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Faceoffs: Addressing the offseason to date

 
 
 
 

Each week our Dave Richard and Jamey Eisenberg will literally bring their inter-office debating to your computer, explaining why they like one player over another based on a particular week's matchup. As always, we'll try to come up with debates that you might have either with yourself or fellow owners.

Who's the better Fantasy QB: Matt Schaub or David Garrard?
Dave Richard Jamey Eisenberg
Dave Richard As long as I've been playing Fantasy Football, the best quarterbacks are the ones with the best receivers. I think Garrard is a great story, and he's on a strong team, but he still doesn't have an elite wideout he can target 10-to-15 times a game (sorry, Jerry Porter doesn't count). Schaub does have a stud receiver in the form of Andre Johnson, and the two played very well together when they were both healthy last season. Furthermore, Schaub's Texans don't have the running game Garrard's Jaguars have, which means Schaub's arm will be called upon to move the ball more than Garrard's. Throw in Schaub's complementary receivers like Kevin Walter, Andre Davis and tight end Owen Daniels, and he's got the talent around him (and in him, of course) to out-stat Garrard over the course of 2008. Both will be great backups, but I'd pick Schaub first every time. Jamey Eisenberg Chances are you're not drafting Garrard or Schaub to be your starting Fantasy quarterback in 2008. Most likely, one of these two will be your backup with the chance to crack your lineup if he plays well. That was the case with Garrard in 2007. He proved himself as a first-year starter, which is something Schaub still needs to do. He only appeared in 11 games and missed parts of others last year due to injury. I like the upside for Schaub better because he plays with Andre Johnson and Owen Daniels. Schaub could be a legitimate Fantasy stud. But Garrard is the proven commodity, and his receiving corps just got better with the addition of Jerry Porter and Troy Williamson. If you're into taking risks, go with Schaub. If you want a sure thing, Garrard is your man.
Is Michael Turner a viable No. 2 Fantasy RB?
Dave Richard Jamey Eisenberg
Dave Richard By default, Turner is a top-24 Fantasy RB. That said, it's not necessarily because of his talent. Turner is a fast, powerful runner with good hands who will get the chance to be the primary running back for an NFL club in 2008. The issue here is that the club in question is the Falcons, a team that happens to be thin at offensive tackle. Atlanta won't have a strong passing game for Turner to work off of, and he will have to hand off some carries to Jerious Norwood. However, I can't name 24 running backs I'd rather have than Turner (I could definitely name 20 though). Turner will have a shot at totaling well over 1,000 yards in 2008 with goal-line duties, and that's enough to make him a low-end No. 2 Fantasy RB. Expecting anything higher and you're playing with fire; anything lower, and you'd be stealing come Draft Day. Jamey Eisenberg I wish Turner had gone anywhere other than the Falcons. I know he got paid and now has an opportunity to start, but his Fantasy value will be limited in 2008 since Atlanta will be rebuilding. I would consider Turner a solid No. 3 Fantasy option and a good flex player. But I would not draft Turner as a starter. The Falcons don't have a proven quarterback, need work on the offensive line and you can count on Turner sharing carries to some degree with Jerious Norwood. When Dave and I discussed this topic, I told him I'd find 24 running backs I'd take ahead of Turner. Well, here goes: LaDainian Tomlinson, Brian Westbrook, Steven Jackson, Adrian Peterson, Joseph Addai, Clinton Portis, Ryan Grant, Larry Johnson, Frank Gore, Willis McGahee, Willie Parker, Marion Barber, Marshawn Lynch, Maurice Jones-Drew, Earnest Graham, Brandon Jacobs, Laurence Maroney, LenDale White, Travis Henry, Edgerrin James, Reggie Bush, Thomas Jones, Jamal Lewis and DeAngelo Williams. I like Williams as a better breakout candidate than Turner. And if Ronnie Brown (knee) is healthy to start the season, he makes this list also.
Is Bernard Berrian's move to Minnesota good or bad for his Fantasy value?
Dave Richard Jamey Eisenberg
Dave Richard Because of his incredible speed, his deep-ball ability and the Vikings' desperation for wide receiver legitimacy, Berrian will be a good fit. Not only will he play with a Vikings offense that has an incredible run game, but he'll play indoors 10 times in 2008, which will only help support his statistics. Expect him to set a career high in receptions and yards as he attempts to finally give Minnesota their first legit deep threat since Randy Moss. Jamey Eisenberg How can anyone think this is a good move for Berrian? As bad as Rex Grossman was last year, I'd still take him ahead of Tarvaris Jackson as a starting quarterback. Berrian might do well going inside a dome for eight games, but he now plays for a more run-dominated team in Minnesota. Remember Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor? As for Jackson, he only passed for nine touchdowns in 2007, and the Vikings leaders in the major receiving categories were 54 catches, 647 yards and four touchdowns. While Berrian will help Jackson improve and put up better numbers than whatever Minnesota had last year, going to a better team with a proven quarterback would have improved his Fantasy value instead of bringing it down.
With Donte Stallworth in the fold, is Derek Anderson now a legitimate top 5 Fantasy QB?
Dave Richard Jamey Eisenberg
Dave Richard It's very, very close, but Anderson falls short thanks to some consistent star power at the position. No one will knock Tom Brady from his perch, and Peyton Manning, Tony Romo, Drew Brees and Carson Palmer are just way too reliable to pass on in favor of Anderson, who has had exactly one strong year as a Fantasy mainstay. Granted, Anderson will have the tools to be successful in '08, but the rep of the other five QBs puts them ahead. Anderson is sixth-best in my book. Jamey Eisenberg As of right now, Anderson is No. 6 on our rank list, but I would take him ahead of Carson Palmer and Drew Brees if given the choice. In comparison to Brees, Anderson has better weapons, especially with the addition of Stallworth to go with Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow. Brees only has Marques Colston, who is great but not as good as Edwards. And when it comes to Palmer, Anderson and his receivers actually get along. The talent is equal when looking at the overall receiving corps with Cincinnati (Chad Johnson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chris Henry), but Cleveland has a better offensive line. All three will be great, but I like Anderson slightly better in 2008. And in 2007, Anderson (29) had more touchdown passes than Brees (28) and Palmer (26).
Who is your Fantasy DST sleeper as of now?
Dave Richard Jamey Eisenberg
Dave Richard Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. If the 49ers fool me twice, then I guess picking sleeper DSTs isn't my strongsuit. Last year they had the makings of being much improved and fell flat on their faces. This year they've improved via free agency and should do better than their 2007 numbers showed. Jamey Eisenberg You have to like what the Eagles did on the first two days of free agency. Adding DB Asante Samuel will improve their secondary, especially if they can manage to keep Lito Sheppard around. And the addition of DL Chris Clemons will help the pass rush and will be a good replacement for Jevon Kearse. Trent Cole already is a proven commodity on the line, and Omar Gaither is solid at linebacker. Defensive coordinator Jim Johnson should do well with this unit in 2008.

Do you agree with Dave or Jamey? Send your thoughts to DMFantasyFootball@cbs.com and we'll post the best responses. Be sure to put Attn: Fantasy Faceoff in the subject field. Include your full name, hometown and state.

 
 
 
 
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