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 2008" - A Sports Outlaw Exclusive
Remember, this is based on re-draft leagues.

Today's Match-up:

Roddy White, WR, Atl *vs* Chris Chambers, WR, SD

Last Year's Stats:
Roddy White - 16 gms - 83 rec - 1,202 yds - 6 TD's
Chris Chambers - 16 gms - 66 rec - 970 yds - 4 TD's

Today's Match-up is between two WR's who can be had in the early part of the middle rounds. Roddy White broke onto the scene last year with a surprising year, but can he get the QB play he will need in order to take it to the next level? Can any other receiving threat step up on the offense as well? Chambers made his move to SD mid year and seemed to fit in well with the offense. With an offseason to get some chemisty with the offense can Chambers regain the form that once made him a budding superstar WR? Will Rivers be at full strength coming off the injury, if not, how much does that hurt his value? These are just some of the questions you will need to answer in today's close call.

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Banner by Mark Clapper

I really like Roddy White. Then I put him up against Chambers and I Love him!! Roddy has no competition whatsoever for catches and with Turner there now the passing game could open up a bit more.
Im all Roddy in this close call.

Im going with Roddy White here. Roddy White is going to give you about the same this year, with room to go up of course.

Chambers is a good WR caught with the King of RBs and the King of TEs. WR1 is always going to be the #3 option in San Diego.

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2008 Black Knights Football - 12 wins isn't enough

I really like Phillip Rivers this year. Add an entire offseason of practice with Chambers and I think Chambers numbers return to when he was being picked as a #1 WR with the Dolphins with nobodys throwing to him. The Falcons running game might open up the passing game a little but I see a lot of three and outs for them this year.

White had those numbers last year in spite of the Falcons situation and I think that offense and that situation will be improved this season. Obviously going with White...

But you cant discount what I said Chris. He will at BEST be the #3 option in that offense. LT and Gates will get the lions share of things.

This to me is not close. I don't know why everyone wants to give Chambers a gimme for Miami. He had ONE decent year. Rest of the time he was a disappointment. And as pointed out by Sarge, he isn't even the top target. White came on last year, despite Qb play, and will only get better with a real run game to support the pass. White is the clear choice here.

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Expert on nothing, opinionated on everything...

So now the question becomes is the #3 option in a top 5 offense better the the #1 option in a bottom 5 offense??

I may be a minority here, but I like BOTH of these guys this year and feel both could outperform their draft position. White is an emerging star, stuck in a bad situation. He'll get plenty of opportunities, but how many scoring opportunities?? He's going to be solid on yds and receptions and likely finish in the 6-8 TD range. Still not bad for a 6th round pick or so. Chambers will be slightly different. He will not get near as many opportunities overall, but will get many more scoring opportunities. Roddy will get more yds, and more catches, but Chambers will trump him in the TD's and I feel is a threat to score 10 times in that offense.

In the end, yards are easier to count on then TD's. Both are nice values and guys that should reward owners for their draft pick, but in the end I am in the majority here on this call and have White slightly ahead of Chambers.

If you really want the answer to that question do the swap. Imagine now that Chambers was playing for Atlanta, and Roddy playing for San Diego. Which one do you select?

how many good years has Roddy White had? If you look at his stats ALL of his production came in four games. This is the MJD question. Do you like steady Eddy who is going to get you 5/75 every week or White who will do nothing the majority of the time and blow up for a week or two. Everyone hates on Lee Evans for this and when I'm picking a #2/#3 WR I want consitency. Chambers has both, consistency and upside.

Check this out!!
Roddy had 7 games last year where he either went for 100 Yards or 60 Yards + a TD. That means that nearly half of the time he was Mr. Excitement.
Out of these 7 games, 4 of them were in the last 5 weeks of the year.
It all started on week 13 when Chris Redman became the starting QB.
Week 13. Roddy went for 146 and a TD in Redman's 1st start of the year.
Week 14 Roddy picked up 75 yards + a TD.
Week 15 was a total disaster though. He had only 4 yards against Tampa Bay. In his defense Tampa Bay had one of the best pass defenses last year.
Week 16 Redman and Roddy hooked up 12 times for 141 yards.
Week 17 was a little slowed but still productive. 62 yards and a TD.

Roddy White had a huge chunk of his numbers with Redman at QB in those last weeks. He averaged 70 yards per game in weeks 1-12 and then once Redman took over averaged 85 yards per game. He also had 3 of his 6 TDs in those last 5 weeks.

You do the math!!

Chris Redman won't be throwing to him all year long and half of the time is not nearly enough for me

If you are saying the rookie will take over at some point, I'm not too sure about that. I could see if the season is over based on ATL's poor record and they get Matt some snaps to prepare for 2009.

Add the fact that there will be a new offense and I just don't buy into the Roddy White hype.

in all honesty for WR's, to get 1/2 the time in double figures is actually pretty good once you get past the first couple tiers. Your studs are consistent, after that is hit and miss each week.

Hype? The guy is projected as like a 6th-7th round pick. I'd hardly considering that being hyped.
All I'm saying is check out what him and Redman have going. You can't deny the numbers in those 5 weeks. There might be something solid between these 2 guys.
Even if Redman gets sidelined for Matt Ryan, do you think Roddy's numbers would go to trash? He's still the #1 option in the passing game there. He's still going to produce.
If you would happen to own him why not reap the early season benefits of the gel between Redman and White and trade him midseason if you fear Ryan showing up and breaking the marriage?

But that's not the question and doesn't present the answer. Were not asking who the more talented WR is given equal situations. Were looking to answer who will be the most productive in their current situation: a WR who may be the 3rd option overall, but is in a top 5 offense with plenty of scoring ops. Or the top target of his offense, and defensive gameplans, with little help around him on an offense that will likely struggle and be close to the bottom five in offense, meaning limited offensive scoing opportunities.

That are the situations the two face, and flipping them doesn't answer who the best fantasy option is this season.

I'm not saying don't pick White, i actually did select him. But this is what we have to look at.

I deny that Chris Redman is a good NFL QB, I deny that Roddy White will have over 1000 yards receiving, I deny that White will get anywhere near the looks with the new rushing attack, I deny that he will be able to pick up the new offense, I believe that Roddy White=Michael Clayton and I believe that Chris Chambers puts up better numbers this year than White and in fact has a career year. I am done and I can't wait to come back to this thread and point it out to the White Kool-Aid drinkers.

That's cool, as long as you come back if your wrong as well.

Care to place a friendly wager on that?