INSCRUTABLE DRAMA KINGS
(Ante Up) Last year’s most up-and-down team returns with a lineup that promises explosive firepower. With Edgerrin James and hard working Lamar Smith, the RB position could be set for years. Travis Henry might also have a chance to contribute in Buffalo and if that’s the case, Ante Up will have no problems with injuries. QB Jeff Garcia was one of the best last year and should continue his meteoric rise. The receivers are an exciting young group (Derrick Alexander, Antonio Freeman, Rod Gardner, Peter Warrick and Travis Taylor) that could easily become the league’s best. Travis Taylor may become a standout WR after an injury plagued rookie year. All this teamed with a great K (Jeff Wilkins) and the best defense (Tampa Bay) means Ante Up could once again be the front runner this season. GRADE= A
(Tiiite End Jammers) As the newest team in the league, the Jammers are this year’s “expansion team.” However, expansion may not accurately describe a roster full of explosive, proven stars. With the last pick of the first round and the subsequent double pick, the Jammers secured Ricky Williams and Kurt Warner. With that duo as a nucleus, the Jammers put together some nice pieces around them. RBs James Stewart and Priest Holmes (a great last pick of the draft) should each be at least 1000 yard rushers and help spell Ricky if he continues to be injury prone. The starting WRs are a tad old but all have been superb in the past few seasons (Ed McCaffrey, Muhsin Mohammed, Keenan McCardell). Backup WR Johnnie Morton could be solid too and with QB Mark Brunell in tow, this team is set at all positions. This isn’t even taking into account one of the best special team combinations in the game, Mike Vanderjagt and Baltimore D. Look for the Jammers to quickly assert itself in its inaguaral fantasy season. GRADE= A(Buffy) With the first selection in the draft, Buffy had a choice of any player in the league but the obvious choice was Marshall Faulk. With that pick, the RB position immediately became one of strength. With Corey Dillon and Charlie Garner in tow, the backfield will be the cornerstone for what looks to be a very good team. Torry Holt and Rod Smith are two stud receivers and if James McKnight or Freddie Mitchell can get any play, Buffy will be solid at every position. Rich Gannon is a solid if not quite spectacular quarterback (the same could be said of Kerry Collins) who will do just enough to make sure his team wins. The only questionable move on Buffy’s part was reaching for K Sebastian Janikowski in the 6th round. Time will tell if passing on a WR at that point hurt Buffy. GRADE= B+
(DIRTeByRDeeZ) The Birds look to fly this year by drafting 4 WRs in the first five rounds. First round pick Eddie George will solidify the backfield but there is a question mark behind him as Jamal Anderson is coming off of a sub-par year. If the Dirty Bird can hold up, the RB position is thin but serviceable. At QB, Michael Vick could become a stud…in two years. For now, ex-Falcon and current Redskin Jeff George will have to play until Vick is ready. The WRs are the strength of this team by design and the roster is loaded with them. Marvin Harrison, David Boston and Michael Westbrook should all turn in star seasons and having Terry Glenn and Terance Mathis as the 4th and 5th WR provides tremendous depth. The coach has been toying with playing a run-and-shoot attack, mirroring the earlier offensive explosiveness of early 90s Falcon teams. GRADE= B-
(Chunky Monkeys) The reigning world champs will have to overcome an early receiver deficiency if they are to repeat again this year. Joe Horn as a #1 WR won’t strike fear into too many defenses and after him is a bunch of question marks. Derrick Mason emerged as McNair’s number one WR but the Titans don’t throw much so unless that changes, Mason will be hindered by an offense focused on Eddie George. Germane Crowell is the X-factor here as he could return to his star numbers or get lost amidst the new Detroit “West Coast offense.” The Green Lantern (Wayne Chrebet) could be serviceable as a 3rd WR but the hope is that he won’t be needed. The Monkeys do have great QBs in Peyton Manning and Brett Favre though so that isn’t an area of concern. The backfield is full of promise but Chunky gambled a bit by taking Fred Taylor, LaDainian Tomlinson and Terrell Davis. Taylor is a great back but injury prone and LT is a rookie (who should actually be really good). If TD can return to form however, the Monkeys have three franchise backs. If all works out well, the Monkeys have possibly the strongest QBs and RBs in the game, tempered by weak WRs that really need to step up or be upgraded. GRADE= CSPUNKY MISUNDERSTOOD GENIUSES
(Battle Angels) The Angels built a solid workman-like team around its explosive superstar Randy Moss. RBs Curtis Martin and Jerome Bettis (as well as Tyrone Wheatley) are all grind it out types who will work for every inch. QB Brian Griese may not have the flash and dash of his peers (McNabb, Culpepper) but is probably more consistent than either of them. Griese is a little injury prone so backup QB Steve McNair may have to play some. The rest of the WRs are consistent if not overly spectacular (Tim Brown, Amani Toomer, Bill Schroeder). The Angels are a little long in the tooth after Griese and Moss so that could be an area of concern in the future but for now the team looks solid. GRADE= B(Flaming Shrapnel) The Shrapnel look to transport its championship success on the hardcourt to the gridiron with a young and talented roster. Running backs Jamal Lewis and Ahman Green (not to mention Shaun Alexander, currently stuck behind Watters) are both slated to be the next generation of RB superstars while backup QB Matt Hasselback has been talked up a lot during the pre-season. Current QB Elvis Grbac has switched teams which might mean a drop from the incredible numbers of last year but he has a great group of receivers in Baltimore if the coach will let him throw. The WRs are led by the fiery Terrell Owens and are a very solid bunch. Eric Moulds and Cris Carter will play well this season and if Sylvester Morris can develop in time for Carter’s retirement, Flaming looks to have a good squad for years to come. GRADE= B
(Skool) In another grab for last year’s young stud QBs, Skool took Viking sensation Daunte Culpepper with the fourth overall pick. With Tim Couch as backup, the QB position for Skool will be solidified for the next decade. The young QBs will have a good core of WRs to throw to in Isaac Bruce, Tony Gonzalez, Darrell Jackson (who should be huge this year) and Kevin Johnson. One area of concern could be the backfield, where aging but still productive Ricky Watters is the star. Tiki Barber is the second back and had a career year last season so the hope is that his success continues. Deuce McAllister will sit behind Ricky Williams for now but could be a great pick for the future. Overall, Skool looks set for a solid season, especially if the backfield can hold up and the two young WRs step up. GRADE= B-
(TAGHeuer) TAG traded down in the draft and still got the man it coveted, QB Donovan McNabb. With its next two picks, TAG grabbed Stephen Davis and Michael Bennett to anchor the running game. If Bennett doesn’t fill the hole left by the retirement of Robert Smith, Emmitt Smith (great pick in the 7th round) will fill in admirably as he chases Payton’s rushing record. The receivers are full of potential but if they play like they did last year, TAG is in trouble. Keyshawn Johnson, Marcus Robinson and Joey Galloway are big names but didn’t even have average seasons last year. This year however, the predictions are for the trio to explode back to star status. Ike Hilliard (TAG’s last pick) really came on late last year and could end up playing if one of the big three underperforms. GRADE= B-
(Green Team) With the most interesting draft in the history of the league, the Green Team shook things up all around. Trading with TAG to move up to the third pick, the Greenies nabbed Trent Green and then took Mike Anderson the next round. Third pick Duce Staley was hurt all last season but if healthy, will be a top back again. Green will be great in KC and Mike Anderson will be worthy of a second rounder if he is the feature back in Denver but this team on paper looks to be full of question marks. Top WR Jimmy Smith may be forced to retire and if not, might be injury plagued this season. Qadry Ismail will be a solid deep threat but may not be able to fill the #1 spot if Smith goes down. Right now, the only other proven WR on the roster is Patriots second banana Troy Brown. The other WRs are all young and unproven, but are loaded with potentiall and opportunity (David Terrell, Koren Robinson). This roster will definitely be the most interesting to watch as the season unfolds to see if the gambles pay off. If it does, the GM will look like a genius, if not….. GRADE= D+
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