If you need a refresher on the rules for the series or a run down of previous match-ups? Here is the rules and history thread:
"Close Calls 2007" - A Sportsoutlaw.com Exclusive
Remember, this is based on re-draft leagues.
Today's Match-up:

Todd Heap - TE - Balt *vs* Jeremy Shockey - TE - NYG
Last Year's Stats:
Todd Heap - 16 gms - 73 rec - 765 yds - 6 TD's
Jeremy Shockey - 15 gms - 66 rec - 623 yds - 7 TD's

Today's close call looks to two of the games elite TE's. Heap has been consistent as they come, can he keep it going as more offensive weapons are added around him? With Shockey, the term consistency is not something used very often. Can he put it together and fulfill the potential he has shown at times? Will he take Tiki's place as the safety valve in this offense this year? These are some of the questions you will need to answer in today's "Close Call."

To me Heap. I see Manning imploding again...and Shockey then imploding..which will only drop his value.

Give me Heap.

I will take heap as well, man just comes in and does his job.

I agree, Heap does his job and you know what your going to get. However, this is the TE position, I don't want the predictable, I want the explodable! I want someone that gives me the potential to blow up and give me that added boost. As mush as I like Heap, I don't think he has that potential. There is more risk with Shockey, but their is more upside as well IMO. For my TE, I'll take the risk and go with Shockey.

Without a doubt, I take heap. Will he be listed as "questionable" every week on the injury report? Probably. Will he play and put up good numbers every week regardless? probably

The Giants, thanks to the bad attitude of Burress, and the constant injuries to Shockey, have made moves in the last two drafts to address their receiving options, which should take more focus off of Shockey this year.

You think? I see it differently, with Barber moving on, this creates a large need for a new safety net in the short passing game. I don't see any RB on their roster capable of filling this, enter Shockey, I see him becoming much more involved in this and increasing his receptions by 15 or so this year as a result. I expect him to me more involved in the offense then in the past.

Oh, I think the Giants would love for Shockey to be able to take on an increased role, but I also think the Giants are facing the fact that Shockey can't stay healthy. Not sure he could handle an additional role

I'll take the potential upside with Shockey

It was not too far in the past that a TE who caught 25-30 receptions for 250-300 yards with 2-4 TD's was concidered an elite TE. Someone must have dropped the mold's, because the atipical TE is no more. 75+ rec.,650 yds or more, with 5-7 TD's is the average of todays TE. The elite players of today are expected to catch 75 receptions for 800+ yards with double didget TD's.
Can TE's get any bigger and faster and stronger.At the rate we are going the answer is "YES". More and more TE's ar putting up WR's numbers in Rec., Yards, and TD's. Where will it all end, time will tell us. RR

Let's be real here Jeremy Shockey has been a bigger headache on the field, then T.O. ever was.
He is always talked about having great upside, yet his numbers are just middle of the road.
The best TE plays in SD, then in KC, and then there is the rest. TEs with better up side play in CLE,WAS,MIA and PHI.
I will take Todd Heap over this Giant killer anytime!!!

Not sure I agree here. just 2 years ago Shockey finished the year as the #2 TE in the league, not really middle of the road is it? Last year, in a great year for TE's he finished 7th, which is more along the lines of middle of the road, but the difference between Shock at 7 and Heap at 4 was a mear 8 pts, in other words 1 20 yd TD catch.

I'll take the upside of him rising back towards the top given the downside is marginal. As far as the injury concerns, he has only missed 1 game in each of the last 3 seasons, I can handle that.

The talent around Heap is better now. When Shockey had his great season, he had great talent around him.
Now maybe Shockley only missed 1 game, but how many plays did he miss out on turning the season. If you have watched any of the NYGiants games you would have seen him on the sideline a lot.

Same with heap though, he's beat up a lot, and is a GTD a lot as well ,which creates nighmares for fantasy owners. Health wise, I think these 2 are a toss up.

But how is the talent around Heap better? Baltimore doesn't have a great offense, even with Willis, it's not great.

I quit worrying about that by mid-season last year. Questionable/GTD = Heap will play. Much like Soldier.

Shockey, however, is a different story. He will probably play, but won't play very long when he is hurt

i got to go with heap as well.
i like the arguments for shockey, but just as likely he is to explode, he could easily end up having a crap week.

i'll take the consistent heap, who over the season will end up scoring more then shockey.

With the loss of Tiki... I think Shockey may have a career year... so I take him with ease over Heap

I don't like Manning, but I like the Baltimore QBs even less. Without barber I can see the Giants throwing a ton, which makes Shockey a great fantasy option. I think Heap is the better player in reality, but this year for fantasy i would take Shockey.