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Also see: NFC
- Offseason Fantasy Focus
Most people don't have time to keep a running score on who went where
during the offseason. So we here at 4for4.com do it for you. Now that
the draft is complete and most teams have a minicamp under their
belt,
here's the scorecard for the offseason
Baltimore Ravens
Offseason additions: RB Willis McGahee (Buffalo), WR/KR Yamon Figurs
(draft), QB Troy Smith (draft)
Offseason losses: RB Jamal Lewis, FB Ovie Mughelli, QB Chris Redman
Fantasy focus: The Ravens gave up a number of draft picks to bring in
McGahee, but he's an obvious upgrade over Lewis, who hasn't been the
same runner since his 2,000-yard season of a few years ago. Don't
expect 2,000 yards out of McGahee, but if he stays healthy in this
offense, he's a first-round fantasy pick. Brian Billick knows how to
use running backs. Figurs could be this year's Devin Hester, but
won't
bring anything to the passing game. His addition makes an already
formidable fantasy defense even better. The Ravens hope that Smith
will develop behind Steve McNair, but don't expect anything this
season out of the Heisman Trophy winner.
Buffalo Bills
Offseason additions: RB Josh Scobey (Seattle) RB Marshawn Lynch
(draft), QB Trent Edwards (draft), RB Dwayne Wright (draft)
Offseason losses: RB Willis McGahee (Baltimore), QB Kelly Holcomb
(Philadelphia), WR Andre Davis
Fantasy focus: Lynch, the team's first-round draft pick, will team
with Anthony Thomas and Wright to help replace McGahee's production.
Edwards was brought in to back up J.P. Losman after Holcomb was dealt
to the Eagles. The defense, which was decent in 2006, will suffer
from
the losses of CB Nate Clements and the trade of linebacker Takeo
Spikes.
Cincinnati Bengals
Offseason additions: RB Kenny Irons (draft), QB Jeff Rowe (draft)
Offseason losses: TE Tony Stewart, WE Kelley Washington, QB Anthony
Wright, WR Chris Henry (8-game suspension)
Fantasy focus: The loss of Washington to New England and the
suspension of Henry for half the season for his numerous off-field
antics is a concern for the Bengals, who like to run three-receiver
sets. The Bengals will hope Tab Perry can pick of the slack as the
No.
3 receiver until Henry returns at midseason - if the Bengals take him
back. That makes Perry worth a late-round draft pick unless somebody
else steps into that No. 3 role. The selection of Irons in the second
round is curious considering the team used a first-round pick on
Chris
Perry just a couple of years ago. But Perry has had trouble staying
healthy, so Irons will get a shot at being Rudi Johnson's backup.
Rowe
could wind up being Carson Palmer's backup as the team doesn't have a
veteran backup with Wright's departure.
Cleveland Browns
Offseason additions: WR Tim Carter (Giants), TE Ryan Krause (San
Diego), RB Jamal Lewis (Baltimore), QB Brady Quinn (draft), WR/KR
Syndric Steptoe (draft)
Offseason subtractions: RB Reuben Droughns, WR/KR Dennis Northcutt,
FB
Terrelle Smith
Fantasy focus: The Browns dealt next year's No. 1 pick and some
others
to move up and select Quinn, the team's QB of the future. But look
for
Charlie Frye to start again this season - at least until the Browns
are out of the playoff race sometime around midseason. Lewis takes
over for Droughns, who was traded to the Giants. But at this point,
it's not much of an upgrade. Lewis is a No. 3 fantasy back in most
leagues.
Denver Broncos
Offseason additions: TE Daniel Graham (New England), RB Travis Henry
(Tennessee), QB Patrick Ramsey (Jets), WR Brandon Stokley
(Indianapolis), WR David Terrell
Offseason losses: RB Tatum Bell, RB Cedric Cobbs, RB Damien Nash, QB
Jake Plummer
Fantasy focus: Henry replaces Bell, who was traded to Detroit, and is
the next in line in the Denver running back line after coming over
from the Titans. He should be a 1,000-yard back this season. Graham
will be a nice target for second-year QB Jay Cutler in the passing
game and will benefit from leaving New England, where Tom Brady
spread
the ball around too much to make Graham a No. 1 fantasy tight end.
Ramsey takes over for Plummer, who retired rather than be traded to
Tampa Bay, as Cutler's backup. Stokely will serve in the same No. 3
role he had in Indianapolis, provided he can stay healthy.
Houston Texans
Offseason additions: WR Andre Davis (Buffalo), RB Ahman Green (Green
Bay), QB Matt Schaub (Atlanta), WR Jacoby Jones (draft)
Offseason losses: QB David Carr, WR Eric Moulds, RB Domanick Williams
(Davis)
Fantasy focus: The Texans made two big moves, giving up on Carr, the
team's first draft choice, and Williams, its oft-injured all-time
leading rusher. In Schaub, the Texans are hoping to get a player who
has a pocket presence Carr never seemed to get. At least he'll have
WR
Andre Johnson to work with, which is better than any receiver Schaub
had to work with in his limited playing time with Atlanta. The
problem
is who is going take over for Moulds? Kevin Walter is currently No. 2
on the depth chart, but Jones could be a nice sleeper. Green moves
into the starting lineup, but is clearly not the same player he was
in
his prime in Green Bay. At this point, he's probably a No. 3 fantasy
back.
Indianapolis Colts
Offseason additions: QB John Navarre (Arizona), WR Anthony Gonzalez
(draft), WR Roy Hall (draft)
Offseason losses: RB Domanic Rhoades, WR Brandon Stokley
Fantasy focus: Gonzalez, the team's No. 1 draft pick, is a tough
receiver who will move into the No. 3 spot vacated by the release of
Stokley. Even as a No. 3 receiver, he has value in this offense. With
Rhoades gone, Joseph Addai will be counted on to handle all of the
running duties this season. That will make him a top fantasy pick
unless the team signs a veteran at the last minute to share some
carries.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Offseason additions: WR/PR Dennis Northcutt (Cleveland), TE Jermaine
Wiggins (Minnesota), WR Mike Walker (draft), WR John Broussard
(draft)
Offseason losses: TE Kyle Brady, WR Cortez Hankton
Fantasy focus: Not much different here for the Jaguars in 2007.
Wiggins is more of a receiving threat than Brady, but the team hopes
that Mercedes Lewis, a No. 1 pick in 2006, can make a big leap in
2007. QB Byron Leftwich, benched last season, has already been named
the starter for 2007.
Kansas City Chiefs
Offseason additions: WR Dwayne Bowe (draft), RB Kolby Smith (draft),
PK Justin Medlock (draft)
Offseason losses: WR Dante Hall
Fantasy focus: Trent Green is still with the Chiefs, but probably not
for long. The team has been attempting to trade him and Miami seems
like his final destination at some point. That will make Damon Huard
the unquestioned starter. Hall was dealt to St. Louis, but he really
hadn't been a factor in the return game the past couple of seasons.
Bowe will likely jump right into the starting lineup opposite Eddie
Kennison, sending Samie Parker to the bench. Even so, tight end Tony
Gonzaelez and Kennison will be the top targets. Guard Will Shields'
retirement also weakens the line, which, coupled with the retirement
of Willie Roaf last season, could hurt RB Larry Johnson's production.
Medlock will battle Lawrence Tynes for the PK job.
Miami Dolphins
Offseason additions: PK Jay Feely (Giants), WR Az-Zahir Hakim (San
Diego), TE David Martin (Green Bay), WR/KR Ted Ginn (draft), QB John
Beck (draft), RB Lorenzo Booker (draft)
Offseason losses: QB Joey Harrington, PK Olido Mare, TE Randy
McMichael, RB Travis Minor, RB Sammy Morris
Fantasy focus: At some point the Dolphins and Chiefs could still work
out a deal for quarterback Trent Green. Daunte Culpepper is still No.
1 on the depth chart, but the Dolphins are expected to release him,
leaving Cleo Lemon and Beck as the top two remaining QBs. Given the
need at QB, many were shocked the team passed on Brady Quinn in the
draft to take Ginn with the ninth-overall pick. That move is even
more
shocking given that Ginn likely won't be ready for the start of
training camp because of a foot injury. Ginn isn't a polished
receiver, but will contribute - if healthy - in the return game.
Hakim
is also an excellent return man. Feely takes over for Mare at PK,
while Martin should step in for McMichael, who was released after a
couple of run-ins with the law. All told, it's been a strange
offseason for Miami, with more possibly to come.
New England Patriots
Offseason additions: TE Kyle Brady (Jacksonville), RB Sammy Morris
(Miami), WR Randy Moss (Oakland), WR Donte Stallworth (Philadelphia),
WR Kelley Washington (Cincinnati), WR/KR Wes Welker (Miami), RB
Justin
Hairston (draft)
Offseason losses: RB Corey Dillon, TE Daniel Graham
Fantasy focus: The entire wide receiver group will be different in
2007, which is a good thing. Moss and Stallworth are something of a
gamble both for the Patriots and fantasy owners alike. If they can
stay healthy, they should produce with Tom Brady throwing them the
ball. But that's a pretty big if. Welker may end up being the most
valuable Patriots' receiver to have. He just seems like the kind of
receiver Brady has clicked with over the years. He's a younger
version
of Troy Brown. With Dillon gone, Lawrence Maroney becomes the
unquestioned No. 1 back. Bump him up on your draft list. Morris could
step in as Maroney's backup.
New York Jets
Offseason additions: RB Thomas Jones (Chicago), QB Marques Tuiasosopo
(Oakland), WR Chansi Stuckey (Clemson)
Offseason subtractions: RB Kevan Barlow, RB Derrick Blaylock, QB
Patrick Ramsey
Fantasy focus: The trade for Jones was a big move for the Jets, who
didn't have a feature back last season. Jones should also benefit by
not having to share carries with Cedric Benson as he did in Chicago.
Leon Washington will probably move to a third-down back role, which
obviously hurts his value.
Oakland Raiders
Offseason additions: FB Justin Griffith (Atlanta), QB Josh McCown
(Detroit), RB Domanic Rhodes, TE Tony Stewart (Cincinnati), TE Fred
Wakefield (Arizona), WR Mike Williams (Detroit), QB JaMarcus Russell
(draft), TE Zach Miller (draft), WR Johnnie Lee Higgins (draft), RB
Michael Bush (draft)
Offseason subtractions: QB Aaron Brooks, WR Randy Moss, QB Marques
Tuiasosopo
Fantasy focus: When you only scored 12 touchdowns in a season, it's
tough to come back with the same crew. The Raiders have a lot of new
faces, but with the largely the same offensive line, it's still going
to be tough sledding. McCown will likely start at QB ahead of Andrew
Walter as Russell, the top pick in this draft, will ease his way into
things. None are good fantasy picks at this point. The signing of
Rhodes was curious considering the team just signed Lamont Jordan.
Bush also crowds that backfield, though the leg injury that caused
his
stock to fall in the draft is a concern. The signings of Stewart and
Wakefield were made before the draft brought in Miller, a solid
receiving tight end. But given the QB situation, don't expect much.
The same goes for Williams, who will try to resurrect his career
after
flopping in Detroit. This is still a bad offensive team.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Offseason additions: RB Kevan Barlow (Jets), TE Matt Spaeth (draft)
Offseason losses: RB Verron Haynes, WR Sean Morey
Fantasy focus: Mike Tomlin takes over after 15 seasons with Bill
Cowher at the helm, but the offense will be largely the same. Tomlin
will use more four-receiver sets, but that will be used to open
things
up for speedy Willie Parker in the runner game. The team added Spaeth
to free up starting tight end Heath Miller to split out wide more
often. Barlow will get first shot at being Parker's backup and could
steal some short-yardage carries.
San Diego Chargers
Offseason additions: WR Craig Davis (draft), TE Scott Chandler
(draft), WR Legedu Naanee (draft)
Offseason losses: WR Az-Zahir Hakim, WR Keenan McCardell, TE Aaron
Shea, TE Ryan Krause
Fantasy focus: With McCardell gone, there's an immediate opening in
the starting lineup. Craig Davis will get every opportunity to take that
spot. The team has kept Michael Turner as LaDainian Tomlinson's
backup, giving it a potent 1-2 punch.
Tennessee Titans
Offseason additions:
WR Justin Gage (Chicago), RB Chris Henry
(draft),
WR Paul Williams (draft), WR Chris Davis (draft), WR Joel Filani
(draft)
Offseason losses: WR Drew Bennett, RB Travis Henry, TE Erron Kinney,
WR Bobby Wade, RB Chris Brown
Fantasy focus: Gage never really put everything together in Chicago,
but the team's QB play didn't help that either. He'll be counted on
to
help ease the loss of Bennett and Wade. He'll battle Brandon Jones
for
a starting spot opposite David Givens. Neither is a great fantasy
option at this point. Don't expect much out of the rookies, either.
With Henry and Brown gone, LenDale White will get every opportunity
to
win the starting running back position, provided he can stay in
shape.
Henry was never a feature back in college, always sharing carries
with
somebody else. That could be his role here as well as he's a speedier
back than the powerful White.
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