10 bold(ish) fantasy football predictions for the upcoming 2007 NFL season
Last season the Saints were predicted to disappoint (again), the Cardinals to be the league’s sleeping giant, and Peyton Manning was still considered a choke artist. Then we all watched as the Saints pulled off a miracle, the Cardinals never awoke from their slumber, and Peyton Manning is now on the same pedestal as Tom Brady (a notch higher, in this writer’s opinion).
Hey, no one can get ‘em all right. But I’ll still try.
Just kick back and watch as the following 10 predictions come to fruition by the end of the season.
1. LaDainian Tomlinson will not defend his crown as fantasy MVP. Not that he’ll have a bad season, but his competition is too fierce: Larry Johnson, Frank Gore, and Steven Jackson all figure to have great seasons. I’ll predict a 2100 yard season with 19 scores for LT, not enough to finish as number one. Just remember, you heard it here first.
2. The Arizona Cardinals offense will finally show what it’s capable of doing. Matt Leinart is entering his second season in the offense and Edgerrin James figures to perform better in his second season in the desert. And with a new head coach, one that actually understands the importance of the offensive line, the Cards figure to challenge their foes for the division crown.
3. Matt Schaub will surprise his doubters. Forget about what David Carr was able to do, Matt Schaub is entering the offense with a veteran running back at his side. Expect a solid season out of Schaub, one that won’t see him planted in the turf more than 40 times.
4. Drew Brees will not be as good in 2007 as he was in 2006. Expect a top five season out of Drew Brees, but don’t look for him to throw like he did in 2006 when he finished 2nd among quarterbacks. Watch as Carson Palmer, Marc Bulger, and Tom Brady (in that order, perhaps) pass for better numbers.
5. Vince Young won’t be cursed. Maybe it’s just wishful thinking, but I have a feeling Young will be able to dodge the Madden Curse like he would a USC defender. He might not have a great season, but don’t fear injury or anything too horrible.
6. Brett Favre will be a top 10 quarterback. Most leagues are drafting him as a mid-teens quarterback, but I expect better from the wily veteran. The ability is still there and if the Packers can establish a decent running game through the tandem of Brandon Jackson and Vernand Morency, look out.
7. Ron Dayne will start at one point this season. It might take an injury to get him in the ballgame, but with only Ahman Green between Dayne and the starting position, that doesn’t seem too unlikely. Once the starting back, the spot will be his to lose.
8. Denver will take back its throne as the NFL’s top rushing offense. The Broncos have their most talented running back since Clinton Portis with Travis Henry in the starting spot, and it won’t surprise me if he and Mike Bell build the NFL’s best rush offense in the league.
9. Jake Delhomme will have his best season since 2004. Though he may never eclipse those totals, I expect him to take a step forward this season, throwing for 3600+ yards and 25+ touchdowns while limiting his interceptions. Why? Because with David Carr on his tail for the starting spot, it may only take a string of a few bad games for John Fox to pull the trigger. Expect Delhomme to perform like this is his last chance — it may be.
10. The Chicago Bears defense won’t finish in the top 5 in terms of fantasy production. Five other teams — Baltimore, New England, Pittsburgh, San Diego, and Miami — figure to be strong choices while a couple wild cards like Jacksonville and Denver have plenty of potential. Add to that the absence of a Pro Bowl linebacker and a very good defensive tackle and the unit doesn’t appear as strong.
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15 comments
Glad to see you’re in the bloggers fantasy league, too. Looks like you and I are going to be fighting over the Edge on draft day! You can have Vince Young, though. It won’t be the curse that does him in, it will be his poor mechanics and weak supporting cast.
If Zona’s offense does finally explode, will a start-worthy fantasy TE finally emerge and, if so, who? Pope? 7th round rookie Patrick? Beinemann?
I agree with all of the above except the bit about Favre. I don’t see him finishing in the Top 10, between his age and the lack of quality, experienced receiving options beyond Donald Driver. Top 15 is more likely.
TJI — Young does have a weak supporting cast, worse than last year I’d surmise, but I still expect him to put up nice numbers. Because while he might not pass for more than 2500 yards and 15 touchdowns, I expect him to run for 500-600 more and 6 scores. Altogether, that makes him a nice backup for me
PAFFL — Favre doesn’t have the most options, but I think he still has enough ability to string together a strong season.
As far as Arizona’s offense, tight end is clearly the complicated piece of the puzzle. Right now, my bet is that Pope will start and Patrick will be his immediate backup.
With that said, however, I would stay away from the Cards tight end position. There are plenty of other options more worth your time at this point.
I love this post! One and two are right-on! Six and nine I totally agree with. And, the Bears ‘D’ will experience a major dropoff.
FanProphet — Thanks for the kind words, man! I really enjoyed doing this post; it’s a nice way of avoiding the V!ck controversy while still getting some fantasy predictions out there.
Cheers!
I will admit I am biased being a Bears fan, but in reality I present a few arguments for prediction number ten.
1) If Tank Johnson was so good, why did he clear waivers?
2)I believe Donnie Edwards was a pretty darn good LB for the Chargers. Does he play for them anymore?
3)Briggs signed. (Although I am not sure, but this may have been up before that news was available to be fair)
4)Are you factoring in special teams?
Out of curiosity, does the signing of Briggs and the addition of Walker change your opinion at all?
Scott, the Briggs signing definitely makes me feel better about the Bears D and, for whatever its worth, I think their D will finish in the top 5 now with Briggs on board. I expected that holdout to be ugly, given all the jawing that went on during the offseason. Just illustrates how much these athletes, agents and owners use the press (and the fans) to posture/negotiate.
Scott: This was written prior to the Briggs signing and it did not take into account special teams performance. Just defense.
The signing of Briggs does make me feel better about the Bears, but this was titled 10 bold fantasy football predictions.
It’s good to see this kind of response. In the future I will need to write more of these types of articles.
Thanks for the responses. I kind of figured that it was prior to the Briggs signings, so understandable there. Also, being just defense without special teams, I once again see how that can devalue the Bears a bit.
For myself, teams I might be enticed to take instead of them would be Baltimore, San Diego, or Jacksonvillle.
Some good teams that you mentioned there. I’d add Pittsburgh and perhaps Miami. I’m not so sure about Jacksonville being better, but there is some potential there too.
Devin Hester instantly propels the Bears defense a little purely from his special teams work.
Awesome post! Really like the new look you have going here!
Thanks, it took a while to set up the new look for the site, but I’m glad I did it!
I love this post.
I think that LT will have a great year, but not MVPish.
Jake and Vince. Good call.
I think if things go right for Arizona, they could be playoff bound.
Good job!
Thanks Rick! Always nice to get positive feedback!
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