Value in Oakland
Scott, one of our most valuable commenters, posted that he thinks Ronald Curry is undervalued. Anyone that's used our cheat sheets this season knows that Rotoworld agrees. There seems to be a point in every one of my drafts that Curry is the highest ranked player on the board.
I decided to check out Curry's ADP, along with the rest of the Raiders because it's clearly a team in transition.
LaMont Jordan: RB35, round seven
Dominic Rhodes: RB48, round twelve
Jerry Porter: WR41, round ten
Ronald Curry: WR46, round twelve
Daunte Culpepper: QB32, fifteenth-round
This is what happens the season after your entire offense scores four less touchdowns than Marion Barber. But the apocalyptic offense of Art Shell is gone, and there is a huge opportunity for fantasy value in Oakland if Lane Kiffin can just squeeze out the mediocre numbers of the Norv Turner era.
Curry put up 727 yards last year despite coming off the bench most of the season for the worst offense in the NFL. Trust me, his ability is not a question. Put him on the Giants and he'd be in my top 20.
If the Raiders offense is competent, Curry is going to approach 1,000 yards and be a solid WR3/4. Porter is a mystery because of his year off, but he was a top-26 fantasy wideout in 2004 and 2005. He's another solid fantasy reserve.
Jordan was a top-ten fantasy back two years ago, and will be worth that ADP if he can put up big games in September while Rhodes is on suspension. The schedule is favorable. I wouldn't build your draft day strategy around Oakland, but there are a lot of buy-low candidates that make great fantasy reserves.
Comments
I think Curry is getting less-undervalued by the day. He just went 8.03 in a keeper league draft of mine; that looks worse than it is, though, as I had his keeper-adjusted ADP as 9.12 and he was the ~the 40th WR off the board, but still... I was surprised and more than a little disappointed.
Posted by: jimmo | August 29, 2007 05:56 PM
I'm in a PPR league that only drafts three recievers and drafts two. I think Curry is extremely undervalued and would take him as my third WR.
Posted by: James | August 29, 2007 06:41 PM
That would be drafts three and starts two. Also, there are 16 teams in that league.
Posted by: James | August 29, 2007 06:42 PM
Lamont is the one that's undervalued. The Raiders will still stink but it won't be in a historical thinking kind of way like last year. There's no reason Lamont won't bounce back to be a decent RB2 and I include Rhodes when I say no reason.
Posted by: Norm | August 29, 2007 07:52 PM
I just took Curry in the 11th round of my draft yesterday (pick no. 104), probably about the 40th WR taken.
Also, what about the Raiders defense as a good late round value (and a good example of Gregg's earlier post point). Check out their first four opponents: Detroit, @Denver, Cleveland, @Miami. They may not shut teams out, or win games, but there are fantasy defense points aplenty to be had there. Believe me, I had some heads scratching with that pick yesterday.
Posted by: JonO | August 29, 2007 08:42 PM
I'm not a Raiders fan but I think they will be a much improved team this year. Why? The defense is good, also I believe Art Shell was one of the worst coaches in the league.
Posted by: Dave | August 29, 2007 09:46 PM
Curry was one of the better performing WRs over the last 6 gms last season.
Posted by: Dudley | August 29, 2007 10:45 PM