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:
4 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Sean Crowe about 1 year ago
Devin Hester is technically in his second year as a WR...not sure he qualifies.
Nice job.
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Football Maniaxs about 1 year ago
You're right! This will be his second stint at the position, but he was drafted three years ago.
Regardless, he won't be useful this year as a wideout as his QB situation is shaky at best.
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Jimbo about 1 year ago
Thanks for the heads up on Ben Obomanu. I had Matt Hasselbeck as my FF QB last year, so I had Obomanu on my radar, but I wasn't aware he's in his third year and a possible breakout candidate. Something to consider in the later rounds...
Great article.
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Football Maniaxs about 1 year ago
Jim, this below is from our "'08 Top Breakout fantasy players" article written earlier in March:
"WR Ben Obomanu – Seattle: Seattle has a mess at wide receiver. Deion Branch is coming off injury. Bobby Engram will be 35-years old. D.J. Hackett signed with the Panthers. Nate Burleson has not demonstrated that he can be an every down receiver. No tight end emerged last season for Seattle. Someone is going to have to catch balls in this high-powered offense.
Obomanu is a good-sized target at 6” 0” and 203 lbs. 2008 will be his second year on the field, but technically he qualifies as a third-year WR since Seattle drafted him originally in 2006. Obomanu was used sporadically last season in the tune of 12 catches for 180 yards (the majority of those yards and half of his total catches came on a two-game October stretch) and a TD. The turning point, that springs hope going forward, was in the playoff loss to the Packers when he grabbed four balls for 63 yards. Engram was the team's leading receiver in that game with four more yards (67) than Obomanu's.
The Hawks liked what they saw from him last year, even though his “Mortal” above mentioned numbers don’t scream that. He is going to get a lot more opportunities in a good pass-first offense this year and should be able to capitalize on them. While we’re not expecting Jennings or Holmes-type numbers this year, we think 50-60 catches for 700-800 yards receiving and 5-6 touchdowns is a reasonable expectation for a guy that should make a name for himself next season.
Burleson and Engram are going to be the most fantasy-drafted Seattle receivers this summer, but with Hackett gone and Branch healing, by Week 3 Ben Obomanu is our 2008 sleeper."
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