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Bust - Donald Driver (GB)

2 Jul, 2007 Busts

Donald Driver (WR) - Green Bay Packers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kx_2wGQXxKg

As the Packers slowly transition out of the Brett Favre era, this may be Drivers last year as a Packer (or at least as a starter). At 32 years old, Driver is definitely no ~~aborted fecal tissue that is clogging up my kitchen sink~~ spring chicken. He is coming off of a career season (fantasy wise), however, most of his statistical production was an illusion. The Packers had nobody else on their roster to throw the ball to. Considering Favre has never thrown more balls in a season in his entire carrier (613), you could have put Rocket Ismail back into the lineup and he would have pulled in similar numbers. Those days are over though kids, and it’s time to retire the days of great expectations.

The Bust Explained

613. Yes, we’ll repeat it again. 613! That was the magical number of times Brett Favre was forced to throw the ball last year. No wonder they sucked donkey balls. After Ferguson went down due to injury, the next best receiver behind Donald Driver was that fat bitch from the Chunky Soup commercials (aka Donovan McNabb’s mother). If the ball is going to end up in the air that many times, and you are the only option at receiver, you are going to end up with some fairly impressive stats.

A lot can happen in a year though. The environment has changed, and it will leave Driver somewhat out in the cold. They have two sets of young legs in the backfield (Morency and Jackson), so they will definitely not be airing it out as much this year. Ferguson is claiming to be 100% healthy, and will begin eating into Donald’s numbers from the get-go. Driver’s biggest threat though is 2nd year receiver Greg Jennings. Jennings is the real deal, and represents the future of Green Bay. Jennings could easily become the primary receiver by mid-season. Driver has clearly lost a step or two in his age, and just doesn’t have the deep threat potential that Jennings and Ferguson do.

Driver will slowly be transitioned into a mentor role for these young lads waiting in the shadows. He should still pick up some decent stats, just not enough to justify taking him very early.

The Risk Factor:

If Jennings just can’t step up, and Ferguson isn’t really 100% healthy, Driver will again be the default primary receiver in Green Bay. However, even if this unlikely scenario is the case, the Packers just won’t be throwing it an obnoxious amount of times again this year.

The Strategy:

If you can pick him up as a 4th WR, we wouldn’t talk you out of it. But any earlier than that isn’t worth it.

Donald Driver

Green Bay Packers