Shockey Gets What He Wants

July 22, 2008 at 8:02 am | Article by Paul Hickey |

Shockey Gets What He Wants It finally happened. Proof that if pro athletes kick and scream enough, they really do get what they want. In this case, four men named Jeremy Shockey, Kevin Boss, Steve Smith and Drew Brees are very happy with the New York Giants dealing Jeremy Shockey to the New Orleans Saints - and a man named Eric Johnson probably isn’t so thrilled.

Other folks thrilled with the fact that the G-Men finally accepted two future draft choices in exchange for their standout tight end include millions of fantasy football owners. Owners who happen to have the rights to Shockey are probably picking out what champagne they’re going to buy after a fantasy football championship is clinched in December, while others - those that own the rights to guys like Brees, Boss and Smith - have a lot to look forward to as well.

Not only will Shockey have a serious chance at being fantasy football’s top tight end in Sean Payton’s offense - yep, that’s right, he’ll catch at least 85 balls - but Drew Brees should now be moved up on all QB rankings to possibly a top three guy above Tony Romo, or even Peyton Manning.

Brees’ yardage statistics should go through the roof, along with the fact that the Saints running game should benefit due to the match-up problems Shockey will create. Look for Reggie Bush, Deuce McAllister and even Pierre Thomas to all be huge threats at some point in 2008. What about Marques Colston owners? What should they expect from this move? Well, there’s always two schools of thought here. One is that Colston will see more opportunities due to the fact that Shockey will take defensive attention away and spread the field. The other is that Colston will lose opportunities to Shockey. My take is that Colston’s value is solidified with this move. If anything, he’ll benefit from the fact that the Saints offense will be virtually unstoppable in 2008.

As far as the collateral damage on the New York Giants side of things, Kevin Boss owners shouldn’t be jumping out of their seats the way owners of Saints players should, but they still have a hopeful future to look to. Boss should steadily improve, and one day be a legit starting fantasy TE. Right now, he’s still a second year man with a lot to learn, and shouldn’t be counted on as anything more than a fantasy TE2.

The player that could really benefit from this move from a statistical standpoint is Giants second year WR Steve Smith. Offensive Coordinator Kevin Gilbride attributed New York’s production in the passing game after Shockey was injured last year to the solid play of Smith.

Dynasty and deep seasonal owners should seriously value the former USC standout as a prime WR3 candidate in 2008 - especially in points per reception leagues.

Heartfelt sympathies go out to Eric Johnson, who will likely never have fantasy value again.

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