How Much Fantasy Value Does Eric Moulds Have?

August 1, 2007 @ 16:00:00

By Ryan R. Bonini and Cory J. Bonini
Edited by Ryan Dodson

The Tennessee Titans added veteran wide receiver Eric Moulds to the team's roster recently, and he is expected to compete for a starting gig.

Moulds brings some much-needed veteran experience to the Titans' roster at the wide receiver position. After spending his first 10 seasons with the Buffalo Bills, Moulds was one and out with the Houston Texans last season. During his year there, he started 16 games, catching 57 passes for 557 yards and one touchdown as the team's No. 2 receiver opposite Andre Johnson.

The Titans' receivers have raised a lot of questions so far this offseason in regards to whether they are talented enough for quarterback Vince Young to succeed with. Receiver Brandon Jones is the only projected starter for the Titans, but don't discount Moulds from entering the starting lineup for Week 1. At very worst, Moulds gives the team's young receivers a veteran ear to chew on for tips, and he should see time in three-receiver sets.

Moulds appears to have significantly lost a step, but being a No. 2 receiver with a talented player on the rise, like Jones, opposite him could help his cause. Moulds won't be asked to carry the team, in all likelihood, but he should be capable of being a viable contributor.

Table: Eric Moulds - Receiving Statistics (2004-06)

Year	Team	GM	GS	Rec	Yds	Avg	TD
2004	Buffalo Bills	16	16	88	1043	11.9	5
2005	Buffalo Bills	15	14	81	816	10.1	4
2006	Houston Texans	16	16	57	557	9.8	1

A steady decline in Moulds' yards-per-reception average indicates he may very well be over the hill, and you can be sure his best days are behind him. Any improvement upon his statistics from 2006 should be considered gravy.

Fantasy Outlook

Fantasy players shouldn't go crazy and start reconstructing their draft board for Moulds, of course. He is no better than a weak No. 4 receiver with limited upside. By "limited upside," we mean just a negligible hair above none whatsoever. In the last seven seasons, he has scored more than five touchdowns just once (10 in 2002, which was his most productive season as a pro). He is, however, capable of providing a solid set of hands for the clutch, possession receiver role.

To make matters worse, Young is just that - young. His inexperience will likely limit the potential of his receivers, so there is little here for fantasy players to be enthusiastic about.

The effect this will have on Jones is probably more notable than what Moulds can contribute. If opposing defenses are unable to key in on Jones solely, he could be in for a pretty decent season. Don't expect much more than him being a No. 4 fantasy receiver with a boatload of upside, however. He probably is at least a year away from realizing his upside due to the shakiness at quarterback and in the running game.

As training camp plays out, Moulds will likely end up cracking the starting lineup if he can build a solid rapport with Young and pick up the offense quickly. Even then, keep your expectations low as he's someone you would target late in your draft, if at all.

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Ryan R. Bonini

Founding KFFL in 1996, Bonini serves as KFFL's General Manager and VP of technology for KFFL's parent company, USA TODAY SPORTS Media Group. Bonini was named the 2009 Fantasy Football Writer of the Year by the FSWA and received honors with the Best Fantasy Football Series in '10, making him the first two-time FSWA football award winner.

His work has been found in USA Today, Yahoo! Sports, FOX Sports, CBS Sports, NFL.com, and many others. He has also been featured on numerous radio programs around the country. Bonini is a member of the PFWA, FSWA and FSTA.

Follow Ryan on Twitter @ryanbonini

Cory J. Bonini

Cory J. Bonini is a senior editor at KFFL. In late 2002, Bonini joined the KFFL staff as a research analyst. He vaulted himself into one of the industry's leading fantasy analysts.

Bonini has been involved in fantasy sports since 1996. A member of the Fantasy Sports Trade Association as well as Fantasy Sports Writers Association, he has been featured in print, on the radio and is also a published writer on scores of sites. Bonini co-hosted Big Lead Sports on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio from 2011 to 2012.

Bonini was recognized with the 2010 Best Article in Print Award from the FSWA and was a finalist for the same award in 2011. In '11, he finished first overall in the FSWA NFL experts challenge that featured 60 of the industry's best competitors.

Follow him on Twitter @CoryKFFL

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