Remember the Titans … for sleeper receivers

By Kyle Chrise  |   Tuesday, July 08, 2008  |  Comments( 10 )

Fantasy Football
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You may think the most important decisions in your fantasy football draft are going to happen in the early rounds. While that's true to some extent, fantasy studs alone will not win you a league championship. You’re going to need that surprise player who rises up from nowhere. You need a player who will leave your rivals pulling out their hair. You need a ... Tennessee Titans receiver?

Now, some fantasy owners would rather concede their entire season, or, worse, take a Dolphins receiver, before even considering any of Vince Young’s targets. And sure, none of Tennessee's wideouts will be playing in Hawaii in February. But the sleeper potential for Tennessee’s receivers could give you that surprise starter who makes your team a playoff contender.

The two receivers in question are Justin Gage and Roydell Williams. Gage led the team in receiving yards with 750 last season. He's a 6-foot-4 giant with great hops, but despite his size, Young threw to Gage only five times in the red zone last year, which is why the receiver finished with only two touchdowns.

Meanwhile, Williams had 719 yards and four TDs in 2007, but he was Young's favorite target in the red zone. In fact, only 11 receivers in the entire league had more red-zone looks than Williams.

The big difference this year is that Tennessee's new offensive coordinator, Mike Heimerdinger, likes to stretch the field with the passing game, especially with deep routes. If Young can improve his downfield passing (it's almost impossible for him to get worse), Gage and Williams will be there to reap the benefits.

Of course, if we’re talking about Titans WRs, success will live and die at the arm of Young. Sure, he threw nearly twice as many picks as he did touchdowns last year (nine to 17). And yes, a Tennessee receiver found the end zone in only about one out of every 10 red-zone chances. Still, Gage and Williams are in a position to really improve from last year's stats, and both could end up being great late-round picks in your fantasy league.
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About Kyle Chrise

Like a modern-day Moses, Kyle was found drifting down the Monongahela River, wrapped in a Terrible Towel, next to what was then Three Rivers Stadium. Found and raised by the stadium's grounds crew, Chrise lived and breathed Steelers football. As a youngster, he earned the trust of new head coach ...
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