The Boldin-Fitzgerald gap

Since Larry Fitzgerald's second season, he and Anquan Boldin have always been drafted in close proximity. That has changed this year. Fitz is now a second-round pick, while Boldin is going early in the fourth. The question is whether there should be such a gap.
Boldin is a bigger injury risk, but don't forget that he was among the top ten fantasy receivers per-game last year despite his toe injury (Fitzgerald was fifth). In 2006, Boldin outscored Fitzgerald for the season while Fitz struggled with his own injuries. Perhaps coincidentally, that's when Matt Leinart started more games. I think Leinart's shorter, safer throwing style helps Boldin. Or at least doesn't hurt Boldin as much as the switch from Kurt Warner hurts Fitzgerald.
I don't think Boldin is as good a player overall or as good a fantasy option as Fitzgerald. But I'd rather take him in the fourth than Fitzgerald in the second.





Comments
Until that QB situation is settled, how can you pick one over the other?
In football terms, neither seems better, just different.
From a ffb perspective, that shows up when the Leinart/Warner musical QB is going on and each receiver plays better with the QB who fits his strengths (Fitz-Warner, Leinart-Boldin).
Posted by: Chad F. | July 2, 2008 02:19 PM
Obviously the Cards are in a difficult situation, needing to build their future while competing now. Have any two NFL WRs triumphed over more of a QB morass than Fitzgerald and Boldin? These guys put up stats with Josh McCown and a bunch of guys worse than him, not to mention the shuffle between Warner and Leinart.
If the Cards went with Warner and he made it through the season, Fitz would finish as the overall #1 WR and Boldin #4 or so (assuming simply that Moss regresses to his own personal mean, a safe assumption mathematically and based on the way teams successfully took him away in the playoffs). Too bad for Fitz/Boldin, Cardinal fans, and fantasy owners, both parts of the 'if-statement' regarding Warner are probably false.
The only real reason to draft Fitzgerald over Boldin is the greater TD potential, but Boldin outscored Fitzgerald by a fairly large gap last year on a per-target basis. Despite what people say over-and-over, Ken Whisenhunt runs a pass-heavy scheme (all of which would change slightly if they were to emerge and have the overall personnel to go 13-3, but that seems fairly unlikely to put it mildly).
I would think Fitzgerald in the mid-second round is a very good value, whereas Boldin in the 4th is the kind of pick that wins you fantasy championships.
Posted by: The Dude Abides | July 2, 2008 05:10 PM
Both are great WRs but if you watch the games, you see that Warner CONSTANTLY looked to Fitz. People may disagree, but I really doubt Warner plays much at all this year, barring injury to Leinart, who is after all the franchise QB, with Warner just being the old insurance policy QB. So Boldin and Fitz should have very close stats this year. Buy low on Boldin and sell high on Fitz. Don't get me wrong, Fitz is great, but sometimes skill does not entirely equate to fantasy points (see, Roy Williams).
Posted by: veggieb | July 3, 2008 01:42 PM
I have to agree with everyone on the QB situation. Leinart does like Boldin better. The reason being is Leinart is no good and has to count on Boldins YAC potential. Boldin is one of the best after the catch.
Here is another angle no one has talked about yet, the MONEY. I always tend to shy away from the guy who got the big contract, and get excited about the guy playing for more money. In most cases, there are some who get paid and still perform to the standard of their gamecheck but all players play hard when trying to get more money.
I think the spread is to big for this years draft. At least thats what I believe the numbers will show at the end of the season. But I think Boldin is going under the radar and the fourth round is a perfect spot. Leinart and Fitz hooked up for zero TD passes last year. Thats close to 1/3 of the season. I expect Boldin to have a better year than Fitz. Boldin is a huge value in the 4th round if Boldin is your second WR. Boldin should perform like a number one WR this year. Hey did I mention the MONEY, it's a POWERFUL motivator.
Posted by: Shannon | July 4, 2008 10:30 AM
Personally, I like Boldin's game more than Fitzgerald's, but the latter is more of a deep threat and thus more possible TD's.
Boldin, on the other hand, is more likely to break off longer runs after the catch and create his own TD opportunities.
If Leinart is the QB all season, I take Anquan higher than Larry. If Warner returns to the QB position, then I take Larry as the deep threat.
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