Dynasty Capsule: Washington Redskins

Ken Kelly

As part of the premium content package, we’re again unveiling dynasty capsules for every team in the NFL leading up to free agency and the NFL Draft. This year, we’re also going to do a follow-up on all the teams after all the free agency and NFL Draft movement to assess the impact of any players teams have gained or lost. Since these capsules are always done as a simple snapshot in time, we figured that was the best way to tackle the off-season and provide ultimate value for our subscribers. All in all, we’ll have close to 500 player profiles found in these capsules over the off-season.

We continue our path through the NFL with the Washington Redskins.

Quarterbacks

Robert Griffin III

robert_griffin_iii3When the Redskins gave up a King’s ransom to get Griffin with the second overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, many were skeptical, feeling Washington overpaid to get him. At this point, that group looks to be dead wrong, no matter who the Rams may get with their bounty of draft choices. Griffin set the league on fire last year to the tune of 3,200 passing yards, 815 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns. In fact, Griffin spent much of the season as not just a QB1, but THE QB1 in dynasty leagues. The most amazing number he posted last year was five – that was his total number of interceptions thrown on the season. Simply put, he had an amazing rookie season.

Now comes the bad news.

Griffin suffered a torn ACL in Washington’s playoff game against Seattle and  has now had reconstructive right knee surgery for the second time. While ACL injuries aren’t quite as scary as they used to be, it’s still a concern with Griffin going forward. Owners of RGIII have to hope the Redskins don’t rush him back too soon at the beginning of next season. At the very least, it’s quite possible he isn’t asked to run quite as much as he was on first and second down in the future.

In the end, RGIII is an incredible talent and worthy of his current third round ADP. If he can return healthy (and we believe he will), he looks to be a dynasty pillar at the position for years to come as he looks to become the player many thought Michael Vick would be as the ultimate dual threat weapon in the league. He’s one of only a handful of players who could realistically lead all dynasty leagues in scoring in any given season.

Kirk Cousins

When the Redskins drafted Cousins, many dynasty league owners simply pulled his name off their rookie draft list. After all, it’s clear to anyone that Griffin is the future of the franchise at the quarterback position. While Washington wasn’t the most desirable landing spot for him, owners who took a plunge with Cousins could be rewarded in the future. When Cousins started the week fifteen game against Cleveland for the injured RGII, he completed 26-of-37 passes for 329 yards with two touchdowns and one interception in the Redskins’ 38-21 victory, showing he certainly has ability.

The Redskins gave up a lot of draft picks to acquire Griffin, so they could just as easily choose to trade Cousins in a year or two to recoup some of that lost value. If Cousins continues to play well into the preseason this year, he’s certainly worth a spot on a dynasty roster. With the injury risk to Griffin (or really any quarterback in the league), he could see time on any given Sunday. It’s also quite possible he could join Matt Schaub and Matt Flynn as a coveted backup who eventually gets a shot at a starting job. Let’s just hope there isn’t a Russell Wilson in his future.

Rex Grossman (FA)

We’ve seen good Rex and bad Rex over the years – neither should be close to your roster.

Running Backs

Alfred Morris

Morris was an afterthought in most early rookie drafts last year, but he proved to be an amazing pickup for anyone who was fortunate enough to get him. We had him pegged as our Redskins sleeper last year, but we’d be lying if we said we saw this type of production coming from him.

I’ve noted this before, but if you want a statistic showing you just how amazing his season was, try this – over the past four seasons, only Chris Johnson (2,006 in 2009) Arian Foster (1,616 in 2010), and Adrian Peterson (2,097 in 2012) have put up more rushing yards in a single season than Morris did last year with his total of 1,613.  That’s right – three players in four years have outpaced Morris and he was only a rookie. When you throw in 13 rushing touchdowns and a yards per carry average at just under five, you had an elite player in non-PPR leagues and really great one in PPR formats.

There will be detractors going into this season, citing Mike Shanahan’s history with churning through running backs. However, I believe the only things that could stop Morris from being a dominant performer next season would be fumbles or injury – let’s hope for neither of those.

Point is, nobody (not even our beloved Shanny) turns his back on this type of production, especially when you consider the Redskins will likely lean on the running game even more next year to keep Griffin upright.  If Morris can repeat this type of season, he’s going to outplay his current ADP of 19.

I’m buying.

Roy Helu

There may not be another player this young who has seen their value tank more than Helu has over the past year. At this point, he’s being taken as the RB65 according to our current ADP. Considering some thought he could be a RB2 last year, that’s a total nightmare. Helu is in a tough spot. His durability is a major question mark – he dealt with an Achilles injury during training camp and was then placed on injured reserve after getting a wicked case of turf toe in week one.

Helu still has some limited value (especially if you believe in the curse of Shanahan), but he’s looking at a change of pace role at best for now. He’s a free agent in 2015, but one more injury will really test the patience of his dynasty owners.

Evan Royster

The once coveted collegiate running back from Penn State hasn’t quite produced as hoped at the NFL level. While there was a quick glimmer of hope last September when he was listed as number one on the depth chart, that quickly changed as Morris emerged. Royster finished the season with just 23 carries for 88 yards and also added 15 catches for another 109 yards. He should battle Helu for third down duties next year and the right to be the primary handcuff to Morris. He still belongs on rosters in deeper leagues, but hope is fading.

Keiland Williams

Williams is a fullback and power runner more than anything else. If you believe strongly in the Shanahan curse, you could make a case to have him on a roster. However, unless your league rewards points for lead blocks, you can safely keep him on the wire.

Wide Receivers

Pierre Garcon

Garcon’s first season out of Indianapolis was a bit of a disappointment – he finished the year with 41 receptions for 587 yards and four touchdowns as he battled a foot sprain for most of the season. However, it was obvious he was able to build immediate chemistry with Griffin and it’s also quite clear he’s the best option for the Redskins and their passing attack.

The concern with Garcon is his health right now as foot injuries and wide receivers don’t typically go well together. If Griffin and Garcon are both healthy for a long stretch of time (a pretty significant question at the moment), it’s safe to pencil him in as a WR2 with upside. At just 26 years of age, he should have a few 1,000 yard seasons in him if all goes well.

Garcon is currently being drafted as the WR20 in our current ADP data and that seems just about right for a player with some injury concerns, but also one who has unquestioned talent in an offense that views him as a primary weapon.

Josh Morgan

Morgan was a chic preseason pickup in many dynasty leagues after the Redskins coaching brass talked him up as a difference making receiver. Unfortunately, this was yet another season in a string of disappointments for Morgan. On the year, he posted just 48 catches for 510 yards and two touchdowns as he rotated in and out of the WR2 spot in Washington. To make things worse, he also had surgery to repair ligaments in both his hands this off-season, along with a procedure to to remove a plate and seven screws from his right ankle in hopes he could regain some explosiveness he lost from his 2011 ankle injury. In reality, there are just simply too many other options out there with higher upsides than Morgan.

Santana Moss

Once one of the most feared deep threats in all of football, age has zapped much of Moss’ ability. His 39 catches last season were his lowest total since 2002. His touchdown total of eight (his highest since 2005) helped salvage some of his value, but touchdowns are obviously tough to predict from year-to-year. He’ll have to certainly restructure his deal to stay in Washington for a ninth consecutive season, but using a roster spot on a player who may not catch more than 40 passes wouldn’t be recommended.

Leonard Hankerson

Hankerson has a great combination of size and speed, but those measureables just haven’t translated to much on the football field as of yet. In 2012, he posted just 37 catches for 531 yards and three touchdowns. The problem with Hankerson thus far is regardless of his physical stature and tools, he simply hasn’t looked the part. Hankerson has trouble getting open or showing any type of dynamic after the catch ability. This coming season will be big for him as he must show some more consistency and fluidiy to avoid being just another player in both reality and fantasy.

Aldrick Robinson

If there were fantasy points for speed and big play ability, Robinson could have some value. Unfortunately, Robinson has shown the ability to get open on deep routes, but little else thus far in his career. He’s a player to watch because he does have speed that can’t be coached, but he belongs on the wire at this point.

Dezmon Briscoe

The former Tampa Bay Buccaneer posted just two catches for 22 yards last year. Once a prospect who piqued some interest in dynasty leagues, Briscoe is another player who really doesn’t belong on a roster at this point.

Tight Ends

Fred Davis

A lot was expected of Davis last year and it was mostly a disappointment as he posted just 24 catches for 325 yards and no touchdowns in seven games before tearing his achilles. Davis is a free agent and his injury really came at the worst time for him financially. Most expect Washington to re-sign him to a contract full of incentives, but that’s no given. The trouble with Davis back in Washington consists of both concern over his pre-injury usage in the new RGIII-led offense and his ability to return from a significant injury. Davis can be on your roster as a TE2 with some upside, but expecting anything more than that would be ill-advised, regardless of where he lands.

Logan Paulsen

Paulsen caught 25 passes for 308 yards and one touchdown in 16 games last season as he filled in for the injured Davis. He’s best utilized as a run blocker and has recently been re-signed by the Redskins. Even if Washington fails to bring Davis back, it’s tough to see much real value moving forward in Paulsen.

Niles Paul

Even with the injury to Davis, Paul was only able to collect eight catches for 152 yards and one score last season. The former wide receiver is still having some trouble finding his niche in the NFL and belongs on the wire for now, though he does have some talent.

ken kelly