FO Top Prospects

[Jackie Chiles]

Football Outsiders 25 of the top prospects for the upcoming season in unique way(11-25 today, top 10 tomorrow):

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/insid...ory?id=5374008

Bill Barnwell likens his list to those of MLB top prospects that the casual fan might not be aware of.

The criteria:

• Be in the second, third, or fourth year of their pro career
• Have been drafted in Rounds 3-7 or signed as an undrafted free agent
• Have started fewer than five career games in the NFL
• Still be on their rookie contract

Several Texans mentioned:

19. Arian Foster, RB, Houston Texans
The last guy standing at halfback for Houston in 2009, Foster averaged 4.8 yards on 54 carries over the final four weeks of the season. He would have produced even more if he hadn't been benched after fumbling early in Week 15. Foster will have to compete with Steve Slaton and rookie Ben Tate for playing time, but he has the potential to be the team's leading rusher -- and to have that actually mean something for fantasy owners.

17. Antoine Caldwell, G, Houston Texans
The Texans' third-round pick a year ago, Caldwell took over as the starting right guard for three games at the end of the season. He should retain that position for the full 2010 season over a gimpy Mike Brisiel. Caldwell is a former center at Alabama, but his athleticism would be wasted there, so he's going to play guard in the Texans' zone-blocking scheme. Houston ranked 25th on runs to left end and 28th on runs to left tackle last year, so a pulling Caldwell could help those figures improve.

13. Jacoby Jones, WR, Houston Texans
For some guys, it takes years for the lightbulb to go on. Robert Meachem was a joke until 2009, when he was suddenly one of the most valuable wideouts in the league. James Farrior didn't develop until he left New York and went to Pittsburgh, where he suddenly became an elite inside linebacker. Jones was pretty bad as a rookie and barely got into the offense during his second year, but faced with the possibility of being strictly a return man, Jones suddenly turned into an incredibly valuable part-time player in his third season. Part of that was a fluky touchdown rate -- he won't catch a TD pass every seven targets again -- but he was a legitimate go-to guy when teams were tripling Andre Johnson and daring Matt Schaub to throw somewhere else. Schaub threw Jones 13 passes on third down; Jones caught 10 of them, gaining 125 yards and seven first downs. The team re-signed Kevin Walter, which could limit Jones to a slot role, but he should get the chance to show whether his remarkable under-the-radar season was all fluke or a sign of things to come.

[drs23]

Thanks for the "Insider" report. I dunno, I guess I'm just cheap, but I'm not payin to be an "Insider". Guess I'll just stay on the outside and look in when ever someone is kind enough to post espn's "just for privvy eyes" whoop-la. f'kum.

[gtexan02]

Originally Posted by drs23

Thanks for the "Insider" report. I dunno, I guess I'm just cheap, but I'm not payin to be an "Insider". Guess I'll just stay on the outside and look in when ever someone is kind enough to post espn's "just for privvy eyes" whoop-la. f'kum.

You get a free insider subscription if you have ESPN the magazine. A year of ESPN the magazine runs ~$2 if you buy it online.

[drs23]

2 bucks. OK maybe I'll save up

[Dutchrudder]

Originally Posted by drs23

2 bucks. OK maybe I'll save up

Next time I see a good deal on ESPN the magazine, I'll make a thread about it. I got 3 years last fall for $8. I dont even read the magazine, I just enjoy the Insider access.

[drs23]

Originally Posted by Dutchrudder

Next time I see a good deal on ESPN the magazine, I'll make a thread about it. I got 3 years last fall for $8. I dont even read the magazine, I just enjoy the Insider access.

All righty then, I'm in!

[Lucky]

Part of that was a fluky touchdown rate -- he won't catch a TD pass every seven targets again

Really? I wouldn't be so sure. Jones' explosiveness has yet to be fully tapped by the Texans offense. I don't think his coach realizes how good he can be. I don't think Jones realizes how good he can be. I believe Jacoby can be one of the premier after the catch threats in the league. Better in this regard than even Andre Johnson. The Texans can become a truly elite offense (yards and points) with a) some consistency in the running game and b) an unleashed Jacoby Jones.

[76Texan]

Originally Posted by Jackie Chiles

19. Arian Foster, RB, Houston Texans
The last guy standing at halfback for Houston in 2009, Foster averaged 4.8 yards on 54 carries over the final four weeks of the season. He would have produced even more if he hadn't been benched after fumbling early in Week 15. Foster will have to compete with Steve Slaton and rookie Ben Tate for playing time, but he has the potential to be the team's leading rusher -- and to have that actually mean something for fantasy owners.

What the heck does that mean?

How does Barnwell know that Foster would have produced more?
In game 15?
Based on what?
That Foster had carried twice for 7 yards and a fumble?
That Foster had carried 13 times for 34 yards in week 14 against Seattle?
(Note: For those of you who may not know, I started a thread on Foster as UDFA and was pulling for him even before TC last year.)

Or that Foster would gain more than 97 yards in week 16 and more than 119 yards in weeh 17?

Any of them three (Slaton, Tate, and Foster) can be the team leading rusher in any given game (not counting injury.)
And that is NOT a good thing for FANTASY FOOTBALL Owners!

Maybe Barnwell means something else that I don't understand.

[76Texan]

Originally Posted by Jackie Chiles

17. Antoine Caldwell, G, Houston Texans
The Texans' third-round pick a year ago, Caldwell took over as the starting right guard for three games at the end of the season. He should retain that position for the full 2010 season over a gimpy Mike Brisiel. Caldwell is a former center at Alabama, but his athleticism would be wasted there, so he's going to play guard in the Texans' zone-blocking scheme. Houston ranked 25th on runs to left end and 28th on runs to left tackle last year, so a pulling Caldwell could help those figures improve.

I am strongly agaisnt pulling Caldwell; he's just not quick enough.
OK, maybe a short pull from one Guard spot to another, but not all the way to tackle.

Our left side was in turmoil at different times last year.
First, Pitts wasn't 100% at the beginning of he season.
Then Studdard replaced him; you have to expect difficulty in the transition period.
Next, Brown hurt his knee in the second game against Indy.

On our right, the combo White/Caldwell wasn't great, but they were fresh, each giving the other a rest; and Winston is a good run blocker at tackle.

If Brisiel comes back 100%, it would be a heck of a battle there.
Brisiel had shown that he's a very gritty lineman while Caldwell had shown good progress as the year moved on.

And obviously, Barnwell doesn't know that the Center in the ZBS needs to have all the athleticism he can possess. How can you waste "that" at such an important position?

[76Texan]

Originally Posted by Lucky

Really? I wouldn't be so sure. Jones' explosiveness has yet to be fully tapped by the Texans offense. I don't think his coach realizes how good he can be. I don't think Jones realizes how good he can be. I believe Jacoby can be one of the premier after the catch threats in the league. Better in this regard than even Andre Johnson. The Texans can become a truly elite offense (yards and points) with a) some consistency in the running game and b) an unleashed Jacoby Jones.

with Matt Schaub as the master key to everything.
Perhaps MS isn't quite ready to be Manning yet, but with all these weapons, my money is on Schaub to have a bigger year than last year.

Toward the end of the season, Schaub had done everything I mentioned earlier during the season to better himself so he can become an elite QB.

From shortening the delivery, reading the blitz, making a quick decision whether to throw or to run, knowing when you can hold on to the ball and when to just throw it away, etc.