Faceoff - WR Chris Chambers, Miami Dolphins

Posted 5/29, exclusive to Footballguys.com

Upside - by David Baker

Let's face it. The Dolphins QB situation last year was nothing short of a disaster. They had some nice weapons, but they just couldn't find someone to consistently get the receivers the ball. Nobody felt this more than WR Chris Chambers. Coming off a 2005 season with career highs in receptions and receiving yards, much was expected out of Chambers last year, especially with Daunte Culpepper tossing him the ball. But Culpepper battled injuries, was not productive, and played in only four games. Chambers season went down with Culpepper. Chambers ended up with a career low in receiving yards. Neither Joey Harrington nor Cleo Lemon went to Chambers much and the result was zero touchdowns in his last eight games. For 2007, his production and fantasy upside has nowhere to go but up.

Whether it's a healthy Daunte Culpepper or a newly acquired QB such as Trent Green, the QB situation will be much improved from last year. It was just in 2004 that Culpepper threw 39 touchdowns, and Trent Green is just a year removed from throwing for more than 4000 yards. Chambers has never had a top notch QB throwing to him for an entire season. If a healthy Culpepper returns to form or if the team acquires Trent Green, it could mean big things for Chambers.

The Dolphins also have a new Head Coach in Cam Cameron. Last year's offensive scheme was just, well, offensive. Cameron brings with him an offensive mind that made the Chargers a top five scoring team for the last three seasons. It's a system that should help Chambers tremendously, as it should allow him to move around more in formations and also use Chambers' speed more creatively. Cameron is building his offense around Chambers and RB Ronnie Brown. Cameron has never had a wide receiver as talented as Chambers, and Chambers has never played for an offensive mind as solid as Cameron's.

The addition of rookie speed threat Ted Ginn could mean less double teams for Chambers. Marty Booker is a fine receiver, but Ginn has unbelievable speed and open field moves, which could make life much easier for Chambers.

Chris Chambers has always been one of the most talented wide receivers in football, but he's never had the kind of offense that Coach Cameron will bring with him, and he's never had a top notch quarterback either. And despite all that, Chambers has twice had double-digit touchdowns and twice been a top 11 fantasy WR. Too many fantasy owners are forgetting about this and only remember Chambers' down year in 2006. Don't be that owner. Chambers should have a big season and be an excellent value pick in your fantasy draft.

Downside - by Sigmund Bloom

Chris Chambers ended up sinking a lot of fantasy teams in 2006. His 2005 performance suggested bigger things to come, and the addition of Daunte Culpepper and his big arm promised lots of long distance hookups. Culpepper's tenure was over soon after it began. Chambers began to slowly disappear, despite being targeted 154 times. Chambers ADP of WR27 shows that many owners are still willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, but it's wise to let someone else put trust in Chambers because it looks like more rough times are ahead in Miami.

Some of the blame for Chambers woes in 2006 rests squarely on the arm and mind of Joey Harrington. Harrington's installation as starter was accompanied by a change to a dink and dunk offense. That might have suited Harrington's abilities, but it gave Chambers few situations that set him up to succeed. Harrington is now a Falcon, but Chambers is looking likely looking down the barrel of poor QB play again in the form of rookie John Beck, washed-up veteran Trent Green, barely viable Daunte Culpepper, or serviceable backup Cleo Lemon. New head coach Cam Cameron has brought a new offense to Miami. The offensive line is going in the wrong direction, likely to have only starter carrying over at the same position from 2006.

Chambers also brought some of his slump on himself, with unreliable hands and a general air of disinterest at times. There is no guarantee that Cameron will have the same commitment to making Chambers the primary target of the passing offense displayed the Saban regime. He has already been demoted from the first team offense once during a minicamp by Cameron. Miami's first pick with Cameron as head coach was a wide receiver, Ted Ginn Jr. It takes a belief that Chambers will turn it on soon to select him at his current ADP, and I'm not sure he has done anything to earn that faith.

There are young WRs going after Chambers that are much better investments in the seventh/eighth round. They are set to inherit bigger roles and they were trending in the right direction at the end of 2006. There are also some grizzled vets that have a strong track record that represent safer investments than Chambers and his 38% target conversion rate. Let someone else employ wishful thinking by selecting Chambers.