Special Teams Analysis: Week 1

September 5, 2008 12:27pm CDT

If you’ve played fantasy football for long enough, you’ve both praised and cursed special teams. Fantasy owners often put a lot of time and preparation into their weekly starting lineups, with the exception of special teams. Kick and punt returners can make an impact in fantasy football leagues. Sometimes it’s as a component of the team defense, and other times individual running backs or receivers pile up extra points via their return roles.

Each week during the regular season, we’ll look at the matchups ahead and discuss the prospects of the kick and punt returners.

Washington Redskins at New York Giants
The contest was completed prior to the posting of this week’s article. Not surprisingly, the Redskins got good work out of Rock Cartwright, who finished eighth in return average last season (25.8). He is solid, albeit unspectacular. Punt returner Antwaan Randle El lost yards on his only attempt. The versatile wideout wasn’t very dynamic last year, and the Giants have a good punt coverage unit.

Rookie punter Durant Brooks was active in his debut (seven punts), and return man R.W. McQuarters was quiet. He had one decent shot (14 yards) but was basically boring. That word also sums up his 2007 regular season. Ahmad Bradshaw will serve as the kick returner. He was merely average in 2007, but we’re hoping he shows more flare this year. Domenik Hixon is a secondary option with some potential.

Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens
We’ll see what happens when Chris Henry comes off his four-game suspension, but for now, receivers Glenn Holt (kickoff) and Antonio Chatman (punt) are back as their primary returners. Neither player is outstanding, although Holt did take one back 100 yards in 2007. Ravens head coach John Harbaugh has spent most of his NFL career as a special teams coach, and we have to believe his coverage unit will be sharp.

The Bengals might want to see about promoting special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons. His coverage units have been quite good over recent years, although they slipped a little bit in 2007 and did allow a touchdown this preseason. Wide receiver Yamon Figurs returned both a punt and a kickoff for a touchdown in his rookie season, and he was especially dangerous at home last year. He is back to handle all the returns and is an asset.

New York Jets at Miami Dolphins

The Jets possess one of the best return units in the NFL. Leon Washington took three kickoffs to the house in 2007 (one came against the Dolphins). In the previous year, Justin Miller made the Pro Bowl as a return man. Washington is the main kickoff man this season, although the Jets may opt to use Ahmad Carroll because Miller (toe) is hurt and Jesse Chatman’s suspension leaves the team thin at running back. Rookie cornerback Dwight Lowery is slated to return punts. Not surprisingly, the Dolphins had awful coverage units last year. We’re guessing they will be sharper under the new regime, but this is still a matchup we like for Gang Green.

Ted Ginn, Jr. returned only one punt for a touchdown last year, but he had two kickoff scores called back due to penalties. The second-year speedster is scheduled to handle both duties again in 2008, and he looked ready this preseason when he took a punt 59 yards to the end zone. Given that Ginn has a huge role in the offense, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Davone Bess or Patrick Cobbs handling some of the returns, too. If you can forgive the choice of words, Ginn has a chance to be special in this area.

Kansas City Chiefs at New England Patriots
Last year’s returner, Eddie Drummond, didn’t make anyone forget about Dante Hall. So, they went back to the drawing board. Former Raven B.J. Sams (punts) and undrafted rookie running back Dantrell Savage (kickoffs) both showed a bit of spark this preseason, but we’re looking at a wait-and-see situation. The Patriots' punt coverage was excellent (second-best) last year, and their kick coverage ranked 11th.

No team kicked off fewer times than the Chiefs (51) in 2007, but it’s still amazing that Herm Edwards’s club also didn’t allow a return of more than 42 yards. Every other squad opened up at least one 50-yard return. The punt coverage unit was also solid (10th). The Patriots featured two quality return men in Ellis Hobbs and Wes Welker, but Hobbs ceded his kickoff duties to rookie Matthew Slater. Journeyman C.J. Jones could also handle some of the kicks and punts. This looks like a matchup of strength vs. strength.

Houston Texans at Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers have already come out and said they are wary of Andre Davis. The receiver averaged 30.3 yards per kick return and scored three touchdowns in 2007. Teammate Jerome Mathis also scored on a kickoff return for the Texans last year. The Steelers coverage was average last regular season, and they allowed a return touchdown in the playoffs. They also served up a kickoff return score this preseason. Davis and punt returner Jacoby Jones could be set for a big opener.

There’s a good reason the Steelers didn’t bring Allen Rossum back. The Steelers return game lacked spark last year. Running backs Rashard Mendenhall (kickoff) and Mewelde Moore (punt) hope to change that in 2008. They face a tough Week 1 task. The Texans did not allow a kickoff return of more than 52 yards or a punt return of more than 22 yards in 2007.

Jacksonville Jaguars at Tennessee Titans
Along with his excellent work for the offense, Maurice Jones-Drew has been one of the NFL’s best kick returners over the last two years. He has one touchdown in each of his seasons, and his career average of 27.0 yards per kick return is pretty darn good. Heck, that Hester guy’s average is only 23.2. Veteran punt returner Dennis Northcutt had a quiet 2007, but there’s a good reason he is entering his ninth year in that role. The Jaguars should have a noticeable edge here.

Despite allowing two kick return touchdowns, the Jaguars still ranked as the fourth-best coverage unit (19.7) in 2007. They also excelled at tracking down punt returners (7.8). The Titans signed Chris Carr to perform both return roles, and we couldn’t be more excited. Wait, did we say “more?” Make that “less.” Over his three seasons with the Raiders, Carr took none of his 278 returns to the house. We’d love to see Chris Johnson (kickoffs) and Chris Davis (punts) take over Carr’s spots.

Detroit Lions at Atlanta Falcons
Unless Mel Grey walks out of the tunnel on Sunday, we’re likely to yawn at the Lions return game. They’ve managed only one return score over the last three years, and that was when tight end Casey FitzSimmons shockingly returned an onside kick last September. Nobody induced more fair catches (31) than Falcons punter Michael Koenen last year, and we simply don’t envision Shaun McDonald and Mike Furrey hurting the Falcons this Sunday.

Rookie Thomas Brown was slated to take over kick return duties, but his groin injury could force Jerious Norwood back into the role. Norwood averaged 25.2 yards per return in 2007 and is more than capable. Adam Jennings is back at the punt returner despite not shining last year. The Lions ranked 31st in kickoff average allowed (26.9) and 30th in punt average allowed (12.1). The Falcons need all the advantages they can get, and they may have one here.

Seattle Seahawks at Buffalo Bills
Hey, the Bills had at least one strong unit in 2007. They finished fifth (20.5) in kick return average and first (5.3) in punt return average. The Seahawks would normally counter with Nate Burleson (two return scores in 2007), but the team is short on receivers and probably won’t risk him. Justin Forsett, Josh Wilson, Maurice Morris, Marcus Trufant, and, yes, Seneca Wallace are all options as returner. Mike Holmgren has actually said these spots might be a “game-time decision.” Ugh.

Hey, the Bills had at least one strong unit in 2007. Roscoe Parrish led the NFL with a 16.3 average on punt returns, and he took one to the end zone. Terrence McGee had arguably his worst year as a kick returner, but he still managed one touchdown and four returns of over 40 yards. The Seahawks haven’t allowed a return score since 2005, but Olindo Mare and Ryan Plackemeier better bring their “A” games. Parrish and McGee form one of the NFL’s elite tandems.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints
The Bucs kicked return man Michael Spurlock to the curb this preseason, even though he has the lone return touchdown in the history of the franchise. Why? Wide receiver Dexter Jackson is lightning. The rookie handled all the return duties this preseason, and he took one punt 83 yards to the house. The Saints allowed both a kickoff and a punt return touchdown in 2007, and the thought of Jackson running on turf should give their special teams coach nightmares.

In 2006, the Buccaneers were the best kickoff coverage team in the NFL. Last year, they slipped all the way to second-best and even allowed a touchdown. The Saints own only one return score over the last three seasons, courtesy of Reggie Bush. The former second overall pick retrieved only three punts in 2007, but he is expected to be more active in the return game this year. Pierre Thomas will return kickoffs again, and Lance Moore will help in both areas. Bush gives their special teams some spice, but he might only handle about half of the punt returns.

St. Louis Rams at Philadelphia Eagles
Back before Hester and Cribbs, Dante Hall was the most feared return man in the NFL. Guess what? He’s still pretty good. A left ankle injury limited Hall to only seven games in 2007, but he averaged 25.1 yards per kick return and 15.1 yards per punt return. He also took a ball to the house for the sixth straight season. The Eagles struggled in punt coverage last year and were merely average against kickoffs. Hall could be an X-factor if this game is close.

The Eagles haven’t recorded a return touchdown since 2003. They tried to cheaply cover the issue with former Olympic skier Jeremy Bloom. When that didn’t work, they aimed high by using a second-round pick on DeSean Jackson. The rookie is a key player in their offense, but he will also return punts. Jackson holds the Pac-10 record with six punt return touchdowns for his career. Safety Quintin Demps took a kickoff 101 yards for a touchdown this preseason and sealed up that job. The Rams ranked last in kick return yards allowed in 2007 (27.2), but special teams coach Al Roberts kept his job. That’s good news for the Eagles.

Dallas Cowboys at Cleveland Browns
The Cowboys have produced only one return touchdown over the last four seasons, but things are looking up for the squad, thanks to the Jones boys. Back in 2006, Adam Jones returned three punts for touchdowns and narrowly edged out Devin Hester (12.8) for the best return average in the NFL (12.9). Rookie speedster Felix Jones will spice up the kick return unit. He took two balls to the house as a senior at Arkansas. The Browns better be prepared.

Pro Bowl return man Josh Cribbs is questionable for this contest due to a high ankle sprain suffered in the third preseason game. We’re guessing he won’t play. The Cowboys didn’t cover punts (11.6) or kickoffs (23.0) particularly well last year, so Cribbs’ injury is a disappointment. Second-year receiver Syndric Steptoe is expected to handle both punt and kickoff return duties if Cribbs is out. Steptoe did a nice job this preseason, but we’re not counting on him to be special.

Carolina Panthers at San Diego Chargers
Last season’s main return man, Ryne Robinson, sprained his MCL and PCL in early August and won’t be ready for Week 1. So, the Panthers signed Mark Jones, who was recently released by the… (wait for it)… Chargers. The pint-sized Jones has mainly returned punts in his career, but he is expected to handle both return jobs until Robinson comes back. We hope to see running back Jonathan Stewart get a crack at a kick return or two, as he was a quality return man at Oregon. The Chargers did allow a kick return touchdown this preseason.

Running back Darren Sproles was one of the league’s best kick returners (27.2) in 2007, and he returned both a kickoff and a punt for a touchdown. Granted, they came in the same game, so maybe he was only supremely talented for that one afternoon. No squad allowed more punt return yards than the Panthers in 2007, and their kick coverage was nothing special. All in all, it looks like a decent matchup for the speedy, elusive Sproles.

Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers
Steve Breaston is back as the primary kick and punt returner. He holds both return records at the University of Michigan, so he is quite capable at this job. As a rookie, Breaston returned one punt for a touchdown and finished with more return yards (1,786) than everyone save Cribbs. Given that he is also the No. 3 receiver, Breaston might cede some of his return duties to J.J. Arrington (kick) or Antrel Rolle (punt). The 49ers allowed returns of 53 (score), 56, 58, 60, and 75 yards this preseason.

The 49ers didn’t post a return touchdown in either 2006 or 2007. Maybe that’s why they weren’t so sad to see Maurice Hicks leave this offseason, huh? Veteran Allen Rossum is on his third team in as many years and his fifth team over his 10 NFL seasons. He is a capable kick and punt return man with seven career touchdowns, including one for the Steelers in 2007. Only the Colts (13.9) were worse than the Cardinals (13.1) at slowing down punt returners in 2007, so maybe Rossum can find a seam.

Chicago Bears at Indianapolis Colts
It’s like a match made in special teams heaven. Tony Dungy claims the Colts won’t kick away from Devin Hester. We say, hooray! No team allowed more kick return (three) or total return (four) touchdowns than the Colts in 2007. Hester last saw the Colts in Super Bowl XLI, when he returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown.

The Colts lost last year’s return man, defensive back T.J. Rushing, to a knee injury in the first preseason game. Wide receiver Courtney Roby will handle the kick returns, and he took one 103 yards to the house in the preseason. Fellow receiver Pierre Garcon is the punt returner. Last year, the Bears were the best in the NFL at covering kickoffs (19.3 yards) and ranked third at covering punts (5.9). We’re not expecting a big night for Dungy’s return units.

Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers
Aundrae Allison returned only 20 kickoffs in 2007, but averaged a cool 28.7 yards per attempt. So, the Vikings of course brought in Maurice Hicks (zero touchdowns on 185 career returns) to handle the role. Ugh. Allison is likely to return punts on Monday, but that role is unclear moving forward. The Packers employed very strong coverage units in 2007, and the Vikings are likely to lose these battles in Week 1.

Since the Buccaneers took a kickoff to the house last year, the Packers are on the clock. They’ve gone 117 games without a kickoff return for a touchdown. What’s Desmond Howard up to? Is he available? To be fair, the Packers did return two punts for touchdowns last year. Will Blackmon is listed as the top kickoff and punt return man this year, but rookie Jordy Nelson (kickoffs), Tramon Williams (punt), and Charles Woodson (punt) may get involved. Nelson and Woodson appear to offer up the most potential, and we won’t count on the Packers until they get this sorted out.

Denver Broncos at Oakland Raiders
The Broncos had three different guys return at least 12 kickoffs in 2007, and they also made an in-season switch at punt returner. They are hoping rookie Eddie Royal can stop the revolving doors at both spots, and he will fill both spots in Week 1 despite also starting at receiver. He returned three punts for touchdowns over his last two seasons at Virginia Tech, and we have high hopes despite a quiet preseason. The Raiders struggled in punt coverage and were merely average against kickoffs in 2007.

Only the Colts (four) allowed more total return touchdowns than the Broncos (three) in 2007. Is that why Jason Elam and Todd Sauerbrun weren’t welcomed back? Kicker Matt Prater has a strong leg and could negate the kickoff issues, but rookie punter Brett Kern is (admittedly) a relative unknown. The Raiders will counter with Johnnie Lee Higgins, who had added kickoff returns after covering punts last year. Higgins looked good this preseason and could turn into a true special teams asset.