 |
 |
2007 Fantasy Football Busts, Part II |
 |
Quarterback
| |
|
Player |
Rationale |
 |
1 |
Matt Hasselbeck
Seattle Seahawks |
After last year, Hasselbeck is looking to bounce back with a better year this year, but his best fantasy years are now behind him. Darrell Jackson, while not always healthy, was a dependable target for Hasselbeck in the past, and his absence will surely affect H-Beck’s stats. There’s not a lot of depth on a mediocre offensive line either, so if one card falls, the whole house could fall for the Seahawks this year |
 |
2 |
Daunte Culpepper
Oakland Raiders |
He’s been looking ok in training camp so far, making a few good runs on his reconstructed knee, and throwing the ball well. That’s all well and good but he can’t be the RB and QB for Oakland this year. The running game is as anemic as ever, the offensive line is marginally better than last year, and a certain 1st round pick (Russell) is waiting in the shadows. ‘Baby Hands’ will certainly get plenty of pass attempts this year, but that won’t help his constant battle with turnovers |
Running Back
| |
|
Player |
Rationale |
 |
1 |
Ronnie Brown
Miami Dolphins |
He hasn’t shown much in camp so far, but are you really all that surprised? He is going to be asked to carry the load of the entire offense this season and it’s not going to be pretty. Expect to see 8 in the box against him even when the Fish are going 4 wide (ok not really, but very close to accurate). Three rookies starting on the offensive line doesn’t make my hopes high for a monster year from Brown. |
 |
2 |
Ahman Green
Houston Texans |
He regained some of his form last year, but it looks like the former Nebraska RB may be losing some steam. Maybe a change of scenery will reinvigorate him. Teamed up with former head coach Mike Sherman he could be poised for a decent season. Oh, except for a couple of small things: age, injuries, an inept offensive line, and loss of goalline carries to Ron Dayne. |
 |
3 |
Edgerrin James
Arizona Cardinals |
The Cardinals have vowed to run the ball more this year, wait where did I hear that line before? That’s right, last season, when his stat line read like used toilet paper. Sure there’s a new coach in town, but Edge just isn’t the same runner he was in Indy when he had an All-Pro offensive line every year and the best QB in football calling the plays. |
Wide Receiver
| |
|
Player |
Rationale |
 |
1 |
Randy Moss
New England Patriots |
Moss has played and practiced sparingly in camp with continuing hamstring problems (even though he hasn’t walked around with any limp, he remains on the sidelines), so if you’re expecting him to play every game this season you are most likely delusional. While he hasn’t been running many reps and developing chemistry with Brady, there a handful of guys who have been doing just that (FA pickup Donte Stallworth, draft pick Ben Watson, RB Lawrence Maroney, and both starting WRs from last year). That’s a lot of weapons for a QB who already likes to spread the ball around. Even if Moss miraculously makes it through the season, learns the system, and keeps a low profile, he isn’t going to be guaranteed to get a ton of throws his way this year. |
 |
2 |
Joe Horn
Atlanta Falcons |
Granted, you have to have big year potential to be a true bust, but even as a 3rd or 4th WR I still don’t think he will be worth the headache to have on your team. If you’re not getting many catches in New Orleans with Drew Brees throwing the ball, how is it going to get any better with Harrington behind center? |
Tight End
| |
|
Player |
Rationale |
 |
|
Randy McMichael
St Louis Rams |
One of the most frustrating TEs you could have owned last year, especially when you watched him play. Seemingly has all the talent in the world, and got plenty of looks, but his hands are certified granite. Take him from a team where he was one of the only contributors in the passing game (Miami) and place him on a team with more weapons than the Department of Defense (St. Louis) and he is likely to disappear into fantasy irrelevance. |
Defense/Special Teams
| |
|
Player |
Rationale |
 |
|
New England Patriots |
If they enter the season without Richard Seymour, Asante Samuel, and utility man Troy Brown, the very good defense from last year will look a lot more pedestrian. Seymour and Brown are still on the PUP list and last year’s league leader in interceptions, Samuel, has yet to show up in training camp. If these guys aren’t on the field when the first game kicks off, it could be a slow start for a historically good defense. |
|
|
