Darrelle Revis' Potential Holdout Changes Your Fantasy Football Draft

The possible holdout of shutdown corner Darrelle Revis will send shock waves through the fantasy world. On the field, Revis single-handily changes games and can turn your stud wide receiver into a dud wide receiver. Off the field, he doesn’t do the Jets any good.

The question remains: How does one cornerback’s contract effect the fantasy world? In more ways than you can imagine. Don’t be the ignorant guy in the draft room that is convinced Revis doesn’t change the value of players. Yes, the Jets have a great overall defense, but Revis is certainly a big part of that and newcomer Antonio Cromartie isn’t at the level of Revis. Here is how the AFC East, who each play the Jets twice, is affected by the Revis contract talks.

Chad Henne, QB & Brandon Marshall, WR - Miami Dolphin

The Skinny: Marshall caught 100 passes for more than 1,000 yards in three straight seasons. Henne is coming off a bittersweet season, throwing for 12 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in 14 games, but is toted as a sleeper pick in most 12-team leagues.

With Revis: If Revis gets on the field for the Jets week three showdown with the Dolphins, Marshall and Henne’s value is diminished, slightly. I wouldn’t draft Henne in a 12-team league and Marshall should be moved down a couple slots on the wide receiver rankings. The Dolphins have to play the Jets twice – That’s two games you could see Marshall post low, single digit fantasy points.

Without Revis: If Revis doesn’t hit the field by week three, Henne’s status as a sleeper remains unchanged, and Marshall shouldn’t be devalued. Switching offenses and playing with a new quarterback is difficult for any wide receiver, but Marshall has the tools to make the transition as smooth as possible.

The Bills Passing Game

The Skinny: Wide receiver Lee Evans has been a perennial underachiever because of his options at quarterback during his six seasons in the league. The guy has the talent, toughness and drive to be your first or second receiver on your fantasy team, but instability at the Bills quarterback position has limited him to a bench role in most fantasy leagues. With Terrell Owens moving on to the Bengals, the rest of the Bills receiving options are nondescript and most teams only have to focus on Evans.

With Revis: Like the Dolphins and the Pats, the Bills have to play the Jets twice. That means Revis is shutting down Evans twice. Evans actually had 106 yards and a touchdown in two games against Revis and the Jets last season, but that was with T.O. This year, the Bills quarterback situation is even more of a guessing game and all attention will be focused on the run game. Do not draft Bills receivers or quarterbacks if Revis comes back. It’s not worth the crushing reality when the season starts. 

Without Revis: The Bills anemic passing game doesn’t change much without Revis. The only difference is Evans is a player worth taking a risk on. The dude hasn’t missed a game in his entire NFL career (knock on wood) and has more than 5,300 yards in those six seasons. The only reason why he is inconsistent is because of the Bills inconsistencies. Draft him late, who knows? He might have a big season.

Tom Brady, QB & Randy Moss, WR - New England Patriots

The Skinny: Moss has been a model of production since the end of the Oakland Raiders experiment. Does 3,747 yards and 47 touchdowns in three seasons sound good to you? He’s being drafted as the second overall receiver in most drafts and deservingly so. Tom Brady’s value has took a hit (pun intended) since his monster 2007 campaign, but is still a top quarterback and is the fourth best at his position.

With Revis: In two games with the Jets last season, Moss had a 24-yard game and a 34-yard game (he chipped in a touchdown in the second game). Needless to say, Revis has got his number. Brady was slowed – but not stopped -- by the Jets in two games last season, tossing for 526 yards, but only adding one touchdown and one interception. Granted, the Jets have an outstanding all-around defense, but when Moss isn’t at his finest, neither is Brady.

Without Revis: With or without Revis, Brady and Moss’ values remain the least changed. Moss is still the number two receiver in most drafts (maybe not in PPR leagues), and if Revis isn’t back he only cements himself at that spot. If Revis isn’t back, Brady can make an argument he should be the third quarterback taken, in front of Peyton Manning, but I don’t think that is the case. Whatever happens to Revis, the Patriots offense is still going to roll through the year.