Fantasy: Can Moss make a big impact?

By Adam Levy  |   Thursday, June 28, 2007  |  Comments( 13 )

Fantasy Football
Got something to say?

Log In above and share your thoughts on this topic with other fans!

After a slew of embarrassing on- and off-field incidents caused the Minnesota Vikings to jettison him after the 2004 season, wide receiver Randy Moss went from a dope-smoking, bus-mooning, touchdown-catching machine to a quieter, lethargic version of his old self in Oakland.

The sum composite of his time in the Bay: 82 receptions for 1,558 yards and 11 touchdowns. A typical Moss season of old, except those stats were spread over two arduous years that saw the Raiders go 6-26, finishing last in the AFC West both times.

"Randy Moss is a player whose skills are diminishing, and he's in denial of those eroding skills," said his former offensive coordinator, Oakland's Tom Walsh, to the Boston Globe. "[He] was a great receiver, but he lacked the work ethic and the desire to cultivate any skills that would compensate for what he was losing physically later in his career."

Apparently spurred by the successful reclamation project that salvaged Corey Dillon from clubhouse cancer to model citizen, the Patriots have gone that route again, acquiring the 30-year-old wideout from the beleaguered Raiders for a fourth-round pick this past April. The Pats are Moss' third organization in four years.

Fantasy Football Analysis: The move to Chowdertown is a positive one on the surface for Moss, but if he continues to display the lackadaisical "Straight cash, homey" demeanor he has over the past few years, the New England-area fans and media will turn on him with a ferocity normally reserved for ex-Red Sox first baseman Bill Buckner.

Once upon a time this guy was an undisputed first-round pick who scored like a running back and made highlight reel grabs on a weekly basis -- those days are over. With Tom Brady throwing him passes, Moss' numbers are likely to spike, but the Pats have a barrage of adept playmakers (Laurence Maroney, Donte' Stallworth, Wes Welker) who will hinder the amount of times he hits the endzone.

The good news is that because Moss has been such a waste of fantasy space the past two years, his stock has dramatically fallen, bringing his price tag to affordability as many have completely given up on him. Expect a season output of six to eight TDs and 1,000 yards, and look at Moss as a decent gamble to take as your second wide receiver in Rounds 5 or 6. Just don't reach -- the big name means a lot less than it used to.

RealFootball365.com: Where there's no such thing as an offseason for New England Patriots football.
Got something to say?

Log In above and share your thoughts on this topic with other fans! (13)

Article Tools Share!   |  RSS  |  Bleacher Report About Bleacher Report