Fantasy Profile - Jeff Blake

Preseason 1999

Blake sale

Looking for good value at quarterback? Don’t forget Jeff Blake

By ROBERT NEELY, Associate editor

Last year at this time, I was the biggest Jeff Blake basher around.

I’m sure Mr. Blake is a nice guy, but I felt, entering the season, that there was no way Blake would be worth two cents in any fantasy league.

I was right. Blake was benched in favor of Neil O’Donnell (you’ll see his picture next to the definition for "average" in the dictionary). Fantasy owners who invested in Blake saw no real return on their investments until Week 15. By then, it was too late. Blake was a bust.

This year I am a Jeff Blake proponent.

Call me crazy, indecisive, whatever, but I see Blake as a very serviceable fantasy backup in larger leagues who could emerge as a pretty productive player.

Yes, I know Carl Pickens has vowed never again to play for the Bengals. And I know Akili Smith is waiting in the wings, hungry for a chance to seize Blake’s job.

But I’m going out on a limb to say that Blake will be the Bengals’ starter throughout the season, and that he will be a more-than-adequate fantasy player. Here are three reasons why that will happen:

The talent is still there. Blake’s troubles in Cincinnati have been grossly exaggerated, especially by the Bengal coaching staff. Head coach Bruce Coslet has mangled his QB decisions in recent years, and the result has been a litany of poor performances by Blake and others. But Blake still has the beautiful deep ball that made him a fantasy phenom in years past.
The controversy is gone. Blake hasn’t received a fair shake in recent years, but it appears that the Bengals are ready to give him one this time around. O’Donnell and Paul Justin are gone, and Smith isn’t ready yet. That leaves the door wide open for Blake to start. Blake knows it’s not a long-term gig, but the gorillas looking over his shoulder are gone.
The incentive is real. Blake is entering a contract year, so he has every reason to put in the practice and preparation that goes into creating a solid season. I have a gut feeling that Blake will seize the day and put up big enough numbers that he will become a prized commodity on the 2000 free-agent market.

Smith should take over the Bengals’ starting QB job in 2000, and Blake will likely be looking for another job. Keeper-league owners would be advised to grab Smith now. And if you take Blake, grabbing Smith for your taxi squad would be one way to get some peace of mind about Blake’s ability to hold on to the job this year.

Frankly, though, that doesn’t concern me. Blake is the guy this year, and he will be undervalued in most fantasy leagues. If you’re looking to buy low, Blake should be prominent on your list.

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If you don't see a player in our Internet edition, chances are you'll find a report on him in the print edition of Pro Football Weekly's Fantasy Football Guide '99. It's available at bookstores and newsstands across the country, or you can call 1-800-FOOTBALL (1-800-366-8225) to order a copy.

Player index

Alexander, Derrick
Chief WR Alexander ready for a big season

Anderson, Jamal
The Fred Taylor-Jamal Anderson debate

Anthony, Reidel
Anthony, not Emanuel, is Bucs’ No. 1 receiving threat

Bettis, Jerome
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Biakabutuka, Tshimanga
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Blackwell, Will
Breaking down the Steeler wide receivers

Blake, Jeff
Blake is back, and fantasy owners should take notice

Blake, Jeff
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Bledsoe, Drew
Bledsoe’s contribution: consistency

Boston, David
Rising Arizona: Cardinal receivers look to make a fantasy impact

Brister, Bubby
Smith, McCaffrey should still produce under Brister

Bruce, Isaac
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Bruce, Isaac
The Ram offense appears to be vastly improved, but fantasy owners should approach with caution

Brunell, Mark
Solving the riddle that is Mark Brunell

Chandler, Chris
Chandler won’t repeat career year

Collins, Kerry
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Conway, Curtis
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Conwell, Ernie
The Ram offense appears to be vastly improved, but fantasy owners should approach with caution

Crockett, Zack
Raider running game doesn’t have much to offer

Davis, Terrell
One editor’s No. 1 choice: Fred Taylor

Davis, Terrell
The Fred Taylor-Jamal Anderson debate

Davis, Tyrone
Assessing several fantasy aberrations

Dawkins, Sean
Dawkins should help Galloway, Seahawk offense fly

Dillon, Corey
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Dudley, Rickey
Tricky Rickey: Dudley’s stock not determined by talent alone

Dyson, Kevin
Addition of FB Neal increases George’s fantasy value

Edwards, Troy
Breaking down the Steeler wide receivers

Emanuel, Bert
Anthony, not Emanuel, is Bucs’ No. 1 receiving threat

Enis, Curtis
Nowhere to go but up for Enis

Enis, Curtis
Looking to maximize your fantasy football portfolio? Try these low-risk investments

Faulk, Marshall
The Ram offense appears to be vastly improved, but fantasy owners should approach with caution

Flutie, Doug
Flutie may leave fantasy owners Buffaloed

Gadsden, Oronde
Assessing several fantasy aberrations

Galloway, Joey
Dawkins should help Galloway, Seahawk offense fly

Gannon, Rich
The ultimate QB sleeper — Rich Gannon

George, Eddie
Addition of FB Neal increases George’s fantasy value

Gonzalez, Tony
Chiefs’ Gonzalez ready to fulfill potential

Graham, Jay
Baltimore’s Holmes is not fantasy-starter material

Grbac, Elvis
Worn-out Warren: Moon’s fantasy football shine is gone

Green, Trent
The Ram offense appears to be vastly improved, but fantasy owners should approach with caution

Hakim, Az-Zahir
The Ram offense appears to be vastly improved, but fantasy owners should approach with caution

Harbaugh, Jim
How will Leaf’s mistakes affect Harbaugh?

Harrison, Marvin
Breakout season on tap for Harrison

Hawkins, Courtney
Breaking down the Steeler wide receivers

Henley, June
The Ram offense appears to be vastly improved, but fantasy owners should approach with caution

Hicks, Skip
Reasons not to pick Hicks

Hicks, Skip
Assessing several fantasy aberrations

Hill, Greg
The Ram offense appears to be vastly improved, but fantasy owners should approach with caution

Hill, Madre
Wide awake: Former supersleeper Staley ready to make a splash

Hoard, Leroy
Hoard’s numbers aren’t entirely of his own making

Hoard, Leroy
Assessing several fantasy aberrations

Holcombe, Robert
The Ram offense appears to be vastly improved, but fantasy owners should approach with caution

Holmes, Priest
Baltimore’s Holmes is not fantasy-starter material

Holt, Torry
The Ram offense appears to be vastly improved, but fantasy owners should approach with caution

Irvin, Michael
The Playmaker wasn’t exactly the Moneymaker in fantasy ’98

Johnson, Keyshawn
Jet-powered: Fantasy lineups look better with Keyshawn Johnson

Kaufman, Napoleon
Raider running game doesn’t have much to offer

Kirby, Terry
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Lee, Amp
The Ram offense appears to be vastly improved, but fantasy owners should approach with caution

Lewis, Jermaine
Assessing several fantasy aberrations

Manning, Peyton
Manning will be better in ’99 — sort of

Martin, Curtis
Jet set: Martin’s stock could be on the rise

Mathis, Terance
Without Martin, look for Mathis to slide

McCaffrey, Ed
Smith, McCaffrey should still produce under Brister

McNair, Steve
Addition of FB Neal increases George’s fantasy value

Moon, Warren
Worn-out Warren: Moon’s fantasy football shine is gone

Moore, Rob
Rising Arizona: Cardinal receivers look to make a fantasy impact

Owens, Terrell
Owens emerging as a fantasy force

Proehl, Ricky
The Ram offense appears to be vastly improved, but fantasy owners should approach with caution

Riemersma, Jay
Assessing several fantasy aberrations

Rhett, Errict
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Rhett, Errict
Baltimore’s Holmes is not fantasy-starter material

Salaam, Rashaan
Raider running game doesn’t have much to offer

Sanders, Frank
Rising Arizona: Cardinal receivers look to make a fantasy impact

Smith, Antowain
Buffalo’s Smith is the anti-risk pick

Smith, Emmitt
Too legit to quit on Emmitt

Smith, Rod
Smith, McCaffrey should still produce under Brister

Staley, Duce
Wide awake: Former supersleeper Staley ready to make a splash

Stewart, Kordell
Steelers’ Stewart will bounce back

Stewart, Kordell
Why RB Jerome Bettis shouldn’t be selected as early as most draft boards would dictate

Taylor, Fred
One editor’s No. 1 choice: Fred Taylor

Taylor, Fred
Solving the riddle that is Mark Brunell

Taylor, Fred
The Fred Taylor-Jamal Anderson debate

Thigpen, Yancey
Addition of FB Neal increases George’s fantasy value

Toomer, Amani
Assessing several fantasy aberrations

Van Dyke, Alex
Breaking down the Steeler wide receivers

Ward, Hines
Breaking down the Steeler wide receivers

Warner, Kurt
The Ram offense appears to be vastly improved, but fantasy owners should approach with caution

Wilkins, Jeff
The Ram offense appears to be vastly improved, but fantasy owners should approach with caution

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