If you need a refresher on the rules for the series, here is the original thread:
http://www.sportsoutlaw.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5078

Remember, this is based on re-draft leagues.

Today's Match-up:

Roy Williams - WR - Det *vs* Andre Johnson - WR - Hou

Last Year's Stats:
Roy Williams - 13 gms - 45 rec - 687 yds - 8 TD's
Andre Johnson - 13 gms - 63 rec - 688 yds - 2 TD's

Today's "close Call" places 2 young and very talented WR's against each other. Both have shown flashes of stardom in the past, but both have struggled greatly at times as well. Both have had their bouts with injury, and both continue to have great question marks at QB. So which one of these young talents can rise above these challenges and live up to the hype? That is the question you will have to answer in Today's "Close Call."

__________________

Banner by Mark Clapper

Both are mediocre 3rd WR options for a fantasy team, frankly. Williams put up more TDs and practically the same yardage as Johnson, but with 18 less catches. So, for that reason, I'm going with Williams.

I can not agree with you on that one, Dearborn. Neither receiver have been given the chance to work with a very good quarterback. Carr could be one of the best quarterbacks in the league, if his OL could keep his butt up off the carpet. I think that AJohnson shows flashes of greatness, but is unable to truly produce due to the limited time that Carr gets to take his shots. It does usually take more than a couple of seconds for a route to develop.

It goes the same with Roy Williams. He has not been prived to a good quarterback...Harrington, Garcia (due to the newness of the offense in Detriot) and any other quarterbacks that have been given a shot have done nothing the help along their receivers progress. Williams is a warrior and played hurt most of the last two seasons. I think the arrival of Jon Kitna will assist him in his efforts in his third season. Furthermore, the arrival of Mike Martz's offensive wizardry will allow the passing game to stride to a new level.

With all that said, I like the choice of Roy Williams over Andre Johnson.

wow, i have both of these guys and dont know which to keep?.....

Well I'm going to go against the majority on this one for a couple reasons. Both of these WR's have been severly over-rated the past year or two based on that ugly word call potential. Both continue to be ranked fairly high despite sub par performance based on that ugly word called potential. However, the reason both of these guys continue to get hyped up above their past performance level is b/c both of them are Extremely talented, and both have flashed what that potential can do, they just need to put it all together. The two are not only close in where they are being drafted, their situations mirror each other very closely. However, in 2 years, when Roy in on the field he has been very hit or miss, showing an inconsistency that concerns me. Sure, his end numbers did not look bad considering he only played in 13 games, but remember that 3 of his TD's were amased in one game. AJ has not been a staple of consitency either, but his reception are bit more stable. If this new coaching staff can figure out a way to keep Carr upright, they should be able to take advantage of AJ downfield speed and his ypc should go up. Due to both of these guys being underperformers, I think you have to make your decision on upside, and while both have it, I like AJ's just a little more. For that reason give me AJ here, and expect 75 rec, 1000 yds and 8 TD's.

I agree with Miller. i think both WR have got the short end of bad situations but if Houston gets the improvement at oline i see Carr takinhg it to a new level and johnson will be the one to benefit. Maybe the whole Detroit WR thing is just leaving a bad taste in my mouth but i like Andre over Williams.

Miller the only problem that I have with what you say is the fact that you comment on Williams getting 3 TD's in one game as a bad thing. When you consider that in that one game he had more TD's than Johnson did ALL season, it's a contradiction.

Right now they are both inconsistent based on what others have already commented on, but the addition of Jon Kitna(who I think will be a good QB for them) and Mike Martz, will upgrade that offense and increase the reliability of Williams this season.

The one thing that I like about Johnson though is the fact that I think Houston has really upgraded their poffense this season with the additions of Moulds and Putzier. If their o-line can come together and protect Carr, there might be a nice explosion there. But that is a very big IF.

Right now I would take Williams over Johnson.

__________________
We strive to bring you the best info on the net.

Johnson showed some promise in his 2nd year but he continues to be the most overhyped WR. HOU did little to improve their OL so I don't see where Carr will be able to improve. Moulds could be a catalyst for Dre but I like the impact Martz may have on Roy especially since Rogers and BMW are garbage.

Contradiction?? How? The only way it's a contradiction is if I used it to say AJ is more consisten ,which I did not. The point of bringing that up is that Roy's 8 TD's last year may be a smoke screen. Almost 1/2 were in 1 game vs a poor secondary. I did not state AJ is a TD machine, with only 2 TD's he clearly is not....but i don't think roy's 8 TD's gives you a clear indication of his struggles last year.

Both are high risk, high reward guys, it comes down to who's over-hype to you buy into more.

Contradiction in my mind because you were using the fact that he got three of his in one game as a bad thing, when referring back to a player that only had 2 all year, thats all.

I agree both high risk, possible high reward players this season.

Give me Roy Williams. First, because he is a better receiver especially when you need a playmaker on the field. Second, because the offense in Detroit will be better this year simply because the team will be better coached. Third, David Carr doesn't play for Detroit.

I know, another shot to bash Carr, but the guy just doesn't have what it takes, in my opinion. You can mix in all ingredients you want, and bring the most popular chef to prepare the meal. But in the end, when the main ingredient is chicken shit, you got no chance at coming out of it with chicken salad.

Both will be improved this year, however I see Roy Williams taking it to the Pro Bowl level.

Martz offense makes me go with Roy - and I'm a HUGE AJ fan.

This years - Andre will be the steal of the draft as most don't have him rated in the top 15 WRs - With a better offensive system, and FINALLY another WR on the other side in Moulds... Andre may well have a better season, but in a redraft league... Roy will go first (out of the two) 10 out of 10 times.

Well since I know nothing is ever 10 out of 10 times, I wanted to test this..... Went and looked at the last 10 competed 12 team HP mocks to see who is going first and how often, well out of the 10, the results mirror this close call very closely. Roy went before AJ in 7 of the 10 mocks and AJ took 3. Very close to our 7/2 current vote.

Their ADP is currently:
4.7 for RW to 4.9 for AJ.

Also interesting to note that in 3 of the drafts where RW went before AJ, they went back to back. This looks like this is a decision many are being faced with in their drafts......and the majority is taking Roy Williams, much like this close call is indicating.

Just some more food for thought on this one.

Interesting notes on the draft positions for these guys. Both of them most likely available early in the 4th round, and possibly available at the beginning of the 5th round.

It will be interesting to see how these number adjust, given any news that may come out of each of the camps leading up to the season.

Not sure Andre's receptions have been any more stable, or that he's been any more consistent when on the field. Even looking at what he did in 04 - he was decent out of the gate but over the last 11 games he was wildly inconsistent and only logged 2 TD's and 2 100 yard receiving games. And you're looking at a bunch of 2, 3, 2, 4 reception games...

Went with Roy because he's more talented and does more when on the field. Down the stretch last year he was putting up a TD or 100 yards in almost every game (6 of last 8). Sorry, but that's a lot more consistent than what Andre historically does...

right there with ya on that comment. Roy Williams is more talented, and he is a "playmaker". With the Martz offense, this guy could simply explode this year.

I don't buy this more talented bull shit.....AJ is bigger, stronger, and faster.....Hands I may give to Roy by a nose, but while he makes the unbelievable catches, he drops some easy one, and neither are great route runners. I just am not buying the more talented part.

you will be after 2006

It bears itself out in the statistics. When on the field, Roy does more. His PPG over his career is significantly higher. Andre has 354 points in 45 games - 7.8 PPG. Roy has 247 points in 27 games - 9.1 PPG.

I don't know where you get the stronger and faster stuff either - Roy ran a sub 4.4 40, just like Andre did. And if you have any questions on his strength, I can shoot you a few videos where he is throwing DB's off of him as if they are rag dolls.

I stick to the bigger faster stronger statement. Roy is fast, but not AJ fast. Roy is also not as strong as AJ, period! And stats don't always tell the whole story, I can point out a lot of guys who have more pts then either one over the last 2-3 years and are not as talented.....

Talent is just that, doesn't always mean you will excel, just means you have the talent to do so, you still have to add a lot of other variables to it. Both of these WR's are extremely talented, yet for one reason or another they have not produced to their talent levels. To simply state:
is simply a cop out and something that is not true. May be of equal talent, but he's not more talented. And neither has performed opn the field to their talent level, so I really don't care who has under performed more, they both need to step it up, so it comes down to who you think will. For you it's Roy, for me it's AJ. That's fine, just don't cop out of the argument by saying he's more talented......just simply not the case.