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Fantasy File Nice catch: Surprise WRs come from everywhere
By James Quintong, CNNSI.com Last week I mentioned how many of the top running backs have struggled at times this year because of injury, ineffectiveness or a combination of both. On the flip side, a number of the top wide receivers seem to be living up to their expectations, especially guys like Rod Smith, Terrell Owens, Marvin Harrison and Jimmy Smith. It took a while, but even Randy Moss finally had a huge game as well. Of course, the expectations for receivers for the most part are slightly lower than running backs, partly because you can find lots of value in later rounds than running backs because there are a lot more receivers who can come out of nowhere to produce. Guys like Joe Horn, Derrick Mason and Marcus Robinson are among those who have fit this bill in recent years. This season has been no different, with receivers coming out of the woodwork to become major fantasy producers. In most cases, the "surprise" wideouts have spent a year or two with their current team, learning the offense slowly before finally becoming major cogs. Players like those below are further proof why rookie receivers aren't usually great fantasy prospects. Let's take a look at 10 of the top surprise wideouts this year: Marty Booker, Bears: Entering this year, the Chicago passing game was Marcus Robinson and a bunch of underachieving former college stars. Booker had already started emerging from the pack during his rookie campaign, but he grabbed a starting job this year once Robinson went down with injuries. He was reasonably consistent (about 50-60 yards with an occasional score) before bursting through with his 165-yard, three-TD effort against the Bucs. He's now emerged as one of the top-10 fantasy receivers, thanks to that game. Laveranues Coles, Jets: Most people in New York thought Matthew Hatchette would become the big-play complement to Wayne Chrebet, but Coles has stepped in as the clutch receiver for Vinny Testaverde. The yardage stats aren't anything spectacular (500 yards, no 100-yard games), but he has scored five times, which is more than most people would've expected entering this year. If anything, he's become the most reliable fantasy target on the Jets. Curtis Conway, Chargers: The veteran wideout hasn't had a 1,000-yard season since 1996, but he has an outside shot right now with 670 yards and three TDs, not to mention a 67-yard TD run last week against the Raiders. While Doug Flutie and LaDainian Tomlinson have grabbed the headlines, Conway has piled up the numbers very quietly. Qadry Ismail, Ravens: He shocked many when he broke off an 1,105-yard season for Baltimore in 1999. He came back to earth last year as the Ravens developed a good running game; now, with the passing game becoming more of a priority, he's back. Ismail has proven to be the No. 1 guy again as youngsters Travis Taylor and Brandon Stokley have struggled. Joe Jurevicius, Giants: Maybe Kerry Collins seemed a bit more comfortable throwing to a fellow Penn State alum, or maybe Jurevicius finally put his size to good use, but whatever the case, Jurevicius has become a solid No. 3 fantasy receiver. He got a handful of starts when Ike Hilliard was injured and even overtook the inconsistent Amani Toomer on occasion. He may not be a superstar receiver, but he could be turning into a poor man's version of former Giant Ed McCaffrey. Johnnie Morton, Lions: He slumped badly last season after recording three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. However, he's close to matching last year's totals, and he's got a good shot to hit 1,000 again. Injuries to both Germane Crowell and Herman Moore have made him the main target for Charlie Batch. With Detroit often trailing in games, Batch will be throwing the ball a lot, with Morton getting the bulk of the catches. David Patten, Patriots: Troy Brown had already gotten away from sleeper status, thanks to last year's effort and the disappearance of Terry Glenn. Patten, a journeyman with the Browns and Giants, had one of the fantasy games of the year when he caught a TD pass, threw a TD pass and ran one in for a score - all on long plays. He's had a couple of decent games since then and looks to be a nice fantasy pickup while Tom Brady stays under center and Terry Glenn just stays away. Peerless Price, WR, Bills: While Eric Moulds has turned into one of the bigger fantasy busts of the year, Price has emerged as the top wideout for a woeful Buffalo squad. Price has had his share of one catch, nine-yard games, but he's broken the 100-yard barrier three times, and he's scored in each of the last two weeks. He looks to be more of a scoring threat these days than Moulds. James Thrash, Eagles: He's probably the most hit-or-miss wideout in fantasy football. He's scored seven touchdowns, but they've come in just four games -- three two-TD games and a one-TD game. When he doesn't score, he's averaged 20.8 yards per game. Donovan McNabb has improved, thanks to an upgraded receiving corps, but it looks like he keys in on one guy per game to go off. Hines Ward, Steelers: A lot of this could be attributed to Kordell Stewart's re-emergence as an effective quarterback. It also helps that Jerome Bettis' solid running has opened up the passing lanes. Ward, a very solid receiver at Georgia, had fallen off in esteem as Pittsburgh took Troy Edwards and Plaxico Burress with first-round picks. But he's become the main man for Stewart as it looks like he's the most comfortable with Pittsburgh's offensive schemes.
Monday's BestRandy Moss, WR, Vikings (10 catches, 171 yards, 3 TDs; 1 carry, 18 yards): Moss had been one of the biggest disappointments of the season entering the game with many of the players above having better seasons. But given the spotlight of Monday night and some inexplicable defensive calls by the Giants, Moss turned up his game in a big way, showing what most fantasy owners were used to. Maybe this will finally get him going.
Monday's WorstRon Dayne, RB, Giants (4 carries, -3 yards): It wasn't a good night for Wisconsin running backs as Michael Bennett only rushed for 33 yards, but his predecessor with the Badgers never got going at all against a Minnesota defense that was run over by Mike Alstott a couple of weeks ago. Tiki Barber has started to improve, but it might at the expense of Dayne.
Bye week watchThe New York Jets have Thanksgiving weekend off, meaning you'll definitely need to find a fill-in for Curtis Martin, the best fantasy running back this season. You're probably not missing a whole lot from the passing game, Vinny Testaverde in particular. With the Thanksgiving games, you'll have less time to make lineup decisions, depending on your league. With it being Turkey Day, you know the Lions and Cowboys will be playing, although it's hard to recommend any of them, outside of Emmitt Smith. The Packers, who'll be playing Detroit, and the Broncos, who'll be playing Dallas, could have favorable matchups and both will be extra motivated after suffering disappointing losses last week.
Injury watchTony Banks, QB, Redskins: He could be ready to go after suffering a concussion in Denver on Sunday. He's not worth considering against the Eagles but if he does play, it could help Rod Gardner, since Kent Graham was more comfortable with Michael Westbrook. Mark Brunell, QB, Jaguars: He was a surprise last-second scratch because of his injured quad, and that leg injury could prevent him from playing next week as well. Might be best to keep him on the bench for this week. Steve McNair, QB, Titans: This time, his thumb is bothering him and he'll miss some practice, but he looks ready to go. Just remember that Kurt Warner has also been dealing with a sore thumb, and he threw for 400 yards Sunday. Rod Smith, WR, Broncos: He couldn't finish Sunday's game because of his sprained ankle. You know he'll want to go, given the state of the Denver passing game, but the short week definitely won't help matters. James Quintong is Fantasy Sports producer at CNNSI.com.
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