NFL 30 To Watch: Mike Furrey, Wide Receiver, Detroit Lions

Michael David Smith — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 17:29:00 EST

Filed under: Lions, Fantasy Football, Detroit

A regular look at 30 people who will affect the 2007 NFL season.

Has any receiver in NFL history ever been demoted out of the starting lineup the year after leading the conference in catches? That may have happened to Lions receiver Mike Furrey, who led the NFC with 98 catches last year but will now apparently become the Lions' No. 3 receiver, behind Roy Williams and rookie Calvin Johnson.

Of course, in the offense run by Lions coordinator Mike Martz, the base offense includes three receivers, so that's not much of a demotion. But it is a little odd that a team that already had Furrey and Williams felt the need to add Johnson with the second overall pick. Then again, everything the Lions have done in the Matt Millen era is at least a little odd.

The point is, don't forget about Furrey. Williams and Johnson make more money and more highlight-reel catches, but Furrey is a great athlete who has found his niche playing for Martz.

Bottom line: There's way too much optimism coming out of Detroit this year, and the Lions will be lousy again, but it's completely reasonable to think Furrey could have another 90-catch season in 2007.

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NFL 30 To Watch: Mike Furrey, Wide Receiver, Detroit Lions originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Fri, 03 Aug 2007 17:29:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lions' Dre Bly to Broncos for George Foster, Tatum Bell

Michael David Smith — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 14:35:00 EST

Filed under: Broncos, Lions, AFC West, NFC North, Fantasy Football

In a move that will have major implications for two teams and millions of fantasy football players, the Detroit Lions have traded cornerback Dre Bly to the Denver Broncos in exchange for tackle George Foster and running back Tatum Bell.

Bly, the Lions' best defensive player, was entering his last season in Detroit but has agreed to terms on a new contract with the Broncos. With Bly on the opposite side of the field from Champ Bailey, Denver now has by far the best pair of cornerbacks in the NFL and one of the best pairs of cornerbacks in NFL history.

Foster has spent his four-year career with the Broncos and started 45 games, and he's one of the big reasons that everyone just assumes the starting running back in Denver is good for 1,000 yards a season, no matter who he is. The Broncos' line won't be as strong if they don't find a solid replacement for Foster.

Bell had 1,025 yards and two touchdowns last season, and the fact that the Lions traded him shows they have no faith in the ability of Kevin Jones to recover from his season-ending foot injury. Expect Bell to carry most of the load in Detroit next year.

Lions' Dre Bly to Broncos for George Foster, Tatum Bell originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Thu, 01 Mar 2007 14:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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