Kevin Curtis: Fluke?
I agree with most of what Bill Barnwell writes in his matchups column this week, including his impressive faith in Lee Evans.
One line made me pause, however:
The wideout best-positioned to benefit from that is actually Kevin Curtis, the best short-yardage receiver the Eagles have. Expect Curtis to operate over the middle and put up, oh, half the yardage he did last week while still being effective. Remember how I said Evans was one of the great buy low, sell high opportunities in history? Curtis will join him after this week.
Curtis probably is the best underneath receiver Philly has, but he's also the best deep threat. With Reggie Brown currently in the tank, Curtis is the best receiver, period, on a pass-happy team. KC Joyner has believed that Curtis was a wideout ready to explode for years, and I agree.
Donovan McNabb is taking notice. Curtis is among the top ten receivers in the NFL with 30 targets thus far. Reggie Brown is next at wideout on the team with 16. And while Curtis has faced an easy schedule so far, it stays easy. The Eagles get the weak secondaries in the NFC East, the watered down AFC East, and fine matchups against Minnesota, Seattle, and New Orleans.
Curtis isn't going to gain 200 yards every week, but I think he'll be a solid top-25 fantasy wideout all year. Am I nuts?
Comments
I think top 25 all season long is a possibility, but with success comes more attention from defenses, especially with Brown struggling. Of course, his season long value will also be determined by the health of his QB. Speaking of Curtis, which three should i start in a PPR league out of Evans, Cotchery, B Edwards and Curtis?
Posted by: Mike | September 28, 2007 12:54 PM
I agree completely. Curtis is for real. He has 25 targets in the last 2 games. I expect him to average 9-10 targets a game for the rest of the year. I like him even more because I took him in the 11th round of the draft.
Posted by: Matt | September 28, 2007 12:54 PM
The funny thing is that we were sketchy on the Eagles through the first 2 weeks and suddenly after an explosion week 3, Curtis is now Randy Moss? There is some truth that he has been waiting for a breakout year but lets not annoint him king Wideout until he does this for at least 2-3 weeks. 50 yards per game before the lions rolled into town was not outstanding. I think I would pay more attention to starting WRs against the Lions than starting Curtis regardless of matchup.
You have to believe that the Giants will pay extra attention to his presence this week and bring him back down to planet average.
Posted by: Beau | September 28, 2007 01:16 PM
I agree, I have had Kevin Curtis every year and he is finally getting his chance to shine. He may be a keeper in my keeper league.
Posted by: Ryan | September 28, 2007 02:11 PM
Stokely, McCaffrey......
Posted by: Tony C | September 28, 2007 02:36 PM
Gregg - don't you think Matt Schobel (vs NYG) cracks the top 25 TE's this week?
Posted by: Stephen | September 28, 2007 02:42 PM
Keep in mind that every year, a different white receiver inexplicably has a really good year. Patrick Jeffers from way back, Furrey last year and this year Curtis.
Posted by: Kyle | September 28, 2007 02:42 PM