Deion Branch is a #1 WR playing for a team that throws the ball a billion times a game with a quarterback who is literally ascending to a high plane of existence. You cannot sit him for anybody right now except the Big 3.
If you check the stats last season, Holmes fantasy points per game put him easily in the Top 15 for WRs.
Averaged 62 yards and .5 td per game. He can thank a 3 game stretch that say him go for 316 yards and 3 TDs for his stats being that good at the end of the year. Take that away and he averages 48 yards and .27 TDs per game.
Thats pretty shoddy logic, outside of Andre Johnson and Roddy White I bet you could use the same statistical tomfoolery to discredit every other wideout.
I'd probably pick Branch, but I wouldn't be comfortable with him. Sure, he might give you 7 catches for 62 yards, but he isn't really anything more than what all of Tom Brady's receivers are, that is stand in a spot and wait for tom brady to throw you the ball. No yards after the catch. No separation from the defense. It is what it is. Gronk and Hernandez are the guys to own in that offense.
Lets try: Brandon Lloyd - 91yds .7TDs (79yds .6TDs) Calvin Johnson - 75yds .8TDs (68yds .6TDs) Desean Jackson - 75yds .4TDs (67yds .3TDs) Mike Williams - 60yds .7TDs (60yds .5TDs) Larry Fitzgerald - 71yds .4TDs (67yds .3TDs) Braylon Edwards - 57yds .4TDs (53yds .3TDs) I'd agree with you if it were any 3 games from the season, but when it is 3 consecutive that changes your numbers that dramatically, you have to be concerned. Edit: If you want to add to it, those were the 3 best games of Mark Sanchez's career from a yardage standpoint. The opponents were the Lions, Browns and Texans. He torched the Texans for 126 and 2 TDs.
Branch is 8th in the NFL in YAC with 99. Welker leads the NFL with 144 (Most being from the 99 yard catch). Branch isn't going to catch 10 TDs, but at the end of the year, I'd expect him to have 80+ catches 1200+ yards and 5 TDs, as long as he and Brady are both healthy.
Can you post your full roster, I'd like to see everyone on your team and the choices. You don't have to. Anyway, the call on this is tough, because in my opinion the players are quite even. There is no right or wrong call. If you wanna say pick Branch because of Brady, I could say yeah but brady has also posted ungodly numbers even for him. Meaning that, while Branch is one of Brady's best target, what happens if Brady merely throws for 300 yards instead of 500. Of, Welker, Gronk (hernandez is out), but Ocho is there, Woodhead, and even Gronk's brother could potential limit Branch. While Holmes doesn't have Brady passing to him, he is pretty much the only game in town right now for Sanchez. Dispite Dustin Keller who is having a career year so far. Plus Holmes is playing the Raiders who just gave up all those points to Fitzy. A sneaky play would be to play Holmes. I think he is primed for a big game and Branch and Brady are primed for a letdown.
LOL that was me being super lazy and just skimming half the page...Didn't even see your posts on it.. I am at work after-all
Thanks. I think I'm sticking with Holmes. Basically, I lost Charles to injury and Steven Jackson won't be truly ready until next week. Thankfully, I drafted Tolbert and Tate as insurance and they're both projected to do well this week...knock on wood It basically comes down to Sproles, Decker, Holmes, or Branch at the flex.
