Why is Bledsoe undervalued?

[Ilov80s 0]

-Drew finished as the 5th best QB in fantasy last season

-Dallas added TO in the offseason. He has already propelled Jeff Garcia and Donovan McNabb to career numbers.

-Twice in the last 5 years Drew has had 2 good WR options and both times he has finished as the 5th best QB. (Keyshawn/Glenn and Moulds/Price)

-He may have the best 3some of receiving options in the NFL with TO/Glenn/Witten

-Drew is the 10th QB being taken with an ADP of 7.7 (antsports.com)

 

So can anybody convince me Bledsoe isn't terribly undervalued right now?

[Belushi 9]

Shhh. It's a secret.

[RayLewis52 0]

My feelings on Bledsoe have been up and down.

 

He's old with an unreliable line. Not sure how much longer he's gonna stand in the pocket.

 

He can make the throw, but he NEEDS protection because he can't move.

 

Glenn is getting old.

 

I get the feeling that they will be more run-heavy, as they've been waiting for a healthy season in JJ, who they are dumping $$ to.

 

They are in the hunt this year. Like Pitt last year, i see them as run-heavy and defensively led.

 

I see Bledsoe having good numbers. Most balls will go to TO, but nothing out of the ordinary.

 

They won't be playing from behind and needing to launch up the ball like they have in the past.

 

Also, Bledsoe will be facing tough defenses in in their division all season long.

[xenophobe 1]

I have a few questions with Drew. For starters, I'm not sure we can simply look at the numbers he put up last year as the base because I think the dallas offense will look a bit different. They have a new OC, for starters. Plus, we all know Parcells would prefer to build his team around the defense and the running game, and with a young, up and coming defense and two backs he seems to be high on, I suspect the passing game will be primarily used to feed off the run and spread the defense. They'll take their chances down field every game, but I see this evolving into more of a run first offense this season.

 

Throw in Bledsoe's age (TO and Glenn as well, now that I think about it) and the questions along the offensive line, and I see a lot of reasons to temper our expecations for Bledsoe as a fantasy QB this year.

[Ilov80s 0]

The line is a very valid point. Shouldn't that also hurt the running game? I just don't see JJ or MB3 as the type of backs who can produce behind a subpar line.

[xenophobe 1]

The line is a very valid point. Shouldn't that also hurt the running game? I just don't see JJ or MB3 as the type of backs who can produce behind a subpar line.

 

Yes, it will. It hurt them significantly last season as they were at the very bottom of the league in YPC last year.

[TD Ryan2 316]

I'd be careful assuming that Parcells will run "just because he likes to run".

Drew Bledsoe set records for number of passing attempts while he was in NE... under the "run first" coach Parcells.

 

While I agree that the O-line is a concern for Bledsoe, isn't it also a concern for the running game?

 

 

Sure Parcells wants to run and play tough D... but more than that, Parcells wants to win football games and I can't imagine that anyone is going to consider JJones/MBarber more of a threat than TO/Glenn/Witten.

 

Bledsoe will likely have some HUGE games with a few 3INT stinkers thrown into the mix. When the season is over, he'll have some nice stat totals (top 5?) but you just hope that he doesn't have a 6sack, 5int game in your championship round.

[Ilov80s 0]

Yes, it will. It hurt them significantly last season as they were at the very bottom of the league in YPC last year.

 

And should be worse this year with the loss of Allen. Which makes it difficult for me to see the comparison between them and the Steelers. I think the running game is really going to sputter and they will be forced to air it out.

[xenophobe 1]

I'd be careful assuming that Parcells will run "just because he likes to run".

Drew Bledsoe set records for number of passing attempts while he was in NE... under the "run first" coach Parcells.

 

While I agree that the O-line is a concern for Bledsoe, isn't it also a concern for the running game?

Sure Parcells wants to run and play tough D... but more than that, Parcells wants to win football games and I can't imagine that anyone is going to consider JJones/MBarber more of a threat than TO/Glenn/Witten.

 

Bledsoe will likely have some HUGE games with a few 3INT stinkers thrown into the mix. When the season is over, he'll have some nice stat totals (top 5?) but you just hope that he doesn't have a 6sack, 5int game in your championship round.

 

Bill Parcells believes in the run. That much we know. Yes, he let Bledsoe throw it a ton in NE, but that was using what you have more than anything.

 

I agree the blocking should hurt the running game as well. But that's a seperate issue. A poor line will hurt Bledsoe period, no one said that's why they'll run the ball.

[Kellys Heroes 0]

Because of his age; If he was 10 yrs younger; Drew would be in the pack w/ Brady, Carson, and Hass.

[xenophobe 1]

And should be worse this year with the loss of Allen. Which makes it difficult for me to see the comparison between them and the Steelers. I think the running game is really going to sputter and they will be forced to air it out.

 

If it's sputtering because of poor blocking, then I don't agree. When you have an immobile QB, you don't air it out because you have concerns with your line. That's a recipe for disaster.

[TD Ryan2 316]

Yes, he let Bledsoe throw it a ton in NE, but that was using what you have more than anything.

 

 

xeno,

 

NE had Curtis Martin when Bledsoe/Parcells threw it all over the yard. It wasn't like they didn't have a running option.

 

 

do you disagree that "the air" is the strength of the Cowboy's attack?

[xenophobe 1]

xeno,

 

NE had Curtis Martin when Bledsoe/Parcells threw it all over the yard. It wasn't like they didn't have a running option.

do you disagree that "the air" is the strength of the Cowboy's attack?

 

His attempts dropped the year they got Martin, and he threw it fewer and fewer times each year they had him.

 

I believe the receivers and TE are the strength of the offense. However, I believe the defense is the strength of the team and that Parcells does not believe he needs to score a ton of points to win games. I also believe that he has concerns with the mobility of his QB behind an o-line that was very questionable last season, and I think he knows this is the weak link, potentially preventing them from being a SB team. I suspect they'll approach this by running 2-TE sets, sticking to the run, and letting Bledsoe take his chances when the timing is right.

 

Don't get me wrong, he will use the weapons he has. I just don't see him airing it out as a policy. I think we'll see relatively conservative play with them taking their shots down field each game, but over all, I just don't see them letting loose in the passing game enough to expect Bledsoe to put up bing numbers on a consistent basis. He'll have his games, but when the game doesn't play out in favor of it, I think you'll see a lot of weeks when he's going to be a disapointment for fantasy owners.

[esoitl 0]

i have him rated 6th but i agree that he is a rated too low by most

on another note, i have TO rated #1 above Smith as well which also says something

 

TO did just have a 14 TD 14 game season, i think most people already forget this and focus on him being a disruption to the team

 

the one knock i have on Bledsoe is that he can never keep it up for a full season it seems

he starts off on a tear andthen by mid season he looks like a rookie and makes horrible mistakes, holds theball too long, and the team just never seems to finish well

 

i think 7.07 is definately too low for him but if i do draft him i will definately look for a back up plan

with a bit of a shaky OL i also have reservations of him being totally healthy the full year

[TD Ryan2 316]

a consistent basis.

... you'll see a lot of weeks when he's going to be a disapointment for fantasy owners.

 

we certainly agree there.

I think they'll air it out a bit more than you're projecting.

But I still think there'll be a lot of inconsistency... huge 300+yard games with some 3to4INT "Blesdoe Specials" in the mix.

 

Which brings me full circle... I'd draft Bledsoe at his current ADP (7.08). With those first 6 picks, you SHOULD be able to surround him with enough fantasy talent that his down games won't kill you and his huge weeks can still "win the week" for you.

 

 

on another note, i have TO rated #1 above Smith as well which also says something

 

 

ditto.

 

I have TO as the #1 WR in his own tier.

[xenophobe 1]

we certainly agree there.

I think they'll air it out a bit more than you're projecting.

But I still think there'll be a lot of inconsistency... huge 300+yard games with some 3to4INT "Blesdoe Specials" in the mix.

 

Well see. You certainly could be right, this is just what my gut is telling me. Hard to see how he wouldn't use TO as much as possible. I might be a little more convinced had I been more certain bringing in TO wasn't something that was forced on him. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

[dcOne 2]

I think the running improves from last year. Jones will rush for 1400 yds. Barber 500.

[Dallas Guy 0]

It all depends on the line. In its current state, I would not put much stock in Bledsoe staying healthy all season. But keep an eye on what they do with Greg Ellis. He is still a very good (and unhappy) defensive end and he could be used to fetch some help on the offensive line.

[Eriadoc 4]

FF players conveniently overlook the fact that Bledsoe is a good QB. He's put up some good stats in his career, made it to a couple Super Bowls, and has won a lot of games. There's frequently discussion around football as to whether he'll make it to the HoF. He might not, but to even be thought of in that way speaks volumes. If you put a bad team around any QB, they'll struggle. Bledsoe has had some really crappy teams around him.

 

Given that Bledsoe's weakness is really his mobility, do you feel comfortable enough in Dallas' offensive line to take Bledsoe earlier than his current ADP? That's really all you need to ask yourself. All other factors around him (skill position players, defense, coaching) are either stable or have actually improved.