This Year's Welker
In one of the articles of our second magazine, Mark St. Amant has an interview with Wes Welker and talks about his man-crush on the Patriots receiver. We are including a breakout box of candidates to be "This year's Welker." That would be a receiver who emerges from the WR4/5/6 swampland to catch a whole lot of passes. (Extra points if he does it from the slot).
I have a quick list of candidates, but don't want it to just look like a repeat of my sleeper list. That's where you guys come in. Put on your tout hat and give me a player or two you think could be this year's Welker.
Comments
Bryant Johnson
Jerry Porter
Vincent Jackson
Posted by: stebo | June 24, 2008 05:36 PM
Danny Amendola. Look up the Texas Tech connection, he is literally Welker Jr.
Posted by: b roo | June 24, 2008 08:43 PM
Anthony Gonzalez. By the end of the season he was showing just how valueable he could be to the Colts.
Posted by: dave lamson | June 25, 2008 01:12 AM
I like:
-one of the young guys in Seattle (Obomanu/Taylor/Payne) but that won't shake out til preseason
-Laurent Robinson seems to be progressing well
-Derek Hagan and Demetrius Williams are intriguing, but I've thought they'd do something in previous seasons, too, so it could be a mirage
-Arnaz Battle is probably the closest to Welker in terms of situation and opportunity. Pass happy offense, new scheme, and so many of the slot-type receivers who've been 'Welker-like' in the past (Kevin Curtis, Brandon Stokley, and Mike Furrey, to name a few) have come from offenses that throw like its going out of style.
-Anthony Gonzalez, but thats too easy... the word is already out.
I don't like:
Jerry Porter - a perpetual breakout candidate/let-down artist
Bryant Johnson - never lived up to potential or draft status in pass-crazy Arizona... and when I picked him up in response to a Boldin/Fitz injury in the past has proved to be a dud. Why would that change now?
Nate Burleson - same as Porter
Posted by: Chad F. | June 25, 2008 01:48 AM
Shaun McDonald from Detroit, could be a sleeper, I think.
Posted by: Paul T | June 25, 2008 01:01 PM
I also agree with Nate Burleson from Seattle and Santonio Holmes in Pittsburgh.
Posted by: Paul T | June 25, 2008 01:05 PM
I might have misunderstood the question, but I don't think you can really call Santonio Holmes, Anthony Gonzalez, Bobby Engram and even DJ Hackett sleepers and a part of this discussion.
My money is on Antonio Bryant in Tampa,Arnaz Battle in SF and Sidney Rice in Minny.
Posted by: CdnFan | June 25, 2008 01:40 PM