Chris Limburg

2009 Washington Redskins Fantasy Preview



Posted: Friday, July 24, 2009

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http://gothicfootball.com

The 2008 Washington Redskins finished a disappointing 8-8 failing to qualify for the postseason.  Following an off season where the team bolstered the defense with the signing of DT Albert Haynesworth and also saw the flirtation with Mark Sanchez and Jay Cutler the Redskins head into 2009. What will the Skins offer fantasy owners for the upcoming season?  Let's examine this now. 

The bottom line is that the Redskins brass does not believe that QB Jason Campbell is the answer.  If they did they would not have lobbied to trade up in this years draft to get Sanchez nor would they have been a serious player in the Cutler sweepstakes.  The feeling around the NFL is that Campbell is a steady but not spectacular signal caller and I for the most part agree with that sentiment. Campbell manages the game well and possesses decent leadership skills but I just don't see him leading Washington much less a fantasy team to the promise land. Campbell passed for 3245 yards with just 13 TD's and 6 Int's and had a QB rating of 84.3.  My friends those are not the numbers you are looking for out of your starting QB and quite frankly both myself and many members of the "Hog Nation" believe the teams future lies with 2nd year man Colt Brennen out of Hawaii.  Campbell is nothing more than a number 2 fantasy option come draft day and if he struggles early don't be surprised to see Head Coach Jim Zorn make the switch to Brennen because Zorn is already on the hotseat as you know owner Daniel Snyder is interested in one Bill Cowher.

I recently looked at RB Clinton Portis's stats and realized what a phenomenal career this man has had.  Portis has rushed for more than 1200 yards in 6 out of his 7 seasons in the league and over 1400 yds 4 times.  Portis finished the '08 campaign with 1487 yards and 9 TD's.  Although Portis is only 27 he has over 2000 NFL carries and it is only a matter of time before his body starts wearing down and we may have seen the beginning of that last year as during the last 7 contests he rushed for 100 yards only once after dominating the league for the first half of the season due to various injuries that combined to de-rail the superstar.  Is this the year we see a big drop-off from the former University of Miami product?  Time will tell.  Is Portis still a number 1 fantasy RB?  Probably, but I feel much more comfortable with drafting Portis in the middle to late second round as a high end number 2 back.  If you draft Portis in at all try to handcuff him with LaDell Betts who has shown throughout the years of being a more than capable fill in.  No other Redskin RB warrants a draft selection at this time.

Washington's receiving corps is average at best and that may be one of the main reasons why Campbell hasn't quite developed to the extent that the Skins were hoping for. Santana Moss is again the number 1 option for the team but lets face facts folks, Moss is nowhere near a quality number one NFL wideout and at best a number 3 or flex fantasy option.  The inconsistent Moss finished the '08 season with 79 catches for 1044 yds and 6 TD's and don't look for anything different out of him this year as inconsistency has pretty much defined his career.  Again, come draft day your roster if you drafted smart and efficiently should have enough quality talent so that Moss shouldn't be starting.  If he is anything more than a number 3 or flex option you have neglected your receiving corps in a big way.  After Moss the Redskins literally have nobody.  Someone out of the following group will need to step up in training camp and the pre season to claim the starting receiver position opposite Moss: Antwann Randall El, Roydell Williams, Jaison Williams, Devin Thomas, Trent Shelton,  Marko Mitchell, and Marquis Hagans.  Outside of Randall El, who the hell are these guys??  Seriously, you mean to tell me that Snyder who runs his team as if it is a fantasy squad can't come up with anything better than this?? You have to be kidding me.  Needless to say none of these guys warrant a selection come August.

Chris Cooley is an above average NFL TE and a decent fantasy TE although he is coming off a year in which he accounted for only 1 TD.  I saw an interview with Cooley (who is a big fantasy football guy by the way) and he promises to deliver more scores this year and quite frankly I agree with him.  He's an excellent receiver and the Skins and Campbell will no doubt try to get him the ball more in the Red Zone this year.  If you miss on the likes of Gates, Witten, Clark, and Gonzo think about taking Cooley.  He will surely improve on his one TD from a year ago.

Washington's DST could be tough this year.  The unit was decent last year and now welcomes both Haynesworth and rookie LB Brian Orakpo from Texas into the fold.  There is no doubt Haynesworth's presence will automatically make it much more difficult to run on Washington this year from 2008.  Furthermore, Orakpo provides the Skins the pass rusher that they were hoping to get last year from Jason Taylor.  Washington could very well surprise some people from the defensive side of the ball and if you miss on some of the sexier defenses consider the Skins with a very late pick and hope their upside comes to fruition. 

Well that is it for Washington's fantasy prospects heading into 2009.  Next up: The NY Football Giants 
 
 
 
NFL and fantasy football fans check out my new site http://www.oaklandraiderscentral.com for commentary on everything that is the NFL and fantasy football.  Also, sign up for my free fantasy e-course that will prepare you for your draft and enable you to dominate your league in 2009!!
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