Home | About | Dispute Resolution | Contact
Home | About | Dispute Resolution | Contact
| |||||||
| Fantasy Sports Talk Play in fantasy leagues and share your fantasy sports talk here. Sponsored by SBGGlobal.com |
 |
| | Thread Tools | Search this Thread | Display Modes |
09-20-07, 03:03 PM
| #106 |
| "Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"  Join Date: Aug 19, 2005 Location: Orlando, Florida
Posts: 64,496
|  Re: Fantasy Football News 2007 Westbrook Goes for MRI on Knee Brian Westbrook suffered a left knee injury during the fourth quarter of Monday night's game, but returned after missing just one snap and went on to touch the ball seven more times. The Eagles initially called the injury a strain, but have since reclassified it as a sprain and Westbrook went for an MRI instead of practicing Wednesday. Westbrook has a history of knee problems, which makes a mid-week MRI an obvious concern. www.tampabaybuccaneers.ws With that said, NFL Network's Adam Schefter reported Wednesday that he's been told the injury is "nothing serious." "It's sore right now," coach Andy Reid said. "I've got to see what the doctor says. The doctor is going to check him and then determine what he does from there." With Donovan McNabb struggling, the Eagles have leaned hard on Westbrook, as he leads the team in both rushing (181) and receiving (112) yards while totaling 51 touches through two games. If Westbrook is forced to sit out Week 3 against the Lions, backup Correll Buckhalter will slide into the starting lineup. Buckhalter has just six touches thus far, but totaled 143, 136, and 107 touches over his last three seasons while averaging 4.3 yards per carry. Of course, because of an assortment of injuries those three years were 2001, 2003, and 2006, so he's far from a workhorse. Rookie Tony Hunt would likely get at least the short-yardage and goal-line work. While Eagles fans hope that a bad start to the season hasn't gotten much, much worse, here are some other notes from around football * Kevin Jones practiced Wednesday, with coach Rod Marinelli saying afterward that he made "pretty violent cuts" and "seemed not to have any problems" with his surgically repaired left foot. Interestingly, both Marinelli and Jones used the word "optimistic" to describe his chances of playing in Week 3 against the Eagles. "I practiced hard," Jones said. "I tried to go all out and it felt good. We're going to see, towards the end of the week, see how it feels." Marinelli said earlier this week that he plans to get Jones 15-20 snaps, although that obviously remains contingent on his avoiding a setback between now and then. "It's the day after where we find out," Marinelli said. "He can either get really sore and swollen, or there's nothing the next day." Even if a setback is avoided, 15-20 snaps really isn't enough work to make Jones a viable RB2 option, but it likely won't be long before that changes. * LaMont Jordan's comeback may have hit a snag after back-to-back huge games to begin the year. Jordan missed Wednesday's practice with a back injury, which is more of a concern than usual given that back problems were an issue for him during much of last season and caused him to miss part of training camp this year as well. You'll want to keep a close eye on Jordan's status Thursday and Friday, because if healthy he's a decent RB1 play this week against the Browns. Jordan has gotten 49 touches through two games, piling up 318 total yards by oddly managing exactly 159 yards in each game. He's looked a lot more like the fantasy stud from 2005 than the colossal disappointment from 2006, but lingering back problems could make that difficult to maintain all season. Dominic Rhodes will eventually serve as Jordan's backup, but he's only midway through serving a four-game suspension, so Justin Fargas is No. 2 on the depth chart. * As expected, Andre Johnson has officially been ruled out for Week 3. His sprained knee will be examined again Friday, at which point the Texans should have a better idea about his return timetable. In the meantime, the team indicated Wednesday that he could miss anywhere from one week to one month. "I know that it's very favorable that this could be a short-term deal," coach Gary Kubiak said. "I don't think we'll know until he's re-examined." With Johnson out, the Texans indicated that rookie and Daily Dose favorite Jacoby Jones will likely move into the starting lineup alongside Kevin Walter. While I like Jones a lot long term and expect him to make an impact as long as Johnson is sidelined, counting on him being much more than a decent WR3 right away is probably wishful thinking. On the other hand, tight end Owen Daniels moves into TE1 territory after catching five balls for 72 yards in Week 2. * Brandon Jacobs has consistently said that he plans to come back from a sprained knee before the 3-5 week recovery timetable given to him by doctors, but his return won't come this week. Coach Tom Coughlin said Wednesday that Jacobs "feels good," but has a "ways to go" before seeing game action. The best-case scenario at this point is limited practice later this week with an eye towards playing in Week 4, but Derrick Ward figures to retain his value until November. Two-Minute Drill: Eli Manning (shoulder) is absent from the Giants' injury report this week and is expected to practice fully leading up to Sunday's game After managing just 22 yards on four catches through two games, the Bills hope that moving Lee Evans around more will make it difficult for opposing defenses to focus on him Apparently not a Football Outsiders reader, coach Mike Tomlin said Wednesday that he plans to "ride Willie Parker until the wheels come off" and has no problem with his 400-carry pace Chris Cooley should break out of his slump with a Week 3 matchup against a Giants defense that has allowed 174 yards and three touchdowns to tight ends through two games According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the Raiders have already told Andrew Walter that he'll be let go once the roster exemption for JaMarcus Russell expires No doubt prepping him for a massive workload in Week 3, the Chiefs gave Larry Johnson the day off Wednesday Oddly Amazing Stat of the Week: The false start called against Steve Hutchinson in overtime Sunday was his first penalty since November of 2004. Red Zone: Despite getting banged up on Sunday, Marc Bulger (ribs, knee) practiced fully Wednesday Chad Pennington (ankle) was limited in practice Wednesday, but remains likely to return to the starting lineup in Week 3 Meanwhile, Thomas Jones (calf) put in a full practice Wednesday for the first time this season Chester Taylor (oblique) was limited in practice Wednesday, but may put in more time later this week As usual, T.J. Houshmandzadeh (knee) skipped practice Wednesday Deuce McAllister (knee, eye) sat out practice Wednesday, but coach Sean Payton said afterward that he "should be fine" Steve McNair (groin) took first-team reps at practice Wednesday and channeled Ice Cube afterward by saying that "today was a good day" Meanwhile, the Baltimore Sun reports that Jonathan Ogden (foot) also "had a good day" at practice Wednesday and hopes to play in Week 3 L.J. Smith continues to struggle with a groin injury and sat out practice Wednesday, but is likely to play through the injury again this week Dallas Clark (neck) missed practice Wednesday, but is expected to play in Week 3. |
|  |
|
09-20-07, 03:52 PM
| #107 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak" Join Date: Aug 19, 2005 Location: Orlando, Florida
Posts: 64,496
| Re: Fantasy Football News 2007 Week 3 Rankings Braylon Edwards grew up last Sunday. Lost amidst the insane eleven touchdown passes and the Jamal Lewis rejuvenation was one of the most talented young receivers in football putting up a dominant performance. Edwards has flashed great skills in the past, but consistency and toughness were missing. www.tampabaybuccaneers.ws Edwards is now eager to go over the middle, taking a couple massive whacks. He showed off his hands on the highlight reel touchdown dive, but his most impressive catch was a streaking sideline toe tap for a first down. He can make people miss after the catch; he's got a complete game. Edwards could have produced even more he was open all day and Derek Anderson missed him a couple times early. Edwards's owners have to love Anderson's aggressive style. He will make mistakes, but he's not afraid to target Edwards deep. Despite a tough matchup against Oakland's Nmandi Asamugha this week, I would roll with Edwards. If the Browns passing game can simply approach average, Edwards can put up top-10 wideout numbers despite falling into the middle rounds of most drafts. Week 3 Quarterbacks
QB Notes: The Colts are playing solid pass defense as usual. That makes Matt Schaub a must-sit with Andre Johnson out of the lineup. Derek Anderson had all day to throw against the Bengals which bodes well for Matt Hasselbeck this week. I chart "bad passes" in the games I watch, and Anderson had a high number in Week 2, so his performance was far from flawless. At least every other pass was a bomb. Hasselbeck has quietly played two solid games. He was extremely sharp in the second half against Arizona, and should be in for a big game this week. Carson Palmer continues to get wild for stretches, sailing balls over the heads of his receivers. It's more of a concern for the Bengals than fantasy leaguers, because he's still racking up stats. Rex Grossman still can't handle a blitz being thrown at him; the Bears offense has scored one touchdown this season. Look for Wade Phillips to pressure the Bears quarterback as much as possible. The Dallas secondary is so poor, though, that this should be a solid week for Grossman. If he can't light up the Cowboys, Chicago is in trouble. Jacksonville and Denver have the two best defensive backfields in the league statistically on the young season. It's not a huge surprise when you look at the rosters. I'd stay away from Jay Cutler, David Garrard, and the receivers in the Broncos game if possible. Matt Leinart played better against Seattle, but most of his yards were earned by busted defenses or good individual plays against his receiver. He was under a lot of pressure, but overall it was an inconsistent game. He's not ready for Baltimore. Kelly Holcomb looks likely to start this week if Tarvaris Jackson can't practice by Thursday. Jason Campbell is ranked so high because the Giants are that bad. Brett Favre turned back the clock ten years in his game against New York and Campbell is set for his best game as a pro. Favre and Campbell already have common opponent (Philadelphia) and Campbell played better. Week 3 Running Backs RB Notes: FootballOutsiders didn't rank Jamal Lewis' 200-yard effort as one of the ten best performances by a running back Sunday because so many of his runs were stopped near the line of scrimmage. 12 of his carries went for two yards or less, and he had a fumble. That's the bad news. The good news is that Lewis ripped off three runs over 30 yards. That equals his total from the last three years combined. Lewis had huge holes to run through, but he also juked Rashad Jeanty, Madieu Williams, and Lemar Marshall out of their shoes on different occasions to turn a 12-yard gain into much more. I want to see him do it again, but perhaps all those offseason puff pieces had some truth to them (for once). Rudi Johnson has seven catches for 59 yards through two weeks. That's far ahead of his usual pace. Kenny Irons' injury could mean more third-down work all year. Larry Johnson continues a difficult schedule to open the year. There was no room for him to run against the Bears and Minnesota's run defense looks great again. LJ could be a buy-low candidate if he struggles again. Shaun Alexander is a system back. And Seattle's system (offensive line) is not playing well, especially in the first half of games. Alexander has 49 yards on 20 first half carries this season. Mike Holmgren placed all the blame on the offensive line getting dominated and I agree. Life should get easier this week against the Bengals. The Russ Grimm era appears to be making a difference for Edgerrin James. Edge never lost his vision, but he's simply not a running back that is going to make big plays on his own. Against Seattle, James had more big holes to run through than he did all of last year. We'll see how far they've truly come with games against Baltimore and Pittsburgh next week. The Texans have stuffed the run two consecutive weeks. If they stop Joseph Addai, we'll know they are for real. The Panthers haven't established a consistent running game. It will be difficult to use either Carolina runner until one takes charge. Ron Dayne isn't only being used over Ahman Green in garbage time. Dayne is on the field early in passing down situations, which is surprising considering Green's reputation as a fine blocker and pass-catcher. The Texans don't want to wear Green out, so look for Dayne to play significantly this week against a Colts team he destroyed in December. Lane Kiffin says LaMont Jordan actually left yards on the field during his 155-yard effort against the Broncos. That's a great sign that the offensive line has greatly improved their run blocking this season. I'd ride Jordan until he slows down. Kevin Jones isn't an option until he plays a full set of snaps. Look for him to get 5-10 touches this week. Brian Westbrook's knee isn't a huge concern until it slows him down on Sundays. He had similar issues last season. Note: Head to Pancake Blocks for many more matchup breakdowns. Week 3 Wide Receivers WR Notes: The Texans left DeMarcus @@@gins alone in man coverage against Steve Smith for most of the game last week. Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne are going to destroy Houston like Smith did if that happens again. T.J. Houshmandzadeh has been uncharacteristically inefficient through two weeks. He leads the NFL in targets, but his yardage is average. He had two drops last week in the fourth quarter. Housh's numbers are great, but they can get even better. Glenn Holt! will hold on to the third receiver role in Cincy. Four of his catches against the Browns were made while a defender was cracking him. He held on each time. Housh and Chad Johnson should have their way with the mini cornerbacks Seattle puts out there. Jeff Webb was playing starter-worthy snaps for the Chiefs last week and caught a deep pass late. Keep an eye on him. Dwayne Bowe would have scored twice if not for a illegal motion penalty. He would have been a popular waiver pickup if not for the penalty. Bernard Berrian is quietly emerging as a true number one NFL receiver. He's doubled the rest of the Chicago wideouts in targets, and is the only one producing. Like Lee Evans last year, Berrian is starting to add shorter routes to complete his repertoire. He's basically a must start this week. Bobby Engram was very active last week against Arizona. Both he and Nate Burleson are sneaky plays against the Bengals secondary. I'd play Engram first he's safer. Burleson struggled to get separation last week. I'm not giving up on the Eagles receivers yet. There aren't many better matchups than facing the Lions at home. I will give up on them more if they don't produce in this game, but you don't throw out years of performance because of two bad weeks. The Cardinals tried to stretch the field more against Seattle. Larry Fitzgerald's big plays came on jump balls, and he couldn't hold on to two other catches. Anquan Boldin also caught some deep crossing routes. I have the Cardinals ranked fairly low this week because I don't think Arizona can protect Matt Leinart. That said, Baltimore's pass defense hasn't been at their best so far. For now, I'm ranking James Jones as if Greg Jennings won't play. Week 3 Tight Ends
TE Notes: Jeff King has shown great hands for the Panthers a few times. He's used in motion a lot and could wind up being the second-leading receiver on that team. Kellen Winslow is a physical freak. He's come back from a broken leg, a torn ACL, and microfracture surgery without missing a step. How good would he be if he stayed healthy? The speed isn't quite back yet, but his hands are great and he's stretching the field more than he did last year. Vernon Davis complained to the media and to his coach Mike Nolan about getting more involved. While this act is annoying, I've found it usually works. Look for Alex Smith to shut Davis up with some targets early. Dallas Clark is off to his best season as a Colt, possibly because of the absence of Brandon Stokley. He topped 45 yards twice in the 2005 and 2006 seasons. He's done it in both weeks thus far. Clark takes on some average safeties in Houston this week. Week 3 Team Defense Week 3 Kickers
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |
|
09-21-07, 08:40 AM
| #108 |
| "Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak" Join Date: Aug 19, 2005 Location: Orlando, Florida
Posts: 64,496
| Re: Fantasy Football News 2007 Week 3 Matchups OK, so this space didn't predict that Jamal Lewis would go for 200 yards last week. But hey, find someplace else that said Lewis was going to have a big day, and we can both bask in the success. For those of you who had Derek Anderson in your lineup last week, congratulations; now, evacuate. www.tampabaybuccaneers.wswww.eogcontests.com Quarterback The aforementioned Anderson goes up against an Oakland pass defense that featured upper-echelon ballhawks and pass rushers last year. While last week's game proved that Anderson can do damage against a weak defense, Oakland's pass defense is far superior to Cincinnati's, and inside the Black Hole, expect Cleveland to again apply a liberal dose of Lewis to Oakland's weaker rush defense. Matt Leinart goes up this week against the stifling Baltimore pass defense, and while Kellen Clemens put together a couple of late drives against the Ravens last week, they had their way with the Jets offense for most of the game. The only thing really in Leinart's favor is that the Cardinals are likely to be behind and throwing the ball frequently, but this may be one of those 250 yard, 1 TD, 3 INT games you'd rather not have Leinart in for. Drew Brees hasn't gotten off to a great start this year. That's about to change. Peyton Manning threw for 312 yards last week, and while Brees isn't Manning, he's about the closest thing available when it comes to fantasy. Expect Brees to have a big day at home in the Superdome as New Orleans gets off the proverbial shneid. Finally, Brett Favre's going to be in a shootout at home against San Diego and its middling pass defense. He might not reach the numbers he did against the Giants last week, but as San Diego features several real-life pass defenders, they are indeed several steps up on the G-Men. Keep him in your lineup this week. Running Back One of the things we predict in Pro Football Prospectus 2007 is that Larry Johnson is likely to either get hurt or lose a significant chunk of value because of his workload last season. So far, we've been right; Johnson has 98 yards through two games. Johnson is still likely to have better games ahead of him than those, but he won't be having it this week against Minnesota and its elite rush defense, which has picked up right where it left off last season. Don't expect more than 50-70 yards from Johnson this week, although chances are good he'll score a short touchdown. Another bad play this week is Edgerrin James, who'll be up against the Baltimore rush defense in a game Arizona's likely to be behind and throwing to catch up in. Even as a member of the Colts, James never had a 100-yard game against the Ravens. It's not likely that he'll start here. Indianapolis' rush defense seems much improved over the first two weeks of 2007. While Ahman Green and the Texans aren't a huge offensive threat, there are two factors that make me think Green will be a good play this week: One, the Texans will be playing keepaway from Peyton Manning. That means Green up the middle, Green left, and Green right. Two, the Texans don't have Andre Johnson this week. If you are more sanguine on Jacoby Jones than I am, hey, go crazy. But expect Green to see a lot of carries this week. The only complicating factor is that Green has split time (because of injury) so far this year with Ron Dayne, who tore up the Colts last year for 153 yards. Dayne's ribs have been bothering him, but he practiced on Thursday and will play this weekend. I'd play Green in all leagues and Dayne in deeper leagues. The Patriots offensive juggernaut rolls on -- this week, they're at home against Buffalo. The Bills' quick defensive line gives the Patriots' pass blockers fits. In 2006, the Patriots responded with an aggressive rushing attack, running the ball 36 times in Week 1 on the way to victory. Since the Patriots are likely to be leading comfortably for most of the game, you'll be seeing a lot of second-half runs for Laurence Maroney, who's got his first 100-yard game of the campaign in sight. Wide Receiver Poor Lee Evans. The guy has a breakout year in 2006 and the Bills continue to line up scrubs like Peerless Price and Roscoe Parrish across from him. The result has been double-teams for Evans pretty much on every play, and a miserable start to the season. Expect that to continue this week, as Evans managed only three catches in his two starts against New England last year. Another early leader this year has been the Pittsburgh defense, which is apparently several thousand times better than the Cincinnati defense. Maybe they're not that good, but they'll be good enough to keep Darrell Jackson and Arnaz Battle off the scoresheet in Week 3. The Denver pass defense was expected to be fantastic this year. Through two weeks, although they've been up against Buffalo and Oakland, they've been from another planet. This week, they get Jacksonville. Do you really want to start Matt Jones or Dennis Northcutt against Champ Bailey or Dre' Bly? Be my guest. I wouldn't play them in even the deepest league. I don't mean to pick on the Giants (I am a Giants fan after all), but for those of you who saw the miasma emanating from Giants Stadium last week, well, the Giants couldn't have stopped me from throwing for 250 yards on them. Outside of one bomb to James Jones, the Packers carved the Giants up with a series of short to medium range passes to mediocrities like Donald Lee and Bubba Franks. Therefore, Santana Moss might be primed for a big game, but the real guy to make sure you have in your lineup is... Tight End Heaven and earth should not keep you from having Chris Cooley in your lineup this week. If you don't have a tight end slot, put him in at running back. I don't care who you have to bench. There's not a figure you could tell me that I would say "That's too high of a projection for Chris Cooley this week". 100 catches for 7,000 yards and 26 TD's? Sounds plausible to me. They run out of footballs because Chris Cooley's caught them all, and the game ends in the third quarter? Sure. The point is, Cooley's a lock for a big game this week. The 49ers had the worst pass defense against tight ends last year. Losing Manny Lawson for the rest of the season doesn't help in the way of a pass rush, and while Patrick Willis certainly looks to be a stud at middle linebacker, you can still expect Heath Miller to put up a big game. Guys to avoid this week include Eric Johnson (NO), Robert Royal (BUF), and Zach Miller (OAK); in addition, while you can keep Jason Witten in your lineup, he's not likely to put up big numbers against Lance Briggs and the Bears. Tony Gonzalez had a middling day against them in Week 2, as he couldn't move outside and line up against the cornerbacks the way Antonio Gates did in Week 1; Witten's similar to Gonzalez, and likely to have one of those three catch, 28 yard days you hate to see. |
|
| |
|
09-21-07, 03:10 PM
| #109 |
| "Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak" Join Date: Aug 19, 2005 Location: Orlando, Florida
Posts: 64,496
| Re: Fantasy Football News 2007 Say Hello to "Orch Dork" Having done a 180-degree shift in my opinion of Roy Williams recently, I'm trying to avoid turning Daily Dose into your home for daily updates on amusing things that Williams said. Today at least I've lost that battle. As if slapping rookie Calvin Johnson with "Megatron" wasn't more than enough in the nickname department, Williams revealed in a recent interview with Yahoo! Sports that people used to call him "Orch Dork" in high school because he was in the orchestra. Tampabaybuccaneers.com "I was tall, so basically I was the only one who was tall enough to hold the bass in orchestra," Williams said. While not quite "Megatron"-level brilliance, "Orch Dork" is pretty solid for one of the NFL's elite wide receivers. Within the same interview, Williams revealed that he typically tries "to sleep in as much as possible" on his off day each week and then will "get up and play some Madden." Join the club, Roy. Williams nominated himself for "cheapest guy on the team" and admitted to preferring bowling over clubbing, although he added that "sometimes guys can't go bowling because of injuries to their fingers." I used to think of Williams as a Terrell Owens-level annoyance, but now I'm convinced that he's legitimately amusing and probably a pretty good guy. In fact, I'm far enough on the Williams bandwagon that I'm willing to overlook the fact that Pizza Hut is his favorite pizza. While everyone reading this right now wonders exactly what the point of the preceding three paragraphs was, here are some other notes from around football * Brian Westbrook missed Thursday's practice for the second straight day after having his injured left knee reexamined Wednesday, but did not undergo an MRI as was initially reported. Offensive coordinator Marty Morninweg called Westbrook's injury "a day-to-day situation" and added "we'll see" when asked about his status for Week 3 against the Lions. Coach Andy Reid told reporters that Westbrook is "going to be all right." Westbrook has a history of knee problems, but as the Philadelphia Inquirer pointed out Friday morning it was actually his right knee that was problematic last season. This time it's his left knee, which is perhaps part of the reason why the newspaper suggests that he's likely to start Sunday afternoon. NFL Network's Adam Schefter concurs, reporting earlier this week that the injury isn't believed to be serious. For now, count on Westbrook as your must-start RB1. * LaMont Jordan returned to practice Thursday after taking Wednesday off due to a back injury, but his participation was classified as limited and coach Lane Kiffin said afterward that he'll likely be a game-time decision Sunday. Of course, it's only three weeks into his first season on the job and Kiffin has already shown a major tendency to play overly coy with the media on injuries while trying to keep information secret. Jordan getting back on the field Thursday is noteworthy and for whatever it's worth the writers covering the Raiders on a daily basis seem relatively confident that he'll suit up in Week 3. If Jordan is out, Justin Fargas will take over as the primary runner and Adimchinobe Echemandu will serve as his backup. You'll want to check Jordan's status Friday and Saturday, because the Raiders playing a late-afternoon game Sunday will make a last-minute decision very difficult. * Greg Jennings missed another practice Thursday and James Jones exited early after injuring his hamstring during a jog-through. Jennings is hoping to see some practice time Friday, but at best he seems likely to be a game-time decision in Week 3 after sitting out the first two games with a hamstring injury of his own. Coach Mike McCarthy sounds significantly more optimistic about Jones' chances of suiting up, but his ability to practice Friday will be key. "His whole deal is to see how he feels in the morning," McCarthy said. "I said, 'Call me as soon as you get up.' He wanted to practice today. I was a little nervous, so he didn't practice." Jones has an opportunity to make an impact if Jennings is out, but both receivers being limited will likely lead to the passing game relying even more heavily than usual on Donald Driver. With 139 yards on 24 targets through two games, he's a WR1 despite a tough matchup against the Chargers. * Chester Taylor was limited in practice on both Wednesday and Thursday, but there's no clear indication yet whether or not he'll play in Week 3. Whatever the case, it seems obvious that Taylor will not be big part of the Vikings' offense, giving Adrian Peterson another week to show that he belongs as the team's No. 1 running back. If Taylor sits, Mewelde Moore will once again serve as Peterson's backup and should see plenty of third-down action like he did in Week 2. Meanwhile, it sounds like the Vikings will be without Tarvaris Jackson. Jackson left Week 2 with a groin injury after throwing four interceptions and has been limited in practice all week. Coach Brad Childress said Thursday that Jackson still has a chance to start, but all signs point to Kelly Holcomb replacing him against the Chiefs. Interestingly, the recently acquired Holcomb was so unfamiliar with the offense last week that he was inactive in favor of Brooks Bollinger. Two-Minute Drill: Frank Gore returned to practice Thursday after leaving the team to attend his mother's funeral In what could be good news for Ronnie Brown and his slow start, coach Cam Cameron said Thursday that the Dolphins "need to run the ball more" after ranking dead last in rushing yards through two games Coach Gary Kubiak surprisingly said Thursday that Kevin Walter is the only Texans receiver guaranteed a starting job with Andre Johnson out, signaling that Jacoby Jones may have to split snaps with Jerome Mathis and Andre Davis With Mike Anderson a healthy scratch in Week 2, Rotoworld favorite Musa Smith has officially passed him on the depth chart as Willis McGahee's backup Coach Lane Kiffin said Thursday that Josh McCown will once again start over Daunte Culpepper in Week 3, but added that "you could see them both in the game" Released by the Bucs last week, David Boston plead not guilty to DUI charges Thursday. Red Zone: Deuce McAllister (knee, eye) returned to practice Thursday and looks set to face the Titans on Monday night Darrell Jackson (back) sat out Thursday's practice for the second straight day, putting his Week 3 status in some doubt After taking Wednesday off, Ahman Green (knee) returned to practice Thursday and could get a value boost if Ron Dayne (chest) sits out Week 3 Chad Pennington (ankle) was listed as "limited" in practice Thursday, but took first-team reps and remains likely to start in Week 3 Kevin Jones (foot) still figures to make his season debut Sunday after being limited in practice Thursday Coach Mike McCarthy indicated Thursday that Vernand Morency (knee) could miss several more games, saying that "another week or two will help him" L.J. Smith (groin) typically plays through nagging injuries, but may actually sit out Week 3 after missing another practice Thursday Ike Hilliard (ankle) missed practice Thursday, perhaps opening the door for Michael Clayton to start in Week 3. |
|
| |
|
09-22-07, 04:13 PM
| #110 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak" Join Date: Aug 19, 2005 Location: Orlando, Florida
Posts: 64,496
| Re: Fantasy Football News 2007 Week 3 Rankings Note: Changes in the rankings were added Saturday morning. Braylon Edwards grew up last Sunday. Lost amidst the insane eleven touchdown passes and the Jamal Lewis rejuvenation was one of the most talented young receivers in football putting up a dominant performance. Edwards has flashed great skills in the past, but consistency and toughness were missing. www.tampabaybuccaneers.ws Edwards now appears eager to go over the middle. He showed off his hands on the highlight reel touchdown dive, but his most impressive catch was a streaking sideline toe tap for a first down. Edwards could have produced even more he was open all day and Derek Anderson missed him a couple times early. Edwards's owners have to love Anderson's aggressive style. He will make mistakes, but he's not afraid to target Edwards deep. Despite a tough matchup against Oakland's Nmandi Asamugha this week, I would roll with Edwards. If the Browns passing game can simply approach average, Edwards can put up top-10 wideout numbers despite falling into the middle rounds of most drafts. Week 3 Quarterbacks
QB Notes: The Colts are playing solid pass defense as usual. That makes Matt Schaub a must-sit with Andre Johnson out of the lineup. Derek Anderson had all day to throw against the Bengals which bodes well for Matt Hasselbeck this week. I chart "bad passes" in the games I watch, and Anderson had a high number in Week 2, so his performance was far from flawless. At least every other pass was a bomb. Hasselbeck has quietly played two solid games. He was extremely sharp in the second half against Arizona, and should be in for a big game this week. Carson Palmer continues to get wild for stretches, sailing balls over the heads of his receivers. It's more of a concern for the Bengals than fantasy leaguers, because he's still racking up stats. Rex Grossman still can't handle a blitz being thrown at him; the Bears offense has scored one touchdown this season. Look for Wade Phillips to pressure the Bears quarterback as much as possible. The Dallas secondary is so poor, though, that this should be a solid week for Grossman. If he can't light up the Cowboys, Chicago is in trouble. Jacksonville and Denver have the two best defensive backfields in the league statistically on the young season. It's not a huge surprise when you look at the rosters. I'd stay away from Jay Cutler, David Garrard, and the receivers in the Broncos game if possible. Matt Leinart played better against Seattle, but most of his yards were earned by busted defenses or good individual plays against his receiver. He was under a lot of pressure, but overall it was an inconsistent game. He's not ready for Baltimore. Kelly Holcomb looks likely to start this week if Tarvaris Jackson can't practice by Thursday. Jason Campbell is ranked so high because the Giants are that bad. Brett Favre turned back the clock ten years in his game against New York and Campbell is set for his best game as a pro. Favre and Campbell already have common opponent (Philadelphia) and Campbell played better. Week 3 Running Backs
RB Notes: FootballOutsiders didn't rank Jamal Lewis' 200-yard effort as one of the ten best performances by a running back Sunday because so many of his runs were stopped near the line of scrimmage. 12 of his carries went for two yards or less, and he had a fumble. That's the bad news. The good news is that Lewis ripped off three runs over 30 yards. That equals his total from the last three years combined. Lewis had huge holes to run through, but he also juked Rashad Jeanty, Madieu Williams, and Lemar Marshall out of their shoes on different occasions to turn a 12-yard gain into much more. I want to see him do it again, but perhaps all those offseason puff pieces had some truth to them (for once). Rudi Johnson has seven catches for 59 yards through two weeks. That's far ahead of his usual pace. Kenny Irons' injury could mean more third-down work all year. Larry Johnson continues a difficult schedule to open the year. There was no room for him to run against the Bears and Minnesota's run defense looks great again. LJ could be a buy-low candidate if he struggles again. Shaun Alexander is a system back. And Seattle's system (offensive line) is not playing well, especially in the first half of games. Alexander has 49 yards on 20 first half carries this season. Mike Holmgren placed all the blame on the offensive line getting dominated and I agree. Life should get easier this week against the Bengals. The Russ Grimm era appears to be making a difference for Edgerrin James. Edge never lost his vision, but he's simply not a running back that is going to make big plays on his own. Against Seattle, James had more big holes to run through than he did all of last year. We'll see how far they've truly come with games against Baltimore and Pittsburgh next week. The Texans have stuffed the run two consecutive weeks. If they stop Joseph Addai, we'll know they are for real. The Panthers haven't established a consistent running game. It will be difficult to use either Carolina runner until one takes charge. Ron Dayne isn't only being used over Ahman Green in garbage time. Dayne is on the field early in passing down situations, which is surprising considering Green's reputation as a fine blocker and pass-catcher. The Texans don't want to wear Green out, so look for Dayne to play significantly this week against a Colts team he destroyed in December. Lane Kiffin says LaMont Jordan actually left yards on the field during his 155-yard effort against the Broncos. That's a great sign that the offensive line has greatly improved their run blocking this season. I'd ride Jordan until he slows down. Kevin Jones isn't an option until he plays a full set of snaps. Look for him to get 5-10 touches this week. Brian Westbrook's knee isn't a huge concern until it slows him down on Sundays. He had similar issues last season. Note: Head to Pancake Blocks for many more matchup breakdowns. Week 3 Wide Receivers
WR Notes: The Texans left DeMarcus @@@gins alone in man coverage against Steve Smith for most of the game last week. Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne are going to destroy Houston like Smith did if that happens again. T.J. Houshmandzadeh has been uncharacteristically inefficient through two weeks. He leads the NFL in targets, but his yardage is average. He had two drops last week in the fourth quarter. Housh's numbers are great, but they can get even better. Glenn Holt! will hold on to the third receiver role in Cincy. Four of his catches against the Browns were made while a defender was cracking him. He held on each time. Housh and Chad Johnson should have their way with the mini cornerbacks Seattle puts out there. Jeff Webb was playing starter-worthy snaps for the Chiefs last week and caught a deep pass late. Keep an eye on him. Dwayne Bowe would have scored twice if not for a illegal motion penalty. He would have been a popular waiver pickup if not for the penalty. Bernard Berrian is quietly emerging as a true number one NFL receiver. He's doubled the rest of the Chicago wideouts in targets, and is the only one producing. Like Lee Evans last year, Berrian is starting to add shorter routes to complete his repertoire. He's basically a must start this week. Bobby Engram was very active last week against Arizona. Both he and Nate Burleson are sneaky plays against the Bengals secondary. I'd play Engram first he's safer. Burleson struggled to get separation last week. I'm not giving up on the Eagles receivers yet. There aren't many better matchups than facing the Lions at home. I will give up on them more if they don't produce in this game, but you don't throw out years of performance because of two bad weeks. The Cardinals tried to stretch the field more against Seattle. Larry Fitzgerald's big plays came on jump balls, and he couldn't hold on to two other catches. Anquan Boldin also caught some deep crossing routes. I have the Cardinals ranked fairly low this week because I don't think Arizona can protect Matt Leinart. That said, Baltimore's pass defense hasn't been at their best so far. For now, I'm ranking James Jones as if Greg Jennings won't play. Week 3 Tight Ends
TE Notes: Jeff King has shown great hands for the Panthers a few times. He's used in motion a lot and could wind up being the second-leading receiver on that team. Kellen Winslow is a physical freak. He's come back from a broken leg, a torn ACL, and microfracture surgery without missing a step. How good would he be if he stayed healthy? The speed isn't quite back yet, but his hands are great and he's stretching the field more than he did last year. Vernon Davis complained to the media and to his coach Mike Nolan about getting more involved. While this act is annoying, I've found it usually works. Look for Alex Smith to shut Davis up with some targets early. Dallas Clark is off to his best season as a Colt, possibly because of the absence of Brandon Stokley. He topped 45 yards twice in the 2005 and 2006 seasons. He's done it in both weeks thus far. Clark takes on some average safeties in Houston this week. Week 3 Team Defense Week 3 Kickers
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |
|
09-22-07, 04:14 PM
| #111 |
| "Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak" Join Date: Aug 19, 2005 Location: Orlando, Florida
Posts: 64,496
| Re: Fantasy Football News 2007 Last Minute Decisions Week 3 Welcome to Last Minute Decisions, your final stopping point before setting your lineups Sunday morning. Each week I'll tell you Game-Time Decisions to watch and provide matchup rundowns you won't find anywhere else. Make sure to check Rotoworld early Sunday for the latest news around the NFL, including each team's inactives. Week 3 Game-Time Decisions www.tampabaybuccaneers.ws Arms Chad Pennington called questionable but highly likely to play, start Tarvaris Jackson Kelly Holcomb expected to get start at Kansas City Jared Lorenzen Eli at full strength so J-Load will be riding the bench Wides Plaxico Burress status in serious doubt; Anthony Mix starts if he can't Jerricho Cotchery underrated wideout highly likely to face the 'Fins Greg Jennings and James Jones both probable but weak WR3 plays Darrell Jackson listed as probable, worked without limitations Friday Donte' Stallworth has minor knee injury but is likely to start vs. BUF Troy Williamson butterfingers has four catches in '07, status uncertain Ike Hilliard looks like he'll give it a go Sunday but may not finish up Laurent Robinson rook started Week 1 but hasn't been healthy since Antonio Chatman former return ace hasn't been healthy as a Bengal Jason Hill Niners' sixth receiver hasn't been active for a game yet Backs Brian Westbrook likely to start against Lions despite questionable tag LaMont Jordan virtually certain to play, but back issues are recurring Kevin Jones might only see 5-10 touches but on right track in rehab Chester Taylor status uncertain; Chester is confident he'll be out there Ron Dayne Samkon Gado will back up Ahman Green if Dayne sits out Maurice Morris listed as doubtful, Alvin Pearman slides up depth chart Ends Dallas Clark practiced fully Friday and will start; has nine catches so far Legs Martin Gramatica hasn't reached injury settlement, is on injured reserve Already Ruled Out for Week 3 Arms None of note Wides Andre Johnson speedy rookie Jacoby Jones given starting nod vs. IND Terry Glenn Use Patrick Crayton in Week 4 vs. STL and Week 5 @ BUF D.J. Hackett has high ankle sprain, when Hackett will return is uncertain Eddie Kennison have a feeling he'll be a third receiver when he heals up Chris Henry back in the news again for possessing a stolen rental car Eric Parker Craig Davis isn't producing, so Parker could start upon return Steve Smith (NYG) out at least a month with fractured shoulder blade Rod Smith Baby T.O. and Stokley playing well; may no longer be needed Tab Perry Glenn Holt the new temporary third receiver for Cincinnati Backs Brandon Jacobs guessing he'll be back for a limited practice Wednesday Vernand Morency With DeShawn Wynn emerging, may be headed for I.R. T.J. Duckett out indefinitely w/ high ankle sprain, drop him in most formats Ends L.J. Smith underwent a second hernia surgery Friday, is out indefinitely Matt Spaeth impressive rookie from Minnesota will sit with quads injury Daniel Wilcox Quinn Sypniewski to be Todd Heap's main backup Sunday Dan Campbell blocking tight end to be replaced by Casey FitzSimmons Dwayne Blakley backup's absence means Martrez Milner will see action Legs Josh Scobee Jags hopeful he'll return soon; John Carney kicking for now Week 3 Matchups to Exploit/Avoid Dolphins @ Jets Game Time: Sunday 12:00 CT/1:00 ET If you've been getting antsy with Thomas Jones (2.9 yards per carry, no TDs through two games), this is likely to be the RB2-caliber week you've been anticipating. All-Pro middle linebacker Zach Thomas will sit for Miami, and while his replacement (Channing Crowder) is adequate, Jones should find plenty of success to the outside. Derrick Pope, a smallish special teamer who hasn't started a game since 2005, gets the nod at WILL linebacker. On the strong side, Joey Porter is admittedly less than 100 percent after in-camp knee surgery and has been a major liability against the run so far this year. When Jones gets to the second level, he'll find waiting for him former cornerbacks Travis Daniels and Renaldo Hill, neither of whom is half the hitter Yeremiah Bell (ruptured Achilles) was. Jones has resumed practicing fully this week after being limited with a calf injury prior to Weeks 1 and 2. He will be in top form for a tasty matchup. Lions @ Eagles Game Time: Sunday 12:00 CT/1:00 ET With left corner Lito Sheppard again out due to a sprained MCL and free safety Brian Dawkins (neck) officially a game-time call, the Birds could have a difficult time manning up against Detroit's constant four-receiver sets. Dawkins' would-be replacement is Quintin Mikell, a five-year veteran with one career start to his credit. Sheldon Brown and Will James are serviceable answers for Calvin Johnson and Roy Williams, but the bottom of Philly's cornerback depth chart spells trouble. 5-9/170-pounder Joselio Hanson and undrafted rookie Nick Graham will have to step up to cover slot guy Mike Furrey and Lions leading receiver Shaun McDonald. In what projects to be a shootout of a game, Jon Kitna should pad his stats quite nicely On the other side, Brian Westbrook is sporting a questionable tag after having his left knee re-examined Wednesday and not practicing until Friday. It was Westbrook's right knee that caused him to miss several practices and one game last season, and every indication, including those given by the Eagles' organization, is that he will start against the Lions. Detroit may be 2-0, but that doesn't mean its defense is undefeated-caliber. Journeyman Paris Lenon is still the Lions' middle linebacker and rookie free safety Gerald Alexander was a projected late-round pick before Detroit took him in the second round this past April. The Eagles will need their passing game to click to keep up Sunday, and Westbrook has been check-down champ Donovan McNabb's favorite target thus far. Check the morning inactives to be sure, but have Westbrook penciled into your lineup and expect a big PPR day. 49ers @ Steelers Game Time: Sunday 12:00 CT/1:00 ET Manny Lawson was a budding force against the run and as a pass rusher, but where his season-ending loss will hurt San Francisco most is in the coverage department. Lawson was often asked to guard opposing tight ends as the Niners' left outside 'backer. Hannibal Navies takes over, and while he has experience as a starter in the league, Navies seems likely to be exploited by Heath Miller. Navies will try to jam Miller at the line because he lacks the speed Lawson could rely on to stay with the Steelers' tight end. Miller is a physical player in his own right and will be up to the task. With rookie Matt Spaeth, who has two touchdowns to Miller's one this season, sidelined due to a hurting quadriceps muscle, there will be less competition for targets at tight end. Miller, one of our favorite bounce-back candidates following a down sophomore season, is a strong TE1 play On the other side, Darrell Jackson has picked up where he left off in Seattle and resumed skipping valuable practice time, this week due to a back injury. For chemistry purposes, that won't help him and Alex Smith get on the same page. Currently ranked dead last in total offense, the 49ers face off against a Steelers secondary that is third in the NFL in yards allowed per game, behind only Denver and Jacksonville. Ike Taylor has recaptured his blanketing form on the left corner and Deshea Townsend is making plays on the right. If you've been waiting for a strong performance from Jackson in his new IXer digs, it'd probably be best to keep waiting. Bengals @ Seahawks Game Time: Sunday 3:05 CT/4:05 ET The Bengals will be minus Ahmad Brooks on Sunday after the second-year middle linebacker missed practice all week with a groin injury. Due to a lack of effective depth behind Brooks, Cincinnati is exploring the idea of using a strict dime alignment featuring three safeties and only two linebackers. Lanky Landon Johnson and former third-round disappointment Caleb Miller would figure to be the 'backers, with special teamer Herana Daze-Jones the third safety. Neither RCB Johnathan Joseph nor LCB Deltha O'Neal is 100 percent and first-round pick Leon Hall's play was dreadful in Week 2. The Bengals' defense is in utter shambles. Keep all your Seahawks, from Shaun Alexander on down to Nate Burleson, going against Cincy. |
|
| |
|
09-24-07, 02:27 PM
| #112 |
| "Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak" Join Date: Aug 19, 2005 Location: Orlando, Florida
Posts: 64,496
| Re: Fantasy Football News 2007 Panic Time? Panic doesn't rest in fantasy football leagues. It just changes location. All the angry Donovan McNabb owners are temporarily appeased, but the Marc Bulger and Larry Johnson owners are going to suffer through another long week. Let's take a broad look around all the exhilarating and frustrating developments of Week 3. www.tampabaybuccaneers.ws Stepping off the Ledge 1. That feels better Donovan McNabb owners, doesn't it? Hopefully you stayed faithful. Something tells me Kevin Curtis' wild 221-yard and three touchdown effort was on a few benches. That boy can run. 2. Jesse Who? Ronnie Brown finally played like he's capable of, putting up 213 total yards and three scores against the Jets. Mr. Chatman didn't have a touch. 3. We've confirmed that Mark Clayton is alive. He started and caught five passes for 34 yards for the Ravens, an effort just lame enough to get him dropped in some leagues or keep him off waivers. We'd still pick him up for depth. Michael Clayton's long-running disappearance has also been explained. He's been spending his time as the subject of a George Clooney movie. Who needs to run? 1. Tatum Bell led the Lions with five carries; they scored 21 points at Philly. 2. Brandon Jackson led the Packers with six rushes; they scored 31 points against San Diego. 3. Samkon Gado led the Texans with six rushes; they scored 24 points against Indy. 4. Edgerrin James led the Cardinals with ten rushes; they scored 23 points in Baltimore. 5. Warrick Dunn led the Falcons with 11 rushes; they scored 20 points gainst Carolina. 6. Cadillac Williams led the Bucs with 12 rushes; they scored 24 points against St. Louis. Yes, I'm aware only two of the teams won out of this group. Who Needs the final 20 minutes? Brian Westbrook threw in his usual mid-game injury so we'll get a week's worth of updates, but he politely put up 221 total yards and three scores before leaving. Don't Panic 1. The 1999 Rams aren't coming back, and the 2006 Rams might not be either. But Marc Bulger has been a top-ten fantasy quarterback in every one of his healthy seasons. The group around him is still solid except for the line. The Rams defense will still get the team in a lot of shootouts. I told Eagles owners to hang tight last week, and I'm saying the same thing about the Rams. Being patient is difficult, but it's the only option. The numbers should eventually return to respectability. 2. Larry Johnson is averaging 2.8 yards-per-carry, but it's no surprise that the Bears and Vikings shut down the moribund Kansas City offense. LJ presents a buy-low opportunity for panicky owners, although we'd wait until after the Chiefs-Chargers game this week. 3. Frank Gore's struggles have flown under the radar because he's scored three times and he's been slightly better than Tomlinson, Steven Jackson, and Larry Johnson. But the inability of Alex Smith to get that eighth man out of the box is hurting Gore's bottom line. The 49ers passing game has a long way to go, but believe in Gore's talent. It will rise. The More Things Change Halfway through the third quarter of Sunday night's game, Marion Barber owners thought they were in deep trouble. Julius Jones had 55 total yards, Barber had 8, and Jones had played twice near the goal line. Jones opened the fourth quarter in the lineup, but left the game with an apparent injury after a 22-yard gain was called back by penalty. Enter MBIII. By the end of the game, Barber had his usual 112 total yards and two scores, while Jones owners wondered how long Dallas can keep their starting arrangement. The Solution Rex Grossman and the Bears passing attack looks miserable now, but they get a magic cure-all next week: The Lions defense. Some Panic is Acceptable 1. No one expected Matt Leinart to succeed against the Ravens. But 20 passes for 53 yards shows how far he has to go before being a top-shelf starter. He's not there mentally yet. Kurt Warner did Leinart no favors by throwing for 258 yards and two scores with the same number of attempts. Leinart will remain the starter, but he's not the borderline QB1 owners were expecting. 2. Tatum Bell enjoyed perhaps his last game as Detroit's primary running back. He was awarded five rushes and five catches for a combined 45 yards. 3. I wouldn't panic as a LaDainian Tomlinson owner. Certainly don't deal him. He'll get his touchdowns, and he'll get his yards-per-carry average up. But this Chargers offense is different, and LT2's final numbers will reflect that. Think great, not otherworldly. This was the worst three-game rushing stretch of his career and Tomlinson appeared inconsolable after Sunday's loss. The schedule eases up nicely from now on. 4. Remember all that buy-low talk about Lee Evans? Well, now he's really low - maybe off the waiver wire. With J.P. Losman expected to miss a few weeks, Evans won't be a starting option for a while. We still wouldn't consider dropping him because he'll get his numbers, even if it's down the stretch this year. 5. Maurice Jones-Drew received a season high 17 touches against Denver, but only managed 55 total yards and lost a key fumble. Perhaps worse, Mo Jo is not getting the ball through the air and Greg Jones vultured a touchdown. Drew has a small margin for error as a committee back. 6. Ladell Betts is sliding into a traditional backup role for the Redskins, and he's getting badly outplayed by Clinton Portis. His yards-per-carry is two yards lower (4.7-to-2.7). Betts owners expecting him to be a flex play are getting burned. 7. When Joey Harrington throws for 361 yards and two scores against Carolina, you would expect a few things to happen. A) The Falcons would win B) Joe Horn would gain more than 36 yards, and C) Pigs would fly over the Georgia Dome. None of these things happened. Joe Horn is the aging fifth-leading receiver on the Falcons, and that's not someone worth owning. 8. Jason Campbell is an improving NFL quarterback, but he's not ready to be a starting fantasy option. 190 yards and a score against the G-Men 9. Rudi Johnson vs. the Seahawks: 17 rushes for nine yards!?!? I can't remember a day that bad. Rudi Johnson left the game in the fourth quarter with a hamstring injury, and Kenny Watson came in to pound the ball nine times for 60 yards and a touchdown. Rudi says the injury won't keep him out next week, although the Bengals may want to get Watson more involved. Rudi's declining overall play, including two lost fumbles, is becoming a concern for the Bengals. If Johnson is so confident, he probably didn't tear anything. But his body may be showing some wear and tear after a heavy workload the last three years. Game Balls 1. Let's stop fearing the Ravens pass defense. Anquan Boldin ate them up for 181 yards and two scores with a PPR-league loving 14 catches. Jerricho Cothery and T.J. Houshmandzadeh, both physical numer two receivers, also lit up Baltimore. Next week, the Ravens get the Browns. Giddy up Joe Jurevicius? 2. I didn't think Brett Favre could get it done against a quality defense. I was wrong. With a poor running game and three quality receivers, Green Bay is going to throw like crazy. 3. The Tampa Defense has neutered the Saints and Rams offense in back-to-back weeks. Serves everyone right for doubting Monte Kiffin. This guy deserves a monument in Tampa. 4. Willie Parker has 368 consistent rushing yards in three games. He's no longer just a boom-or-bust back, gaining yards in consistent chunks. The scores will come. 5. Chris Chambers is Mr. Consistency? Three straight games of 90+ yards says it's true. Note: Email subscribers: For the rest of Monday's column, head to Rotoworld. 6. The Vikings have 867 total offensive yards this season. Adrian Peterson has 431 of them. That's rising above your surroundings. 7. Matt Schaub only led the Texans offense to 17 points against the Colts and he threw two interceptions. But completing 27-of-33 passes for 236 yards and a score without Andre Johnson, Ahman Green, and Ron Dayne shows he can produce in tough scenarios. 8. Brandon Marshall doesn't care about your difficult matchups. I said to stay away from all receivers in the Denver-Jacksonville game, and only one topped 37 yards. "Baby T.O." put 133, many of which were fantastic yards after the catch. Holy Injury Just a massive week for injuries. Monday is going to be a huge day to track all the Rotoworld news. Here are the players we'll be watching and who Brian Flood wrote about in the Season Pass Injury Crunch.. Most of the injuries don't appear overly serious, but you never know. Brian Westbrook Jacoby Jones Rudi Johnson Hines Ward Jake Delhomme J.P. Losman Calvin Johnson Josh McCown Steve McNair Carnell Williams Vernon Davis Jay Cutler Ridiculously Early Fantasy MVP Race 1. Randy Moss 403 yards, five touchdowns 2. Brian Westbrook 514 total yards, 3 TDs 3. Chad Johnson 442 yards, 3 TDs 4. Tom Brady 887 yards, 8 TDs, 1 INT 5. LaMont Jordan 471 total yards, 2 TDs 6. Roy Williams 335 yards, 3 TDs 7. Tony Romo 860 passing yards, 8 TDs, 2 INT, 1 rushing TD Ridiculously Early Busts 1. Lee Evans 5 catches, 29 yards 2. Maurice Jones-Drew 156 total yards, two lost fumbles 3. Reggie Brown five catches, 64 yards 4. Reggie Bush 115 total yards (through two weeks 5. Steven Jackson 290 total yards, two lost fumbles 6. Larry Johnson 211 total yards, zero touchdowns 7. Marc Bulger 651 yards, two touchdowns, three interceptions 8. J.P. Losman 255 yards, one interception Early Waiver Wired Look Roddy White (again) Kenny Watson Nate Washington Ron Dayne Samkon Gado David Carr Daunte Culpepper |
|
| |
|
09-25-07, 03:10 PM
| #113 |
| "Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak" Join Date: Aug 19, 2005 Location: Orlando, Florida
Posts: 64,496
| Re: Fantasy Football News 2007 Saints Lose Game, McAllister New Orleans fell to 0-3 Monday night as Drew Brees turned the ball over five times and Vince Young improved to 2-0 against Reggie Bush, but the Saints may have suffered their biggest blow when Deuce McAllister exited in the first half with a knee injury. While nothing official has been announced as of Tuesday morning, McAllister and several teammates all but confirmed ESPN's report that he suffered a torn ACL. www.tampabaybuccaneers.ws McAllister previously tore his ACL in Week 5 of the 2005 season, missing the final 11 games that year before coming back strong with 1,242 total yards and 10 touchdowns in 2006. If the same injury has struck him again, McAllister will be sidelined for the final 13 games of this season and his long-term outlook could be in some doubt despite the fact that he doesn't turn 29 years old until December. As fullback Mike Karney said after the game, "It's not good." With McAllister sidelined, Reggie Bush's workload will increase dramatically. Bush's six catches Monday night got him to 100 career receptions faster than any player in NFL history save for Anquan Boldin, but McAllister has out-carried him 268-to-184 since the start of last season. Bush isn't going to double his carries, but it seems likely that he'll become a more traditional every-down running back after getting more than 15 carries just once in his first 19 games. Losing McAllister is a huge setback for an offense that has looked shockingly anemic thus far, but his injury does open the door for the Saints to see exactly what they have in Bush. For all the hype and unquestioned game-breaking ability, he's averaging just 2.8 yards per carry this season after averaging 3.6 yards per carry as a rookie. Even if Bush can't up his per-carry average, the increase in touches and addition of goal-line work will give him a sizable fantasy boost. While the Saints try to salvage their season minus one of their best players, here are some other notes from around football * A lost fumble and sore ribs got Cadillac Williams benched in the fourth quarter Sunday, with Michael Pittman and Earnest Graham splitting time in the Bucs' backfield. Pittman has long been among the league's best backups, but it was Graham who impressed by totaling 75 yards and a pair of touchdowns on eight carries. Coach Jon Gruden sang his praises afterward and suggested that Graham's role in the offense was going to increase. "Obviously now we're going to have to put our minds together and figure out how to get Earnest Graham more involved, because clearly he's also deserving of the football," Gruden said. Chucky went on to say that trying to find touches for Williams, Pittman, and Graham was "a good problem to have." However, he appeared to change his tune somewhat Monday, making it clear that Williams remains the starter and calling him the "featured back." Graham is an intriguing player whose sudden emergence will no doubt take at least some carries away from Williams and Pittman always produces when given a chance for significant snaps, but for now Cadillac's starting job appears relatively safe. "We're going to keep giving him the ball," Gruden said. Unfortunately, he's topped 100 rushing yards in just two games since his rookie season and has begun this year averaging the same 3.5 yards per carry that he posted in 2006. * Steven Jackson had a big game in a losing effort Sunday, totaling 133 yards on 34 touches as the Rams fell to 0-3. On Monday coach Scott Linehan revealed that Jackson suffered a partially torn groin against the Bucs, ruling him out for Week 4 and announcing that "he'll be week-to-week after that." Between the slow-healing nature of groin injuries and the fact that the Rams' bye doesn't come until Week 9, the St. Louis Post Dispatch reports that he'll miss at least 2-3 weeks. In his absence, the Rams figure to turn to rookie Brian Leonard in what could be an every-down role. A second-round pick out of Rutgers, Leonard is a big, versatile running back with solid speed and good hands. Being without Jackson is a huge blow to the Rams' already shaky offense, especially with Marc Bulger at less than full strength due to broken ribs, but Leonard is a good bet for 15-20 touches per game and is an undervalued fantasy option with RB2 upside. * A sprained left knee caused Ahman Green to remain on the sidelines after halftime Sunday, but an MRI taken Monday reportedly revealed that Green's injury isn't especially serious. "It's nothing bad," Green said. "Just swelling. I'm taking it one day at a time." While it sounds like he's avoided major damage, Green's status for Week 4 remains uncertain. Complicating matters is that Ron Dayne figures to suit up after sitting out Sunday's game with a chest injury of his own. With Andre Johnson and Jacoby Jones both out, the Texans are down to Kevin Walter, Andre Davis, and Jerome Mathis as their only healthy wide receivers. Toss in a matchup against the Falcons' shaky run defense and whoever starts at running back for the Texans is a pretty strong fantasy play in Week 4. Keep a close eye on Green's status throughout the week and make sure to grab Dayne off the waiver wire if he's available in your league. Two-Minute Drill: Making Anquan Boldin's monstrous 14-181-2 performance Sunday all the more impressive is that he played much of the game with a strained hip Coach Lovie Smith said Monday that he'll name the Bears' starting quarterback for Week 4 on Wednesday, leading to speculation that Brian Griese could be replacing Rex Grossman Kevin Jones (foot) had four touches in his season debut Sunday and said afterward that he was "comfortable" and hopes to "have more of a load next week," but he's likely at least another week away from being a fantasy factor Coach Brian Billick said Monday that he won't hesitate to pull Steve McNair in favor of Kyle Boller, who has played in each of the first three games Oakland added JaMarcus Russell to the active roster Monday, but surprisingly chose to keep four quarterbacks by holding on to Andrew Walter .. Asked about his pair of drops and lost fumble Sunday, coach Lane Kiffin commented that "the word 'pleased' isn't anywhere near Mike Williams right now" Coach Bobby Petrino said Monday that Byron Leftwich remains third on the Falcons' depth chart. Red Zone: Derrick Ward has played very well in his absence, but the Giants are hoping to have Brandon Jacobs (knee) back within two weeks Coach Brad Childress said Monday that he expects Chester Taylor (hip) to play in Week 4, which would temporarily end Adrian Peterson's reign as the Vikings' workhorse Daily Dose favorite Vernon Davis is expected to miss two games after partially tearing his right MCL in Week 3 It looked serious when Calvin Johnson came crashing down on his back Sunday, but the Lions indicated Monday that he's likely to play in Week 4 Plaxico Burress played through an ankle injury Sunday, but came out of the game sore and said Monday that "it's probably something that I'm going to have to deal with for a little while" Hines Ward (knee) was seen on crutches Monday, but seems likely to play in Week 4 after an MRI showed no structural damage Eddie Kennison (hamstring) is expected to miss Week 4, giving rookie Dwayne Bowe another chance to impress. |
|
| |
|
09-25-07, 04:34 PM
| #114 |
| "Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak" Join Date: Aug 19, 2005 Location: Orlando, Florida
Posts: 64,496
| Re: Fantasy Football News 2007 The Replacements The universal optimism of fantasy draft day is long gone. Steven Jackson is probably out a few weeks, Deuce McAllister is out for the year, and Larry Johnson is doing his best Eddie George (in Dallas) impression. Injuries and busts are why we build depth. Even 0-3 teams have another month before they should start thinking about next year; fantasy football fortune can turn on a dime. One place to start is the waiver wire. Here's how I'd rank the popular pickups at running back this week. 1. Brian Leonard 1A. Ron Dayne 3. Aaron Stecker (distant third) 4. Kenny Watson 5. Earnest Graham Let's get to the writeups. Running Back Brian Leonard, Rams As of this writing, Leonard gets a slight edge over Ron Dayne as the top waiver pickup. Because we know Steven Jackson is going to miss a week, and possibly a few more. Leonard will face the same challenges that were slowing Jackson down early this year. The Rams offense isn't scoring and their offensive line isn't creating holes. Leonard's best chance for value will come in the passing game and his first start comes against a team (Dallas) that is giving up fantasy points to running backs in bunches. Leonard is a borderline RB2/flex play until Jackson returns. All those who handcuffed the former Scarlet Knight feel pretty smart. Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues Ron Dayne, Texans Dayne may get overlooked in favor of Leonard and Aaron Stecker, but he has the best chance to maintain value throughout the season. That's because Ahman Green's knee problems aren't likely to go away. Green barely was hit before getting hurt Sunday, and a career's worth of pounding is catching up to him. Dayne missed Week 3 with a bruised chest, but will return for the game against Atlanta this week. The next matchup (Dolphins) is also inviting if Green's injury lingers. Effective in short-yardage situations, Dayne will be a solid flex play at worst until Green is back. Odds are he gets a few starts this season. Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues Aaron Stecker, Saints We've been through this one before. When Deuce McAllister tore his ACL in 2005, Stecker was the hot waiver pickup of the week. The versatile veteran wound up posting 644 total yards and no scores in 11 games while splitting the workload with Antowain Smith. Serviceable, not spectacular. And that's the upside with Stecker this season. Reggie Bush will get more work, and undrafted rookie Pierre Thomas should get into the mix. Stecker has a similar game to Bush, so Thomas may wind up getting the inside carries. Stecker is worth owning for depth, but he's not nearly the pickup that Leonard and Dayne are. I'd let someone else take him. Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues Pierre Thomas, Saints The undrafted rookie was the story of the Saints preseason, beating out fourth-round pick Antonio Pittman for a roster spot. There is no telling if the success can translate, but he's worth a look in deep leagues especially keeper formats. A strong season could position Thomas for a long-term role on the roster. Recommendation: Worth a look in deep leagues Kenny Watson, Bengals If you don't have a top waiver pick this week, Watson could be a sneaky consolation prize. Rudi Johnson was miserable against the Seahawks, and Cincinnati must be concerned that his hamstring problems were the start of something more. No running back has carried the ball more than Rudi over the last three years, and Johnson's play has slowly declined over that time. Watson's strong effort late last week may have opened eyes on a coaching staff that has been hesitant to use him. Look for Watson to be worked into the mix more this week against the Patriots. He's a must-own for Rudi owners. Note: This was written before the news broke that Rudi Johnson could miss next week's game. Head to Pancake Blocks for an update, along with another wideout pickup based on Hines Ward's injury. Recommendation:Worth owning in 12-team leagues Earnest Graham, Bucs His two touchdown effort screams fluke. Carnell Williams is still healthy enough to start, and Michael Pittman is playing well. It's too crowded to get excited about Graham. Aaron Schatz put it well: "After the game, Jon Gruden said he needs to find a way to use Graham more. Yes, Coach Gruden, because the best way to judge a running back is by his performance when nursing a two-touchdown lead against St. Louis." Recommendation: Worth a look in deep leagues Najeh Davenport, Steelers You don't have to wait for an injury to look for your handcuff. Willie Parker owners need to own Davenport. Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues Kevin Jones, Lions I've received enough emails to know he's still available in some shallow leagues. He should be your top waiver priority if that's the case. Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues Ryan Grant, Packers DeShawn Wynn owners shouldn't give up just because of last week. The Packers still don't know what they want to do on the ground, and anyone could emerge as "The Guy." That includes Grant, a transplant from the Giants with five touches in two weeks. He's worth a look in very deep leagues, especially dynasty leagues. Recommendation: Worth a look in deep leagues Samkon Gado, Texans Fullback Jameel Cook split the work with Gado when Ahman Green got hurt, which is a bad sign for Gado's relevance. With Ron Dayne back this week, Gado isn't a great option. Recommendation: Keep an eye on Quarterbacks It was the week of the replacement quarterback, with five backups replacing their starters (Kyle Boller, David Carr, Daunte Culpepper, Trent Edwards and Kurt Warner) and one more likely to get the call this week (Brian Griese). Here's how I'd rank them moving forward. Daunte Culpepper, Raiders J.P. Losman owners could do worse. Culpepper should get the start this week against a poor Miami secondary. A solid performance going into Oakland's Week 5 bye should be enough to keep the job moving forward. For a player who signed so late in the offseason, Oakland's bye comes at a great time for Culpepper to learn the offense. He looks like a serviceable low-end QB2 at worst, with the chance for more. The offensive talent in Oakland isn't that bad. Worth owning in 12-team leagues Brian Griese, Bears It looks like the Rex Grossman era is mercifully ending this week. Griese played well in Tampa under Jon Gruden, but the rest of his NFL career has been spotty and he's barely played since tearing his ACL in 2005. There are some weapons in Chicago, but not enough to think Griese can produce significantly more fantasy points than Grossman. I would take Griese over Damon Huard, J.P. Losman, and Tarvaris Jackson, but not many other starters. Recommendation:Worth owning in deep leagues Kyle Boller, Ravens He's matured. And if you start 2QBs each week, Boller has plenty of value. Steve McNair will get the start this week, but the odds on McNair staying healthy enough to start the rest of the season are small. Recommendation: Worth owning in 2QB leagues David Carr, Panthers There was a time not so long ago when Rotoworld believed David Carr would have a great career. That confidence, like Carr's, has eroded slowly over time. His ex-teammates and coaches couldn't wait to bring up Carr's shortcomings when he left in Houston and the Carolina situation isn't that much better. Carr still has one elite receiver, and not much else. He's playing with a mediocre running game and offensive line. He still hasn't showed consistent decisiveness to go with his big arm. The only thing that makes Carr interesting is a potential Week 5 showdown against the Saints. Even Chris Weinke could light up New Orleans. Recommendation: Worth a look in 2QB leagues Kurt Warner, Cardinals Ken Whisenhunt sent a message to Matt Leinart by benching him. Warner sent a message back to Wiz by playing so well. Leinart will need a few more ugly outings to lose his job, but it's clear the coaching staff wants him to work harder. Warner could be a borderline fantasy starter if he gets the job, but I still think that it's unlikely to happen. Whisenhunt knows that Warner's problems with pressure would show up over time. Leinart owners in deep leagues may want to handcuff their starter. Recommendation:Worth owning in 2QB leagues Trent Edwards, Bills We'll be watching Edwards closely. I think Edwards has a realistic shot to displace J.P. Losman as the quarterback of the future in Buffalo. The matchups are favorable in the next two weeks, but fantasy leaguers still don't want to get near a rookie quarterback on a terrible offense. Recommendation: Worth a look in 2QB leagues Wide Receiver Greg Jennings, Packers I've been driving the James Jones bandwagon, saying early in the preseason that the rookie could out-point Greg Jennings this season. While I still believe that's true, it doesn't mean Jennings should be on any waiver wires. He's a starter on the most pass-wacky team in the league. His speed is clearly back. It's looking more possible that Jones and Jennings could have borderline WR3 value at the same time. Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues Roddy White, Falcons I've included White in each edition of Wired this year, so I'll keep this brief. He's a young, highly talented third-year receiver coming into his own. I wouldn't expect consistency, but he's worth a spot on your bench and your top priority at wideout this week, assuming Greg Jennings is unavailable. Recommendation:Should be owned in all leagues Marty Booker, Dolphins & Bobby Engram, Seahawks Lot of repeat listings at the wideout spot this week, but owners continue to sleep on these unflashy veterans. They put up nearly identical games last week (5-60-0 and 5-62-1), and figure to post 4-5 catches a week. I'd take Booker over the course of the season even though Engram has started faster. Recommendation: Should be owned in deep leagues Dwayne Bowe, Chiefs I'm impressed, but not enough to take Bowe over the veteran receivers listed above. The Kansas City passing game lowers Bowe's ceiling, although his penchant for red zone targets has Chiefs fans fondly remembering Marc Boerigter's fluky eight-score season. Chris Henry, Bengals He's still over a month away from returning, but it's time to consider stashing him before someone else does. Recommendation: Worth stashing in deep leagues Andre Davis, Texans Nice game, but I'm not convinced. Three wideout-hungry teams have given up on Davis in two years, and he couldn't beat out Kevin Walter or a rookie out of Lane University in training camp. There's probably a reason for that. Recommendation: Stay away Tight Ends Jeff King, Panthers - Third straight week on Wired and third straight solid game for King. He's the ninth-ranked TE thus far, and he can stay in the top-15 all year. Recommendation: Worth owning in 12-team leagues Marcedes Lewis, Jaguars- Still would be my top pickup over the course of the season, but the Jaguars have a bye this week. WWW.TAMPABAYBUCCANEERS.WS Recommendation: Worth owning in 12-team leagues Donald Lee, Packers - Another quietly consistent option, Lee has four catches in each game this season. Recommendation: Worth a look in deep leagues Delanie Walker, 49ers - Okay, this would take a deeeeep league and a mighty leap of faith. But Walker is a specimen and has impressed in the limited game time (preseason and otherwise) that he's received. He'll pick up some of Vernon Davis' numbers. Recommendation: Worth a look in deep leagues |
|
| |
|
09-26-07, 07:46 AM
| #115 |
| "Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak" Join Date: Aug 19, 2005 Location: Orlando, Florida
Posts: 64,496
| Re: Fantasy Football News 2007 Playing the Injury Report Nobody makes it through the season without injuries being a major factor, for better or for worse. Take a look at the clubs playing late next January -- they probably will have been healthy most of the year. And in a few weeks, take a look back at Week 3 as one of the more interesting ones of the first half of the season. Injuries ruled the weekend and how you respond to them could determine how your season goes. The long list of injured big-name players includes Steven Jackson, Marc Bulger, Jake Delhomme, Shaun Alexander, Ahman Green, Vernon Davis, Deuce McAllister, Santana Moss, Hines Ward, Jay Cutler, Brian Westbrook and J.P. Losman. Tampabaybuccaneers.com therx.com therx.com If you hadn't been paying attention to injury reports, you certainly will be now. Plenty of people will have players whose status will go right up to game time, which makes paying attention to all of the news Sunday morning more important. And if you have a life and don't want to wait around for all of that news, you have more difficult lineup decisions earlier in the week. So what should you do with this spate of injuries? The no-brainer advice is to get anybody out of your lineup who isn't playing. Stupid, right? Well, try telling that to anybody who has left one of those guys in for whatever reason. If you've been playing long enough, chances are that you've done it. I know I have. Depending on how your league works, put that guy on the bench now if you can. Even if you do not have a replacement yet, creating a void in the lineup will force you to remember to address the problem later and avoid a completely avoidable and embarrassing oversight. Then you have to go about finding somebody else to stick in there. The easiest thing is to pick up your starter's backup. If you lost Jackson, for example, you make a run at rookie Brian Leonard. You should do so, regardless, on the chance that Leonard turns into this year's rookie surprise. And if you have no other reasonable backs, you probably will go ahead and play him immediately. But do not necessarily think of him as a decent starter. The Rams are full of problems, including injuries to quarterback Marc Bulger, and face the high-flying Cowboys and a high-pressure defense that will give the offense all kinds of problems. So if you also have, say, DeAngelo Williams on your bench, Williams might be the better play. No, he has not done much, but you know his talent and you know he will get his 12-14 touches, whereas Leonard is a complete wild card against a tough defense. Of course, the return of bye weeks makes things more difficult. You couldn't rely on, say, Chris Brown to get you through one week where you aren't sure whether Rudi Johnson will go. The other big strategy is to start trading, but do not expect anybody to do you any favors. Nobody is going to give you a break just because you're a nice guy. They all want to beat you too. If you're looking for ideas, though, consider ones with obvious benefits for both sides. For example, you have Shaun Alexander and Ladell Betts. You're worried about Alexander's health, or how he will play assuming he is able to go. Instead of starting Betts, trade him to the guy who owns Clinton Portis for Maurice Morris. A great deal? No. But the other guy will be more willing to help you because he also is helping himself. And then in some cases, remember you might actually appreciate the injury. For instance, Jackson's groin injury will help put you out of your misery. You will not have to agonize about whether to start him while the Rams continue to struggle. And don't buy into this being a simple week-to-week injury. Groin problems, especially those that involve torn muscles, are notorious for lingering. Now let's get to a few of the prime movers for this week. ON THE WAY UP Brian Griese. It is hard to escape the Bears' quarterback mess this week, with Griese poised to take over for Rex Grossman, probably for good. Griese did have one sensational run in his career when he threw 19 TDs vs. four interceptions in 2000 with Denver. Otherwise, his career has been a whole lot of disappointment and nothing fancy. He might be a decent backup quarterback, perhaps worth a look given a good matchup and a bye for your starter. And if you're lucky, he will make WR Bernard Berrian and TEs Desmond Clark and Greg Olsen more valuable. Santonio Holmes. He really will get a chance to display his talent now that Hines Ward is out and you can make him almost a must-start because of how well the Steelers are playing. With bye weeks, teams often use the extra week rest to manage injuries. Here, the Steelers should rest Ward at least through Week 5, give him the bye and bring him back in Week 7 after nearly a month off. That gives Holmes a chance to shine against Arizona and Seattle the next two weeks, which should not be hard. Dwayne Bowe. I am becoming a Bowe backer because he makes those wild, acrobatic catches of off-target passes, which has become a requirement for any Kansas City wide receiver. The Chiefs' offense still is not good, but Bowe has TDs in back-to-back weeks and Kansas City faces the struggling Chargers' defense this week. He is at least worth snaring off waivers. Greg Jennings. Think Brett Favre did not appreciate getting Jennings back? Jennings had four catches for 82 yards and a TD in his first game back from hamstring problems and is a big boost for Green Bay's passing game. The Packers are barely functional on the ground, leaving it up to Favre to do even more. With Donald Driver, Jennings and rookie James Jones, the Packers have a good top three receivers. Jennings will get plenty of work so make sure he plays this week against Minnesota. Ron Dayne. Ahman Green's knee injury does not have a good vibe to it; it is the kind of thing that happens to a running back whose career has about run out. Fortunately for the Texans, Dayne ought to play after missing a game because of a rib injury. And Dayne should expect to see even more time all season because of Green's health. He will be as good a play as guys such as Ladell Betts and DeAngelo Williams even when Green plays. Daunte Culpepper. Between the time Culpepper has had to heal, the improvement the Raiders have shown and a revenge angle this week against a bad Dolphins defense, you can't help but like Culpepper's chances -- assuming he, you know, starts. Oakland's offensive line is better, WRs Ronald Curry and Jerry Porter are at least competent and Culpepper has plenty to prove. Be sure to pick him up and I would play him this week if you do not have any good, reliable options. TAKING A DIVE Santana Moss. His groin injury has been swept under the rug a bit because the Redskins have a bye this week, but he probably would not have been able to play this week if he had to. Combine that with other groin and hamstring injuries that have caused him to miss so much time in his career, plus the abdominal and groin problems he had in the offseason, and this is a huge red flag. Maurice Jones-Drew. The week off could go either way for Jones-Drew. Either it will help him shake off a crucial fumble last week and a short-yardage TD run by Greg Jones. Or it will give the Jaguars time to realize they can live without Jones-Drew's help. If it is the latter, it will be a serious problem for those of you who spent a second-round pick on him. Matt Leinart. So now the Cardinals think that some sort of platoon situation at quarterback with Kurt Warner could help the team. Never mind that splitting snaps at quarterback rarely works and whatever success Warner has necessarily reflects poorly on Leinart. It is a backdoor way into a surprising quarterback controversy. Marshawn Lynch. Poor guy can not catch a break with J.P. Losman down following a horrible start on offense for the Bills. If Losman really does miss only two games, the Bills still will have a chance to fix their passing game. But if rookie Trent Edwards is starting, the deep ball will be a non-factor, allowing defenses to gang up on Lynch even more. Lynch looks like the real deal, but he will not produce like it on a team that can't keep anybody healthy. Shaun Alexander. Everybody is saying the right things about how Alexander's broken left wrist will not impact him, but doesn't the progression of the injury sound a lot like last year's foot injury that also was not supposed to be any big deal? Hopefully it will not be a factor if you have him, but I would be worried. Maybe he does not play all that well, then the Seahawks decide to rest him until he truly is 100%. And by then, the missed time has hurt your team just like it did last year. Marc Bulger. You should not be surprised to learn Bulger played with broken ribs and a knee injury. With the beating he has been taking, it is a surprise he has stayed on the field this long. Losing Jackson will put more of a burden on Bulger and increase his chances of a serious injury behind a bad offensive line. There are serious reasons to doubt whether the Rams will be the Rams that we're used to at all this season. |
|
| |
|
09-26-07, 03:08 PM
| #116 |
| "Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak" Join Date: Aug 19, 2005 Location: Orlando, Florida
Posts: 64,496
| Re: Fantasy Football News 2007 Playing the Injury Report Nobody makes it through the season without injuries being a major factor, for better or for worse. Take a look at the clubs playing late next January -- they probably will have been healthy most of the year. And in a few weeks, take a look back at Week 3 as one of the more interesting ones of the first half of the season. Injuries ruled the weekend and how you respond to them could determine how your season goes. The long list of injured big-name players includes Steven Jackson, Marc Bulger, Jake Delhomme, Shaun Alexander, Ahman Green, Vernon Davis, Deuce McAllister, Santana Moss, Hines Ward, Jay Cutler, Brian Westbrook and J.P. Losman. www.tampabaybuccaneers.wswww.therx.wswww.therx.info If you hadn't been paying attention to injury reports, you certainly will be now. Plenty of people will have players whose status will go right up to game time, which makes paying attention to all of the news Sunday morning more important. And if you have a life and don't want to wait around for all of that news, you have more difficult lineup decisions earlier in the week. So what should you do with this spate of injuries? The no-brainer advice is to get anybody out of your lineup who isn't playing. Stupid, right? Well, try telling that to anybody who has left one of those guys in for whatever reason. If you've been playing long enough, chances are that you've done it. I know I have. Depending on how your league works, put that guy on the bench now if you can. Even if you do not have a replacement yet, creating a void in the lineup will force you to remember to address the problem later and avoid a completely avoidable and embarrassing oversight. Then you have to go about finding somebody else to stick in there. The easiest thing is to pick up your starter's backup. If you lost Jackson, for example, you make a run at rookie Brian Leonard. You should do so, regardless, on the chance that Leonard turns into this year's rookie surprise. And if you have no other reasonable backs, you probably will go ahead and play him immediately. But do not necessarily think of him as a decent starter. The Rams are full of problems, including injuries to quarterback Marc Bulger, and face the high-flying Cowboys and a high-pressure defense that will give the offense all kinds of problems. So if you also have, say, DeAngelo Williams on your bench, Williams might be the better play. No, he has not done much, but you know his talent and you know he will get his 12-14 touches, whereas Leonard is a complete wild card against a tough defense. Of course, the return of bye weeks makes things more difficult. You couldn't rely on, say, Chris Brown to get you through one week where you aren't sure whether Rudi Johnson will go. The other big strategy is to start trading, but do not expect anybody to do you any favors. Nobody is going to give you a break just because you're a nice guy. They all want to beat you too. If you're looking for ideas, though, consider ones with obvious benefits for both sides. For example, you have Shaun Alexander and Ladell Betts. You're worried about Alexander's health, or how he will play assuming he is able to go. Instead of starting Betts, trade him to the guy who owns Clinton Portis for Maurice Morris. A great deal? No. But the other guy will be more willing to help you because he also is helping himself. And then in some cases, remember you might actually appreciate the injury. For instance, Jackson's groin injury will help put you out of your misery. You will not have to agonize about whether to start him while the Rams continue to struggle. And don't buy into this being a simple week-to-week injury. Groin problems, especially those that involve torn muscles, are notorious for lingering. Now let's get to a few of the prime movers for this week. ON THE WAY UP Brian Griese. It is hard to escape the Bears' quarterback mess this week, with Griese poised to take over for Rex Grossman, probably for good. Griese did have one sensational run in his career when he threw 19 TDs vs. four interceptions in 2000 with Denver. Otherwise, his career has been a whole lot of disappointment and nothing fancy. He might be a decent backup quarterback, perhaps worth a look given a good matchup and a bye for your starter. And if you're lucky, he will make WR Bernard Berrian and TEs Desmond Clark and Greg Olsen more valuable. Santonio Holmes. He really will get a chance to display his talent now that Hines Ward is out and you can make him almost a must-start because of how well the Steelers are playing. With bye weeks, teams often use the extra week rest to manage injuries. Here, the Steelers should rest Ward at least through Week 5, give him the bye and bring him back in Week 7 after nearly a month off. That gives Holmes a chance to shine against Arizona and Seattle the next two weeks, which should not be hard. Dwayne Bowe. I am becoming a Bowe backer because he makes those wild, acrobatic catches of off-target passes, which has become a requirement for any Kansas City wide receiver. The Chiefs' offense still is not good, but Bowe has TDs in back-to-back weeks and Kansas City faces the struggling Chargers' defense this week. He is at least worth snaring off waivers. Greg Jennings. Think Brett Favre did not appreciate getting Jennings back? Jennings had four catches for 82 yards and a TD in his first game back from hamstring problems and is a big boost for Green Bay's passing game. The Packers are barely functional on the ground, leaving it up to Favre to do even more. With Donald Driver, Jennings and rookie James Jones, the Packers have a good top three receivers. Jennings will get plenty of work so make sure he plays this week against Minnesota. Ron Dayne. Ahman Green's knee injury does not have a good vibe to it; it is the kind of thing that happens to a running back whose career has about run out. Fortunately for the Texans, Dayne ought to play after missing a game because of a rib injury. And Dayne should expect to see even more time all season because of Green's health. He will be as good a play as guys such as Ladell Betts and DeAngelo Williams even when Green plays. Daunte Culpepper. Between the time Culpepper has had to heal, the improvement the Raiders have shown and a revenge angle this week against a bad Dolphins defense, you can't help but like Culpepper's chances -- assuming he, you know, starts. Oakland's offensive line is better, WRs Ronald Curry and Jerry Porter are at least competent and Culpepper has plenty to prove. Be sure to pick him up and I would play him this week if you do not have any good, reliable options. TAKING A DIVE Santana Moss. His groin injury has been swept under the rug a bit because the Redskins have a bye this week, but he probably would not have been able to play this week if he had to. Combine that with other groin and hamstring injuries that have caused him to miss so much time in his career, plus the abdominal and groin problems he had in the offseason, and this is a huge red flag. Maurice Jones-Drew. The week off could go either way for Jones-Drew. Either it will help him shake off a crucial fumble last week and a short-yardage TD run by Greg Jones. Or it will give the Jaguars time to realize they can live without Jones-Drew's help. If it is the latter, it will be a serious problem for those of you who spent a second-round pick on him. Matt Leinart. So now the Cardinals think that some sort of platoon situation at quarterback with Kurt Warner could help the team. Never mind that splitting snaps at quarterback rarely works and whatever success Warner has necessarily reflects poorly on Leinart. It is a backdoor way into a surprising quarterback controversy. Marshawn Lynch. Poor guy can not catch a break with J.P. Losman down following a horrible start on offense for the Bills. If Losman really does miss only two games, the Bills still will have a chance to fix their passing game. But if rookie Trent Edwards is starting, the deep ball will be a non-factor, allowing defenses to gang up on Lynch even more. Lynch looks like the real deal, but he will not produce like it on a team that can't keep anybody healthy. Shaun Alexander. Everybody is saying the right things about how Alexander's broken left wrist will not impact him, but doesn't the progression of the injury sound a lot like last year's foot injury that also was not supposed to be any big deal? Hopefully it will not be a factor if you have him, but I would be worried. Maybe he does not play all that well, then the Seahawks decide to rest him until he truly is 100%. And by then, the missed time has hurt your team just like it did last year. Marc Bulger. You should not be surprised to learn Bulger played with broken ribs and a knee injury. With the beating he has been taking, it is a surprise he has stayed on the field this long. Losing Jackson will put more of a burden on Bulger and increase his chances of a serious injury behind a bad offensive line. There are serious reasons to doubt whether the Rams will be the Rams that we're used to at all this season. |
|
| |
|
09-26-07, 03:23 PM
| #117 |
| "Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak" Join Date: Aug 19, 2005 Location: Orlando, Florida
Posts: 64,496
| Re: Fantasy Football News 2007 Bears Finally Pull Plug on Rex An official announcement from coach Lovie Smith is expected at some point Wednesday afternoon, but the news has already leaked to the point that multiple sources reported Tuesday that the Bears will replace Rex Grossman with Brian Griese beginning Sunday against the Lions. The move has been a long time coming given Grossman's wildly inconsistent play and the intense scrutiny he's been under on a weekly basis despite an 18-8 career record as a starter. That mark includes a 15-5 record since the beginning of last season, but Chicago's defense is largely responsible for that success and Grossman's 31 turnovers during that 20-game span tell a more accurate story of his play. Griese isn't a world-beater, but he's a far more accurate passer and will likely avoid as many momentum-killing turnovers as "Wrecks." However, while Griese may be a real-life upgrade over Grossman, he's no better than a borderline QB2 fantasy option. While the ever-growing legion of Grossman-hating Bears fans finally get their wishas Muhsin Muhammad put it, "I'm glad I catch passes for a living and not throw them"here are some other notes from around football * As the Nashville Tennessean pointed out Wednesday, the Titans' win over the Saints on Monday night marked the 16th start of Vince Young's career. After taking over the starting job from Kerry Collins following the Titans' 0-3 opening last year, Young has gone 10-6 in his first full-season's worth of starts. Over that 16-game span, he's completed 216-of-400 (54.0 percent) passes for 2,492 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. Those numbers are plenty decent on their own for a 24-year-old with an iffy receiving corps, but Young has also rushed 99 times for 624 yards and eight touchdowns to establish himself as an elite fantasy quarterback. Reggie Bush nearly set an NFL record with how quickly he reached 100 career receptions, but it's interesting to note that he has just 21 more rushing yards and the same number of rushing touchdowns despite 85 more carries. Somewhere, Merril Hoge is confused. * Rudi Johnson left Week 3 in the fourth quarter with a hamstring injury and coach Marvin Lewis said Tuesday that he could be in danger of missing Monday night's matchup against the Patriots. In an effort to add backfield depth, the Bengals signed DeDe Dorsey, who suffered a toe injury near the end of preseason and was let go by the Colts after initially being expected to serve as Joseph Addai's backup. Dorsey is an intriguing player who's worth watching, but it's Kenny Watson who'll get the bulk of the snaps if Johnson is sidelined. Watson looked good coming on in relief Sunday after Johnson struggled against the Seahawks, rushing for 60 yards on nine carries. The good news is that playing Monday night gives Johnson extra time to heal up, but the bad news is that unless they also own Watson his fantasy owners will still have to make a lineup decision Sunday morning. * Jake Delhomme left Sunday's game in the fourth quarter with an elbow injury, but an MRI showed no structural damage and the Panthers are officially calling him "day-to-day" with a strain. However, John Clayton of ESPN said "don't be surprised" if Delhomme misses 1-2 weeks while reporting on the situation Tuesday. David Carr is expected to see increased reps in practice this week and would get the call in Week 4 against the Bucs if Delhomme can't go. Carr played well in relief of Delhomme in Week 3, completing 3-of-4 passes for 56 yards, but his taking over as the starter could be bad news for Steve Smith's fantasy stock. Delhomme has plenty of flaws as a quarterback, but his ability to throw a nice deep ball makes him a good fit with Smith's blow-by speed. A former No. 1 overall pick, Carr was just 22-53 as a starter for the Texans, although he did help Andre Johnson pile up plenty of big numbers. * Brian Westbrook racked up 221 total yards and three touchdowns before leaving Sunday's blowout win over the Lions with an apparent rib injury, but further tests Monday instead revealed an abdominal strain. Westbrook is not expected to practice Wednesday and may also sit out Thursday, making it likely that he'll be a game-time decision in Week 4. "Kind of a freak thing," coach Andy Reid said. "We'll know more as we go on." In the meantime, grab Correll Buckhalter. * Hines Ward initially said that he'd be "fine" after leaving Sunday's game with a knee injury and an MRI showed no structural damage, but he was seen on crutches Monday and has been deemed doubtful for Week 4. The fact that he hasn't been ruled out is important given Ward's toughness, but the Steelers may decide to play it safe anyway. Nate Washington would likely step into the starting lineup if Ward doesn't go, but Santonio Holmes could benefit most. Two-Minute Drill: Asked why Clinton Portis sat out the Redskins' final two offensive plays Sunday, coach Joe Gibbs called Portis and Ladell Betts "interchangeable" According to the Arizona Republic, the Cardinals plan to have Kurt Warner run the no-huddle offense "throughout the season," which would knock Matt Leinart's fantasy value down quite a bit Justin McCareins is reportedly on the trading block after dropping a pair of passes in Week 2 and losing snaps to Brad Smith on Sunday Michael Clayton was briefly benched Sunday because of a dropped pass and lost fumble, but later returned to the game and got coach Jon Gruden to say afterward that the Bucs "are going to continue to go back to him" DWI and reckless driving charges against Chris Chambers from mid-July have reportedly been dismissed following a plea bargain. www.tampabaybuccaneers.wswww.therx.wswww.therx.info Red Zone: As expected, the Saints announced Tuesday that Deuce McAllister tore the ACL in his right knee Monday night and will miss the remainder of the season, giving Bush a sizable value boost Coach Mike Holmgren revealed Monday that Shaun Alexander has a crack in his wrist after the team said weeks ago that the injury was a sprain, but Holmgren added that Alexander isn't expected to miss any time Andre Johnson (knee) and Jacoby Jones (shoulder) have officially been ruled out for Week 4, leaving Kevin Walter and Andre Davis as the Texans' starters J.P. Losman's sprained MCL is expected to give rookie Trent Edwards a two-week stint as the Bills' starter heading into the team's Week 6 bye L.J. Smith (groin) is not expected to play in Week 4 and could miss several more games With Mike Brown, Nathan Vasher, Tommie Harris, Charles Tillman, Lance Briggs, Dusty Dvoracek, and Adam Archuleta all either out or hobbled, the Bears' defense is suddenly a lot less imposing. |
|
| |
|
09-26-07, 04:44 PM
| #118 |
| "Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak" Join Date: Aug 19, 2005 Location: Orlando, Florida
Posts: 64,496
| Re: Fantasy Football News 2007 Homer, Sweet Homer I was ridiculed for my decision to draft Brian Westbrook third in one on my leagues. The pre-rank worshipping sheep were quick to pounce, calling me (via message board) "Idiot!" "Moron!" and other names that rhymed with "Flick Bed" and "Pock Lucking Fip Sit". I was prepared for the backlash because, prior to this particular fantasy draft, I made the hasty decision not to hide allegiance for my favorite team and stock it with as many players as possible wearing green jerseys with the wing of an endangered species on their helmets. My quarterback in the early third round? Donovan McNabb. A choice that was also lambasted: "His leg is busted!" "He vomits on the field!" "Hey, I think Greg Lewis will be available next pick, you rube." But I continued, taking Kevin Curtis somewhere in the 13th and then spending my 15th pick on a little Hawaiian sparkplug named Nate Ilaoa. (I am loyal to a fault.) Obviously, three of those picks worked out this weekend, and my questionable, if not abysmal, drafting strategy paid off tremendously this week. By around 3:12 EST on Sunday, I'd pretty much won my week with those three guys. To celebrate I threw a coconut against the wall and wrestled a wild boar. (You were gone but not forgotten, Nate.) Idiocy has its rewards. I've been a card-carrying member since 2001. Let's address this week's list of garbage and gelt. MAIM Reggie Bush, New Orleans Saints Hey, Reg. Great touchdowns. I appreciate the points. However, it's obvious you'll have absolutely no chance at success running the ball 25 times per game. You're like Kordell Stewart without the passing ability and the enlarged goiter. You couldn't bust between the tackles if you were driving an ATV. The Deuce McAllister injury is absolutely the worst thing that can happen to Reggie Bush owners. Hopefully, the Saints realize that this juke diva isn't Earl Campbell or he'll be completely useless by Week 6. Most likely because his he'll be DL'd due to a full-body bruise or some sort of toe ailment. Lee Evans, Buffalo Bills Lee Evans will be on this list every week until he scores a touchdown. At this point, I'll even take 3 catches for 40 yards. Honestly, was every so-called "expert" completely wrong about this guy? Granted the Bills offense is in the toilet, but how come Josh Reed and Peerless Price are catching balls? What is this 2002? Hopefully, The Trent Edwards Experience gives Evans owners the much-needed gas or else he'll be relegated to waiver wire insignificance or become trade bait for kickers. For real -- I'd take Matt Stover for Lee Evans straight up without even blinking right now. Go ahead. Offer it. Relieve yourself of the misery. Owen Daniels, Houston Texans He really didn't do anything wrong and I know he caught seven passes and Andre Johnson's out and Matt Schaub needs somebody to throw zzzz. I just hate players like this. They're always recommended by experts every week because he gets "a lot of looks" or has "some quickness off the ball" or "looks exactly like a young Todd Heap". Honestly, why make such a fuss over a guy that's essentially going to give you the same amount of production as any other spot tight end or third wide receiver at this point? If you need a sub, just go grab somebody and don't even waste any brain cells thinking about it. Thanks, but I'll take a pass on Owen JohnsonJolleyTroupe for now. GUSH Lendale White, Tennessee Titans He's stocky and dangerous, and everybody who watched USC's 2005 team knows that he was the better running back (pure running back) on that squad. However, be wary of LenDale's "character" issues, as he seems like the type of player to go a little gangsta once he enjoys a modicum of success. So, watch LenDale closely this week to make sure he hasn't spent the week robbing Dunkin' Donuts at gunpoint or car-jacking people all over Nashville. Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions Even though he caught two passes in Sunday's Eagles thrashing, it was enough for Johnson owners to still become engorged with excitement. Johnson's legs-akimbo sideline catch was all the evidence needed that this guy is something special. And this is also revealed in a game that showcased the dominance of Roy Williams. However, I think Johnson showed he could be just as good -- or even better. In an offense that throws it 400 times per game, he's a legitimate 12-touchdown threat. Hopefully, the Lions have constructed him his own personal igloo to help heal that back bruise. Brian Griese, Chicago Bears Bernard Berrian owners rejoice. Finally, finally, the dismal displays of that girl-chinned gunslinger Rex Grossman are done ruining the lives of perfectly acceptable third wide receivers. God knows if Griese can throw the ball past 10 yards at this point, so this might just make the situation worse, but it's a step in the right direction for anybody in the world who has a Chicago offensive player on their roster. With Griese under center, even Olin Kreutz might have some fantasy value. |
|
| |
|
09-27-07, 02:44 PM
| #119 |
| "Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak" Join Date: Aug 19, 2005 Location: Orlando, Florida
Posts: 64,496
| Re: Fantasy Football News 2007 Jacobs Worried About Job? Brandon Jacobs is not expected to play in Week 4, but said Wednesday that he's "getting very close" to returning from a sprained knee. The New York Daily News suggested earlier this week that Jacobs "will probably resume his planned 20-25 carries per game" once he returns, but that seems somewhat unlikely given how well Derrick Ward has played in his absence. Ward has averaged 5.1 yards on 54 carries and has also caught 14 passes out of the backfield. Ward's receiving ability alone figures to cut into Jacobs' playing time and it seems doubtful that Ward will return to a true backup role once Jacobs is ready to play again. Jacobs made it clear Wednesday that he expects to resume starting once he's healthy, but then told reporters: "I'll be a starter again at some point in my career, if not here then somewhere else. I don't mind sharing carries with D-Ward. It's good to have two backs who can run." I have little doubt that Jacobs is still the Giants' starter and would bet on him getting the bulk of the workload once he's cleared to return, but those certainly don't sound like the words of a player who expects to be getting 20-25 carries per game. Of course, even 15-18 carries and all the goal-line work would make Jacobs a strong RB2. Coming off 120 total yards on 32 touches in Week 3, Ward remains a solid RB2 play Sunday night against the Eagles. While Jacobs hopes to avoid playing the part of Wally Pipp to Derrick Ward's version of Lou Gehrig, here are some other notes from around football * Chester Taylor was limited in practice Wednesday, but coach Brad Childress reiterated that Taylor remains the Vikings' starter once he gets healthy enough to play. "Chester is the starter and he'll come back and start," Childress said. "It's not going to be any different than I originally planned." Given Adrian Peterson's emergence with Taylor sidelined, the "starter" label remaining with Taylor is similar to Dominic Rhodes getting all 16 starts for the Colts last season. Like Peterson, Joseph Addai quickly showed as a rookie that he was the Colts' best running back, but didn't get his first start until the playoffs. Taylor's injury and the fact that the Vikings don't figure to get into the postseason make their situation somewhat different, but the main point remains. While starting is important, beginning the game on the bench behind a less talented veteran isn't enough to keep a stud rookie from being a major fantasy factor. * Coach Lane Kiffin revealed Wednesday that Josh McCown has a fractured left toe in addition to his sprained right foot, with John Clayton of ESPN reporting that McCown is likely to miss 4-5 games. That'll give Daunte Culpepper an extended audition as Oakland's starter, beginning with a Week 4 matchup against Miami. As Gregg Rosenthal points out over at Pancake Blocks, Culpepper's former Dolphins teammates don't seem overly concerned about facing him. "He's still limping around," Channing Crowder said. "He's not 100 percent. He's still not the Daunte Culpepper of back with Minnesota." After watching Culpepper come on in relief of McCown in Week 3, it's hard to disagree with Crowder's assessment. His mobility is nowhere near where it once was, which figures to magnify his always-questionable decision-making ability. Over his last dozen games, Culpepper has thrown 15 interceptions and eight touchdowns. * Brian Westbrook missed practice on both Wednesday and Thursday of last week before having a monster game Sunday, so his sitting out another Wednesday session this week doesn't mean that he won't suit up in Week 4. "I'm trying to do everything possible to get there," Westbrook said. "I'm preparing myself as if I'm going to play." Meanwhile, Correll Buckhalter practiced fully Wednesday, putting him in line for the start against the Giants if Westbrook can't go. * Ahman Green missed practice Wednesday, with the Houston Chronicle reporting that he's "unlikely to contribute much, if anything" in Week 4 because of a knee injury. Coach Gary Kubiak also said that Green doing anything would be "a big, big bonus," so it sounds like Ron Dayne will be getting the start in his place against the Falcons. Samkon Gado will likely get most of the third-down work and may also steal some early-down carries, but Dayne is a borderline RB2 play. Roy Williams Quote of the Week: Actually, we have a tie this week. First, here's Orch Dork on whether he tips the pizza-delivery guy: "There's no such thing as a tip, but I am really polite and say, 'Thank you, sir.' The pizza man knows, when he comes to my address he's coming for free." Second, here's what he does if a date "wants to go to a nice place": "I'd take her to a nice place, like a Red Lobster or something. It wouldn't be Morton's or nothing like that. I might just take her to the casino and get her a free buffet." Two-Minute Drill: As expected, the Bears have officially benched Rex Grossman in favor of Brian Griese, although Grossman remains No. 2 on the depth chart ahead of fellow former starter Kyle Orton Asked Wednesday how he felt about coach Ken Whisenhunt's stated plan to have Kurt Warner run the no-huddle offense throughout the season, Matt Leinart said: "I know I'm the quarterback of this team" Coach Dick Jauron indicated Wednesday that the already basic Bills offense will get even more simplified for rookie Trent Edwards' first start this week Julius Jones is considering using a new helmet after suffering two concussions during the first three games Following his three-penalty blowup Sunday, the Falcons fined DeAngelo Hall $100,000 and suspended him for at least the first quarter of Week 4. Red Zone: Steven Jackson reportedly has a 40-percent tear of his groin, meaning that missing two weeks is likely the minimum recovery timetable Larry Johnson (hamstring) sat out Wednesday's practice, but coach Herm Edwards said afterward that "he's just sore" and "I'm not concerned" Marc Bulger practiced fully Wednesday and insisted that his broken ribs haven't affected his throwing despite being picked off three times Sunday Listed as doubtful, Hines Ward (knee) sat out practice Wednesday Anquan Boldin (hip) skipped practice Wednesday, but every indication is that he'll be ready for Week 4 Adam Schefter of NFL Network reported Wednesday that David Carr is expected to get the Week 4 start over an injured Jake Delhomme (elbow) Steve McNair looks likely to start this week after putting in a full practice Wednesday, but he'll once again be on a short leash with Kyle Boller waiting in the wings With their bye coming up in Week 5, the Vikings are expected to start Kelly Holcomb again Sunday and give Tarvaris Jackson (groin) an extra two weeks to get healthy. |
|
| |
|
09-27-07, 02:46 PM
| #120 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak" Join Date: Aug 19, 2005 Location: Orlando, Florida
Posts: 64,496
| Re: Fantasy Football News 2007 Week 4 Rankings The running back committee giveth to NFL teams, but it mostly taketh away from fantasy leaguers. Let's be clear: Marion Barber is the exception to the rule. And while Marion the Barbarian's owners should be commended for drafting him, the owners of committee partners in New Orleans, Jacksonville, Atlanta, and Carolina aren't happy. The risk of using a committee back will hit home for Adrian Peterson owners this week. With Chester Taylor likely to return and start, AP's owners have a different player then the every-week fantasy starter they owned during the past few. This week's matchup against the Packers will be a good test of Peterson's value moving forward. If he can light up a solid rush defense while splitting work, he remains a top-15 option. If not, Peterson looks like a matchup play. It's a numbers game. With fewer touches, there are fewer chances to score fantasy points. That's why it's difficult to rank any committee back among the top-12 options in a given week. Marion Barber has beaten the odds so far, but he needs Wade Phillips to change his usage pattern to keep up his pace. Barber clearly deserves more work, but he's going to be overly reliant on touchdowns until that happens. And if you believe Barber is going to keep up his 27-touchdown pace while coming off the bench, I'll trade him to you for a safer top-ten running back. The same goes for Peterson. Week 4 Quarterbacks
QB Notes: Philip Rivers quietly played a fabulous game against the Packers. He was flawless through two and a half quarters and completing passes under pressure. He made some mistakes down the stretch, but it doesn't erase the game. The next step is stretching the field. Facing two Kansas City cornerbacks this week, look for Rivers to find his receivers deep and put up QB1 numbers. Matt Leinart isn't an option against the Steelers, especially with Kurt Warner possibly playing in hurry up situations. I watched Leinart's effort against Baltimore closely, and it wasn't that bad. He held on to the ball too long, but I think Warner got the call because Leinart was too content to take underneath routes. Leinart's subsequent pouting while Warner was leading a comeback will not go down as one of Leinart's proudest moments. Brett Favre was lucky to avoid a couple near-miss interceptions last week, but fantasy owners have to love the aggressive Packers passing game. Playing against Pat Williams and the stout Vikings rush defense is a recipe for 45 pass attempts. The Rams should come out throwing this week. Dallas has vulnerabilities in the secondary and that game has all the makings of a shootout. I would give Marc Bulger one more week. This is the week to use Chad Pennington. Buffalo's defense is in shambles and their secondary wasn't good to begin with. Nate Clements has been worth every penny for the 49ers defense. San Francisco's secondary is greatly improved. Matt Hasselbeck faces his toughest matchup in the NFC West this week, although that's not saying much. I can't remember a week with so many unappealing matchups for quarterbacks. There is a big drop-off after Pennington. Daunte Culpepper has the motivation this week, but it's a major gamble to use him so quickly. Matt Schaub doesn't have his best offensive weapons. Steve McNair and Matt Leinart aren't guaranteed to finish games. Brian Griese and David Carr are unknown quantities on their new team. Joey Harrington is Joey Harrington, whether he's coming off a good game or not. Week 4 Running Backs Note:To get detailed projections for every player ranked in Goal Line Stand, head to Season Pass.RB Notes: Willis McGahee has been solid for the Ravens, although not spectacular considering their weak schedule. It's a good sign for his owners that he already has nine catches, half his total from last season in Baltimore. They are calling some screens for him. In the good news/bad news department, McGahee is second in the NFL with six carries inside the five-yard line. But he hasn't punched any of them in. Jamal Lewis, who he replaced, also hasn't scored on five chances near the stripe. I wouldn't touch Lewis in his revenge game against Baltimore. The Chargers aren't a good matchup for opposing running backs. But I need to be convinced that they are a bad one. Norv Turner is taking a lot of heat, but defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell will ultimately cost the Chargers more games. The new inside linebackers have been average, the secondary is being exposed, and the unit just isn't attacking yet. Teams are attacking LaDainian Tomlinson with run blitzes on predictable running downs. Defenders are getting into backfield and stuffing Tomlinson, although three running backs have been stopped for no gain more: Rudi Johnson, Steven Jackson, and Minnesota's Adrian Peterson. Maybe that's why Peterson sits out some short-yardage plays. The Green Bay running attack continues to confuse, and the entire committee are not options against the Vikings. The Packers may not run 15 times all game and Vernand Morency's return hurts the rest of the group. LaMont Jordan gets another good-looking matchup this week. With another 100-yard effort, it will be very difficult for Lane Kiffin to give Dominic Rhodes a huge role upon returning. Marshawn Lynch owners finally get a break in the schedule with the Jets coming to town. Trent Edwards doesn't help his value, but it's not like J.P. Losman was lighting up the scoreboard. If Julius Jones can't get back on track against the Rams, perhaps Wade Phillips will consider benching him. Jones owners can only hope that he continues to get red zone snaps like last week. Barber moves up the rankings, but I'd still take primary rushers with great matchups over him (Brown vs. Oak, Maroney vs. CIN, Benson vs. DET). If you have the option to sit a top-15 running back, then you don't need my help anyway. It doesn't look like Ahman Green will play, making Ron Dayne a decent low-end RB2 against the Falcons. Rudi Johnson's status is uncertain, but the Bengals' move at running back to sign DeDe Dorsey isn't a great sign. You can only wait until Monday night to find out if you own Kenny Watson. DeShaun Foster, for whatever reason, always crushes the Falcons. Let's see him back up a big week for once before using him as a RB2. Kevin Jones is an option this week against a depleted Bears team, but it's uncertain if he'll see more than ten touches or so. Week 4 Wide Receivers WR Notes: Mark Clayton had his season high with six targets against Arizona, while Demetrius Williams had his season low of four. Derrick Mason, meanwhile, is one of only two wideouts to get at least 12 targets in each game (T.J. Houshmandzadeh is the other). Mason isn't making big plays, but he's a solid WR3 if he's consistently catching the underneath routes. Let's see if he can playing this angry. Brandon Marshall is deservedly getting attention for his huge effort against Jacksonville, although he's consistently made plays all season. With Javon Waker not 100%, Marshall should be featured again this week. He probably won't get deep on the Colts, but Marshall can make big plays after the catch. Vincent Jackson, a very similar player to Marshall, also had a standout game last week. Jackson made three very difficult catches, including a diving grab and a touchdown on a play he wasn't particularly open. I love his matchup against the Chiefs. The Packers pass so much that James Jones and Greg Jennings are solid WR3 options this week against the Vikings. Jones surprisingly led Green Bay in targets last week and Jennings looked healthy. Santonio Holmes gets his chance to be a "number one" wideout against the Cardinals, while Nate Washington is a decent emergency WR3 while starting. Donald Driver is fully recovered from his foot injury. He has been productive throughout the season, but the great plays he made after the catch against San Diego showed that his speed is all the way back. He looks tough to bring down again and knows how to set up defenders with nifty open field moves. T.J. Houshmandzadeh leads the NFL in targets. Despite Chad Johnson's huge start, it's becoming increasingly meaningless to call Housh a "number two" receiver. They are both ones. Plaxico Burress' injuries are annoying, but you can't bench him until he stops scoring touchdowns. Kevin Curtis has almost double the amount of targets (30-16) of Reggie Brown. He's quickly become Donovan McNabb's favorite target. This is a good week for Brown to break out of his slump. He's scored three times in four games against the Giants. Week 4 Tight Ends
TE Notes: There was a lot of concern before the season that Norv Turner wouldn't use Antonio Gates enough because he doesn't have a great history with tight ends. Through three weeks, Gates is second in the NFL in receptions. He's not stretching the field quite as much, but that's a tradeoff fantasy owners will gladly take, especially in PPR leagues. Todd Heap should be fine after suffering a concussion last week against Arizona. Donald Lee and Bubba Franks aren't flashy, but they are consistent. Each Packers has between 4-6 targets. David Martin isn't 100%, so check back this week if you need him in a pinch. Week 4 Team Defense
Week 4 Kickers
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |
|
09-27-07, 04:39 PM
| #121 |
| "Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak" Join Date: Aug 19, 2005 Location: Orlando, Florida
Posts: 64,496
| Re: Fantasy Football News 2007 OK, now it's time to panic What was a troubling game or two can no longer be written off as insignificant and those hopes that a struggling player will bounce back are fleeting. By the end of this week, almost one-quarter of the season will be gone and more than that much of the typical fantasy regular season. At some point, you have to accept that a player is what he is and not what you hoped for. Here are some, beginning with the worst. The Rams. The offense is a mess and every one of the highly drafted players is taking a hit, starting with quarterback Marc Bulger. Last week's three-interception debacle was the worst, of course, but do not look for him to do much better against the high-flying Cowboys. The infection has spread to Torry Holt, who has one 100-yard game in his last 13. And sure, Steven Jackson finally hit 100 yards but, after the team announced he would miss this Sunday's game, there is little reason for hope. His replacement is rookie Brian Leonard. But the offensive line is a mess and three out of their next four are against Dallas, Baltimore and at Seattle. Good luck with that. Lee Evans. He was kind of a sneaky pick among the fantasy cognoscenti after his strong 2006 but can't we all just put ourselves out of misery now? He has five catches for 28 yards this year. Kevin Curtis nearly matched him in three plays last week. And with rookie Trent Edwards poised to take over, the only hope is that defenses fall asleep on Evans. They would be completely justified. Matt Leinart. This guy is supposed to be used to the spotlight, but he looks more like a deer in the headlights. Another poor game against the Steelers will open the door to a quarterback controversy but there is hope because he still is so young. Larry Johnson. He will be rapping about his offensive linemen before much longer, although he has one more difficult game against the Chargers before things get easier. His carries have gone from 10 in Week 1 to 16 to 24, though his yards per carry have gone from 4.3 to 1.8. Still, with the lighter schedule looming, trade for him. Maurice Jones-Drew. The Jaguars' early bye week might help Jones-Drew because the Jaguars appeared almost ready to move on without him after a costly fumble last week. Whatever magic the pint-sized back had last year is gone and he just gets engulfed on every touch. Use this early bye to see if you too can get by without him. Willis McGahee. Not a total waste and playing the Browns should give him at least one first of the year, either 100 yards or a rushing TD. But if you were expecting a star, adjust yourself way down. He is a modest start only rarely a star. Around the league www.tampabaybuccaneers.wswww.therx.wswww.therx.info It is a little early in the season to get fired up about an individual matchup, but one of the most intriguing this week is Denver at Indianapolis. The Broncos lead the league with only 81.3 passing yards allowed per game, thanks to cornerbacks Champ Bailey and Dre Bly. Sitting Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne or Marvin Harrison is not an option, obviously. And the Colts also have turned into more of a running team, where the Broncos have struggled. Remember that bye weeks also will be a factor for the next seven weeks. It is an obvious reminder but be sure to adjust your lineups accordingly, especially with kickers and defenses where you might not have much depth. |
|
| |
|
09-28-07, 09:18 AM
| #122 |
| "Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak" Join Date: Aug 19, 2005 Location: Orlando, Florida
Posts: 64,496
| Re: Fantasy Football News 2007 Matchups: Don't Give Up Yet After three weeks of action, we're getting to the point where injuries are becoming significant and dramatically affecting matchup analysis. Not only are players like Deuce McAllister and Steven Jackson out of fantasy lineups, but offenses are missing stud left tackles like Orlando Pace and Jonathan Ogden, while defenses have seen difference-makers like Tommie Harris and Lance Briggs go down. The impact these players have on the performance of the teams is as much, if not more, than losing a skill position player. Take Pace, for example. In the first nine weeks of the 2006 season, when Pace was healthy, Marc Bulger averaged 6.8 yards per pass and threw only one interception while averaging 24 fantasy points per game. Pace went down for the year in Week 10. Over those last eight weeks, Bulger averaged 5.6 yards per pass, threw seven interceptions, and averaged 19 fantasy points per game. That's bigger than the difference between Peyton Manning and Drew Brees. While it's pretty much impossible to quantify the effects that losing one specific player will have on a particular offense or defense, these are things to keep in mind as you set your matchups for the week and try to determine how a player is affected by the team he's actually facing, not the team he would've faced at the beginning of the campaign. FONT SIZE="+1">Quarterback The most fascinating matchup of the week is Peyton Manning against the Broncos. Manning's been death from above for the Broncos since Reggie Wayne emerged as his secondary target in 2002. Including the playoff games and ignoring a Week 17 performance where Manning only played one drive, Manning's averaged over 26 fantasy points per game against the Broncos. However, the Broncos defense has changed; previously, Manning would pick on whichever cornerback was across from Champ Bailey. Now, though, the very effective Dre' Bly is across from Bailey, not Roc Alexander. Furthermore, through three weeks, the Broncos pass defense has been otherworldly, albeit against middling passing offenses. Should you bench Manning this week? It seems almost impossible, but if you play in a deep league and have a very good quarterback behind him with an excellent matchup (e.g. Tony Romo vs. St. Louis or even Jeff Garcia vs. Carolina), I'd consider benching Manning this week. Against great pass defenses, Manning averages only 17 fantasy points per start -- still a decent number, but numbers in line with Tom Brady's performance last year with no receivers as opposed to the usual dominance of Manning. The Arizona quarterback situation is all a mess with Matt Leinart and Kurt Warner splitting time last week. While it's possible we may see the Warner Package again this week from the Cardinals, it doesn't really matter who gets the bulk of the playing time when the Cardinals are up against a Steelers pass defense that has pulverized opposing quarterbacks this year. Leave them on your bench. The bloom is coming off the rose of Derek Anderson, and with Baltimore rolling into town, well, expect much bloom to be removed forcefully and at great velocity. Anderson has no place in your lineup this week. The Kansas City offense has shown little to nothing this season, and Damon Huard is rumored to be on the hotseat. With that being said, Huard's up this week against a porous Chargers secondary, and with the Chargers at home, expect the Chiefs to be trailing for most of the game. If Huard doesn't get benched, he's likely to have 300+ yards while throwing 40 + attempts. Identifying and playing those quarterbacks in proper weeks are hidden ways to pick up points in fantasy. While the Giants put it together for a half last week and were able to come back and defeat Washington, the reasons why had more to do with Joe Gibbs' and Al Saunders' collective chutzpah than a great performance from the secondary. The Redskins ran their screen- and sweep-based offense without allowing for the fact that the Giants are effective at tackling out in the flat and are good in pursuit, but struggle with passes in the middle of the field and counter plays. The Eagles are one of the best teams in the leagues at matching their gameplan to the opposition's defensive weaknesses, and they also love to get the ball to their receivers in short-distance situations and allow them to exploit poor tackling; Donovan McNabb had the highest yards after catch average in the league for passes he threw in 2006, and he was second in 2005. Expect the Eagles to exploit the Giants secondary with short passes, and while McNabb won't put up the numbers he did last week, 300 yards is entirely possible. FONT SIZE="+1">Running Back You can also expect Brian Westbrook to put up a big game against the Giants, either through the air, on the ground, or if the Eagles want to break the Giants' fans hearts again, in the return game. Ignoring his return numbers, Westbrook's averaged 24.5 points against the Giants since 2003. Of course, Westbrook is a must-play every week, but expect huge things out of him. While we at Football Outsiders expected the Oakland pass defense to be swell this year, we weren't as sanguine about their ability to stop the run. With that being said, they've been far worse than we expected so far, as they've had the worst rush defense in football through three weeks. Expect Ronnie Brown to exploit that in much the same way he exploited the Jets' leaky run defense last week. The second-worst rush defense in the league has been Detroit, who should be better considering the amount of money being paid to their defensive tackles, Shaun Rogers and Cory Redding. They go up against Cedric Benson and the Bears this week, and with Brian Griese arising to the starter's chair, expect the Bears to play it conservatively this week and pound the ball with Benson. He's a good play. The other struggling rush defense is Buffalo, who were manhandled by the Patriots last week. The Jets don't offer the same downfield threat, but the struggles open up possibilities for Thomas Jones, who finally had his big game last week in the defeat of Miami. He's likely to see 100 yards again on Sunday. As good as Minnesota's run defense was last year, it's been even better through three weeks this season. This week's unlucky victim is the Packers cavalcade of backs, who already are splitting time to begin with. None of them are worth a play on your roster this week; bench DeShawn Wynn, Vernand Morency, Brandon Jackson, Edgar Bennett, Dorsey Levens, Darrell Thompson, Eddie Lee Ivery...just make sure no running back with GB in his team name is in your lineup this week. Not to dump on Cleveland's surprisingly potent offense through three weeks, but Jamal Lewis' matchup against his old mates in Baltimore isn't likely to be a pretty one. Expect Lewis to put up one of his 15-carry, 48 yard specials. FONT SIZE="+1">Wide Reciever While I did mention my reservations about playing Peyton Manning or the Arizona crew this week at quarterback, I can't say the same about playing their wideouts. We're not sure how either team will cover the assorted weaponry of their quarterbacks, so it's entirely possible that Marvin Harrison could have a big game while Reggie Wayne gets shut out, or Dallas Clark has a big game while Harrison and Wayne both put up pedestrian numbers. Play your wideouts as you normally would in those situations, and hope for the best. Has everyone gotten off the Lee Evans bandwagon yet? Fortunately, I'm sure you all listened to the emergency exit and evacuation procedures when you hopped on, so everyone should be ok. Evans represents one of the great buy low, sell high opportunities in fantasy history at the moment, and that starts right now, as he's up against a Jets pass defense that has looked very iffy the first three weeks of the season. While Darnelle Revis is going to be a very good corner in the league someday, those who have played opposite him have looked absolutely awful. The Jets don't match up their corners regularly against a specific wideout, so even with Trent Edwards behind center, get Evans in there. He had two 90+ yard games against the Jets last year, and averaged 18 points in the two matchups. Of course, the Buffalo secondary hasn't looked very good either. While Terrence McGee is likely to be back this week, it's not as if he's, say, Nate Clements. Watch out for big days from Jerricho Cotchery and Laveranues Coles. The Giants will also be struggling with the Eagles receivers this week. The wideout best-positioned to benefit from that is actually Kevin Curtis, the best short-yardage receiver the Eagles have. Expect Curtis to operate over the middle and put up, oh, half the yardage he did last week while still being effective. Remember how I said Evans was one of the great buy low, sell high opportunities in history? Curtis will join him after this week. The Dallas pass defense has been pretty stout the last couple of weeks, even without Terence Newman in a full-time role. As Newman returns to health, the Cowboys defense will get even stouter, and that does not bode well for the decaying remains of the Rams offense. Keep Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce out of your lineup this week. FONT SIZE="+1">Tight End Smart starts: Matt Schobel (PHI), Jeff King (CAR), Heath Miller (PIT) Avoid: Visante Shiancoe (MIN), David Martin (MIA) |
|
| |
|
09-28-07, 02:44 PM
| #123 |
| "Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak" Join Date: Aug 19, 2005 Location: Orlando, Florida
Posts: 64,496
| Re: Fantasy Football News 2007 Updates Galore There are a whole bunch of important injury situations to update heading into the weekend, so I'll try to keep today's rambling introduction somewhat brief. However, I can't let the week come to a close without first pointing out two amusing things that I stumbled across. First, new Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt made a funny at former coach Dennis Green's expense Thursday when asked what it's like to have Anquan Boldin at his disposal. www.tampabaybuccaneers.wswww.therx.wswww.therx.info "He is what we thought he was," Whisenhunt said, channeling Green's press-conference blowup following last season's loss to the Bears. As a Minnesotan perhaps I'm just used to Brad Childress' humorless media briefings, but I definitely like Whisenhunt more after hearing that. Second, because Daily Dose has essentially become home to daily updates on random stuff that Roy Williams does to amuse me, I feel it's now my duty to defend him against recent criticism. As usual Williams has been talking a big game leading up to the Lions' Week 4 matchup against the Bears, which has predictably rubbed a lot of people (including Brian Urlacher) the wrong way. However, Orch Dork made it clear Thursday that he respects the Bears and is merely having some fun. Plus, as the Detroit Free Press points out, it would probably be difficult to take Williams' trash-talking seriously if you actually got to look at him while he did it. Here's the scene as described in Friday's newspaper: "Williams was dressed in a bright red t-shirt with a gold championship belt slung over his shoulder, like a boxer. The belt was for a video-game football competition among his teammates. 'This is the Madden belt,' Williams boasted. 'I'm the Madden champion.' Williams said he soon would win the championship belts for dominoes, spades, and tonk too, and be the 'undisputed, unanimous' champ of the locker room." While Williams cements his status as a slightly less crazy version of Clinton Portisthat's meant as a compliment, although it admittedly does still leave an awful lot of room for crazyhere are some other notes from around football * Brandon Jacobs' chances of playing this week seemingly improved quite a bit Thursday, as he reportedly took part in most of practice before stopping towards the end because his sprained knee "got kind of stiff." At this point Jacobs looks likely to be a game-time decision, although the picture should become clearer depending on whether or not he practices Friday. "I feel good, I feel like I can go," Jacobs said. "But that doesn't necessarily mean I'll get the chance to go." Meanwhile, Derrick Ward was reportedly somewhat limited in that same practice Thursday because of an ankle injury. Coach Tom Coughlin said afterward that he expects Ward to play in Week 4, but his own status means far less than Jacobs' in terms of protecting Ward's potential fantasy value. If Jacobs sits out, Ward is a solid RB2 play. If Jacobs plays, even on a limited basis, Ward is suddenly a very iffy option. * With both Rod Coleman and Jonathan Babineaux out for the Falcons, whoever starts at running back for the Texans in Week 4 will have a very nice matchup. It's looking more and more like that person will be Ron Dayne after coach Gary Kubiak said Thursday that Ahman Green figures to be a game-time decision. Green agreed with Kubiak's assessment, saying that he'll know what the plan is "when I wake up in the morning that day." Barring a change, Dayne is a nice RB2 play. * Plaxico Burress visited an ankle specialist earlier this week and was told that he has what the Giants are calling "a serious sprain to his right ankle." The team issued a statement Thursday saying that "the best prescription for this injury is rest," but the plan is reportedly for Burress to play through the injury while cutting down on his practice time. As Burress put it Thursday when asked about his status: "There's no question, I will play." * Rudi Johnson has officially been ruled out for Monday night's game, with Kenny Watson set to start in his place against the Patriots. The Bengals don't figure to have much success on the ground and may abandon the running game early, but Watson's receiving skills might make him an even better bet to rack up solid yardage if that happens. DeDe Dorsey will also be in the mix, but expect Watson to see all of the third-down work and the bulk of the carries. * As expected, Brian Westbrook sat out Thursday's practice after doing the same Wednesday. As of Friday morning no official word has been given on his status for Week 4, but it seems likely that Westbrook will be at best a game-time decision against the Giants. Meanwhile, Correll Buckhalter was removed from the Eagles' injury report after practicing fully Thursday and would carry most of the load if Westbrook can't go. Check back Saturday for a clearer picture. * It's usually safe to assume that Kellen Winslow will play and play well through whatever happens to be his latest injury, but there's some doubt this week. Winslow missed practice on both Wednesday and Thursday after suffering a partially dislocated left shoulder in Week 3. The same injury cost Clinton Portis significant time last season and Winslow's matchup isn't a strong one anyway given that the Ravens have allowed just 31 yards to tight ends through three games. * After Larry Johnson sat out practice Wednesday with a hamstring injury, coach Herm Edwards said, "I'm not concerned. He's just sore." However, after Johnson sat out Thursday's practice too, Edwards changed his tune slightly. Asked if Johnson would play this week, Edwards said, "I don't know that. I would say he is." A dinged up Johnson isn't a good bet against the Chargers' run defense, so you'll want to check back on his status before setting your lineup Sunday. Two-Minute Drill: Coach Scott Linehan confirmed Thursday that rookie Brian Leonard is "going to get the starter's carries" in place of Steven Jackson (groin) Asked Thursday about Kevin Jones' (foot) status, offensive coordinator Mike Martz said that he's not sure about handing him an increased workload because Jones is "still a little rusty" and "we've got to be careful with him" According to Pro Football Talk, Tony Romo's agent asked for a Peyton Manning-like $30 million in guaranteed money during contract negotiations and was predictably shot down by the Cowboys Brodie Croyle could be close to taking over as the Chiefs' starter after coach Herm Edwards said Thursday that he might replace Damon Huard even if he avoids playing poorly in Week 4 Despite signing Byron Leftwich, the Falcons are reportedly considering trading for Andrew Walter With the Bengals playing Monday night, T.J. Houshmandzadeh took his usual midweek day off Thursday instead of Wednesday Despite a pair of touchdowns last week, the Tampa Tribune doesn't expect Earnest Graham to be a big part of the Bucs' offense. Red Zone: Anquan Boldin (hip) missed his second straight practice Thursday, but is said to have made significant progress with an eye towards playing in Week 4 Coach Mike Shanahan indicated Thursday that Javon Walker (knee) would be a game-time decision this week, but Walker said that he'll "definitely" suit up against the Colts Hines Ward (knee) missed practice again Thursday, signaling that he's likely to sit out Week 4 and be replaced by Nate Washington Chester Taylor (hip) was limited in practice Thursday, but remains expected to start Sunday Calvin Johnson (back) sat out practice Thursday, but coach Rod Marinelli said afterward that he expects Megatron to play this week Donald Driver (toe) practiced fully Thursday and appears ready for a solid matchup against the Vikings Coach Brad Childress has refused to rule Tarvaris Jackson (groin) out, but all indications are that Kelly Holcomb will make his second start Sunday While he was having the torn ACL and meniscus in his left knee repaired Thursday, Deuce McAllister also had a "clean up" procedure done on his right knee. |
|
| |
|
09-29-07, 08:49 AM
| #124 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak" Join Date: Aug 19, 2005 Location: Orlando, Florida
Posts: 64,496
| Re: Fantasy Football News 2007 Week 4 Rankings Update Note: The Rankings were updated Friday evening. The running back committee giveth to NFL teams, but it mostly taketh away from fantasy leaguers. Let's be clear: Marion Barber is the exception to the rule. And while Marion the Barbarian's owners should be commended for drafting him, the owners of committee partners in New Orleans, Jacksonville, Atlanta, and Carolina aren't happy. www.tampabaybuccaneers.wswww.therx.wswww.therx.info The risk of using a committee back will hit home for Adrian Peterson owners this week. With Chester Taylor likely to return and start, AP's owners have a different player then the every-week fantasy starter they owned during the past few. This week's matchup against the Packers will be a good test of Peterson's value moving forward. If he can light up a solid rush defense while splitting work, he remains a top-15 option. If not, Peterson looks like a matchup play. It's a numbers game. With fewer touches, there are fewer chances to score fantasy points. That's why it's difficult to rank any committee back among the top-12 options in a given week. Marion Barber has beaten the odds so far, but he needs Wade Phillips to change his usage pattern to keep up his pace. Barber clearly deserves more work, but he's going to be overly reliant on touchdowns until that happens. And if you believe Barber is going to keep up his 27-touchdown pace while coming off the bench, I'll trade him to you for a safer top-ten running back. The same goes for Peterson. Note:To get detailed stat projections for every player ranked in Goal Line Stand, head to Season Pass. Week 4 Quarterbacks
QB Notes: Philip Rivers quietly played a fabulous game against the Packers. He was flawless through two and a half quarters and completing passes under pressure. He made some mistakes down the stretch, but it doesn't erase the game. The next step is stretching the field. Facing two Kansas City cornerbacks this week, look for Rivers to find his receivers deep and put up QB1 numbers. Matt Leinart isn't an option against the Steelers, especially with Kurt Warner possibly playing in hurry up situations. I watched Leinart's effort against Baltimore closely, and it wasn't that bad. He held on to the ball too long, but I think Warner got the call because Leinart was too content to take underneath routes. Leinart's subsequent pouting while Warner was leading a comeback will not go down as one of Leinart's proudest moments. Brett Favre was lucky to avoid a couple near-miss interceptions last week, but fantasy owners have to love the aggressive Packers passing game. Playing against Pat Williams and the stout Vikings rush defense is a recipe for 45 pass attempts. The Rams should come out throwing this week. Dallas has vulnerabilities in the secondary and that game has all the makings of a shootout. I would give Marc Bulger one more week. This is the week to use Chad Pennington. Buffalo's defense is in shambles and their secondary wasn't good to begin with. Nate Clements has been worth every penny for the 49ers defense. San Francisco's secondary is greatly improved. Matt Hasselbeck faces his toughest matchup in the NFC West this week, although that's not saying much. I can't remember a week with so many unappealing matchups for quarterbacks. There is a big drop-off after Pennington. Daunte Culpepper has the motivation this week, but it's a major gamble to use him so quickly. Matt Schaub doesn't have his best offensive weapons. Steve McNair and Matt Leinart aren't guaranteed to finish games. Brian Griese and David Carr are unknown quantities on their new team. Joey Harrington is Joey Harrington, whether he's coming off a good game or not. Week 4 Running Backs
RB Notes: Willis McGahee has been solid for the Ravens, although not spectacular considering their weak schedule. It's a good sign for his owners that he already has nine catches, half his total from last season in Baltimore. They are calling some screens for him. In the good news/bad news department, McGahee is second in the NFL with six carries inside the five-yard line. But he hasn't punched any of them in. Jamal Lewis, who he replaced, also hasn't scored on five chances near the stripe. I wouldn't touch Lewis in his revenge game against Baltimore. The Chargers aren't a good matchup for opposing running backs. But I need to be convinced that they are a bad one. Norv Turner is taking a lot of heat, but defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell will ultimately cost the Chargers more games. The new inside linebackers have been average, the secondary is being exposed, and the unit just isn't attacking yet. Teams are attacking LaDainian Tomlinson with run blitzes on predictable running downs. Defenders are getting into backfield and stuffing Tomlinson, although three running backs have been stopped for no gain more: Rudi Johnson, Steven Jackson, and Minnesota's Adrian Peterson. Maybe that's why Peterson sits out some short-yardage plays. The Green Bay running attack continues to confuse, and the entire committee are not options against the Vikings. The Packers may not run 15 times all game and Vernand Morency's return hurts the rest of the group. LaMont Jordan gets another good-looking matchup this week. With another 100-yard effort, it will be very difficult for Lane Kiffin to give Dominic Rhodes a huge role upon returning. Marshawn Lynch owners finally get a break in the schedule with the Jets coming to town. Trent Edwards doesn't help his value, but it's not like J.P. Losman was lighting up the scoreboard. If Julius Jones can't get back on track against the Rams, perhaps Wade Phillips will consider benching him. Jones owners can only hope that he continues to get red zone snaps like last week. Barber moves up the rankings, but I'd still take primary rushers with great matchups over him (Brown vs. Oak, Maroney vs. CIN, Benson vs. DET). If you have the option to sit a top-15 running back, then you don't need my help anyway. It doesn't look like Ahman Green will play, making Ron Dayne a decent low-end RB2 against the Falcons. Rudi Johnson's status is uncertain, but the Bengals' move at running back to sign DeDe Dorsey isn't a great sign. You can only wait until Monday night to find out if you own Kenny Watson. DeShaun Foster, for whatever reason, always crushes the Falcons. Let's see him back up a big week for once before using him as a RB2. Kevin Jones is an option this week against a depleted Bears team, but it's uncertain if he'll see more than ten touches or so. Week 4 Wide Receivers
For more matchup talk, check out the Fantasy Fix WR Notes: Mark Clayton had his season high with six targets against Arizona, while Demetrius Williams had his season low of four. Derrick Mason, meanwhile, is one of only two wideouts to get at least 12 targets in each game (T.J. Houshmandzadeh is the other). Mason isn't making big plays, but he's a solid WR3 if he's consistently catching the underneath routes. Let's see if he can playing this angry. Brandon Marshall is deservedly getting attention for his huge effort against Jacksonville, although he's consistently made plays all season. With Javon Waker not 100%, Marshall should be featured again this week. He probably won't get deep on the Colts, but Marshall can make big plays after the catch. Vincent Jackson, a very similar player to Marshall, also had a standout game last week. Jackson made three very difficult catches, including a diving grab and a touchdown on a play he wasn't particularly open. I love his matchup against the Chiefs. The Packers pass so much that James Jones and Greg Jennings are solid WR3 options this week against the Vikings. Jones surprisingly led Green Bay in targets last week and Jennings looked healthy. Santonio Holmes gets his chance to be a "number one" wideout against the Cardinals, while Nate Washington is a decent emergency WR3 while starting. Donald Driver is fully recovered from his foot injury. He has been productive throughout the season, but the great plays he made after the catch against San Diego showed that his speed is all the way back. He looks tough to bring down again and knows how to set up defenders with nifty open field moves. T.J. Houshmandzadeh leads the NFL in targets. Despite Chad Johnson's huge start, it's becoming increasingly meaningless to call Housh a "number two" receiver. They are both ones. Plaxico Burress' injuries are annoying, but you can't bench him until he stops scoring touchdowns. Kevin Curtis has almost double the amount of targets (30-16) of Reggie Brown. He's quickly become Donovan McNabb's favorite target. This is a good week for Brown to break out of his slump. He's scored three times in four games against the Giants. Week 4 Tight Ends
TE Notes: There was a lot of concern before the season that Norv Turner wouldn't use Antonio Gates enough because he doesn't have a great history with tight ends. Through three weeks, Gates is second in the NFL in receptions. He's not stretching the field quite as much, but that's a tradeoff fantasy owners will gladly take, especially in PPR leagues. Todd Heap should be fine after suffering a concussion last week against Arizona. Donald Lee and Bubba Franks aren't flashy, but they are consistent. Each Packers has between 4-6 targets. David Martin isn't 100%, so check back this week if you need him in a pinch. Week 4 Team Defense
Week 4 Kickers
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |
|
09-29-07, 02:24 PM
| #125 |
| "Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak" Join Date: Aug 19, 2005 Location: Orlando, Florida
Posts: 64,496
| Re: Fantasy Football News 2007 Last Minute Decisions Welcome to Last Minute Decisions, your final stopping point before setting your lineups Sunday morning. Each week I'll tell you Game-Time Decisions to watch and provide matchup rundowns you won't find anywhere else. Make sure to check Rotoworld early Sunday for the latest news around the NFL, including each team's inactives. Week 4 Game-Time Decisions www.tampabaybuccaneers.wswww.therx.infowww.therx.ws Arms Jake Delhomme doubtful, look for David Carr to struggle against Bucs Chad Pennington not sure why he's "questionable," he will start @ BUF Tarvaris Jackson could be active backup to Kelly Holcomb against Pack Wides Javon Walker a game-time decision and risky play against Colts' zone Plaxico Burress expected to play despite missing practice all week long Anquan Boldin listed as doubtful, Bryant Johnson likely to start vs. PIT Jerricho Cotchery highly likely to start, should be in all lineups @ BUF Calvin Johnson Lions say he'll go, check morning inactives on Rotoworld Greg Jennings called probable, but make sure to check back on Sunday Donte' Stallworth expected to start, but barely has been targeted so far Troy Williamson probable, but may not regain starting job immediately Ike Hilliard Bucs' starting flanker expected to play against the Panthers Tim Carter Travis Wilson, Joshua Cribbs to split No. 3 duties in Cleveland Demetrius Williams, Mark Clayton Williams expected to draw start, with Clayton working primarily on passing downs against Browns Backs Brian Westbrook betting he'll play, keep him penciled in for night game Laurence Maroney likely to play in must-start matchup Monday night Ahman Green Ron Dayne expected to start; Green likely to be inactive Chester Taylor will return to starting lineup against tough GB defense Derrick Ward, Brandon Jacobs Ward slated to start, Jacobs likely to sit Brandon Jackson didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday, will likely sit Vernand Morency most signs point to Morency playing, starting @ MIN Ends Kellen Winslow shoulder is partially dislocated but is expected to start Dallas Clark nicked knee Thursday but will certainly play vs. Broncos Matt Spaeth doubtful, Heath Miller could see more targets in red zone Legs None of note Already Ruled Out for Week 4 Arms J.P. Losman Trent Edwards starting may actually bode well for Lee Evans Josh McCown Daunte Culpepper to make 2007 starting debut at Miami Wides Andre Johnson, Jacoby Jones Andre' Davis to start; don't pick him up Hines Ward Nate Washington to start in favorable matchup at Arizona Terry Glenn remains out indefinitely, worth dropping in deeper leagues Eddie Kennison progressing but uncertain to regain job when he's back D.J. Hackett out until at least Week 9 with severely high-sprained ankle Chris Henry time to start thinking about stashing Henry if he's available Eric Parker Rookie Craig Davis needs to step up to keep his starting job Steve Smith (Giants) rookie remains out indefinitely w/shoulder injury Tab Perry Glenn Holt currently filling in as Cincinnati's third receiver Jason Hill lingering hamstring has promising 49ers' rookie on the mend Roy Hall Ohio State rookie out at least three weeks with bum shoulder Backs Steven Jackson Brian Leonard expected to get 20-25 touches at least Rudi Johnson expected back in Week 6, Kenny Watson to start on MNF Dominic Rhodes will return from suspension in time for Week 6 @ SD T.J. Duckett Kevin Jones taking over as Lions' go-to back on goal line Michael Bush seems likely to go on I.R. with LaMont Jordan cruising Mike Bell backup FB has concussion, can safely be dropped by owners Ricky Williams will apply for reinstatement on October 2, claims agent Ends Vernon Davis should be held onto by his owners; expect big second half L.J. Smith return uncertain, Matt Schobel and Brent Celek are filling in Legs None of note Week 4 Matchups to Exploit/Avoid Bears @ Lions Game Time: Sunday 12:00 CT/1:00 ET As you may already know, the Bears enter Sunday's contest extremely banged up. Starting cornerbacks Charles Tillman and Nathan Vasher, and weak-side linebacker Lance Briggs, will likely be in street clothes. Pass-rushing DT Tommie Harris is a game-time decision. Free safety Mike Brown is already on injured reserve, and SS Adam Archuleta is playing with a busted hand. The NFL's top passing offense figures to enjoy more success against seventh-round rookie Trumaine McBride and normal nickel man Ricky Manning Jr., who will start on the corners for Chicago. Both Manning and McBride are 5-9, which presents serious matchup problems against Calvin Johnson (6-4/237) and Roy Williams (6-2/212). The Lions expect Johnson to play, and while he should be checked on Sunday morning, pencil the No. 2 overall pick into your fantasy lineup for now. The Lions' frequent use of four-receiver sets allows their wideouts to catch opposing DBs in man coverage, making it likely that Cal and Roy will get numerous run-after-the-catch opportunities On the other side, Brian Griese has taken over for Rex Grossman as Chicago's starting quarterback. Griese may lack what Grossman offers in terms of arm strength, but Bob's son is no bum. Griese has thrown at least 19 touchdown passes four times in his eight seasons pro and excels at ball protection. Against the NFL's second-worst pass defense, a two-touchdown day seems likely. And concerns about the downfall of Bernard Berrian's fantasy potential should be minimal. Berrian remains Chicago's best receiver hands down, and if anything should rack up more catches underneath. He may not catch balls over his shoulder as often as he would have with Grossman under center, but his value could escalate in points-per-reception leagues because Griese is accurate and Berrian will continue to create separation from defensive backs on a regular basis. Packers @ Vikings Game Time: Sunday 12:00 CT/1:00 ET After missing workouts on both Thursday and Friday as a result of a shin-injury flare up, Brandon Jackson is likely to be inactive when Green Bay heads to the Metrodome for Sunday's tilt. Vernand Morency is listed as probable and is virtually certain to be the Packers' lead back after a strong week of practice. That doesn't make Morency a usable fantasy player, however. The Vikings boasted the NFL's top defense against the run last season and are off to another fast start, currently ranking third versus the ground game through three weeks. Minnesota has its health and is getting terrific play from linebackers E.J. Henderson, Ben Leber, and Chad Greenway. Morency should be claimed off fantasy waiver wires and monitored to get an idea of his role moving forward, but kept on benches for a near impossible matchup On the other side, Vikings coach Brad Childress' pet project Tarvaris Jackson will spend his second consecutive week on the sidelines. Kelly Holcomb picks up another start, just his second since the 2005 season. Holcomb didn't turn the ball over last week against Kansas City, but was a sitting duck for Tamba Hali (2 sacks) and the just-returned Jared Allen (8 tackles, 2 sacks, FF). Playing against a much better all-around defense this week, the takeaways figure to come. If Green Bay's fantasy defense has been keeping your waiver wire warm, it's time to pick up the Packers and use them against the 34-year-old Holcomb and his pathetic array of pass catchers. No Viking is a good fantasy option in the game. Bucs @ Panthers Game Time: Sunday 3:05 CT/4:05 ET Due to Jake Delhomme's elbow strain, David Carr is slated to start Sunday, which could be a big problem for the 2-1 Panthers. Carr never exhibited quality pocket presence during his starting days in Houston and was a constant drain on Andre Johnson's yard-per-catch. Facing a strict zone defense in Tampa Bay's that is designed to limit YPC, big yardage totals for any of the Panthers' outside receivers may be hard to come by. But for Jeff King, that may not be the case. Athletic tight ends like King have been known to excel against the Tampa 2 scheme, and since Carr did show an affinity for throwing to his tight end as a Texan, we can make an educated guess that King will be on his radar more often than not. Already the ninth-ranked fantasy player at his position through three games, King should be in line for another solid day. The 6-5/253-pound specimen is an emerging weapon in the red zone. Bengals @ Patriots Game Time: Sunday 3:05 CT/4:05 ET The Patriots appear to be playing games with the injury report again. The NFL tried to make changes to thwart teams' abilities to hide injuries from their opponents and the public, but it isn't working too well. Laurence Maroney (groin) was listed as having been limited in practice throughout the week and called "questionable" (50-50) to face Cincinnati when official designations were released Friday. That doesn't mean he's in any danger of missing the contest, however. The Patriots' beat writers have treated the apparent injury as a non-issue, and with the Bengals unbelievably thin at middle linebacker because of injuries to Caleb Miller and starter Ahmad Brooks, Maroney makes for a must start. He's due to break a long one after losing short-yardage carries to Sammy Morris and Heath Evans through the first three games. The yardage is already there. Check the pre-game inactives Monday night and try to have Kenny Watson or Morris in reserve just in case, but Maroney should be fine to start and produce big time On the other side and speaking of Watson, the opportunity will be there for the former Redskin and third-down ace to have a stellar day in points-per-reception leagues. The Bengals would be smart to avoid Vince Wilfork, Adalius Thomas, and the rest of New England's stout starting front seven by testing the Pats through the air. If there is a liability in New England's defense, it's in the secondary with Rodney Harrison still serving out his four-game suspension and free safety Eugene Wilson at less than full health. 50 pass attempts for Carson Palmer seem likely, and Watson will be on the field nearly every down due to Rudi Johnson's crippling hamstring injury. Because the Bengals don't throw to their tight ends often and have no capable option at third receiver currently, Watson will be just behind wideouts Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh in the pecking order for targets. Count on a ton of catches for the journeyman running back. |
|
| |
|
10-01-07, 02:08 PM
| #126 |
| "Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak" Join Date: Aug 19, 2005 Location: Orlando, Florida
Posts: 64,496
| Re: Fantasy Football News 2007 Off the Schneid? Larry Johnson (128 total yards) and LaDainian Tomlinson (154 total yards, TD) snapped out of their funks Sunday, but they did it in very different ways. LJ, buoyed by a suddenly competent passing attack, closed strong with a sturdy second half. Tomlinson, in yet another example that last year is long over, was held to 16 second half yards while the Chargers tried to nurse a lead and failed at home to the Chiefs. Tampabaybuccaneers.com Tomlinson started his inevitable climb up the fantasy point totals, but there were some signs for concern. When was the last time you saw Tomlinson get pulled down from behind like Bernard Pollard did? Tomlinson was also slightly limping late in the game. Like Johnson, Tomlinson's biggest worries are his teammates. San Diego's line couldn't protect Philip Rivers, and Rivers is subsequently struggling to keep defenses honest. Tomlinson and Johnson owners should feel less panicky this morning, but don't assume that the surprises of the 2007 season will slow down. In a world where 65,175 people can chant Marty Schottenheimer's name, truly anything is possible. Stepping Off the Ledge 1. Lee Evans put up the perfect game for his owners who benched him. He played well enough (6-79) to begin using him again, but not well enough to make owners regret putting him on the bench. 2. Patrick Crayton's ugly drops on Sunday night last week caused many owners to drop him out right in fantasy leagues after his slow start. Whoops. Crayton didn't drop any passes Sunday on his way to 30 fantasy points, but his feet impressed us the most. Crayton surprisingly made defenders miss in the open field with jukes and broke big plays. His touchdowns were for 37 and 59 yards, helping to curb is rep as a possession receiver. He needs to be owned in all leagues. Don't Panic 1. Joey Galloway tends to throw in two-to-three total zeroes throughout every season; that's what he does. He had his first one of the year with one catch for seven yards. He's still the only decent wideout on Tampa's team. 2. Terrell Owens had has many drops as catches (three), but he was overdue for a slow week. The Dallas schedule remains highly favorable. Some Panic is Acceptable 1. I wrote before the year that Chad Pennington's job would be in jeopardy if the Jets are under .500 halfway through the year. Fair or not, the Jets are at 1-3 and Pennington needs to start winning or the Jets will think about Kellen Clemens whether it's fair or not. 2. Philip Rivers has put up three ugly games out of four. The Chargers offensive line couldn't protect him despite Kansas City only rushing four defenders all game. Rivers was flustered in the second half, and started missing receivers, especially in the red zone, by huge margins. 3. Marc Bulger's offensive line was terrible Sunday, but so was his decision making and accuracy. He is seeing the pass rush in his face and just looks shell-shocked. It's understandable considering his broken ribs, but it's also understandable if owners bench him until he snaps out of it. And Bulger is taking his wideouts down with him. 4. Cedric Benson has to do better than 50 yards and 3.3 yards-per-carry against the Lions. He's stuck at 3.2 for the season, with a long run of 16 yards. He was benched for a large portion of the first half Sunday. As RB2s go, Benson looks uninspiring. 5. If Reggie Brown can't beat man coverage by Giants CB Sam Madison, he can't beat man coverage by most anyone right now. We'd keep Brown on our roster, but not near the lineup for a while. An Ode to Consistency 1. In PPR leagues, both Laveranues Coles and Jerricho Cotchery have scored at least ten fantasy points in every game this season. Cotchery sets them up (382 yards), while Coles knocks them down (four touchdowns). 2. Joseph Addai has a touchdown in every game this season. He's scored between 14-20 fantasy points in standard leagues in each game. If the season started over today, my guess is Addai would go second in most leagues and first in a few. 3. Savvy fantasy owners often talk about waiting to draft a quarterback, because a perfectly consistent option will be available late. Matt Hasselbeck is a great example this year. Mostly ignored despite being a veteran in a proven offense, Hasselbeck quietly is keeping fantasy teams happy with 1,032 yards and seven scores, good for QB8 status. That production doesn't win games most weeks, but it keeps you afloat while the skill positions produce huge numbers. 4. Donovan McNabb laughs at your consistency. After a terrible performance by his offensive line Sunday night, McNabb's fantasy point totals for the year: 11, 10, 37, 3. McNabb will play better, but he's not able to avoid pressure as well as he was pre-surgery. Safety First On the flip side, one of the attractive options of drafting a quarterback early is that they are more consistent than most running backs and wide receivers. This year, however, three of the "Big 6" fantasy quarterbacks (Drew Brees, Marc Bulger, and Donovan McNabb) have been massive disappointments. Not the Same Old Ravens Stop fearing the Baltimore defense in matchups, especially through the air. Derek Anderson threw for 208 yards on only 18 attempts. The Ravens are 19th in passing yardage allowed and have two interceptions. They have given up huge plays all year, an indictment of one of the most overrated players in football: Ed Reed. |
|
| |
|
10-01-07, 03:45 PM
| #127 |
| "Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak" Join Date: Aug 19, 2005 Location: Orlando, Florida
Posts: 64,496
| Re: Fantasy Football News 2007 Have you seen this Man? Committee Time 1. Kevin Jones isn't the man quite yet, but he is scoring the touchdowns in the Detroit backfield. Tatum Bell and Jones both wound up with 12 touches, and Jones should start to take the lead position shortly. 2. Maybe Minnesota's Adrian Peterson doesn't need to start or get a lot of touches to remain a huge fantasy factor. He topped 100 total yards for the fourth straight game on the strength of his third play over 35 yards. He only played 37% of all snaps because of his weaknesses in pass protection, but he's already among the best big play backs in the league. 3. DeShawn Wynn got the start and the bulk of work for the Packers, with Vernand Morency an afterthought and Ryan Grant nearly a late game goat. Of course, it doesn't really matter who's getting the ball when 27 players across the NFL have more rushing yards than the entire Packers team. 4. With Carnell Williams out for the year, it's looking like a committee in Tampa. Michael Pittman rushed 15 times for 90 yards Sunday; Earnest Graham rushed 17 times for 48 yards and scored. The Bucs ran the ball 42 times overall! Look for Pittman to be the more valuable Buc over the course of the season. 5. The quarterback committee is alive and well in Arizona, crushing the fantasy value of Matt Leinart. Leinart owners should either A) pick up Kurt Warner or B) drop Leinart and look elsewhere at QB2. Yeah, But . Daunte Culpepper scored five touchdowns, three rushing, for a huge fantasy performance. But any game that includes only five completions against a weak secondary is cause for concern especially for Ronald Curry owners. Overuse Alert 1. Travis Henry hasn't topped 300 carries in four seasons; he's on pace for 344 2. Willie Parker's career high in rushes is 337l he's on pace for 372 Whatever Happened To * Jerious Norwood taking over for Warrick Dunn? Dunn doubled Norwood's rushing total Sunday, and has more than doubled Norwood's workload on the year. Dunn isn't playing that well, but getting the ball matters more. * DeAngelo Williams taking over for DeShaun Foster? Williams scored the very definition of a garbage touchdown Sunday, but Foster had 15 carries to two for Williams. * Marion Barber, the touchdown vulture? For one week at least, Julius Jones had more carries (by five) and stayed in for a goal-line score. Of course, Barber still looked like the better player overall, but Jones has played in the red zone quite a bit all year and it finally showed up in the box score. The Replacements 1. Trent Edwards had a fantastic first start for the Bills. He plays against Dallas next Monday night, and a big second effort would make J.P. Losman feel very uncomfortable. 2. Brian Leonard looked solid with 58 rushing yards, but couldn't overcome his teammates. He still appeared to be in fullback mode, seeking out defenders to run over. 3. It was as if Mike Martz and Ron Turner changed brains before Sundays Chicago-Detroit game. The Bears turn to Brian Griese and suddenly go pass wacky. Griese's fantasy numbers were solid, but 52 pass attempts, three picks, and a 5.5 YPA doesn't bode well for the Chicago passing attack improving. 4. Ron Dayne did what we expected, minus the touchdown: 17 touches and 74 yards. Andre Davis was the replacement in Houston that made the noise with 117 yards and a score, his best game since he was hitting fantasy sleeper lists while catching passes from Kelly Holcomb in 2003 three teams ago. 5. David Carr Wreck: Houston fans can feel your pain, Carolina. That shot of Steve Smith screaming into the phone was actually the receiver commiserating with Andre Johnson. 6. The Steelers missed Hines Ward badly Sunday. While Santonio Holmes stepped up with a career game, Nate Washington and Cedrick Wilson combined for 18 yards. With Ward struggling to get separation all year, Holmes may already be Pittsburgh's "number one" receiver. Fluke City 1. I apologize to Ike Hilliard for saying he was done. Three years ago. He's quietly been solid for Tampa this year, and looked spectacular with a 7-catch, 114-yard effort against Carolina. Don't expect him to be a fantasy factor, but we wanted to send our respects. 2. Jerry Porter has only seven catches on the year, but he's making them count with 144 yards and three touchdowns. That will be a tough rate to keep up. 3. In one of my leagues, the scoring system is such that Derek Anderson has outscored Peyton Manning on the season. And only four quarterbacks have outscored Joey Harrington the last two weeks. Which just goes to show, once again, that no one knows anything. Injury Ward As always, Brian Flood has all the injury updates in Season Pass' Injury Crunch. We'll also be updating all day long on our news page. In Denver's game, both Travis Henry and Joseph Addai struggled to stay on the field, although ultimately the injuries don't look serious. Still, it's a great reminder why Kenton Keith and Selvin Young should be owned in all leagues just in case. Each backup put up 80 yards Sunday, showing they'd produce if given the chance. The other players getting hurt this week Marvin Harrison LaMont Jordan Alex Smith Todd Heap Isaac Bruce Carnell Williams Game Balls 1. I know he was facing a banged-up Bears defense, but only four incompletions from Jon Kitna is nothing short of remarkable from a usually inefficient quarterback. Kitna is averaging 8.9 YPA with a manageable four picks through four weeks. 2. Has Ronnie Brown arrived? Well, he's faced two of the worst rush defenses in the NFL in successive weeks, but 491 total yards in two games is big league no matter the opponent. Maybe all that talk about Cam Cameron turning Brown into a poor man's LT this offseason wasn't so crazy. Ridiculously Early MVP Watch 1. Randy Moss: #1 ranked fantasy wideout, and has a game against the Bengals tonight. (playing tonight) 2. Tony Romo: 1,199 passing yards, 11 TDs, 3 INTs, 71 rushing yards, two rushing TDs 3. Chad Johnson: 442 yards, 3 TDs (playing tonight) 4. Tom Brady: 887 yards, 10 TDs, 1 INT (playing tonight) 5. Joseph Addai: 466 total yards, 5 TDs 6. Ronnie Brown: 559 total yards, 5 TDs Ridiculously Early Bust Watch 1. Marc Bulger: 756 yards, two touchdowns, four interceptions, QB24 2. Drew Brees: 677 yards, one touchdown, seven interceptions 3. Steven Jackson: 290 total yards, one missed game 4. Maurice Jones-Drew: 156 total yards, two lost fumbles 5. Lee Evans: 101 yards 6. Reggie Brown: 81 yards 7. Jerious Norwood: 211 total yards, zero scores 8. Matt Jones: 36 yards Waiver Watch Michael Pittman Earnest Graham Justin Fargas Dominic Rhodes Daunte Culpepper Patrick Crayton |
|
| |
|
10-02-07, 12:15 PM
| #128 |
| "Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak" Join Date: Aug 19, 2005 Location: Orlando, Florida
Posts: 64,496
| Re: Fantasy Football News 2007 Carr Wreck for Smith's Stats? Jay Glazer of FOX Sports reported Sunday that Jake Delhomme will require elbow surgery, but both Delhomme and coach John Fox said Monday that surgery is merely an option if time off doesn't allow the injury to heal on its own. Delhomme called going under the knife a "last-resort type of deal" when asked Monday, but Adam Schefter of NFL Network reported that his injury is much more significant than the "day-to-day" label put forth by the Panthers. Surgery or not, it certainly doesn't sound like Delhomme will be playing any time soon given that he's yet to throw a pass since the injury, which is news that surely hits Steve Smith pretty hard. Smith spent much of Sunday's game screaming at various teammates and coaches when fill-in starter David Carr struggled to get him the ball on the way to looking about as bad as a 28-year-old former No. 1 overall pick with 75 career NFL starts could possibly look against the Bucs. In the past teams have gone to great lengths in an effort to stifle Smith's production and they've typically been unsuccessful, but cornerback Ronde Barber indicated after the game that the Bucs didn't even have to do much to shut him down. "He just wasn't getting his opportunities," Barber said. "They weren't giving him opportunities. I don't know the reasons for that. We had some things in to deal with Smith today and to our benefit we didn't have to use them." In other words, Carr was so awful that the Bucs just sat back and let him take Smith out of the game without their help. While Delhomme is far from great at this point, he's proven capable of helping Smith produce monster numbers on a consistent basis. An extended stretch with Carr at the helm could be disastrous for Smith's fantasy value, although it's difficult to imagine Carr being anywhere close to as helpless against the Saints in Week 5. While Smith tries to figure out how Andre Johnson managed to rack up 1,147 yards on 103 catches with Carr throwing him the ball last season, here are some other notes from around football * With Cadillac Williams out for the year after suffering a torn patella tendon in Week 4, the Bucs reportedly contacted the quasi-retired Corey Dillon and were turned down. While Williams is a household name, he's averaged a paltry 3.5 yards per carry since his rookie season and was seemingly in danger of losing snaps to Michael Pittman and Earnest Graham even before the injury. Coach Jon Gruden said Monday that Pittman and Graham will now share the workload. A Daily Dose favorite, Pittman is an outstanding receiver out of the backfield who has recovered from posting some ugly numbers with the Cardinals early in his career to average 4.3 yards on 760 carries spread over six years in Tampa Bay. Pittman gained 90 yards on 15 carries Sunday and will likely be good for at least 10-15 rushes and 3-5 catches per game while starting in place of Williams. He has RB2 upside and shouldn't be left unclaimed in any leagues. Meanwhile, Graham is also an intriguing player who Gruden has said plenty of good things about over the past few weeks. At worst he figures to see some action on obvious running downs and will likely get nearly all of the goal-line work, which makes him worthy of a pickup in most leagues. At best, Graham could emerge with a true carry split alongside Pittman, which is a combination that is very capable of being more effective than Williams was in the first place. * Initially feared to be a serious injury when he was carted off the field in the second quarter Sunday, LaMont Jordan received good news Monday when X-rays on his injured back showed no major damage. The Raiders' bye week comes at a perfect time for Jordan, who'll need to heal up quickly to retain his workhorse status with Justin Fargas exploding for 179 yards in Week 4 and Dominic Rhodes returning from his four-game suspension. * Alex Smith has been diagnosed with a Grade 3 shoulder separation, which includes a tear to the ligaments connecting his collarbone and shoulder blade. The good news is that Smith is expected to avoid surgery, but the bad news is that he's likely out for at least 2-3 weeks and could be looking at more than a month on the sidelines. Trent Dilfer will start in Smith's place after looking awful in relief Sunday, which means that Frank Gore's workload will be on the rise. Note: I'm going to be doing a "live chat" this afternoon beginning at 2:00 p.m. EST, so feel free to stop by and ask some questions. Two-Minute Drill: With nine catches for 102 yards and a pair of touchdowns in another monster game Monday night, Randy Moss is now on pace for 124 catches, 2,020 yards, and 28 touchdowns Cedric Benson sat out the final 11 minutes of the first half Sunday after coughing up his third fumble of the season, but gained 47 yards on 10 carries after halftime Despite clearly showing that he's the Vikings' offensive best player, rookie Adrian Peterson was on the field for just 24 of the team's 65 offensive snaps in Sunday's loss Ricky Williams applied for reinstatement to the league Monday, with his agent saying that he's "extremely excited about the prospect of playing in the NFL again" As expected, coach Herm Edwards said Monday that rookie Dwayne Bowe will remain in the starting lineup even after Eddie Kennison (hamstring) returns Seattle being comfortable with the recently acquired Charlie Frye as Matt Hasselbeck's backup allowed Seneca Wallace to see action at wide receiver Sunday and make his first career catch Coach Lovie Smith said Monday that Brian Griese will remain the Bears' starter despite a poor performance in Week 4. Red Zone: Despite pulling him from a brutal performance Sunday, Scott Linehan said Monday that Marc Bulger and his two broken ribs will start in Week 5 Anquan Boldin sat out Sunday's game and is scheduled to visit a doctor this week regarding the lingering soreness in his hip, putting his status for Week 5 in doubt As expected, Steven Jackson (groin) has already been ruled out for Week 5, giving rookie Brian Leonard another start after totaling 59 yards on 17 touches Sunday Clinton Portis is said to be struggling with knee tendinitis again and didn't practice Monday despite coming off a bye Todd Heap's status for Week 5 is in question after suffering a hamstring injury Sunday Washington signing 37-year-old Keenan McCardell on Monday is an indication that Santana Moss (groin) isn't likely to play in Week 5 Vernon Davis (knee) has been ruled out for Week 5, but reportedly hopes to return in Week 7 following the 49ers' bye Eric Parker (toe) is now expected to miss an additional 3-4 weeks, giving rookie Craig Davis more time as a starter Javon Walker is uncertain about his Week 5 status, but said Monday that his knee injury "is not a long-term thing" and "every day it gets a lot better." |
|
| |
|
10-02-07, 02:38 PM
| #129 |
| "Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak" Join Date: Aug 19, 2005 Location: Orlando, Florida
Posts: 64,496
| Re: Fantasy Football News 2007 Best Buc Available Earnest Graham or Michael Pittman? It may not be one of the great debates of all time (Frostee/Slurpee, Rushmore/Tenenbaums, Dan/Dave), but it's the best we have this week. It may also reveal what type of fantasy owner you are. www.tampabaybuccaneers.wswww.therx.wswww.therx.info On the surface, Graham represents unrealized potential. He had only 52 career carries before this season and has scored three times in the last two weeks. Owners see Graham and hope he's a late bloomer like Derrick Ward. I'd rather take a known quantity like Michael Pittman. It's not like Pittman has struggled in recent years; he's averaged 5.67 yards-per-carry since 2005 and catches over 40 pass a year as a backup. Graham has five goal-line carries this year to zero for Pittman, which makes it a close call, but Pittman is more likely to maintain value until Week 17. The rumors about Chester Taylor are concerning, but they will probably remain rumors. Pittman and Graham should be grabbed in all leagues. Running Back Corey Dillon, Bucs - The ESPN report that Corey Dillon turned down the Bucs seemed a little convenient for the veteran. No teams have offered Dillon a contract, yet his agent has kept him in the news with apparent hopes of a possible return. I've seen owners take a flier on Dillon in leagues shallow and deep, but I think it's a waste of a roster spot. He'd be a limited player even he returned. Recommendation: Take a pass Justin Fargas, Raiders - I've been writing about Fargas on Waiver Wired since he was drafted, and am contractually obligated to mention he's Huggy Bear's son. So that's out of the way. Fargas is fool's good. The guy runs like his pants are on fire, but his wild style begs for injuries. Oakland's offensive line is playing well, but Fargas has a limited ceiling. He'll either split carries with Dominic Rhodes (back from suspension) or be third on the depth cart if LaMont Jordan gets healthy after the bye week. Recommendation: Worth a look in 12-team leagues Dominic Rhodes, Raiders - If I was Lane Kiffin, I'd play Fargas over Dominic Rhodes until Fargas breaks down. But I'm probably not Lane Kiffin, so Rhodes remains a better fantasy option. LaMont Jordan has the bye week to get his back healthy, but the injury is going to mean more carries for Rhodes regardless. Rhodes has below-average talent, so he's only roster filler insurance for the end of your bench. Recommendation: Worth owning in 12-team leagues Pierre Thomas, Saints - Deep leaguers, take note. There are a lot of reasons to believe Thomas will play a significant role for the Saints before the season is up. For example 1. Reggie Bush has never carried a full load of carries in the NFL and is an injury risk. 2. Aaron Stecker and Bush have similar styles of play, Thomas could be a changeup. 3. Thomas is a player the Saints may want to develop for the future. They know what they have in Stecker As lottery tickets go, Thomas is a fun one to stash on your deep roster as a RB6/7. Recommendation: Worth owning in deep leagues Wide Receiver Dwayne Bowe, Chiefs - Bet against rookie wideouts and you usually win big. Just ask the owners who drafted Robert Meachem, Dwayne Jarrett, Craig Davis, Anthony Gonzalez, and Ted Ginn over the summer. I've been slow to warm to Bowe, but he's proving to be the exception to the rule. It's remarkable because he's playing on a terrible passing offense. Bowe, like fellow rookie star James Jones, is a YAC monster in the mold of Anquan Boldin. His problems catching the ball at LSU haven't showed up in the pros. He doesn't need a great quarterback because most of his yards come on broken tackles and broken ankles. He's not a good option this week against the Jaguars, but he's worth owning on your bench. Recommendation: Should be owned in 12-team leagues Sidney Rice, Vikings See Dwayne Bowe. Rice should adhere to the rule, not be the exception. Rice made some nice plays Sunday, but he's known as an undisciplined route runner at this stage of the career. He's also playing for the worst passing team in the league. Recommendation: Stay away Andre Davis, Texans - Davis' numbers over the last three years combined: 27 catches, three teams. But he's always hung around because he's a great special teamer and there was that chance he could turn his physical skills into a starter-worthy receiver. Davis made the catch of the season during his 117-yard, one score performance against Atlanta and will get at least one more start in place of Andre Johnson. He faces a collapsing Miami defense this week. Don't expect a huge game, but you could do worse if looking for a spot start. Recommendation: Bye week fill-in for 12-team leagues Patrick Crayton, Cowboys - A couple weeks back, I mentioned that Crayton should be picked up in all leagues where impatient owners gave up. So you can guess what I think after he put up 180 yards and two touchdowns. He can remain a WR3 as long as Terry Glenn sits out. Recommendation: Should be owned in all leagues Ike Hilliard, Bucs - Jon Gruden's greatest reclamation project yet? Hilliard hasn't averaged more than 10.1 yards-per-catch in four seasons, but Gruden is helping to make him look like a burner this season with 16.4 YPC on fifteen grabs. Hilliard's production should be depressing for Michael Clayton and Maurice Stovall, but it's not likely to keep up. Let someone else bet on Hilliard keeping it up. Recommendation: Worth a look in deep leagues Quarterback A lot of shaky quarterback situations around the league. Let's take a quick look at those who should be dropped, picked up, and held on to. Jake Delhomme - From the sound of it, he's not returning anytime soon. I wouldn't hang on unless you have a deep roster or a I.R. spot. Alex Smith - He was a borderline asset before his shoulder injury. Look for alternatives. Matt Leinart - Deep league owners should pick up Kurt Warner to go along with Leinart and see what happens. If you don't have room for an extra quarterback, it's worth looking hard at the waiver wire to see if you can do better than a quarterback splitting snaps. J.P. Losman - He may not get his job back, and he's not worth hanging on to if he does. So who to pick up? Here's how I'd rank the likely available options. Jason Campbell, Redskins - Owners have tired of his inconsistency, but we still see an emerging young player in a good system. Derek Anderson, Ravens - He gets the Patriots this week, but there are soft spots in the schedule elsewhere. Anderson is a big-play junkie, always going deep. He can stick around as a decent QB2 for a while. Daunte Culpepper, Raiders - Tie goes to the rushing quarterback. I have my doubts Culpepper can cobble together decent passing stats, but he certainly has the highest ceiling of most quarterbacks available. Joey Harrington, Falcons- Maybe, just maybe, Bobby Petrino can make this passing game respectable. With the young Falcons receivers making plays on a pass-heavy offense, Harrington should be serviceable with the right matchup. Just don't expect this pace to keep up. Damon Huard, Chiefs - Holding off the Brodie Croyle era, but the schedule isn't kind unless you need a Week 6 fill-in. Huard gets the depleted Bengals that week. David Carr, Panthers - Before we bury Carr in Carolina, it's worth pointing out that Tampa's defense has shut down almost every quarterback they've faced this year. Carr has a great matchup this week against New Orleans to kickstart his season. It sounds like Jake Delhomme will be out a while. Kyle Boller, Ravens - Injured and ineffective is no way for Steve McNair to go through the 2007 season. Boller should get his chance eventually. Trent Edwards, Bills - I own Edwards in my dynasty league and highly enjoyed his first NFL start. Still, the odds on any rookie quarterback for the Bills putting up consistent fantasy numbers are very slim. Trent Dilfer, 49ers - Darrell Jackson and Frank Gore owners should be very concerned. Defense Redskins - As Bill Parcells pointed out Monday night, the Lions are among the league leaders in turnovers and sacks allowed. Unless you get negative points for points allowed, that makes the rejuvenated Washington defense a fine pickup this week. |
|
| |
|
10-03-07, 03:45 PM
| #130 |
| "Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak" Join Date: Aug 19, 2005 Location: Orlando, Florida
Posts: 64,496
| Re: Fantasy Football News 2007 Bulger to Rest Injured Ribs Coach Scott Linehan said repeatedly earlier this week that the Rams would be sticking with Marc Bulger as their starter despite back-to-back horrible games and a pair of broken ribs, but Linehan has apparently changed his mind. In news that was first reported by Pro Football Talk and has since been confirmed by the St. Louis Post Dispatch, Bulger has been benched for Sunday's game against the Cardinals in favor of Gus Frerotte. Bulger has reportedly been told that he'll sit "for a week or two," with the hopes that his ribs will heal up with some rest. Frerotte started 15 games for the Dolphins in 2005 with Linehan as his offensive coordinator, passing for nearly 3,000 yards while posting a solid 18-to-13 touchdown-to-interception ratio. He's potentially a solid QB2 with some risk, because he's 35 years old and has road games against Baltimore and Seattle coming up on the schedule after hosting Arizona. Going from Bulger to Frerotte is without question a major downgrade, but going from a banged-up, scared-of-contact Bulger to Frerotte might actually be an upgrade. Tory Holt has managed to stay on a 1,000-yard pace despite Bulger's struggles and should put up good numbers catching balls from Frerotte, who was at the helm for what looked at the time to be Chris Chambers' breakout campaign of 82 catches, 1,118 yards, and 11 touchdowns. Frerotte also looked often to Randy McMichael, who ranked second on the 2005 Dolphins with 60 catches for 582 yards and five touchdowns. McMichael is now the Rams' starting tight end, but has gotten off to a modest start with just nine catches for 101 yards and zero touchdowns through four games. While being without Bulger for a little while sounds like bad news for both the Rams and his fantasy owners, time off is for the best given how poor he looked in his current state. While Bulger and Steven Jackson race to see if they can get healthy together before the Rams' playoff chances have completely vanished, here are some other notes from around football * Initially diagnosed with a Grade 3 shoulder separation and expected to miss 4-6 weeks, Ed Werder of ESPN reported Tuesday that Alex Smith's season could now be in jeopardy. Werder reported that Smith is seeking a second opinion from Dr. James Andrews after an MRI showed serious damage to the tendons in his right shoulder, with season-ending surgery being an option for the former No. 1 overall pick, but the 49ers have denied that claim. Smith seemed optimistic about his return timetable when asked early Monday, going so far as to say that he hoped to be back in "a few weeks," but then changed his tune after being able to throw just one pass on the sidelines before leaving the practice field in pain. Surgery or not, with Smith out the 49ers will turn to 35-year-old Trent Dilfer, who was brutally bad in relief Sunday. With a matchup against the Ravens coming in Week 5, the 49ers figure to lean extremely hard on Frank Gore. Smith put together a solid first full season as a starter last year, playing all 16 games and throwing for 2,890 yards while posting a 16-to-16 touchdown-to-interception ratio and a 74.8 quarterback rating as a 22-year-old. With an upgraded receiving corps he looked capable of taking the next step this season, perhaps emerging as a dependable QB2 in fantasy terms, but a slow start followed by a potentially season-ending injury is a major setback to say the least. * I participated in my first "live chat" Tuesday afternoon and by far the most-asked question was whether or not there's any truth to rumors about Tampa Bay going after Chester Taylor. Blogging on the Tampa Tribune's website, Roy Cummings wrote Tuesday that the Bucs were interested in acquiring Taylor and Bryant McKinnie. While certainly a juicy rumor, a deal of that magnitude has almost zero chance of happening during the season and didn't pass the sniff test anyway. Despite that, the rumor began to pick up steam throughout the afternoon and there were no fewer than 50 variations of "Is Taylor going to Tampa Bay?" submitted during the 90-minute chat. A few hours later Cummings posted a new blog entry, saying that the Vikings "have apparently come to their senses" and "are no longer talking about a deal" involving Taylor and McKinnie. I'd question whether the Vikings were ever "talking about" such a deal, but it's a moot point now. However, various sources are reporting that the two sides did discuss a trade that would send Mewelde Moore to the Bucs for a draft pick. However, the Vikings are said to have asked for a first-day selection while the Bucs offered merely a sixth-round pick, seemingly making a deal unlikely. Whatever the case, it seems clear that the Bucs are interested in adding some help at running back following Cadillac Williams' season-ending knee injury. Until they do, Michael Pittman will start and Earnest Graham will also see significant action, including goal-line work. Along with trying my best to lessen the Taylor hysteria, I spent much of Tuesday's chat session touting Pittman as a strong pickup and potential RB2. The Bucs acquiring someone like Moore would change that because his skill set is similar to Pittman's. Meanwhile, the Vikings will continue to start Taylor over Adrian "I'm better than Taylor" Peterson. Two-Minute Drill: After benching Cedric Benson for nearly an entire quarter while calling 60 pass plays in Week 4, coach Lovie Smith said Tuesday that the Bears plan to increase Benson's workload because he's "the type of back who needs a lot of carries" With 31 catches on 34 targets, Randy Moss leads the NFL in catch percentage by a wide margin over a slew of possession receivers, which is amazing for someone averaging 16.3 yards per grab Jason Campbell explained Monday that Chris Cooley's involvement in the passing game is down significantly because he's used more as a blocker due to the offensive line's injuries Working Devin Hester into the offensive game plan consistently may prove difficult given that he's fumbled once for every eight times that he's touched the ball through 20 career games As if Tim Couch needed another nail in the coffin containing his football career, the NFL suspended him for six games Monday for violating the league's steroids policy. Red Zone: According to the Arizona Republic, an examination of Anquan Boldin's injured hip "revealed no new problems" and he's hoping to practice this week, but his status for Week 5 remains in question Team president Bill Polian said Monday that both Marvin Harrison (knee) and Joseph Addai (shoulder) could have returned to Sunday's game if necessary, but neither player is a lock to suit up for Week 5 at this point According to the Charlotte Observer, the Panthers not working out any quarterbacks Tuesday is a sign that they think Jake Delhomme (elbow) can avoid surgery Hines Ward (knee) is considered day-to-day for Week 5 after being inactive Sunday Coach Herm Edwards said Tuesday that Eddie Kennison (hamstring) has a chance to rejoin the starting lineup alongside rookie Dwayne Bowe in Week 5 Santana Moss has yet to test his injured hamstring by running, seemingly making it unlikely that he'll be able to play Sunday. |
|
| |
|
10-03-07, 03:46 PM
| #131 |
| "Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak" Join Date: Aug 19, 2005 Location: Orlando, Florida
Posts: 64,496
| Re: Fantasy Football News 2007 Quarterblowback You might have noticed a few NFL teams panicking this week. Some of last year's elite clubs, such as the Bears, Chargers and Saints, are struggling to find their way. And a few clubs around your league undoubtedly are also up in arms. Either they have a roster full of players who stink or they're realizing they do not have a very good club. So what's a losing team supposed to do? Usually, a quarter of the way into the season, it is time to blame the quarterback. That's what has happened in Chicago; the Bears will have trouble getting back to the Super Bowl because they do not have a great option at quarterback and Brian Griese scarcely looks like much of an improvement over Rex Grossman. The quarterback obviously has a huge effect on the rest of the team and with clubs such as San Francisco, Buffalo, Arizona, Carolina, Baltimore, St. Louis, Minnesota having problems, there is a large group of would-be fantasy stars whose immediate futures looks cloudy. The dreaded quarterback issue becomes a problem for you too. What is the fantasy owner to do? At quarterback, the issue is pretty clear. If you're that desperate, you can play Griese; you obviously will not play Grossman. And if Kurt Warner winds up pushing Matt Leinart aside, then you might think about playing Warner. Right now, neither is a good start. And whenever the next quarterback shift hits in a different city, making a decision about the new starter usually is fairly straightforward. But what should you do with Steve Smith or Torry Holt? How do you figure out what their quarterback problems man for you? And what does Chad Pennington's inability to get the Jets ahead in games mean to Thomas Jones' inconsistent value? The first thing is that if a team is having quarterback problems, that means the team isn't very good to start with. And if the team isn't good, you get inconsistent production from the starters and that adds risk to your lineup. The Ravens very well might go on the road this week and have a big game against the 49ers, but you certainly can't count on Derrick Mason or Mark Clayton with the way the offense has been going. Then understand that backups are backups for a reason. You especially never know what you will get from a second-string quarterback who has barely gotten any time with the starters in practice. David Carr was horrible last week against the Bucs and the Panthers got only a junk-time TD, but Carr was a starter for five seasons so he ought not remain this bad for long. On the other hand, Trent Dilfer looks better suited to be a TV talking head than an NFL starter now and an extra week of practice won't fix it. And then there are situations that are, in a sense, beyond a player's control. Gregg Rosenthal has said repeatedly on this site that if the Jets fall out of contention, Kellen Clemens will get the call. That isn't necessarily because Pennington is so bad, just that the Jets need to see what Clemens can do. So when that day comes, you will have to figure out what to make of Laveranues Coles or Jerricho Cotchery. Maybe a stronger arm helps those receivers' numbers. Or maybe the inexperienced guy throws more picks and short-circuits more scoring drives. Any way you look at it, quarterback moves introduce uncertainty and can mean some sleepless nights if you're trying to figure out what they mean and whether they will work. Let's get to some of other players whose value is moving this week. ON THE WAY UP Giants defense. The 12 sacks and three points allowed against the Eagles and no TDs for six quarters were sensational, but I'm not quite ready to buy into this. The Giants' talent still is subpar in a lot of places and schemes, especially by a new coordinator against his old team, will carry the team only so far. Assuming the Jets are smart enough to give their line some help, chances are the Giants will not be in the backfield so often. And all it takes is one team to find a blueprint to slow down the rush and then the weak secondary will be exposed again. Joey Harrington. Do not be too eager to play him this week against the Titans, but his two solid games in a row have given the Falcons' offense some life and quieted talk about rushing Byron Leftwich into the lineup. He is throwing to his wide receivers who -- surprise, Michael Vick! -- are actually OK and getting comfortable in coach Bobby Petrino's system. The Titans defense is better than you think, but Harrington has plenty of good matchups this season to be a good spot starter. Earnest Graham/Michael Pittman. These guys are the no-brainer pickups of the week after Carnell Williams, if Graham was not already unavailable after getting two TDs two weeks ago. But here's my take anyhow: When you have two backs who will roughly split time, take the one who will get the TDs. Both players have an equal chance to break big plays and pick up yards, but Graham appears to be the main scorer. If Pittman clips along at 60 yards a game, he will be a lot more valuable to the Bucs than to you. Selvin Young/Kenton Keith. It is a big week for former undrafted free-agent running backs and both of these guys are hot pickups. Both also will be good starters if the well-known guys they back up (Travis Henry, Joseph Addai) can't go. Henry seems the iffier prospect, but he and Addai both look less and less likely to make it through the season healthy. So if you don't go after them for this week, pick up them for further down the line. Or jump back on them if they get one start and are released again. Greg Jennings. He went from an injured afterthought to an almost must-start in two weeks. He has TDs in both of his games back and with the Packers playing so well (and running so poorly), the good receiving numbers should continue for the foreseeable future. Donald Driver already was on the never-bench list and Jennings is just about there. As long as Brett Favre continues to throw as well as he is, don't sit him. Dallas Clark. Clark already is first among tight ends in TDs and things could get even better if Marvin Harrison can't play. The Colts are doing a great job lining Clark up as a wide receiver and creating mismatches against the defense so Clark's role figures to increase. Rookie Anthony Gonzalez and Aaron Moorehead also figure to play more, but Clark is the one on the way to a standout season after a previously marginal career. TAKING A DIVE Adrian Peterson. He was the big-play threat again for the Vikings last week with 112 rushing yards but had just 12 carries thanks to Chester Taylor's return. Peterson is such a dynamic threat that it seems obvious he would get more than 12 rushes, but the Vikings apparently still are worried about his pass blocking. And because they often play from behind, that will remain a concern with Peterson. That means not enough of Peterson when the Vikings return from a week off and just enough of Taylor to make him worth a play if you are desperate. Steve Smith. He had two phenomenal weeks to open the year but has just six catches for 42 yards in the last two and has to deal with poor ol' David Carr at quarterback, perhaps for a while. Of course, as Aaron Gleeman pointed out in Tuesday's Football Daily Dose, Andre Johnson somehow wound up with 103 catches last year in Houston, with Carr throwing most of them. Of course, only five of those catches were for TDs and if Smith's TD total drops, he will not be a top-three receiver he could be with Delhomme. Torry Holt. You could have made a lot of money if you had predicted a couple of weeks ago that Smith and Holt would be driving people nuts this week. The Rams, as we've widely discussed, are such a mess that even the reliable Holt has seen his numbers drop off. He is on pace for a 92-catch season, but his yards have tailed off since Week 2 and he has had just one 100-yard day in his past 14 games. If you're still fielding reasonable offers for Holt, take them. Donovan McNabb. What we learned from the Eagles' meltdown against the Giants is that McNabb is far from a safe play and might never be a safe play again. The Eagles are loaded with offensive problems, not all of which are fixable over a bye week, and have just one offensive TD outside of the Lions game. The risk in bailing on McNabb is that he turns in games like he had against the Lions. For now, count on those games as being the exception as the Eagles fall into the inconsistent team category. Shaun Alexander. This is a one-week downgrade only as Alexander does not appear to be running with much passion at the moment and should expect to get hammered by the physical Steelers defense this week; the Seahawks rarely seem to do well against more physical defenses. But after that, as always seems to happen for Seattle, the schedule gets easy. Five of the following six games are against teams ranked 18th or worse against the run. That is the time for Alexander to get healthy and the time to go after him in a trade is following this weekend. LaMont Jordan. A back injury was almost too predictable for Jordan and his strong early season run (second in the league with 424 rushing yards) appears to be just about over. Not only could his injury sideline him for an extended period, but the Raiders also are getting Dominic Rhodes back after the bye and Justin Fargas is proving his worth too. I'd rather have Rhodes than Jordan right now. |
|
| |
|
10-03-07, 05:57 PM
| #132 |
| "Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak" Join Date: Aug 19, 2005 Location: Orlando, Florida
Posts: 64,496
| Re: Fantasy Football News 2007 Coping with the injury bug This had better be the tail end of a long wave of injuries. Because if players keep going down at this rate, we'll be out of serviceable starters in about three weeks. The last two weeks have seen supposed stars go down at a decimating pace. Just ask anybody who was banking on Steven Jackson or Brian Westbrook how last weekend went. Injuries always tend to go in cycles, and we hopefully are mired in the worst of it. How you are able to withstand, or avoid, this onslaught easily might determine how your season works out. If none of your guys are hurt, consider yourself lucky. If you just lost Marvin Harrison and Carnell Williams, you're working the waiver wire and hitting the trade market. Filling in for those missing stars is not just about picking up the next guy on the depth chart. Sometimes the second-stringers turn into stars, but just as often they are on the bench for a reason. Now is a time to examine your roster and start making trade offers if you have a bunch of extra points in reserve every week. Some of the latest injury situations to take advantage of and that could have you making lineup moves until kickoff of Week 5. Cadillac Williams The Bucs will fill in with Earnest Graham and Michael Pittman splitting carries, but the good news is they are used to Williams being hurt. Graham already has three touchdowns the last two weeks and appears to be the short-yardage back. Pittman is more of a big-play threat, but the TD guy is more valuable given equal time. Marvin Harrison The player to watch is tight end Dallas Clark, who is one TD away from matching his 2004 career high of five. The Colts have been especially good this year at lining up him wide to create mismatches. Minus Harrison, rookie Anthony Gonzalez will have to step up after being quiet most of the season. Reggie Wayne becomes the clear No. 1 receiver, but he already was a must-start in every league. Alex Smith. His shoulder injury could be debilitating for a struggling offense. Trent Dilfer played last week like a guy who had not been on the field since 2005. He needs quite a bit of work to get this offense moving, but for now, the passing game looks shot with tight end Vernon Davis out and receiver Darrell Jackson doing little. That allows defenses to gang up on Frank Gore, who soon might be wishing he had a supporting cast as good as what Larry Johnson has in Kansas City. Joseph Addai. If you have Addai and did not already have Kenton Keith, you had better hope you still can grab him. Keith already has shown decent potential, and while he might not be as good a play as Addai, especially against a strong defense such as the Buccaneers, he is far better than what else you might find out there. LaMont Jordan. The injury question always was a matter of when, not if. Jordan has been playing well and will have a week off to recover, but he also will have to contend with Justin Fargas coming off a career game and Dominic Rhodes returning from suspension. Rhodes is the one to jump on. Travis Henry. We're all used to picking up no-name Broncos running backs, and there will be a mad stampede for Selvin Young, Mike Bell and Cecil Sapp. Some combination of that crew would replace Henry, with Young probably the first choice. Bell has been the forgotten man since a preseason move to fullback, but if the Broncos think they need long-term help at tailback, he easily could slide back over. Young looks talented enough to thrive against a defense struggling like the Chargers'. Marc Bulger. The Rams could do us all a favor and put Bulger out of his misery for a week or two and allow his ribs and the offensive line to heal, turning things over to capable backup Gus Frerotte. The Rams took another hit to their line last week and also lost receiver Isaac Bruce on top of previous injuries to Jackson and star left tackle Orlando Pace. The offense is completely overmatched even in what should be a favorable matchup against the Cardinals. Brandon Jacobs. He has been somewhat forgotten but could return as soon as this week for the suddenly resurgent Giants. He would face the Jets, Falcons, 49ers and Dolphins during October, all of which will give up big rushing numbers. Don't be shy about trying to trade for him. www.therx.wswww.therx.infowww.tampabaybuccaneers.ws Santana Moss. Depending on how well Moss' groin healed during the Redskins' week off, Antwaan Randle El could turn into a great start against the Lions. The bigger worry is this is the kind of injury that has plagued Moss throughout his career and a possible reason why the Redskins have signed Reche Caldwell and Keenan McCardell since the start of the season. Bob Sanders. Wait, who let a defensive player in here? The value of the safety to the Colts run defense has been well-documented and the Broncos ran for 223 yards Sunday with Sanders missing significant time. Start any of your backs against the Colts whenever Sanders is out. |
|
| |
|
10-04-07, 12:20 PM
| #133 |
| "Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak" Join Date: Aug 19, 2005 Location: Orlando, Florida
Posts: 64,496
| Re: Fantasy Football News 2007 More Work for Bush As expected, coach Sean Payton said Wednesday that Reggie Bush's role in the running game would increase with Deuce McAllister lost for the season with a knee injury. Some had suggested that Aaron Stecker and Pierre Thomas might split McAllister's old workload, but that never seemed especially likely and Payton confirmed that "Reggie will get more carries" while also adding that his role in the passing game may be diminished to some extent. "Stecker will be involved and Thomas will be involved, but you'll see Reggie get more handoffs," Payton said. "We'll still have to monitor how many runs, but you'll see him more from the running back position. From a numbers standpoint, maybe not as many receptions and some more carries, 18-20." An increased workload is almost never a bad thing, but there are two ways to look at Bush potentially swapping some catches for carries. The first is that 18-20 carries per game, along with what will surely still be plenty of targets in the passing game, would make Bush a strong bet to increase his overall fantasy value. On the other hand, through this point in his career most of his production has come as a receiver. Bush was the second-fastest player in NFL history to reach 100 catches and is currently on pace for 85 grabs after totaling 88 receptions as a rookie, but he's averaged just 3.5 yards on 184 carries. Toss in the fact that Bush hasn't been an every-down back since high school and there's at least some reason to think that McAllister's injury won't be entirely positive for him. Of course, 18-20 carries at even 3.5 yards per pop still adds up to 63-70 yards, more goal-line work is key, Bush suggested Wednesday that the increase in carries might help him find a rhythm, and there's no way that Payton will be able to help himself from throwing to him at least a few times per game. While Bush potentially begins a transition from play-maker to running back, here are some other notes from around football * As discussed in this space yesterday, Ed Werder of ESPN reported Wednesday that Alex Smith was seeking a second opinion from Dr. James Andrews and could be facing season-ending shoulder surgery to repair torn tendons connecting his collarbone to his shoulder blade. It didn't take long for the 49ers to publicly deny Werder's report, making it clear that Smith has torn ligaments rather than torn tendons and never actually visited Andrews. Instead, the team simply sent Andrews a copy of Smith's records for review, in part because he's friendly with trainer Jeff Ferguson. Andrews then confirmed the initial diagnosis that Smith won't require surgery, agreeing that the shoulder should heal on its own. Between Werder's report on Smith and John Clayton's report on Eli Manning last month, it's safe to say that everyone should probably take ESPN reporting on the shoulders of quarterbacks with big grains of salt for a while. * Living up to the promise that he'd return from a knee injury sooner than expected, Brandon Jacobs practiced fully Wednesday and looks likely to play in Week 5 against the Jets. Jacobs figures to start, but the Giants may work him back into the mix somewhat cautiously and coach Tom Coughlin makes it sound like Derrick Ward will still see a decent amount of action. For now, Ward's fantasy value plummets and Jacobs can be considered a solid Flex/RB3 option. * Asked Wednesday about his chances of playing Sunday after sitting out Week 4 with a sprained knee, Hines Ward said: "So far, so good. I'm way ahead of schedule." While that might be true, coach Mike Tomlin seemingly showed a different view of Ward's status when he called him "questionable to say the least at this point." If Ward practices Friday, you can probably count on him suiting up. If he doesn't, prepare to go with another option at wide receiver. * Ahman Green was limited in practice Wednesday, with coach Gary Kubiak indicating afterward that he'll likely be a game-time decision in Week 5. "With Ahman, I would say it's very encouraging what we saw today," Kubiak said. Green might not normally be worth taking a risk on given his uncertain status, but whether Green or Ron Dayne starts at running back for the Texans they'll have a great matchup against the last-ranked Dolphins run defense. * Anquan Boldin's chances of suiting up this week seemingly took a hit Wednesday when coach Ken Whisenhunt said that he won't be allowed to play through a hip injury if he doesn't practice first. Toss in Whisenhunt telling reporters that he doesn't know whether Boldin's injury is a tear or a strain and it's obvious that the Cardinals aren't sure what to make of his status. "We don't want to have any setbacks," Whisenhunt said. "We want to make sure the soreness goes away." Two-Minute Drill: Despite a slow start caused in part by Jesse Chatman's presence, through four games Ronnie Brown leads all NFL running backs in catches (20 catches), receiving yards (248), and yards per carry (5.2) On pace for 1,416 rushing yards after a rough first season in Arizona, coach Ken Whisenhunt said Wednesday that Edgerrin James looks "like a reborn guy" and "a completely different player" Coach Herm Edwards revealed plans for Larry Johnson to sit out practice each Wednesday, calling it "The Curtis Martin Rule" of resting a running back midweek With Dwayne Bowe cemented in the starting lineup, Samie Parker will head to the bench once Eddie Kennison (hamstring) returns, most likely this week Coach Mike McCarthy said Wednesday that he hopes to get Vernand Morency more involved in the offense going forward, mostly like as a third-down back. Red Zone: Marvin Harrison (knee) and Joseph Addai (shoulder) both sat out practice Wednesday, with reports differing on whether Harrison has a "strain" or a "bruise" Laurence Maroney (groin) was limited in practice Wednesday, just like he was last week before sitting out Monday night's game Andre Johnson (knee) sat out Wednesday's practice and looks likely to miss another game Meanwhile, Jacoby Jones (shoulder) practiced on a limited basis, making it possible that he'll be a game-time decision Sunday With the Bengals on their bye, Rudi Johnson (hamstring) is expected to heal up enough to return in Week 6 Kellen Winslow practiced Wednesday, but coach Romeo Crennel said afterward that his partially dislocated shoulder "is something he's going to have to deal with all year" Adding to the Rams' many injury problems is that Isaac Bruce missed Wednesday's practice with a strained hamstring On the PUP list and not eligible to return until Week 7, Chris Perry (ankle) worked out on the sidelines during practice Wednesday Javon Walker (knee) missed practice Wednesday after saying Monday that he was unsure about his status for Week 5. |
|
| |
|
10-04-07, 02:43 PM
| #134 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak" Join Date: Aug 19, 2005 Location: Orlando, Florida
Posts: 64,496
| Re: Fantasy Football News 2007 Week 5 Rankings Two weeks is a long time in fantasy football; just ask Ronnie Brown owners. It has taken that long for Brown to go from Jesse Chatman's tag team partner to the number one fantasy back in the league. It's coming a year late, but the Ronnie Brown we've all been waiting for has arrived. I can already see the emails coming Brown only dominated against the Jets and the Raiders. But that's what multi-purpose backs do; they crush the weaklings. 418 total yards and four scores in two weeks is a statement. Cam Cameron, unlike Brown's former coordinators, knows how to use Brown's impressive skills in the passing game. Brown hasn't gained less than 36 receiving yards in a game this season and should set a career high in receiving yardage this week. www.therx.infowww.therx.wswww.eogcontests.comwww.tampabaybuccaneers.ws Cameron has stated that Brown is hitting the hole more decisively and he's running over defenders at the end of runs. He doesn't have breakaway speed, but there just aren't many backs that can excel in receiving and short-yardage like Brown. There are still some concerns surrounding Brown, primarily Miami's poor offense and a fantasy playoff schedule that includes Baltimore and New England. I wouldn't consider selling high on Brown until mid-November when the playoffs get closer. Until then, enjoy the ride and email last year's Ronnie owner to rub it in. Week 5 Quarterbacks
Note:For projections of all our ranked players, head to Season Pass. We help you make decisions at your flex positions, in addition to Evan Silva's Running Back report, Jason Matheny's IDP Nation, and tons of unique stat features. Check it out. QB Notes: Jay Cutler is like Jason Campbell, only better. He makes a handful of unbelievable throws a week, but still isn't accurate enough to be a top-shelf NFL starter. The yards are there for fantasy leaguers and the touchdowns should follow. His aggressive style should do well this week against San Diego's secondary, whether Javon Walker is healthy or not. I went back to watch Joey Harrington's last two games and was amazed at the protection he was getting. Carolina and Houston got absolutely no pass rush and Harrington happily got rid of the ball quickly into tight spots. He still can't go deep, but Bobby Petrino is making this passing game competent. This week is a great test for Harrington. If Atlanta can block Tennessee's line, they can block anyone. Buffalo is very excited about Trent Edwards, and with good reason. He had an ideal matchup for his first start against the Jets, but played composed for a rookie. Impressing Mike Tanier is a great sign. Fantasy Nation can scout Edwards on Monday Night Football, and deep keeper league owners should think about picking him up. Philip Rivers isn't an option against the Denver pass defense. Tampa's defense has been a revelation this season. We'll see how far they've come this week against the Colts. I expect the Bucs to limit big plays, if nothing else. If the Jets couldn't stop Trent Edwards and Trent Green, they aren't likely to slow down Eli Manning. It's a strong week to use Vince Young. The Falcons don't really do anything that well on defense and there should be big plays available in the passing game. It was difficult to rank quarterbacks after the top-12 this week. David Carr is a reasonable option just because the Saints are so poor. Matt Schaub may not light up the scoreboard just because Houston will focus on the running game. Drew Brees has a decent chance to bounce back because Carolina's defense is not rushing the passer well. Gus Frerotte is passable, but I wouldn't bang your head against the wall trying to pick him up. Week 5 Running Backs
RB Notes: Joseph Addai's status is uncertain this week, although he was seen standing and laughing on the sideline late in last week's win. Tony Dungy says Addai is playing quicker this season, and he appears to have lost some weight. He doesn't break huge plays, but he made Denver defenders look silly last week with an array of moves in the open field. If Addai somehow sits out, Kenton Keith is a top-15 option. Defenses make it too easy on Colts running backs, and Keith also played well in an 80-yard effort against Denver. Carolina's revamped running game is having success with a zone-blocking scheme, just like in Oakland. DeShaun Foster is quietly playing improved football, averaging over five yards-per-carry and breaking more tackles than we've seen. DeAngelo Williams owners should be concerned that Foster is seeing the same amount of pass targets as Foster. Williams may turn this into a committee by the end of the year, but Foster is the lead back and better option right now. Denver's rush defense is a mess right now. They made wholesale changes in Week 4 and it looked like a panic move. This is the perfect matchup for Norv Turner and LT2 this week. They should be relentless attacking Denver's soft middle. It's easy to see why Mike Shanahan talks so dreamily of Selvin Young. He is a tackle-breaking machine, and will stay involved in the offense even if Travis Henry is healthy. Henry looks unlikely to play 16 games, so Young owners have a great lottery ticket. It will be interesting to see how Jon Gruden divides the carries this week. I expect Tampa to run in high volume after the Colts defense showed signs of their 2006 problems last week. Losing Rob Morris and possibly Bob Sanders will hurt. Ahman Green looks like a game-time decision. With Miami's defense giving up 200 yards-per-game, whoever starts for Houston will be a good RB2 option. We'd rank Dayne at the same spot as Green if he starts. Sean Payton's recent comments indicate that Aaron Stecker may not be the answer that many Deuce McAllister fans were hoping for. Brandon Jacobs looks to be on track to start this week after practicing fully Wednesday. Even if the touches are split with Derrick Ward, Jacobs will get the short-yardage carries against a sagging Jets defense. Ward remains a decent option, similar to backs like Julius Jones and Kevin Jones who get less carries than average. It's the first week I'd consider using Kevin Jones, as he looks likely to top 15 touches. LenDale White didn't practice Wednesday, so keep an eye on him. Kansas City's revived defense will be no pushover for Maurice Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor, who are looking like shaky plays. Week 5 Wide Receivers WR Notes: Javon Walker isn't sure whether he'll play this week, so he's off the rankings for now. Look for Brandon Marshall to step up with a solid game against a Chargers secondary that is prone to giving up big plays. Michael Jenkins has caught six passes in each of the last two weeks. He's made a number of leaping grabs lately, and has passed Joe Horn in terms of fantasy relevance, although he's still a lower-tier receiver. Roddy White, meanwhile, is on pace for 1,200 yards. Most encouraging have been his improvements on shorter crossing routes. White is beating press coverage, and has developed into more than a one trick (go deep, Roddy!) pony. That's essential considering Joey Harrington doesn't like to stretch the field. Steve Smith isn't helping himself with at least four drops over the last two weeks. Despite the presence of David Carr, Smith remains a must-start every week. He should bounce back against the Saints. With the Bucs likely to focus on the running game and the Colts defense excellent at preventing big plays, it doesn't look like a great week to use Joey Galloway. Anquan Boldin's status is currently a mystery. We'll rank him as if he's starting. Dwayne Bowe's strong run is likely to end against the Jaguars. I'm not ranking Eddie Kennison until he shows something, but his return doesn't particularly help Bowe. Santana Moss doesn't look likely to play, so he's not on the rankings. Antwaan Randle El gets a bump. Drew Bennett will hit the rankings roughly where Isaac Bruce is ranked if Reverend Ike can't play. Week 5 Tight Ends
TE Notes: Life has few certainties: Death, taxes, and Dallas Clark going too early in fantasy leagues. At least until this year. Clark is currently the number one fantasy tight end in standard scoring leagues, and his career year isn't about to slow down with Marvin Harrison less than 100%. Clark has more targets than Reggie Wayne and Harrison for the season, and the Colts are calling plays for him that many fantasy owners expected to go to Anthony Gonzalez. Clark even beat Champ Bailey deep last week, the ultimate sign that he's playing out of his mind. Look for another solid game against the Tampa zone defense. The loss of Michael Vick hasn't hurt Alge Crumpler much. While he's seeing a lower percentage of Atlanta's targets, the Falcons pass-heavy style balances that out. Crumpler appears to be getting in shape during the season, so I wouldn't be surprised if he has a big second half. Maybe he'll come up with another open-field move than running people over. Week 5 Team Defense
Week 5 Kickers
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |
|
10-05-07, 01:26 PM
| #135 |
| "Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak" Join Date: Aug 19, 2005 Location: Orlando, Florida
Posts: 64,496
| Re: Fantasy Football News 2007 Offense Awakening? Well, last week we learned that Peyton Manning, not the skill level of the Broncos second cornerback, is the dominant variable in the case of Manning vs. Denver defensive secondary. Instead of using the injured Marvin Harrison or well-covered Reggie Wayne, Manning took advantage of a Broncos team that struggled to cover tight ends and threw primarily to Dallas Clark, who had a huge game operating versus linebackers that just could not cover him. This week, Manning goes up against a Tampa Bay pass defense that has been a revelation the first four weeks, ranking third in the league according to our DVOA metric, which tracks performance while accounting for both opponent and situation. While Manning's still worth starting this week, don't be surprised if Tampa and the loss of Marvin Harrison dampens his numbers some. Quarterback The best pass defense in the league through four weeks? Pittsburgh, who shut down the somehow-juggernaut that was the Cleveland Browns attack in Week 1. Of course, that was with the now-departed Charlie Frye at quarterback. The arrival of Mike Tomlin has re-awakened Ike Taylor's ability at corner, and while they weren't able to put away Arizona last week, expect them to shut down the Seattle passing attack at home. Leave Matt Hasselbeck on your bench. An even more shocking defensive turnaround has been that of Kansas City, which has remained in games almost solely due to a pass defense that's been the second-best in football. While it's not entirely likely that the well-aged combination of Ty Law and Patrick Surtain will be able to keep up this level of play for the rest of the season, there's no reason to think that David Garrard will be a really worthwhile start this week. On the flip side, some of the worst pass defenses in the league remain likely to be carved up again this week. The Jets, 31st in the league, go up against a Giants offense that's been surprisingly effective so far this campaign. Eli Manning has looked like a new quarterback, limiting his mistakes and overthrows while effectively finding second and third receivers and putting throws in the proper spots with consistent footwork. He's a good start versus the Jets. The game most likely to be an offensive explosion this week? Carolina at New Orleans, where the 32nd and 29th-ranked pass defenses matchup in a game both need to win. Steve Smith's numbers in his last four games against New Orleans: 31 catches, 395 yards, 6 touchdowns. Not even David Carr can get in the way of that. Meanwhile, in the one meaningful game he played against the Panthers last year, Drew Brees threw for 349 yards and a score. Both these offenses are scuffling, but they'll get back on track in a big way this week. Make sure Brees is in your lineup again, and if you need a bye week quarterback, get Carr in there. Honest. Running Back For years now, pundits have predicted the collapse of the Miami Dolphins defense because of old age. For years, they've avoided the collapse. Through four weeks, though, the Dolphins appear to have finally hit the wall -- their rush defense ranks 31st in the league. Whether its because of aging defensive tackles, the absence of Zach Thomas due to concussions, or the "suck" that Jason Taylor attributed to himself last week, they're in rough shape. They go to Houston this week, where they play the ascending Texans. The only problem is that Ahman Green is questionable and has barely practiced all week. Monitor the situation on Sunday -- if Green's out, insert Ron Dayne into your lineup. For those of you who doubt the power of matchups...remember Ron Dayne's big game as a Texan? Right! Against the Colts, who had the 31st-ranked run defense in football last year. We've harped repeatedly on how great a matchup anyone versus the Rams are. That's no exception this week. Get Edgerrin James in against the 29th-ranked run defense in football. With Gus Frerotte at quarterback and the Rams likely to be behind, the Cardinals will be pounding the ball in the second half. While Kansas City's pass defense has been superb, we can't say the same about its rushing defense. 28th in the league isn't anything to crow about. That means...yes, it's OK, fantasy owners...return Maurice Jones-Drew to your lineup. This is precisely the week where he'll return to fantasy prominence. Fred Taylor is also a good start. While Cleveland pulled off an upset last week by defeating and scoring 27 points against the Baltimore defense, Jamal Lewis had about the game you'd expect. 64 yards on 23 carries is nothing special, with Lewis' saving grace being that he scored on a plunge when the Browns were up 14 points. That's the advantage of being ahead. Lewis moves from the second-ranked rush defense in football to the third- in New England. I suspect the Browns won't be ahead this week. Keep Lewis on your bench. The other surprising part of the Texans season has been their excellent rush defense, fifth in the league in 2007 after being 26th a year ago. That spells trouble for Ronnie Brown, coming off back-to-back weeks against porous rush defenses. Because of the mediocrity surrounding Brown, he's even more sensitive to the defense facing him than other players. Brown's not likely to put up big numbers this week. Wide Receivers Indianapolis has stifled #1 wideouts through the first four weeks, to the tune of second-best in football. That's something to think about in playing Joey Galloway this week. Galloway hasn't played the Colts in several years, so there's no player-specific data really relevant to the discussion, but check Bob Sanders' status on Sunday before putting Galloway in. Where Tampa's defense has excelled isn't in stopping a team's star wideout (where they rank only 19th), but in keeping their #2 guy off the scoresheet (where they're first in football). The problem with that this week is that it's hard to define Indy's second guy. Will it be Marvin Harrison? Reggie Wayne? Dallas Clark? Keep all of them in your lineup, assuming Harrison goes. Meanwhile, return the New Orleans and Carolina receivers to your lineup. Well, just Steve Smith on the latter. And maybe Drew Carter. For New Orleans, get Devery Henderson back in the fold this week as a third wideout. The Panthers' safeties have really struggled, and Henderson's the perfect deep threat to take advantage of that. Get your Giants and Jets in too. Not only Plaxico, but Amani Toomer, Jerricho Cotchery (who is rapidly becoming the Jets' #1 target), and Laveranues Coles. There are catches to be had in the Meadowlands this week. Tight End One guy to leave out this week? Ben Watson, who's struggled to find catches in the midst of the Patriots' aerial attack. Cleveland's very good at defending against tight ends and very bad at defending wideouts of all types -- that means much more Wes Welker than Watson. Miami, for all its shortcomings this year, has done a much-improved job of defending against tight ends. That could spell the end of a nice run for Owen Daniels, who's been Matt Schaub's favorite target post-Andre Johnson. Your recommended play at tight end is Jet Chris Baker, who goes up against the Giants. We don't need to explain this one again. |
|
| |
|
10-05-07, 01:27 PM
| #136 |
| "Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak" Join Date: Aug 19, 2005 Location: Orlando, Florida
Posts: 64,496
| Re: Fantasy Football News 2007 Henry Facing Likely Suspension News broke Thursday night that Travis Henry allegedly tested positive for marijuana last month and faces a potential suspension from the league. Henry was previously suspended four games in 2005 for violating the league's substance-abuse policy, which likely means that any new suspension would carry quite a bit of weight. Henry reportedly would have cycled out of the league's rehab program in Week 3, which indicates that the latest test took place before then. Henry has reportedly taken legal action in an attempt to prevent the league from suspending him and the Denver Post reports that he could potentially continue to play while the matter is being sorted out. That could keep him in the lineup for this week at least, but with the Broncos on their bye in Week 6 that would seemingly give the NFL plenty of time to get things settled. In other words, go get Selvin Young in any league where he's not already on a roster. An undrafted rookie, Young used an impressive preseason to move ahead of Mike Bell and Cecil Sapp on the depth chart behind Henry. He's played sparingly thus far while Henry has racked up big numbers, but Young is averaging a whopping 9.2 yards on 15 carries and has also caught five passes for 57 yards. Toss in coach Mike Shanahan saying last month that Young "is a starter in this league" and he could be the latest product of the Broncos' running-back factory. As of Friday morning there's no official word on Henry's status, so it's too early to cut bait on him or project big things from Young. With that said, it seems likely that Henry will be facing at least some kind of suspension and there's speculation that he could be forced to sit out the remainder of the season. If that's the case, Young suddenly vaults into clear-cut RB2 territory, which is a saving grace for Henry owners who were smart enough to use the all-important handcuff. While Henry's nine children and their nine different mothers fret about his future, here are some other notes from around football * As Gregg Rosenthal noted Wednesday over at Pancake Blocks, through four weeks rookie Marshawn Lynch is surprisingly tied for the NFL lead by carrying the ball or being targeted via pass on 43 percent of the Bills' offensive plays. That puts him even with LaDainian Tomlinson and Larry Johnson, which is interesting company to say the least. Part of the reason that Lynch's big workload had gone unnoticed is that Buffalo ranks dead last in offensive plays per game. The Bills have run just 198 offensive plays, while Tomlinson's Chargers are at 248 and Johnson's Chiefs are at 223. In other words, not all 43 percents are created equal, because Tomlinson (106) and Johnson (95) lead Lynch (86) by a healthy margin in "looks." Along with the Bills' offense rarely being on the field, Lynch hasn't done a whole lot with those touches, averaging just 3.8 yards on 80 carries and catching a grand total of five passes. Lynch has been the target on just six of Buffalo's 95 throws thus far, but coach Dick Jauron said Thursday that he hopes to increase his role in the passing game going forward. There was a time not so long ago when Jauron was hinting at a carry split between Lynch and veteran backup Anthony Thomas, so the fact that he's clearly the team's workhorse this early is a great sign. The Bills' offense almost can't help but improve at least somewhat, so Lynch's numbers should rise. * On Wednesday the 49ers squashed an ESPN report claiming that Alex Smith would require season-ending shoulder surgery and Smith said Thursday that he hopes to begin practicing again on October 21. Most sources reporting on Smith's status initially quoted a 4-6 week recovery timetable, but Adam Schefter of NFL Network reported Thursday that he'll be out for at least 3-4 weeks, which would make an October 21 return possible. Trent Dilfer will replace Smith as the starter, but the 49ers' offense figures to revolve heavily around Frank Gore. The good news is that Gore figures to see his workload increase, perhaps significantly. The bad news is that he also figures to see the number of defenders crowded around the line of scrimmage increase, perhaps significantly. Gore has averaged 19 touches per game thus far, but that number could easily jump into the 22-25 range until Smith returns. * Brandon Jacobs is officially healthy again, with the Giants removing him from their injury report Thursday less than a month after he was diagnosed with a sprained knee. The Giants' running game has a strong matchup against the Jets' porous, undersized defense Sunday, with Derrick Ward's uncertain health status adding to Jacobs' projected fantasy value. Ward was limited in practice Thursday, which means that Jacobs could see close to a full workload in his return. Two-Minute Drill: After totaling 37 touches through four games, coach Bobby Petrino said Thursday that he hopes to get Jerious Norwood more involved in the offense going forward, but we've heard that before with little change It hasn't done a whole lot for David Carr, but the Arizona Republic suggests that wearing gloves might be behind Kurt Warner's strong play thus far As expected, Larry Johnson returned to practice Thursday after taking a non-injury day off to rest up for the Week 5 matchup against Jacksonville Similarly, DeShaun Foster got back on the practice field Thursday after taking Wednesday off to rest Coach Sean Payton said Thursday that he's encouraged by the process rookie Robert Meachem has made, but isn't ready to activate him on game days Coach Joe Gibbs said Wednesday that Reche Caldwell is now ready to be active on game days and he could see a decent-sized role in Week 5 with both Santana Moss (groin) and Brandon Lloyd (shin) banged up. Red Zone: Joseph Addai (shoulder) missed Thursday's practice, with coach Tony Dungy saying afterward that Friday "is probably the day we'll decide" if he'll play in Week 5 Laurence Maroney (groin) was once again limited in practice Thursday, all but guaranteeing that he'll be a game-time decision for the second straight week Initially expected to miss 4-5 weeks following knee surgery on September 13, Terry Glenn has reportedly begun the rehab process Plaxico Burress sat out Thursday's practice, but that's part of the Giants' plan to deal with his ankle injury and he's expected to play in Week 5 Todd Heap (hamstring) missed his second straight practice Thursday, making it likely that he'll be a game-time decision Sunday Hines Ward (knee) missed practice again Thursday and will need to get on the field Friday in order to play this week Brandon Jackson (shin) is considered doubtful for Sunday's game, making it likely that DeShawn Wynn will start again Derrick Mason (back) missed practice Thursday, which is seemingly a bad sign given that he participated fully in Wednesday's workout Javon Walker (knee) looks likely to be a game-time decision Sunday after skipping another practice Thursday. |
|
| |
|
10-05-07, 06:45 PM
| #137 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak" Join Date: Aug 19, 2005 Location: Orlando, Florida
Posts: 64,496
| Re: Fantasy Football News 2007 Week 5 Rankings Update The rankings below were updated Friday night. Starters such as Addai and Henry, who are game-time decisions, are ranked as if they will start. Their backups have notes about their rank if the starters sit. The rest of the column was posted Wednesday morning. Two weeks is a long time in fantasy football; just ask Ronnie Brown owners. It has taken that long for Brown to go from Jesse Chatman's tag team partner to the number one fantasy back in the league. It's coming a year late, but the Ronnie Brown we've all been waiting for has arrived. I can already see the emails coming Brown only dominated against the Jets and the Raiders. But that's what multi-purpose backs do; they crush the weaklings. 418 total yards and four scores in two weeks is a statement. Cam Cameron, unlike Brown's former coordinators, knows how to use Brown's impressive skills in the passing game. Brown hasn't gained less than 36 receiving yards in a game this season and should set a career high in receiving yardage this week. Cameron has stated that Brown is hitting the hole more decisively and he's running over defenders at the end of runs. He doesn't have breakaway speed, but there just aren't many backs that can excel in receiving and short-yardage like Brown. There are still some concerns surrounding Brown, primarily Miami's poor offense and a fantasy playoff schedule that includes Baltimore and New England. I wouldn't consider selling high on Brown until mid-November when the playoffs get closer. Until then, enjoy the ride and email last year's Ronnie owner to rub it in. Week 5 Quarterbacks
Note:For projections of all our ranked players, head to Season Pass. We help you make decisions at your flex positions, in addition to Evan Silva's Running Back report, Jason Matheny's IDP Nation, and tons of unique stat features. Check it out. QB Notes: Jay Cutler is like Jason Campbell, only better. He makes a handful of unbelievable throws a week, but still isn't accurate enough to be a top-shelf NFL starter. The yards are there for fantasy leaguers and the touchdowns should follow. His aggressive style should do well this week against San Diego's secondary, whether Javon Walker is healthy or not. I went back to watch Joey Harrington's last two games and was amazed at the protection he was getting. Carolina and Houston got absolutely no pass rush and Harrington happily got rid of the ball quickly into tight spots. He still can't go deep, but Bobby Petrino is making this passing game competent. This week is a great test for Harrington. If Atlanta can block Tennessee's line, they can block anyone. Buffalo is very excited about Trent Edwards, and with good reason. He had an ideal matchup for his first start against the Jets, but played composed for a rookie. Impressing Mike Tanier is a great sign. Fantasy Nation can scout Edwards on Monday Night Football, and deep keeper league owners should think about picking him up. Philip Rivers isn't an option against the Denver pass defense. Tampa's defense has been a revelation this season. We'll see how far they've come this week against the Colts. I expect the Bucs to limit big plays, if nothing else. If the Jets couldn't stop Trent Edwards and Trent Green, they aren't likely to slow down Eli Manning. It's a strong week to use Vince Young. The Falcons don't really do anything that well on defense and there should be big plays available in the passing game. It was difficult to rank quarterbacks after the top-12 this week. David Carr is a reasonable option just because the Saints are so poor. Matt Schaub may not light up the scoreboard just because Houston will focus on the running game. Drew Brees has a decent chance to bounce back because Carolina's defense is not rushing the passer well. Gus Frerotte is passable, but I wouldn't bang your head against the wall trying to pick him up. Week 5 Running Backs
RB Notes: Joseph Addai's status is uncertain this week, although he was seen standing and laughing on the sideline late in last week's win. Tony Dungy says Addai is playing quicker this season, and he appears to have lost some weight. He doesn't break huge plays, but he made Denver defenders look silly last week with an array of moves in the open field. If Addai somehow sits out, Kenton Keith is a top-15 option. Defenses make it too easy on Colts running backs, and Keith also played well in an 80-yard effort against Denver. Carolina's revamped running game is having success with a zone-blocking scheme, just like in Oakland. DeShaun Foster is quietly playing improved football, averaging over five yards-per-carry and breaking more tackles than we've seen. DeAngelo Williams owners should be concerned that Foster is seeing the same amount of pass targets as Foster. Williams may turn this into a committee by the end of the year, but Foster is the lead back and better option right now. Denver's rush defense is a mess right now. They made wholesale changes in Week 4 and it looked like a panic move. This is the perfect matchup for Norv Turner and LT2 this week. They should be relentless attacking Denver's soft middle. It's easy to see why Mike Shanahan talks so dreamily of Selvin Young. He is a tackle-breaking machine, and will stay involved in the offense even if Travis Henry is healthy. Henry looks unlikely to play 16 games, so Young owners have a great lottery ticket. It will be interesting to see how Jon Gruden divides the carries this week. I expect Tampa to run in high volume after the Colts defense showed signs of their 2006 problems last week. Losing Rob Morris and possibly Bob Sanders will hurt. Ahman Green looks like a game-time decision. With Miami's defense giving up 200 yards-per-game, whoever starts for Houston will be a good RB2 option. We'd rank Dayne at the same spot as Green if he starts. Sean Payton's recent comments indicate that Aaron Stecker may not be the answer that many Deuce McAllister fans were hoping for. Brandon Jacobs looks to be on track to start this week after practicing fully Wednesday. Even if the touches are split with Derrick Ward, Jacobs will get the short-yardage carries against a sagging Jets defense. Ward remains a decent option, similar to backs like Julius Jones and Kevin Jones who get less carries than average. It's the first week I'd consider using Kevin Jones, as he looks likely to top 15 touches. LenDale White didn't practice Wednesday, so keep an eye on him. Kansas City's revived defense will be no pushover for Maurice Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor, who are looking like shaky plays. Week 5 Wide Receivers
WR Notes: Javon Walker isn't sure whether he'll play this week, so he's off the rankings for now. Look for Brandon Marshall to step up with a solid game against a Chargers secondary that is prone to giving up big plays. Michael Jenkins has caught six passes in each of the last two weeks. He's made a number of leaping grabs lately, and has passed Joe Horn in terms of fantasy relevance, although he's still a lower-tier receiver. Roddy White, meanwhile, is on pace for 1,200 yards. Most encouraging have been his improvements on shorter crossing routes. White is beating press coverage, and has developed into more than a one trick (go deep, Roddy!) pony. That's essential considering Joey Harrington doesn't like to stretch the field. Steve Smith isn't helping himself with at least four drops over the last two weeks. Despite the presence of David Carr, Smith remains a must-start every week. He should bounce back against the Saints. With the Bucs likely to focus on the running game and the Colts defense excellent at preventing big plays, it doesn't look like a great week to use Joey Galloway. Anquan Boldin's status is currently a mystery. We'll rank him as if he's starting. Dwayne Bowe's strong run is likely to end against the Jaguars. I'm not ranking Eddie Kennison until he shows something, but his return doesn't particularly help Bowe. Santana Moss doesn't look likely to play, so he's not on the rankings. Antwaan Randle El gets a bump. Drew Bennett will hit the rankings roughly where Isaac Bruce is ranked if Reverend Ike can't play. Week 5 Tight Ends
TE Notes: Life has few certainties: Death, taxes, and Dallas Clark going too early in fantasy leagues. At least until this year. Clark is currently the number one fantasy tight end in standard scoring leagues, and his career year isn't about to slow down with Marvin Harrison less than 100%. Clark has more targets than Reggie Wayne and Harrison for the season, and the Colts are calling plays for him that many fantasy owners expected to go to Anthony Gonzalez. Clark even beat Champ Bailey deep last week, the ultimate sign that he's playing out of his mind. Look for another solid game against the Tampa zone defense. The loss of Michael Vick hasn't hurt Alge Crumpler much. While he's seeing a lower percentage of Atlanta's targets, the Falcons pass-heavy style balances that out. Crumpler appears to be getting in shape during the season, so I wouldn't be surprised if he has a big second half. Maybe he'll come up with another open-field move than running people over. Week 5 Team Defense
Week 5 Kickers
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |
|
10-06-07, 05:28 PM
| #138 |
| "Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak" Join Date: Aug 19, 2005 Location: Orlando, Florida
Posts: 64,496
| Re: Fantasy Football News 2007 Mason Looks Likely Will Travis Henry be active Sunday afternoon against San Diego? Probably, yeah. Is he a lock, or even a good bet to carry a full workload? Maybe not. The Broncos need a win against the Chargers. It's a divisional matchup with the reigning division champs. The Bolts (1-3, 0-1) are still the most talented and deepest team in the AFC West, while Denver (2-2, 1-0) is a young club with something to prove. So the Broncos will want their best players on the field Sunday. They paid him a ton of money, but really; who's to say Henry is the Broncos' best running back? "(He's) like a third- or fourth-year guy; nothing seems to faze him. I can see him as a starter. He is a starter in this league." - Broncos coach Mike Shanahan (who um, might know a thing or two about running backs) in his Monday press conference heading to Week 3. Young proceeded to gain 144 yards on 14 touches (10.3 yards-per-touch average) the following two Sundays. "He hasn't really exceeded my expectations. You're just hoping that he can hang onto the football, and that as the game goes on he can stay halfway fresh." - Shanahan in the exact same press conference about Henry. Now, I wouldn't mistake Shanahan for a straight shooter, but his comments here are telling. Rumors ensued the week following that Young might take on more of the Broncos' running back pie going forward. It'll be a few weeks before we see Young start a game -- the Broncos are on a bye in Week 6 -- but the undrafted rookie from Texas was already on his way towards cutting into Henry's workload substantially. An equal carry split against the Chargers appears likely as the Broncos give Young a taste of what will be a grueling second-half stretch and Henry prepares for a year-long layoff from the game. Week 5 Game-Time Decisions Arms Chad Pennington Will start despite missing parts of practice all week. Steve McNair Expected to play after practicing without limits on Friday. Wides Marvin Harrison Signs point to Marv sitting out Colts' afternoon game. Plaxico Burress Despite not practicing all week, is highly likely to start. Anquan Boldin Hip injury lingering, expected to keep him out @ Rams. Santana Moss Doubtful; even if he's active he won't play many snaps. Calvin Johnson Limited all week; Cal could be limited on game day too. Derrick Mason Expect Mason to start in afternoon matchup with Niners. Donte' Stallworth Should start; seems finally to be picking up offense. Ike Hilliard Week 4 line (4-114) more than likely a fluke for aging vet. Craig Davis Questionable, Malcom Floyd will start @ DEN if Davis can't. Aaron Moorehead Expected to start, but doesn't separate consistently. David Patten Practiced Friday, so he should resume fourth WR duties. Backs Joseph Addai Looks like Colts won't take any risks before Week 6 bye. Travis Henry Doubt to-be-suspended back will see a full load if he's up. Laurence Maroney Guessing he'll start; won't know for sure until 11 ET. Ahman Green Is expected to miss game vs. Miami; Ron Dayne to start. Brandon Jackson Unlikely to play or contribute much even if he's active. Adrian Peterson (Bears) Calf injury may limit his touches Sunday night. Derrick Ward Probable, but Brandon Jacobs is set to regain starting job. T.J. Duckett Even if he's active, Duckett's role should be minor @ WAS. Mike Bell Could regain fantasy relevance if he switches back to tailback. Ends Kellen Winslow Probable to start, be on this list the rest of the season. Todd Heap Didn't practice at all during the week, availability in doubt. Daniel Wilcox Ankle/foot still bugging him; Quinn Sypniewski may start. Legs Olindo Mare Probable; disappointing so far but improvement inevitable. Already Ruled Out for Week 5 Arms Marc Bulger Worth hanging onto if possible; could be back by Week 7. Jake Delhomme Listed as doubtful but probably out for several weeks. Alex Smith Has separated shoulder but appears to be making progress. J.P. Losman May be back around Week 7; Trent Edwards starts on MNF. Wides Andre Johnson Still isn't practicing; not a good sign for Week 6 chances. Javon Walker Called doubtful but is out; injury shouldn't end his season. Hines Ward Nate Washington gets start at flanker after 2-catch Week 4. Terry Glenn Use Patrick Crayton @ BUF; Glenn's timetable is uncertain. Isaac Bruce Has strained hammy; Drew Bennett to start against Arizona. D.J. Hackett Hackett won't be able to return until Week 9 at the earliest. Eric Parker Recovery behind schedule and Chargers missing him badly. Jacoby Jones Probably will play in Week 6 after practicing some this week. Peerless Price Will go on I.R.; Josh Reed to take over as Bills No. 2 WR. Steve Smith (Giants) Still battling shoulder injury, return date unknown. David Givens On PUP list, no new news regarding his potential to return. Rod Smith Doesn't look ready to come off PUP lwhen eligible in Week 7. Koren Robinson Will add another dimension to Packers when reinstated. Roy Hall Rookie likely out a few more weeks due to separated shoulder. Backs Steven Jackson Didn't work at all this week and still seems a ways away. Carnell Williams Michael Pittman to start against Bob Sanders-less Colts. Deuce McAllister Reggie Bush to be primary and feature back for Saints. Brian Calhoun Placed on I.R. again, faces a battle to make Lions in 2007. Ricky Williams Can be reinstated soon; is worth a look in deep leagues. Priest Holmes No word on whether he has any shot to return in Week 7. Ends Vernon Davis Should be back after Week 6 bye; Delanie Walker filling in. L.J. Smith Eagles hope he'll return in Week 6, but may still not be 100%. Ben Utecht Contract-year player's injuries will limit his '08 market value. David Thomas Promising sophomore went on injured reserve Wednesday. Legs Josh Scobee John Carney a decent play at Arrowhead while it's still warm. Week 5 Matchups to Exploit/Avoid Cardinals @ Rams Game Time: 12:00 CT/1:00 ET It's another brutal week for injuries in the NFL. There aren't as many this week as there were in Week 1, but more key players will likely be sidelined than ever before. For Arizona, Anquan Boldin is doubtful, and set to replace him is usual third receiver Bryant Johnson. Johnson became overrated during a 2006 season in which he played a prominent role under Dennis Green. Now, he's rarely being used, and despite starting last week, was actually out-produced by special teamer Jerheme Urban, he of 13 career catches. Since he'll take over Boldin's flanker spot, Johnson will draw the Rams' best corner, Fakhir Brown, who is fresh coming off a four-game suspension. The Cards should be able to run to keep the chains moving Sunday and feature Larry Fitzgerald in the passing game. While Johnson should play a lot of snaps and catch a few passes, the feeling here is that you can do better On the other side, Isaac Bruce will sit this one out with a strained hamstring. Drew Bennett starts at right side receiver for Bruce, and will primarily go against former Eagles nickel back Roderick Hood. Gus Frerotte will be throwing Bennett passes. Bennett has been active for three games so far this season, and the Rams are devoted to getting him the ball in the end zone. A truly amazing statistic: the Rams have been in the red zone six times since Week 2 against San Francisco. Bennett has been targeted every time the Rams have been inside the 20. With an injured Marc Bulger throwing to him, though, Bennett failed to actually score. Frerotte has proven himself a capable replacement QB in the league and could probably be starting for several teams (Baltimore, San Francisco, Chicago, and Miami). He will only help St. Louis' cause, as he's healthier than Bulger and will take care of the football. Look for the Rams to finally move the ball and Bennett to finally score a touchdown on Sunday. Dolphins @ Texans Game Time: Sunday 12:00 CT/1:00 ET If you expected a big day for Ron Dayne against Atlanta last week, you were just like me: Disappointed. Dayne had a flex-worthy stat line, but I was fully anticipating one score at least. The former Heisman Trophy winner is expected to get another shot this Sunday against the Dolphins' last-ranked rush defense, a unit that is not only struggling badly to stop anyone, but may be without arguably its two best players: MLB Zach Thomas (concussion) and WLB Channing Crowder (ankle). Both are game-time decisions, and the Dolphins lack any semblance of linebacker depth. Dayne had a tough time in short yardage last week, but that has notoriously been the strength of his game. Expect Ahman Green (knee) to be inactive and Dayne to get on the scoreboard against the 'Fins. Bucs @ Colts Game Time: 3:05 CT/4:05 ET When the Colts were struggling so mightily against the run last season, many pinpointed that one weakness as the reason they couldn't win the AFC Championship. Two personnel changes made the difference. Indianapolis installed Rob Morris at strong-side linebacker, and Bob Sanders joined the lineup at free safety after a long, injury-induced layoff. The Colts went on to beat Kansas City, Baltimore, New England, and finally Chicago in Super Bowl XLI. This week, the Colts will be without both players. Rocky Boiman, a lanky journeyman, steps in for Morris at the SAM while special teamer Matt Giordano will take Sanders' place. Michael Pittman and Earnest Graham are supposed to split carries, but Pittman is the lead back and starter until proven otherwise. Count on Pittman as an RB2-type play, especially in points-per-reception leagues On the other side, there's likely no player that stands to benefit more from the expected absence of Marvin Harrison than Dallas Clark. With Harrison in a baseball cap for over half of last Sunday's bout with Denver, Clark went off, catching six balls for 76 yards and scoring twice. Because rookie Anthony Gonzalez has yet to step up and take over the Brandon Stokley role in Indy, Clark is having the best year of his career in a contract season. The Bucs have been tough against tight ends so far due to the addition of Cato June, but Clark will be in line for a ton of targets, and the 6-3/252-pound former Iowa Hawkeye is much more athletic and crafty than any tight end the 5-11/227-pound June has covered to date. A combination of Marcus Pollard, Eric Johnson, Randy McMichael, and Jeff King would make most defenders look good. Cowboys @ Bills Game Time: Monday 7:30 CT/8:30 ET Patrick Crayton was most likely either the first or second player taken off waivers in your league this week. His outstanding seven-reception, 184-yard, and two-score performance against St. Louis put him back on the radar after a slow start. Well, Crayton is here to stay as a nearly every-week WR3, and is close to a must play Sunday night against the Bills. Buffalo is already near the bottom of the NFL in pass defense, and will be without two starters (RCB Ashton Youboty and FS Jim Leonhard) against the league's best-rated offense. Crayton will see time against a slew of borderline NFL-caliber players, frontlined by 169-pounder Jabari Greer. The Cowboys really don't have a whole lot to lose by going Jimmy Johnson on the Bills. Coach Wade Phillips may be looking for a bit of revenge against the organization that fired him following a playoff birth and the devastating and unforgettable Music City Miracle. |
|
| |
|
10-08-07, 02:22 PM
| #139 |
| "Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak" Join Date: Aug 19, 2005 Location: Orlando, Florida
Posts: 64,496
| Re: Fantasy Football News 2007 The Hangover The New Orleans Saints know drama. When they inspire, they do it with historic panache. When they collapse, they do it completely. Drew Brees is the symbol of this year's frustration; he's gone from NFL Man of the Year to the Biggest Fantasy Bust of the 2007. Larry Johnson and Steven Jackson owners might not agree, but chew on these Brees numbers: 5.2 YPA (dead last in the NFL), 1 TD, 9 INT, and two fumbles lost. All the drops by Saints receivers Sunday were scapegoated because they came late in the game. And while Brees had plenty of bad luck (two touchdowns called back, a tipped pick, dropped passes) he also made some terrible throws like he has all season. Brees missed open receivers and was lucky that more passes weren't picked off. The Saints offense got the ball in field goal range with a chance to win the game and they moved the ball one yard. The offense is all dinks and dunks, perhaps because of Brees' limitations. The Fox commenters Sunday mentioned that Brees' arm strength appeared off, a growing belief around the league. That same arm, which lifted an entire region of fans and fantasy owners with such a magical ride last year, looks tired. Stepping Off the Ledge 1. As a Patriots fan, I've frequently said that guys like Donte' Stallworth and Ben Watson will have a few random big games, but it's anyone's guess when they will arrive. Congratulations to those who guessed Cleveland! That was a logical one in retrospect. Just don't expect it to happen again next week. 2. Steve Smith had a passable fantasy day despite only 17 pass attempts from a banged-up David Carr. The Panthers made getting Smith the ball a priority, even if it took until the fourth quarter to see results. In a shocker, Smith almost was playing with his old buddy Jake Delhomme again. After David Carr left the game, Delhomme surprisingly warmed up. John Fox wouldn't rule out a possible return at halftime. Carr wound up returning after a halftime back recalibration, which sounds like fun. Don't Panic 1. There are all sorts of reasons to explain Larry Johnson's 14-touch, 15-carry game. Here's a short list: The opponent (Jacksonville), the teammates (offensive line and quarterback), and the difficulty of maintaining two careers (rapping and playing). Whatever the reason, the old LJ wouldn't have suffered this type of game We still think he's a great buy-low candidate with two games left against Oakland and Denver. He gets the Bengals next week. 2. Matt Hasselbeck was shut down by the Steelers, like many quarterbacks before him. He may have lost Deion Branch for a while, and the Seattle running game has been average. But Seattle's system is the key, and they have competent receivers who can fill in. The next two games are home against the Rams and Saints. Hasselbeck and Shaun Alexander will bounce back. 3. Owning Vince Young means accepting days like he had Sunday. But we're a little surprised that Young is so hesitant to run the ball. He's been held under 30 rushing yards three times this year; that only happened three times in his last ten starts last year. Pocket passing is great, but running scores points. 4. Don't draw huge conclusions from the quiet numbers Detroit's receivers put up in Washington. That's what happens when Jon Kitna only throws for 106 yards. The Lions offense was due for a slowdown, although they certainly don't look like the same squad when they play on grass. Just like Mike Martz's old offense. Some Panic is Acceptable 1. Thomas Jones finished with 36 yards on 13 carries against the Giants and hasn't broken a play over 12 yards all year. Leon Washington's yards-per-carry average (2.9) indicates it may be an offensive line issue, but Jones isn't someone who makes plays on his own. He looked like a solid RB2 before the two, but should be seen as a flex play now. 2. Matt Leinart's lost second season may already be over. He could be ready to play again by December, but the Cardinals probably hope that Kurt Warner will be playing too well then to pull him. 3. Kevin Jones didn't have a single touch in the first half Sunday, and Tatum Bell still only wound up with four touches on the game. Jones was productive in the second half, and it appears this committee will finally end. 4. It's hard for a backup running back to be a bust, but Ladell Betts qualifies so far this season. Owners were expecting a Clinton Portis injury or committee, and neither has happened. Even worse, Betts is averaging only 2.7 yards-per-carry on the season and has six catches. |
|
| |
|
10-08-07, 03:53 PM
| #140 |
| "Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak" Join Date: Aug 19, 2005 Location: Orlando, Florida
Posts: 64,496
| Re: Fantasy Football News 2007 Matchup Proof Quietly efficient 1. David Garrard has slowly improved each game this season. Zero interceptions and an 8.3 YPA indicates some big games could be ahead. 2. Like Ronnie Brown, Heath Miller is having the season many fantasy owners expected last season. He's the TE7 with 17 catches, 241 yards, and two scores. Ben Roethlisberger may want to think about throwing to him more. Miller has caught 17 of the 18 passes sent his way. Kellen Winslow, for comparison, had 12 targets on Sunday alone. 3. Ben was without his best two receivers Sunday, and still managed to throw for 202 yards on only 22 attempts, with four incompletions. Roethlisberger has proven to be one of the most consistent fantasy quarterbacks all year, never too high or low. He's the opposite of the 2006 Ben. 4. Jason Campbell's top two wideouts in the second half Sunday were Keenan McCardell (signed last week) and James Thrash. He still wound up with 248 yards, two scores, and four incompletions. The Yin and the Yang There was plenty of good and bad in Reggie Bush's first start of the season. He set a career high with 30 touches and had nine catches, looking good running inside early. But Bush was shaken up in the second quarter, and didn't look the same thereafter. He didn't average four yards-per-touch despite all the catches and Julius Peppers and Chris Draft pulled him down from behind. 119 total yards is nice, but where are the big plays? Beating the Odds Logic tells you that running backs can't thrive on a winless team with a below average offense. But logic also wouldn't expect Ronnie Brown to suddenly flip a switch in Week 3 of his third season and turn into the robo-monster we've expected all along. (Robo-monster was a typo, it was supposed to say roto, but I like it.) 153 total yards and five catches is practically a quiet game for Ronnie these days. Committee Time 1. News of Derrick Ward starting for the Giants spread before pregame, causing many owners to put Brandon Jacobs on the bench. But despite an early fumble, Jacobs wound up getting twenty carries to 13 for Ward, out-gaining Ward 100-56. Both scored touchdowns and New York looks to have one of the better one-two punches in the league. 2. LenDale White and Chris Brown split work nearly evenly, but neither cracked 35 rushing yards. Vulture Alert 1. Reggie Bush put up 119 total yards, but Mike Karney scored on a goal-line plunge. Aaron Stecker also scored a touchdown that was called back by penalty for measure. 2. Willie Parker put up 102 yards, but Najeh Davenport replaced him on the goal line. The Hamper added another one later in the game. FWP is pace for the least filling 1,600-yard rushing season in history, with only one score and 43 receiving yards on the season. 3. Mike Sellers had two scores Sunday, Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts had zero. 4. Alex Smith of the Bucs had two catches for six yards Sunday. Both were for touchdowns. Fluke City 1. Devery Henderson exploded for 101 yards and was open on a few more plays, but he still didn't play that well. One drop led to an interception, another prevented a possible score, and Henderson threw one more in for good measure. It wouldn't surprise me if the Saints bench him soon for Lance Moore. 2. In one run, Artose Pinner had only one less yard for the Falcons than Warrick Dunn and Jerious Norwood combined for in 16 attempts. So much for Consistency Through three weeks, no receiver was more consistent than Chris Chambers. The last two weeks, no receiver resembled the 2006 version of Chris Chambers more than Chris Chambers. He combined four catches, 40 yards and a big loss of confidence from his owners. The Replacements 1. Ron Dayne versus the sluggish Miami Defense wasn't the panacea we made it out to be on Fantasy Fix Live. 45 total yards was a big disappointment, although a touchdown avoided a disaster. 2. The Cleo Lemon era, part II has started in Miami. With Trent Green likely to miss a few weeks, Lemon will keep the seat warm for John Beck. Sunday wasn't exceptional, with 151 yards and nine points in three plus quarters. 3. After Jamal Lewis hurt his foot, Jason Wright stepped in and did his best Jamal Lewis impression on the ground: 15 carries for 59 yards. But Wright matched Lewis' receiving output for the year with four grabs. Wright has been an ordinary back as a pro, but he'll still be a hot waiver pickup if Lewis' injury is serious. 4. Don't hurry back, Laurence! Sammy Morris cranked out another ho-hum 100 yards. 5. Byron Leftwich replaced Joey Harrington and somehow made Harrington's ridiculous 2.8 YPA in 31 attempts look competent. The Falcons aren't ready for a real defense on the road. 6. It's the system. Despite a slow start (17-for-47 to start the game), Kenton Keith wore down the Tampa defense to finish with 158 total yards and two scores. There was little flash in his game, but the difference between Joseph Addai and Keith was minimal. At least for one week. 7. Michael Pittman started for the Bucs, but hurt his ankle early in the game. Earnest Graham replaced him and finished with 11 rushing yards on six carries. It would be a huge surprise if Tampa doesn't bring in reinforcements through a trade shortly. 8. Larry Fitzgerald in three games with Anquan Boldin healthy: 15 catches, 192 yards. Larry Fitzgerald in two games without Anquan Boldin: 20 catches, 259 yards, one score. The New Triplets Who needs Andre Johnson? Owen Daniels, Andre Davis, and Kevin Walter have combined for 30 catches for 514 yards over the last two weeks. Andre' Davis' second life might be strong enough to keep Jacoby Jones on the bench when all the Texans are healthy. And Gary Kubiak is fast gaining a reputation for making chicken salad out Houston Texans. Injury Ward Some of the players featured in Brian Flood's Week 6 Injury Crunch: Trent Green Michael Pittman Deion Branch Jamal Lewis Damon Huard Matt Leinart Joe Jurevicius Vincent Jackson Matchup Proof 1. Kellen Winslow and Braylon Edwards are matchup proof. Safely among the best receiver combinations in the league, the two combined for ten catches, 159 yards and a score in a tough matchup against the Patriots. Winslow had a ridiculous 14 targets. Many of those yards game while the Browns furiously tried to catch up, but that's the same way Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald racked up numbers throughout the Denny Green era. It still counts in the box score. Oh, and Derek Anderson is still a top-five fantasy quarterback. Ridiculously Early MVP Watch 1. Tom Brady: 1,383 yards, 16 TD, 2 INT 2. Randy Moss: 551 yards, 7 TD 3. Ronnie Brown: 712 total yards, 5 TD 4. Tony Romo: 1,199 passing yards, 11 TDs, 3 INTs, 71 rushing yards, two rushing TDs 5. Plaxico Burress, 410 yards, 7 TD 6. Joseph Addai: 467 total yards, 5 TDs, one missed game 7. Antonio Gates, 40 catches, 489 yards, 3 TD Ridiculously Early Bust Watch 1. Marc Bulger: 756 yards, two touchdowns, four interceptions, two missed games 2. Drew Brees: 929 yards, one touchdown, nine interceptions 3. Larry Johnson: 374 total yards, 0 scores 4. Lee Evans: 101 yards 5. Thomas Jones: 351 total yards, 0 scores 6. Mark Clayton: 81 yards 7. Reggie Brown: 81 yards 8. Laurence Maroney, 252 yards, two missed games 9. Jerious Norwood: 238 total yards, zero scores Waiver Watch Cleo Lemon Kenton Keith Jason Wright Nate Washington Kurt Warner Brodie Croyle Dennis Northcutt Lance Moore Nate Burleson Andre Davis Kevin Walter |
|
| |
Linear Mode
