Marques Colston, WR, New Orleans Saints

October 5, 2006 @ 16:00:00

By Nicholas Minnix
Edited by Ryan Dodson

When the New Orleans Saints traded wide receiver Donte' Stallworth to the Philadelphia Eagles for linebacker Mark Simoneau and a conditional fourth-round draft choice on Aug. 28, many football talking heads wondered aloud what the Saints would do about their sudden lack of depth at the position. Some fantasy owners were a bit distressed because they had taken a shot on quarterback Drew Brees, hoping he'd be the spark to light the flame of an offense with so much potential. Four weeks into the season, it has become obvious that either needn't worry.

That's because the development of wide receiver Marques Colston has been speedier than anyone – including his coach - could have expected.

"If we loved him we would have drafted him in the third round or the fourth round, so we liked him," new New Orleans head coach Sean Payton told the Associated Press after the team's Week 1 contest.

Instead, they landed what now appears to be an even greater bargain in the seventh round. Fantasy owners have been more fortunate; more than likely, they've been able to acquire him from their league's free-agent list. Four games into his rookie season, Colston has 20 receptions for 336 yards and three touchdowns. Can the Hofstra University product keep up that sort of pace?

Background

Colston entered a Hofstra as an unheralded 180-pounder, but in 2003 he caught 51 passes for 910 yards and seven touchdowns. A shoulder injury then forced him to miss all of 2004, for which he redshirted. He rebounded in 2005 with an All-Atlantic 10 season, posting 70 catches for 975 yards and five scores. He finished his career as Hofstra's all-time leader in receiving yardage with 2,834 yards. He also caught 182 balls, 22 for touchdowns, in his four years (37 games) at the school.

Colston's performance in college impressed scouts, but skepticism was prevalent because of Colston's I-AA competition. Despite his 6-foot-4 frame and 223 pounds, his 4.51 time in the 40 turned off draftniks, who felt he lacked burst. In general, National Football League personnel projected him to be a project at tight end. He bulked up to 231 pounds and ran a 4.37 40, posted a 37-inch vertical jump and an 11.73 long shuttle run at the NFL Combine, but it wasn't enough to convince those calling the shots that he was worth the gamble.

At pick No. 252, the Saints gambled. In training camp Colston performed well enough to work with the first team and eventually solidify a roster spot. After New Orleans dealt Stallworth, Colston was a surprise starter over wideout Devery Henderson, who had a disappointing training camp. The team found out about his special gifts – his exceptional route-running, the ability to break tackles and make people miss, adjust to balls in the air.

"I knew he was going to be a catch for somebody, just having coached the kid, knowing his demeanor, how much he loved the game, how he understood defenses," said his position coach at Hofstra, Jaime Elizondo told the AP. "I also knew his best football was still ahead of him."

In Week 1, Colston caught four passes for 49 yards and the team's only touchdown.

"We thought he had all those tools that are necessary and yet there's that uncertainty as to all the other things. So I'm excited about a young player," Payton remarked after that outstanding debut.

Present Situation

Colston currently leads the team in receiving yards. In fact, he's sixth in the league in that category, and he's tied for first in receiving touchdowns. He also leads the team's wideouts, including longtime No. 1 Joe Horn, in looks, with 34 (14 percent). Colston has proven to be Brees' favorite red-zone target as well, with 5 targets (16 percent), one of which came inside the 5.

"He's a good matchup on anybody man-to-man just because he's such a big target, and he's a guy I feel very confident throwing to," Brees boasted to the AP. "Keep in mind that every cornerback that stands next to Colston is a small cornerback."

He played well in Weeks 1 and 2, versus the Cleveland Browns and Green Bay Packers, respectively, totaling eight catches for 107 yards and two touchdowns. But against better competition, how would he fare? Well, against the Atlanta Falcons, he combined for 12 receptions, 229 yards and another score. Folks, he's for real.

"He's a big-play receiver. He's a possession receiver, he's a throw-it-up-and-let-him-jump-and-get-it receiver," Brees said. "I don't think he's limited in any way. So that makes it exciting for me."

Brees should be excited, and so should his fantasy owners. With Colston and electric rookie tailback Reggie Bush, Brees has some serious playmakers at his disposal. Running back Deuce McAllister has performed well in a somewhat reduced role from previous seasons, but he gains the tough yards and gives the Saints a solid one-two punch in the backfield. That keeps defenses honest.

And don't forget Horn, who is looking to rebound from a dismal 2005. Fantasy leaguers – and opposing defenses – may soon begin to forget about him. With said targets garnering such attention, it's possible that the 34-year-old Horn could begin to salvage some fantasy value from his slow start (15 receptions, 223 yards).

Outlook

Colston has averaged five catches, 84 yards and 0.8 touchdowns per game through the first quarter of the season. With upcoming games against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Philadelphia Eagles and Baltimore Ravens, he may have some trouble churning out fantasy points. (New Orleans is off in Week 7.) To opposing receivers through four weeks, the Buccaneers (in three games) have yielded 9.67 receptions, 123 yards and 0.33 scores per game; the Eagles (four games) 13 receptions, 188 yards and one score per game per game; and the Ravens (four games) 6.3 receptions, 93 yards and 0.5 scores per game per game. Of those contests, only the Week 6 matchup with Philadelphia appears to be a strong-play possibility. But Colston has shown the ability to be a factor against quality defenses.

"It's such a long season. I'm trying not to allow myself to have peaks and valleys keep it level as much as possible," Colston reported to the AP after his first game.

That's OK, we'll look ahead for you. In the fantasy playoffs (Weeks 14, 15 and 16 for most), Colston would face the Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins and New York Giants, respectively. Although it's perhaps a little early to tell, that first-round matchup could present trouble. The next two rounds, however, seem pretty enticing. And for those who go through Week 17, Colston just torched the Carolina Panthers, that week's opponent, for five catches, 132 yards and some paydirt. You can bet that squad will pay more attention to him the second time around.

Hofstra wide receivers coach Jaime Elizondo said of Colston:

"He has a very calm personality. He's very composed... He's never been a player who showboats or draws attention to himself."

His play in 2006 has done that for him. It usually takes a first-round receiver a couple of years before he's in impact player. Not many second-day draftees are expected to be major contributors. Few seventh-rounders are expected to make the roster. So Colston is something of an anomaly - an anomaly that could be worth starting for the rest of the 2006 fantasy season. It's hard to expect 12 touchdowns from Colston, because teams will become more aware of him and even possibly gameplan for him. However, with his surroundings, don't look for him to fall too far off his pace.

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Nicholas Minnix

KFFL's baseball editor plays in LABR and Tout Wars and won the FSWA Baseball Industry Insiders League in 2010.

The University of Delaware alum is a regular guest on Sirius/XM Fantasy Sports Radio and Baltimore's WNST AM 1570. Follow him on Twitter.

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