Who will be fantasy football's surprise this season?

[BabaBooey]

I think Anthony Thomas will be one of the most productive RB’s in the NFL. Not that anyone has said that Thomas will do poorly, but he’s certainly hasn’t been very praised by writers predicting the upcoming season. Last year he was incredible, he just saw some minor injuries that chew up some playing time.
I’d also have to mention Quadry Ismail. A lot of people don’t like him, but he definitely put up a pretty good fantasy season last year without anyone noticing. 1000 yards and 7 touchdowns was a steal for my last round pick last year, and now he’ll be catching passes from Peyton Manning rather than Grbac. Quite an improvement. Of course Harrison will be making a majority of the TD catches, but Pathon and Wilkins were quite productive as the #2 Colts reciever.

[Osip]

A train? he will be productive no doubt. But one of the most productive? Doubtful, not because he lacks the skills, but because of the the people around him and the offensive scheme.
I rate him as doing no better than C. Dillon (rb Bengals) Who also has a great deal of talent, yet does not have a feared passing attack. A-Trains stock would improve in my book if Chandler starts throwing the rock for the Bears.
L. Tomlinson (RB Chargers) has the same potential. Coach Marty loves to run a ball control offense and LT will do well, better still if Flute/Brees can keep a passing game going.
R.Williams (RB Dolphins)will do VERY well if he can avoid the injury bug. Norv Turner as an offensive Co. has consistantly produced some FF studs.

From ESPN.com:
Friday, July 5

Dolphins can make a run with Williams

---

By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com

Both are big and physically imposing, well-constructed and skillfully crafted.

But when Miami Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt views the two most significant acquisitions of his offseason – the baby grand piano wife Jan purchased for their home and the new tailback added through a March swap with the New Orleans Saints – he’s smart enough to know his harmony is far better with Ricky Williams at this point than with the expensive set of ivories.

Ricky Williams’ inside running should allow the Dolphins to better control the pace of the game.

The piano, for Wannstedt and his family, is an instrument of beauty. But Williams is the blunt instrument that the Dolphins coaching staff plans to deploy in hammering its way to the playoffs for a third consecutive season under Wannstedt.

“Nothing against the running backs who have been here,” said quarterback Jay Fiedler, “but getting a player of Williams’ caliber makes us so much better. We need to progress further than just the first or second round (of the playoffs) and he gives us the capability of going all the way. He just fits so well into what we do.”

So well, in fact, that Williams is the choice of ESPN.com and of general managers and personnel directors around the NFL as the most significant offseason veteran acquisition.

It is somewhat ironic that, in this era of free agency and wholesale player movement, the two top contenders for the title joined their new teams in old-fashioned trades. And both of the two players considered by the vast majority of team officials surveyed, Williams and Buffalo Bills quarterback Drew Bledsoe, figure to dramatically affect the standings in the NFC East.

But while Bills’ general manager Tom Donahoe is to be lauded for his indefatigable pursuit of Bledsoe, the veteran quarterback only moves Buffalo one step closer to the playoffs for the first time since 1999. Williams should nudge the Dolphins, who posted 11-5 records in each of Wannstedt’s first two seasons, deeper into the playoffs and perhaps catapult the franchise to its first Super Bowl appearance since 1984.

Miami has experienced a bad habit of faltering late in the regular season and disappearing early from the playoffs. A viable offensive force like Williams, arguably one of the NFL’s top tailbacks despite criticism in the past, should remedy those shortcomings.

In addition to Bledsoe, there are a number of other veterans – such as defensive end Joe Johnson, another former Saints player, who moved to Green Bay in free agency – who might nudge their new teams toward a Super Bowl appearance. But none should have the overall impact of The Dreadlocked One.

“They were a very good team before getting Williams,” said New York Jets coach Herm Edwards. “He definitely moves them up a notch. It was a tremendous deal for them.”

Indeed, the relentless persistence of Wannstedt and vice president Rick Spielman in going after Williams should pay big dividends for an offense that slumped to 21st overall in the league in 2001 and ranked only No. 23 in rushing. Miami averaged just 76.4 rushing yards in five defeats last season, 116.5 yards in five victories.

Even though the team’s fortunes typically mirror the performance of Fiedler, he is more of a complementary-type quarterback, one who needs to be surrounded by a number of talented components. Williams, 25, should be one of those components for years to come.

And actually, given the shared offensive philosophy of Wannstedt and coordinator Norv Turner, he should become the centerpiece of a powerful running game. The New Orleans coaches groused, particularly after his departure, that Williams was not a breakaway run threat, and head coach Jim Haslett emphasized he never had a touchdown run of longer than 26 yards in his tenure there.

“ From what I’ve seen so far, I’m going to get the ball a lot. And I’m a back who gets better as the game does on, with the more carries he gets, because I feel like I can wear people down. ”
— Ricky Williams

As evidenced by his recent traffic ticket woes, Williams clearly saves most of his speed for when he is behind the wheel and not on the field. The Dolphins, though, don’t care about 40- and 50-yard dashes through the secondary as long as Williams is doing damage with four- and five-yard bursts through the middle of the defense.

“From what I’ve seen so far,” Williams said, “I’m going to get the ball a lot. And I’m a back who gets better as the game does on, with the more carries he gets, because I feel like I can wear people down.”

Erroneously pegged as a passing attack guru, Turner is a man who loves to bludgeon opponents with the running game, and Williams will be his new human wrecking ball. Turner’s preferred method is to get a lead and then use the run to protect it in the fourth quarter.

Translation: Williams, who averaged 271.3 carries and 1,043 yards during his three seasons in New Orleans, will top those numbers in Miami if he simply stays healthy. “He’s a great fit here,” said Turner of his newest weapon. “I think he’ll like the way we play.”

Dating back to 1991, when Turner first became an offensive coordinator in Dallas, his attacks have featured a strong inside rushing game. Over that period, the “feature” back in the Turner-designed offense has averaged 292 rushes and 1,223 yards.

In eight of those 11 seasons, Turner had a 1,200-yard runner, the only exceptions in 1994 when he had to rotate backs as head coach in Washington, and in 1997 and 1998 when an aging Terry Allen combined for only 1,424 yards in two years. Take away those three fallow seasons, and the starting tailbacks who played under Turner averaged 1,423 yards.

Other RB’s high on my keep an eye on list:
S.Alexander (seahawks)
M.Faulk (rams)
E.George (Titans)
At the WR position I agree with your call on Q. Ishmail. In the Colts scheme he will post good numbers and keep Harrison from getting double teamed as much.
K. Johnson (WR Bucs) Will do much better now that Tampa has a reasonable catching TE and McCardell as the #2 WR
McNair (QB Titans) will do well this season, he quietly grew as a Pocket QB last year. With E.George healthy he will not have to carry the load again.
A. Brooks (QB Saints) Will do very well in the more pass oriented offense throwing to Boo Williams(TE) J. Horn (WR) and Pathon.

Training camp starts in a few weeks, many things can change before week 1

[Ripple]

How about Drew Bledsoe? He’s been on a downswing for the past 4-5 years, but a change of scenery may serve him well. He also has more talent at WR than he probably ever had in New England. Maybe not a first round selection, but he could be a good sleeper.

[Osip]

Not a first rounder at all. The bills made some good moves this off season. Enough to get them in the playoffs this year? Dunno.

I am glad to see the QB contraversy of Flutie/Johnson over and gone. Bledsoe is the best QB they have had since Kelly retired.

The signing of T Teague and drafting of Mike Williams help the Offensive line a great deal. Lets face it Drew is not fleet footed yet can do some damage if he is not taking a beating every pass play.
The running game will be interesting. R.Huntley signed away from Carolina and Travis Henry (2nd year) will battle it out for a start. Both put up alright numbers for the limited times that they touched the ball.

If Bledsoe gets a chance to drop back 5 to seven steps expect Moulds (WR) to have his stats improve from the past season.

[mouthbreather]

*Originally posted by Osip *
**The bills made some good moves this off season. Enough to get them in the playoffs this year? Dunno.
**

I have $50 riding (against a diehard BUF fan) that says no.

[Osip]

50 bucks?

lets look at their schedule:

1 Sep 8 NY Jets
2 Sep 15 at Minnesota
3 Sep 22 at Denver
4 Sep 29 Chicago
5 Oct 6 Oakland
6 Oct 13 at Houston
7 Oct 20 at Miami
8 Oct 27 Detroit
9 Nov 3 New England
10 BYE WEEK
11 Nov 17 at Kansas City
12 Nov 24 at NY Jets
13 Dec 1 Miami
14 Dec 8 at New England
15 Dec 15 San Diego
16 Dec 22 at Green Bay
17 Dec 29 Cincinnati

I think they can sweep the Jets, break even with the Pats, Houston and Detroit are most likely wins that’s 5.

If they get their groove going might take Cincinnati and/or San Diego. Denver, KC and Minnesota they might pull an upset win out…

I see them at most an 8-8 team