Willis.
VD has been working out at the Niners facility with Alex Smith almost every day this offseason. Many fluff articles have been written about their "developing chemistry". Even with the aquisition of DJax, I still see VD as the #1 target in SF...how many TEs can you say that about?
To me, when you get a guy that has talent + situation (#1 target) = good value.
Jason Wood
Zoo York
Do 6-yard catches on 3rd and long not count in your fantasy league? They do in all of mine.
In all seriousness, Vernon Davis has yet to prove he's worthy of the elite status some have bestowed upon him, but objectively he played better than a great many excellent tight ends as rookies. And regardless of whether you want to argue the relative merits of Eric Johnson and Shannon Sharpe (I don't), you can't ignore the fact that Davis didn't get to start many games last year partly because of Johnson's status as the veteran.Davis was highly productive in the ACC, he's not a workout warrior.
Rookie TEs have notoriously difficult times adjusting to the NFL game, yet Davis held his own against all historical comparisons.
Davis is healthy, has no competition from Johnson this year
He has, at most, one WR (DJAX) that might vie with him for the preponderance of Alex Smith's targets
Remember, the bar is relatively low to be a "Top 10 fantasy TE." If you want to contend Davis won't perform at the elite level of Antonio Gates, Chris Cooley or Tony Gonzalez, I can understand. But objectively to dismiss him isn't back up by any empirical evidence.
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bicycle_seat_sniffer
Smells like chicken
Maryland is in the ACC not SEC.Do 6-yard catches on 3rd and long not count in your fantasy league? They do in all of mine.In all seriousness, Vernon Davis has yet to prove he's worthy of the elite status some have bestowed upon him, but objectively he played better than a great many excellent tight ends as rookies. And regardless of whether you want to argue the relative merits of Eric Johnson and Shannon Sharpe (I don't), you can't ignore the fact that Davis didn't get to start many games last year partly because of Johnson's status as the veteran.
Davis was highly productive in the ACC, he's not a workout warrior.
Rookie TEs have notoriously difficult times adjusting to the NFL game, yet Davis held his own against all historical comparisons.
Davis is healthy, has no competition from Johnson this year
He has, at most, one WR (DJAX) that might vie with him for the preponderance of Alex Smith's targets
Remember, the bar is relatively low to be a "Top 10 fantasy TE." If you want to contend Davis won't perform at the elite level of Antonio Gates, Chris Cooley or Tony Gonzalez, I can understand. But objectively to dismiss him isn't back up by any empirical evidence.
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KellysHeroes
Footballguy
I believe that VD's ADP is most likely higher than Waton's during this time of season last yr
lions327
Footballguy
That is among the most useless stats there are. It doesn't say why some of the passes weren't caught. it doesn't say if they were the TE's fault or the QB's fault. I find stats like that to be meaningless. Production stats count. I know many will disagree with me.
Winning IS Everything
Footballguy
I agree with you. People gripe about Chambers and his low catch % but fail to realize he had Joey Overthrowbyaton chucking him the rock.Davis was working with a young QB, add that Davis was a rooking learning the terminology, routes, cuts timing etc..... That all plays a factor. Look for marked improvment this year.
Jason Wood
Zoo York
Good catch...visions of Leonard Pope on my mind.Maryland is in the ACC not SEC.Do 6-yard catches on 3rd and long not count in your fantasy league? They do in all of mine.In all seriousness, Vernon Davis has yet to prove he's worthy of the elite status some have bestowed upon him, but objectively he played better than a great many excellent tight ends as rookies. And regardless of whether you want to argue the relative merits of Eric Johnson and Shannon Sharpe (I don't), you can't ignore the fact that Davis didn't get to start many games last year partly because of Johnson's status as the veteran.
Davis was highly productive in the ACC, he's not a workout warrior.
Rookie TEs have notoriously difficult times adjusting to the NFL game, yet Davis held his own against all historical comparisons.
Davis is healthy, has no competition from Johnson this year
He has, at most, one WR (DJAX) that might vie with him for the preponderance of Alex Smith's targets
Remember, the bar is relatively low to be a "Top 10 fantasy TE." If you want to contend Davis won't perform at the elite level of Antonio Gates, Chris Cooley or Tony Gonzalez, I can understand. But objectively to dismiss him isn't back up by any empirical evidence.
Gottabesweet
Footballguy
He and Heath Miller are my only TE's with all this hype for VD I'm not sure he will live up.
duaneok66
Footballguy
it's not perfect, but its not meaningless either . . .
duaneok66
Footballguy
here we go . . . blame Chambers lack of production on the QB . . . keep in mind that Welker and Booker did MUCH better than Chambers last year (catch%) . . .
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