Matt Schaub, QB, Atlanta Falcons (Week 16)

Accomplishments - Really good question. What has he done to warrant the "he should get a shot to start" accolades? One big game against New England in 2005 and a competent yet meaningless game against Philadelphia to end 2006 aren't quite enough to warrant all that attention, is it? Seneca Wallace has shown more in the regular season

Dynasty Watch Reasons, then and now - At first he was on the Dynasty Watch because he might get traded to another team to be the starter, but now with the head coaching change (Louisville's Bobby Petrino for Jim Mora) there is even talk of an open competition with Michael Vick, but that seems like a stretch.

Future prospects (2007 and beyond) - Despite those who think Atlanta will give Schaub a shot to beat out Vick next season, Schaub's best chance to become the starter remains outside of Atlanta. Do not be surprised if the Falcons trade him away for a high draft pick before the NFL Draft in April.

Dwayne Blakley, TE, ATL (Week 10)

Accomplishments - Blakley set career highs in receptions and yards, but he has had an undistinguished career, so those highs were only six and 76. Alge Crumpler stayed healthy, so Blakley was never asked to become one of the primary targets.

Dynasty Watch Reasons, then and now - Everyone knows Michael Vick only has eyes for Crumpler, but what would happen if Crumpler were to miss any time? Blakley looked like a capable passcatcher when asked to, so it seemed reasonable to think Vick would target him almost as much.

Future prospects (2007 and beyond) - Blakley is a free agent, but he will be worth remembering if he backs up Crumpler next year. Rookie Daniel Fells is probably more likely to fulfill that role and become a knee-jerk pickup if Crumpler were to go down.

Jason Webster, CB, ATL (Week 8)

Accomplishments - Webster ended the season on injured reserve with a groin tear after posting 51 total tackles, two interceptions, and one forced fumble in eight games as a starter.

Dynasty Watch Reasons, then and now - Webster had held off rookie Jimmy Williams for the starting spot opposite DeAngelo Hall and posted good IDP numbers during the first half of the season. He had potential for growth with the impending return of John Abraham.

Future prospects (2007 and beyond) - Webster ended up being an Achilles heel of the defense by the time he suffered his torn groin. Jimmy Williams should start opposite Hall next year, relegating Webster to Falcons nickel back, if he's even with the team. He's probably not good enough to start elsewhere

Michael Boley, LB, ATL (Week 4)

Accomplishments - Boley finished his second season with 67 solo tackles, 13 assists, 3 sacks, 2 INTs, 6 PDs and 3 Fumble Recoveries in 14 starts. However, he ended the season on a downer note with just 4 solos, 2 assists and 1 sack in his final two games.

Dynasty Watch Reasons, then and now - Boley caught our eye after two solid games in week three and four against New Orleans and Arizona. He had at least two solo tackles in every game after that but only had two more games with six or more solo tackles.

Future prospects (2007 and beyond) - It was LBBC in Atlanta this season with Boley, Brooking, Williams and Hartwell sharing the load. Boley is only in his second season and could further improve down the road. He's not a starter yet, but definitely worth a roster slot in dynasty leagues.

J.J. Arrington, RB, ARI (Week 7)

Accomplishments - Edgerrin James and even Marcel Shipp limited Arrington to only 22 offensive touches in 2006. He had 14 carries for 19 yards and eight catches for 58 yards, but did manage 1,250 yards on 67 kickoff returns, including a 99 yard TD.

Dynasty Watch Reasons, then and now - Edgerrin James was stalling out, indicating that Arrington might opportunity in the future, and that we might have been too hard on Arrington in 2005. The line was clearly having trouble opening any kind of hole for James.

Future prospects (2007 and beyond) - The Cardinals clearly reached for Arrington, but he might play a larger role as he matures. He's still only a middling backup RB at this point. It's best to forget the hype that accompanied his entry into NFL.

Troy Walters, WR, ARI (Week 6)

Accomplishments - Walters saw increased time with the Cardinals this season when Larry Fitzgerald missed three games because of a hamstring injury. For the season, Walters had 23 receptions for 209 yards and 2 TDs. He also had 250 punt return yards.

Dynasty Watch Reasons, then and now - In the three games that Fitz missed, Walters had 11 receptions for 115 yards and a TD. Once Fitz returned though, Walters had just five more receptions over the next seven games.

Future prospects (2007 and beyond) - Walters is a free agent this season and could find himself on another team for 2007. He has more value in leagues that award points for kick and punt returns, but his size (5'8") will probably prevent him from being a go-to WR in the NFL. He's worth a roster spot, but is definitely a situational starter in most leagues.

Brett Basanez, QB, CAR (Week 14)

Accomplishments - Basanez saw limited action in week 15 against Pittsburgh. He finished with six completions for 56 yards and an interception.

Dynasty Watch Reasons, then and now - When Delhomme went down to injury, Basanez was promoted from the practice squad. Backup Chris Weinke was unimpressive in his three games and Basanez was given a shot to fill in as well. Neither did much and Delhomme was back under center for the final game of the season.

Future prospects (2007 and beyond) - Basanez was a long shot at the time and was thrown into the fire against Pittsburgh. He's a project player who is at least a year or two away from seeing any significant action.

Nick Goings, RB, CAR (Week 6)

Accomplishments - Goings did not get to play hero in the running game at the end of the season, but he did get a lot of snaps at fullback. He also caught 10 balls for 107 yard and ran 11 times for 52 yards. He was rewarded with a three year extension at the end of the season.

Dynasty Watch Reasons, then and now - DeAngelo Williams was hurt, leaving him a DeShaun Foster injury from starting for the Panthers - and we had seen he could produce when given that opportunity. Foster stayed healthy until Williams was able to return to the lineup.

Future prospects (2007 and beyond) - Goings will still lurk as probably the best power back on the roster, despite being behind Williams and Foster on the depth chart at RB. Don't forget about him if injuries strike the primary backs.

Drew Carter, WR, Carolina Panthers (Week 15)

Accomplishments - The second year receiver has shown great speed in limited playing time in Carolina. He averaged over 20 yards per catch in his rookie season, and then used his sub 4.4 speed to pass the 20 yard mark on five of his 28 catches and two of his three touchdowns in 2006.

Dynasty Watch Reasons, then and now - Carter was on the watch list for most of the season, as Carolina had a good predilection towards passing the ball for the past few years. With Jake Delhomme sidelined and Chris Weinke under center, Carter put up good numbers in Week 14, catching 8 of 12 targets for 144 yards and a touchdown against Washington.

Future prospects (2007 and beyond) - Carter is a restricted free agent this offseason, and the Panthers would be wise to keep him for one more season at first round tender rate with Keyshawn Johnson aging and other receivers falling out of favor. His production on a weekly basis is sporadic, but Carter should draw strong interest in the free agent market come 2008, and possibly start, even if he returns to Carolina.

Jeff King, TE, Carolina Panthers (Weeks 14, 17)

Accomplishments - The rookie tight end from Virginia Tech found the end zone in Week 16 for his only catch of the year, but it was good for six points against the Atlanta Falcons.

Dynasty Watch Reasons, then and now - Carolina is severely lacking in the TE department, with starter Kris Mangum and veterans Michael Gaines and Mike Seidman causing no opposing defensive coordinators to lose any sleep.

Future prospects (2007 and beyond) - Mangum and Gaines have combined for 36 catches and 316 yards with one touchdown all season. Carolina would love to reinvigorate their passing game with a tight end that could be effective on both passing and running plays, something that has been lacking since Wesley Walls. Jeff King could be that tight end in 2007.

Adam Seward, LB, CAR (Week 2)

Accomplishments - Seward started out the season with 12 total tackles in the first two games, but ended with only 25.

Dynasty Watch Reasons, then and now - He was plugged in when Dan Morgan suffered yet another concussion, but Chris Draft soon proved to be the better option and IDP deep sleeper in the middle.

Future prospects (2007 and beyond) - Seward is a 2 down backup LB at best. He should be almost dead to you as an IDP fantasy GM.

Josh McCown, QB, DET (Week 11)

Accomplishments - McCown saw action in only two games this season but did not post any statistics.

Dynasty Watch Reasons, then and now - Jon Kitna had 11 games with one TD pass or less including a streak of seven games where he had 5 TD passes and 12 INTs He was never removed as a starter though and McCown never had a chance.

Future prospects (2007 and beyond) - Kitna finished the season with 589 yards passing, 7 TDs. and only 1 INT against Chicago and Dallas (both playoff teams), so McCown isn't going to pass him any time soon. Detroit will probably draft a QB this year so McCown's value is negligible.

Brian Calhoun, RB, Detroit Lions (Week 15)

Accomplishments - Seven carries and two catches for a combined 39 yards in seven games. Calhoun was placed on the injured reserve after suffering a knee injury in practice in November.

Dynasty Watch Reasons, then and now - Wow, those accomplishments just blow you away, don't they? Well, the real reason to notice the rookie RB was Kevin Jones' injury, with the strong possibility that he could be out for all of 2007 as well.

Future prospects (2007 and beyond) - The big question is if Kevin Jones will be back in time for some or even all of next year. It appeared that Jones could be done until 2008, but there have been reports since that Jones could be ready for the preseason in 2007. Either way, Calhoun is a low risk and high reward running back to tuck away on your Dynasty roster.

Arlen Harris, RB, DET (Week 12)

Accomplishments - Harris saw time down the stretch when the Lion RB corps was decimated with injuries. He finished the season with 290 yards from scrimmage and a TD.

Dynasty Watch Reasons, then and now - By week 13, Detroit was playing any RB who could make it on the field. Harris was used more as a third down, change of pace back and 29 carries and 14 receptions over his last three games.

Future prospects (2007 and beyond) - Harris didn't do much with his opportunity in the Detroit backfield. He averaged just 3.2 yards per carry and only had only 7.3 yards per reception. With Bryson, Jones and Calhoun healthy, Harris may not even be with the Lions for 2007 (he's not under contract now)

Aveion Cason, RB, DET (Week 15)

Accomplishments - Cason was resigned by the Lions when their RBs were depleted by injuries. He finished the season with just 120 yards from scrimmage on 29 touches.

Dynasty Watch Reasons, then and now - All of the Detroit RBs that we featured in Dynasty Watch had a shot to steal the spotlight. None of them did.

Future prospects (2007 and beyond) - Cason isn't under contract for the 2007 season and will probably not see any playing time if he signs with a team.

Mike Furrey, WR, Detroit Lions (Week 3)

Accomplishments - Have you ever seen a defensive back drop an easy interception and then heard, "that's why he's not a wide receiver". Well, apparently someone noticed that the Rams had a DB that could catch (four interceptions) and turned him into a receiver in Detroit this season, where he caught 98 balls for 1,086 yards and six touchdowns.

Dynasty Watch Reasons, then and now - The Lions were abysmal in finding a group of wide receivers that deserved to take the field with Roy Williams. Furrey emerged in training camp and never slowed down.

Future prospects (2007 and beyond) - Furrey really looks entrenched as the #2 WR in Detroit, and their passing attack is now one of the bright spots for the Lions. Between QB Jon Kitna (6th), WR Roy Williams (10th) and Furrey (19th), all three are amongst the leaders in fantasy production at their position. With Mike Martz running the offense, the future is bright for the Detroit passing game. The long term value of Furrey may be questionable, however, so he could also be deemed a strong "sell high" candidate.

Teddy Lehman, LB, DET (Week 9)

Accomplishments - Lehman's 2005 foot injury lingered into the 2006 season, limiting him to only five total tackles and four games played.

Dynasty Watch Reasons, then and now - Lehman is good LB - when healthy. He came back from his foot injury in week 7, but injuries sabotaged the rest of his season. The Detroit LB corps is still completely unsettled in the middle.

Future prospects (2007 and beyond) - Teddy, stay healthy, and that IDP gold position of MLB might be yours. Some of us made the mistake of giving up on Gerald Hayes after injuries made him slide into obscurity. Don't make the same mistake if Lehman gets healthy.

Todd Bouman, QB, Green Bay Packers (Week 13)

Accomplishments - Bouman never stepped on the Frozen Tundra in Lambeau this season.

Dynasty Watch Reasons, then and now - Bouman's write-up was purely speculative and based upon his signing as a free agent to back up Brett Favre when Aaron Rodgers got hurt.

Future prospects (2007 and beyond) - Bouman is 34 years old and is a journeyman at best. The future QB for the Packers is either Rodgers or Ingle Martin, who finished out the last game of the year when Favre left the field for possibly the last time.

Noah Herron, RB, Green Bay Packers (Week 2)

Accomplishments - Herron produced some good games for the Packers in 2006, but the addition of Vernand Morency in a trade squashed most of Herron's chance to produce. Herron did shine in Week 5, putting up over 100 yards rushing against the Eagles, which could have made an impression with other NFL GMs watching his performance on Monday Night Football.

Dynasty Watch Reasons, then and now - The very day that the Dynasty Watch column was published in Week 2 featuring Herron was the same day that Samkon Gado went to the Texans for Morency. Herron still remained a part of the Packers run game, but Morency became more and more of a factor as the year wore on.

Future prospects (2007 and beyond) - Starting RB Ahman Green may or may not be back with the Packers next year, and Brett Favre may also retire. Either or both could radically change the outlook for the Green Bay offense for 2007 and beyond, but the departure of Green would certainly afford Herron to once again compete for more touches. The most likely scenario remains that a rookie RB will be drafted on Day One of the NFL Draft in April by the Packers and once again pushing Herron down the depth chart.

Koren Robinson,Chris Francies, WR, GB (Week 2,5,8)

Accomplishments - Francies finished the season with 2 catches for 16 yards. Robinson had 7 catches for 89 yards before he was suspended.

Dynasty Watch Reasons, then and now - The Packers were banged up at WR all season and both of these guys were in positions to make an impact. Neither really did.

Future prospects (2007 and beyond) - Robinson's suspension will finished part way into the 2007 season. If he stays in shape during the off season, he might be able to make an impact. Francies never really caught on with the team and is probably not worth a roster spot at this time.

Ruvell Martin, WR, GB (Week 6,7)

Accomplishments - Martin was the on guy who did anything of the 'unknown' Green Bay WRs this season. He finished with 21 receptions for 358 yards and a TD

Dynasty Watch Reasons, then and now - Martin was an unexpected starter this season due to the injuries to the Packer WRs He performed well in his limited time and emerged as a solid WR3 for the Packers.

Future prospects (2007 and beyond) - Martin may have a bit to go before he makes a fantasy impact, but he's worth holding onto right now. He has good size (6'4") and speed (17.0 YPC Average) and is on a team that definitely can use his skills. Stash him on your roster for now and see what happens in 2007.

Dave Rayner, PK, Green Bay Packers (Week 7)

Accomplishments - Rayner connected on 26 of 35 field goal attempts for a 74% conversion rate, finishing the year with 109 points.

Dynasty Watch Reasons, then and now - Rayner was first mentioned as an injury replacement for John Hall owners, but Rayner's 2006 performance warrants consideration for the future. His solid numbers for the first six weeks of the season which included a 54-yard field goal drew attention.

Future prospects (2007 and beyond) - The Packers put up a good amount of points and were able to move the ball in 2006, giving Rayner plenty of chances. He finished 14th in scoring for kickers, but his conversion rate of under 80% on his field goal attempts could be worrisome. Kicking in Green Bay has never been easy, either.

Marquand Manuel, SS, GB (Week 6)

Accomplishments - Manuel had a career year for the Packers this season, finishing with 62 solo tackles, 19 assists, 1 INT, 2 PDs and 1 TD.

Dynasty Watch Reasons, then and now - The Packer secondary is nothing to write home about, so Manuel sees a lot of action. He's not a stud DB from a fantasy prospective, but he had several nice games when we wrote him up.

Future prospects (2007 and beyond) - Manuel cooled off near the end of the season, and had only 6 solo tackles and 1 assist in his last 4 games. He's worth keeping an eye on during training camp, but probably not worth a roster spot anymore.

Ciatrick Fason, RB, MIN (Week 14)

Accomplishments - Fason was hurt and sidelined during the first half of the season. He burst on the scene in week 13 with 11 carries for 75 yards and a TD in mop-up duty vs. Chicago, only to give way to Artose Pinner when Chester Taylor was could not go the next week vs. Detroit.

Dynasty Watch Reasons, then and now - We figured Taylor was going to miss a week, giving Fason a chance to show his wares, but a hot Pinner stole the spotlight.

Future prospects (2007 and beyond) - Fason returned to the inactive list after his brief flash of brilliance, indicating his best chance to impact would be elsewhere. Keep tabs on Fason if ends up on another roster. As long as he's a Viking, he's a marginal fantasy prospect.

Martin Nance, WR, MIN (Week 16)

Accomplishments - Nance ended up with 33 yards on four catches in week 17, his first extended action as a pro.

Dynasty Watch Reasons, then and now - Troy Williamson is crashing and burning. Marcus Robinson was given his walking papers. Travis Taylor is, well, Travis Taylor. There just isn't much competition for playing time in Minnesota WR corps right now. Nance was a talented big WR in college whose stock dropped because he was hurt during the predraft workouts.

Future prospects (2007 and beyond) - The Vikes should address Nance's position in free agency and the draft, but he can still have a role on the 2007 team if he works hard in the off season.

Tarvaris Jackson, QB, Minnesota Vikings (Weeks 10,16)

Accomplishments - Tarvaris Jackson, the rookie out of Alabama State, appeared in four games and started two for the Vikings in 2006 after Brad Johnson was finally shelved for good in December. His numbers in his rookie season may not appear stellar (47-81-475, 2 TDs., 4 INTs, 7-34 rushing with a TD), but Jackson's ability was apparent to anyone watching him play out the string for Minnesota.

Dynasty Watch Reasons, then and now - He has all the tools and skills to be a Top 10 QB going forward. His arm strength, ability as a runner, mental toughness and belief in all of his abilities has the entire organization believing in Jackson as the future leader of the franchise. Despite HC Brad Childress' statement that he would not play Jackson in 2006, the Vikings still gave the talented athlete most of December to get acclimated to the NFL.

Future prospects (2007 and beyond) - Jackson showed Childress too much ability in training camp and in practice to keep him out of the lineup in his first year. Despite statements to the effect that Jackson and Brooks Bollinger will be competing for the starter job in 2007, most would be shocked if anyone but Tarvaris Jackson was under center in Week 1. Once the Vikings get better receivers for Jackson and he has a full year to ready himself for the role, Jackson will be a solid staring QB in the NFL for a number of years.

Billy McMullen, WR, Minnesota Vikings (Week 11)

Accomplishments - McMullen reunited with HC Brad Childress when he came over in the Hank Baskett trade with the Eagles in the summer of 2006. He finished the season as the fourth leading receiver with 23 catches for the Vikings, and the only receiver other than Travis Taylor that had at least 10 catches and also caught over half of his targets (42) for the year.

Dynasty Watch Reasons, then and now - McMullen caught the eye of the Dynasty Watchers after he caught three balls for 64 yards and a touchdown in Week 10 against Green Bay. He continued to come off the bench for the Vikings the rest of the way, collecting 23 catches for 307 yards and two scores for the season.

Future prospects (2007 and beyond) - McMullen's performance was noteworthy for a few reasons. First, the Vikings need some receivers to step up their performance and catch the ball. Second, and most telling, was the McMullen caught 9 of his 23 catches from Tarvaris Jackson in December, something that both should build on for the future. If McMullen and Jackson can continue to build a solid rapport, McMullen could be starting opposite Travis Taylor for the Vikings as soon as next year.

Michael Robinson, RB, San Francisco 49ers (Week 5)

Accomplishments - Robinson moved into the goal line running back role for the 49ers briefly, scoring two short touchdowns in Week 3 against Philadelphia. He split time as the understudy to Frank Gore with Maurice Hicks and finished the year with just 163 total yards on 41 touches for the season.

Dynasty Watch Reasons, then and now - Primarily the two touchdown game brought attention to the rookie from Penn State, but seeing how dependent San Francisco was all year on Frank Gore's production made the second RB for the 49ers a valuable asset for Gore owners.

Future prospects (2007 and beyond) - Gore is the back for San Francisco for 2007 and probably the foreseeable future, but if Robinson becomes the clear backup to Gore, he will still have a great deal of value. While he will not get direct comparisons to Michael Turner any time soon, the situations may be similar in that they could be prized just for whom they are behind on their respective teams' depth charts.

Arnaz Battle, WR, SF (Week 12)

Accomplishments - Arnaz ended up second on the team in receptions and receiving yards (behind Frank Gore and Antonio Bryant respectively), chalking up 59 and 686 (+ 3 TDs.) while playing in all 16 games.

Dynasty Watch Reasons, then and now - Antonio Bryant's inconsistency on the field and problems off the field have opened the door for Battle. He finished the year strong with 16 catches for 208 yards in the last three games.

Future prospects (2007 and beyond) - Bryant will be suspended for the first two games of 2007, meaning Battle should start the season as the primary WR target, unless SF makes a major move in the offseason. He's not explosive, but he's very useful in PPR leagues.

Delanie Walker, TE, San Francisco 49ers (Week 15)

Accomplishments - The rookie tight end drafted in the sixth round by San Francisco had little impact this season, catching just two passes. He was buried on the depth chart as the third tight end behind veteran Eric Johnson and the first round selection Vernon Davis.

Dynasty Watch Reasons, then and now - Walker had a modest 30 yards on two catches in Week 14, but he was on the field enough for the 49ers to warrant Dynasty Watch consideration. Not much was expected this season as most of the work went either to Vernon Davis or Eric Johnson.

Future prospects (2007 and beyond) - Should Johnson, whose contract ended in 2006, not return to San Francisco, Walker's value could creep up. He is a deep prospect, but the 49ers have shown a fondness for using two tight ends. Vernon Davis and Walker could combine for a solid duo in 2007.

Brandon Moore, LB, SF (Week 10)

Accomplishments - The versatile LB who started the year as a backup ended the season as the 49ers top tackler. He had 93 total tackles and 6.5 sacks, mostly in the 2nd half of the season, once he became a starter.

Dynasty Watch Reasons, then and now - Moore blew up with 14 tackles and a sack in his debut as the starting MLB in week 9 and he finished the year strong, notching double digit tackle totals in each of the last three games.

Future prospects (2007 and beyond) - Moore is signed long term in San Francisco, and should at least be decent depth for IDP leagues in the near future. He's even more valuable in leagues that weight sacks heavily.

Keith Lewis, FS, SF (Week 14)

Accomplishments - Lewis has a nice breakout in his 3rd season, and finished with career-best stats: 59 tackles, 17 assists, 1 sack, 2 INTs and 4 PDs He also had 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery.

Dynasty Watch Reasons, then and now - Lewis was on a tear in late November and most of December. He had seven or more combined tackles in five of his last six games and really showed some solid potential.

Future prospects (2007 and beyond) - San Francisco surprised a lot of people this year and Lewis is still a Free Agent in many leagues. Grab him while you can. If he begins 2007 like he finished 2006, he will be a solid IDP fantasy starter next season.

Kay-Jay Harris, RB, STL (Week 17)

Accomplishments - Harris finished the season with three carries for nine yards in the final game against Minnesota. He also had four kick returns for 76 yards.

Dynasty Watch Reasons, then and now - Harris was signed to add depth to the RB corps that was injured near the end of the season. Stephen Jackson is the man in St. Louis though and Harris was not needed.

Future prospects (2007 and beyond) - Harris is way down on the depth chart now and with the Rams signing John David Washington (Denzel's son), Harris may be out of a job by next year.

Dominique Byrd, TE, STL (Week 10)

Accomplishments - Dominique made the most of his big chance, catching a TD in week 16. Byrd had to fight his way up from the third string TE spot to get that look.

Dynasty Watch Reasons, then and now - Byrd is a talented receiver, and Joe Klopfenstein has not yet lived up to his second round billing, although like Byrd, he is only a rookie.

Future prospects (2007 and beyond) - Byrd has an off the field incident to sort out in the offseason, but his considerable ability makes him worth watching until the Rams give up on him.

Chris Simms, QB, TB (Week 13)

Accomplishments - Simms got beat up (figuratively) in weeks 1 and 2, with three interceptions and no TDs. in each game. He then got beat up (literally) in week 3, in a gutsy performance that left him without some of his guts, namely his spleen.

Dynasty Watch Reasons, then and now - Bruce Gradkowski was actually worse than Simms, and the team has no other realistic options for QB in 2007 on the roster. The Bucs realized this in late December, and re-upped Simms to a two year deal.

Future prospects (2007 and beyond) - Simms will face competition in training camp, but he should be a favorite to win, considering his knowledge of the system and raw ability. He won't be a starting fantasy QB in just about any scenario, but he could be decent depth.

Bruce Gradkowski, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Week 4)

Accomplishments - Gradkowski became the starting QB for the Bucs in Week 5, and he posted moderate numbers for about six weeks. After that, the league had enough film on him such that they were able to game plan for his tendencies. He failed to throw a touchdown pass after Week 11 and was eventually replaced by Tim Rattay as the starter in Week 16 after Rattay relieved him the previous two weeks.

Dynasty Watch Reasons, then and now - Chris Simms was injured and out for the year, and Gradkowski was the new starter. Unfortunately for both Gradkowski and Tampa Bay, he wasn't ready for the starter role. After two weeks of two touchdown passes each, Gradkowski never topped 200 yards passing again and could not close the season as the starter.

Future prospects (2007 and beyond) - Tampa Bay will be bringing back Chris Simms next year, and it would be expected that he gets the nod as the 2007 starter. Gradkowski was a rookie starter on a non-playoff caliber team, so he could get another chance down the line, but expectations should remain low for any future performances.

Tim Rattay, QB, TB (Week 16)

Accomplishments - Rattay came into the Chicago game and lit up the leagues #1 defense for 268 yards and 3 TDs. He was rewarded with the starting job the rest of the way and finished with 748 yards passing 4 TDs. and 2 INTs

Dynasty Watch Reasons, then and now - With Gradkowski performing like a rookie who was thrown into the fire, Rattay had a golden opportunity to put pressure on starter Chris Simms for the 2007 season. Instead, he fell back to earth and the Bucs resigned Simms.

Future prospects (2007 and beyond) - He's not under contract with Tampa Bay and may move on to another team. His ½ game performance against Chicago probably warrants keeping an eye on him, but he's taking up space on a roster at this point unless you have Simms.

Maurice Stovall, WR, TB (Week 14)

Accomplishments - Stovall ended up with seven catches for 102 yards in late season action, and a few were clutch catches that rallied the Bucs.

Dynasty Watch Reasons, then and now - The WR2 slot opened with Michael Clayton being placed on IR, and one assumes that role should remain open to competition in training camp after Stovall's promising play in December.

Future prospects (2007 and beyond) - Stovall is not a supreme talent, but he could move ahead of Michael Clayton in the Tampa WR pecking order with continued development.

Barrett Ruud, TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Week 5)

Accomplishments - Ruud became the starter at the MLB in Weeks 10 through 12, registering 7, 6 and 8 tackles respectively. After LB Sheldon Quarles returned to health, however, Ruud's production fell by the wayside.

Dynasty Watch Reasons, then and now - Injuries to the Tampa Bay linebackers were the opening that the young Ruud was waiting for, as he got the chance to move up on the depth chart. Ruud did reasonably well as a spot starter, but did not get any sacks or turnovers on his stat line.

Future prospects (2007 and beyond) - As typical in any offseason, Ruud's future will be dependent upon many factors - will veterans return, or get demoted, or will new blood be brought in to compete at the position? Will Quarles and Derrick Brooks remain starters? What spots at linebacker will everyone play? Both Quarles (2007) and Brooks (2009) remain under contract, as does Ryan Nece (2009), so Ruud's opportunity could have to await the 2008 season.

Vernon Fox, SS, WAS (Week 17)

Accomplishments - Fox finished the season strong and had 34 solo tackles, 5 assists, 3 PDs and 1 INT in his last six games as a starter.

Dynasty Watch Reasons, then and now - The Redskins are not happy with Adam Archuleta and Troy Vincent could be a cap casualty over the summer. Fox performed well and will go into the 2007 season as a starter.

Future prospects (2007 and beyond) - He's definitely below the radar in many leagues because of his late season surge, but if you look below the surface, Fox is set to become the full time start in 2007. He's definitely worth the roster slot now.