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LAVERANUES COLES TAKE
Before every fantasy football draft, I make a pact with myself. I will stab my mouse hand with a paring knife if I draft Laveranues...man, it takes four typos to get his name right...Coles. He only has three 1,000 yard seasons in nine years with the league and his ceiling for touchdowns is seven. Carson Palmer could be a blessing though. If Palmer is able to return from his rebellious elbow in top form then I’ll break out the paring knife again.
('09 Proj: 78 rec, 950 yds, 6 touchdowns) ~John Kezer
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He stayed healthy all year and seems to be able to produce 800-900 yards and 6 touchdowns in his sleep. Watch out for the switch from the East to the tougher North division in the AFC, but a healthy Palmer could make Coles useful for another year.
('09 Proj: 70 rec, 820 yds, 6 touchdowns) ~Steve Cavanagh
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Coles is beginning to show his age (he’ll turn 32 in December.) However, he has a tremendous opportunity to have a great year with a healthy Carson Palmer in Cincinnati. If he can avoid injury, expect Coles to approach or set career highs in several categories.
('09 Proj: 84 rec, 1,150 yds, 8 touchdowns) ~Frank Mazzola
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I think Coles will catch around 5 passes a game and be that route runner that Palmer will need. I Consider Coles a low-end No. 3 fantasy WR in standard formats (between Rounds 8 and 9)
('09 Proj: 75 rec, 900 yds, 4 touchdowns) ~Dave Fosdick
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What you see is what you get. He doesn’t put up big yards (only three 1000+ seasons in nine years), he’s never had more than 91 receptions in a season, and he’s never scored more than seven touchdowns in any one year but he is consistent as his career averages show; 70 receptions, 899 yards, 5 touchdowns. If Carson Palmer is healthy and Chad Ocho Cinco returns to form then Coles should put up very solid numbers.
('09 Proj: 78 rec, 920 yds, 6 touchdowns) ~Robb Perkins
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The question with Coles the past few years isn’t talent, it’s health. If he stays healthy, his new situation in Cincinnati will be very much to his liking, and yours. Our favorite Crazy Train Conductor, Ocho Cinco, won’t be much of a threat if he's still in town, and Carson Palmer will be the best quarterback that Coles has had throwing him the ball (yes, I’m including Brett Favre in that category). I can easily see Coles becoming the Bengals’ leading receiver next season.
(’09 Proj: 90 rec, 1,100 yds, 10 touchdowns) ~Jeremy Fischer
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Coles moves from the Jets to the Bengals this year. He will be asked to play the TJ Houshmandzadeh role from years past, and there is some fantasy potential in that spot. However, I don’t see a lot that has changed (questionable line, questionable quarterback and even more questionable running back) in Cincinnati that gives me confidence that Coles can do any better than Housh was able to do last year.
('09 Proj: 800 yds, 5 touchdowns) ~Jon Rascon
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Just a whole bucket full of unknowns here. Which explains why none of us (except Jeremy which, doesn't really count :) aren't venturing very far from Coles' career averages in our projections here. Seriously, Fischer brings up a great point above. Palmer certainly is, far and away, the livliest arm Laveranues has had throwing him the ball in his entire career. Or is he? Time will tell if R&R is the only treatment needed for that ligament in Carson's throwing shoulder, but I'm currently a skeptic. Even if Palmer proves 100%, there's still the Bengals' 31st ranked offensive line (according to our own Chris Graley) to worry about. I love the immediate impact of 6th overall pick - OT Andre Smith, but the Bengals didn't follow him up with a single other O-lineman in the entire draft. I think their problems last year ran deeper than that. So yeah, pencil Coles in for #3 fantasy receiver stats. Just don't get enamored with the fact that Palmer is thowing Coles the ball and go reaching.
('09 Proj: 75 rec, 900 yds, 5 touchdowns) ~Rick Perkins
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