Fantasy Sports Booth

Donte’ Stallworth has been traded to the Eagles from the New Orleans Saints in exchange for six-year veteran linebacker Mark Simoneau and a conditional fourth-round draft pick in 2007. Last year was the first time in his four-year career that he was able to stay healthy, and he posted 70 receptions for 945 yards and seven touchdowns as the Saints’ number two receiver behind Joe Horn. In Philadelphia, he’ll have a chance to be Donovan McNabb’s number one option, as he’s competing against guys who have no more than one year of NFL experience, most notably second year man Reggie Brown, whose value drops as a result of this move.

The Eagles were obviously desperate to get something done at this position.  They were looking at Javon Walker and Ashley Lelie, and more recently they were rumored to have been in talks with Deion Branch.  This move fills a big need.

Stallworth had arthroscopic shoulder surgery in January, missed some offseason work, and then missed part of minicamp, but he appears to be in good shape now.  His medical track record is spotty, but he’s explosive when healthy.

Stallworth went undrafted this year in my 8-team head-to-head league (3 starting WRs per team, 1 RB/WR flex, 10 starting positions total, and 6 bench spots), so I plucked him out of free agency after hearing the news. If he’s available in your league, he may eventually develop into a solid number 2 or 3 WR on your roster as he develops chemistry with McNabb.

From the Saints’ perspective, Drew Brees — who has already been struggling in the preseason — loses one of his main weapons in Stallworth, but the trade gives an opportunity to third-year receiver Devery Henderson, from LSU.  Keep an eye on him if Brees gets it together.