In 2008, Eddie Royal looked primed to be a breakout rookie for the Broncos. Many of the fantasy football draft kits that season had him tagged as a fantasy sleeper/stud, and lots of guys went after him in the mid-to-late rounds. Then, Royal blew the doors off of opening week by posting a monster game with a 9 receptions for 146 yards and 1 TD. The league was buzzing when he followed his impressive debut up with another TD in week two. Later in the season, he posted another huge game with a 6 receptions for 163 yards and 1 TD. While he wasn’t able to maintain that kind of output week in and week out, Royal still ended his rookie campaign with a more-than-solid line of just under 1000 yards receiving and 5 TDs, featuring three 100+ yard games.
After three more seasons with the Broncos where he was never able to replicate the stats he put up as a rookie, Royal was eventually traded to the Chargers. Year one with the Chargers was not a good one for Royal. A myriad of issues, including a groin injury and familial concerns would consume his season, and he posted pedestrian numbers. The last two seasons though have seen more of a return to form for Royal. In 2013 he eclipsed 600 yards receiving and scored 8 TDs. Last year, he had over 700 receiving yards and 7 TDs. He has been one of those players who is always a tricky fantasy play. He has been a feast-or-famine guy who could really reward an owner for giving him a start or leave them regretting using a roster spot on him.
Now, here we are with another training camp preparing to gear up and once again the buzz surrounding Royal, now 29, is just as it was back in his rookie year. In taking An Early Look At Eddie Royal’s Fantasy Value, there are a number of reasons why a player who hasn’t been able to post big numbers since 2008 is suddenly back on everyone’s fantasy watch lists. First, he has been traded to the Bears, reuniting him with his old Broncos QB Jay Cutler, a guy who is known for frequently targeting guys that he has a history with, which bodes well for Royal. Second, he will be in line for a great complimentary role next to Alshon Jeffery, which will have him seeing plenty of targets in the slot. Third, Royal has ties to new Bears offensive coordinator Adam Gase from their time together with the Broncos. In fact, many of the Bears beat reporters have taking note of how well Royal has been able to come in and quickly pick up the offense, which should translate in to additional time for him. Lastly, and most importantly for Royal’s success, is that the new John Fox-led regime with the Bears has already set the edict that they want to reign in the sometimes unwieldy Cutler; to keep him from launching the football all over the field, as he has a propensity to do. With the game plan moving forward to keep Cutler’s game a bit smaller, less risky, Cutler will be looking increasingly to the slot. The Bears organization has already said that they have “big plans” for Royal, so expect to see quite a bit of short plays and dump offs, which should translate nicely in to yards – and points – for Royal.
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