William Del Pilar's Blog: Keeper Leagues and Free-Agent WRs, Pt. 3

Let’s wrap up the wide outs so we can move on to tight ends. I’m repeating my three comments and then we’ll conclude this:

I believe wide receiver is the easiest position to waive because it is so deep. You have 64 starting wide receivers and a pool of nearly 96 to choose from. That is based on the simple fact that many teams go three-wide and all teams will eventually go with multiple-receiver sets when needed.

As always, never view any player, especially a wide receiver, as untouchable. Every year, look to trade your top wide out for draft picks or a top-producing player, such as a quarterback or running back.

During the season, you can find quality wide receivers weekly, depending on the matchup. On draft day there are always quality veterans available as well.

As I’ve said in previous blogs, I’ll be piggybacking off our free-agent analysis tables that came out in late February. I’ll link to that article each time I do a position.

Free-Agent Wide Receivers, Pt. 3

Amani Toomer

There is no interest from any team for Toomer right now. I suspect he’ll be a training camp invite who will battle for a roster spot, or he’ll sign with someone when a receiver goes down.

At 34 years old, turning 35 this year, Toomer is a veteran who will not come cheap. He’s entering his 14th season and is a possession receiver, at best. He could sign somewhere and battle for a starting spot, but it’s not likely.

Toomer averaged 54 receptions for 670 yards and 3.5 touchdowns over the past two years. Those are not the numbers that make you want to keep a player.

Waive him!

Jerry Porter

I’ve never cared for Porter. I’ve always believed he was more about the money than talent and ability. The Jacksonville Jaguars let him go after realizing their error, and though some reports state the Oakland Raiders have interest in re-signing him, I’m not sure I buy that.

Even if true, he’s entering his 10th season, with only one solid fantasy season.

In 2004, Porter had 64 receptions, 998 yards and nine touchdowns–quality No. 2 or No. 3 fantasy receiver numbers depending on your standards. On a per-game basis, however, Porter has averaged 2.6 receptions for 35.8 yards during his career and only one touchdown every four games!

Not pretty is it?

If he goes back to the Raiders, is that a good reason to keep him on your roster? I think not.

Waive him!

Jabar Gaffney (signed by the Denver Broncos)

Gaffney knows the New England Patriots‘ playbook, and I believe that’s why the team signed him. However, the Broncos have Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal as their starters.

Gaffney could see quality time with Denver, but he's only averaged 37 receptions, 459 yards and 3.5 touchdowns the last two years.

Not keeper numbers!

Regardless of his playing time, he’s not worth holding onto over a potential draft pick that will start.

I like him as someone you look at after training camp begins to see where he stands, but more so as an in-season pickup.

Reggie Williams

No one knows how good Williams is as the former first-round draft pick has had an up-and-down career for the Jacksonville Jaguars, a team I view as a wide receiver’s worst nightmare!

I’m not defending Williams as much as wondering if he's hit a ceiling or not. He could go anywhere.

That is, he could be invited to training camp and be a sleeper on the right team, or it could be that he just never had the talent of a top-10 overall pick.

He has not signed with anyone yet, and you shouldn’t worry about keeping him.

Waive him, and if he shows talent with another team, consider him late in a draft or as an in-season pickup.

Shaun McDonald

McDonald is an overachiever who is really just looking for a team that will use him as a depth player.

He does not have the talent to be an every-down player, and you should view his 2007 season–79 receptions, 943 yards and six touchdowns–as more of a fluke than reality.

Feel free to waive him. If he signs anywhere, at best he would become an in-season pickup–if he shows anything.

That is unlikely.

D.J. Hackett

Hackett has played in 14 games the last two seasons with three touchdowns. He’s looking for his third team in three years to play for and has gone from “having potential” to “just a guy,” in my eyes.

I thought he could do something after a solid 2006 campaign, but he may not even be with a team this year. At best, he could be a training camp invite, or else he'll sign somewhere without a guarantee of a roster spot.

All that said, he does have talent but just can’t stay healthy!

Waive him.

Drew Bennett

Bennett is only 30, but is so injury-prone, I assumed he had to be at least in his mid-30s by now.

He’ll be 31 before the season starts but has no value anymore. At best, he’s a red zone threat because of his 6'5”, 196-pound frame.

However, we’ve been saying that for years and he hasn’t been a factor for anyone since 2004. Over the last three years, Bennett has grabbed just 80 receptions for six touchdowns.

He has no value, so waive him.

Brandon Jones (signed by the San Francisco 49ers)

Jones signed a $16.5 million, five-year contract, with $5.4 million guaranteed. That is a lot for an injury-prone player who may have lost speed.

Jones will probably start, given that contract, but he’s going to a run-first team that will rely on strong defense to go with a strong rushing attack.

Because of that, Jones’ value is only a minor upgrade from his years with the Tennessee Titans.

I see no reason to keep someone like him on your roster. If you like him, you’ll be able to grab him in your draft.

Waive him and move on.

Marty Booker

At 32 years old, and turning 33, before the season begins, Booker has had lukewarm interest. If he signs anywhere it will not be as the go-to receiver, and he would battle for a roster spot.

He has no fantasy value, so waive him.

We’ll look to wrap up the free-agent tight ends with my next blog. Until next time, let’s enjoy some fantasy baseball drafts!

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