Wide receiver rankings, WR draft rankings, fantasy football receiver rankings, Steve Smith, Marvin Harrison, Terrell Owens, Chad Johnson

2008 Fantasy Football Preview: Wide Receivers

By: John Paulsen (jpaulsen@bullz-eye.com)

08/11/2008

Sports Channel / Bullz-Eye Home

More and more fantasy leagues are changing their league rules to try to make wide receivers more important. Some are adding a point per reception, while others are expanding starting roster requirements from two to three WRs to emphasize the position more. If you play in a traditional league that only starts two wideouts and does not award a point per reception (PPR), it’s probably wise to wait a bit on the position and load up on running backs (and maybe a quarterback first). However, if you play in a PPR league and/or you have to start three WRs, it’s smart to make one or more WR picks early. Don’t get carried away, though. You’re much more likely to find a productive receiver in the middle to late rounds than you are a productive running back. It’s usually a good rule of thumb to have your starting backfield in place before drafting your third receiver.

This season, it looks as if there are 13 wideouts that look the part of a fantasy WR1. Starting with Randy Moss (who had a monster season after joining Tom Brady and the Patriots) and ending with Anquan Boldin (who is grumbling about his contract and has a bad hammy), these wide receivers represent varying degrees of talent and dependability. They share one thing in common, however. They all get a ton of targets, which means their quarterbacks look to them early and often.

This season there is some value to be found in the middle rounds, with young guys like Santonio Holmes, Dwayne Bowe, Greg Jennings and Roddy White, who have already established themselves as the WR1 of their respective teams. In the fourth, fifth or sixth round, there is less inherent risk with these wideouts than there is with their running back counterparts, so one strategy might be to grab two RBs and one WR with your first three picks, then start looking to draft a QB and another WR (or maybe even TE Jason Witten).

We’ve ranked the position in tiers to give you a better idea of how we view the drop-off within the position. In parenthesis, we’ve included the player’s Average Draft Position (ADP), which is the average round that the player is selected in Antsports’ 12-team leagues with a high performance scoring format. We’ve also included the ADP ranking (WR1, WR2, etc.) to see where the player is going relative to his peers. All of the data is from mock drafts conducted at Antsports.com from July 1st to July 29th.

Randy Moss, Patriots (WR1, 1.08)
98 receptions, 1493 yards, 23 TD
Heading into last season, it looked like Moss’ career was on the decline. After a decent 2005, he had an awful 2006 where he posted just 42 catches, 553 yards and three scores, all career lows. He was taking plays off, pouting on the sideline and it looked as if the end was near. It turns out he was just sandbagging it. It turns out that if you’re good enough in the NFL, you can pout and mope and eventually get traded to the best team in the league. That’s what happened to Moss and now he’s once again the #1 fantasy wideout in the league. His 2007 numbers were obviously gaudy, so as defenses adjust, it’s doubtful that he will have quite as much success this season. Still, he can afford to take a step back and still put up WR1 numbers.

Reggie Wayne, Colts (WR2, 1.12)
104 receptions, 1510 yards, 10 TD
With Marvin Harrison hobbled, Wayne had the best season of his career in 2007. He’s the #1 WR in a great offense with the league’s most consistent quarterback, and there’s no reason to believe that he won’t be able to finish in the top 4 for the third consecutive year. He’s so dependable that we’d rather have him in the early second round than Moss in the first.

Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals (WR4, 2.07)
100 receptions, 1409 yards, 10 TD
The only thing keeping Fitz out of the Superstuds tier is a slight history of injury. He’s obviously one of the league’s best young wideouts, and has posted at least 100 catches, 1400 yards and 10 TDs in two of the last three seasons. If Matt Leinart develops, Fitzgerald’s numbers could rise a bit, but he’s just as good with Kurt Warner under center.

Terrell Owens, Cowboys (WR3, 2.02)
81 receptions, 1355 yards, 15 TD
There’s no denying Owens’ ability, but will 2008 bring Happy Terrell or Crazy Terrell? Typically, Owens isn’t worth the risk when Wayne, Fitz or Housh are still on the board, but brave fantasy owners will probably be rewarded with another great season. His age (35) is an issue, but Owens is always in phenomenal shape and he should continue to be a top 10 WR for a few more seasons.

Braylon Edwards, Browns (WR5, 2.07)
80 receptions, 1289 yards, 16 TD
In 2007, Edwards had the prototypical breakout season for a third-year wideout. Very little has changed with the Browns offense, so as long as Derek Anderson doesn’t regress significantly, there’s no reason to believe that Edwards won’t have another top 10 (or better) fantasy season. 

Marques Colston, Saints (WR8, 3.01)
98 receptions, 1202 yards, 11 TD
It usually takes receivers two or three years to have a breakout season, but not Colston. He finished in the top 15 in his rookie season and in the top 10 last year. He seems like a lock to finish in the top 12, which makes him a solid pick in the second or third round. Some may worry about Jeremy Shockey or Reggie Bush vulturing catches, but the Saints still don’t have a good WR2, so their presence only serves to help Colston find room to work.

Chad Johnson, Bengals (WR10, 3.04)
93 receptions, 1440 yards, 8 TD
After a tumultuous offseason, Ocho Cinco is back in the fold and the Bengals have agreed to revisit his contract at the end of the season. This means that CJ will be highly motivated to post another top 5 finish to justify his desire for a new deal. The Bengals’ defense doesn’t look to be much better, so he and the rest of Cincy’s offense should benefit (statistically) because they’ll be playing from behind.

Andre Johnson, Texans (WR6, 2.08)
60 receptions, 851 yards, 8 TD
Johnson battled injuries in 2007, but put up huge numbers when he played. If he can play a full season, he’s destined for the top 10, as the Texans’ offense is improving. Houston also figures to be trailing more than leading, so AJ’s numbers should get a boost as a result. There’s no denying that he and Matt Schaub had nice chemistry before the injury bug bit both of them.

Torry Holt, Rams (WR11, 3.07)
93 receptions, 1189 yards, 7 TD
The St. Louis offense was pretty miserable in 2007, but Holt still put up top 12 numbers. If the Rams can improve (which seems likely), and he can stay healthy, Holt should be able to approach the 100-catch, 1300-yard mark once again. The Rams have a good quarterback and a great running back to keep teams from keying on Holt.

Steve Smith, Panthers (WR7, 2.12)
87 receptions, 1002 yards, 7 TD
With Jake Delhomme (presumably) back in the fold, expect Smith’s numbers to rise to near-2005 levels, when he posted 103 catches, 1563 yards and 12 scores. That may be a bit of a stretch, but with the addition of D.J. Hackett and the resurgence of Muhsin Muhammad, Smith should have a legitimate threat on the other side to make defenses pay for doubling him. The bad news is that Smith’s temper has him in trouble again; he’s going to miss the first two games because he punched a teammate in the face.

Plaxico Burress, Giants (WR14, 4.01)
70 receptions, 1025 yards, 12 TD
Although he seems to be constantly nicked up, Burress has only missed one game in the last three seasons. He and the Giants have been unable to reach a new agreement on a contract, which means that Burress will be motivated to put up big numbers this season. He still has an ankle issue, which he’s going to have to deal with on a weekly basis. But barring something more serious, Burress is one of those late-third/early-fourth round guys that can post WR1 numbers for fantasy owners.

Anquan Boldin, Cardinals (WR12, 3.09)
71 receptions, 853 yards, 9 TD
Boldin came into camp grumpy about his contract, and has even gone so far to ask for a trade, but things seem to be settling down. Unhappy players can go one of two ways: 1) they can pout, or 2) they can work even harder to justify all the contract talk. Boldin is a professional, so we’re betting on the latter. A recent MRI on a balky hamstring revealed no structural damage, so bet on Q being ready to go for the start of the season.

Wes Welker, Patriots (WR13, 3.12)
112 receptions, 1175 yards, 8 TD
Welker was one of the biggest surprises last year, and savvy fantasy owners took advantage of his move to New England. He has a mysterious ailment that is limiting him in practice, and the Patriots have been secretive about the extent of the unknown injury. For this reason, his value may be a little depressed on draft day, but if he’s practicing, he’s a good pick in the third or fourth round.

Santonio Holmes, Steelers (WR17, 4.10)
52 receptions, 942 yards, 8 TD
Holmes missed three games last season, so his numbers project to 64-1159-10 over a full season. He’s entering his third year and looks a lot like a guy who is on the verge of stardom. The Steelers have a great quarterback and a good running game, so defenses can’t focus on Holmes. This allows him to sneak behind defenses, which is one reason for his gaudy 18.1 ypc in 2007.

Roy Williams, Lions (WR16, 4.05)
63 receptions, 836 yards, 5 TD
Williams missed four games last season, but was otherwise on his way to another top 15 season. He’s extremely talented, but there always seems to be something standing in the way between Williams and fantasy greatness. This year, Mike Martz is gone and the Lions figure to try to run the ball more. There’s also the continued development of Calvin Johnson. Williams seems a good bet to finish in the top 20, but one wonders just how high his ceiling is anymore.

Dwayne Bowe, Chiefs (WR22, 5.10)
70 receptions, 995 yards, 5 TD
Bowe is one of those rare wideouts that was able to put together a significant fantasy season in his first year. This bodes well for his sophomore season, assuming the Chiefs offense doesn’t take a step backwards. A better offensive line (could it get any worse?) should lead to better quarterback play, which can only help Bowe. Plus, the Chiefs are likely to be playing from behind most of the time, so Bowe should see a lot of targets late in games.

Greg Jennings, Packers (WR19, 5.02)
53 receptions, 920 yards, 12 TD
Jennings missed the first two games last season, so his numbers are a little misleading. He actually had the 13th highest ppg average of all wide receivers, ahead of guys like Steve Smith, Plaxico Burress and Torry Holt. The big question for Jennings is his quarterback. Can Aaron Rodgers pick up where Brett Favre left off? That might be the biggest question in all of football right now, and the answer will have a direct impact on Jennings’ prospects for 2008.

Roddy White, Falcons (WR23, 6.01)
83 receptions, 1202 yards, 6 TD
White is another wideout that should benefit from his team having to play from behind a majority of the time. White had a prototypical third-year breakout season, and did it with Chris Redman and Joey Harrington throwing him the ball. Redman looks like the starter for now, but Matt Ryan is waiting in the wings, so it doesn’t look like White is going to benefit from better quarterback play. Expect similar numbers in 2008.

Lee Evans, Bills (WR20, 5.04)
55 receptions, 849 yards, 5 TD
Evans is one of the more frustrating fantasy players out there. After a top 10 finish in 2006, which was another prototypical third-year breakout season, he finished 2007 outside the top 30. Since his numbers rely heavily on the deep ball, he’s one of the more inconsistent fantasy performers. Still, now that Trent Edwards has some experience, the Bills’ offense should take a step forward this season, which would only help Evans’ production and consistency.

Calvin Johnson, Lions (WR18, 4.11)
48 receptions, 756 yards, 4 TD (+1 rush TD)
There was so much hype surrounding Johnson when he entered the league that his rookie numbers, though high for most first-year wideouts, were a disappointment to many fantasy owners. Typically, we’d be expecting progress this season, but the pass-happy Mike Martz has left, so it’s unclear just how much the Lions intend to throw the ball in 2008. These are the Lions, so we think they’ll throw the ball plenty since they’ll be playing from behind so often.

Marvin Harrison, Colts (WR21, 5.06)
20 receptions, 247 yards, 1 TD
Harrison’s run of eight consecutive top 10 finishes ended abruptly in 2007 when he was finally bit by the injury bug. Outside the whole shooting incident (which was grossly out of character for Harrison), the news this offseason has been good, and his age wasn’t an issue early last season when he caught 16 passes for 223 yards and a TD. That projects to 85-1189-5 over the course a full season. Those numbers would put him in the top 15. That’s probably overly optimistic, but a top 20 finish seems like a distinct possibility.

Donald Driver, Packers (WR29, 7.04)
82 receptions, 1048 yards, 2 TD
After three consecutive top 15 seasons, Driver fell outside the top 20 for the first time since 2003. Historically speaking, Driver is one of the all-time best fantasy value picks, but the emergence of Greg Jennings and the departure of Brett Favre are reasons for concern. Still, Driver has posted at least 82 catches and 1000 yards in each of the last four seasons, making him a safe (yet unexciting) pick in the seventh round.

Hines Ward, Steelers (WR26, 6.11)
71 receptions, 732 yards, 7 TD
Ward is just 32 and is usually in terrific shape, so we don’t expect age to be much of a factor. Santonio Holmes is assuming the WR1 role for the Steelers, so it’s likely that Ward will be increasingly used in a complementary role. He’s a great possession receiver, and if he can play a full season (something he hasn’t done over the last three years), he has a great shot of finishing in the top 25.

Chris Chambers, Chargers (WR24, 6.01)
66 receptions, 970 yards, 4 TD
Chambers possesses tantalizing potential, but at some point, as a player gets on in years, potential turns into unrealized potential. Over the past seven seasons, Chambers has converted 48.5% of his targets to catches (and that isn’t good). Moreover, after being traded to the Chargers, he received 1.7 fewer targets than he did while in Miami. Projecting his San Diego numbers out for a full season, he would have posted 56-888-6. Assuming a 10% increase due to increased familiarity with his new QB, that would put Chambers on the verge of the top 25.

Kevin Curtis, Eagles (WR27, 7.01)
77 receptions, 1110 yards, 6 TD
Curtis had a surprise top 20 finish in 2007, and with a healthy Donovan McNabb (for now), his prospects for 2008 are bright. He caught at least three passes in all but two games last season, so despite some huge games, he is fairly consistent. Another top 20 season is a possibility, though it’s not hard to envision a step back, either.

Joey Galloway, Buccaneers (WR35, 8.07)
57 receptions, 1014 yards, 6 TD
Galloway will turn 37 this season, and everyone has to slow down sometime. His receptions, yards and scores have decreased in each of the last three seasons, which is obviously not a good trend. Still, given his draft position, he’s a capable WR3 with WR2 potential if the Bucs’ offense can improve a little.

Santana Moss, Redskins (WR31, 7.08)
61 receptions, 808 yards, 3 TD
Moss was a top 5 wideout in 2006, but since then he’s been a disappointment. It’s not a question of talent; it’s a question of focus and health. The Redskins are going to run a version of the West Coast offense, which favors bigger receivers, so it’s not a given that the WCO is going to be a good fit for the diminutive Moss. But he has the talent to succeed in any offense if he’s healthy. He’s an interesting pick in the middle rounds, but don’t count on him as your WR2.

Bernard Berrian, Vikings (WR30, 7.06)
70 receptions, 948 yards, 5 TD
Berrian supposedly heads to Minnesota as the team’s #1 WR, but youngster Sidney Rice is a cause for concern. The Vikings are a run-oriented team, so last year’s numbers seem like a reasonable expectation of Berrian’s ceiling. With the erratic Tarvaris Jackson throwing the ball, there’s no telling what his downside is.

Vincent Jackson, Chargers (WR36, 8.11)
41 receptions, 623 yards, 3 TD
Before the Chargers traded for Chris Chambers, Jackson averaged 3.3 receptions (on 5.8 targets) for 53 yards and 0.3 TD. After the trade, he averaged 2.1 receptions (on 4.5 targets) for 30 yards and 0.1 TD. So Chambers hurt Jackson’s production, right? Well, maybe. In the playoffs, he stepped up his game, averaging 6-100-0.7. The Chargers would do well to feature Jackson more, but they seem set on Chambers as their #1 WR. Given the amount of touches LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates usually get, it seems unlikely that Jackson is going to see enough action to be relevant fantasy-wise. Jackson is going to have to get more targets than Chambers to justify his current ADP.

Ted Ginn, Dolphins (WR43, 11.08)
34 receptions, 420 yards, 2 TD
Over the last seven games of the season, Ginn averaged 3.7 catches for 38 yards and 0.1 TD. Now that’s not great, but it projects to 59-608-2. If Ginn is able to progress like some other second-year wideouts have, he might be able to post WR3/WR4 numbers. Given that he has virtually no competition for targets only helps his cause.

Reggie Brown, Eagles (WR51, 14.01)
61 receptions, 780 yards, 4 TD
2007 was Brown’s third season and he failed to have a breakout year. He’s not particularly good at converting targets to catches or gaining yards after the catch. But he and Kevin Curtis are on equal footing in Philly, so he’ll get his opportunities.

Isaac Bruce, 49ers (WR47, 12.12)
55 receptions, 733 yards, 4 TD
Bruce and his old coach, Mike Martz, will be reunited in San Francisco. Bruce is 37 and his best years are obviously behind him, but he has the potential to put up WR3/WR4 numbers as a likely starter for the 49ers.

Nate Burleson, Seahawks (WR37, 9.08)
50 receptions, 694 yards, 9 TD
After a terrific sophomore season in Minnesota (68-1006-9), Burleson looked like he was on the fast track to stardom. He has since failed to crack 700 yards for three consecutive seasons. Given the WR problems in Seattle – D.J. Hackett’s departure, Deion Branch’s injury – Burleson once again has the opportunity, but will he deliver?

Anthony Gonzalez, Colts (WR34, 8.06)
37 receptions, 576 yards, 3 TD
Gonzalez had a solid yet unspectacular rookie season. His prospects for 2008 depend largely on the health of Marvin Harrison. If #88 resembles his old self, then Gonzalez figures to have a similarly quiet year. If Harrison misses time, Gonzalez should be able to step up his game.

D.J. Hackett, Panthers (WR42, 11.06)
32 receptions, 384 yards, 3 TD
Hackett missed most of 2007, but was very productive in the games he did play. Now he’s landed in Carolina, where he is currently rotating with Muhsin Muhammad as the team’s WR2. He won’t post relevant fantasy numbers until he can crack the starting lineup, so keep an eye on this camp battle in the preseason.

Mark Clayton, Ravens (WR59, 16.07)
48 receptions, 531 yards, 0 TD
Even though Baltimore was without Todd Heap, Clayton had a pretty dreadful third year, especially considering all the promise he showed in his sophomore season (67-939-5). He should progress in 2008, but it’s tough to count on the Ravens’ passing game.

Sidney Rice, Vikings (WR44, 11.10)
31 receptions, 396 yards, 4 TD
All in all, Rice had a pretty promising rookie season. Even though the Vikings threw the ball less than anyone else in the league, Rice showed flashes of big-time ability against good teams, like his 6-75-1 effort against the Packers or his 3-82-1 game against the Giants. The problem is opportunity. The Vikings simply don’t throw the ball enough for Rice to have a good shot at making a big jump this season, especially now that Bernard Berrian is in town.

Bryant Johnson, 49ers (WR38, 9.09)
46 receptions, 528 yards, 2 TD
Johnson will battle with Isaac Bruce and Arnaz Battle for snaps in Mike Martz’ pass-happy offense. Given his competition, he has a good shot at winning a starting job, though there are questions at QB that need to be answered. He’s an intriguing flyer pick, but the 9th round seems early for a flyer pick.

Darrell Jackson, Broncos (WR48, 13.02)
46 receptions, 497 yards, 3 TD
It’s seems like a long time since D-Jax was a legitimate fantasy performer, though he is just one year removed from his solid final season in Seattle. He was recently passed on the depth chart by second round pick Eddie Royal, so don’t expect much from Jackson this year.

Jerry Porter, Jaguars (WR40, 10.05)
44 receptions, 705 yards, 6 TD
Porter joins a Jacksonville receiving corps that lacks a #1 threat. He is a nice deep option and should give David Garrard another weapon utilize. Porter will become relevant fantasy-wise if he can break the 60-catch barrier. He’s worth a late-round flyer in most leagues.

Steve Smith, Giants (N/A)
8 receptions, 63 yards, 0 TD
Smith missed much of 2007 due to injury, but returned to post 3.4 catches for 36 yards in the team’s final five games (including four playoff games). Over the course of a 16-game season, that projects to 54 catches for 576 yards. Assuming he’ll make strides in his performance and get a portion of Jeremy Shockey’s targets, it seems like Smith might be a darkhorse heading into the season. He converts a large portion of his targets to catches, so it’s not unreasonable to expect him to (someday) turn into a possession receiver like Bobby Engram or Derrick Mason.

Reggie Williams, Jaguars (WR46, 12.06)
38 receptions, 629 yards, 10 TD
It’s tough to get excited about the Jaguars’ receiving corps. David Garrard spreads the ball around and the Jags don’t throw enough to allow any one receiver to be that productive. The addition of Jerry Porter only muddies the waters for Williams.

Kevin Walter, Texans (WR54, 15.02)
65 receptions, 800 yards, 4 TD
With Andre Johnson in the lineup, Walter averaged 2.7 catches for 30.2 yards and 0.3 TD. Without Johnson, Walter averaged 5.9 catches for 75 yards and 0.1 TD. Clearly, when AJ is playing, Walter is an afterthought in Houston’s passing game. Throw in the possible emergence of Jacoby Jones and it’s hard to see Walter matching his 2007 numbers.

Drew Bennett, Rams (WR49, 13.10)
33 receptions, 375 yards, 3 TD
The Rams’ offense was pretty brutal last season, so there is potential here. But these aren’t the Rams of old, so WR2 in St. Louis isn’t what it used to be. Bennett’s ceiling is probably around 800 yards and five or six scores.

Laurent Robinson, Falcons (N/A)
37 receptions, 437 yards, 1 TD
Robinson is probably better than Michael Jenkins, but Roddy White is the clear #1 WR on this roster. Still, Atlanta will be trailing often, so there are some garbage time stats to be had. If the Falcons can get good QB play, whoever is WR2 might be a spot starter.

Donte Stallworth, Browns (WR39, 10.05)
46 receptions, 697 yards, 3 TD
Stallworth is playing for his fourth team in as many years, and he’s going to be third fiddle after Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow. Unless there’s an injury, don’t expect Stallworth to put up starter-quality fantasy numbers this season.

Earnest Wilford, Dolphins (WR57, 15.10)
45 receptions, 518 yards, 3 TD
Wilford could become a relevant fantasy wideout if the Dolphins can get good play out of the QB position. Until then, Ted Ginn seems like the only viable option at WR.

Marty Booker, Bears  (WR63, 18.10)
50 receptions, 556 yards, 1 TD
Booker returns to Chicago and it looks like he’ll be the team’s second or third WR behind Devin Hester and (maybe) Brandon Lloyd. He has been in the 550-yard to 750-yard range for the last five seasons, so that seems like an appropriate ceiling and baseline for 2008.

David Patten, Saints (N/A)
54 receptions, 792 yards, 3 TD
With Jeremy Shockey on board, Patten will likely play fourth fiddle (after Shockey, Marques Colston and Reggie Bush) in the Saints’ terrific passing game. Still, he’s a decent fill in and is worthy of a roster spot for Colston owners.

Arnaz Battle, 49ers (N/A)
50 receptions, 600 yards, 5 TD (+1 rush TD)
Battle is competing with Isaac Bruce and Bryant Johnson for a starting gig, but is likely to see some time in the slot, which is a productive position in Mike Martz’ offense. If the 49ers can get good quarterback play, Battle could become a viable WR3/WR4 in PPR leagues.

James Hardy, Bills (WR60, 16.11)
Rookie
It’s always dicey drafting a rookie WR, but Hardy should have the opportunity to play quite a bit opposite Lee Evans with Josh Reed in the slot. He’s big, which fills one of Buffalo’s needs, and he might get some work in the redzone.

Amani Toomer, Giants (N/A)
59 receptions, 760 yards, 3 TD
Toomer will be 34 at the start of the season and he hasn’t cracked the top 30 in four years. However, for Plaxico Burress owners, he’s decent insurance, especially in PPR leagues.

James Jones, Packers (N/A)
47 receptions, 676 yards, 2 TD
Jones had a pretty good rookie season for the Packers. He was the team’s third option in the passing game, and probably won’t be able to improve on his numbers unless something happens to Greg Jennings or Donald Driver. Still, he’s nice insurance for those guys and is probably roster-worthy in PPR leagues.

Justin Gage, Titans (WR52, 14.02)
55 receptions, 750 yards, 2 TD
Gage has the ability to make tough catches, so he was able to carve out a niche for himself in Tennessee’s dreadful receiving corps. There’s no telling what will happen in Nashville this season as Gage, Justin McCareins, Roydell Williams and Brandon Jones are fighting for snaps. Gage is worth a roster spot in deep PPR leagues.

Muhsin Muhammad, Panthers (N/A)
40 receptions, 570 yards, 3 TD
Moose is rotating with D.J. Hackett in camp as the team’s WR2, and he has reportedly looked very good thus far. If he and Hackett are splitting snaps, it will probably negate the potential fantasy value for both players.

Deion Branch, Seahawks (WR53, 14.03)
49 receptions, 661 yards, 4 TD
Branch is coming of ACL surgery and the team hopes to have him ready to go for Week 1. That’s no sure thing, which is why Branch is an afterthought in most drafts. If the news isn’t bad during the preseason, he’s not a bad guy to draft late and stash on your roster for a while. The Seahawks desperately need him back.