TE Steve Heiden, CLE

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2009 Outlook: Deep-league Only

Steve Heiden's fantasy value has so many things working against it. First of all the quarterback situation in Cleveland is unsettled and how well the passing game will work is a big question mark. Can Derek Anderson return to his 2007 form or can Brady Quinn live up to the potential and develop into a quality NFL signal caller? Even if the passing game is half way decent, Heiden has to compete with fellow tight end Robert Royal and Martin Rucker for playing time. Heiden does have experience and actually ranked third on the team in receiving yards last season with 249, but he failed to reach the end zone all year. At 6-5 and 270 pounds, Heiden should be a quality option in the red zone, but he has gone two years without catching a touchdown pass and that could be three seasons by this time next year.

8/19 Update: Heiden is slowly recovering from his ACL and MCL surgeries during the offseason and has been limited during camp. It is more of a precautionary thing than anything else and Heiden will be ready to go when the season gets underway; his absence has allowed Royal and Rucker to get plenty of reps with the first team and they have done a pretty good job.