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Cardinals QB
Jake Plummer
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I can’t wait to see how the Cardinals’ passing game develops. Last season WRs
Rob Moore and Frank Sanders posted big numbers. With the addition of first-round WR David
Boston, Arizona should be thrilling to watch when it airs it out. This trio probably
won’t equal the Vikings’ 1-2-3 punch of Randy Moss, Cris Carter and Jake Reed,
but don’t be surprised if the Cardinals’ triplets provide some of the same
matchup problems for opposing defenses that their Minnesota counterparts create. Moore and
Sanders were quite useful in yardage leagues in 1998 but hardly dynamic in scoring
leagues. Thus, the player I think really bears watching in fantasy ball is QB Jake
Plummer. While the receivers will have to share the wealth, Plummer could be poised for a
huge fantasy campaign. Training camp will provide clues as to whether the Cardinals’
passing game will be very good or downright explosive.
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It wasn’t that long ago that Michael Irvin was very a solid fantasy performer
— not quite a bona fide stud in scoring leagues, but a dependable receiver who
could be counted on to rack up yardage and score a respectable TD total per season. But
things have changed, and they’ve changed for the worse regarding "the
Playmaker." Although Irvin denies he’s unhappy with his contractual situation
(he didn’t get an extension as he enters the final year of his deal) and claims
he’s not unhappy with his role in Chan Gailey’s socialist offense, I suspect
Irvin is not being completely forthcoming. With Gailey running the show, the Cowboys will
share the wealth; i.e., spread the ball around to a bevy of receivers. With the signing of
Rocket Ismail and the re-signing of Ernie Mills, will Irvin again see his production
decline? Will he even be with Dallas once the regular season begins? My belief is yes to
both questions, but things could change quickly.
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There is no question that the Dolphins will run the ball this season. But the question
on fantasy-leaguers’ minds is: Who will do the running? Jimmy Johnson has more
runners in camp than you’d find at the U.S. Olympic Trials. To save time and space,
we’ll eliminate a few candidates from the featured-RB picture. Karim Abdul-Jabbar
won’t be the guy; if he were a legit candidate, would Johnson have spent three
’99 draft picks on backs? Last year’s first-round pick, John Avery, won’t
be the main man either, as his size and skills lend themselves to a third-down role.
Rookie Rob Konrad is slated to be an H-back/fullback, so we’ll count him out too.
That leaves trade pickup Tyrone Wheatley and rookies J.J. Johnson and Cecil Collins.
It’s possible more than one of the three will impress Jimmy Johnson, leading to the
dreaded RB-by-committee. It is hoped, for fantasy-football purposes, someone will emerge
as the clear-cut No. 1 guy. If so, pencil him in for 12 touchdowns.
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To me, the most intriguing training-camp issue isn’t a battle between two players
for a starting spot; it’s a battle within a single person. That person is Kordell
Stewart. After a phenomenal season in ’97, Stewart came crashing down to earth last
year. Now is his chance for redemption. With the help of new offensive coordinator Kevin
Gilbride, Stewart already has shown signs that point to a bounce-back season. He has
dedicated himself to learning Gilbride’s system, which is designed to take more
advantage of Stewart’s abilities. The Steelers have put their faith in Stewart,
signing him to a contract extension this offseason. They are prepared to sink or swim with
him. If Stewart continues to show the work ethic and demeanor he displayed at offseason
workouts, Pittsburgh could return to the playoffs.
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Keep an eye on the Broncos’ QB situation throughout the preseason. The main
question is whether Bubby Brister can get the job done. Brister played like a madman in
his five extended appearances last season, but some fantasy-football owners keep having
flashbacks to Brister’s days playing for the Jets and Rich Kotite. If Brister can do
for a full season in ’99 what he did for a portion of a season in ’98, the
Broncos will be set, and Brister will be one of the more valuable fantasy QBs. Such a
development would also mean Rod Smith, Ed McCaffrey and Shannon Sharpe would remain very
valuable fantasy contributors. But if Brister struggles, the Broncos’ offense could
be thrown into chaos. That would affect Smith, McCaffrey and Sharpe and likely drag down
RB Terrell Davis’ numbers too. If Brister isn’t the answer, can green prospect
Brian Griese or recently unretired Chris Miller get the job done?
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The Bears are a team in need of a lot, and the turnaround could start with RB Curtis
Enis. Chicago has been in need of a top running back to build its offense around for some
time. The Bears thought they had their man in Enis — the fifth overall pick in
’98 — but a preseason holdout prevented him from taking over as the primary
threat on offense at the beginning of last year. Then, just as Enis started becoming the
bruising runner Chicago had hoped for, he tore his anterior cruciate ligament in his first
pro start during Week 10 and was done for the year. Enis reported to the Bears’
recent minicamp in good shape and plans on being the focal point of the offense sooner
rather than later. If his knee is at or close to full strength, Enis could be a quality
piece to any fantasy puzzle. The Bears would not have picked him that high if they
didn’t want him to touch the ball 20 times a game. And, according to reports, he
thinks he’ll be ready for at least that come September.
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