The McNabb Effect
The Donovan McNabb trade rumors have finally come to an end.
While fantasy GMs everywhere were trying to figure out how McNabb would fit in Oakland, Buffalo or San Francisco, not many had him going to Washington.
The move, of course, has fantasy implications for the Eagles as well, as Kevin Kolb now becomes the starter.
Let’s take a look at both QBs and what we might be able to expect this fall…
With McNabb, fantasy owners will still know what they’re getting. The knock on him has always been his accuracy. But, he played in an Eagles offense that threw the ball a lot, yet he never threw a lot of interceptions. He was always in that second tier of fantasy quarterbacks that allowed you to take another position with an earlier pick, if that was your strategy. McNabb is a great deep ball thrower and that really showed in the days with Terrell Owens, and last year with DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin. Right now as things stand, he will have less to work with in Washington as far as receivers go. Santana Moss will be his WR1, but has always been inconsistent. Chris Cooley is a top-notch tight end who stands to see a bump in value, as McNabb has always targeted his tight ends in the red zone.
The good news for McNabb is he should have a running game in this West Coast offense run by new head coach Mike Shanahan. Along with Clinton Portis, the Skins signed Larry Johnson and Willie Parker this offseason, and all three should take the load off McNabb. All three could be a factor in the passing game, too. McNabb has run his share of screen passes and it looks like that will continue.
Another concern about McNabb with his new team is the offensive line, which was dreadful in 2009 and will need to improve or Donovan will be missing some starts. Adding another WR, as well, could do some good for McNabb’s fantasy value. McNabb never seemed to really fit Andy Reid’s offense, but I think Shanahan will tweak it a bit. Right now, I consider Donovan a bottom-half of the top-ten QB, but I’d look for the Skins to make some moves, which would bump him up a few spots.
With Kolb, we don’t know a whole lot about what we’re getting, because he’s only started two games. But, we know he’s got some great talent around him. Kolb should be more accurate than McNabb, but it remains to be seen what his vertical attack is consistently like. The good news he’s got some real burners in Maclin and Jackson, a possession guy in Jason Avant, and an emerging star tight end in Brent Celek. The running game was helped by the signing of Mike Bell, who will get carries along with LeSean McCoy and Leonard Weaver. This team will score points with Kolb, and with a shaky defense they’re going to have to.
No matter what, the Eagles are still going to throw the ball and when you couple that with the talent around him, Kolb has a chance to be a real nice fantasy QB. Right now, I like him a few spots higher than McNabb, but he has the chance to be a quarterback you target just outside the top-5 once your draft comes around.
With McNabb now the man in Washington and Kolb taking over the reigns in Philly, the odd man out and biggest momentary loser in this whole ordeal is the Redskins former starting QB, Jason Campbell. I say momentary, because a change of scenery could be just what Campbell needs - unless of course he lands in Oakland. The Bills, Panthers, Raiders, and Jaguars are rumored to be interested.
Redskins coach Mike Shanahan is schedule to meet with Campbell today to discuss his future. Coming into this season, Campbell has shown some good things, but ultimately has been victim of circumstance. Whether traded or not, 2010 will mark Campbell's 4th offensive system in five season. Campbell spent much of 2009 on his back, being sacked 43 times behind Washington's poor offensive line.
If Campbell lands in a good situation, he could be a middle tier QB2 in 2010 fantasy drafts. If he ends up with the Bills or Raiders, Campbell will likely go undrafted in all but the deepest leagues.
