REFRESHER REPORT: 2-FOR-THE-SHOW.
August 20, 2017
By John Cooney
Winning fantasy football comes by knowing what the players can do and how/if they “fit” their current offensive schemes. Incoming talent from the most recent draft is fresh in fantasy coaches’ minds, but don’t forget what tools the young and seasoned pro vets possess. You know the stats, but how and why did these achieve, or under-achieve in 2016? What does 2017 potentially bring for these
2-FOR-THE-SHOW: WRs Devin Funchess, Geronimo Allison
Devin Funchess- DRAFTED, 2ND ROUND, 2015 PANTHERS.
Coming out of college in 2015, my prevailing projection for Funchess was that the lumbering, over-sized wide receiver from Michigan is going to have to shift to pass-catching tight end if he wants to turn in a productive NFL career. So far the early returns are foggy-at-best. Funchess is big at 6’4-232, but logging a 4.7-forty is not going to cut it as a pro WR. He did improve his charts at the Wolverine Pro Day, clocking a 4.47-forty. Hmmm. Here’s a hint; Funchess snagged balls at a solid 15.3 YPR in 2013 playing TE. Last season (2014) Michigan utilized the big guy at WR, where he slipped to a sluggish 11.8 YPR. He’s a good matchup as a TE versus LBs and safeties, but corners will be on his hip about every snap in the NFL as a receiver. Even athletic linebackers have been able to stick with Funchess in crossing routes. He just lacks energy, acceleration and suddenness. Funchess has some focus liabilities, and a diva-ish attitude. For a big receiver Funchess negates that size advantage by allowing throws into his body, cutting down a good catch-cushion. With the football Funchess is a tough tackle, especially for smaller DBs. He does show good ball sense after the catch, but will not run away from tacklers; running over is his best YAC skill. Devin Funchess is likely to head to the NFL as a tight end. But even there he has some growing up to do; the proverbial has to “learn how to be a pro.”
2017: Not much has changed for Funchess heading into his 3rd NFL campaign. As a rookie, he was good on just 49.2% of the throws his way. Year 2, the Panthers’ ponderous pass-catcher was even more futile corralling Cam Newton tosses, managing a muddy 39.7% catch rate. No matter how big one might be, in the NFL if you “ain’t” fast enough, you better be technical enough; Funchess is neither. He just doesn’t run well enough, is unable to separate and his body-balling ways kills any of his size advantages. Further complicating his 2017 potential, Carolina OC Mike Shula is rewriting the playbook to feature shorter, quicker throws that call for the receivers to YAC it up. That is NOT Funchess’ game. Frankly, fanballers are not quite sure what Funchess’ game is. He’s not redzone savvy due to poor hands, and his inability to clear. He will never be a long-baller and his lacks the quicks to be an effective catch-n-go type. Now, about that tight end job just waiting for you? Yeah, Greg Olsen isn’t going away anytime soon. 2017 is not looking like fun for Funchess.
Geronimo Allison, Illinois
6’3-196: 4.67x40, 1.65x10, 33 vertical, 10’7 broad, 9 ½ hand
FLASH REPORT:
To start, Allison was handicapped by erratic QB play at Illinois. That being said, Allison didn’t exactly do things to make his QB better. He is a long, lumbering type that doesn’t explode off the line and push DBs back. Pressed at the line, Allison will struggle and has; he’s just not sudden. While Allison shows good hands and gets his long arms extended, his lack of crisp body control and field awareness creates many contested balls. Allison doesn’t perform well in those contested situations. The Illinois big man’s route skills are soft as he rounds out his breaks. He is stiff in route adjustment and rarely gains separation. Allison displays slow, uneven footwork and lack of elite sideline savvy. Geronimo clearly owns NFL size but will be challenged to get open with any consistency on the pro fields.
2017: Allison flashed some end of last season, logging 8 catches for 157 yards and a TD in the final 2 games. In the 10 games he played in 2016, Allison snared just 12 passes, scored 2 TDs, but did put up an impressive 16.8 YPR. He begins 2017 suspended for a game for personal conduct, and is already mired in a sappy numbers pit at the Packers’ WR spot. Not quite special in any given area of play, Allison will have a tough time seeing anything close to appreciable snaps in a Green Bay jersey. He has to climb over Jordy Nelson, Davante Adams, Randall Cobb as well as contend with Jeff Janis, Trevor Davis and TE Martellus Bennett. 2017 is NOT set up for this Geronimo to lead any charges to personal on-field victories.
August 20, 2017
By John Cooney
Winning fantasy football comes by knowing what the players can do and how/if they “fit” their current offensive schemes. Incoming talent from the most recent draft is fresh in fantasy coaches’ minds, but don’t forget what tools the young and seasoned pro vets possess. You know the stats, but how and why did these achieve, or under-achieve in 2016? What does 2017 potentially bring for these
2-FOR-THE-SHOW: WRs Devin Funchess, Geronimo Allison
Devin Funchess- DRAFTED, 2ND ROUND, 2015 PANTHERS.
Coming out of college in 2015, my prevailing projection for Funchess was that the lumbering, over-sized wide receiver from Michigan is going to have to shift to pass-catching tight end if he wants to turn in a productive NFL career. So far the early returns are foggy-at-best. Funchess is big at 6’4-232, but logging a 4.7-forty is not going to cut it as a pro WR. He did improve his charts at the Wolverine Pro Day, clocking a 4.47-forty. Hmmm. Here’s a hint; Funchess snagged balls at a solid 15.3 YPR in 2013 playing TE. Last season (2014) Michigan utilized the big guy at WR, where he slipped to a sluggish 11.8 YPR. He’s a good matchup as a TE versus LBs and safeties, but corners will be on his hip about every snap in the NFL as a receiver. Even athletic linebackers have been able to stick with Funchess in crossing routes. He just lacks energy, acceleration and suddenness. Funchess has some focus liabilities, and a diva-ish attitude. For a big receiver Funchess negates that size advantage by allowing throws into his body, cutting down a good catch-cushion. With the football Funchess is a tough tackle, especially for smaller DBs. He does show good ball sense after the catch, but will not run away from tacklers; running over is his best YAC skill. Devin Funchess is likely to head to the NFL as a tight end. But even there he has some growing up to do; the proverbial has to “learn how to be a pro.”
2017: Not much has changed for Funchess heading into his 3rd NFL campaign. As a rookie, he was good on just 49.2% of the throws his way. Year 2, the Panthers’ ponderous pass-catcher was even more futile corralling Cam Newton tosses, managing a muddy 39.7% catch rate. No matter how big one might be, in the NFL if you “ain’t” fast enough, you better be technical enough; Funchess is neither. He just doesn’t run well enough, is unable to separate and his body-balling ways kills any of his size advantages. Further complicating his 2017 potential, Carolina OC Mike Shula is rewriting the playbook to feature shorter, quicker throws that call for the receivers to YAC it up. That is NOT Funchess’ game. Frankly, fanballers are not quite sure what Funchess’ game is. He’s not redzone savvy due to poor hands, and his inability to clear. He will never be a long-baller and his lacks the quicks to be an effective catch-n-go type. Now, about that tight end job just waiting for you? Yeah, Greg Olsen isn’t going away anytime soon. 2017 is not looking like fun for Funchess.
Geronimo Allison, Illinois
6’3-196: 4.67x40, 1.65x10, 33 vertical, 10’7 broad, 9 ½ hand
FLASH REPORT:
To start, Allison was handicapped by erratic QB play at Illinois. That being said, Allison didn’t exactly do things to make his QB better. He is a long, lumbering type that doesn’t explode off the line and push DBs back. Pressed at the line, Allison will struggle and has; he’s just not sudden. While Allison shows good hands and gets his long arms extended, his lack of crisp body control and field awareness creates many contested balls. Allison doesn’t perform well in those contested situations. The Illinois big man’s route skills are soft as he rounds out his breaks. He is stiff in route adjustment and rarely gains separation. Allison displays slow, uneven footwork and lack of elite sideline savvy. Geronimo clearly owns NFL size but will be challenged to get open with any consistency on the pro fields.
2017: Allison flashed some end of last season, logging 8 catches for 157 yards and a TD in the final 2 games. In the 10 games he played in 2016, Allison snared just 12 passes, scored 2 TDs, but did put up an impressive 16.8 YPR. He begins 2017 suspended for a game for personal conduct, and is already mired in a sappy numbers pit at the Packers’ WR spot. Not quite special in any given area of play, Allison will have a tough time seeing anything close to appreciable snaps in a Green Bay jersey. He has to climb over Jordy Nelson, Davante Adams, Randall Cobb as well as contend with Jeff Janis, Trevor Davis and TE Martellus Bennett. 2017 is NOT set up for this Geronimo to lead any charges to personal on-field victories.
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