Sleeper Watch

Ouch. So much for starting the new season on the right foot. Not only did the Green Bay Packers suffer a humbling 17-3 loss at the hands of the Detroit Lions on Sunday, they may also have lost star receiver Javon Walker for the rest of the year. In the middle of the third quarter, Walker caught what appeared to be a 55-yard completion, yet was whistled for offensive pass interference. That was far from the worst of it, however, as Walker also suffered an apparent ACL tear on the play. The injury could sideline him for the entire 2005 season, leaving the Green Bay faithful wishing the Pro Bowler had held out for a game or two after all.

Last year, Walker had a breakout campaign, catching 89 passes (tied for eighth in the league) for 1382 yards (third, behind only Muhsin Muhammad and Joe Horn) and 12 touchdowns (tied for fifth). Now, the rest of Green Bay’s receiving corps will have to step up, in particular Robert Ferguson, who moves up from third to second on the depth chart.

So far in his career, Ferguson hasn’t quite lived up to expectations, with just 85 catches for 1184 yards since he entered the league in 2001. (Yes, that’s less than Walker racked up in 2004 alone). Ferguson’s best season to date came in 2003, when he accumulated 520 yards and found the end zone four times.

Will Ferguson be able to fill the void in Green Bay’s offense and turn into a viable fantasy option in the process? It’s obviously too early to tell, but owners with Walker on their rosters might not have all that many replacement options available, particularly in deep leagues.