Fantasy Busts Well the mudslinging, muckrakers can have at it full blast now that the gurus at TwoMinuteWarning have released their fantasy player projections. In case you missed the links elsewhere among the gazillion stories on the site (let's face it, most people who end up on my humble page here do so by mistake) then try these: Quarterbacks Running Backs Wide Receivers Tight Ends I already gave out my fantasy sleepers, and rather than argue monotonously about Terrell Owens versus Randy Moss (don't sweat it, either guy will be fine and it's just a matter of luck which is better), let's focus on the real important area of note...the BUSTS! A good line of discussion could actually be built around some of the greatest fantasy busts in history. Last year's version of Edgerrin James would be up there given some folks were taking him ahead of Marshall Faulk. This year he's a sleeper for me since somehow people have forgotten he was a 2000 yards, double digit TD guy the two years before his injury. Sure, Ryan Leaf was a huge bust, but were there really fantasy players taking him high? Doubtful. No, it's usually the injuries which are the killers, and it's hard to in all fairness call a guy like James a bust 'cause he got smacked. Without further adieu, here's the Tim special 2002 edition "Busts of the NFL" - Quarterbacks Donovan McNabb: I know, I know, starting with a shocker, something to make you drop your coffee. Here's the deal though, Philly's receivers are weak, their running game is in shambles, and all the pressure in the world will be on DM to make plays. You may be thinking great! He'll be doing all the rushing and passing. Up to a point it's good to be the go-to guy, but when you are really the sole weapon, things get ugly, and injuries become likely. Tim's calling it: McNabb goes down early. Aaron Brooks: Last year Brooks had the most opportunities for fantasy points of any QB according to the TMW player stats. Problem was, while Kurt Warner was posting a 130% production rate, Brooks was hitting at an 84% clip. This season the Aints are counting on Deuce McAllister to replace Ricky Williams (a big IF) and they are relying on a rookie WR to take some of the heat off of Horn. New Orleans could be in for a tough year and Brooks may suffer. Only guy on this team I like is Sloan. Jay Fiedler: his numbers were okay in 2001 and the thinking goes that with Williams in tow he will move up. I say no and you should too. Fiedler was a bust against decent teams and will get picked with alarming frequency. The rest of the over-rated: Couch, Flutie, Brady, Carr Running Backs Corey Dillon: um, no thanks. He will get 1,000 yards and yes he'll have one or two outstanding games with multiple TD's, but he will also have a lot of 57 yard, no score, two fumble efforts. Cincinnati has no passing game, so running becomes tough, tough, TOUGH! Antowain Smith: great year last year, flop coming in 2002. Guy with ring not as motivated as guy without big bucks, recognition. Can you say "Questionable" Deuce McAllister: people talking about this guy like he's going to be a monster. I've seen forecasts of 1500 yards and 10 touchdowns. I'm calling it 799 yards, 3 touchdowns and out. Deuce Staley: all right, two Deuces is enough in the bust department. Wide Receivers David Boston: as fate would have it this guy was on my team last year. He was fabulous, amazing, brilliant and won me some games. This year is scary as he has the usual run of the mill NFL player legal problems, but the Cards do not have a great #2 receiver and he will be getting double teamed all game. Got a hunch his numbers will be like Keyshawn's last year, lots of yards few touchdowns. Yardage league ok, TD league absolutely not. Chris Chambers: Miami hasn't been this excited about their offense since the early days of Dan Marino. Me, I don't see it happening in quite the way the Fins fans do. This guy will be okay, but not any different from scads of other WR's. Don't draft him high, please. Rod Gardner: Me and Steve Spurrier have this feud thing going, okay? We just don't get along. Therefore me and Steve's players don't usually get the most objective evaluation, and maybe this one will bite me but I say Gardner has a dog's year, as does Washington. Spurrier goes running back to college pronto. Can you say Rick Pitino? Jimmy Smith: this guy's season may not even begin. If you're drafting soon, stay away Tight Ends Tony Gonzalez: there were all kinds of fools talking about how you should take Gonzalez in the second round last season since he was such a "value play" compared to other Tight Ends. Usually I forget all about tight ends and then suddenly wake up in like the fifteenth round of the draft and realize I better get one. Oddly enough this works out as Tony G smokes my guy in the TE spot, but my matchup of Marvin Harrison versus Chris Chambers more than makes up for it. Tony isn't even in camp, enough said. Shannon Sharpe: how many tight ends does Denver have? Seven, Eight? Shannon's a mouth but there are too many TE hands to feed in Broncoland. Bubba Franks: so the guy had nine passes thrown his way last year and he caught seven of them, all for touchdowns. That made him a good TE fantasy player in 2001, but chances are good he gets the same nine passes thrown to him only this time he catches maybe three for touchdowns, making him really average. all the rookie TE's: TMW did a nifty report which basically tells you that rookie Tigth Ends stink. Remember Todd Heap last season? How about Becht, Franks, Tony G and David LaFleur in their rookie years? NONE of them got 400 yards or more than two touchdowns! There you have it, fantasy wisdom from the master. Follow my advice to the letter and you may just wind up 4th in your league too! tim@twominutewarning.com Return to TwoMinuteWarning.com