Fantasy Football Challenge - Football Fanatics Articles Archive

Enclosed in this archive is every bit of the action and updates that occurred in October 2003 within the world of fantasy football. You may want to read these articles for research on players in the coming year, or just check to see if we were way off base with our reporting. Whatever the reason, it's all here for your enjoyment.

Fantasy Football Challenge - October 2003 Fantasy Football Articles

Fantasy Football Challenge - October 2003 Articles Archives

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the Packers'' director of research and development, has charted what happened to every pass in practice since the start of training camp. He says the number of dropped passes in practice also has decreased from past seasons.

In 17 games last season, the Packers dropped 48 passes, an average of 2.83 per game. Mike Holmgren''s teams averaged 1.99 drops per game from 1992-''98. The team dropped 2.88 under Ray Rhodes in 1999 and then 3.25 in 2000 and 2.33 in 2001 under Sherman.

The worst offender a year ago was Javon Walker, who dropped nine of the 59 passes thrown to him. So far, he leads the team with 31 targeted passes and no drops.

"That''s the biggest change right now," Robert Ferguson said. "He just dedicated himself in the off-season. We talked to him. He''s more focused on catching the ball."

Offensive coordinator Tom Rossley thinks he knows why Walker is much improved as a catcher.

"I think there was so much on his mind last year, thinking about routes and assignments," Rossley said. "The last thing he was doing was concentrating on the ball. All of a sudden something went off in his head and he wasn''t thinking anymore. He was going after the ball. I can''t remember the last time Walker dropped a ball in practice."

Green''s total of one drop out of 21 targeted throws also is far superior to 2002, when he dropped nine of 77. However, he had merely one drop in the first 10 games (48 passes) last year before dropping eight of the last 29.

"That''s a tribute to Ahman," Rossley said. "He just works at it. His biggest thing was just concentration. Sometimes he''d start to run before he had it."

Driver, who had nine drops out of 117 last year, has one in 22 this year. Ferguson, who had five drops out of 61 in ''02, has none in 20 this year. Tight end Bubba Franks, who led the team with one drop in 76 last year, has remained just about flawless with none in 21.

The wide receivers keep a running drop count in their heads and Ferguson says he''s in first

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