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NFC East All Fantasy Team
QB: Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys- Romo is one of the better quarterbacks in this league. His quick release and ability to make a play out of nothing is very impressive. The reason he is the NFC East’s top fantasy quarterback is his weapons. Terrell Owens is year in and year out one of the best wide receivers in football. Jason Whitten established himself last year as one of the top tight ends in the NFL. His 96 catches were a team best and 1,145 yards is unbelievable for a tight end. Terry Glenn and Patrick Crayton will battle for the #2 spot at wide receiver. Felix Jones out of the backfield for the Cowboys this year should be interesting. His speed is amazing as well as his moves. Jason Campbell has a chance to take this spot in 2 or 3 years because of the arsenal Jim Zorn has in Washington. They are a big sleeper this year on offense. Eli Manning had a spectacular postseason but it may not translate into this year’s regular season. It is a wait and see situation with him. Donavan McNabb just can’t get a break. The one year he has a good receiver (Terrell Owens) it blows up in his face. Reggie Brown, Kevin Curtis, DeSean Jackson, Jason Avant, and Hank Baskett are the receivers he has to throw to this year. He’s aging and injury questions surround him so watch for Kevin Kolb’s stock to rise.
RB: Brian Westbrook, Philadelphia Eagles- Now meet the man who McNabb loves to throw to. Brian Westbrook has established himself as one of the top running backs in this league. His 2,104 total yards led the league. He had a career high 371 touches, which isn’t good for any running back let alone somebody his size. Lorenzo Booker and Correll Buckhalter will spell him but he is too good to take off the field. Teams will be planning around him, but he is still worth a top 3-5 pick in the first round of your fantasy draft.
RB: Marion Barber, Dallas Cowboys- This could waiver either way with him and Clinton Portis but I’d take Barber. If his 129 yards in his first start of the season the division finals was a hint of things to come, maybe the 4.8 YPC will convince you. Or maybe that he is no doubt their goal line back, in which the Cowboys will be at plenty of times this coming season. But this may be the thing to convince you the most. He does not have a lot of wear and tear on his wheels. That is a blessing for his running style and with his top two backups (Felix Jones and Tashard Choice) being rookies, he should be handed the rock a lot. Clinton Portis on the other hand is a horse, which isn’t a bad thing. Ladell Betts is there to spell him, but he didn’t have the year most thought he would have after the end of the 2006 season. Portis will benefit from having a strong passing game and a solid quarterback so teams don’t target him after a season in which he compiled 1,651 yards from scrimmage so choosing between the two backs will be a pleasant struggle; not like one where you are choosing between Rex Grossman and John Beck.
WR: Terrell Owens, Dallas Cowboys- What else can you say about Terrell Owens that hasn’t already been said? His 15 receiving touchdowns were overshadowed by Randy Moss’ record 23. On top of that he had 1,355 receiving yards and 81 receptions. His numbers should increase as his finger heals, limiting the number drops he will have. With all the talent on that Dallas offense he shouldn’t be double teamed much and even then he’s still a threat. He should be one of the top receivers taken off the board.
WR: Plaxico Burress, New York Giants- As I looked up stats on finding who would be the second best receiver to be drafted out of the NFC East, it was almost a toss up. Almost. Santana Moss came on strong at the end of the years and he had 11 plays over 20 yards, not to mention the newly revamped offense. The additions to the team like Malcolm Kelly and Devin Thomas should take pressure off of him, but not enough to put him ahead of Kevin Curtis. Kevin Curtis had a huge year last season in his first year as a #1. He had over 1,000 yards but only managed 6 touchdowns. Plaxico Burress surpassed 1,000 yards and totaled 12 touchdowns while nursing a severely sprain ankle. If he can put his contract problems on the back burner and concentrate on this year, he should explode with many career highs considering Eli’s late surge in the postseason, all of the weapons they have at receiver, and a dependable running game. He may not be a sleeper but if you want to take a guy a little higher than most who could become one of top receivers in fantasy football, this is your guy.
TE: Jason Whitten, Dallas Cowboys- I tried to convince myself that Chris Cooley should be the guy here but numbers simply don’t like. He had 96 receptions, over 1,100 yards, and 7 touchdowns as a tight end! That’s better than what Steve Smith did last year. Cooley is an exceptional tight end in a very good offense but he will have to really step it up to reach Jason Whitten’s level. Jeremy Shockey isn’t very into the whole team concept idea and is currently sitting out OTA’s so I see him having a down year; especially with all of the weapons the Giants have assembled not to mention the emergence of Kevin Boss. L.J. Smith should be an after thought. He’s consistently one of the biggest underachievers in fantasy football.
DEF: Dallas Cowboys- I had a hard time choosing which defense because all 4 were in the top 10 in YPG and in the top 17 in scoring. I have to eliminate Washington right off the bat because of their inconsistent and sub par defensive line, their injury riddled line backing core, and an injury prone secondary (mainly the corners). The Giants are next off because of questions at linebacker and in the secondary. At linebacker they have Mathais Kiwanuka, Antonio Pierce, and Gerris Wilkinson along with rookies Jonathan Goff and Bryan Kehl. Kiwanuka may move back to end this coming year because of Michael Strahan’s retirement. If he stays at linebacker he is still very raw at the position. Wilkinson will be a first year starter and the backups are mainly rookies. In the secondary they have Aaron Ross who a stud but questions every where else. Kenny Phillips was drafted 31st overall but he’s a rookie and may go through some early struggles. Corey Webster, Sam Madison, R.W. McQuarters, and Terrell Thomas will battle it out for the number two spot. Webster will probably win out but there are still questions, not to mention at strong safety after the loss of Gibril Wilson. Now it’s between the Eagles and Cowboys. The Eagles have great corners but a questionable safety tandem in the aging Brian Dawkins and Sean Considine. The line backing core is good with Chris Gocong, Omar Gaither, and Stewart Bradley but remains to be seen on how they play as a unit. The defensive line is set though. Chris Clemons and Trent Cole man the ends while Mike Patterson and Brodrick Bunkley. But Dallas is the overall superior defense. Marcus Spears, Jay Ratliff, and Chris Canty man a solid 3 man front. The line backing core is spectacular. Demarcus Ware is one of the top 3-4 linebackers in the league while Greg Ellis got 12 sacks on the opposite side, not to mention last years first round pick Anthony Spencer. Defensive captain Bradie James mans the middle along with veteran newcomer Zach Thomas. Last but not least the secondary. They are 4 deep at corner with Terrence Newman, Anthony Henry, Mike Jenkins, and possibly Adam Jones. The safeties are manned by Pro Bowlers Roy Williams and Ken Hamlin. With another year in Wade Phillips’ system, they should thrive and terrorize opponents.
QB: Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys- Romo is one of the better quarterbacks in this league. His quick release and ability to make a play out of nothing is very impressive. The reason he is the NFC East’s top fantasy quarterback is his weapons. Terrell Owens is year in and year out one of the best wide receivers in football. Jason Whitten established himself last year as one of the top tight ends in the NFL. His 96 catches were a team best and 1,145 yards is unbelievable for a tight end. Terry Glenn and Patrick Crayton will battle for the #2 spot at wide receiver. Felix Jones out of the backfield for the Cowboys this year should be interesting. His speed is amazing as well as his moves. Jason Campbell has a chance to take this spot in 2 or 3 years because of the arsenal Jim Zorn has in Washington. They are a big sleeper this year on offense. Eli Manning had a spectacular postseason but it may not translate into this year’s regular season. It is a wait and see situation with him. Donavan McNabb just can’t get a break. The one year he has a good receiver (Terrell Owens) it blows up in his face. Reggie Brown, Kevin Curtis, DeSean Jackson, Jason Avant, and Hank Baskett are the receivers he has to throw to this year. He’s aging and injury questions surround him so watch for Kevin Kolb’s stock to rise.
RB: Brian Westbrook, Philadelphia Eagles- Now meet the man who McNabb loves to throw to. Brian Westbrook has established himself as one of the top running backs in this league. His 2,104 total yards led the league. He had a career high 371 touches, which isn’t good for any running back let alone somebody his size. Lorenzo Booker and Correll Buckhalter will spell him but he is too good to take off the field. Teams will be planning around him, but he is still worth a top 3-5 pick in the first round of your fantasy draft.
RB: Marion Barber, Dallas Cowboys- This could waiver either way with him and Clinton Portis but I’d take Barber. If his 129 yards in his first start of the season the division finals was a hint of things to come, maybe the 4.8 YPC will convince you. Or maybe that he is no doubt their goal line back, in which the Cowboys will be at plenty of times this coming season. But this may be the thing to convince you the most. He does not have a lot of wear and tear on his wheels. That is a blessing for his running style and with his top two backups (Felix Jones and Tashard Choice) being rookies, he should be handed the rock a lot. Clinton Portis on the other hand is a horse, which isn’t a bad thing. Ladell Betts is there to spell him, but he didn’t have the year most thought he would have after the end of the 2006 season. Portis will benefit from having a strong passing game and a solid quarterback so teams don’t target him after a season in which he compiled 1,651 yards from scrimmage so choosing between the two backs will be a pleasant struggle; not like one where you are choosing between Rex Grossman and John Beck.
WR: Terrell Owens, Dallas Cowboys- What else can you say about Terrell Owens that hasn’t already been said? His 15 receiving touchdowns were overshadowed by Randy Moss’ record 23. On top of that he had 1,355 receiving yards and 81 receptions. His numbers should increase as his finger heals, limiting the number drops he will have. With all the talent on that Dallas offense he shouldn’t be double teamed much and even then he’s still a threat. He should be one of the top receivers taken off the board.
WR: Plaxico Burress, New York Giants- As I looked up stats on finding who would be the second best receiver to be drafted out of the NFC East, it was almost a toss up. Almost. Santana Moss came on strong at the end of the years and he had 11 plays over 20 yards, not to mention the newly revamped offense. The additions to the team like Malcolm Kelly and Devin Thomas should take pressure off of him, but not enough to put him ahead of Kevin Curtis. Kevin Curtis had a huge year last season in his first year as a #1. He had over 1,000 yards but only managed 6 touchdowns. Plaxico Burress surpassed 1,000 yards and totaled 12 touchdowns while nursing a severely sprain ankle. If he can put his contract problems on the back burner and concentrate on this year, he should explode with many career highs considering Eli’s late surge in the postseason, all of the weapons they have at receiver, and a dependable running game. He may not be a sleeper but if you want to take a guy a little higher than most who could become one of top receivers in fantasy football, this is your guy.
TE: Jason Whitten, Dallas Cowboys- I tried to convince myself that Chris Cooley should be the guy here but numbers simply don’t like. He had 96 receptions, over 1,100 yards, and 7 touchdowns as a tight end! That’s better than what Steve Smith did last year. Cooley is an exceptional tight end in a very good offense but he will have to really step it up to reach Jason Whitten’s level. Jeremy Shockey isn’t very into the whole team concept idea and is currently sitting out OTA’s so I see him having a down year; especially with all of the weapons the Giants have assembled not to mention the emergence of Kevin Boss. L.J. Smith should be an after thought. He’s consistently one of the biggest underachievers in fantasy football.
DEF: Dallas Cowboys- I had a hard time choosing which defense because all 4 were in the top 10 in YPG and in the top 17 in scoring. I have to eliminate Washington right off the bat because of their inconsistent and sub par defensive line, their injury riddled line backing core, and an injury prone secondary (mainly the corners). The Giants are next off because of questions at linebacker and in the secondary. At linebacker they have Mathais Kiwanuka, Antonio Pierce, and Gerris Wilkinson along with rookies Jonathan Goff and Bryan Kehl. Kiwanuka may move back to end this coming year because of Michael Strahan’s retirement. If he stays at linebacker he is still very raw at the position. Wilkinson will be a first year starter and the backups are mainly rookies. In the secondary they have Aaron Ross who a stud but questions every where else. Kenny Phillips was drafted 31st overall but he’s a rookie and may go through some early struggles. Corey Webster, Sam Madison, R.W. McQuarters, and Terrell Thomas will battle it out for the number two spot. Webster will probably win out but there are still questions, not to mention at strong safety after the loss of Gibril Wilson. Now it’s between the Eagles and Cowboys. The Eagles have great corners but a questionable safety tandem in the aging Brian Dawkins and Sean Considine. The line backing core is good with Chris Gocong, Omar Gaither, and Stewart Bradley but remains to be seen on how they play as a unit. The defensive line is set though. Chris Clemons and Trent Cole man the ends while Mike Patterson and Brodrick Bunkley. But Dallas is the overall superior defense. Marcus Spears, Jay Ratliff, and Chris Canty man a solid 3 man front. The line backing core is spectacular. Demarcus Ware is one of the top 3-4 linebackers in the league while Greg Ellis got 12 sacks on the opposite side, not to mention last years first round pick Anthony Spencer. Defensive captain Bradie James mans the middle along with veteran newcomer Zach Thomas. Last but not least the secondary. They are 4 deep at corner with Terrence Newman, Anthony Henry, Mike Jenkins, and possibly Adam Jones. The safeties are manned by Pro Bowlers Roy Williams and Ken Hamlin. With another year in Wade Phillips’ system, they should thrive and terrorize opponents.
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