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MARK BRUNELL
QB - Redskins
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Comments from Dan Labert - 6/5
Mark Brunell, the veteran southpaw of 13 seasons, will be available in the
later rounds of just about all fantasy football drafts. There are two
schools of thoughts when it comes to this former pro bowler.
FANTASY UPSIDE
Brunell could end up being a steal as long as he remains
healthy. The additions of wide receivers Antwan Randle El and Brandon Lloyd
along with the cohesion of Santana Moss and TE Chris Cooley could produce
huge numbers. The veteran signal caller is an intelligent quarterback with
good pocket presence, a good arm and he still has the ability to scramble.
He is a true leader on and off the field.
FANTASY DOWNSIDE
Given the play calling history of head coach Joe Gibbs, the
addition of these wide receivers could merely be an illusion for fantasy
GMs. Opposing defenses can no longer stack the box against the Redskins.
Teams will have to leave a safety in coverage to challenge the speedy
Santana Moss and keep him from going deep. This strategy will play right
into hands of Joe Gibbs’ run-first mentality. Look for Washington to
finally rely heavily on RB Clinton Portis. If Portis averages 25-28 carries
per game, Brunell’s passing statistics could go south in a hurry.
MY BOTTOM LINE
I strongly recommend staying away from Brunell. He could be a
stopgap if your number one fantasy QB gets injured. However, there are
other options that have a higher upside. It should also be noted that
playing in the NFC East does not bode well for offensive production on a
consistent basis.
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Comments from DJ Boyer - 6/5
FANTASY UPSIDE
The upside for Brunell is still there, despite the fact that he will turn 36 soon after the season begins. Brunell topped 3,000 yards last year and his 23 TD’s were actually a career high. Brunell could put up similar numbers in 2006 because now he has even more weapons to work with. The additions of Brandon Lloyd and Antwaan Randle-El will be added to an arsenal where Brunell already has dependable targets in Santana Moss and Chris Cooley. Brunell is now in his third year in the Redskins system and has developed a comfort level with the personnel.
FANTASY DOWNSIDE
Brunell is one of the oldest starting quarterbacks in the NFL. Even though Brunell appeared in all 16 games for the Redskins last season he does have a history of nagging injuries as evidenced in 2003 and 2004 when he appeared in only 12 games total. Brunell has also lost some of the mobility which made him such a good quarterback at the NFL and fantasy level. From 1995-2002 Brunell averaged 213 yards rushing per season and had 13 rushing TD’s. Since 2003 Brunell has averaged only 64 yards rushing per season and has only 1 rushing TD over that span.
MY BOTTOM LINE
Brunell is an attractive pick in your redraft league for a few reasons, the first deals with the number of weapons he has around him. Sure Brunell had reliable targets in Keenan McCardell and Jimmy Smith while in Jacksonville but he has never had a situation with so many dependable targets at once. Brunell has a top flight running game behind him with Clinton Portis and the Redskins are expected to challenge for the NFC crown in 2006. Also, don’t forget the addition of Al Saunders as the Redskins offensive coordinator. Saunders is known for having a quarterback friendly system and is a big reason why the Chiefs offense has been so good in recent years. At his advanced age, Brunell is a dependable selection that you can pick up late in your draft and is recommended as a spot starter or primary backup. With Brunell typically going in the 13th or 14th round, I like the move.
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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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