This fantasy football outlook is the fourth in a five-part series that will review the important free agency transplants and how they could help or hinder your shot at the title.
This week, Next Impulse Sports takes a look at two former Broncos in Eric Decker and Knowshon Moreno along with new Rams wideout Kenny Britt.
Eric Decker
Old Team: Denver Broncos
New Team: New York Jets
Eric Decker, at 6’3″ 215-pounds, is a big, strong receiver with superior hands that can do just about everything. Over the past two seasons with Peyton Manning, the former Golden Gopher caught 172 balls for 2,352 yards and 24 touchdowns, yet he quietly left in free agency for the Jets. While Manning could turn Al Michaels into a legit pass-catching threat, you cannot ignore his talent or those numbers.
Actually, yes you can, at least when Geno Smith might be throwing the rock in the Meadowlands. In a move similar to that of Greg Jennings from Aaron Rodgers to the Vikings QB turnstile, Decker’s numbers will surely fall, legitimizing his positional ranking of 25-35 by most services.
If Vick starts all 16 games, move him up at least 7-8 slots. If Smith starts all 16, or even half of the season, move him down another 4-5. Don’t be afraid to select Decker in the 6th round of standard leagues, but are you really more comfortable with him over Reggie Wayne, Golden Tate, Michael Floyd or Julian Edelman? He’s a steal in the 8-9th but a risk anywhere above, unless you already have two stud WRs.
Kenny Britt
Old Team: Tennessee Titans
New Team: St. Louis Rams
Similar to Hakeem Nicks, many forgot Kenny Britt departed a team he spent his entire career with for a new gig, leading many to subsequently forget him come fantasy season.
The 6th-year wide receiver and former first round pick has missed a whopping 23 games over the last four seasons, with his only 16 game showing coming in his rookie year of 2009. His production is a direct reflection of the missed time: 157 catches, 2450 yards and 19 touchdowns over five years is far cry from starter-worthy.
The fresh start under his former coach in Jeff Fisher will likely help and the Rams are hoping to provide him with much-needed QB stability, but Fisher’s club has a billion wide receivers on the depth chart. Brian Quick, Tavon Austin, Stedman Bailey, Chris Givens and Austin Pettis should all make the club. Yes, Britt will start opposite Austin and the big body should be refreshing for Sam Bradford but proceed with caution.
The nearly forgotten Britt is going undrafted in some leagues and rarely is entering the top 13-14 rounds. Do not touch him inside the top 11 rounds, but feel free to toss a goat at the big body in hopes of catching a random 1,000-yard, double-digit season.
Knowshon Moreno
Old Team: Denver Broncos
New Team: Miami Dolphins
Knowshon Moreno was a top 4 fantasy RB last season, ahead of Marshawn Lynch, Adrian Peterson, Eddie Lacy and DeMarco Murray.
You’re not the only one who didn’t realize that.
Now the 6th-year man finds himself buried between 30-50 in positional rankings. Why? Because he’s behind five new offensive line starters in Miami, has an unproven co-pilot at QB and the entire offense lacks a stabilized identity. Everyone has pointed to Peyton Manning as the reason for a massive 2014 season that saw 1,586 total yards, 60 receptions and 13 total touchdowns, and rightfully so, as the Manning factor has single-handedly shot Moreno’s replacement Montee Ball into first round consideration.
Moreno’s role remains very cloudy under Joe Philbin, with depth chart projections placing him anywhere between first and fourth in the backfield, which would land him behind Lamar Miller, Daniel Thomas and Mike Gillislee.
That’s not happening. By Week 2 Moreno will be either the No. 1 or No 2 back in Miami.
Like Britt, proceed with caution but don’t be afraid to pull the trigger on him as a No. 3 or 4 RB in the 9th round. Anywhere above is awfully aggressive and anywhere below is a steal.
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Photos Courtesy: Julio Cortez/AP, Sun Sentinel, Jeff Robertson/AP
