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Preseason 1999
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Mr. Consistency
Somewhere along the way, once-spectacular Drew Bledsoe became a steadying influence
— and that’s OK with fantasy-leaguers
By MICHAEL LEV, Senior editor
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| It’s hard to pinpoint exactly
when this happened, but Patriot QB Drew Bledsoe has gone from Young
Hotshot to Old Reliable. He has gone from spectacular to steady, from special to stable,
from commotion-causing to consistent. And that’s just fine in fantasy football
circles.
Bledsoe has become the type of player you don’t have to worry about. Once
you’ve drafted him, most likely in the second or third round, all you need to do is
pencil him into your lineup. Regardless of the opponent or the circumstances, Bledsoe will
give you a TD pass or two, and he just might flirt with 300 yards.
Beginning in 1996, his first consistently good NFL season, Bledsoe has played in
46-of-48 games and has thrown at least one TD pass in 39 of those starts. Last season he
threw at least one TD pass in 13-of-14 games and only twice threw for fewer than 200 yards
in a game. One of those occasions was Week 15 vs. the Rams, when Bledsoe was forced to the
sideline with a fractured right index finger. The finger would knock him out for the rest
of the season and eventually require surgery.
According to sideline observers at the Patriots’ spring minicamp, Bledsoe was
showing no ill effects from the finger injury. In fact, he appeared to be in midseason
form.
If anything, the finger injury has cast a positive light on Bledsoe’s reputation.
Some scouts questioned Bledsoe’s toughness. He answered the doubters by playing
through the injury for two full games and the end of another, leading the Patriots to
three consecutive victories, including two in the last minute. Fantasy-leaguers now know
that minor bumps and bruises won’t stop Bledsoe from answering the bell.
Earlier in his career, you weren’t sure what you were going to get with Bledsoe.
In 1994, his second year, he threw 25 TD passes and led the league with 4,555 yards,
including six 300-yard games. The following year, he threw only 13 TD passes, and that was
with a late-season flourish (eight in the last five weeks).
In ’96, Bledsoe found his groove, and seasons of 27 and 28 TD passes followed.
Assuming he stays healthy, I would be stunned if Bledsoe doesn’t reach the
mid-20’s in TD passes again this season. His supporting cast isn’t the greatest,
particularly in the running game, but that could work in Bledsoe’s favor. If New
England can’t run the ball consistently, it will be forced to rely on Bledsoe’s
arm. More passing attempts leads to more scoring opportunities.
Does Bledsoe have the potential to dominate, as Steve Young and Randall Cunningham did
a year ago with 36 and 34 TD passes, respectively? Probably not. Does Bledsoe have the
potential to run for half a dozen scores, as Young, Steve McNair and Kordell Stewart very
well might? Not in this life. But a tougher, more mature Bledsoe will provide fantasy
owners with a worry-free, weekly starter who will produce consistently.
In today’s day and age — when unproven quarterbacks outnumber seasoned vets,
and the walking wounded outnumber the healthy bodies — there’s something to be
said for that.
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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
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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
Why the Steelers’ running back shouldn’t be selected as early as most draft
boards would dictate
Biakabutuka, Tshimanga
Looking to maximize your fantasy football portfolio? Try these low-risk investments
Blackwell, Will
Breaking down the Steeler wide receivers
Blake, Jeff
Blake is back, and fantasy owners should take notice
Blake, Jeff
Looking to maximize your fantasy football portfolio? Try these low-risk investments
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
Looking to maximize your fantasy football portfolio? Try these low-risk investments
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
Looking to maximize your fantasy football portfolio? Try these low-risk investments
Conway, Curtis
Looking to maximize your fantasy football portfolio? Try these low-risk investments
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
Looking to maximize your fantasy football portfolio? Try these low-risk investments
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
Looking to maximize your fantasy football portfolio? Try these low-risk investments
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
Looking to maximize your fantasy football portfolio? Try these low-risk investments
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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