Sophomore Year Outlook

Each year there are some new, hot, young rookies that come into the NFL and have a breakout year in their first season. But can those same players continue their first year success in their second year in the league? In this article, I will look at some of last year's top rookies and what the outlook for their sophomore year in the 2007 fantasy football season is...

QB Vince Young, Tennessee
After being drafted by the Tennessee Titans as the #3 overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft, Young was awarded the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year after his breakout year. During the 2006 season, he led the Tennessee Titans to eight wins (including six straight), where he posted an 8-5 record as a starter. In thirteen games last year, he threw for 2199 yards with 12 TDs, plus 13 interceptions and he ran for 552 yards, plus 7 TDs. I don't see Young or the Titans being as successful this coming season--mainly due to the key losses of RB Travis Henry and WR Drew Bennett on the offense. The Titans failed in the off-season to address any of their needs or to give Young more help on the offense. Young is talented, but he certainly can't do it all alone. And if that isn't enough to expect him to experience a sophomore slump, then just remember he is on the cover of Madden 08 this year. We all know about that Madden Curse!

QB Matt Leinart, Arizona
Leinart started 11 games last year after taking over for the ineffective Kurt Warner in Arizona early in the season. He threw for 2547 yards, 11 TDs, and 12 interceptions, in what was mostly a learning year under center for Leinart. Ken Whisenhunt takes over as the new head coach, plus he certainly has several weapons on offense around him in RB Edgerrin James, WR Larry Fitzgerald, and WR Anquan Boldin. The Cardinals are still not a great team. Although they should be improved this year, I still expect them to be playing from behind most games. If Leinart stays healthy, then a 3000-yard and 20 TD season is possible for him, making him a good sleeper candidate at QB for fantasy owners this year.

QB Jay Cutler, Denver
The Broncos moved up in the 2006 draft to take Cutler with the 11th overall pick to be the eventual replacement for Jake Plummer. However, after Plummer struggled, the future came sooner rather than later as Cutler took over and started the last five games of the year. He finished with 1001 yards, 9 TDs, and 5 interceptions, while going 2-3 as the Broncos starting QB. Cutler is on a better team than either Young or Leinart, so he won't be asked to do as much as them this season (mainly handing the ball off to Travis Henry). I think Cutler is still about a year away from being a quality starting fantasy QB, so he has more value in Dynasty and Keeper Leagues. I also think he is still worth drafting in normal 10-12 team yearly redraft leagues in the later rounds as a backup QB.

RB Laurence Maroney, New England
Maroney has been a lock in the first round of almost every preseason mock draft I have researched. He finished last year with 745 yards, 7 total TDs, plus 22 receptions for 194 yards, while splitting carries with Corey Dillon. However, Dillon isn't in the mix this year, so Maroney should be the Patriots featured back this year and have a 1000 plus yard rushing season for fantasy owners. If you consider that with the off-season additions New England has made this year, they could be one of the top teams in the NFL this season. This should allow Maroney to get a bunch of yards late in games, since they should be ahead in the majority of them.

RB Joseph Addai, Indianapolis
Addai finished with an impressive 1406 all-purpose yards and 8 total touchdowns as a rookie, while splitting carries last year. Addai has jumped into the top ten of almost all preseason mock drafts due to Dominic Rhodes leaving via free agency and based on his performance running the ball in last year's playoff run for the Colts. With Rhodes gone, Addai now becomes the Colts featured back this upcoming season, so fantasy owners should expect his numbers to improve in 2007 and be a #1 fantasy RB.