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WR Ernest Wilford, Miami Dolphins

HT: 6-4, WT: 223, Born: 1-14-1979, College: Virginia Tech, Drafted: Round 4

2008 Projections

Average draft position

Current as of June 28th. [Full ADP list]

Overall: S Slaton (203), R McMichael (204), Ernest Wilford (205), S McDonald (206), M Ryan (207)
Position: M Booker (200-WR66), D Thomas (201-WR67), Ernest Wilford (205 - WR68), S McDonald (206-WR69), A Randle El (210-WR70)
Click here for a comparison of these players.

Best Case

The Dolphins starting quarterback catches fire and has a productive season improving the passing totals from the 2007 season. The rushing attack keeps defenses honest, and Ted Ginn Jr's speed forces defenses to play back opening up the mid-range passing attack. If this were to occur, Wilford could set career highs in receptions and yardage and approach the seven-touchdown receptions he scored back in 2005. He could be a decent WR2 in fantasy football if everything breaks right this season.

Worst Case

The Dolphins passing attack struggles all season, the quarterback situation never really gets ironed out, and the rushing game fails to produce like they managed to do at times last season. Young receivers Ginn and Derek Hagan have a strong preseason, and Wilford gets relegated to the WR3 position. He would likely finish with numbers lower than last season (45 receptions, 518 yards and three touchdowns), giving him no real value in redraft leagues.

Outlook

Wilford should get the nod as one of the starting receivers with the Dolphins in 2008, and he could put up decent numbers if the quarterback situation gets on track. Wilford has great size and has displayed a nose for the endzone in the past. He may finish the season with career highs in receptions and yardage but it is risky to draft him as a starting receiver in fantasy football due to the murky situation in Miami.

2008 Schedule

2007 Game Summaries

Week 1 - Wilford was used on short passing routes, and showed good hands in making catches while tightly covered.

Week 2 - Wilford took advantage of his limited opportunity, as only one of his targets was catchable, and turned that pass into a 33 yard gain on a third down play.

Week 3 - Wilford caught both of the short passes that were thrown to him, but was not much of a factor.

Week 5 - Wilford caught the only pass that was thrown to him, but was not much of a factor.

Week 6 - Wilford only managed to catch one pass for one yard.

Week 7 - David Garrard looked for Wilford early (three of his first five passes), and then the Jaguar WR disappeared until the fourth quarter, when Quinn Gray began looking for him again (five pass targets in the last fifteen minutes, including one in the red zone).

Week 8 - Wilford would have had better numbers as he was overthrown on two of his targets when he was open, and had a reception of around 20 yards called back due to a penalty on a teammate. All of his targets came in the second half.

Week 9 - Wilford was only targeted once in the first half, but was utilized more in the second half, and proved adept at getting open on short to intermediate routes, but did not have any big gains.

Week 10 - Wilford caught two of the passes intended for him, with the other two not within his reach.

Week 11 - Wilford obviously wasn't a main factor in the passing game, and didn't do much of anything to change the outcome.

Week 12 - Wilford played a key role in the Jacksonville offense and was targeted two times in each quarter. He caught five passes for 60 yards.

Week 13 - Wilford had a good rapport with Garrard in this game, and ran very good routes, getting open several times as a result. Most of his routes were more of the intermediate variety, and he proved to be more than a short yardage possession receiver in this game.

Week 14 - Wilford was targeted eight times, catching four passes for 38 yards. Three of his four catches went for first downs. His other catch came up two yards short of a first down when the Jaguars needed 18 yards. Wilford did get a chance to score but the pass was incomplete from the five yard line.

Week 15 - Wilford hauled in two passes for 22 yards. Garrard found him wide open on a roll-out for a twelve yard touchdown. The catch was Wilford's first touchdown this season. Wilford was held on another deep attempt, but the officials did not see the penalty.

Week 16 - Wilford caught half of the passed thrown his way, for eight and 14 yard gains.

Week 17 - Wilford was very productive and ran his routes very well, getting open at the time the ball arrived from Gray several times. He ran mostly short routes with a couple of intermediate routes thrown in, and was the recipient of two touchdown passes as a result.

Week 18 - Wilford was able to bring in two of the three balls thrown to him successfully. The third was a long pass where Wilford dove for the ball but the tip found the ground before he was able to secure it.

Week 19 - Wilford was not targeted much, but two of his targets were in the end zone, and he caught one of them for a touchdown. Garrard looked for him on a crucial third down play in the second half and he came through with a good leaping catch.