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ISAAC BRUCE
WR - Rams
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Comments from DJ Boyer - 6/9
FANTASY UPSIDE
Isaac Bruce has had a wonderful career and should crack the top 10
All-Time in receptions and receiving yards. Bruce plays on a team that will still throw the ball at every given opportunity with Scott Linehan serving as the new coach. Bruce still has enough speed to get separation against opposing defenses and runs in the 4.5 range. Bruce still has the #2 receiving spot opposite Torry Holt nailed down on the depth chart and has averaged over 14.0 YPC in each of the last three seasons.
FANTASY DOWNSIDE
Did someone say Isaac Bruce turns 50 this year? Perhaps not, but his reception total from 2005 (36) was his lowest number since 1998. Bruce is starting to show signs of wear and tear as he missed five games last season because of a dislocated toe. Also keep in mind an ankle problem slowed him at the end of the 2003 and 2004 campaigns. If Scott Linehan doesn’t have the Rams winning early you could see Bruce lose some playing time and even his starting spot to emerging star Kevin Curtis.
MY BOTTOM LINE
Bruce is a player who seems to have had down seasons in the past due to injury and has always bounced back and overcome the odds. Bruce is still a safe bet in your fantasy league but he is no longer worthy of being selected in the first 10 rounds of your draft (round 12 or later looks about right). Further, I expect Bruce will become more of a possession receiver in the Scott Linehan offense. Bruce should easily have 50 catches but his yards per catch and touchdowns look like they could drop.
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Comments from Scot Berggren - 6/9
FANTASY UPSIDE
The biggest upside for Bruce is that he is still in a Rams’ uniform. In March, just five days after being released by the Rams for salary cap reasons, he agreed to a new, three-year deal worth $15 million. He has excellent hands and is a great possession receiver, but he had just two receptions of over 40 yards last year. Bruce has a knack for getting open, as evidenced by his six 75+ reception seasons, but his TD numbers have been down – 14 total the last three seasons. Over his career, Bruce has been more durable than some might think. He’s played in every game in 7 of 12 seasons (58%). Near the end of last season he said he felt pretty much like the player the Rams’ drafted in the second round in ’94.
FANTASY DOWNSIDE
Isaac Bruce’s numbers tapered off in ’05, missing five games with turf toe and registering only 36 receptions and 3 TDs. He caught more than four passes in a game only three times and did not have a 100-yard game. With the emergence of the running game with Steven Jackson, don’t expect Bruce’s numbers to be where they were from ’99 through ’04, in which he recorded over 1,000 yards five times. Bruce will be 34 when the season starts and will be challenged for his starting job by up-and-comers Kevin Curtis and Shaun McDonald.
MY BOTTOM LINE
Bruce will still be a solid WR when he’s on the field, but look for his numbers in ’06 to be comparable to what he put up in ’05. Bruce’s breakaway speed just isn’t there any more. I believe there’s a very good chance he will not be starting at some point this season. You’d probably be better off drafting Curtis and waiting a few weeks for him to take over the starting role than to hope for greatness from Bruce. Bruce and Curtis are generally going off the draft board at the same time, typically around the 130th overall pick.
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What Next?
Be sure to check out the following...
a)
Full Impact Draft Simulator
b)
Full Impact Customized Cheat Sheets
c)
Ultimate Cheat Sheets
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