Around the NFL - Who Should I Watch Out For?
Training camp is now underway, and as players get back into steady action, here are a few players to keep an eye on for the upcoming season: Tom Brady missed almost all of last year with a torn ACL suffered in the first game of the season.
As backup Matt Cassel eventually righted the ship that most people thought was left to sink, the Patriots scrounged out an impressive, but disappointing, 11-5 record while missing the playoffs.
After trading Cassel away, the Patriots organization must believe one of two things: Either Tom Brady is fully healthy and ready to return to 2007 form, or Matt Cassel, like Brady or any quarterback, is a dispensable product of their system.
Either way, only time will tell how Brady bounces back after injury.
If this is any indication of my opinion of Brady's recovery, I fantasy drafted Brady with my late first round pick.
As a complimentary player, Randy Moss should have a bounce back year.
I can't see Moss putting up 22 touchdowns this year, but if Brady has to toss the ball around even near as much this year as his 2007-2008 season where he played most games with a comfortable lead, Moss could easily put up double digit touchdowns.
Larry Fitzgerald put on a show in the 2009 playoffs, but will the production carry over to the regular season? Although Fitzgerald was quite spotlighted by defenses to begin with, Fitzgerald will most likely receive even more defensive attention after the recent media and fan worshiping.
As a result, I'm predicting that Anquon Boldin and Steve Breaston will greatly benefit from the defensive attention Fitzgerald takes away similar to last year.
In 2008, Boldin's 11 touchdowns in 12 games was greatly attributed to the force opposite of him.
After Fitzgerald's playoff production, I only see the attention increasing.
Boldin should reconsider his desire to leave Arizona.
On another note, the Cardinals will try a more balanced attack, most likely featuring rookie runningback Beanie Wells.
Roy Williams came under the spotlight this off-season after the departure of Terrell Owens.
Although Williams has been the "go-to guy" every year since high school, many still doubt his ability to catch footballs and pick up where Owens left off.
Although I don't see Williams matching the touchdown totals of Terrell Owens from 2007 (15), the Cowboys aren't planning on targeting Williams as often as Owens was targeted.
With the new "Romo-Friendly" offense Jerry Jones has tailored, Romo plans to spread the ball around more without forcing the ball to a specific receiver regardless of the receiver's separation from the defender (as you may have noticed the past three years).
However, if I were to force a ball to one of the two receivers, I believe Roy Williams would have the upper hand in catching the football in traffic or without separation from the defender.
But the new plan does not force the ball to one receiver nor limit the catches to just wide receivers.
Garrett plans to incorporate two rising stars, Felix Jones and Martellus Bennett, into the passing game.
The fleet-footed running back has been described as Dallas' most indispensable player by team ownership, so why wouldn't they try everything to put the ball in his hands?
As backup Matt Cassel eventually righted the ship that most people thought was left to sink, the Patriots scrounged out an impressive, but disappointing, 11-5 record while missing the playoffs.
After trading Cassel away, the Patriots organization must believe one of two things: Either Tom Brady is fully healthy and ready to return to 2007 form, or Matt Cassel, like Brady or any quarterback, is a dispensable product of their system.
Either way, only time will tell how Brady bounces back after injury.
If this is any indication of my opinion of Brady's recovery, I fantasy drafted Brady with my late first round pick.
As a complimentary player, Randy Moss should have a bounce back year.
I can't see Moss putting up 22 touchdowns this year, but if Brady has to toss the ball around even near as much this year as his 2007-2008 season where he played most games with a comfortable lead, Moss could easily put up double digit touchdowns.
Larry Fitzgerald put on a show in the 2009 playoffs, but will the production carry over to the regular season? Although Fitzgerald was quite spotlighted by defenses to begin with, Fitzgerald will most likely receive even more defensive attention after the recent media and fan worshiping.
As a result, I'm predicting that Anquon Boldin and Steve Breaston will greatly benefit from the defensive attention Fitzgerald takes away similar to last year.
In 2008, Boldin's 11 touchdowns in 12 games was greatly attributed to the force opposite of him.
After Fitzgerald's playoff production, I only see the attention increasing.
Boldin should reconsider his desire to leave Arizona.
On another note, the Cardinals will try a more balanced attack, most likely featuring rookie runningback Beanie Wells.
Roy Williams came under the spotlight this off-season after the departure of Terrell Owens.
Although Williams has been the "go-to guy" every year since high school, many still doubt his ability to catch footballs and pick up where Owens left off.
Although I don't see Williams matching the touchdown totals of Terrell Owens from 2007 (15), the Cowboys aren't planning on targeting Williams as often as Owens was targeted.
With the new "Romo-Friendly" offense Jerry Jones has tailored, Romo plans to spread the ball around more without forcing the ball to a specific receiver regardless of the receiver's separation from the defender (as you may have noticed the past three years).
However, if I were to force a ball to one of the two receivers, I believe Roy Williams would have the upper hand in catching the football in traffic or without separation from the defender.
But the new plan does not force the ball to one receiver nor limit the catches to just wide receivers.
Garrett plans to incorporate two rising stars, Felix Jones and Martellus Bennett, into the passing game.
The fleet-footed running back has been described as Dallas' most indispensable player by team ownership, so why wouldn't they try everything to put the ball in his hands?
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