Goal-line stand: Vick's struggling receivers

Gregg Rosenthal / Rotoworld

It's cool to bash Michael Vick. Built up by Nike and the NFL to unreasonable levels, Vick is suffering from inevitable anti-hype after leading the Falcons to the NFC Championship as a 24 year old.

This backlash is especially strong in fantasy nation. There wasn't a less popular player on message boards this summer, and that was before Vick acquired his new nickname. Vick has serious accuracy issues, but the the anger is still misplaced.

Vick is stuck with the worst group of wide receivers in the NFL. Ask yourself if a single Falcons receiver could be the No. 3 option for the Cincinnati Bengals? How about the Colts, Raiders, Rams, Dolphins, Browns, Steelers, Lions or Panthers? If you don't believe us, ask Falcons coach Jim Mora. The normally positive coach admitted as much to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution last week.

"You can be pessimistic and say, 'We're in trouble. No one has jumped out.'"

Asked if he could count on any of the receivers, Mora said,

"Maybe with Fin (Brian Finneran) and Dez (White). I mean, I feel comfortable knowing exactly what they are as players. With the other three guys we're focusing on, I can't say that. You certainly can't say that about Roddy (White) and Michael (Jenkins), because none of us have really seen them play at this level. And with Peerless (Price), there's issues of how's he responding to being demoted. Has his blocking improved to the point where he's not a liability on runs but he becomes an asset? It's kind of funny we're still saying that about a five- or six-year veteran, but that's the facts of the matter."

Ouch. What Mora didn't say about Fin and Dez was that he knows exactly what they are—role players. Price is suffering from the drops again and may be released. Michael Jenkins couldn't get open versus the hapless Tennessee secondary this weekend. He was involved in each Michael Vick incompletion. One of the only times Jenkins did get open, he dropped a touchdown pass. Jenkins could be the slowest young receiver in football. The only wideout on the Falcons to flash any talent is rookie Roddy White, who is currently out with a high-ankle sprain.

"Maybe the guy who's going to jump out of the pack is injured," Mora wondered aloud.

It's no wonder Vick doesn't have confidence throwing the football. He can't trust his wideouts. We don't, either. If the Falcons are going to win, they will have to use the same run/defense/special teams formula as a year ago. That leads us, finally, to our first prediction of the week.

No Falcons wide receiver will crack 700 yards

Finneran has looked like the most competent receiver in training camp. Dez White couldn't crack 400 yards last season despite starting all year. Jenkins makes David Terrell look fast. This year's first-rounder, Roddy White, has the most potential. We think he'll join Finneran as the team's starter by the stretch run. But it will be far too late to save this receiving group or Michael Vick's chances to be a top five fantasy QB again.

Tatum Bell will gain more yards than Mike Anderson

We received a number of emails from our online draft guide subscribers this week asking why Tatum Bell (No. 48 overall) is still ranked ahead of Mike Anderson (No. 78) in our Top 200 rankings.

Regardless of the August depth chart, Bell is more likely to have fantasy value this season. Mike Anderson was also the Week 1 starter in 2002. A guy named Clinton Portis gained 1,800 total yards and scored 17 times that year. People say Bell is unproven, but that may be better than Anderson's track record.

Anderson is a 32-year old former fullback coming off a groin injury. He hasn't started full-time since 2001, when he gained less than four yards per carry. He hasn't played since 2003, when he averaged 3.7 yards per carry. Best of all, coach Mike Shanahan knows Anderson will be a good teammate when he's bumped aside for Bell. That's how Anderson has stuck around Denver so long in the first place.

Michael Bennett won't crack 700 rushing yards

Bennett has only stayed healthy enough to top 700 yards once in his four-year career. He's scored 12 touchdowns in four seasons. Forgetting Bennett's fragility for a minute, it's worth considering that he's simply not that a good football player. He doesn't have great natural vision, just speed. Bennett averaged less than four yards a carry last season. He looked miserable this weekend vs. the Jets, putting his head down and running straight into the offensive line repeatedly for one-yard gains. At one point, we saw Bennett get visibly frustrated, slumping his shoulders like a child. He lost a fumble on his next carry and didn't re-enter the game. Word came after the game that Bennett suffered a minor neck injury during the contest.

Bennett is in a contract year in Minnesota and we expect he'll be a short leash. Remember that it was Onterrio Smith who was the likely running back of the future before The Whizzinator craze swept the nation. Bennett may be the most likely starting running back in the NFL to lose his job, whether by injury or performance.

William Green will prove draft-worthy this season

We were very interested to see William Green start over Reuben Droughns on Saturday. We were even more interested to see Green, usually a plodder, bounce outside for a couple long runs against the Lions. He looked great. Droughns also ran fierce as his backup, carrying tacklers on in inside runs.

Coach Romeo Crennel said he'd play all three running backs if no one separated themselves in camp. With Lee Suggs out for a few weeks (again), that's exactly what is happening. Green is not a fantasy starter while the other two backs are healthy. But with Suggs and Droughns both injury-risks, he could have his moments.

No Bills receiver will crack 1,000 yards

In 10 preseason series, J.P. Losman hasn't even attempted a pass over 20 yards. That's the type of offense the Bills will run this year. Losman looks uncomfortable staying in the pocket and locating longer routes.

The Bills are following the Steelers model. They will ask their running game, a strong defense and excellent special teams to carry the team. Losman has made a number of plays with his legs, but the Bills must be concerned with the licks he's already taken in the preseason. Fantasy owners shouldn't be. Having Kelly Holcomb at quarterback may actually help Eric Moulds and Lee Evans this season.

Chris Brown won't stay healthy enough to live up to his ADP

To watch Brown play football is to watch him get hammered. Because of his upright running style, there may not be a running back who takes more punishment. We watched the Falcons, including safety Ronnie Heard, tee off on Brown this weekend. We couldn't help wondering how he ever stays healthy at all. The Titans brass must think the same thing or they wouldn't have added Travis Henry.

Five Risers in RotoWorld's Top 200

1. Travis Taylor, Vikings WR — Likely starter opposite Nate Burleson in Minnesota.

2. Mike Anderson, Broncos RB — The Denver job should be Anderson's in Week 1. We just think he'll keep it too long.

3. Willie Parker, Steelers RB — It's Fast Willie's World. We're all just living in it.

4. Steve McNair, Titans QB — Sharpest preseason quarterback we've seen by far. Titans offense could surprise.

5. Chad Pennington, Jets QB — Aired it out and looked very sharp in long TD drive. Arm is fine.

Five Losers in RotoWorld's Top 200

1. Cedric Benson, Bears RB — The Bears are blaming the agent. The agent is blaming Benson's "inner circle of advisors." Benson is blaming his reputation as Ricky Williams II. He loses touches by the day.

2. Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer, Giants WR — The Giants are "very concerned about Eli's elbow after his MRI. We feel the same way about Tim Hasselbeck or ... Tim Couch.

3. Lee Suggs, Browns RB — Poorly timed ankle sprain allows Droughns and Green to build running-back-by-committee.

4. Jeff Garcia, Lions QB — Veteran making rookie mistakes. Joey Harrington looking smooth. Huh?

5. Correll Buckhalter, Eagles RB — Knee problems aren't going away.

10 Players Who "Flashed" This Weekend

Players have to "flash" to get noticed in the preseason. Save the e-mails—we're not talking about any lewd locker room activity. This type of flashing has to do with making the most of limited playing time during August. To earn a starting job or roster spot, a player must string together a series of electric plays that make coaches (and RotoWorld.com) take notice. After watching as much preseason action as humanly possibly this weekend, here are 10 players who stood out.

10. Keary Colbert, Panthers — Colbert probably didn't need a big game to keep his starting job over Rod Gardner. But he had one anyway. Colbert caught five passes for 69 yards in one half of work. At least two of the catches were spectacular leaping grabs.

9. Devery Henderson, Saints WR — Deep keeper leaguers and the Saints have waited patiently for this 2004 second-round speedster to show anything at the pro level. It took an injury to Az-Zahir Hakim, but Henderson finally looked like a No. 3 receiver versus the Patriots last week. He caught a pair of long passes, including a 34-yard touchdown. He just might hold onto the job if he can repeat the performance.

8. Reuben Droughns, Browns RB — William Green looked great running outside versus Detroit's starters. Droughns looked just as good handling tough inside runs as Green's backup. He carried the pile with him a few times. His value inches up because of Lee Suggs's injury.

7. Samie Parker, Chiefs WR — The final stats (two catches, 14 yards and one touchdown) don't wow you. But Parker showed what all the buzz was about during a solid first-half effort. Parker abused cornerback David Macklin, drawing three straight pass interference penalties totaling 67 yards.

6. Brandon Jacobs, Giants RB — We've hyped this guy up plenty. But it's simply amazing to watch a 255-pound running back outrun cornerbacks to the edge. He's going to be a big part of the Giants offense.

5. Travis Taylor, Vikings WR — Yes, that Travis Taylor. Minnesota's open offense agrees with this former Fun n' Gun star. Taylor can't go over the middle, but the Vikings won't ask him to. He's shown a terrific ability to find open spaces and is now the favorite to start opposite Nate Burleson.

4. Ryan Moats, Eagles — The Eagles liked Brian Westbrook so much, they got two of him. It is seriously difficult to tell the two scat-backs apart. Moats showed natural vision and quickness while gaining 51 total yards on five touches this weekend. He's bigger than we thought. With Correll Buckhalter injured, we're not sure who will handle inside runs. Maybe the Eagles just won't call any. Either way, Moats has earned a major role in the Eagles offense and a late-round fantasy pick.

3. Laveranues Coles, Jets WR — What toe problem? Coles flashed re-born quickness and chemistry with Chad Pennington Friday night. He abused Vikings cornerback Brian Russell a few times. Coles is in position to recapture his 2002 mojo.

2. Willie Parker, Steelers RB — We know, we know. It's only the preseason. But Willie Parker put on an electric show versus Miami's first-team this weekend. It's an unfair comparison, but Parker did things we haven't seen since Barry Sanders. He was playing at a different speed than the other 21 players on the field. He made a four-yard gain a piece of art. He put his hand on the ground on two separate plays before regaining balance and gaining big yards. He ducked under tackles, sidestepped two linebackers at a time and gained yards in 20-yard chunks. Parker had seven touches (six carries and one catch) for 78 total yards. On nearly every one, he did something that made you say "wow."

Parker has passed Verron Haynes on the depth chart. He's likely to share carries with Jerome Bettis to open the season. We're not sure what that means when Duce Staley gets healthy, but it's not good news for Staley. Grab Parker in keeper leagues and take him at the end of redrafts.

1. Brandon Jones, Titans WR — Tyrone Calico better be careful. While Calico recovers from year-old knee problems, Jones is staking his claim to a starter role. Jones was targeted seven times in one half of action this weekend, catching five passes for 89 yards. Jones is the prototype nu-NFL receiver. He's huge. He runs a sub 4.4 forty.

But we're mostly impressed about his natural pass-catching and route-running skills. He showed a lot of versatility this weekend. Jones caught a beautiful 34-yard fade route in traffic from Steve McNair. He caught a tough slant route over the middle, did a spin move, then gained 13-yards. He caught a 29-yard go route from Billy Volek. We started wondering how a guy like Jones lasted until the third round of the NFL Draft. Then we remembered Jones played on a collegiate team with three other NFL wide receivers. Jones is looking like a major fantasy sleeper, especially in deep keeper leagues.

Why did we draft him again?

Finneran and R. White could be interesting. An underated veteran
who is great in the clutch and has a great repore with his QB and
a burner.

The Falcons got hooked on size and speed, and still are which is why Finneran does not start. I'm still upset that Keary Colbert could have been taken with our 2nd round pick, but we traded up to get Jenkins and with another pick Schaub. Both could be good players, but Colbert does what Jenkins does not, attack the ball

we need someone to step up FAST, and have a breakout season. lets face it, it would be a breakout season for any one of our WR's.