Sleeper Watch

Junior Seau might not be quite the player he was a decade ago, but he remained a solid fantasy contributor, and his loss to injury will leave a gaping hole in many IDP lineups. Yet you may not have to look beyond the Dolphins roster to replace the twelve-time Pro Bowler who will miss the rest of the season after tearing a pectoral muscle on Monday night – simply pick up his backup, Eddie Moore.

Moore’s selection by Miami in the second round of the 2003 draft (#49 overall) was greeted by considerable skepticism, particularly since the team passed on a young receiver out of Florida State by the name of Anquan Boldin. Thanks to a foot injury that caused him to miss the entire 2003 season, Moore was unable to silence his critics, whose scorn only increased as Boldin thundered to a Rookie of the Year campaign.

Now, Moore has another opportunity to prove himself. With Seau out, Moore will join Miami’s starting lineup and be asked to make an immediate impact. With excellent quickness and anticipation, he should be a good fit in the Dolphins’ linebacking corps, although it remains to be seen how well the skills he displayed at Tennessee translate to the NFL level. A few growing pains should be expected.

Like namesake Brandon Moore of San Francisco, Eddie Moore will take over a key role in a struggling defense and have plenty of opportunity to rack up fantasy stats, particularly since opposing offenses will no doubt attempt to exploit his inexperience. Whether he can step up to the challenge is uncertain, but if you’re looking for a linebacker with upside to add to your roster and can afford to take a chance, Moore is definitely worth a look.