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Ask the Experts

ASK THE EXPERTS appears weekly during the preseason and regular season, with answers to a new question being posted every Thursday morning.

How the guest experts responded when we asked them:

After Calvin Johnson, which rookie wideout would you most like to have in a keeper league?

DAVID DOREY

The rookie receiver I am most targeting other than Johnson is Robert Meacham who will have a realistic chance to wrest the No. 2 spot away from Devery Henderson before the season ends. In an offense that was No. 1 in passing yards last year and that needs to replace Joe Horn, Meacham was drafted expressly to become a starter sooner than later. A training camp watch on Meacham is mandatory given the potential of that offense.

Dorey is the co-founder of TheHuddle.com and the lead NFL analyst. He has been projecting players and predicting games since 1997 and has also authored the book Fantasy Football: The Next Level which is available at all major bookstores and at Amazon.com. Dorey won the Fantasy Football Index Experts Poll in 2005.

CARL WEATHERFORD

Probably Anthony Gonzalez. Over the next four to six years we should see either Marvin Harrison or Reggie Wayne out of Indy. In the immediate future he’ll pay dividends as the No. 3 guy. Having Peyton Manning as your QB is a major plus as always. I considered Robert Meacham but the RB position steals too much production from that team. Gonzalez will develop into a Manning go-to guy over the years making for a safe keeper-league WR choice.

Weatherford is owner/editor of www.coachbox.com, a fantasy football news and advice community online since 1997. Weatherford was author of the directory and technical editor for IDG Book’s Fantasy Sports Online For Dummies. He has been participating in magazine and expert panels since 1997 and has played fantasy football for over 20 years.

NATHAN ZEGURA

Other than the amazing Johnson, no rookie WR landed in a better position than Robert Meachem, who joins the high flying Saints. He will get some opportunities as a rookie in this offense, but should really begin to deliver in 2008. Devery Henderson becomes a free agent at the end of this season and will likely depart the Big Easy, clearing the way for the Saints’ first-round pick to make a huge impact in his sophomore season. Remember, Meachem holds the single season receiving record at Tennessee and will be dangerous in New Orleans with defenses trying to contain Reggie Bush and Marques Colston.

The Fantasy Consultant (www.thefantasyconsultant.com) is a fully dedicated fantasy football resource run by a former McKinsey and Co. consultant. TFC’s standard service offers detailed player previews, position previews identifying break out, busts and sleepers, weekly and full-season player projections/rankings customized to your scoring system, daily in-season emails and much more. The Premium service includes direct email access to The Fantasy Consultant for all of your lineup, trade, waiver, keeper and draft questions.

SCOTT ENDSLEY

Dwayne Jarrett is a gifted receiver. I’m still surprised he slipped to the 2nd round of the draft. Whatever faults people look for, you can't deny his exceptional hands. He has the size and the ability to make big plays. We look for Jarrett to be a consistent perfomer at this level.

Endsley is co-owner and a senior fantasy football consultant for FantasyDraftEdge.com. For more info, go to www.fantasydraftedge.com.

MIKE NAZAREK

Dwayne Bowe. Kansas City badly needed help at the wideout position and they got it with the big and versatile Bowe. Expect Bowe to steal the No. 2 WR position away from Samie Parker and become a solid target, especially in the red zone. If QB Brodie Croyle can develop quickly, Bowe could make quite an impact for fantasy owners in 2007.

Nazarek is the CEO of Fantasy Football Mastermind Inc. His company offers an online rookie draft kit, preseason draft guide, customizable cheat sheets, a fantasy auction drafting program, weekly in-season fantasy newsletters, injury reports and free NFL news (updated daily) at its website. He is also a nationally published writer in several fantasy magazines and a columnist for SI.com. For more info go to www.ffmastermind.com. Nazarek can be reached at 702-568-7118 or miken@ffmastermind.com.

STEVEN LASSAN

After Calvin Johnson, fantasy owners have choices at the receiver spot and I gave serious consideration to Anthony Gonzalez from Indianapolis, but will go with Saints receiver Robert Meachem. My main reason for selecting Meachem in a keeper league is the offense the Saints should have over the next three to five seasons. Quarterback Drew Brees still has plenty of years left in his arm, while Reggie Bush is only going to get better in the backfield. With Marques Colston in position as the team's number one receiver, Meachem should win the number two spot this year and will only get better with more snaps in this league. Considering Saints head coach Sean Payton is an offensive mastermind and will always have this offense as one of the league's best, look for Meachem to contend for a top 15-25 fantasy receiver ranking in future seasons.

Lassan is a senior staff writer for Pro Fantasy Sports. For more info, visit the websites www.profantasysports.com and www.fswa.org.

JEFFREY KAMYS

Most rookie WRs are not going to contribute much in year 1, but when you are thinking keeper league, you need to look at systems and potential. And with Marvin Harrison getting up in age, Anthony Gonzalez of the Colts is definitely a guy you need to look at long term. Gonzalez has a great chance to be the No. 3 WR in the Colts offense this year, and if an injury hit Wayne or the durable Harrison, he could step into a starting role.

Kamys is president of Dr. Stats Fantasy Sports. His company, via the web, offers player news, injury reports, cheat sheets, projections, weekly matchups, statistics, and a customized team tracker. Dr. Stats Fantasy Sports also e-mails preseason newsletters and reports throughout the season. For more info visit www.docstats.com or send e-mail to webmaster@docstats.com.

DEREK VANRIPER

After Calvin Johnson, I'm looking for the receiver most likely to make an impact in the Year 1 - Year 2 range, rather than the typical third-year breakout. Given that Robert Meachem has the most high-octane passing game to become a part of and the lack of proven talent in front of him in Devery Henderson and Terrance Copper, I think he's got the best chance of delivering in the near future and for the long haul. Dwayne Bowe looks to be in a situation where he'll be working with an inexperienced QB in Brodie Croyle, while San Diego's Craig Davis is part of an offense that features the most dynamic back in the league in LT along with super tight end Antonio Gates hawking the red-zone looks that don't go to Tomlinson. Dwayne Jarrett would also be worth some consideration, but I don't see him as a threat to exceed Keyshawn Johnson's recent production in Carolina for the first couple of seasons.

VanRiper is an editor for RotoWire.com and is entering his third season with the company. His weekly column "Moving the Chains" is syndicated at FoxSports.com, while his other duties at RotoWire include tracking Average Draft Position and managing the team defense and offensive line rankings. He's also worked as a Contributing Reporter on Yahoo! Sports' Fantasy Football Live Webcast on Sunday mornings.

JOHN HANSEN

You have to give Miami credit for going out and getting an impact playmaker and someone defenses must defend and game-plan for. Ted Ginn is a special talent whose quickness and movement is similar to Marvin Harrison’s. I recognize his elite talent and his potential to change games right away in the NFL, and I'm taking him No. 2 at WR in a keeper league.

Hansen has published www.fantasyguru.com since 1995 and FantasyGuru.com Magazine, a national print publication, since 2003. He's been seen on NFL Network, hosts a fantasy TV show on Comcast Sportsnet, and co-hosts a weekly fantasy football show on Sirius Satellite Radio. His daily blog can be seen at www.fantasyguru.com/blog/.

PATRICK GLEESING

USC had a former pro coach in Pete Carroll and his pro-style offense puts Dwayne Jarrett in the driver's seat for keeper leagues. Carolina is a serious sleeper team this year and he is already listed as the starter opposite Smith; and, Jarrett knows how to come out of the blocks strong. As a freshman in 2004 he had 55 rec. 849 yds. 15.4 avg. and 13 TDs. He also has a nose for the end zone. In addition to being the Pac-10's touchdown leader with 41, he played WR/DB in the New Jersey state championship game and scored three TDs in a 21-14 victory. He was on the 2003 Parade All American Team, and, after setting USC's all time reception mark in 3 years with 216, he was named to the 2006 Playboy All American roster. What's not to like?

Gleesing is the owner and senior writer for fantasyfootballdrafthub.com . He can be reached at patrick@fantasyfootballdrafthub.com. For more info, visit his website at www.fantasyfootballdrafthub.com.

IAN ALLAN

If I were in a TD-only league (particularly one giving bonuses for long touchdowns) I’d probably go with Ted Ginn, Jr. With his speed, I think he’s going to make plenty of big plays in the next five years. He may weigh only 178 pounds, but he’s going to turn some catches into long touchdowns, and he’s going to score on some kick returns. In a format based more on catches and yards, I’d be looking at Robert Meachem. He’s in a good situation with the Saints — they have a good quarterback and good offensive scheme. How else to explain the big numbers put up by Marques Colston and Devery Henderson (at times) last year? I don’t expect Meachem to start ahead of Henderson this season — certainly not early in the year — but once he gets in the lineup, his numbers should be very good.

Allan is the senior writer for Fantasy Football Index magazine. He’s also one of the main content contributors for that company’s website, www.fantasyindex.com. His IAN ALLAN’S MAILBAG column is posted on Tuesdays and Fridays.

SCOTT PIANOWSKI

If Ted Ginn Jr. weren't coming off a serious foot injury, he'd probably get my vote. He still might turn into a Santana Moss-type wideout in a year or two, but I'll play it safe with Anthony Gonzalez, another Ohio State product. Gonzalez gets to play slot-ball with Peyton Manning for now, with a starting spot not far off (Marvin Harrison won't play forever).

Pianowski is a free-lance journalist who's been writing about sports (fantasy and otherwise) for a variety of websites, newspapers and magazines for the last 20 years. He can be reached at pianowski31@yahoo.com.

DEAN RAMSAY

I believe Robert Meachem is the best rookie receiver after Calvin Johnson. He has the size and speed to be a dominant receiver in the NFL. Meachem is better suited as a keeper league prospect as he may need a year or two in the NFL to reach his potential.

Ramsay is the senior analyst for draftchamps.com. Draft Champs has been providing custom cheat sheets and value-based draft guides to the fantasy football community since 2003. For more info, visit www.draftchamps.com.

BRIAN SWAW

Right after the draft I was very high Robert Meacham of the New Orleans Saints but with his recent knee injury that has changed. The No. 2 WR on my board believe it or not is Sidney Rice of the Minnesota Vikings. Rice was the seventh WR taken in last year draft but has great chance of making immediate impact. At 6-4 Rice is big target and the tallest of the Vikings WRs and his height will come in handy playing in west coast offense. Rice was impressive in minicamp and should not have a problem being the Vikings No. 2 WR in front of Bobby Wade and even No. 1 Troy Williamson. The only downside could be the progression of 2nd-year QB Tavaris Jackson.

Swaw is senior writer and owner of GameTimeDecisions.net and the co-host of two fantasy football radio shows for ESPN AM 1000 in Chicago -- Fantasy Football Island and Fantasy Expert. He has been a keynote speaker for the FSTA and several fantasy football conventions with the likes of John Clayton, Chris Mortensen, Sean Salisbury and Mark Schlereth. For more info, visit www.gametimedecisions.net.

CORY J. BONINI

Out of the remaining rookie receivers, we really like New Orleans Saints wide receiver Robert Meachem. He has the size, speed and hands to become an electrifying player. While he has dealt with a knee injury so far in his young career, Meachem should develop nicely in years 2 and 3 of his career. His value for 2007 in fantasy leagues is next to nil, but he should be stashed in full-retention keeper leagues.

KFFL offers football as well as baseball content and has captured over a dozen expert league championships. Founded in 1996, this company offers daily news, preseason draft guides, player rankings, sleepers, busts, weekly newsletters and more. KFFL also provides fantasy content to various organizations including SportsTicker and Yahoo! Sports. For more information, visit www.kffl.com.

ANDY RICHARDSON

A lot can change from year to year in the NFL, but I have to look at the guys who are stepping into the best passing offenses -- Anthony Gonzalez in Indy, and Robert Meachem in New Orleans. I'm going with Gonzalez, in part because there's a precedent (Brandon Stokley) for a No. 3 wideout putting up big numbers in that offense, and because surely Marvin Harrison is going to start to break down in the next year or two. All accounts are that Gonzalez is a great route-runner -- who better than Peyton Manning to take advantage of that ability?

Richardson has been a columnist and contributor to the Fantasy Football Index magazine and web site for the past six years. His responsibilities include team defense and IDP projections, as well as various site features. He has run the magazine's annual draft and auction leagues since their inception. Other writing credits have included FFToday.com and football coverage for newspapers in Colorado and Florida. For more information go to www.fantasyindex.com.

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