Keepers: Julius Jones and Andre Johnson.
Two guys who could be anchoring Parker’s team for another year. Everyone believes Jones will lead the league in
carries and carries have a direct relationship to fantasy points (you can’t get them w/o carries, duh), expect him to
be a top 7 RB. Johnson could finally have that huge season. He always seems to rack up the yards and catches,
just never quite gets all the TD’s. This year (his third), expect him to finally crack 10 TD’s and shoot up to the elite
group of top 5 receivers.
Grade: A (taking into account that Parker can keep both keepers for another year)
Draft:
QB: Jake Plummer and Chad Pennington.
Jake the Snake threw for over 4,000 yards last year, but still scares people with his poor judgment. He’s like a poor
man’s Kerry Collins, b/c he doesn’t have Randy Moss to throw too. Otherwise, there isn’t much separating the two.
Pennington is coming off shoulder surgery, but welcomes the addition of L. Coles. Look for him to have a productive
year and for Parker to have difficulties figuring out who to play as both will posts similar numbers by the end of the
year.
Grade: B+
RB: Fred Taylor, Mewelde Moore, and Duce Staley.
The only other team to draft 5 RB’s, Parker has an injury prone bunch. Staley is already out the first month and
word is the injury is worse than originally planned. Even when he comes back, look for him to be involved in a RB by
committee. Taylor has the same injury concerns every year, but last year added on the lack of TD concern. Sure he
can rack up the yards and his receptions help, but he needs to stay healthy and find paydirt to be worthy of the #2
RB slot. I think he’ll be healthy the whole year and several people will regret passing on him. But for now, he’s still a
major question mark. However, the real catch here could turn out to be Moore. The guy is a better football player
than Michael Bennett and more naturally gifted. Problem is he doesn’t get along with Coach Tice. He also went
down with an injury that costs him the week one start. Even though Bennett will start the season, look for Moore to
end it.
Grade: B+
WR: Marvin Harrison, Keenan McCardell, David Givens, Marcus Robinson and Mark Bradley.
Harrison has always been considered one of the top 3 fantasy wideouts. But sooner or later age and the threat of
Reggie Wayne will drop him from that consideration. Will this be the year? Maybe, but he’ll still be a top 5 threat who
finds the endzone 12 times. Either way, a wide receiving core of Harrison and Andre Johnson is scary. McCardell is
a nice #3 receiver who catches a lot of passes and will benefit from the new reception rule. Givens and Robinson
are nice bench players. Givens is in a contract year and Robinson is always a redzone threat. Bradley is an odd
choice, albeit a final round pick. Sure he has performed well in the preseason, but did anybody even have him on
their draft radar. Look for him to get dropped.
Grade: A
TE: Alge Crumpler.
The only reliable player Vick has. Too bad he also drops a lot of passes. But he’s still a top 6 or 7 TE who can
occasionally have those 2 TD days.
Grade: B+
K: Josh Brown.
Seattle puts up points (as does everyone else in the NFC West), but they’ve been saying that for 2 years now and
Brown has never set himself apart from all the other kickers.
Grade: B
DEF: New England
The consensus second best defense in fantasy, was picked second. Question is are they just a name that people
assume is good b/c of past history or are they legit. They have to deal with the loss of their Defensive Coordinator
(Crennel), top corner (Law), and two linebackers (Bruschi and Ted Johnson). But would you honestly put anything
past Belichick and Co.
Grade: B+
Best Draft Pick: Mewelde Moore
Worst Draft Pick: Mark Bradley
Team Strengths: QB
Team Weaknesses: No weakness (just a few question marks at RB)
Key to Success: Fred Taylor. If he’s the #2 RB then Parker has a very well balanced team. If not, then Parker
has to hope Moore does win the RB battle like most people assume.
Overall Grade: A-
Two guys who could be anchoring Parker’s team for another year. Everyone believes Jones will lead the league in
carries and carries have a direct relationship to fantasy points (you can’t get them w/o carries, duh), expect him to
be a top 7 RB. Johnson could finally have that huge season. He always seems to rack up the yards and catches,
just never quite gets all the TD’s. This year (his third), expect him to finally crack 10 TD’s and shoot up to the elite
group of top 5 receivers.
Grade: A (taking into account that Parker can keep both keepers for another year)
Draft:
QB: Jake Plummer and Chad Pennington.
Jake the Snake threw for over 4,000 yards last year, but still scares people with his poor judgment. He’s like a poor
man’s Kerry Collins, b/c he doesn’t have Randy Moss to throw too. Otherwise, there isn’t much separating the two.
Pennington is coming off shoulder surgery, but welcomes the addition of L. Coles. Look for him to have a productive
year and for Parker to have difficulties figuring out who to play as both will posts similar numbers by the end of the
year.
Grade: B+
RB: Fred Taylor, Mewelde Moore, and Duce Staley.
The only other team to draft 5 RB’s, Parker has an injury prone bunch. Staley is already out the first month and
word is the injury is worse than originally planned. Even when he comes back, look for him to be involved in a RB by
committee. Taylor has the same injury concerns every year, but last year added on the lack of TD concern. Sure he
can rack up the yards and his receptions help, but he needs to stay healthy and find paydirt to be worthy of the #2
RB slot. I think he’ll be healthy the whole year and several people will regret passing on him. But for now, he’s still a
major question mark. However, the real catch here could turn out to be Moore. The guy is a better football player
than Michael Bennett and more naturally gifted. Problem is he doesn’t get along with Coach Tice. He also went
down with an injury that costs him the week one start. Even though Bennett will start the season, look for Moore to
end it.
Grade: B+
WR: Marvin Harrison, Keenan McCardell, David Givens, Marcus Robinson and Mark Bradley.
Harrison has always been considered one of the top 3 fantasy wideouts. But sooner or later age and the threat of
Reggie Wayne will drop him from that consideration. Will this be the year? Maybe, but he’ll still be a top 5 threat who
finds the endzone 12 times. Either way, a wide receiving core of Harrison and Andre Johnson is scary. McCardell is
a nice #3 receiver who catches a lot of passes and will benefit from the new reception rule. Givens and Robinson
are nice bench players. Givens is in a contract year and Robinson is always a redzone threat. Bradley is an odd
choice, albeit a final round pick. Sure he has performed well in the preseason, but did anybody even have him on
their draft radar. Look for him to get dropped.
Grade: A
TE: Alge Crumpler.
The only reliable player Vick has. Too bad he also drops a lot of passes. But he’s still a top 6 or 7 TE who can
occasionally have those 2 TD days.
Grade: B+
K: Josh Brown.
Seattle puts up points (as does everyone else in the NFC West), but they’ve been saying that for 2 years now and
Brown has never set himself apart from all the other kickers.
Grade: B
DEF: New England
The consensus second best defense in fantasy, was picked second. Question is are they just a name that people
assume is good b/c of past history or are they legit. They have to deal with the loss of their Defensive Coordinator
(Crennel), top corner (Law), and two linebackers (Bruschi and Ted Johnson). But would you honestly put anything
past Belichick and Co.
Grade: B+
Best Draft Pick: Mewelde Moore
Worst Draft Pick: Mark Bradley
Team Strengths: QB
Team Weaknesses: No weakness (just a few question marks at RB)
Key to Success: Fred Taylor. If he’s the #2 RB then Parker has a very well balanced team. If not, then Parker
has to hope Moore does win the RB battle like most people assume.
Overall Grade: A-
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