With Fantasy Football season ready to kick in high gear, Fantasy FanHouse is here to preview each and every team. Listen closely, you're almost guaranteed to win your FREE fantasy football league, only over at Fleaflicker.Meet The ...
2008 Super Bowl Champions. Sure, saying that has little to do with fantasy football. I just wanted to get my prediction out there before the billion mainstream experts made theirs. It's not just the star power of LaDanian Tomlinson, Antonio Gates, Philip Rivers, Shawn Merriman, and Antonio Cromartie. They are loaded everywhere except head coach. The stigma follows Norv Turner in the public eye, however, he did lead the team to the AFC Championship game last season after a troubling start. A proverbial corner has been turned ...
The Breakout
The big boys are all well-established, so you have to dig a bit deeper to find the next one to step up. I'm going with Chris Chambers. He's had so much talent wasted by the dregs at quarterback in Miami -- and he still had an incredible 2005 campaign -- and is now clearly the top wideout on a prolific offense. He's had over a half-season to acclimate himself to the Chargers offense and develop a rapport with Rivers. After a full preseason with the squad, you can expect Chambers to come on like gangbusters this season. His career highs were all set in '05 (82 catches, 1,118 yards, 11 TDs) and will be challenged this season; especially in yardage as the Chargers look to spread the field vertically.
The Bust
I don't really like anyone failing to meet expectations, thus my Super Bowl prediction. That being said, Antonio Gates does not have the sizable advantage over other tight ends he used to. He used to be worth considering in the top few rounds because the discrepancy was so huge. Now, not so much. You've got viable elite TE alternatives like Jason Witten, Kellen Winslow, and could even settle on a Ben Watson or Vernon Davis late. He's still the best, but he's not head-and-shoulders better like in '05. Let someone else overpay.
The Depth Chart
QB1 - Philip Rivers
QB2 - Billy Volek
RB1 - LDT
RB2 - Darren Sproles/Jacob Hester
WR1 - Chris Chambers
WR2 - Vincent Jackson
WR3 - Craig Davis
TE1 - Antonio Gates
K - Nate Kaeding
The D/ST
The best there is. Check out these ranks: Tied for first in fumble recoveries, T-2 in TDs (four defensive and four special teams), 1st in interceptions by eight, 4th in sacks, and 5th in least points allowed. They aren't old, they didn't lose anyone overly important (unless Marlon McCree or Drayton Florence qualify in your mind), and they added depth in the secondary via the draft.
The Skinny
Gates, Tomlinson, and the D/ST are the best at their positions. Kaeding is one of the elite kickers. Rivers is a very solid pick in the early teens at QB, and Chambers will be a quality WR option in most leagues. So yeah, they're loaded.
The one issue in question here is the handcuff to LDT, following the departure of Michael Turner. It's way too early to know for sure, but I'm predicting that it's not one man filling the "Turner Role" per se. They can use an inside-outside combo with Sproles and Hester, like they did with Sproles and Turner in the playoffs without Tomlinson, or they could just give the job to either one of them. You'll have to just gamble on either Hester's toughness or Sproles' playmaking ability. Personally I'd go with Sproles. He showed what he can do on December 16th last year (122 yards, two TDs).

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-24-2008 @ 1:30AM
Kari said...
Man The San Diego Chargerz Is The Shit....I Hope They Take It all da way cuz L T Need it 4real and gates
Reply
7-24-2008 @ 1:31AM
Kari said...
Man The San Diego Chargerz Is The Shit....I Hope They Take It all da way cuz L T Need it 4real and gates
Reply
7-24-2008 @ 3:48PM
Brent said...
Yeah, I hope the chargers go all the way. I have been a fan of Rivers cents he started at NC State. But dont get me wrong I like the intire team
Reply
7-25-2008 @ 3:01AM
tyler said...
dood pretty sure people know about chambers
you're no fantasy expert
Reply
7-25-2008 @ 9:58AM
JRH said...
Here's to butchering the English language.
Reply
7-27-2008 @ 2:38AM
GGZ said...
Why can't you fools learn to how to spell? Don't show just how illiterate you really are by making these comments about the Chargers without knowing the language.
Reply