Minnesota Vikings 2010 Wide Receiver Preview
Sidney Rice
Along with Miles Austin, Sidney Rice was the major breakout receiver
of 2009 catching over 80 passes for over 1,300 yards. But there
are big questions that surround Rice coming into 2010.
First off, and most importantly, Rice has been injured for much
of the offseason. He has a lingering hip injury that has hampered
him since January and even though he says he will be ready to go
when training camp starts, a injury of that extent puts a big question
mark on him for 2010 until he has proven his health on the field.
It doesn't help that he already has a history of injuries in his
short three year career.
The other concern for Rice will be the return and health of quarterback
Brett Favre. If Favre does return, Rice's stock will stay high.
Especially because Favre built the best connection with Rice of
any of the Viking receivers.
The good news is Rice is simply a stud-receiver. If not for the
above concerns, he would be closer to the top-five. At 6-4, 202
pounds he has the size to get up and make plays most receivers can't
and when you play with Brett Favre, that is exactly the type of
receiver you want.
The Vikings have a full house of receiving targets that include
the young, upcoming Percy Harvin and veteran Bernard Berrian, not
to mention a solid tight end pass-catching in Visanthe Shiancoe.
This will keep Rice's reception totals from climbing into the nineties,
but it will also allow him to make more big-plays and thus good
yardage and touchdown totals in 2010.
2009 Statistics:
83 Rec - 1,312 Yds - 8 TD's
2010 Projection: 76
Rec - 1,218 Yds - 8 TD's
