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Training Camp Battles - WRs

Aug 25 2008, 10:54 AM

Contributed by: Jeff Williamson


With the trend of running-back-by-committee situations in the league, wide receivers have become a much more important commodity to fantasy owners, especially if you start three. There are a number of training camp battles going on in the world of pass catchers. This is a look at how they are shaking out so far.

Carolina Panthers
Muhsin Muhammad
Muhammad returns to the Panthers where he connected with Jake Delhomme for 1,400 yards and 16 touchdowns back in 2004. He is a little older and a step slower, but he is a smart veteran who knows how to run routes and can use his experience to make plays. A lot of fantasy owners gave up on him after his stint in Chicago, but I’m not ready to give up just yet.
D.J. Hackett
Hackett comes over from Seattle and will need to learn a new offense and get acquainted with a new team. He has a lot of ability and has a knack for making spectacular catches, but he has trouble staying healthy. He is currently nursing a toe injury that has kept him out of all of the Panthers’ pre-season games.  
Prediction
With Steve Smith suspended for the first two games, this battle will extend beyond training camp. Ultimately I expect Muhammad to earn the starting job, at least initially. But eventually Hackett should take it from him, either this year or next. When Smith returns, expect Hackett to start in the slot where he could still be a productive receiver for fantasy owners. 

Chicago Bears
Marty Booker
Returning to the Bears in the off-season from Miami, Booker is by far the most experienced veteran of the group and should have no trouble earning a starting job. With Kyle Orton as a quarterback his stats should be extremely limited and he doesn’t make a great fantasy receiver.
Devin Hester
Hester is the most explosive kick returner in the league, but the Bears want him on the field more often than just special teams. He will get a shot at the starting job almost by default, but he is still a very raw talent with limited experience so he is probably a season away from being fantasy relevant.
Brandon Lloyd
Lloyd showed potential in his days as a 49er, but with the Redskins he was nothing short of terrible. Sadly for the Bears he is still one of their better pass catching options. He could push Hester for his job, but whether he starts or not, he has really done nothing to this point to justify fantasy owners looking at him.
Rashied Davis
A former Arena Leaguer, Davis looked great against the 49ers catching two touchdown passes, but he did drop a third in the end zone so mental mistakes could really limit his productivity. He is a smallish receiver at just 5’9” but he has decent speed and knows how to get open.
Prediction
Booker should have no problem earning the starting job with nearly no other receiver on the team close to his ability. Hester is by far the Bears’ most explosive player and the coaching staff wants him on the field, so he should earn the job opposite Booker with Rashied Davis in the slot. Lloyd will likely be the odd man out and see only limited action. 

Kevin Walter
With Andre Johnson out, Walter has looked impressive so far hauling in six passes in the last two pre-season games (for 100 yards and 61 yards respectively). He connected well with Matt Schaub last season when Johnson was injured and is a decent fantasy option in deeper leagues.
Andre Davis
Davis also looked strong last season when Johnson was out, but faded down the stretch. This pre-season he has looked solid, but not spectacular, in the starting role, dropping a big pass against the Saints. Walter is simply outplaying Davis thus far.
Prediction
Clearly Walter is the better receiver this pre-season, and he should have the starting job all but locked up, with Davis seeing time in the slot. If Johnson’s injury continues to linger both receivers could see extended time. 

Jacksonville Jaguars
Matt Jones
Jones was believed to be on the roster bubble just a few short months ago, thanks to poor play and a recent arrest on possession of cocaine. He has since turned things around and, in fact, started in the team's latest preseason game. He faces trial in October on the drug charges, so he's a risk to miss time this season if things don't turn out favorably. But regardless, he can go from the starting lineup to the outhouse even without the help of the law.
Jerry Porter
Porter left Oakland to join the Jags this off-season, but almost immediately tore a hamstring and required surgery for it. Porter is expected to return by week one but will undoubtedly be very rusty. Assuming he is healthy, he will be the starter and could be a sneaky late round fantasy pick.
Reggie Williams
Williams re-injured his knee in the off-season and required arthroscopic surgery. He missed most of the off-season, but returned for the Jags’ third pre-season game to catch a pass. He is an underrated fantasy receiver with his size and touchdown scoring ability.
Dennis Northcutt
Northcutt has been taking reps with the first team in the absence of Porter and Williams. When everyone is healthy he will battle for the slot receiver job with speedster Troy Williamson. If he earns a regular job he is an option as a short-term fill in, but otherwise not worth much fantasy consideration.
Troy Williamson
Williamson is a very fast receiver, but has had stone hands since arriving in the NFL. A new start in Jacksonville could be just what he needs to re-develop his career, but the Jags have a very crowded receiving corps. If Porter and/or Williams miss significant time Williamson will get a shot to start.
Prediction
It appears that everything is on schedule for Porter and Williams to lay claim to the starting receiver jobs, (unless Matt Jones can continue his recent play and stay out of jail), but if they can’t, Northcutt should be the first option off the bench. The real battle is between Northcutt and Williamson for the slot receiver job, which I would give to Northcutt based on experience. If Williamson continues his case of the dropsies that he had in Minnesota, head coach Jack Del Rio won’t hesitate to reserve a spot on the pine for him.  

Philadelphia Eagles
Reggie Brown
Fantasy owners have been waiting for Brown to break outfor a while now, but his talent hasn’t shown through so far. He suffered a hamstring injury this pre-season and is shut down for the rest of the pre-season since the Eagles can’t afford another receiver injury. Without Kevin Curtis (sports hernia) in the lineup, Brown has a chance to be fantasy relevant right away if he can stay healthy.
DeSean Jackson
Jackson is far from your prototypical NFL receiver at just 5’10” and 170 lbs. but he’s fast as lightning and he has looked great in training camp and the pre-season. He appears to have developed a rapport with Donovan McNabb and, with Curtis down for the first half of the season with injury, Jackson could develop into a nice fantasy option in deep leagues.

Tennessee Titans
Roydell Williams
Williams, who had a career year in 2007, is having a tough time recovering from the ankle injury he suffered in the playoffs last season. He returned to play in last week’s pre-season game, but did not catch a pass. Coach Jeff Fisher told the media that this coming week will tell us a lot about Williams’ 2008 outlook. Injured reserve is an option for him as well if he continues to struggle in his recovery.
Justin Gage
Gage was the Titans’ leading receiver last year and he developed into a good waiver wire pickup for deep fantasy leagues. With Williams down with injury he will be relied on heavier than ever by Vince Young and the Titans.
Justin McCareins
McCareins returned to the Titans after four disappointing years with the Jets. Prior to leaving Tennessee the first time he looked like a receiver on the verge of a breakout, so the Jeff Fisher system may suit him well. With Roydell Williams limited, he will get every chance to earn more playing time with the team.