Fantasy Football Profiles: Housh, Ocho, Anthony Gonzalez, Lee Evans

T.J. Houshmandzadeh

Housh has a new home in Seattle. He downgraded in QB from Carson Palmer to Matt Hasselbeck, but he’s still in a pretty good situation. Hasselbeck has never had a reliable receiver like Housh so expect him to be targeted early and often.

Housh isn’t going to burn you deep, but he knows how to get open and pick up yards at around 11 yards per catch. He will pick up a ton of first downs. The key is whether or not he’ll be able to get in the end zone. 

Housh had four TDs last year after averaging 9.3 he previous three years. Of course Palmer missed the bulk of last season so it’s not surprising he took a hit in that department. 

Seattle had a miserable year as well, but in 2007 Hasselbeck threw for nearly 4,000 yards and 28 TDs.  If he can stay healthy, there will be TDs to be had.
 
Housh is a decent WR2 in standard leagues, and an excellent WR2 in PPR leagues.  Housh is going in the late third/early fourth round in fantasy drafts. He isn’t really a risky play because he showed last year he can still perform with marginal QB play. 

Though Hasselbeck is a bigger injury risk than Palmer, I think Seneca Wallace is a more adequate backup than he worked with last year. I expect another 90 reception season with 1,000 yards and six TDs.

Chad Ochocinco

Which Ochocinco will show up?  The one that averaged 1,339 yards and eight TDs from 2002-2007 or the one that phoned in the 2008 season? 

He has said all the right things this offseason and has been relatively quiet considering who we’re dealing with. He plans to tweet during games, but as long as it only costs him money and not playing time, I’m not too concerned. 

He is going to draw attention to himself. That’s what he does. 

As long as he’s productive, I can care less. Personally I don’t see what the big deal is if players tweet during games. I don’t know why the NFL would be opposed to something that would improve the communication with the fans.

Back to Ocho.  He admitted he didn’t work out last year, which rightfully upset Bengals fans and his fantasy owners. This year he’s in much better shape and has been on the same page as Palmer. He is a slight risk as a WR2 simply because of his mindset, but he easily can put up WR1 numbers. 

He is going in the fourth or fifth rounds in fantasy drafts, but he could easily put up second-round numbers. I think the risk is worth it personally. I think he’s good for 80 catches for 1,100 yards and seven TDs in 2009.

Anthony Gonzalez

Now that Marvin Harrison has moved on, Anthony Gonzalez takes over as the team’s No. 2 WR. I believe the third-year WR out of Ohio State is ready to explode. As a Rookie, he had 37 receptions for 576 yards and three TDs. 

Last year he had 57 receptions for 664 yards. Not only do I think his reception total will increase again, I think his yards per catch will be closer to the 15.6 he averaged as a Rookie than the 11.6 he averaged last year.

Gonzalez showed some signs of what he could do in against Minnesota in Week Two (nine catches for 137 yards), against the Patriots in Week Nine (two TDs), and against San Diego in Week 12 (six catches for 95) and again in the playoffs (six catches for 97 yards). 

He’ll get more looks as the No. 2, and his numbers should increase dramatically.  I’m expecting 80 catches for 1,100 yards and six TDs. He is a decent WR2 and a great WR3.  He’s typically being drafted in the fifth round.

Lee Evans

For years the Bills have needed to put a solid No. 2 opposite of Lee Evans to take away some of the pressure opposing defenses put on him. Once again they didn’t do that this offseason. Instead they added a No. 1 WR in T.O. that will move Lee Evans to the No. 2 role, which is fine by Evans and his fantasy owners. 

Now if you try to shut down Evans’ deep route T.O. will kill you across the middle.  If you try to take that away, Evans will burn you deep. 

Evans was decent last year with 63 catches for 1,017 yards and three TDs.  His career high is 82 receptions, with 2008 being his second highest total. 

Clearly he is not a PPR league value. With T.O. on board he won’t have to deal with safety help as frequently.  He should be able to get deep more consistently. I still think he’s an all-or-nothing type player and while he’ll finish will impressive numbers, he will frustrate fantasy owners more than he pleases them. 

He’ll go somewhere in the fifth or sixth round.  If you draft him, try and get a steady producer to compliment him.  I’m expecting 65 catches for 1,000 yards and six TDs.

Originally published at LestersLegends.com.