Tough to Rank: Jeremy Shockey
There were very high expectations for Jeremy Shockey in his first season with the Saints. Shockey, who knew the ins and outs of coach Sean Payton's offense from their time together with the Giants, was playing for a contract and entering an extremely pass-heavy offense.
Shockey aggravated a summer groin injury in Week 3 and needed sports hernia surgery. He returned more quickly than expected -- missing only four games -- but was obviously short on explosiveness the rest of the way, lost two fumbles, and never found the end zone. He finished as the TE27 in standard (non-PPR) leagues.
Still, Shockey's made it through an entirely healthy offseason for the first time since his monster rookie year. The four-time Pro Bowler is only 28. Shockey is also still playing for that contract.
Despite not even finishing as a respectable fantasy backup last season, Shockey managed 50 receptions -- the eleventh most by any tight end. He did this playing hurt. To me, this only hints at Shockey's upside now that he's healthy. For now, I conservatively have him just outside the top 10 tight ends. These are the guys around him:
7. Greg Olsen
8. Dustin Keller
9. Owen Daniels
10. Zach Miller
11. Shockey
12. Vernon Davis
13. Brent Celek
14. Heath Miller
15. John Carlson
Should Shockey be higher? Lower? Any thoughts would help.
Comments
If we had unlimited roster spots, Shockey might be worth holding onto based on the "high, if unlikely, ceiling" argument. The fact of the matter is, we'll have to burn a roster spot which could be used on someone seemingly less interesting but more likely to be useful, like a backup RB who given the right injury situation and matchups can do really well. And we'll have a hard time cutting him.
One guy in my league last year picked him up and hoped he'd come back to blow up in the playoffs, so much so that he decided not to play a defense one week because he thought everyone on his team was too valuable to drop. He lost that game basically by that margin. It was a terrible decision at the time driven by giving Shockey way too much undeserved love.
Shockey does not deserve a roster spot. I'd rather roster James Casey.
Posted by: Dennis | May 8, 2009 04:30 PM
Owen Daniels at #9? Putting down the crack pipe is a good idea.
Posted by: Misfit74 | May 10, 2009 01:41 AM
Dennis -- like i said, it all depends on price. i didn't suggest someone should take a zero at defense to keep Shockey. but i think it's also a bit silly to say "i'd take shockey only if i had unlimited roster spots" -- so you are ranking shockey one spot higher than infinity? a wee bit silly.
Posted by: veggieb | May 11, 2009 01:52 PM
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Posted by: Wpnusnlr | June 29, 2009 05:01 AM
Carlson at 15? You picked a bad day to stop drinking coffee.
Carlson is no lower than 9th, and I have him ranked at 7th or 8th, right in the same neighborhood as Keller, who Carlson outproduced last season, as well. They are also using Carlson as a slot-receiver in offensive sets. Carlson does not have to come off the field on plays he might be asked to block. Keller is no in on most blocking downs, and can't block a sheet of tissue paper. It might be time to do some homework. Carlson is underrated in this article.
Posted by: am_misfit | July 3, 2009 07:02 PM
Gh0lYt
Posted by: Txzfcnki | July 13, 2009 11:39 PM
Gh0lYt
Posted by: Txzfcnki | July 13, 2009 11:40 PM