For the rest of the NFL Pre-season, I will be looking at the best and worst performances each week, hence “zeroes and heroes.” For the “heroes,” I won’t be naming off superstars. Instead, they will be surprises, think closer to the roster-bubble type guys.
For each player, I will look at their performance that week, the impact on their future, and also the fantasy impact.
By: Justin Mertes-Mistretta
Week 1 “Heroes”:
Victor Cruz, WR, Giants (Six catches, 145 yards, 3 TDs):
The UMass alum caught 6 balls for 145 yards and three touchdowns against the Jets. Cruz and back-up QB Jim Sorgi looked smooth out there. A side note on Sorgi: He is one of the more underrated back-ups in the league. The kid’s got some skill. But anyway, back to Cruz. One thing is for sure; He will no longer be on the roster bubble. Furthermore, he could actually have a decent shot at seeing the field when it counts. He’s already getting looked at for punt and kick returns. Plus, the #2 and #3 WRs (Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham, respectively) have been banged up during training camp, so if they continue to be slowed by injury, Victor may just Cruz into the starting line-up (yikes, that was uncomfortable).
Fantasy Outlook: At this point, he isn’t quite draftable in any leagues yet. However, if Cruz has another productive game and one of the other WRs continues to be hampered by injury, then Cruz would warrant at least a late-round flier in deep leagues.
By: Justin Mertes-Mistretta
Anthony Dixon, RB, 49ers (122 total yards, one TD):
The big-guy, standing at 6’1 and weighing in at 233 lbs, displayed nice burst on a 23-yard run. He also showed off his versatility by catching three passes for 22 yards. As if things couldn’t have gotten any better for Dixon, the #2 RB on San Fran’s depth chart, Glenn Coffee, retired this week. However, it was only a tease, as the team signed free agent RB Brian Westbrook shortly after.
Fantasy outlook: A lot of people will look at the Westbrook signing as a huge damper on Dixon’s value, but I don’t think it really changes much. First of all, I don’t think Westbrook is anything more than a third-down back at best. Plus, I believe Dixon’s value, at the very least, will come from vulturing touchdowns from Frank Gore. If Gore gets hurt, which has become a certainty (he’s missed at least two games in the each of the past three seasons), then Dixon would become a huge fantasy play. I’m taking Dixon in the last couple rounds in every draft this year. I love this guy’s upside, even if Gore is healthy. Think: Brandon Jacobs.
Week 1 “Zeroes”:
Steve Slaton, RB, Texans (22 rushing yards, one fumble):
If you’re in a competition for the starting RB spot, it is never a good thing to fumble at the goal-line. That is exactly what Slaton did. Meanwhile, RB Arian Foster rushed for 7.8 ypc compared to Slaton’s 2.2. With the two of them battling for carries now that rookie RB Ben Tate is out for the season, this does not bode well for Slaton. Head coach Gary Kubiak already loves Foster, but now he has a reason to dislike Slaton. Plus, it’s not like Slaton has room for error considering how he played last season.
Fantasy outlook: In a PPR-league, I still think Steve Slaton has value as a late-round sleeper. I think he will catch a decent amount of passes and I’m not completely sold on the fact that Foster will hold up an entire season. Having said that, Slaton better get his act together or he might not even be on his own team’s roster, let alone fantasy rosters come week 1.
Curtis Painter, QB, Colts (9/19, 64 passing yards, 3 INTs):
I guess it’s performances like these that make Colts fans truly appreciate just how lucky they are to have Peyton Manning. I understand Manning has never missed a game in his NFL career, but it sure would make me feel uneasy knowing that my “what-if scenario” involved having Painter, who has comparable arm strength and decision-making skills as Lindsey Lohan, running the team.
Fantasy Outlook: If Curtis Painter ever has to take over for Peyton Manning he would make every single Colts player absolutely undraftable, even in 32-team leagues.
Did I forget to mention anyone more worthy in Week 1? Let me know below.
Follow Justin here.
Follow paulmbanks
Leave a Reply