Word out of Arizona is that Leinart has made excellent strides having watched Warner last season. The Cardinals are expecting big things. I would not be surprised with 3,200 to 3,500 yards and 20-25 touchdown passes. Kurt Warner will once again start the season on the bench, and will be a valuable waiver-wire addition should the need arise.
18) Jeff Garcia: Joey Galloway is getting old by WR standards, but keeps posting decent numbers every year. However, he cannot do that forever, and the Bucs need major help at the position. Ike Hilliard has scored a total of four TDs in the last four years in the league, years where he has missed only one game. Definitely not your dream second-receiver.
The signing of free-agent wide out Antonio Bryant, who last played for the Cleveland Browns in 2006, will help Garcia's numbers next season, but too many question marks abound in the Bucs' camp at the position. Despite coach Gruden's smoke screen that predicted fifth-year often-injured Michael Clayton would have "One heck of an offseason", he still has to shake off the injury bug from his shoulders. Third-year receiver Maurice Stovall also needs to break into Tampa's lineup soon.
The positives for Garcia are the dependability from RB Earnest Graham in the passing game and the above-mentioned reliability of Galloway. Another key factor that makes Garcia a good fantasy option is low INT numbers, especially when you consider he has only thrown six of them in 21 starts versus 23 TDs during that same time frame.
19) Jake Delhomme: The Panthers have gotten him some help in the targets department, with the acquisitions of ex-Seattle receiver D.J. Hackett, and former Panther Muhsin Muhammad. Hackett has had a young career hampered by injures, and figures to be a great complement to Steve Smith, the team's stud. Muhammad returns to Carolina on the downside of his career, after posting career numbers in his last season there in 2004, when he had 1,405 receiving yards, seven 300-yard games, and scored 16 TDs, and can also be dependable as third-receiver.
Second-year WR Dwayne Jarrett could be developed rush-free with the added ammunition, and can eventually serve his raw skills to Delhomme as soon as the '08 season. One major concern with Jake is that he has been hurt in each of the past two seasons, missing three and 13 games respectively. If he can stay healthy this year, look for solid numbers, and can become a nice sleeper for fantasy owners in 2008.
20) Aaron Rodgers: Yes, he does not have a single, official NFL start under his belt, but he does inherit, however, a very potent offense that includes third-year wide out Greg Jennings and RB Ryan Grant. He played well when he took over for an injured Favre versus Dallas in week 13 last season, throwing for 201 yards, one score, and no INTs. The Packers’ solid OL should make Rodgers a solid No. 2 QB, with the potential to grow into more as the season progresses.
A few quick thoughts on the rest of the quarterbacks.
21) Vince Young: He doesn't have the weapons in his stable to be consistent, fantasy-wise. It seems like the team keeps drafting RBs every offseason.
22) Jason Campbell. He did get some help on paper in the WR department, but in 2007, we had to wait 10 weeks to see a Washington receiver score a TD, and that was by James Thrash of all people. If history repeats itself, it may be too late for fantasy owners to make the playoffs.
23) Alex Smith/Shaun Hill: Mike Martz is in town, but who will win the starting job is the question. Besides, Martz can do no miracles with the receiving personnel currently in place.
24) Tarvaris Jackson: Bernard Berrian should be an improvement from what they had last year, but the Vikings’ offense is too Peterson-dependent for him to have an outstanding year.
25) JaMarcus Russell:
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