The Brady Effect

The #1 fantasy player in 2007 was Tom Brady.
The #1 fantasy player in 2008 will not be Tom Brady.

For Brady owners, I truly feel bad for you. I would look at the waiver wire, and maybe try to get Pennington if he is available. However, Cassel may be able to fill in nicely. He is in a great situation- an offense loaded on talent both on and off the field.

Now for those of you who own other Patriots and are probably crying themselves to sleep tonight, this definitely hurts some of you as well. However, some people may actually benefit from the loss of Tom Brady. Let’s take a took.

HURT BY BRADY’S LOSS
Wes Welker. While he has great run-after-catch skills, the routes he runs as a slot receiver usually rely on timing and precise passing from the quarterback. While Cassel may be good enough to win games, there is no way a first year starter can be expected to have the intermediate accuracy that Tom Brady has.

HELPED BY BRADY’S LOSS
Lawrence Maroney. He is basically a co-starter with Morris, and 10 carries a game isn’t going to cut it for owners who need the third year back to be more productive. Cassel will be forced to rely on a strong ground attack, and there should be more overall carries for Maroney and Morris.

Sammy Morris. Morris is now a low end #2 fantasy running back. New England obviously believes the former Texas Tech star can be just as productive as Maroney. As was the case with Maroney, there will be more overall carries for the two backs to split. Morris also will get more receptions as a safety option for Cassel.

INDIFFERENT TO BRADY’S LOSS
Randy Moss. Moss can get open no matter what, provided he can stay motivated. Ross will still get his touchdowns and big chunks of yards. Cassel is a good athlete who can use his feet and strong arm to buy time for Moss to get open downfield. Moss’s numbers may not be as absurd as last season, but they should still be #1 fantasy receiver numbers.