Fantasy Football News 10/30/06

[Hache Man]

Late Game Recaps

Indianapolis 34, Denver 31
Game Recap by: Gregg Rosenthal

The Big Story

Peyton Manning has nothing left to prove in the regular season. His laser-rocket arm (32-39-345-3-0) shredded the best scoring defense in the NFL in a performance for the ages. Reggie Wayne made a good second-year cornerback, Darrent Williams, his own personal Roc Alexander. Joseph Addai took over the Colts running back job, while Mike Bell may have stolen Tatum Bell's gig with a boffo performance. Even Jake Plummer showed some life in this early candidate for game of the year.

Beyond The Box Score

Joseph Addai (17-93-0, 5-37-0) has taken over the primary running back job from Dominic Rhodes (3-0-0, 3-43-0). In Indy's toughest game of the year, the coaching staff showed who they trusted. And why not? Addai improves every week. He doesn't hit long gainers, but he breaks tackles and is expert at picking up the blitz and setting up second-and-short. Remind you of anyone?

Mike Bell (15-136-2, 1-7-0) did almost all his damage after halftime. Tatum Bell (13-27-0) told the coaching staff his turf toe was bothering him during the intermission. Tatum did come in for spot duty during the second half, but Mike ran over Colts defenders with aggression that made him a preseason sensation.

A couple things are worth pointing out here: 1. Mike got the goal-line carries in the first half before Tatum said anything. 2. Mike Shanahan told the CBS crew that Mike would get more work Sunday because his cut-back style would work well against the Colts.

Wayne (10-138-3) took over the game in the second half. On Indy's last touchdown drive, he accounted for 67 of the team's 80 yards. Don't be surprised if Champ Bailey is covering Wayne, not Marvin Harrison (5-38-0) next game. Wayne is the better big-play threat.

Dallas Clark (6-68-0) always kills the Broncos. He dropped two passes and Manning missed him when open another time, so he was a key to the gameplan. Keep Clark active against New England, who struggles against tight ends.

Jake Plummer (13-21-174-1-, 5-22-1) quieted the Jay Cutler talk with an efficient performance. Denver went deep often, just missing Javon Walker (4-40-1) on a near score. The Broncos didn't appear to miss LT Matt Lepsis much.

Going Forward

Make Mike Bell your top waiver priority if he's available. Tatum Bell's turf toe injury may linger. Even if it doesn't, Mike has earned a bigger share of carries.

It's hard to imagine Dominic Rhodes being useful again in fantasy leagues unless Addai gets hurt. Perhaps there will be some games when the two split carries evenly. But the Colts will want Addai with the ball when the game is on the line.

Plummer could be a good QB2 down the stretch, but has tough games at Pittsburgh and Oakland coming up.

Rookie TE Tony Scheffler (4-51-0) led the Broncos in receiving. He also was given the ball on an end around, which speaks to his athleticiscm. He's a decent TE2 if you are looking for one.


Raiders 20, Steelers 13
Game Recap by Aaron Gleeman

The Big Story

The Raiders' offense was as putrid as expected against the Steelers' defense, completing just five passes, giving up five sacks, and totaling 98 yards and just nine first downs. However, rather than blowing Oakland out while outgaining them 360-to-98, Pittsburgh lost the game thanks to Ben Roethlisberger's numerous mistakes handing the Raiders points they never could have scored offensively.

Beyond the Box Score

It looked like last week's fantasy disaster all over again when LaMont Jordan spent most of the first quarter on the sidelines, trying to get loose. However, Jordan eventually made his way into the game and then got a significant workload after halftime, finishing with seven carries for 21 yards. Jordan's fantasy owners are no doubt still unhappy with the performance, but he avoided a second straight "active" goose egg and finally looks healthy heading into Week 9 against Seattle.

Along with Jordan actually seeing the field, Jerry Porter found his way out of the doghouse long enough to start and see significant action. Porter ended up with just one catch for 19 yards on a nice sliding grab over the middle on third down in the second quarter, but would have been a big part of the offense had the Raiders been able to get the ball downfield with any sort of consistency. He was also targeted on the throw that Joey Porter picked off late.

Oakland's defense deserves more credit than it'll probably get for making Roethlisberger look lost Sunday, but at the end of the day he essentially imploded, throwing four interceptions, including one that was run back 24 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter and another that was run back 100 yards for a score in the fourth quarter. Oakland did a nice job pressuring Roethlisberger, who seemed to have a lot of trouble dealing with zone coverages, often throwing right into traffic as if he didn't even see a defender in the area.

Andrew Walter completed three passes in the first half, two passes in the second half, threw for 51 yards for the game, was picked off late … and beat the defending Super Bowl champs. It was a horrible performance, particularly coming off an encouraging game from Walter in Week 7, but he was also hurt by receivers dropping passes and the offensive line's complete inability to keep Pittsburgh's heavy blitz from getting into the backfield.

Randy Moss spends a lot of time complaining about the offense, yelling at teammates, and lecturing coaches on how to better get him the ball, but at some point he's go to stop dropping passes in bunches. Moss failed to come down with several catches in Week 7, including a would-be touchdown, and short-armed a few more passes Sunday. His alligator arms have been prevalent when he goes over the middle dating back to his days in Minnesota, but they seem to have extended to deep routes and outside patterns lately.

Going Forward

In addition to dropping and short-arming passes, Moss was also kept off the field altogether at the goal line in the second quarter. If that becomes a pattern—the Raiders instead threw to a backup offensive lineman who was matched up against Porter—Moss' fantasy value takes another hit. He needs the touchdowns more than ever.

Zack Crockett once again started for Jordan, but Fargas saw the true starter's workload for the second straight week, with 18 carries. If Jordan can't go or is limited in Week 9, Fargas is the clear fantasy play and Crockett still won't have any real value.

Willie Parker and Najeh Davenport were both stuffed at the goal line on what would have been the game-tying drive late, but with Verron Haynes reportedly suffering a season-ending knee injury the Steelers may not have much choice but to keep going with Davenport in those spots.

Chargers 38, Rams 24
Game Recap By: Evan Silva

The Big Story

The Chargers let the Rams know what they planned to do early. They were going to run the football. LaDainian Tomlinson (25-183-2, 3-57-1) scored on San Diego's first two possessions and the Bolts spread in a Michael Turner (5-28-1) throughout. Marc Bulger (27-40-327-2) connected with Isaac Bruce (5-105) on a 44-yard deep ball early in the third quarter to put the Rams deep in Chargers territory, but backup running back Stephen Davis (2-18) lost a fumble on the next play and Marlon McCree returned it for a 79-yard touchdown to put the game out of reach.

Beyond the Box Score

Torry Holt (5-48), covered by Antonio Cromartie for much of the day, was pretty quiet. Bruce didn't have a catch until the second half before putting up big numbers. Joe Klopfenstein (1-3) was silent. Kevin Curtis (7-79-1) had his best game all year, supplemented by a garbage-time six-yard strike from Bulger.

Tomlinson's third score came on a deep ball from Philip Rivers (15-23-206-1) late in the fourth quarter. Turner touched down from 14 yards out early in the fourth. Turner hasn't had consistent carries lately.

Bulger was sacked three times by Shawne Merriman in the first half but remained composed and padded his stats nicely with the game already out of hand.

Steven Jackson (18-84-1, 3-55) was a yard away from scoring another touchdown with just over two minutes left in the game. He was stuffed, then right tackle Alex Barron committed a false-start penalty, pushing the Rams back to the Chargers' six. Bulger dropped back and hit Curtis.

While St. Louis' defense is playing for the turnover, it's consistently yielding the run. Because San Diego did not cough the ball up at any point, the Rams' defense was completely ineffective.

Going Forward

Antonio Gates (5-66) ended a three-game streak by not scoring but continues to be fantasy's top tight end. Gates, Rivers, Eric Parker (4-56), and Keenan McCardell (2-22) are all worth long looks in Week 9, when San Diego takes on Cleveland at home.

Stephen Davis seems highly unlikely to ever get the ball in a key situation again. It's possible he'll be cut with Fred Russell and John David Washington patiently waiting on the practice squad. Steven Jackson still has no handcuff.

Klopfenstein is a promising player who's been inconsistent. Bruce continues to be extremely underrated in fantasy leagues. Curtis is someone to consider as he's heated up lately and Kansas City, St. Louis' Week 9 opponent, is ranked as the league's worst team against third receivers.

Jackson has pledged to score more in the second half of the season after being called out by fantasy footballers at St. Louis-area gas stations and at Lambert International Airport. He only had two touchdowns coming into this game, but should've had two more Sunday.

The Rams are good in fantasy leagues because they force turnovers but very bad in reality because they can't stop the run. Keep your running backs active against St. Louis, but consider grabbing them if they're playing turnover-prone opponents.

Browns 20, Jets 13
Game Recap by Aaron Gleeman

The Big Story

Cleveland rode Reuben Droughns and Kellen Winslow to a 17-point lead in the third quarter, but New York immediately bounced back with a 99-yard kickoff return, added a fourth-quarter field goal, and then nearly came up with a game-tying touchdown in the final minute. Chris Baker's one-handed catch in the end zone was eventually deemed "not reviewable" after the official ruled that his feet wouldn't have come down in bounds regardless of being shoved out.

Beyond the Box Score

In their first game with new offensive coordinator Jeff Davidson, the Browns relied heavily on the running game, giving Droughns 33 carries after he had a total of 30 carries in the previous two games. Droughns failed to break a long run, but put together consistent gains on the way to racking up 125 yards—passing the 100-yard mark midway through the third quarter—including a two-yard touchdown in the second quarter.

Along with Droughns, Winslow also benefited from a new offensive game plan by catching seven passes for 76 yards, including a 30-yard score to begin the second half. Winslow, who has spent much of the season complaining after each game, actually praised Davidson, saying he "did awesome" and was "totally different" than former coordinator Maurice Carthon's play-calling.

Chad Pennington made a great play in the closing moments, ducking under a sack and throwing downfield for Baker, but was awful for the first 59 minutes. He completed just 11-of-28 passes for 108 yards while being picked off twice. One interception came on a batted ball, but the other was on one of Pennington's textbook "floaters" that had Justin McCareins looking like a center fielder playing in a wind storm trying unsuccessfully to bat it down.

New York gained 83 yards on its first possession, which ended in a field goal, but then managed just 110 yards after that. Leon Washington had seven carries for 40 yards midway through the second quarter, but ran eight times for just 11 yards after that and also coughed up a fumble in the third quarter.

Going Forward

Droughns has been a disappointment this season, largely because of injuries and an inconsistent workload, but if the Browns are now committing to pounding the ground game his fantasy value is on the rise.

Despite Washington's second-half ineffectiveness, Kevan Barlow's modest 16 yards on five carries means his status as the No. 1 back doesn't change one bit.

It looked like Braylon Edwards was on the verge of breaking out when he racked up 301 yards during Weeks 2-4, but he has just seven catches for 54 yards in three games since, including two catches for 21 yards against New York. One of those grabs came when the Browns threw a quick screen to Edwards out of backfield, which means he caught one measly ball in the normal flow of the passing game. Winslow is Charlie Frye's No. 1 option.

[Hache Man]

Say Hello To Mike Bell (again)

Two weeks ago I wondered what an athlete like Michael Vick (20/28, 291, 3 TDs; 9/55) could do with even average passing skills. In the two games since, Vick has answered that question in resounding fashion.

In his 63 career games leading up to last week's matchup against the Steelers, Vick had never thrown for more than two TDs in a game. He's now done it two weeks in a row. That productive fortnight has Vick on pace for quite a season: 2,736 yards passing, 23 TDs, 11 INTs along with 1,134 yards and 5 TDs rushing.

In most fantasy formats, those are virtually unheard of numbers.

Could Vick actually be blossoming into complete quarterback? Is he finally emerging from the extended pupa-like state he's been in for six years?

Honestly, I have no idea. But it sure looks like he could be on his way to a career year. Then again, based on Vick's career numbers, this two-game stretch almost screams 'anomaly'.

For you owners of Vick out there, deciding what to do with him this week will have a huge impact on your season. Do you cash in on his unprecedented short term success? Or do you hold onto him and hope his recent good play continues?

Personally, I'm going half way. I'm going to shop Vick and find out exactly how valuable he is in my marketplace. He's got some nice matchups the rest of the way including games against Detroit and Cleveland in the next two weeks. His price will be high. But if I can get what I think is excellent value…well, I'll have a decision to make, won't I?


Emerging Trends


The Good Stuff:


L.T. and L.J. showed why they were consensus top-three picks this year.

Tomlinson gained 240 total yards and scored three times. Johnson, not to be outdone, piled up 181 total yards and scored four times.

Each of these players can single-handedly earn money for fantasy owners. They're both too valuable to trade due to their potential for huge yardage and multiple TDs. If you were lucky enough to win a top pick this year (and dodged Shaun Alexander), Sunday was most likely a good day for you.

Eddie Kennison (6/132) finally broke out against the Seahawks. The kind-of reliable Kennison hadn't gained more than 86 yards in a game this season until his performance yesterday.

It bodes well for Eddie in that he finally put up some numbers with Damon Huard at quarterback. Huard (17/25, 312, TD; 3/-2, fum) has been a nice surprise in his time as the starter. But Trent Green won't be out forever. And Herman Edwards made a point to announce Green would be the starter when he's ready to come back.

What does it all mean for Kennison? I'd say he's a better buy-low candidate right now than people think. He's always done pretty well with Green at the helm. And he seems to be getting more comfy with Huard.

Chris Henry (5/81, TD) is the best third receiver in the league.

After missing the last three games for disciplinary measures, he stepped right back into the Bengals offense Sunday and produced.

It's too bad he's incapable of going three months without causing some kind of public disturbance. Guys with his ability are not easy to find.

Jamal Lewis (31/109) gained over 100 yards Sunday. Good for him.

He's not a good running back and the quicker the Ravens realize and address this, the better off they'll be. For now, he's a weak RB2. But if he can somehow piece together several of these games in a row…it would be a miracle.

Sell high on Jamal after his 100-yard effort. You'll thank me.

I'd also advise selling high on Rex Grossman (23/29, 252, 3 TDs).

It's not every week you get to play the 49ers, as Rex did Sunday. And Rex's previous four games were modest efforts at best (836 yards, 5 TDs, 6 INTs).

He's a QB2 that can mimic a QB1 depending on the situation. He's chameleon-like in that way. But don't be fooled. Ring the register on Rex and adopt a more stable signal-caller atop your fantasy lineup.

The Bad Stuff:


I'm the first to say not all my advice pans out. Regardless of what a lot of us in the industry would like to believe, the game of fantasy football is a lot about luck. Personally, I'm right more than I'm wrong, but not by much.

That said, I advocated selling high on Donovan McNabb (18/34, 162; 5/37) and Brian Westbrook (13/38, 8/69) last week following their huge efforts in Week 7. If you followed that advice, moved those properties and reaped the rewards, you're probably feeling pretty awesome today.

On a windy late October day, McNabb and the Eagles struggled to do anything on offense against a stout Jaguars defense. Establishing a running game would have helped immensely against the Jags, but that's just not something the Eagles are built to do well.

David Garrard (10/17, 87; 8/36) wasn't very busy against the Eagles. And I think that's how the Jags wanted it.

Jacksonville turned to their ground game and had success against the Eagles. That'll probably be the gameplan for the foreseeable future. As such, Garrard remains waiver wire fodder until he actually puts up some numbers.

But keep an eye on him. In limited time last season (seven games, five starts), he did a pretty good job. His 83.9 passer rating and 4:1 touchdown to interception ratio speak to that. And he's a threat with his legs, too.

He ran for three TDs last year in that brief stint as the starter. If the matchup is right, he could be a sneaky bye-week play.

I'm going to keep railing on Chad Pennington (11/28, 108, 2 INTs; 3/9) until you stop starting him.

Chad is a fine QB2. He's a serviceable starter if the matchup/situation is right. He is not, however, an every-week solution at your quarterback position.

Pennington's on pace for 3,314 yards, 20 TDs and 13 INTs…numbers which would put him in the middle of NFL quarterbacks, right where he belongs.

He's got an interesting look—I liken him to the piano playing 'Schroeder' from the Peanuts cartoons.

And his name is cool—'Chad Pennington '. That's a very aristocratic-sounding name. I imagine someone named 'Chad Pennington' has a manservant named 'Barkley'.

Anyway, if you find yourself starting Chad Pennington, do something about it. Admitting you have a problem is the first step toward recovery.



Shanahan Corner:

Shanahan Strikes Back!

I advised a few weeks back that Tatum Bell's perch atop the Broncos pecking order was a temporary one. I advised selling Tatum as a RB1 for the glorious few weeks you could. I hope to God you listened.

Mike Bell (15/136, 2 TDs; 1/7) exploded Sunday against the Colts, shattering the confidence of Tatum owners everywhere. Tatum (13/27) had toe issues, and saw his role diminished. He did, however, receive nearly as many touches as Mike. But it was Mike that got the goalline carries as well as the bulk of the work in the second half.

This section of 'The Morning After' isn't called 'Shanahan Corner' for nuthin'.

Mike is the runner to own in Denver…for now.

One of the other major stories in 'The Corner' this week has to be the emergence of Joseph Addai (17/93; 5/37) in the Indy rushing attack. He dominated Dominic Rhodes (3/0; 3/43) in touches and looks to be Indy's best bet as a primary ball carrier moving forward.

I'd put Addai's value at three times Rhodes' right now. If he can somehow maintain his dominance in carries over Rhodes, he's in line for some serious production.

The Jaguars split carries against the Eagles. Fred Taylor (15/103, TD; 1/2) tore the birds up and Maurice Jones-Drew-Griffith-Joyner-Kersee (21/77; 3/20, FL) contributed as well in the Jags 13-6 win.

Taylor would have gotten a larger workload, but he missed the fourth quarter after having the wind knocked out of him. He also apparently suffered a hamstring strain. Both runners are good options moving forward, assuming Taylor is able to rehab his ailing hammy. If he's not, Maurice becomes a very valuable commodity. The Titans and Texans are next up on Jacksonville's schedule.

Speaking of the Titans and Texans, Wali Lundy (18/116; 5/33) again put up nice numbers in week eight. He got most of the carries, with Ron Dayne (5/16) making a cameo. Sam Gado was inactive. Lundy is the obvious back to own, and if he continues to dominate his backfield, the Houston situation will vanish from this column.

As for the Titans, they also divvied up their carries with Travis Henry (15/29) getting the bulk of the work and LenDale White (7/35) having the most success. Both had disappointing numbers against a vulnerable Houston front. Henry remains the best bet for touches.

Neither Reggie Bush (5/16; 4/5; 0/1, INT) nor Deuce McAllister (5/11; 2/8) did much of anything against Baltimore Sunday. Adding insult to injury for Bush owners was the interception Bush threw on a halfback pass. That additional minus-2 or minus-3 just stings, doesn't it?

Repeat after me: Deuce in scoring formats, Bush in yardage and ppr formats.

Leon Washington (15/51, FL) was largely stymied against the Brownies while Kevan Barlow (5/16; 1/8) continues to do a dead-on Kevan Barlow impersonation. Washington is more explosive and seems to be the best bet for Jets backfield touches.

Barlow might still be the short-yardage guy, but it seems Washington will get the majority of the touches moving forward.

For what its worth, Vernand Morency (11/101) got a third of the Packers' carries Sunday against the Cardinals and did well with them. Ahman Green (21/106, 2 TDs; 2/27) is still the man, though he is somewhat fragile, making Morency a solid handcuff. Morency is now struggling with his own back issues.

The Bears gave Cedric Benson the ball a little (8/26, TD; 1/3), but Thomas Jones (23/111, TD; 4/23) is still the runner to own in Chicago's backfield. It should be said, though, that Benson's role may increase as the season wears on as the Bears look to get him more involved.

The Raiders are the newest member of The Corner. Let's welcome them with open arms.

Zach Crockett (3/7; 1/3) started and fared poorly. Justin Fargas (18/55) got most of the work and fared poorly. LaMont Jordan (7/21) chipped in and fared poorly.

The Raiders offense was dominated by the Steelers. Oakland gained 98 yards of total offense yet still beat the suddenly turnover-prone Steelers 20-13.

This RB situation is fluid. Watch for news throughout the week.

[Hache Man]

Old School

Falcons 29, Bengals 27
Game Recap by: Gregg Rosenthal

The Big Story

It's Michael Vick's world, we're all just living in it. In a dominating yet efficient performance, Vick threw for 291 yards and three touchdowns, while rushing for 55 yards. Chad Johnson and DeAngelo Hall's duel was irrelevant in the second half, as Atlanta's defensive line put too much pressure on Carson Palmer, hitting him on almost every pass.

Beyond The Box Score

Vick beat Cincy in every way possible. He was accurate, completing 71% of his passes. He spread the ball around: seven receivers caught multiple passes. He was big on third downs; completing six of his first eight third down throws for 104 yards and a touchdown. He completed long passes, with five plays over 20 yards. Vick rushed for 55 yards (still on pace for 1,000), but made his biggest plays while buying time in the pocket to throw. All this happened despite very little help from Warrick Dunn (20-57-0). It was the best quarterback performance I've seen all season … until I watched Peyton Manning shred the Broncos

Carson Palmer (24-36-266-2-0) was his old self in the first half, but the cumulative effect of countless hits caught up to him in the second half. Palmer was only sacked twice, but the Falcons got huge licks on him. While the Bengals pass attack has improved the last two weeks, the offensive line hasn't put together four good quarters.

Rudi Johnson (12-46-1) has a reason to be angry. Atlanta's rush defense was vulnerable, but the Bengals barely ran at all in the second half. This was despite Carson Palmer's protection collapsing. With games against Baltimore and San Diego up next, Rudi could fail for a while longer.

Roddy White (3-42-0) caught two tough and crucial third downs on Atlanta's last touchdown drive. He has suffered through a terrible second season, but Vick keeps throwing to him. Ashley Lelie (3-55-0), Michael Jenkins (3-53-1), and Alge Crumpler (4-72-1) all stepped up with big plays in the passing game. Jenkins is good on plays where Vick improvises.

Dunn sat for most of the fourth quarter while Jerious Norwood (9-31-0, 3-39-0) got the carries. The Falcons are worried about Dunn slowing down and may split the carries more closely moving forward. Dunn has been held under 70 rushing yards in four of his last five games.

Ocho Cinco (6-78-1) scored, but it was while he was covered by Jason Webster. When Carson Palmer needed a big play, he found it easier throwing to Chris Henry (5-81-1) and T.J. Houshmandzadeh (6-70-0). Palmer looked upset with Chad for his route running at one point. Johnson just missed a few other long plays, but couldn't get in synch with Palmer. Henry's return made a big difference for Cincy's passing game.

Going Forward

The Falcons have two great matchups (Cleveland, Detroit) coming up. Vick, Dunn, and Crumpler are must starts. Norwood could also be a flex option.

I wouldn't sell high on Vick. Enjoy the ride. The passing game will slow down a bit, but he's on pace for over 1,000 rushing yards people! He's a RB2 and QB2 in one. The last two weeks, he's played more like a QB1 and a RB3, which is even better.

See if Dunn has a big day at Detroit next week, then sell high. He's on pace for another career high in touches and may slow down. Norwood is a great trade target.

Giants 17, Bucs 3
Game Recap by Aaron Gleeman

The Big Story

New York's pass rush turned in its third straight dominating effort, getting into the Tampa Bay backfield all afternoon and combining with some harsh weather to make life miserable for rookie Bruce Gradkowski. Unable to establish anything offensively, the Bucs fell behind 14-0 early and spent the rest of the game futilely attempting to get within a single score while going 2-of-16 on third downs and gaining a total of 176 yards.

Beyond the Box Score

During the first quarter, a FOX graphic showed how often Eli Manning looked to various receivers, comparing this season to last season. The point was that he's spreading the ball around much more this year, whereas he locked in on Plaxico Burress quite a bit in the past. While that may have been true for the first seven weeks, it certainly wasn't the case Sunday. Manning looked to Burress on 11 of his 31 throws, connecting seven times out of 15 total completions, including a seven-yard score on a jump ball that Burress made a great play on in the first quarter.

Tiki Barber got 25-plus touches for the fourth straight game, but managed just 68 yards on 26 carries while doing little as a receiver. He gave way to Brandon Jacobs for a plunge into the end zone and took much of the fourth quarter off, with Jacobs dominating a late drive by breaking off several powerful runs (with a taunting penalty mixed in to give Tom Coughlin something to complain about). Jacobs continues to cement his status as one of the league's premiere backups and his fantasy potential post-Barber rises by the week.

Midway through the second quarter, Tampa Bay had nearly as many punts (5) as total yards (9), and things got worse from there when Michael Clayton dropped a would-be touchdown in the corner of the end zone just before halftime.

Going Forward

With Burress getting most of the looks, Jeremy Shockey was left with just three catches for 15 yards. Finally healthy after lingering ankle problems, Shockey had been building some momentum with three touchdowns over the past two games, but was a complete non-factor against Tampa Bay. He has a solid matchup against Houston in Week 9, but then faces Chicago and Jacksonville in a two-week stretch that will likely see him put up modest numbers.

Prior to Sunday, Gradkowski struggled horribly on deep throws and was decent work on underneath routes, which was to be expected given his pedigree. However, against the Giants everything was reversed. Gradkowski was on target with no fewer than three long bombs, all of which were dropped by receivers (Joey Galloway on two), and looked like a mess trying to connect on routine throws. The overall result was a horrific 20-of-48 performance that saw him throw for under three yards per attempt and complete a total of six passes for 39 yards to wide receivers. It doesn't sound like Chris Simms will play again this season, but a healthy Luke McCown may be enough to wrestle the job from Gradkowski at this point.

Chiefs 35, Seahawks 28
Game Recap By: Evan Silva

The Big Story

A Seahawks defense without defensive tackle Marcus Tubbs (ankle) and hard-hitting strong safety Michael Boulware (benched) was unable to stop the run, which had been its strong suit to this point. Without the two starters, Larry Johnson (39-155-3, 2-26-1) ran wild, and Eddie Kennison (6-132) and Tony Gonzalez (6-116, two-point conversion) made big plays. The 'Hawks were unable to capitalize on a few key late-game mistakes by Kansas City, countering with their own mental errors, and falling to 4-3 on the season.

Beyond the Box Score

A game-time decision after hurting his groin in practice, Damon Huard (17-25-312-1-0) looked fine physically. He made his only mistake in the first quarter, fumbling after being sacked to set up a Seattle score. Huard was in control during the second half and has now led the Chiefs to a 4-2 record as their starter, though coach Herm Edwards maintains Trent Green will be "the guy" when he returns from a severe concussion.

Seneca Wallace (15-30-198-3-2, 4-18) was unable to come through in the clutch. He had a chance at a game-tying drive late in the fourth quarter when Jared Allen's interception was stripped by Deion Branch in Chiefs territory. Wallace took a sack on third-and-long and dumped off to his fullback when he needed 15 yards on fourth down. Seattle turned it over on downs and Huard kneeled to seal the win.

Wallace spread the ball around with his 15 completions, connecting with Darrell Jackson (3-64-1), D.J. Hackett (3-25-1), and Jerramy Stevens (3-20-1) for scores. Deion Branch (2-45) was all over the field despite modest production.

Maurice Morris (12-25) continued his struggles. Seattle replaced left guard Chris Spencer with Rob Sims in the second quarter, hoping the rookie might provide a spark. He didn't, and it has become evident that the Seahawks need Shaun Alexander (foot) back desperately.

L.J. was dominant. He had nine carries inside the Seattle ten-yard line. The Chiefs know where to go when they are in position to score six points.

After slow starts, Gonzalez and Kennison are back. Gonzalez has 252 yards on twelve grabs in his last two games. Kennison has scored three times in his past five contests and had a season-best performance in Week 8. Samie Parker (1-12) remains inconsistent.

Going Forward

Wallace has great receivers and impressive mobility but isn't a fantasy option against the Raiders, who boast the league's top secondary, in Week 9.

Morris can be dropped in shallow leagues when Alexander returns. Alexander is expected back in Week 9.

Give Branch another week with Wallace before using him. The two haven't had a ton of time together and Oakland is not a favorable matchup.

Gonzalez has become a consistently slow starter and should be in store for a solid second half. He's not a safe sell-high. Gonzo is playing for a new contract.

Bears 41, 49ers 10
Game Recap by: Scott Morrow

The Big Story

Bears quarterback Rex Grossman (23-29, 252 yards, 3 TDs) rebounded from a disastrous Week 6 performance as Chicago throttled San Francisco. Receiver Muhsin Muhammad (5-65-1), tight end Desmond Clark (6-86-2) and running backs Thomas Jones (23-111-1) and Cedric Benson (8-26-1) each hit pay dirt for the Bears, burying the 49ers under an insurmountable 41-0 lead by halftime. The turnovers of quarterback Alex Smith (16-26, 146 yards, TD, INT, 2 FL) and company left the Gold Diggers with little more than pyrite.

Beyond the Box Score

Grossman proved more than capable of fantasy resurgence against the league's worst scoring defense, but made a trio of throws that would have been interceptions if San Francisco were using Stickum. The Bears focused on more of an intermediate passing attack than the air-it-out philosophy of games past, and that directly benefited Clark.

As alleged during the week, Benson's rotation ratio was close to 1:2. Jones, however, ran with authority from the start, which caused a good deal of Benson's eight carries to come in garbage time.

Chicago's defense is outstanding, but the inelegance of San Francisco gave the 'Niners no chance. The Bears scored 28 points off of five turnovers, which included touchdown drives of 15, 41 and 13 yards; an excellent return by PR Devin Hester set up a scoring drive of 24 yards. Talk about a short field!

San Francisco running back Frank Gore (12-111-0) finished with a nice stat line, but was helped when he ripped off a 53-yard run in the fourth quarter. Having established a 41-point lead, it looked like the Bears got a little lazy down the stretch, although Gore's yard-per-carry average was already respectable.

Going Forward

Owners shouldn't be too gun shy about using Grossman – lord knows that he isn't shy about firing off dangerous passes – but should give consideration to benching him against quality competition. He's certainly worthy of being started in Week 9 against a Dolphins defense that has allowed 12 passing touchdowns, but it will be interesting to see how he deals with the Giants' pass rush in Week 10.

Though the Bears will make a concerted effort to get Benson more involved, it's hard to imagine, barring an injury, Jones getting anything less than a majority of carries. But the situation could get muddier as the season's second half unfurls, so despite Jones being a solid RB2, "selling high" on him isn't a bad idea.

Titans 28, Texans 22
Game Recap By: Evan Silva

The Big Story

A superb overall effort by Wali Lundy (18-116, 5-33) was laid to waste by early quarterback and special teams gaffes that even the Sage Rosenfels Experience could not overcome. The NFL's most efficient passer coming into the game, David Carr (15-21-113-0-1) instead looked like J.P. Losman, losing two fumbles and having one returned for a touchdown. Carr was pulled in favor of Rosenfels (18-25-186-3-1), who rallied Houston to 21 second-half points. Texans coach Gary Kubiak indicated after the game that Carr will resume his normal starting duties in Week 9.

Beyond the Box Score

Travis Henry (15-29) was miserable. LenDale White (7-35-0) temporarily took over in the second quarter and jumpstarted Tennessee's running game with a 19-yard burst. White was curiously absent for much of the second half, when Henry picked his play up a little, but the Titans ultimately won this game with defense and special teams.

Rosenfels played very well, but Andre Johnson cost him his interception. Johnson (9-78-1) put up great numbers, but dropped Sage's first throw and the pass was picked off by Pacman Jones. Andre, who had at least one other drop, did rebound with a leaping TD a possession later.

Lundy was exceptional both in the open field and on passing downs but lost short-yardage carries to Ron Dayne (5-16, 2-17). Dayne did not score but was in the game during goal-line situations. Lundy was on the bench. After topping the century mark early in the third quarter, Lundy was also not a factor late for reasons unknown.

Vince Young (7-15-87-1-0, 4-44-1) was much better when he used his legs. A minor thumb injury may have caused him problems early in the game, and his wideouts were unproductive as a result. Drew Bennett (1-23) did not have a catch in the first half.

Texans starting tight end Owen Daniels (9-99-2) broke out in garbage time, catching two goal-line touchdowns. He was Rosenfels' top intended target other than Johnson. Eric Moulds (3-35) didn't get much love from Sage.

Going Forward

It would not be a surprise if LenDale White and Travis Henry split carries in the second half of the year. White is too good to keep off the field and Henry's breakout game is behind him. Without much of a passing attack, White and Henry could both be in line for big carries. White may emerge as the starter by season's end.

If Carr is dropped in your league, don't hesitate to pick him up, especially if you're in need of a QB2. Carr's schedule is not great the next three weeks, but Houston faces the Jets, Titans, Patriots, and Colts in four of their last five games. Armed with elite wideouts, Carr may wind up as a fantasy starter down the stretch.

It's possible Houston views Dayne as a goal-line back. ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported prior to the Texans' Week 7 game that the reason Samkon Gado (inactive for Week 8) got the start was because the coaching staff liked his ability as a "power back." When Dayne originally arrived in Houston, Kubiak said the same of him. Though Lundy appears capable, Houston seems to have some fixation with having a power back for short yards. This could limit Lundy's TD potential.

Because Young isn't an effective passing quarterback yet, Bennett is barely worth owning in a normal fantasy league. David Givens (thumb) is due back in Week 9 but will be playing with a finger splint and has less value than Bennett. Bo Scaife (2-15) and Ben Troupe (1-12) aren't putting up consistent numbers.

Jaguars 13, Eagles 6
Game Recap by: Gregg Rosenthal

The Big Story

Without three starters, the Jaguars defense held the Eagles scoreless during a first half in which Philadelphia gained only 75 yards. Fred Taylor (15-103-1) and Maurice Jones-Drew (21-77-0) did the rest, running straight through Philly's defensive line. Donovan McNabb's receivers dropped passes all day.

Beyond The Box Score

I watched this game to see what David Garrard (10-17-87-0-0, 8-36-0) could do. I didn't find out. Jacksonville's defense and running game made Garrard irrelevant. The Jaguars ran on their first ten plays, scoring their only touchdown in that time. Garrard did a good job gaining first downs with his legs, but he also squandered outstanding field position throughout the game. He nearly threw a pair of interceptions, and had a weak 5.1 YPA.

I'll never forget when I heard Jim Brown say that Fred Taylor was the "fiercest" runner in the NFL. I know what he meant. Taylor has an intense jump-cut style that is artistic when he's going right. He made Eagles defenders look silly and has 350 total yards in his last three games. His day could have been bigger, but Taylor had a long TD called back, and sat out most of the fourth quarter after getting the wind knocked out of him. Taylor ran away from Brian Dawkins on the score that was called back. Jones-Drew did an excellent job breaking tackles while closing the game.

The wind wasn't a huge factor in Donovan McNabb's poor day (18-34-161-0-0, 5-37-0). When Brian Westbrook (13-38-0, 6-68-0) drops two straight passes, you know it's not the quarterback's day. McNabb could help himself out by taking some heat off his fastball.

Matt Jones (2-32-0) played primarily on third downs, but looked healthy on a 24-yard gainer. Look for him to start next week. Reggie Williams (1-13-0, FL) had two drops and a fumble. He's shown inconsistency the last two weeks.

Donte' Stallworth (3-53-0) didn't start. Stallworth finished, though, getting open a few times late. He dropped a pass, but it's clear he'll be healthy enough to use after the bye.

Reggie Brown (1-13-0) dropped three passes, while only catching one. Brown got behind Jaguars safety Deon Grant by two steps another time but McNabb missed him for a possible score. Brown could see less targets moving forward with Stallworth healthy, but he should remain a solid option.

Going Forward

Jack Del Rio must be happy. He can go back to Byron Leftwich after this David Garrard performance with minimal controversy. Garrard will only start if Leftwich is hurt. Whoever starts for Jacksonville the next two weeks (HOU, TEN) will be a good fantasy option.

Matt Jones should re-enter the starting lineup. With good matchups coming up, he'll be a WR3 option. Ernest Wilford's weak season makes him a poor asset in shallow leagues.

Fred Taylor has earned RB2 status until proven otherwise. He should be in lineups most weeks. Jones-Drew is also a decent flex option the next two weeks.

Stallworth should be ready to be a fantasy starter again after Philly's bye week. It's not a crazy time to at least test trade offers for Westbrook, if only because he's on pace for a career-high 270 touches.

Ravens 35, Saints 22
Game Recap by Aaron Gleeman

The Big Story

After the two teams traded fumbles within the first two minutes, Baltimore took an early lead and pushed New Orleans into a deeper hole thanks to four Drew Brees turnovers, two of which were run back for scores. The Ravens improved to an amazing 45-1 under coach Brian Billick when they lead by 14-plus points, running out the clock on the ground while the Saints marched downfield racking up meaningless yards.

Beyond the Box Score

In a rookie season that has been far less extraordinary than expected, Reggie Bush had his worst day as a pro. He was bottled up as a runner, gaining 16 yards on five carries, but that's expected at this point. What's out of the ordinary is that Bush failed to do anything catching the ball, gaining five yards on four grabs. He also fumbled in the first quarter and threw an interception on a halfback option attempt that ended with Ray Lewis and Chris McAlister fighting over the ball in the end zone (Bush was 3-of-3 passing at USC). To make matters worse, Bush left in the fourth quarter with ankle injury, although X-rays were negative and he reportedly doesn't expect to miss any time.

Brees had a monster fantasy day, throwing for 383 yards and three touchdowns, but wasn't so great in real life. He was picked off three times, with two of the interceptions being run back for game-changing touchdowns, and did a lot of his damage in garbage time. In particular, he hooked up with Marques "King of Garbage Time" Colston on a pair of long fourth-quarter scores, leading to Colston's monster 163-yard day. Brees was a solid 9-of-12 for 122 yards at the half, but then went 15-of-33 for 261 yards once things were out of hand.

After seeing the camera cut to "offensive consultant" Vic Fangio following seemingly every successful Ravens play, one has to wonder how exactly someone gets the job of "consultant" to Billick. However you get the job, the key to keeping it almost surely has to be thinking of new and exciting ways to say, "You're doing a brilliant job, coach."

Going Forward

In his first game since taking over as offensive coordinator, Billick turned back the clock and rode Jamal Lewis for 31 carries despite his fumbling a minute into the game and doing a twinkle-toes routine behind the line of scrimmage throughout the first quarter. Lewis got nine carries in each of the first two quarters and rushed 13 times for 47 yards after halftime, all while Musa Smith saw three carries. It's not a coincidence that Billick calling the plays resulted in Lewis' first 100-yard or 25-carry game, giving a big boost to his second-half value.

Baltimore pounding the ground game with Lewis wasn't the only instance of the clock being turned back, as Steve McNair also turned in his best all-around performance in a long time. McNair started 7-of-8 for 84 yards and a touchdown, finished 17-of-23 for 159 yards and two scores overall, and looked like the McNair of old with five carries for 23 yards, including a five-yard dash into the end zone after the Ravens spread the defense out with a five-receiver set in the first quarter.

McNair's return also meant Derrick Mason was back as a big part of the offense, which is welcome news for Mason owners who lived through his one-week vacation when Kyle Boller was under center.

Packers 31, Cardinals 14
Game Recap By: Evan Silva

The Big Story

Green Bay exploited an Arizona defense devoid of two key run stoppers by introducing a running back by committee. Vernand Morency (11-101) and Ahman Green (21-106-2, 2-27) both ran hard while splitting carries between the twenties. Minus strong-side linebacker Karlos Dansby (hip) and defensive tackle Kendrick Clancy (ankle), Arizona was at a major loss. Matt Leinart (14-35-157-1-1) and the Cardinals barely had the ball in the first half and when forced to pass in the second, Charles Woodson and Al Harris had good coverage on Arizona's receivers.

Beyond the Box Score

All Cardinals wideouts averaged less than 11 yards-per-catch. Leonard Pope, the rookie tight end, had Arizona's longest play from scrimmage, a 22-yard reception in the third quarter. Al Harris had four passes defended and Charles Woodson an interception. Anquan Boldin (4-47) wasn't a huge factor. Bryant Johnson (1-9) did not catch a pass in the second half.

Week 8 was no different than usual for Edgerrin James (24-84-1, 3-25), who couldn't find holes or make anything happen on his own. James' best run was for nine yards. His second best was a goal-line surge to end the first half on fourth down after consecutive stuffs.

Morency received carries throughout the game before being mysteriously carted off late in the fourth quarter. It was later revealed that the 2005 third-round pick had sustained a back injury. Until then, Morency and Ahman Green had been sharing open-field carries, with Green the answer on the goal line.

David Martin (4-48-1) and Donald Driver (5-48) were the downfield targets of choice for Brett Favre (17-25-180-1-0). Favre didn't have to do too much on his own, other than run for a one-yard score in the third quarter that he followed up with an impressive Lambeau Leap. But when he did drop back and look end zone, he was usually looking in either Martin or Driver's direction.

Going Forward

If Morency's back injury doesn't prove serious, there's no reason to believe he and Ahman won't continue to split snaps. Morency brings an explosive element that Green does not. Green's fantasy value is better right now because he's the clear goal-line back, but if he gets hurt, Morency could be an every-week flex behind a young, energetic offensive line. Noah Herron (2-12) is pretty much out of the equation.

Are things going to get better for Edge after the bye? He has two decent matchups in Dallas and Detroit before taking on the league's No. 1 rush D, Minnesota in Week 12. St. Louis and Seattle come up next. It's a mixed bag for James, and selling "high" after what looks like a solid day on paper isn't a bad idea (if your trade partner is that misinformed).

Boldin hasn't reached the end zone since Week 6 but remains an every-week starter because of his consistency. He's hasn't had less than four catches in any game this season. Bryant Johnson has been the total opposite and isn't worth keeping on fantasy rosters through the bye week in most leagues. A tough Dallas secondary lies on the other side.

With two bad performances after a promising pair of starts, Leinart is no more than a fantasy QB2. He's got plenty of ability but his offensive line cannot protect him.