Dynasty Shopping Mall Part Three (Wide Receivers)

Posted 8/22 by Jeff Tefertiller, Exclusive to Footballguys.com

Just like any other shopping mall, this will have different products at different levels of quality and price. We will shop around at department stores like Bloomingdales, Macy's, Sears, even the Dollar Store and look for products to buy. The focus will be on value. Many times the expensive products are worth the price. Some times they are not. We will examine opportunities to buy at a reasonable price compared to value. The products we are purchasing are fantasy players for our dynasty team. This is the third article in the series and will be examining the wide receiver position. These first two installments focused on quarterbacks and runningbacks who will be free agents next offseason. This is the time to buy at a reasonable price. Let's remember Chester Taylor. Two years ago, you could have bought him very cheap or picked him up off of the waiver wire. Last year, he was a pretty good back with very high value considering the price paid originally for him a year earlier.

There are several high and low profile wideouts slated for free agency in 2008. Below is a list of the ones to consider buying this offseason:

Bernard Berrian

Most observers believe Berrian is the receiver to have in Chicago. He has tremendous speed to get deep. He is only twenty-six years old and is just now learning how to be a productive wideout in the NFL. The strong running game of the Bears, combined with the strong arm of Rex Grossman, will provide many opportunities for the four-year pro from Fresno State.

Outlook: Top 25 finish in 2007. The future does look bright for the speed youngster.
Store: Macy's, only on red tag sale. Berrian has the speed, but most of his routes are deep and he catches a poor percentage of the passes thrown to him
Price: Less than a 2008 1st round pick and more than a 2008 2nd round pick. A package including a top prospect would probably be needed to acquire the speedy Berrian.
Recommendation: Let someone else pay that price. It is hard to pay full price and buy a receiver who is targeted mostly on bombs that could be in a bad situation next year. Also, Mark Bradley could stay healthy and improve, thus reducing Berrian's deep targets.

Patrick Crayton

Crayton is underrated and undervalued by the fantasy community. The Dallas Cowboys showed a ton of confidence in the former quarterback at Northwestern State in Oklahoma. It has taken Crayton a little while to develop into a viable NFL receiver.

Outlook: With the advanced (in NFL terms) ages of Terrell Owens and Terry Glenn, Patrick Crayton has a chance to play sooner than later. He is currently the third receiver for the Cowboys and has proven himself as reliable and a clutch pass catcher for Tony Romo. With Terry Glenn out for a few weeks for surgery to remove a cyst from behind his kneecap, Crayton has opportunity to gain more confidence from Romo and new coach, Wade Phillips.
Store: Sears. Crayton is nothing flashy. He is reliable like a Craftsman tool or Kenmore dishwasher and much cheaper than the more fashionable brands.
Price: A 2008 2nd or 3rd round pick or good prospect. Patrick Crayton is proving himself as an effective possession receiver.
Recommendation: Buy today if you can acquire Crayton for a 2008 2nd round pick, or even less. He is not a household name and might be much cheaper than many realize. He would be a great fit on many offenses. The twenty-eight year old wideout had thirty-six catches last season in a breakout year. Many had never heard of Patrick Crayton before last season. This is the time to buy Crayton if you want him cheap.

D.J Hackett

Hackett really broke out in 2006 after Darrell Jackson was sidelined with injury. The third year pro from Colorado looks to have a bright future in the NFL. He is a fashionable pick for many to be the breakout receiver this year.

Outlook: Promising future for the former fifth round pick from the University of Colorado.
Store: Old Navy. Hackett is stylish, and hip, but is still overshadowed.
Price: 2008 2nd round pick or good prospect.
Recommendation: Hackett is a definite buy. He will never be this price again.

Bryant Johnson

Johnson has been in the shadow of Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald. He has had three seasons, of his four in the NFL, with at least forty receptions. Last year, Bryant improved his yardage, and yards per catch average, by a large margin. He made the most of those forty receptions, converting them into 740 yards and a WR40 finish.

Outlook: The former first round pick from Penn State will likely be playing for a new team in 2008. He has shown flashes of talent, but has shown questionable hands at times.
Store: TJ Maxx. He is like the cool Ralph Lauren polo shirt you get cheap because it has a cut tag. He will be a NFL and fantasy tease.
Price: 2008 2nd rounder or mid-level prospect.
Recommendation: Some really like Johnson's ability and future. Let someone else pay the price for Johnson, who will continue to disappoint.

Drew Carter

The former fifth round pick from the Ohio State University has blazing speed is entering his third year in the NFL. The Panther offense struggled in 2006, which did not help matters with Carter's development. Carter is still very young, just twenty-five years old, and could improve in a different situation.

Outlook: With the release of Keyshawn Johnson, Carter had an opportunity to impress and take a step forward. This has yet to happen. He is currently, the fourth receiver on the Panther depth chart behind even the past disappointment, Keary Colbert. Drew Carter should be playing in a new city in 2008.
Store: Ross Dress for Less. He is last year's style. He is growing less fashionable each week as he is dropping further and further down the Panther depth chart.
Price: 2008 2nd round draft pick or good prospect.
Recommendation: Let someone else pay that price because he could end up on the waiver wire by midseason.

There are other wide receivers to consider. There is a couple listed below to watch this season and pick up if the opportunity presents itself:

Terrance Copper: Copper signed a one-year tender with the Saints. The drafting of Robert Meachem says plenty of what the Saints think of Copper. He surprised many with his play in 2006. But, the Saints drafted Meachem, and signed David Patten, while still having good young pass catchers is Marques Colston and Devery Henderson. Look for Copper to be a WR4 or WR5 for another team in 2008.
Brandon Stokely: Brandon Stokely's departure from the pass-happy Colts offense was a surprise to many. He has been injury-prone over his career and will struggle to prove he is more than a slot receiver. The thirty-one year old should get an opportunity this year to prove his worth in Denver with the depleted Bronco wide receiver corps.

Each team in each league is different. Not every team is in a position to acquire a player this year in hopes of cashing in next year. The two "must have" wide receivers to buy now for the future are Patrick Crayton and D.J Hackett. Bernard Berrian and Drew Carter could also be "buy low" options as the season progresses.