The NFL's Wild West approach to trades and free agent signings led to an all-hands-on-deck for the Rotoworld news team last week. With
@evansilva,
@adamlevitan, and
@RotoPat keeping the frenzied signings under control this weekend, I was finally afforded the opportunity to update projections and rankings to reflect the week's changes.
Below are the major adjustments made to the
2011 Rotoworld Draft Guide based on fallout from the post-lockout player movement. Rankings, tiers, and projections will be regularly updated throughout the next 5-6 weeks leading up to the start of the regular season. Available soon as an iPhone and iPad app, the Draft Guide also includes Draft Master, custom scoring, ADP report, strength of schedule, team outlooks, player profiles, and Dynasty coverage.
QuarterbacksMoving UpKevin Kolb: If you'll recall, Kolb was regarded as a fantasy breakout candidate last summer due to the Eagles' weapons -- not his own talent. He has a few interesting pieces in Arizona, but we'd feel better about a major leap ahead of
Jay Cutler or
Joe Flacco if the Cardinals added a left tackle and vertical receiver.
Donovan McNabb: The wind came out of high-end QB2 sails when
Michael Jenkins replaced
Sidney Rice. McNabb has moved up, but he's just a low-end QB2 in the Vikes' run-first offense.
Matt Cassel: The signing of Steve Breaston is another sign that the Chiefs plan to open up the offense this season. Cassel gets just a slight bump.
Matt Hasselbeck: Hasselbeck will enjoy a better offensive line, ground game, and receiving corps in Tennessee. He moved up just one spot.
Tarvaris Jackson: Opened camp as the starter after reuniting with coordinator Darrell Bevell.
Bruce Gradkowski: Signed with the one team that would give him the best chance to start considering his knowledge of coordinator Jay Gruden's offfense.
Matt Moore: Has a theoretical shot to start over an underwhelming
Chad Henne.
Tyler Thigpen: Thigpen's only shot at regaining fantasy value was another round with the pistol spread offense. He landed in the right spot with Chan Gailey calling the plays.
Matt Leinart: Now just a
Matt Schaub injury away from taking the reins of a fantasy friendly offense.
Moving DownRyan Fitzpatrick: Could lose red-zone snaps to new toy
Brad Smith. Will also have to spend the season fending off
Tyler Thigpen, who has a history with coach Chan Gailey.
Christian Ponder, Joe Webb: Both youngsters will hit the pine with McNabb running the offense.
Vince Young: Still has plenty of late-round value as a handcuff to
Michael Vick, but we can't project starter's numbers.
Alex Smith: We have little confidence that Smith will hold off
Colin Kaepernick beyond the Week 7 bye.
Charlie Whitehurst: Yesterday's news with Jackson in town.
Carson Palmer, Andy Dalton: Palmer can't earn fantasy points from his couch. Dalton is behind the 8-ball considering Gradkowski's history with coordinator Jay Gruden.
John Beck: Will have to hold off
Rex Grossman for the starting job.
Jake Locker: Not likely to see significant playing time barring a Hasselbeck face-plant.
Marc Bulger: Left standing in the QB musical chairs.
Mike Kafka: The No. 2 job was fun while it lasted.
Running BacksMoving UpKnowshon Moreno: What could have been
DeAngelo Williams ended up as a past-his-prime
Willis McGahee. After arriving at camp in phenomenal shape, Moreno has regained low-end RB2 value as the Broncos' starter.
Ryan Grant: Grant entered camp as the clear favorite in the Packers backfield after the team picked up his $1.75 million bonus. Coach Mike McCarthy is not expected to use a 50-50 split in the ground game.
Reggie Bush: Bush was seeking a feature back role, and coach Tony Sparano's comments suggest a major increase in weekly touches. Bush is back on the radar as a potential 60-catch back.
Darren Sproles: Sproles should be even more electric on turf, and his workload is due for a slight uptick in the
Reggie Bush role.
Delone Carter: We have no confidence in
Donald Brown (neither do the Colts). The bull-dozing rookie should enter the season behind only
Joseph Addai, a poor bet to stay healthy and effective.
Moving DownJonathan Stewart, DeAngelo Williams, Mike Goodson: Stewart goes from potential RB1 to low-end RB2/flex with Williams back under a monster contract. Williams' upside is limited by the presence of the most talented "1-B" back in the league. Goodson will be lucky to see a handful of touches per game.
Ahmad Bradshaw: Just a slight downgrade, as we don't project Bradshaw to touch the ball as much as he did last season.
James Starks: Will need to severely outplay Grant to open as the starter.
Pierre Thomas: The Saints coaching staff has been tight-lipped about the backfield plans. We have a hard time envisioning a major role for P.T. with
Mark Ingram in line for early-down carries and Sproles taking over passing downs.
The NFL's Wild West approach to trades and free agent signings led to an all-hands-on-deck for the Rotoworld news team last week. With
@evansilva,
@adamlevitan, and
@RotoPat keeping the frenzied signings under control this weekend, I was finally afforded the opportunity to update projections and rankings to reflect the week's changes.
Below are the major adjustments made to the
2011 Rotoworld Draft Guide based on fallout from the post-lockout player movement. Rankings, tiers, and projections will be regularly updated throughout the next 5-6 weeks leading up to the start of the regular season. Available soon as an iPhone and iPad app, the Draft Guide also includes Draft Master, custom scoring, ADP report, strength of schedule, team outlooks, player profiles, and Dynasty coverage.
QuarterbacksMoving UpKevin Kolb: If you'll recall, Kolb was regarded as a fantasy breakout candidate last summer due to the Eagles' weapons -- not his own talent. He has a few interesting pieces in Arizona, but we'd feel better about a major leap ahead of
Jay Cutler or
Joe Flacco if the Cardinals added a left tackle and vertical receiver.
Donovan McNabb: The wind came out of high-end QB2 sails when
Michael Jenkins replaced
Sidney Rice. McNabb has moved up, but he's just a low-end QB2 in the Vikes' run-first offense.
Matt Cassel: The signing of Steve Breaston is another sign that the Chiefs plan to open up the offense this season. Cassel gets just a slight bump.
Matt Hasselbeck: Hasselbeck will enjoy a better offensive line, ground game, and receiving corps in Tennessee. He moved up just one spot.
Tarvaris Jackson: Opened camp as the starter after reuniting with coordinator Darrell Bevell.
Bruce Gradkowski: Signed with the one team that would give him the best chance to start considering his knowledge of coordinator Jay Gruden's offfense.
Matt Moore: Has a theoretical shot to start over an underwhelming
Chad Henne.
Tyler Thigpen: Thigpen's only shot at regaining fantasy value was another round with the pistol spread offense. He landed in the right spot with Chan Gailey calling the plays.
Matt Leinart: Now just a
Matt Schaub injury away from taking the reins of a fantasy friendly offense.
Moving DownRyan Fitzpatrick: Could lose red-zone snaps to new toy
Brad Smith. Will also have to spend the season fending off
Tyler Thigpen, who has a history with coach Chan Gailey.
Christian Ponder, Joe Webb: Both youngsters will hit the pine with McNabb running the offense.
Vince Young: Still has plenty of late-round value as a handcuff to
Michael Vick, but we can't project starter's numbers.
Alex Smith: We have little confidence that Smith will hold off
Colin Kaepernick beyond the Week 7 bye.
Charlie Whitehurst: Yesterday's news with Jackson in town.
Carson Palmer, Andy Dalton: Palmer can't earn fantasy points from his couch. Dalton is behind the 8-ball considering Gradkowski's history with coordinator Jay Gruden.
John Beck: Will have to hold off
Rex Grossman for the starting job.
Jake Locker: Not likely to see significant playing time barring a Hasselbeck face-plant.
Marc Bulger: Left standing in the QB musical chairs.
Mike Kafka: The No. 2 job was fun while it lasted.
Running BacksMoving UpKnowshon Moreno: What could have been
DeAngelo Williams ended up as a past-his-prime
Willis McGahee. After arriving at camp in phenomenal shape, Moreno has regained low-end RB2 value as the Broncos' starter.
Ryan Grant: Grant entered camp as the clear favorite in the Packers backfield after the team picked up his $1.75 million bonus. Coach Mike McCarthy is not expected to use a 50-50 split in the ground game.
Reggie Bush: Bush was seeking a feature back role, and coach Tony Sparano's comments suggest a major increase in weekly touches. Bush is back on the radar as a potential 60-catch back.
Darren Sproles: Sproles should be even more electric on turf, and his workload is due for a slight uptick in the
Reggie Bush role.
Delone Carter: We have no confidence in
Donald Brown (neither do the Colts). The bull-dozing rookie should enter the season behind only
Joseph Addai, a poor bet to stay healthy and effective.
Moving DownJonathan Stewart, DeAngelo Williams, Mike Goodson: Stewart goes from potential RB1 to low-end RB2/flex with Williams back under a monster contract. Williams' upside is limited by the presence of the most talented "1-B" back in the league. Goodson will be lucky to see a handful of touches per game.
Ahmad Bradshaw: Just a slight downgrade, as we don't project Bradshaw to touch the ball as much as he did last season.
James Starks: Will need to severely outplay Grant to open as the starter.
Pierre Thomas: The Saints coaching staff has been tight-lipped about the backfield plans. We have a hard time envisioning a major role for P.T. with
Mark Ingram in line for early-down carries and Sproles taking over passing downs.
Wide ReceiversMoving UpChad Ochocinco: He's not going to go 2007
Randy Moss on the league, but Ochocinco does regain WR3 status with a major QB upgrade.
Dez Bryant: No longer looking over his shoulder pads at
Roy Williams, and reportedly the best player not named
DeMarcus Ware early in Cowboys camp.
Mario Manningham: GM Jerry Reese concedes
Steve Smith is unlikely to be ready for the start of the season. Manningham will be tough to unseat if he streaks out of the gates.
Brandon Lloyd: Kyle Orton has a chance to stick with the Broncos after all.
Robert Meachem: Breakout candidate in better shape than he's ever been as a pro.
Lance Moore: Re-signing in NOLA was best-case scenario after his second top-30 fantasy finish in three years.
Mike Sims-Walker: Could be anywhere from
Sam Bradford's top target to off the roster in a month. Risk-reward WR3 option.
Roy Williams: Goes from fourth or fifth target in Dallas to potential No. 1 receiver in Chicago.
Eddie Royal: Back to full health, lining up opposite
Brandon Lloyd early in camp.
Early Doucet, Andre Roberts: Slated to battle it out for the No. 2 job with
Steve Breaston in Kansas City.
Moving DownSteve Smith South: Smith had legitimate WR1 potential in San Diego or Baltimore. He's back to an inconsistent WR3 option with Carolina's iffy QBs.
Michael Crabtree: Re-injured his foot, could miss the start of the season. 49ers now looking at veteran receivers as insurance.
Sidney Rice, Big Mike Williams: Big Mike is the very definition of a volume receiver. That volume figures to decrease with a far more talented Rice as
Tarvaris Jackson's go-to target. Catching passes from T-Jack was Rice's worst-case scenario in free agency.
Wes Welker, Deion Branch: Welker is losing a handful or receptions in our projections while Branch's upside is capped with a better receiver in the mix.
Steve Breaston, Jonathan Baldwin: Breaston didn't get $25 million to sit behind Baldwin, but he is going from a pass-heavy offense to a more conservative approach.
Leonard Hankerson: Path to playing time cluttered with
Santana Moss,
Jabar Gaffney, and Donte' Stallworth.
Devin Hester: Already losing offensive snaps in the second half of last season, Hester is now fourth in the pecking order with
Roy Williams on board.
Brandon Tate: Could be the fifth receiver following the Ochocinco trade.
Editor's Note: Get 2011 rankings, projections, sleeper lists, strategy articles, statistical tools, and Dynasty coverage with Rotoworld's Draft Guide!Tight EndsMoving UpJared Cook: Cook gets a slight bump over
Tony Gonzalez with the upgrade to
Matt Hasselbeck at QB. Gonzalez will fall behind
Julio Jones in the Falcons offense.
Greg Olsen: Rotoworld has never been anti-Olsen, just anti-Martz tight ends.
Jeremy Shockey has lost his RAC ability, leaving Olsen as the clear favorite for production at tight end in Carolina.
Ed Dickson: Dickson is the favorite for the starting job following
Todd Heap's exit. He's more of a downfield threat than Heap, but won't see as many receptions.
Moving DownAaron Hernandez, Rob Grokowski: Both Patriots tight ends lost a couple of receptions after the
Chad Ochocinco trade, but their ranking remains the same.
KickersMoving UpJason Hanson: High-scoring dome offense, and the competition with
Dave Rayner is Hanson's to lose.
Shaun Suisham: Steelers re-signed Suisham as the favorite to handle kicking duties over
Swayze Waters.
Mike Nugent: Bengals released
Clint Stitser, leaving Nugent as the only kicker in camp. Still a bottom-tier fantasy kicker.
Moving DownDavid Akers: The Philadelphia offense was largely responsible for Akers' league-high 115 field goal attempts the past three years. He's headed to a subpar offense in San Fran.
John Kasay: Released by Panthers.
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