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Fantasy Bounce-Back Canidates

Fantasy bounce-back candidates

They've been good in the past, but they stunk last season. Here are five players capable of bouncing back in 2009:

1. Chad Ochocinco — After six straight 1,000-yard seasons, Ocho tumbled to 540 receiving yards last year. He missed some time due to injury, but his per-game numbers were way down. He averaged a career-worst 10.2 yards per catch and scored only four TDs. The big problem was that Bengals QB Carson Palmer was hurt, and Palmer's replacement, Ryan Fitzpatrick, was (and for that matter, still is) a lousy passer. The Palmer injury alone doesn't account for all of Ochocinco's 2008 woes, but this formidable duo should once again be able to make sweet music together (if not a full symphony, at least an operetta). At 31, the former Chad Johnson isn't old enough to be considered over the hill, at least not by the standards of wide receivers, who tend to age more gracefully than players at a lot of other positions. Ochocinco also appeared to have his old mojo back during the preseason.

2. Braylon Edwards — There were times last season when Braylon Edwards' hands appeared to have been surgically removed, replaced by frying pans. Edwards dropped an NFL-high 16 passes last season. He also plummeted from 16 TD receptions in 2007 to just three in 2008, and from 1,289 yards to 873. But Edwards is far and away the best pass catcher the Browns have, particularly with TE Kellen Winslow no longer in Cleveland. The other Browns wideouts are either rookies (Brian Robiskie, Mohamed Massaquoi), journeymen (Mike Furrey, David Patten) or converted special-teamers (Joshua Cribbs), and the cupboard is bare at tight end. Neither Brady Quinn nor Derek Anderson can be considered a top quarterback, but both are adequate, and the Cleveland offensive line is capable of elevating the team's passing game. The Browns badly need Edwards to return to his '07 form, and he showed glimpses of that old form in the preseason.

3. Laurence Maroney — First, the negatives: Maroney gets hurt a lot, he doesn't seem to be trusted by his head coach, and the Patriots have a full stable of running backs. But Maroney is younger than most of the Pats' other running backs and more talented than any of them. He runs a lot like fellow ex-Minnesota Golden Gopher Marion Barber, and he might be able to produce Barber-type numbers if given the chance. Of course, there's no guarantee he'll get that chance, since Bill Belichick seems to like the idea of using an ensemble cast of running backs. On the other hand, Maroney is currently listed as a starter, and if he can prove himself to Belichick, he'll keep getting carries ... probably.

4. Torry Holt — He's now 33, so there probably aren't going to be any more 1,300-yard seasons in his future, but Holt is a master craftsman who still might be capable of making a fantasy contribution. He scored a career-low three touchdowns last season, and his 796 receiving yards were the fewest since his rookie season. In his defense, the Rams' passing game was a train wreck. Holt is now with the Jaguars, who, as has been the case since the Jimmy Smith/Keenan McCardell days, have a talent shortage at the WR position. That means Holt is stepping right into the No. 1 receiver role on a team with a capable quarterback (David Garrard) and an offensive line that should be a lot better after being ravaged by injuries last season.

5. Jeremy Shockey — People seem to be writing him off, and that could be a big mistake. Here's a guy with a pretty good track record as a pass catcher, playing in perhaps the most potent passing attack in the NFL. Shockey struggled after joining the Saints last season, totaling 483 yards and zero TDs in 12 games. It would be a stretch to attribute Shockey's lousy season to the adjustment process, but no doubt that was at least a minor factor. Shockey has looked good in exhibition games, so don't count out the demonstrative guy with the blond hair just yet.