Category — Green Bay Packers

With all the hubbub surrounding Calvin Johnson being the best rookie fantasy wide receiver, most fans have stopped paying attention to a few others who were drafted. One in particular has me very excited. I’m not talking about Ted Ginn Jr. in Miami. Or Carolina’s Dwayne Jarrett.

The receiver I’m referring to now calls Green Bay home. And he’s already won the popularity of much of the team’s fan base with top notch performances this preseason. His name, of course, is James Jones.

Drafted in the third round by Green Bay, Jones has quickly ascended the depth chart while the Packers continue their rebuilding process. He’s Donald Driver’s number one backup, and he’s a darn good one at that.

In what could be Brett Favre’s final season, the Packers had hoped to enter camp with optimism. But Donald Driver is raising eyebrows with a nagging shoulder injury which has sapped his strength and consequently landed him a spot on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.

It’s a hard blow to the Packers because Driver has been the team’s leading wide receiver for the past two seasons and Brett Favre’s only reliable target.

Fantasy owners too will feel the repercussions if Driver misses playing time during the regular season; he finished 2006 as the number five fantasy receiver and he has been in the top 15 in four of the past five seasons.

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.

Sleepers. Underrated. Whatever you want to call them, these 10 players are poised for a breakout few are predicting.

10. T.J. Duckett (RB, Detroit Lions) — He might be third in the rotation, but Duckett is the Lions’ goal line back. And with an improving offense, he should see plenty of red zone and short yardage situations. Consider him a reincarnation of Jerome Bettis, circa 2005, someone who will score touchdowns while not putting up a little yardage. The best part is that he’ll be drafted late — think rounds 13-14 — where he’s undervalued.

9. Donovan McNabb (QB, Philadelphia Eagles) — Everyone is nervous McNabb will get hurt. And maybe he will, but until he does he’s easily a number one fantasy quarterback, someone who will average 250 yards and 2 touchdowns each game he starts.

Actions speak louder than words, and Larry Johnson latest move is bordering on a scream. The disgruntled Pro Bowl running back is refusing to report to training camp until the Chiefs give him the contract he desires, something in the vicinity of $28 million guaranteed, or he is traded to another team (see: Green Bay).

Granted, this is hardly unexpected — Johnson has been preparing to sit out the entire season without pay for some time now — but what is interesting is that the Chiefs may decide to fine Johnson $14 thousand a day (yes, each day) which could add up to $660 thousand over the course of the summer months.

Will that be enough to bring back Johnson? Doubt it.

The NFC North has, for the past few years, been one of the league’s least competent divisions. Whether it was because Brett Favre threw 29 interceptions or because Matt Millen didn’t get fired (still can’t figure out how he actually got a contract extension), the NFC North simply couldn’t put everything together.

In a league where only the most dominant can survive, the North was mediocrity. Last year, however, the Chicago Bears managed to put everything together (well, almost; I’m looking at you, Rex Grossman) and found themselves in the Super Bowl. Sure, they lost, but it was at least reassuring to see one North team exceed expectations. Green Bay, after all, finished 2nd in the division with an 8-8 record, followed by the Vikings and Lions who combined for 9 wins.

The question now is, who will run away with the NFC North in 2007? At least, who will win it? It might not be who you think.

Some players who break out are passed over each year. Maybe it’s because owners aren’t informed that the player just received the starting spot or maybe they anticipate the player to be average. Whatever the reason, you can look like a fantasy god if you find the right pick at the right time.

Below is a top 10 of the players I believe are currently undervalued by most fantasy publications/owners for one reason or another.

10. Donovan McNabb — McNabb is one of the most dominant fantasy quarterbacks when he’s healthy. But everyone is bracing for him to experience yet another injury. Good news for you because if he isn’t he’ll put up 250+ yards and 2 touchdowns every game he suits up in 2007.

The NFL’s rumor mill continues to churn some juicy Larry Johnson rumors. The most recent of these comes from a local Milwaukee news station whose sports anchor was “told by an NFL source that the Packers are keeping a very close eye on the Larry Johnson situation in Kansas City.”

Obviously, this is still just a rumor and evidence suggesting the Chiefs would like to trade Johnson is hard to find. But with the Packers hoping to contend with the Bears, Vikings, and Lions for the division title, it wouldn’t be surprising if they sent in an offer.

With plenty of available cap space the Packers could easily afford Johnson’s new contract (which will rank among the most lucrative among his peers), which is currently the source of his grief with the Chiefs and the greatest obstacle in the way of many hopeful teams.

The NFL Draft is long gone but the discussions surrounding it are definitely not. In part two of this three part series analyzing the debates, I’ll fill you in on some rookie running backs who have fantasy owners curious: Adrian Peterson, Marshawn Lynch, Michael Bush, Chris Henry, and Brandon Jackson.

The worst-case scenario discussed back in May 2nd is taking form. Kansas City’s Larry Johnson told Jason Whitlock of the Kansas City Star in a revealing interview that he is prepared for a holdout — a long-term holdout.

“I’m prepared,” said Johnson. “They (my agent and father) got me saving money. I’m hustling to get more money to put in the bank. They already started setting aside different accounts, if that would have to happen.”

It’s a scary scenario for the Chiefs, a team struggling to stay under the salary cap, especially considering that they will need to jack Johnson’s salary way up from the miniscule $1.7 million he’s set to receive this season. Johnson deserves much more; in fact, he deserves to be paid more than any other rusher in the league for two reasons.