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	<title>Fantasy Guru Blog &#187; Zach Miller</title>
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	<description>In it&#039;s 4th year, FantasyGuru.com&#039;s John Hansen&#039;s Fantasy Football Blog</description>
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	<copyright>Copyright &#38;#xA9; Fantasy Guru Blog 2010 </copyright>
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		<title>Initial thoughts on preliminary 2010 projections</title>
		<link>http://www.fantasyguru.com/blog/2010/05/09/initial-thoughts-on-preliminary-2010-projections/</link>
		<comments>http://www.fantasyguru.com/blog/2010/05/09/initial-thoughts-on-preliminary-2010-projections/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 09 May 2010 19:58:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Hansen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Fantasy Football]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aaron Rodgers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[C.J. Spiller]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Chad Henne]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Darren McFadden]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Devin Aromashodu]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jahvid Best]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jared Cook]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jason Campbell]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jeremy Maclin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jermichael Finley]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Joe Flacco]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jonathan Stewart]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kevin Kolb]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mark Sanchez]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Matthew Stafford]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mike Wallace]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Miles Austin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Montario Hardesty]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rashard Mendenhall]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Robert Meachem]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ryan Mathews]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Zach Miller]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.fantasyguru.com/blog/?p=795</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>In case you missed it, we put up our initial projections on Friday. It’s really early in the game and there’s a ton of uncertainty, but I thought it would make for an interesting post to submit some of the rankings that I’m most intrigued by and offer some reasoning behind them.</p>
<p>I’m sure anyone looking at these projections has some questions or comments, and if you do on any of these players listed below feel free to chime in and I’ll do my best to address them.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Aaron Rodgers at #1 – I think it’s the right thing to do because of his running ability. That’s an element for fantasy he really has over the other elite players at the position. 115 rushes and 9 rushing TDs over the last two years is nothing to sneeze at. And I feel a heck of a lot better about the OL, which was the only concern for Rodgers in 2009. He did get in a funk last year, but after seeing him work himself out of it, he’s now officially elite in my eyes.</p>
<p>Kevin Kolb at #10 – It was a very tough call between and Jay Cutler for that 9th spot. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In case you missed it, we put up our initial projections on Friday. It’s really early in the game and there’s a ton of uncertainty, but I thought it would make for an interesting post to submit some of the rankings that I’m most intrigued by and offer some reasoning behind them.</p>
<p>I’m sure anyone looking at these projections has some questions or comments, and if you do on any of these players listed below feel free to chime in and I’ll do my best to address them.</p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>Aaron Rodgers at #1</strong> – I think it’s the right thing to do because of his running ability. That’s an element for fantasy he really has over the other elite players at the position. 115 rushes and 9 rushing TDs over the last two years is nothing to sneeze at. And I feel a heck of a lot better about the OL, which was the only concern for Rodgers in 2009. He did get in a funk last year, but after seeing him work himself out of it, he’s now officially elite in my eyes.</p>
<p><strong>Kevin Kolb at #10 </strong>– It was a very tough call between and <strong>Jay Cutler</strong> for that 9<sup>th</sup> spot. Cutler got the edge because he’s obviously a more proven commodity, and I do like the emerging receivers here as well as Martz. But ranking Kolb at 10 is still somewhat ballsy, since he’s a first year starter. But as my last post explains, it needs to be done. If you get taxed heavily for INTs and enter your custom scoring, Kolb should come out higher than Cutler. Both will throw picks this year, but Cutler probably a few more.</p>
<p><strong>Joe Flacco at #11</strong> – I’m pretty confident Flacco’s going to be a solid starter this year. Everything is in place for a really nice season – good OL, running game, and improved receiving corps – and Flacco certainly has the talent to light it up if they chose to throw it a lot. They may run a fair amount, but <strong>Cam Cameron</strong> is more about the passing game. He’s another reason to like Flacco, Cameron is. And this is their third season together.</p>
<p><strong>Chad</strong><strong> Henne and Matthew Stafford at 18-19</strong> – This is the kind of ranking for QBs you like, but you’re just not ready to go all in on them. Both have the talent to truly excel and are in good situations, but both are clearly unproven still. But I like both as nice upside-oriented backups.</p>
<p><strong>Jason Campbell at #20</strong> – Hey, what’s another new system to this guy? If they can protect, the Raiders will get things done on offense this year. Campbell’s receiving corps overall is probably better than it was in Washington this year. I especially love <strong>Zach Miller</strong>, who’s been my guy for a while (you just haven’t heard as much about him because of the poor QB situation). Also like <strong>Louis Murphy</strong>, who’s clearly better than <strong>Malcolm Kelly</strong> and <strong>Devin Thomas</strong>.</p>
<p><strong>Mark Sanchez at #21</strong> – I surprised myself when I rubber stamped this ranking, but our Greg Cosell made a good point about the Jets this year in that they clearly understand that points come out of the passing game and they must move the ball more consistently via the pass to become a championship team. That would explain the addition of WR <strong>Santonio Holmes</strong>. Sanchez has weapons for sure, and he also runs. It’s a fair spot for him.</p>
<p><strong>Rashard Mendenhall at #6</strong> – He scares me a little still, but you can’t deny he has a ton going for him in terms of youth and ability, and the Steelers should lean on him heavily. What really helps his projections is his receiving production, and his role in the passing game should be expanding. He’s riskier than <strong>Michael Turner</strong>, but with his receiving, Mendenhall has to be projected higher.</p>
<p><strong>Ryan Mathews at #10</strong> – Shades of <strong>Edge James</strong> from ’99 when we ranked him #9 overall despite being a rookie. We’ve studied Mathews on film and we’re convinced he’s a quality player whose skills will translate to the NFL really well. And as the workhorse back on a good team, we’re seeing very little downside with those fresh and young legs. 10<sup>th</sup> at RB seems a bit over the top, but when he’s rushing for 80 yards a game and scoring most weeks, it’s going to see very reasonable.</p>
<p><strong>Montario Hardesty at #21</strong> – Pretty ballsy call, but we’re obviously projecting him to be their workhorse as well. Probably not as much as Mathews, but we like Hardesty’s tools and how he really looks like a starting RB in the NFL. Keep in mind <strong>Jerome Harrison</strong> put up massive numbers running behind this OL the tail end of 2009, which is encouraging. As for Harrison, also keep in mind he projects best as a situational guy, a fact pounded home by new football czar <strong>Mike Holmgren</strong>, who traded up into the 2<sup>nd</sup> round to take Hardesty. Hardesty is the only back on the roster who Holmgren hand-picked. They drafted Hardesty to pound the ball in the running game to protect their QB, and he’s actually a pretty good receiver out of the backfield, so he might not give way a ton to Harrison (who will still be very active, of course).</p>
<p><strong>Jonathan Stewart at #23</strong> – We love the guy of course, but he is still dealing with a foot issue right now, and that’s been problematic for him, plus <strong>DeAngelo Williams</strong> is fantastic. Stewart will move up a few spots if he’s got a clean bill of health, but while his final numbers could easily reflect a #2 fantasy RB, it’s not a slam dunk that you can do well using him as your #2 all year in this timeshare. Tough call, as always.</p>
<p><strong>Darren McFadden at #29</strong> – That’s actually high for him, for us. But this is the year he’s finally going to get a chance with a legit QB and they should be catering the offense to his strengths more than ever. Not that we’re really high on him, but if he’s ever going to have success, this would be the year.</p>
<p><strong>C.J. Spiller</strong> and <strong>Jahvid Best</strong> at 31 and 33 – Too early to tell, really, on both guys, and Best could actually pass Spiller if things are looking up for him. But the bottom line now is they guys look like upside picks who could also fizzle if not used properly. Kind of like what’s happened to <strong>Felix Jones</strong> up until the end of last year. We’ll also have to see if <strong>Marshawn Lynch</strong> is still on the Bill roster, and if <strong>Kevin Smith’s</strong> going to be ready for the season (he says he will be).</p>
<p><strong>Miles Austin at #8</strong> – I thought about this and while some are concerned about the addition of <strong>Dez Bryant</strong>, when the bullets are flying for real, I’d say <strong>Tony Romo’s</strong> going to be looking for his guy, and his guy is Austin, who proved to be a very complete receiver in 2009. He’s not thrilled with his contract situation, which could be a story to watch, but I’m still sold on Austin as a #1 fantasy WR.</p>
<p><strong>Jeremy Maclin at #20</strong> – I really like Maclin this year. I think he’s a more complete receiver than <strong>DeSean Jackson</strong>, and since he’s bigger and has a lot of experience going over the middle, he could surprise with his catch total as the Eagles move away from being mainly a big-play offense and become more of a traditional west coast offense. I think this bodes very well for Maclin.</p>
<p><strong>Robert Meachem at #21</strong> – This is high, and it may be too high because we’ve yet to see Meachem truly excel as a go-to guy. If he was asked to start on the outside from Day One in New Orleans, as many #1 picks are, he might be considered a bust right now. But the bottom line is he wasn’t, and as the season progressed last year we saw the Saints use him in a number of ways, which tells me they are (finally) getting comfortable with him. He has the tools to do very well, and he’s obviously in a great situation.</p>
<p><strong>Devin Aromashodu at #27</strong> – We’re going all in on this guy because we know they absolutely love him. He has the size they need, so he should start on the outside with <strong>Devin Hester</strong>. Granted, there are some quality receivers here, but this guy has the best chance to be Cutler’s go-to guy. Cutler loves throwing to guys with bodies around them, and the bigger guys tend to catch those types of passes. Plus, he can run.</p>
<p><strong>Mike Wallace at #48</strong> – I loved what I saw from him last year, but I’m not yet convinced he can be so effective seeing tougher matchups on the outside. I know he definitely has the potential to be a nice #2, but the matchups will be much tougher this year, and his QB is down 4-6 games.</p>
<p><strong>Jermichael Finley at #3</strong> – We just have to do it. We have a major man-crush on this guy and think the sky’s the limit. The guy runs like a wideout, and I loved the chemistry he showed with his QB in 2009. He was also extremely active and productive in the red zone. I envision him being their 2<sup>nd</sup> option in the passing game this year, and love his upside.</p>
<p><strong>Zach Miller at #8</strong> – I’ve always liked this guy a lot (if you recall, we liked him way too much a couple of years ago), but he’s proven a lot, and now he has a real QB. He will be a major go-to guy.</p>
<p><strong>Jared Cook at #19</strong> – I’m guilty of becoming enamored with athletic freaks, and Cook’s a freak. He probably won’t have a breakout second season like Finley because of his QB, but <strong>Vince Young</strong> does check down to the TE quite a bit.</p>
<p>I’m sure I missed a few tough or questionable rankings, so feel free to chime in with questions and I’ll try to address them all.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>TE Keeper Overviews</title>
		<link>http://www.fantasyguru.com/blog/2010/03/30/te-keeper-overviews-2/</link>
		<comments>http://www.fantasyguru.com/blog/2010/03/30/te-keeper-overviews-2/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 30 Mar 2010 17:54:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Hansen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Fantasy Football]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Keeper & Dynasty Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Anthony Fasano]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Antonio Gates]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ben Patrick]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ben Utecht]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ben Watson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Billy Miller]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bo Scaife]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Brad Cottam]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Brandon Pettigrew]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Brent Celek]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Chase Coffman]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Chris Cooley]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cornelius Ingram]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dallas Clark]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Daniel Fells]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Daniel Graham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dante Rosario]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[David Thomas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Desmond Clark]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Donald Lee]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dustin Keller]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fred Davis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Greg Olsen]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Heath Miller]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jacob Tamme]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[James Casey]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jared Cook]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jason Witten]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jeff King]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jeremy Shockey]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jermichael Finley]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jerramy Stevens]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[John Carlson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kellen Winslow]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kevin Boss]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leonard Pope]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Marcedes Lewis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Martellus Bennett]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Owen Daniels]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shawn Nelson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Todd Heap]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tony Gonzalez]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tony Scheffler]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Travis Beckum]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Vernon Davis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visanthe Shiancoe]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Zach Miller]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Zack Miller]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.fantasyguru.com/blog/?p=759</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>For those in standard keeper leagues, especially ones that keep only 3-4 players, retaining a TE and using a valuable keeper spot on him usually isn’t a great idea unless you have one of the fantasy superstars at the position. However, with the production being spread thinly these days among RBs and WRs, keeping an elite TE you can count on may be more prudent than usual.</p>
<p>Although both are getting a little older these days, you still have to include Dallas Clark (IND, 31) and Antonio Gates (SD, 30) as the top options. Clark’s been in a major zone with his QB for years now, and there’s no end in sight to his production. Although the Colts have riches at the WR position now, Clark’s role is so cemented in the offense now, so he should still be golden at least two more years with Peyton Manning. As for Gates, I think he’s lost a little bit, but he did look good on film last year, and he should have 2-3 peak years left. With the team currently lacking a legit RB (they will certainly draft someone early), it’s looking like their offense will be keyed by Philip Rivers and [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>For those in standard keeper leagues, especially ones that keep only 3-4 players, retaining a TE and using a valuable keeper spot on him usually isn’t a great idea unless you have one of the fantasy superstars at the position. However, with the production being spread thinly these days among RBs and WRs, keeping an elite TE you can count on may be more prudent than usual.</p>
<p>Although both are getting a little older these days, you still have to include <strong>Dallas Clark</strong> (IND, 31) and <strong>Antonio Gates</strong> (SD, 30) as the top options. Clark’s been in a major zone with his QB for years now, and there’s no end in sight to his production. Although the Colts have riches at the WR position now, Clark’s role is so cemented in the offense now, so he should still be golden at least two more years with <strong>Peyton Manning</strong>. As for Gates, I think he’s lost a little bit, but he did look good on film last year, and he should have 2-3 peak years left. With the team currently lacking a legit RB (they will certainly draft someone early), it’s looking like their offense will be keyed by <strong>Philip Rivers</strong> and the pass going forward. <strong>Jason Witten</strong> (Dal, 28) is younger than those two, and he does click extremely well with QB <strong>Tony Romo</strong>, so he needs to be in this conversation as well, especially in a PPR league.</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 323px"><img src="http://www.fantasyguru.com/football/subscribers/images/jermichaelfinley.jpg" alt="" width="313" height="468" /><p class="wp-caption-text">If you didn&#39;t get him already, it&#39;s last call time for Jermichael Finley because if you don&#39;t get him now you probably won&#39;t be able to, since he could be the #1 fantasy TE very soon</p></div>
<p>Next up, you should be looking at the younger options at the position, and <strong>Jermichael Finley</strong> (GB, 23) really stands out. He’s in a great situation with QB <strong>Aaron Rodgers</strong>, and his athletic ability is off the charts. We have him in our top-5, so we’re giving him major props, but the reality is he’s capable of being the #1 fantasy TE overall the next three years. I’m not as convinced <strong>Vernon Davis</strong> (SF, 26) will be a beast because of his limitations, but he certainly was in 2009. Davis seems to be limited to mainly running vertical routes, but you have to think defenses knew that last year, yet they really couldn’t stop him. He’s also good in the red zone. His production may be a little up-and-down, but he’s clearly able to put up big numbers due to his outstanding athleticism and ability to run. I’d include <strong>Owen Daniels</strong> (Hou, 27) in the Clark-Gates realm had he not suffered a serious knee injury, but while he’s on track to play to start 2010, it’s still questionable if he’ll be the same guy. When healthy, Daniels is very athletic and, unlike Davis, is a complete player in terms of his ability to run all kinds of routes and make plays all over the field. Even if he’s not quite the same guy in 2010, he’s still (for now) in a great situation in Houston. I’ll also include <strong>Kellen Winslow</strong> (TB, 27) and <strong>Brent Celek</strong> (Phi, 25) in this group. Winslow’s no spring chicken, but he’s still in his prime, and he’s still running very well. He’s the foundation of the Buc passing game, so he has definite top-10 potential the next couple of years at least. Celek is firmly entrenched now as the guy in Philly, and he clearly has a lot to offer. Winslow has a better chance of being a major go-to guy, but Celek’s in a better situation overall, and he’s younger.</p>
<p>We obviously need to include <strong>Tony Gonzalez</strong> (Atl, 34), who’s the best TE to ever play. He’s still playing at an elite level, but here’s the problem with Gonzo: 2010 could be his last season. Gonzalez is getting heavy into business work on the side, and he’s indicated this year could be his last. We’ll see, but that’s certainly a concern for those in keeper leagues. <strong>Visanthe Shiancoe</strong> (Min, 30) is more of a 1-2 year guy as opposed to a young player who you can count on, but he’s in a good situation in 2010 if <strong>Brett Favre</strong> is back. <strong>Chris Cooley</strong> (Was, 28) is also an older player who has definite value this year, but the presence of <strong>Fred Davis</strong> is a concern. The good news for Cooley is that Davis isn’t a good blocker, which could hurt him under <strong>Mike Shanahan</strong>.</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 423px"><img class=" " src="http://www.fantasyguru.com/football/subscribers/images/dustinkeller.jpg" alt="" width="413" height="312" /><p class="wp-caption-text">If you&#39;re looking for a young option who has the ability to develop into a fantasy star, Dustin Keller fits the bill very well</p></div>
<p>As usual, in a keeper league, I’d prefer to target some of the younger players who have value now, yet also have upside to put up even bigger numbers in the future. <strong>John Carlson</strong> (Sea, 26), <strong>Dustin Keller</strong> (NYJ, 25), <strong>Zach Miller</strong> (Oak, 24), and <strong>Greg Olsen</strong> (Chi, 25) fit the bill well. Carlson was off to a sparkling start his rookie season in 2008 and very early in 2009, and it’s unfair to blame him given the poor offense he was in. It’s not exactly clear if he’ll be a foundation in Seattle going forward, but he should be because he’s one of the better all-around TEs in the league. He’s definitely worth keeping. Keller’s got great upside, probably the most in this group, but he didn’t exactly establish himself as a go-to guy in 2009. As his young QB matures, Keller’s production should be more consistent. Miller’s really solid and if he ever gets a real QB (<strong>Donovan McNabb</strong>?), he’d easily be a top-10 guy and a PPR machine, so he’s a very solid keeper. As for Olsen, I’m disappointed in his 2009 season, and the presence of <strong>Mike Martz</strong> doesn’t help at all. Martz has already said he knows he doesn’t use the TE much, but that he’s never had someone as talented as Olsen. Problem is he said the same thing about <strong>Vernon Davis</strong> in San Francisco and Davis’ production was very underwhelming. But based on talent and youth, Olsen is still appealing.</p>
<p>The viable options are dwindling down a little, but <strong>Heath Miller</strong> (Pit, 27) is rock solid and is coming off his best and most consistent season, so he’s worth a look. <strong>Ben Watson</strong> (Cle, 29) and <strong>Kevin Boss</strong> (NYG, 26) have some short-term value, and unlike most of the younger options listed below, can actually help you now, in 2010.</p>
<p>But again, I do tend to get more excited about the young options at the position, and this far down the list, no one stands out more than <strong>Jared Cook</strong> (Ten, 23). Veteran <strong>Bo Scaife</strong> will be back, but I can see the Titans working the extremely athletic Cook into the mix much like the Packers worked Finley into the mix in 2009. So it’s very possible that, in one year’s time, we’ll be viewing Cook as a seriously emerging player and a top-10 prospect at the position. <strong>Brandon Pettigrew</strong> (Det, 25) is coming off a serious knee injury and doesn’t have a ton of upside, but he’ll be a cornerstone in their offense, and he’s a good enough receiver to put up respectable numbers. <strong>Fred Davis</strong> (Was, 24) showed a lot of ability in 2009, but I’m concerned about his inferior blocking and the presence of <strong>Chris Cooley</strong>. He’s certainly worth a shot, but I don’t think you can count on him this year, at least. <strong>Shawn Nelson</strong> (Buf, 24) should be the guy for the Bills, and he does have good athletic ability. He just hasn’t shown much yet, so we can’t count on him.</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 346px"><img src="http://www.fantasyguru.com/football/subscribers/images/jaredcook.jpg" alt="" width="336" height="293" /><p class="wp-caption-text">If you missed out on Finley, you may get the AFC&#39;s version of him in Tennessee&#39;s Jared Cook</p></div>
<p>If you’re looking for a sleeper, <strong>Anthony Fasano</strong> (Mia, 26) has a chance. Now that the team is moving back to more of a traditional offense with <strong>Chad Henne</strong> in at QB, Fasano could possibly emerge as a consistent weapon. His numbers improved once Henne took over, and he caught 4 or more passes in three of his final five games, which was a decent sign. He’s not a deadly threat down the seam, but he can make some plays, and he’s a good red-zone receiver.</p>
<p>Next up, we have some guys who are mostly older and thus not all that attractive for the long-term, but do have some value for right now. <strong>Jeremy Shockey</strong> (NO, 30), <strong>Marcedes Lewis</strong> (Jac, 26), <strong>Bo Scaife</strong> (Ten, 29), and <strong>Todd Heap</strong> (Bal, 30) are in this mix. I don’t feel good about any of them, however. Sure, they’ll have some value this coming year, but all of them should be replaced sooner rather than later.</p>
<p>Back to the younger players, there are still some decent guys to look at, like <strong>Tony Scheffler</strong> (Den, 27), <strong>David Thomas</strong> (NO, 27), <strong>Brad Cottam</strong> (KC, 25), <strong>Chase Coffman</strong> (Cin, 23), <strong>James Casey</strong> (Hou, 25), <strong>Zack Miller</strong> (Jac, 25), <strong>Martellus Bennett</strong> (Dal, 23), and <strong>Travis Beckum</strong> (NYG, 23). Scheffler’s probably going to be limited to a complementary role, but if he’s moved to another team, that could change, and he could be a dynamic pass-catcher. Thomas was impressive and is in a great situation, so he’s very interesting. Shockey’s still here, however, so Thomas can’t be considered a viable starter. Cottam could be a sleeper. He did absolutely nothing for most of 2009, but he did show a few flashes. Granted, I’m literally talking about a handful of plays, but I saw some great potential. He’s an injury risk, but at 6’7” he’s a huge target who could help their offense. If he continues to improve and carves a large niche, he could surprise. Casey’s a great athlete, but he showed last year that he’s not ready, and, of course, Daniels is there, so he’s a dynasty league guy all the way. Miller may be a better prospect than Lewis in Jacksonville at this point, but the team may look for an upgrade in the near future. Bennett’s very talented so he might be worth a shot in a large dynasty league, but his disappearance in ’09 was disconcerting. And finally, Beckum is also very talented and runs like a wideout, but it remains to be seen if he’ll be utilized as anything more than a complementary role player the next 1-2 years. Starter <strong>Kevin Boss</strong> is a much better blocker and a more complete TE. As for Coffman, his rookie season was a big disappointment last year, but this far down the list, he’s worth a look because he’s a talented pass-catcher, and there’s a great need in Cincy.</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 404px"><img src="http://www.fantasyguru.com/football/subscribers/images/bradcottam.jpg" alt="" width="394" height="235" /><p class="wp-caption-text">If you&#39;re looking for a sleeper TE and the pickings are slim, KC&#39;s Brad Cottam is worth a try</p></div>
<p>Finally, we’re digging deep for some other options, and probably too deep. <strong>Daniel Fells</strong> (Stl, 26) looks like the guy for now at least in St. Louis, so he might have some value in 2010. <strong>Ben Patrick</strong> (Ari, 26) is the guy for now, but the Cards may actually draft a TE this year, which would kill his chances. <strong>Cornelius Ingram</strong> (Phi, 25) is very athletic, but he’s a major injury risk, and Celek has cemented himself in the starting lineup. <strong>Jerramy Stevens</strong> (TB, 30) has always had the tools to be an impact player, but he’s behind Winslow and isn’t someone you can count on. <strong>Jacob Tamme</strong> (Ind, 25), <strong>Dante Rosario</strong> (Car, 25), <strong>Gary Barnidge</strong> (Car, 24), and <strong>Derek Schouman</strong> (Buf, 25) are all young and have shown some potential, but there’s very little reason to feel good about their chances. Tamme’s solid, but Clark’s there, while the Panthers refuse to give Rosario a legit chance to be featured. Barnidge and Schouman are probably lost causes – but they are still young, as least.</p>
<p>Some other players who at least have a chance to do something of note in 2010 are</p>
<p><strong>Donald Lee</strong> (GB, 30), <strong>Ben Utecht</strong> (Cin, 29), <strong>Daniel Graham</strong> (Den, 31), <strong>Leonard Pope</strong> (KC, 27), <strong>Jeff King</strong> (Car, 27), <strong>Desmond Clar</strong>k (Chi, 33), but I wouldn’t count on any of them. Lee’s lost his starting job to Finely, Utecht’s coming off a nightmare injury season, Graham’s still a glorified right tackle, Pope’s probably run out of chances, King’s just a guy, and Clark’s probably out of luck in Chicago with <strong>Mike Martz</strong> there.</p>
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		<title>TE Keeper Overviews</title>
		<link>http://www.fantasyguru.com/blog/2009/03/23/te-keeper-overviews/</link>
		<comments>http://www.fantasyguru.com/blog/2009/03/23/te-keeper-overviews/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 23 Mar 2009 18:03:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Hansen</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Fantasy Football]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Alex Smith]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Alge Crumpler]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Anthony Fasano]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Antonio Gates]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ben Patrick]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ben Utecht]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ben Watson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Billy Miller]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bo Scaife]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Brad Cottam]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Brent Celek]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Chris Baker]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Chris Cooley]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Craig Stevens]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dallas Clark]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Daniel Graham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dante Rosario]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[David Martin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Derek Fine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Derek Schouman]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Desmond Clark]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Donald Lee]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dustin Keller]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fred Davis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Greg Olsen]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Heath Miller]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jacob Tamme]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jason Witten]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jeff King]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jeremy Shockey’s]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jermichael Finley]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jerramy Stevens]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Joe Klopfenstein]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[John Carlson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kellen Davis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kellen Winslow]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kevin Boss]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[L.J. Smith]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leonard Pope]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Marcedes Lewis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Martellus Bennett]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Martin Rucker]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michael Gaines]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Owen Daniels]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Randy McMichael]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Robert Royal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Scott Chandler.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Steve Heiden]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Todd Heap]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tony Gonzalez]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tony Scheffler]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Vernon Davis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visanthe Shiancoe]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Zach Miller]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.fantasyguru.com/blog/?p=408</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[<p>It&#8217;s time to cover the TEs for those of you in keeper leagues. For many in these leagues, you&#8217;re not going to hold on to a TE, unless you have a high-end stud who is young, like Antonio Gates or Jason Witten &#8211; or unless you&#8217;re able to keep a high number of players.</p>
<p>Let&#8217;s assume for now you can keep only a small number of players, like 2-3. If so, keeping Gates or Witten is a tough call. You have to consider your scoring, first of all, for example I&#8217;d view Witten as a VERY desirable in a PPR league. He may catch 100 balls this year if healthy with Terrell Owens gone. Gates is still a beast in a great spot, but I&#8217;d value a young quality back or a stud wideout over him. He hasn&#8217;t exactly been a fantasy savior the last couple of years.</p>
<p>But those two are clearly the top guys for keeper leagues. Tony Gonzalez is still playing at a high level, so he should be considered a top starter at the position for at least 1-2 more years. I have to assume his new coach will utilize him well.</p>
<p class="wp-caption-text">If you&#39;re looking for a TE [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It&#8217;s time to cover the TEs for those of you in keeper leagues. For many in these leagues, you&#8217;re not going to hold on to a TE, unless you have a high-end stud who is young, like <strong>Antonio Gates</strong> or <strong>Jason Witten</strong> &#8211; or unless you&#8217;re able to keep a high number of players.</p>
<p>Let&#8217;s assume for now you can keep only a small number of players, like 2-3. If so, keeping Gates or Witten is a tough call. You have to consider your scoring, first of all, for example I&#8217;d view Witten as a VERY desirable in a PPR league. He may catch 100 balls this year if healthy with Terrell Owens gone. Gates is still a beast in a great spot, but I&#8217;d value a young quality back or a stud wideout over him. He hasn&#8217;t exactly been a fantasy savior the last couple of years.</p>
<p>But those two are clearly the top guys for keeper leagues. <strong>Tony Gonzalez</strong> is still playing at a high level, so he should be considered a top starter at the position for at least 1-2 more years. I have to assume his new coach will utilize him well.</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 463px"><img title="daniels" src="http://www.fantasyguru.com/images/owendaniels.jpg" alt="If youre looking for a TE keeper prospect, you first need to look at talent and situation, and Daniels stands out in those two areas." width="453" height="302" /><p class="wp-caption-text">If you&#39;re looking for a TE keeper prospect, you first need to look at talent and situation, and Daniels stands out in those two areas.</p></div>
<p>The next tier of players includes <strong>Dallas Clark</strong>, <strong>Owen Daniels</strong>, and <strong>Kellen Winslow</strong>. Winslow may be ranked as high as #3 overall for keeper leagues, but he&#8217;s on a new team and I always do worry about his injury history and his overall instability. I&#8217;d be okay letting him back into the player pool in a league that retained only 2-4 players. But on the other hand, he is still elite and young, so in most large keeper leagues, I&#8217;d be inclined to keep him around if possible. Clark is safer, and he should be set for 2-3 more years as a go-to guy for the Colts, especially with Marvin Harrison<strong> </strong>gone. There&#8217;s a lot to be said for the incredible chemistry he has with Peyton Manning. As for Daniels, I continue to be very high on him. I know he doesn&#8217;t score, but I love his ability and his role in the offense. Daniels is very athletic, and he&#8217;s a go-to guy and a huge part of the Texan offense, one that continues to inch closer to dominance. All he really needs is 2-3 more TDs, and he&#8217;ll be money.</p>
<p>If you&#8217;re still considering a TE in a keeper league, it must be a league that allows you to retain a high number of players, 5-6 at least, or a full blown dynasty league. For these leagues, you want a young player with the talent to be a difference-maker, and preferably someone who looks like a go-to guy for his offense. <strong>John Carlson</strong> still needs to prove he can consistently produce and play at a high level (Daniels, for example, definitely has already), but he&#8217;s a very solid player who is athletic and well-rounded enough to be a difference-maker. <strong>Dustin Keller</strong> is probably a better upside choice, since he&#8217;s very athletic, but he does have a small QB issue right now. <strong>Greg Olsen</strong> is another young player with a lot of upside and juice, but expectations needs to be tempered a tad, since he&#8217;s still splitting time and hasn&#8217;t exactly shown he can be a true go-to guy. But he&#8217;s very young and very talented, and that&#8217;s what you look for. I&#8217;ll also throw my guy <strong>Zach Miller</strong> into this mix. Miller probably has more value right now in a PPR league than Keller or Olsen, since he&#8217;s already emerged as a go-to guy for QB JaMarcus Russell. He fails to land higher on this list simply because he&#8217;s a dreadful situation still on the Raiders. Miller&#8217;s not a freak talent, but I think he&#8217;s a little better than a guy like <strong>Chris Cooley</strong>. Cooley&#8217;s a viable starter in a keeper league, but I think we&#8217;ve seen the best from him already, so I don&#8217;t see a ton of upside.</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 407px"><img title="keeper" src="http://www.fantasyguru.com/images/dustinkeller.jpg" alt="Dustin Keller is very talented and could easily be a star fantasy player provided he gets adequate QB play. " width="397" height="428" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Dustin Keller is very talented and could easily be a star fantasy player provided he gets adequate QB play. </p></div>
<p>The talent level at the position does drop off at this point, but there are still some viable options, both for future potential and production now. <strong>Kevin Boss</strong> should be the guy for the Giants going forward, and while he doesn&#8217;t have a ton of upside, he did improve as the season wore on last year. <strong>Visanthe Shiancoe</strong> had a breakout season for the Vikings last year, and we view him as a legit starter for 2009, which says a lot. He&#8217;s still relatively young and he does have some juice due to his speed.</p>
<p><strong>Jeremy Shockey&#8217;s</strong> value has plummeted for sure, but he&#8217;s worth a shot this deep given his experience and since he&#8217;s in a good situation. <strong>Heath Miller</strong> has little upside, but he&#8217;s a quality starter in a pretty good spot. <strong>Tony Scheffler</strong> may be on his way out of Denver, and if so his value may soar. He&#8217;s not a complete TE, since he&#8217;s not a good blocker, but he&#8217;s a dynamic receiver. I would not be surprised if he eventually had a true breakout season, even in 2009 on another team. The other guy here who has issues but still potential is <strong>Vernon Davis</strong>. I&#8217;m officially in believe-it-when-I-see-it mode, but he is still very young and very gifted. He just has to actually learn how to run pass routes. <strong>Bo Scaife</strong> is a solid option this deep for the near future. He&#8217;s been franchised by the team, so they obviously value him, and he&#8217;s sneaky athletic, so he&#8217;s capable of putting up decent numbers.</p>
<p>After these guys, we&#8217;re looking at a lot of hit-or-miss guys, but <strong>Brent Celek</strong> in Philly has a chance to pan out. He can run, so he has potential, but he&#8217;s not a great blocker, so the Birds may look to upgrade the position. I quite frankly don&#8217;t know what to do with guys like <strong>L.J. Smith</strong>, <strong>Todd Heap</strong>, <strong>Ben Watson</strong>, <strong>Anthony Fasano</strong>,</p>
<p><strong>Marcedes Lewis</strong>, and <strong>Donald Lee</strong> for keeper leagues. Smith has disappointed and will split time with Heap, so I&#8217;m not enamored with either. I like Watson&#8217;s ability, but he&#8217;s proven on this team that he won&#8217;t command the ball, plus they added a decent veteran in <strong>Chris Baker</strong>. Fasano is a decent option, but he doesn&#8217;t command the ball, either, and neither do Lewis and Lee. But these guys do have value right now, since they will be very active in their respective offenses in 2009. The Smith-Heap situation, we&#8217;ll just have to see about, but they basically do cancel each other out.</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 431px"><img title="cheffler" src="http://www.fantasyguru.com/images/tonyscheffler.jpg" alt="Even though his value is currently in a state of flux, its always wise to take a gamble on a dynamic player at this position, and Scheffler is that. " width="421" height="280" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Even though his value is currently in a state of flux, it&#39;s always wise to take a gamble on a dynamic player at this position, and Scheffler is that. </p></div>
<p>I think it&#8217;s much easier to say good things about some younger players who have a legit chance to emerge in a year or two and possibly be impact starters. <strong>Ben Patrick</strong>, <strong>Martellus Bennett</strong>, <strong>Martin Rucker</strong>, and <strong>Brad Cottam</strong> are viable. Patrick&#8217;s not a beast, but he may have an advantage over Leonard Pope now. Bennett is a specimen with big upside down the road, but he&#8217;s obviously behind Witten right now, and still raw. Rucker has the talent to be a starter, so if he can improve his route-running he might have a chance to be their starter, making him a legit sleeper. Cottam is a really good long-term prospect. Once Gonzalez calls it a career in KC, he&#8217;s probably the guy, so he&#8217;s a good one to stash away in a large keeper or dynasty league.</p>
<p>Even deeper, <strong>Jacob Tamme</strong>, <strong>Jermichael Finley</strong>, <strong>Fred Davis</strong>, and <strong>Derek Schouman</strong> are the guys to look at. Tamme is a Ben Utecht clone, and Finley, while raw, was considered perhaps the top receiving threats at the position from last year&#8217;s draft class. He could be a factor in 1-2 years. Davis is also very athletic, and his value could soar if the team trades Chris Cooley, which has been rumored. It&#8217;s revealing how they switched to a west coast system last year and took Davis high in the draft, despite having Cooley on the roster. Schouman is a player the Bills are high on, and have been since last year. He may be the front-runner to replace Robert Royal this year, over 2008 draft pick Derek Fine.</p>
<p>Speaking of <strong>Robert Royal</strong>, he does have some value now, as the presumed starter in Cleveland. So to backtrack a little, he has actual value right now. <strong>Desmond Clark</strong></p>
<p><strong>Daniel Graham</strong>, <strong>Randy McMichael</strong>, and <strong>Ben Utecht</strong> do as well as active receivers for their teams from this position. But other than maybe Utecht, have little upside for keeper leagues.</p>
<p><strong>Jerramy Stevens</strong>, <strong>Alex Smith</strong>, <strong>Chris Baker</strong>, <strong>Leonard Pope</strong>, <strong>Steve Heiden</strong>, <strong>Derek Fine</strong>, <strong>Dante Rosario</strong>, <strong>Alge Crumpler</strong>, <strong>Jeff King</strong>, <strong>Billy Miller</strong>, <strong>David Martin</strong>, <strong>Michael Gaines</strong>, and <strong>Joe Klopfenstein</strong> have a prayer and something of a role for their team, but we&#8217;re now digging really deep.</p>
<p>Even deeper, if you&#8217;re in like a 30-team dynasty league, <strong>Kellen Davis</strong> (Chi), <strong>Craig Stevens</strong> (Ten), and <strong>Scott Chandler</strong> (SD) are young and likely to stick with their respective teams.</p>
<p>Well, that&#8217;s about all the TE market is offering right now. Keep in mind 5-10 of these guys will fall off the list, once the draft takes place.</p>
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