Jason Wood's Thoughts

I've always been a Keyshawn fan, and it's usually at this point in the season when I'm explaining to people how he's undervalued and ready to have a resurgent season. Yet, Johnson just hasn't seemed to be able to put it all together since his 2nd consecutive Pro Bowl season in 1999:

• 1999 - 89 receptions for 1,170 yards and 8 touchdowns (WR12) - Johnson's last year in New York was his 2nd consecutive 1,100 yard Pro Bowl season. Johnson moves to the Buccaneers the following season



• 2000 - 71 receptions for 874 yards and 8 touchdowns (WR21) - Johnson's first year in Tampa Bay is a disappointment. While his TD production was solid, he failed to break 1,000 yards and saw a precipitous drop in his reception totals; failing to meet his preseason fantasy rankings



• 2001 - 106 receptions for 1266 yards and 1 touchdown (WR28) - A complete flip flop from the prior year; Johnson sets career highs in receptions and yards but only scores 1 touchdown all season. Johnson is selected to the Pro Bowl but fails to play like a viable fantasy starter



• 2002 - 76 receptions for 1088 yards and 5 touchdowns (WR21) - On the road to a Super Bowl, Keyshawn has another solid season, setting a career high in yards per reception, yet is inconsistent and seemingly always unhappy with his involvement in the offense



• 2003 - 45 receptions for 600 yards and 3 touchdowns (WR53) - After several up and down years with Tampa Bay, Keyshawn pushes one too many buttons and is suspended from the team for the final six games of the year; as a result Johnson finishes as a fantasy afterthought

In 2004, Bill Parcells is trying to recreate the magic of his surprising New York Jets team that made it to the AFC Championship game. Unfortunately, neither Vinny Testaverde nor Keyshawn Johnson appear to be the players they were five years ago.

Keyshawn is too far along in his career to ever live up to his status as a former #1 overall draft pick; but he's still a skilled player. When motivated, Johnson is an excellent blocker, and uses his size effectively in traffic. Where he's limited is his ability to get separation or make yards after the catch. Therefore, how one uses Keyshawn will largely determine his level of success. Luckily for Cowboys fans, Bill Parcells was the one coach who seemingly knew how to get the most out of him; playing up to his strengths while shielding him from his weaknesses.

Positives

• Good size and strong hands, will make catches in traffic


• Is the team's best receiving threat, and is reunited with the one coach who optimized his skill set


• Can be drafted as a WR3/WR4 according to current mock draft information

Negatives

• Does not get separation either before the catch or after the catch; he won't break too many tackles


• The Cowboys won't be among the league leaders in passing attempts if Parcells has his way


• The team plays in one of the toughest divisions in football

Final Thoughts

Every year I defend Keyshawn as being a player who will finally put together a season reminiscent of his early Jets days; yet every year some facet of his game falls short of expectations. This year, now with his 3rd team, but reunited with his favorite coach, I find myself once again projecting Keyshawn as a viable fantasy player. I currently project Johnson to finish 24th with slightly less than 1,000 yards and half a dozen touchdowns. Given his projected role in Big D, and his pedigree, I believe those projections are reasonable and attainable provided he remains healthy. Considering Johnson is being drafted, on average, 33rd in mock drafts, he again offers value - one of these years I'm going to be right about Keyshawn, is 2004 the season?

Michael Brown's Thoughts

Keyshawn's star has not only faded, but he has become a flashlight that is desperately in need of some new batteries. Luckily for Johnson, if anyone can recharge him, it's Bill Parcells. Parcells knows how to put players in position to succeed. These two have a familiarity with one another, so Parcells wouldn't take a chance on Johnson if he doubted what Keyshawn could bring to the table.

Adding to the familiarity issue is the ascension to the starting role of QB Vinny Testaverde; who replaces the departed Quincy Carter (released at the start of camp). Drew Henson may figure into the equation too, but it's unlikely Parcells would hand over the keys to the franchise to a first year starter when Testaverde is under contract. Regardless of the starting QB, Johnson will be the #1 wide receiver, but it can only benefit him to surround him with as many familiar pieces as possible.

Positives

• Reunited with former coach Bill Parcells, under whom he enjoyed his greatest NFL success



• Terry Glenn and Antonio Bryant could provide deep threats that will enable Johnson to work underneath where he is at his best



• Was on pace for around 950-yard, 5 touchdown season last year, which isn't terrible

Negatives

• A wide receiver who doesn't find success in the Gruden offensive system?



• Has never really put up huge numbers on a yearly basis, and is now a year older and won't have played since mid-season of 2003



• Obvious character/attitude issues that have dogged him since he entered the league. Shouldn't be a problem with Parcells, but who knows?

Final Thoughts

Keyshawn Johnson gets a bad rap at times, though a lot of it is his own doing. He is seen as an example of what's wrong in sports, a cocky, loud, arrogant receiver who seemingly has underachieved based upon his draft position out of college and current contract status. But the fact remains that Johnson is a tireless worker and one of the best all-around receivers in the NFL when you factor in blocking ability. He doesn't put up the biggest numbers, but there is no denying that the teams he has been on have had successful offensive units. That has a lot to do with the coaching that surrounded him, but he was still an integral part of an overachieving Jets squad and a Super Bowl champion in Tampa. None of that directly impacts his fantasy success of course, but it does serve to remind people of Johnson's all-around talents. He is being taken around the 90th player overall, which is justified based on the season he is coming off of. But he should put up excellent numbers for a #3, and by season's end could be a borderline #2.

Quotations from the Message Board Thread

To view the entire Player Spotlight thread (there's a ton of fantastic commentary in there), click here.

Winning IS Everything:
"I actually feel that Keyshawn in Dallas is a good fit. Always a solid possession guy, this team needs a good short range target to get those tough yards. Johnson also has the size to be a great redzone target though the numbers the last few years do not support it. I think you can not go wrong if Johnson falls in your draft and you can get him as a WR3 or WR4. I can see him out performing his draft position."

Kiddnets:
"I love Key being reunited with Tuna! If I remember correctly his worst season under Parcells was for 1,000+ with double digit TDs - with Mirer and Lucas at the helm (Tuna knows how to use Key's size in the redzone). I see him having a BIG year and is flying way under the radar."

Spartans Rule:
"I agree with those who say Keyshawn is a great fit for Dallas. He is an excellent possession WR and could help put the Boys over the top.

However...

Last season Dallas ran the ball 515 times despite having arguably the worst feature back in the league. They passed 510 times. A pretty decent group of WRs accounted for just 128 catches while Richie Anderson had 69. I don't think Parcells is married to the running game, but with that great defense he's bound to be more conservative. I just can't see Keyshawn posting monster numbers in this situation."

Iwannabeacowboysbaby!:
"Keyshawn Johnson is the piece of the puzzle that Dallas was missing at wide receiver last year. He's the guy who will go over the middle and get that tough 3rd down and 4 reception to keep a 4th quarter drive going. He's the guy who will help fire up a rather young offensive team in the locker room and on the field.

The Dallas passing game isn't going to light the world on fire, but they're going to do enough damage to keep defenses honest to open up running lanes."

gman8343:
"Keyshawn is one of those guys who elicit a knee-jerk response from a lot of people. He's obnoxious, cocky, and never really lived up to the hype he created about himself. His self-promotion burned a lot of people who drafted him thinking he was finally going to put together that 1400 yd 11 Td season. But he's not that kind of player. He's never been a game breaker. His speed is, at best, suspect, and at times last season he seemed to lose concentration and dropped a few too many balls.

He's a good football player, however. When he's not spouting off at the coaching staff or other players he's making the tough grab in traffic or blocking so someone else can have some glory. Unfortunately, blocking doesn't translate into fantasy football, or Daryl Johnston would have been one of the all time greats."

Keyshawn Johnson Projections