Day 4: Busts

This is the final day of busts with one of them being a former 1st round pick in fantasy drafts, one a veteran on the outs, and another being a quarterback who could very well lose his job.     

David Garrard – QB (Jaguars) – Garrard put up his best statistical year in ’09 and was in the top 15 of quarterbacks in fantasy points. The downfall of Garrard last season was the fact that he fumbled 14 times (8 lost). Garrard is one of these mobile quarterbacks who need to make plays with his feet, and if he doesn’t, will find himself out of his comfort zone. Many “experts” may say that Garrard will improve this year with his offensive line finally being healthy again, but he got sacked the same amount of times as he did in ’08 (42 times), and a player with his agility should have been able to buy time to make the big play. He’ll do most of his work by handing off the ball to Maurice Jones-Drew who has shown that he is very durable despite his small frame and by using his own legs on plays drawn up for him to run. The pressure of his big contract may have started to get to him last season and will continue on into this one. Don’t be surprised if Garrard doesn’t end the season with the starting job as Luke McCown may be able to manage a game when given the opportunity. Garrard is not an attractive option, avoid him.

Marion Barber – RB (Cowboys) – After bulldozing over opposing defenses for the last 5 years, Barber has respectfully earned the title “The Barbarian”. Unfortunately, enforcing this bruising run style on his opponents has made me come to the realization that his glory days are behind him. Barber has fought through injuries, most recently his quadriceps muscle, for the last two years. He’s also been rumored to have “lost a step” during the offseason. Coach Phillips doesn’t seem to think so, but I’m pretty sure he loves everybody. This has opened opportunities for young running backs Felix Jones and Tashard Choice to show what they have to offer, and they haven’t disappointed thus far. Felix Jones’s breakaway speed out of the backfield as well as Choice’s all around talent continues to show why the Cowboys may keep Barber off the field more this year to make sure he’s healthy for the playoffs. The fact that Tony Romo is coming off his best statistical season and has more weapons this year than ever before tells me all the running backs may be seeing less opportunities with the ball(similar to what the Saints like to do). Feel free to draft barber as a solid 3rd RB, but his #2 running back duties on your fantasy team have come to an end.

Donald Driver – WR (Packers) – Driver surprised a lot of fantasy gurus last year as he turned into Aaron Rodgers go-to-receiver. While catching 70 balls for 1061 yards and 6 touchdowns was impressive, there’s reason to believe that Donald will slow down considerably. After having arthroscopic surgery on both knees this offseason, Driver definitely will slow down. He’s capable of being questionable, or in fact missing a lot games due to soreness and tendinitis. James Jones and Jordy Nelson are up and coming young receivers with a bunch of talent and are ready to both produce career highs this year. This goes without saying, but they also have Greg Jennings in the mix, who ended up having a strong finish to his season as well. What held them back last year was the Packer offensive line being dreadful causing Rodgers to throw short passes and screens to Driver on almost every series. Green Bay made it a necessity to solidify the right and left tackle position by resigning Tauscher and drafting in the first round Bryan Bulaga (not to be confused with the whale). In 2010, expect even more big plays out of the Packer offense with receivers Jennings, Jones, and Nelson being the benefactors, while leaving Driver looking into retirement plans.

With busts over, be ready for an offseason basketball article and why curling isn't a sport to come shortly after. GONE.