KnowledgeReignsSupreme
Footballguy
I've always been a proponent of buying solid, steady and unremarkable vet WRs in bulk late in the draft. They've proven they can perform at some point... Much more so than that shiny new rookie that everyone is looking to get ahold of in round 7.
Sometimes their value is depressed because of the "emergence" of an up and coming WR ala Rod Smith v Ashley Lelie. Sometimes they have been solid as a #2 for years after being a #1, but are only an injury away from stepping into a great season ala Muhsin Muhammad. Some guys just have injury problems, but if they can put together just one solid year, they'd be great value in round 13 or whatever.
Last year, I had some combination Terry Glenn, Donald Driver and Joey Galloway on all my teams. Driver was the most expensive with an ADP in the 18-20 WR range. Terry Glenn and Joey Galloway came free with the purchase of any large drink. Maybe I'm just lucky, but I always seem to be able to hit well on cheap vet WRs late in the draft. I feel if I can pair them with a solid performer from the earlier rounds, I'll be set all year at the WR position.
This year, I'm not feeling too great about my prospects, but there are some guys that fit my profile that can be had cheaply.
Amani Toomer:
He'll basically be free this year. I'm not super high on him, but a Plax injury puts him back as the #1 WR on a team that was 9th in pass attempts last year. Plus Plax is supposed to have attitude problems, so there's always that X factor I guess.
Muhsin Muhammad:
Here's a guy who made my list in 2004 and ended up on one of my teams. A decline in numbers last year was expected, but with a year with the Bears under his belt, and hopefully an improved QB situation... They even have a capable veteran backup in Chi-town now. He'll be fighting off an "up and comer" in Mark Bradley.
Marcus Robinson:
I almost don't want to include him, since he's a guy who gets played up as a sleeper candidate every year. Still, that WR position in Minnesota is far from settled.
Joe Horn:
Based on the antsports mocks I posted the other day, this guy is basically forgotten about. He only finished #3 WR two years ago...
Isaac Bruce:
See Joe Horn. He always seemed to produce solid value around mid draft. The Rams probably won't be passing as much as in previous years, but we know what he's capable of and injuries DO happen.
Derrick Mason:
The more I think about this guy, the more I like it. He's definitely someone you'd have to get NOW though IMO. If things fall the way Baltimore wants, McNair will be cut and starting for them week 1. Once people start remembering the McNair-Mason combo from Tennessee, his value will shoot up.
Troy Brown:
Waaaaay on the outside of my thinking, but he fits. A Deion Branch injury would have him competing for catches with future HOFers Reche Caldwell and Bethel Johnson. Could Troy Brown squeeze out another 1,000 yard season? Stranger things have happened.
Marty Booker:
Same as a lot of guys who "came out of nowhere" to have a top 10-12 season. Formerly productive, behind a younger guy who gets injured. It could happen and he could be a very nice surprise.
Peerless Price:
... Nah
Of this list, I probably like Bruce-Mason-Horn-Muhammad the most. Hard to say what their real pricetag will be come July/August, but it will be much cheaper than Larry Fitzgerald.
Sometimes their value is depressed because of the "emergence" of an up and coming WR ala Rod Smith v Ashley Lelie. Sometimes they have been solid as a #2 for years after being a #1, but are only an injury away from stepping into a great season ala Muhsin Muhammad. Some guys just have injury problems, but if they can put together just one solid year, they'd be great value in round 13 or whatever.
Last year, I had some combination Terry Glenn, Donald Driver and Joey Galloway on all my teams. Driver was the most expensive with an ADP in the 18-20 WR range. Terry Glenn and Joey Galloway came free with the purchase of any large drink. Maybe I'm just lucky, but I always seem to be able to hit well on cheap vet WRs late in the draft. I feel if I can pair them with a solid performer from the earlier rounds, I'll be set all year at the WR position.
This year, I'm not feeling too great about my prospects, but there are some guys that fit my profile that can be had cheaply.
Amani Toomer:
He'll basically be free this year. I'm not super high on him, but a Plax injury puts him back as the #1 WR on a team that was 9th in pass attempts last year. Plus Plax is supposed to have attitude problems, so there's always that X factor I guess.
Muhsin Muhammad:
Here's a guy who made my list in 2004 and ended up on one of my teams. A decline in numbers last year was expected, but with a year with the Bears under his belt, and hopefully an improved QB situation... They even have a capable veteran backup in Chi-town now. He'll be fighting off an "up and comer" in Mark Bradley.
Marcus Robinson:
I almost don't want to include him, since he's a guy who gets played up as a sleeper candidate every year. Still, that WR position in Minnesota is far from settled.
Joe Horn:
Based on the antsports mocks I posted the other day, this guy is basically forgotten about. He only finished #3 WR two years ago...
Isaac Bruce:
See Joe Horn. He always seemed to produce solid value around mid draft. The Rams probably won't be passing as much as in previous years, but we know what he's capable of and injuries DO happen.
Derrick Mason:
The more I think about this guy, the more I like it. He's definitely someone you'd have to get NOW though IMO. If things fall the way Baltimore wants, McNair will be cut and starting for them week 1. Once people start remembering the McNair-Mason combo from Tennessee, his value will shoot up.
Troy Brown:
Waaaaay on the outside of my thinking, but he fits. A Deion Branch injury would have him competing for catches with future HOFers Reche Caldwell and Bethel Johnson. Could Troy Brown squeeze out another 1,000 yard season? Stranger things have happened.
Marty Booker:
Same as a lot of guys who "came out of nowhere" to have a top 10-12 season. Formerly productive, behind a younger guy who gets injured. It could happen and he could be a very nice surprise.
Peerless Price:
... Nah
Of this list, I probably like Bruce-Mason-Horn-Muhammad the most. Hard to say what their real pricetag will be come July/August, but it will be much cheaper than Larry Fitzgerald.
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