CARSON PALMER TEAM TAKE

 

Palmer will be coming back from an elbow injury that cut short what was shaping up to be a mediocre year for the former Heisman winning quarterback. All reports are stating that Palmer, who didn't have surgery, will be ready to go at the beginning of the season. But will he rebound to his most productive levels or was last year the beginning of the end? I think it was the beginning of the end as an elite quarterback, as Palmer has never shown the ability to carry a team, and the current state of the Bengals doesn't suggest that they will be able to carry Palmer. Would make an ideal situation/spot starter as your number two quarterback, but only if you have an elite quarterback as your number one.

(09' Proj: 3,200 yards, 17 touchdowns)   ~Jon Rascon
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The Bengals shut him down after Week 5. Will not need Tommy John surgery this offseason as previously anticipated. Once considered among the top-3 options at the position, Palmer will likely see some of the biggest fluctuation in draft position. Prospective owners should pay close attention to the inevitable shakeup looming in Cincinnati; will the team try to start from scratch or simply remodel?

(’09 Proj: 3,550 yds, 23 touchdowns, 14 interceptions)   ~Stan Feldman
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I would be extremely surprised if Palmer made anybody regret leaving him on the board this year.  Maybe I'm just being a cynic, but I'm not convinced that six months R&R is the secret formula for what I have heard described as a "frayed" ligament in his throwing shoulder.  I'll admit this is an opinion that could easily be swayed by August, but for now my stats account for Carson playing eight games behind a line that's much less effective than the version he last threw 30 touchdowns behind.

 

('09 Proj: 1,875 yds, 13 touchdowns, 11 interceptions)   ~Rick Perkins
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The million dollar question surrounding Palmer right now is whether or not his elbow will allow him to be the same quarterback ever again.  The only silver lining to the black cloud that was his '08 season, was that he didn't require surgery and should be cleared to participate in training camp this July.  If he returns 100% healthy, then the prospect of him producing similar numbers before he incurred the injury is not outside the realm of probability.

 

('09 Proj: 3,785 yards, 25 touchdowns, 19 interceptions)   ~Frank Mazzola
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Love the guy, hate the team. Has tenuous clearance to resume all offseason duties, not exactly what fantasy owners want to hear. A QB with elbow questions, receiving corps questions, running game questions and a schedule that sees the Steelers and Ravens defenses twice is not exactly enticing. Major risk alert here - draft only as a #2 or #3 fantasy QB. Remember, he did average almost 4,000 yards and 30 TDs for 3 straight seasons before 2008 so I'm not completly writing him off.
 

('09 Proj: 2,600 yard, 20 touchdowns, 11 interception)   ~Steve Cavanagh

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I believe he will be ready - look for him to bounce back in 2009, potentially making him a solid value pick for fantasy leagues which to him will mean...

('09 Proj: 3,500 yards and 20 touchdowns)   ~Dave Fosdick