Fantasy Football Prospects for the Miami Dolphins (Based on a 14 team league)

Monday, June 30, 2003
Derick Fage | Talk about this story and More on the MDBW Forums message board!
MDBW Staff Writer

"Ricky could see 400 touches this year. Most drafts will see Ricky picked no later than 3rd overall. If you’re a Dolphins fan and hold that first pick in the draft, go ahead and grab Ricky, he won’t disappoint you." Other MDBW Stories Fantasy Football Prospects for the Miami Dolphins (Based on a 14 team league) English Soccer Star works out with Phins Two Out of Three Ain't Bad! Or is it? With the latest 'Catch', Gadsden, What now for Miami? Sorry, it's too tempting TrippleX had resigned This is the year Miami will...D'oh! There is NO Controversey! Bucs at Dolphins Preview 8/08 Spielman's Patience yields Offseason Success

Fantasy football is becoming more and more popular every year, with an estimated 24 million Americans participating last year. Every year fans try to draft one player from their favorite team. So, as a Miami Dolphins fan myself, who’s worth grabbing and where? If you’re a competitive FFL player like myself, you pick with your head, not your heart, no matter which team you cheer for.

The most obvious choice is running back Ricky Williams. Williams has gone on a special diet in the off-season to keep his weight down, and he and the coaching staff say he’s even added more speed. When Miami first acquired Ricky Williams, most of us thought we were getting a bruising, north-south runner, but Ricky Williams worked his tail off last pre-season, lost weight, and was faster than any of us ever imagined. Hearing that he’s having another great off-season, and the fact that Miami is dedicated to keeping him in the line-up on 3rd downs, should have you salivating. Ricky could see 400 touches this year. Most drafts will see Ricky picked no later than 3rd overall. If you’re a Dolphins fan and hold that first pick in the draft, go ahead and grab Ricky, he won’t disappoint you.

The next Miami player likely to be picked in Fantasy Football is Chris Chambers. Chambers shot up most draft boards last year after an impressive rookie season but you’re likely to find Chambers still on the board in the 8th to 10th rounds this year. His stock has dropped dramatically for a variety of reasons. He suffered through some injuries last year, and he wasn’t nearly as consistent in the big play department. Losing Fiedler was a tremendous blow, as Ray Lucas looked more like George Lucas in replacement. You also have to take into consideration that Miami is exclusively a running team now, and last year they actually had a running back who could deliver the goods. I respect Norv Turner a great deal, and there’s were instances during games where the play calling did indeed keep other teams guessing, but this team knows what it has in Ricky Williams now.

This next player was a tough call. I can see him going ahead of Chambers in some instances, but wide receivers generally get the nod over tight ends, unless of course, we’re talking about the elite tight ends, like Gonzo, Heap and Shockey. Randy McMichael looks to be in that 2nd tier of tight ends along with Bubba Franks, Marcus Pollard and Shannon Sharpe. (Note: Super sleeper Doug Jolley – Oakland, is quicly moving into that 2nd tier group in the off-season as well). As I said earlier, I could honestly see McMichael going ahead of Chambers or in the same rounds as Chambers, around the 8th to 10th rounds. Although Chambers has the potential to outscore McMichael by quite a large margin, seeing that he’s the #1 wide receiver, not every drafter goes by the, "best available FFL scorer in each round" theory. Some drafters will use a "best value" theory and take a McMichael ahead of a Chambers, worried that they may be left to pick through those remaining tight ends in the 3rd tier, who they feel have no potential to make any impact in Fantasy Football.

Who to take next? Well, as far as looking at the best value left on the board, I’d have to go with the Miami Defense. I know, I know, you’re a Miami fan and you’re thinking to yourself, "This guy’s writing for a Miami Dolphins site and he can’t come up with anymore potential FFL players than the Miami D?".... Easy there folks, this is FFL, and as I mentioned in my opening paragraph, you have to think and draft with your head not your heart. Olindo Mare will most certainly be drafted as a starter on someone’s Fantasy Football team as well. Miami’s defense, put up great numbers again last year, although we all had to suffer through another late season breakdown. With the leadership additions of Junior Seau and Sammy Knight the Dolphins D will be one of the highest defenses taken in Fantasy Football. I think the additions will allow the Dolphins to gamble more on defense, which should help create more turnovers, and thus, more fantasy points for your team. This is another situation like the Ricky Williams pick. If you’re happy with your starters at QB, RB, WR and TE, go ahead and take a slight reach for the Miami Defense, but don’t draft them too high. And please, be sure to review the scoring rules for defenses in your league. Depending on the scoring rules, the Dolphins D could be chosen anywhere between the 11th and 14th rounds.

Is it the 16th round of the draft and still haven’t drafted a Dolphins player? Is panic setting in? Do you feel as though you’ve let your favorite team down? Are you embarrassed to face your fellow Dolphins fans? Never fear, my friend, because have I got just the third string QB you need to shore up that oh-so important spot. Go ahead, take him, you know you want to. Hey, maybe ya even waited too late for a 2nd string QB and you look at your draft board.... Flipping page after page after page, and there they are, Kordell Stewart and Jay Fiedler, staring ya right in the face. Don’t be shy, be the envy of all your Dolphins buddies and proudly choose! "I, faithful Dolphins Fan, do hereby take, with my final pick of the 2003 Fantasy Football draft…….. Mr. Jay Fielder"

On a final note, please feel free to contact me if you need any help with your fantasy football team. I’d be happy to pass along some advice. I’d like to also give a special thank you to one of the greatest Miami Dolphins Fans hangouts in the world: The Silver Dollar Bar in Trenary, Michigan. Just ask for Sugar when you get there. She’ll take care of you.

Derick Fage can be reached by e-mailing crazycanuck@miamidolphinsbahamas.com. Or you can talk about this story and More on the MDBW Forums message board!