FanEx Analysis Draft
Round 8

Rules | Transactions

Draft Rounds - See below for analysis
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20  
Final Analysis

 8.01
Tony Holm
WR Bernard Berrian
QB: RB: Grant Parker McFadden JJones  WR: RMoss Holmes Cotchery Berrian TE: PK:

B's of steel?  Or glass?  We'll find out.  I'm the only FAD team without a QB (which is SOP for me) but looking at the draft I felt I wanted to come away with a solid core of RBs and WRs before looking elsewhere and I'm sticking to it.  If Jay Cutler were still here that would have been a strong consideration, if not the selection, but at this point I'm going to cherry pick what's left at WR.  Berrian is one of the more explosive WRs in football and the Vikings paid him big money to come to Minnesota.  He has been handed the opportunity to be the #1 guy and with his speed and on an indoor track for at least half his games, Berrian could really tear it up.  Berrian had 71 receptions for 951 yards and 5 TDs last year on a very pedestrian Bears offense, there's tremendous opportunity for Berrian this year and I can't ask for much more than that.  Santana Moss was also a consideration here but I opted for the upside of Berrian over the recent struggles of Moss.
===================================================================================

8.02
Chris Dolfi | Tom Walls (via trade)
WR Santana Moss

QB: Anderson  RB: Lynch Jones-Drew Jacobs WR: Housh SMoss TE: Winslow PK:

When QB Jason Campbell started playing well for Washington towards the end of last season, Moss really started returning to the player we remember from 2005 when he topped 1,400 yards.  He finished the last four games (including playoffs) with no less than 68 yards a game and 3 TDs.

We love where we drafted Moss, 33rd in this year's crop of FAD WRs.  If nothing improves in Washington, we get him exactly where he should have been picked, but the success at the end of 2007 makes us think his productivity will improve in 2008 and we get a guy that we see finishing in the top 20-24 WRs almost 2 full rounds later.

===================================================================================

8.03

Greg Kellogg
RB Felix Jones (R)

QB: Romo RB: Portis RBrown Henry FJones  WR: Marshal Evans Driver TE: PK:

While Jones doesn't have the opportunity to start that Kevin Smith or Matt Forte does, he will likely get as many touches as the more heralded Reshard Mendenall or Jonathan Stewart.  Last year Julius Jones, whose role is being taken by Jones, gained almost 800 total yards and scored two TDs.  As a RB4 I am looking for four startable games from this Jones boy and his receiving skills alone should assure that outcome.
===================================================================================

8.04

Duane Cahill
RB Deuce McAllister

QB: Brady RB: LJohnson Graham Mendenhall McAllister  WR: Boldin Bowe Jennings TE: PK
I spoke in my Tom Brady analysis about a low-risk, high reward pick.  Well, Deuce is the more traditional high-risk, high-reward.  Injuries may still be a concern (the reason the team brought in Shaun Alexander for a look-see), but if he rebounds to form, he’s a great value here.  In fact, I thought about taking him in the last round, but with Tony Holm already having Willie Parker in the fold, thought he might have gone after Mendenhall.  I felt more comfortable letting McAllister drop to this pick.  

I think it became pretty obvious throughout 2007 that Reggie Bush, for all his talent, isn’t as effective when he’s asked to be an every-down back.  Like Mendenhall, Deuce is the between-the-tackles guy in his team’s tandem and while he’s not going to get Bush’s PPR points, I fully expect that he’ll go back to being the goalline guy in 2008.
===================================================================================

8.05
Matt Pitzer (via trade)
RB Ahman Green

QB: Hasselbeck Roethlisberger  RB: Barber Bush AGreen  WR CJohnson Holt Curtis TE: PK:

Green has plenty of problems, including age, injury history and the team around him. But I'll be happy to take a starting running back in the eighth round just about any day, especially one who has the potential to catch a few passes. I doubt he will be an every-week producer but if he gives me a few good games, I'll be happy.
===================================================================================

8.06

Chris Dolfi | Tom Walls
WR Laveranues Coles

QB: Anderson  RB: Lynch Jones-Drew Jacobs WR: Housh Coles TE: Winslow PK:

This write up for Coles will look a bit like the write up for Santana Moss , who we grabbed with our last pick. We got a guy who was picked in the early 30s, who can end up as a top 20 WR. Coles was hurt a lot last year (after not missing a game the previous 7 seasons). Nagging injuries hampered Coles last year. We are betting that Coles will be back to full speed.
 
Coles isn't a speedster but has that valued commodity we talked about before, his QBs trust. No matter who the QB, Coles will be option 1, with Cotchery being 1a. HE won't be catching bombs like Santana Moss, but he will get us points through receptions and yards. Coles should be somewhere around 1,000 yards with 80-90 catches, great value here.

===================================================================================

8.07

Shannon O'Leary 
WR Javon Walker

QB: Bulger RB: Gore Lewis RJohnson WR: Fitzgerald White Walker TE: Gonzalez  PK:
Year after year, I say I am not going to gamble on my picks, but still can’t resist the talent of a guy like Walker . Walker was definitely a bust in Denver , but once again at this point in the draft I like his talent. He should be more mended than last year. Word out of the Raider camp is Walker is not in good shape, but it is May. I think a WR like Walker will respond well to the Al Davis downfield mentality. I also think Walker will be in better health than last year, and the Raiders must think so as well. As much as I dislike the Raiders, I think they have rebuilt the offense in a smart manner. They drafted a tackle in 06 and a QB in 07 and a RB this year. The only thing that concerns me is Russell’s inexperience. Still Walker is a decent gamble in the eighth round.
===================================================================================

8.08

Jim Butler
WR Limas Sweed (R)

QB: Brees Schaub  RB: McGahee White  WR: Galloway Sweed TE: Gates Cooley  PK
This guy has all the tools to make a quick impact in the league. Pittsburgh is still search for a solid receiver corps and I think Limas will fit in nicely there. I think that he's going to have some decent games with a chance to have some really good ones. As Ben Roethlisberger continues to develop in to a better passing quarterback, I see Limas benefiting from that.
===================================================================================

8.09

John Georgopoulos 
WR Deion Branch

QB: EManning  RB: Westbrook TJones DWilliams WR: Wayne Colston Ward Branch TE:  PK:
I had listed six guys in my pre-select for this pick: Cotchery, S. Moss, L. Coles, A. Green, D. Branch and J. Walker (in that order). Amazingly enough, five of the six were taken right before my turn.
===================================================================================

8.10

Jerome Hickerson
WR Reggie Brown

QB: Palmer RB: Addai Maroney  Taylor WR: Edwards Harrison Gonzales RBrown TE: PK:
This guy killed many fantasy owners last season as he was drafted well before his production warranted. But he’s on my sleeper list for this year as I believe McNabb will be a better QB. And Brown’s second half production was actually not too shabby – his bad rap this season is mainly intertwined with the fact that he was drafted too early last season. As my #4 receiver, drafted at almost 40th receiver taken, I think he’ll produce sufficiently to warrant this draft selection.
===================================================================================

8.11

TC Cannon
WR Bobby Engram

QB: PManning RB: Peterson Stewart  WR: Owens Burress Chambers Engram TE: Clark  PK:
Everyone wants these solid receivers that will benefit their unchanging roster. Despite the selection ahead and behind me, I got mine with Seattle's top wideout.. and I'm sure other recent dozen WR picks are thinking nearly the same thing. 

8.09 Branch, 8.11 Engram, and 8.12 Burleson went almost back-to-back. Let me tell you why MY players is the better Seahawk WR... (Stand by)

===================================================================================

8.12

Chris Rito | Mike Nazarek
WR Nate Burleson

QB: McNabb RB: Tomlinson James Turner WR: RWilliams Mason Burleson TE: Witten PK::
Nate Burleson seems to be in a great position to build on his solid finish in 2007 (5 TDs in the last 5 games). The only other decent WRs on the Seattle roster are refusing to attend team functions due to a contract squabble (Engram) or will miss a substantial portion of the season with a knee ailment (Branch). Even if they both show up, Burleson will continue to be at least the big play guy for the Seahawks. While Burleson only caught 50 balls last season in a dozen starts...he made them count with 9 TDs. We look for at least a solid and similar season with occasional great weeks, and some potential to surprise and bust out for a 1000 yard season.
===================================================================================