The question of the day wasn’t if the Carolina Panthers would draft Cam Newton (they did), but rather, how early will Burrier take him in our 2011 draft? Considering Burrier drafted both Matt Leinert and Mark Sanchez as rookies over the last five years, keeping them both the following year (the one exception was when he traded for Rivers as a 15th round keeper).
In reality rookie quarterbacks don’t really mean much in fantasy. Even if they do start right out of the gate (rare), they’re still not worth a start on a Robioland roster. Often quarterbacks are taken late in the draft, held on for a year before being dropped without ever making an impact on that team.
More often than not, you’re looking at running backs and in a small way, wide receivers to make some sort of impact that year.
Now tonight, you’re witnessing round one of the NFL draft. You’ve already seen Georgia’s A.J. Green go to Cincinnati. Obviously, the first WR taken in the NFL draft are the best guys in our draft, right? Don’t know. Let’s see if that has held true in Robioland by taking a stroll back and see how wide receiver has done.
WIDE RECEIVERS
2001 – DAVID TERRELL Drafted By: Justin Hanright, Round 10
The former Wolverine was a major fantasy bust. He sat on Justin’s bench, never cracking the starting lineup. He survived a total of three seasons in Robioland. Terrell was drafted the following year by Griff in the 6th round and again the following year by Burrier in the 10th. Yet, Terrell couldn’t even finish the season with either of them, cut before the season ended. He never finished higher than 88th among all receivers.
2002 – DONTE STALLWORTH Drafted By: Justin Acerno, Round 12
In his rookie campaign, Stallworth next sniffed Justin’s starting lineup. He did finish 48th among receivers, due to a knack for getting touchdowns for New Orleans. The following year, better things were expected, so Griff took him in the 4th round. His numbers slipped though and he was cut. He finished 69th among receivers. In 2004, Hightower took him in the 8th round and Stallworth technically had his best year. He was 35th among receivers, yet he never was able to escape Dave’s bench.
In 2005, Stallworth got a new beginning with McNabb and the Eagles. Bob even landed him in the 11th. However, after a slow start, he was cut. Colby gave him a shot, but he too cut Stallworth. I ended up given him a third chance and it paid off. He actually started to produce and started for me, helping me get to the semis, where I fell to Colby. That would be the highlight for Stallworth in Robioland football.
The following year, Bob took him again in the 7th round, but he never started, finishing 47th among receivers. In 2007, Eric used an 8th round pick, but he fell all the way to 113th. Then he killed someone. He returned in 2010, but was not drafted by anyone.
2003 – CHARLES ROGERS Drafted By: Molly Coomer, Round 5
One of the all-time busts in both the NFL and fantasy football. In his rookie year, Molly reached big time for a rookie wide receiver and it cost her. He was cut early, finishing 92nd among receivers. The worst part…Tory Holt was taken with the next pick and he finished 2nd among receivers that year. Sadly, Rogers’ rookie year would be his best year. He lasted two more seasons in Robioland. Matt took him in the 7th in 2004, but quickly cut the injured WR. Burrier gave him one more shot in 2005 in the 13th round, but he still couldn’t crack the top 100 among WRs.
2004 – LARRY FITZGERALD Drafted by: Rich Calderon, 8th Round – Traded to Eric for Rudi Johnson.
Fun Fact about Larry Fitzgerald…in his first six seasons of Robioland, the former Pitt Panther appeared on only two rosters, Calderon’s and Eric’s. In his rookie year, Fitzgerald was so-so at best. He finished 33rd among receivers. Calderon gave him up, along with Nate Burelson, for Rudi Johnson, the #2 pick in the draft. It was a solid decision since Rudi would finish 9th among running backs.
Of course Calderon might have wished he had kept him as Eric did. Over the next five seasons, Fitzgerald was arguable the best wide receiver in football. As an 8th round keeper in 2005, Fitzgerald finished 4th among receivers. In 2006 though, Eric opted for Ronnie Brown in the 4th and Calderon, who could have still had Fitzgerald in the 8th if he hadn’t traded him, used a first-round pick to take him in 2007. Despite missing four games to injury, Fitzgerald finished 25th among WRs.
In 2008, Eric took him back in the first-round and Larry rewarded him as the #1 receiver in football. In 2009, Calderon snagged him back in the first-round and Fitzgerald proceeded to finish third. During this five-year run, Fitzgerald would finish 6th or best in four of the five seasons, earning two second-team All-Robio’s and one first-team All-Robio. However, in 2010 Kurt Warner retired and Fitzgerald slipped to the second-round. This time Griff grabbed him, but Fitzgerald lost his elite status and fell to 15th among receivers.
2005 – BRAYLON EDWARDS Drafted by: Matt Neatock, Round 8
Here’s a fact, no other first-picked wide receiver has had a more interesting career in Robioland. Big things were expected from Edwards early on, but the injury bug bite him and he never really started for Matt. He finished 53rd. The following year, Masterson grabbed him in the 9th round. He wasn’t too bad, finishing 26th, which was pretty good considering there was no quarterback in Cleveland. Rob decided it was enough to keep him and Edwards rewarded Masterson with a stunningly good season. He finished the season as a second-team All-Robio. Heading in 2008, Masterson obviously kept him again and there was even talk about Edwards being one of the best keepers ever. The talk was too early. Edwards reverted back to mediocrity and finished the season as the 27th best back.
In 2009, Edwards found a new home with Calderon, who took a chance on the former All-Robio receiver in the 6th round. Yet, he was a bust out of the gate and Rich cut him rather quickly. Then Edwards was trade to the Jets. Matt Neatock, the league favorite spent a record-breaking $70 on him. It didn’t pan out. Edwards would only catch 10 balls and one TD. Luckily, Matt didn’t need him and still won his second title in three seasons. In 2010, things went full circle for Edwards, as he found himself still available in the 9th round again. Eric grabbed him. He had his moments (breaking 200 three times), finishing as a legit second receiver (15th overall), but he spent half of the season riding Eric’s pine.
2006 – SANTONIO HOLMES Drafted by: N/A
Holmes is the first player on this list that actually went undrafted. I wish I could remember why no one took a chance on him. Anyhow, Molly ended up grabbing him in week 12, but cut him two weeks later. At the very least, it would start a very long relationship between Holmes and the Coomer’s. The following year Molly actually drafted Holmes in the 8th round. He finished the season as the Steelers best receiver, but that only meant 19th best in the league. In 2008, Molly again drafted Holmes, this time all the way in the third round, but Holmes struggled to meet expectations. He ended up on Molly’s bench, finished 33rd among all receivers.
In 2009, Holmes switched Coomer’s when Griff took a chance on him in the 4th. He finally paid off. Holmes had a fantastic season, finished second-team All-Robio, helping Griff return to his sixth championship game. The following year, Holmes was expected to be a solid keeper, but a four-game suspension and a trade to the Jets scared Griff off. I ended up taking him in the 9th round in 2010. He would only play one game for me, before I packaged him with Greg Jennings to Matt Neatock. In return I got DeSean Jackson. Holmes, along with Jennings, would start the rest of the way, putting up solid numbers, including a 358-point game. His numbers dipped in the end, but he still finished 28th among receivers (despite missing four games).
2007 – CALVIN JOHNSON Drafted by: Rich Calderon, Round 5
Mr. Johnson is actually the second first-picked rookie wide receiver Calderon has taken. Like most rookie WRs, Johnson was good, but not great. He only started when he was pressed into duty (injuries, byes) and finished 30th among backs. He would have made a great keeper, but Rich had to keep his first-team All-Robio QB (Brees) in the third. Instead, he elected to draft Johnson again, this time in the fourth. It was a wise pick, as Calvin was one of the league’s best, earning second-team All-Robio.
In 2009, a rookie quarterback kept Johnson out of the first-round, but Masterson traded up and grabbed him in the second. The rookie QB did mess with his stats and he fell to 22nd among receivers. Luckily for Masterson, he also had Sidney Rice and Brandon Marshall, so Johnson pretty much sat on Rob’s bench for most of the season. Last year, Calderon brought Calvin back home and again Johnson returned to top-10 status. Starting next to first-team WR Roddy White, Rich had one of the best receiving duos in Robioland. Despite all the success Johnson has had, we are still waiting for that first first-team All-Robio.
2008 – DONNIE AVERY Drafted by: N/A
No first-pick wide receiver has entered the league with less hype than Donnie Avery. In fact, the rookie out of Houston wasn’t even taken in the first-round. This was the only draft in the Robioland era where a WR wasn’t taken in the first-round of the NFL draft. Of course Avery hasn’t done anything to prove the doubters wrong. Undrafted his rookie year, he actually put up some decent stats as the Rams’ number one receiver (in a weak offense). Griff picked him up in week eight and he exploded for a 372-point game against the Patriots. He never matched those stats again though and remained on Griff’s bench,
In 2009, Griff used a 9th round pick to grab Avery. At the time, it seemed like a great pick for a guy who actually had 47 catches in his last 12 games as rookie. Yet, Avery was nothing but a throwaway player in trades in his sophomore season. In week two he was traded to Matt for Darren Sproles. Five weeks later, he was packaged with Willie Parker to Rich Burrier for Chris Chambers and Glen Coffee. Avery would finish the year on Burrier’s bench. In 2010, Bob reached for Avery in the 9th, but a knee injury ended his season before it even got started. He was cut prior to week one.
2009 – DARRIUS HEYWARD-BEY Drafted by: Bob Castrone, Round 12
Based on the numbers, he was the worst picks ever, even as as 12th round pick. Despite never being hurt, he only caught nine balls all season during his rookie campaign. He finished 106th among receivers. Bob cut in week five and never looked back. The following year Heyward-Bey went undrafted (the only person on this list to not get drafted the following season). In week eight, he actually produced a good game, catching five balls for 105 yards and a TD (260 fantasy points). Jeff rushed to pick him up, cutting 2010’s first running back taken. DHB proceeded to be shutout the following week and Jeff cut him for the Panthers D. He never sniffed another roster again. He is clearly on his way to being the biggest first-picked receiver bust in Robioland.
2010 – DEMARYIUS THOMAS Drafted By: N/A
Not much to tell about Thomas. He wasn’t drafted, but is best remember for Jeff ending up with the wrong Broncos receiver. If you remember, the Broncos’ receivers were putting up monster games. In week two, Jeff grabbed Brandon Lloyd (after he had a big week one). In week two though, Lloyd’s stats dropped and DeMaryius Thomas had the big game; eight catches, 97 yards and a TD (238 fantasy points). Jeff suddenly picked up Thomas and dropped Lloyd (technically he dropped Lloyd for Mario Manningham). The following week Thomas did nothing, finishing with 37 points. Lloyd would end up having a great week three and an even better season, finishing the year as the league’s #1 receiver. Thomas would only catch 14 more balls the rest of the season. Jeff cut him in week six.
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