How Contract Disputes Can Hurt a Player's Fantasy Football Value

One thing in the offseason that can kill the potential of a fantasy football player is a contract dispute. And if it happens to be going on before training camp, you could be looking at a no show.

Just because the no show has become a common practice among the league, doesn’t take away from the fact that missing it can take a serious toll on the player’s performance going forward. Training camp is a precious time for players.

Even if they have been keeping in shape by their own methods, working out with coaches and other teammates is almost always going to be more intense and effective.

Team strategies, plays and techniques are learned, practiced and developed. Competitions are held to see who deserves to be on the field and who’ll be watching from the sidelines.

Perhaps most importantly though, training camp is where relationships are formed between teammates and with coaches. Where wide receivers develop a rapport with their quarterbacks.  And where a group of guys becomes a team.

Missing this time may not only cause a rift between a player and their team, it can set them back significantly during the regular season. Many players who miss camp spend a lot of the first half catching up instead of producing at an elite level. 

This is especially true for rookies, and if you don’t believe the Bruno Boys just ask Oakland Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell. Here are a few players in the middle of contract issues who have yet to show up in camp. If things don’t change soon, you may want to bump them down a notch. 

Michael Crabtree, WR, San Francisco 49ers: The freakishly talented Crabtree was the 10th pick in the first round of this year’s draft. However, he and his agent apparently think he should be paid as a top three pick.

Sure, and I’d like to pay rent with my charming smile.

If Crabtree doesn’t make camp soon, he’ll have an even more difficult time learning the offense, especially since the wide receiver position is one of the hardest to adapt to the NFL. Camp time is vital for him to get his routes down, earn his team’s trust and create a good relationship with QB Shaun Hill.

Right now, it looks like Crabtree could be a diva in the making.  So if he continues to hold out throughout the majority of training camp steer clear of him until the later rounds of your fantasy football draft unless you are in a dynasty league. 

Knowshon Moreno, RB, Denver Broncos: Moreno not showing up tells me one of two things. He’s confident that he is the unquestionable starter for his new team. Or he forgot to account for the parade of backs behind him just waiting for the chance to take his job.

While it’s true running backs tend to adapt to the NFL more quickly than most positions, training camp is still essential to his production so he can more easily adapt to the game at a higher level.

The real danger for Moreno though is that if he doesn’t get to work soon, he could find himself a third or fourth back at the start of the season. Especially when his coach is Josh McDaniels,  a guy who obviously doesn’t get swayed by public opinion and outside pressures, 1st round pick or not. I do think Moreno will be in camp soon but keep an eye out. In dynasty leagues he’s a first round pick regardless but seasonal owners be alert. 

Jeremy Maclin, WR, Philadelphia Eagles: Maclin probably isn’t someone you’re going to draft unless you’re in a very deep league or dynasty. Still, if the Philadelphia Eagles offense is clicking on all cylinders or someone gets injured, he has the talent to bring in a few scores with Donovan McNabb throwing him the ball.

Him not being in camp pushes him even further down the draft boards because it’s hard enough to grasp the complex offenses and routes of the NFL for a rookie receiver, let alone if he’s not there to work on them. His absence also keeps him from developing a relationship with his Pro Bowl QB.

This could keep him on the sidelines for a while or at least out of the playbook until he fully understands the system. The talent is there so dynasty owners in deep leagues should grab him in the early rounds but seasonal owners should steer clear for now and see if he can have any real value at all later in the season.

However, for those of you dying to draft him during your upcoming fantasy football draft make sure it’s in the later rounds.

Roddy White, WR, Atlanta Falcons: White is on the verge of becoming one of the league’s elite wide outs. Problem is contract issues are currently keeping him out of camp. It’s essential that he continue to build upon the success he and QB Matt Ryan had last season.

Ryan looks like he’s on his way to becoming one of the league’s star passers and with a little time, White and Ryan could develop the kind of relationship that Peyton Manning had with Marvin Harrison for so many years.

Unfortunately, White is wasting that precious time off the field. His draft status shouldn’t change much but watch to make sure he gets in there soon or he could see a drop in production at the start of the season as he and Ryan try to regain their rapport. 

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