It seems as if no one is remebering what Bennett did during the second half of last season or for that matter the entire season. Bennett plays in a good offensive division on a team that will seemingly not be trying to protect many big leads. But his talent alone is good enough reason to make him a high draft pick in most fantasy league. I have all too often seen him go in the 6th round or later. In the two leagues that I have been I waited a bit on wide receivers and got him as my #2 receiver in both leagues and got him in the 6th round both drafts. It seems like he is falling at least past the 20th receiver on the board being drafted. I don't understand why he isn't being hyped a bit more.
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Why is Drew Bennett so underappreciated (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Mossome
- Start date
i for one like his chances this year but i didn't take him in my draft because i think his ADP is a little too high for a guy that could be feast or famine. he has had the luxury of having derrick mason alongside him and it's hard to say how he will respond to lining up against the other teams #1 CB and being the focal point of the passing game. that said, i think chow will open up the titans offense and mcnair, bennett, and calico (if he can stay on the field) should all enjoy productive fantasy seasons.
supermark_28
Footballguy
alot of the concern is what he will do w/ mcnair instead of volek.if i remember correctly his best games were w/ volek at qb. hehad mason as the # 1 so he didnt necessarily draw the d's bestcover corner, he's now the # 1 on a offense that looks like a spreadpass offense,lots of different people touching the ball. sadly,the titanswill be playing from behind but i'm not convinced he can produce as the #1.
SSOG
Moderator
Question: Why is Drew Bennett so underappreciated?Answer: Peerless Price.That was an easy one.If you want a more in-depth answer... the majority of his numbers came with Volek at the helm, with whom he seems to have established a rapport. Now he's playing with McNair at the helm, not Volek. He's also facing #1 coverages for the first time in his career, and Peerless Price has demonstrated that it's not always the easiest of transitions to make. Further, I tend to be wary of any player who is going as high as Drew Bennett is going based entirely on an 8 week span. I remember vividly amazing 8-week stretches from Kevan Barlow and William Green. Finally, the entire Tennessee team is in rebuilding mode. That might mean they're playing catchup more frequently... but it also might mean that the QB is getting no protection and no opposing defense is honoring the threat of the run in the slightest. Hard to catch the ball when your O-line can't run block OR pass block.
cstu
Footballguy
Part of it is that he seems to have come out of nowhere and it's tough to draft a guy that high who wasn't a star coming out of college. I used to be a doubter but after seeing the way he dismantled the Chargers defense last year in person I'm not any more. Believe me, there's a reason why the Titans let McCareins and Mason go - the guy is flat out good. . Also, don't forget that he was playing through a myriad of injuries last year and still ended up with 80 catches. I think that's a minimum of what he will get this year in Chow's offense if he stays healthy.
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Bears_Man2
Footballguy
Salary Cap.I wouldn't take any Titan WR any higher than a WR3. I'll take my chances with Troupe as a backup TE who could be a starting one by year's end.
cstu
Footballguy
Saved for posterity...There's no question that the salary cap was a big issue, but when it came down to it the Titans decided to sign Bennett last year instead of McCareins. Mason definitely was a cap casualty, however, the Titans could have reworked the deal and kept him even with their cap problems. My view is that they knew what they had in Bennett and thought that he is good enough so they could save themselves further cap problems in the future by letting Mason go.
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Don't forget, if the guy opposite him is (ever) healthy, teams won't be able to double cover Bennett.
JohnnyU
Footballguy
I hate to say it, but the reason why he falls in most drafts is because of the white WR stereotype. How long did it take before McCaffery got the respect he deserved? I especially hate playing the race card, but when hit comes to WR and RB, there is definitely a stereotype against white players in the minds of those who play FF.
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David Yudkin
Footballguy
Because he ranked as the #1 WR over a 3 week span but the #30 (or so) WR for the other 13 weeks.
Sounds like you need to play in better leagues. His ADP is 4.10 & if you're seeing him go in the 6th I would say that the guys you are playing with aren't very adept. We took him @ 4.06 in a 1 ppr league as our #3 WR and are very happy with the selction. Bennett has the opportunity to break into the top ten in a ppr league with the numbers of balls he ought to get thrown his way - TEN is going to be playing catchup in the 2nd half of a lot of games this year. Even if they aren't trying to catchup, with that putrid D they'll be having to throw a bunch to keep up.Bennett may not be as talented as some of the other WRs around him, but he's the right guy in the right situation regardless of whom is playing QB for TEN.
Jason Wood
Zoo York
Because Bennett's situation brings about too many risks to comfortably rely on him as your #1:1) Can he handle the #1 job? 2) How do we reconcile his monstrous three weeks with a mediocre rest of the season?3) Will Steve McNair have the same rapport with Bennett as Volek did?4) Who else is going to catch passes? 5) Can Norm Chow bring his collegiate spread offense to the NFL with success?
Colin Dowling
Footballguy
WHat Jason said.Essentially, the only things between Bennett and his big end of 2005 are...1. New Position (WR1 instead of WR2)2. New OC3. New quarterback4. New complimentary receiver across from him.LOTS of changes.Colin
mydixie
Footballguy
Disregard all the #1 DB comments as they are not valid concerns. How many times have you seen the #1 WR running uncovered down the middle of the field? It is the job of the OC to create mismatches. This is how the top WRs in the league go uncovered or covered by a LB even in nickle and dime packages.
Colin Dowling
Footballguy
What are you talking about? I'll eat my house with ketchup if you can find me game film of Randy Moss being covered downfield by a linebacker...Colin
stealthrunner
Footballguy
My two PAY leagues which I view as mostly sharks, he went in the fourth round and sixth round.
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-OZ-
Footballguy
Obviously Moss isn't going to be covered by a LB downfield, but that's because the DC is concentrating on Moss. It won't happen often, but occasionally, the #1 WR on many teams does get covered by a LB on an occasional play, or a safety. Ussually this happens on a CB blitz, or when the DC changes things up. Also, it isn't always as easy as to say "WR 1 is covered by CB 1". Defenses change things up, and the OC will attempt to create mismatches.
Colin Dowling
Footballguy
Correct. And the DC will attempt to counter those mismatches and compensate, er, DEFEND against what the OC is doing.COlin
psychobillies
Footballguy
I was unable to watch the game on TV but my understanding is that Moss had a linebacker trying to cover him on his 20+ yard TD in the recent Saints/Raiders preseason game. Does that count?
psychobillies
Footballguy
There you go. How much Ketchup do you think it takes to make a house taste good?Though it's going to be from a mistake defensively, it does happen. FYI, Moss's last touchdown against the Saints in the Raiders/Saints final preseason game was with a Linebacker stuck covering him.
M
MLBrandow
Guest
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Keys Myaths
Pokerguy
JohnnyU
Footballguy
Well, it is a fact, IMO - As I stated in my post earlier, and I repeat, "I hate to say it, but the reason why he falls in most drafts is because of the white WR stereotype. How long did it take before McCaffery got the respect he deserved? I especially hate playing the race card, but when hit comes to WR and RB, there is definitely a stereotype against white players in the minds of those who play FF."
Noahs Troopers
Footballguy
I refuse to have one on my roster. And I'm not "racist", just prejuduiced against white RB/WR on my roster.Well, it is a fact, IMO - As I stated in my post earlier, and I repeat, "I hate to say it, but the reason why he falls in most drafts is because of the white WR stereotype. How long did it take before McCaffery got the respect he deserved? I especially hate playing the race card, but when hit comes to WR and RB, there is definitely a stereotype against white players in the minds of those who play FF."
Jason Wood
Zoo York
I assure you whether Bennett was white, black or green I would have serious questions about his fantasy value given the aforementioned risks.Well, it is a fact, IMO - As I stated in my post earlier, and I repeat, "I hate to say it, but the reason why he falls in most drafts is because of the white WR stereotype. How long did it take before McCaffery got the respect he deserved? I especially hate playing the race card, but when hit comes to WR and RB, there is definitely a stereotype against white players in the minds of those who play FF."
gman8343
What would Lemmy do?
I'd be hesitant to take him as my #1, but I can't really see any scenario where he doesn't have tons of targets this season. He's by far the most proven WR on the team -- a team that's all but promising to air it out all year. They have two QBs who can sling the deep ball well, and Bennett is the unquestionable go to guy right now.Couple this with the fact that their defense is probably going to subpar at best, and you have many potential shootouts. Sure there are questions about Bennett, but he's got the two most important things necessary to succeed: talent and opportunity. I like his chances. 
JohnnyU
Footballguy
No need to box, I agree with you there are other reasons that attach risk to Bennett. I just responded to Keys Myaths downthumb at the previous poster for mentioning race. It's a valid point (in the minds of FF players) in addition to the other concerns mentioned in this thread.I assure you whether Bennett was white, black or green I would have serious questions about his fantasy value given the aforementioned risks.Well, it is a fact, IMO - As I stated in my post earlier, and I repeat, "I hate to say it, but the reason why he falls in most drafts is because of the white WR stereotype. How long did it take before McCaffery got the respect he deserved? I especially hate playing the race card, but when hit comes to WR and RB, there is definitely a stereotype against white players in the minds of those who play FF."
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Tau837
Footballguy
I'd be hesitant to take him as my #1, but I can't really see any scenario where he doesn't have tons of targets this season. He's by far the most proven WR on the team -- a team that's all but promising to air it out all year. They have two QBs who can sling the deep ball well, and Bennett is the unquestionable go to guy right now.
Couple this with the fact that their defense is probably going to subpar at best, and you have many potential shootouts.
Sure there are questions about Bennett, but he's got the two most important things necessary to succeed: talent and opportunity.
I like his chances.
The Man Who Met Andy Griffith
Footballguy
You are overstating how unusual that is for WR.Take out Wayne's top 3 games, and he had 801-7. Take out Bennett's top 3 and he had 730-3. TD-wise that's bad. yardage-wise, it's pretty close to Wayne's (and Bennett was injured early on). Take out Javon's top 3 and he had 871-8. Driver had 748-7.
In bennett's "other" 13 games, he "only" had 2 100-yarders. So did Javon. Wayne only had 1. Driver only had 1.
cstu
Footballguy
My doubts about the guy were that he wasn't fast enough (white or not) to be a down field threat and score a lot of TD's. He was also an undrafted converted QB so he had the deck stacked agaist him. However, if you have seen him play you know how good he is. He has everything you want in a receiver except blazing speed - size, quick enough get open, runs good routes, and can catch the ball. I also agree that if he were black the hype train would have already left the station.
cstu
Footballguy
As far as Bennett not doing as well with McNair as QB, there are good reasons for that. McNair had Mason as his WR since 1997 so of course he would be the first guy he looks for. I'll also put out there that I think it was McNair who made Mason look good, not the other way around (as I think we'll see in Baltimore). He also wasn't healthy before the sternum injury last year since he was still dealing with the ankle problem. A healthy McNair is a great QB who will get the ball to whoever is open. Even with that, Volek is waiting in the wings and we already know about his chemistry with Bennett.
Jason Wood
Zoo York
1) Calico will NEVER have to be covered by the top corner. Deep speed = easily defensible when it doesnt' come with anything else. If that weren't true, James Jett, Renaldo Nehemiah and Kelly Campbell would have been All Pros. 2) Norm Chow is most certainly no bet to be better than Mike Heimerdinger. The Titans didn't want to love Heimerdinger, he left of his own volition. He successfully migrated the team from a power running attack to a spread passing attack as the personnel dictated. Chow's collegiate resume is sterling, no doubt about it, but he would be the first to say that we just don't know if his schemes will translate into pro success. Lou Holtz, Steve Spurrier, Mike Riley and Butch Davis were all college "gurus" who failed miserably as pro play callers.
3) Calico is a joke...and the Titans willingness to use not one, not two but THREE draft picks on receivers despite having myriad other needs and THEN signing Troy Edwards from division rival Jacksonville is a testament to that.
mydixie
Footballguy
That's the point. Downfield he will be 10-15 yards behind the LB. This scenario happens in almost every game. The #1 WR motions into the slot and goes over the middle either being covered man by a LB or the safety rolls over to the 2 wr side and doesn't make the adjustment to the #1 in the slot. If the rush doesn't get to the QB in the 3 seconds it takes the wr to get behind the coverage....TD. Do you actually watch any games or are you waiting for someone to send you the film?
Judge Smails
Footballguy
Couple of points:1) The Peerless Price comparisons are overblown. Bennett did not switch teams, and Michael Vick is not his quarterback.2) McNair was so beat up last year that is stats can be thrown out the window. Hard to throw deep with a sternum that is black and blue. 3) Nobody doubts that TN will be bad defensively and have to play catch up often. So how does that not mean monster opps for Bennett. He may get his in garbage time, but it all counts the same in FF.Bennett is the biggest question mark heading into this FF season. I took him at 4.10 in a 12 team re-draft, and think he will make for a VERY good WR2 behind CJ. Those that passed on him because of the above ?'s will regret it IMO.
Jason Wood
Zoo York
To be clear, I think he'll be an OK WR2 (I have him ranked 19th), but he's going a round or two too early for that level of productivity.
Marc Levin
Hangs out with Oscar Zeta Acosta
I'm sure these points were addressed, but being drafted as a top-12/top-14 WR is extremely risky.No Mason. Loads of double teams Bennett has never faced before. If you recall, Mason was 2nd in the league in receptions - that is a lot of pressure off of Bennett's shoulders that will now be ON them.Benett had a LOT of his EOY production come in one huge game - esp. the TD totals. He's not looked great in the preseason and McNair seems willing to throw to a variety of people - compare to Burleson, who has looked GREAT in the preseason and C-Pepp seems inclined to throw his way a lot.The running game has actually looked good, meaning the team will probably like to rely on that aspect of the O to keep pressure off the weakened D.If you can get him for value, he is still a good play at WR2., but I have not been targetting him (and he was instrumental for a Super Bowl run for my squad last year). I did acquire him at WR2 while drafting for a friend in a rotation with TO, Bennett, Ike Bruce and Givens in a start-3Behind a superstar WR, he's a fine WR2, as your WR1, or as a top-WR2 behind a questionable WR1, I tink he is much more risky.
Marc Levin
Hangs out with Oscar Zeta Acosta
<<board hiccup>>
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Judge Smails
Footballguy
Good points, but in my opinion all of the WR's after top 12 or so have gone are risky. Burleson is going before him in almost every draft. It's usually a choice of a Bennett and say, a Driver type. All of these guys, theoretically, should be WR#2's. Having ANY of them as your #1 WR, especially in a 3WR start league, is very risky.
