Shiver me timbers!
It’s time to sit back, grab some grog and examine the scallywags from Tampa Bay in ye latest olde edition of the dynasty team capsules.
Tampa is a motley crew of young pirates who are ready to pillage the landscape of the NFC South. Young dynasty swabbies may pass right over this youthful bunch, but risk finding themselves walking the plank later. Well experienced sea dogs take the time to analyze this crew’s long-term potential to ensure they don’t leave their dynasty ship at the bottom of Davy Jones’ locker.
Cap’n Morris’ Bucs ended last year with a record of 3-13 and looked more like “The Good Ship Lollipop” than the “Jolly Roger,” but showed some flashes of improvement. Let’s put them under the spyglass to see if any of these doubloons can be transformed into fantasy football treasure.
Players in their Prime
Kellen Winslow TE
It’s tough to put Winslow into a category. One one hand, he led the Bucs with a line of 77/884/5 last year. On the other, he’s always a huge injury risk. In the end, Winslow is right in his window of opportunity for fantasy production. Keep in mind his career is destined to be short, though. Those knees are just not going to hold up for five or six more seasons.
Rising Players
Josh Freeman QB
Many of you have read our featured article on Josh Freeman. He’s poised for a breakout season and has all the physical tools to be a very successful QB. Freeman has a powerful arm, large frame, good mobility, and a solid work ethic. That’s worthwhile combination for a QB. He should easily improve upon his ten touchdown passes and flirt with his first 3,000 yard season in 2010. He’s squarely on the “buy now” list.
Arrelious Benn WR (Rookie)
At 6’1” and 219 pounds, Benn is just shy of the “prototypical” desired size for a WR. What gave him an edge over most college defenders was his strength. He carries his weight well and his muscle mass certainly doesn’t impede his speed or quickness. His line of 38/490/2 last year at Illinois is disturbing, but much of that can be attributed to horrible QB play from Juice Williams. He has the ability and opportunity to make an impact as soon as 2010.
Mike Williams WR (Rookie)
Now here’s a fun guy to take a chance on! Williams’ talent is undeniable. Take out his checkered history of off the field incidents and he’s a first round pick in the NFL Draft based on incredible talent. Unfortunately, every person who takes a chance on Williams will be navigating some stormy seas. He could easily be the steal of the 2010 draft or out of the league in three years. From all indications, he’s had a wonderful Spring and Summer, leading many to believe the Buccaneers are much closer to offensive relevance than some would previously believe.
Players with Falling Values
Derrick Ward RB
Ward was a huge disappointment last year when many expected him to take over as the lead dog in the backfield. Instead, the resurgent Cadillac Williams had nearly twice the carries of Ward. Combine that with his age and Ward is dropping like an anchor.
Maurice Stovall WR
Stovall was a major sleeper out of Notre Dame a couple of years ago. Unfortunately, the transition to the NFL has been a tough one. He did catch 24 passes last year for 366 yards, but he’s proven to be nothing special.
Michael Clayton WR
Clayton is one of the biggest fantasy football disappointments of the last decade. After an extremely promising start (80/1,193/7 in his 2004 rookie season), he’s followed up with 141/1,743/3 combined in the last five seasons. That type of cataclysmic dropoff for a young WR is almost unprecedented. It’s time to jump ship.
Sleeper
Cadillac Williams RB
It’s pretty unusual to list a former fantasy football hero as a sleeper, but the boot fits here. Cadillac enjoyed a fine 2009 with 823 yards on 211 carries. That’s nowhere near No. 1 RB numbers, but he’s being drafted way too late in startup dynasty leagues. In the recent dynasty experts league, he was taken at #204 overall. I see him as a valuable No. 3 RB for the next couple of seasons, worthy of a pick at least four rounds sooner. He’s a player you can get on the cheap now who could help this season. Cap’n Morris has gone on record saying the offense will run through Caddy.
Super Sleeper
Josh Johnson QB
Something bad would have to happen to Freeman for Johnson to have value, but this San Diego product has talent and showed some of it in spot duty last year. Rumor had it more than a few teams attempted to acquire him during the draft and were turned down. Add to that the jettisons of Luke McCown and Byron Leftwich and you could have a Matt Schaub-like backup QB situation in the future.
Summary
Aye, the Buccaneers are a bunch of young, salty dogs looking to develop into worthy pirates. Mining through this group won’t leave you with scurvy as there is often more treasure in fantasy football than in all the pirate’s loot on Treasure Island. Look closely, as the horizon for some of these players isn’t at the edge of the world.
Bring me one noggin of rum now, won’t you, matey?
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Let’s not forget about Sammie Stroughter! He had a huge impact as a 7th round rookie last season, and I don’t see him being intimidated at all by the pair of anointed rookie stars. If I had to put him in one of the categories above, it would probably be “sleeper”.
-oo-
I had such a hard time with Stroughter for this piece. He’s certainly not a player in his prime just yet. Can he be a “rising” player? It would have been easier to say that before the draft came and they found not one, but two WRs. Is it falling, though? Tough to say that JUST because of the new competition. I couldn’t make him work as a sleeper because his production isn’t likely to increase much right now. He just didn’t fit well.
I know Stroughter well since he played near us at Oregon State. A troubled psychological past for sure, but he has talent. Someone to keep tabs on for sure.
You also forgot about Reggie Brown. He’s our awesome offseason trade/free agent aquisition! It looks to me that Williams will win the job on one side, leaving Stovall and Brown competing for the other starting spot while Benn gets ready to play. Stroughter is really only a slot guy, unless Freeman gets REALLY good fast, and offense is opened up don’t worry about stashing him. Brown might eat his lunch too , when Benn is put in the lineup mid-season.
Let’s just say I’m not the biggest Reggie Brown fan. He certainly has a fresh start, but I’m tempering my expectations.
I can’t say if he’s going to be good, but look at his competition for playing time. Williams is wowing them at camps, so really he , Winslow , Benn and Freeman are useful in FF. Of course the RB’s also but only bench fodder and they’re pushing 30 yr. old.
I’m certainly not saying Brown isn’t worth monitoring. Your point is well taken for sure. He was a very difficult person to find a category for in this capsule, though. He’s not really a sleeper, not really rising or falling, either. I’ve never been a huge proponent of Brown, so it’s difficult for me to recommend picking him up over some other players at this point.
We’d actually love to be able to go into even more detail in these capsules, but we have the challenge of being a free site with a writing staff of two attempting to do a brief synopsis of 32 teams.
Thanks for stopping by!
Oh yeah, I love this site, just found it a month ago and my home team made me comment. Not trying to be critical , your site is awesome and DYNASTY football is the best! 365 Fantasy Football baby!!!!!!!!!!!
I seriously think your analysis is better than most if not all major sites, very common sense oriented, and great advice.