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The
Tony Finn
Column
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Positional Battles (Part II of IV)
Posted 07/01/06
4for4.com Exclusive
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Positional Battles Part I
Positional Battles Part III
Positional Battles Part IV
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We wrap up the positional battles in the AFC with part II of this four part series.
While rookies are rarely handed starting roles in their first NFL campaign, there are always fantasy owners who seem to be infatuated with the new and the unknown, and in turn over value rookies and their potential production.
If we review the past half decade of high draft picks (first round selections) and their season ending numbers you’ll find a low percentage who actually make a instant fantasy contribution, yet alone a season long one. It takes more than just talent and athleticism to be a statistical stud in the National Football League. In football and in life, success is typically preceded by experience. As long as the current collective bargaining agreement issues allowances for an annual salary cap increase, NFL front office personnel will creatively find ways to re-sign high priced veterans, and then play them.
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Part II
AFC North and West
AFC NORTH
Baltimore Ravens
Battle: While some consider Steve McNair vs. Kyle Boller and Jamal Lewis vs. Mike Anderson fringe positional battles, McNair and Lewis have both been crowned starters by head coach Brian Billick.
Cincinnati Bengals
Battle: Kelley Washington vs. Chris Henry vs. Antonio Chatman for the number-three slot receiver role.
Battle Class: Deep Formats
Most in the Bengals organization will tell you Washington has been a disappointment. The front office threw his name around during the NFL draft in looking for interested trade partners. Chatman is a speed threat but doesn’t have the necessary off-the-ball skills to succeed as the third receiver in this system. Henry, who should be considered the right player for the job has experienced a number of off-field issues and is potentially subject to a league imposed suspension. Without having all of the vital information concerning Henry and his possible sanctions, the third receiver on the Bengals’ depth chart remains up for grabs. That said:
Winner: Chris Henry, if he puts his priorities in order.
Cleveland Browns
Battle: William Green vs. Lee Suggs vs. Jerome Harrison for the backup RB role.
Battle Class: Deep Formats
Suggs has never lived up to the potential label he was tagged and he’s another on the long list of “the talented” that hasn’t been able to avoid Mr. Injury at some point in the season. Head Coach Romeo Crenell has announced that Green will enter training camp as the back up to starter Reuben Droughns. Rookie Jerome Harrison is a long shot to be anything more than an occasional down and distance option.
Winner: William Green
Pittsburgh Steelers
Battle: Duce Staley vs. Verron Haynes vs. Cedric Humes for the backup RB role.
Battle Class: Deep Formats
While most believe that Duce Staley is a lock to be the relief-runner for starter Willie Parker, the depth chart is far from official according to Coach Bill Cowher. Of the three in competition for the back up role, Humes is the more prototypical short yardage back and should challenge Staley during training camp for the rights to replace the retired Jerome Bettis. Haynes remains the third down option in the Steelers offense.
Winner: Duce Staley by a neck, if he can exit camp healthy.
Battle: Cedrick Wilson vs. Santonio Holmes for the second starting WR role.
Battle Class: Traditional
Wilson enters training camp as the senior on the depth charts while Holmes works out his off-the-field issues and studies the Steelers playbook. Holmes, the teams’ top draft choice obviously offers more upside than the veteran Wilson, but his inexperience will play a big part in his initial contributions to the offense.
Winner: Cedric Wilson by default. Don’t be surprised to see Wilson fill the slot role later in the season with Holmes eventually starting opposite Hines Ward.
AFC West
Denver Broncos
Battle: Ron Dayne vs. Tatum Bell for the starting RB role.
Battle Class: Traditional
Mike Anderson and Tatum Bell entered the ’05 training camp with defined roles; Bell as the starter and Anderson as the backup. As training camp unfolded their roles reversed with the Broncos coaching staff feeling more comfortable with the veteran [Anderson] in the one-cut north and south running style that fit’s the Denver zone blocking scheme. Mike Shanahan and his staff are more than aware of the early career trends on Bell, and those numbers project Bell as a 15-carry back at best. Bell will likely never be the featured back in Denver, not with his durability issues and the coaching staffs’ current philosophy on offense.
Winner: Ron Dayne; Expect the running back situation to be much the same as it was last season when Mike Anderson held the top seat on the depth chart. Expecting Dayne to have numbers similar to Anderson’s 05 stat line is logical.
Battle: Charlie Adams vs. Darius Watts vs. David Terrell vs. Ashley Lelie for the third receiver role.
Battle Class: Deep Formats
Javon Walker is an automatic opposite veteran Rod Smith, but health concerns coming off season-ending knee surgery could prolong his training camp. Lelie doesn’t appear to have a chance in hell of sticking in Denver due to his current hold-out, and Darius Watts has impressed the coaching staff with his off season work and improved focus. The bigger issue in the third-receiver muddle is whether Lelie will miss the entire season due to a brain fart on the ego-side of his frontal lobe, or be traded before camp opens. Adams outplayed and out practiced Watts last season, so he has the edge heading into training camp.
Winner: Charlie Adams, with Watts playing well enough making neither receiver valuable outside of deep formats. Expect Lelie to be traded before camp starts. This scenario shapes Lelie as a late-round flier in July fantasy drafts.
Battle: Stephen Alexander vs. Tony Scheffler for the starting TE role.
Battle Class: Deep Formats
Scheffler is considered the better receiver in the Broncos film room and he will likely fill the role of the departed Jeb Putzier. Alexander is without question better in run packages. The Broncos use Alexander in goal line situations offering him more red-zone snaps than Scheffler.
Winner: The owner who avoids both tight ends. Deep league value rests in the corner of Scheffler.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Battle: Dee Brown vs. Quentin Griffin for the backup RB role.
Battle Class: Deep Formats
Brown has the size that new head coach Herm Edwards and OC Mike Solari prefer, while Griffin fits their package schemes in down and distance situations.
Winner: Dee Brown; those looking for a Priest Holmes mention won’t find one. Count him retired and expect the Chiefs to make a run at a veteran running back before camp begins in Wisconsin. Names floating around the Kansas City beat-clubs are Michael Bennett and Jonathan Wells.
Oakland Raiders
Battle: Justin Fargas vs. Walter Williams vs. Reshard Lee for backup RB role.
Battle Class: Deep Formats
While calling Justin Fargas the winner in this mess of capable backups, remember that he has a history of durability issues while Williams and Lee are known for playing hurt. At one time the Packers front office called Walt Williams a potential front line starter.
Winner: Justin Fargas, but he is far from a lock to earn the mop-up touches from starter LaMont Jordan.
Battle: Doug Gabriel vs. Ronald Curry for the number-three slot receiver role.
Battle Class: Deep Formats
Experienced fantasy owners won’t actively seek a fantasy relationship with the Raiders’ receivers. Curry, Gabriel and Randy Moss all have durability issues. Moss will start, Jerry Porter is second in command, and the rest will require micro-management, something owners should avoid.
Winner: Doug Gabriel is the third receiver to roster in this group of talented Oakland wide outs.
San Diego Chargers
Battle: Eric Parker vs. Rashaun Woods vs. Vincent Jackson for the number-two WR role.
Battle Class: Deep Formats
Woods was expected to make an immediate impact as a rookie but missed the entire 2005 season to injury, and entering his third professional campaign has a grand total of seven receptions. Jackson recorded only three receptions in his ’05 rookie season, but has the potential to be a good sideline and red zone target because of his size, speed and true hands. That leaves Parker who has all of 139 receptions as the best candidate to earn the battle spoils in September. It looks to be an uphill battle for first-year starter Phillip Rivers in so-so Diego.
Winner: Eric Parker by default. The fifth year receiver enters training camp as the starter and barring injury won’t have many sleepless nights worrying about his spot on the depth chart.
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