Kevin Curtis

After missing the first six games of the season with a hernia, Curtis returned to action but never seemed to get up to full speed, in part due to a concussion and also a calf injury. Curtis did catch four balls for 122 yards in the Eagles’ playoff loss to the Cardinals, but that was the only game in which he broke 100 yards and only one of two in which he broke 65. Meanwhile, DeSean Jackson emerged as the team’s top target. To complicate matters, the Eagles traded up to draft Jeremy Maclin in the first round, and Maclin should push Curtis for targets right out of the gate. The two will likely carve out their respective roles in camp. All that said, there’s still reason to expect Curtis to be heavily in the mix. The Eagles are an extremely pass heavy team, Maclin’s a rookie and Jackson’s a second-year player who lacks maturity. The 5-11, 186-pound Curtis isn’t going to set the league on fire, but he’s a steady possession threat with good quickness and burst who’s earned the trust of his quarterback.

After years of being the third fiddle behind Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce, Curtis signed with the Eagles last year and became their top receiver, averaging 14.4 yards per catch and 8.2 yards per target. At 5-11, 186, Curtis is a small target, but he's tough enough to go over the middle, and he can occasionally beat defenders deep with his excellent quickness and acceleration. Curtis isn't a true burner, but he's able to change directions quickly and shake defenders in the open field. Despite his lack of size, Curtis saw 22 redzone targets (tied for 9th) but brought in just two for scores. Fellow wideout Reggie Brown also struggled in the red zone, so it’s unclear how the Eagles will apportion the in-close targets in 2008. Curtis caught four passes of 40 yards or more and 14 of 20-plus, which is about average for a wideout with 135 targets. Playing in Andy Reid's pass-friendly system gives Curtis a decent floor, but lacking red-zone skills and blazing speed, he's unlikely to improve on last year's numbers.

After being blocked for years by Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce, Curtis arrives in Philadelphia as the team’s No. 2 wideout. At 5-11, 186, Curtis is a small receiver, and he’ll sometimes have trouble against press coverage, but he’s not afraid to mix it up in the middle of the field. Curtis isn’t a burner, but he can get behind defensives with his excellent quickness and acceleration. He’s dangerous and elusive in the open field, able to make defenders miss or blow by them with his ability to accelerate quickly. Given his stature, Curtis isn’t much of a red-zone target, but he did haul in three of four looks from inside the five last season. Chalk that up to playing for Scott Linehan who loves to throw to his wideouts from in close. Reggie Brown and L.J. Smith will likely get most of the work near pay dirt for Philadelphia. Although the Eagles are one of the most pass-happy teams in the league, they tend to spread the ball around, so temper your expectations for Curtis’ target numbers.

With Isaac Bruce having won the No. 2 wideout spot during preseason Curtis’ fantasy value now depends in large part on whether Bruce gets hurt. With Bruce out in Weeks 4-8 during the 2005 season, Curtis had 21 catches for 409 yards and three scores. As a third wideout, Curtis will still have his moments, but a couple of catches a week with a touchdown every fourth or fifth game isn't going to help win any fantasy titles. At 5-11, 186, Curtis isn’t going to overpower anyone and can struggle against press coverage on the line. However, he’s got excellent speed and is a dangerous threat down the field, as evidenced by his four catches of 40-plus yards in just 97 targets.

The Rams' fastest player, Curtis would become an instant fantasy factor if anything should happen to starters Holt and Bruce in 2005.

Curtis is coming off a bad break of his leg that ultimately required two procedures. He faces an uphill battle to make it onto the Rams four-wideout sets this season as he's sixth on the depth chart heading into camp.

The Rams have been raving about Curtis most of the summer, and with good reason. He might start the year as the No. 3 receiver on the depth chart.