Jackie Chiles
Veteran
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/insider/news/story?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.
http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/insider/news/story?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.
