Under-rated Players by Position

[Chevy706]

Trent Green: How is it that a guy who threw for over 4,000 yds. and had 26 TDs (passing and rushing) isn't in most people's top 10 QBs?

Jake Plummer: I know there are questions in Denver this season, but I've seen him listed as low as the 22nd best QB. When he wasn't hurt, he was electric in his first season as a Bronco.

Running Backs:

Corey Dillon: Marshall Faulk seems to fall around the 10th best RB despite not being able to stay healthy for a full season in recent memory. Corey Dillon ran for at least 1100 yds every season for 6 seasons and got better almost every year until he got hurt, and he's down around 15-18? That's not right.

Tiki Barber (leagues that count receptions): Sure he never gets into the endzone, but the guy gets a good 70 catches a season and combines for 1600-1800 yds rushing/receiving. Certainly worth a top 20 grade.

Wide Receivers:

Derrick Mason: Earned more fantasy points last season than these guys that are generally drafted in front of him: Chris Chambers, Steve Smith, Santana Moss, Terrell Owens.

Peerless Price: A healthy Vick should return Price to his 2002 form, which is 1200 yd, 8-10 TD range.

Jimmy Smith: Everyone forgets he was suspended for the first 4 games of 2003. His numbers from last season project very nicely over 16 games, and now that Byron Leftwich isn't a rookie, his numbers should get closer to his 2001-2002 stats.

Marty Booker: Rex Grossman is no Kordell Stewart, and that's a good thing. I expect 70-75 receptions for 900 yds and a half dozen TDs. He'll be a bargain as the 25th to 30th WR taken.

Ashley Lelie: No more McCaffrey means more opportunities for Lelie, who becomes the #2 option behind Rod Smith.

Tight Ends:

Randy McMichael: The only guy who's rated top 5 at his position who I feel is underrated. He'll be the only guy to benefit from the losses of Ricky Williams (weed) and David Boston (leg).

Team Defense:

Denver Broncos: They struggled a bit last year thanks to a shoddy secondary. Hard to argue with Champ Bailey and John Lynch being considerable upgrades.

[>TC<]

After the top two or three, there are a lot of QB's who are in the same range. Green doesn't get the respect because he doesn't have the great WR to throw to.

Plummer has a 13.0 QB rating this preseason. horrible. He is so inconsistant that the guy who takes him will either be looked at as a genius(if he comes through) or a fool(if he doesn't)


TC

[>TC<]

RB's

Dillon is moving up every draft board I see, pretty quickly. He's going anywhere from 8-10(for RBs)


Barber is good for performance leagues but most mags don't rate players for that. TD's still make the world go around in a lot of leagues. He was also downgraded because of the coaching changes

TC

[>TC<]

I've heard nothing but good things about Mason. He's been going high on drafts.

Price is a huge risk to most people simply because Vick is a huge injury risk. He's a top guy with Vick and disappears when Vick is out. He'll always be downgraded because Vick plays the way he does.

Smith is a safe pick, but he plays on a team that is projected to be bad, pure and simple. Plus his QB is still learning on the job.

Grossman has been lost in the new offense, he said so himself. That will scare off most people. If they had an experienced QB, Booker would be rated higher.

Lelie is another player who has been looking terrible this preseason. I'd let someone else take this risk, unless he falls way down.

TC