NFC East fantasy football capsule
By Rafael Zamorano
Edited by Cory J. Bonini
Positional battles
- Wideouts Sam Hurd and Miles Austin are the leading candidates to take over the slot position, but former college quarterback Isaiah Stanback has an outside shot at obtaining the gig.
Potential breakout performers
- Rookie running back Felix Jones was selected in the first round of April's draft despite not starting at the University of Arkansas. However, the Cowboys see him as the perfect counterpart for the tough Marion Barber III thanks to Jones' home run capability, and his touches should increase steadily as the season progresses.
Potential disappointing players
- Wide receiver Patrick Crayton has inherited the starting job opposite Terrell Owens after the Cowboys decided to cut wideout Terry Glenn. However, Crayton let the team down at critical instances at the end of last season, and some doubt he can ever become a reliable No. 2 receiver within this offense. Essentially, don't expect a massive breakout campaign.
- Barber is being drafted inside of the top 10 this year in most formats, which may prove to be a little too early. He is still going to split time, and the Cowboys are not afraid to sling the ball around. Barber should still be a great fantasy player, but some people seem to be expecting the world out of him.
Injury update
- The Cowboys are a healthy team and don't sport a lot of injury-prone players.
Positional battles
Potential breakout performers
- With tight end Jeremy Shockey being shipped off to the New Orleans Saints, second-year tight end Kevin Boss appears to have a stranglehold on the starting gig. Having already played a critical role for the Giants down the stretch last year after Shockey's injury, Boss has tremendous upside and could become quarterback Eli Manning's go-to receiver in the red zone.
Potential disappointing players
- Jacobs could disappoint fantasy owners this year with the team's committee approach. On average, he is being drafted in the second round of standard drafts, but that figure should come down some after the team's committee announcement. Nonetheless, be wary of Jacobs this season.
Injury update
- Wide receiver Plaxico Burress (ankle) is still suffering from a lingering ankle injury sustained last year. It is uncertain as to how injured his ankle currently is, but it is a situation that bears watching.
Positional battles
Potential breakout performers
- The Eagles have shown their faith in starting tight end L.J. Smith, who's coming off an injured-riddled 2007 campaign, by labeling him as their franchise player. Philadelphia was one of the worst red zone teams last year, and a healthy Smith could do wonders for an offense looking to improve significantly in this department.
- Wideout Reggie Brown is being counted out by a lot of fantasy footballers this offseason, but he should be able to contribute as a strong No. 3 option. He could surprise and post career numbers, much like people unfairly expected of him last year.
Potential disappointing players
- Buckhalter, the teams' short-yardage specialist, could lose a significant amount of playing time if Booker can fulfill his enormous potential.
Injury update
- Like every single year at Eagles' camp, quarterback Donovan McNabb (shoulder) is facing durability questions. This time around, he's apparently recovered from last year's knee surgery, but his throwing shoulder has been bothering him throughout most of the offseason.
Positional battles
Potential breakout performers
- Quarterback Jason Campbell went through four offensive systems at Auburn University, and he's learning his third one as a pro in Washington. However, new head coach Jim Zorn's West Coast offense is similar to the offense he ran as a senior in Auburn, which propelled him to the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft. A certain level of familiarity, and two new big targets on the outside (Thomas and Kelly), could translate into big numbers for Campbell this year.
Potential disappointing players
- Rookie tight end Fred Davis, out of the University of Southern California, was considered by many a first-round prospect. However, he landed with the Redskins in the second round of April's draft, which means he'll have to play behind one of the league's best in Chris Cooley. Davis should see a fair amount of time in multiple tight end packages, but the position has proved awfully tough for a rookie to make an impact in his first year.
Injury update
- Wideout Santana Moss hasn't played a full 16-game season since 2005, and he's frequently looked banged up when on the field. While Moss still possesses electrifying speed on the outside, Moss' durability issues have made him an unreliable fantasy player.
