When we talk about a player who retired from pro football on top of the world, we think of John Elway after his MVP performance in Super Bowl XXXIII. But another player who finished his career with a Super Bowl title is former 49ers offensive linemen Randy Cross, whose last game was Super Bowl XXIII -- a 20-19 win over Boomer Esiason and the Cincinnati Bengals. The contest will forever be remembered because of the last-minute touchdown drive orchestrated by Joe Montana with just 3:10 left on the clock.
A three-time Pro-Bowl player and three-time Super Bowl champion, Cross began his football career as a center but moved to guard while at UCLA. He played both positions in his 13-year career with the Niners and was an integral part of an offensive line that protected Montana and opened holes for the likes of Roger Craig. Now a member of the CBS Sports team, Cross is now an experienced analyst and a fan of fantasy football.
We caught up with him earlier this week to discuss sleepers, rookies, running backs, the definition of a zone-blocking scheme and of course, the importance of offensive lines in fantasy football drafts.
Fabiano: How strongly should fantasy owners consider a team's offensive line when drafting players?
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Cross: I think you should consider it strongly. The best example that I could come up with is Larry Johnson and the Chiefs ground assault. His chances of physically being as good as ever are excellent, but I don't think his chances of having good blocking ahead of him are nearly as good now that he's losing Will Shields on top of losing Willie Roaf. He'll struggle to duplicate the same numbers he's had in the past.
Keeping with running backs, who would you pick behind LaDainian Tomlinson if you had the No. 2 overall selection?
Cross: I think I'd go Steven Jackson. In that Rams offense, I think he has a legitimate shot at reaching that 2,500-yard goal he set for himself. Again, I think Larry Johnson's numbers will go the other way in the wrong direction -- not dramatically, but I could see him rushing for 1,300-1,400 yards rather than 1,700-1,800 yards. I think that's a pretty good difference, so I'd take Jackson before Johnson.
Fabiano:Fantasy owners are hearing a lot about zone-blocking schemes. As a former All-Pro offensive lineman, what exactly defines a zone-blocking scheme?
Cross: Well the man-type scheme is obvious -- you're blocking an individual person. In zone-blocking schemes you're blocking an area and you're changing the line of scrimmage. The best example is in Denver. Their linemen look like they're sprinting to an area no matter where the defense lines up. They're running towards a specific area and if they meet a player on the way to that area they'll block him.
Fabiano: Do zone-blocking schemes enhance running back production?
Cross: Zone blocking schemes are great if you have a disciplined running back that buys into making one decision and going with it. Making one cut and go. If a back can adapt and adjust to that, then it's great. Travis Henry should be a great example. I saw him in the preseason and he looks like a natural fit for that style. But there have been plenty of backs who hate the zone-blocking run scheme. Look at Clinton Portis -- when he was with Denver he thought it was all about him on offense. Then he went to Washington and was like, wait a minute, the holes are a little different here -- like there aren't any holes.
Fabiano: Two of the most talented risk-reward players headed into the season are Portis and Donovan McNabb. Would you draft either or them or would you avoid them in your drafts?
Cross: I 'd take both of them with an asterisk of sorts. I think Donovan, just because of the season he started to have last season, would be the second- or third-rated quarterback in fantasy football. He is still in the top 10, but he won't be the first quarterback taken, that's for sure. Portis, well it's almost funny but he was right there with LaDainian Tomlinson among backs a few seasons ago. But now he is optimistically a second fantasy back. He might still be a second-round player, but that says a lot because he was a first rounder just a few years ago. He was almost a lock for 1,400 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Fabiano: There were several coaching changes in the offseason. Which new coaches will we be talking about from a fantasy perspective this season?
Cross: I think the No. 1 difference maker will be Ken Whisenhunt and Russ Grimm in Arizona. A lot of the other ones will be "wait and sees." I think Oakland is in that category. I don't buy the notion that Carolina is going to become this offensive juggernaut. I also can't get excited about new coordinators who don't have a quarterback, like Cleveland. Cam Cameron teaming up with Trent Green, from a numbers standpoint, should be something you keep an eye on. Whether it translates to wins I don't know.
Fabiano:Peyton Manning is the consensus top quarterback in fantasy football. Who is your No. 2 fantasy quarterback?
Cross: I like Drew Brees, but I think there could be four or five guys that go over 4,000 passing yards this season. That would be Peyton, Drew, Carson Palmer, Tom Brady and Jon Kitna. I think Kitna will throw for 4,000 yards just by default because of Mike Martz's offense in Detroit.
Fabiano: So you see Kitna as a sure-fire No. 1 fantasy quarterback?
Cross: I think he'll be a big stat guy and a fantasy starter in most leagues. I also think he will throw more touchdown passes, but he does have a little less value if you're penalize for interceptions.
Fabiano: OK let's talk rookies. Which first-year players will make the greatest fantasy impact?
Cross: I think you have to go with Adrian Peterson and Marshawn Lynch. I would definitely stay running back for no other reason than to side with what has been proven historically. There wasn't a better football player than Calvin Johnson in the 2007 NFL Draft, but unless they let the Lions use more than one football in games I'm not sure how many chances he will have. I think anything he does over 60 catches, 800 yards and six or seven touchdowns would be a tremendous bonus. That's pretty good success.
Fabiano: Now let's move on to sleepers. Who are some of your top draft values?
Cross: One guy that I really like this season is Edgerrin James. He didn't blow people's doors off in 2006 and he's not a sleeper, but I do like him as more of a breakout guy. I really like Wes Welker to catch a lot of passes in New England. I also think Heath Miller should put up good numbers, and Jerious Norwood will be better than people think. I also think Brandon Jackson will be a surprise guy. He's a young runner -- he could go in the middle to late rounds and be a nice bargain. Another player I like is Tony Hunt. He's a real banger and could see goal-line work, and the Eagles don't have that sort of back on their roster.
