2007 Arena Fantasy Football Draft Preview
American Conference - Western
The American Conference Western Division is one of the favored fantasy divisions in all of the Arena Football League. High-scoring offenses (2 of the Top 5 Scoring Offenses reside in the West). Invisible defenses (3 of the Top 5 most scored against defenses reside in the West). Premier quarterbacking, some of the best offensive players in the league, diversity of team colors (okay, that doesn't count but makes for interesting viewing) and late games to help you push your score late in the day.
Arizona Rattlers
QB Sherdrick Bonner returns for his 14th season, all with the Rattlers, after throwing for 83 TDs last year, the second highest total of his career. Last year, Bonner was devalued at draft time but don't expect that to happen this year. Target Bonner in R2 and get yourself some good value, leadership and consistency at the quarterback position.
WR Randy Gatewood returns for his 11th season with the Rattlers (and with Bonner) after recording career highs in receptions (89), yards (1175), TDs (35) and tackles (59). Bonner and Gatewood will have more success this year, so target Gatewood in R1. The rest of the Rattlers receivers are full of potential. OS Darrell Jones is young to the Arena game but showed some flashes of brilliance last year and should have decent numbers in a starting spot. Target him as a #2 OS in your draft. WR Curtis Fagan and WR Cosmo DeMatteo both have proven inconsistent over their Arena careers, but Fagan is the better producer and could approach 20 TDs this season. Both are mid-round draft picks and could become highly serviceable in a bye-week pinch. WR Jeremiah Pope is a good sleeper pick for late in the draft, as the former af2 All-Arena player will get more playing time this season and could produce nice numbers for a late round flier.
FB Bo Kelly is a decent backup for your squad at the FB position, as his best years are behind him and Arizona is not a team that features the run.
K Gary Kral was consistent last season and will get plenty of chances in the high-powered Rattlers offense. However, Kral must increase his FG percentage to be considered a #1 fantasy kicker.
DS Joseph Todd and DS Erin Damond will anchor the defense for the Rattlers and should both be targeted as a possible 2nd DS for your squad, as neither are particularly sure tacklers and neither have ever posted gaudy INT numbers.
Las Vegas Gladiators
Las Vegas was far from an offensive powerhouse in 2006, but a roster shakeup has the Gladiators looking like one of the surprise teams of the season. QB Shaun King takes his talents to the indoor game after spending some time leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. King was never accused of having the strongest arm and should have little trouble adjusting to the shorter field, making him an interesting prospect as a QB1. If King finds a rhythm it shouldn't be difficult for him to throw 70+ TDs, especially with the weapons Las Vegas has at receiver.
One of those interesting weapons is OS Peter Warrick, who also spent time in the NFL after winning the Heismann Trophy. Warrick should be amazing in the return game as well as receiving, the only question being how long it takes him to understand the nuances of Arena Football. Here's betting it won't take Warrick long, making him an OS1 with the potential to lead the league in scoring. Veterans WR Darrin Chiaverini and WR Joe Douglass should be able to guide Warrick, and themselves are fine picks in R6 or R7.
FB Charles Stackhouse is a AFL rookie bruiser at 252 pounds but the Gladiators have never been much of a running team, so look for Stackhouse on the waiver wire after monitoring his early season play.
K Steve Azar has experience kicking indoors with af2 Memphis Xplorers. He should go undrafted on Draft Day and should be monitored on the waiver wire.
Not a single player on the Las Vegas defense should be drafted, as DS Earthwind Moreland and DS D.J. Johnson seem to have the best chance of being named starters. Perhaps early season play will deem them waiver-worthy but wait-and-see is the best attitude here.
Los Angeles Avengers
One of my favorite stories of last year was the success of QB Sonny Cumbie, who took over the Avenger's QB position for good in Week 5, and threw 59 TDs on the year. With a year under his belt and offensive tools, a season of 70-80 TDs wouldn't be out of reach for Cumbie, a fearless competitor with a rifle-quick release. Target him as a low-tier QB1 and you might just get Top 5 numbers from Sonny.
The Avengers lose WR Greg Hopkins this year but return one of the best in the game, WR Kevin Ingram. Ingram shattered his career highs in 2006 with Cumbie at QB, ending with 111 catches for 1354 yards and 32 TDs, adding in 35 solo stops and 4 INTs. Ingram should be one of the top WRs selected on Draft Day, going early in R2. The rest of the Avengers are unproven, with OS Rob Turner having the best change of having a breakout season. Steal Turner in R5 or R6, but leave WR Lenzie Jackson until a little later. Both have the potential to record 10-20 TDs on the year as a compliment to Ingram. WR Antione Burns should be on a roster but the real sleeper is WR LaShaun Ward, who is familiar with playing on both sides of the ball from his college days. Take a chance on Ward in the last rounds and you may come up smelling like roses.
Los Angeles has slow-starter FB Lonnie Ford, who always seems to end the season with a flourish, so if you take Ford as your FB1, don't expect him to really roll until Week 8. However, Ford is a consistent producer and should be picked in the mid-rounds. FB Josh Jeffries will steal the occasional carry but is not worth a roster spot unless Ford misses time with injury.
The Avengers have what no other team in the AFL has: the best kicking game by far. K Remy Hamilton is virtually automatic. The two-time Kicker of the Year broke his own record for FG percentage and is the only kicker who can produce 20 pt fantasy weeks. He's not shy with making tackles either, collecting double figure tackle numbers in six consecutive seasons. The Avengers attempt more FGs than any other team thanks to Remy, and he should go in R4 or R5 and not another kicker should be even close.
On defense, the Avengers will rely on DS Damon Wheeler and DS Antuan Simmons. Neither are great choices, although Wheeler rates higher than Simmons and should find his way onto a roster somewhere.
San Jose Sabercats
If offense is what you want, you want the San Jose Sabercats. After toying with free agency, QB Mark Grieb re-signed with the Sabercats, marking his 8th year in green. Grieb has thrown for over 4000 yards in the past three years (reaching a career high with 4834 last season) and returns one of the best receiving corps in the Arena Football League. 80+ TDs should not be unrealistic again, so target Grieb as a late R1/early R2 choice. Grieb is a notorious strong finisher and is great to have come playoff time.
AFL Rookie of the Year OS Ben Nelson posted 94 receptions for 1398 yards and 26 TDs in only 11 games last season. Nelson then went for 12 catches, 202 yards and 6 TDs in the playoffs against the Rattlers. Expect Nelson to pick up where he left off last year, making him an excellent #1 OS and R1 choice. Complimenting Nelson is WR James Roe, who despite missing almost 4 games with a freak injury still finished with 113 catches for 1321 yards and 31 TDs. Like Nelson, Roe should be targeted in R1 or early in R2. WR Marquis Floyd and WR Rodney Wright should see playing time and are worth late round draft picks.
The Sabercats always have one of the best running games in the league, and both FB Phil Glover and FB Brian Johnson make excellent mid-to-late round choices after combining for 27 TDs on the ground in 2006. Along with the production, expect some dry spells from this duo. Be patient and you'll get the rewards.
K A.J. Haglund comes up from af2 after winning Kicker of the Year honors and will get to swing his leg plenty in San Jose. Take him late in the draft and see if his success translates to the big leagues.
DS Clevan Thomas improves with each season, collecting 79 tackles and 7 INTs in 2006. He's a fine #1 DS for any squad. DS Omaar Smith is an okay option as a DS2.
Utah Blaze
The Utah Blaze offense should improve greatly this year, with QB Joe Germaine back and hopefully healthy for a full year. Germaine threw for 41 TDs in 8 games, including 10 in Week 3, making him a fine lower tier QB1. Having newly signed WR Aaron Boone (66 catches for 748 yards and 19 TDs in 7 games) lining up on the field will definitely help Germaine's production. QB Jason Gesser is waiting patiently should Germaine faulter.
The Blaze have a bonafide Top 5 pick in OS Siaha Burley, who last year posted the incredible totals of 136 catches, 1934 yards and 44 TDs. If Burley lasts beyond the 5th pick, count yourself lucky and take him quickly. Burley's numbers will also be helped by Boone's presence, as will those of WR Orshawante Bryant, who didn't get into the endzone nearly enough (10 times) on 90 catches for 1039 yards. Expect similar numbers from Bryant and better numbers from Boone. Boone should be targeted in the R3 or R4, while Bryant could present a great bargain in R6 or R7. Veteran WR Tom Pace and WR Justin Skaggs both should be available in late rounds and are worth selections.
FB Kevin Clemens set a career high with 10 TDs on the ground but this year is being pressed by FB Frank Carter, who was considered one of the AFL's finest FBs until an injury-plagued year in 2006. Expect Carter to get most of the stats, with Clemens in relief, making either one of them no better than a late round pick.
The Blaze do have one of the finest kickers in the AFL in K Steve Videtich, who missed only 7 extra point attempts in 2006. Expect Videtich to raise his FG percentage this season closer to his career average, making him an excellent #1 fantasy kicker.
DS Clarence "The Claw" Lawson is an excellent choice for a lower-tier DS1 or a DS2, returning from a year with nagging injuries that forced several missed starts. DS Kevin Moffett should get more playing time but is nothing better than a waiver wire pickup.
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