Fantasy Football Tonight 7/25

My training camp preview continues with the...

NFC EAST

DALLAS COWBOYS

This is the year that WR Roy Williams becomes the fantasy stud that many of us thought he would be years ago. He is now the clear #1 in Dallas and will be counted on to provide the big catches and clutch TD grabs without the distractions of Terrell Owens. I have noticed many fantasy players down on Williams because of his lack of involvement in the offense after being traded for last season. But you have to understand that was a very difficult situation. Williams was learning a new offense, new teammates, competing with Owens, Witten and company for balls and recovering from a shoulder stinger he suffered early in last season. This year he will have a full complement of offseason workouts and an entire training camp to get comfortable and build trust with Tony Romo. Williams has all the tools to be a top end WR, even the diva like attitude at times.

NEW YORK GIANTS

I am looking at two players who are far under the radar right now as the Giants get ready to open up training camp. The first is WR Derek Hagan. Hagan had a sensational camp last year for the Dolphins before getting hurt in the first week of the season and not quite playing the same since. I am a big believer in Hagan's skills and think he has an outside chance to be a driving force in the Giants passing game. We all know that Plaxico Burress is gone and while everybody is expecting Steve Smith or Domenik Hixon to step up into that #1 WR role, Hagan is a guy that I will be watching closely this summer.

The other player I will be watching closely during Giants training camp is rookie RB Andre Brown. His size and speed are an intriguing as anybody drafted last April. Brown is one of those players that plays faster than his combine numbers would indicate and he dishes out punishment with his aggressive inside running style. He is a younger, slightly quicker version of Brandon Jacobs. But what Jacobs doesn't do much of that Brown can is catch the ball out of the backfield. Brown hauled in nearly 70 receptions in his time at N.C. State and also returned kickoffs. This was a great pick by the Giants and fantasy owners everywhere had better be paying attention to the role he takes in the Giants offense this season. Brown should be picked, even as a flier in every fantasy draft of 12 or more teams.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

Brian Westbrook is on his last legs ladies and gentlemen. I cannot believe how many fantasy insiders are scared to death of LaDanian Tomlinson but have no issues in drafting Westbrook even after he recently underwent his seventh knee surgery this offseason and had another surgery to clean out his ankle this June as well. His knee injury is a degenerative one that will act up during the season no matter what. It will swell on him if the weather becomes damp so why are people trusting him at all? I'll tell you what, I will not even think about drafting Brian Westbrook in any round this year no matter what my needs may be. I will be drafting LeSean McCoy however, that I can promise you all right now. McCoy is the eventual replacement for Westbrook and will rack up the fantasy points in the weeks when Westbrook's knee isn't good to go.

WASHINGTON REDSKINS

I think the Redskins may be one of the worst teams in the NFL this season. I don't think much of head coach Jim Zorn or his offensive coordinator Sherman Smith. I am sure they are fine people mind you, but these guys are not equipped to handle the jobs they currently hold. The only worthwhile fantasy option here is the running game and even that is risky with Clinton Portis always either injured or unhappy with the offense. I am already on record saying that Jim Zorn will be fired by season's end and the next head coach of the Washington Redskins will be Mike Shanahan. What I want to see out of Redskins camp this year is whether or not Devin Thomas can be the explosive playmaker I think he can be. It will take a lot for him to show up and work each and everyday but the kid is a playmaker and I would love to see what he does with an expanded role in the Redskins offense.

TOMORROW: NFC SOUTH

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