Jabar Gaffney

The Redskins added several receivers this offseason, but for some reason they let Gaffney go. Gaffney has put up efficient numbers virtually everywhere he’s gone including in a below-average passing game in Washington last year – 947 yards, 8.2 YPT, 13.9 YPC. This year, he’ll have a good deal more competition for targets. Wes Welker and Brandon Lloyd should see most of the wideout work, Deion Branch will pick up a lot of what’s left and tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez will merit 100-plus targets each should both stay healthy. Still, the 6-2, 200-pound Gaffney is a competent option should injuries strike, and keep in mind the Patriots passing game generated the second most passing yards in league history last season. Update: Waived by Patriots in August of 2012.

After Gaffney went nuts during the last game of 2009, there was speculation he could be Kyle Orton's No. 1 target last year. That was before million-to-one long shot Brandon Lloyd led the NFL in receiving. Nonetheless, Gaffney hauled in 65 passes for 875 yards, managed 7.8 YPT and 13.5 YPC – roughly league average numbers for a starting wideout. Gaffney even had 90 yards and one of his two touchdowns in Week 16 with new quarterback Tim Tebow under center. Gaffney's got just average size, and he's not especially fast. Maybe because of that, he was traded to the Redskins, who already have a number of bodies on the WR depth chart. Gaffney will likely line up behind Santana Moss and Anthony Armstrong, but he will face tough competition from rookie Leonard Hankerson.

With the departure of Brandon Marshall, the receiving targets in Denver should be wide open, and Gaffney’s in a good position to benefit. When Marshall was suspended in Week 17, Gaffney went off with 14 catches for 213 yards — albeit against the Chiefs. Still, Kyle Orton is comfortable looking for him as opposed to teammate Eddie Royal who managed just 37 catches all year on 79 targets as a starter. At 6- 0, 195, Gaffney’s not overly physical and sometimes struggles to avoid jams at the line. He’s a polished route runner, has excellent quickness and good hands, but lacks the speed to get behind the defense consistently. He‘s also not much of a red-zone target, so temper your expectations in the scoring department even if Gaffney does win the top job over Royal and rookie first-round pick Demaryius Thomas.

Gaffney was brought in after playing under Josh McDaniels in New England, so it is evident that he has enough talent to play in McDaniels' system. While he will certainly be behind Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal on the depth chart, Gaffney is an interesting sleeper option because he is so familiar with the offense. He has never been a #1 wideout in the NFL and certainly will not be in Denver, but his opportunities could rise in 2009.

Gaffney, who had overtaken Donte Stallworth as the Pats' primary third receiver by season's end, finished 2007 with 36 catches for 449 yards and five touchdowns. With Stallworth gone, he should open the season as the team's third wideout option, baring a surge in camp by Chad Jackson. Give how explosive the New England passing game is, that alone gives him some fantasy value in deeper leagues, more so should either Wes Welker or Randy Moss suffer an injury at any point.

Gaffney, who emerged as a decent option for Tom Brady last last season, should stick around as a depth guy -- no guarantee though -- but his window of opportunity to make a big impact with the Pats seems to have closed following the team's re-stocking at wideout.

Gaffney will likely be the Eagles' third of fourth receiver this season. His role will ultimately be determined by his performance during training camp and the availability of Todd Pinkston.

Gaffney, who is recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, is the wideout most likely to claim the starting job opposite Andre Johnson. His 41 receptions and 632 yards (39.5 YPG) were good enough to rank him second among the team's wideouts, but not exactly fantasy worthy. He and other receivers figure to have production suppressed by the Texans’ focus on the running game.

Gaffney was one of several Texans whose production dropped off in 2003 as the team allocated more offense toward first-round pick Andre Johnson and running back Domanick Davis. He moved ahead of Corey Bradford as a target last year, but he's expected to begin the season as the team's No. 3 wideout. If David Carr develops as hoped for, there could be more opportunities for Gaffney or Bradford.

The arrival of Andre Johnson may negatively impact Gaffney's production. Although the club plans to use three-wideout sets (Corey Bradford, Johnson, Gaffney), it is not likely that all three can have productive seasons within the nascent Houston offense. If Johnson struggles, Gaffney could improve on his rookie numbers.