Favre's Arrival Makes Jerricho Cotchery a Good Gamble for Fallback No. 2 Fantasy WR

You probably can't spell either his first or last name without looking it up (I had to), but Jerricho Cotchery is a guy to keep an eye on when you're ready to pull the trigger on your second starting WR or flex starter. Considering that the guy has 8 career TDs, this might sound a little crazy. But, Cotchery has put together back-to-back 82-catch seasons, is a deep threat, and - with the Jets' acquisition of Brett Favre - no longer has noodle-armed QBs throwing to him (see ya, Chad).

I'm not suggesting a huge year for Favre or the Jets. If anything, I expect 2006 Favre to rear his ugly head (18 TD, 18 INT). However, even in 2006, Favre favorite Donald Driver had 8 TDs and 21 catches longer than 20 yds and I don't think it's far-fetched to compare Cotchery to a younger version of Driver.

Cotchery's numbers suggest that's he's worthy of a starting spot in your lineup if he can improve his TD total. With Favre on board, I think that will surely happen. I'm not saying that you should waste a fourth-round pick on him, though. However, if you only have one WR and a steal is available at RB or QB when you're thinking about a second WR, keep Cotchery in mind as a fallback starter you can probably grab later in the draft. It could really pay off if he puts up 90 catches, 1,200 yards and 8-10 TDs.

Don't Count on any Carolina Panthers as Fantasy Starters

After watching the Panthers play the Eagles Thursday night, I have to say that the Carolina offense looks out-of-synch once again. Sure, it was a messy field early in preseason, but things did not look promising to me.

• Jake Delhomme's return is certainly an improvement over the catastrophic quarterbacking the team suffered through in 2007, but, considering that no QB has ever been successful after Tommy John surgery (I'm talking to you, Rob Johnson), I wouldn't expect him to be an adequate fantasy starter when he was borderline even when healthy.
• Don't overvalue Steve Smith. Don't get me wrong, I love the guy. He's a warrior and a winner BUT the two-game suspension to start the season could put you in a hole early. Getting off to a strong start is crucial in fantasy football and wasting a high pick on Smith might jeopardize your ability to do that. He also tends to miss a game here or there with injury. I'd leave him on the board until you have RB and WR starters secured.
• Both RBs are risky. DeAngelo Williams has a great burst and Jonathan Stewart has been billed as an all-around top talent but the Carolina offensive line is in disarray with rookies and players in new positions. Last year, the line was abysmal and I'm not confident things will be much better this year. I would like either of these backs in a different situation but, right now, I don't want to count on either as starters for me.
• The rest of the receiving pack doesn't excite me either. Muhsin Muhammad doesn't have much left. D.J. Hackett might have some promise but there are so many other options out there who aren't saddled with a porous O-line, injured QB and All-Pro WR lining up opposite him.

On the whole, I'm not impressed. Find your starters elsewhere.