Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2001

McNair looks like a keeper

Strong finish could carry over into ’02

By Jeff Agrest, Senior editor

Last season Titans QB Steve McNair finished with merely 47 fantasy points, according to the Pro Football Weekly scoring system (three points for a TD pass, six points for a TD run plus some yardage bonuses). Through 13 games this season, his "Airness" is at a whopping 90 points, and he’s shown no signs of slowing down.

With RB Eddie George sputtering, the Titans made the decision to shift the focal point of their offense to McNair, who can be one of the league’s most dangerous quarterbacks because of his strong arm and impressive running ability. People might not have realized it, but before there was Daunte Culpepper, there was McNair.

McNair has been showing everything he can do the last several weeks, and it just might carry over into next season, thus raising his stock on fantasy draft boards. If you have McNair in a keeper league, you might want to hang on to him, because the Titans are finally realizing what they have. It’s just a shame it took a poor season from George to figure it out.

On PFW’s final draft board, McNair ranked 14th among quarterbacks. After all, he was coming off a 15-TD pass season in which he failed to rush for a score. But that’s all changed this season. McNair has thrown for 17 touchdowns and run for four. He’s been particularly hot through the air of late, throwing nine TD passes and breaking 300 yards twice in the last four games. And for those of you who receive deductions for interceptions, McNair hasn’t thrown a pick in three straight games.

McNair has been aided by WRs Kevin Dyson and Derrick Mason, who have combined for five 100-yard receiving games and 11 TD catches. The Titans always have believed in Mason’s ability, but Dyson’s re-emergence has been stunning. He was knocked out early last season with a knee injury but has shown no ill effects. In fact, earlier this season, Dyson was running the 40-yard dash in 4.3 seconds.

So while George will still be looked to next season on the ground, rest assured that the Titans’ coaching staff won’t forget McNair’s production through the air. As Titans RB coach Sherman Smith told PFW, "I’m excited about that in that we come back next year, and we know Steve can beat you with his legs, he’ll beat you with his arm, and then the running game will be back to where it is supposed to be, and the Tennessee Titans will be back to where we are supposed to be."

And McNair will be back to where he’s supposed to be — in the top 10 on the fantasy QB draft board.

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