Ever been in a fantasy draft where one of your rival owners picks a player thinking
he's on one team when in reality he's been traded or signed with another? It makes
for a pretty funny moment ... except when it happens to you.
"I'll take that stud from Minnesota, Mr. Randy Moss ..."
Whoops.
Nobody wants to be the clown of the fantasy league, especially before the season starts. More importantly, nobody wants to pick a player with certain expectations only to find out he's on a new team with a whole new set of expectations. So with that in mind, here's a laundry list of players who have switched teams this offseason -- just so you know who's gone where.
Quarterbacks
Drew Bledsoe, QB, Cowboys: The former Bills field general reunites with his first pro head coach, Bill Parcells. The Dallas offensive line got a boost this offseason, so Bledsoe should have plenty of protection, unlike his previous two years in Buffalo.
Trent Dilfer, QB, Browns: Dilfer goes from Super Bowl starter to benchwarmer to starter again. Dilfer's journey may have taken him to Cleveland, but expectations aren't high for the veteran passer.
Kurt Warner, QB, Cardinals: Warner was brought in not only to be a veteran presence, but to throw it early and often to Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. Some people see him as a sleeper this year because of head coach Dennis Green's offensive game plan.
Other quarterbacks on the move: Jay Fiedler, Jets; Doug Flutie, Patriots; Gus Frerotte, Dolphins; Jeff Garcia, Lions; Brad Johnson, Vikings.
Running backs
Derrick Blaylock, RB, Jets: The former understudy to Priest Holmes, Blaylock will be a change-of-pace back to Curtis Martin. There's also a chance he could be the long-term solution to replacing Martin as he signed a five-year deal this offseason.
Reuben Droughns, RB, Browns: Droughns opened a lot of eyes in Denver last year and the Browns hope he can do the same with them. He will have company in a crowded Cleveland backfield, but if he can stay healthy he could be the main ball carrier.
LaMont Jordan, RB, Raiders: Jordan never got the chance to carry the ball in the Big Apple, but he does by the East Bay. The Raiders' offense is loaded with great receivers, which could hurt Jordan's production, but still consider him as a tremendous touchdown machine.
Other running backs on the move: Antowain Smith, New Orleans; Anthony Thomas, Cowboys.
Wide receivers
Plaxico Burress, WR, Giants: Burress goes from Ben Roethlisberger's top target to Eli Manning's main man. He'll need to absorb some of Tom Coughlin's intensity and Manning's drive to succeed before returning to fantasy prominence.
Laveranues Coles, WR, Jets: Coles spent two nice seasons with the Redskins, but his best year was with Chad Pennington and the Jets. Now reunited, expect to see some of that magic once more.
Derrick Mason, WR, Ravens: Mason gives Baltimore something they've needed for years -- a top-notch passing option for QB Kyle Boller. He'll see plenty of double coverage, but should still make an impact for the Ravens.
Randy Moss, WR, Raiders: He'll be the key cog in a very vertical offense with Kerry Collins under center. What else needs to be said about Moss' 2005 campaign?
Muhsin Muhammad, WR, Bears: Muhammad led the league in receiving a year ago, but that was with a strong passing offense in Carolina. Chicago will run the ball quite a bit, which could mean fewer receptions for the "Moose." He'll still be the top receiver in the Windy City when all is said and done.
Other wide receivers on the move: Az-Zahir Hakim, Saints; Ike Hilliard, Buccaneers; Joe Jurevicius, Seahawks; Freddie Mitchell, Chiefs; Johnnie Morton, 49ers; Santana Moss, Redskins; David Patten, Redskins; Jerry Rice, Broncos; Travis Taylor, Vikings; David Terrell, Patriots; Cedrick Wilson, Steelers.
Tight ends
Doug Jolley, TE, Jets: Jolley had the fantasy potential of Tony Gonzalez, but he played like Rickey Dudley. He'll be asked to be a short-area receiver for Pennington in New York, who admitted they wanted Jolley for two years before acquiring him on the eve of the 2005 draft.
Marcus Pollard, TE, Lions: Pollard used to be one of the premier fantasy tight ends, but the 11-year veteran got lost in the shuffle in Indianapolis. Now with Detroit, he could double as a safety blanket and a clutch red-zone option for Joey Harrington.
Other tight ends on the move: Anthony Becht, Buccaneers; Freddie Jones, Panthers.
And finally ...
This list covers all of the key movers this offseason, but it will not have up-to-the-minute information on the additions made during training camp and the preseason. That's where your eagle eye as a fantasy owner will come into play.
