GCOBB.COM FANTASY FOOTBALL LEAGUE COMING IN AUGUST – By Scott Pashley Terrell Owens and his antics are well known to we Philadelphia Eagles fans, neither is his talent and unprecedented physicality. Rob Warner and I disagree on few things,
but Owens value in 2009 is one of the things we clash a bit over and the subject of this week’s “In The Trenches” faceoff.
This perennial trouble making primadona wide out has several things stacked against him this year that I don’t see him overcoming.
He is 35 and down side of his career. He is a fairly conservative offense, even with the welcome news of the plans to incorporate some no-huddle schemes. He has a talented target playing opposite him in home-run-threat Less Evans, who trumps anyone in the mediocre groups he played with in Philadelphia and Dallas.
The Bills have an excellent run game and want to incorporate the tight end more this year. The two tackles will be playing new positions with Langston Walker moving from the right to the left and Brad Butler moving from right guard to right tackle. All of these things spell 70 receptions and 8 TDs at the top end.
Owens has had a prolific career but his performance is clearly on the slide. Last year he barely managed to eclipse the 1,000 yard mark (1,015) and caught only 69 balls. That was in a more open, and better, offense. His non-popcorn-worthy numbers last year still would have lead all Buffalo receivers in all categories.
Meanwhile, their backfield combination of Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson led all NFL backfields combos in catches with 84. Add Dominic Rhodes, an excellent pass catching back, to the mix and you have a lot of targets going to running backs on a team that throws less than most.
The Bills also drafted a big and speedy (4.52 in the 40-yard dash) TE Shawn Nelson. Reports are that the coaching staff is excited about finding ways of getting Nelson involved in the middle of the field and in the red zone.
The Bills acquired Owens to make their offense better and he will. From a fantasy perspective, he will make everyone else better, but don’t expect top flight numbers from Owens himself. He will open the offense, make defenses play more honest against the run, and free up their speedster Lee Evans for big plays.
How long do you think it will take for Owens to melt down like that idiot Keith Olbermann at a republican convention watching Evans doing TD dances and the twin 6’5ers Nelson and James Hardy catching red zone passes?
T.O. is never going to break down, he is the definition of a physical specimen and 35 to him means a lot less than it does to others. But, he will slow down. He already has. Lee Evans will shine and Josh Reed returns to the slot, which a more natural position for him.
After returning from his three game suspension Marshawn Lynch will reap the benefits of defenses unable to stack eight in the box. Owens on the other hand will face double coverage and fail to reach 1,000 yards or double-digit TDs. I see 65 receptions, 975 yards, and 7 TDs and trouble by week seven.
Look for rankings from Rob and I for all positions here at GCOBB.com and at the soon to be launched P.R.O.F. (People’s Republic of Football)Facebook page and website. Here are my early rankings at the WR position and where T.O. ranks:
Rank Player
1 Larry Fitzgerald ARI – Age 25
2 Andre Johnson HOU – Age 27
3 Randy Moss NE – Age 32
4 Calvin Johnson DET – Age 23
5 Roddy White ATL – Age 27
6 Reggie Wayne IND – Age 30
7 Steve Smith CAR – Age 30
8 Greg Jennings GB – Age 25
7 Marques Colston NO – Age 26
8 Brandon Marshall DEN – Age 25
9 Anquan Boldin ARI – Age 28
10 Chad Ocho Cinco CIN – Age 31
11 Dwayne Bowe KC – Age 24
12 TJ Houshminzadeh SEA – Age 28
13 Wes Welker NE – Age 28
14 Terrell Owens BUF – Age 35
15 Roy Williams DAL – Age 27
