The Pure Playaz
Here's the first installment of "The Pure Playaz" which will highlight some players on the verge of a breakout season. We all know what Egerrin James will do for the Arizona Cardinals, but let's take a look at some up up-and-comers, some underrated players, impact rookies and veterans looking to make a difference in '06:
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Quarterbacks:
- Chris Simms of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers threw for 2,035 yards last season in just 10 games. He led the Bucs to a playoff birth and firmly established himself as a leader on a talented young offense. Expect Simms to pass for over 3,500 yards this season and be amongst the league leaders in touchdown passes. Simms' work ethic has endeared him to coaches and teammates. He often could be found throwing on the practice fields at One Buc Place at 5 p.m. in the middle of the offseason, and the only way his wife can see him during the day is if she brown-bags a lunch and comes to the team facility. And Simms is playing for money; his contract is up after this season.
- Daunte Culpepper of the Miami Dolphins will look to come back from an eventful, yet embarrasing '05 campaign. The dolphins are hoping that Culpepper has put his bottle-poppin', stripper, alchoholic induced yaght-parting days behind him and is readying himself for a great turnaround in '06. Last year he threw a dismal 1,564 yards and only 6 TDs. There's no place to go but up for him. But nick Saban thinks the sky is the limit for this young team. Look for Culpepper to double his stats this upcoming season.
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Running Backs:
- Ronnie Brown of the Miami Dolphins will have a lot more going for him this year than as a rookie. Last year, he reported late, and it took time to integrate him into the offense. He got rolling, then got nicked up and failed to sustain his roll. This year, Brown probably will get 85 percent of the carries with Ricky Williams on an NFL-induced sabbatical. And new quarterback Daunte Culpepper will help open up the running game.
- Reggie Bush of the New Orlean Saints has way too much talent not to be considered a top contender for the best rookie fantasy prospect of 2006. Even with Deuce McAllister and Michael Bennett in New Orleans, we still think Bush is the best bet to make a significant fantasy splash in 2006. McAllister is coming off an injury and Bennett has pretty much been a bust, so there is an opportunity there for this very explosive rookie.
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Wide receivers:
- Roddy White of the Atlanta Falcons is a hard-working player who does whatever it takes to succeed. He has added muscle this off-season and looks ready to be the Falcons go-to receiver. Two words to describe White: football player.
- Larry Fitzgerald of the Arizona Cardinals is already a go-to guy putting up 1409 yards receiving and 10 TDs. Now we throw Edgerrin James in the mix, which will bring that SS up to the line, giving Fitzgerald more man-to-man looks. Larry should finish with 15+ TDs this season.
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Tight Ends:
- There probably isn't a more talented tight end than Kellen Winslow of the Cleavland Browns, though it's unclear how a broken leg and a blown-out knee have affected his abilities. What Winslow has shown running around in shorts on the Browns' practice fields this offseason has been very encouraging. And here's the best part -- he appears to be developing a rapport with quarterback Charlie Frye.
