The fact that New England traded Matt Cassel bodes incredibly well for Moss. What it means is that the team is very confident that Tom Brady will not only be back, but will be about as effective as he was, pre-injury. Since Brady and Moss share a truly unique chemistry, I say full steam ahead.
('09 Proj: 85 rec, 1,350 yards, 17 touchdowns) ~Frank Mazzola
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Inconsistency ruled Moss’ 2008 season. If there’s a weakness to his game, it is his reliance on a strong-armed quarterback, an attribute for which Tom Brady just barely qualifies and for which quarterback Matt Cassel will never be known. The return of Brady will make Moss the league’s most dominant player once again, and while it is unreasonable to anticipate a record-setting season such as the duo’s 2007 campaign, Moss will be one of the most reliable players at the position.
('09 Proj: 90 rec, 1,400 yds, 15 touchdowns) ~Stan Feldman
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After a miserable 2006 season Moss came back with arguably the greatest wide receiver season in the history of the NFL, only to be followed up in 2008 with over 400 less yards and 12 less touchdowns than in 2007. While it’s not likely he’ll ever approach his 2006 numbers ever again, he could return to the top of the receiver chart if Tom Brady returns this season.
('09 Proj: 80 rec, 1,201 yds, 14 touchdowns) ~Robb Perkins
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I'm not betting against him. Still surrounded by a very talented cast and one of the most dangerous and athletically gifted deep-ball receivers in the league. I'd only take Fitzgerald and Calvin Johnson ahead of Moss in redraft formats and wouldn't raise an eyebrow if he was the second WR off the board. I'm personally a bit hesitant only due to the fact that Tom Brady's health is still such an unknown. But it's entirely too early in the offseason to go downgrading Randy for that.
('09 Proj: 86 rec, 1,250 yds, 15 touchdowns) ~Rick Perkins
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Glass half full here. Over one thousand yards and scored eleven times without Brady. With Brady back in 2009, expect his overall numbers to fall somewhere in between his all-world ’07 year to last season’s fantasy digits.
('09 Proj: 88 rec, 1,500yds, 13 touchdowns) ~Steve Cavanagh
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Going into 2008, we all knew that he wasn't going to duplicate his 2007 season. Yet many were disappointed that Moss “only” had 69 catches for 1,008 yards and 11 touchdowns. Much of that can be attributed to Tom Brady's injury. So what to expect in 2009? I think now that Moss is 32 years old; you have to be just a bit more cautious. Age is definitely not on his side and, as Torry Holt and Marvin Harrison have shown the past few years, the descent can happen pretty quickly. But I think Moss has another “100%” year left in him.
('09 Proj: 1,225 yds, 13 touchdowns) ~Jon Rascon
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Moss is Moss. Period. Dude played last season with a quarterback that had never even started a college game and he still racked up a 1,000 yards receiving and 11 touchdowns. The trading of Matt Cassel would signal that the Patriots believe Tom Brady will be healthy from the get-go in 2009.
('09 Proj: 65 rec, 1,200 yds receiving, 15 touchdowns) ~Jeremy Fischer
