Plaxico Burress

Burress’ first year back from the correctional system was a mixed bag, but mostly disappointing aside from the eight scores. Burress averaged 13.6 YPC, but only 6.4 YPT thanks to an unusually low 47 percent catch rate. He had just six catches of 20 or more yards and none from 40-plus, i.e., he didn’t make many big plays. And the high touchdown total was driven by 22 red-zone looks (tied for 3rd) and 12 targets from inside the 10 (tied for 2nd). As a result, the Jets made no effort to retain him. At 6-5, 228, and with good speed and quickness for his size, the 35-year old Burress might find another suitor, but it’s unclear whether he’d be anything more than a red-zone specialist at this point in his career.

Not too many receivers are 6-5 with deep speed and agility, and for that reason Burress will get another chance even at age 34 and coming off a couple years in the slammer. After flirting with the Eagles and Giants, Burress signed a one-year deal with the Jets for $3.017 million. Thanks to his size, Burress could easily be the team's top red-zone threat, and as Michael Vick proved, jail sometimes makes you better. Burress will be the No. 2 receiver behind Santonio Holmes, but he should still get plenty of looks.

Assuming he doesn’t go to jail or get hit with a lengthy suspension, there’s a good chance Burress signs somewhere and in that case would be worth drafting. Burress’ 2008 was a major disappointment even before he shot himself in the thigh in late November, partly due to a hamstring injury and partly due to constant double teams. Burress was also suspended for Week 5 after violating team rules in late September. When healthy, Burress is one of the most gifted receivers in the league, able to use his 6-5, 228-pound frame to go up over smaller defenders and shield them from the ball. He’s also surprisingly fast for a big man, with good quickness in and out of his breaks. Of course, he’s an ideal target in the red zone given his bulk and length – he converted seven of his 21 targets there for scores in 2007. At press time, Burress is a free agent, awaiting his June 15 court date on gun possession charges, though a plea bargain is possible at any time. There was some talk of interest from the Jets during draft weekend, but it’s unlikely any team will sign him until his legal situation and status with the league are resolved.

Burress' efficiency stats - 7.3 yards per target and a mere 50 percent of targets caught - aren't anything special, but considering he played most of the season with a severely sprained ankle, we'll give him the benefit of the doubt. Despite the injury, Burress managed 12 touchdowns, 14.6 yards per catch and five plays of 40 yards or more (tied for 6th) during the regular season. At 6-5, 232, with surprising speed and quickness for such a big receiver, Burress is able to beat defenses down the field, outleaping and outreaching smaller defensive backs. Burress is also willing to catch the ball in the middle of the field using his big body to absorb contact and protect the ball. Burress saw 21 targets in the red zone (tied for 12th) and converted them into seven touchdowns. Among the 14 receivers with 20-or-more red-zone looks, only Randy Moss and Marques Colston had higher conversion percentages. One of the keys to Burress' success last year was his improved focus and renewed dedication to football - not only was he a model citizen on the sidelines, but he showed up to voluntary workouts for the first time last season to get in extra work with Eli Manning. Heading into 2008, Burress' ankle is completely healthy, and he returns as the team's undisputed top target.

Burress’ season got off to a rocky start – he complained about his coach during training camp, got fined for missing part of practice in the season’s second week and was pulled for the second half in Week 3 after fumbling and dropping passes (allegedly he sat out due to back spasms). But once October rolled around, Burress not only behaved, but excelled, consistently making acrobatic plays downfield over smaller defenders and established himself as one of the more reliable fantasy receivers in the game. By season’s end, Burress had scored in 10 of the 15 regular season games for which he suited up, and also had two touchdowns and 89 yards against the Eagles in a Wild Card loss. He also hauled in six passes of 40 yards of more (tied for third). At 6-5, 235, Burress combines outstanding size with excellent leaping ability and surprising speed. He can elevate over defenders and snatch the ball out of the air even when he’s covered, often tipping the ball ahead to himself with his superior reach. Burress is also physical enough to catch passes over the middle, using his big frame to outmuscle smaller defensive backs. The Giants threw Burress 17 passes in the red zone (13th), and he brought down six for scores (sixth). Five of Burress’s red-zone looks and three of his scores were from inside the five. On the negative side, Burress is prone to losing focus at times, and his attitude problems early in the season were nothing new. Moreover, the back spasms that cost him a game and a half lingered for much of the season and is the type of condition that can recur unpredictably. Still, Burress, who showed up to the Giants’ voluntary workouts for the first time this spring to get extra work with Eli Manning, seems more on board with the program than in years past, and he’ll go into the year as the team’s undisputed No. 1 target.

In his first season with the Giants, Burress came out of the gate at a gallop with 45 catches for 655 yards and five touchdowns during the season’s first half, but then dropped to a canter in the second (31 catches, 558 yards, 2 TD). At times, Burress looked unstoppable, moving like a small, quick receiver, but able to extend his 6-6 frame over helpless defensive backs. But Burress dropped passes in key situations and flat out disappeared for a four-game stretch in December. By season’s end, he was the second-most targeted receiver in the league, but hauled in only 46 percent of those throws (fourth worst in the league among receivers with 100-plus targets) and tied for the NFL lead with 11 drops. Burress was the fifth-most targeted receiver in the red zone (22), but despite his height, converted just four of those passes into touchdowns. Teammates Jeremy Shockey (11 targets) and Amani Toomer (18) each hauled in four red-zone touchdowns as well, so the Giants tended to spread the ball around inside the 20. Burress isn’t a pure burner, but has excellent speed for a man of his height, and his route running has gotten better when his head’s in the game. With Eli Manning likely to develop further in his third season, Burress should continue to produce, but he’ll have to show better focus and improve his per play efficiency to join the elite ranks of NFL wide receivers.

A hamstring injury limited Burress to 11 games last season, but when he played he was one of the most effective per-pass threats in the league. Targeted just 65 times, Burress averaged 20 yards per catch and 10.7 yards per target. Moreover, Burress had four plays of 40 yards or more and scored on two of three passes to him from inside the five. Burress’s success from at the goal line shouldn’t be a surprise – he’s 6-5, 226 pounds, and he can leap – but the Steelers only threw to him twice near the goal line in 2003, and Burress failed to score on either play, so this skill has gone largely untapped. Perhaps things will be different in New York, as Burress signed a six-year, $25 million deal with the Giants in March. Burress, who is surprisingly fast for his size, immediately becomes Eli Manning’s big-play receiver with Amani Toomer filling the possession role. Burress might have to compete for red-zone looks with tight end Jeremy Shockey, but assuming Manning develops as expected, the passing offense could generate ample opportunities for both players.

The Steelers were so ineffective last year on passes thrown to Burress (under 50 percent complete), and he was so seemingly lost in a fog, that at times we wondered why they went to him at all. You could make a case for benching Burress in favor of Antwaan Randle El, who caught two-thirds of the passes thrown to him in ’03. That may transpire in ’04, as coach Cowher announced that the Steelers were prepared to move on without Burress after his unexcused, contract-related minicamp abs-ence. There’s never been a target as big as Burress who’s been so ignored in the red zone; Plax has just four catches inside the 20 in each of the last two seasons.

A lot of fantasy owners panicked when Burress got off to a terrible start last year, but the QB switch to Tommy Maddox ultimately saved his season. Burress never did catch a touchdown pass from Kordell Stewart in 2002, but he caught seven TDs from Maddox. With presumably a full season from Maddox in 2003 Burress can expect to continue to flourish in this offense. Over a 1000 yards and 7-9 touchdowns are very realistic targets for this emerging wideout.