Thursday, July 25, 2013

Off Season Review: Wide Receivers

I told myself I'm moving on from these "Off Season Reviews" but this voice in the back of my head kept whispering "percy harvin..."  "percy harvin..."

So here we go.  Another half-assed job with multiple half thoughts, poor construction, equally rough grammar, and limited research.  You're welcome.

Rather than go by team, I'll just hit on the most notable players.

ANQUAN BOLDIN - 49ers






He was a good number three fantasy wide receiver during the regular season, but in the playoffs he elevated his game and played elite football.  Twenty-two catches in 4 games, a 17 ypc average and 4 TDs.  And some spectacular TDs.  He used his size to shield defenders.  On 50/50 balls he out-muscled defenders.  But doesn't the regular season hold more weight?

In the regular season had 65 catches for 921 yards and only 4 TDs.

In the playoffs, he was on pace over 16 games for 88 catches for 1522 yards and 16 TDs.

He's now in a run heavy offense San Francisco.  Then again, on paper Boldin is the #1 WR.  And in the playoffs, he was Megatron-level.  Can he do it all year?


PERCY HARVIN - SEAHAWKS



If he returns kicks he's a #1 WR in our scoring format.  He's a big play waiting to happen and excelled with a piece of shit QB and no player that could threaten the outside of the field in Minnesota.  Quick, name the next two WRs after Harvin in Minnesota.  I can't remember them, but they suck (side note: don't draft any Vikings receivers this year).

Now Harvin goes to a potentially elite offense.  Russell Wilson, Beast Mode, Sydney Rice, Golden Taint.  Plus a defense that will force plenty of punts.

Harvin is dynamic and if healthy a stud.  (Here's the part where I was gonna use "if healthy" as a nice segway to reference how many games Harvin's missed due to injury therefore hurting his fantasy value that should be much higher than it usually is.  Turns out, he's only missed 3 games the last three years.  I was wayyyyyyyyy off.)

So yea, Percy Harvin.  He's good.


Real good.

UPDATE (7/26/13 6:41AM): soooo, about Percy Harvin not missing many games...turns out I might have been right after all as an MRI revealed Harvin has a small tear in his hip an could require surgery.

WES WELKAH - BRONCOS






Can't see much changing fantasy wise with Welker despite changing teams.  Brady and Manning essentially play the same game now.  Short slants, jerk routes, and crossing routes, with the occasional shots over the top.  Brady used Welker to execute that game plan to great success.  Expect Manning to do the same.

As far as personnel goes, Welker is far superior to the Broncos other underneath options, Jacob Tamme and Joel Dreessen.  The Broncos, surprisingly to me, had the 6th most rushing attempts in the entire NFL, so they do use the run.  But they also threw it the 10th most, so Welker should still catch plenty.

I don't expect much will change draft wise with Welker either.  He'll go earlier then I think he will, I won't get him, and I'll hate not having him.

DANNY AMENDOLA - PATS





I call him the White Wes Welker. And with WWW, I can finally use all those Percy Harvin thoughts that didn't fit higher up (UPDATE 7/26/13 6:42AM: they kinda fit now).  This guy can't stay healthy, which is a shame because in this offense he can catch 100 by Week 10.  Unfortunately, last year Amendola dressed for only 11 games, and came out early in 2 of those.  But when he does play he produces.  He had games with 15 catches and 11 catches last year.

He should be a suitable replacement for Welker in a Patriots offense that since drafting Gronk and The Killer, have done most of their work between the hash marks.  This year should be more of the same, and with the Killer going to jail for killing, it leaves even more targets for Amendola.  Even better for Amendola, there's almost literally no one else to throw to.  Gronk had 4 surgeries this summer.  Brandon Lloyd is gone.  And look at this roster.  It's very New York Jets of them:


Watch out for TJ Moe (is it good if he doesn't have a number?) If White Wes Welker stays healthy.....

MIKE WALLACE - MIAMI
Here's what I've learned in two years of owning Mike Wallace: he kinda stinks.  He's fast as fuck so he can get deep and make a big play or two, but he drops a ton of passes.  He only caught about half the passes thrown to him, which with no research at all, I'm going to assume is a low percentage.  But when he catches that 82-yarder, you'll be fucking pumped.  High risk, high reward here.  Also, Ryan Tannehill.  Meh. 

Next up: Off Season Review: Kickers.

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