Forgetting Brandon Marshall?
Brandon Marshall's latest shenanigans -- and the ensuing team suspension -- present quite a challenge for the cheat-sheet jockeys.
We know the Broncos can't send him home with pay as the Bucs did with Keyshawn Johnson in 2003. But they can suspend him for a maximum of four games at a time for conduct detrimental to the team. Josh McDaniels' Friday disclosure of a plan to impose an "escalating discipline schedule" makes it clear that further suspensions are in Marshall's future if he continues to act like a petulant jerk.
The problem this presents for projections is that we can't simply assume a four-game suspension. We can reasonably assume that Marshall's antics and missed practice time may leave him as a bit performer in Week 1, but he should start to work back in as a prime target in Week 2.
Personally, I have Marshall on my 10-foot pole list. He's demonstrated time and again that he's an immature selfish idiot, and I have complete faith in the knucklehead factor resurfacing throughout the season. It's obvious that he has zero respect for his head coach, and, perhaps equally as obvious, that his head coach has done little to command that respect. Unless he falls to the mid-to-late rounds as a low-end WR3 or WR4, I'd just assume let someone else take the risk. But, again, we can't really build that into the projections.
In our newly updated rankings Marshall has dropped to 18th on the wide receiver list, just behind Vincent Jackson. Until we hear otherwise, we're ranking him as if he'll be a fixture in the Broncos lineup by Week 2.
Comments
I had a 3 WR, standard draft last week... round 1, MJD, round 2, Slaton, much to my delight.
Then I was scrambling to get receivers...
Round 3... Marshall was there, took Bowe. I don't like Marshall.
Round 4: Marshall was there, took Ocho.
Round 5: Marshall was there... even though this was before he pulled his most recent practice antics, everyone else in the league clearly shared my feelings that Marshall is risky, and God help me, I took him as my WR3 over Deshaun Jackson and Berrian.
I'm not even sure I like him as a WR3 if there are other options with good upside, speaking as someone who just drafted him as a WR3 and am regretting it a lot.
Qb downgrade, major knucklehead issues, hip injury stuff, now a suspension. Ugh.
(in the next few rounds, I took Shaub, Olsen, Derrick Mason, and Donnie Avery when everyone was worried about his foot, for anyone who reads this and is interested. Hoping those guys can cover for him if this keeps going, which it appears likely to)
Posted by: Fredex | August 28, 2009 02:54 PM
this is stupidity. I'd love to draft with you people. I like to draft talent. the other stuff can work itself out. marshall will have a great year this year. he's too talented not to. whether its in denver or someplace else. (but I'd be shocked if its not denver) he has too much to lose by not playing well in a contract year. if nothing else, his agent will set him straight. you guys are the same people that will gamble on a rookie rb around the same draft spots but not a guy who u can count on 100+ catches every year? again my name is mark, I live in michigan and I'd love to draft against you people. (this post brought to you by common sense)
Posted by: mark in mi | August 28, 2009 03:13 PM
what do you mean, "you people"?
Posted by: Randy | August 28, 2009 03:27 PM
oh and I'll just file this article in the same spot as the Bess and Thomas pieces. its starting to feel like you guys are throwing darts blindfolded, hoping something sticks
Posted by: mark in mi | August 28, 2009 03:35 PM
Friday, June 5, 2009
Forgetting Brandon Marshall
I'll preface this article by declaring that I was a huge proponent of drafting Brandon Marshall last year, even before his two game suspension was reduced to one. After a breakout 102 reception, 1,325 yard, 7 TD 2008, Marshall was looking like a for sure bet to have a career year in his 3rd season. A 18 catch, 166 yard, 1 TD effort in Week 2 to kick of his 2008 season solidified Marshall as a top tier WR. Marshall unfortunately was unable to keep the pace he set the first three games he played, and was unable to set his career marks falling just short in every category in comparison to his previous year.
Unfortunately 2009 begins just as 2008 had for Marshall. Plagued by legal woes and the possibility of yet another suspension to start the season although reports indicate that Marshall will avoid such a penalty. Marshall's off field issues will eventually take a toll on the young receiver as he prepares for a new season without pro bowl quarterback Jay Cutler. A new offensive scheme, head coach and quarterback would be hard enough for a star player to deal with, but compounding the learning curve with time spent with lawyers and interviews to declare your innocence and new found maturity is nothing more than a detriment.
Brandon Marshall will be hard pressed to duplicate his 2008, and while he finished last season with less than anticipated numbers, 104/1,265/6, those numbers will no doubt be his ceiling for 2009. A 85/950/5 line seems more realistic. Still, Marshall is currently being drafted as a high end WR2, currently a WR14 at fantasyfootballcalculator. He's being drafted amongst the likes of Terrell Owens, TJ Houshmandzadeh, Wes Welker and Roy Williams. The dearth of top end talent at the WR position will most likely keep Marshall's value afloat, but I'd be very wary of expecting too much from what's looking obviously like a down year. I'll be passing thank you very much. He'll bring you nothing but infant sorrow*
*I get bonus points for the infant sorrow reference, yes? This was posted on my now defunct website in June and I feel the exact same way
Posted by: endzoneview | August 28, 2009 04:05 PM
I just offered D. Ward my rb5 for Marshall in a dynasty. My hope is he bounces back and I can move him when his talent bounces back. Seems like a high risk move the longer I think about it.
Posted by: Kirby | August 28, 2009 05:10 PM
i don't understand -- if you're ranking him as if he'll be a fixture in the lineup starting week 2, then why would losing week 1 cause his ranking to drop so much. you either think he's a fixture starting in week 2, in which case he's a top 10 WR, or you think he's going to have major suspension issues (not just week 1), in which case his ranking plummets, or you have no idea and so hedge your bets in between those two results, by ranking him somewhere like the 18th spot next to VJ.
Posted by: veggieb | August 28, 2009 05:36 PM