| Well, well, well. Looks like a Heisman Trophy
winner might finally make a name for himself in the NFL. Chris Weinke was named the new
starting quarterback for the Panthers this past weekend, as the team cut ties with
presumed starter Jeff Lewis. Weinke will open his first pro season Sunday at Minnesota,
where he’ll match wits with Vikings QB Daunte Culpepper.
But that’s where the similarities end, at least from a fantasy football
perspective.
Weinke doesn’t have Culpepper’s arm, mobility, weapons, familiarity with the
league, etc. So you have to wonder: Is Weinke even draftable?
In larger leagues, he is. In fact, using PFW’s final draft board, which appears in
our 2001 Kickoff Issue (now on sale), I’d move Weinke up from No. 41 to 24, ahead of
Charlie Batch, Tim Couch, Jay Fiedler and Chris Chandler. So in a 12-team league, Weinke
would be a low-end backup.
There’s no way he should be starting in any fantasy league, but with some nice
weapons around him, Weinke has the potential to put up some nice numbers and serve as a
reliable backup.
With Richard Huntley spelling him and an upgraded offensive line blocking for him,
Tshimanga Biakabutuka might finally be able to break the 1,000-yard mark. Muhsin Muhammad
led the NFC in receptions last season, and TE Wesley Walls returns from a season-ending
injury.
Sure, the running game isn’t top notch, but Muhammad, Walls and Donald Hayes are
receivers to reckon with. Their great size will come in handy if Weinke’s passes
aren’t exactly on target. Patrick Jeffers (knee) isn’t likely to play in the
opener, but he’s close to returning to practice.
As for Weinke himself, he has aura of confidence about him. And though he pretty much
won the starting job by default, he has some great tools. Prior to the NFL draft in April,
scouts marveled at Weinke’s size, smarts and toughness. He improved his passing
skills by returning for his senior year at Florida State, and his arm is strong.
"We’re dealing with a pretty mature fellow who has been in big games and
dealt with noisy crowds," Panthers head coach George Seifert said. "So that part
of it is not going to be new to him. I sense that he’s up to it."
Considering the Panthers’ lack of QB depth, Weinke is a pretty safe bet to start
every week. And if they fall behind often — as many think they will — he’ll
have ample opportunity to throw.
Weinke isn’t starting material yet, but he could provide reliable insurance as a
backup.
"In Our Opinion" fantasy columns have now resumed for the 2001 season.
Columns will appear daily, Tuesday through Friday, throughout the regular season. The
Fantasy Doctor has returned with your pigskin prescriptions, so send your fantasy
questions to the Doc's attention at fantasydoctor@pfwa.com |
