March 29, 2024
In this weekly column, I typically explore some young players who haven’t made much of a consistent impact to date on their fantasy football teams. Some players may be available on your waiver wire, some may be available via a cheap or moderate trade. Acquiring or not acquiring one of these players could decide how well…

In this weekly column, I typically explore some young players who haven’t made much of a consistent impact to date on their fantasy football teams. Some players may be available on your waiver wire, some may be available via a cheap or cadetmoderate trade. Acquiring or not acquiring one of these players could decide how well your dynasty or keeper team does for the next few years.  This week I take a look at New Orleans reserve running back Travaris Cadet and Dallas wide receiver Terrance Williams.

RB-Travaris Cadet, NO- The best way to describe the third year back is that he is an offensive weapon.  Although Cadet has not been used much in the Saints offense for the past three years, the touches he could have received went to better athletes such as Darren Sproles or Pierre Thomas.  Due to the departure of Sproles, the injuries to Thomas and Khiry Robinson, the third year back got thrust into the New Orleans game plan.  He is mostly used as a kickoff returner and third down/change of pace back.  The back is not an effective inside runner and usually bounces any carries he gets outside the tackle.  Cadet is most dangerous in space because he has a nice stutter step that puts defenders on their heals and can make them miss.

Cadet adjusts well to the ball in the air and made a great catch of a Drew Brees pass thrown behind him.  He has good concentration and secures the ball before he runs with it.  During the two-minute drill at the end of the first half, the third year back looked lost or just disinterested in pass protection, not setting his feet and being off-balance to meet blitzers.  His abilities are best suited to take dump-off passes, throw a strong stiff-arm, and break it wide open.  There was one play that the back almost had a 50+ yard touchdown, but Cadet ran out of room near the sidelines to maneuver.  It’s quite telling that when Mark Ingram injured his shoulder around halftime, the Saints created a harness for Ingram to wear versus giving Cadet more touches.  Perhaps it is because the third year back runs a little wild, getting two or three moves ahead instead of concentrating on his first defender.  Much like the rest of the Saints backs, Cadet looks better with a bigger slice of the touches pie.  If Ingram goes elsewhere in the 2015 offseason and Thomas gets cut, Cadet could be a strong RB3 type back sharing the load with Robinson. There are just too many possibilities to get excited about him for more than a dynasty RB6 with such a cloudy future filled with multiple possibilities.

WR-Terrance Williams, DAL- This second year receiver has been more of a deep and/or red zone threat given the huge amount of targets that his fellow receiver Dez Bryant gets.  Williams lines up all over the formation: on the outside as a single receiver, in the slot, sent in motion, and bunched up with several receivers.  There were a few times he got pulled in three wide sets, which is a little surprising.  The receiver is improving his run blocking skills which keeps him on the field more considering how successful the Cowboys running game has been this season.  With Tony Romo out due to injury, both Williams and Bryant suffered with the running backs and tight ends benefiting the most in the passing game.  While Bryant still demanded plenty of targets, Williams got thrown to seven times with all but one of those in the last six minutes of the game. The passes thrown his way were not very accurately thrown.  In fact, one of those passes ended up being intercepted due to the poor ball placement.  The third year wide out did get separation a few times but Brandon Weeden could only find him twice for less than twenty yards.  It’s not like the receiver was reliable with Romo, but without him, he should not be in starting lineups.  This might be the time to find a Cowboys fan who loves his team and trade him.  Williams, at his very best, will be an inconsistent WR3 who will most likely be a better WR4 for your dynasty team.

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