Before we begin this Friday’s Morning Would column, I want to make a declaration about one of its subjects, Browns rookie WR Mohammed Massaquoi.
And that declaration is as follows: henceforth on Midwest Sports Fans, Mohammed Massaquoi will be known as MoMass. This a common practice among fantasy writers and players who are lazy and don’t feel like typing out long, complicated names (ex. Maurice Jones-Drew is “MJD” and DeAngelo Williams is “DAW”).
You see, as much as I love MoMass, both as a building block for the Browns and as a fantasy sleeper for the balance of 2009, his name is one of those difficult ones that is very hard to get through typing without making a mistake.
Here, I’ll try a couple of times typing it at my normal rate without stopping: Mohammed Maaquia; Mohammed Massaquoi, Mohammed Massaqoo, Mohammed Massaquoi, Mohammed Massaqio.
As you can see, the second and fourth attempts were spot on. But 40% accuracy is not acceptable to be. so I’m shortening it to MoMass and that’s that.
And now we can move on to more important subjects…
Two of the hottest names in the WR sleeper category this week — and certainly two of the players that I have been asked about the most in the comments section of the Week 5 start em, sit em post — are MoMass and Pierre Garcon.
This morning, I will analyze which of these two players I’d rather have on my team in Week 5 and beyond.
[Editor's Note: While preparing to analyze MoMass and Pierre Garcon, I just realized that MoMass only has one "m" in his first name, meaning that not one of my attempts to spell his name right above was correct. Yeah...I'm sticking with MoMass.]
Before we analyze, let’s quickly take a look at the stats these two talented young receivers have compiled so far this year:
- MoMass: 10 rec, 179 yards, 0 TDs
- Pierre Garcon: 10 rec, 207 yards, 2 TDs
Clearly, Garcon has a leg up on MoMass so far in 2009 because of the two TDs. However, remember that in fantasy football, as in the stock market, the past is only useful as a guide and is not always a surefire predictor of what will happen moving forward.
I propose that Mohamed Massaqoui (felt like typing it out…) will be the more valuable receiver in Week 5 and for the rest of 2009 for the following reasons:
1 – Opportunity
With the recent trade of Braylon Edwards, and his sterling 8-catch performance last Sunday, MoMass has become the clear #1 receiver for the Browns. Former Jet Chansi Stuckey has more experience, but has never worked with Derek Anderson.
So much of a player’s fantasy value is tied up in the number of targets he will get on a weekly basis. MoMass should see between 8-15 targets every week for the rest of the season, mainly because the Browns are so thin on experience at receiver. Plus, Derek Anderson has a tendency to lock in on certain receivers and they seem to have already developed a nice rapport.
This does not necessarily mean that MoMass is a better player than Garcon (although I think he is), but he will have more of an opportunity to get the ball in his hands than Garcon will have competing with Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark, Austin Collie, and eventually Anthony Gonzalez, for targets.
2 – And more opportunity
I love the Browns, but I’ll be the first to admit that they are not a good team this year. There is a very good chance that the Browns will find themselves losing in a lot of games, which will force Derek Anderson to take to the air as the team tries to come back. Guess who will be the #1 beneficiary of this?
MoMass.
I don’t point this out to say that the Browns will throw the ball more than the Colts; they won’t. But a lot of people consider Garcon a better option because of the offense he is in, which is more pass-first than the Browns. While this is true, just keep in mind that the Browns will be throwing a lot this year and probably will not have too many opportunities to salt games away in the 4th quarter.
Those are the two main reasons why I’d go with MoMass over Garcon for the rest of 2009: it’s all about opportunity. These are two young and talented WRs who should have solid careers in the NFL, but you want the one who is going to have the most opportunities to make plays this season.
Mohamed Massaquoi will be that guy.
Looking specifically at Week 5, even though Garcon and the Colts are facing the awful Titans pass defense on Sunday Night Football, I’d go with MoMass. The Browns are playing a Bills team that has a banged up secondary, and D.A. will no doubt be locked on in on MoMass with Edwards gone and little time to work with Stuckey.
- Mohamed Massaquoi Week 5 projection: 7 rec, 97 yards, 1 TD
- Pierre Garcon Week 5 projection: 3 rec, 69 yards, 0 TD
Would would you rather have?
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* – Pierre Garcon photo credit: Arin It Out
* – Mohamed Massaquoi photo credit: Joshua Gunter, The Plain Dealer
About Jerod Morris
