Browns fantasy question: Can WR Edwards return to elite status?

[TheClevelandSound]

http://www.nfl.com/fantasy/story?id=09000d...mp;confirm=true

 

 

 

 

Browns burning fantasy question: Will Braylon Edwards rebound and become an elite fantasy receiver?

 

Fantasy owners who spent a second- or third-round selection to land Edwards last season had to feel pretty good about the move. After all, he was coming off a breakout 2007 campaign that saw him post 80 receptions, 1,289 yards and 16 touchdowns. Unfortunately, Edwards didn't duplicate those totals in 2008.

 

In fact, he wasn't even close.

 

The veteran finished with 25 fewer receptions, 416 fewer yards and 13 fewer touchdowns. A total of 31 wide receivers would finish with more fantasy points on NFL.com, a list that included Lance Moore, Eddie Royal and Steve Breaston.

 

Those three wideouts had another thing in common besides being more productive than Edwards -- none of them were even selected in most fantasy drafts.

 

Edwards also contracted a serious case of the dreaded "dropsies," as he hauled in a mere 40 percent of the 138 targets he received. By comparison, Andre Johnson made good on 68 percent of his targets, and Larry Fitzgerald hauled in 62 percent of the passes thrown his way.

 

On a positive note, Edwards is in a contract year and should be motivated to produce between the white lines. But financial motivation isn't always enough for a player to find statistical success, especially in a situation like the one Edwards finds himself in this season.

 

All signs seem to point to Brady Quinn opening as the team's Week 1 starter. While he's talented and should make strides, he has attempted just 97 passes at the NFL level. In three starts last season, Quinn threw just two touchdowns passes -- both came in the same game against a Broncos defense that ranked among the league's worst against the pass.

 

Edwards will also see more than his share of defensive attention without an established complement in the offense. The Browns traded tight end Kellen Winslow to the Buccaneers in the offseason, so rookie Brian Robiskie appears to be the team's second-best option in the pass attack. Robiskie is a good low-end sleeper, but whether he can make an immediate impact and draw defenses from Edwards is a real long shot.

 

The last troublesome fact about Edwards and his chances to re-establish himself as an elite fantasy wideout is the offense itself.

 

The Browns will lean on Jamal Lewis and the run quite a bit under new coach Eric Mangini, whose passing offense in New York left much to be desired. Even with future Hall of Famer Brett Favre under center last season, neither Laveranues Coles nor Jerricho Cotchery were able to reach the 1,000-yard mark.

 

In fact, neither of these veteran wideouts even reached the 900-yard mark under Mangini in 2009.

 

Edwards should improve on his dismal totals from a season ago, but drafting him with the thought that he'll return to his impressive 2007 form will likely lead to disappointment. Instead, a season with around 1,000 yards and five to seven touchdowns should be expected.

 

Edwards should be seen as a No. 2 fantasy wideout and worth a middle-round selection in most drafts.

 

Browns top-5 fantasy players

1. Braylon Edwards

2. Jamal Lewis

3. Brady Quinn

4. Brian Robiskie

5. Jerome Harrison

 

Sleeper: Robiskie

[Oldcrow1945]

As a fantasy pick? I wouldn't touch him until very late. Very late.

[neohionative]

As a fantasy pick? I wouldn't touch him until very late. Very late.

 

 

Same here. Even when he was "elite" he was still dropping balls like they were bricks far too often for me to ever take that chance again.

[sisky fringo]

he can if during his introduction before each game his own fans don't start booing him again as he jogs out in front of 50,000+ people. wonder what that was like to prepare for.

 

"Hey guys, we're going to get Braylon involved early"

 

first pass.....dropped. boos erupt.

 

"BOOOOOOOO!!!!!"

 

Braylon, "This fuching sucks....."

 

yeah yeah he gets paid a ton of money to tune that out blah blah.

 

.....the dude's still human.

 

 

[DTBH]

It might depend who wins the QB competition... Braylon had quite a rapport with DA early in their careers. (By rapport, I mean "hey DA, just throw it somewhere in my general direction 500,000 times and i'll bail you out on at least 80 of them and make 16 of them touchdowns.)

 

I would expect Quinn to spread the ball around more than DA.

[Kosar_For_President]

I think he will be back in the 1,000 yard, 4-6 TD range. Not sure how your scoring works, but I would say there are 20 better receivers out there. But he could be a sleeper pick if you can get him in the 7-8 rounds. He'll be back. Better line all around giving whomever much more time.

 

If you look at the Jets Mankok's teams, there is a speedy #1 receiver with 1,000 + yards and then their is a possession receiver with 5-7 TD's. If your league scores high on yardage, go with him in round 8ish. If it is an all TD league, I can give you 30 better picks. Worry about your RB's.

 

I really think Robiskie could be a sleeper, espically if you have a carry over league. He's a smart player NFL ready. Round 18-20.

[Kosar_For_President]

.....the dude's still human.

 

So are the other 200 receivers in the NFL, and they don't drop the ball as much.

[Sez.EJ]

800-900 yards and 5-8 td's.. not elite but solid this year.. If we re-sign him and keep him with BQ for the future.. Yes he can get back there. So if your in a keeper league take him..othewise he is just a #2 guy on a fantasy roster for this year.

[sisky fringo]

So are the other 200 receivers in the NFL, and they don't drop the ball as much.

and they don't get thrown to as much either. an unhealthy K2, no Stallworth, innaccurate QBing...for all his drops there are just as many he hauls in that would be uncatchable by the other 195 receivers out there.

 

do you even know what it's like to walk out onto a field of 50,000 plus after being introduced? no disrespect but you'd probably wet yourself right there, if you could even get your legs to cooperate. to enter the game to a reception of boos--by your own fans no less--is something none of us can relate to. personally i can barely even sympathize. yes he brought it upon himself in some ways, but to put him in that position every game before kick-off is senseless. i believe in putting people in positions to be successful, not setting them up for failure.

 

of those 200 other receivers you mention, Braylon's ability is better than top 5>>>but his head messes with him. there are a ton of guys who puke before every sporting event and you'd never know it. who knows? >>>he may be one of those guys. just because he makes it look easy doesn't mean it's not hard. vanilla is cool, but only when you've got Drew Brees and Peyton Manning laying the ball in their laps>>>we don't have that. be thankful he can compensate for the passes coming his way and convert at all. sure he drops some easy ones but if it weren't for his ability to catch the crazy balls the past few years those games woulda been excruciating to watch.

 

you (or anyone else for that matter) can't name ten guys in the NFL that have done the things Braylon has on the field. that Robo highlight that was posted on here recently, that was like every catch Braylon makes. **immediately closes can of worms just opened**

 

the guy is amazing. he's bailed his team out on 4th down probably more than any other receiver in the league. and he's certainly a lot more clutch than we give him credit for. he had one horribly bad year and now it's his calling card. get on T.O.'s back, he's done it his whole career more than BE...and i'd still take him too. could you imagine BE and a focused T.O. across from him? not all receivers are created equal. you gotta take the good w/ the bad.

[Kosar_For_President]

vanilla is cool, but only when you've got Drew Brees and Peyton Manning laying the ball in their laps>>>we don't have that. be thankful he can compensate for the passes coming his way and convert at all.

 

Didn't he catch 16 TD's and 1,300 yards without Brees and Manning in 07? Your whole argument is flawed. I am not saying this dude isn't special, I am a fan. But I really don't care what is wrong with him, his and the Browns millions should be able to fix it. Just being honest bro, I don't give a shit what's wrong with him, catch the ball.

[sisky fringo]

Didn't he catch 16 TD's and 1,300 yards without Brees and Manning in 07? Your whole argument is flawed.

how this escaped you is unbelievable. he caught those passes, a vanilla WR would not have. it's that simple.

Just being honest bro, I don't give a shit what's wrong with him, catch the ball.

he does catch the ball, 16 TD's and 1,300 yards in '07 as you just pointed out.

[Kosar_For_President]

how this escaped you is unbelievable. he caught those passes, a vanilla WR would not have. it's that simple.

 

he does catch the ball, 16 TD's and 1,300 yards in '07 as you just pointed out.

 

I'm talking about 08 and comparing it to 07. In 08 "vanilla" WR's did.

[sisky fringo]

I'm talking about 08 and comparing it to 07. In 08 "vanilla" WR's did.

what did they do?

 

BE dropped some easy ones but he also caught them on 3rd and 4th to sustain drives. the rest of our WR core weren't even worthy of note. until they get the quarterbacking under control we're gonna need Edwards to haul in those crazy ones. he may be overpaid right now based upon 2008 but he's not overrated. i've seen him take on 250lb Linebackers on many occasions, and he holds his own for a 215lb WR.

 

 

[medicineman]

I for one love Braylon. Im so happy we have him. Yes I was mad at him at times in '08 but loved him triple that in '07. I said this before Are whole team struggled last year and there is no EF'N way you can lay that on Braylon's door step. It was a team effort and the team failed. Give him a chance to put last year in the past. Jamal too.