Head2Head Fantasy Football

The All Larry Fitzgerald Team - 2nd year Superstars

08.25.06

By Kevin McKee
kevinmckee@head2head.com

Larry Fitzgerald is entering his third NFL season with the Arizona Cardinals and is a top fantasy prospect this year, with good reason.

Larry Fitzgerald is quietly having the best start to a career in the history of National Football League wide receivers. Randy Moss caught 149 passes in his first two seasons. Fitzgerald's teammate Anquan Boldin had an incredible rookie year with 101 catches but followed that with an injury plagued season in which he only caught 56 balls, giving him 157 in his first two seasons. Among these players, as well as all the other great receivers in NFL history, none has caught more than the 161 balls Fitzgerald has snagged over his first two seasons. Fitzgerald has been hurting opposing defenses and helping fantasy owners since day one of his NFL career.

The all Larry Fitzgerald Team is comprised of either first or second year players who are going to be viable fantasy starters. Most of these players have low salaries and can help fill out a roster filled with high priced stars, while others are already legitimate stars on their own. The one thing they all have in common, is youth and loads of potential.

QB: Alex Smith - $13.7 million

Alex Smith was the top pick in what was considered to be a weak draft class in 2005. Without a consensus number one pick, the 49ers had to give a huge contract to a guy who experts said would have been picked at the end of the first round any other year. Smith only added fuel to the fire by throwing one touchdown and ten interceptions in his first year. However, there is reason to believe the number one draft pick out of Utah will improve drastically this year.

Some people might beg to differ, but San Francisco has a talented group of players on the offensive side of the ball. Antonio Bryant is a great young receiver who will be Smith's go to player. He has bounced around with a few different teams because of his attitude, but no team has questioned his talent. Now that Bryant has the role of number one receiver, he has kept his mouth shut and let his on field performance do the talking for him. Another weapon Alex Smith has is the most explosive, athletic tight end in the game. There's so much to say about Vernon Davis that it can't be covered here, which is why he is profiled later in the article. Lastly, Smith has some stability behind him in Frank Gore. Last year, it was anyone's guess as to who would be in the backfield, Gore or Kevan Barlow. Now Barlow has been shipped to the Jets, making Frank Gore the featured back. Gore is a smaller version of Fred Taylor. Both are incredibly talented runners with power, speed, and a proclivity for getting injured. If Gore can stay healthy, he will prove that he is one of the most talented backs to come into the NFL in over the last few years.

The 49ers' offense is set. Smith has the tools and the talent around him to be a successful NFL quarterback, and when the match-up is right, a great fantasy quarterback. Consider Smith a great, cheap bye week filler this year, and potential full time starter. Alex Smith will finish the year as a top 20 fantasy quarterback this year.

RB: Ronnie Brown - $10.9 million

Ronnie Brown was taken with the 2nd overall pick in the 2005 NFL draft by the Miami Dolphins. Brown was drafted before Ricky Williams decided to end his retirement and return to the NFL. When Williams decided to come back, Brown went from an undisputed starter and featured back to just one part of a dreaded running back by committee. In his first four games as a featured back while Ricky Williams served a four game drug suspension, Brown had 364 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown. Then while sharing time with Papa Ganja he finished the season with a total of 1139 yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns in 15 games.

Brown is ready for a breakout season, and the main reason is the absence of Ricky Williams who is serving a one-year drug suspension. Brown had over 20 carries in a single game only three times last year, and averaged just 12 carries a game while sharing time in the backfield. Ronnie Brown has all the physical attributes needed to be a 300-carry back in the NFL. He has size, speed, is an adequate receiver which means he will not leave the game on third downs, and has no legitimate backup who will take any playing time.

Brown also will see more time on the field due to Daunte Culpepper's arrival in South Florida. The Dolphins have not had a legitimate quarterback since Dan Marino retired, and Culpepper adds stability to a position that has been as tipsy as Culpepper's party boat in Minnesota. With Chris Chambers on the outside, the Dolphins will have an explosive passing game that will open up lanes for the rushing attack. They will be more efficient, convert more third downs, and essentially give Ronnie Brown more rushing attempts. Brown comes at the price of a number two back, but will finish the season as a top-ten fantasy running back.

RB: Carnell "Cadillac" Williams - $11.2 million

Carnell Williams is still the most talented runner to come out of the draft last year. There really isn't even a question. Hands down, he is a better running back than Ronnie Brown and Cedric Benson. He has moves, vision, and speed comparable to LaDainian Tomlinson and Reggie Bush. He is a good inside runner and can move the pile to get tough yards. There is only one minor problem with Cadillac that prevent him from being a top five running back this year.

Cadillac has to prove he can last a full 16 game season. Williams exploded onto the NFL scene with 434 yards in his first three games last year. He was the first rookie running back in the history of the NFL to start his career with three consecutive 100 yard rushing games. Jon Gruden couldn't get enough of his new toy. Then Williams hurt his right ankle and foot and had to sit out for two weeks, and was limited in his first four games back from injury.

The good part about Williams is that his coach wants him to run the ball as often as possible. In eight games last year where Caddy had 20 or more carries, the Buccaneers went 7-1. In those eight games, Williams had 957 yards on 214 carries, including five games with at least 100 yards. That is almost 1000 yards in only half a season. Imagine if he could stay healthy all year and grind out 20 to 25 carries a game.

Cadillac is the perfect running back for the salary cap game. While he is healthy, put him in your lineup and watch the numbers soar. If he gets hurt, replace him. Cadillac will be a top ten overall fantasy back this year, and while healthy will perform like a top five player.

RB: Mike Bell - $6.0 million

The Broncos churn out great fantasy running backs like butter. The question is always which player it will be. Ever since the Broncos drafted Tatum Bell in the second round of the 2004 NFL draft, fantasy owners have drooled over his potential. However, Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan wants someone else to shoulder the load while giving Tatum Bell about 10 carries a game.

Early in mini-camps and training camp, Ron Dayne was listed as the starter, while Cedric Cobbs was given an outside shot at the job. However, undrafted free agent Mike Bell emerged in training camp as a tough, explosive runner and has been awarded the starting job. Obviously whoever is anointed as starter in Mile High Stadium will be a good player, but Mike Bell has potential to be a top fantasy back.

Mike Bell stands at six feet tall and weighs just under 220 pounds. He is a power runner, but also has the moves and quickness to make people miss, which is exactly the type of runner Denver looks for in their one cut system. Bell is a willing but inexperienced pass blocker and will need work on recognition skills, which is one aspect of his game that may keep him from some playing time. However, he should pick up blocking schemes very quickly as he is an intelligent young man. His score of 30 on the Wonderlic test was the highest score among all running backs this year. He has also shown on the field in preseason that he can handle the job. He lost a fumble in his NFL preseason debut, but otherwise played well. Some people thought that fumble was the end of Mike Bell's career. It is important to note that Clinton Portis lost three fumbles in one preseason game his rookie season before going on to rush for 1508 yards and 15 touchdowns. Mike Shanahan didn't lose confidence in his starter, and was rewarded with had 79 yards and two touchdowns from Bell in less than a half of work. In week three Bell rushed for 20 yards in limited work, but still has a firm hold on the starting job. Mike Bell will be an amazing third running back this year as long as he holds the job.

WR: Matt Jones - $6.3 million

In an unexpected move this offseason, Jaguars' long time receiver Jimmy Smith retired. Smith was getting old, but was still very productive. Smith's retirement meant the Jaguars lost veteran leadership and a guy who has been the face of the Jacksonville Jaguars for year. It also left the door wide open for a new player to step in and be the man for the Jaguars passing game.

Matt Jones will step in this year as the most unlikely replacement for Smith. Jones was playing quarterback for the Arkansas Razorbacks just 20 months ago. He was so talented and athletic that it only made sense for him to touch the ball on every play. Who wouldn't want to give the ball to a 6'6", 230-pound monster who runs a 40-yard dash in 4.3 seconds and has baby soft hands?

Jones made the adjustment to receiver quickly and had a productive year by rookie receiver standards. He played in all 16 games, starting one, and caught 36 passes for 432 yards and five touchdowns, all while playing as the third or fourth receiver. He still has a lot to learn about the position, but he is only going to get better. With more practice comes better routes, softer hands and more knowledge of the nuances of the position. He is still learning how to get open, how to read coverages while on the run, how to beat press coverage, etc. Playing as the top receiver will benefit Jones even more. Instead of playing in the slot and going against linebackers who are big enough to cover him, Jones will move to the outside and go one-on-one with 5'11" cornerbacks. All Leftwich has to do is throw it up and let Jones go get it.

Matt Jones will catch 70 balls this season and finish with over 1000 yards and eight to ten touchdowns. He's a surefire number two receiver at a benchwarmer price.

WR: Troy Williamson - $6.0 million

Troy Williamson has one thing going for him this year; opportunity. Since Randy Moss left Minnesota two years ago, the Vikings have struggled to find someone to take over as the top receiver for the Vikings. Nate Burleson entered the season as their top guy last year, but was hampered by injuries and poor performance. Minnesota used a committee of Travis Taylor, Marcus Robinson, Koren Robinson, and Troy Williamson to fill the void last year, and it seemed that Koren Robinson had emerged as the go to receiver. K-Rob entered this season atop the depth chart, but has since been arrested for drunken driving. If it is determined that he has abused the NFL's substance abuse policy, he will have to sit out the entire season, which is only a formality because he has been released by the Vikings.

That leaves the door open for Williamson, who was drafted seventh overall in last years draft. The NC State grad didn't have a great college career, but was drafted because of his incredible athleticism and speed. He was drafted to become the next Randy Moss. Now is his chance. Travis Taylor and Marcus Robinson are solid players, but neither is the gamebreaker that Moss was or that Williamson is expected to be. Even with Koren Robinson in the picture, Williamson was going to see a lot of playing time. Now, he will be the Vikings go-to receiver.

Williamson still has some learning to do. He needs to get better at running routes. He needs to work on his field awareness. He needs to become a leader. The problem is the Vikings don't have time to wait. Williamson will play and will have his share of ups and downs. He won't be a consistent performer but will have some monstrous games and will make a good, cheap third receiver with the potential to become a great number-two fantasy receiver.

TE: Vernon Davis - $4.2 million

You might think I'm crazy for suggesting two San Francisco 49ers as fantasy starters, but Davis is going to be a top five tight end this year. I'm not someone who is normally impressed by workout statistics, but Vernon Davis is a freak of nature.

The tight end out of Maryland is 6'3", 254 pounds. He runs the 40-yard dash in 4.38 seconds, has a 42" vertical and bench pressed 225 pounds 33 times. If that doesn't say mismatch, I don't know what does. There isn't a linebacker in the league that is fast enough to cover him and there isn't a defensive back in the league that can match up with his size and strength. Alex Smith is going to look to Davis often, especially in the end zone. Smith has thrown one touchdown pass this preseason, which was a 15 yards strike to Davis.

Davis will take a while to adjust to the NFL before he becomes an elite tight end on the level of Antonio Gates. His success is also dependent on how the rest of the offense performs. The Niners will improve this year, but will not be on the same level as the Chargers were last year.

Davis will finish as a top five tight end, with 50 catches for 750 yards and seven touchdowns. Play the match-ups with Davis and you will be rewarded handsomely.