With Fantasy Football season ready to kick in high gear, FanHouse is here to preview each and every team -- one per day until we've done them all. Meet The ...
City/team so desperate for attention they signed Terrell Owens to a one-year deal! Seriously, it could pan out well -- but we all know that Roger Goodell is in the middle of not-so-quietly handing this franchise to Canada (hello publishing date irony!).
Of course, a big season from the Bills could do some good in staving off that run for the border, but that will require a number of very good things to happen: Marshawn Lynch needs to return from suspension with a vengeance, Fred Jackson needs to be happy, Owens needs to be really happy, Trent Edwards needs to be good and, well, yeah, there are lots of ifs. But there's also a lot of value on this team for fantasy owners that might slip under the radar.
The Breakout
For a player that's going to begin the year as the starting running back, Fred Jackson sure doesn't get a lot of respect. He's currently being drafted behind a fullback (LeRon McClain) and just in front of a 32-year-old non-starter (Ricky Williams). Jackson has done nothing but produce when given the chance, with his latest gem being a 136-yard game in the last game of the 2008 season against a Patriots team that needed a win.
He does a great job coming out of the backfield in the passing game, so much so that the coaching staff has been lining him up at receiver in practice. This could signal that even when embattled starter Marshawn Lynch joins the team, Jackson could still see significant playing time. Speaking of Lynch, if Jackson is making the most of his starting opportunity and putting up productive numbers, it's very possible that Lynch could find himself on the losing end of a timeshare. Last year, the split in carries was 230/150 in favor of Lynch; this year, I see it as an even split. Make it a point to grab Jackson as your RB3 or RB4.
The Bust
Conversely, that means Marshawn Lynch is walking a tightrope in Buffalo. He's been suspended three games by the NFL for his off-the-field shenanigans, and commissioner Goodell is going to up the punishment the next time Lynch missteps. I would deal Lynch in dynasty leagues while I still had the chance.
One thing that bears mentioning is how awful the Buffalo offensive line is likely to be in 2009. They'll have two rookie guards playing out of position, a mediocre right tackle playing the all-important left tackle position, and more new starters at center and right tackle. Among all this, the coaching staff is prepping the lineman to play a ton of no-huddle, something that will make the learning curve for the new line steep.
While this is likely to hurt Jackson as well, I think his draft position still makes him a value as a backup with upside. With Lynch, you'll be drafting him as your RB2 and expecting him to make an impact on your team most weeks. For a guy with six 100-yard games to his credit in two seasons, drafting him as a starter seems highly unreasonable.
The Depth Chart
QB1 - Trent Edwards
QB2 - Ryan Fitzpatrick
RB1 - Marshawn Lynch
RB2 - Fred Jackson
RB3 - Dominic Rhodes
WR1 - Terrell Owens
WR2 - Lee Evans
WR3 - Josh Reed
WR4 - Steve Johnson
WR5 - Roscoe Parrish
TE1 - Derek Schouman
TE2 - Shawn Nelson
K - Rian Lindell
The D/ST
Believe it or not, the Bills are actually building something here on defense, and they're only a piece or two away from making this one of the best defenses around. Aaron Schobel is a top defensive end when healthy, and opposite him will be a rotation of Ryan Denney and first-round pick Aaron Maybin, a future sack machine. Paul Posluszny is a great guy to have in the middle of your defense, and I expect him to be at full strength in 2009 for the first time in a long time. Rookie free safety Jairus Byrd should be a great centerfielder-type compliment to the hard-hitting Donte Whitner. And finally, Terrence McGee is one of the league's best unheralded cornerbacks, while his starting partner Leodis McKelvin is due for a big step forward this year. This is a D/ST I'll be utilizing for my yearly matchup rotation at the position, especially with the explosiveness of McKelvin and Parrish in the return game.
The Skinny
-So what of Terrell Owens? On one hand, he always dominates on the field in the first year with his new team. On the other hand, he always wears out his welcome before his contract is up. What will happen when these two TO-isms collide? In small-market Buffalo playing with a mediocre QB, I see Owens doing more harm than good. As a Bills fan myself, my only wish is that none of him rubs off on Lee Evans.
-Trent Edwards is by all accounts a guy that makes great decisions on the field and is a solid fit for the proposed no-huddle-centric offense. That doesn't make him a great fantasy QB. With a horrendous line that could be blocking no more than air this season, I think Edwards has a much better shot a breaking down than breaking out.
-I couldn't list Lee Evans as a breakout, as he's already got a top-ten season to his name. Now he adds a premier over-the-middle threat and a quality receiving TE, neither of which he had the advantage of last year. Remember that top-ten year of 2006, when Evans was taking 10- and 15-yard passes 50 yards for scores? Forget the bench -- I'd be happy with Evans in my starting lineup as my WR2 in 2009.
--Shawn Nelson likely won't be a starter, but the rookie from Southern Miss could post a couple of big games in 2009, which would make him a prime breakout candidate heading into 2010. I snagged him in my rookie draft, hoping he can come through on his huge upside.
