Wide Receivers That Change TeamsPosted 7/18 by Chris Smith, Exclusive to Footballguys.comEvery year, well-known receivers change teams and the debate rages.
There isn't a simple answer to these questions. For every receiver that goes on to do great things in his first season with his new organization, there is another that struggles to put up numbers. The one thing that appears to stand out looking at each player over the past couple of years is that situation and surrounding talent have as much to do with his success as does his own personal skills. This article will look at each prominent receiver that has changed teams over the past couple of seasons and what they did in year one (and in some cases year two with his new team).
Receivers on new teams - 2006 season
Terrell Owens - Dallas (from Philadelphia)
What happened '06: Owens put up great numbers in first season with Cowboys Reche Caldwell - New England (from San Diego)
What happened '06: Became WR1 with Patriots and did well although proved he isn't a WR1 talent Nate Burleson - Seattle (from Minnesota)
What happened '06: Didn't improve from disappointing 2005 campaign Keyshawn Johnson - Carolina (from Dallas)
What happened '06: Keyshawn put up 'Keyshawn' numbers. Nothing flashy but dependable Antwaan Randle El - Washington (from Pittsburgh)
What happened '06: Randle El wasn't much of a threat in the passing game but did throw a few passes and carried the ball 19 times Eric Moulds - Houston (from Buffalo)
What happened '06: Moulds was clear 2nd receiver on team but averaged less than 10 yards per reception with just a single touchdown scored. Moulds is currently unemployed. Antonio Bryant - San Francisco (from Cleveland)
What happened '06: Bryant started quickly last season and then fell off the map. He wasn't retained by the 49ers and is currently unemployed. Javon Walker - Denver (from Green Bay)
What happened '06: After only being injured in week one of the 2005 season, Walker had a great bounce back year with the Broncos. David Givens - Tennessee (from New England)
What happened '06: Did nothing in Tennessee worth mentioning in an injury-riddled season. Huge disappointment. Corey Bradford - Detroit (from Houston)
What happened '06: Bradford became an afterthought in 2006 with the Lions. No touchdowns and only 164 receiving yards. Brandon Lloyd - Washington (from San Francisco)
What happened '06: Lots of promise last season but failed to deliver. Only 23 receptions on the season. Joe Jurevicius - Cleveland (from Seattle)
What happened '06: Jurevicius actually played pretty well a year ago. His 10 touchdowns in 2005 were a bit of an anomaly and he returned to earth last season. Notable receivers on new teams - 2005 season and prior When comparing more than two seasons, each season is compared to the previous year.
Randy Moss - Oakland (from Minnesota)
Derek Mason - Baltimore (from Tennessee)
Muhsin Muhammad - Chicago (from Carolina)
Santana Moss - Washington (from NY Jets)
Laveranues Coles - NY Jets (from Washington)
Plaxico Burress - NY Giants (from Pittsburgh)
Joe Jurevicius - Cleveland (from Seattle, Tampa Bay)
Prior seasons Marty Booker - Miami (from Chicago)
Joey Galloway - Tampa Bay (from Dallas)
Keenan McCardell - San Diego (from Tampa Bay)
Peerless Price - Buffalo (from Dallas, Atlanta and Buffalo)
Terry Glenn - Dallas (from Green Bay)
Wide Receivers on New Teams in 2007 Finally, you have made your way to the receivers that have changed teams in 2007. Looking at the above information, there is no rhyme or reason to how these players will do in year one with their new teams. Here are some trends I noticed over the past few seasons however…
Randy Moss - New England Patriots (from Oakland Raiders) Moss is in a position to thrive with his new team. When motivated, Moss has the ability to dominate a football game and he wants to win a championship as much as anybody in the NFL. His past success is impossible to ignore and he'll be able to return to a great fantasy starter level in 2007. I have him finishing with 1,150 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns in a return to glory. Donte Stallworth - New England Patriots (from Philadelphia Eagles) Stallworth was another offseason acquisition by the Patriots who will provide instant offense for the club. He will not have to worry about being the WR1 on the team with Randy Moss taking that responsibility on. He should be able to improve on his injury-shortened 2006 statistics and I currently have him projected with 895 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns which would be similar to his 2005 campaign with the Saints when he finished 20th at the position. Drew Bennett - St. Louis Rams (from Tennessee Titans) Bennett was the 6th best fantasy receiver in 2004, just three short seasons ago. He has all the tools to be a very good player and he will be stepping into a pass-happy organization in the Rams. With Isaac Bruce slowing down and in the twilight of his career, Bennett will have a huge opportunity to put up very nice numbers with the club. I have him finishing with 925 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns this season. Kevin Curtis - Philadelphia Eagles (from St. Louis Rams) There is a hole at WR2 in Philadelphia and Curtis will have every chance to start for the club in 2007. His best season came in 2005 when he finished with 801 yards and 6 touchdowns. Unfortunately I see a player in Curtis that is similar to Justin McCareins of the Jets and David Givens of the Titans and he'll put up only mediocre numbers in Philadelphia. I have him at 560 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns which is slightly better than 2006 but worse than his career-best 2005 campaign. Joe Horn - Atlanta Falcons (from New Orleans Saints) Horn was a great receiver for the Saints but at 35 years of age likely doesn't have too much left in the tank. The question is can he rebound from back-to-back sub-700 receiving yard seasons in 2005 and 2006. The problem for Horn is the Falcons aren't a good passing team and he will likely only put up numbers similar to last year when he had 679 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns. His time as an elite receiver is over. Bobby Wade - Minnesota Vikings (from Tennessee Titans) Wade is an interesting prospect this season. Supposedly the Vikings are very high on Wade and his playmaking ability and he will get every opportunity to start for the club. However Wade is entering into his 6th season in the NFL and his best season (last year) saw him manage just 461 yards and a pair of touchdowns. I have him finishing with 640 yards and 4 touchdowns which would both be career highs but not high enough to see him as a viable fantasy starter this season. Dennis Northcutt - Jacksonville Jaguars (from Cleveland Browns) Northcutt almost cannot help but improve on his 2006 totals. He caught just 22 receptions for 228 yards and was an afterthought for the Browns throughout the season. There is a ton of competition for receptions on the Jaguars however and his upside isn't tremendous even if he does see some significant playing time. I see him currently with 27 receptions for 300 yards and a pair of touchdowns on the year. Brandon Stokley - Denver Broncos (from Indianapolis Colts) Stokley had a tremendous 2004 season with the Colts but did little before that season and nothing since. So is he a one-year wonder or a veteran receiver poised to return to form in 2007. In Stokley I see a player that simply doesn't have the talent to take away touches from the other Denver players and I believe he'll be an afterthought in the offseason behind receivers Javon Walker, Rod Smith and Brandon Marshall. Wes Welker - New England Patriots (from Miami Dolphins) Welker is an explosive special teams player and he'll slot in as a dependable slot receiver for the Patriots. He won't see enough passes to improve on his 2006 numbers. In fact his receptions and yardage will likely drop. However he is a great third-down target and that along with special teams will help the Patriots win football games. His fantasy numbers will be minimal but he'll be an important piece of the puzzle in New England. Ashley Lelie - San Francisco 49ers (from Atlanta Falcons) Who really knows which Ashley Lelie will show up? Will it be the player who finished with 1,084 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns in 2004 or the player who has just 1,200 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns since then? So far the 49ers are not impressed with Lelie who has been injury prone and slow to show much on the practice field. That doesn't bode well for his statistics in 2007 and he will likely put up similar numbers to 2006. Travis Taylor - Oakland Raiders (from Minnesota Vikings) Taylor is a consistent receiver whose upside is very limited. He will likely see some playing time and will catch some passes for the club. However he is unlikely to eclipse the 651 yards and 3 touchdowns he put up in 2006. |
