Favre just a guy in fantasy
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Brett Favre isn't necessarily any better than
Sage Rosenfels.
Start from that vantage point, and you won't wind up taking Favre too early in fantasy drafts. Let's not get into a discussion about Favre's Hall of Fame career. Let's focus on his last two seasons; a huge comeback year in 2007 with the Packers (arguably his best year in a decade), and his mediocre season with the Jets.
In those seasons, Favre had a lower yards-per-attempt average than Rosenfels had with the Texans. Favre also threw for fewer touchdowns per pass. The one thing Favre did better, amazingly, was avoid interceptions. (And Favre led the league in picks in 2008, which shows how much Rosenfels turned it over.)
Favre, turning 40 just five days after he attempts to make
Aaron Rodgers' life hell by beating the Packers, is remarkably similar to Rosenfels at 31. They are both high-completion quarterbacks who ultimately are too aggressive for their own good.
Favre might be an upgrade, but it's marginal. And that's why Favre is
barely ahead of where we had Rosenfels ranked in our fantasy cheat sheets.
Some will argue that Favre gets a monster upgrade in personnel in Minnesota; I don't buy it.
Adrian Peterson will take pressure of Favre, no doubt, but it's not like the 2008 Jets had a poor offensive line or struggled to run the ball.
The wideout group in Minnesota is average.
Bernard Berrian is a nice starting receiver, and Favre will have to do a better job going deep than he did in New York.
Percy Harvin has all sorts of talent (although I don't love him in fantasy leagues this year
nearly as much as Wesseling), but he's still a rookie.
Sidney Rice may start over Harvin and has promise, but must show he can stay healthy.
Throw in tight end
Visanthe Shiancoe, and this is middle of the pack receiving group. It's comparable to the '08 Jets and worse than the '07 Packers.
We wouldn't go crazy upgrading Favre's new teammates either. Ask
Jerricho Cotchery and
Laveranues Coles owners how that went for them. Favre might help a little, but it's not going to change your draft strategy.
The Vikings should be a good team that still focuses on the running game. Favre's attempts may decline, and it's likely he'll adopt the dink-and-dunk approach he had as a Jet. Perhaps Favre will help the Vikings win an extra game or two, but that's not going to help you in fantasy leagues.
All we care about is numbers, and Favre's are likely to ordinary. Before you draft him, think about how last year ended in New York. Think about the people you know who are forty. Then wait another round or two.
Put all these factors together and our projections place
Favre at No. 22 in Rotoworld's fast-updating draft guide at quarterback.
It's a safe bet someone in your league with a number four jersey will take him well before that.
Brett Favre isn't necessarily any better than
Sage Rosenfels.
Start from that vantage point, and you won't wind up taking Favre too early in fantasy drafts. Let's not get into a discussion about Favre's Hall of Fame career. Let's focus on his last two seasons; a huge comeback year in 2007 with the Packers (arguably his best year in a decade), and his mediocre season with the Jets.
In those seasons, Favre had a lower yards-per-attempt average than Rosenfels had with the Texans. Favre also threw for fewer touchdowns per pass. The one thing Favre did better, amazingly, was avoid interceptions. (And Favre led the league in picks in 2008, which shows how much Rosenfels turned it over.)
Favre, turning 40 just five days after he attempts to make
Aaron Rodgers' life hell by beating the Packers, is remarkably similar to Rosenfels at 31. They are both high-completion quarterbacks who ultimately are too aggressive for their own good.
Favre might be an upgrade, but it's marginal. And that's why Favre is
barely ahead of where we had Rosenfels ranked in our fantasy cheat sheets.
Some will argue that Favre gets a monster upgrade in personnel in Minnesota; I don't buy it.
Adrian Peterson will take pressure of Favre, no doubt, but it's not like the 2008 Jets had a poor offensive line or struggled to run the ball.
The wideout group in Minnesota is average.
Bernard Berrian is a nice starting receiver, and Favre will have to do a better job going deep than he did in New York.
Percy Harvin has all sorts of talent (although I don't love him in fantasy leagues this year
nearly as much as Wesseling), but he's still a rookie.
Sidney Rice may start over Harvin and has promise, but must show he can stay healthy.
Throw in tight end
Visanthe Shiancoe, and this is middle of the pack receiving group. It's comparable to the '08 Jets and worse than the '07 Packers.
We wouldn't go crazy upgrading Favre's new teammates either. Ask
Jerricho Cotchery and
Laveranues Coles owners how that went for them. Favre might help a little, but it's not going to change your draft strategy.
The Vikings should be a good team that still focuses on the running game. Favre's attempts may decline, and it's likely he'll adopt the dink-and-dunk approach he had as a Jet. Perhaps Favre will help the Vikings win an extra game or two, but that's not going to help you in fantasy leagues.
All we care about is numbers, and Favre's are likely to ordinary. Before you draft him, think about how last year ended in New York. Think about the people you know who are forty. Then wait another round or two.
Put all these factors together and our projections place
Favre at No. 22 in Rotoworld's fast-updating draft guide at quarterback.
It's a safe bet someone in your league with a number four jersey will take him well before that.
Gregg Rosenthal has directed Rotoworld's football content since 2003. He co-hosts the
NBC Fantasy Fix and covers the NFL for NBCSports.com and Profootballtalk.com. Catch him
on Twitter.
Email :
Gregg Rosenthal