The NFL draft is complete, and OTAs have begun. It’s time once again to start preliminary work on your fantasy draft boards.
The NFL season is 12 months long, and so is fantasy football. It’s never too early to start the quest for a fantasy football championship.
The good managers are preparing their cheat sheets, and reading tons of information to be ready for their upcoming drafts as we speak. Some of them use Fantasy Football Maniaxs (wink, wink) as their guide! I apologize for the shameless plug.
A select few WRs have immediate impact, but for the most part, it’s that “magical” third year in the league that has traditionally shown whether a WR has what it takes to make it in the NFL.
All players have to adjust to the speed and the pace of the NFL game. Receivers traditionally take a couple years to learn their offenses, and adjust from the complexities of the college passing offense to the pro passing offense. For whatever reason, the third year is the "magic year" and, generally, a breakout year for young receivers.
Most years, knowing this will allow you to get some steals that other owners might not consider draft worthy, a/k/a Braylon Edwards from a season ago. Other notable WR’s that blossomed during their third year include Terrell Owens, Joey Galloway, Keyshawn Johnson and Jerricho Cotchery as recently as 2006.
The problem is, that probably isn’t the case this year. Most of this year’s third year receivers had solid seasons last year and will not be surprises. Although WR is probably the deepest position in fantasy football, the same can’t be said for third-year receivers in 2008.
After the top guys, there isn’t a very deep or promising class. There is only a handful that could serve your fantasy team well. Here are my rankings for the third-year wide receivers.
1) Marques Colston, Saints: This isn’t one that will take people by surprise. He has already broken out, and is the best fantasy option of the third-year WRs. If you don’t get your Randy Moss or Terrell Owens, he can be a solid first option at WR on your fantasy team.
As a rookie, and eligible also at TE in most leagues, Colston was a waiver wire gold mine, and last season he hauled in 98 catches for 1,202 yards and 11 TDs.
The Saints will get back to playing football instead of trying to be cute with Reggie Bush, so expect their offense to rebound and to again be one of the best in the league. As that happens, expect Colston to put up similar numbers this season. He has early third round value and may go even sooner depending on your league.
2) Santonio Holmes, Steelers: Holmes started to come into his own last season. Speedy and shifty, his numbers last season were similar to those of Green Bay’s Greg Jennings. Holmes had 52 catches, 942 yards and eight TDs. To me, Holmes is that hanging curve if you’re looking to hit a home run after the big guys have come off the board. Even with the addition of rookie WR Limas Sweed, I expect all of Holmes’ numbers to increase, as he became a go-to guy for Ben Roethlisberger last season.
Rookie RB Rashard Mendenhall should help the running game curb opposing defenses, keeping pressure off Holmes and the other Steelers’ receivers. Don’t be surprised if Holmes gets at least 65 - 70 passes for 1,100+ yards and 9 - 10 TDs. Also, don’t bite too early as you draft. Think of him as a good third option, not someone to be building your receiving corps around. He is a good fourth to fifth round pick.
3) Greg Jennings, Packers:
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