Fantasy Football News 12/1/06

[Hache Man]

MedReport
Ronnie Brown (RB, MIA)

Brown had surgery on his broken left hand. He needed five pins inserted into the fracture area to align the fractured bones. Thought it's not official, he's out for this week and next week is in jeopardy too. The stumbling block will be how well he can handle the football with his left hand. Once he regains most of the strength in the hand, he'll be back at practice. While its possible Brown could be done for the year, it's more likely he'll be back before the end of the season.

Hines Ward (WR, PIT)

Reports regarding Ward's left knee continue to be confusing. He had his left knee scoped earlier in the week to remove a bone and there is speculation he could miss only one week. What bone was it? Was it a bone fragment or bone spur? It's hard to make an assessment on a player when the complete story isn't revealed. That being said, it's unlikely he'll be back this year in my opinion. First, he'll need at least two weeks to allow the knee to heal properly. Second, the Steelers are very close to being eliminated from the playoff picture. Why risk his health to return for some meaning less games? Exactly, he should sit the rest of the year.

Marc Bulger (QB, STL)

Bulger continues to struggle with a bruised rib. He took a hit last week and needed to come out of the game to regain his breath. While he is able to return to the game, his effectiveness clearly was affected. The best way to heal rib injuries is rest but that doesn't appear to be an option right now in Bulger's case. Look for him to struggle in the remaining games this season due to the rib injury.

Chris Perry (RB, CIN)

He began the year on the PUP list due to ankle problems in the offseason. Now a fractured fibula in his right leg will cost him the rest of this season. It looks like he will need surgery to insert a screw into the fracture site to assist the healing process. The Bengals believe he won't have any problems overcoming the injury and returning next season. On the plus side, it will allow him more time to rebuild the overall strength in his legs and ankles for the 2007 season.

Jeremy Shockey (TE, NYG)

Before last week's game, Shockey suffered a compound dislocation of the ring finger on his left hand. This is when the joint breaks through the skin. It was reset before the game by the medical staff and he was able to play. Unless the finger swells up (unlikely), he shouldn't lose any playing time to this injury.

Donte Stallworth (WR, NO)

It's starting to sound like a broken record. Stallworth leaves the game with a strained hamstring. He managed just two catches for 9 yards last week. Look for the Saints to take the cautious approach with practice and let the hamstring heal. This ailment will dog him the rest of the season and likely reduce his effectiveness in running routes.

Jermaine Wiggins (TE, MIN)

In Sunday's game Wiggins suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament (MCL). The knee swelled up pretty quick and he was in a noticeable amount of pain after the game. The Vikings have left the door open for him to play next week but that looks like a long shot based on the early reports of pain and swelling in the knee. He'll be restricted in practice this week and Minnesota might not make a final decision until the weekend. Wiggins owners would be wise to look for another TE option as he'll be below 100% even if he plays this week.

Dallas Clark (TE, IND)

When Clark went down with a knee injury last Sunday it looked like it was season ending and nothing out of the post game media coverage suggested otherwise. Now that the swelling has subsided a bit and the medical staff got a look at the knee, it's not as bad as it looked. Speculation that it was a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) appears to be off base. It looks like a mild sprain and there is talking in Indianapolis he could be back in two or three weeks. Unfortunately in some leagues, the playoffs will be all but over by then.

Troy Polamalu (DB, PIT)

The long road back to the playoffs got a bit longer with the loss of Polamalu for the next 2-4 weeks due to a sprained medial collateral ligament (MCL) in his left knee. It's a partial tear but not enough so to require surgery – at least for now. According to the Steelers, he won't play the next two weeks before attempting to practice after the two-week recovery period is up. More likely, the Steelers will be out of the playoff picture and he won't return this year. The Pittsburgh defense is likely to struggle even more without their emotional leader in the defensive backfield.

Junior Seau (LB, NE)

The Patriots rush defense may take a hit with the loss of Junior Seau (LB) for the season with a fractured right forearm in last Sunday's game. Seau has provided a steady influence in the middle of the defense, allowing Mike Vrabel to play his more natural outside linebacker spot.

Matt Hasselbeck (QB, SEA)

The Seahawks expect Hasselbeck to play this week even though he suffered a broken finger on his left hand.

Marques Colston (WR, NO)

Colston's sprained left ankle has healed enough that he practiced some on Wednesday. The Saints will be cautious with him this week but they expect to play him in Sunday's game.

[Hache Man]

Best Bets for Week 13
This week most of the best matchups are pretty obvious. That makes your job fairly easy, and my job fairly difficult. LaDainian Tomlinson gets to run against a Bills defense that, by the end of the weekend, will have taken the mantle of the worst run defense in football from the Jets. The Browns aren't as bad as the Bills, but they're much, much worse than Larry Johnson. Tom Brady goes up against a Lions defense that's in fine April form. Most leagues have a That Guy who lucked into the first pick, took LJ or LT, then overdrafted Brady in the third round or so. That Guy is going to win this week, and there's nothing anyone can do about it.

Almost every pick references DVOA, Football Outsiders' flagship stat that evaluates players and teams based not on their total output but on the quality of their play compared to the rest of the NFL's quality of play in similar situations. All rankings are in DVOA, not the official rankings based on yards. DVOA is more predictive of future success than anything else out there, and this column applies that predictive power not to figuring out who will win real football games, which is what DVOA was created to do, but to help you win fantasy football games. Footballoutsiders.com has a much more thorough explanation of how DVOA works, and you can also find each team's DVOA rankings there.

QUARTERBACKS

Start

Tony Romo at N.Y. Giants -- The Giants are in free fall, and the secondary was the first out of the plane. It's uncertain right now whether Osi Umenyiora or Michael Strahan will be back this week with parachutes.

Matt Hasselbeck at Denver -- A reader asked me about Matt Hasselbeck before I'd written this article, and at first I didn't like the matchup. But the more I think about it the more favorable it seems. Despite their fantastic start, the Broncos defense isn't that much better than the Packers defense that Hasselbeck shredded once he'd gotten his snow legs under him. Hasselbeck is smart and can spread the ball to his many receivers, somewhat neutralizing Champ Bailey. And there's the distinct possibility that with Jay Cutler making his first start, the Broncos will give the Seahawks the ball in favorable field position to throw touchdown passes.

Ben Roethlisberger vs. Tampa Bay -- Big Ben is the ultimate boom or bust quarterback this season. He only has one game with a passer rating between 62 and 125. (By contrast, Joey Harrington and J.P. Losman, Football Outsiders exemplars of "replacement-level quarterback" now that there are no Billy Joes in the league, have exactly one game apiece outside that span this year.) Everybody on the Bucs defense got old at the same time this season, so this week has a realistic shot at being one of Roethlisberger's good games.

Sit

Jon Kitna at New England -- At the beginning of the season the Patriots pass defense was awful, but see if Rex Grossman and Brett Favre think that's still the case. The Pats continue their blitzkrieg through the NFC North, and they should finish with a sweep.

Trent Green at Cleveland -- The Chiefs have let Green throw all of 38 passes in two games since returning from that horrible Week 1 concussion. They've also won both games because of Larry Johnson and the defense (or, given the games were against Oakland and Denver, lack of opposing offense). Cleveland's pass defense is much better than its run defense, so the same Green-free game plan should work this week.

Eli Manning vs. Dallas -- He's in a slump. Or a hunch or a slouch or something.

RUNNING BACKS

Start

Ahman Green vs. N.Y. Jets -- I pick on the Jets run defense every week, but I'm not the only one. Teams have rushed at least 30 times against them in seven of their 11 games – even in two losses opponents thought their best chance to win came on the ground. (The average team this season – winning or losing – has faced about 28 rushes per game.) Their defense is slowly getting better, and by this time next week they may not be ranked dead last in rush defense DVOA, but they'll still be close.

Ladell Betts vs. Atlanta -- The Falcons are in a stiff competition with the Giants for the infightingest team in the biggest downward spiral. (The Eagles aren't in the running; they're all going down together.) Their run defense is leading them down the toilet, and that's music to Joe Gibbs' ears. He'll be able to protect his young quarterback, who had just 23 attempts in the win over Carolina last week.

Edgerrin James at St. Louis -- In the Week 3 Rams-Cardinals matchup, James had his best game of the year – 94 yards and a touchdown. (Oh how the mighty have fallen, or the oft-overlooked value of the offensive line.) Rams opponents have averaged over five yards a carry in five straight games, much worse than how they were playing around that first game. Even the Cardinals can't screw this up, right?

Sit

Fred Taylor at Miami -- Maurice Jones-Drew thiefs Taylor's touchdowns – he has two more than Taylor in less than half the carries – and the Dolphins have an outstanding run defense. Taylor is having a good year, on pace to be somewhere between his 2003 and 2004 seasons, but this isn't going to be a great week for him.

Thomas Jones vs. Minnesota -- The Vikings have a ludicrous disparity in their run and pass defense; they're the league's best against the run but just 25th against the pass. The Bears will simply have to pass, because they simply won't be able to run.

Cadillac Williams at Pittsburgh -- One thing that crumbled in this historically bad post-Super Bowl championship season is the Steelers run defense, currently ranked sixth in the league. Cadillac is really struggling through this season; he only has one rushing touchdown through 11 games. This is starting to look like Keyshawn Johnson's 2001, when he didn't score until Week 13. Maybe that means the Bucs will win the Super Bowl next season...

WIDE RECEIVERS

Start

Antonio Bryant at New Orleans -- Bryant's season started with a bang but he has since mustered little more than a whimper. If he's ever going to have major fantasy value again this season, it'll be this week. They've been abominably bad against #1 receivers week after week. It didn't show up last week because the Falcons don't have any receivers who can catch the ball, but Bryant isn't incompetent enough to play for Atlanta so he could have a nice day.

Devery Henderson vs. San Francisco -- So last week when I recommended Joe Horn, I called the wrong Saint's name. Picking among these receivers is like drafting Denver running backs: they all look good, and you never know who is going to emerge. But this week both Marques Colston and Horn are listed as questionable, so Henderson may be the primary target by default. He's shown the last two weeks that he's fine with that.

Laveranues Coles at Green Bay -- The Packers continue their inexplicable run of atrocious coverage of #1 receivers after excelling at it last year to the point that we put Al Harris on the cover of our book.

Sit

Andre Johnson at Oakland -- This is another one of my patented "temper your expectations and sit him if you have a better matchup option" picks. Yes, Johnson is a fantasy big shot, but the Houston offense teeters on the brink every week, and the Raiders have the fifth-ranked pass defense, and fourth against #1 receivers. Johnson is good because he's consistent, but he's not explosive; he's good for 90 yards a game and a touchdown every other week. If you can do better than a 90-yard, 0-touchdown day with someone else, it might be a good idea.

Braylon Edwards vs. Kansas City -- Edwards has been inconsistent all season, but Ty Law and Patrick Surtain have not: the Chiefs have had the best defense against #1 receivers for weeks.

Plaxico Burress vs. Dallas -- These teams could hardly be going in more sharply different directions. We've seen with Tennessee the last two weeks what happens when two teams pass each other on opposite escalators: it's not always the same, but it's always bad for the team going down.

TIGHT ENDS

Start

Chris Cooley vs. Atlanta -- Cooley has had his best games of the season since Jason Campbell took over as the starter. Young quarterbacks often look to the tight end because he's big and in the middle of the field; ride that tendency with Cooley until Campbell gives you reason to believe he's going away from it.

Sit

Tony Gonzalez at Cleveland -- Not only is Trent Green not throwing much lately, not only do the Browns have a good pass defense, but they have an exceptionally good defense against passes to tight ends.

KICKERS

Start

Olindo Mare vs. Jacksonville -- This game could end 15-9, reminiscent of the defensive struggle between the Jags and the Steelers on Monday Night Football.

Sit

Ryan Longwell at Chicago -- How do you figure the Vikings are going to move the ball? Their only success on the ground will be from a long Chester Taylor run or two. They're certainly not going to throw it to their crack receiving squad against the #1 Bears defense. No offense = no kicking.

DEFENSES

Start

Panthers at Philadelphia -- I'm calling a mulligan on Jeff Garcia's behalf. This week he'll do something more like 14-of-31 with no touchdowns, three interceptions, and a lot of pining by Tony Kornheiser for A.J. Feeley. Joe Theismann will doggedly defend Garcia. That's how we'll know.

Sit

Broncos vs. Seattle -- It's almost impossible to be superior on third downs and in the red zone throughout the season. The Broncos have been whipped by two of the consensus top three fantasy running backs in consecutive weeks, and now the third gets a crack at them.

[Hache Man]

World's Scariest 7-5 Team
For the most part, the "story" of the Bengals' three-game winning streak has been the return of a high-powered offense, including Chad Johnson turning his season from disappointing to excellent in less than a month. However, lost in Carson Palmer and his receivers burning secondaries all over the league is that Cincinnati's defensive improvement is every bit as important to the team's turnaround.

The Bengals were torched for 510 passing yards by Drew Brees in Week 12, which makes "defensive improvement" a somewhat tough sell, but they picked Brees off three times and gave up just 16 points, including a lone touchdown through three-and-a-half quarters. They then tossed a shutout against the Browns in Week 12 and nearly blanked the Ravens Thursday night, with only a garbage-time touchdown pass keeping them from two shutouts in the span of five days.

Cincinnati has always been able to put up points—the offense ranks eighth in yards per game and seventh in points per game—but their playoff chances hinge on the defense being able to avoid turning every game against a good opponent into a shootout. What's amazing is that all the improvements defensively came immediately following a Week 10 loss to the Chargers that saw the Bengals blow a 28-7 lead and cough up 42 second-half points. Momentum? Who needs it.

While no AFC division winners look forward to playing Cincinnati in the first round, here are some other notes from around football …

* Bum that he is, Chad Johnson failed to score multiple touchdowns for the second straight week. Of course, with 91 yards on eight grabs Johnson now has 32 catches for 663 yards and five touchdowns over the past four games. Those numbers are obviously huge, but what makes them especially remarkable is that he had a grand total of 40 catches for 482 yards and two scores through Week 9. Again, who needs momentum.

On the other hand, Chris Henry followed up a two-score performance in Week 12 by going catchless against Baltimore Thursday night, continuing an unpredictable, up-and-down season. Henry has topped 65 yards four times this season and has a pair of two-touchdown games, but has also posted totals of -5, 0, 18, and 24 yards (in addition to completely sitting out three games).

With the passing game clicking it looked like Henry could finally emerge as a legitimate week-to-week WR2 option, but he's simply not consistent enough for that to work at this point. The good news within his zero-catch game Thursday is that Henry was targeted in the end zone, but the bad news is that he later dropped a short throw. Maybe it'll all click in 2007 or maybe there simply aren't balls to go around behind Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh.

* It sounds like Mike Williams' career is finally off life support, with the Detroit News reporting Thursday that Williams "has come out of the doghouse and into the Lions' plans for the rest of the season." It makes all the sense in the world for Detroit to give Williams a chance to show what he can or can't do down the stretch given that they have little else to play for, although it remains to be seen if leaving the doghouse will lead to actual playing time.

If offensive coordinator Mike Martz is to be believed, Williams has turned the corner, seen the light or whichever other cliché you'd prefer. "There's a maturity about him that's happening that's really exciting," Martz said. "All the things we hoped and wished he'd be, I think he'll be. I think he's going to take off. He's working at it hard now." Finally. Williams' 2006 season is a lost cause, but keeper leaguers shouldn't give up hope just yet.

* In an effort to protect the bruised finger on his non-throwing hand, Matt Hasselbeck avoided taking direct snaps during practice Thursday, with center Chris Spencer instead simply handing him the ball on each play. While that no doubt looked odd, the Seattle-Post Intelligencer reports that Hasselbeck "threw the ball extremely well" once it was in his non-injured hand and didn't appear to struggle with his grip. He's good to go.

Two-Minute Drill: My two favorite sleepers for Week 13 and beyond: Cedric Houston (taking over for Kevan Barlow) and Ben Utecht (subbing for the injured Dallas Clark) … Randy Moss hasn't been a fantasy asset for weeks now, but he's at least stopped saying dumb stuff during a weekly radio interview … Coach Sean Payton denied a report claiming that Reggie Bush's lack of carries Sunday were due to his being disciplined for missing a team meeting … Cedric Benson continues to let a couple decent performances go directly to his head, saying Thursday that he's "not friends" with Thomas Jones and doesn't like that "the best players don't always get on the field" in the NFL … NFL Network's Adam Schefter reported Thursday that the Jaguars will attempt to trade Byron Leftwich during the offseason, handing the long-term job to David Garrard … Coach Andy Reid said Thursday that Brian Westbrook is thriving with an increased workload, so don't expect the 20 carries per game to dry up.

Red Zone: After seeing him practice Thursday, coach Mike Shanahan said Tatum Bell (toe) is "ready to go" … Coach Art Shell said he has no clue how or when Jerry Porter (hip) was injured, which probably isn't a great sign for Porter emerging from the doghouse … DeShaun Foster (elbow) looks likely to start Monday night after practicing Thursday, but will split carries with DeAngelo Williams … Coach Joe Gibbs told reporters that Santana Moss' injured hamstring is improving, but Moss said, "I'm still getting my legs under me" … Eric Johnson (knee) is expected to miss the remainder of the season, giving Vernon Davis a chance to finish strong during an injury-plagued rookie year … Jermaine Wiggins (knee) returned to practice Thursday, but reportedly wore a huge brace and remains questionable for Week 13 … With LenDale White (hip) hurting, the Titans might break Chris Brown out of the moth balls for a week … Darrell Jackson remains probable, but his missing practice with a knee injury is concerning.

[Hache Man]

Coping Tips for the Wives


This week I'll offer coping strategies for fantasy wives and girlfriends and discuss Vince Young, Eli Manning, Marvin Harrison, and others.
Thought of the Week: Coping Strategies for Wives
It's one of those topics that all fantasy owners know about and deal with but no one really addresses: The toll that our hobby takes on our relationships. I've seen our game do significant damage to some couples, and it's even been known to lead to divorce in extreme cases. So, I figured I'd offer up some coping strategies that wives and girlfriends of fantasy fanatics can employ to help them come to terms with our addiction and ultimately enjoy a healthier relationship. So, this one's for the girls….
Tip #1: Don't take it personally
His dependence on fantasy sports has nothing to do with any shortcomings of yours. That's not to say you don't have any, but that's a separate discussion. The point is, he could be married to Rachel Ray or Scarlett Johansson. It wouldn't make a difference. He'd still be planted in front of the TV every Sunday with his laptop opened to his live scoring applet. Would you expect a coke addict to quit if you asked him?
Tip #2: Accept it
It's very unlikely that you'll have success in turning your man away from fantasy sports. So, by complaining, you'll just end up looking like a nag and gaining nothing for it. Even if you do have success in stomping the life out of his passion, you're looking at years of bottled up resentment on his end. If you really want to strengthen the relationship, try embracing his hobby. You say he never tells you about his day? Ask him about his fantasy team, and you'll get a deluge of information like you've never before seen. If he can listen to you drone on about why you chose the scoop neck over the henley, you can certainly handle hearing about how Roddy White's inexplicable drop cost him a playoff berth.
Tip #3: Use positive means of dissuasion
If you really want to tear your man away from the tube/computer, try doing so with positive measures. A nice meal, for example. My wife makes a mean Mexican cornbread casserole for which I'll gladly pause Gameday. (Yes, of course I hope she reads this.) Here's another idea: Victoria's Secret. As much as you love throwing on those comfy old sweats and slapping a scrunchy in your hair, a V-string or some boyshorts are much more likely to draw him from the couch.
Got more? Send them to jgangi@rotoworld.com.
Players of Note
Vince Young – Was Young's epic comeback against the Giants—the fourth largest by a rookie in the history of the NFL—a coming out party for the talented youngster? That's tough to say for sure. On the one hand, he finally looked like the cool customer that we remember from Texas. On the other hand, he certainly had some help from the Giants' defense—particularly from Mathias Kiwanuka who had him sacked on fourth down late in the game but inexplicably let go of him, whereupon Young picked up a first down en route to the tying touchdown. On the day, Young finished with 318 total yards, two passing scores, and a rushing score. Nice number for sure, though a QB's stats often look good after playing from way behind. I think it shows us what Young has the potential to be—maybe even as soon as next year—but I wouldn't get overeager and toss him in your starting lineup just yet.
Eli Manning – For those who haven't thrown in the towel on Eli, the time has come. After a disappointing season, he hit rock bottom last week with his weak performance (143 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT) against a terrible Titans pass defense. Granted, they were playing with a large lead for a good portion of the game, which is part of the reason his passing totals were low. However, it doesn't explain why he threw into coverage so often, his poor accuracy, or his decisions to throw under pressure when he should have thrown the ball away. To say Manning is in a slump is a gross understatement. Over the past three games, he's given up six picks and three fumbles. Over his last seven games, he's only broken 200 yards once. Perhaps the world's most famous little brother will get his career back on track at some point, but until he does, go with another option if you have one. That said, do not dump him. He's got a nice matchup with Washington in Week 16, so you'll want to hold onto him in case he does get things turned around by then.
Marvin Harrison – Can I finally say it? Reggie Wayne is better than Harrison. I know, I know: Harrison sees tougher matchups week in and out, but I'm not sure how much longer that will be true. It's not like Wayne is just out there capitalizing on weak opponents; he runs terrific routes and makes some phenomenal catches. Harrison, on the other hand, seems to be a shadow of his former self. He's failed to exceed 40 yards in four of his last seven games. Of course, last week he had just one catch for eight yards. And he's been uncharacteristically careless as well. Last week he had the ball ripped right out of his hands by Lito Sheppard. The previous week he coughed up a fumble. All you can do if you drafted Harrison is leave him in and hope for the best. The good news is that he has some enticing matchups against Tennessee, Houston, and Cincinnati on the Horizon. Just hope the Colts don't star resting guys by Week 16! And keep this in mind when drafting next season: Harrison has not been an elite fantasy WR since 2002 and he'll be 35 next year.
Terrance Copper – A quick look at the stat sheet shows that Copper had another decent game on Sunday (his third straight) with 48 yards and a score. A closer look, however, shows that he had just one reception. And it fails to mention that the one catch came on a hail mary. With Marques Colston and Joe Horn on the verge of returning, Copper's value is pretty much gone, as he becomes the fourth WR on the Saints' depth chart. Feel free to dump him, if you have someone you'd like to scoop up. I actually dumped him for Jay Cutler in my league.
Ben Watson – It looks like Watson is finally producing as many thought he would from the start of the season. Over the last two weeks, he has 11 receptions for 163 yards and two TD. He's clearly a nice option at TE and even useful at the WR/TE flex position.
Bears Team Defense – This is advice specifically targeted to those in salary cap leagues: Never bench the Bears! Unfortunately, I did so this week in the Sports Buff Pub Reporters League to pick up San Diego, who was $13 cheaper. I figured that Tom Brady, Corey Dillon, and Laurence Maroney take good care of the ball. Wrong! The Bears caused five turnovers in the game, stripping the ball left and right from the Pats' running backs and receivers. In fact, on one play, they caused two fumbles (by Ben Watson and then Reche Caldwell who recovered the first one). It appears that the loss of DB Mike Brown hasn't hurt their fantasy value much. I'm ranked 12 of 158 in that league, but perhaps I'd be in the top ten had I found a way to fit the Bears under my cap.
The Trash Dump
To submit a question or comment to the Trash Dump, email jgangi@rotoworld.com.
Nice work as always. I'm all too familiar with these pointless meetings as we have them monthly at my current company. I'm also glad you confirmed that Tony Kornheiser is the most annoying sports personality on the planet, bar NONE. Anyway, I'm back with more of the good stuff:
What we learned this year:

• Randy Moss plays better when "you make him happy"
• Chris Henry and Koren Robinson are more than just social drinkers.
• "General body soreness" is an acceptable reason to appear on the team injury report.
• All Mannings are not created equal.
• The Madden curse is REAL.
• Gumbel and Collinsworth are terrible in the booth. Please make them stop.
• According to Joe Theismann, "A football becomes tackier and is easier to throw" in driving rain.
• Brees can make ANY wide receiver look good.
• Mike Vick thinks the Atlanta fans are #1.

- Julian

Yeah, the Theismann line raised an eyebrow, but I still think he looks like a genius next to Tony Kornwhiner.
In your 11/24 Smash Mouth Article, one of the lessons you said this season showed is that "you still can't count on Michael Vick." I'd have to respectfully disagree. Sure as a pure passer, you indeed can't count on him. But in the fantasy world, he is yet to score less than double digits (in typical scoring formats). Last year, on the other hand, he had a couple of either goose egg or low single digit games. He's one of the top scoring QBs, and I'm glad I to own him in all 3 of my leagues where I got him no earlier than the 8th round - normally after Jake Plummer was taken! Sure, it's hard to predict what teams he'll go off against, as his best games this year come against some better than average Ds and some of his lowest scoring games come against suspect Ds. But the consistency has been there, and combined with the value of his being a late draft pick, I can't ask for much more.
- Stephen Vaughn I hear you. Certainly, Vick is very valuable in leagues that weigh rushing yards heavily. However, in leagues that give a half point for each completion and/or count passing yards heavily, he's still a middle-of-the-road starter.

[Hache Man]

	Jags officially put end to Leftwich's season
	Byron Leftwich - QB - JAC - Dec. 1 - 4:14 p.m. ET
	Jaguars placed Byron Leftwich on injured reserve, ending his season. After a strong start that saw him throw seven touchdowns in his first five games, Leftwich's bum ankle ultimately cost him his starting job. He underwent arthroscopic surgery for the injury on December 28. The trade rumors may not really heat up until January, but he will immediately become a hot topic when the season ends. We fully anticipate that Leftwich will be someone's starting quarterback in 2007.Dec. 1 - 4:14 p.m. ET

[Hache Man]

	Chester upgraded, Williamson may be down
	Chester Taylor - RB - MIN - Dec. 1 - 3:34 p.m. ET
	Chester Taylor (wrist) was upgraded to probable Friday. The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports Troy Williamson may be inactive on Sunday. Chester will start against an inconsistent Bears run defense. Williamson has fallen to fifth on Minnesota's depth chart at wide receiver, behind starters Marcus Robinson and Travis Taylor, and Bethel Johnson and Billy McMullen, who share third-receiver duties. The newspaper speculates that the Vikings won't be confident in Williamson going deep in potentially muddy conditions at Soldier Field.Dec. 1 - 3:34 p.m. ET Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press

[Hache Man]

	Colston sits out practice, Horn returns
	Marques Colston - WR - NO - Dec. 1 - 3:17 p.m. ET
	While Joe Horn (questionable, groin) returned to practice Friday, Marques Colston (questionable, ankle) missed at least a portion of the workout. Horn should start against a Niners secondary that is less than full strength. Colston appears unlikely to play after missing work all week but may again be tried out before game time before his official status is determined. New Orleans plays San Francisco at 1ET on Sunday.Dec. 1 - 3:17 p.m. ET Source: sf49ers.com