Player Spotlight: Sidney Rice

joebidwell Posted On February 19, 2011

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Sidney Rice could face a decision which will alter the outcome of his career. His contract with the Vikings has expired, and if the team doesn’t slap him with the franchise tag, Rice will entertain other suitors. Only 24, Rice has shown he has the ability to be a top tier WR. He has drawn many comparisons to Larry Fitzgerald over his first four seasons. Let’s take a look at the real world and fantasy outlook for Sidney.

First and foremost is the Viking’s decision concerning the franchise tag. The team is also looking to lock up Chad Greenway. Rumors floated that Greenway would receive the franchise tag while Sidney would see the transition tag. That was quickly squandered, however, as the transition tag is limited to players with at least six years of experience. So which player the team franchises will be the first determination for Rice’s future. If Greenway gets the nod, does Sidney play elsewhere in 2011?

In the realm of fantasy, most owners of the South Carolina product are enthused by this idea. The Vikings are lacking a key piece to the offense, one which is vital to a WR’s success. With Brett Favre’s retirement (and yes, I do believe it’s the end), the Purple People Eaters look to fill the void left at quarterback. Tavaris Jackson’s hopes of being the future QB in Minnesota left with Brad Childress. Joe Webb showcased his talents against Philadelphia in week 16, but the following week he looked very raw against Chicago. The Vikings hold the 12th pick in the draft, so they could look to bring in a rookie. These options aren’t too enticing when considering Rice’s projections for next season. The other option for Minnesota would be to bring in a QB such as Young, McNabb, or Kolb. Young offers a dynamic to the position where Donovan and Kolb have experience in the west coast offense.

All of this, of course, is a moot point if Rice can’t stay on the field. Injuries have plagued Sidney’s career thus far. Knee injuries cost him games in both of his first two seasons. He then injured his hip in the NFC Championship game in 2010. He hoped he would recover without surgery, but ultimately it was unavoidable. Delaying the surgery cost him and the Vikings dearly. Favre was without his best weapon through the first 9 games of the season. The offense fell apart in his absence and Rice drastically hurt his value moving into a crucial time in his career. This may keep Rice from pulling a top ten salary, as teams may be reluctant to pay up for someone who hasn’t proven he can stay on the field.

His skill set is obvious as displayed in the 2009 season. Some will attribute his production to Favre and his best season statistically since the turn of the century. It’s only fair to assume that Favre’s tremendous year was made possible, in large, to Rice. Sidney’s ability to go up and get the ball made life much easier on the aging QB. Many times Brett would throw the ball up and let Sidney utilize his hands and his size advantage over his defenders.

Rice will be productive no matter who throws him the ball, but to produce at a WR1 level, he’ll need an experienced QB. If he stays in Minnesota and the team does not bring in a veteran passer, you can still expect Rice to be a solid WR2 (assuming he can stay on the field). Again, the best case scenario for Rice owners will be for him to find new employment. Although it’s pure speculation on my part, St. Louis would be a nice landing spot. Pairing the likes of Bradford and Sidney would go a long ways for both players for years to come. The next move is on you, Minnesota…