7) Ben Roethlisberger: While “Big Ben” had a quiet and normal statistical 2007 season in yards (3,154), YPG (210.3), and zero 300-yard games, he did manage to limit his picks to a career-low 11, while throwing for a career-high 32 TDs. Since touchdowns scored are every fantasy owner’s dream to rapidly accumulate points, the only red flag I see with Roethlisberger is the fact that 14 of those 32 scores came in three games, all against teams with weak pass defenses, such as the Browns (four), Broncos (four), and the Ravens (five).
However, he passed for scores in every game played (15), except in that “muddy” game vs. the Dolphins on Nov. 26. Having already developed some chemistry with “magical” third-year wide out Santonio Holmes last year, a healthier Hines Ward and the new coaches’ commitment to a balanced attack (more passing), will warrant him a top-10 ranking for the first time in his five-year career.
8) Matt Hasselbeck: Now that Seattle is a pass-first team, and until they find a good alternative for Alexander (Julius Jones doesn’t seem a good one), Matt is going to be a good fantasy option. Playing in a weak NFC West division will help grow his numbers too. Hasselbeck and his owners enjoyed a great 2007 season as he passed for a career-high 3,966 yards and 28 TDs. His Peyton-like 248 YPG was also a career-high.
New QB coach Bill Lazor, who helped Jason Campbell’s development while in Washington last year, could only help Hasselbeck maintain this high rank. D.J. Hackett is no longer a Seahawk, but he hardly played enough to be sorely missed from their system this season. Veterans Bobby Engram and Nate Burleson are still efficient threats, and Ben Obomanu can turn out to be a potential breakout candidate in the WR department next year.
9) Marc Bulger: The injuries sustained on the OL, and his own (ribs,concussion), played a huge part in his sub-par 2007 campaign. In 12 games played last year, Bulger produced career-lows in YPG (199.3), 300-yard games (three), 58.5 completion percentage, Y/A (6.3), and, mostly important, TDs (11). Long time target Isaac Bruce will be now rendering his services in San Francisco, leaving aging Torry Holt, often injured ex-Titans Drew Bennett, and TE Randy McMichael, who was often utilized as a blocker more than a receiver last year, as his main pass catchers.
If the Rams can field a healthy offense in 2008, including having RB Steven Jackson for the entire season, there is no reason not to believe we can see a repeat of the career-like campaign Marc had the previous year (2006) when he threw for 4,301 yards, 24 TDs, 8 300-yard games and only eight INTs.
10) Donovan McNabb: Some people were scared by his susceptibility to injuries last preseason, but he played most of the games relatively healthy, and took some teams to the fantasy championship, including mine. That was thanks to some strong outings in the final weeks of the season where he only threw one INT (in meaningless fantasy week 17) versus six TDs. Another decent season, one worthy of a No. 10 ranking, is on the horizon for Donovan, who will have another year to develop his rapport with receivers Kevin Curtis and Reggie Brown.
11) Eli Manning: While Eli enjoyed a decent 2007 season, in which he threw for 3,336 yards (not his career-high) and 23 TDs, the downfall to that was his 20 INTs. What makes these numbers look even worse for him is the fact that he scored eight of his 23 TDs in two weeks (four each in Weeks One and 17), and threw at least one interception in twelve games. In the four games when he didn’t throw a pick, he only passed for one TD or less. All of that equals to inconsistency. For fantasy purposes, consistency is key!
A huge factor that plays in Eli’s favor is that he hasn’t missed a single game since taking over the starting role in 2004. Having a healthy Shockey, an insurance option in second-year TE Kevin Boss, a renewed Plaxico Burress, and a strong running game to keep defenses honest will also play in his favor.
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