Sticking with Jerry Porter
Can Garrard trust his top receiver?
Jeremy Shockey's draft guide projection gets its own column. Jerry Porter's hamstring surgery gets a blog post.
Draft guide readers know I have Porter listed in the sleepers. He showed up very well on tape in a tough situation in Oakland, and is joining a great offense for his skills. My moles in Jacksonville told me that David Garrard was convinced Porter would put up huge numbers, the heir to Jimmy Smith.
Hamstring surgery is never a good thing. But an optimist could argue that Porter could avoid the typical nagging problems associated with hammy injuries by getting it "cleaned up" now. The Jaguars are talking tough that the surgery was routine and that he'll be ready for the opener. I wouldn't draft him expecting that.
I'd hope that he comes back like Greg Jennings did last year. Jennings missed the first two weeks of the season with a hamstring injury, and returned for Week 3 better than new.
In the end, I couldn't bear to move Porter too far down in the rankings. I don't just want to draft for Week 1. Porter may start slow, but I think he'll be a difference maker when he gets up to speed. I moved him from Rotoworld's 31st ranked receiver to a tie for 34th. Right or wrong, sometimes you just have to believe in your evaluations.
I will be watching Porter's health closely this month, and his average draft position. He was already going late (WR38 before the injury) and I expect that to sink. While I expect him to play like a WR3, I'll probably draft him as my fourth receiver.
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